In pics: Giant pandas spend happy moments with their cubs at Sichuan base

People's Daily Online) 16:32, May 31, 2024

The cub of giant panda "Sulin" eats a bamboo shoot while playing at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

How do giant pandas take care of their cubs? With International Children's Day just around the corner, let's find out by exploring the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Giant panda "Pan Yue" eats bamboo with her cub in tow at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

Giant panda "Ruirui" and her cub eat bamboo shoots at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The cub of giant panda "Pan Yue" eats bamboo while lying on the ground at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

Photo shows giant panda "Xinxin" and her cub at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The cub of giant panda "Xinxin" climbs a tree at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

Photo shows giant panda "Fu Bao," which is less than four years old and has just returned home from South Korea, at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

Photo shows giant panda "Fu Bao," which is less than four years old and has just returned home from South Korea, at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily/Song Haoxin)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Chinese proficiency final competition held in Nepal

Xinhua) 11:05, June 01, 2024

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song (R) presents the award to a winner after the 23rd Chinese-Bridge Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 31, 2024. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

Contestants at the final for the 23rd Chinese-Bridge Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students in Nepal demonstrate their Chinese language skills and understanding of Chinese culture through speech, knowledge test and talent show.

KATHMANDU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The 23rd Chinese-Bridge Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students concluded its final here on Friday.

A total of seven contestants joined the final competition, demonstrating their Chinese language skills and understanding of Chinese culture through speeches, knowledge tests and talent shows.

This photo taken on May 31, 2024 shows a contestant's performance in talent show at the final for the 23rd Chinese-Bridge Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students in Kahtmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

In speeches themed "One World, One Family," the students shared their insights and thoughts about how to build a better world together, stressing the need for joint efforts and mutual help to cope with challenges like climate change, environmental degradation and natural disasters.

All the contestants showed their understanding of Chinese culture and customs in knowledge tests, while the performance of songs and kung fu and the recital of poems and prose demonstrated their unique capabilities.

Monika Kandel from Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management won in the competition, a girl who likes to learn foreign languages.

"So my dream is to travel around the world, learn about various cultures and understand their origins," she told Xinhua.

Kandel will travel to China later this year to participate in the global finals of the competition.

A contestant gives a speech at the 23rd Chinese-Bridge Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 31, 2024. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

Registrar of Kathmandu University Achyut Wagle stressed the role of the Chinese language in promoting quality tourism in the country, as more Chinese tourists are coming to Nepal.

"The decision by Kathmandu University to host the Confucious Institute is now paying back," Wagle said while addressing the competition. "The people and the students who learned the Chinese language are now finding well-paid jobs here in Nepal itself."

He voiced hope for bilateral cooperation in the near future not just on the Chinese language but for the upliftment of the academic sector.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song encouraged Nepali students to learn Chinese on the grounds that it holds the key to unraveling the ancient Chinese civilization as well as sets up a bridge to future technological development.

"China is leading or has already taken the lead in all the areas of science and technology," Chen said on the occasion.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
Grab your passport! Hallmark Channel is heading abroad. The networks June 2024 movie schedule will take viewers on a world tour to swoon-worthy destinations, including Greece, France, and Italy, with stars such as Hunter King and Andrew Walker. Keep reading for our rundown of the Hallmark movie schedule for June 2024.

For Love and Honey

Andrew Walker and Margaret Clunie in For Love and Honey | 2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Dominic Catania

Andrew Walker plays an American archeologist named Austen who is working on a dig in Malta in For Love and Honey. (The movie was filmed on location in the Mediterranean island nation.) Margaret Clunie plays a local beekeeper named Eva who has taken over running her familys apiary. Together, they discover a hidden hive that might hold the clues to an archaeological mystery. Eva draws on her knowledge of the area to help Austen investigate the find, and the two begin to fall in love.

For Love and Honey airs Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Savoring Paris

Bethany Joy Lenz and Stanley Weber in Savoring Paris | 2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Elena Nenkova

Burned-out food executive Ella (Bethany Joy Lenz) decides she needs a fresh start. She quits her high-pressure job and heads to Paris, a city she has happy memories of visiting on a post-college trip. Once shes in the City of Lights, shes courted by a dashing local named Gaston (Ben Wiggins) while also developing a friendship with Serge (Stanley Weber), the proprietor of the local fromagerie. But as Ella tries to figure out what she wants from life and love, cultural differences put her plans in question.

Savoring Paris airs Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A Greek Recipe for Romance

After a setback, Abby (Danielle C. Ryan) heads to Greece to visit her mom. While deciding whats next in her life, she meets Theo (Rafael Kariotakis), and they team up to open a restaurant. But will Abby be able to stay in Greece, or will she have to return to her life in America?

A Greek Recipe for Romance airs Saturday, June 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Two Scoops of Italy

Hunter King plays an American chef who travels to Italy for inspiration in Two Scoops of Italy. There, she falls in love with the countrys flavors, culture, and gelato  and the local man (Michele Rosiello) who helps her discover it all.

Two Scoops of Italy airs Saturday, June 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder airs on Hallmark Mystery

Mystery fans can also enjoy a new movie this month on Hallmark Channels sister network Hallmark Mystery. Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder stars Holland Roden as Maddie, a hotel concierge who moonlights for the Detroit Free Presss tipline department. When she receives a warning about a pending jewelry heist, she reaches out to her new contact at the police department, Detective Beeks (When Calls the Hearts Chris McNally). Hes skeptical, but shes unwilling to let it go. Maddie investigates on her own, and as she digs into the mystery, she continues to cross paths with Detective Beeks. When the investigation takes a dangerous turn, Maddie worries that her number might be up.

Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder airs Friday, June 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Mystery. Its currently streaming on Hallmark Movies Now.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
Home News 1 million-member regional body leaves United Methodist Church over gay marriage, clergy

A regional body of the United Methodist Church with approximately 1 million members has voted to leave the mainline denomination over its acceptance of gay marriage and noncelibate gay clergy.

The Cote d'Ivoire Conference based in West Africa voted earlier this week to leave the UMC after the denomination's decision to remove rules banning the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in romantic same-sex relationships from its Book of Discipline.

With approximately a million members, the conference was one of the largest regional bodies within the worldwide denomination, according to UM News.

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The approved decision argues that "the new United Methodist Church has preferred to sacrifice its honorability and integrity to honor the LGBT" and that "the new United Methodist Church is now based on sociocultural and contextual values which have consumed its doctrinal and disciplinary integrity."

Mark Tooley, president of the theologically conservative Institute on Religion and Democracy, which monitors developments within the UMC, told The Christian Post it's "wonderful that Ivory Coast Methodists are prioritizing orthodoxy over ties to the USA church."

Tooley said the conference was "independent before 2004 and may prefer that status" instead of joining the recently launched conservative denomination, the Global Methodist Church.

"Most Africans cannot abide liberalized USA standards," said Tooley on the possibility of more Africa-based conferences disaffiliating from the UMC. But he noted that "it will take years" for more to leave.

The Christian Post contacted The United Methodist Church for comment on this story. A spokesperson did not return a message by press time.

Over the past few decades, the UMC had been embroiled in a divisive debate over whether to remove language from its Book of Discipline that prohibited the blessing of gay unions, the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals, and the funding of LGBT advocacy groups.

In response to the never-ending nature of the debate and many liberal leaders within the UMC refusing to follow or enforce the rules, around 7,500 mostly conservative congregations disaffiliated from the denomination over the last few years.

Most of these departing congregations opted to affiliate with the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative alternative to the UMC launched in 2022.

At the UMC General Conference earlier this year, delegates overwhelmingly voted to remove the Book of Discipline language, opening the door for the acceptance of same-sex marriage and ordaining clergy in gay unions.

At the same General Conference, delegates voted to approve the departure of the UMC Eurasian Episcopal Area, which has four annual conferences in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Bishop Eduard Khegay of the Eurasia Episcopal Area expressed his gratitude for the denomination, saying he became a Christian "because of The United Methodist Church."

"This is for us like leaving home," Khegay said. "My hope is we can keep the friendships and relationships whenever it's possible.  We want to remain your sisters and brothers."
Home News Army chaplain punished after Facebook post on transgender military ban appeals reprimand

A decorated U.S. Army chaplain is appealing actions taken against him that could end his career after he voiced support on his personal social media page for a military policy preventing trans-identified individuals from serving in the military.

Chaplain Maj. Andrew Calvert is contesting the reprimand from the U.S. Army after he commented on a Jan. 25 news article about the Biden administrations intentions of dropping President Donald Trumps ban on trans-identified men and women serving in the military.

Calvert was issued a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) on April 22 after anonymous screenshots were sent to the 3rd Forces Assistance Brigades Facebook account of his Jan. 25 comments. An investigating officer from the brigade determined that he had violated a Defense Department directive and suspended him from his duties.

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The legal nonprofit First Liberty Institute is representing the chaplain and insisted in a Wednesday letter to commanding officer Lt. Gen. Robert P. White that the chaplain did nothing wrong, particularly because his post included a disclaimer indicating that these were his personal opinions and not to be taken as representative of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.

But Calverts attorney argues that the adverse actions taken against Calvert violated Defense Department regulations and the U.S. Constitution as it was a retaliation for expressing a religious viewpoint on a matter of public concern.

It is wildly inappropriate and offensive for Colonel Trotter, Headquarters Commander for 3d SFAB, to state his personal opinion that this has nothing to do with violating or infringing on [Chaplain Calverts] religious beliefs as the basis for issuing a GOMOR, First Liberty Institute General Counsel Mike Berry wrote in the May 12 letter.

Although Chaplain Calverts sincerely held religious beliefs might overlap with what some view as political issues, service members are permitted to express their opinions on such matters. As a reminder, Chaplain Calvert merely expressed his sincerely held religious belief that was, at the time he expressed it, wholly consistent with DoD policy.

The letter argued that the action is duplicitous given how active duty service members marched in uniform, carrying gay pride and transgender flags in a 2019 parade to oppose the Trump-era prohibition.

Clearly, if uniformed, active duty service members are permitted to express political opposition to their commander-in-chiefs policy, an active duty chaplain may express support for that same policy, Berry asserted.

First Liberty requested that the reprimand be withdrawn and vowed to take the legal steps to defend Calverts rights if the reprimand is not lifted.

Calvert is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

In the Facebook post in question, Calvert asked: How is rejecting reality [biology] not evidence that a person is mentally unfit [ill], and thus making that person unqualified to serve."

There is little difference in this than over those who believe and argue for a flat earth, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary," Calvert wrote in a Jan. 28 comment, according to Army Times.

The motivation is different but the argument is the same. This person is a MedBoard for Mental Wellness waiting to happen. What a waste of military resources and funding!

According to First Liberty Institute, the investigation into Calvert's online activities concluded that Calvert violated Army policy banning "online misconduct" for making disparaging terms to discriminate against transgender persons. In addition, the investigation found that he violated a Defense Department directive limiting political activity by active-duty troops.

The Army Times, which obtained a copy of the reprimand, reports that the investigating officer pointed to other Facebook comments posted by Calvert. However, it is not clear what he wrote in those posts.
Home News Church finance manager pleads guilty to stealing $775K through complex scheme

A former employee of a Florida church has reportedly pleaded guilty to stealing $775,000 from its parish operating account over five months.

A plea agreement obtained by Catholic News Agency confirms that Heather Darrey defrauded Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa while employed as the church's records and finance manager.

Darrey's duties reportedly included generating printed bank checks payable to the parish's vendors and getting signatures from parish officials. According to the filing, Darrey would then "destroy the authorized printed bank checks" and "prepare new handwritten bank checks in the same amounts as the legitimate ones but made payable to her personal accounts and creditors."

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Darrey would create fraudulent data and enter it into the church's records "to make it appear that she had mailed the printed bank checks," the plea deal said.

An audit of the church's accounting software and bank accounts shows a "loss amount of $775,196.90 in funds stolen by Darrey using the ... fraudulent scheme" from October 2023 to March 2024.

"A review of Darrey's Financial Institution #2 bank account statements and other financial records revealed expensive purchases of concert and show tickets, luxury goods, payments to her home mortgage, and other purchases for herself and others," the filing states.

Before the church discovered the stolen funds, Darrey initially confessed to having stolen a smaller sum of money from the church. She reportedly begged the church to "not contact the authorities and press charges."

The plea deal carries "a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment," a maximum $250,000 fine and "a term of supervised release of not more than three years."

Darrey was ordered to pay the $775,000 in restitution to the church and "any other victim as determined by the court."

In a statement to CNA last week, the diocese said the church had been "the victim of a complex financial crime" and assured that "no parishioner's personal financial information was compromised while this criminal activity took place."

"We are praying for healing, especially for this former employee's family as they try to come to terms with all of this," the diocese said at the time.

Christ the King Catholic Church offers "a variety of ministries, each pointed to fulfill our mission here at Christ The King: to serve God and care for people."

"Whether you are drawn to Bible studies, mission, outreach, worship or any other area of service, there is a place for you to grow and contribute your unique gifts and talents here," the church added.

According to a 2019 report by Brotherhood Mutual, fraud committed against churches worldwide may reach the $80 billion mark by 2025.

"Church thieves are creative," says Tom Lichtenberger, assistant vice president of property claims at Brotherhood Mutual. "Often, church people can't bring themselves to believe that their pastor, a church trustee, long-time member, or the school cook could possibly steal from the church."

"Normally, it's one of the most trusted people in the church who's pilfering from the collection plate, or diverting funds from the church budget or investment accounts to feed their spending habits or pay personal debts."
Home News Mom sues after military flags her as 'security threat' for opposing elementary school's LGBT posters

A New Jersey mother who was reported to local police by a military official after criticizing her child's elementary school for displaying posters in the hallway about sexual preferences has filed a federal lawsuit claiming her civil rights were violated.

Angela Reading, a third-year law student and mother of two, filed a federal lawsuit against the high-ranking military, police and local government leaders, claiming she was treated like a terrorist for questioning offensive signs at the North Hanover Township Elementary School last November.

The law firm Thomas More Society filed the lawsuit on the mother's behalf in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Reading also served as vice president of the Northern Burlington County Regional School District Board of Education until she felt forced to resign in December to "protect her family."

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The filing alleges that North Hanover Township Police Chief Robert Duff and military personnel from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst compelled the removal of Reading's Nov. 22 Facebook post about posters featuring terms like polysexual, pansexual and genderqueer displayed in the school hallway.

On Nov. 23, 2023, the suit claims, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher Schilling used his personal email account to criticize Reading's Facebook post "in an email to parents and local school staff members, complaining (among other things) that, according to him, Mrs. Reading did not understand that the term 'polysexual' means 'simply an attraction to many genders and identities'  as if to say that impressionable young children should be acquainted with this bizarre and sexually freighted concept."

The email was among several obtained in a public records request that was a "prelude to his use of his military email account and position to involve Joint Base personnel, including the Security Commander, Defendant Grimmett, in the censorship of, and retaliation against, Mrs. Reading's protected speech."

On Nov. 25, Schilling allegedly sent another email to parents and staffers calling for an "ethics complaint against Mrs. Reading because her Facebook post was supposedly 'stirring up right wing extremists.'" Two days later, Schilling sent another email saying he was "reaching out to other resources in the area to gather support for this issue," which the lawsuit surmises is "likely when he began involving military personnel in his vendetta."

On Nov. 29, Schilling sent an email asking "Northern Burlington Regional School District superintendent Andrew Zuckerman to remove Mrs. Reading's Facebook post and stated that 'more positive things are going to happen tomorrow.'" That same day, Schilling used his military title to engage in an email thread with U.S. Air Force Major Nathanial Lesher, who assured Schilling that he would forward his concern to Chief Duff "for awareness."

"For no reason other than he disagreed with it, Defendant Schilling's military email of November 29 labeled Mrs. Reading's post a security threat, even though he knew that his doing so was without legal basis and that his action would trigger severe adverse consequences for Mrs. Reading," the lawsuit contends.

"This blatant mischaracterization was made to suppress Mrs. Reading's speech and cause her emotional harm and other injuries  in keeping with Schilling's earlier declaration that 'we need to keep the pressure on' until Mrs. Reading ceases to express her point of view."

Thomas More Society Special Counsel Christopher Ferrara said in a statement that Reading's Facebook post was made as a private citizen, sharing her experience attending a "math night" at the school where her daughter encountered LGBT-affirming posters. She questioned why elementary children were being exposed to such topics, which are not part of the state educational standards or approved curriculum.

"This intention to trigger a preposterous widespread law enforcement investigation and state of alarm over Mrs. Reading's protected speech as if it were an 'incident' of potential, or even actual criminality, is a violation of Mrs. Reading's civil rights," Ferrara said.

"[The Readings have been] demonized, harassed, traumatized, and excoriated throughout the community, forced to resign their school board positions, and having been made unwelcome," he added.

"[They] now feel they must seek costly alternative education for their children. All of this is a direct result of a conspiracy to punish a mother who did not welcome a public school's attempt to force a woke ideology upon her own, and other, young children  and to have the audacity to exercise her right of free speech to do so in a peaceful manner in an appropriate forum."

At the time, the joint base confirmed in a statement to Fox News that it notified law enforcement about the exchange between Reading and Schilling on social media as part of "common information-sharing practice among law enforcement entities."

"The current situation involving Ms. Reading's actions has caused safety concerns for many families," Schilling wrote on Facebook at the time, according to Fox News. "The Joint Base leadership takes this situation very seriously and from the beginning have had the Security Forces working with multiple state and local law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation to ensure the continued safety of the entire community."

Speaking to CBN News, Reading said her life has been "uprooted" and she had to stop attending law school and withdraw her children from school for their safety.

Reading's lawsuit comes as the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is investigating the alleged "weaponization" of federal law enforcement against conservatives.

In 2021, the Department of Justice issued a memo directing the FBI to work with state and local law enforcement to "facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff."

The memo followed a letter from the National School Boards Association urging the federal government to use anti-terrorism laws to act against those threatening school officials. Critics contend that the letter and ensuing memo sought to silence parents outraged over the inclusion of sexually explicit material in public schools as well as the promotion of LGBT ideologies and divisive theories on race.
Home News Pastor Mark Driscoll wants Jesus to return before Election Day as civil war chatter abounds

Hours after former president and presumptive Republican 2024 presidential nominee Donald Trump was convicted Thursday on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened his 2016 presidential campaign, megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll pleaded on social media for Jesus to return before Election Day.

"Lord Jesus we would humbly request that you return before November 5," wrote Driscoll, founding pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, in a post on X.

While many conservative Christians see Trump as the answer to America's challenges, earlier this month, Driscoll made it clear in a post on Instagram that he doesn't believe trusting in politicians should be seen as the answer for Christians.

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"Government can't fix spiritual problems; it's ultimately a God problem. Trusting in politicians won't solve it  repentance and faith are the only way forward," he wrote.

Driscoll previously urged Christians to approach the 2024 presidential election with "sobriety" and admitted that he found neither President Joe Biden nor Trump attractive candidates.

"How should a Christian approach the 2024 election? Make every effort to maintain sobriety despite the difficulty. And the truth is we're going to have two candidates, both of which are old. I would like somebody who is younger," Driscoll noted on TikTok. "They are both in the flesh. So we have a Democrat in the flesh, and we have a Republican in the flesh. If you're filled with the Holy Spirit, your options stink, but welcome to America."

Devout Baptist Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, R-La., said the verdict of the Manhattan jury, which made Trump the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, made Thursday a "shameful day in American history."

"This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one," Johnson tweeted in response to the verdict.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., claimed the trial outcome for Trump was due to a "corrupt and rigged" justice system.

"I fully support President Trump appealing this decision and look forward to the New York Court of Appeals delivering justice and overturning this verdict," she said in a statement.

Rising political and cultural tensions have led to many claims or suggestions in recent months that the United States could be headed toward another civil war.

After Trump's conviction on Thursday, that chatter emerged even more online, with people like conservative political commentator Joey Mannarino declaring on X that: "The Civil War just began. We no longer live in a democracy."

He further explained his position in a follow-up statement.

"The Civil War didn't start today. It started in November 2020 when an illegitimate President stole the White House through a fake election. To cover up all the criminality, they accused Donald Trump of being a felon and made up fake charges to try and make sure he never wins," he said. "YOU HAVE AWOKEN THE BEAST! AMERICANS WILL RISE UP AND TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY! NOVEMBER 5, 2024!"

Outside the Trump Tower in New York City on Friday, protesters warned of a possible civil war.

"I believe these far radical left are trying to start a civil war," one man said, according to Newsweek.

One Manhattan resident told The Independent that she wanted Trump to be found guilty so it would help him in the polls, arguing that a "civil war" could happen if Trump was jailed or the November election is "rigged."

"You've got to understand that there are millions of Americans that don't register their guns, me being one of them. And, I'm ready for everything that's coming because give me Trump or give me death," she was quoted as saying.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008, suggested in August that a Trump conviction could lead to civil unrest.

"I think those who are conducting this travesty and creating this two-tiered system of justice, and I want to ask them, 'What the heck? Do you want us to be in civil war?' because that's what's going to happen," Palin told Newsmax.
Home Opinion Does biology need 'queer theory'?

A recent video from the "PBS Eons"YouTube channel, a show which covers topics related to paleontology and evolution, wrestled with how it is possible to distinguish between male and female dinosaurs when all that is left are bones. In it, the host objectively defined the concept of biological sex as applied to these extinct creatures: In this script, well be using male and female as shorthand for sperm-producing and egg-producing individuals. She then added that one shortcut for assigning sex to an individual is by their reproductive organs. Sperm producers have testes while egg producers have ovaries.

This definition is essentially correct, although no one assigns anything. A given individual, whether human or dinosaur, just is male or female. We identify sex; we dont assign it. Sex is objective and binary and has to do with the two distinct roles in reproduction.

Unfortunately, not every source of science education is this clear. For example, evolutionary biologist Colin Wright recently called out Yale University for a lecture that redefined sex according to queer theory. According to slides from this Ivy League course, Sex is not an inherent, binary fact about a gene, a genome, a zygote or an embryo but instead a cluster of iterative, coevolved, differentiated reproductive homologies. Additionally, the materials for the course (a required course for all Yale pre-med students) claimed that sex is not determined. It is a fact about history, not individuals, a performance of the self, and that biology needs queer theory.

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To which Wright (rightly) objected: This is pure biological pseudoscience masquerading as science. This is a lecture I can envision Deepak Chopra giving. His criticisms echoed New Atheist evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, who earlier this year slammed Scientific American for running an article that similarly questioned the reality of sex. Interestingly, these old-school biologists both offered the same alternative definition that PBS did: Sex is the binary distinction between sperm producers and egg producers.

Its interesting how many biologists, even if deeply critical of the idea of God or an intelligent designer, understand that male and female are fundamental realities of embodied life, and not only human life. Those scientists still committed to reporting what they see in the creation arent confused about the purpose and function of this binary, even if they fail to acknowledge the Creator behind it.

Christians, on the other hand, do acknowledge both the binary found in creation and the Creator of it. This allows us to offer a more complete definition of male and female, one that not only considers organs and gametes, but the ordered whole in which they fit. As Abigail Favale wrote in her book The Genesis of Gender, a human female isnt merely an egg producer, but an individual whose whole body is organized around the potential to carry new life. A human male isnt just a sperm producer, but an individual whose whole body is organized around the potential to impregnate a female.

This means that even those who, through age or injury, have lost these abilities and those who never realize their reproductive potential, are fully male or female. In fact, these two body plans are so fundamental to human identity that even rare intersex defects are recognized because they deviate from the binary. Far from proving some kind of third gender, such tragic disorders show how essential male and female are.

The fact that more honest scientists find it necessary to call out prestigious institutions for embracing unscientific gender nonsense says a lot about the assault on reality happening right now. Biology doesnt need queer theory. It needs instead a worldview that grounds the givens of reality, givens that were put in place by God, instead of an ideology that sees everything as a social construct.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
Home Opinion Samuel Alito is right  as usual

Usually, when something alarming happens, it raises red flags. But this time, it was the raising of a flag (and not even a red one) that caused alarm. The left is manufacturing controversy out of whole cloth again in their ongoing assault on one of the conservative justices on the Supreme Court.

First, they went after Justice Samuel Alito because of abortion, as he was the chief author of the Dobbs decision of 2022, which overturned the infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that led to the death of some 60 million fellow Americans through abortion.

What Dobbs did was to allow the states to decide for themselves their own abortion policy.

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For this, the left protested him, even at his own home. To my knowledge, no one on the left voiced objection to these brownshirt tactics.

Then they went after Alito for flying an American flag at his home upside down  which they read as a distress signal supporting the January 6 protests.

And now the left is excoriating him for daring to fly a flag from the Revolutionary War. This flag, which is a field of white and shows an evergreen tree pointing to the sky, states: An Appeal to Heaven.

The left is using these flag flaps as a strategy to sideline Alito. NBC News reported that Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that he wants Alito to recuse himself on some cases because of the flags.

The New York Times essentially accused Alito of guilt by association  since that flag was carried by a few of the protesters who descended on the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, who questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election results.

CNN adds that they think the An Appeal to Heaven flag has become a symbol for supporters of former President Donald Trump.

But Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania opined: If that dude wants to fly his freak flag  its very strange. Freak flag?

We live in a day of widespread historical ignorance. Either the elite are ignorant of our American heritage or they are committed to a vision that excludes the key principle of the American experiment: self-rule under God.

What do we know about this classic flag, An Appeal to Heaven, other than that it was used during the American War for Independence?

The An Appeal to Heaven flag was adopted on October 21, 1775. That was the same year our war for independence began in Massachusetts on the fields of Lexington and Concord. That was also the same year that George Washington was appointed as our first Commander-in-Chief.

Early in this role, Washington commissioned six schooners for our nascent navy. In 1775, Col. Joseph Reed, under Washingtons command, proposed that a flag be made with a white background with a tree in the middle bearing the motto, An Appeal to Heaven. He proposed that this flag be placed on the six schooners deployed to defend the Boston harbor.

What is the origin of the phrase on that banner? An Appeal to Heaven comes directly out of the writings of John Locke, a British political philosopher from the 1600s in England. He was extensively quoted by the founders. In his 1690 Second Treatise on Civil Government, Locke used the phrase an appeal to heaven  meaning asking for Gods help, should all else fail.

Here is his direct quote: 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.

The two key founding documents of America are the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1787). The Declaration of Independence declares independence from England and at the same time, it declares dependence upon God. It can be summed up this way: Here we rule by the consent of the governed because our rights come from God.

Initially, the founders of this country had no other outside help  including aid from France (which did eventually come). In the Declaration, they declared themselves to be appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.

Dr. Peter Lillback, founder of Providence Forum, for which I now serve as executive director, once told me that by that phrase, the founders, being mostly biblical Christians, are referring to Jesus here since He is the One who will be humanitys judge.

Its amazing that one of the banners of the era appealing to God for His help would become so controversial today. But maybe not when you realize that perhaps its simply a cynical (and coordinated) strategy to marginalize one of the most influential conservative justices.
Home Opinion The antisemitism virus starts in K-12

The anti-Israel protests roiling American college campuses have put the spotlight on efforts to defund them, but higher education is merely the capstone of the issue. Antisemitism is a virus that has spread beyond the universities and into the K-12 education system.

Its often stated that students must be taught how to think. But this is not what happens in K-12 education because children must first be taught what to think. Before they can learn to judge the morality of a situation on their own, children must be given a framework for what is right and what is not. They must be taught that two plus two always equals four; they must learn to define the color blue before they can identify that the sky is blue and not green, that boys and girls are distinct and unchangeable, and that discriminating against people purely because of their skin color or religion is wrong. Elementary school is not the place to present students with multiple perspectives that they must parse out on their own.

Yet teachers are becoming increasingly vague when it comes to presenting objective truth, and the rise of antisemitism at the K-12 level is one result of that. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) documented a 135% increase in antisemitic incidents at K-12 schools in 2023. A small handful of these incidents were put in the spotlight at a recent hearing in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

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Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) has curriculum available that teaches for some Palestinians, From the River to the Sea is a call for freedom and peace. Enikia Ford Morthel, testified that so long as its presented as perspective, this curriculum is acceptable. But can every 8-year-old be trusted to have the moral clarity to know that calls for genocide are never appropriate, regardless of perspective?

The President of the Montgomery County School Board in Maryland also appeared before the committee after a middle school teacher in her county made several Facebook posts claiming that the October 7 attack had been a hoax. Rather than being immediately fired, the teacher was placed on leave. Without swift and unequivocal punishment, the public school administrators sent the message to students that there would be no consequences for enabling hatred against Jews.

These are just a small sampling of the abuse that Jewish students regularly face. A lawsuit filed by the ADL earlier this year cites dozens of instances of students shouting f--- the Jews, graffiti stating Kill Jews, teachers indoctrinating students with anti-Semitic tropes and anti-Israel curriculum. Most of these incidents pre-date the October 7 attack in Israel, evidence that antisemitism in K-12 education has been on the rise for some time.

Its important that Congress continues exposing the problem through these public hearings, but the problem is that hearings cannot force schools to change.

The solution, then, must be found elsewhere. Since colleges are partly subsidized by student tuition, its feasible that legislators could restrict their funding without collapsing the entire higher education system. But the publicly funded K-12 institutions are another matter.

At the top of the list of priorities, both Congress and state governments should aggressively pursue school choice legislation. If parents have more educational options available to them, they will not be forced to choose the public school that teaches students to hate Jews. If public schools are forced to compete with other options, theyll be less likely to engage in the activities that drive families away.

But for the millions of students who have no other options, antisemitism must be directly addressed in public schools. The bipartisan Countering Antisemitism Act is one approach. If passed, it would commission a study on Holocaust education efforts in the schools and determine where improvement is needed.

In the past seven months, the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has opened over 100 Title VI investigations, which includes the incidents highlighted in the aforementioned House hearing. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, any educational institution or program that receives federal funding cannot discriminate based on national origin. Because Congress appropriates the amount of funds that OCR receives to conduct these investigations, they should ensure that the DOE investigates each claim.

As education is mostly a state and not federal purview, what is taught in the classroom is largely decided at the state level. Thirty-nine states currently mandate that the Holocaust be part of K-12 curriculum. Some states, such as Virginia and North Carolina, distribute a teachers manual on the Holocaust and genocide generally that provides resources from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that teachers can use in their classrooms. That way, states know that teachers are using reliable materials when discussing the topic with their students. States without such a provision should follow their lead.

There are also a plethora of private Jewish organizations willing to work with their local schools, to help educate teachers and students to combat antisemitism. For example, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington has partnered with a number of schools in Montgomery County to conduct antisemitism training. Agudath Sholom Congregation in Lynchburg, Virginia, created lists of books on antisemitism for every grade level to ensure the local schools had reading material appropriate for every age. Teachers and Jewish communities should look for more ways to collaborate.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of solutions. Antisemitism is widespread in the American public education system; uprooting it will take hard work from multiple factions. But it must be done. In a country founded on the idea that every man is inherently equal, this sort of hatred and discrimination is not just anti-Jewish, but anti-American.
Get out and vote, says Nichols

The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales is urging people to get out and vote ahead of the general election on 4 July.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols said it was a "privilege" to be able to vote and asked people to be active rather than passive in engaging with politicians and expressing their views on key issues.

He especially appealed to young adults to be "willing to get involved and vote".

Nichols said that whoever is in power after 4 July, they should work to support families.

"You want to know what your candidate will think and say on your behalf when that candidate gets into Parliament," he said in a recorded message.

"I would like to put forward a theme for us all to think about. How do we seek to construct a society in which families can flourish? That's the bedrock  many positive things flow from that."

He encouraged voters to get informed about key issues before the election "so that when it comes to 4 July, you've got in your mind what you want to see the next government strive to achieve", pointing to guidance on the Bishops' Conference website.

The cardinal added, "My view is that our next government should strive to create the circumstances in which families can flourish. So please get ready to vote on 4 July."

While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer have been out on the campaign trail wooing voters, latest polling by Electoral Calculus has predicted a landslide victory for Labour with the Conservatives being reduced to just 66 seats.
COLUMBUS, OhioA pair of bills banning non-U.S. citizens from contributing to statewide ballot-issue campaigns and allowing President Joe Biden on Ohios fall ballot are on their way to Gov. Mike DeWine after clearing a final Senate vote Friday.

The Senates vote to pass House Bills 1 and 2 brings an end to this weeks special legislative session, convened by DeWine after the GOP-dominated legislature deadlocked for weeks on whether to pass the foreign-money ban as the price Democrats should pay for rescuing Biden from an administrative snag.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday told investors it's a good idea to buy Costco , whose earnings on Thursday beat Wall Street's expectations but the stock still slipped in extended trading.

"So let it come in, but, as I tell investing club members, remember to buy some if you don't own it already," he said. "And if Costco keeps falling, just keep buying more, because there's nothing else like this company  never will be."

Cramer said he's confident about the big-box retailer's path to success and isn't worried about its recent change in management. Costco has a new CEO in Ron Vachris and a new finance chief, Gary Millerchip. To Cramer, Vachris is a solid choice because he's been at the company for 40 years  starting his career as a forklift driver and later working closely with Costco's former CEO, Craig Jelinek. Cramer added that he thinks Millerchip, who previously served as the chief financial officer of Kroger, is a solid executive.

Costco also has an edge on competitors by managing to keep prices down, Cramer said. He praised the affordability of the company's own brand, Kirkland.

"All in all, the Costco quarter was perfectly better than expected, and the only thing that was imperfect was the stock's inevitable decline from its all-time high levels right before it reported," he said. "That, of course, isn't new either. This is what always happens with the stock of Costco."

Costco didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dinesh D'Souza attends the DC premiere of his film, "Death of a Nation," at E Street Cinema on August 1, 2018 in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON  The conservative gadfly Dinesh D'Souza's film and book "2000 Mules," which pushes false conspiracies about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, has been removed from distribution by its executive producer and publisher, according to an announcement Friday.

Salem Media Group 's announcement that it had yanked D'Souza's film and book also apologized to Mark Andrews, a Georgia man falsely accused in "2000 Mules" of ballot stuffing.

Andrews in late 2022 filed a federal defamation lawsuit against the company, D'Souza, and the non-profit advocacy group True The Vote, which contributed to the "2000 Mules' project.

D'Souza and True The Vote did not immediately respond to requests for comment by CNBC about Salem Media's decision to pull "2000 Mules."

Salem Media released the film in 2022.

The company claimed at the time that "2000 Mules" was "the most successful political documentary in a decade," and that it had grossed $10 million in its first few weeks of release.

The film quickly became a part of a canon of media produced by far-right figures intended to discredit the results of the 2020 presidential election, which President Joe Biden won.

Former President Donald Trump, who lost to Biden, embraced "2000 Mules," screening the film at his Florida club Mar-a-Lago.

But since then, the claims made in the movie and the book, which was published by Salem Media's subsidiary Regnery Publishing, have been systematically debunked by journalists and law-enforcement officials.

Late last year, attorneys for True the Vote admitted in a Georgia court that they could not produce any documents to back up allegations about ballot stuffing in the 2020 presidential election in that state, which Biden won."

"2000 Mules" shows Andrews placing five ballots into a box, as D'Souza says in a voiceover: "What you are seeing is a crime. These are fraudulent votes."

Andrews' lawsuit is proceeding in court.



The suit seeks unspecified damages, royalties for the use of his name and likeness, and a court order requiring D'Souza, Salem Media, True the Vote, and others to remove their statements about Andrews.

In its statement Friday announcing it would cease distributing the film and book, Salem Media said, "It was never our intent that the publication of the 2000 Mules film and book would harm Mr. Andrews."
Business: Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company. The company designs, manufactures, tests and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets, including industrial, automotive and personal electronics. Texas Instruments' segments include Analog and Embedded Processing. Analog's product lines include Power and Signal Chain. Power includes products that help customers manage power in electronic systems. Signal Chain includes products that sense, condition and measure real-world signals to allow information to be transferred or converted for further processing and control. The Embedded Processing segment includes microcontrollers, digital signal processors and applications processors. Texas Instruments also offers DLP products , which are primarily used to project high-definition images, as well as calculators and certain custom semiconductors known as application-specific integrated circuits.

Activist Commentary: Elliott is a very successful and astute activist investor. The firm's team includes analysts from leading tech private equity firms, engineers, operating partners  former technology CEOs and COOs. When evaluating an investment, the firm also hires specialty and general management consultants, expert cost analysts and industry specialists. Elliott often watches companies for many years before investing and has an extensive stable of impressive board candidates. The firm has historically focused on strategic activism in the technology sector and has been very successful with that tactic. Over the past several years, its activism group has grown. The firm has been doing a lot more governance-oriented activism, creating value from a board level at a much larger breadth of companies.

On May 28, Elliott announced that it has taken a $2.5 billion position in Texas Instruments. It is calling on the company to adopt a dynamic capacity-management strategy and introduce a free cash flow per share target of $9.00+ in 2026.

Texas Instruments is one of the most iconic semiconductor companies in the world, with a history dating back nearly a century. It was a pioneering company that invented numerous pillars of modern technology, including the integrated circuit in 1958, the handheld electronic calculator in 1967 and the digital signal processor in 1978. Today, Texas Instruments offers approximately 80,000 unique products in support of more than 100,000 customers with a portfolio of analog and embedded semiconductor offerings. The company positioned itself as a strategic and operational leader following decades of thoughtful strategic decisions and focusing on high-performance analog, one of the stickiest and highest-margin markets in semiconductors.

Over the years, Texas Instruments has differentiated itself with a commitment to manufacturing as a core competitive advantage. It was the first analog semiconductor company to invest in 300-mm wafer production technology more than 15 years ago, which gave them a 40% cost-per-chip advantage relative to legacy 200-mm production. Today, Texas Instruments sources 80% of wafers internally, of which 40% are cost-advantaged 300-mm wafers. This investment in 300-mm technology resulted in gross margin expansion from 54% in 2010 to 63% in 2023. Additionally, the company has the world's biggest footprint of geopolitically dependable 300-mm analog manufacturing capacity, with 47% of global capacity outside of China and Taiwan and 85% of capacity in the U.S.

Even though Texas Instruments has the No. 1 position in analog semiconductors, 74% exposure to the most attractive end markets (automotive and industrial), software-like margins (approximately 60% gross margins and approximately 40% operating margins), geopolitical security and company-owned manufacturing capacity, it has significantly underperformed peers in recent years.

Elliott points the finger at the one metric that Texas Instruments has focused on for years as the best indicator of value and management performance  free cash flow per share.

Elliott points out that the company's history supports this core principle: It grew free cash flow per share at an annual rate of 17% from 2006 to 2019 while the stock generated a roughly 440% total return, outperforming the S&P 500 by about 200% and analog semiconductor peers by around 135% during the period.

During this time, prior to 2021, Texas Instruments spent an average of about $650 million per year in capex over the preceding decade, representing 5% of revenue. Then, the firm spent $2.5+ billion per year in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the company announced that it would expand its manufacturing capacity with a plan that ultimately called for six new 300-mm fabrication facilities in the U.S. This plan calls for spending $5 billion per year through 2026 and several billion dollars annually thereafter, equating to 23% of revenue, and would nearly triple Texas Instruments' internal manufacturing capacity by 2030. What did this do to free cash flow per share? Last year, the company generated only $1.47 per share in free cash flow  77% lower than the prior year and 76% lower than five years ago. It's also below the free cash flow per share generated at the depths of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, when Texas Instruments' revenue was 40% below what it is today.

Elliott does not have a problem with the company increasing capex to accommodate future growth and the 2022 plan, when announced, was not necessarily wrong. However, in 2022, consensus expectations for 2026 revenue were $26 billion. Today, expectations have declined by 24% to $20 billion, which has Texas Instruments now spending billions of dollars to build to a 50% excess capacity. Elliott is asking for the company to do what it had done for years and what the industry does and what economic logic dictates  to modulate capex spend based on demand. Elliott does not even take credit for this plan; the firm uses the company's own history as a blueprint. In 2003, Texas Instruments chose a site in Richardson, Texas to build the world's first 300-mm analog fab, known as RFAB 1, in the midst of a semiconductor industry downturn. The company said that it would initially build the facility's shell and then gradually outfit the facility with equipment in accordance with customer demand, as the equipment is 80% of the cost of the plant and a shell building could be fully equipped within six months to meet demand. RFAB 1 largely sat dormant for the next roughly five years and shipped its first products for revenue from in 2010, with Texas Instruments' management frequently saying that RFAB "will ramp up consistent with demand."

Elliott suggests that the company adopt a dynamic capacity-management strategy and introduce a free cash flow per share target of $9.00+ in 2026, representing a level that is about 40% above current investor expectations. The firm thinks that a commitment to prudent capital discipline will restore investors' confidence, while providing Texas Instruments with flexibility to achieve this target through a combination of strong organic growth, market share gains and sensible capacity management. Elliott is not asking the company to cut 2024 or 2025 capex. The firm simply recommends that the company decrease 2026 capex to $2.75 billion if there is no increase in consensus revenue projections or keep it at $5.0 billion if Texas Instruments can increase its market share by 250 basis points. In either case, Elliott thinks the company can achieve $9.01 of free cash flow per share.

The company's capex plan has decimated free cash flow per share and is building to a 50% excess capacity. Elliott's plan restores the free cash flow per share growth and still builds to a 30% or 39% excess capacity. The company might argue that Elliott is being a "short-term minded activist," but Elliott's plan creates short-term value without sacrificing any long-term opportunities or value. It arguably creates more long-term value than the company's plan. Texas Instruments' performance and capex plan is exacerbated by its poor market communication. Free cash flow is down 77% due to an aggressive capex plan, and the company has not publicly laid out a detailed plan or made a case as to why they need 50% excess capacity.

This is such an easy ask, one has to wonder why Elliott has not worked this out with management before having to resort to a public letter. The firm supports the company's strategy. It supports management, and it supports capex for 2024 and 2025, but there is no evidence that Elliott requested a meeting with management prior to sending this letter. Sometimes the process is as important as the content, and Elliott would have a much better chance of persuading management had it approached the company privately.

A proxy fight at a company like this would be a Herculean task for any activist, but if there is any activist with the resources and conviction to do it, it is Elliott. Given the firm's reasonable ask and its support for management outside of this one inexplicable capex decision, we would expect this to settle amicably. We do not see Elliott getting one of their people on this board, but it could use some independent industry executives. Elliott does not go into a situation like this without a Rolodex of industry professionals with whom it consults and who would be available for board duty. If the company thinks it can ignore Elliott, it would be mistaken. But if Texas Instruments needs any additional evidence of Elliott's conviction outside of the firm's history, Elliott has built a $2.5 billion position here, which is big by even the firm's standards.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.
An American Airlines' Embraer E175LR (front), an American Airlines' Boeing 737 (C) and an American Airlines' Boeing 737 are seen parked at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York on May 24, 2024.

A union representing flight attendants for American Airlines Group Inc. on Friday asked workers to prepare for strike action after contract negotiations with the carrier failed to produce an agreement.

"We remain apart on the key economics of the deal plus the company's completely unacceptable demand for scheduling concessions," the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) said in a statement.

APFA said it believes that the National Mediation Board (NMB) which is overseeing the negotiations will bring the parties together for a "last ditch" effort in the next two weeks.

American Airlines and the NMB did not immediately respond to request for comment outside regular business hours.

Lawmakers in the U.S. have urged the NMB to take steps to help about 80,000 flight attendants reach contract deals.

Flight attendants at United Airlines , Alaska Air group, American Airlines and Frontier are among employees at more than a dozen airlines still working to reach new contract deals.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin speaks at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 1, 2024. Nhac Nguyen | Afp | Getty Images

SINGAPORE  The United States remains vital to the future of the Indo-Pacific region, which is "more vital than ever" to the U.S., according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin said that Washington's enduring commitment to the region has been a "springboard" that has enabled transformative growth in the region. "We are all in. No, we're not going anywhere." He was of the view that both the U.S. and this region are "more secure, and more prosperous when we work together," pointing to partnerships in the region, including with the Philippines, Australia and Japan. Austin said that the region is seeing a "new convergence" around nearly all aspects of security in the Indo-Pacific.

This "convergence," he explained, is not an alliance or coalition. Instead, Austin describes it as a set of overlapping and complementary initiatives and institutions, propelled by a shared vision and sense of mutual obligation. "This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart. It isn't about imposing one country's will. It isn't about bullying or coercion. It's about the free choices of sovereign states. It's about notions of goodwill, uniting around the interests that we share and the values that we cherish," Austin said. Some of these values, he said, include the respect for sovereignty and international law, the freedom of sea and skies, as well as "the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue, and not coercion or conflict. And certainly not through so-called punishment." While Austin did not mention China directly during his speech, China had launched "punishment" drills around Taiwan on May 23, three days after the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

watch now

Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has branded Lai as a "separatist."

NATO in the Indo-Pacific

During the Q&A portion, Austin was asked by Sr. Col. Cao Yanzhong of China if the U.S. was trying to build a "NATO-lite" alliance in the region, positing that the eastern expansion of NATO in Europe led to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "I respectfully disagree with your point that the expansion of NATO caused the Ukraine crisis," Austin replied, drawing applause from the room. He laid the blame at the feet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, pointing out that "the Ukraine crisis obviously was caused because Putin made a decision to unlawfully invade his neighbor, who had an inferior military at that point in time." "He assumed that he could very quickly roll over his neighbor and annex the country. That was two plus years ago. He has not achieved any of his strategic objectives to this point. But this was brought on because of a decision made by Mr. Putin."

watch now
Tourists line a street in Venice, Italy, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Venice collected 37 million in overnight tourist taxes in 2023, with hotels charging guests anywhere between 1 and 5.

Italy is caught in an envious trap: it can't live without tourists, but it's having trouble handling the influx, particularly after Covid. Sixty million tourists flooded the country last year, pumping an enormous amount of money into the economy. Travel and tourism accounted for 10.2% of Italy's GDP in 2022, according to Statista. The sector employs approximately 4.4 million people, about 16% of total employment.

"Some days it can take an hour to go 10 kilometers [about 6 miles]," he said, noting that the tiny two-lane roads not only can't handle the traffic, they can't handle the larger cars that are being built. "Many towns can only have traffic go in one direction, so everyone has to wait," he said.

He considers himself fortunate he's a boat driver: he pities the poor tourists who rent cars or try to find an elusive taxi.

"There are days when traffic comes to a stop, you cannot move," our driver told us. He makes his living driving tourists up and down the lake for the famous views of the mountains and the 19th-century villas like Villa del Balbianello, where parts of "Casino Royale" and "Star Wars: Episode II" were filmed.

Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy  When boat drivers start complaining about the tourists overrunning this famous lakeside resort, where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce stayed at the Villa Sola Cabiati in Tremezzo two weeks ago after her series of Paris concerts, you know you have a problem.

A general picture shows the main facade of the Pantheon in Piazza della Rotonda on March 30, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

The problem of "too many tourists" may seem like a problem a country wants to have, but in recent years the crush of visitors has gotten so bad that Italian authorities have had to take measures to avoid damage to centuries old structures that cannot handle the crush of so many visitors. Venice has been charging 5 euros to enter the city for day travelers not staying overnight, for example.

Want to see Da Vinci's "Last Supper" in Milan? Good luck: tickets are sold out weeks in advance, and to avoid irreparable damage to the painting visitors are restricted to roughly 30 at a time for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Not only are there too many tourists, there's not enough people to serve them.

The Italian Association of Employment Agencies (Assolavoro) noted there is a shortage of staff to work in the hotel and beach sectors this summer, which is expected to see a new record for tourists. There's shortages of chefs and waiters in Marche. In Sardinia, about 25,000 seasonal workers are needed.

Italy a bargain? Not quite, but there is a lot of value

Food is still surprisingly affordable, at least compared to New York prices. An espresso in Milan, an hour away, can be had for 1 euro (about $1.10). Croissants for two or three euros.

At the famous Trattoria Milanese in the center of Milan, a generous serving of the city's two most famous dishes  veal Milanese, and osso bucco with risotto Milanese, will only set you back about $30-$35 apiece, and can be had much cheaper in less famous spots. Outstanding local wines can be bought for $20-$30 in restaurants and $10 in the supermarket.

Even Milan's famous bars are not stratospheric. At Camparino in the Galleria, one of the temples of cocktail culture in Italy, you can have a negroni or Aperol spritz for $20, prepared by ridiculously good-looking 25 year old waiters in formal wear preening for the uber-dressed-up crowd strolling past, heading for a night of opera at La Scala.

The crush of visitors means reservations are tough to get. Here on Lake Como, it's still nearly impossible to get a reservation at the Veranda restaurant at one of George Clooney's favorite spots, Villa D'Este (if you're lucky to snag one, be sure to show up: no-shows are charged 100 euros per person).

Clooney himself lives up the street, at Villa Oleandra, which was featured in his film, "Ocean's Twelve."

Of course, if you really want to hang out with A-list, there are no bargains. The famous Villa La Cassinella on the lake can be yours, for 100,000 euros a week. A wedding at Villa Balbiano can cost 320,000 euros, but we're talking 110 people for 3 days. The same 110 wedding guests will set you back 250,00-500,000 euros at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Thinking of calling Uber? Forget it

It's not only hard to get a reservation: it's hard to get a taxi to get there. Or anywhere.

Sharing the phone numbers of reliable private taxi drivers is a bit of an obsession in Lake Como, where the roads are so narrow and crowded, and taxis few and far between, that even short trips must be booked in advance.

It was so hard to get around, even in Milan, that I just hired the cab driver who picked us up at the airport for two days. I was puzzled that the only Uber options were high-priced black cars.

My driver flew into a rage when I mentioned Uber.

"These people are trying to steal the jobs of the taxi drivers," he screamed. "They are taking my job. The politicians have been paid to allow them into the country." He was planning to go on strike next week, along with the other taxi drivers.

He doesn't have much to worry about.

"The Uber service you are familiar with in North America where private individuals drive their own cars is illegal in Italy since 2015," travel writer Rick Steves said in a note to his readers last year.

"Only licensed taxi and limo drivers can provide that service. As a result Uber does provide a service in Italy (called Uber Black, Uber Van) but when you summon a car with Uber, a licensed official black limo driver with a luxury car will show up and as a result the price will be higher than a regular taxi," Steves advised.

A lot higher. Uber wanted 100 euros to take me less than a mile, a 10-minute ride, in central Milan. I paid the cab driver 170 euros for five hours.

Still, standing in front of the "Last Supper," even for 15 minutes, provides one of those sublime experiences that makes the hassle worthwhile.

I was glad it only lasted 15 minutes. I had to get out to call the restaurant we were going to that night for a reservation, and make sure I had a cab to get there. Being a tourist in Italy is turning into a full-time job.
VanEck CEO Jan van Eck sees a major sentiment shift underway in the cryptocurrency market linked to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's approval of a rule change allowing for Ethereum exchange-traded funds.

"This is really one of the most amazing things that I've seen in my career with respect to securities regulation," van Eck told CNBC's "ETF Edge" this week.

VanEck was the first to apply to the SEC for permission to list its proposed Ethereum ETF. With that first hurdle cleared, VanEck can begin the process of bringing the product to market, though the exact timeline is unclear.

"There was a real risk that the SEC was going to lose any kind of jurisdiction over digital assets. So the first reaction was to get the ETF, Ethereum ETF approval green lighted," he said. "But I think there's a bigger narrative going on as well."

To van Eck, the buzz around Ethereum this May means clearer regulation on the horizon and an increased investor interest in crypto. In a statement on its website, his company said that "the evidence clearly shows that ETH is a decentralized commodity, not a security."

Van Eck said the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, or FIT21, passing in the House on May 8 was another major step toward regulatory clarity for cryptocurrencies, even though he is doubtful it will make it to the Senate before the election.

Ether spiked on the SEC's approval of applications to list Ethereum ETFs on May 23, but is virtually flat since then.

Disclaimer
Members of the Michoacan Civil Guard tour the sites where polling stations will be installed on June 2 in Morelia, Mexico on May 30, 2024.

Mexico's drug cartels and gangs appear to be playing a wider role than before in Sunday's elections that will determine the presidency, nine governorships and about 19,000 mayorships and other local posts.

The country's 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 Sunday's 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.
A retired four-star U.S. Navy admiral, who was once the military branch's second-highest-ranking officer, was arrested on Friday for a bribery scheme with two tech CEOs, the Department of Justice announced.

From 2020 to 2022, Robert Burke, a 62-year-old resident of Coconut Creek, Fla., allegedly used his high-ranking status in the Navy to help Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, the co-CEOs of New York-based workplace tech platform Next Jump, win military contracts, according to the DOJ.

"Admiral Burke disputes these charges," Burke's attorney Timothy Parlatore told CNBC on Saturday. "We will be demanding a trial where we expect that he will be found not guilty."

Lawyers for Messenger and Kim did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside business hours. The federal prosecutors' office handling the case declined to provide further comment.

From 2018 to 2019, Next Jump piloted a workforce training program with a small naval arm, according to the DOJ. After the contract was terminated later in 2019, Next Jump was allegedly instructed to cut off contact with Burke.

Parlatore said that such a no-contact mandate could have resulted in Burke becoming vice chief of naval operations. This meant he no longer handled contracting and was no longer the right official to communicate with contractors.

However, in July 2021, according to the DOJ's account, Burke allegedly met with Kim and Messenger and struck a deal to secure a contract for Next Jump that Kim described as worth "triple-digit millions." In exchange, Kim and Messenger allegedly promised Burke employment at their company.

In December 2021, Burke allegedly told his staff to award Kim and Messenger a $355,000 military contract to train the troops he was commanding in Italy and Spain. He allegedly continued pushing other officers to use Next Jump and later tried to hide his role in promoting the product with "false and misleading statements to the Navy," DOJ claimed.

In 2022, Burke started working as a senior partner at Next Jump with a starting annual salary of $500,000 and 100,000 stock options, the DOJ said.

Parlatore confirmed that Next Jump was awarded a $355,000 military contract and that Burke later went on to work for Next Jump for $500,000 a year. But whether one alleged was a bribe for the other, he said, "Absolutely not."

"Admiral Burke believed in the product this company was producing," he added.

Burke faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, while Kim and Messenger each face 20 years.

According to Parlatore, Burke only worked at Next Jump for a couple of months and partly left the organization due to "personality conflicts."

Burke's arraignment will be coordinated on Monday, Parlatore said, and over the next several weeks, he will appear in Washington D.C. court to plead not guilty.

The DOJ's charges against Burke come weeks after a federal judge dismissed felony convictions against five military officers involved in what a senior administration official previously called "one of the most brazen bribery conspiracies in the U.S. Navy's history."

That bribery scheme centered around former defense contractor Leonard Francis, also known as "Fat Leonard," who allegedly gave military officers luxury gifts like Cuban cigars and Kobe beef in exchange for confidential military information.

Five officers had pleaded guilty to accepting Francis' bribes, but on May 21, their felony convictions were dropped due to DOJ prosecutorial errors.

The dismissals stained a long saga of the DOJ's effort to hold those involved in Francis' scheme to account.

Though the Fat Leonard scheme is not directly connected to Burke's case, Parlatore side-eyed the DOJ's timing in bringing Burke's bribery charges.

"In the immediate wake of the Fat Leonard convictions being thrown out due to DOJ misconduct, the timing does seem a bit curious," he said. "It does strike me as somebody at DOJ saying, 'Hey, hold my beer.'"
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to refocus attention on China's threat in the Asia-Pacific on Saturday, seeking to alleviate concerns that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have distracted from America's security commitments in the region.

Just hours after Austin spoke at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy arrived in Singapore, where he will address delegates at the security forum on Sunday.

In a statement on the social media platform X, he said that he had come to gather support from the Asia-Pacific region for a peace summit planned for June 15-16 in Switzerland. He said he planned to hold several meetings, including with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, Austin, and Singaporean investors.

Austin met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the conference on Friday in a bid to cool friction over issues ranging from Taiwan to China's military activity in the South China Sea.

There has been increasing concern that Washington's focus on helping Ukraine counter Russia's invasion and support for Israel's war in Gaza, while trying to ensure that the conflict does not spread, has taken away attention from the Indo-Pacific.

"Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theatre of operations," Austin said in his speech, which appeared aimed at underlining the administration's legacy in the region as President Joe Biden's first term in office nears its end.

Biden is running for re-election in November against former President Donald Trump.

"Let me be clear: The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure," Austin said. "That's why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region."

Austin underscored the importance of alliances in the region.

"And ... peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue, not coercion or conflict. And certainly not through so-called punishment," Austin said, taking a shot at China.

In response, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng said the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy was intended "to create division, provoke confrontation and undermine stability".

"It only serves the selfish geopolitical interests of the U.S. and runs counter to the trend of history and the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and win-win cooperation," said Jing, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission.

Some U.S. officials say Beijing has become more emboldened in recent years, recently launching what it described as "punishment" drills around Taiwan, sending heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks after Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwan's president.
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The 2024 race to be President of the United States has just caught fire. Thursday's conviction of Donald Trump on 34 criminal counts in a hush-money trial held in a Manhattan court has only further divided an already deeply polarised country.

President Biden and Trump have long had a visceral loathing of each other. The guilty verdicts will only exacerbate their mutual hate. This will be the most bitterly fought presidential contest in modern American history.

But it is more than an American story. It has serious implications for the rest of the world too, especially the remaining embattled democracies, most of whom  including Britain  still depend on the U.S. for their ultimate security.

At a time when autocrats are on the march, when democracy is in more danger than at any time since the end of the Cold War  perhaps since the rise of fascism and communism in the 1930s  and when the democratic world is bereft of the leadership it needs to survive, U.S. politicians will be knocking lumps out of each other in a manner so brutal that reconciliation will probably prove impossible in the aftermath of the voting.

Just when the Western world has never been more in need of U.S. leadership, it is unlikely to be forthcoming, no matter who wins the presidential poll on November 5. These are dangerous times for us all.

Thursday's conviction of Donald Trump on 34 criminal counts in a hush-money trial held in a Manhattan court has only further divided an already deeply polarised country

My guess is that the Trump campaign will be fired up far more than the Joe Biden campaign, which has trouble finding its mojo and proceeds at the snail's pace of its leading man, writes Andrew Neil

But they are good times to be President Xi of China and President Putin of Russia, the world's two most powerful and dangerous tyrants.

As they seek to expand their influence and control, by fair means and foul, by diplomatic pressure and military threat, America  the only protagonist with the power to stand up to either of them  will be embroiled in a bitter election that offers its voters a choice between an unpredictable, narcissistic convicted criminal and an incompetent, doddery 81-year-old who is visibly declining.

That noise you can hear emanating from the Kremlin in Moscow and the West Wing of the Zhongnanhai in Beijing is the sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses. I'm pretty sure there will be chuckles in Tehran and Pyongyang too, indeed, anywhere the enemies of democracy gather and plot against us.

The controversial manner of Trump's conviction  hardly American justice's finest hour  hasn't just soured an already bitter U.S. polity. It has emboldened the despots, who increasingly find it hard to take America seriously.

Just imagine the incredulity of Putin, who has used his power to enrich himself (and his cronies) beyond even the dreams of The Donald, as he observed a New York justice system seek to bang up a former president and current presidential candidate for the falsification of business expenses  a crime, yes, but a very minor one.

Consider the amazement of Xi at the ability of the governing party of the world's greatest democracy, where the rule of law and blind justice are meant to be its hallmarks, to drag an opponent through the courts because it fears it might not be able to defeat him at the ballot box.

Isn't that the sort of undermining of freedom, Xi could be forgiven for asking, that is only meant to happen in dictatorships like mine?

Kremlin mischief-makers are already at work: it is 'obvious', says its chief spokesman, that what is going on is 'a de facto elimination of political rivals by all possible legal and illegal means'. In other words, for all America's fine words about freedom and democracy, you're just as bad as we are.

Of course, Democrats argue the Trump trial shows the opposite: that nobody is above the law, not even a former president who is running again for the presidency.

There is some validity in that perspective. But it is equally possible to argue, perhaps with even more validity, that Trump has been treated unequally because nobody else in similar circumstances would have faced the charges he did.

President Putin of Russia and President Xi of China seek to expand their influence and control, by fair means and foul, by diplomatic pressure and military threat

The case is complicated, with six weeks of testimony and 22 witnesses. The jury was then subject to granular guidance from the judge which, when printed out, took up 55 pages. That the jurors were nevertheless able to reach a remarkably quick verdict merely confirms, for Trump supporters, that their man never stood a chance.

Perhaps. Amid the welter of claim and counter-claim, the picture is confusing. So let's try to clarify it.

The case centered on $130,000 in hush money paid through Trump's then legal fixer and all-round dodgy character, Michael Cohen, to a porn star called Stormy Daniels, who was threatening to go public on the eve of the 2016 presidential election with her claim of a one-night stand with Trump back in 2006.

Trump has always denied the assignation, somewhat implausibly. But paying hush money is not illegal. Unsavoury, unseemly, underhand? Yes. But not illegal.

Doctoring the company books to disguise the repayment of Cohen, who had to be reimbursed his outlay of $130,000, is illegal but under New York law is only a misdemeanour, a minor crime. The statute of limitations covering this had already expired.

To reignite it and accuse Trump of a serious crime, the prosecutors had to argue the books had been distorted in pursuit of a more serious underlying crime. What was that? The prosecutors offered a choice of campaign law violations and tax crime.

Even the liberal-left New York Times described this yesterday as an 'unusual legal theory'. The anti-Trump Economist magazine says in its latest edition that it was 'too much of a stretch to command widespread public legitimacy'. The pro-Biden Washington Post deemed it 'not the most legally compelling of cases'.

One of the most remarkable features of the trial was that not once during the examination of 22 witnesses did the prosecution ever refer to what the 'underlying crime' was. It was only when it came to the long-winded closing remarks (which took five hours) that the lead prosecutor suggested what the felony  or serious crime  might be.

It turns out the prosecution case rested on the claim that hush-money was part of a criminal conspiracy to distort the outcome of the 2016 election. But no witnesses were called to testify along these lines. When Trump's defence asked to call New York State's leading expert on campaign finance law, Judge Juan Merchan refused.

Even worse, the judge instructed the jury that, though they had to be unanimous in deciding underlying crimes were involved, they did not have to agree what these crimes were.

Trump at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. The case against him centred on $130,000 in hush money paid through Trump's then legal fixer Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels

Some could think it was state campaign law violations, others federal election law offences, still others unspecified tax crimes  a kind of pick and mix approach to justice. It would be fine if the jury disagreed about what the crime was, just so long as they agreed that there was a crime.

Thus did the judge seem to overrule a cardinal common law principal  that juries must be unanimous to get a conviction.

All this and more will be grist for an appeal, which Trump's lawyers have 30 days to lodge. Any appeal, however, will not be heard before November 5. Indeed the full process could take several years. No appeal can help Trump this side of election day. He will have to fight for the presidency as a convicted felon.

Those close to Trump tell me he's buoyant but now in full martyrdom mode. At a press conference yesterday, he claimed to be the victim of a 'fascist state'. A pro-Trump columnist has designated his trial as America's first 'Stalinist show trial'.

He wasn't surprised by the guilty verdict because he always felt the cards were stacked against him: a Democratic judge (and Biden donor, whose daughter is a progressive Democratic activist) who nearly always sided with the prosecution; a Left-wing Democratic prosecutor (Alvin Bragg) who was elected on a 'Get Trump' platform; and a jury drawn from a solidly Democratic city, most of whom said their primary source of news was from anti-Trump mainstream media.

Republicans are especially animated that Bragg has shown little enthusiasm for doing anything about New York's violent crime wave, but has been determined to convict Trump for wrongful book-keeping entries.

These Trump lines will be parroted on a regular basis for weeks to come. Sentencing will take place on July 11 and is entirely a matter for the judge. Most legal eagles say probation is the most likely penalty for a 77-year-old guilty of a low-level white collar crime with no previous convictions. But Trump thinks the judge is so 'hysterical' he might decide to jail him.

Even so, Trump is unlikely to end up behind bars while the appeal process takes its leisurely course. The Republican convention starts on July 15 in Milwaukee, when Trump will be crowned his party's undisputed champion for the 2024 presidential election.

Thus will America be confronted with a choice between a convicted felon and an ageing  and clearly ailing  incumbent who should be heading for retirement rather than aiming for four more years in the toughest job in the world.

The Democrats hoped to tie up Trump in legal knots to derail his candidacy. They've always known Biden was not the candidate to beat Trump at the ballot box, but didn't know how to dump him. So other means had to be devised to thwart the brash New Yorker. Early signs are that it is backfiring terribly.

The guilty verdict has triggered a flood of fresh donations to the Trump campaign, so much so that its website went down on Thursday night. A new poll for National Public Radio found that most Americans are shrugging off a Trump conviction and that it would generally not affect voting.

A Daily Mail poll that Trump referred to several times yesterday reported that, since he was convicted, 22 per cent now had a more favourable view of him versus 16 percent who said they now viewed him more negatively.

My guess is that the Trump campaign will be fired up far more than the Biden campaign, which has trouble finding its mojo and proceeds at the snail's pace of its leading man.

But what matters is how this all goes down among moderate and independent voters, especially in the swing states. In a very real sense the 2024 election is going to be determined in the sprawling outer suburbs of places like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Detroit. For now at least I'd say they were going Trump's way, such is the growing disillusion with the U.S. legal system.

But there is no good news in any of this. Suppose Trump loses in November but his conviction is overturned afterwards on appeal. That would rip America apart.

Or suppose Trump wins despite Democratic lawfare. Chances are he will go on the rampage seeking revenge. That too would rip America apart.

Perhaps U.S. justice is the biggest loser of all in what is, in many respects, a legal farce. Its courts and judges have always been somewhat politicised (some judges are even elected) but, in a deeply divided country, this aspect of the system has become more marked than ever.

It's reached a point at which the politics of the prosecutors, judge and jury are becoming the key determinants in whether a case is brought and what the verdict is.

This is not how justice is meant to operate in a democratic society in which justice and politics should stay separate.

The U.S. Constitution, which is the very embodiment of the principle of the separation of powers, no longer operates as it should. U.S. courts increasingly resemble what you'd expect in a banana republic, not the impartial and independent courts of a mature democracy.

It is a measure of the low point America has reached that the outcome of its upcoming presidential contest could now be determined by how voters feel about the paying of hush money to a porn star.

This is not exactly the republic the Founding Fathers envisaged all those years ago.
Sir Keir Starmers adviser was enthusiastically downbeat. There will be no rabbit in our manifesto, he revealed. We may have one or two little extra bits. But there will be no major new policy reveal. Well not give the Tories anything to unpick. There wont be a single new line they can point to and say, Aha! Look! A new spending commitment!

Over the past week, several political observers have begun to question Labours Election strategy. While the Tories have been making the running with a series of eye-catching announcements, Starmers safety-first campaign has looked bland and insipid.

And even before the chaotic climbdown over Diane Abbott, even some Labour MPs were starting to worry they were creating a vacuum their opponents could exploit.

It's Rishi Sunak, pictured yesterday, who is issuing a raft of reckless announcements. And in doing so, he is helping make 2024 a change Election

Starmer cant carry on like this for another five weeks, a Tory Minister told me. Eventually hell have to tell the country what hes going to do if he gets into No 10.

He isnt going to. Labours leader has no intention of doing or saying a single new, interesting or noteworthy thing between now and polling day. For one very simple reason. He thinks Rishi Sunak will win the Election for him.

Conventional wisdom has it the Tories have been setting the political weather. But Labour chiefs have been astounded by what one described to me as the Torys very own Jeremy Corbyn strategy.

Its incredible, he observed. Theyre running a core-vote strategy that is almost identical to our 2019 campaign.

An ideological wish list. A series of completely uncosted spending announcements. If we did this, wed be slaughtered.

Rightly. The comparison with the Corbynite kamikaze dive that saw Labour offering everything in 2019 from vast NHS spending increases, through a new referendum to reverse Brexit, to the biggest raft of nationalisation since the war, is an entirely legitimate one.

Take, for example, the Tories policy on National Service. An attempt to inculcate a new ethos of public-spirited social engagement is one thing. But Britain in 2024 is not the Britain of 1954. And what Sunak unveiled in last weeks Mail on Sunday was something more akin to a policy edict from Soviet-era Russia.

Conscription or mandatory state service, outside a period of emergency, are not part of our national culture or conversation. And the PMs inability to grasp that basic fact merely embedded the message he is out of touch with the country he aspires to lead.

As did his announcement on Mickey Mouse degrees and creating 100,000 more apprentices a year by the end of the next parliament. This was unveiled with a tweet from Sunak proclaiming: You dont have to go to university to succeed in life.

This is a noble sentiment  but not when delivered by a man who was Head Boy at Winchester, graduated with a first in PPE from Oxford, and then did an MBA at Stanford.

Labour's leader Sir Keir Starmer has no intention of doing or saying a single new, interesting or noteworthy thing between now and polling day

The solution to an epidemic of superficial degree courses is better degree courses. Its not funnelling children from working-class backgrounds into vocational education to allow our palaces of learning to again become the preserve of a privileged elite.

The voters arent idiots. They know full well we arent going to see the sons and daughters of Conservative Cabinet Ministers signing up to be an optical assistant at Lewisham Specsavers, or a trainee chef at the Gipsy Moth pub  two of the enticing offers currently sitting on the Governments Finding An Apprenticeship e-portal. And when they see Sunak pontificating about the school of life, they see someone who, at best, is being patronisingly paternalistic, and, at worse, an outright snob.

Yes, Starmer and his comrades obviously arent averse to a bit of class warfare themselves, as their assault on private schools shows. But at least they have the political nous to align themselves with the majority of the electorate when they do so.

Even the Tories quadruple pensions lock announcement, which was landed relatively efficiently, failed to survive the most basic scrutiny. It was a great fat 2.4 billion uncosted spending commitment, a Shadow Minister gleefully told me. They said it would be funded by cracking down on tax evasion. Thats literally the stuff John McDonnell [Corbyns Shadow Chancellor] used to come out with. Theyre trashing the last vestiges of fiscal credibility just to try to shore up their base.

With predictable consequences.

On Thursday, former Tory Deputy Chairman Lord Ashcroft published detailed polling analysis of the campaign to date. It found the perception the Tories were setting the agenda was accurate: 65 per cent of those polled had seen a story or activity generated by the Conservatives, compared to just 54 per cent who had seen something similar from Labour. Yet the same poll gave Labour a 23-point lead, a roughly 300-seat majority.

Most damagingly, Sunak's Corbyn Strategy is warping the entire framing of the campaign. Pictured: The former Labour leader at a Gaza rally in March

The frantic blizzard of policy announcements from Sunak and his party are now actively undermining their cause. Not least because its allowing Labour to evade serious scrutiny by putting the spotlight on to the Tories, their own offering, and its numerous flaws.

Its also breaking the golden rule of Tory campaigning. Labour officials had braced themselves for a ferocious assault from the vaunted Central Office attack machine.

But as Ashcrofts polling reveals, only 6 per cent of those questioned could recall at least one negative story generated by the Conservatives targeting Labour.

And most damagingly, Sunaks Corbyn Strategy is warping the entire framing of the campaign.

Boris Johnson won in 2019 by making it a security and continuity election.

He successfully contrasted Labours reckless radicalism with his own pledge to deliver an oven-ready deal, and reaffirm the 2016 decision of the British people by getting Brexit done.

By contrast, its Sunak who is issuing a raft of reckless announcements. And in doing so, helping make 2024 a change Election. To the benefit of one person, and one party. Again, Lord Ashcrofts polling is clear. The single most effective message of the election to date is Its Time For Change. Its author? Sir Keir Starmer.

So yes, Labours campaign remains a vacuum. Does anyone actually know what Labour would do if they got into power? the Prime Minister asked last week.

To which the answer is No. But to the British people, it doesnt matter any more.

Starmer cant just sleepwalk into Downing Street, a Tory MP told me last week.

He can. And if the Conservative campaign continues to look like its being run by Jeremy Corbyn, he will.
It's not every day you get to delve into the contents of a lost suitcase and keep what's inside it, so when I was given the chance to rummage through someone's abandoned luggage for work, I jumped at the chance in the hope I might bag some second-and goodies. Sadly, I was left bitterly disappointed.

We spent 80 to replicate the excitement drummed up by TikToker Becky Chorlton when she purchased luggage abandoned at London Heathrow Airport earlier this month.

The lucky thrifter found a Guess bag, 'stunning' sundresses - with tags on - and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket all wrapped up inside a shiny blue Delsy suitcase, which retails for around 275 at Selfridges.

But I wasn't so lucky. Instead, I was met with crotch-stained shorts, sand-beaten budget t-shirts and a load of used male and female underwear. On the bright side, a pair of worn children's crocs were super cute.

It was clear my suitcase belonged to a family who would now be forever separated from their personal items. I admit, I felt [slight] sympathy for them.

MailOnline purchased a lost suitcase abandoned at London Heathrow Airport and this is what happened when our reporter Maria Okanrende looked inside (pictured: Maria finds a pair of worn adult undies)

London Heathrow Airport holds onto lost property for three months from the date it was found. The suitcase we received was filled to the brim and appeared to contain at least a week's worth of clothing for a family-of-three

After realising everything inside the box was both worn and dirty, our reporter was left far from impressed and branded the whole thing a rip off

London Heathrow Airport holds onto lost property for three months from the date it was found or handed in and can charge you up to 25 to retrieve misplaced items.

However, cases left unclaimed are sometimes given to auction houses which then sell off the bags (and all their contents) to the highest bidder.

We purchased ours from Undelivrd for 80. The company states that personal details and digital devices are removed from the luggage before they're sent out, but apart from that everything is left as is. The size and brand of the suitcase you receive is decided at random.

Brimming with extreme excitement, I opened the suitcase in the office, and the contents - as well as my unimpressed reaction - were caught on camera.

Donning a pair of disposable gloves for safety (which I ended up feeling very grateful for), I eagerly ripped open its black nylon casing with my hands. Applause goes to Undelivrd for securing the luggage so tightly.

My hysteria soared when I discovered the plastic grey suitcase was bursting at the seams, for it apparently contained too many goodies to for the case to bear.

It was so jam-packed that the suitcase was only zipped halfway, leaving me an easy job accessing its contents.

The thrill of opening someone else's suitcase - legally - was a wonderful feeling and I wasted no time in rummaging through it. But I can only describe the next few moments as painfully tragic.

We purchased the lost suitcase - originally abandoned at London Heathrow Airport - from Undelivrd for 80. Donning a pair of disposable gloves for safety, Maria eagerly ripped open the suitcase on camera

One of the first things Maria discovered were a cute pair of blue children's crocs. This may have been the only item in the suitcase Maria approved of

Although some may argue that worn bikini bottoms are what you might expect to find in a lost suitcase haul, Maria had hoped to find something to the tune of 'stunning' sundresses - as found by TikToker Becky Chorlton earlier this month

I first laid my eyes on what appeared to be children's clothing, including a small t-shirt with dinosaur images, baby shorts and a tiny pair of crocs. Although adorable I quickly realised the money spent was on its way down the toilet.

I had hoped to uncover my own pot of treasure similar to online vintage clothing seller Becky Chorlton. Perhaps even a few things I could wear myself.

Brushing aside my sympathy for the poor child who had lost their holiday gear, I continued on my now desperate search for something - anything - to make me feel the purchase was worth it.

The contents' value was further diminished by the fact that all the clothing in the suitcase was not only worn, but overwhelmingly dirty.

I spotted a trio of what appeared to be men's shorts all equally marked with very prominent cream and brown liquid stains near the crotch area. Thank goodness I wore gloves.

She also came across three pairs of men's shorts, including this purple pair which contained a brown stain near the crotch

A second red pair was also dirty and featured cream-coloured stains at the centre - which Maria quipped were signs of a 'very good time'

At one point she thought she'd laid her hands on a phone - but unfortunately for her it was some sort of mosquito repelling device

One of the passengers - presumably a father - had clearly prepared for hot weather as he'd also packed a t-shirt decorated with palm tree logos.

I also found skincare bottles and children's medicine jars covered in German writing. I began to wonder if this family were originally from Deutschland and had lost their suitcase during a stopover in London.

And after finding a tot's t-shirt emblazoned with a welcome message from Egypt, I stitched together a background story - one which pointed to the family visiting a resort in North Africa.

Back to my newly acquired luggage - things had gone from bad to worse.

Everything inside it had been worn, used and was soaked almost entirely in sand.

Crumpled up and stained underwear filled many corners of the box, while worn children's socks filled the others.

Next I found a few dresses folded together. And while one male t-shirt bared a Primark label, intriguingly most of the female clothing bore no labelling.

Not only were the clothes dirty, but so was the suitcase itself. The entire box was filled with sand

Maria said the financial value of its contents became clearer after she discovered items from shops like Primark, such as this men's shirt

Our reporter also found a woman's white shirt dress from budget fast fashion retailer Shein

Body and skincare items were found to be written in German - perhaps giving a clue as to where the family were from

The mother opted for an off-the-shoulder floral gown, a white shirt dress, a mismatched bikini as well as other worn summer essentials.

The suitcase also contained two adult toothbrushes, a visibly overused child's toothbrush and various tropical insect repellents.

Although some might say it was filled with the kinds of things you would expect from a travelling family, I couldn't help but hide my disappointment.

Needless to say purchasing lost luggage is a gamble, and what you'll receive simply comes down to the luck of the draw.

I personally think the whole thing is a rip off and isn't worth the money spent.

However, I am pleased to have learnt how to make better use of suitcase space. Whoever packed almost a week's worth of clothing for three people into one box is a genius.
A mother-of-three has revealed her controversial parenting quirks and said she doesn't care if 'lazy parents' don't like them.

Rosie Graham, 29, from Bedfordshire, gives her children extra homework as she doesn't feel she can rely on schools to provide them with a full education.

The parent insists that the additional workload works wonders for her three children, six-year-old Hunter, five-year-old Dakota, and two-year-old Saint.

This includes doing worksheets on the weekend, as well as learning various life skills like helping around the house.

The busy mother is not afraid to penalise her kids if they've not followed her rules, claiming she is preparing them for the real world where actions have consequences.

Rosie Graham, 29, from Bedfordshire, opts to give her children extra homework as she doesn't feel she can rely on schools to provide them with a full education

Rosie said: 'I don't rely solely on the school system to educate my children because teachers are under so much pressure to teach well with a mountain of paperwork.

'They don't have the time to work one-to-one with children and give my children undivided attention when it comes to teaching.

'The UK school system is lacking funding and it's unfair to expect teachers to teach a whole class of varying needs to an exceptional level.

'I see the school system as a support to my children's education, it's a luxury that so many people around the world don't have access to an education.

'It is not a teacher's job to raise our children - it's our job. My children's school have fantastic teachers but that doesn't mean that it should be down solely to them.

'As a parent, it is my responsibility to make sure my children are educated, the school system is a luxury bonus.

'We do maths, English and science every weekend, in the form of worksheets, experiments and daily life.

'Saint also does extra activities to practice his fine motor skills, flash cards and educational games.

The parent insists that the additional workload works wonders for her three children, six-year-old Hunter, five-year-old Dakota, and two-year-old Saint (pictured)

'I also teach them life skills cooking, cleaning and survival skills such as making shelters, staying safe in water and identifying plants.'

Rosie, who shares her insights on TikTok account @liferaisingthree, also has strict meal and bed times that her children follow.

She said: 'Children in between these ages need between 10-14 hours sleep a night.

'When they sleep their heart rate and blood pressure goes down allowing their heart to replenish and rest.

'Children need a good amount of sleep for good development - especially brain development.

'I often get told they go to sleep too early - between 6-6.30 - but they fall asleep within minutes and sleep 12 hours a night.

'I don't care if Jane down the road lets her kids stay up until 10pm because she can't be bothered to sort a bedtime routine out.

'It doesn't affect me. I have done this routine with my children for years so it's normal for them'.

Before she puts the kids to bed, Rosie makes sure they have dinner, they play and relax together, bathe and are read a bedtime story.

The busy mother makes sure she cooks dinner before her children return from school, to avoid plying them with snacks that would put them off dinner later.

'It doesn't make sense to me to give them a snack when they get in for them to tell me they are full up and not eat dinner.

'Currently there are no exceptions to this - after school clubs happen from 4:30 onwards so they eat before they leave'.

The busy mother is not afraid to penalise her kids if they've not followed her rules, claiming she is preparing them for the real world where actions have consequences

Rosie, who also doesn't allow her children to sleep over at anyone other than an immediate family member's home, is also cautious of too much screen time, placing an emphasis on outdoor play.

She explained: 'I'm not trying to raise children who live life through a screen.As long as you have the right clothes and shoes, there's no reason why children shouldn't be outside exploring in all weathers.

'It encourages them to use their imagination, social skills, teamwork and improves their physical health.

'My children love being outdoors and are only allowed on their tablets on a weekend. We don't use technology during the week and we get to spend proper quality time together.

'They don't spend their time sat inside on consoles - we're out together enjoying nature.

'They are also early risers so we get to spend two to three hours together before school'.

Rosie also opts to pay her children pocket money, which she feels helps teach discipline and budgeting skills.

She said: 'The children get 8 pocket money a week.

'They have to save 3 of it and get 5 to spend on the weekend if they have been respectful and done things such as made their beds throughout the week.

'If they haven't, then they get 1 taken off for every time they've been disrespectful to us or each other.

'It's important that this consequence is put in place because if not they will not learn cause and effect.

Rosie also opts to pay her children pocket money, which she feels helps teach discipline and budgeting skills, but is trolled on her social media for being a helicopter parent

'They will grow up to think that it's OK to act disrespectfully because no consequences will occur and that doesn't happen in the real world.

'My family and friends are aware that I'm a self-confessed control freak so they're used to it'.

She said she has faced criticism online for the ways she raises her children.

Rosie said: 'I often get comments online saying "poor kids", "they don't have any fun" and "when do you spend time with them?"

'But these are comments often from lazy parents who lack the discipline to implement and keep going such a routine. I often get hateful and abusive comments on my social media.

'But if that's what it takes to raise respectful, intelligent, resilient, kind and caring children, then I'm OK with that'.
A multimillionaire mom has shared the four key steps that she believes all parents should take to ensure their kids become financially literate - as she revealed that two of her children were able to buy real estate before age 20 using their own money.

Julie Roy, 50, originally from Ontario, Canada, started a private Montessori preschool out of her mom's basement at age 28 'with no experience or mentorship' using a $25,000 loan from a 'back-alley shark.'

Through 'sheer determination,' she paid off the loan in a year, and she quickly turned the small preschool into a booming business that expanded to over seven different locations throughout Canada.

Julie eventually sold the schools and relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband Beau, now 52, and their four kids: Xavier, now 20, Xander, now 18, Xane, now 14, and Xoe, now 13.

There, she started another set of preschools - but ultimately sold those too for a hefty profit.

A multimillionaire mom has shared the four key steps that she believes all parents should take to ensure their kids become financially literate from a young age

She believes that all moms and dads, well-off or not, can help their children become 'financially literate' using these four tips. She's seen with her kids and husband

She has now amassed more than $600 million in assets and dedicates her life to helping other aspiring entrepreneurs 'multiply net worth, create passive income streams, and secure generational wealth.'

Julie, who is also a bestselling author and podcast host, recently spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com about how she achieved her immense success - and according to the self-made entrepreneur, the key to becoming wealthy is a 'mindset shift' that she wished she made much earlier in life.

That's why she thinks it's extremely important that parents teach their kids from a young age how to plan for their futures.

Julie's two eldest kids were able to buy their own homes at age 18 and 19 using money they had earned and saved over the years - and yours can too.

She believes that all moms and dads, well-off or not, can help their children become 'financially literate' using these four tips.

Implement the spend, save, give method: Julie let her kids spend 50 per cent of their allowance, but had them save 40 per cent and donate the last 10 per cent

Julie used the 'save, spend, give' method with her kids from a young age, which means her kids had to save 40 per cent of their allowance and give 10 per cent to charity

Julie used something that she called the 'save, spend, give' method with her kids from a young age.

That meant that any allowance or income that they earned would be separated into three jars - one for spending, one for saving, and one for giving away.

She said she usually allowed them to spend 40 per cent of any money they received, had them put 50 per cent into savings, and made them donate the last 10 per cent to a 'charity of their choice.'

'They have to know they can't have a dollar and spend 99 cents of it because this is not going to be [a successful way] to live,' she explained.

'When they're little, the easiest way to teach kids [about money] is fractionalizing it, so that's why we we did that.'

Knowledge is power: Teach your kids about money from as early as possible, and use games like Monopoly to start the conversation

According to Julie, the key to making sure your kids will grow up to be wealthy is giving them as much knowledge about money as possible

According to Julie, the key to making sure your kids will grow up to be wealthy is giving them as much knowledge about money as possible.

She pointed out that playing simple games like Monopoly or Cashflow can be 'awesome' ways to start a conversation with your kids about money. She's seen with her husband and kids

'We put [our kids] in rooms with people that are doing incredible things. They've been in rooms with billionaires. We bring them to all the financial literacy conferences we can,' she explained.

While others may not have the same opportunities as her, she pointed out that there's so much knowledge that can be derived from the internet and even from books.

'For me, as a kid [who came] from a middle or lower income neighborhood, [financial literacy] was inaccessible,' she continued.

'Our parents didn't know any better. We just knew what we knew. So [give your kids] access to anything that you can. There's a lot of YouTube videos now on financial literacy.'

She pointed out that playing simple games like Monopoly or Cashflow can be 'awesome' ways to start a conversation with your kids about money.

Get them working from a young age: Julie stressed the importance of making children earn their money through chores or helping around the house

She shared: 'Our kids have been working since they could. I think having the ability to work for money is really important to teach kids'

Julie stressed the importance of making children earn their money through chores or by helping out around the house.

'It puts good work ethic in them, and [teaches them about] money management,' she explained.

'Our kids have been working since they could. I think having the ability to work for money is really important to teach kids.'

She explained that getting wealthy was never an overnight process, so having your kids work for their money from a young age would teach them that they had to put in effort if they wanted to receive money.

'If you're trying to start a business, you might have to put in an extra 20 to 30 hours a week outside of your [job],' Julie added.

'We've put in 70 or 80-hour work weeks. I had three or four jobs [at first]. You cannot think that you're just gonna leave a job and create a business overnight. That's not what happens.

'The sustainability of running a business and creating a life for yourself from the business is hard. It takes a lot of hours and a lot of willpower.'

It's all about the mindset: Teach your kids to spend on things that will make them more money in the end, rather than 'liabilities' like cars and houses

In the end, Julie explained that becoming wealthy really came down to a 'mindset shift' that you could help your kids make early on. She's seen with her husband

In the end, Julie explained that becoming wealthy really came down to a 'mindset shift' that you could help your kids make early on.

She said it's important to focus on using your money to make more money - either by investing in the stock market or in real estate - rather than spending on 'liabilities' like cars or houses.

'I think it's a hard mindset switch for Americans because they constantly buy liabilities that don't give them back anything,' Julie said.

'We think of houses and cars as assets in the American culture, when a house is not an asset - it's a 30-year mortgage to a bank. And you're paying for upkeep and maintenance.'

As an example, she suggested that you tell your kids that instead of buying a single-room house they should use their money to buy a four-bedroom abode, and rent out the other three rooms.

'It is a nonconventional way of thinking. And I think parents have to have that mindset switch first, and then apply it to the kids,' she added.

'It's really important to teach kids to start making money and investing early. I wish we would have started investing 20 years before we started.

'Invest, even if it's [a little] at a time. The mindset of working to invest, not working to buy liabilities, that's a huge mindset shift. It's understanding that investing is really the key to wealth in America.'

The mom-of-four added, 'We think of houses and cars as assets, when a house is not an asset - it's a 30-year mortgage to a bank. And you're paying for upkeep and maintenance'

She also encouraged her kids to make money outside of their jobs through 'side hustles.'

'We taught [our kids] early on about having external revenue sources besides your [9-5 job] and why that is necessary,' Julie dished.

'If you rely only on one income, then there's a ceiling on that income. But you have the opportunity to change your top line.

'Lots of people focus with their kids on expenses, like, "Don't spend this," or, "You can't have that because you don't have enough money."

'We just keep teaching [our kids], "You can buy whatever you want, but you have to continue to add to your top line [of income]."

'Your income is derived by your ability to think about how big you wanna be. So if you wanna buy a Porsche, then you can't have a job that pays you $50,000 a year.

'And if it pays you $50,000 a year, you have to find out how to make another $50,000 from other things.

'Either you get side jobs, side hustles, or you add cash flow revenue sources that are coming in while you're sleeping.

'Teaching [kids] about the mindset of adding money and value and income to their top line, even when they're not working for it, [is key].'
An American mother living in the UK has revealed the one big issue she has with the UK's education system.

Lisa Dollan who goes by Yorkshire Peach on TikTok ventured across the Atlantic after 30 years of living in Colombus, Georgia.

Regularly documenting her family life as an American mother in Britain - as well as how much she loves the country - the parent shared the one aspect of UK life she dislikes.

Divulging that her son was on the cusp of heading to secondary school, the content creator queried why we don't have a middle school system.

'Now you guys know I agree with 99.5 per cent of things here and prefer them to American things,' she said.

There are many aspects of British life Lisa Dollan (pictured) loves - but she still prefers the structure of the American education system

'However, this - I just can't get on board and it's because my son is going to be going into high school not next year but the next.'

Her child is currently in year five, meaning in the next two years he will be walking the halls with kids up to the age of 18 - depending if the school has a sixth form.

And the American mother isn't too comfortable with that thought - at all.

She queried: 'Sorry where is middle school? He's just too little. He's just too everything.

'There must be someone who agrees with me on this. Where is middle school?'

Lisa said she believes the US education system structure is better, due to its three steps - elementary, middle and high school.

She said: 'From age eleven to age 15 you are in middle school which is a good transition for those really key years.

'Here ten and 11 year olds are thrown in with 16 years olds [and] I just can't get my head around it.'

She added: 'I think the Americans get that part right. I really do because my kids are nowhere near ready. It freaks me out.'

'I'm in the UK and we have first, middle and upper schools here. Middle is year five to year eight,' one penned.

Several others reasoned adopting America's system would be pointless due to the fact many can opt to leave mainstream education at 16.

'Its really not that bad. Better than having to leave school three times and make friends again,' another chimed.

Explaining her son would be in secondary school in a fewy years, she exclaimed he was 'too little' and said Britain should have middle schools

Many flocked to the comments in attempt to reassure the American mother her son would be fine in secondary school whilst others highlighted some areas of the UK do have middle schools

'[I] think everyone thinks that about going to high school its a scary process he will be fine,' one viewer added.

However many were in agreement with the mother's take on middle school, with some sharing their own middle school experiences.

'I went to a middle school and I completely agree that it definitely helped transition to high school and was less daunting,' a user said.

'I work in a secondary as a cover teacher and the UK really needs to adopt the middle school transition,' another said.

'Because the year seven's remain like fish out of water until they get to year nine.'
When selling your home, first impressions are everything. The right furniture and furnishings can make your home appealing, but mistakes in this area can quickly turn potential buyers away.

From making rooms feel cluttered with too much furniture, to having outdated furnishings, Liv Conlon has seen it all when it comes to reasons why a house wont sell.

Mum-of-one Liv is the CEO of ThePropertyStagers which furnishes more than 300 homes a year to make them more appealing to potential buyers.

Whats more, seven-figure entrepreneur Liv, 25, originally from Glasgow but who now lives in Marbella, can also give style advice to sellers who are looking to achieve above the asking price - whether its on a strict budget or a luxury home.

Here are Livs top ten common missteps to avoid to ensure your home is staged to perfection.

Liv Conlon, pictured, is the CEO of ThePropertyStagers which furnishes more than 300 homes a year to make them more appealing to potential buyers

The 25-year-old, pictured, who is originally from Glasgow but now lives in Marbella said that you should keep style consistent throughout the house

1. Overcrowding with Furniture

There is a misconception that home stagers use smaller sized furniture pieces in order to maximise the scale of a room, which isnt always true. The real art in furnishing your home for sale is placing statement furniture pieces, which can be large, but not too many.

An abundance of furniture can make a room feel cramped and small. Buyers are looking for spaciousness and flow, not a labyrinth of couches and coffee tables. Opt for fewer pieces that serve multiple purposes and are appropriately scaled to the room size.

The layout of your furniture should highlight the best features of each room and facilitate movement. Avoid blocking windows, doorways, and pathways. Arrange furniture to create conversational areas and to showcase space and functionality

2. Mismatched Styles

Consistency is key in home staging. Mixing modern furniture with antique pieces can create a disjointed look that confuses buyers, as can mixing interior design styles. This does not only apply to one room, this applies to every room.

You want to create a cohesive style throughout each room of your home so that when a potential buyer is either perusing the internet and swiping through images or at an in-person viewing they arent experiencing interior whiplash as they transition from room to room.

You can assign a singular style or one particular hue to the full home on a budget, there is no need to refurnish your whole home, you can achieve this look with soft furnishings and accessories to draw similarity between each room. To work out which style would suit your home best, consider the end buyer. Are they a modern family, a trendy couple or an older demographic?

3. Outdated Furnishings

To achieve the maximum offer possible for your home, people want to buy a home that is relevant in this era. Furniture that looks like its from a bygone era can date your home, making it less appealing to contemporary buyers and will jeopardise achieving the price you want.

Outdated furnishings insinuates a potential refurbishment opportunity or an estate sale which insinuates a bargain is to be had as work is needed to bring the property value up to its maximum value. Replace or reupholster dated pieces with more modern, neutral options that appeal to a broader audience.

Liv first had the idea of house staging when she was 17. She realised that giving a home a show room feel would lead to a quicker sale

Liv suggested ensuring that you have a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting to highlight your furnishings and create a warm, inviting atmosphere in bedrooms and living rooms

4. Personalised Decor

While your family photos and quirky collectibles have sentimental value, they can make it difficult for buyers to envision themselves in your home, and they often result in a cluttered atmosphere. Remove the majority of your family photo frames, inspirational quote plaques, souvenirs from your travel so that buyers can imagine adding their own personal touches.

5. Placing Your Furniture Around the TV

The modern person positions all of their furniture around their TV, however this is often the non-optimal position for your large furniture pieces. The goal is to create a wow effect on the entrance of each room, this translates to the bed facing you upon entrance of the bedroom (unless facing a view where the viewer can visualise waking up) or the sofa positioned towards the door rather than the wall. This will create impactful images for your online presence and a jaw dropping reaction whilst viewing.

6. Neglecting Scale and Proportion

Furniture that is too large or too small for a room can disrupt the balance and make the space feel awkward.

Ensure that all pieces are appropriately scaled to the rooms dimensions. For example, a massive sectional sofa in a small living room will dominate the space and make it feel claustrophobic whereas a small sofa in a large living space will feel sparse and cheaply implemented. To create impact and focal points, consider oversized accessories, artwork and mirrors rather than furniture pieces that oppress the space.

7. Ignoring Lighting and Accessories

A beautifully furnished room can still fall flat if its poorly lit. You could describe a room being poorly lit if there is too little light or if overhead pendants or spotlights are being used throughout the whole home.

The only time the big light is appropriate is in a small bathroom, kitchen or utility space where its required. For rooms that require ambience such as the bedroom or lounge ensure that you have a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting to highlight your furnishings and create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Furniture should not be centred around the TV in the living space, but this reduces the 'wow' effect of the layout

Stick to neutral colours overall and save bolder shades for pops of accent colour

The bed should your be facing you as you walk into the bedroom so that viewers can perfectly visualise waking up in this room

8. Overly Bold Colours and Patterns

While bold colours and patterns can express personality, they might not appeal to the majority of buyers. Stick to neutral tones for larger pieces of furniture and use bolder colours sparingly as accents. This will make your property pop online but wont repel those who are offended by boldness. This creates a versatile palette that appeals to more people and makes rooms feel larger and more inviting.

9. Worn or Damaged Furniture

Furniture that is visibly worn, stained, or damaged can give the impression that the home hasnt been well-maintained. It immediately places doubt in your buyer's mind that there are flaws to spot throughout the property, which will result in nit-picking and discount opportunities. Invest in repairing or replacing pieces that show signs of wear and tear to present a well-cared-for appearance, or if youre on a budget.

10. Too Much or Too Little Furniture

Striking the right balance is essential. Too much furniture can overwhelm a space, while too little can make it feel sparse and unwelcoming. Aim for a balance that makes each room feel fully furnished yet spacious. If youre furnishing an empty space, consider what pieces will add to the aesthetic appeal of a property rather than a functional purpose. Opt for a console table with lamps and mirror rather than a chest of drawers, opt for a vanity desk over a wardrobe. If youre optimising your own home, draw attention to vignettes in your home rather than functional items such as media units or wardrobes.

Staging your home effectively is all about creating an inviting, functional, and aesthetically pleasing space that allows potential buyers to see themselves living there. Avoiding these common furniture and furnishing mistakes can significantly enhance the appeal of your home, making it more attractive to buyers and potentially leading to a quicker, more profitable sale. Remember, less is often more, and neutral, well-maintained furnishings will always be in style when it comes to selling a home.

Liv Conlon is the CEO of ThePropertyStagers which furnishes more than 300 homes a year to make them more appealing to potential buyers.
Dear Bel,

Id be grateful for any thoughts, as Im hearing conflicting messages from friends and just dont know what to do.

My husband and I are in our early 30s  together over ten years. Ive always been the more sociable and energetic one, but over time hes withdrawn further away from being an interesting and communicative partner. In short, Im bored  and have been deeply unhappy for over a year now.

I dont fancy him and dont know whether I love him as anything more than a companion. I cant envisage us raising children together, though I do want a family.

His past gives clues as to why he lacks confidence, which hell admit, but though Ive tried I cant seem to help him. Ive changed my expectations, but we seem to be two fundamentally different people who cant meet in the middle. Weve had open (one-way really; he says little) discussions where Ive been very frank about how I feel. Weve tried counselling, which unfortunately didnt seem to resolve anything.

Ive considered a trial separation but it seems such a big step. Whatever he tries to do, I still cant bring myself to love him as I ought.

As an added complication, Ive fallen heavily in love with a mutual friend, who is also married. I hope I would never have an affair but Im increasingly tempted. Another factor is that I am a Christian, who believes in the sanctity of marriage, so feel appalled at myself for falling out of love with the person Im supposed to be with for ever!

Do you believe its possible to fall back in love  and lust? Should I stay or go?

CORINNA

Bel Mooney replies: As I read through your letter, I kept thinking of ways to consider each problem within your marriage, as you raised it.

Here we have two people, with different personalities and who have changed  as people will. Theres nothing strange about that; surely its the case within most marriages?

What couples stay in love  and lust in exactly the same way as the years pass? Human emotions arent set in aspic and nor should we expect them to be. What we must expect of ourselves is honesty  and kindness.

Reading on I came to whats probably the crux of the matter. You write: As an added complication, Ive fallen heavily in love with a mutual friend, who is also married.

Aha, the truth, I thought. Would you have written if you didnt have these feelings for somebody else?

When people fall in love outside marriage one of the first things they do is start to rewrite their history.

Switching off affection, sexual desire and fairness, they also turn qualities in the spouse that were perfectly acceptable into newly discovered irritants. They exaggerate and deny in a dishonest but instinctive process  in order to make excuses for coldness and to justify infidelity.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK My brittle, parching heart, dont blame it on the others. Myself, I failed to water it. From Your Own Sensitivity At Least by Norigo Ibharabi (Japanese poet, 1926-2006) Advertisement

Id be very curious to know whether you went for the counselling before or after you developed these feelings for the mutual friend.

You dont specify the duration, but if you were already in love and, as a result, had turned away from your husband, then the counselling was bound to fail, wasnt it?

People stop trying once they have glimpsed the flash of green in the next field. And they can tell lies within the therapeutic situation because they dont want it to work.

I respect the religious scruples that represent the moral code you wish to live by, yet we no longer live in a society where people have to sacrifice their happiness on the altar of religion. You have been taught that marriage is a sacrament which binds man and woman together for as long as they both shall live.

Fine, but most people would add to that the essential word, unless. Circumstances change. The forgiving Jesus I believe in wouldnt condemn people to live in a prison of misery.

When you write, I still cant bring myself to love him as I ought and call him the person Im supposed to be with for ever, I reject such moral absolutes. Whats the point of forcing yourself to stay  and making this blameless man bitterly unhappy?

What would be the point of (God forbid) bringing any child into the world to live in an unhappy home?

Since counseling failed, I think a trial separation would be a good idea. But dont see the other man either. Spend time alone to try to sort out your feelings.

I can't go on without the love of my life

Dear Bel,

My husband has been in hospital for several weeks with cancer and Covid.

He was actually feeling better and making plans for home. Just simple things like enjoying his favourite foods and day trips to the countryside. Then three days ago the doctor rang and said we (my son and I) needed to go in urgently.

I couldnt believe my eyes as I approached his bed. My wonderful husband, only in his 60s, was curled unblinking beneath a blanket, couldnt speak, couldnt swallow and could barely breathe.

Yet the day before Id taken him outside for some fresh air and wed had a normal conversation. He ate with enjoyment the chicken sandwich I brought in.

It's a miracle just how much we can bear, even if it feels impossible, writes Bel Mooney

A day later, he didnt know who we were. In fact, I hardly recognised him despite having seen him less than 24 hours earlier.

Bel, Im ashamed to say I feel suicidal.

As we drove from the hospital a lorry swerved past us and my son took immediate action to avoid a collision. I almost wished he hadnt. I simply cannot bear this pain.

My husband is/was my best (and only) friend. I never needed anyone else; as Im profoundly deaf I didnt do well in social situations so I never sought friendships.

I have hobbies and ran a company for 30 years so Im resourceful and intelligent. But it all seems meaningless without him.

Our son is fantastic and thats what stops me from taking suicidal thoughts further.

But I dont know how to bear this agony.

ROSE

Bel Mooney replies: Rose, because your email arrived a couple of weeks ago, I cannot know what the situation is now. I pray its better but it may be, sadly, worse.

I regret that very much, but believe your letter is worth printing to remind everybody of the realities we must deal with when a loved one is very ill.

You described a sudden change in your husbands condition. There are many whove visited someone in hospital and been frightened by a deterioration  or buoyed by a improvement that is fleeting.

What I want to talk about is the overwhelming sadness and helplessness which you say you cannot bear  and which has led to this talk of suicide.

At the time you wrote to me, your husband was still in hospital and you were in a paroxysm of unhappiness after one worrying visit. I repeat, everything may have changed. But whatever has happened, your leaning towards suicide is extremely disturbing and its those feelings of despair I wish to address.

WRITE TO BEL MOONEY Bel answers readers questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. Names are changed to protect identities. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Advertisement

During World War II there was a famous poster which proclaimed: Careless Talk Costs Lives. It referred to the ever-present danger of German spies or sympathisers. But it occurs to me its strangely appropriate for this era when careless talk often concerns acute emotional problems paraded like badges of honour and (worst case) segueing into an acceptance of suicide as a cure for unhappiness. The internet is full of it  and Im afraid despair can be contagious.

When something terrible happens within a family  and it could be marital break-up, redundancy or a frightening diagnosis, as well as bereavement  its common (and understandable) to feel that youd like to close your eyes for ever to escape from the pain. That yearning for oblivion is as understandable as dreaming of a warm room when lost in a snowstorm.

Yet the miracle is just how much we can bear, even if it feels impossible. Its as if shoulders can grow broader and stronger to accommodate an even heavier load.

Some years ago a man utterly broken-hearted by both the end of his marriage and the death of his new love (within a short space of time) told me how hed thought he wished to end his own life, until he fell into a river by accident and found himself swimming and scrabbling to safety. The urge to live was far more powerful than the need to escape pain by dying.

That is what I wish for you. The will to go on. When you wished that lorry had hit the car, you were devastated at the thought of losing your beloved husband. Whats more, you were being driven by the son who loves you and (I have no doubt) wishes to take care of you. Do not hurt him by giving up.

Your husband is/was your best friend and you thought you needed no one else. That I understand  yet ask you to consider that the great love you both shared resulted in a treasure-house of memories, as well as the fine, caring human being you created together. Surely that is a powerful definition of meaning?

You have my profound sympathy. And I would want all those who feel overcome by despair to remember they can call the Samaritans day or night on 116 123. Somebody is always there for souls in pain.

And finally: Its nicer to try a little tenderness

These days, I dont think about sex very often, although every week letters to this column remind me of all the trouble it can cause.

Ah yes, I remember it well. Once upon a time, when we young journalists all used manual typewriters, yelled into phones, partied hard and smoked and drank ourselves silly, sex was on my mind much too often. But oh, they were fun days, for all the reasons in that last sentence!

Wordsworth believed that artistic creation, especially poetic, was emotion recollected in tranquillity.

Now in my prime (well, a bit further on!), recalling the turmoil of emotions, Im relieved to be tranquil at last. Im glad to be rid of the she-devil of flirtatiousness and passion which clung to me when Edward Heath, Harold Wilson and James Callaghan played musical chairs in Downing Street.

But heres my linguistic question. Times change, but emotions dont, so can anybody explain why having sex is the only phrase now used for what was once called the act of love?

Back then girls were worried (or not) about giving in and going all the way, and couples would have relations or go to bed with each other. Young men would use a variety of phrases, usually containing aggression in words from the tool box. Romantic lovers would make love  while dedicated sinners would fornicate or copulate.

Im sorry that having sex is nowadays used for a random one-night stand and for lovemaking within a long relationship. The bald phrase contains nothing of the tenderness the novelist D.H. Lawrence believed to be essential to the act of love. In my time Ive had sex and made love  and theres no comparison.
An extreme cleaner has revealed how she spends up to five days transforming strangers' homes - all for free.

Diana Jones, 23, from Manchester, started cleaning peoples homes after giving her mum's, house a 'deep clean'.

Since she started, Diana has cleaned 10 houses in total and said it can take up to five days to finish.

She said the houses are the 'worst environment' she will find herself in but said it is rewarding when she sees the final result.

Diana said: 'Some families will reach out to be as their family member is struggling or has a disability.

Diana Jones (pictured) from Manchester will deep clean strangers' houses for free, to help out people who are struggling

BEFORE AND AFTER: Diana shows off her impressive work, transforming this filthy bathroom into a clean and relaxing space

'Every single situation is different and I think it is incredible that so many people ask me for help.

'The recent house I did was a hoarder house. The living conditions were poor and it took me five whole days.

'I love the fact I am able to help people and their reaction is always emotional.'

Diana started cleaning full time in January 2024 after helping her mother out with the house work.

She realised that her mother was too busy to constantly be cleaning so offered a helping hand.

Diana said: 'My mum has five kids in total, she is always busy. She is always taking my siblings to after school clubs and she does not have the time.

'I stepped in and helped her out. I was chuffed and she was chuffed about it.'

After she cleaned her mother's home, Diana posted the transformation videos on social media and started getting people reaching out to her for help.

According to Diana (pictured at work, cleaning a very messy room), she started cleaning full time in January 2024 after helping her mother out with the house work, which left them both 'chuffed' with her work

DIRTY WORK: This toilet is unrecognisable after Diana took to work, transforming it from filthy to sparkling

This sink was filled with rotting food and rusting tins, as well as other dirty food containers before Diana cleaned it

Following a good scrub, the sink looks totally different, and is now clean enough to be used once more

This bathroom is full of brown stains and dirt, not very inviting for those who need to get washed themselves

Diana (pictured) shows off one of her tricks - good old fashioned elbow grease - as she gets stuck into scrubbing a bathroom wall

The last house she cleaned belonged to a hoarder and took her five days to complete.

Diana said: 'Describing the state of the homes is hard. They can be very intense.

'It is not for the faint hearted I would say. You need to have a thick skin to be able to clean them and walk in and do what you do.'

One of Diana's recent cleans was for a family who lived in a in a four bedroom house who wanted somewhere to eat and bathe.

The kitchen was filled with hundreds of flies and she spent two and a half hours clearing a living room filled with rubbish.

After she has cleaned the home, Diana doesn't charge them a penny. She said: 'I don't charge people a penny. I bring in my own cleaning supplies and they get a nice clean house.

'I have a lot of empathy and once I realised how any people need to help and can't afford it, I wanted to help.

'I think there isn't enough help for people in the UK and if there is anyone that can offer a helping hand it is incredible.'

Wearing a mask and yellow rubber gloves, Diana holds up an unsavoury piece of rubbish she found while cleaning this dirty hob

RUBBISH BE GONE: This room, which was full of bits of rubbish and debris, looks much better after a deep clean

Diana said that people often get emotional when they have seen what their house looks like after Diana has been round to clean.

She said: 'I have had reactions where people have got very teary. I am so happy that I can make an impact on their life.

'Their normal is not our normal. They deserve like anyone else to breath in their own space.

'I just think what I do is amazing and people should help when they can.'

Diana offers free house cleans @cleaningwithdiana1
U.S. ex-president Trump to appeal conviction in hush money trial

Xinhua) 11:08, June 01, 2024

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)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
The founder of one of Australia's most loved beauty brands has shared how she managed to built her empire after receiving a terrifying cancer diagnosis that turned her life upside down.

Alex Wilson is the founder of Heartwood Natural Harmony, a 'clean' beauty retailer stocking a collective of luxe natural wellness buys with a store in an affluent beachside suburb in Perth.

Under Heartwood, the 36-year-old has developed her own line of products utilising the benefits of Indian Sandalwood which her parents farm sustainably across areas in northern Australia.

Alex told FEMAIL she initially wanted her own Indian Sandalwood line to be the sole focus of Heartwood, however after receiving the news she had a very rare cancer she had to quickly put the business on the back burner and change her vision.

When she opened her Heartwood store in October of 2019 she was overwhelmed with joy having been through months of chemotherapy and recovery from major surgery.

Alex Wilson is the founder of Heartwood Natural Harmony , a 'clean' beauty retailer stocking a collective of luxe natural wellness buys with a store in Perth

Under Heartwood, the 36-year-old has developed her own line of products utilising the benefits of Indian Sandalwood which her parents farm sustainably across northern Australia

Alex quit her full-time desk job to focus on her new venture and enjoy the Christmas break with her family and friends at the end of 2018.

She was at the beach and applying sun cream when she felt an unusual mass on the right side of her abdomen.

'It wasn't like a round lump, it was more pervasive and about the size of a capsicum. I'm lucky that I'm relatively thin, I'm like a beanpole so it was pretty easy to identify,' she said.

Alex went to a walk-in GP clinic on Christmas Eve where she was given an emergency referral to a radiologist and spent hours undergoing tests and scans.

Radiologists strongly suspected Alex had Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), which is also known as 'jelly belly' as it starts as a buildup of mucin in the abdomen and can spread to the surface of other organs.

Alex had an anxious month-long wait to have a laparoscopy which confirmed the diagnosis and she was wheeled into surgery to have the cancer removed in February.

Alex quit her full-time job to focus on her new venture, Heartwood, and enjoy the Christmas break. She leased a store and started the fit out before receiving a devastating diagnosis

Alex had Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), also known as 'jelly belly', and she was rushed to surgery to remove it. The operation went well but her recovery was 'excruciating'

'The surgery was as extreme as it gets but couldn't have gone better. It was an incredible blessing to me as I was lucky to keep most of my organs but the recovery was absolutely excruciating,' she said.

'I had a lot of complications. I had a pulmonary embolism and a few bowel obstructions and just a constant feeling of nausea.'

Alex was already very slim going into surgery and was encouraged to put on weight in the weeks leading up as doctors knew she would be too sick to eat post-op.

'I couldn't eat for six weeks so I just faded away. I think I got down to 30 kilos or something and I'm really tall. I'm nearly six foot,' she said.

Through her recovery from surgery, she was also having rounds of chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Alex recalled a terrifying moment when she collapsed while getting one of her daily scans and woke up to doctors operating on her with just a local anaesthetic.

'I was just surrounded by doctors. They were putting a drain in my chest to alleviate the pressure on my lungs from a pulmonary embolism,' she explained.

'I had a lot of complications. I had a pulmonary embolism and a few bowel obstructions and just a constant feeling of nausea,' Alex said

Alex said she had no choice but to submit and put her life in the hands of the medical team treating her.

'All of this was totally new to me and you just have to surrender to what's going on. The worst part was just feeling like you have no control over what's happening,' she said.

'At the end of the day, you have to just put all your faith in the incredible doctors and medical staff around you. I have survived to tell the tale so I feel lucky.'

Thankfully, Alex put her trust in the right place and she gradually started getting better and putting on weight.

She was finally able to leave hospital and moved in with her parents to rest, regain her strength and gradually get back to doing the things she loves like swimming at the beach and dancing at concerts with friends.

Throughout the months-long ordeal, Alex said the dream of getting better and finally getting her passion project up and running was her motivation.

'I was thinking about Heartwood the whole time to get me through. I dreamed about it constantly,' she said.

In October 2019, she said it was the 'best feeling in the world' to finally open her Heartwood store in Cottesloe, Perth

Scents of Indian sandalwood flow out of the shop that has shelves filled with goods from 'some of the best natural beauty brands in the world' carefully selected by Alex

Alex had done a lot of the groundwork for the business before her diagnosis like signing the lease for the store and starting the fitout so she was able to pick it back up again when she was feeling well enough.

In October 2019, she said it was the 'best feeling in the world' to finally open her Heartwood store in Cottesloe, Perth.

Scents of Indian sandalwood flow out of the ultra-chic shop that has shelves filled with clean beauty and wellness products from 'some of the best natural beauty brands in the world' carefully selected by Alex.

When she first got the idea for Heartwood, she wanted to exclusively sell her own range but after her illness, she started sourcing alternatives so she could open the shop.

The change meant Alex was able to listen to what her customers wanted from their skincare and take her time to perfect each Heartwood formula.

Alex has developed an extensive line of skincare, home fragrance, jewellery, perfume and wellness accessories all utilising the power of Indian sandalwood.

Alex has developed an extensive line of skincare, home fragrance, jewellery, perfume and wellness accessories all utilising the power of Indian sandalwood

Alex grew up knowing all about the versatile resource as her dad farmed it when she was young: 'It's a dream of mine to bring Indian sandalwood to life in a contemporary way'

The valuable ingredient has been revered for thousands of years by cultures and religions all over the world for its unique nutritive properties.

Besides its luxurious fragrance, Indian sandalwood is said to be anti-inflammatory and is very beneficial for skin, is 'extremely calming' and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Alex grew up knowing all about the versatile resource as her dad started growing it when she was young. Her family have farms in the Kimberley, Northern Territory and northern Queensland.

'It's always been a dream of mine to bring Indian sandalwood to life in a contemporary way to the Australian market,' Alex said.

'My goal with Heartwood was to really educate a modern audience about the beautiful benefits of this sacred wood and create something that was truly meaningful.'
When it became clear that 88 year-old John Binder was dying, his daughter started making preparations to quit her job and travel nearly 1,000 miles across the country to take care of her elderly dad.

The retired mechanic, who suffered kidney failure as a result of diabetes, couldn't be looked after by his wife, as she was also elderly and had recently undergone cancer treatment, and he refused to go to a hospice center.

But then, a church leader recommended the family contact a death doula.

When most people hear the word doula, they think of the person who provides support to pregnant women - but there is another camp of doulas who specialize in the dying.

In addition to all death doulas do, a newer aspect of their work may now be offering guidance to patients who want to apply for medical aid in dying, known as MAiD

The formal role of death doulas in conventional medicine is relatively new  though the practice has been around for centuries.

Mr Binder's daughter eventually hired Ashley Boydston, a death doula close to her parents' home in Kansas City.

Ms Boydston would do everything from helping maneuver him into comfortable positions, to reading him scripture readings from the days Mass, to translating complex insurance paperwork.

And according to his daughter, Trina Wafle, the doula's services were a 'godsend.'

Ms Wafle told The Kansas City Star: 'I want everybody to know about this. Thank God Ashley was there.'

According to a DailyMail.com investigation, this Kansas family is far from the only one to turn to death doulas in the months approaching the death of a loved one.

Death doulas, who can charge up to $3,000 for their services, say they are increasingly in demand amid the growing number of medical aid in dying (MAiD) policies that allow terminally ill people to choose when to end their lives.

This, combined with the increasing problems accessing quality end-of-life care, has made death doulas especially popular.

One doula-training non-profit organization reported its membership nearly doubled from 2018 to 2023.

While many doulas volunteer their time for free, others offer tiered 'packages' that include in-home visits, education on the dying process and supporting loved ones through the grief process.

These packages can run between $1,800 and $3,000 dollars but are only the tip of the iceberg.

Some doulas charge even more for 'a la carte' services, including throwing a goodbye celebration, having day-after-death support ($225), assisting with MAiD ($1,600) and even planning a funeral ($225).

Death doulas speaking to DailyMail.com have said some patients simply want company during their darkest hours.

Washington DC-based death doula Laura Lyster-Mensh told DailyMail.com a lot of her services take place in a hospice, where she spends time with people who have no family in their last days, holding their hands as they die: ' I do a lot of literal hand holding.'

She said: I think that service really calls to me because I dont think anyone should die alone. It is important to give dignity and humanity to people who are ending their lives without loved ones around them.'

While it is not clear how many Americans die alone in hospice care, there is a loneliness epidemic among the elderly in the US, with more than one-quarter of people older than 60 living by themselves.

Death doulas are not required to have formal medical training, although some come from a nursing background.

Their responsibilities range from personal care, like helping patients get to the bathroom and wash, to helping plan a funeral or burial arrangements, navigating the legal system around MAiD laws and planning end-of-life rituals or gatherings.

Many are present during the active dying phase to alleviate some of the burden on loved ones.

Death doula Wilka Roig told DailyMail.com: Dying is a personal, natural event and not a medical one. The death doula movement... indicates we are beginning to reclaim our rights for how we wish to die.

Death doula Wilka Roig told DailyMail.com they are advocates, activists and educators who contribute to evolving our death culture'

It is difficult to estimate how many death doulas there are in the US, as there is no central organization that oversees them and no central registry, but one organization that trains death doulas, the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA), said it has trained 6,545 in the United States.

To become a death doula through INELDA, people must undergo a 40-hour training program including lessons on everything from how to deal with specific end-of-life scenarios to understanding and explaining the physical dying process.

Unlike hospice or palliative care, which can be expensive and hard to access, end-of-life doulas do not interfere with the medical needs of a terminally-ill patient.

Nearly 70 percent of Americans have said they want to die at home, but insurance coverage of in-home medical services is limited and availability can be strained.

A 2019 report from the Center to Advance Palliative Care and the National Palliative Care Research Center noted that the services in the US 'do not meet the needs' of terminally ill people and access varies widely across the country.

Those in the northeast have 'significantly' increased access, while people in southern parts of the US struggle the most to get hospice care.

Additionally, despite the desire to want to die at home, a 2020 report found some states do not cover hospice care under Medicare or have recently eliminated benefits.

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In the states that do cover it, restrictions apply to certain groups of people seeking the services based on age, disease and life expectancy.

And availability and coverage for hospice services for minority or rural patients is even more lacking.

Douglas Simpson, a death doula and executive director of the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA), told DailyMail.com this is where the doulas come in - to fill in when hospice fails.

He said: Theres a real gap in access to equitable [end-of-life] healthcare in the United States, so were filling a gap.

Mr Simpson added: Hospice organizations do great work and provide a needed service and care, but most of the time theres a caseload and theres just so many people, so thats when doulas can step in.

They can add value and add to the care being provided.

Death doula Kacie Gikonyo, who is a registered nurse based in Ohio and founder of the Death Doula School, told DailyMail.com hospice providers often have a large caseload and can only afford to spend one to two hours per week with their patients, which means the majority of the caregiving responsibilities fall on loved ones.'

Ms Gikonyo said: We [death doulas] can also work alongside hospices to provide a higher level of care than what hospice alone can offer.

'I always like to say, YODO: you only die once. So, ensure you have the best care and support at the end for yourself and your loved ones.

In addition to what they already do, a newer aspect of death doulas' work may now be offering guidance to those who apply for medical aid or assistance in dying, known as MAiD.

In the US, laws surrounding MAiD, previously known as physician-assisted suicide or medically assisted suicide, vary state-to-state.

Currently, it is legal in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado, Washington, DC, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine and New Mexico.

Even within the states, however, laws differ, including the process of applying and being evaluated and who can administer the end-of-life medication.

Mr Simpson told DailyMail.com death doulas will play a supportive role' in the MAiD process.

He said: I can see us as doulas holding space and sitting with the circle of care of the dying person and supporting the autonomy of the dying person. If your uncle or father has chosen [MAiD], how do we honor their choice?

Mr Simpson stressed they will not step in and replace the role of a trained medical professional.

He added: If our focus is the autonomy of the dying. We need to be aware of what choices are out there and then honor the decisions [people] make based on their options and their dying plan.

Douglas Simpson, a death doula and executive director of the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA), told DailyMail.com with the expansion of MAiD policies, he feels death doulas will play a supportive role'

Support could even mean helping the dying person research MAiD or connecting them to the proper organizations or providers.

Ms Gikonyo told DailyMail.com death doulas who support MAiD can also work with lawmakers and politicians in their areas to, assure that everyone has the right to choose MAiD if it feels right for them.

In addition to working in people's homes, death doulas can work in intensive care units, delivery rooms, hospices, AIDS service organizations and other spaces where patients or caregivers go to receive death and dying support.

Ms Lyster-Mensh, who became an end-of-life doula during the Covid-19 pandemic, told this website it has been a transformative experience.

Through her work, she said: Im quite reassured that dying can be a peaceful time and a safe landing if we as a society do a better job but we still leave people alone.

If people were less afraid to be with dying people, that would be better. It is not scary being with a dying person.

As death doulas become more of a staple in peoples dying experiences, those in the field are advocating for insurance companies to reimburse them for their services, which many provide for free.

Mr Simpson said working with insurance companies to have death doulas be acknowledged as a vital part of someones circle of care is vital.

Regardless of payment, these doulas feel working with people who are dying is a calling.

Ms Gikonyo told this website: Being a Death Doula is written on my soul. Its my calling and my purpose in life it feels deeply ingrained in my soul  it's truly what I am meant to do.
When Robbin Gordon-Cartier was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 50 years old she felt like she was 'just waiting to die.'

Her busy life as a harpist, full-time teacher and travelling performer was slowly eroding because of the disease, as she succumbed to daily pain, fatigue and a limp that was getting progressively worse. She gave up performing entirely, since she couldn't carry her kit around with her.

Most upsetting, her hands, which are the key to her intricate instrument, would become numb and tingle at random - as if she'd been sitting on them for too long.

'I was going straight down hill, and that was that,' the New Jersey native, now 64, told DailyMail.com. The first doctor she saw diagnosed her with an advanced form of the disease that is resistant to available treatments, and affects roughly 1million Americans.

But in 2019, a new doctor enrolled her in a clinical trial of a promising new treatment that involved using her body's own cells to fight disease.

Robbin Gordon-Cartier was first diagnosed with MS when she was 50 years old. No one in her family has the disease, but she found solace and community in a coworker who was also diagnosed with the condition

Dr Violaine Harris, with the Tisch MS Research Center of New York, led the stem cell research. She's been at Tisch since 2004, investigating potential therapies for MS.

Today, five years after the injections  six over the course of one year  she's re-gained enough strength to be able to carry her own harp to concerts.

She told DailyMail.com she is far steadier on her feet, giving her the confidence to travel again, which has allowed her to resume performing at weddings and concerts.

Mrs Gordon-Cartier was one of 54 phase two patients who began receiving the new MS therapy in 2019, which was created by scientists at the Tisch MS Research Center of New York, and began its first phase in 2014.

The treatment, which involves injecting the spine with blank-slate restorative cells, 'makes a big impact' on quality of life for MS patients, Dr Violaine Harris, the Associate Director of Research at Tisch, who ran the study, told DailyMail.com.

Multiple sclerosis is a condition that happens when the immune system begins attacking the cells in your brain and spinal cord - shearing off the protective coating that insulates your nerves called myelin.

Eventually, this may cause the nerves to break down.

Over time, the brain begins losing tissue and the nerves have a harder time sending signals throughout the body, which disrupts how different parts of the body communicate.

This can make everything from walking to using the bathroom more difficult.

The disease can strike many different parts of the nervous system, so symptoms vary widely, but common early signs include limb weakness and tingling, fatigue, mood changes, dizziness or problems with bladder function.

MS effects roughly 1million people in the US, according to the National MS Society, and it's four times more common in women than in men.

People rarely die directly because of MS, but more commonly die because of complications the condition causes, such as severe urinary tract infections (UTIs) or falls.

Experts don't yet know what causes the neurodegenerative disease but it is possible genetics could play a role, as could a person's environment.

Dr Harris told DailyMail.com that if doctors knew what caused MS, it would be simpler to treat it.

Right now there aren't enough treatments to ease the suffering of people with progressive MS.

Progressive MS is a form of the disease in which people's disease slowly and steadily gets worse, with little to no interruption, though there's different forms. In this form of disease, there is no real respite from symptoms once you're diagnosed.

The trial looked to enroll people from this group, who had progressive MS that didn't have active brain lesions.

'We had no trouble enrolling [patients]. Theres a need for any kind of treatments for this kind of MS,' Dr Harris said.

Mrs Gordon-Cartier teaches at a performing arts high school in New Jersey during the week, travels to concerts and weddings on the weekends and attends conferences.

Dr Harris alongside Dr Saud A. Sadiq, the Director and Chief Research Scientist of Tisch MSRCNY. Mrs. Gordon-Cartier said things changed for her in her MS treatment when she met Dr Sadiq, who made her feel like there was a way to fight back against the disease.

The potentially revolutionary treatment works by taking bone marrow, the spongy tissue that produces blood cells in a person's bones, and applying a complex cocktail of drugs to the tissue in order to turn it into stem cells.

Stem cells are the blank-slate cells your body can use to make any of the varied tissue types the body needs to function properly, including those in the heart, nerves, kidneys muscles and more.

Because stem cells can theoretically be turned into any type of cell in the body, Dr Harris and her colleagues theorized they could be used to rejuvenate nerve cells lost because of MS.

The first trial, which ran from 2014 to 2016, suggested there was some potential. In it, 20 patients had their bone bone marrow extracted and turned into stem cells, which were then injected back into them three times, with three months in between each injection.

In the short term, 75 percent of these patients were able to walk more quickly, reported less brain fog and were better able to control their bladder. In the two year follow up, those gains flattened out though, suggesting that the treatment didn't have long term effects.

The phase two trial kicked off in 2018, but was published recently in the journal Stem Cell Research and Therapy. 54 participants were injected with their stem cell six times over the course of a year, with two months in between each treatment.

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In the first year, half of the patients received the treatment and the other half received a placebo.

In the second year, the groups swapped.

After receiving the treatment, people control their bladder better and could walk more quickly and easily Dr Harris said.

Watching the videos of people walking side by side showed that 'remarkable' progress was made, Dr Harris said.

They even found that when treated with stem cells, people lost less brain tissue.

But it wasn't a cure.

It didn't decrease people's disability overall, nor did it reverse any of their signs of MS.

Though people got much better and quicker at walking, they still had to use devices to do so.

In the first year of the treatment, Mrs Gordon-Cartier was convinced that she had the placebo - she felt no different.

But in the second year, things started picking up. She said she felt energized, more stable and better at moving around.

Now, five years after starting the treatment, she said the experimental treatment has given her back her strength and her life.

However, Dr Ari Green, a neurologist who studies MS at UCSF and wasn't involved in the trial, told DailyMail.com the findings didn't convince him that this therapy will be effective in treating most people with MS.

He said in the future, if they do the same study again, and include other researchers outside the Tisch Center, and see similar results, that would be more clear evidence the treatment is beneficial.

Right now, the study was small so the differences observed could have been due to chance, Dr Green added.

'By chance alone, there can always be differences between two groups,' he explained.

However, he said, it is possible patients got benefits from the treatment that science might fail to pick up on, like brain fog, which is difficult to measure.

There are also a lot of structural barriers in the way that might make stem cell therapies difficult to use on a wider scale, Dr Green said.

If this treatment were to be proven effective, it will still need to undergo further testing, meaning it could be years until the therapy becomes widely available to patients.

The researchers also face the challenge of figuring out how to manufacture personalized stem cells on a mass scale, which is technology that doesn't yet exist.

Despite the challenges, however, the first two trial results have been encouraging enough that the FDA is in the process of approving the treatment for compassionate use, meaning people can apply to use it if they have no other options.

Stem cell therapy has been making promising gains in other fields, as well. Recently, researchers in China cured a man of type 2 diabetes by injecting him with his own stem cells that had been manufactured to produce insulin.

Prior to that, small studies have shown stem cells could help treat erectile dysfunction, lung disease and potentially, even blindness.

Mrs Gordon-Cartier is well aware of the downsides of the treatment. She said getting her bone marrow harvested was painful and the process for getting the stem cells injected was uncomfortable.

Even knowing these limitations, she said she would do the treatment again without hesitation: 'Sign me up.'

'I would do it again, absolutely, because I think I would get stronger. I just feel stronger. My body feels stronger... I dont have that scary MS reality where you feel weak and like youre going to fall.'
Dr Philippa Kaye, GP with a particular interest in women's and sexual health

It is a subject that many people will feel uncomfortable reading about: anal sex.

Some reading this might think it's something extreme or, to put it delicately, extremely niche.

But it's not. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes in Britain reported recently almost 30 per cent of 16 to 24 year old take part in heterosexual anal sex.

And this came as no surprise to me. As a GP with a special interest in womens' health, I often speak to female patients of a wide variety of ages on the subject.

Often, it's when things have not gone quite according to plan.

Common problems include anal fissures, which are small crack in the anus that can be extraordinarily painful and bleed.

In the worst cases, woman can be left with continence issues due to damage to the muscles that help us 'hold on'.

And then there are sexually transmitted infections (STIs): younger women, sadly, have told me of partners who insist condoms aren't needed for anal sex, as there is no pregnancy risk.

But of course, the risk of catching everything from the more simple-to-treat gonorrhoea to trickier, incurable genital herpes and even, albeit rare, HIV, which is still out there.

My biggest worry, however, is that there are many women out there who don't come forward for help and advice if they're suffering from anal problems, due to embarrassment.

I'm not alone: a recent editorial in the British Medical Journal discussed the importance of doctors having open conversations about anal sex in order to meet the needs of women.

However it's important to point out, I'm not in any way suggesting that if you want to have anal sex, you don't. Quite the opposite.

My message is, if you want to, you can enjoy anal sex safely.

And, with this is mind, here's my simple guide to the measures you can take to make it less painful and decrease the risk of injuries...

Anal sex can mean anything from external touching to penetrative anal sex with a finger, sex toy or penis, according to Dr Philippa Kaye

Prepare, start slow and don't forget the lube

Anal sex can mean anything from external touching to penetrative anal sex with a finger, sex toy or penis. Whichever way you want to do it, follow these steps.

Preparation: There are many ways people prepare for anal sex, but it's not always required.

Although the rectum is where a stool is stored just before you go to the toilet, it isnt continuously full unless you're constipated (keeping your gut healthy with plenty of fibre and exercise is the best way to prevent this, but if it's a real problem you may need to talk to your pharmacist).

I have seen some guides online suggesting that we need to prep for anal sex by using laxatives and anal douching  using a small squeezy device that fills the rectum up with water to clean the area. But these things are really not necessary.

In fact, anal douching can irritate the lining of the rectum and is associated with higher risks of contracting an STI.

I totally understand some people do prefer to douche prior to anal sex, but if you are going to do this you should leave at least an hour after douching to try and allow time to recover from any irritation.

Others choose to use a toy first to check for stool, but this isn't required either.

Start slowly: To avoid injury it is important to start slowly. You might decide to do this by using sex toys or dilators of increasing size to gradually work your way up to it.

You can do this ahead of time  some people suggest building it into your daily routine, in the shower.

But if you are using sex toys such as butt plugs be sure to use a toy with a flange so it cannot get sucked inside and can be easily removed.

3. Use a condom and lube

Although there isn't a risk of pregnancy with anal sex you should always use a condom.

That's because condoms prevent both transmitting and catching sexually transmitted infections.

I also tell patients to use an appropriate lubricant as the anus cannot produce the same amount of lubrication as the vagina can.

It's best to use a silicone based or water based lubricant as oil based lubricants are not compatible with condoms.

If you are having both vaginal and anal sex you should always use a new condom after anal sex before vaginal sex. This helps to avoid transferring bacteria from the rectum to the vagina which can cause problems, including bacterial and yeast infections.

But if you experience pain or if anal sex is causing bleeding then you should stop and have any concerns assessed by your doctor.

There is absolutely no need to bleach your anus, no matter what Kourtney Kardashian or anyone else suggests

Please, don't be self-conscious of how 'it' looks

Anal bleaching  cosmetic treatments that aim to lighten the appearance of the skin of the anus  apparently soared in popularity after Kim Kardashian's sister Kourtney admitted to doing it.

But there is absolutely no reason to think this is needed.

It is natural and normal that the skin around the anus and in between the buttocks is darker than the rest of your skin.

That's because activities which we do daily increase friction in the area, such as walking or even sweating and friction increases pigmentation.

I totally understand, some people feel it makes them more confident.

If your partner is pressuring you to lighten your anus, it may be time to consider either explaining to them that it is natural, or putting some distance between you.

Although it's in the name, it absolutely does not involve bleach: bleach can severely damage the skin causing chemical burns.

The creams and lotions used are not dissimilar to chemical peels for the face, but applied to the anus.

This lightens the skin by breaking down the skin pigment, melanin, and reducing the number of cells which produce it.

Lasers can also be used to break down pigmentation and lighten the skin.

Some products can cause a burning sensation and if it's used incorrectly it can lead to skin damage and infections.

There are also risks that if the product is applied to the wrong place or too much is used it can affect the skin of your genitals.

In some cases it can go inside the anus leading to scar tissue and strictures, which is the narrowing of he anal canal, developing which can lead to pain on going to the toilet.

Even if the treatment does work the difference may be minimal and inly a few shades lighter. You would also need to keep repeating the treatment as it isnt permanent.

My advice? Avoid.

Some bleaching products can cause a burning sensation and if it's used incorrectly it can lead to skin damage and infections.

... and if you're planning to go totally bare down there

This isnt so much of a social media trend as a fashion one which has been around for a few years now.

Many people remove the hair from around the genitals, perineum, around the anus and in the cleft between the buttocks by waxing or other forms of hair removal.

But whether it is a Brazilian, Hollywood wax, or more permanent laser hair removal, there is actually a purpose to the hair which you are removing.

The skin around the anus produces secretions which are trapped by the hair, which helps increase lubrication and decrease friction in the area.

Remember every time you even take a step there is friction due to the movement.

In addition these oily secretions help the good bacteria which make up the microbiome on your skin around the anus. The hair also helps wick away moisture from sweat.

Really though, my fellow women, spare yourself the pain of the wax.

Everything you need to know about anal STIs

Anal sex whether it is penetrative with a penis, finger, sex toy or anal oral sex can have a risk of transmitting STIs.

But anal sex which involves penetration actually has a higher risk of transmitting STIs than other forms of sex.

That's because the thin lining of the anus can be damaged and the trauma increases the risk of infection.

If you are sexually active its recommended that you visit a sexual health clinic for screening at least once a year  more frequently if you have symptoms.

At a screening you will be asked about the type of sex that you are having, such as oral, anal and vaginal so that appropriate swabs can be taken.

If you are sexually active its recommended that you visit a sexual health clinic for screening at least once a year  more frequently if you have symptoms

Oral anal sex can not only pass on STIs but also other bacteria such as E coli which can cause gastroenteritis.

STI's include bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, viral infections such as genital herpes and genital warts, as well as hepatitis, HIV and parasitic infections including pubic lice, also known as crabs.

Discharge from the anus, rectal bleeding, itching, pain and discomfort when sitting or going to the toilet are all symptoms of STI's. You may also notice lumps, blisters or sores in the area.

Remember it is possible to have an STI and not have any symptoms.

To make anal sex safer use condoms and water or silicone based lubricant and dont forget regular sexual health screening.

Depending on where you live in the UK you may be able to get free self testing kits sent to your house eg from www.sh.uk and HIV tests from www.freetesting.hiv
Crack cocaine and date rape drugs could be dispensed over the counter by pharmacists according to bizarre proposals put forward by the Green Party.

Under the environment-focused party's election policy, 'specialist pharmacies' could sell the substances to people wanting them for 'recreational purposes for personal use'.

Making the drug legal, they argue, would make them safer and even reduce accidental overdoses or drug deaths.

But experts today labelled the proposals a PR stunt and warned it could lead to more, not less, drug abuse.

Others claimed it would put already stretched pharmacy teams at increased risk of abuse or even violence with one even asking if the Greens wanted them to start stocking alcohol as well.

Under the environment-focused party's election policy, 'specialist pharmacies' could sell the substances to people wanting them for 'recreational purposes for personal use'. Making the drug legal, they argue, would make them safer and even reduce accidental overdoses or drug deaths. Pictured, at the launch of their general election campaign this week, Green co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay said the party was offering 'real hope and real change'

The party's policies on drugs are among the most eye-catching with pledges to also allow prisoners access to medically-prescribed heroin

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Party drug GHB, gamma hydroxybutyric acid, is often taken to relax, boost euphoria and even enhance sex.

But it also known as the 'date rape drug' used by predators to spike people's drinks to rape or sexually assault others.

Professor Penny Ward, an expert in pharmaceutical medicines at Kings College London, told MailOnline: 'You want to create a situation where people don't become addicted to drugs in the first place.

'And the problem with making things available through pharmacies that there is an annoying tendency for that to be a route to people simply abusing what they can.

'We really need police assistance approach to this as an issue.'

What is the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act? Under the 1971 the Misuse of Drugs Act, drugs are divided into three different classes. Under current drug laws, those in possession of Class A drugs face up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both, while those supplying or producing the substances could face a life prison sentence, an unlimited fine or both. Those supplying or producing Class B and Class C could face up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Critics of the Act, including former government drugs tsar, Professor David Nutt, have argued classification is not based on how harmful or addictive the substances are. They also claim it is unscientific to omit substances like cigarettes and alcohol. Class A: Crack cocaine

Cocaine

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Heroin

Magic mushrooms

Methamphetamine (crystal meth) Class B: Amphetamines

Barbiturates

Cannabis

Codeine

Ketamine

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Synthetic cannabinoids Class C: Anabolic steroids

Nitrous Oxide

Benzodiazepines (diazepam),

So-called 'date rape' drug GHB

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She added: 'It is a very lucrative market for the illicit drug suppliers and of course, a large proportion of crime in our cities, and indeed, increasingly rural areas.

'The question is, how can you get rid of that? That is a legitimate question, and one we should really be trying to address instead.'

Meanwhile, Thorrun Govind, TV pharmacist and former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: 'Pharmacists and pharmacy teams are very used to dealing with highly sought after controlled drugs.

'This could present a challenge for patients if they were seeking to stop taking drugs and were attending the pharmacy which was the also supplying those very same drugs.'

She added: 'I can't see this being something that would be widespread.

'As pharmacists we work to support self care, prevention and treatment. Will the Green Party be suggesting we should stock alcohol too?'

Tony Schofield, owner of Gill and Schofield Pharmaceutical Chemists in the North East, told MailOnline: 'This clearly is an attempt to catch the eye rather than a serious attempt to tackle, humanely and safely, drug misuse.

'Pharmacies currently are known to stock drugs that are seriously misused, for which there is big demand and serious money in the trafficking of.

'Staff, premises and other patients are currently at risk but there are regulations, storage requirements, procedures in place minimising these risks.

'Possibly patients believing a drug is safe, as the Green Party appear to, may put pressure on staff if quantities are rationed.'

Ian Hamilton, associate professor of addiction at the University of York, also told this website: 'I am less convinced by the idea of pharmacies being able to provide GHB for recreational use.

'I think many pharmacists would be reluctant to do this and doubt whether many people using GHB recreationally would purchase their drugs this way, being anxious about being identified as a user of these drugs.'

Official figures released in December show drug deaths in England and Wales have reached an all-time high.

Released by the Office for National Statistics, data show there were 4,907 drug poisoning deaths in 2022  a rate of 84.4 deaths per million people.

This is the tenth consecutive annual rise, up on the 4,859 recorded in 2021 and the most since records began in 1993.

Cocaine also killed a record number of people in 2022, with deaths soaring 80-fold over the last three decades, to 857.

Britain is now considered the cocaine capital of Europe, with the nation consuming around 117 tonnes of the substance per year.

Sales of the drug in the UK are estimated to be worth more than 25.7million a day.

Legalisation of illicit drugs is a complicated issue, with opponents concerned it will normalise and increase drug use leading to both health and social consequences.

But proponents claim making them legal would make them safer by capping their chemical strength and stopping contaminating with dangerous additives, reducing accidental overdoses and drug deaths as a result.

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According to a Home Office report, class A drug use in England and Wales is estimated to cost the UK taxpayer over 15bn per year, mostly through drug-related crime.

Under the 1971 the Misuse of Drugs Act, drugs are put into three different classes based on their danger to people.

Class A is the most serious and includes substances like cocaine and crack, ecstasy, MDMA and heroin while codeine, ketamine and cannabis are deemed Class B.

So-called 'date rape' drug GHB, anabolic steroids, nitrous oxide and the stimulant khat, meanwhile, are among Class C drugs.

Current drug laws see those in possession of Class A drugs face up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Anyone caught supplying or producing can face a life prison sentence, an unlimited fine or both.

People caught in possession of Class B face up to five years in prison, while anyone caught carrying Class Cs can be jailed for two years.

Under the Greens liberal policy, however, prisoners would be allowed access medically-prescribed heroin, while music festivals and nightclubs would be able to sell 'low doses' of MDMA.

The party has also proposed 'direct partnerships' between the UK Government and coca, the raw ingredient in cocaine, farmers in South America to ensure a 'sustainable supply' of cocaine in Britain.

They added they also want to 'explore options for piloting making crack cocaine available on NHS prescription'.

The policies aren't new, having first been touted in 2019 ahead of the general election.

At the time they suggested 'specially qualified pharmacists' based in the community could dispense recreational drugs, such as powder cocaine and amphetamines, over the counter after a short, free-of-charge consultation with the drug user.

Pharmacists would be expected to give verbal and written harm reduction advice to users and verify their customers age, similar to selling alcohol in shops, to ensure no recreational drugs were sold to minors,

The party also proposed making heroin available on prescription 'after a medical assessment by a doctor'.

These proposals were criticised by some senior health experts who argued the role of a pharmacist was to improve health and 'incompatible' with selling these substances for recreational use.

Other experts today, however, praised the Greens renewed approach to drugs policy.

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The Green Party wants to 'explore options for piloting making crack cocaine available on NHS prescription'. Under the 1971 the Misuse of Drugs Act, drugs are put into three different classes based on their danger to people. Class A is the most serious and includes substances like cocaine and crack, ecstasy, MDMA and heroin while codeine, ketamine and cannabis are deemed Class B

Graham Stretch, president of the Primary Care Pharmacy Association, told MailOnline: 'I have long believed in harm minimisation and taking the profit  for criminals  out of drug misuse.

'If individuals who misuse substances can find safe, clean and accessible sources for their supply they no longer have to offend and criminality will be reduced on our streets making communities, including pharmacies and surgeries, safer.

'I would be generally supportive of the Greens approach.'

But he added: 'As always the devil is in the details.

'It is long past the time that an informed mature control approach was demonstrably needed in the UK as current prohibition & criminalisation has failed.

'Criminalisation of drug use has caused enormous damage to our communities, socially, educationally, medically and criminally.'

Last year the Scottish Government called for all drugs to become legal for personal use.

SNP ministers claimed the 'ambitious and radical plan' was needed to address Scotland's drug deaths crisis and that addicts should be 'supported rather than criminalised'.

In a new paper, the party called for the policy to be implemented across the UK and demanded new powers to introduce it in Scotland if this was refused.

A joint statement from 10 leading drugs charities welcomed the report and said the Scottish Government must implement the drug consumption rooms and drug testing facilities 'as a matter of urgency'.

However, the proposals were dismissed within an hour of their publication by the Government.
A Victorian era disease that's killing children in the UK is now reappearing in elementary schools in the United States.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is one of the most infectious diseases and particularly dangerous for very young children whose immune systems are still developing.

In the UK, five infants  including some that were otherwise healthy  have already died from the disease this year, with cases on track to hit their highest level in more than four decades at almost 3,000 recorded.

And now, a similar wave is hitting the US, with elementary schools nationwide, including in New York City and San Francisco, reporting outbreaks.

Infections this side of the Atlantic have already surpassed 4,800  equivalent to 270 percent more cases than at the same time last year. No deaths have been reported and it isn't clear whether cases are among people who have not been vaccinated.

The above graph shows the number of whooping cough cases in 2023 and 2024 by the week ending May 25 in both years

After her condition worsened, she was transferred to St Mary's Hospital in London where she was diagnosed with the condition and put on a ventilator. Polly is now awake and breathing independently. Ms Pearson (pictured) said: 'I've never been more relieved in my life. I watched them take the tubes out and turn all the machines off [as she recovered]. It was the best thing ever'

Riley Hughes (pictured with his mom Catherine) was otherwise healthy when he died from whooping cough at just one-month old in 2015

Official figures from the CDC show so far in 2024, cases have already surpassed the number recorded in 2022, 2021 and 2020, when they hit a high of 2,300 cases.

Experts say it is also on track to exceed the tally in 2023, when 5,346 infections were recorded.

The US recorded the most cases since the 1950s in 2012, when 48,277 people were diagnosed with the disease  with the uptick linked to waning immunity and changes in testing.

In the current outbreak, several states are behind the rise and are reporting a surge in cases, including Oregon, where infections are up 770 percent from last year, or 178 cases recorded so far compared to 20 in 2023, and Pennsylvania, which has recorded 601 cases, the most in any state to date.

Elementary schools in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, northern California, New Jersey and New York have also all recorded outbreaks, reporting about a dozen children have been infected in each.

The disease is also on the rise globally, with China recording more than 32,000 cases by February this year  a 20-fold surge from 1,400 in 2023, with the uptick also linked to waning immunity from jabs.

Experts fear the disease is resurging amid falling vaccination rates and waning immunity among adults  creating ideal conditions for it to return.

There are also concerns that migrants could be bringing the disease into the US, because of differing vaccination standards in their home countries.

The mother of Polly Deehy (pictured left in hospital) has urged others to get vaccinated against whooping cough to protect infants after her baby daughter had to be placed into a ten-day coma. Another mother in the UK has also made an emotional plea after her one-month-old daughter Rosie Robin (pictured) was hospitalized for two weeks with the disease

Adults and most children are protected from the disease via vaccination  receiving five doses administered from the age of two months until their seventh birthday, and a sixth between the ages of 11 and 12.

Adults are also recommended to get a booster dose every 10 years, and pregnant women are asked to get a shot between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy.

Patients are offered the DTaP vaccine, or the Diptheria Tetanus and Pertussis shot, which is up to 98 percent effective at preventing the disease.

All 50 states require children to have the DTaP vaccine in order to attend kindergarten, although it is possible to get an exemption on medical grounds.

Adults who catch the disease often suffer from a mild illness with a runny nose and mild cough  similar to a cold.

But babies, and even healthy babies, are at high risk from infection because they are too young to be vaccinated.

And because their lungs are so small that they may not be able to handle the coughing fits brought on by the infection.

In the UK, a mother is urging more people to get the whooping cough vaccine in order to protect infants after her daughter Polly was put into a 10-day coma because of the disease.

Kerry Pearson, 26, told news outlets: 'I just want people to be aware. You should have the whooping cough vaccine. If you're not offered it, then please demand it.

'If you're an anti-vaxxer, please reconsider  this is deadly to infants  it's not worth the risk. Nothing is worth going through what we're going through.'

Her daughter was just two weeks old when she woke up struggling to breath with a cough on April 6 this year.

After four days of coughing at home, however, she suddenly turned blue and her parents rushed their daughter to the hospital.

Within three days of admission, she was put on a ventilator  with the tubes only detached about two weeks later after she started to recover.

Speaking about the experience, Ms Pearson added: 'I've never been more relieved in my life. I watched them take the tubes out and turn all the machines off [as she recovered]. It was the best thing ever.

'The odds were not in her favor, but she's been very lucky. There's no evidence of any lasting problems, but she might have a bit of weakness in her lungs  time will tell.'

Whooping cough is spread via aerosolized droplets emitted when an infected person coughs.

Adults suffer a mild illness, characterized by a runny nose and mild cough  similar to the flu.

Data suggests fewer Americans are getting vaccinated against the disease in the wake of the Covid pandemic, raising the risk of the disease resurging

But in infants, the disease can be deadly  rapidly leading to coughing paroxysms  where coughs come on rapidly and increase in intensity. They can also be left gagging and gasping for air.

It can be fatal if the illness leads to babies getting too little oxygen, which can cause damage to the brain and seizures. It can also weaken the immune system, raising the risk of secondary infections  like pneumonia  which can be deadly.

About one out of five babies who catch whooping cough develop pneumonia, while one in 100 die from the infection.

About 200,000 cases of whooping cough and 9,000 children deaths from the disease used to be recorded in the US every year.

But after a vaccine was introduced in 1991, these numbers have plummeted  with up to 20 babies now dying from the infection every year.

However, vaccination rates among children in the US are falling, with experts fearing this could open the door to more cases and further outbreaks.

CDC data shows nearly 95 percent of kindergarteners were up to date on the DTaP vaccine up to 2019, just at the threshold needed to prevent an outbreak.

But since then, rates have dropped. The latest estimate for the 2022 to 2023 school year shows only 92.7 percent had been vaccinated.
Men could be screened for prostate cancer at home using a simple saliva test following a landmark trial set to 'turn the tide' on the disease.

The cheap test  which looks for genetic markers of the cancer in people's DNA  was more effective than the current blood test men can request from their GP.

It picked up more aggressive cancers and resulted in fewer false positives, sparing men from unnecessary and expensive further tests.

Costing less than 200, experts said it could be sent in the post to those with symptoms or as part of a national screening programme, saving thousands of lives a year.

Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust trialled the test on 6,142 men, aged 55-69, from their GP surgeries.

The cheap saliva test  which looks for genetic markers of prostate cancer in people's DNA  was more effective than the current blood test men can request from their GP

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They gave a sample of saliva which was then tested for 130 genetic variations in the DNA code with known links to prostate cancer, known as a polygenetic risk score.

The men scoring in the highest 10 per cent were invited for further screening, consisting of MRI followed by prostate biopsy.

Some 558 men were sent for further testing, with 40 per cent (187) diagnosed with prostate cancer.

This compares with 25 per cent of men with high prostate specific antigen (PSA) scores, who typically go on to be diagnosed with the disease.

PSA tests have also been found to pick up many cancers which are not of clinical concern and do not require treatment.

Crucially, this latest test identified a higher proportion of aggressive cancers  which are fast growing and likely to spread  than the PSA test.

Of the 187 cancers detected, 55.1 per cent were aggressive cancers compared with 35.5 per cent identified by a PSA test.

Ros Eeles, Professor of oncogenetics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the breakthrough could change practice for the disease which kills 12,000 Brits every year.

Presenting the findings today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, she said: 'With this test, it could be possible to turn the tide on prostate cancer.

'We have shown that a simple, cheap, spit test to identify men at higher risk due to their genetic makeup is an effective tool to catch the cancer early.

'Building on decades of research into the genetic markers of prostate cancer, our study shows that the theory does work in practice  we can identify men at risk of aggressive cancers who need further tests and spare the men who are at lower risk from unnecessary treatments.'

The test will form part of the landmark prostate cancer screening trial underway in the UK, with a national screening programme almost certain to follow.

Transform will test the effectiveness of diagnosis techniques such as this saliva test, against the current PSA test over the next three years.

Retired lecturer Dheeresh Turnbull, from Brighton, was diagnosed with prostate cancer as a result of the BARCODE 1 study.

The 71-year-old was referred by his GP to take part in the trial, with the test finding his genetic risk was high.

Further tests confirmed he had prostate cancer and he was referred to The Royal Marsden in London, where he underwent robotic surgery to remove part of his prostate.

This led to his younger brother Joel to sign up for the trial, who was also diagnosed with the disease.

He said: 'I was completely shocked when I received my diagnosis as I had absolutely no symptoms at all, so I know I would never have been diagnosed at this stage if I hadn't joined the trial.

More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average in the UK, making it the most common cancer in men. Around 12,000 men die every year from the disease - the equivalent of one every 45 minutes

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'Because the saliva test revealed that I had a high genetic risk of developing the disease, my younger brother, who would have been too young to join the study directly, signed up and discovered that he also had an aggressive tumour in the prostate.

'It's incredible to think that because of this study two lives have now been saved in my family.'

Men who were found to have a high polygenic risk score during this trial will be followed to monitor if they go on to develop prostate cancer.

The technique will also be widened out to include new markers, recently identified for different ethnicities.

Professor Eeles added: 'Our next step will be for us to test the genetic markers we have identified that are associated with a risk of prostate cancer in diverse populations, to ensure this test can benefit all men.'

There are around 52,000 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed across the UK every year - the equivalent of 142 every day - making it the most common cancer among men.

While survival rates have tripled in the past 50 years, projections indicate that by 2040 the number of men diagnosed every year in the UK could double.

Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of the ICR, said: 'Cancers that are picked up early are much more likely to be curable, and with prostate cancer cases set to double by 2040, we must have a programme in place to diagnose the disease early.

'We know that the current PSA test can cause men to go through unnecessary treatments and, more worryingly, it's missing men who do have cancer.

'We urgently need an improved test to screen for the disease. This research is a promising step towards that goal, and it highlights the role that genetic testing can play in saving lives.'

The Daily Mail has campaigned for more than two decades for better diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Naser Turabi, Director of Evidence and Implementation at Cancer Research UK, said: 'It's encouraging to see that genetic testing might help to guide a more targeted approach to screening based on someone's risk of developing prostate cancer.

'More research is now needed to confirm if this tool can save lives from the disease so that it can be rolled out to improve diagnosis.'
Top doctors have warned against tests that claim to detect dozens of types of cancer, urging Americans that 'we don't have the evidence' and to stick to regular screenings.

Multi-cancer detection tests (MCDs) have emerged as potential alternatives to invasive tests like colonoscopies and mammograms. These tools, which mainly consist of blood draws, are meant to pick up on abnormal proteins and other cells consistent with cancer.

Similar to full-body MRI scans promoted by Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, many MCDs also claim to catch the disease before symptoms start, meaning cancer is detected in earlier stages.

However, researchers presenting at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago this weekend said that while early studies are compelling, they would not recommend them for their patients and they're 'not quite ready' to be widely prescribed.

They also warned that MCDs run the risk of false positives, which could lead to patients undergoing a battery of unnecessary tests.

And these tools are not covered by insurance, with just one test costing upward of $1,000.

Doctors at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago warned that multi-cancer detection tests are 'not ready for primetime'

The warnings come as health officials lower screening age guidelines for colorectal and breast cancers to combat a surge in young people with the disease.

Dr Chyke Doubeni, family medicine physician at Ohio State University, said in a presentation Friday: We dont have the evidence. I think these tests are not currently ready for primetime.'

'The risk of potential harm is there, however you look at it.'

Several recent reports on MCDs have shown promise, including two trials from the University of Oxford. In the first study, the team compared how proteins in blood samples from Brits diagnosed with cancer differed from those who did not have the disease.

They found 182 differing proteins on average three years before a cancer diagnosis.

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In the second study, 40 proteins in the blood were found to influence someone's risk of getting nine different types of cancer: bladder, breast, endometrial, head and neck, lung, ovary, pancreas, kidney and malignant non-melanoma.

Additionally, research published earlier this year found that the Galleri test, which claims to detect 50 types of cancer and is being trialed in the UK by the NHS, detected 18 types early-stage cancers and claimed to be 93 percent accurate.

However, at the time Paul Pharoah, professor of cancer epidemiology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, said the 'holy grail' for early detection was still some distance away, as more in-depth research is needed.

'Many such tests have been developed or are in development. This paper reports on the initial results of the development of one such test,' he said. 'While the results show some promise, it is far too soon to be confident that this test will turn out to be useful for early cancer detection.'

Dr Robert A Smith, oncology researcher at the American Cancer Society, said in the presentation that a potential benefit of MCDs is that they could detect cancers at earlier stages.

'It would mean detecting the disease earlier in its natural history compared to symptoms, suggesting the prognosis would be better,' he said.

However, he also noted that these 'should not replace regular screenings.

The above graph shows the change in cancer case rates around the world

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MCDs also carry the risk of false positive results. Dr Jamie Renee Brewer, a medical oncologist at the FDA, said in the presentation: 'While the false positive rate is low, the intended audience is hundreds of millions of people.'

This could lead to patients needing to undergo a battery of unnecessary, costly and invasive tests like biopsies for a negative diagnosis.

Dr Ernest Hawk, vice president, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, said in a hospital blog post: 'Any positive blood tests require a subsequent diagnostic evaluation.'

'Endoscopy, radiologic imaging and biopsies all take additional time, add costs and may result in additional risks from the procedures themselves.

We need to ensure that with this cancer screening prevention test we are decreasing cancer incidents or improving cancer specific survival,' Dr Brewer said.

Dr Brewer even suggested that the FDA and other agencies could start more strictly monitoring the tests and placing limits on them before they hit the shelves.

Earlier this month, the agency did show support for the Guardant Health Shield Test, which is designed to test for colorectal cancer, with the majority voting it safe.

However, FDA committee member Dr Charity J Morgan said that while the test was 'better than nothing for patients who are getting nothing,' it 'is not better than a colonoscopy.'

Dr Jonathan M Marron, a pediatric oncologist at Boston Children's Hospital, said in the presentation that the research so far is headed in a positive direction, and along with caution, optimism is key.

MCDs may have value both now and in the future, but value remains to be clearly demonstrated.'

There remains a great deal of uncertainty.'
Whats the story?

Introduced in 1995, this multi award-winning product was one of the first two-step cleansers, combining a rich cream with a soft muslin cloth that works well on all skin types  one is sold every 20 seconds.

Why should I buy?

The cocoa butter is made from wonky cocoa beans (Rainforest Alliance certified) rejected by chocolate makers. Only certified sustainable palm oil is used, too 

this protects the surrounding habitat, discourages deforestation and supports the income of growers who depend on the palm. The tube is made from 55 per cent recycled plastic and is recyclable.

Cleanse and polish, 30, boots.com

Why shouldnt I buy?

Cocoa butter is from West Africa, palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, rosemary from Tunisia and camomile from Germany  all imported to the UK, but theyre brought by road and sea, not air freight.

The extra mile

Liz Earle partners with WWF to support Project Seagrass. Seagrass meadows are an excellent carbon catcher and are also a key habitat for marine wildlife. This project works to restore and protect seagrass meadows off the shores of the Isle of Wight, where Liz Earle is based, with 200,000 seeds collected last summer for replanting.

Made in

Several locations in the UK.

Made from

Rosemary, camomile, eucalyptus, hops, sustainable palm oil, cocoa butter.

Journey

By road and sea.

Our rating


Surely were all clear on what Jeremy Clarkson stands for.

I love a man who can weep over a dying pig.

Are we talking about the same Jeremy Clarkson?

Yes. Pigs are his latest thing.

I thought the 64-year-olds thing was driving cars very fast.

Thats old Jeremy. You clearly havent been keeping up with his Amazon Prime Video series Clarksons Farm.

Isnt it about him having a scrap with the council over a car park? I feel life may be too short.

Youre missing the point: this show has a narrative arc worthy of Tolstoy. Its about love, loss and

Car parks?

The latest season (which dropped last month) saw Clarkson defeat West Oxfordshire District Council in his bid to build a restaurant, cafe, car park, shop and toilets at the quirkily named Diddly Squat Farm.

A real porker: Jeremy and friend down on the farm

Sounds gripping.

He also lost all his pigs but found his favourite cow had escaped death at the abattoir.

Slaughterhouses and planning regs. Cant think why I havent watched it.

Well, if youre not obsessed with Jeremy then youre in the minority. Hes just been crowned the UKs sexiest man (for the second year).

You mean on Diddly Squat Farm? Who was voting  the pigs?

Thats very insensitive. The pigs are all dead.

The cows?

The voters were users of dating website Illicit Encounters (for married people who want to cheat on their spouses).

So, hes the bucolic womans crumpet. Who did he beat? Worzel Gummidge? The cast of Last of the Summer Wine?

Tom Holland (second) and Prince William (third).

Ive just looked this up and Im not sure everyone agrees with you about the hotness of Jeremy Clarkson.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

As are cataracts, pointed out one X/Twitter user.

But X also scoffed at Prince William coming third.

Give us a flavour.

Hes not even the third sexiest bald man.

Hasnt Clarkson rather spoiled things from a PR perspective?

Absolutely not.

Wasnt he sacked by the BBC in 2015 for punching a Top Gear producer before going on to be so rude about Meghan that his own daughter had to cancel him temporarily?

We have forgotten all about that. In 2024 Jeremy Clarkson is a welly-wearing national treasure.

Really?

When The Telegraph reported his latest sexiest man win, readers were effusive in their praise. Clarkson for PM! enthused one.

Although I read that his Diddly Squat Farm sidekick Kaleb Cooper wasnt exactly comfortable in the corridors of power.

Well, it was actually the front door of power that proved so bothersome.

What happened?

Cooper got told off by the door police at Number 10 for knocking too loudly when he went to visit the PM during the latest season of the show.

One assumes Cooper rallied by opening an in-depth debate on post-Brexit agricultural policy.

Not quite. He went with: Sorry, were farmers.

How did Rishi respond?

Ricky.

Pardon?

Cooper thought his name was Ricky and that he was the president.

Im starting to come round to Clarksons Farm. When is the next series starting?

Filming is underway on season four (due sometime in 2025) although it recently came to a grinding standstill.

Has Clarkson found himself overwhelmed by ailing livestock again?

No, this time the problem was a rogue helicopter flying over Diddly Squat Farm.

You said Clarkson is a changed man, so how did his newfound emotional maturity manifest in this situation?

The presenter did post an update to Instagram although he may briefly have reverted to old Jeremy.

Go on

Filming paused till this f***tard buggers off.
My favourite drink as a child was Vimto, the fruity soft drink.

It reminds me of summer holidays spent at my grandmas house in Burnley when I was about six or seven. I still love it now, and when I have a glass, it takes me back to being off school. Its made on my home soil up north [Manchester], too.

I wake up at 4.20am and always have a black coffee before my breakfast show.

It needs to be really strong  the strongest blend you can get, preferably an Italian or French one. Ive got one of those fancy coffee-makers with a timer, so I can have it ready the second I get out of bed. Early starts mean I need three coffees to keep me going through the morning. I have to be strict with myself not to have any more.

Jordan's favourite drink was a vimto

My first experience of alcohol was as a 15-year-old drinking cider in the park.

I went with my friends on New Years Eve, all with those huge two-litre bottles of Frosty Jacks Cider. I got so stupidly drunk that, even now, if I smell the stuff I can feel myself gagging.

My most memorable drink was on a flight to New York a few years ago.

It sounds strange but Id wanted to go for years and couldnt because I was so scared of flying. Then I did Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and thought, if I can lie in a coffin full of snakes, I can get on a plane for my dream holiday. Before landing, the flight attendant woke me up and gave me a gin and tonic  I drank it while we were circling above the city, so I could look out over the New York skyline.

The worst drink Ive ever tasted was, predictably, on Im A Celebrity

During one of the bushtucker trials I had to drink fermented fish guts, and it was absolutely horrific. I cant describe how bad it tasted  so cold and fishy! I couldnt get the flavour out of my mouth for days afterwards.

Jordan loved a G&T en route to NY

The most famous person Ive shared a drink with is Chris Moyles.

I always listened to his Radio 1 show growing up in the 1990s, and when I took over the Capital Breakfast show in April he messaged me asking if Id like to go for a drink. We met up on a Saturday afternoon and he had such great advice for me about my new gig. The only issue was, we racked up quite a bill. We were there for hours chatting and I think we had about 12 bottles of lager each.

If I could have a drink with anyone alive or dead, Id pick Caroline Aherne, who wrote and starred in The Royle Family.

Jordan wished hed had a snifter with Caroline Aherne

Its my favourite sitcom ever, and I think shed have been such a laugh to have a drink with. I would love to have met her, and was devastated when she died in 2016.

After a few drinks, youll hear me singing The Best by Tina Turner.

Theres just something about that song  when Im drunk, Im bound to get it up on karaoke.

At my funeral I want everyone to drink Guinness.

A proper pint of Guinness is my favourite drink in the world. I absolutely love the stuff. Whatever happens, Ive got to make sure I have enough money left over to have it free-flowing at my send-off.

The one drink I always have in my fridge is milk.

I love a glass, and go through so much that I even have the milkman deliver a pint to my doorstep every morning.

Jordan North is on Capital Breakfast, Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am
In 2019, Sophie Parker was at home in Surrey, going through a book that had belonged to her grandmother. Tucked inside the pages she discovered a leaf. It was small; no larger than a little finger. Parker, now 57, was stunned. Quickly, she told her elder sister, Nicole Miller-Hard, 61, who was living in New Zealand.

When Miller-Hard flew back to the UK, Parker met her and they drove to present the leaf to the Imperial War Museum. In the car, Parker placed the leaf in her sisters hand. I couldnt believe it, says Miller-Hard.

This little veined piece of green possibly saved my grandmothers life.

Parker and Miller-Hards grandmother was Odette Hallowes  a Frenchwoman who was part of the British Special Operations Executive in the Second World War. The SOE, as the organisation was known, was formed in 1940. Its agents were trained to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage in Nazi-occupied Europe and to work with local resistance armies. Members of the SOE were also required to be fluent in the language of the country they were infiltrating.

Hallowes joined the SOE almost by accident: in 1942, the UK government asked British citizens to send any holiday photographs they had of the North French coast.

The idea was to analyse the coastline, through as many images as possible, ahead of the D-Day landings. Hallowes  30 at the time and living in Somerset with three daughters, all ten and under, and a British husband in the Army  submitted a selection and a letter. The SOE found her response and must have been impressed: inviting her to London, they asked her to join.

Odette in 194

She despaired for occupied France but did not want to leave her children. Until then, she been a mother and housewife and had zero experience of working as a secret agent  or, as the SOE called it, conducting ungentlemanly warfare.

But eventually she agreed. The children were enrolled in a boarding school and Hallowes wrote them pre-dated letters, to open week by week. Things like I hope youre doing your homework, or I hope youre not biting your fingernails, says Miller-Hard.

What convinced Hallowes to join? She had this very strong sense of duty, says Parker. Her own father was killed in the First World War and her grandfather used to take her and her brother to visit their fathers grave every Sunday. He would say to them, There is going to be another world war. I know its coming. And when it does, it will be your turn to do your duty, just as your father did his. I think those words became engraved across her heart.

SOE training was rigorous. Hallowes learned self-defence, how to parachute, use explosives, read Morse code and resist interrogation. When she arrived in France she joined a fellow SOE agent, Peter Churchill, and they worked closely with a radio operator, Adolphe Rabinovitch, who coded and decoded messages.

Hallowes was also sent on solo missions and coordinated aerial drop-offs of weapons and equipment. On one mission, she missed the last train home and had to spend a night in a brothel in Marseilles that was frequented by Nazis; on another assignment she hid from German forces at night in a freezing river.

But in 1943, Churchill and Hallowes were betrayed by a double agent and arrested by the Gestapo. Thinking quickly, Hallowes told the officer that she and Churchill were married, and that he was Winston Churchills nephew. This was a lie  the shared surname was purely coincidence. She reckoned a fake connection to the Prime Minister might spare them both execution.

Odette (bottom right) at the 25th Anniversary of the George Cross at Guards Chapel, London, 1965

Hallowes was sent to occupied Paris, where she endured interrogation and torture. She was burned on her back with a red-hot poker; her toenails were pulled out one by one. The Gestapo wanted to extract information from her about the SOE, but Hallowes kept quiet. She said it was as simple as making the decision, I am not going to speak, says Parker.

She said once she had made that decision, it was easy to stick to it.

Odette (far left) at a family function with granddaughters Sophie (second right) and Nicole (middle), 1980s

Also, Parker adds, They made one fundamental mistake when they were torturing her: they placed her in a chair that was facing a window. The Gestapo building in which Hallowes was being interrogated was on Avenue Foch  an enormous street in an expensive area of the capital. It was lined with trees and ended at the Arc de Triomphe.

Hallowes was in a room several floors up and, from the window, she could see the tops of the trees. She said, I just decided I had to transport myself away from where I was and put myself in those trees. I suppose it was what we would think of today as going into some sort of meditative state.

Hallowes was incarcerated in the Paris prison, Fresnes, and kept in solitary confinement. The Nazis condemned her to death on two counts: for being a British spy and for working with the French Resistance. Hallowess response was typically defiant: Gentleman, you must take your pick of the counts because I can only die once.

And so, exactly 80 years ago this month, in June 1944, Hallowes was sent to Ravensbruck in Germany, an all-female concentration camp with more than 50,000 prisoners. She was again placed in solitary confinement, in an underground cell with no light.

Hallowes sat alone in total darkness for three months and 11 days. She was next door to a punishment cell and could often hear prisoners being tortured; she had no concept of whether it was night or day. According to Miller-Hard, Hallowes found a tiny piece of wood in the cell and would polish the floor with it: That kept her sane.

As the winter of 1944 approached, Hallowes was moved to a cell on the ground floor of the camp, which had a small window. One morning, she was sent to the Ravensbruck hospital and on her way back, crossing the compound, she saw something on the ground: a small leaf. The leaf was unusual  there were no trees overhanging the fences of the camp. Hallowes picked it up and guards seemed not to mind. A leaf was not one of the things a prisoner [was] forbidden to have, she wrote in a later memoir.

They were totally unconscious of the significance of the treasure I had acquired. They did not know, as they slammed the door of my cell, that I held in my fingers a most potent link with the forces of life and of freedom.

The leaf Odette found in Ravensbruck

Day after day in her cell, Hallowes would examine the leaf, tracing its veins and spine with her fingertips. The act connected her with the outside world from which she had been removed. It seemed to me, she wrote, that I touched not a leaf but a tree.

By early 1945 it was becoming clear that Germany was losing the war and the commandant of Ravensbruck was growing anxious. Still believing Hallowes was related to Winston Churchill, he decided to hand-deliver her to the Americans.

Parker thinks he hoped it might grant him some clemency. Instead, the Americans arrested the commandant on Hallowess instruction and confiscated his gun. Hallowes herself kept the weapon in secret for the rest of her life; her family only discovered it decades later, after her death.

On the night of her release, the Americans offered Hallowes a warm place to sleep, but she declined. After so many months trapped in a cell she said she wanted to feel the fresh air. She was reunited with her children  according to Parker, she was so thin they barely recognised her  and settled back in Britain.

She divorced her first husband, Roy, and, making good on the lie she told the Gestapo, she married her SOE partner Peter Churchill in 1947. The couple divorced in 1956. Hallowes then married another former SOE member, Geoffrey, and they were together until she died in 1995, aged 82, at home in Surrey.

Her postwar life, it seems, was a happy and well-decorated one. There was a film, Odette, made about her in 1950, and Hallowes was awarded an MBE, the George Cross and the French equivalent, the Legion dHonneur.

She kept her medals at her mothers house in Kensington  until they were stolen in a burglary. Hallowess mother appealed to the press, and the thief, obligingly, posted the medals back with a note. He apologised for the robbery, promised he was not all that bad  its just circumstances, and signed off under the name A Bad Egg.

Still, for all Hallowess accolades, Parker and Miller-Hard do not remember her discussing her SOE work often  and when she did it was to acknowledge her female SOE colleagues who did not survive. Instead, their grandmothers work was revealed in unspoken signs: her ongoing cough, cases of bronchitis, frequent visits from the doctor to tend to her wounded feet.

Hallowes was frank and unromantic about the war and its consequences. In the final paragraph of her memoir she wrote about Ravensbruck, saying, Military victory was won and I was one of the few who returned to tell the tale But now I ask myself the extent of the victory. With great sadness I believe that the choice made between liberty and slavery has still to be made. We used to believe in Ravensbruck that those of us who survived could enter a more tolerant and tranquil world whose leaders would have learnt the age-old lesson that man is made in Gods image and must bear Gods dignity.

In the war we fought a human enemy; one who had been infected with the germ of inhumanity. Although we defeated the enemy we failed to defeat the parasite. That same parasite of inhumanity is about the world today and, unless it is destroyed completely, the camp of Ravensbruck will only be the shadow and the symbol of a greater darkness to come.

Today, Hallowess leaf is kept in Parkers home. It is 80 years old, slightly shrivelled and curling at the ends. But somehow it has remained tinged a soft green.

Its extraordinary, says Parker. There are still life forces in that leaf.
Arriving precisely on time at Rory Stewart's terraced house in London's South Kensington I find the front door already open and Stewart standing in the hall waiting for me.

At the end of our interview, I gather my things together to discover that he has left the room and is standing in the hall with the front door already open waiting for me to leave. It's a rather odd feeling, but Stewart is an unusual man. Going is very much as important as arriving.

This was his childhood home, he tells me, as we settle down in a pristine dining room. His father bought the house in 1968, five years before Stewart  the first child of Stewart senior's second marriage  was born. He points: 'I hid behind those curtains when I was four and pretended to run away.'

Some unkind people think he's still running away.

He entered parliament in 2010 as Conservative member for Penrith and The Border  the only English constituency that's more remote than his beloved Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor  became a minister in 2015 under David Cameron, joined the Cabinet under Theresa May, resigned when Boris Johnson won the leadership in July 2019, had the Tory whip removed for rebelling over Brexit later that year and subsequently left the Conservative Party and decided not to fight the December 2019 election.

And now he is famous for having become one of Britain's most successful podcasters. The Rest is Politics, which he co-hosts with Tony Blair's former communications chief, Alastair Campbell, began in March 2022. 'We signed up for six episodes,' he says, 'then I thought, maybe we'll do it for a year. We're now nearly two and a half years in. There's clearly some phenomenon!'

Stewart in Scotland last summer

Indeed there is. In late 2022 the pair filled the Royal Albert Hall for a special recording. Even so, Stewart recalls feeling a little embarrassed by his new role. 'Friends  and even people who weren't friends  would tease me and say: this is pathetic  you thought you were gonna be a kind of serious politician, and now this!'

But that feeling has dissipated. 'Initially I was a bit apologetic and thought we were dumbing down and it wasn't a serious thing to do. More recently, I've become proud of it, as world issues became increasingly tricky. So I've really been getting into questions like: how do I learn to speak about Israel and Palestine?'

In other words, it, too, is a kind of public service.

The show, which is produced by Gary Lineker's Goalhanger Podcasts and goes out twice weekly, is also apparently very lucrative. Although no one involved is prepared to give details, Lineker has allowed that The Rest is Politics duo have done pretty well out of it. (One rival podcast company speculated to The Guardian that Stewart and Campbell could be making more than 100,000 a month each under a revenue-sharing model.)

The last time I met Rory Stewart was in 2017 when he was a junior minister and a school friend of his had written a play about him that was about to open at the Hampstead Theatre. Stewart was a bit tired as his second son Ivo had been born five days earlier.

This time, halfway through our interview, the front door opens and his two sons  Sasha, nine, and Ivo, now seven  appear in school uniform, accompanied by their nanny. They come in to say hello and we talk a bit about dragons. They are delightful. Sasha excuses himself  he has homework to do.

Mine and Stewart's backgrounds could hardly be more different, and I am fighting my own prejudices when I contemplate his membership from birth of the most privileged part of the British establishment.

But I've also learnt that sometimes this privilege comes at a cost. Stewart's parents were living in Malaysia when, at eight, he was sent to board at the Dragon prep school in Oxford. From there he was sent to Eton, also as a boarder. In effect he left home as a child, almost as he had imagined doing from behind those curtains aged four. Is the same thing planned for Sasha and Ivo?

Rory with podcast partner Alastair Campbell at London's Royal Albert Hall in December

'I think probably not,' he says, 'My wife, who's American, didn't go to boarding school, doesn't like boarding school, and Sasha is making it pretty clear at the moment that he's not sure he wants to go.'

He adds, 'My mother is quite sort of wise on this, so she thinks the world's changing. And she's got a sense that this sort of old aspirational English upper-middle-class life, which my parents wanted for me and I kind of represent, may be fading, and may have less relevance in a new world. And I think she may have a point.'

Stewart insists that boarding school suited his own character and it was his parents who were upset by the separation. So why did they go for it? In particular, why Eton? 'My parents' excuse was that it was really close to Heathrow, but my father was a bit ambivalent about it. He was always grumbling about Etonians; he didn't like them.

He felt that they were really stuck up and they'd been the bane of his professional life.' Brian Stewart, Rory's father, had been deputy director of MI6 in the late 1970s, but was passed over for the top job  presumably by Etonians  when the legendary spook Sir Maurice Oldfield retired. Perhaps this is what his son was referring to.

In Stewart's latest book, Politics on the Edge (out next week in paperback), his greatest contempt (and there are magnificent passages in what is often a very funny account of his time in politics) is for two fellow Old Etonians: the supremely complacent David Cameron and his true bete blond, Boris Johnson  the man who, in effect, ended Stewart's dream of serving Britain through politics.

Stewart is hugely competitive, but not with other people. He is clearly internally driven and, after talking with him about his late father's influence, it seems to me that his dad had seen the bookish boy as made for contemplation rather than action, seeing him, in Stewart's words, 'as a bit of a softie, not a macho guy'. He even told his son he should think about becoming Archbishop of Canterbury.

Instead, Stewart became an explorer, the deputy governor of an occupied province of Iraq and then set about the business of becoming a senior politician. And a drive like this can be costly. What he discovered was that he lacked the thick skin that his political colleagues possessed. They 'bounced and bounced and bounced', whereas he just couldn't.

He's only just back from a seven-week stint at Yale University in the US where he teaches a course on Grand Strategy. And next week, he tells me, he's going for 11 days to a silent retreat at a Buddhist monastery somewhere in Britain. He might miss the children, I think, so ask him if he feels that he is a better dad because he can go away and come back.

He's sure he is. 'I think I'll come back from the retreat much more patient, much calmer than if I hadn't done it', he says. 'I can get quite stressed. I get bad migraines and things.'

And things? Stewart recently revealed that he is in therapy. I ask why. His answer is genuinely surprising. 'Part of it is revealed in questions like: why am I so obsessively angry with Boris Johnson? Why do I see him as the representative of the sum of all evils in the world? That's definitely one of the subjects I'm a bit troubled by  how obsessive I am and why I've turned him into this kind of emblem of everything that's wrong.'

The clock on the wall behind Stewart tells me that my time is up. So what's next for him? He likes the podcast but 'it may not last forever. I've always been worried about what happens when Labour gets into government and will Alastair become so tribal that we won't be able to engage with UK politics in the same way?'

If Campbell can't rise to the new moment then I could always step in to fill the void, I don't tell him. In any case, he says, if he really had a fantasy for next year, he 'would love it' if he could chair a commission on something like AI and the NHS; 'something where I could get into a big public policy issue in detail'.

So, there's Rory Stewart at 51, teaching at Yale, father to two lovely children, engaged in a lucrative new form of journalism in which he fulfils a useful role and gets invited to the Coronation. He's living many ambitious people's better lives and you sense it's all not quite enough. Which is a bit of a shame because he is very hard not to like.

Politics on the Edge by Rory Stewart will be published in paperback on Thursday by Penguin, 10.99. To order a copy for 9.34 until 16 June, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 25.
Households could see lower energy bills under Labour plans to set up a publicly-owned Great British Energy company if they get into power, the party has claimed.

The average British home currently pays yearly energy bills of 1,690, due to fall to 1,568 from 1 July.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has these high energy costs in his gunsights, and today unveiled plans to tackle them if he becomes prime minister.

Starmer wants to launch Great British Energy, which would invest in wind and solar power projects, as well as other green technologies.

He hopes that doing this will boost the amount of UK-created renewable electricity, and lower energy bills into the bargain.

So how will Great British Energy work - and what will it mean for household bills?

Green and lean: Labour leader Keir Starmer is planning to bring in a national firm to encourage greener electricity and bring down household bills into the bargain

What is Great British Energy?

Great British Energy would be a state-funded organisation that would invest in electricity coming from wind, including offshore wind, solar and hydrogen.

It would also fund ways to capture and store carbon.

Labour plans to have 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030, and Great British Energy is part of that promise. Both depend on the party winning the general election, though Labour is currently far ahead in the polls.

The party promised that Great British Energy would create 8 gigawatts of power a day within five years - enough to power 8 million homes for one hour.

The firm will be based in Scotland, it said.

What is the point of Great British Energy?

Starmer said Great British Energy was urgently needed to give the country more energy security, as well as for environmental reasons.

In a speech to launch Great British Energy, Starmer said: 'This is a company owned by the taxpayer, making money for the taxpayer, and investing in green British power.

'And I'll tell you why we need it, because we have been overly exposed by the terrible decisions of this Government. Ten years or so ago, they said "cut the green crap".

'Remember that? Cut the green crap. And they stopped investing in renewables. They stopped the insulation that we need on our homes, and they left us exposed to the sort of challenges that we have internationally exposed.'

He added that 'when Ukraine was invaded, and Putin invaded, we were more exposed than other countries'.

What will it mean for energy bills?

Labour hopes that Great British Energy will mean lower energy bills - but has not committed to giving a set amount that households can save.

Starmer said: 'We were more exposed than other countries [to the Ukraine war], and you're paying more on your bill because of the approach that they took. Bills are up. We have got to turn that around.

'It is a challenge, we'll rise to that challenge. We've lost ten years because of the approach of the Tories. But it is also probably the single biggest opportunity that we have  not just for lower bills  but for the next generation of jobs.'

How will it be funded?

Labour said Great British Energy will be funded with 8.3billion in its first parliament, which will come from extending the windfall tax on oil and gas firms.

Where are all the cheap energy deals?

Historically, most households have locked in to fixed energy deals. Variable-rate deals have been what customers fell onto once these cheaper fixed-rate deals expired.

But that all changed in late 2021, when energy firms stopped offering cheap fixed-rate deals.

They did this because of the energy price crisis, when wholesale prices of gas began to soar.

Because most consumers were on fixed-rate tariffs, energy firms were forced to buy power for much less than they could sell it for.

As a result, dozens of energy firms collapsed and the rest waited for customers to end up on more expensive variable-rate deals.

Most of the country is now on a variable-rate energy tariff, with prices set by the Ofgem price cap.

Almost all energy firm tariffs charge customers the maximum allowed under this cap.
Open your eyes, prick up your ears and take a deep breath. What do you sense? Its something unusual, something that has been missing for too long  a whiff of excitement, growth, even exuberance.

After a slow and difficult hibernation, the UK market is coming back to life.

Yes, overseas predators are prowling these shores looking for bargains  just look at Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinskys bid for Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services. But UK plc is fighting back.

Eye-catching companies are floating on the stock market and, equally importantly, businesses are raising money through rights issues to fund future growth.

National Grid

Boost: National Grids call to arms is in a different league

National Grid is a case in point, with a 7billion cash-raising exercise, the largest since Lloyds Banks rescue deal in 2009.

National Grids call to arms is in a different league. Responsible for building and maintaining energy transmission networks here and in parts of America, the company is embarking on a bold 60billion investment plan.

Over the next five years, chief executive John Pettigrew intends to upgrade, extend and modernise National Grids network of pipes, cables and other infrastructure so that energy can be transmitted efficiently and effectively.

The proposals are ambitious but realistic, reflecting a shift in the energy mix towards wind, solar and nuclear power and growing demands on the electricity grid.

Projects are already under way and more will follow until 2029, creating more than 50,000 jobs.

But Pettigrew needs help, hence the 7billion rights issue, with shareholders being offered seven new shares for every 24 they already hold.

The new shares are on offer at 6.45 apiece, a 35 per cent discount to the price before the deal was announced and investors have until June 10 to subscribe.

With a history dating back to the privatisation of British Gas, National Grid has hundreds of thousands of individual investors. What should they do?

Rights issues are complicated and so few have been issued in recent years that even City experts barely remember how they work!

There are several options open to shareholders. First, they can take up all their rights. An investor with 500 shares would be entitled to 146 new shares, costing just over 941.

Second, they can ignore the whole process and will be compensated by National Grid for the rights they have forgone. Third, they can sell their rights online or via brokers or financial advisers. And finally, they can sell some of their rights and use the proceeds to invest in the rights issue itself.

MIDAS VERDICT: Those who would rather receive cash than spend it can easily choose to do so but they will be left with a smaller holding in National Grid, once the new shares have been issued.

Shareholders with cash, however, could gain from this deal, ending up with nearly 30 per cent more stock in a group with a decent track record, a strong growth agenda and attractive dividends.

Significantly, the rights issue has also been underwritten by bankers so National Grid will receive the money come what may, and can channel it into growth and jobs.

Great Portland Estates

Offer: Great Portland Estates is offering three new shares for every five held, at 2.30 a share

National Grids John Pettigrew is not the only boss who believes now is the time to issue new shares.

Toby Courtauld of property group Great Portland Estates is in the market, with a 350million, growth-focused rights issue.

The group is offering three new shares for every five held, at 2.30 a share, a 33 per cent discount to the price before the deal was announced.

Courtauld has been at the helm for more than 20 years and gained a reputation for timing the market, selling when valuations are high and buying when they are depressed.

He and his team have done very little buying since 2013 but they are convinced that the market is about to turn, making this the perfect time to snap up some bargains. Courtauld has a specific brief, however  top commercial properties in the heart of London.

Demand is growing, supply is tight and vacancy rates are virtually non-existent. This is where Courtauld is focusing his efforts, amassing a pipeline of 27 possible sites, with a total value of 1.3 billion.

MIDAS VERDICT: Like National Grids cash call, Great Portlands rights issue is bold. Increasing the size of the company by more than 20 per cent, it is Courtaulds first rights issue since 2009 and should be seen as a vote of confidence in the property market.

Big investors are supportive while Courtauld and his board are investing 2 million of their own money. Shareholders must consider whether they can afford the new stock. If they can, they should.

Special opportunities

Opportunity: Special Opportunities Reit is a new company floating on the stock market to exploit potentially lucrative property deals

One transaction might be considered eccentric. Two suggests a trend. While Great Portland is calling on existing shareholders for cash, Special Opportunities Reit is a new company floating on the stock market to exploit potentially lucrative property deals.

Seeking to raise up to 500million at 1 a share, the group is led by a group of seasoned property experts, who believe, like Courtauld, that the market is about to turn.

Management has form. Chairman Harry Hyman has spent the past 30 years running Primary Health Properties, taking it to a 1.2billion business with a long history of growth and generous dividends.

Chief executive is Simon Lee, who founded LXi Reit in 2017 and took the business from nothing to a 3.9billion merger with fellow property firm London Metric just three months ago.

Lee believes a flood of properties will come on sale in the next couple of years from pension schemes that are keen to exit the market.

The reasons are complex but they should mean that top-quality assets will be hitting the market at once-in-a-generation prices.

Lee has already lined up deals worth more than 2.5billion, from industrial estates to student digs to data centres. Plans are also afoot to drive rental growth by managing properties more actively.

Canny buying, clever management and timely sales are expected to deliver an attractive blend of share price growth and dividends. Lee and his team are targeting annual returns of 12 to 15 per cent from next year and are hoping for significantly more.

They also plan to wind the business up in five years, selling off assets for considerably more than they paid for them and returning cash to shareholders.

Such is Lees confidence in his strategy that he and fellow managers are putting 4million of their own cash into the flotation, taking below-average salaries and charging no fees for their work.

Instead, they are looking for lump-sum payments once the group is wound up, with payments triggered only after investors have received returns of at least 10 per cent per annum.

MIDAS VERDICT: Special Opportunities is one of the largest property flotations in years, a welcome boost for the market and a sign of optimism in the future.

The company has been set up to benefit from a particular time in the property cycle and so deliver generous returns to shareholders. At 1 a share, the flotation is worth a closer look.

Raspberry Pi

Global growth: Raspberry Pi has grown into a global success story

Raspberry Pi has not yet released details of its flotation but information is expected within days and this home-grown technology firm has already captured investors imaginations.

Founded by Cambridge PhD, Eben Upton, to make affordable computers for young people and enthuse them about computing, Raspberry Pi has grown into a global success story.

From initial trading in 2012, the group has sold more than 60 million low-cost computers and complementary kit around the world. Customers range from individuals to schools to multinational companies. Shareholders include Sony and semi-conductor group Arm.

Sales totalled almost $266million (210million) in 2023 but Upton reckons the market for his products exceeds $21 billion.

Not only are Raspberry Pi computers popular and practical, they are cheaper to make and far more environmentally friendly than traditional desktop models, using 85 per cent less plastic and consuming 90 per cent less electricity.

That makes them attractive to schools and businesses alike. The group has doubled profits in the past three years and there are high hopes for the future.

Raspberry Pi is expected to be valued on the stock market at around 500million, with most of the new shares coming from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a charitable trust that owns 75 per cent of the company and intends to use the money to promote computer skills among young people.

MIDAS VERDICT: Raspberry Pi shares could prove an exciting addition to investors portfolios. Well worth a look.

Fundraisings and flotations have been rare in recent years. Their return is a sign of recovery.

Time to recognise the value of UK businesses  and invest in firms that will deliver growth across the country.
Investment trust Utilico Emerging Markets delivers shareholders a mix of dividend and capital return.

It does this by investing in companies that provide the infrastructure necessary for the worlds developing economies to keep growing  everything from power lines and railways through to ports and data centres.

Its an unusual investment approach, but it has served investors well since the trust launched nearly 19 years ago, especially in terms of income.

Apart from 2015, when it maintained its annual dividend, the trust has grown income payments every year.

Encouragingly, in the current financial year to the end of March, the three quarterly divis it has paid so far are slightly ahead of the previous year  indicating that another year of dividend growth is expected.

In terms of overall investment performance, three-year returns of 19 per cent compare favourably against its global emerging markets peer group of 14 per cent.

Over the past year, it has underperformed  a return of 5.3 per cent against a group average of 10.6 per cent.

Utilico Emerging Markets is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has assets valued by the market of 431 million. It is run from London by Charles Jillings of asset manager ICM, assisted by two colleagues.

Four investment themes underpin the portfolio  the need for emerging markets to embrace energy transition (to wind and solar energy), improve social infrastructure (especially as economies urbanise), increase exports (for example, commodities and food) and digitalise (through the building of data centres and internet networks).

Eighty per cent of the 78 companies it invests in provides the trusts income.

The businesses are located worldwide, with nearly a quarter of the assets in Brazilian businesses (the trust will not invest more than 35 per cent in any one country).

Brazil is a beneficiary of improving infrastructure, says Jillings. Its the worlds number one producer of soybeans, number three for coffee beans and is rich in resources such as iron ore and oil.

He adds: Many of these goods end up being exported  and as exports boom, that means there is a need for better infrastructure such as trains and ports.

Among the trusts top 20 holdings are port operator Santos Brasil Participacoes and rail company Rumo.

Jillings is also excited about investment opportunities in Mexico, triggered in part by a recent visit to the country.

He says it is benefiting from a boom in nearshoring  with many businesses supplying the US market now preferring to have closer commercial locations in Mexico, taking advantage of the countrys cheap labour force and side-stepping geopolitical risks elsewhere in the world.

The trusts biggest Mexican holding is logistics firm Grupo Traxion. We invested in it three years ago, says Jillings.

The management team is entrepreneurial and the business will grow.

The trust has a few anomalies. First, it has a small holding in UK start-up Petalite, an electric vehicle charging company.

Jillings says the stake  unlisted  gives the trust exposure to a key trend (energy transition) that is both difficult and expensive to access in emerging markets such as China and South Korea.

Also, a big chunk of its Vietnam holdings is through London-listed trust VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity.

Total annual charges are 1.4 per cent and the income it pays shareholders is equivalent to around 3.9 per cent a year. Its stock market identification code is BD45S967, and its ticker UEM.
Chris O'Shea admits he's paid too much but cashes in anyway

Bumper pay: Centrica boss Chris O'Shea

British Gass owner is facing a showdown with shareholders over plans to hand its chief executive an 8.2million pay and bonus package.

Centrica has come under fire from campaigners for giving Chris OShea such large rewards as millions of gas and electricity users are still battling the cost-of-living crisis, including high utility bills.

Centricas board will face its investors at the companys annual meeting (AGM) on Wednesday.

Pirc  a research group that advises investors how to vote on issues including executive pay  has urged shareholders to vote against OSheas pay for 2023.

OShea has opened himself up to accusations of hypocrisy as he previously said it was impossible to justify the 4.5million he was paid in 2022, then accepted almost double that amount.

Centrica has hundreds of thousands of individual investors, many of whom will be annoyed by OSheas latest deal.

Amit Vedhara, director at ShareSoc, a lobby group for small investors, said Centricas pay packages for 2023 did not appear to be justified.

He said: If this was a one-off and shareholders were also rewarded with a one-off benefit, it would be different.

He added that parts of the company had profited from windfalls when energy prices rose - even though many customers struggled to pay bills.

OShea, who has led the company since 2020, received a salary of 810,000 last year.

His pay also included a 1.4million annual bonus and a 5.9million long-term bonus, as well as pension and benefits.

Meters: British Gas used a controversial agency that fitted energy pre-payment meters in elderly and vulnerable residents houses by force

A small amount of his bonus was docked following a scandal over the use of debt collectors.

British Gas used a controversial agency that fitted energy pre-payment meters in elderly and vulnerable residents houses by force  though it cut ties after a public backlash.

Tim Bush, head of governance and financial analysis at Pirc, said: Chris OShea has himself said he is paid too much.

He blamed badly-designed pay schemes, which mimic those in the US, where executives are paid even more than here.

Luke Hildyard, director at think tank the High Pay Centre, said: Good leadership matters but lots of other factors also contribute to companies success, like the economic and geopolitical context or the contribution of the wider workforce or changes in societys tastes and needs.

Most high earners arent really the superhuman leaders theyre depicted to be  theyve just been given the education, training, networks and confidence opportunity to do a top job.

But one top ten shareholder told the Mail they believed OShea deserved the high pay as he went without bonuses in earlier years and managed to navigate the business through some extremely difficult and choppy waters.

OShea did not take a bonus in 2019, when he was finance chief.

Nor did he accept a payout in 2020 and in 2021, he turned down a 1.1million bonus in solidarity with what he described as the hardships faced by customers.

Carol Arrowsmith, chairman of the pay committee, said the company needs to ensure it is set up for success in the long-term and that means attracting and retaining high performing executives who can lead this large and complex business.

She added that the way OSheas pay packet is calculated is based on the terms he was appointed on and the structure was approved by shareholders.

Investors have already taken aim at a number of bosses this year.

But there is a growing debate in the City about whether British bosses should be allowed to receive lavish bonuses and higher salaries that would bring the UK more in line with the US.
Leading businesses are calling on Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves to axe the hated 'tourist tax' if Labour wins the election.

Bosses of firms including Mulberry, Marks & Spencer, Kurt Geiger and Selfridges have said reinstating tax-free shopping could turbo-charge the economy.

It comes days after Reeves said she wants to become the most 'pro-growth Chancellor' in UK history. Rishi Sunak abolished tax-free shopping for international visitors in 2021.

Protest: Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte spearheaded a protest backed by more than 500 bosses

The Mail and Mail on Sunday have been campaigning for the policy to be reversed.

The Conservatives have refused to heed the calls from business to ditch the tax, which is a brake on growth.

The levy is costing the economy more than 11billion a year, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, as tourists who come on shopping trips also splash out on hotels, restaurants and theatre trips.

The Tories asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to assess the tax ahead of the March Budget, but ultimately kept it.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Labour does not support ditching the levy.

Firms want the party at a minimum to pledge to launch a formal assessment.

Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, who spearheaded a protest backed by more than 500 bosses, said keeping it would make 'a complete mockery' of Labour's growth promises.

He added: 'If the Conservatives won't do it, an incoming Labour government should if it really wants to fire up the economy.'

Paul Barnes from the Association of International Retail  which represents firms including Bicester Village and Harrods  implored Reeves to agree to review the Government's forecasts.

He said: 'She will be pleasantly surprised by the billions of pounds of additional spending and tax revenues the real data shows will be generated.'

Kurt Geiger's boss Neil Clifford said the policy had 'put a big hole in the British economy' by hurting the entire country, not just shops in the West End.

Clifford added: 'Brexit was to open us up to the world and then we shut the door on ourselves.'

Marks & Spencer's boss Stuart Machin said: 'Cities like Paris and Milan are taking full advantage of the decision to add VAT to tourists visiting our cities and it is felt way beyond retail  harming our economy at a time when London's major shopping streets need to encourage shoppers back.'
Why are people talking about this?

Debate has been sparked by an article in the Economist magazine  whose editor Zanny Minton Beddoes is a mother-of-four  on policies that encourage women to have children.

Korea may even offer 57,800 for each new baby. It's a response to the plummeting birthrate in developed economies, which has many consequences.

Time to make babies? Some argue that the choice to have fewer babies is a threat to civilisation

Growth is likely to stagnate and there will not be enough young workers to support ageing baby boomers.

There may also not be enough people of fighting age to ensure national security. No wonder President Macron of France is developing a 'rearmement demographique' (demographic rearmament) strategy.

Some argue that the choice to have fewer babies is a threat to civilisation, a view dubbed 'pronatalism' in the United States.

Adherents include the billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk, who has 11 children.

His views are shared by many right-leaning Silicon Valley executives and father-of-five Donald Trump, who would incentivise child-bearing if elected president.

Is there really a problem?

'Superwomen' such as Helena Morrissey, who combined a City career with nine children are very much the exception.

Women in the fortysomething demographic in the UK have an average of 1.94 children.

The replacement level, at which a population remains stable without migrants, is 2.1. The average in the US and other high-income nations is 1.6.

Views: Elon Musk's views on baby numbers are shared by many right-leaning Silicon Valley executives and father-of-five Donald Trump

Germany, has a fertility rate of 1.58 and Japan's is 1.2 while South Korea is at an even more worrying 0.72. A shortage of K-Pop stars and buyers of their records looms.

Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida describes the dearth of babies as the country's 'gravest crisis'. The nation is to spend 17.9billion on allowances to encourage more progeny.

Is it an issue the world over?

The fertility rate in Nigeria is one of the world's highest at 5.09, though this has fallen slightly.

In India it is 2.03. China abandoned its one-child policy in 2016, yet its rate is still 1.1.

What is the UK doing on the baby bust?

Not enough, according to many critics.

The child benefit cap restricts payments to two offspring in a household. Neither the Conservatives or Labour are seeking to overturn this rule as part of their General Election proposals.

But the individual limit on earnings to qualify for child benefit was raised to 60,000 this April in response to pressure.

The Government believes it can encourage parents into the workplace by offering more help with childcare to those who earn less than 100,000 a year.

The state pays for 30 hours of childcare a week for three- and four-year-olds. Two-year-olds get 15 hours  and the scheme is set to be extended to babies aged nine months and older. Labour supports this expansion.

But the system is complex and only covers 38 weeks of the year.

Childcare providers are struggling with rising wages and other overheads, and some are leaving the business, which means that care may not be available.

The typical bill for 50 hours a week of nursery care for a child under two is 302.10 a week or 15,709 a year. In London, the annual average is 22,269.

Must we pay women to have children?

The problem is that this does not seem to work, as the Economist article concludes.

Korea has been trying for 20 years, offering subsidised housing, free hospital and IVF bills, with monthly payments of just over 400 with a child of under one.

Generous packages in Denmark, Finland and Sweden also seem ineffective; their birthrates are 1.5, 1.42 and 1.67 respectively.

Under Germany's Elterngeld (parent money) subsidy package, a parent who stops working during their child's first 12 months receives 65 per cent of their net monthly income up to a maximum of just over 1,500  but that hasn't worked either.

So what is the solution?

The Economist proposes more technology to lessen the burden of household chores and enable people to work longer.

Politicians may be admiring bouncing babes at this election, but they are short on ideas on persuading British women to have more of them.
The strange case of Gabriela Rico Jimenez, a Mexican woman who unleashed wild accusations about a host of powerful people before suddenly disappearing, is one mired in mystery.

The then-21-year-old vanished in 2009, after a video of her emotional outburst and subsequent arrest went viral. In the aftermath it was widely reported that she was a supermodel, but no evidence of this exists.

Her case has now resurfaced in a recent podcast by Mexico Unexplained, available now on Apple Podcasts, as speculation over her fate remains.

The incident occurred outside a luxury hotel in the Mexican city of Monterrey Nuevo Leon, where people were said to be partying. From there, she emerged in a frantic state, wearing a ripped shirt bearing the words 'yum yum.'

She quickly began hurling accusations at the royal family, Disney, and one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico, almost immediately drawing a crowd. The woman accused them of living in a subterranean base and stealing children and eating human flesh.

She was swiftly cuffed by cops, never to be seen by members of the public again.

The strange case of Gabriela Rico Jimenez, the Mexican woman who accused Queen Elizabeth of eating humans before suddenly disappearing, is one mired in mystery.

A news report of her arrest that aired in Spanish the subsequent day still circulates today shows the unhinged rant about wild conspiracy theories that saw her arrested.

'I wanted my freedom. Monterrey freed me but it cost me a lot of work,' Jimenez is heard shouting in the 15-year-old clip, which shocked the country.

'I was in Mexico City for a year and four months,' she continues, shouting in Spanish. 'All this began in mid 2001. I barely remember.'

She proceeds to again plead for her freedom, claiming she was being held against her will.

She also makes claims of murder and cannibalism, while dropping some big names in the process.

'They were young and powerful, and they killed them. I've been knocking on doors - What I wanted was my freedom. I want my freedom,' she shouts, visibly distressed.

'Carlos Slim Domit knew about this. I want my freedom,' she continues, referring to the son of the owner of Telmex - a multi-billion-dollar phone company based in Mexico.

'It hurts my soul that they took him away,' she adds - with police at this point arriving at the increasingly chaotic scene.

They begin to approach Jimenez, setting her off even further.

As she claimed others were indulging in humans as well, she was cuffed by cops, never to be seen by members of the public again

Aired in Spanish, the news report still circulates today - and shows how the rant that got her locked hinted at a conspiracy, in a famously corrupt country

'Leave me alone,' she shouts, as members of the DIF Police of Monterrey descend around her.

'They have already taken me to the police station, and there they told me that they knew nothing!'

'They took me to the General Hospital,' she adds, before pointing at one of the officers.

'You! You were there! Go get the [expletive]! You killed Mourino!' she proclaims.

The 'Mourino' she had been referring to was Juan Camilo Mourino Terrazo, a high-ranking Mexican politician affiliated with the National Action Party (PAN).

He died in the 2008 Mexico City Learjet crash a few months before, and was the Secretary of the Interior in the cabinet of then President Felipe Calderon.

The government plane crashed into rush hour traffic close to the intersection of Paseo de la Reforma and the Anillo Periferico under mysterious circumstances, in the same city Jimenez claimed to have just spent 16 months.

All nine people on board, as well as seven on the ground, died. Mourino was 37.

Known as President Calderon's 'strongman', he led an aggressive government cull of Mexico's cartels before dying prematurely.

'They told me who did they kill? The Queen of England? The Queen of Germany? Did they kill the princesses and Mickey Mouse? It was also him!' Jimenez continues, now pointing at another officer.

'What? Nothing is going to come here. The people where you come from are crazy! They killed a lot of people. Death to that kind of human! Go away!'

This is when the accusations got particularly gruesome, with the woman now pointing to a supposed plot consisting of cannibalism, all while appearing increasingly animated.

'They ate humans! Disgusting! They ate humans! I wasn't aware of anything. Of the murders, yes, but they ate humans! Humans! They smell like human flesh!'

One of the officers goes on to approach her, apparently intent on taking her away.

This, however, spooks Jimenez further - who immediately begins to shout in protest.

'You are not going to take me until this is clarified! You already took me there! Let me go!' she shouts, struggling with the female cop who takes her to an armored vehicle.

Many of those interested have honed in on the mention of the son of now 84-year-old Carlos Slim in particular, who went on to become the richest man in the world the following year

Slim Domit's father - who is often accused of being part of a class of Mexican elite able to influence local politicians - has never publicly commented on the case, despite his family being mentioned

As she is taken away, never to be seen again, the newscaster narrating the footage offers on ominous abstract of what viewers had just witnessed.

Translated from Spanish, it said: 'This is the sad reality of young Gabriela Rico Jimenez, who, as you saw a moment ago, tried to attack the police officer who managed to take her.'

A caption in a YouTube video of the archived report goes on to offer an account of her whereabouts with no citation - indicating that Jimenez 'was helped' by the DIF Police force.

It states that after she was detained in jail by the regional police outfit, she was sent to the psychiatric center of the Buenos Aires colony - where they said she will stay indefinitely until she receives 'help and can be well cared for.'

No update has been given since 2013 - a year after the clip was reposted.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the state prosecutor's office for comment, as the case continues to garner a cult following.

Many of those interested have honed in on the mention of the son of now 84-year-old Slim in particular, who went on to become the richest man in the world the following year - from 2010 to 2013.

A business magnate of Lebanese descent, he is still the richest man in Mexico, with a net worth of more than $100billion.

She also mentioned Juan Camilo Mourino Terrazo, a high-ranking Mexican politician affiliated with the National Action Party (PAN)

He died in the 2008 Mexico City Learjet crash a few months before, and was the Secretary of the Interior in the cabinet of then President Felipe Calderon. Known as President Calderon's 'strongman', he had led an aggressive government cull of Mexico's cartels before his death

He derived his fortune from his extensive holdings in a considerable number of companies through his Mexican conglomerate, where his son, Carlos Slim Domit, serves as Chairman.

Also one of the most powerful people in Mexico, he was wrapped up in a relationship with Jimenez, some unsubstantiated reports have suggested.

Proof of such a relationship has never been produced, though one of the things Jimenez said in her rant was that 'everything started in 2001, [and] the one that knows the truth of what really happened is Carlos Slim Domit'.

Slim Domit's father - who is often accused of being part of a class of Mexican elite able to influence local politicians - has never publicly commented on the case, despite his family being mentioned. And there is no suggestion her wild accusations hold any truth.

Meanwhile, an alleged witness to the woman's breakdown provided some more testimony on a blog called 'The Black Manik', where they claimed to have spoken with Jimenez at an unspecified location where she was sent to after her arrest.

Identifying themselves only as law student, they offered the following first person account, describing how they allegedly approached the visibly distraught woman with the intention of offering help.

'At that time, I was in the same place where the girl was taken after being detained,' it begins, not specifying the exact site.

The government plane crashed into rush hour traffic close to the intersection of Paseo de la Reforma and the Anillo Periferico under mysterious circumstances, in the same city Jimenez claimed to have just spent 16 months

Mexican officials at the time rejected speculation of foul play, despite the crash wiping out key players in the country's crackdown on escalating drug crime

'I was doing my practices in that place (I'm a law graduate) - I still remember her face full of despair, fear, anguish.

'She felt very weary of the environment and a strange feeling,' they continued, before describing the alleged interaction.

'I approached her and asked her some questions, name if I knew where she lived etc.

'[S]he told me that we were all dead, that we were all dead, that we were among them, among other things rare... that simply left me paralyzed.

'After 20 minutes of being with her, some tall, well-dressed people arrived,' the person claimed. 'They practically pulled me out of there.'

When asked why they were taking such measures, the mysterious officials told the student 'it was just a poor girl with mental disorder,' they claimed.

Asked where they were taking her, they allegedly told the student that 'it was not [their] business', before abruptly parting ways.

However, before they too 'disappeared', they allegedly stopped the student to ask what Jimenez had told them, to which they said it was merely something 'insane.'

A caption in a YouTube video of the archived report goes on to offer an account of whereabouts with no citation, one that indicated Jimenez 'was helped' by the DIF Police force. and sent to the psychiatric center of the Buenos Aires colony in Chihuahua (seen here) - where they said she will stay indefinitely until she receives 'Help and can be well cared for'

Any trace of Jimenez, aside from the video of her arrest, no longer remains. DailyMail.com has reached out to officials in Monterrey for more information

'The next day I went to the senior officers of the ministry and told them about the issue and wanted information because the girl's family requested it,' the unnamed alleged student went on to add.

'They just laughed and said: "Really, if she does not exist, she never existed, and you do not work here".

'I got a shiver and left - I left everything and left Monterrey,' the anonymous person then wrote.

Any trace of Jimenez, aside from the video of her arrest, no longer remains.

DailyMail.com has reached out to officials in Monterrey for more information, as the case continues to confound internet sleuths more than a decade later.

The incident occurred on August 4, 2009. If out there, Jimenez would be in her mid-30s.
At the center of Joe Biden 's sleepy Pennsylvania hometown hums a 115-year-old brick factory working around the clock to turn massive heavy steel rods into 155mm artillery shells which will be fired on the frontlines in Ukraine.

The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) in northeast Pennsylvania is a car factory-turned-ammunition plant and has the grimy decades of dust and patriotic graffiti to prove it.

Construction on the automotive facility began in the 1800s, finished in 1908 and operated that way until 1951 when the U.S. Army bought the plant to support its effort in the Korean War.

The manufacturing hub indeed looks straight out of the early 1900s, though its operators claim it is undergoing 'modernization' efforts to keep up with the Pentagon's insatiable hunger for more rounds.

The 15-acre compound contains half a million square feet of manufacturing facilities, utilizing its hundreds of employees and countless robots to create the weapons - and the Department of Defense (DOD) is putting them to good use.

Currently, the plant is transforming red-hot steel 'billets' into the NATO-standard 155mm artillery shell, and the facility is contracted to produce 36,000 rounds per month, the plant's boss Richard Hansen told DailyMail.com.

According to Hansen, the plant in Biden's hometown has received $418 million in recent years to modernize its facility and ramp up production capacity.

And the 155mm rounds made there are fired by howitzer cannons and similar field guns.

They have a range of about 24 miles and are packed with 24 pounds of TNT, causing them to explode violently on impact.

Devastating against ground troops and armored vehicles, the 155mm are capable of sending steel shrapnel up to 160 feet in every direction.

When filled with TNT and primed, the 155mm shells weigh just over 100 pounds a piece.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine over two million 155mm shells since Russia invaded the country in 2022.

Since then, Congress has appropriated over $175 billion for Ukraine.

But it is currently unclear how effectively the munitions are being used as Russian forces have recently broke through Ukrainian frontlines near Kharkiv - a major city from which over 11,000 residents have recently been evacuated as Putin's military plans to push further into the region.

The Ukrainian fortifications in the area were so weak around Kharkiv that Russian forces were able to simply walk through the frontline.

Completed 155mm shells made by the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant ready for shipment to a separate facility that will add explosive material to the rounds before they head to U.S. allies abroad or military stockpiles

The 155mm artillery shells are capable of sending shrapnel flying in a radius of up to 160 feet

The current contract requirements outlined by the Pentagon demand the plant produces 36,000 155mm shells per month

The SCAAP is a sprawling complex and boasts 496,000 square feet of work space

Inside the SCAAP's 155mm manufacturing process

The shells made by the SCAAP make up the lion's share of U.S. 155mm manufacturing capacity, which is roughly 30,000 rounds per month, according to a recent report from the military news outlet Defense One.

During a tour of the plant DailyMail.com got an inside look into the facility, its production process and its military liaisons all dedicated to shoring up U.S. military manufacturing capabilities.

The production lines begins at its on-site rail yard where incoming steel rods - which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds - arrive to the plant. Entire shipments can weigh up to 200,000 pounds.

A massive industrial crane then unloads the cars and moves the rods to the steel saw, which slices the 20 foot long bars in to 15 inch billets, each weighing a whopping 115 pounds.

Once sawed, the billets are loaded by massive robot arms, which appear like animatronic robots seen at Disney parks - into several gigantic 2,000 degree furnaces.

After an hour in the hellishly-hot furnaces, the red-hot steel is removed by the robots and placed onto a conveyor belt to the next stations.

The next processes include three hydraulic presses which pierces the orange glowing metal, rounds out an interior cavity and shapes it to its final length of 30 inches.

The entrance to the SCAAP could easily be missed while driving through downtown Scranton

The SCAAP utilizes a massive crane to lift the steel rods to the steel saw

Once sawed, the steel takes the shape of 15 inch billets, weighing 115 pounds a piece

The billets are then handled by robots which begin to press the steel into shape

Several on-site presses begin to mold the molten steel into artillery-like steel tubes

These presses elongate the 15 inches of steel into 30-inch hollowed out tubes

Richard Hansen, the manager of Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP), is pictured in front of shaped steel billets as they undergo the manufacturing process for 155 mm caliber shells at SCAAP in Scranton

Once the red-hot steel is shaped into its 30-inch final length, the workers begin 'hot inspection,' where they check the inner and outer dimensions for quality control.

These human handlers, with the help of some robotic machinery, pick up the 1,800 degree metal every five minutes or so to ensure the material is up to the Army's specifications.

After passing the hot quality checks, the steel continues on the plant's 'subway' to the next station, the cooling conveyor.

Once chilled, additional personnel perform 'cold inspection' where they again take the steel's measurements to make sure they conform to manufacturing standards.

The steel that passes this quality test then gets reheated to 1,500 degrees - in just 15 seconds - before getting pressed again to form the artillery's nose cone.

At this point the former 115 pound billets begin to take the form of the iconic artillery shell.

After hot and cold inspections and the nose cones are pressed, the steel shells begin to take their final form

Piles of these cooled steel tubes dominate much of the factory's floor space

They are stacked in 20 foot tall pyramids where they await the next steps in the process

Dozens of red-hot steel soon-to-be artillery shells can fit in a furnace at a time

The SCAAP facility consists of several massive warehouse factories

The most modern looking technology in the plant were machines, shown above, used to polish and mill the 155mm shells so that they have uniform measurements to the thousandth of an inch

Around the plant there are signs of bygone eras, such as patriotic graffiti painted around the facility that dates back to the Korean War

Once the rough steel takes its final shape, they are placed on the subway to arrive at at machines which polish and mill the tubes into shiny silver artillery.

These silver bullet-looking shells are then again checked for any cracks or deformities by human operators.

After this, a chemical treatment is sprayed onto the shiny shells to protect the munitions from degradation.

Then hooks are screwed into the nose cones which are used to hold up the shells for them to be painted their usual Army green.

This paint also helps shield the munitions from the harsh battlefield conditions.

Polished and pressed 155mm artillery shells on the conveyor belts before getting painted

The shells are completely empty even when they leave the SCAAP as they are filled with explosives at a separate facility

The nose cones get manufactured in a way where the primers and fuses can be screwed onto the tips of the shells in the battlefield

At this point in the process, the rounds weigh about 80 pounds each

The silver rounds are then painted with a protective green layer to prevent degradation

After receiving a paint treatment from automatic electrostatically charged sprayers, the munitions are ready to be packaged on pallets.

Workers load them in rows 4x4 onto the wooden pallets that carry 16 shells per load.

These empty cartridges are then delivered to a separate facility in Iowa to be packed with explosives.

Though the rounds are dormant until primers and fuses are added to the nose cones in the battlefield.

Despite the factory's ancient-appearing manufacturing process, the U.S. government has approved 20 modernization projects totaling $400 million to boost production of the 155mm shells, Hansen said.

The modernization efforts were approved before the Ukraine war broke out in 2022, the plant chief added.

A SCAAP employee readies the completed 155mm shells for shipment to Iowa

The display above shows the transformation undergone by the billets which then turn into Army green 155mm shells

The plant is currently operated jointly by the U.S. Army and General Dynamics

Why the U.S. is ramping up 155mm production

The production of 155mm artillery has increased significantly in recent years.

A previous report from The Telegraph indicated that the plant only produced around 11,000 shells per month - less than a third of the 36,000 per month it is currently contracted to produce.

Still, that output is not enough to support Ukraine's war with Russia.

In February, a Ukraine's Defense Secretary Oleksij Reznikov said the country needs 356,000 shells per month 'for the successful execution of battlefield tasks,' which works out to over 11,000 155mm shells per day - a far cry from what the U.S. is able to produce, even with its ramping up production.

But production has picked up, as reports from April and March indicate the plant was contracted to make 24,000 rounds per month.

Now, as previously mentioned, the plant is contracted to produce 36,000 per month.

And U.S. military officials are aiming to turn out 100,000 rounds per month by summer 2025.

Ukrainian army 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade serviceman Vitalii sits next to artillery ammunition as he waits for orders with his unit, in Avdiivka direction, Ukraine, Monday, May 6, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen of 148th separate artillery brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fire a M777 Howitzer towards Russian positions, in Donetsk front, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 7, 2024

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 148th separate artillery brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carries a 155mm shell as he prepares with comrades to fire a M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer towards Russian positions, in Donetsk front, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Reports indicate that Ukraine has hundreds of howitzer-styled artillery cannons, as shown above

This massive expansion in manufacturing power is only possible because of supplemental funding passed by Congress in April to bolster U.S. allies in Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific.

'With the supplemental that just thankfully passed last night, we'll be at 100,000 rounds by next summer,' Gen. James Mingus said in April.

Still, Russia's artillery manufacturing capabilities far exceed those of the U.S. and western allies.

The country is turning out 250,000 artillery rounds per month, or 3 million shells per year, according to senior European intelligence official who spoke with CNN.

That dwarfs the U.S. and its allies' manufacturing capabilities, which turn out just 1.2 million per year, according to the report.

To keep up with Russia's break-neck manufacturing pace, another $275 million funding package to support Ukraine is expected to be signed off by President Biden soon.

Israeli forces have also relied on 155mm shells in their war with Hamas

An Israeli army carries a 155mm artillery shell at a position near the border with Lebanon

An Israeli army M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer is deployed at a position along the border with the Gaza Strip near Sderot in southern Israel

It is expected to be done using his Presidential Drawdown Authority, a power allowing him to authorize the transfer of weapons from U.S. stockpiles without congressional approval amid an emergency.

Much of that funding will be used to provide Ukraine additional artillery - and likely it will be spent in Biden's hometown of Scranton.
A couple say they are 'broken' after they lost a second child to PPA2, a rare genetic condition that mainly affects the heart and can cause sudden cardiac arrest.

West Australian couple Leon and Danielle Green's 18-month-old daughter Airlie died four weeks ago, two years after the death of their nine-month-old boy Sonny.

At the time of Sonny's death, though, the couple, who live in Baldivis, 46km south of Perth, did not know what had caused it.

It was only when Airlie suffered from ventricular fibrillation - which causes rapid, inadequate heartbeat - at five months that a geneticist realised what was wrong.

The discovery of the rare genetic mutation gave them an answer for what happened to Sonny and hope for their daughter's care.

'She was a happy, healthy girl until she got sick, and she got through multiple viruses. We were very positive about how her journey was going,' Mr Green told Yahoo News.

Leon and Danielle Green's 18-month-old daughter Airlie died three weeks ago, two years after the death of their nine-month-old boy Sonny. The family is pictured

Airlie's condition was 'quite complex' and required 'a very strict medical emergency plan' for whenever she was ill.

'We started a support group online and found bunches of other families across the world going through a similar crisis. The group was growing.

'We just dedicated our life to getting answers and how to best manage her when she was unwell,' he said.

But earlier this month, Airlie got a bad case of gastro, which brought on a cardiac episode and her parents took her to a hospital.

The toddler was given the all-clear and sent home 24 hours later.

However, two days later, on May 4, the Greens rushed Airlie back to hospital as she was vomiting so much.

'That's when everything just went downhill,' Mr Green said. 'It was an extremely traumatic day and unfortunately we lost her.'

Airlie's blood pressure dropped, which raised her heart rate and she went into cardiac arrest.

The Greens have been unable to return to work in 'fear of facing everyone'.

'We're broken ... We're going through all of the real rough stuff that we have to do,' Mr Green said.

His brother Patrick has launched a GoFundMe to help allow the couple 'time off work to heal' and to help with funeral expenses, with any extra funds being donated to the Starlight and the Heart Kids foundations.

Airlie (pictured) 'was a happy, healthy girl until she got sick', her father, Leon Green, said

Mr Green said if they had known what caused Sonny's death before Danielle fell pregnant with Airlie, they would have instead considered using IVF, which can detect the gene early.

Having gone through the unimaginable pain of losing two children, the Greens want to educate people about PPA2 'and potentially help the next family that has to face that'.

They would like to see standardised genetic testing for expectant parents in Australia, which could help detect 'gene code errors' at an earlier stage.

This could help save other families from going through what they have.
An ancient story etched in Chinese folklore since the beginning of civilisation as we know it may finally be decoded following a 'mindblowing' discovery in the historic city of Xi'an.

For nearly 2,000 years, the myth of Prince Gao - son to the brutal first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang - has been carried down the generations, carved into legend in the surviving epic saga of historian Sima Qian, himself writing around 85 BCE.

Now, the discovery of a 16-tonne coffin in an expansive burial chamber near the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and his terracotta warriors could bring the myth to life.

Experts believe the tomb may belong to the forgotten prince, and the treasures inside could help piece together fragments of an ancient story of how one of the world's first states rose and fell.

Fifty years since the discovery of the famed terracotta warriors, built in their hundreds to protect the Qin strongman in the afterlife, British-Chinese filmmakers have received unprecedented access to explore the ongoing work to excavate the chamber.

Here, they learn of the ongoing race to carefully uncover and preserve record of our collective history before it is lost to time and exposure.

A depiction of Qin Shi Huang, the merciless first emperor of China, dated c.1850

A terracotta warrior, one of thousands stationed to 'guard' the ancient tomb of Qin Shi Huang

2,200-year-old terracotta relics in Xi'an, still almost perfectly preserved until the modern day

Archaeologists uncover a terracotta warrior during a pit excavation at the complex in 2012

At the bottom of a tomb in central China, 16 metres deep and 109 metres long, a coffin sealed for millennia continues to puzzle archaeologists.

The scale of the site is enormous, and its significance has stirred sentiments that experts may soon uncover verifiable evidence to support a myth until now handed down through ancient texts.

'Every time I go down I still feel amazed,' said dig leader Jiang Wenxiao, as reported by The Times.

The tomb was discovered a little over a decade ago, but has come into focus with the anticipated Netflix documentary Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors.

In a tiny enclave of central China, the famous warriors and the tomb together straddle the colossal resting place of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

What does the Shiji tell us about life in Qin China?

What is the Shiji The Shiji, known in English as the Records of the Grand Historian, is no ordinary history book. It took Sima Qian 18 years to compile more than 520,000 words, covering individual biographies and major events over a period spanning 2,000 years. For comparison, a fairly standard 300-page book might expect to cover around 80,000 words. From the Shiji, written around 86 BCE, we still have rare insight into the lives of people living some 4,000 years ago. As China began its Bronze Age in the 2nd millennium BCE, Stonehenge was being completed, woolly mammoths went extinct and horses were first tamed and used for transport. Sima Qian's work provides a valuable historical record of events. But it also gives us insight into the beliefs and interests of the time - revolt and revolution, the legitimacy of rule, the lives of the rich and the powerful, opinions on slavery, gambling, reactions to foreign peoples, and the justifications of war. The Qin Dynasty Started by Sima Tan, Great Scribe of the Han Dynasty, in the late 2nd century BCE and completed by his son around 86 BCE, the Shiji paints an impressively detailed picture of life in Qin China. As well as stories of individuals, it provides a sense of the geography of the Dynasty and how Qin Shi Huang consolidated power in by overcoming its rivals. While much of the historical record of the Warring States period was destroyed after unification, the Shiji gives some account of the origins of the Qin Dynasty and the shape of the state's ruling lineage. Accuracy Sima Qian cites numerous contemporary witnesses in his history of events. This includes, at times, sources that appear to contradict each other. However, he writes in the Shiji that he had only written down as history that which he knew to be true 'and in doubtful cases left a blank'. The reliability of the work has been questioned, predominantly as Qian would not have had access to reliable sources dating 2,000 years before his own time. Still, the archeological record has so far tended to prove Sima Qian right. Sima recorded a list of thirty or so Shang rulers in his history, predating him by some 1,600 years. Inscriptions on genuine bones uncovered in the modern era listed the same names - lending some credence to his work. Advertisement

It took more than 7,000 workers to construct the 22sq-mile mausoleum over a period of 38 years. Their craftmanship is evidenced by the lasting preservation of their work.

But within a year of the mausoleum's completion in 208 BCE, Qin Shi Huang died and the great Qin Dynasty fell into bitter civil war. The capital was destroyed and the citizens of the empire ultimately divided between 18 separate kingdoms.

Today, we still turn to myths passed down through the generations to get a sense of life in the ancient world. Soon after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, early historians began keeping records of fantastical tales of great leaders, dramatic battles and local legends.

The myth of Prince Gao, the son of China's merciless first emperor, was written into history by the great storyteller Sima Qian, a product of the imperial Han Dynasty that followed the early Qin Dynasty.

From Sima Qian's monumental history, the Shiji, the early Chinese learned about the short-lived Qin Dynasty - and carried the story of an isolated prince requesting his own death as his empire fell into disarray.

It was a complicated period in Chinese history, the bringing together of early states after centuries of bloodshed between warring factions emerging and being toppled by tribes quicker to evolve.

After conquering all of his rivals to unify China, Qin Shi Huang briefly sat atop the pile, presiding over a vast empire with an iron fist and carving out the first tentative shapes of what Chinese administration could look like.

Among his most notable achievements was the Great Wall of China, connecting walls built from the 7th century BCE into a powerful border protecting the empire from nomadic invaders.

Qin had four princes ready to succeed him - Prince Gao, Prince Fusu, Prince Huhai and Prince Jianglu - but the dynasty would collapse immediately after his death.

After just 14 years, the fledgling state was thrown into a devastating civil war brought on by heavy resistance from forgotten classes.

Prince Huhai, the youngest, took up the mantle upon his father's death and purged the courts of his siblings.

According to the legend - one of very few surviving to the modern day - Prince Gao wanted desperately to flee the new terror, but feared as much the repercussions his family would have to endure.

So the story goes, Gao said he regretted not following his father into the afterlife and asked to die and be buried in the necropolis built for his father.

Seizing a straightforward solution to his problem, the rising Prince Huhai accepted the deal, even offering 100,000 bronze coins for his burial.

The mausoleum, due 21 miles (35km) northeast of Xi'an - the former eastern edge of the historic Silk Roads - was built more than two millennia ago in 246BCE.

Owing to its scale and the care with which it was built, it survives today with thousands of terracotta statues still preserved in hundreds of nearby pits.

When archaeologists uncovered the tomb of the emperor, they feared it could still be filled with boobytraps designed to deter unwanted visitors. Sima Qian claimed the mausoleum was 'filled with rare artefacts and wonderful treasure'. To protect this, he wrote, 'craftsmen were ordered to make crossbows and arrows primed to shoot at anyone who enters the tomb'.

'Mercury was used to simulate the hundred rivers, the Yangtze and Yellow River, and the great sea, and set to flow mechanically,' he went on.

'Above were representations of the heavenly constellations, bellow, the features of the land. Candles were made from the fat of "man fish", which is calculated to burn and not extinguish for a long time.'

Today, tourists still travel to the city to see the lifelike statues of fierce warriors, horses, chariots and weapons - a rare insight into the lives and priorities of those living millennia ago.

The preservation of such relics has helped historians gather huge detail on the life of China's first emperor, with many books being written about his transformation of a region embroiled in warfare into the semblance of a modern state.

His legacy is the creation of the bureaucratic and administrative structures still seen in China today, even beyond attempts to intentionally unsettle and displace the order of old.

As American political scientist Francis Fukuyama framed it, the period saw the transformation of China for a series of tribes into modern states complete with organised armies, mechanisms for tax collection and new philosophies on the purpose and reach of government.

The historical record provides not only a window into the ancient world, then, but context to help understand the present.

Sima Qian wrote the Shiji with his father, chronicling a 2,000-year period of Chinese history

The 2,200-year-old terracotta army is seen at the Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum on July 15, 2005 in Xi'an

Brought to life in the popular video game Civilization VI, Qin Shi Huang has been presented in the modern age as a tyrant. Myth and artefact gives us a lifelike idea of what he was like

Officials unearthed more than 220 more terracotta warriors during their third dig, 2009-2022

The Great Wall of China consists of numerous walls built from the 7th century. Qin Shia Huang connected a number of the existing walls in the 3rd century BCE, to be refined by successors

Modern Xi'an, pictured in 2021. The city dates back to the 11th Century BCE with the Zhou Dynasty. In 1963, archaeologists uncovered the Lantian Man nearby, dating back 500,000 years and showing evidence of life in the region long, long before human history

Qin Shi Huang was the first to unify China into a state - but the empire collapsed after his death

The Qinshihuang Mausoleum - built for the ascending Emperor as he embarked upon his campaign of conquering neighbouring states from 246BCE - consists of a large outer wall, stone armour, a smaller inner wall and a number of offices surrounding the central tomb.

The centre of the complex was designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan, according to UNESCO.

It must have taken decades to construct, the level of detail showing the wealth and status of Qin Shi Huang and those buried alongside him.

Indeed, even the terracotta warriors to his east, built to protect him in the afterlife, are all different, built with painstaking care from clay and sculpted into realistic figures by hand.

Protected on all sides, the complex remained hidden until 1974.

The primary concern since has been damaging the structure - though as late as last year fears remained about the possibility of lethal boobytraps.

And so, permission to carefully sweep away the dust and extract delicate artefacts has been given with caution.

'Every time we unearth anything there will be a lot of risk assessment... but if we look at the trend I can say that it seems there are more possibilities for us actually to do that, Associate Professor of Classical Chinese and Medieval China at Oxford University told MailOnline.

Ted says that while better technology is making it easier for us to dig with caution, the tombs in Xi'an may indeed have the additional challenge of traps, as laid out in Sima Qian's work.

Testing of the soil around the site has revealed mercury traces 100 times higher than normal - lending some credence to the myth.

Preliminary work has been carried out on the (possible) tomb of Prince Gao already, with items dated to the late Qin period.

It means they could have only been buried within the first three or four years of Qin's death, according to The Times.

A skull found in the tomb was revealed to belong to a male. And a premolar found in it was in good condition, with implications the owner was between 18 and 22-years-of-age, and well-nourished.

Experts say this is consistent with it belonging to Prince Gao - but more evidence will be needed to be conclusive.

Some experts are skeptical. Jiang Wenxiao suggested that the tomb could 'belong to a high-ranking nobleman or army chief', as reported by The Times.

Relics found in and around the tomb so far give some indication of status in life. The coffin, badly-decayed, was found surrounded by weapons, armour and various household items intended for use in the afterlife.

Some 6,000 bronze coins were also found alongside the casket, as well as jade treasures and gold and silver camels. Until now, they had only been associated with later periods in Chinese history.

Ted finds this quite exciting. 'The golden camels is a very interesting things. Normally when we think about golden camels we often associate that with the Tang Dynasty, so way later. And that is the time when we think about China embracing cosmopolitanism. This is basically the time when there's more cultural exchange around the world.

'But with the fact that we can see the golden camels here at this site may lead us to actually rethink [what we know] about the cultural exchanges - happening in a much earlier era.

'The historical record doesn't really give us too much about cultural exchanges happening during that time... so in that sense it does help us a lot [the discovery of new relics] in conceptualising and understanding what is going on in terms of cultural exchange during that time, and how it changed in terms of the aesthetics.'

Camels from the Gobi Desert would not have been found within the territory of the Qin Dynasty. While we understand the Silk Roads dug out under the Han began the process of creating a more globalised China, trading with the world, the design and materials suggest some may have been travelling north earlier than we believed.

The story of Prince Gao is harder to verify. Identifying evidence might look like a personal seal belonging to Prince Gao, or some other record that matches with Sima Qian's history.

Until then, we are left with inference from Sima Qian's texts, and the apparent importance of the tomb.

'Who would be able to actually have a tomb that would copy the main tomb of the first emperor? It could be Prince Gao. The evidence that we have is the textual evidence that will point us to that,' Ted says.

'You do have to have a certain person who is close enough to the Emperor to be allowed to have accompanied him in the tomb.'

But the lack of clear records from the time, and the sudden collapse of the dynasty, makes it 'very tricky' to pinpoint who the tomb belongs to.

A gold camel excavated from the site at Xi'an, never before seen from this era of history

Another Qin tomb where bronzeware, gold ornaments, shell ornaments and potteries were excavated, in Xianyang City, the former capital, August 28, 2021

Archaeologists dig at another site in Sanmenxia, Henan, where they found a swan-shaped bronze vessel which they said contained more than three litres of mysterious liquid

Researcher Yan Fei cleaning the swan-shaped Chinese ritual bronze unearthed in a tomb in Sanmenxia, Henan, China

The swan-shaped Chinese ritual bronze unearthed in a tomb in Sanmenxia, Henan, China

Chinese archaeologists excavate terracotta warriors at the secluded 'number two pit' of the tomb of China's first emperor

The tomb was one of nine discovered in 2011. Half the world away, archaeologists continue to uncover secrets of the ancient world, constantly updating the historical record.

Whether or not the tomb belongs to Prince Gao, or to a nobleman, is to be seen.

But the truths they uncover will help us better understand where we came from - and in turn, ourselves.

Ted is pleased with the discovery, and the renewed interest in ancient history - allowed, in part, by the technological developments of our age.

'I think history offers us very different things. One is a guide to the future and what will happen next. But the other thing that always fascinates me is that it's almost like a story.

'There are common interests or common mysteries you will find in it. It's not about which culture you belong to... it's not only a project that would attract an audience from China. It's attracting an audience worldwide to think about what humanity as a whole has achieved.'

While it was written down 2,000 years ago, the legend of Prince Gao remains familiar to us even today. It is a story of family, of triumph and defeat, of threat and sacrifice. Thematically, it remains interesting to a global audience because it tells us as much about who we are as who they were.

True or not, these ancient legends and the importance we give to them reveal something about how we perceive ourselves, our human fallibilities and intrigues, and the commonalities through the ages that bring us closer together.

Today, we are fortunate to have a group of keen archaeologists still working to verify the past and understand the stories we tell about ourselves, Ted says.

'At a time when we are seriously doubtful about the truth', the 'heroes' of this story - he says - are the people who have given their lives in the present to better understanding the past.

Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors launches on Netflix on 12 June.
A drug-dealing gangster who was cleared of gunning down two revellers outside a nightclub and beating and stabbing a father to death at a birthday party has been jailed for life after executing a music boss in a drive-by shooting.

Nana Oppong, 43, masterminded and may well have carried out a cold-blooded hit on music manager, father of three and grandfather of two Robert Powell, 50, who was known to friends as 'Fox', on June 13 2020.

Mr Powell, manager of rapper Dutchavelli, was shot eight times with a 9mm pistol as he left a private function with his two adult sons in Roydon, Essex. Oppong then fled the country and became one of the country's most wanted men.

He, along with Israar Shah, 40, denied murder but the pair were convicted by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday before being jailed for life on Friday.

It means prosecutors have finally snared Oppong, also known as 'Enz', after charging him with three other murders - only to see charges dropped at court in favour of other, lesser offences.

The killer had earlier been accused of murdering two men in a shootout outside a nightclub hosting his birthday party in May 2010, and of slaying a father of two following a party in east London in May 2014.

Nana Oppong, nicknamed the 'Teflon don', has been convicted of murder after being charged with the crime a total of four times in the last 14 years (pictured upon being extradited back to the UK in 2023)

Nana Oppong (left, in an earlier mugshot issued by the National Crime Agency) and Israar Shah (right) murdered music boss Robert Powell

Powell was shot eight times by a gunman who stepped out of a Ford Kuga with a 9mm pistol early on June 13 2020

Powell was attending a party in Roydon, Harlow in June 2020 when he was targeted in what police labelled an 'execution'

The Ford Kuga was seen outside the party in the minutes before the brutal killing took place. One of the bullets hit two female bystanders

In both cases the drug dealer, now described by police as a 'committed and high-level criminal' was convicted of lesser charges.

The May 2010 shootout took place outside a nightclub where Oppong was celebrating his birthday.

It saw the streets of Forest Gate covered in blood and bullet casings after revenge attacks that jurors were told showed 'complete disregard for the public'.

Eugene Brown, 27, and Patrick Ford, 36, died in the gun battle at the hands of Michael Smith outside the Sugar Lounge venue.

Smith had been shot six times by Powell during the firefight - including once in the head - and was dumped outside a hospital to be treated after the violence.

He was given two life sentences at the Old Bailey and ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years following the trial in September 2012.

Kevin Powell, meanwhile, was found guilty of attempting to murder Smith and jailed for 24 years.

William Boyce, then-QC, prosecuting, told the jury: 'Mr Smith must be one of the most fortunate men alive. He has no right to be alive.

'Mr Powell had taken the law into his own hands and had gone out to exact his own revenge. He peppered Mr Smith with bullets but still did not manage to kill him.'

Oppong, however, initially got off scot-free. He had been charged with murder and a firearms charge at trial in 2011 having allegedly handed a gun to Smith and pointed out Eugene Brown.

But two juries failed to reach verdicts on the murder and gun charges. Oppong was eventually jailed for two years after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice for lying to police following a 2012 retrial.

Two years later, Oppong was arrested again after young father Ashley Latty was stabbed and beaten to death outside the Beaver Centre function hall in Dagenham on May 18 2014.

Mr Latty, 25, 'never stood a chance' against his attackers, who had been rounded up by thug Nicholas Terrelonge after recognising the victim as having stolen from him in the past.

As he stepped out of the Beaver Centre at 5.30am following a birthday party, he was set upon by a group of men who kicked, punched and stabbed him. The fatal knife wound pierced his heart at the start of the attack, which lasted more than a minute.

The gunfight claimed the lives of Patrick Ford (left) and Eugene Brown (right)

Kevin Powell (in dark clothing) shot Michael Smith six times, and was jailed for 34 years for attempted murder

Smith - seen here running on CCTV - miraculously survived his injuries and was given two life sentences for murdering Eugene Brown and Patrick Ford

Michael Smith (left) was jailed for life for murder. Kevin Powell (right) was jailed for 34 years for attempting to murder Smith in revenge

Oppong was among the group that laid into Mr Latty with what prosecutors called 'real, venomous hate-fuelled force'.

But he was cleared of the original charge of murder after admitting a lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

And as Terrelong and Tyler Burton were jailed for life for murder, and co-conspirators Kestrel Dyer and Jerome Joseph were sentenced to six-and-a-half and six years for GBH with intent, Oppong was jailed for just four years in April 2015.

He denied knowing his co-conspirators - but said he had been 'flattered' to be asked to be involved. He said he had not been aware that one of the party was carrying a knife.

Oppong then remained off of the radar for six years - until he and Israar Shah gunned down Robert Powell in Roydon in June 2020.

He had plotted to take out Mr Powell for several weeks, his trial at Woolwich Crown Court had heard - having considered a hit at a block party in Beckton, east London, a week earlier until put off by the presence of 'fed,' or police.

A message sent on 5 June to Oppong's Encrochat device read: 'So how do we plan to do this if you intend to do this? I'm sick of the acting bro. It's f****** annoying.'

He, Shah and other people who have not been identified then travelled to the party on Water Lane in three cars: a Ford Kuga with a cloned number plate, an unregistered Vauxhall Zafira and a Toyota Prius.

Shah, in his Prius, was the lookout - and as Mr Powell stepped out of the venue with his two sons, the Kuga containing Oppong drove up the road towards the music boss. A gunman then stepped out and fired at the victim eight times.

Prosecutors described it as an 'execution' - adding that one bullet struck two female bystanders.

Mr Powell died a day after the hit after being treated for his eight bullet wounds in the back of a Ford Mondeo at the scene - in front of his horrified sons.

One of the women struck later told the trial that the bullet passed clean through her before embedding itself in her friend's ankle.

She said: 'I saw two holes, I could see my flesh. I thought I was going to die to be honest with you.'

Ashley Latty was stabbed and beaten to death outside the Beaver Centre in Dagenham, London in May 2014. Nana Oppong was jailed for four years on a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent

Tyler Burton (left) and Nicholas Terrelonge were sentenced to life in prison for murdering Ashley Latty. Nana Oppong admitted a lesser charge of GBH

With the execution complete, Oppong and Shah fled the UK. In the hours after the hit, Oppong scrubbed a 'significant' amount of data from his Encrochat app. But police traced Shah's Prius and the Kuga - and their inquiries began.

Oppong became one of Britain's most wanted men. An Interpol Red Notice was issued urging international police to arrest him on sight and he topped an NCA 'Most Wanted' list.

Scotland Yard wanted to find him for other reasons too - after an international crime-fighting taskforce cracked open the Encrochat app and took down hundreds of criminals who believed they were using a hidden chat platform.

Oppong's Encrochat messages, obtained by police who infiltrated the platform, suggested he had discussed getting hold of 9mm ammunition of the same type used to kill Mr Powell and was also involved in dealing cocaine.

The killer, however, disappeared for two years. He was finally found trying to enter Morocco from Spain on false papers in September 2022 after travelling there in the back of a lorry.

Morocco's General Directorate for National Security, aware of the Red Notice, recognised him at Tangier Port and took him in. He was returned to the UK in June last year to finally face trial.

Shah was found in Spain in December 2022 and returned to the UK in March 2023.

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 between 13 March 2020 and 12 June 2020.

On Friday, Oppong was sentenced to life in prison, serving a minimum of 38 years. Shah will serve at least 26 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

Mr Justice Bennathan said Oppong was 'probably the gunman' and described Shah as a 'useful idiot' as he passed sentence.

Jailing Oppong for life with a minimum of 38 years the judge told him: '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.'

Jailing Shah for life with a minimum of 26 years the judge said: 'You were brought into this plan late and you may have played a role as a useful idiot.'

The two killers showed no trace of emotion as they were led from the dock.

In a statement released by Essex Police on Friday, Mr Powell's sister said his death had 'fractured' her family.

She asked: 'To the two people who have been convicted of Robert's death, we still have so many unanswered questions - the main one being: Why did you do this? What did you achieve?

'These questions cause us more pain and make this whole situation worse. Firstly, you flee the country, this meant we were constantly wondering when you would be found.

'By going on the run, it has delayed this process and made me, my family and the friends of Robert live part of this nightmare longer than we should have. You both have caused so much pain, and ripples of that are still being felt today.

'I haven't seen any remorse from either of you throughout this (trial). I only hope as you spend the best years of your life in prison, you come to realise the implications you have had on mine, my families and even your own life.'

Police on the scene of the 2020 Roydon shooting for which Nana Oppong has finally been convicted

Eight bullets were fired at Robert Powell. One of them also struck two women - passing through one and embedding itself in the ankle of another (pictured: forensic officers on the scene)

The Ford Kuga and Vauxhall Zafira (above) used in the drive-by killing were later traced to a nearby industrial estate

Oppong fled the country after murdering Robert Powell in June 2020 - and was returned to Britain three years later after trying to reach Morocco from Spain (pictured: Oppong on his return to Britain, in cuffs)

He was of particular interest to the Metropolitan Police after it, and many international police agencies, infiltrated the Encrochat encrypted messaging network (file picture)

Israar Shah being arrested on his return to the UK after he was extradited from Spain in March last year

Essex Police is still investigating the murder, believing others were involved in the killing that have not yet been brought to justice.

But when it comes to Nana Oppong - the Teflon don - detectives are pleased to have pinned him down on murder charges that finally stuck.

DS Stephen Jennings, of Essex Police's Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'This murder was unusual in its level of sophistication, organisation and brutality.

'It was not a spontaneous act of violence, but rather a planned and carefully coordinated execution.

'While we may never know why the defendants carried out this murder, it is clear Oppong held a grievance against Robert Powell and was committed to seeing him killed.

'Oppong is a committed and high-level criminal, and thought he could use his knowledge of law enforcement tactics and encrypted messaging to evade justice.'

'He has refused at every turn to accept any responsibility for his actions in arranging this killing.

'Shah lied about his presence at the scene, telling the jury he was there to deal drugs. Thanks to the evidence we gathered, the jury saw through this lie.

'These sentences do not mark the end of our investigation. We know, and the evidence is clear, others were likely involved in Robert's murder, and we will continue to work to see them identified and arrested.'

Specialist prosecutor Samantha Wooley of the CPS said Oppong had acted as the 'mastermind' in the case while David Cater of the NCA said of his extradition: 'This is one of many examples that show there is nowhere for offenders to hide.'
A lip reader has revealed the very important reminder the Queen gave to Diana on her wedding day.

Charles proposed in the nursery at Windsor Castle on 3 February 1981, only six months after he started dating Diana.

Their engagement became known publicly when the couple announced their impending nuptials on 24 February 1981 and Britain eagerly held its breath for the upcoming wedding.

They were engaged for five months before they tied the knot in July of that year in a spectacular ceremony broadcast on screens across the nation.

Charles and Diana married at St Paul's Cathedral in London and they selected the cathedral over the traditional venue for royal weddings, Westminster Abbey, because it would hold more people - 3,500 guests.

MailOnline can reveal the future King said 'you look perfect' then told Diana to 'give me your hand', which she does, and he then said to her 'kissy'.

When the future King saw his bride, he was met by chants of 'give her a kiss'

Queen Elizabeth pointed to the crowd while whispering to the princess to tell her to 'look' at the people who have 'been there all day' to see her

A lip reader has revealed an important reminder the Queen gave to Diana on her wedding day

MailOnline can now reveal he said 'you look perfect' then told her to 'give me your hand', which she does, and he then said to her 'kissy'.

But after other members of the Royal Family joined them on the balcony the then-Prince of Wales commented: 'It's an awful long time. We need to eat.'

Queen Elizabeth pointed to the crowd while whispering to the princess to tell her to 'look' at the people who have 'been there all day' to see her.

When the future King saw his bride, he was met by chants of 'give her a kiss', which he complied with.

Sources said that despite her shyness, Diana loved the glamour that marrying a prince would offer, and there were 'some tears' and champagne when she made the announcement.

But Penny Thornton, who served as Princess Di's royal astrologer, said Prince Charles left Diana 'devastated' when he told her he didn't love her the night before their wedding

Charles so deeply questioned his decision to marry Diana that he considered calling off the wedding altogether, royal reporter Robert Jobson revealed in a tell-all biography published in 2018.

He felt the pair were 'incompatible' but felt that the impending nuptials were out of his control, and believed that ending the engagement would have been 'cataclysmic.'

However, the Queen's former press secretary said that despite Charles's doubts, the pair were truly in love - and couldn't keep their hands off each other as newlyweds.

According to Dickie Arbiter, there was a 'genuine relationship' from the start, with 'genuine love and happiness' there.

They were engaged for five months before they tied the knot

Sources said despite her shyness, Diana loved the glamour that marrying a prince would offer

After they divorced, in April 2005, the Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles

In tapes released after her death, Diana noted that the 'Camilla thing' had cast a shadow over the day.

'I was desperately trying to be mature about the situation, but I didn't have the foundations to do it, and I couldn't talk to anyone about it.'

The princess also revealed that she had a 'very bad fit' of bulimia the night before, eating everything in sight, only to be 'sick as a parrot' later.

In addition to the bride and groom's families, Margaret Thatcher, the then Prime Minister of the UK, attended the wedding of Charles and Diana.

Other guests who were in attendance included Nancy Reagan, French president Francois Mitterrand and a host of royal dignitaries from around the world. Camilla Parker Bowles was also in attendance.

The event that became known as 'The wedding of the century' was broadcast on TVs around the world. An astonishing 750 million people across 74 countries tuned in to watch Charles and Diana get married.

Charles and Diana's vows broke with tradition when Diana omitted the promise 'to obey' her husband. She was the first royal to ever do so, but not the last: Kate Middleton also dropped the phrase when she married Prince William in 2011, as did Meghan Markle when she married Harry in 2018.

The event that became known as 'The wedding of the century' was on TVs around the world

In April 2005, the Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles. The Queen and Prince Philip - mother and father of the groom - were nowhere to be seen

Both Charles and Diana flubbed their vows. Diana called her new husband 'Philip Charles' instead of 'Charles Philip' and Charles got the phrase 'All my worldly goods with thee I share' completely wrong, saying instead: 'All thy goods with thee I share.'

In December 1992, the then Prime Minister John Major announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales had decided to separate.

In a TV documentary made the following year by Jonathan Dimbleby, the prince confessed to his own adultery.

Diana's own riposte to Charles came on November 20, 1995, when over 23 million British viewers watched the princess nervously but deftly answer the questions of Martin Bashir, a young reporter on Panorama.

'There were three of us in this marriage,' was her edgy skewering of the Camilla situation.

The dream marriage formally came to an end in August 1995.

But just one year and three days later, the British ambassador in Paris rang Balmoral around 1am, rousing the duty private secretary, Robert Janvrin, from his sleep. The embassy was receiving police reports, he said, of a serious car crash that involved the Princess of Wales.

The news of Diana's death came through from Paris just before 4am.

And in April 2005, the Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles.

The Queen and Prince Philip - mother and father of the groom - were nowhere to be seen when the civil ceremony took place.

Later, though, Queen Elizabeth grew fond of Camilla, so much so that in 2022 the late Monarch publicly announced that she would like her daughter-in-law to become Queen Consort when Charles took over the throne.
How can the Prime Minister possibly think it is appropriate to not only refuse to sack a minister as incompetent as Andrew Giles, but put him in charge of efforts to clean up the very mess he has created in his portfolio?

It beggars belief.

The answer lies in the seven deadly sins Labor has committed, dictating its woefully inadequate response to a colossal failure of government.

PRIDE

The number one reason the PM won't sack Giles is pride. Albo doesn't want to give the Opposition a ministerial scalp, much less the scalp of one of his best friends in the parliament.

He thinks that doing so could cause further problems and would be a bad look after he was so embarrassed by the failures of the Voice.

So Anthony Albanese is acting out of pride when he protects his immigration minister, rather than acting in the best interests of his government and the Australian people.

The saying is that pride comes before the fall. If Albo won't do the right thing and sack this incompetent minister then Labor should find a new PM who will.

Pride before the fall? Anthony Albanese (pictured) is too proud to dump his friend and factional ally Andrew Giles

SLOTH

The failure to react to the warning by his department that Direction 99 would backfire was slothful in the extreme.

Giles was clearly warned, in advance, that if he introduced these new rules chaos would ensue. That is exactly what has happened. Instead he's now trying to blame the department for not keeping him up to date.

Giles' slothful unwillingness to heed the advice and warnings from within his own department are a major piece in the puzzle of how and why Labor has bungled this issue so very badly.

GREED

Protecting a close ally and keeping him in the ministry is also clouding the PM's judgement.

His greed to maintain the numbers around him. Greed in wanting his mates to enjoy the trappings of government. Greed in wanting to keep his close band of left-wing factional allies on the frontbench in positions of power.

It is an unedifying characteristic, especially for a PM who has long prided himself on his humble origins.

Pathological hatred? Labor can't hide how much it loathes Peter Dutton (pictured) which is clouding the PM's judgment

WRATH

Labor's hatred of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is almost pathological.

That wrath, directed at Dutton, is dictating the Government's response to this crisis: digging in, not wanting to give Dutton a political win, trying to turn the blame back on him via a contortion of illogical arguments.

It makes Albo look like he is just playing the blame game - the very criticism he used against Scott 'I don't hold a hose' Morrison at the 2022 federal election.

It's making the PM look like a hypocrite.

ENVY

Labor has long been envious that the Coalition wins political campaigns with its 'tough on border protection' mantra.

The Labor left in particular is always looking for ways to soften these policies. That is exactly what Direction 99 was designed to do: a policy shift aimed at making it harder to deport Australian residents and visa holders, thereby making it easier for them to stay here.

That is why Albo appointed his left-wing mate Giles into the portfolio.

The unintended consequence has been allowing rapists, child sex offenders and domestic violence abusers to hide behind their ties to the community - and unbelievably ties to the very families they abuse - thereby allowing them to stay.

Immigration minister Andrew Giles (pictured) has tried to blame everyone but himself for his mistakes stopping rapists being deported

LUST

Blood lust explains one of the most ridiculous defences Giles has rolled out to try to keep his ministerial job.

When it came to office, Labor targeted Coalition appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. It pledged to abolish the body and replace it with something better.

That blood lust for taking down an institution in the name of partisan political point-scoring led Giles to think he could absolve himself of blame by simply attacking the AAT for making the decisions to let these criminals committing horrific crimes stay in Australia.

The only problem? The AAT is acting according to the rules Giles changed and laid out for it, forcing them to downgrade the criminal actions of those being considered for deportation. A number of AAT rulings explicitly make this point.

GLUTTONY

The new PM indulges on praise. He loves it, feeds off it even.

In this case, he wanted it from now former New Zealand PM Jacinta Ardern. She had been hyper-critical of Scott Morrison for refusing to weaken deportation laws which would have allowed criminal Kiwis to stay in this country.

Feeding on a gluttonous dose of acclaim, Albo stood next to Ardern and committed to doing what Morrison wouldn't by announcing the policy change that has caused all these problems. This was the unholy birth of the infamous Direction 99.
One of the big reasons I don't fear death is because of such experiences I've had with my patients.

Now, believe me, I'm not saying that I'm looking forward to death or that I have any definite ideas about what comes after. But as far as the process of dying is concerned, I feel really confident that it's going to be okay.

I'm not scared of suffering or being in pain or having anxiety. As I've seen others dying, I've seen them experience such peace. One of these patients was Randy, who was dying of pancreatic cancer at a young age.

Randy ended up living much longer than we had expected, around eight or nine months. During that time, we spent many visits just talking.

We talked about his childhood, his time in the military and his family.

Nurse Julie McFadden has heard voices and seen visions while caring for the dying

We both liked the big, deep questions: 'What do you think happens after we die?' 'Should I be afraid?' 'Where do you think we go?' Randy thought a lot and, although he was finding comfort in his new friends from the hospice team, he still had a lot of fear about dying.

Our team helped him physically, emotionally and spiritually. We all felt truly connected to Randy; he was our patient but also had become our friend.

During his active dying phase, Randy developed terminal agitation. This is fairly normal at the end of life, and we were able to get him a continuous-care nurse to be with him 24 hours a day.

I would visit him every day during that time and, on one of my visits, I could tell he was very close to death.

I stood over his bed, closed my eyes and quietly said: 'Randy, I love you, and thank you for all you've given me. I'll miss you and hope you find all your answers.'

I left after that, went to my car and sat there for a minute, just taking a moment. I was sad but also happy for him. I said one last prayer: 'God, help our sweet friend die peacefully.'

Moments later, I heard Randy's voice clear as day in my head. I suddenly felt this intense feeling of relief and freedom. It was the most exuberant feeling you could ever imagine. Just intense joy. I couldn't help but weep.

As I sat in my car, I continued to hear Randy's voice. He was saying: 'Oh my gosh, Julie. Oh my gosh, Julie. I can't believe this. I can't believe how good it is. If I had only known. I couldn't have known how good it is. I can't believe it.'

As I was hearing this, I could feel what he was feeling  the freedom, the peace, the joy. I was so overwhelmed by the feeling of home. It was the most unbelievable, unimaginable experience.

All of this happened within 30 seconds and then stopped as quickly as it started. I heard my phone beep. The nurse inside Randy's house had texted me: Randy died.

I thought to myself, 'I know. I think he just showed me.'

I didn't tell anyone what had happened for a while because I was scared of sounding weird. But this experience is one of the reasons I really don't have a fear of dying. Randy's visit was so real in that moment. It was so pure and so amazing.

Randy's is the only 'shared death' experience I've had, but I've had other experiences that felt just as miraculous.

One night I had a call to see a new hospice patient. After an initial check, I believed she was only hours or days away from dying.

Caregivers have inexplicable, seemingly miraculous experiences as well as those in their final moments, says Julie

Her children, all in their early 20s, were obviously concerned about their mother and immediately started asking me questions like, 'When can we start physical therapy?' and 'How long until she'll be walking again?'

As I stood there, doing my best to field these questions honestly but at the same time compassionately, my heart sank. They had no idea what was really happening. No one at the hospital had told them their mum was dying or, if they had been told, they hadn't heard it.

It's common for families not to fully understand or appreciate what is happening with their loved one. Normally, when I sense this, I like to explain how I know what I know.

I gave them a brief description of where their mother was in the progression of the disease and began pointing out the symptoms I had noticed.

'I've been doing this a long time and, I have to tell you, I think your mother is getting close to the end of her life,' I said finally.

I also pointed out that their mother appeared comfortable, which is always ideal and another sign that death was likely near. I showed them her changes in breathing, her unresponsiveness and changes in skin colour, all portents of impending death.

They seemed to understand. I said that if there were any family members or friends that they wanted to call, now was the time. They began calling, and I started to change their mother's hospital gown and sheets, making sure she was comfortable and clean.

Afterward, I called the family into her room so they could spend time with her. I told them that her death was coming soon.

Before I left, I told them: 'If anything happens, and when she dies, please call us, and we'll come right out.' At home that night, I couldn't stop thinking of the family, hoping the mother would have a peaceful death and that her kids would be okay. I finally went to bed, knowing that she would be dead by the morning.

The next day I called the family. The son answered the phone and he sounded happy. I asked him how they were doing. 'Yes, everything is great over here. Mum's just up having pancakes.'

My jaw dropped. Awake? Alive? Eating pancakes? Now, of course, I didn't say any of these things into the phone. I just said: 'Wow! Wonderful! Do you mind if I stop by?'

I needed to see this with my own eyes! When I got to the house, there she was, sitting at the table, eating pancakes, smiling, talking, walking around. Never in my 15 years of nursing had I seen someone make such a massive comeback after being so incredibly close to death.

My mind tried to understand and explain this scientifically. I thought it was probably a rally or surge, in which someone who is close to death looks well for a day or two and gains more energy but then dies shortly after  something I will explain in more detail in tomorrow's Mail on Sunday.

But it turned out I was wrong again. Their mother lived another three months, walking, talking, eating and enjoying her children until the end.

I truly believe that I witnessed a minor miracle.

I love sharing this story, but there's another part to it that I didn't tell for a long time.

Julie with her book Nothing to Fear which can be ordered for 15.29 from www.mailshop.co.uk/books

That first night that I visited, while her children were in the other room calling family members to let them know their mum was dying, I went in to check on her and I got a sudden vision of what I guess I would consider to be an angel.

It's hard for me to know how to talk about this because I don't believe in angels but nor do I fully understand what I witnessed. I even doubt myself sometimes because I'm such a sceptic. But I'll try to describe it to you.

This wasn't what you would think an angel would look like. It was a huge being  not at all like the cute baby cherubs on greeting cards  that seemed to be standing over their mother's bed.

It wasn't a scary thing. It was a large, beautiful, angelic thing.

I didn't see it with my eyes, like I'm seeing my computer screen right now as I write this. It was like a vision in my mind's eye and then a feeling.

I saw a large solid block full of shapes, all the way to the ceiling, if not higher. It was as wide as a car and solid. It gave me the sense that it had wings, but they were tucked back, so you couldn't see them but knew they were there.

It was cream-coloured and leaning over the patient's bed. There were no facial features. It just felt dominant  powerful, secure, strong.

It wasn't scary at all, but it also didn't feel loving or soft. It felt like power. If it could speak, it would say: 'I've got this.'

I had the sense that this thing didn't care about me being there. It was more like, 'My main focus is to be with this person in bed. She's mine.'

Did I see an angel? I don't know. It all happened within seconds.

The next morning, I was asking myself: 'Did I really see that?' But when I saw this woman the next morning, eating pancakes, I had to wonder. I think I did.

When I share these stories, I still feel slightly embarrassed. These mystical experiences are very atypical for me.

Let me be clear, I'm all about the science and physiology of dying. I have a medical understanding of each of the signs we see when someone is actively dying.

Biologically, they make sense. I understand why they're happening and I'm grateful that they happen.

I don't understand the experiences I've related, and I don't know whether they prove there's an afterlife, but I do think they prove that death can be beautiful and is not to be feared.

You've probably read about people who have had incredible near-death experiences. Maybe they briefly died on an operating table and felt themselves drift up and out of their bodies, able to see everything that was happening in the operating room.

Or perhaps they stopped breathing for a significant amount of time and, when they were finally revived, they described an encounter with a beautiful world that they could only describe as 'heaven'.

These rare, remarkable reports let us imagine what might be coming after we die.

When we talk about deathbed phenomena, we're usually referring to the experiences of the dying person, but caregivers have inexplicable, seemingly miraculous experiences, too.

And people don't necessarily need to be miraculously revived to experience the unusual. Those of us who accompany someone during their journey through the process of dying are often privileged to get these eyewitness reports of somewhere 'else'.

When one woman asked her dying mother, who seemed to be fixated on staring at one spot in the room, what she was seeing, her mother smiled and whispered: 'Light'.

One man shared that his dying father reported: 'The table is set, and it's beautiful.'

Minutes before one woman's mother died, she reached up for her husband, who'd died five years earlier.

'Oh, Bob,' she said, 'I've missed you so much.'

When she lowered her arms, she began to cry. Then she said: 'Bob, I'm coming,' before she slipped away, holding the hand of her daughter.

One woman said that her dad had a huge picture of Jesus on the wall in the living room. One day he said: 'Take that picture down. He looks nothing like that.' He died three days later.

Another person reported that her mother had been unresponsive for days but, right before she died, she exclaimed: 'Oh, the light. It's just so beautiful.'

Do I understand everything that's happening with these reports? Not at all. What I do know is that whatever they are, they're important, because they show over and over again that death can be peaceful.

They show that our loved ones aren't suffering as they die. On the contrary, many of them are having beautiful visions, meeting with long-dead loved ones, or having spiritual experiences in line with their deeply-held beliefs.

A significant number of people experience visions, pre-knowledge of death, seeing bright lights or angels or other phenomena

These are not rare occurrences either. Whether we're talking about visions, pre-knowledge of death, seeing bright lights or angels or other phenomena, a significant number of people seem to experience them.

Medical professionals still can't adequately explain why most of these phenomena happen, but they occur so often that we actually put them in our hospice textbooks. This is because, whatever the cause, they are a part of the dying process, and knowing about them helps us prepare both patients and their families.

In medical and scientific texts, they are referred to as either death-related sensory experiences (DRSE) or simply deathbed phenomena (DBP).

Visioning, also known as deathbed visions, is when a person who is dying begins to see people or things that aren't physically present in the room.

If a dying person experiences visioning, it usually begins somewhere around three or four weeks before their death.

These visions commonly include deceased family members, such as parents, spouses, siblings or even grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends, too.

Religious figures such as angels, Jesus, Muhammad or God can appear  as can beloved pets who have died. Beyond people and animals, visions of beautiful landscapes or images have also been reported.

In addition to seeing these things, the dying person will often interact with them. They may hear a message, such as, 'We're coming to get you,' or 'Don't worry, we'll help.'

They might have a conversation with someone they're seeing. They might even reach out to touch whatever or whoever they believe to be in the room with them.

Sometimes they may ask others in the room if they're seeing the same vision and then describe what they're experiencing. Or afterward, they'll talk about who they encountered and what was said.

Some patients might start talking about getting ready to go on a journey of some kind.

Typically, the kind of visioning a dying person has is related to who they are and their life experiences.

If someone didn't like animals, they probably won't see a long-lost pet. Someone who had a horrible spouse isn't usually going to see that person as the one warmly welcoming them to the other side. And someone who sees religious figures is likely to be a person of faith.

I see visioning as much as 80 per cent of the time in the dying process. It's important for loved ones to know that visioning is common and harmless, and that the person having the experience usually isn't afraid  in fact, in nearly all cases, medical professionals report that these visions have a calming effect, helping the patient feel more peaceful in their final days before death.

What I also find interesting is that, most of the time, my hospice patients who have these experiences know that the person they're seeing is dead. They're not in an altered state where they think the person is alive and in the room, and they're often just as curious as I am.

They're alert when it's happening, fully understanding that no one else can see or hear what they're seeing and hearing.

It's not a case of confusion, but rather a fairly typical experience for those who are dying. Indeed, these types of visions have been reported across all countries and cultures and throughout recorded history.

As an ICU nurse, I often witnessed people with delirium, psychosis and hallucinations, and they behaved very differently from the people I've seen having deathbed visions.

The latter comes with serious agitation and restlessness, while deathbed visions come with peace and well-being. From what I've seen, these visions always seem to be soothing and reassuring, giving the patient a sense of comfort, love and care in their final days.

Closely related to visioning is another phenomenon called the 'death stare' or the 'death reach'.

About one or two weeks before death, a dying person will sometimes begin to look past everyone, staring at the wall, the ceiling, the corner of the room, or somewhere far off.

They often won't look away from that point for a long time. This staring is often accompanied by the person lifting their arms, reaching out to something or someone.

Sometimes both of these things happen together, sometimes separately. When they're reaching or staring, many of these patients might say something like: 'Don't you see it?' or, 'It's so beautiful!'

When the person is able to speak and tell us what's going on, we might label their experience as visioning. When they're not able to speak and we don't know if a vision accompanies the behaviour or not, we call it the death stare or death reach. In both cases, the dying person is connecting to a world beyond this one in a way that the rest of us can't perceive.

Adapted from Nothing To Fear by Julie McFadden, to be published by Ebury on June 13 at 16.99.  Julie McFadden 2024. To order a copy for 15.29 (offer valid to 31/06/24; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
A group of British 'stag do' tourists embarked on a seven-hour poolside bender after eight of their pals spent the night in a Majorcan police station following a beachside punch-up that injured two cops and a waiter.

The gang, believed to be made up of builders from St Albans, Hertfordshire, spent Friday afternoon laughing and downing beers without a care in the world at the 300-a-night INNside Melia Palma Bosque hotel - just hours after their arrested friends were forced to spend 850 each to get their passports back.

Eight of their friends spent two nights in jail after a dispute with waiters at the upmarket Balneario Illetas beach club sparked a huge melee on Wednesday evening.

A waiter injured in the clashes accused the holidaymakers of turning 'aggressive' when staff begged them to stop throwing rubbish into the sea.

Footage of the fracas showed security guards and restaurant staff grappling with the allegedly drunken holidaymakers as reggaeton music pumps in the background.

A group of British 'stag do' tourists embarked on a seven-hour poolside bender after eight of their pals spent the night in a Majorcan police station following a beachside punch-up that injured two cops and a waiter

The gang, believed to be made up of builders from St Albans, Hertfordshire, spent Friday afternoon laughing and downing beers without a care in the world at the 300-a-night INNside Melia Palma Bosque hotel

They returned to the luxury spot just hours after their arrested friends were forced to spend 850 each to get their passports back

Eight of their friends spent two nights in jail after a dispute with waiters at the upmarket Balneario Illetas beach club sparked a huge melee on Wednesday evening

One woman in a bikini - as well as one of the security guards - ended up being knocked to the ground in the scuffle.

Last night, footage obtained by MailOnline showed four of the men - some of whom were barefoot and still in beachwear - being bundled out of a civil guard van in handcuffs and brought into the court by armed guards.

The men used 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.

It is understood there will be an investigation into the brawl, after which a judge will set a date for a trial if prosecutors decide to charge them.

A spokeswoman for the Palma courthouse said: 'The court granted bail for eight (British) men who were detained under a bond for possible civil damage caused.

'No date was set for them to return. This is a criminal case.'

The group are understood to have returned to the chic hotel, located near the Port of Palma de Mallorca, which boasts two swimming pools, a spa, a fusion restaurant and premium rooms costing upwards of 300 a night.

Some of those arrested were seen sunbathing by the pool today with other pals not involved in the fracas.

The group of men and women lounged in the exclusive resort as they recovered from their wild excursions

The group appeared in lively discussions as they came together in a circle of sun loungers

The group are understood to have returned to the chic hotel, located near the Port of Palma de Mallorca

One of the stag do tourists appears to be smoking a vape while he enjoys the sunshine poolside at the INNside Melia Palma Bosque hotel

Their hotel boasts two swimming pools, a spa, a fusion restaurant and premium rooms costing upwards of 300 a night

British holidaymakers enjoy pints on Friday at the INNside Melia Palma Bosque hotel

A trio from the stag do group sunbathe and sip on pints at their hotel in Majora on Friday

Some of those arrested were seen sunbathing by the pool today with other pals not involved in the fracas

The group are converse over some pints while they relax by the pool on Friday afternoon

A waiter injured in the clashes told MailOnline he had 'never seen a situation like that' in 25 years of working in restaurants on the Costa del Sol.

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.

He said: 'From early in the morning they were having drinks on the beach, for celebration.

'When I came to the 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.'

The group ordered drinks from their sun loungers as they made the most of the Friday sun

The group seemed comfortable and relaxed as they soaked up the rays on the Spanish isle

Not all of the crowd appeared to have been part of the beach scuffle, as the group joined together to enjoy their Friday

A British holidaymaker talks to his friends while they soak up the sun on Friday afternoon

One of the holidaymakers is seen reading on his phone and snacking on what appears to be crisps while he lounges by the pool

A holidaymaker, sporting a white t-shirt, was seemingly deep in conversation with his friends

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.

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.'

Eight people were arrested after the mass brawl on Wednesday, with three people left injured

The Brits fighting, apparently after being told by locals to stop throwing litter in the sea

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

In a second video from another angle, one man was seen being punched in the face. He is seen here in this video grab falling backwards to the ground after being hit

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.'

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.

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 racked up a 1,500 bill in the restaurant before the chaos erupted.

'I saw the fight from the restaurant', he said. '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'.

In exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline, four British men were seen 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

Cops led the group into the Palma court, where they will attend a hearing behind closed doors

The group (pictured Thursday) were filmed in a massive brawl on a beach in Majorca

The accused arrived handcuffed in shorts and T-shirts in two police vans Thursday afternoon

'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.

'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 the ground during the attack and said he is still in pain now.

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'.

A woman, who was knocked over during the brawl, is helped up by a member of staff

A stunned onlooker was heard saying 'I just can't believe it' as the fight went on

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'.
A plus-size travel influencer has slammed airport staff at one of the country's busiest airports after she became stuck in a revolving door.

Washington-based influencer Jae'lynn Chaney, 27, recounted her experience to her 136,000 TikTok followers in which she vows to 'help plus-size people explore the world confidently.'

Despite not requiring a wheelchair for mobility issues on a day-to-day basis, Chaney decided to use one as she passed through Chicago O'Hare airport.

'Recently, I had a distressing experience at Chicago OHare airport. As a plus size ambulatory wheelchair user, I faced a significant challenge when trying to get to the baggage claim,' Chaney began.

Plus-size travel influencer Jae'lynn Chaney, 27, claims she got stuck in a revolving door at Chicago O'Hare airport

Chaney says she was using a wheelchair although she rarely appears to use one judging by her social media postings

'The only option is to go through a revolving door. Press the button to slow it down for people with disabilities, but as we entered, we got stuck,' she explained, noting how she is also a claustrophobic.

'I began to panic, frantically motioning to the staff to help, but they just stared at me, offering no assistance.'

Chaney, who is a size 6XL, did not post any photo or video evidence of her ordeal and accused O'Hare airport staff of being unresponsive.

'This is my second terrible experience at OHare during just one trip,' she vented.

'The lack of assistance was not only frustrating, but dehumanizing, highlighting the necessity for airport staff to treat travelers of all sizes and abilities with the respect and care they deserve.'

But far from generating sympathy, those commenting on Chaney's post were unhappy at her behavior.

Chaney criticized airport staff at Chicago O'Hare who she claims did not help her

Far from generating sympathy, those commenting on Chaney's post were unhappy at her behavior

'You are not handicapped - why would you request the wheelchair service?!', asked one user.

'Getting stuck in doors designed for humans should be a gigantic wake up call,' another wrote.

'If you can stand up and pose like that, why can't you walk???' another commenter shared.

'Stop thinking youre so entitled theres nothing wrong with walking. I was a big man and I lost the weight now is time for change,' someone else said.

In the past, Chaney has frequently advocated for free or larger seats on planes.

But demanding extra seats be provided to fat flyers for free have only served to cause further uproar.

In an October video she wrote: 'Hot take: every airline should have a customer of size policy like Southwest Airlines.'

'If more airlines adopted policies like Southwest Airlines' customer-of-size policy, offering free or reimbursed additional seats for plus size passengers who need more space, air travel would be far more accessible and accommodating to people of size,' the caption read.

Chaney also called upon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this year with a petition asking airlines to scrap their 'discriminatory' policies and give obese passengers free seats.

Jae'lynn Chaney, a plus size travel influencer with about 135,000 followers on TikTok, has frequently advocated for free or larger seats on planes

Chaney claims this latest incident occurred at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago

On social media, many have pointed out that free space is not available to customers who are very tall and need extra legroom, those traveling with medical equipment or are wheelchair users.

These groups have to pay often hundreds of dollars for additional space.

Until recently, Jae'lynn traveled with extra oxygen and required the use of a wheelchair instead of walking longer distances after doctors suspected she suffered a stroke in 2019.

Earlier in the month, Jae'lynn claimed she was discriminated against by an airport employee who refused to push her in a wheelchair because of her weight.

She recounted her experience with a wheelchair assistant on a jet bridge after a recent landing, this time at SeattleTacoma International Airport.

In another TikTok video, she claimed that when she tried to deplane the aircraft, the employee assigned to help assist her started to walk away when she realized she was supposed to help the plus-size woman and not one of the smaller passengers.

The travel influencer said that as the employee walked away with the wheelchair she was making comments about her size.

Jae'lynn - who has previously demanded free extra seats for fat fliers subsidized by slimmer passengers - says the ordeal left her gasping for air.
A molecular biologist says she was prevented from buying the Virginia Beach condo of her dreams after the white owner learned that she was black, it is alleged.

Dr. Raven Baxter, 30, was prepared to buy the home after a virtual tour of the property. It had everything she wanted: a private foyer, wainscoting, exquisite crown molding, and a marble fireplace.

Baxter offered the asking price, $749,000, which was promptly accepted by the seller. The molecular biologist, who works remotely for Mt. Sinai hospital, then sent over a down payment and the condo went into escrow.

But then she received a call late at night from her broker, who told her that the seller, Jane Walker, 84, now wanted to back out of the deal.

'He said, "I dont know how to tell you this, but she doesnt want to sell the home to you, and its because youre black,"' Baxter recalled.

Dr. Raven Baxter, 30, was prevented from buying her dream home in Virginia Beach after Susan Miller, the seller, learned that she was black. Dr. Baxter is a molecular biologist who works for Mt. Sinai

The Gone with the Wind-inspired property is near the beach and features stunning views of the Atlantic

Earlier that day, the biological scientist and her long-time boyfriend, Dr. Ronald Gamble Jr., a theoretical physicist who works for NASA, made the three-hour drive to the condo from their apartment in Alexandria, Va.

For the first time, the two scientists explored the property in person.

When Baxter had previously toured the condo virtually, her camera had been off. Jane Walker, the seller, was unaware of her race.

After concluding their inspection of the property, which is near the beach and features a view of the Atlantic, they bumped into the seller.

As the couple prepared to leave, Walker appeared and her agent, Susan Pender of Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty, introduced the two parties.

Moments after the scientists left, Baxter said Walker confronted her agent, telling her that she was not willing to sell her condo to a black person. Walker ordered Pender to terminate the sale.

Pender called Wayne Miller, an agent at 757 Realty, and informed him of the turn of events.

Miller proceeded to contact Baxter's agent, Bill Loftis, who called her with the troubling news.

Baxter was crushed to hear that the seller was reneging. She loved the condo.

'Its a classic home with a ton of character. Its absolutely gorgeous and you can walk to the beach. It was like a steal,' she said. 'I basically put in an offer sight unseen,' Baxter told the New York Times.

According to the condo's Zillow page, the Georgian-style property was built in 1932.

Outfitted with a spiral staircase, gilded mirrors, chandeliers, and antique oil paintings, the Gone with the Wind-inspired property comes with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Baxter's boyfriend was shocked to hear that the seller was backing out of the deal. When the molecular biologist received the call from her agent, she put it on speakerphone so that Gamble could hear the news.

'I kind of fell back in my chair,' he said.

'I could not believe what I was hearing. Well after the Civil Rights movement, after Covid, after George Floyd, you would think society isnt still thinking this way. But in 2024, they still are.'

Jane Walker, 84, refused to sell her condo to Baxter after she learned that the molecular biologist was black

Later that night, Baxter shared her story on her X.com account, where she has 163,000 followers.

She concluded her post by striking a note of defiance: 'Baby, Im either buying your house or buying YOUR BLOCK. CHOOSE ONE.'

Prompted by commenters on her post, Baxter filed a discrimination claim with the Virginia Fair Housing Office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She also contacted a civil rights lawyer.

'Had I not gone to Twitter and received help from people who knew what they were doing, I would have been panicking the entire weekend,' Baxter said

She added: 'It was my first time buying a house. I knew my civil rights were being violated. I knew that something illegal was happening, but no one knew what to do.'

The next day, Loftis reached out to Baxter, telling her that while it was 'unfortunate that the seller' brought 'race into the process,' her kids were 'able to turn her around.'

Baxter is now expected to proceed with her purchase of the condo, which will occur later this summer.

Despite her distressing experience, Baxter intends to proceed with her purchase of the condo, now that the seller has been mollified by her children

After the molecular biologist's story caught national attention, Barbara Wolcott, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty, sent Baxter an email: 'In light of the actions of our horribly misguided seller, I feel compelled to send you this email.'

Wolcott continued: 'Please be assured that the attitude of this individual is not something that is tolerated by Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty, Susan Pender, or anyone within our organization or area.'

Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty hasn't yet made it clear how they are refusing to tolerate the behavior of the condo's seller.
A six-week-old boy has been mauled to death by the beloved family dog as he slept in his crib inside their home.

Ezra Mansoor died on Thursday afternoon after six days fighting for life in hospital with brain swelling and bleeding inside his skull.

His parents Mark, 28, and Chloe Mansoor, 25, from Knoxville, Tennessee, welcomed their first child on April 14 and wanted nothing more than to be parents.

They never dreamed the placid, well-behaved husky they owned for the past eight years would attack their baby boy 'out of nowhere'.

Ezra Mansoor, aged just six weeks, was mauled to death by the beloved family dog as he slept in his crib

His parents Mark, 28, and Chloe Mansoor, 25, from Knoxville, Tennessee , welcomed their first child on April 14 and wanted nothing more than to be parents

Mark called the dog 'the light of my heart' in a photo of him with a beaming smile holding the beloved pet

The dog had been Mark's constant companion since he was a teenager and never showed any sign of aggression.

He called the dog 'the light of my heart' in a photo of him with a beaming smile holding the beloved pet.

'You all must come to visit!! Bring Leon and Mena, please,' a relative wrote next to the photo shared online. The couple have two dogs.

Mark and Chloe married in 2022 and threw a baby shower with family where gifts were piled high in the living room next to huge blocks spelling 'baby.'

Chloe warned other parents that 'it could be any dog at any time. Completely unprovoked, no matter what the history is'

Ezra as a newborn after he was born on April 14

The couple never dreamed the placid, well-behaved husky (left, pictured with their other dog) they owned for the past either years would attack their baby boy 'out of nowhere'

They posed next to a sign reading 'we can bearly wait to meet you' with a picture of a teddy bear they bought for Ezra.

'Being his mom was the biggest honor and the best thing I've ever done,' Chloe told local news stations outside East Tennessee Childrens Hospital.

She warned other parents that 'it could be any dog at any time. Completely unprovoked, no matter what the history is.'

Ezra's organs will be donated to help save other infants.

'Being his mom was the biggest honor and the best thing I've ever done,' Chloe said outside East Tennessee Childrens Hospital

The couple posed at their elaborate baby shower next to a sign reading 'we can bearly wait to meet you' with a picture of a teddy bear

Ezra was mauled to death inside the family home (pictured) in Knoxville, Tennessee

The dog is being held at Young-Williams Animal Center under a 10-day bite quarantine, as required by state law.

What will happen to it afterward is unknown.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office is investigating Ezra's death.
Diane Abbott has insisted that she will not be a Labour candidate until she is endorsed by the party's National Executive Committee.

Following days of indecision and growing criticism, Sir Keir Starmer backed down to the left of his party yesterday and said Ms Abbott was 'free' to stand amid questions over whether she would have permission to do so.

However, Ms Abbott has refused to give anything away until Tuesday when Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) will decide whether or not to endorse her.

LBC reported that she said: '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 at its meeting on Tuesday. So I am not saying anything until then.'

Diane Abbott has insisted that she will not run as a Labour candidate until the party's national executive committee meets

Following days of indecision and growing criticism, Sir Keir backed down to the left of his party yesterday and said Ms Abbott was 'free' to stand.. Pictured: Supporters of Diane Abbott outside Hackney Town Hall

The Labour leader's first full week on the campaign trail was overshadowed by the embarrassing row over whether Britain's first black female MP would be allowed to stand for the party.

Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour's parliamentary party for more than a year, amid an investigation into her comments about Jewish people in a letter to the Observer newspaper in April last year. However, it has emerged that the race row probe ended months ago.

Earlier this week she even threatened to quit and join ally Jeremy Corbyn in running against Labour amid claims she was being prevented from running in a 'disturbing' purge of his former allies.

In front of around 200 supporters at a rally outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday, Ms Abbott vowed to stay on as an MP 'by any means possible' and accused the Labour party of wanting to 'exclude' her from Parliament.

On top of this Kier was defied by some of his key shadow cabinet members including his deputy Ms Rayner who said was no good reason Ms Abbott couldn't run.

Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party

Yesterday afternoon he finally took the decision to allow her to stand for Labour, telling reporters: 'The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate'

And Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting who admitted that he was 'not particularly comfortable' with the way Ms Abbott has been treated.

Yesterday afternoon he finally took the decision to allow her to stand for Labour, telling reporters: 'The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.'

Praising her as a 'trailblazer', he said: '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.'

However, a member of the NEC claimed Sir Keir had 'lied' about not being in charge of the decision to allow Ms Abbott to stand.

A spokesman for Momentum, a campaign group set up to back Jeremy Corbyn, mocked Sir Keir, saying: 'You come at the queen, you better not miss. Diane Abbott has been bullied & abused her whole career. Starmer tried to force her out. She held firm  and won. This is a huge victory.'

A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Angela Rayner is pushing Keir Starmer around. Under pressure, he's showing he's a weak leader who's losing control of the Labour Party.'

Mish Rahman told Times Radio: 'For months and months, Keir Starmer, it seems now untruthfully, has claimed that it was an independent process and he wasn't involved.

'Then he said it was down to the NEC. And that has now been revealed to be a lie, because he's now himself decided, as he said today, that she will be a candidate. She's free to go ahead as a candidate. And it's not the NEC who's done that. He's had the power all along.'

He added that the committee will approve a list of candidates drawn up by Sir Keir, adding that he controls a majority of the committee so therefore 'the NEC will deliver the will of Keir Starmer'.
Embattled Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was warned that new regulations introduced by him had not been thoroughly tested for sex offenders and other criminals with work and family ties to Australia, documents released under Freedom of Information laws have shown.

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan said Mr Giles, who has been under heavy fire since late last year following a series of immigration disasters, should resign over the latest revelation.

More than 150 detainees, including murderers and sex offenders, have been released from detention after the High Court ruled it was unlawful to indefinitely detain someone if there was no real prospect of removing them from Australia.

Before introducing what is called Direction 99, Mr Giles was told the effect of the change on sex offenders and violent criminals with family ties and work history in Australia had not been extensively tested.

An August 2022 briefing note written by immigration officials advised Mr Giles that the immigration department had tested the effect of the change on 10 past cases, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Embattled Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was warned that new regulations introduced by him could help sex offenders avoid being deported from Australia

Under what is known as a 'desktop exercise', Mr Giles was told that the three cases involving serious crimes, including murder and child sex offences, would still have seen the criminal deported.

The Immigration Minister was warned that it was 'important to note that none of those three cases had any family ties and only one had some employment history'.

Therefore, Mr Giles was advised his proposed change would not affect the overall number of serious and violent sex offenders being deported.

'It is clear from this Government document that Andrew Giles put the safety of the Australian community at risk based on a flawed desktop review that he was briefed on,' Mr Tehan said.

'It is but another reason as to why he should resign,' Mr Tehan said.

But a spokeswoman for Mr Giles said 'advice provided to the Minister stated that the direction was not expected to impact serious and violent sexual offenders'.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Giles said that Direction 99 will be changed.

Labor blamed the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for misinterpreting the direction issued by Mr Giles in January 2023, resulting in as many as 60 foreign-born criminals being shown leniency.

'The Albanese government has always said that visa decisions need to be guided by two clear principles. Firstly the protection of the Australian community. Secondly, common sense,' Mr Giles said.

'A number of recent AAT would decisions have not shown common sense.'

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan (pictured) said Mr Giles, who has been under heavy fire since late last year following a series of immigration disasters, should resign over the latest revelation

Mr Giles revealed during Question Time that in response to the crisis, the Government is 'introducing a new, revised ministerial direction to ensure clear principles'.

He said the revised direction will ensure 'all members of the (AAT) adopt a commonsense approach to visa decisions, consistent with the intent of ministerial Direction 99'.

He also confirmed he and his department are in the process of 'reviewing recent AAT decisions'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Giles and Mr Tehan for further comment.
The Post Office has reportedly penned a 180million deal to keep the scandal-hit Horizon system in place for another five years.

Japanese firm Fujitsu's faulty software was behind more than 900 subpostmasters being wrongly prosecuted after shortfalls were incorrectly reported on their accounts.

The Post Office had been looking for a replacement system for next year, but it is now expected that Fujitsu will continue operating in branches for five more years.

The deal was reported by Computer Weekly and comes after the Japanese firm said it would not apply for any more government contracts.

Richard Trinder, who manages the campaign group Voice of the Postmaster - which supports victims of the Horizon scandal - said: '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 Fujitsu to do this work for free and donate the 180million to victims of the scandal.'

The faulty Horizon system is set to continue running in Post Office branches for another five years, it has emerged

More than 900 Post Office operators were prosecuted for theft, fraud and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 due to faulty Horizon software

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells leaving the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry on May 24

Fujitsu's current contract was due to end by March 2025, the deadline which the Post Office had hoped to replace its IT system by.

But it was reported this week that the Post Office has pushed this deadline back to 2030. It also asked for 1billion of additional public money from the Treasury as it finds its difficult to create a sufficient in-house system.

It comes as the huge police inquiry into the Post Office scandal will use 80 detectives and be on the scale of a 'major murder or terrorism investigation', it was reported this week.

While over 20 potential suspects at both the Post Office and Fujitsu have already been identified, decisions on whether charges will be brought are unlikely before 2026, The Guardian first reported.

And while the police have already asked for extra funding from government to the tune of 6.75m to fund the huge operation, investigators are yet to be recruited to staff the probe, it added.

Perjury and perverting the course of justice have been been identified as possible offences in a scandal which resulted in more than 900 Post Office operators being prosecuted for theft, fraud and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 due to the faulty Horizon software wrongly making it look as though money was missing from their branches.

And while many had to wait decades to clear their name - or even died before they could see it happen - the further wait for any potential criminal trials is due to police having to take into account the full conclusions of the inquiry before finally handing over their files of evidence to prosecutors.

The inquiry says it plans to issue its report in 2025, and the police will need until the following year to complete their work, they say. Even if the CPS do bring charges, there will then be a further wait for any charges to reach trial.

This month, Ms Vennells told the hearing in London that there are 'no words' that will make the 'sorrow and what people have gone through any better'

This month, former Post Office boss Paula Vennells wept while giving evidence at the Horizon inquiry after insisting that she 'loved' the company.

The shamed 65-year-old also told the hearing in London that there are 'no words' that will make the 'sorrow and what people have gone through any better'.

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.'

But Ms Vennells was accused of being in 'la-la land' and responsible for her own downfall during questioning by Edward Henry KC.

MPs also finally approved a Bill to quash the convictions of theft, fraud, false accounting and other offences against sub-postmasters, and scrub cautions from their records.

The Bill will apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, affecting those who were prosecuted by the Post Office, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or Northern Ireland authorities in the years 1996 to 2018.

The Scottish Parliament will pass its own law to a similar effect north of the border, because of Scotland's distinct legal system.
The band behind New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better last night said they would not allow Sir Keir Starmer to use it.

D:Ream's 1993 hit became a victory anthem for Tony Blair and has remained popular at Labour discos for decades.

The song had a revival last month when anti-Tory protesters blasted it from speakers near No 10 in a bid to drown out Rishi Sunak as called the July 4 election.

But D:Ream's founding members Al Mackenzie and Peter Cunnah told LBC that they were disillusioned with politics after being accused of having 'blood on their hands' in the wake of the Iraq War.

Asked if they would allow Sir Keir to use one of their songs, Mr Mackenzie said: 'There's no way  our songs and politics, never again.'

The band behind New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better last night said they would not allow Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) to use it

D:Ream's 1993 hit became a victory anthem for Tony Blair (pictured with his wife)

The song had a revival last month when anti-Tory protester Steve Bray blasted it from speakers near No 10 in a bid to drown out Rishi Sunak as called the July 4 election

He said he would be 'voting to get the Tories out', but added: 'I don't really want the song to be linked to that.'

Mr Cunnah said: 'I've learned the hard way. No, no, no This is a change of guard, I don't see this as an election.

'It's just a change of guard, someone handing the baton on.'
Royal Mail is facing a 'death spiral' over its obligation to deliver post six days a week, according to would-be owner Daniel Kretinsky.

The billionaire  nicknamed the Czech Sphinx  described the duty as 'the most strict in Europe'.

Mr Kretinsky's comments are the strongest hint yet that, should he get his hands on the company, he would look to reform the universal service obligation (USO).

By law, Royal Mail must deliver letters to every address in the UK, six days a week, at the same price. It must also deliver parcels on five days.

But it has continually missed delivery targets and has run up huge losses.

In a rare interview, with Bloomberg TV, Mr Kretinsky said: 'The rules for the universal service obligation in the UK are the most strict and the most rigid in the whole of Europe... that has created the situation where Royal Mail has started to lag behind the competition.

Royal Mail is facing a 'death spiral' over its obligation to deliver post six days a week, according to would-be owner Daniel Kretinsky (file picture)

Daniel Kretinsky (pictured) - nicknamed the Czech Sphinx  described the duty as 'the most strict in Europe

By law, Royal Mail must deliver letters to every address in the UK, six days a week, at the same price (file picture)

'The fight for the Royal Mail is delivering the right services for the right price and hence be competitive and preserve market share. If these conditions are not there, then it goes into a death spiral because of the universal obligation.'

This week, Royal Mail's parent company, International Distribution Services, accepted a 3.6 billion offer from the tycoon after he made a series of commitments, including promises on jobs and the UK-wide six-day service.

Results published last week show Royal Mail is losing around 1 million a day.

Shareholders will vote on the deal in September, but ministers could block it under the National Security and Investment Act.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: 'We will make sure whoever takes over the Royal Mail, if someone does indeed take it over, that those things that people depend on are safe.'
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said he will speak to senior officers following claims by a former IRA member that he was behind the death of Lord Mountbatten.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail yesterday, Mr Harris said he was aware of reports in the Irish Mail on Sunday in which Michael Hayes claimed to be the mastermind behind the 1979 bombing which resulted in the death of the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr Harris said that he will now speak with colleagues at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) about the next steps in the case and whether or not an official investigation should be launched.

He said: 'I'm aware of those claims and I will raise that with the NBCI in terms of further examination, but that's not to say we're at the point of opening an investigation.

'What we have is a news report. And we want to see that and just where that takes us in terms of an investigation.'

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail yesterday, Mr Harris said he was aware of reports in the Irish Mail on Sunday in which Michael Hayes (pictured) claimed to be the mastermind behind the 1979 bombing which resulted in the death of the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II

Lord Mountbatten (pictured)  a mentor to both Prince Philip and the then-Prince Charles  was killed aged 79 when the IRA blew up his pleasure boat while he was holidaying at his summer home in Co. Sligo in August 1979

Asked if Hayes can expect to be questioned by gardai in the near future, Mr Harris added: 'As I said, we have to commence an investigation.'

The MoS published an interview with Hayes in which he made the remarkable claims.

Lord Mountbatten  a mentor to both Prince Philip and the then-Prince Charles  was killed aged 79 when the IRA blew up his pleasure boat while he was holidaying at his summer home in Co. Sligo in August 1979. Only one member of the IRA was ever convicted over the death; Thomas McMahon was jailed for life for murder but later released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

After being approached by a MoS reporter, Hayes bragged: 'I blew up Earl Mountbatten.'

Killed alongside the earl were his grandson Nicholas, 14; Doreen Brabourne, 83, Nicholas's grandmother; and crewman Paul Maxwell, 15, from Enniskillen.

Asked if Hayes (pictured) can expect to be questioned by gardai in the near future, Mr Harris added: 'As I said, we have to commence an investigation.'

After being approached by a MoS reporter, Hayes bragged: 'I blew up Earl Mountbatten.' Pictured: The wreckage after the explosion

Legal experts told the MoS that Hayes's admission made him liable for prosecution for the murders, if An Garda Siochana and the Director of Public Prosecutions decide to pursue him.

Hayes, a grandfather who lives alone in Dublin, said that he did not regret killing Lord Mountbatten and described the two teenage boys who died as 'casualties of war'.

He was previously named as one of four men behind the 1974 Birmingham bombings and has taken what he called 'collective responsibility' for all of the IRA's actions in England.

Hayes told the MoS he was in Co. Sligo at the time of the Mountbatten bombing. He added: 'I blew up Earl Mountbatten in Sligo, but I had a justification: he'd come to my country.'
A businessman in Queensland has been forced to beef-up security around several of his fruit stands, after a man was caught red handed stealing large amounts of bananas and fleeing the scene.

The man, dressed in a black sleeveless shirt, wearing a dark cap backwards and driving in a Maserati, was spotted pulling up to one roadside banana stall about 3.30pm on Thursday.

In the footage, the man approached the stand and began loading up on as many bananas as he could physically carry before leaving the stand, allegedly without paying.

In the footage, the man approached the stand and began loading up on as many bananas as he could physically carry before leaving the stand, allegedly without paying. Picture: Nine

The stand's business owner, Aaron Marsh said he didn't have an issue if he had no money 'and the kids are hungry, grab a banana'.

His issue is that the man clearly has 'lots of money' due to his luxury car and was upset that he felt the need to 'blatantly help himself'.

The man appeared to be driving a Maserati Levante, which start from more than $157,000 in Australia.

'That's upsetting,' Mr Marsh told Nine News.

The business owner currently owns seven banana stalls across Cairns that are unmanned. The stall operates on an honesty system, where customers can pay either with cash or card.

The unmanned stands operate on an honesty system, which may be forced to change if thieves continue to steal. Picture: Nine

However, due to a spike in alleged thefts, Mr Marsh has been forced to consider closing down the stalls.

'If everyone thieves, they will probably go and everyone has to go to the supermarkets,' he said.

Signs show that the bananas are $2 per kilogram, a significant discount on what major retailers charge.

Mr Marsh said he tried to keep his prices low as more and more people came under financial stress.

'We have kept our prices at such a low rate, everyone's feeling the pinch these days,' Mr Marsh said.
Labour's former safeguarding spokesman wrote to Rishi Sunak yesterday to question why a Tory minister accused of groping a woman in Parliament was still in his job.

Jess Phillips asked the PM, Chief Whip Simon Hart and Tory Chairman Richard Holden why he remained on the Government payroll.

She revealed that the alleged victim at the centre of the case was considering taking the complaint to the police.

The minister  who the Mail has chosen not to name  is accused of inappropriately touching the woman who is half his age in December last year.

The case is believed to be under investigation by the Independent Complaints and Grievances Service, which is likely to file a report later this year.

Jess Phillips (pictured) revealed that the alleged victim at the centre of the case was considering taking the complaint to the police

Jess Phillips asked the PM, Chief Whip Simon Hart (left) and Tory Chairman Richard Holden (right) why he remained on the Government payroll

The Mail revealed the story last week and questioned why he remained in his powerful role, in which he will continue until the election on July 4.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is understood to have met Mr Hart to discuss the case. The groping allegedly took place in Parliament's Stranger's bar and the victim is said to have filed a complaint afterwards.

In her letter, Ms Phillips wrote that she had spoken to the alleged victim and had supported the woman in considering police action.

She asked what action the PM, Chief Whip and Tory chairman had taken in the case.

The ICGS was set up in the wake of the 2017 'Pestminster' scandal after a series of complaints were made about MPs' conduct.

A list emerged of MPs to avoid for reasons including 'being handsy in taxis' which was circulated among Westminster staffers. MPs under investigation are not named until the ICGS reaches a conclusion.

But if it upholds a complaint, a case can then be referred to an independent expert panel. A panel could subsequently recommend a suspension or even an expulsion from the Commons.

It has led to several MPs being suspended in recent months following allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to threatening behaviour.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) is understood to have met Mr Hart to discuss the case

In her letter, Ms Phillips wrote that she had spoken to the alleged victim and had supported the woman in considering police action

A panel could subsequently recommend a suspension or even an expulsion from the Commons

However, there has been criticism that the service is not dealing with cases quickly enough after it was initially overwhelmed with complaints about MPs. Last year, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said the complaints system is falling short.

If the minister is no longer an MP after the Election, the ICGS can still issue a report but the service will have no power to administer a punishment if he is found to have groped the woman.

Earlier this month, MPs approved plans to bar MPs arrested on suspicion of a serious offence from Parliament. The minister has not responded to requests for comment.
The posse of aides surrounding Joe Biden appears to be growing, a month after it was reported they are now joining him on the march from the White House to the presidential helicopter.

A video of the president making his way to the chopper went viral after it showed around 10 people joining him as part of his the entourage, including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre.

The aides think that having themselves walk between Biden and journalists' cameras will draw less attention to Biden's halting and stiff walk, Axios reported in April.

The president was headed to Philadelphia for a campaign event to launch 'Black Voters for Biden-Harris,' as recent polling showed the Democratic ticket sagging with that group compared to four years ago.

It was just days after Biden was seen slowly shuffling out of a clothing store in his native Delaware.

The posse of aides surrounding Joe Biden appears to be growing, a month after it was reported they are now joining him on the march from the White House to the presidential helicopter.

At 81 and as the oldest president in American history, Biden was seen slowly shuffling out of a Jos. A. Bank in Greenville holding a bag and accompanied by multiple Secret Service agents on Memorial Day Weekend.

The president flipped on his famous aviator sunglasses before getting back into his vehicle.

Greenville is a short drive away from Wilmington, where the Biden family compound is located.

Biden is notorious for preferring his weekends in his home state to Washington or Camp David during his presidency.

Voters have expressed concern about Biden's age as he seeks a second term. An NBC poll in April found that the idea that Biden 'may not have the necessary mental and physical health to be president for a second term' was a top concern for voters.

It was Biden who suggested aides walk with him as the president seeks to counter the concerns.

'Weeks ago, the President mentioned to aides that he'd prefer a less formal approach and said they should just walk with him,' a White House aide told DailyMail.com

Since mid-April, he's had deputy chiefs of staff Annie Tomasini and Bruce Reed, top adviser Mike Donilon and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at his side as heads to Marine One.

A video of the president making his way to the chopper went viral after it appeared around ten people were in the entourage, including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre

Joe Biden was spotted leaving after going clothes shopping in his home of Delaware, as the president was seen in his usual weekend haunts for the Memorial Day holiday

In March, Biden's five walks to and from Marine One at the White House were by himself, or with family members. Starting April 16, Biden was joined by staff or lawmakers nine out of 10 times he walked to and from Marine One, per Axios' count.

The White House has tried to turn questions about Biden's age into an argument that he is the most experienced person to hold the office.

But as voters continue to fret in a way about Biden that they don't about Trump, who is 77, there's been a subtle shift in strategy. If Biden wins a second term, he would be 86 at its completion.

Biden is now making jokes repeatedly about his age.

At an event in New York on Thursday, when talking about the size of microchips being made at the factory he was visiting, Biden quipped: 'It's 4,000 times thinner than a single hair on your head and I got some very thin hair on my head.'

He also likes to tell crowds that he knows 'he looks 40.'

President Joe Biden walked solo toward Marine One in March

President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn after landing on Marine One with senior members of his staff including Bruce Reed and Karine Jean-Pierre

The president has also taken to wearing sneakers or hiking boots. He's been spotted lately sporting the Hoka 'Transport' sneakers, which typically retail for $150.

He's also been using the shorter stair case on Air Force One, which has fewer steps, and doing balancing exercises.

The president, 81, has taken several stumbles in his nearly three years in office - falling while boarding Air Force One, tripping on various staircases, and taking a dramatic tumble at the Air Force Academy when he encountered a sandbag.

That smaller staircase - which goes into the belly of the 747 - is about half the size of the stair case that is used to access the upper part of the plane: 14 stairs versus 26.

Biden's doctor has admitted the president has a stiff gait.

In both reports on Biden's physicals, the president's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, noted the president has suffered from a 'stiffened ambulatory gait.' Biden fractured his foot during the 2020 presidential campaign and had to wear a boot.

Otherwise, Biden has been declared fit to hold office.

President Joe Biden arrives at the White House in his sneakers

President Biden also uses the shorter stair case on Air Force One

O'Connor recommended physical therapy - specifically 'proprioceptive maintenance maneuvers' - and shoe orthotics to help with his walking.

Proprioception training focuses on the sense of body positioning in space and can involve balancing exercises, tai chi, and yoga.

Biden, who works out most mornings at the White House gym, has been doing balancing exercises with Drew Contreras, who was a physical therapist in the Army and worked with Barack Obama when he was in the White House.
After failing to land a buyer for $10 million, a stunning Oregon mansion that overlooks the Pacific Ocean sold for a fraction of its asking price.

Standing on 25 acres of pristine coastland, the Nestucca Sea Ranch went on auction with Sotheby's earlier this month, and eventually sold for $3.08 million - a dramatically slashed price tag.

Hidden away in the unincorporated community of Cloverdale, the 7,000-square-foot mansion was advertised as 'an iconic coastal estate and oasis' by broker Brian Ladd.

The property, which features staggering views of the Pacific, as well as the Nestucca River and bay, was auctioned without a minimum starting bid.

On May 3rd, the auction's opening day, a bid of $2.5 million was placed. By the time the bidding window closed on May 16, the price had climbed to $3.08 million.

Standing on 25 acres of pristine coastland, the Nestucca Sea Ranch went on auction with Sotheby's earlier this month, and eventually sold for $3.08 million - a dramatically slashed price tag

Built in 1996, the Nestucca Sea Ranch is a traditional-style home that boasts a sumptuous circular staircase with ornate mahogany millwork

Outside, there is a brick patio, which is the perfect place to unwind or entertain

The home is dominated by windows, each of which frame breathtaking views of the Pacific. Even the bathroom features several windows around the bathtub

Built in 1996, the Nestucca Sea Ranch is a traditional-style home that boasts a sumptuous circular staircase, ornate mahogany millwork and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Most of the house is painted an airy white color, which lends the property a certain tranquility.

Hardwood floors, whose burnished surfaces gleam, are present throughout the estate.

Grandfather clocks and other antique furniture crowd the floors and imbue the rooms with a mature charm.

Most of the house is painted an airy white color, which lends the property a certain tranquility

In the kitchen, there are dark marble countertops, stainless-steel kitchen appliances, and an island on which to prepare meals

In the chef's kitchen, there's banquette seating as well as wine storage

Behind the kitchen countertop is a wide window through which someone cooking can look at the bay

In the chef's kitchen, there's banquette seating as well as wine storage.

There are dark marble countertops, stainless-steel kitchen appliances, and an island on which to prepare meals.

In the estate's main dining room, there are two transparent walls. A tasteful chandelier hangs over the table.

Tall windows will offer future residents picturesque views of the ocean while they dine.

The Nestucca Sea Ranch also features a beetling three-story tower that offers residents a 360-degree view of the property.

The home is dominated by windows, each of which frames breathtaking views of the Pacific. Even the bathroom features several windows at the foot of the bathtub.

In the estate's main dining room, there are two transparent walls. A tasteful chandelier hangs over the table

The Nestucca Sea Ranch also features a beetling three-story tower

The tower offers residents a 360-degree view of the property

In the study, a desk is pushed up before a large window, which provides the occupant with plenty of natural light

Throughout the house, there are long corridors, decorated with oil painting, down which one can walk and remark on the beauty of the property

Future owners will be able to gaze out at the lovely scene as they soak.

In the study, a desk is pushed up before a large window, which provides the occupant with plenty of natural light.

Throughout the house, there are long corridors, whose walls are decorated with oil painting, and down which one can walk and remark on the beauty of the property.

The sun room boasts floor-to-ceiling book shelves and a working fire place

The sun room offers residents a capacious and serene area in which to relax

In keeping with the spirit of the house, the sun room has tall windows through which residents can gawk at the serene waters of the Pacific

The sun room boasts floor-to-ceiling book shelves and a working fireplace.

In keeping with the spirit of the house, the sun room has tall windows through which residents can look out at the serene waters of the Pacific.

Along the front of the estate runs a portico, under which people can rest and relax and enjoy the balmy Oregon weather.

Outside, there is a brick patio that is the perfect place to unwind or entertain.

The main residence boasts four bedrooms, with the main suite being located on the second floor

The principal bedroom has a working fireplace, large windows looking out on the ocean and exquisite crown molding

The main residence boasts four bedrooms, with the main suite being located on the second floor.

The principal bedroom has a working fireplace, large windows looking out on the ocean, and exquisite crown molding.

A large ceiling fan hangs in a recess in the ceiling, promising to cool down any overheated resident.

Another nice detail is that the door handles throughout the estate are shaped like Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.

Along the front of the estate runs a portico, under which people can rest and relax and enjoy the balmy Oregon weather

A caretaker's home is located above the property's three-car garage

There is also a fisherman's cottage, which has private access to the river

A caretaker's home is located above the property's three-car garage.

There is also a fisherman's cottage, which has private access to the river.

'Fish for wild salmon and steelhead,' Brian Ladd, the realtor, told Oregon Live.

'Try your hand at crabbing along the shore.'
A former Nato chief yesterday urged Labour and the Conservatives to agree a package of 'emergency treatment' for the armed forces, as he warned the election campaign was ignoring the parlous state of Britain's defences.

General Sir Richard Sherriff warned that defence was 'not there as a top priority for either party' despite the growing threat from Russia and other hostile states.

Sir Richard, Nato's former deputy commander in Europe, said the armed forces had been 'decimated' in recent years to the extent that the Army would struggle to provide 5,000 troops for serious war fighting.

Rishi Sunak has sought to make defence an election issue, highlighting the fact that Sir Keir Starmer has failed to match his pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.

But Sir Richard said that even the PM's spending target was 'pretty derisory because it's a long way off, 2030'.

General Sir Richard Sherriff warned that defence was 'not there as a top priority for either party' despite the growing threat from Russia and other hostile states

Sir Richard, Nato's former deputy commander in Europe, said the armed forces had been 'decimated' in recent years to the extent that the Army would struggle to provide 5,000 troops for serious war fighting

He told BBC radio Four's Today programme: 'We need to be looking at the state of the armed forces right now. Over the last decade plus we have seen the decimation of our military capability. We were once a pretty well-rounded organisation  we are not now.

'It is a cross party issue that the armed forces need real emergency treatment.'

He told BBC radio Four's Today programme: 'We need to be looking at the state of the armed forces right now'

Sir Richard said that troops in training were having to cope with shortages and vehicles and ammunition because donations to Ukraine had not been 'topped up'.

And he said there had been a sharp decline in capability since 1997 when the Army was capable of generating a 'war fighting' division of 25,000 troops.

'I don't think the British Army could field a war fighting brigade of 5,000 now,' he said. 'Even that would be really difficult.'
Donald Trump is still favored to reclaim the White House despite the guilty verdict in his historic hush money trial, online gambling data has revealed.

Nearly half of punters on Betfair Exchange, the world's largest online betting exchange, are backing Trump to defeat Joe Biden in the November 5 election.

In the last 24 hours, roughly 638,000 ($812,000) has been wagered on the betting platform, with 49 per cent of bets being for Trump to win.

Biden has trailed behind Trump in the polls for eight months now and, despite the his historic criminal conviction, still is only given odds of 6/4.

Trump on Thursday became the first US president to be tried and convicted of a crime when a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying documents to cover up a hush money payment adult film star Stormy Daniels to illegally influence the 2016 election.

The former president, who has denied all wrongdoing, has insisted the trial was 'rigged' and driven by politics. The guilty verdict has also seemingly energized Trump's base, fueling millions of dollars in new campaign contributions and messages of support from his Republican and foreign allies.

Donald Trump, pictured during a news conference at Trump Tower on Friday, is still favored to reclaim the White House despite the guilty verdict in his historic hush money trial

Roughly 19million ($24million) has been wagered across Betfair Exchange's US election markets on who will be the next President. Ahead of the guilty verdict, Trump was favored at 5/6 (54 per cent) to beat incumbent Biden

Roughly 19million ($24million) has been wagered across Betfair Exchange's US election markets on who will be the next President.

Ahead of the guilty verdict, Trump was favored at 5/6 (54 per cent) to beat incumbent Biden.

The Democrat's odds have widened from 9/5 (36 per cent) to 6/4 (40 per cent) in wake of the verdict, but he is still trailing behind his rival.

'Trump is now at 21/20 on the Betfair Exchange this morning, with punters giving him a 49 per chance of reclaiming the Oval Office, down from 54 per cent [on Thursday],' Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom told MailOnline.

'Despite huge questions around the ex-president's future, his eligibility to vote and potential jail time, punters remain convinced he is the man who'll be in the White House after November 5.'

Rosbottom added that while 'bad news has so far failed to derail' Trump's bid for the Oval Office, the guilty verdict has seemingly helped Biden's campaign effort.

'One thing is for sure, Trump's conviction has proved to be a boom for Biden, with his chances of staying on as US president rising four percentage points overnight, from 36 per cent to 40 per cent [on Friday],' he said.

Meanwhile, Trump sought to move past his historic criminal conviction and returned to the campaign trail Friday, with fierce attacks on the judge who oversaw the case, the prosecution's star witness and the criminal justice system as a whole.

Speaking from his namesake tower in Manhattan, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee delivered a fiery 40 minute rant aimed squarely at his most loyal supporters.

Trump has branded the guilty verdict in his hush money trial as a 'scam', alleging his lawyers would be appealing his conviction, and launched into attacks on the 'tyrant' judge who oversaw the case.

He alleged the trial was 'all done by Biden and his people', branded the Democrat as 'the dumbest president we've ever had' and slammed him for putting him under a gag order when he 'can't put two sentences together'.

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.

But Biden hit back, calling Trump 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' for claiming his trial was 'rigged' just because he 'didn't like the outcome'.

Trump has branded the guilty verdict in his hush money trial as a 'scam' and alleged the trial was 'all done by Biden and his people'. But Biden on Friday (pictured during a press conference) hit back, calling Trump 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' for claiming his trial was 'rigged' just because he 'didn't like the outcome'

Donald Trump (pictured at Trump Tower on Friday) 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'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

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 (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

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 on Friday at his namesake tower in Manhattan) 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.
A couple injured when a Singapore Airlines flight was hit by severe turbulence have finally arrived home - as the husband said he felt 'guilty' about the serious injury his wife sustained in the terrifying incident.

Keith Davis, 59, from Adelaide, and his wife Kerry Jordan were on their way home from a holiday in the UK when flight SQ321 suddenly plunged 54metres in just 4.6seconds.

The Boeing 777-300ER plane carrying 211 passengers, including 56 Australians and 18 crew, was travelling from London to Singapore on May 23.

Passengers were thrown to the ceiling, suffering severe injuries, while 73-year-old British man Geoffrey Kitchen died from a suspected heart attack.

After encountering turbulence over Myanmar, the aircraft was diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing.

Thirty passengers were taken to hospital, with seven in critical condition.

Mr Davis is recovering from superficial injuries including cuts and bruises, while his wife Kerry, a dance teacher at Mitcham Girls High School, suffered a severe spinal injury and lost feeling below the waist in the horrifying incident.

Mr Davis is recovering from superficial injuries including cuts and bruises. 'To be very frank, personally, I feel very guilty that I am able to stand here and walk around and talk to you guys,' he said outside Royal Adelaide Hospital

Keith Davis (pictured), 59, from Adelaide and his wife Kerry Jordan (pictured) were on their way home from a holiday in the UK

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 suddenly plunged 54metres in just 4.6 seconds after encountering severe turbulence over Myanmar

Although overjoyed to be home, Mr Davis (pictured) said his primary focus was his wife

The couple arrived in Adelaide on Wednesday, with Ms Jordan being admitted to Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Although overjoyed to be home, Mr Davis said his primary focus was his wife who has a 'severe spinal injury', and still has no sensation from the waist down.

'In terms of her condition, we're maximising what we can achieve  but we're not talking days, we're not talking weeks, we're talking months, if not beyond that,' he said during a press conference at the RAH.

'Kerry is still carrying the physical trauma but we're just really just grateful to be home and have all that family and love.'

Mr Davis expressed guilt that he is ok, but his wife is not.

'To be very frank, personally, I feel very guilty that I am able to stand here and walk around and talk to you guys.

'I am absolutely humbled by Kerry's strength and courage to endure the trial of this last week, it just has been phenomenal and I know that that strength and courage will continue to carry us through,' he said. 'In terms of post-surgery, it was a good result to get her stable.'

Mr Davies said even after what they had been through, his wife was 'still carrying the essence of who she is' and that at the end of the day 'Kerry is still Kerry'.

He praised the 'magnificent work of LifeFlight to repatriate them from Thailand.

Mr Davis had earlier blasted Singapore Airlines after the pair were admitted to hospital in Bangkok.

He said there had been no communication from them about what they had to do.

'I called Singapore Airlines as soon as we'd been admitted to hospital and they said they'd call back. Then I called them again that night, they said they'd be calling back,' he told The Advertiser.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong contacted the couple a day later and spoke with three Australians were in ICU.

Preliminary findings from an investigation into the Singapore Airlines flight reveal a rapid change in gravitational force and a 54m altitude drop was the cause for the catastrophic injuries.

'The aircraft experienced a rapid change in G (gravitational force) ... This likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne,' Singapores Transport Ministry said in a statement on a report by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

'The vertical acceleration changed from negative 1.5G to positive 1.5G within four seconds.

'This likely resulted in the occupants who were airborne to fall back down,' it said, citing information extracted from the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

'The rapid changes in G over the 4.6 seconds duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178ft (54m), from 37,362ft to 37,184ft. This sequence of events likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers.'

The report was conducted by a team comprising Singaporean investigators, Boeing representatives and United States safety officials.

Singapore Airlines has acknowledged the report and is cooperating fully with the investigation.
A Brisbane man has won a huge payout after bouncing on a trampoline on Christmas Day 2017 left him with a life-changing injury.

Exercise physiotherapist Phillip Forostenko, 41, was a fit father-of-two, with another on the way, when the shocking injury happened at his sister's home.

But more than six years later, he has been awarded almost $750,000 to compensate for past and future economic losses due to the injury after suing the manufacturer.

On the Christmas visit to his sister, Mr Forostenko found she had bought an oval O92 model Springfree trampoline, so he climbed up to try it out as an 'experienced and enthusiastic user (and owner) of trampolines'.

A 'slightly wayward jump' caused him to land on the edge of the trampoline mat on the webbing, which covered a cleat that acted as a ball joint, a Supreme Court decision handed down on May 28 found.

Brisbane man Phillip Forostenko (pictured) has won a huge payout after bouncing on a trampoline on Christmas Day 2017 left him with a life-changing injury

'On landing he felt hardness particularly focused under the right outer side of his right foot, about midway down the length of his foot,' the decision said.

'There was immediate pain.'

Mr Forostenko was later found to have suffered a fifth metatarsal fracture, which did not heal properly and later required surgery, reported 7News.

He then developed an infection requiring a hospital stay and antibiotics, and then he had another operation in June 2018.

The injury left him unable to perform the full duties of his physiotherapy job until a month later, but he had to take more time off due to the pain.

Mr Forostenko said he still suffers from 'considerable ongoing pain' and has had to modify his work as a result.

He said he feels he is now a 'different person' as his emotional health has also been affected by the injury.

The trampoline did not have any relevant safety warnings, the physiotherapist told the court.

It was advertised as having 'no hard edges to land on' and being one that people could 'jump safely to the edge' on.

The Supreme Court found that his injuries were caused by a safety defect.

More than six years later, Mr Forostenko has been awarded almost $750,000 to compensate for past and future economic losses due to the injury after suing the manufacturer (an example of a Springfree trampoline is pictured)

It found the warning labels on the trampoline were insufficient and did not instruct users not to jump on the edges of the mat.

The court also found that the edges having yellow webbing did not convey that care needed to be taken on this area.

Mr Forostenko claimed damages of around $3.92million, but the manufacturer argued it should not have to pay more than around $160,000.

Justice Melanie Hindman ruled in the injured man's favour, awarding him $744,175, which included $388,763 for his past economic losses and $225,000 for future economic losses.
The mother of a Bulgarian fraudster who helped rake in 54million in Britain's biggest ever benefit scam has hit out at the government for jailing her son for seven years.

Gyunesh Ali, 33, was hauled in front of a judge at Wood Green Crown Court and said to be the ringleader who was responsible for at least 25million lost to UK taxpayers.

A gang of five Eastern Europeans hijacked 6,000 identities to make claims for Universal Credit and used the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of the five year scam.

They set up three 'benefit factories' across London churning out bogus tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and forged letters from landlords, employers, and GPs to trick the DWP.

Ali's mother Magbule, who had worked as a cleaner at hotels, told Bulgarian television: 'Do you know how good he is?

'He can build a house from scratch. He was involved in construction... How can a child like that be a gangster? I hope England burns.'

Gyunesh Ali, 33, was jailed for seven years and three months and will be deported back to Bulgaria

Huge stacks of cash were found during the investigation into the gang

The gang raked in 54m from Britain's biggest ever benefit fraud

A system involving burner phones was used to improve the scam's efficiency

Magbule raised her two sons alone in Bulgaria, The Times reports, and currently their house is falling down and in pour condition, despite Ali earning the fraudulent moeny.

At the age of 20 it is said that Ali moved to the UK where he was later given indefinite leave to remain.

He is thought to have held several jobs before setting up the benefit fraud scheme in 2016.

Ali was jailed for seven years and three months. He will be automatically deported to Bulgaria once he has served his sentence.

The group of fraudsters appeared to be hiding in plain sight - posting photos on social media smiling and posing behind the counter of Antonia's Foods supermarket in Wood Green.

A system involving burner phones lowered down to waiting customers via a bucket pulley mechanism was also used to improve the scam's efficiency.

The enormous haul of money gained from their 'complex financial web' of claims was laundered through a number of accounts, then withdrawn in cash  with 750,000 in bank notes found stuffed in suitcases at one of their homes.

Today, the shameless gang were hauled in front of a judge at Wood Green Crown Court who said ringleader Galina Nikolova, 38, was responsible for at least 25million lost to UK taxpayers.

Gyunesh Ali, 33, even took a video of himself throwing wads of cash at unknown woman.

Ali, Galina Nikolova, 38, and her boyfriend Stoyan Stoyanov, 27, along with Tsvetka Todorova, 52, and Patritsia Paneva, 26, were arrested on May 5 2021.

Stoyanov had a tattoo of Nikolava on his right arm and posted a photo of it along with a red rose on social media.

Nikolova, who also ran her own Bulgarian interpreting firm, boasted 'the air that I breathe' as they cuddled in another shot while the couple also enjoyed a lavish trip to Istanbul.

DWP investigators searched their homes and found shopping bags crammed with designer goods, Rolex watches, jackets and wads of cash.

One of the hubs was behind a functioning corner shop selling groceries.

Judge David Aaronberg, KC, said that the fraud was carried out on an 'industrial scale'.

He referred to 'messages sent to Ms Paneva including those making fun of the DWP's gullibility in processing fraudulent claims.

'There were also photoshopped photographs of claimants outside properties in which it was falsely claimed they were renting.

Two of the criminals - Galina Nikolova, 38, and Stoyan Stoyanov, 27 - pictured together in 2020 while on holiday in Turkey. Ringleader Nikolova was jailed for eight years, while Stoyanov was handed a four year prison term

Patritsia Paneva, 26, (left) wept as she was sentenced to three years and two months imprisonment. Tsvetka Todorova, 52, (right) was jailed for three years, but was released on licence because she had served 625 days on remand

'Photographs had been doctored to make it appear the claimant had physical access to properties which in reality they did not have.

'There were systems in use by which phones could be lowered in a bucket out of the window to be used downstairs by those communicating bogus information to the DWP.'

Judge Aaronberg told Nikolova: 'You bear personal responsibility for at least 25 million lost to the taxpayer.

'The sentence I impose therefore on count two is one of eight years imprisonment.'

Nikolova, who will also be deported to Bulgaria, kept her head bowed as she was jailed.

Her lover Stoyanov, referred to the judge as a 'trusted subordinate', was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

The judge told Ali: 'You played a leading role in the conspiracy which was sophisticated in its nature and which involved significant planning.

'You offended for some four and a half years, involving yourself with, as I've described, a vast number of false declarations.

'I've seen evidence of you enjoying a lavish lifestyle as demonstrated by the material found on your mobile phone.

'You well knew long before you were originally arrested that you were involved with others in making false claims.'

Paneva wept as she was sentenced to three years and two months imprisonment.

The judge said Paneva was 'impressionable and naive' in her dealings, but 'showed bravery' in being the first of the fraudsters to enter a guilty plea.

The judge said that Todorova's offending was 'sophisticated' and 'involved significant planning'.

She was sentenced to three years imprisonment for her involvement in defrauding the DWP of 263,419.19.

Todorova was released on licence because she had served 625 days on remand - the equivalent of the term she received.
A father whose whole family died in an arson attack has claimed that it is 'racist' to shorten the killers sentence.

Aboubacarr Drammeh, 41, lost his wife, Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, and their two daughters Fatimah and Naeemah, aged three and one, to a fire started by their neighbour Jamie Barrow in November 2022.

Barrow poured petrol through the family's letterbox and then stood outside the home in Fairisle Close, Clifton, Nottingham, to watch the fire take hold, after holding what prosecutors described as a 'grievance' over rubbish being left in an alleyway.

He was initially jailed for life with a minimum of 44 years in July last year, however last month an appeal reduced that down to 38 years after the original sentence was described as 'manifestly excessive in the circumstances of this case'.

Aboubacarr Drammeh, 41, lost his wife, Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, and their two daughters Fatimah and Naeemah (pictured), aged three and one, to a fire started by their neighbour Jamie Barrow in November 2022

Barrow poured petrol through the family's letterbox and then stood outside the home in Fairisle Close, Clifton, Nottingham , to watch the fire take hold

Drammeh (left) has claimed that it is 'racist' to shorten the killers sentence to 38 years, from 44 years

The appeal also claimed to take into account the mental health of Barrow as a factor in reducing his sentence.

However, Drammeh believed his family was directly targeted because they lived by a different religion and were a different race to Barrow.

Barrow shared a YouTube video on Facebook in 2017 that called for 'lawful rebellion' against those practising sharia and describing the far-right activist Tommy Robinson as a 'modern-day hero'.

Speaking to the Times Drammeh said: 'I feel disappointed in the UK justice system. I started to think about what this would have ended like if this was a different family who were killed, if our positions were flipped. If there was a black guy doing this.

'I didn't really think about systemic racism in the UK before but I don't know how else those judges could come to the conclusion and describe the sentence as excessive.

'He took away three innocent souls. I feel like I am the one serving the life sentence.'

Floral tributes left by mourners outside the family's home following the fire

Smoke and soot smeared across the outside of the flat in Fairisle Close the day after the blaze

The couple moved to the UK a decade ago to start their family. Drammeh worked in the healthcare industry in the US, where they planned to move the following year

The couple moved to the UK a decade ago to start their family. Drammeh worked in the healthcare industry in the US, where they planned to move the following year.

Drammeh was also away on business on the night of the fire, which he said was purposeful: 'He chose a night when they were alone, unprotected, sleeping. He was a coward.'

He continued: 'I wanted an opportunity to really know the real reason why he did what he did. I don't believe a word he said. I do think there was an evil plan, and I don't think I will ever heal from it.

'[My wife] may have had different faith and ate different foods and enjoyed different things to [Barrow] but at the end of the day, we led a very similar life. He had a child, he shopped in the same stores.

Ms Hydara, who died in hospital two days after the blaze that killed her daughters

Three-year-old Fatimah Drammeh died alongside her mother and younger sister

One-year-old Naeemah Drammeh was also killed in the fire at their home in Nottingham

'I am now irreparable. The level of pain I cannot grade. I don't even know why I am going to work any more. I still have a box of their things, I have Fatoumatta's phone, I can't even unlock it.

'There is an empty void in me that can never be filled.

'I would like to use this pain to help others. I told UK police officials I am more than happy to share my experience or to connect with similar groups. People who unfortunately may have some sort of an experience like this.

'I just don't want another family to suffer. I cannot imagine another family experiencing this.'

After their deaths, Fatoumatta's husband Aboubacarr Drammeh, 40, paid tribute to his loved ones and described their deaths as inconceivable.

Mr Drammeh, who flew back from the US after the fire, said at the time: 'It is with great sadness that we have lost Fatoumatta and our two daughters in such a tragic way.

'Fatoumatta had lived a short but a very beautiful and fulfilling life.

'A former voluntary worker, Fatoumatta was a very happy, bubbly woman who wouldn't have the heart to hurt a fly.

'I and my in-laws are left without any daughters, grandchildren and nieces. I will deeply miss my family.'
A Mississippi seafood restaurant duped diners hook, line and sinker by telling them the fish they were eating was fresh, when it was in fact imported frozen produce.

Despite the restaurant's location in Biloxi, the town home to a thriving commercial fishing industry, the only catch the owners made was from the delivery truck, as tons of frozen food were brought into the kitchens ready to be served up.

Restaurant-goers of Mary Mahoney's Old French House Restaurant, a Biloxi landmark since it opened in 1964, were none the wiser and never suspected anything fishy was going on behind closed doors.

Instead, they would take to social media and brag about the latest catch they'd enjoyed at the legendary venue, believing it to have come straight from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Mary Mahoney's admitted to selling foreign, frozen fish as fresh seafood caught locally

The Biloxi restaurant will forfeit $1.35 million after defrauding customers

Federal prosecutors allege, and the restaurant has confessed, that it bought the seafood from an unidentified Biloxi local supplier and misrepresented it to unsuspecting customers, reeling them in.

The restaurant has now agreed to forfeit $1.35 million to the federal government after pleading guilty to one felony charge of conspiring to defraud customers through mislabeling seafood and wire fraud.

Co-owner Anthony 'Tony' Cvitanovich also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to mislabel seafood.

From 2013 until November 2019, when federal agents raided the restaurant, Mahoney's purchased more than 29 tons of lake perch, tripletail, triggerfish and unicorn filefish from Africa, India or South America.

The fish were falsely sold as premium Gulf red snapper, snapper and redfish, according to the government's charges.

But it was more like red herring, than red snapper.

From 2013 until November 2019, Mahoney's duped customers saying they were being fed fresh fish when it was frozen and purchased in Africa, India, or South America

Between 2013 and 2019, the restaurant misrepresented more than 29 tons of fish. Pictured, inside

'The conspirators thereby benefited from the sale of seafood that would not have been as marketable nor as profitably sold if its actual species and origin had been known,' say federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Around 15 to 20 agents from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out an early morning raid of the restaurant in 2019. They asked employees to leave just as s they prepped for lunch.

At the time, Cvitanovich speculated that the investigation was related to fish but had dismissed the issue as a trivial one, not realizing seriousness of the alleged crimes.

Despite the charges alleging bait-and-switch, it appeared to be business as usual at the historic restaurant following the plea agreement.

Bobby Mahoney, the co-owner and public face of the restaurant, was not charged and has declined to comment on the charges.

The restaurant, founded by the late Mary Mahoney and her brother Andrew Cvitanovich, has been passed down to their heirs.

Diners have been eating at the restaurant since it opened in 1964

The restaurant is something of a local landmark in the area

Attorney, Michael Cavanaugh, described the misbranding of fish as 'a glitch'.

'They made a mistake. It was resolved. They're moving on,' he said to the Clarion Ledger.

Anthony Cvitanovich remains free on an unsecured bond pending his sentencing in September. He faces a maximum of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Gulfport attorney Tim Holleman, representing Cvitanovich, said that discussions with the federal government had been ongoing for five years over the inaccurate menu descriptions.

'Over the past five years, we have had extensive discussions with the federal government over inaccurate, entree descriptions of a certain item on our menu,' Holleman said. 'This issue was immediately corrected five years ago.'

'Mary Mahoney's will continue doing what we have done best since 1964, which is serving our valued customers with impeccable service. We take pride in serving the highest quality steaks and seafood in a beautifully preserved, historic home.'

Mary Mahoney's continues to operate with what it says is a commitment to serving high-quality steaks and seafood in its historic setting.

The FDA, which regulates food safety and runs a mandatory fish inspection program, underscored the seriousness of the crime.

Southern District U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee issued a statement emphasizing that customers deserve to get what they pay for and that mislabeling and defrauding customers are serious offenses, hoping that the case serves as a deterrent to other restaurants and seafood suppliers.

'When people spend their hard-earned dollars to enjoy the incredible local seafood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they should get what they paid for, not frozen fish from overseas.

'Mislabeling food and defrauding customers are serious crimes, and this case will help convince restaurants and seafood suppliers that it is not worth lying to customers about what is on the menu.'

Recent reviews for the restaurant have a distinctly average flavor with the venue swimming against the tide of public opinion.

'Although this restaurant has a good reputation on the gulf coast, it seems that is what draws the business - not the quality of the food,' wrote one on TripAdvisor.

'Food was bland. Over priced for what you get,' added another.

'Very over-rated, and were very disappointed. The side dish was unimaginative, and the snapper was dry. Definitely not worth the hype or the outrageous price for a mediocre meal,' wrote a diner in April.

'The chicken pieces tasted like canned chicken. My husband got a steak with a crab cake. He said it was under seasoned and the crab cake tasted canned as well,' reviewed another restaurant goer in February.
An angry airport passenger got more than he bargained for when he squared up against a Spirit Airlines employee and received a beatdown from four of them.

Wild footage from Baltimore Airport about 4.15pm on Tuesday shows the traveler getting angry with one of the check-in staff and spoiling for a fight.

'Let's go... you going to jail today,' he said.

The male employee accepted his challenge but was immediately backed up by three of his colleagues who ganged up on the man almost immediately.

Just as the warring factions were closing in, a Spirit staffer in an unbuttoned white shirt sprints into view and throws a haymaker at the passenger.

Just as the warring factions were closing in, a Spirit staffer in an unbuttoned white shirt sprints into view and throws a haymaker at the passenger

They manage to subdue him on the floor with the help of barrier ropes, with one yelling, 'I'll f**k you up, b***h, get up'

From there, the fight is four on one as one of the Spirit staff members locks him in place while the others lay into him, before he's tackled to the floor.

They manage to subdue him on the floor with the help of barrier ropes, with one yelling, 'I'll f**k you up, b***h, get up'.

But just as he's given up, one of the employees takes a cheap shot at his head.

'Whoa, y'all about to get sued,' the man taking the video remarked.

What initially sparked the brawl is still unclear.

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police said one of the combatants suffered minor injuries in the brawl.

But just as he's given up, one of the employees takes a cheap shot at his head

'All involved parties were provided with victims' rights and services information, including information about filing criminal charges at the local commissioner's office,' it said.

Spirit said the brawling staff were not airline employees but contractors employed by an outsourcing company.

'Our vendor has suspended four of their employees involved pending an investigation into the matter,' it said.

'We do not tolerate violence of any kind, and we will take appropriate action as necessary following the completion of the vendor's investigation.'
Mass flight cancellations have caused chaos and delay at a major Australian airport on Friday evening and into Saturday, with travellers stuck for hours over a major fuel supply problem.

Almost 60 international and five domestic flights at Perth Airport have been cancelled and more are expected to be, with airlines told that incoming flights will not be able to refuel when they get there.

A Perth Airport spokesperson said the planes can't refuel because of an issue with load pressure in the fuel lines.

'Perth Airport is experiencing a significant issue with its fuel supply system which is having a major impact on flight operations,' the spokesperson said.

Disgruntled passenger Natalie Forrest said she had 'been stuck at Perth Airport since midnight waiting to fly out - seems ridiculous they don't have a back up plan for the fuel issues'.

Almost 60 international and five domestic flights at Perth Airport have been cancelled and more are expected to be due to a fuel supply problem

There have been mass flight cancellations and delays at a major Australian airport on Saturday, with travellers stuck for hours over a fuel supply problem. A Qantas plane is pictured

Disgruntled passenger Natalie Forrest (pictured) said she had 'been stuck at Perth Airport since midnight waiting to fly out - seems ridiculous they don't have a back up plan for the fuel issues'

Another passenger said it was 'Mickey Mouse stuff from @PerthAirport the day after they praise themselves for the Qantas deal.'

The comment referred to a new deal struck between the airport and Qantas for the national carrier to move into a new terminal by 2031, announced this week.

The airport spokesperson said: 'The issue is causing a lack of pressure in fuel lines and local experts have been working to resolve the issue.

'Aircraft arriving at Perth Airport are currently unable to be refuelled.'

They added: 'Further cancellations are expected and in-bound flights which have not already left their departure points will also be impacted.

'Airlines have been advised not to send aircraft to Perth Airport until further notice unless they have sufficient fuel to make a return flight.

'Passengers are being urged to contact their airlines for information about their flights.'

The airport spokesperson said, 'Perth Airport apologises for the inconvenience to passengers and our airline partners.'

Some affected turned to using foul language to express their disgust at what happened.

'It's 2024 and Perth airport has caused every international flight to be delayed hours or cancelled because they have a leak in a fuel hose,' one wrote.

'Who the f*** runs this joint sack them.'

Perth Airport (pictured) has apologised for 'the inconvenience to passengers and our airline partners'

Natalie Forrest's post (pictured) said she had been waiting at Perth Airport since midnight

A flight board from the airport shows flights to Singapore, Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City either delayed or cancelled from Terminal 1 alone.

People also expressed their anger and rage on Perth Airport's Facebook page.

One said it was a case of 'WA living up to its name  Wait Awhile

'(My) daughter was on the tarmac at 1.05 am this morning for nearly 3 hours before being allowed to disembark !! pathetic.

'Feel for those people with connecting flights! Brilliant organisation skills!!'

Another wrote that 'My parents have to wait another 15 hours to get Adelaide. What a shame! Not even mentioned the goods may get damaged.

'Who gonna take responsibility for this?'

A flight board from the airport shows flights to Singapore, Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City either delayed or cancelled from Terminal 1 alone

Others wrote about the long process leading up to their flight eventually being cancelled.

One said they 'stood in the rows for hours, to get food voucher 1.5 hrs, to get food 1.5 hrs, then they said oh the flight is cancelled, please go home or to a hotel (like you can just ring the bell and get a room)...'

'Shame shame shame...just to get out to claim our luggage took hours, and the walk to Malaysian airlines counter and wait forever for hotel and taxi vouchers and after that someone will pop up and say you might as well take a taxi or book a hotel and it can be reimbursed...

'No names mentioned whose gonna pay?'
Visitors to one of the country's most stunning campsites have been put on notice, after a rising 'poo problem' has forced a new strict protocol to be put in place.

From June 1, campers at the Dorrigo South or Pelican Bay sites in the Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area in Queensland are required to bring a portable toilet.

Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area is located around 250km north of Brisbane.

The new regulation is aimed to stop people from relieving themselves in nature, better known as 'bush toileting'.

Tourists are warned local authorities will be keeping an eye out to make sure people bring a portable toilet with them.

'Add portable toilets to your "must bring" list and help us keep these waterfront camping areas beautiful and healthy!' the Queensland National Parks stated in a Facebook post.

'Bush toileting at these popular camping areas is posing an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of our campers and visitors, as well as threatening the area's natural environment.'

Campers in the Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area are now required to bring a portable toilet

Portable toilets approved for use by Queensland National Parks can be bought for between $50 and $300

The park has outlined a portable toilet must have a 'sealed waste holding tank and be transportable and suitable for emptying into a portable toilet waste disposable facility'.

'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.' Queensland National Parks warned.

Portable toilets with sealed waste-holding tanks approved for use by Queensland National Parks can be bought for between $50 and $300.

Anyone found violating the new rule can be slammed with an on-the-spot penalty of $464.

Comments on social media applauded the new rules by Queensland National Parks.

'Finally Insh*t Point will start becoming clean again,' wrote Facebook user.

'Theres actually nothing better than sitting on your own loo rather than squatting in the bush,' said another.

One camper suggested other areas should have a similar regulation in place, including Kgari and Cooloola.

Queensland National Parks replied with a 'write it down' meme.

Others commented the portable toilet regulation should have been implemented a lot sooner.

'About time. The amount of sh*t above ground in any camping area that doesnt have a toilet is becoming a problem in every NP and camping spot,' wrote one camper.

'Why did this take so long, the problem has been there for years, another wrote.

'Ten years too late,' another wrote.
Donald Trump's 2024 campaign got a huge boost following his felony conviction Thursday, as donors piled $52.8 million into his coffers in the 24 hours following the verdict.

Trump's campaign immediately made a fundraising pitch after the verdict - and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's celebratory press conference - featuring a picture of the 77-year-old alongside his claim: 'I am a political prisoner!'

According to the campaign, the flood of donations crashed the website.

'From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed,' the campaign said.

The 'Team Trump' campaign account officially announced that their site was down on Wednesday evening.

Donald Trump 's 2024 campaign got a shot in the checkbook following his felony conviction Thursday, as donors piled $52.8 million into his coffers in the 24 hours following the verdict

'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.'

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.

Piers Morgan noted that the small cash donations suggested that there could be momentum for the former president.

'Trump's donation websites are crashing my guess is this verdict will propel him back into the White House,' he wrote on X.

Several major Republican donors have said they would continue to donate to Trump's campaign despite the conviction.

'I haven't heard anybody who gives a s***, New York businessman and Republican donor Andy Sabin told CNBC.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg reacts during a press conference held after former US President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his criminal trial

'There is zero care about that,' another longtime GOP donor added. 'A year ago, maybe [the trials mattered]. Now, none.'

Although the verdict does not prevent Trump from continuing his election bid, it does cast the already tense contest into even more unpredictable waters.

Those cases, however, are not likely to go to trial before the November election.

In addition to the New York case, Trump faces three far more serious criminal indictments over his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden and hoarding of top-secret documents at his home in Florida.

Biden has so far been cautious about making Trump's multiple legal difficulties an election issue. As president, he is keen to avoid giving ammunition to Republicans who claim he is meddling in the justice system.

Trump came out of the courtroom visibly perturbed after the jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

'This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,' he lamented in front of eagerly-awaiting camera crews and press.

The ex-president said the 'real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people.'

Donald Trump will be sentenced on July 11 but said the real verdict will come in the November 5 election

'Everyone know what happened here...this is a Soros-backed DA.'

'We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man.'

'That's okay, I'm fighting for our country, I'm fighting for our Constitution. This was done by the Biden administration in order to hurt a political opponent.'

'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.'

Prosecutors had a high bar to reach in order to convince the 12-person New York jury that Trump conspired to help his 2016 election campaign by paying pornstar Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged sexual encounters.

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.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's wrapped up all the evidence and witness testimony they claimed was sufficient enough to nail Trump on 34 felony counts of 'falsifying business records.'

Trump's team tried to lay out a strong defense of the former president, distancing him from Cohen's payments to Daniels.

They also reiterated several of their strongest points, that hush money payments are not illegal and Trump solely wanted to spare his family humiliation from Daniels' alleged affair claims.

The case is the first time a former U.S. 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.

The charges Trump faces each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison.
A former teacher has admitted filming porn clips at a Texas elementary school where a female colleague was found dead of suspected homicide this week.

The woman, whom DailyMail.com is not naming, shot at least two movies at Gray Elementary school near Houston, but claims she did so when no children were around.

She says she sent them to an ex-boyfriend who shared them after a bad breakup. The woman has since filed a report with police accusing him of revenge porn, KHOU reported.

Video posted online sees the teacher posing among children's books and toys while lifting up her top to flash her breasts in one clip, while in a second she degrades herself in a staff bathroom pulling down her pants and underwear in front of the camera.

No attempt was made by the teacher to hide her identity with her ID card fully visible at one point.

The disturbing revelations of X-rated behavior came only days before it was revealed that another staff member at the same school was found dead of a suspected homicide.

The woman, pictured being interviewed anonymously by a local tv station, says the clips of her posing among children's toys and books were supposed to be kept private and that she is the victim of revenge porn from a bitter ex

An elementary school teacher filmed several racy scenes on school property at Gray Elementary School in Houston

Early Childhood Special Education Aide and mom-of-four, Laura Smith, 37 was found dead in her home, not far from the school.

Smith's husband, who worked with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office abruptly resigned on Tuesday after news of his wife's death emerged.

'The sheriff's office is currently conducting a homicide investigation,' said Fort Bend County Sheriff's Capt. Dalia Simons to KHOU.

It has not been revealed what type of weapon was used in the Smith's death, or where in the house she was found.

Laura Smith, 37, a mother of four girls was found dead inside her home with 'traumatic' injuries

There is no suggestion Smith's death is linked in any way to the X-rated videos scandal.

As for the teacher who filmed the inappropriate videos - she has now resigned from the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District but on an unrelated matter.

The woman, who has not been formally identified at this time is not currently facing criminal charges, but police are investigating her behavior.

The teacher insisted that the videos were shot on a weekend when the school was empty and free of both staff and children.

She also said that they were shared only with a ex-boyfriend who released them as a form of revenge porn designed to humiliate her.

'I've never sent this out to thousands of men. I'm not that type of person,' the teacher said. 'This was just a relationship, a private matter, and he released it.

'All I can do is learn from this situation,' she conceded.

The teacher involved has said she hopes her career in education is not permanently harmed.

'It was poor judgement on my part. I would never do it again,' the teacher said to KHOU.

Community activist Quanell X was appalled by what he had seen

Fellow community activist Candice Matthews is also calling for the woman to be entirely barred from teaching ever again

Community activist Quanell X was appalled by what he had seen.

'If she would do this in a classroom, what else will she do?' he asked during a colorful press conference as he described the video in detail.

'It is absolutely appalling shameful and frightening that these are the type of educators that are in an elementary school teaching our children.

'We got a teacher in the classroom on school hours stripping down butt naked bending over and showing everything on the video and all you could see was cellulite hanging out and her pubic hair. This is a disgrace and a shame that this is the type of educator and teacher that is in the classroom.

'This woman should never ever be allowed to be an educator. This woman should never be allowed to work around children ever again.'

Fellow community activist Candice Matthews is also calling for the woman to be entirely barred from teaching ever again.

'Your porn days are over, and also your teacher days. You do not sexualize our children,' said Matthews.

'Now that you know about the video, now we expect for you to do your job. We expect for you to go to the Texas Education Agency; we expect for you to put a block on this teacher so this teacher cannot go to another school and do this type of foolishness. This can be the same type of teacher that can touch a child,' she said.

'This is how demented teachers go from one district to the next,' Matthews added. 'So that's why we are calling this out. We are not going to sweep this under the rug.'
Bloodcurdling screams erupted as paramedics rushed to save a toddler after her father allegedly cut her throat and left her to die.

Jeronimo Duran is charged with the first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse of his two-year-old daughter, Melody Alana Rose Duran.

Cameras at a neighbor's house caught Duran taking the little girl into his home in Pembroke Pines, south of Miami, on Tuesday morning, the footage obtained by NBC6 shows.

Duran, 33, left the house at 7:08 am to pick Melody up from her mother Mona Rosita Clarke's house and returned at 7:24 am.

Jeronimo Duran is accused of murdering his two-year-old daughter, Melody Alana Rose Duran. They are pictured with the girl's mother, Mona Rosita Clarke

Anguished screaming could be heard on footage from a neighbor's cameras coming from the house as paramedics arrived and rushed Melody to hospital

The accused killer father got out of the car and slowly wandered around to the other side, seemingly distracted and lost in thought.

Melody's grandmother Hilda Carballo arrived at 9:32 am in her gray SUV and walked inside the house to what she said was a distressing scene.

Carballo allegedly saw Duran 'on top of' Melody and 'noticed that the child did not appear to be breathing,' police said.

She called 911 in a panic, saying 'an ambulance is what I need, fast.'

'I will send the ambulance, but I need to know what's going on,' one dispatcher replied.

'I think the girl is unconscious. I don't know what is going on. The girl is pale and not reacting,' the grandmother said in Spanish.

Another radioed paramedics to 'advise she's pale and not reacting.'

When Duran arrived home with Melody, he got out of the car and slowly wandered around to the other side, seemingly distracted and lost in thought

Melody's grandmother Hilda Carballo arrived at 9:32 am in her gray SUV and walked inside the house to what she said was a distressing scene

The neighbor's cameras filmed a black Mercedes sedan quickly pulling up to the house at 9:44 am and Jorge Carballo, Duran's stepfather, sprinting to the door.

He gave Melody CPR while he and Hilda Carballo waited for the ambulance to arrive about three minutes later.

Anguished screaming could be heard on the footage coming from the house.

Police and paramedics found Melody's throat slashed and rushed her to hospital, but she did not survive.

Officers found a bloodied knife nearby and arrested Duran.

'Detectives were able to establish probable cause to charge him with first-degree murder,' Pembroke Pines Police Sergeant Jason Palant said.

The neighbor's cameras filmed a black Mercedes sedan quickly pulling up to the house at 9:44 am and Jorge Carballo, Duran's stepfather, sprinting to the door

By May last year, Clarke had filed a motion for full custody of Melody that detailed Duran's frightening mental breakdown. She asked for supervised visits for Duran, but the court let have him unsupervised visits - and he allegedly killed her during one

'He was questioned by detectives, he spoke with detectives, and through his statement, it helped establish probable cause for his arrest.

'However, we don't have a motive at this time.'

Duran and Clarke were together for about 10 years before they separated last year.

Clarke captioned their first photo together on April 21, 2014, 'He is the reason for my happiness. I love my lion.'

Other photos show them dancing a costume party dressed as a banana and a fairytale princess, and celebrating Clarke's pregnancy in 2021.

Melody was born in November 2021, and the couple appeared overjoyed to become parents for the first time.

The couple were together 10 years. Clarke captioned this first photo of them together on April 21, 2014, 'He is the reason for my happiness. I love my lion.'

Melody was born in November 2021, and the couple appeared overjoyed to become parents for the first time

But by May last year, Clarke had filed a motion for full custody of Melody that detailed Duran's frightening mental breakdown.

'The father suffers from mental illness paranoia and anger issues (punching the wall),' it read.

'He also suffers from anxiety and his behavior is erratic, aggressive, violent and dangerous to the mother and the minor child.

'The father has abused the family dog (punched it in the face) the father has suicidal ideations and has a history of hearing voice to end his life.'

The document Duran 'chased the mother into a bedroom with the child in her arms and punched a fan'.

Clarke's motion also claimed he 'abused the family dog, punching it in the face'.

Duran was charged with the first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse

Police block off the scene in Pembroke Pines, south of Miami

She asked that Duran have a psychological evaluation as he was 'hearing voices to end his life, some while the child was with him alone.'

Clarke wanted Duran to take an eight-week parenting course and for a guardian ad litem to be appointed by the court for Melody to help with supervised visits.

However, the court in March granted Duran unsupervised visits, and he allegedly killed her during one of them on Tuesday.

Duran faced court on Thursday, wearing a protective vest to precent self-harm, where he was ordered to be held without bail at the Broward County Jail.

Palant said Duran could face additional charges as the investigation progresses.
MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell couldn't contain his praise for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg after he successfully prosecuted Donald Trump, referring to the prosecutor as 'the anointed one.'

Bragg led the prosecution as the former president was found guilty on Thursday on all 34 felony counts after a very brief deliberation. He faces sentencing on July 11.

O'Donnell - a former Congressional speechwriter before his transition to television - was effusive in his praise for Bragg.

He referenced a 1995 op-ed written in the Harvard Crimson that called Bragg - then a student and a leader in the Harvard Black Students Association - 'the anointed one.'

'That's the right title,' declared O'Donnell, a former writer for The West Wing. 'That's who this guy is.'

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell couldn't contain his praise for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg after he successfully prosecuted Donald Trump, referring to him as 'the anointed one'

He continued, 'The people of Manhattan who elected him, that's what they saw. They saw somebody who is dedicated to doing this job and doing it flawlessly and so profoundly modestly.'

'In a country in the Trump era that desperately needs lessons in modesty, Alvin Bragg is that lesson.'

Fellow liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow agreed with O'Donnell.

'You know, Lawrence, it is such a good point that in this moment, when it is remembered in history, yes, the crimes will be part of the history, the criminals will be part of the history, absolutely,' she said.

'But the people who were brave enough to take this through the criminal justice system against all the threat that they had to face in order to do it, and against all of the odds and against the most powerful people in the country, some of the most powerful people in the world to do it.'

The Harvard Crimson op-ed praised an event Bragg organized in 1992, a speech by City University of New York professor Leonard Jeffries.

Bragg was able to lower tensions between black and Jewish students over the speech, which many protested over accusations that Jeffries was anti-Semitic, an accusation one black student called 'bulls***.'

The op-ed praised Bragg as 'a rare ability to reconcile diverse people and clashing views.'

Bragg led the prosecution as the former president was found guilty Thursday on all 34 felony counts after a very brief deliberation

Trump faces sentencing for his 34 felony convictions on July 11

The Crimson argued, somewhat ironically, 'The Harvard senior himself says he will likely not end up running for office. But whatever he does eventually, today there is a definite sense of the anointed about him.'

Nowadays, Bragg is considered one of the leaders of a new 'progressive DA' movement, one of several funded by left-wing billionaire George Soros.

In February, it was revealed that Bragg has downgraded a staggering 60 percent of felony cases to lesser charges in the last year, data from his office shows.

The DA reduced 938 of the most serious charged in 2023, 834 of which were brought down to misdemeanors.

Under Bragg, the percentage of felonies downgraded has increased to 60 - up from 53 percent under his predecessor.

Bragg's team defended the figures stating the office's performance is on par with other New York boroughs and higher when it comes to felony convictions.

Bragg, who campaigned on a promise of criminal justice reform, issued a controversial 'Day One' memo after taking office stating he would only seek prison time in the most severe cases.

It comes amid fury over criminals being allowed to roam the streets of the Big Apple, which continues to be rocked by a violent crime wave.

O'Donnell referenced a 1995 op-ed written in the Harvard Crimson that called Bragg - then a student and a leader in the Harvard Black Students Association - 'the anointed one'

Of the 938 felonies downgraded in 2023, 834 were reduced down to misdemeanor charges

Since being sworn in on January 1, 2022, the DA has also declined to prosecute 14 percent of all arrests, compared to just nine percent in 2021 when his predecessor was last in post.

However, overall arrests screened by his office was up by more than a third compared to 2021.

But this will be of little comfort to victims of the most serious crimes, with the data showing that Bragg's office has secured a felony conviction just 52 percent of the time, down from 65 percent in 2021.

Bragg has been criticized for his soft-on-crime policies, which include calling on prosecutors to ditch felony armed robbery charges and instead charge suspects with petit larceny and not seeking carceral sentences for criminals.

Crime in New York City, has decreased by .032 percent since before the pandemic, but the decrease is not enough for many who feel unsafe in Manhattan.

MAGA operatives have accused Bragg of having a political agenda.

'Alvin Bragg is a disgrace. He cares more about targeting Joe Biden's political opponent than protecting New Yorkers from rapists, murderers, and robbers.' Alex Pfeiffer, spokesman for Make America Great Again Inc said.

Meanwhile victims of crime have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of justice.

Bragg, who campaigned on a promise of criminal justice reform, said he would only seek prison sentences for the most serious crimes

The progressive DA was sworn in on January 1, 2022, but has come under criticism for his 'soft on crime' approach

A spokesman for the DA's Office said Manhattan is leading the citywide decrease in crime, highlighting a 38 percent decrease in homicides and a 24 percent decrease in shootings during DA Braggs first two years in office.

'Manhattans felony conviction rate is higher than the other four boroughs, and our felony decline to prosecute rate is lower than the citywide average,' he said.

'We are getting results from our comprehensive crime strategy that includes more gun prosecutions, focusing on drivers of violent crime and making investments that prevent crime and build strong neighborhoods.'
A United Airlines flight from Canada to Texas descended into chaos on Friday after 30 passengers fell ill with flu-like symptoms.

Prior to their flight, the sick passengers, who were part of a larger travel group of about 75 people, had taken a cruise.

The plane - a Boeing 737 Max - took off from Vancouver and landed at the Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where it was met by emergency responders.

At 6:20 pm, the Houston Fire Department was called to the scene.

A United Airlines flight from Canada to Texas descended into chaos on Friday after 30 passengers fell ill with flu-like symptoms. The plane took off from Vancouver and landed at the Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (pictured)

According to United Airlines, the plane was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and there were 163 passengers and six crew members on the flight. The plane has since been pulled from United's rotation while it undergoes a deep cleaning

First responders examined three patients but determined that none required emergency medical attention.

Officials from the fire department noted that the passengers exhibited symptoms linked to the cruise, complaining of nausea.

United Airlines confirmed the incident and remarked that various flyers from the cruise were ill and were aboard the same flight.

According to the airline, the plane was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and there were 163 passengers and six crew members on the flight.

The plane has since been pulled from United's rotation while it undergoes a deep cleaning.

In May, there was another flight during which a large number of passengers suddenly became ill.

Condor airline Flight DE2315 was traveling from Mauritius to Frankfurt when it became clear that many flyers on board were suffering from a bug.

The aircraft landed in the German city at around 5:33 pm where it was greeted with a large contingent of emergency services.

Crew had called ahead to alert officials on the ground of the unfolding emergency.

It was found that 70 of the 290 passengers on board had suddenly reported symptoms including nausea and vomiting.

A spokesperson for the Germany airline confirmed the incident to the country's Bild tabloid, adding that the crew was not affected by the illness.

'She [the pilot/crew] is also educated and trained for special situations like this,' the statement to the newspaper said.

'After carefully examining the overall situation, the flight continued. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where medical professionals were available to care for the affected guests.'

The airline, however, did not confirm the cause of the sudden illness, but noted that the food onboard would have been prepared in Mauritius.

'[We have] already initiated an investigation into the case to get to the bottom of the cause and to derive possible measures from it,' the spokeswoman added.

'Condor is working closely with all responsible partners and authorities. There is currently no result available.'
Nearly 60 flights were cancelled at a major Australian airport due to a refuelling issue which has since been resolved, but has caused chaos with a major backlog.

Travellers heading to or departing Perth Airport were left in limbo due to a fuel load pressure issue in the supply system which meant planes could not be refuelled.

Perth Airport announced on Saturday afternoon the issue had been resolved with the help of external experts.

'We will continue to monitor the situation closely in the event of any further issues,' a spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.

The spokesperson said 59 domestic and international flights had been cancelled due to the operational issue.

Some of the cancelled flights include departures to Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur and Bali, and arrivals from the same locations.

Some flights were diverted to other airports including a flight from London which was forced to land in Karratha in WA's north.

Many inconvenienced passengers expressed their anger at the lack of communication

The Perth Airport website shows there are still dozens of delayed international and domestic flights

Many inconvenienced passengers expressed their anger at the lack of communication.

Tom and Migs Davies had been at the airport since 11pm on Friday, ready to board their 2am flight to Singapore.

The couple weren't advised their flight had been cancelled until 9am Saturday morning.

They told The West Australian the lack of communication and confusion was 'absolutely shambolic'.

'We are going to sleep in our car, because we don't know when the aeroplane that we're apparently booked on is going to take off, we haven't got our luggage back either, so we're trying to find that at the moment,' Mr Davies said.

Tess Bullock and Malik Winnett had their flights to Bali cancelled.

'Were annoyed as weve put in work leave for this. Its shortening our holiday.'

'Were losing a couple hundred on accommodation, weve put our dog in a kennel,' Ms Bullock said.

Another passenger said they received no communication about their canceled flight, 'We got our kids out of bed in the middle of the night ... but it is what it is, what can you do?'

The airport said it would work with airlines to clear the backlog of flights to help passengers get to their destinations.

'We again thank both passengers and our airline partners for their patience and understanding,' the spokesperson said.

Perth Airport website shows there are still dozens of delayed international and domestic flights.

Qantas issued an update earlier on Saturday for its travellers explaining the cancellations and delays were due to no fuel being available to any aircraft on the ground at the airport.

'We're in constant contact with Perth Airport for updates and are working hard to find an interim solution to get customers on their way as quickly as possible,' the airline said in a statement.

Affected customers are being contacted directly and all travellers are warned to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Travellers are being warned to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Federal minister Matt Keogh expressed his frustration for passengers, saying it is a 'highly stressful' situation.

'I feel for the passengers firstly, because whenever one is caught up with chaos at an airport, it's highly stressful,' he told reporters on Saturday.

Passengers departing from Perth on Saturday are urged to contact their airline for more information about their flights.

The airport spokesperson apologised to travellers and to airlines for the significant impact.

'We understand that this has been a difficult and frustrating morning for passengers and our airline partners,' the spokesperson said.
A jealous boyfriend who murdered his ex-girlfriend after she dumped him is facing life in prison.

Leon Murray, 35, was remanded in custody after he was found guilty of killing his partner Keisha Christodoulou.

Wood Green Crown Court heard that Murray had stabbed Ms Christodoulou at least 17 times after she told him she no longer wished to be involved with him.

He will return to court on Monday where he will be sentenced for Ms Christodoulou's murder.

Detective Inspector Adam Clifton, who led the investigation, said: 'Murray's horrific response to Keisha deciding to end their relationship is as senseless as it is selfish. Throughout the investigation and trial, Murray has tried to paint himself as a victim. The verdict of the jury shows that they rejected this.

Leon Murray, 35, was remanded in custody after he was found guilty of killing his partner Keisha Christodoulou

Wood Green Crown Court heard Murray stabbed Ms Christodoulou to death after she ended their relationship

Keisha Christodoulou, pictured, told Murray that their relationship was at an end 24 hours before her murder

'The level of violence used in the attack is utterly shocking and our thoughts remain with Keisha's family and friends, particularly her three young children whose lives will never be the same.

'Tackling violence against women is one of our top priorities and we will continue in our efforts to bring dangerous perpetrators like Murray to justice. I would encourage anyone suffering domestic abuse to seek support.'

The court heard that Ms Christodoulou told Murray on October 31, 2022 that their relationship was over.

As a result, Murray travelled to Tanner's Hill, Deptford where he stabbed Ms Christodoulou 17 times.

After murdering Ms Christodoulou, he changed his clothes and picked up their six-year-old daughter from school.

At the school, Murray told a member of staff that 'it is done' and he had 'ended' his former partner.

Staff called 999 and Murray also called police where he admitted what he had done.

Police raced to the couple's flat where they found Ms Christodoulou

On arrival, he told a member of staff that 'it is done' and that he had 'ended' Keisha. Staff quickly called 999, as did Murray, telling police what he had done.

Officers attended the flat and found Keisha, who was just 32, on the living room floor. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the chest.

Murray admitted killing Keisha but his defence claimed diminished responsibility. The jury accepted the prosecution's argument that Murray had no substantial impairment of his responsibility and that he knew what he was doing.

He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, 3 June.
Surrey residents have demanded they be paid compensation as they face a third day without drinkable tap water following a suspected petrol station fuel leak.

Locals in the picturesque village of Bramley have urged Thames Water to pay back customers for the huge disruption caused after the water company issued a 'do not drink notice' over fears that the water supply has been contaminated.

A total of 616 homes in 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  on Thursday.

Since then residents have been forced to travel to two bottled water stations in the village to collect water that is safe to drink.

It is unclear when the issue is expected to be fixed, with residents taking to social media to demand compensation payments from Thames Water following the chaos that has been imposed on their lives.

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

A Bramley resident carrying bottles of water from a water station

Residents have taken to social media to demand compensation payments from Thames Water following the chaos that has been imposed on their lives

Replying to a post by Thames Water on X, Ruth D'Silva wrote: 'You can make it up to everyone by promising not to dump raw sewage in rivers and seas, forgoe (sic) your huge bonus to give compensation and if you locate a moral compass, hand yourselves in for nationalisation.'

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

Michael Graves also added in response: 'What about compensation for residents because of your failure to provide drinking water fit for human consumption?'

Others have also called on local MP and Chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt to step in and help solve the issue.

Lloyd wrote on X: 'So after being told a few days ago that our water was OK to drink, we wake up to this. Dogs thrown up all over the kitchen floor.

'@thameswater @Jeremy_Hunt how do we get compensation for the 30 a month you charge us. Not acceptable. This has been known for weeks.'

Another local resident also vented their frustrations over the lack of support the village has had since the notice was put in place.

They said: 'Country's falling apart at the f****** seams as a consequence of rampant privatisation but our two main political parties just do not give a s*** about anyone but themselves.

'People are just getting 'letters and bottled water' as if that's reasonable f****** compensation for paying extortionate water bills for dirty, unsanitary and unusable water. Who's going to get fired for this????'

SURREY: Residents getting water from a collection point in Bramley today after a fuel a leak

SURREY: A local woman speaking to a Thames Water worker at a bottled water station in Bramley

SURREY: Residents collecting water from a collecting point in the village

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.

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.

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

'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.'

Sian Jones in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution 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

SURREY: Residents must collect water from stations after a suspected fuel leak saw them issued with 'do not drink' warnings

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.'

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'.

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.

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.

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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A Thames Water spokesperson said: 'On Thursday 30 May, we issued 616 Bramley properties with a 'do not drink' notice following recent water sampling results.

'We delivered bottled water to our vulnerable customers and the homes affected by the notice, along with letters outlining the advice.

'The 'do not drink' advice will remain in place while further investigations are carried out. During this time the affected customers are advised:

'Dont drink the tap water or give to pets; dont prepare or cook food using tap water; dont use tap water to brush your teeth; dont use tap water even after boiling; can use tap water to wash; can use tap water to flush the loo.

'We have also set-up two bottled water stations at the following locations:

'Both locations will be open daily 9am to 9pm, while we manage this incident, and further bottled water deliveries are planned across the weekend'

'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 already on site in the village proactively replacing sections of our pipes on Horsham Road to reduce the risk to our customers. We estimate the work will take at least 3 to 4 weeks, and we will be guided by the results of sampling and will continue to keep customers informed.'

It comes as cases of cryptosporidium, a parasite that primarily infects people through faeces-contaminated drinking water has now reached 100.

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

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.

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.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his wife's career gives him 'an insight' into the NHS - and that she won't give up her work if he becomes Prime Minister.

Sir Keir has admitted he is already contemplating how his life will change if he moves into No 10 in just over one month's time - with the party well clear of the Tories in even the most cautious polls.

And while he may soon live at one of the most famous addresses in the world, he has insisted much of life will stay the same for his family - including wife Victoria, who works for the NHS in occupational health and met her husband-to-be through work.

The former director of public prosecutions says his wife has no intention of giving up her job should Labour win the election next month - because she gives him an unprecedented 'insight' into how the NHS is working.

He said of Victoria: 'She's absolutely going to carry on working, she wants to and she loves it. It's also good for me because it gives me an insight into the NHS.'

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria heading out to vote in north London in the May local elections

Sir Keir on the campaign trail in Greenock yesterday. He says his wife's professional life will not change if he is elected as prime minister

Victoria and Sir Keir walking into the 2022 Labour Party conference in Liverpool. She has not been afraid to be pictured in public - but is not seen as a typical 'political spouse'

The pair share a kiss on stage during the 2023 Labour Party conference, also held in Liverpool

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It isn't the first time the potential future PM has spoken about his wife's work in the health service - despite her keenness to remain out of the limelight.

Sir Keir said he wanted his teenage son's education to be 'untroubled' by a potential move to No 10.

He said: 'Our boy is in the middle of his GCSEs. At the moment I just want to create the environment where he can get on with what he's got to get on with as untroubled as he can be.

'He's got 21 exams. My job is just to create space for him to get on with that.'

Labour's election campaign kicked off this week following Rishi Sunak's unexpected general election call - months sooner than many, including members of the Conservatives, had expected.

Sir Keir said, however, that the shock announcement was in Labour's favour - and denied that the party was complacent about its chances of victory.

'Many people have decided they have had enough of 14 years of this (the Tories),' he added.

'Quite a lot have already decided they do want to come to Labour. But we have to address the fact there are a number of people who are still undecided.'

The Labour leader added that he was not concerned about those who could not pinpoint his ideological position.

He added: 'I know quite a lot of commentators say, well we can't seem to fix this guy on a political continuum, because people want to box you in.

'Are you in this place or that place? I make pragmatic decisions based on the issues as I see it in front of me. I don't give a second thought to political positioning on that.'

Sir Keir and Victoria with his parents Josephine and Rodney, taken on their wedding day in 2007

Victoria pictured with Sir Keir during a count for the 2017 general election. She has become a more public companion of her politico husband in recent years

Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer taking their seats for the Euro 2020 final in London - held in July 2021 due to the pandemic

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Sir Keir has frequently said that he wants to change political culture so it 'treads a little lighter on all our lives', or to 'return politics to public service', and he said he will ensure that starts on his front bench.

He said: 'There would be a mindset shift if we are privileged enough to come and serve. I will require my cabinet, front bench, all of our MPs to serve. That involves tough decisions.'

Sir Keir made the comments in a new interview with The Times.

Unlike the incumbent prime minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty - a multi-millionaire heiress to IT firm Infosys's $70billion (54.9bn) fortune - little is known of Lady Victoria Starmer.

Sir Keir himself has said that she 'has her own life and protects it vigorously' - as he told the Sunday Mirror.

However, she is not an invisible spouse, and regularly appears with Sir Keir at public events and Labour party conferences. She stood on the doorstep to clap for carers, and stepped out with her husband to vote in the May local elections.

Comparisons have been made with Sarah Brown, wife of one-time Labour PM Gordon - someone who was content to be in the background with their own interests to pursue outside of their spouse's politics.

Sir Keir met Victoria Alexander while the pair worked as lawyers. Their first contact was an awkward phone call that ended with her muttering 'Who the f*** does he think he is?' after he asked whether documents she had drawn up were accurate.

'(She) then put the phone down on me. And quite right too,' said Sir Keir in a 2020 Piers Morgan's Life Stories interview.

Undeterred, the future Labour leader asked her on a date to the Lord Stanley pub in Camden in the early 2000s, and they married in 2007.

Lady Victoria is seen regularly in public with her husband - including here at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the late Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022

She is also a regular sight with her husband at major political events - pictured here in Liverpool during the 2023 Labour Party conference

Sir Keir and Lady Victoria attend Buckingham Palace for the State Banquet held in honour of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol last November

Sir Keir and Lady Victoria clapping for key workers outside their home in London in May 2020

They now share a 1.75million Kentish Town home with their two children - a teenager named Toby and a younger daughter whose name has not been made public.

Lady Victoria is Jewish, and Sir Keir has said he tries to uphold the Shabbat tradition of Friday night dinners as often as possible - despite being an atheist himself.

He previously told the Mirror: 'She's a streetwise grounded, brilliant, gorgeous woman who wants as far as she can to get on with her own life and to protect it.

'She loves working for the NHS. She loves the team that she's working with.

'And she and I are doing our best to raise two happy and confident children and that matters hugely to us.'

Outside of her NHS work, she has also served as also a governor at her children's school in Camden borough. In short, she has plenty to be getting on with should her husband become the new tenant in No 10.

As one insider presciently told The Telegraph in 2021: 'If he ever gets into Downing Street, shes going to be very much leading her own life.'
Russia would be able to disable Britain and France's nuclear deterrents 'within one day' if World War Three breaks out, a Moscow military expert has claimed.

Dr Yuri Baranchik, Deputy Director of the RUSSTRAT Institute, declared that within 24 hours of the conflict in Ukraine hypothetically descending into nuclear war Russia would 'eliminate the nuclear potentials of Britain and France'.

Writing on Telegram, he said targeting British and French nuclear arsenals would '[deprive] Europe of its military-geopolitical status' and reduce the number of nuclear powers from nine to seven.

'If we pull out the nuclear teeth of Britain and France, then the NATO bloc will no longer have any blackmail in the European theater of operations,' he asserted.

Dr Baranchik, who earlier this year urged an attack on a British Type 45 Destroyer capable of intercepting missile threats, said it would be straightforward to defeat Britain's waning deterrent as 'its entire nuclear potential since 1998' has been the four Vanguard-class submarines based in Faslane, Scotland.

The comments came as plans were disclosed for 'mobile modular shelters' in Russian cities, planned to 'protect the population from the effects of all types of modern weapons', including nuclear.

Baranchik suggested Russia would be able to knock out Britain's submarines 'within one day'

Geopolitics expert Yuri Baranchik, Deputy Director of the RUSSTRAT Institute, undated

The KUB-M supposedly provides protection for 48 hrs from air shockwaves and light radiation

The dingy inside of a KUB-M mobile nuclear shelter, built to protect the population in a war

Dr Baranchik wrote that destroying the arsenals of Britain and France would allow Russia to give the European Union 'an ultimatum', with the United States not willing to engage Russia in direct nuclear conflict.

'This must be done at a time of shift change in the White House,' he assessed in a lengthy post this week.

The geopolitics expert stopped short of saying how Russia would carry out attacks on Britain's submarines and bases, judging it a matter for military officials, but noted the waning capacity of Britain's deterrent stretched around the UK and undergoing repairs.

He added that France would be 'more complicated' to take out than Britain as its deterrent is more widely spread.

'But it is still solvable. Moreover, within one day.'

'Instead of a protracted war of attrition, within one day we deprive France and Britain of their nuclear weapons and destroy the whole of Europe,' he wrote, before redacting the last clause.

'We deprive them of their status as nuclear powers and radically change the entire security system in Europe.'

The post highlighted the perceived priorities of Russia, Dr Baranchik going on to suggest that such measures would allow the Kremlin to strongarm the United States into ending its military and financial support for Kyiv.

Only last week, the United States issued a new round of funding up to $275mn for Ukraine, with Kyiv calling for desperately-needed missiles to push back the Russian advances around Kharkiv.

A Moscow-installed official in the northern city today claimed Russian forced have taken control of strategic hills near Lyptsi, allowing troops to 'control all supply routes' in the Strilecha-Lyptsi area.

Still, with the war now in its third year, some European leaders have taken a stronger stance against Russia, met with threats of nuclear retaliation from the Kremlin.

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The Castle Bravo nuclear test: the detonation of the most powerful thermonuclear device ever tested by the United States, on March 1, 1954

Russian President Vladimir Putin with former president Dmitry Medvedev (right)

Plans have now been revealed for 'mobile modular shelters' in Russian cities to 'protect the population from the effects of all types of modern weapons including nuclear weapons'.

The so-called KUB-M includes two modules: sheltered rooms for 54 people and a technical block.

The key advantage of KUB-M over other civil defence structures is mobility, according to plans revealed in Russia.

'If necessary, they can be transported by road or rail to a new location for construction and connected to existing utility networks.'

The KUB-M supposedly provides protection for 48 hours from air shock waves and light radiation from a nuclear explosion, penetrating radiation and radioactive contamination of the area, high-explosive and fragmentation effects of conventional weapons, falling debris from building structures, as well as hazardous chemicals and fires.

They are designed by the All-Russian Research Institute of Civil Defense and Emergency Situations.

Putin's mouthpiece, and former president, Dmitry Medvedev again urged today that Russia's constant nuclear war rhetoric was 'not intimidation or a nuclear bluff'.

'The current military conflict with the West is developing according to the worst possible scenario,' he warned.

'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.'

With the US having now set aside $61bn in aid for Ukraine, approved late April, and NATO seeking a minimum of $40bn a year from members in additional support, Russia has looked to unsettle those opposing the invasion with continued threats of Armageddon.

Only on Tuesday, Putin warned that western countries would suffer 'grave consequences' if they allowed their weapons to be fired from Ukraine into Russia.

'In Europe, especially in small countries, they should be aware what they are playing with,' the Russian president said during a visit to Uzbekistan.

'They should remember that, as countries with small, densely populated territories... They should keep this in mind before talking about striking Russia.'

Among those staring down the Russian invasion, Poland, which does not have a nuclear deterrent, has refused rule out sending troops to meet its historic foe as it plans to field the biggest army in Europe by 2035.

It is not clear how quickly Russia would be able to produce the 'mobile bunkers'

What looks from the outside like a shipping container could shelter 54 people on the inside

Poland's foreign minister said the country should not exclude the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine and should keep Putin in suspense over whether such a decision would ever be made.

'We should not exclude any option. Let Putin be guessing as to what we will do,' Sikorski said in an interview with the Gazeta Wyborcza daily when asked whether he would send Polish troops to Ukraine.

Earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron echoed Sikorski's sentiment, suggesting he would not be 'ruling anything out' - comments that experts said reflected a will to play Putin at his own game of 'strategic ambiguity'.

'Putin doesn't take anything off the table; neither should we. And that includes sending troops, in whichever capacity that is feasible,' Vlad Sutea, founder and lead analyst at early warning and threatcasting group T-Intelligence, told MailOnline.

'Macron is one of the few Western European leaders to understand the value of strategic ambiguity,' he said.
An anti-Muslim campaigner has posted a picture from his hospital bed after he was stabbed by a knifeman at an anti-Islam rally in Germany.

The attacker went on a rampage and stabbed well-known Islam critic Michael Stuerzenberger, a police officer and several bystanders in Mannheim city centre, which was live streamed on YouTube yesterday morning.

The man was shot by officers at the scene and has been named by local outlet Der Spiegel as Sulaiman A, 25, who was born in Herat, Afghanistan, and lived in the Hesse state. He has undergone surgery and remains in hospital.

The officer remains in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery for several hours for two stab wounds to the back and neck.

Stuerzenberger was also taken to hospital before undergoing a successful surgery for the stabbing injuries to his face. Speaking from his hospital bed, he revealed he was 'really close' to death after also being knifed in the leg, chest and arm.

The 59-year-old posted a new clip of the incident to his Telegram channel, which he said showed the 'courageous intervention' by police who attempted to subdue the knifeman.

Anti-Muslim campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger posted this picture from his hospital bed after he was stabbed by a knifeman at an anti-Islam rally in Germany

Video footage of the attack shows he knifeman lying on the ground as members of the public stand over the top of him and wrestle the knife from his hand

But in a moment of confusion, one police officer can be seen tackling an innocent steward, wearing a blue vest, to the ground

This misread of the situation then gives the bloodthirsty attacker a chance to get to his feet and circle behind the officer before ramming his blade into the policeman's neck

Writing on social media earlier today, Stuerzenberger said: 'It was really close yesterday. Four doctors just came to see me. There was a second stab wound in the leg above the knee, fortunately without damaging the tendon.

'The other stab wound in the thigh hit veins and caused significant blood loss.

'The stab wound in the side of the chest, which went towards the lungs, could have been life-threatening. The injury to the upper arm is relatively minor.

'The stabs in the face are different. I have braces in the side of my jaw. My upper lip was stitched and I had a gaping open wound down to my teeth.

'A big thank you to all the doctors and facial surgeons who came from a special clinic. What a single Afghan 'refugee' can do with a knife.'

Stuerzenberger has also took to social media to thank those who helped save him, writing: 'Thank you [...] to all police officers and security personnel who courageously stood up against the attacker.'

'I hope that the police officer with the throat stab wound and all other injured get well soon,' he added, after saying he underwent successful surgery for the stabbing injuries to his face.

The rampage began when man dressed in a dark hooded jacket and tracksuit, (seen centre right) tackled a BPE member to the ground and began violently swinging a large blade at him

The man believed to be Stuerzenberger (right) tumbles to the ground following the initial attack as other BPE members push the knifeman away

The bespectacled and bearded attacker is clearly seen holding a blade several inches long

He later said: 'Best recovery wishes also to Moritz, who suffered a stab wound in his leg and was operated for two hours, as well as Paul, who was injured on the upper arm and probably lost a lot of blood.

'He had bravely pulled the alleged Afghan Muslim away from me. Without Paul, everything could possibly have turned out a lot worse. Get well soon also to our [...] Rainer, who also suffered knife injuries. You are all heroes.'

Stuerzenberger added: 'Many thanks also to Moni, who once again did a great job as head of security and gave first aid to my heavily bleeding wounds. That could have ended really badly.'

Mannheim police was criticised on social media for their handling of the situation after it appeared that the injured officer tackled one of the victims of the attack, seemingly misunderstanding the unfolding situation.

The video posted by Stuerzenberger to his Telegram channel shows the officer pulling the steward in the blue jacket off an innocent man who 'may have confused the attacker and defender in the scramble'.

This misread of the situation gave the bloodthirsty attacker a chance to circle behind and ram his blade into the policeman's neck.

In the face of the criticism, police defiantly asked users whether they were present for the attack or 'only watched the video'.

During the attack bystanders attempted to drag the knifeman away. One of his victims is seen with wounds to his thigh

But the knifeman later 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 a police officer who unknowingly tackled an innocent steward to the ground

The savage blade is clearly seen in this grab from the YouTube live stream as the attack goes to stab the officer in the neck

The knifeman did not respond to officers' orders and was shot at near point-blank range

'It's a bit questionable why the officer misjudged the situation so badly, even though the man was clearly wearing a blue club vest like the others and it was actually pretty easy to tell the people apart,' one person wrote.

The police replied asking: 'Does a blue vest mean that you don't commit any crimes?'. In another reply the force also said: 'Do you think that no one else can buy a jacket like that?'

They were also accused of being 'incompetent' and 'overwhelmed', to which the force replied: '... and you were there, or have you ever been in such a situation?'

However in a statement Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann, 76, defended their action, adding: 'Anyone who attacks police officers is attacking our democratic constitutional state.'

He continued: 'The brutal act of violence in Mannheim has left us stunned. All our thoughts are with the injured and their families. We sincerely hope that everyone will recover.

'Our thanks go to the police forces, who prevented something even worse from happening through their decisive action.'

Thomas Mohr, chairman of the police union (GdP) in Mannheim, told local outlet Mannheimer Morgen: 'This attack shocks me deeply and I am personally very affected.'

'The officers are risking their lives to protect others,' the union's deputy chairman Michael Mertens added.

Police officers flooded the scene checking on the victims and the attacker who was shot and collapsed to the ground

A bystander attends to one of the knifeman's victims

Forensic investigators are deployed to the scene in Mannheim market square

The aftermath of the stabbing is seen in Mannheim

He said the attack shows that police officers 'must expect massive outbreaks of violence and attempted murder at any time.'

The shocking spree unfolded in Mannheim city centre where Stuerzenberger was speaking at an event of the Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE) - a group that advocates against the 'Islamisation' of Europe.

Around 11.30am local time on Friday, half an hour before the anti-Islam rally was due to start, chaos broke out when the knifeman 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.

Officers 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.

German media reported the knifeman died from his gunshot wounds, while his victims were rushed to hospital.

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

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

The local Islamic association strongly condemned the attack in a statement, adding that it was an 'attack on the basic values of our open society'.

Officials Erdinc Altuntas Hizir Oymak jointly stressed that freedom of expression is a valuable asset that must be protected.

'We call on all members of our society to work together for peaceful and respectful coexistence. It is important to build bridges of understanding and tolerance and to oppose extremism in all forms,' they said.

Stefanie Kizina, treasurer of the BPE, said in a video statement posted after the attack that it was 'an act of terror'.

'The attack happened before the event even started, it must have been planned well in advance,' she added.
A BBC presenter has revealed why he missed his usual radio programme after he was rushed to hospital following a 'terrifying' accident at home.

Radio listeners tuning into BBC Radio Ulster on Friday morning were not greeted by the voice of the show's usual host Stephen Nolan but that of Chris Buckler - who was standing in for Mr Nolan.

Mr Nolan, who in 2023 took home an eye-watering salary of 400,000, rang into the show to explain to viewers the reason for his absence.

He said: 'I was trying to move 10 boxes of tiles that were standing against the cupboard and I didn't realise how heavy tiles were so they all landed on my big toe.'

The injured presenter added: 'I am still alive!'

BBC presenter Stephen Nolan missed his usual radio show on Friday morning after he dropped heavy tiles on his big toe and had to rush to A&E

Mr Nolan, who in 2023 took home an eye-watering salary of 400,000, rang into his own show to explain to viewers the reason for his absence

His stand-in host jokingly replied: 'There is a little bit of kind of reluctance to believe any of this inside your team this morning because they don't believe for a second that you actually do anything like physical manual labour.'

'You basically employ people to move things so what have you been doing? Have you run out of men?'

Mr Nolan went on to reveal that he waited in A&E for six hours on Thursday night following the accident.

He added: 'It was terrifying, it really, really was.'

In a gruesome picture shared on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Nolan showed the damage to his big toe which was bloody and had a nasty gash.

He added in a separate post on X: 'Today hasn't been good. Massive pile of floor tiles which are not fitted yet standing up in boxes  I under estimated their weight & pulled them towards me to open a drawer they were leaning against.

Stephen has a sore big toe tonight .

I need a man for this DIY malarkey .

No more lifting tiles . pic.twitter.com/4zq5qfIWoY  Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) May 30, 2024

Today hasnt been good.

Massive pile of floor tiles which are not fitted yet standing up in boxes - I under estimated their weight & pulled them towards me to open a drawer they were leaning against . They landed on my foot as I went crashing to the floor . Not a good look & my  Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) May 30, 2024

'They landed on my foot as I went crashing to the floor. Not a good look & my big toe is swelling !'

Fans rushed to show their support for the popular Northern Irish presenter. One wrote: 'Looks nasty, hope all is ok.'

Another said: 'How painful it looks! I hope it will not affect your airing of the Nolan Show.'

In 2023, Mr Nolan was the BBC's fifth highest paid broadcaster ahead of other famous faces including Question Time host Fiona Bruce and BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth.
The body of missing British kayaker Bren Orton has been found in a Swiss lake, police have confirmed.

'Shortly before 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) in Locarno, the lifeless body of the man who disappeared on May 16 while kayaking in the Melezza was found in the waters of Lake Maggiore,' the Ticino police said in a statement on Thursday.

'The alarm was triggered by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately notified the emergency services.'

The celebrated whitewater kayaker, 29, had been missing since May 16, when he ran into trouble on the Melezza River in the Ticino Region of Switzerland.

Authorities and friends carried out extensive searches for the athlete after Pyranha, the manufacturer of his high-performance kayaks, confirmed his disapperance.

'While kayaking with a group on the Melezza River in Switzerland, Bren became trapped in a recirculating feature and did not resurface,' it said in a statement.

Bren Orton went missing on May 16 after running into trouble on a lake in Switzerland

Bren fell in love with kayaking aged nine and went on to claim records for his talent

Last week, a team of 15 kayakers battled to find Bren on a river in the Alps, MailOnline revealed.

Some flew in from the United States to join the desperate search.

Bren, a professional athlete, had 57,000 ardent followers on his Instagram account, where he shared his passion for the sport.

He had filmed himself kayaking down a river in Italy less than 48 hours before he vanished.

Bren had also shared a video on his popular YouTube channel going down the so-called Devil's Slide waterfall in Val Sesia.

But it was his daring record in 2018 that made headlines around the globe.

Bren Orton holds the British record for the highest waterfall descent navigated in a kayak following his descent of Big Banana falls in Mexico

Incredible video footage showed the kayaker in the final tense moments at the top of the waterfall before the rapid fall into the abyss below.

The footage began with Orton high-fiving his friends as they wish him good luck.

Rowing off the edge and into the water, footage captured the heart stopping moment his entered the waterfall and fell through the air surrounded by a torrent of water.

His support team paddled to him as quick as possible trying to find him.

But seconds later he emerged from the water soon after his jump, while his relieved team cheered him on.

Bren was famously a gravedigger before becoming a professional kayaker.

He fell in love with the sport on a primary school trip to the Lake District when he was nine.

Speaking previously he said: 'In the lead up to getting paid to go kayaking I think I've worked almost every job possible.

'I worked in a call centre, as a labourer on a building site, in a gym, at the national Watersports Centre and as a gravedigger. I did some medical trials to earn money as well.

'I only did the grave digging for a few months but the medical trials were the big one, even if they were a bit sketchy.'
He was arrested after messaging an undercover cop

A police administrative worker has been jailed after he was caught sending explicit messages to young children including telling a nine-year-old girl they'd have sex on her tenth birthday.

Daniel Schultz, 39, from Kalamunda, east of Perth, was a member of the force for 17 years before his arrest in June, 2023.

He will now spend the next five-and-a-half-years behind bars after being convicted of several child exploitation offences.

Schultz's behaviour finally caught up with him when he began sending sexually explicit messages to an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl on Skype between April and June last year, the West Australian reported.

Schultz asked the girl if she was still a virgin and told her that he knew 'some kids your age who have sex enjoy it', the WA District Court heard.

Police administrative worker Daniel Schultz, 39, has been jailed after sending sexually explicit messages to young children

Schultz was sentenced to five-and-a-half years behind bars in West Australia's District Court

He also messaged her asking if they were boyfriend and girlfriend, while telling her to keep their relationship a secret from her mum.

He sent her a photo of himself, asked for one in return and told her he wanted to be her first kiss.

Police discovered Schultz also used apps Snapchat and Hangout to talk to nine other people he believed to be children under 13-years-old.

He sent sexually explicit messages to a 12-year-old German girl in May, 2019 and later in July, 2021 he exchanged messages with a 10-year-old boy who police believe Schultz had saved images of onto his phone.

The 39-year-old also wanted to plan a holiday with a nine-year-old girl who he told they'd have sex on her tenth birthday.

During his arrest, police seized several items from Schultz' work desk and home, uncovering 1,494 child exploitation images and 999 child exploitation videos.

Schultz messaged nine children he believed to be 13-years-old or younger on Skype, Snapchat and Hangout, the court was told

The court was told Schultz confessed to using online chat rooms to speak with children for several years during his police interview.

He claimed to have never planned on meeting any of the children in person but admitted to messaging one boy for four years.

Schultz admitted he paid someone $250 in 2017 to attend a meeting with people who had access to children 'who were fine with that sort of thing'.

He claimed nobody turned up to the meeting.

Schultz's lawyer told the court he had remorse and was ashamed over his actions, and was willing to receive counselling.

Judge Gary Massey said Schultz' behaviour was him 'fulfilling a fantasy' but did not accept it was limited to that.

The judge added Schultz had a clear sexual interest in children but said he could not find he would have met up with them.
The King has met a D-Day veteran at Buckingham Palace where he presented him with a birthday card to mark his 100th birthday.

Jim Miller, who turned 100 today, was 'surprised and delighted' to have been invited to the palace by King Charles.

Mr Miller, who lives in south Wales, landed on the Normandy beaches in June 1944 and took part in the Allied military operation to liberate occupied France and western Europe.

He said: 'I was totally surprised and delighted to be invited to Buckingham Palace!

'It was a special day and a real honour for me to meet the King and be presented with my 100th birthday card.'

Jim Miller, who turned 100 today, was 'surprised and delighted' to have been invited to the palace by King Charles

The Veteran added: 'I am humbled to reach such a great number, especially when I think of those who fell on the Normandy beaches all those years ago.

'The King was very interested to hear about my military service and personal experience of such a momentous and harrowing time.

'I am proud that I can still share my memories with the generations that come after me and thankful that young people are interested in what happened.

'I'm looking forward to attending the Royal British Legion's commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in June.'

Born in Hackney, east London, in 1924 Mr Miller served in the 11th Hussars - a cavalry regiment - during the Second World War.

He was called up at 18 years old and volunteered for the Army after failing a hearing test for the Air Force.

Drafted into the Armoured Corps, Mr Miller became a driver and wireless operator in armoured cars.

He landed on Juno Beach in Nazi-occupied France on June 9 at the age of 20, after arriving on the deck of an American ship with armoured cars in the hold.

The King is patron of the Royal British Legion. The King and Queen will attend the RBL's commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

D-Day is the name given to the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6 1944. By the end of the day over 150,000 Allied troops were on the beaches of Northern France and it remains the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

By August the whole of France was liberated and by May 1945 Nazi Germany capitulated. Many historians often refer to D-Day as the beginning of the end of World War Two.
The mother of Gabby Petito has revealed she's forgiven her daughter's murderer boyfriend Brian Laundrie, before aiming her anger at his 'mastermind' mom.

Nichole Schmidt shocked a packed auditorium on Friday while speaking at CrimeCon2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, when she forgave Laundrie.

According to Fox News, Schmidt told the audience: 'I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you.

'I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life.'

Schmidt never had the chance to face her daughter's killer who strangled her during a cross-country trip in 2021 and then killed himself, leaving a note confessing.

During her talk, Schmidt also accused Laundrie's mother Roberta of being 'the mastermind' who 'shattered her family.

Nichole Schmidt shocked a packed auditorium on Friday while speaking at CrimeCon2024 in Nashville, Tennessee , when she forgave Laundrie

Petito, 22, was strangled by Laundrie in Wyoming during a road trip around August 28, 2021. Her remains were found in Bridger-Teton National Forest on September 19

During her talk, Schmidt also accused Laundrie's mother Roberta, seen here with husband Christopher, of being 'the mastermind' that 'shattered her family

She added: 'As for you, Roberta, and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mine with your evil ways, I see no empathy in your eyes.

'No remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions.'

The Petitos sued the parents of Laundrie and accused them of knowing that their son had murdered Gabby, and helping him with the coverup of her death.

The Petito family was seeking damages of at least $100,000 and hoped to hold Christopher and Roberta Laundrie accountable for their actions and choices.

Petito's remains were found at Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest in September 2021 and her death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation.

On October 20 2021, Brian Laundrie's remains were found and he was later concluded to have shot himself.

The FBI was subsequently able to find that he had written in a notebook that he was responsible for the death of Ms. Petito.

An undated letter from Roberta with 'burn after reading' written on the envelope was released after a judge ruled the letter could be used as evidence in the suit.

The letter said that she would 'dispose of a body' if needed because she loved him so much.

The FBI was subsequently able to find that he had written in a notebook he was responsible for the death of Ms. Petito

Roberta offered to help her son dispose of a corpse as evidence of her love for him in the letter

It reads in part: 'We will always love each other. If you're in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it.

'If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags.'

Whether the letter was written before or after Brian Laundrie strangled Petito was in dispute between the parents.

Roberta Laundrie claimed in a sworn statement in the Florida case that she gave it to her son just before he and Petito left on a cross-country van trip in early June 2021.

In February of this year, the two families reached a confidential settlement before the case went to a civil trial.

According to the Laundries' attorney, Steve Bertolino, the settlement concluded a much-anticipated mediation between the two families.

'Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved,' the lawyer said in a statement.

'The terms of the resolution are confidential, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us.'
A New Jersey woman saved her own life after her leg was severed in a train accident - while other passengers ignored her screams for help.

Lisa Fitzgerald, 30, was left clinging on to a platform wall for her life after she was struck by a New Jersey Transit train at Morristown train station on May 5.

Fitzgerald had been running to catch the train to New York City when she tripped and fell through the gap onto the tracks as a the train pulled into the station.

Her leg was 'immediately' cut off as she was hit by the last few cars of the train, while people at the station ignored her screams for help.

Speaking on Fox News, Fitzgerald recalled: 'It was kind of a crazy time. I was running to catch the train and I tripped and slipped through the gap.'

Fitzgerald had been running to catch the train to New York City when she tripped and fell through the gap onto the tracks as a the train pulled into the station

Speaking on Fox News this morning, she said that her leg was 'immediately' cut off after she fell

Fitzgerald was left clinging on to a platform wall after she was struck by a New Jersey Transit train at Morristown train station, seen here

She continued: 'My leg was cut off immediately, I was spun around from that and I landed on my stomach facing backwards.

'I saw the next set of wheels of the train rolling at me, so I rolled out of the way and hugged myself against the platform wall.

'I did a little check, I saw that my leg was gone. I thought that maybe my foot was broken, I had to kick my shoe off.

'Besides that it really was just bumps and bruises, I started yelling for help for the people waiting for the train.

'After a few minutes nobody came to help, I figured I have to find someway off of these tracks.'

Using all her strength, Fitzgerald managed to pull herself up onto the edge of the platform and throw herself to safety.

She continued 'I kept screaming for help and a ticket collector came over and I got his attention.

'He went out, I kept screaming, he found a police officer that came to help that called for back up and I went to hospital from there.'

Fitzgerald had been running to catch the train to New York City when she tripped and fell through the gap onto the tracks as a the train pulled into the station

Fitzgerald tried to tourniquet her own leg with her t-shirt before officers moved in to assist her

Fitzgerald has been dubbed the 'Miracle of Morristown' for surviving the accident which happened just two weeks before her 30th birthday

Fitzgerald tried to tourniquet her own leg with her t-shirt before officers moved in to assist her.

She was rushed to hospital and treated, but her leg could not be reattached. A GoFundMe set up by her sister has since raised over $103,000.

She added: 'Nobody called 911 I found out the next day. I have a home nurse and home physical therapy I am doing. I'm not completely on my own yet.'

'I've been doing pretty well, the whole time I have been smiling trying to work through everything.'

Fitzgerald, who is one of eight siblings, has been dubbed the 'Miracle of Morristown' for surviving the accident which happened just two weeks before her 30th birthday.

Her stepmom Stacie Weil-Fitzgerald told Fox: 'We decorated the hospital and we had a big celebration for her.

'And she is in such good spirits. With her GoFundMe, people have just been so supportive and so amazing. That really makes us feel good.

'She's unbelievable. She has not stopped smiling.'
Jacob Rees-Mogg has taken to the campaign trail and revealed what he wears when it is too hot for his suit and why Nigel Farage should be welcomed back into the Conservative party.

The Tory MP, who is known to only wear a traditional double-breasted suit, also explained why he hates bananas - describing them as 'slimy and unpleasant'.

The veteran Brexiteer also avoids vegetables and instead fuels his body on the campaign trail with instant coffee so thick it has the consistency of 'tar'.

He has been out meeting his North East Somerset constituents in his Jaguar this week.

But the father-of-six is already something of a local celebrity with people regularly honking their horns, waving from windows and asking for selfies.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has taken to the campaign trail as he hopes to hold on to his seat of North East Somerset (pictured during the 2019 general election campaign)

The veteran Brexiteer also avoids vegetables and instead fuels his body on the campaign trail (pictured in 2019) with instant coffee so thick it has the consistency of 'tar'

Sir Jacob has previously revealed he'd like to have a seventh child but admitted his wife Helena 'is not so keen'

One roundabout in his constituency had a stencilled portrait of the MP in a top hat displayed on a sign.

If it gets too hot during a day of canvassing, the traditional gentleman said he would change into his cream suit - but would keep his tie on.

Result: North East Somerset in 2019 Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative) - 28,360 votes, 50.4 per cent Mark Huband (Labour) - 13,631 votes, 24.2 per cent Nick Coates (Lib Dem) - 12,422 votes, 22.1 per cent Fay Whitfield (Green) - 1,423 votes, 2.5 per cent Shaun Hughes (Independent) - 472 votes, 0.8 per cent Advertisement

'If I didn't wear a tie, my head would probably fall off', he told The Telegraph.

But the MP, who has previously been labelled 'the honourable member for the 18th century' due to his old-fashioned mannerisms, said his sense of dress was definitely not part of his 'brand'.

'Do you think that anyone in their right mind would dress the way I do as a deliberate strategy? They'd have to be a lunatic', he told the paper.

The MP is usually regarded as sitting on the Right of his party. And he has now backed the call for Nigel Farage to be allowed back into the party, not only as a backbencher but to 'play a leading role'.

Nigel Farage remains the honorary president of Reform UK but has ruled himself out of standing for election on July 4.

When Farage was leader of UKIP he had refused to field a candidate in Sir Jacob's constituency.

A day out on the campaign trail for Sir Jacob begins with the family's factotum, Sean, bringing breakfast on a tray.

But the MP usually skips breakfast himself, preparing for the day with a mug of instant coffee instead.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was joined by his family as he hit the campaign trail in his North Somerset constituency in 2019

Winner: Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg at the count in Bath where he was re-elected with an overall majority of the vote in North East Somerset in 2019

Sir Jacob has now backed the call for Nigel Farage to be allowed back into the party, not only as a backbencher but to 'play a leading role'

He is hoping to hold onto his seat in North East Somerset, where he enjoyed 15,000 majority in 2019.

But the seat has now been changed in the boundary review to be called North East Somerset and Hanham, with a chunk of suburbia now added on.

Much of the area was Labour from 1997-2010, under an MP called Dan Norris, and he has returned to the electoral fray for a rematch with Sir Jacob this summer.

While out on the campaign trail Sir Jacob is known for his signature politeness, charm and flattery.

When one self-confessed 'old and cynical' voter complained that the 'country is in a mess', Sir Jacob responded by gesturing towards his wife saying 'this is a child bride!'.

The distinguished MP has now been campaigning for almost three decades, after his first attempt to be elected the MP for Central Fife failed in 1997.

During that campaign he famously took his nanny along with him in his mother's Mercedes Estate as they tirelessly and enthusiastically knocked on doors in the working-class Labour stronghold.

Much of the area was Labour from 1997-2010, under an MP called Dan Norris (pictured), and he has returned to the electoral fray for a rematch with Sir Jacob this summer

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg formally received his knighthood as the ex-Cabinet minister attended an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in September 2023

Sir Jacob was among several Conservative MPs to be handed a knighthood in Mr Johnson's resignation honours list in September 2023

He was joined at the Royal residence by his wife Helena de Chair and three of his six children; (left to right) Thomas, Mary and Peter in September 2023

He only won 9 per cent of the vote, but tried again at the 2001 general election, losing The Wrekin in Shropshire to Labour's Peter Bradbury.

From one to Sixtus! The Rees-Mogg children Jacob Rees-Mogg and his wife Helena de Chair have six children together. Their brood consists of: - Peter Theodore Alphege Rees-Mogg - Mary Anne Charlotte Emma Rees-Mogg - Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan Rees-Mogg - Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius Rees-Mogg - Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam Rees-Mogg - Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher Rees-Mogg The family live together in the 17th-century Gournay Court, a Grade II-listed country house, in the MP's Somerset constituency. Advertisement

In 2005 he failed to be selected in the fantastically posh London borough of Kensington and Chelsea for 'lacking the common touch'.

But in 2010 it all finally came good in Somerset North East, where his family has lived for centuries.

Since being elected Sir Jacob worked his way into cabinet and served as leader of the House of Commons and Brexit opportunities minister in Boris Johnson's administration.

Sir Jacob resigned from government in October 2022 when Rishi Sunak replaced Ms Truss in No10.

Since then he has joined TV channel GB News where he fronts his own show, titled 'Jacob Rees-Mogg's State of the Nation'.

Sir Jacob and his wife have six children, also including Alfred, Anselm and Sixtus.

He has previously revealed he'd like to have a seventh child but admitted his wife Helena 'is not so keen'.

The couple last had a child in 2017, with the arrival of son Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher.

The other children's full names are Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Peter Theodore Alphege, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam and Mary Anne Charlotte Emma Rees-Mogg.

Despite having so many children, Sir Jacob has previously revealed that he has never changed a nappy.

He ruled himself out from running to replace Theresa May as PM in 2019 by saying he had too many children to do the job.

The Rees-Mogg children posing for a group photo

He admitted taking charge of No10 would be 'very difficult' because he is a 'family man'.

The Rees-Mogg family live together in the 17th-century Gournay Court, a Grade II-listed country house, in the MP's Somerset constituency.

They also have a central London residence.

Sir Jacob's nanny, Veronica Crook, has worked for the family for more than half-a-century.

She was initially hired by his parents in 1965 after the birth of their second daughter Charlotte, to look after his sisters before Sir Jacob was even born.

Sir Jacob's father was William Rees-Mogg, a long-serving editor of The Times newspaper.

He attended Eton College and then Oxford University, where he became president of the Oxford University Conservative Association.

Sir Jacob worked in investment banking prior to becoming a politician and set up his own fund management firm, known as Somerset Capital Management.

Family man: Jacob and wife Helena with their children Peter, Alfred, Thomas, Mary, Sixtus and Anselm in 2018

He and his wife are estimated to enjoy a wealth of more than 100million.

Sir Jacob took an interest in investing at an early age and went along to the annual general meeting of the now-defunct General Electric Company as a shareholder at the age of 12.

After he appeared on BBC radio to speak about his attendance at the 1981 meeting, the young Sir Jacob later wrote to the broadcaster to ask to be paid 18 for the interview.

Sir Jacob was chair of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers between 2018 and 2019, as MPs engaged in fierce battles over the UK's exit from the EU.

His most committed fans have previously launched a 'Moggmentum' campaign in support of Sir Jacob.
Priti Patel was all smiles on Derby Day at Epsom this afternoon, pictured in a baby blue floral dress, and adorned with a nude hairband and jewelled earrings as she passed cameras on raceday.

The former Home Secretary and current MP for Witham returned to the racecourse in Surrey this year, reprising her band from 2023 as she joined some 60,000 people expected to attend over the weekend.

Dame Priti Patel has managed to largely avoid the spotlight in recent months, barring a few critical comments on the government's Rwanda policy failures and the need for unity within the Conservative Party.

But political commentators have begun to catch on to the stirrings of a possible return to the front benches in recent months, suggesting she could be well-placed to replace Rishi Sunak if he slips out of view after the upcoming General Election.

Priti Patel attends the 2024 Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 1

The former Home Secretary has been pegged as the possible next leader of the Tory party

Priti Patel wore a light blue floral dress and brown loafers to the Epsom raceday this year

Patel was among those bracing cool 15C temperatures and high winds on a blustery Derby Day in Epsom this year.

In spite of the weather, she and many thousands of other attendees made sure they were dressed to impress, with floral frocks and statement hats the order of the day.

Patel was pictured wearing light brown suede with a cream clutch and two white-silver bracelets, matching the colour of her blue and white one-piece.

She appeared to be enjoying the sport, having returned this year after being snapped at the races in June 2023 - a gift of three tickets from Epsom priced at 1,050.

It was a rare appearance for Priti Patel, who resigned as Home Secretary with the appointment of Liz Truss as Prime Minister in 2022.

But whispers around Westminster are now starting to peg Priti as a 'good bet' for the next leader of the Conservative Party.

David Gauke, the former Justice Minister and Lord Chancellor under Theresa May, wrote in the New Statesman in February that he agreed with an assessment from former Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls that Patel 'might come through the middle and be a surprise winner of the next Tory leadership election'.

Assuming Rishi Sunak would fight and lose the July 4 election, he wrote ahead of its announcement that Patel would have the advantage of still being popular 'among most Tory MPs' and focused on recovering votes lost to Reform with a new approach.

Gauke judged that Patel would be able to 'unite the right' by bringing Boris Johnson back into the fold - and bringing in Nigel Farage.

He reasoned that Patel had stuck with Johnson until the end of his premiership and was in a better position to build bridges within the party.

Another Conservative Party insider told GB News in April: Priti would make an excellent Leader of the Party. Shes bright, articulate, charismatic and has experience across the highest levels of government.'

'Shes kept out of the factionalism over the last few years and because she hasnt been publicly critical of Rishi, and was yet loyal to Boris and Liz, she would be able to unite the Party,' they agreed.

Shes also ideally placed to take on Reform.

Stephen Bush, associate editor and columnist at the Financial Times, assessed in November that Patel was the 'biggest threat to Braverman's hopes of emerging as the right's standard-bearer at the next leadership election' as the outgoing Home Secretary slammed the Prime Minister with a letter accusing him of breaking promises.

Bush reasoned that Braverman making the complaints only after leaving office would empower her critics, while Patel had 'forcefully and openly' been raising the concerns about the party direction addressed in the letter.

Indeed, in February 2024 Patel wrote for the Mail On Sunday that the asylum system was 'broken', outlining her own 'clear approach' in government in 2021 and outlining the three objectives she had focused on.

More recently, she stood by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a fundraising dinner in Tiverton, judging his treatment by the party a 'disgrace'.

'Having been blessed and served as your Home Secretary for over three years until our party unceremoniously ejected Boris Johnson as the leader, our track record was outstanding,' she said.

Priti Patel in a baby blue frock at the Epsom Derby Day in Surrey on Saturday

She appeared to be enjoying the sport, having returned this year after being snapped at the races in June 2023

Priti Patel pictured at the Derby Day race in Epsom on June 3, 2023

But reconsolidating unity in the party would be the next challenge.

'We have to look forwards, not backwards, but we have to do something else: stick together,' she said.

I think Boris Johnson absolutely makes the weather in our party still,' she said, after reflecting on the challenges of modern politics and the threat to the Tories posed by Reform.

'I think people should remember an 80-seat majority doesnt come out as thin air; thats a force of personality.

'Theres a force of conviction and charisma, and sometimes you know what you need in politics; you need both,' the former Home Secretary concluded at the time.

'And when they come together, you can get 80-seat majorities, and they dont grow on trees.'
City chiefs in Venice have introduced strict new rules to control the number of visitors entering the UNESCO protected Italian city famous for its waterways.

Tourists entering Venice currently have to pay a 4-a-head tax for visiting, while large cruise ships have been banned from entering the port.

Now, officials have blocked the use of loudspeakers by those organising tour groups, while numbers on an individual tour have been capped at 25.

It is believed these new restrictions will reduce the impact of over-tourism.

There are approximately 250,000 people living in the region although only approximately 60,000 live in the Renaissance city itself.

Police clashed with protesters in Venice following the introduction of a 4-a-day tourist tax

The city, with its 15 canals has been a victim of too much tourism which causes damage to the city's architecture

The tourist tax was introduced in April in an effort to provide the city with extra resources to restrict the damage caused by too much tourism

Massimo Cacciari, who was mayor of the city from 1993 until 2000 and 2005 to 2010, stressed that tourists already 'pay for everything' and that he would 'invite everyone not to pay' the 5 (4.30) fee as it comes into effect on Thursday.

He noted that day visitors already pay 'three times as much as residents' for public transport in the city, and that travellers all contribute to the longevity of Venice's restaurants and museums.

In scathing remarks, Cacciari added that he would 'love to see' city authorities 'justify in a court the legitimacy of imposing a tax on entering the city'.

'What are they going to do, block people's movement, send out the police to ask to see everyone's papers?' he told Adnkronos news agency.

Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-tripper tourists, aimed at reducing the number of short-stay visitors who cause unmanageable congestion in peak times.

The 'tourist tax' has been controversial, with several residents' committees and associations planning protests to coincide with the launch in Italy. Representatives argue the fee will not fix the fundamental issues but only cloud the city's public image.

Authorities hope this might help manage the flow of some 30 million tourists drawn in by the city's history and romantic canals each year.

The scheme will be implemented only on the 29 busiest days of the calendar year.

Those who choose to stay in a hotel overnight will be exempted.

Residents, commuters, students and children under 14 will also be let off the fee.

Day-trippers will have to buy a ticket online that will provide them with a QR code. Stewards will be carrying out random checks to ensure cooperation, with power to issue fines ranging from 50 to 300 for being caught without a code.
The remains of a Jewish American World War II soldier have been brought back to the US 80 years after he went missing and was discovered in a mass grave alongside Nazi soldiers.

Lieutenant Nathan Baskind, the son of Jewish Lithuanian and Russian immigrants, served in D-Day then disappeared in the Battle of Cherbourg on June 23, 1944.

The soldiers fate went unknown for decades and he is listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

A genealogist touring a German military cemetery noticed Baskind's name on a plaque under three crosses and contacted Operation Benjamin, an organization that works to identify Jewish American soldiers buried under incorrect religious markers.

'I had tremendous existential angst, that this kid was not at rest, and was mixed up with the enemy,' Shalom Lamm, co-founder of Operation Benjamin, told The New York Post.

Lieutenant Nathan Baskind (pictured), the son of Jewish Lithuanian and Russian immigrants, served in D-Day then disappeared in the Battle of Cherbourg on June 23, 1944

'You have a Jewish kid from Pittsburgh buried with these enemy soldiers,' he said emotionally.

Baskind served in Company C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion and was commanding a platoon of four M-10 tank destroyers on June 23, 1944 when he got shot by German soldiers, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

After the war, American Graves Registration Command personnel learned from German records that Baskind had been captured and died of his wounds at a hospital for German air force personnel.

He was originally buried with 23 German soldiers at the hospital, then in 1957 when officials were combining that grave with another they found one of his identification tags.

The German War Grave Commission - the Volksbund - reported locating one of Baskind's identification tags and portions of American military clothing, but failed to identify his remains.

Baskind's fate went unknown for decades until a genealogist touring a German military cemetery noticed his name on a plaque under three crosses (pictured)

His remains were found in the Marigny German War Graves Cemetery combined with 52 Nazi soldiers

His remains were then combined with 52 Nazi soldiers and moved to the Marigny German War Graves Cemetery.

After Lamm and his partner Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter were contacted about Baskind's gravesite, then began the process of exhuming his remains and bringing him home.

'I just couldn't stop until we finished. It just tore at my soul. We had to bring him home, that was it,' Lamm said.

On an unrelated trip over Memorial Day 2023, Lamm and Schacter led a delegation of 60 others to become the first Jews to visit Baskind in 79 years.

Baskind's great-niece, Samantha Baskind, a professor of art history and Holocaust studies at Cleveland University, pleaded with German Brigadier Gen. Dirk Backen to exhume his body.

'Knowing that he's been buried in a German cemetery, so far from home and under a cross is a jagged scar for my family,' Samantha told The Post.

The Volksbund, in conjunction with private researchers and Operation Benjamin were finally able to exhume the remains from the mass grave in December.

On May 29, he was transferred to the custody of the 21st Theater Sustainment mortuary affairs team and will be laid to rest later this year

'The grave itself was soaked in water, the dirt was the worst soil condition you could have. The anthropologists were saying you're not gonna find anything,' Lamm said.

'At every stage our chances of success get lower and lower and lower. It was looking very bleak, very depressing.'

By February 2024, researchers confirmed they had isolated and identified Baskind's remains.

On May 29, he transferred to the custody of the 21st Theater Sustainment mortuary affairs team and will be taken to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where he will be laid to rest later this year.

'The recovery of my great uncle, is almost surreal, it brings a measure of long-awaited solace to my family,' Samantha said.
A drunken ex-bank worker who stole a CCTV camera from his neighbour was caught after it continued broadcasting footage from inside his bedroom.

Gavin Pollard, 49, broke into the home using a copied key in September last year. CCTV footage caught him rummaging through his neighbours kitchen before leaving with the camera and 15 from her purse.

Pollard had lived with his aunt on Welby Road in Asfordby Hill, Leicestershire, since he was made redundant from his job in banking in 2015. She was good friends with her next-door neighbour for 50 years and had a key to her home.

After he left with the stolen possessions the CCTV camera was still connected to the neighbours WiFi and the neighbour immediately recognised Pollard.

Leicester Crown Court heard on Tuesday how Pollard, who now lives in Melton, had no recollection of the burglary.

Pollard had lived with his aunt on Welby Road in Asfordby Hill, Leicestershire, (pictured) since he was made redundant from his job in banking in 2015. In September last year he broke into his neighbours house using a copied key and took 15 worth of cash and a CCTV camera

The woman, who has difficulty hearing, had got the CCTV camera after 150 had been taken from her home, which was money left to pay the carers who visit her two times a day.

Pollard, who is not accused of the earlier burglary, was seen on the footage from the second burglary shining a torch around the kitchen as he searched before taking the cash and grabbing the camera.

The signal continued to send the footage back to the pensioner's home as Pollard took it to his bedroom at his aunt's house and the 96- year-old victim recognised her friend's son, who she had known for about 25 years.

Leicestershire Police went to arrest Pollard three days later and recovered the 15 cash and the copied key but the camera, worth 44, was never found.

Pollard was interviewed and denied the burglary, claiming the copied key was actually a key to his own home.

He later pleaded guilty to dwelling burglary with theft.

Helen Johnson, representing Pollard, told the court: 'This is an unusual set of circumstances. He drinks at night and he drinks to excess.

'The act itself is bizarre. He cannot come to terms with what he has done. She is a vulnerable person who never showed him anything but care.'

Leicester Crown Court heard that Pollard's neighbour got the camera following a different break-in where someone left with 150. Pollard is not accused of the earlier burglary. (stock image)

She said that after 20 years working in banking Pollard was made redundant and took an access course so that he could get a university degree.

But then the Covid pandemic began and he turned to alcohol abuse as his mental health deteriorated.

She said his behaviour was also partly due to the fact that Pollard was the victim of sexual abuse in his teenage years and 'people who have been sexually abused do react in different ways'. She asked the judge, Recorder Jacob Hallam KC, to suspend the inevitable prison sentence.

The judge said he wanted to know more about Pollard's mental problems and adjourned the sentencing for eight weeks so that a psychiatrist could speak to Pollard and write a report.

Pollard is due to be sentenced on Tuesday, July 23.
David Baddiel has backed the calls to preserve Jane Austen's heritage after a planning row broke out over proposals to turn a historic hotel where she celebrated her 18th birthday into student halls.

The plans are an attempt to transform the 500-year-old Dolphin Hotel in Southampton into student halls, but they have already received a flurry of objections from fans of the Pride and Prejudice writer.

Ms Austen is said to have celebrated her milestone birthday at the hotel in 1793 and attended two ballroom dances there.

Now Mr Baddiel, an ambassador of the author's Hampshire home museum, has called for the heritage of the building to be preserved.

'I agree that important elements of our history that are about great artists - and I do very much think that Jane Austen is a great artist, and very under-rated even though she's so popular - should be preserved, and I would be very happy about preserving anything that Jane Austen is involved with' he told The Telegraph.

David Baddiel has backed the calls to preserve Jane Austen's heritage after a planning row broke out

The plans are an attempt to transform the 500-year-old Dolphin Hotel in Southampton (pictured) into student halls, but they have already received a flurry of objections from fans of the Pride and Prejudice writer

Campaigners have even donned period costumes this week as they protested the plans to transform the hotel

Ms Austen is said to have celebrated her milestone birthday at the hotel in 1793 and attended two ballroom dances there

But the 60-year-old writer and comedian also stressed the importance of building new student accommodation.

He told the paper it would make him happy if the halls of residence could keep a 'tiny corner' at least informing students it was where Jane Austen danced when she was 18.

The planning application is currently under consideration by Southampton City Council.

The hotel underwent a 4 million redevelopment programme in 2010 which saw it reopened as a Mercure and more recently, the building became used exclusively for asylum seekers.

A heritage statement said student accommodation was considered the most suitable alternative option due to the minimal changes required to the listed building, with a demand for this housing in the city.

A letter submitted on behalf of the applicant by real estate company, Savills, said the plans will 'enable a long-term viable use of this important and prominent building'.

Nicky Chapman, Cheryl Butler, Eliot Horn, Norma Mackie and Jason Butler (pictured)

Cheryl Butler (pictured) in an orange period frock outside The Dolphin Hotel

Nicky Chapman (pictured) in a green period frock stood outside The Dolphin Hotel

In Austen's writings, she referenced an 'amusing' ball she attended at the Dolphin

Ms Austen even wrote about visiting the hotel in her works, writing: 'Our ball was rather more amusing than I expected.

'The room was tolerably full, and there were, perhaps, thirty couples of dancers. It was the same room in which we danced fifteen years ago.'

The historic hotel had other famous guests including Queen Victoria, Admiral Lord Nelson and William Shakespeare's theatre company.

Campaigners have even donned period costumes this week as they protested the plans to transform the hotel.

The Dolphin, which is rumoured to be haunted by six resident ghosts, is the oldest hotel in the port city with records dating back to 1454.

Under the new proposals, all 99 rooms will be transformed into student dwellings.

Austen fan Norma Mackey said when she first heard of the proposed development she 'nearly cried'.

But the 60-year-old writer and comedian also stressed the importance of building new student accommodation

'I did, I'm so passionate about this. As soon as I found out about it I contacted our theatre group so they knew what to do...objection, objection, objection.'

The retired health service worker, 69, said she 'objects strongly' to the change of use application and said all the history and architecture of the building will be 'lost' on the students staying there.

'I think they have shot themselves in the foot because they will lose a gem,' she added.

'If it goes Southampton has lost quite a lot of its heritage. It's disrespectful to the architect that designed it.'

Ms Mackey said the hotel is 'a jewel in Southampton's crown' and on the planning portal begged those considering the proposal to 'let people who take history seriously' enjoy the building.

Discussing the ball room, Ms Mackey said it's 'just a nice feeling to know that she's been here'.

'And I just love the architecture of the building as well,' she added.

Nicky Chapman, Cheryl Butler, Eliot Horn, Norma Mackie and Jason Butler outside The Dolphin Hotel

The hotel has been described as a 'jewel' with a 'rich history', spanning 500 years

The Southampton resident is part of the Sarah Siddons Fan Club which is a historical re-enactment theatre company named after Austen's favourite actress.

The group - which was set up by Cheryl Butler in 1985 - regularly take tourists to the hotel as it is the only remaining building in the port city that was stayed in by the author.

'The building dates back to the medieval period and it's amongst the most prominent in town,' Ms Butler said.

'Many important people have stayed there.'

The historian and honorary fellow at the University of Winchester said Shakespeare's theatre company, Jacques Francis and Lord Nelson are all among the hotels' previous guests.

'And of course, it's of an interest to the Jane Austen community,' she continued.

The Pride and Prejudice author celebrated her 18th birthday in the hotel on December 16, 1793, according to a plaque outside.

Eliot Horn (pictured) dressed in a red suit and hat outside The Dolphin Hotel, Southampton

Norma Mackie pictured in a purple frock and matching fan outside The Dolphin Hotel

'According to Jane's letters, she attended two other dances at the Dolphin ballroom, a beautiful bow-windowed room on the first floor,' it read.

Jennifer Weinbrecht, who owns the Jane Austen Book store in Novelty, Ohio, USA, also wrote on the Southampton portal on behalf of the 'international community of Jane Austen fans and scholars'.

'I request that you consider the cultural importance of the Dolphin Inn as the only remaining structure in Southampton with Jane Austen connections,' the 67 year old said.

'As we approach next year's 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, many of our customers and friends are making trips to the UK to visit Jane Austen sites.'

Ms Weinbrecht said Southampton is an important location on the 'extended Austen pilgrimage'.

The Sarah Siddons Fan Club said they will be holding a number of events next year to celebrate the anniversary and they were hoping to hold an event in the Jane Austen suite, in the hotel.
A mother left a judge in stunned silence after defending the man convicted of murdering her 13-week-old baby son.

Traveon Hughes Sr, 20, pleaded his innocence throughout his trial over the death of his son Traveon Jr, who choked to death on a baby wipe in June 2022.

After a jury convicted him this week of purposefully and fatally shoving the baby wipe down the infant's throat, the baby's mother Acieiona McEwan took to the stand at Hughes' sentencing to condemn the court's decision.

'Y'all is making a mistake,' she said. 'Y'all know what y'all did to my child, and y'all are not going to get away with this.'

Traveon Hughes Sr, 20, was sentenced to life in prison with parole at 15 years this week, after a jury convicted him of murdering his baby son by stuffing a baby wipe down his throat

Acieiona McEwan stunned the court at the sentencing, telling the judge that they were 'making a mistake' and are 'not going to get away with this'

McEwan warned the court that 'God gets the last word' and has reportedly argued that medical professionals are to blame for her son's death, as she was not the only one from Hughes' family pleading his innocence.

The convicted killer's mother, Sandra Norwood, told the court: 'Ohio is going to get sick of me, because justice will prevail.'

On Friday, Hughes was found guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child endangerment, as prosecutors argued that he shoved the baby wipe down his son's throat to stop him from crying.

The tragedy unfolded on June 25, 2022, two days after Hughes and McEwan moved from Chicago to Cleveland when they were both 18 years old.

Traveon Jr. was just 13 weeks old when he choked to death, with Hughes at home with his brother and girlfriend with the baby while McEwan was at work.

During the trial, Hughes testified in his own defense to claim that his baby son accidentally choked on the wipe, repots Cleveland.com.

He claimed he replaced a bib on his son's chest with the wipe after he spilled milk on it, but left the room for a short time to tend to wounds he suffered in a shooting in Chicago in December 2021, where he was shot 19 times in his legs and body.

When he returned, Hughes said he found his son choking on the wipe, and the infant was still alive when paramedics arrived.

Hughes claimed that his son Traveon Jr (pictured) accidentally choked, but prosecutors argued the infant was too small to be able to ball up a baby wipe and stuff it in his own mouth

Hughes was found guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child endangerment

The baby, who was born 13 weeks premature and was the size of a newborn, was later pronounced dead at hospital, where medics reportedly found the wipe still lodged in his throat.

Hughes maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and his attorney said at his sentencing that they 'disagree' with the jury's decision, adding: 'He did not recklessly or purposefully shove a baby wipe down his babys throat.'

Prosecutors countered that Traveon Jr. was too small to put the wipe in his own mouth and was not developed enough to even ball it up.

Images were shown to the court of his small hands, as Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Kerry Sowul argued he was too weak to have caused his own death.

'These precious little hands did not have the ability to pick up that wipe and shove it in his mouth, let alone ball it up and push it that far in,' she said.

At his sentencing, the judge imposed the maximum punishment sought by prosecutors - life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

Following the hearing, McEwan and Norwood said they blame the doctors at the hospital for mishandling the infant's treatment.

They claimed to have been prevented from collecting the baby's remains, and McEwan said she only learned earlier this year that her son was cremated - and still does not know where his ashes are.

Hughes maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and his partner and mother both slammed prosecutors for their role in the trial at his sentencing this week

While McEwan made her feelings over Hughes' innocence known, her own family slammed her at the sentencing for her outburst.

Her uncle Martrelle Wilcox said he just wanted justice for his great nephew, and told the court via videolink that Hughes 'doesn't deserve to see the light of day.'

'I dont usually wish jail on my worst enemy, but that boy couldnt even defend himself,' he said.

McEwan's father Acie also criticized his daughter's remarks on the sentencing, telling her to 'stop trying to take up for that man - he killed that baby.'
Its no wonder hes known as Telfon Don.

Trump touted DailyMail.coms latest poll during a Friday news conference in the wake of his felony conviction, declaring it proof that the American people are rallying to his side.

Indeed, the survey, conducted Thursday night after the verdict was announced, found that positive views of the ex-president among the electorate as a whole increased by six percentage points.

He is now viewed more favorably by nearly every voting bloc - except Democrats - than he was before the Manhattan jurys decision.

However, the public remains evenly split in their opinion of the former president - with 49 percent holding a positive perception and 48 holding a negative one.

This snapshot of voters also sheds new light on a trend that the Mail has been tracking over the last year: that as the number of indictments and now convictions against Trump have increased, so too has his public support.

Weve delved into the details of our polling, focus groups and field research to determine why.

Although former president Trump heaped praise on DailyMail's poll suggesting Americans aren't turned off by his conviction, a polling expert reveals why it may not translate to the ballot box

INDEPENDENTS STREAK TO TRUMP

Last August, I was speaking to a group of independent voters in Georgia when Fulton County officials released Trumps booking photo.

The now-infamous mugshot was taken after the ex-president surrendered to authorities on charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Upon seeing the image, heads shook and frowns were made.

Though, rather than expressing disapproval of Trumps alleged criminality, the focus groups view was that the state had gone too far. They perceived a political motivation behind the prosecution.

Since that day, the Mail's polling has seen Trumps positive favorability rating among independents increase from four percentage points behind Biden to three points ahead of the incumbent president.

That is not what many pundits predicted from independent-minded voters who tend to be college-educated suburbanites averse to political drama.

This week's new survey showed an additional four percentage point swing among these independents towards a more positive view of Trump.

Perhaps, a guilty verdict in any of the other cases pending against the 45th president would have influenced these voters differently: election conspiracy and mishandling classified documents are viewed rather more seriously.

But, it appears, independents largely do not think the hush-money case was undertaken with the right motives or that Trump's actions were troubling enough for the case to be charged.

With that information to hand, it is unsurprising that the verdict led to 20 percent of independents saying they feel more positive about Trump - and just 16 percent more negative.

And there was more good news for the Republican candidate in this survey

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 bump for Trump

MAGA WORLD RALLIES

The impulse to rally around Trump was most pronounced, unsurprisingly, among his base.

In our survey, 36 percent of Trump 2020 voters said his felony conviction made them feel more positive about him.

Fifty-four percent said the jurys decision had no impact on their feelings. And six percent said the guilty verdict made them feel more negative.

Voters aged 65 and up were largely unmoved by the verdict. Only 11 percent came away with a more negative opinion. Nearly seven in 10 seniors said their opinions - either positive or negative - hadn't changed.

Those results would be consistent with the feedback I received while on the ground in snowy Iowa this January, as the state prepared for its first-in-the-nation caucus.

I sat down with Rocky, a 69-year-old registered Republican, who told me that early in the Republican presidential race he was most interested in backing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential nominee. But as Trump's indictments started dropping in early 2023, Rocky said, his final choice became clear.

Trump is a fighter, struggling against a corrupt state, he said. To Rockys mind, Trump deserved his support.

The overwhelmingly positive response to the verdict among the party faithful indicates that Trump remains on track to retain and even build on the high-level of enthusiasm among his bedrock of supporters.

Never-Trump GOP voters are another story

Trump opponents celebrated the result outside the courthouse

GOP OLD GUARD UPSET - BUT FOR HOW LONG?

The Mail's poll suggests that Trump still faces a challenge when it comes to mobilizing a significant group of Republicans.

One in ten GOPers said that they have a more negative view of Trump after the verdict. These people fall heavily within the moderate conservative camp.

Often having backed Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis in the primaries, these are the remnants of the partys old guard: they are generally older, affluent, college-educated and from business backgrounds.

In the pithy words of one, a retiree from North Carolina: For Republicans like myself it's all very embarrassing. It's like finding out your sister is a prostitute.

But will these Republicans really take this grievance all the way to November?

Both Haley and DeSantis - despite their sometimes brutal clashes with Trump - have now officially endorsed him.

The prize of lower taxes  with Trumps tax cuts set to expire in 2025 and more conservative Supreme Court appointments  might just persuade these moderates to get on board.

Bidens base is another story

Following his 2024 election rival's conviction, President Biden condemned Trump's response and said it is 'irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict'

DEMOCRATS OUTRAGED BUT UNMOVED

President Bidens typical base-voter detests Donald Trump.

When asked to describe their reaction to the verdict, this groups number one emotional response was happy and the most common word to describe their rationale was that Trump is a criminal.

But that is how a vast majority of Democrats have long felt. Last year, when the Mail asked Democrats to sum up their view of Trump in a word, they said criminal then too.

Fifty-five percent said their negative opinion of Trump remained unchanged by the verdict this week. Only two in 10 Dems told us that they now felt more negative about him.

Core elements of the partys base were similarly unaffected.

Two in 10 young voters - between the ages of 18 and 29 - said their negative opinions about Trump were not changed. Nineteen percent felt more negative about him.

Also concerning for Democrats, it appears Bidens base is not only unenthusiastic - but fractured.

In general, young voters are angry with Biden over his handling of the war in Gaza. Our March poll showed the Presidents favorability ratings down 20 percentage points among 18 to 29-year-old women since October 7.

Strikingly, 35 percent of black voters in this week's survey said their positive perception of Trump actually increased while 19 percent turned sour on him.

Black Americans, so crucial to Bidens re-election, are leaning towards voting for Independent candidate RFK Jr, or not voting at all, in numbers that are very dangerous for Biden.

Biden is also only projected to hold onto 73 percent of his 2020 voting base compared to Trumps 86 percent.

If the Presidents campaign thought that the verdict would energize and unify their traditional voters - our survey suggests they should think again.

The reason for the apathy of Bidens base is negative views of the president himself. To change that Democrats will need to bolster their candidate instead of simply criticizing the largely known quantity that is Donald Trump.

What our polling does not answer is: what happens if Trump is sent to prison?

Such a seismic moment could galvanize the Trump base further, or put off the wavering independents and Never-Trump Republicans once and for all.
Diane Abbott won her trial of strength with Sir Keir Starmer with the help of hard-Left activists who talk to each other using bird-based codenames.

That is the claim being made by allies of the Labour leader, who are blaming the mysterious Socialist Action group for helping to create such a storm of protest over Ms Abbott's alleged treatment that Starmer was eventually forced to let the veteran MP stand for election again.

The Trotskyist group, which has praised hardline communist states, was formed in the 1980s when the Hackney MP was starting her rise to power: as an 'entryist' outfit, members would work within other organisations without revealing their true affiliation. A website is the only visible sign of its existence.

'They are so weird,' said a senior Starmer ally. 'They meet in pubs using codenames based on birds, calling themselves things like 'green kingfisher' and 'song thrush' and idolise awful places such as North Korea. We are sure they were whipping up all the outrage and confusion over whether Diane would be allowed to stand again.'

The row erupted over Labour HQ's very public agonising over whether Abbott should be allowed to run despite a year-long suspension for suggesting that Jewish and Irish people did not experience racism 'all their lives'. It has exposed deep rifts behind the outwardly smooth Starmer operation.

In a conspicuously unambiguous report on the front page of The Times last Wednesday, readers were told that although Abbott had just had the whip restored, 'the Labour leadership has concluded that there are no circumstances in which she will stand under its banner on July 4'. She would be 'allowed' to retire 'with dignity', it said. Two days later, Starmer announced that Abbott, 70, could stand as a Labour candidate again.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Boris Johnson will miss the election campaign and Tories are panicking... but a fresh purge of Boris fans by No10 is still in full swing, write GLEN OWEN and ANNA MIKHAILOVA Advertisement

Momentum, the Left-wing campaign group which propelled Jeremy Corbyn to the Labour leadership in 2015, responded to the botched hit-job on Abbott by saying: 'You come at the queen, you better not miss. Diane Abbott has been bullied and abused her whole career. Starmer tried to force her out. She held firm  and won.'

The Times briefing sparked a fierce 'whodunnit' debate, with insiders convinced that the authoritative tone of the report pointed to the source being Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's feared campaign chief. For more than two years, it is claimed, the 47-year-old from County Cork has been working tirelessy to parachute favoured Right-wing candidates into safe seats, working in close concert with Matt Pound, the former national organiser of the modernising Labour First organisation, and Matt Faulding, the Parliamentary Labour Party Secretary.

A number of Labour MPs believe that these 'boys'  as they have been nicknamed to the fury of Starmer  effectively run internal party management processes, with the party leader himself reduced to a rubber-stamping role.

And they say that the 'boys' have been fighting a turf war with Sir Keir's chief of staff, Sue Gray, the formidable ex-civil servant now trying to exert her own control over the party.

It soon became clear that Abbott had no plans to retire  or be dignified. Her return to the fold was secured when deputy leader Angela Rayner  looking noticably relieved after Manchester police concluded that her infamously complex living arrangements did not give rise to criminal liability  declared: 'I don't see any reason why Diane Abbott can't stand as a Labour MP going forward.

'I am saying that as the deputy leader of the Labour Party.'

Diane Abbott's return to Sir Keir Starmer's Labour fold was secured when deputy leader Angela Rayner declared: 'I don't see any reason why she can't stand as a Labour MP'

Faiza Shaheen, pictured with Jeremy Corbyn, was blocked for liking a series of social media posts that allegedly downplayed anti-Semitism accusations

Starmer is described as being 'furious' about the entire imbroglio, with the muscle-flexing by the left reviving fears that the ghost of former leader Jeremy Corbyn  who is banned from standing as a Labour candidate  is yet to be fully exorcised by Sir Keir's new model army of voter-friendly moderates. When Mr Corbyn was party leader, a number of his allies, including his chief of staff Simon Fletcher, were linked to Socialist Action.

The Starmer ally fumed: 'Diane's had a long association with that Socialist Action lot. They might be strange, but annoyingly they are also very capable'.

The clash between the two flanks of the party is exemplified in Islington North, where Corbyn is standing in the seat he has represented since 1983 as an independent against the official Labour candidate, Praful Nargund - a wealthy Starmerite. Nargund, a local councillor, is a multi-millionaire behind a chain of family-owned IVF clinics.

The Bradford-born private healthcare entrepreneur, who was educated at the now 25,000-per-year King's College School in Wimbledon, holds more than 9.4million worth of shares in his family's holding company.

The 'purge' of the party's hard-Left has also swept away Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, who was suspended, and Faiza Shaheen, the candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, who was not endorsed. Ms Shaheen was blocked for liking a series of social media posts that allegedly downplayed anti-Semitism accusations; Mr Russell-Moyle said that he was treated as a 'sacrificial lamb' by the party after he was blocked from standing because of what he called a 'vexatious' complaint about his conduct.

Nancy Platts, a former Jeremy Corbyn aide, said she had put herself forward to replace Mr Russell-Moyle, but during her interview it was tweeted that Chris Ward, a former Starmer aide, would be the candidate.

Abbott has described it as an 'appalling cull' of the Left.

Starmer is also struggling to keep a lid on splits in the party over another Corbyn-Abbott grievance: his perceived pro-Israeli stance.

Imams across Britain are issuing 'fatwas' to their flocks to vote for independent candidates against Labour incumbents.

Morgan McSweeney, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's feared campaign chief

The clerics are using the pulpits of their mosques and their social media channels to instruct followers to vote only for candidates that support the Palestinian cause, and condemning Starmer's party as 'Zionist'.

The Muslim Vote, which was set up earlier this year, is urging the country's 3.9m Muslims to kick out all MPs who voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, or abstained.

As Wes Streeting reveals in his MoS interview today, the issue is so inflammatory that, as a Starmer loyalist, he has had stop using public transport because of the risk to his safety.

Even if he wins the thumping majority predicted by the polls, Starmer will struggle to contain these widening fissures in his party.

Election team: Glen Owen, Brendan Carlin, Anna Mikhailova, Dan Hodges, Abul Taher and Daisy Graham-Brown
A Minnesota man charged with the murder of his pregnant sister and her unborn child has been seen for the first time since being charged.

Jack Joseph Ball, 23, is facing two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his sister Bethany Israel, 30.

Police were called to the home of Ball in Lakeville, Minnesota, last Thursday after family members grew concerned for Israel.

Israel was between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant at the time and officers entered the property to discover 'several dismembered body parts' belonging to her.

On Friday, Ball was formally booked into Dakota County Jail with a court appearance set for June 10.

Jack Joseph Ball, seen here, is facing two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his sister Bethany Israel

Israel was between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant at the time and officers entered the property to discover 'several dismembered body parts' belonging to her

While searching the residence officers found several journals belonging to Ball detailing how he was angry that his sister was pregnant and 'no longer innocent.'

Responding officers discovered Ball covered in blood after he was seen fleeing the scene before he was taken into custody and charged.

On Friday, he was formally booked into Dakota County Jail with a court appearance set for June 10.

According to charging documents seen by DailyMail.com, Lakeville Police responded to a 911 call from the mother of Israel.

Family members were concerned when Israel hadn't returned home after having dinner with her brother earlier that evening.

The woman said she drove to the home and saw Ball quickly leave the premises, telling officers that 'he just tore out of the house'.

After entering the home, the family member said she saw a 'substantial' amount of blood and called 911.

Responding officers entered the home to find a large pool of blood on the kitchen floor, under the sink and on the sink cabinets.

They also found a bloody saw, hatchet, and large knives covered in blood as they made their way through the house as well as his journals.

Responding officers entered the home, seen here, to find a large pool of blood on the kitchen floor, under the sink and on the sink cabinets

As they combed the property they then located several dismembered body parts they believed to belong to Israel.

While police searched for Ball, they received another 911 call from a resident in nearby Rosemount.

The resident had seen a man leave what they believed to be a body part on their front porch via their ring camera.

As officers responded to the address, they located Ball in the backyard of a neighboring property.

Police described how Ball was covered in blood on his head, shirt, arms legs and pants and had a self-inflicted knife wound across his throat.

Ball was able to communicate with officers and told them the date, time and name of the current president before he was taken into custody and to a local hospital.

After searching the area, they found more dismembered body parts believed to belong to Israel.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death as being 'complex homicidal violence'.

Neighbor Cindy Bond, who lives across the street, told KSTP: 'My husband heard a female scream. Then a minute thereafter there was shouting and a car peel off.'

On Tuesday, Ball appeared in Dakota County District Court through video conference from hospital.

His bail was set in the amount of $2 million without conditions and $1 million with conditions by Judge Bryce Ehrman.

Bethany Israel, seen here with her husband Josh, had been between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant at the time

Family members had been concerned when Israel hadn't returned home after having dinner with her brother

Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said: 'The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and horrific, words can't describe what our law enforcement partners encountered during the investigation.

'My office will work hard to ensure the victims receive justice and will provide the necessary support for the victims' family.'

A GoFundMe has now been set up to help Israel's husband Josh and her family following her death.

A post to the fundraiser said: 'Bethany was not only a cherished wife, daughter, sister, and an expectant mother but also a beloved figure in the volleyball community.

'Bethany's radiant spirit and unwavering kindness touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her.

'Her love for life, her family, and the friendships she nurtured are the legacies she leaves behind.

'As a beacon of warmth and generosity, Bethany's absence leaves a void that cannot be filled.

'Please hold Bethany's family in your thoughts and prayers as they endure this difficult journey.'
A rapist who put his victim in a cage and treated her like a dog in a violent tirade of sexual abuse has been jailed for more than 13 years.

Connor Jay McLachlan, 28, from Port Talbot, Wales, crushed the woman's self-esteem so much that she was convinced he would be acquitted of all charges against him.

Instead, the 28-year-old was found guilty of 11 charges, including rape and sexual assault, following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

Every time the woman tried to end her relationship with McLachlan he would bombard her with messages, turn up at her door, refuse to take no for an answer, and spread messages about her on social media.

Despite the physical, emotional and sexual violence, his victim, who must remain anonymous for legal reasons, said his constant manipulation and control meant: 'It was easier to live with the abuse than have the backlash of him. It was easier to just shut up.'

Connor Jay McLachlan, 28, (pictured) was jailed for 13 years and three months for subjecting his victim to a violent tirade of sexual abuse

After one violent incident, the victim was forced to walk home to her property covered in bruises and with ripped clothes and no phone

McLachlan isolated his victim from her family and friends, encouraged her to move to an area away from her support systems and blamed her for the violence he inflicted on her.

He made her believe it was her fault that he couldn't control himself, that it was her fault that he would beat and rape her and that she deserved to be forced to act like a dog and be spat on.

It was only after a traumatic incident in which she lost a baby while pregnant and McLachlan screamed at her that she decided she couldn't put up with the abuse any more.

She successfully cut him off for two weeks but the day she returned to her home he turned up and tried to force his way in.

The woman said: 'That's when I reported it then because I thought: "He's going to kill me".'

McLachlan was arrested in September 2023. In March, he was found guilty of controlling or coercive behaviour; intentional strangulation; four counts of damaging property; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; sending a letter to cause distress; two counts of sexual assault; and rape.

He was found not guilty of two further counts of intentional strangulation and rape. On April 25, he was jailed for 13 years and three months and handed a rare lifetime restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his victim. He will serve at least 10 years in prison before he is eligible for release.

Despite the prison sentence, the victim says she still feels terrified of her former partner. She said: 'I don't sleep because of it, my anxiety is awful. I keep getting flashbacks. I am [still scared], I know when he says something he means it. Even now he is in jail he's told people he will wait until he is out.'

As well as physical violence, McLachlan was convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour, something his former partner started almost immediately.

Every time the woman tried to end her relationship with McLachlan he would bombard her with messages

She said: 'He started controlling me straight away. He'd take my phone, reply to my friends' messages or message people so that we wouldn't speak. To be honest I didn't really notice it in the beginning. Other people would tell me things about him and I would brush it off.

'I think you just learn to live with it. It got worse when I moved here because I was out of the way of everyone, I didn't have any friends, and I wasn't allowed to see anyone.

'He completely isolated me. If I wasn't with him he would ring me non stop and I'd have to answer him. I'd have to answer him straight away. If I didn't he would come here kicking off so I would have to put the children in bed so they wouldn't see it.'

The woman claimed one of the physical attacks even happened in public.

She recalled: 'He beat me up one night after we had been out drinking. He dragged me by my hair, strangled me, I thought he was going to kill me in the lane by my house. He didn't care about being in public.'

The victim continued: 'It was always that I pushed him. At one point he had a machete to my hair and said he was going to kill me. He just wanted more and more from me.

'He took my phone and keys off me and hid them so I couldn't leave. I did try to get out of the window but he dragged me back in. When we went to bed then that's when that [rape] happened.'

After one violent incident, she was forced to walk home to her property covered in bruises and with ripped clothes and no phone. She said: 'It was humiliating. He could have taken me but he wanted the humiliation of that.'

In videos shared with a reporter, McLachlan can be seen ripping the woman's Ring doorbell camera off the wall and smashing it. On voice notes he can be heard screaming aggressively at her. He can be heard shouting that she has options 'to help herself' from his abuse by complying.

The victim said: 'He wanted to kill me. It was always the same eyes and I've even got a scar now. And he bit my nose so I have a scar there. My whole body was covered, he ripped all my hair out.

Recalling the five-day trial at Swansea Crown Court (pictured) in March, the victim said it was 'petrifying'

'It got to the point where it was every other day to every day. He would put me in the kitchen and make me act like a dog. He would spit on me and put me in the cage and treat me like a dog.'

She said that her injuries meant she would rarely leave the house and on times she did it was only to take her children to school, adding: 'I'd run the kids to school and come straight back and that was my day. I couldn't take the children to school when I was black and blue. I was lying to everyone.'

McLachlan's threatening messages included tirades like: 'You've got options here now to help yourself. Help me to help you because I can't control myself, like you already know. I'm not turning around, nothing is going to stop me. So ring me now, while I'm still calm, before I'm losing my head.'

Recalling the five-day trial at Swansea Crown Court in March, the victim said it was 'petrifying'. She said McLachlan was laughing from the dock, prompting the judge to highlight his lack of accountability and remorse.

The woman added: 'It traumatised me so much. I went to the court behind a board because I didn't want to see his face but I wanted the jury to see how small I was compared to him. It was scary being in the same room as him, I didn't want to be anywhere near him.'

Speaking of the verdict, she said, 'I was quite gobsmacked, because he put so much blame on me I thought he would get away with it.

'He's knocked so much confidence out of me.The amount of self doubt and lack of confidence I have. I think if she didn't come to my house that day I'd still be crying in the corner.

'I just want people to know who he is and what he is and to prevent this from happening to anyone else. And because I need to get over it as well and I need to realise that it wasn't my fault. I want to help other people too.'
A female Ukrainian war paramedic who was killed by Putin's forces left a poignant letter to her grieving brother just before she died.

In the extraordinary posthumous letter, Iryna Tsybukh, 25, wrote 'For only the brave have happiness, and it is better to die running than to live rotting.'

The fearless paramedic was tragically killed this week in shelling by Vladimir Putin's invading army.

The brave woman had risked her life since the start of the conflict more than two years ago and saved countless wounded soldiers, giving them urgent first aid.

She publicised her work and inspired others to follow her to the war zone to fight against Putin's forces.

Fearless paramedic Iryna Tsybukh, 25, wrote a moving letter to her 18-year-old brother just before she died

The war paramedic had been on the battlefield since the conflict began more than two years ago but was killed by Russian shelling earlier this week

In an intensely moving letter, she wrote: 'To have the strength to be a free person, you need to be brave.

'For only the brave have happiness, and it is better to die running than to live rotting.'

Praised this week for her inspirational work by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, she urged her countrymen: 'Be worthy of the exploits of our heroes, do not be sad, be brave.'

Iryna penned the heart wrenching letter to her younger brother Yuri just over a year ago and the 18-year-old has now released it after her death on Wednesday May 29.

She wrote: 'The 5th crew and I are working for reconnaissance of the 80th brigade, 'Dream On' by Aerosmith is playing in the background, and I [realise] there have been so many opportunities to die this year, so I decided to write a posthumous letter,'.

She gave her reflections on life and also death, which she saw all around her.

'It is sad that we live so weakly, dependent on social approval of life, that only death allows us to live in absolute freedom.

'However, the trouble is that life is over, and this freedom no longer has any meaning.'

The Ukrainian fighter wrote: 'To have the strength to be a free person, you need to be brave.' in the powerful letter only now revealed by her younger brother

The brave paramedic made it clear in her letters she was proud of her work and wanted to inspire others to resist the Russian expansion into Ukraine

Iryna said in her posthumous missive: 'Most of all I want to say thank you to myself, my parents, brother, family and friends, thank you for allowing me to be free, to live the life I want.

'A full-scale war forced me to stop being a slave to fears.'

She made clear she was 'doing what I want' in resisting Russian expansion into Ukraine.

'I don't feel sorry for dying, because I'm finally living the life I would like.

'Today everything is behind me, my life is over and it was important for me to go through it with dignity: to be an honest, kind, loving person.

'Today we work for heroes and this is a good opportunity to confirm our values - to truly be that person.' she wrote.

To her brother Yuri she said: 'We loved each other, we were a wonderful brother and sister, those were good times.

'Let these memories warm you, motivate you, but in no way upset you.

'To have the strength to be a free person, you need to be brave.'

Separately she grieved for what she could never have because of Putin's invasion.

'I want children. I want a house. I want to plant tomatoes... but ending the war is most important,' she said.

'War is the worst place I've ever been, but it gives a ticket to real life, to a world of genuine independence - it brands the knowledge of the fleetingness of existence.'

In a video she said: 'Courage is when you are scared, but you have something more than fear, something more important.

'And you are ready to die for it, and you are ready to live for it.

'You know what is really difficult in war?

'When your mum calls you from her basement, because Lviv is under fire, and you are risking your life.

'But your mum is in Lviv [western Ukraine], far from the front line with my brother and father, grandmother, relatives.

'I realise they are not protected either.

'I am so angry that Russia is reaching so far.

'I am so angry that I cannot protect them.

'Despite the fact that I'm at the front, I'm doing everything here to stop the [Russian] scum from advancing.

'And still, I'm not doing enough, because [my family] is unprotected and in danger.'

Zelensky hailed the paramedic in a nightly address this week.

'Iryna Tsybukh, a combat medic from the Hospitallers Medical Battalion, died in action in Kharkiv region,' he said.

'She was one of those who not only defended the country, but also worked tirelessly to encourage others to join, train, and learn how to be effective.

'She was deeply involved in frontline medicine, honouring our warriors and memorialising the feats of Ukrainians.'

Zelensky offered his condolences 'to all Iryna's comrades and friends, her loved ones, to everyone who knew her and she inspired to fight for Ukraine and achieve results for Ukraine.

'It is very important that her work - and the efforts of all our fallen heroes - goes on.'
Bella Hadid and her sister Gigi are collectively donating one million dollars (785,000) to support relief efforts in Palestine, the model's agent has confirmed.

A representative for Bella told the PA news agency the money has been earmarked for equal distribution among four humanitarian organisations that have a focus on children and families: Heal Palestine, Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), World Central Kitchen (WCK), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The pair, whose father is Palestinian property tycoon Mohamed Anwar Hadid, have been vocal in their support for the people of Palestine amid the conflict in Gaza.

After Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, Gigi, 29, who has modelled for design houses including Versace and Chanel and co-hosts Netflix's Next In Fashion reality competition, wrote on Instagram: 'My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict - too many of which are children.

'I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily.'

Gigi (left) and Bella Hadid (right), whose father is Palestinian property tycoon Mohamed Anwar Hadid (centre), have been vocal in their support for the people of Palestine amid the conflict in Gaza

Bella was pictured attending a pro-Palestine rally in New York City in May of 2021

Thousands of Israelis attended a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday demanding a ceasefire

Protesters called on the government to accept the ceasefire proposals laid out by President Joe Biden and for the hostages to be returned

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages call for their release in a rally in Tel Aviv

She added: 'While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.'

It comes as thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand the government accept the ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden, with many fearing his proposal would be disowned.

Israeli and US flags dotted the crowd in the central plaza they have dubbed Hostages Square, alongside banners urging: 'Bring them home!'

The US president said on Friday that Israel was offering a new three-stage roadmap towards a full ceasefire, including the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

Demonstrators told AFP they were worried that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would disown the deal.

In May, Bella, 27, who was named model of the year by the British Fashion Council in 2022 and has 29 international Vogue covers, wrote on social media that she was 'devastated at the loss of the Palestinian people and the lack of empathy coming from the government systems worldwide'.

At the Cannes film festival last month she wore a red and white dress made of keffiyeh, a traditional Arabic cloth that is associated with Palestine.

She wrote on Instagram that is was 'a beautiful way to represent the history, labor of love, resilience and, most importantly, the art of historic Palestinian embroidery'.

Their real estate mogul father has called president Joe Biden a 'Zionist war criminal' who will be 'hunted down like the nazis' in an Instagram post.

In a different message, the millionaire wrote: 'We don't need to ask for a ceasefire. We are indigenous to the land. We demand an end to the occupation and an end to colonialism.'

Hadid has previously stepped in to defend his model daughters, who are outspoken about their support for Palestine.

He said: 'My kids always have followed their intuition when it comes to human torture and human nature - what happens to humans on earth.

'From the disaster in Turkey to the famine in Africa and homelessness in Southeast Asia, they have been involved in these things, building schools for UNICEF and so on.

'It's always been a humanitarian issue in their blood, nothing to do with being Palestinian.'

At the Cannes film festival last month Bella wore a red and white dress made of keffiyeh, a traditional Arabic cloth that is associated with Palestine

Gigi and Bella Hadid 's real estate mogul father Mohamed has called president Joe Biden a 'Zionist war criminal' who will be 'hunted down like the Nazis'

Hadid has previously stepped in to defend his model daughters (pictured), who are outspoken about their support for Palestine

Mohamed, who was born into a Palestinian family in Nazareth, has been a fierce critic of the western world's support of Israel following the October 7 attack.

Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others in the October 7 attack.

It sparked a war with Israel in which more than 36,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its count.

Netanyahu insisted on Saturday that the plan laid out by Biden did not preclude fighting on until Hamas's ability to rule Gaza and pose a threat to Israel had been destroyed. Hamas said it viewed the plan 'positively'.

The Israeli prime minister has been under pressure both to secure the release of hostages but also from his far-right coalition partners who have threatened to bring down his government if he agrees to end the war without the destruction of Hamas.

'We have to have a deal. It's the moral thing to do. We've got to get them back,' said Glick Gilad, 51, holding a US flag at a separate, anti-government protest in Tel Aviv.
Bill Maher floated that jail time for recently convicted felon Donald Trump could lead to unrest in the latest episode of Real Time.

A New York jury found the former president guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels on Thursday and he will be sentenced on July 11.

Trump supporters have called for murder in the wake of his criminal conviction, with some saying was 'time to start capping [shooting] some Lefties' and suggested that 'somebody should take care of' the judge who presided over the case.

Maher suggested on Friday's episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher' that if the ex-president gets sentenced to jail time a 'race war' could breakout.

'I mean, MAGA nation will go nuts, I don't know if that's a reason to or not to do something, but they will,' Maher said.

Bill Maher suggested on Friday's episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher' that if the ex-president gets sentenced to jail time a 'race war' could breakout

'I've heard some people say if his name wasn't Donald Trump, he would definitely get jail time. But sending a former American president to jail, I don't know if that's something - I'm asking.'

Furious Trump supporters shared pictures of upside down American flags - a symbol used by insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 - prompting many to wondering if a similar event will occur when he is sentenced.

'A civil war in this country, I'm sorry to say, becomes a race war. That's the sad truth about this country,' Maher said.

'If they put him in jail, I mean, the first thing his supporters are gonna say is, "Oh, that's what it is." A Black district attorney. You know, all these people who are the district attorneys, they're black. The judge was not White. This is what it is,' Maher said.

Maher's guest, Former Colorado Republican Congressman Ken Buck said it is unlikely Trump will get jail time based on precedent.

Trump supporters have called for murder in the wake of his criminal conviction

Following his conviction, furious Trump supporters shared pictures of upside down American flags - a symbol used by insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod said, 'Listen, a lot of people in my tribe don't like it when I say this, but yeah, I think there is something about jailing a former president, especially on something like this.'

'That is, to me, worrisome for our country. And I would really be shocked if this judge gave him a prison sentence for this.'

The verdict came after a five-week long trial presided over by Judge Juan Merchan where prosecutors lead by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg presented dramatic evidence and quizzed 22 witnesses on the stand.

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 .

Daniels alleged that she and Trump had sex a decade earlier, which he has denied.

Trump's lawyers have vowed to appeal the conviction and the ex-president himself outlined two areas that his team will raise on appeal during a Friday speech

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.

Trump's lawyers have vowed to appeal the conviction and the ex-president himself outlined two areas that his team will raise on appeal  the location of the trial and the judge.
Kfir Bibas was just nine months old when he and his family were kidnapped by Hamas militants during the deadly October 7 massacre in southern Israel.

Now at 17-months-old, Kfir's father's cousin, Tomer Keshet, revealed that the family still do not know the fate of baby who 'can't be the same' after spending half of his life in captivity.

In a heartbreaking recollection, Tomer said: 'Kfir was so tiny. He could hardly stand. I can't bear to think of him now. Perhaps he's been kept in a crib all these months, not even allowed to crawl. He must be able to stand by now.'

For 53 restless days, Tomer, 34, and the rest of the family knew nothing about the circumstances of their loved ones.

Then, on November 29, following the release of 105 civilians during the temporary ceasefire agreement, Hamas claimed that Kfir, his brother Ariel, four, and his mother Shiri, 32, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The next day, a chilling Hamas propaganda video was released showing Kfir's father Yarden Bibas receiving news of his family's death.

Pictured: Poster of Kfir on the wall with the toddlers updated age written in months. The baby is now 17-months old and his family remain unaware of his fate

Tomer Keshet, Kfir's father's cousin, holds a picture of Shiri Bibas and her two children being kidnapped by Hamas

A picture released by the family of them all in Batman pyjamas not long before the attack

A family album image of Ariel and baby Kfir just a few months old

However, without confirmation, no one in Israel, especially the Bibas family, is prepared to believe the claims of terrorists and hope remains they might yet return home.

Speaking in an office near the Hostage Square memorial in Tel Aviv, Tomer's thoughts returned to the last time the family were all together, celebrating the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah, just three weeks before their nightmare began.

'Shiri and Yarden are the kindest couple. They love to joke around and have permanent smiles. They don't just smile for pictures. They smile for real.

'I remember being so happy. I can't imagine feeling that way again'.

Kfir turned one in captivity on January 18, a day that was known in Israel as 'the saddest birthday in the world'.

'It's horrific to think he has spent half his life in captivity,' said Tomer.

'We love him so much. He is such a calm and relaxed baby who loves to be held. But he can't be the same baby now, kept in tunnels and dark places for such a long time.

'I fear he and Ariel will be forever changed. To kidnap a baby and a small child from their beds is completely against human nature. It's not something I can begin to understand.

'Why doesn't the entire world stop and say, 'These are children dragged from their homes by terrorists! Why doesn't the entire world condemn this and demand they return home with their mother and father? If this horror doesn't shake people and force them act, what will?'

Tomer's voice trembled as he pointed to a poster of baby Kfir.

Alongside the images of Noa Argamani being taken into Gaza on a motorbike, Naama Levy being forced into the back of a car, and 'Lady in Red' Vlada Patapov running for her life from the Nova festival, the toddler's picture is one of the most hauntingly iconic images of the October 7 Hamas terror attack.

The baby boy is seen lying on his back, big brown eyes sparkling, a toothy grin directed at the camera as he clasps a purple elephant toy.

Shiri is pictured playing with her baby Kfir. The pair were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists, who now claim - without providing evidence - they were killed in an Israeli aistrike

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war

Ariel Bibas is pictured here playing with bubbles. He was captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7

'This picture was taken just before he was taken. He's supposed to be playing with his brother, learning to walk and say 'dada', not being held hostage.'

Every Shabbat and Jewish festival since October 7 without his loved ones has been torture for Tomer.

'We are a large family. Israel is not a big place, but we are still spread around the country, so it's special when the children come together for festivals,' he said.

'My children are a similar age to Ariel and Kfir so, like most big families, things tend to get a bit crazy and noisy.

'There have been many so many landmarks since that Rosh Hashanah. Purim, Pesach. All of them without them. Every time I hear my own children laugh, every time we sit down together for dinner, every time I change a diaper, I see Kfir,' Tomer added.

Tomer shared his heartbreaking story alongside three other hostage families, including Yarden Gonen, sister of Romi Gonen, 23, who was taken from the Nova music festival, Ronen and Orna Neutra, whose 22-year-old son Omer is an IDF tank commander, and Ayelet Svatitzky, sister of British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell, 51, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim.

Ayelet's mother, Channah Peri, was released on November 24 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal. Her older brother, Roi Popplewell, 54, was killed on October 7.

Tomer took a deep breath as he recalled that fateful Shabbat morning.

'I live in the centre of Israel and woke to the sound of alarms. I went into the bomb shelter with my family and sent a message in our family group asking if everyone was all right. I got a thumbs up at around 7am, but then we lost communication.'

It wasn't until those now infamous clips of Shiri and her children being taken from their home appeared on social media that Tomer realised what had happened.

'You can see Shiri holding her children so close to her chest, trying to defend them. She's horrified. She knows things are not looking great. We know Shiri and the kids arrived in Gaza, but we have heard nothing from them since.'

Weeks later, footage was released of a bleeding Yarden being driven into Gaza on a motorbike.

Grainy footage captured the moment Shiri was dragged out of a white car as she clung onto her baby.

Another shot showed Hamas militants directing the terrified mother towards a series of buildings and throwing a blanket over her head.

Grainy footage, released by the IDF with permission of the family and shared with MailOnline, shows a group the IDF identifies as Hamas members taking a woman out of a parked white car as she holds a young child or baby

Several Hamas terrorists were seen putting a shawl over Shiri

Horrifying new video footage (pictured) has shown the missing Israeli father of 'Hamas 's youngest hostage' covered in blood and being beaten by a crowd of Palestinians while cheering terrorists drive him away on a motorbike on October 7

Yarden Bibas is pictured on October 7 during his capture by Hamas in a picture that emerged before the latest video of him. He is bleeding from a head wound and has blood on his hands. His family members have not heard from him since

At the time of the footage release, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the army was 'very concerned' about the family's wellbeing.

He said the army found the videos in security cameras seized during its offensive in Khan Younis.

Shiri's parents, Margaret and Yosi Silverman, who lived on the same kibbutz, were murdered and their bodies found near the Gaza border. The Bibas family's beloved dog, Tony, was also shot dead.

Kfir and Ariel are the last two child hostages still being held.

'We hoped that because they are so young, we would get them back in the November release,' said desperate Tomer.

'That was a long time ago. Each passing day fills me with more fear. Ariel and Kfir have distinctive red hair. We've been sent pictures of red-headed children in Gaza by people hoping they might be Ariel and Kfir. None of them were.

'Yet, with each picture, we are reminded there is love and concern for them, which gives us a glimmer of hope.'

In horrifying video footage released last month, Kfir's missing father was shown covered in blood and being beaten by a crowd of Palestinians while cheering terrorists drove him away on a motorbike on October 7.

The video was shared on social media by Israeli president Isaac Herzog, who wrote: 'The world must not remain silent in the face of such crimes. Bring them home now!'

Yarden is reported to have surrendered himself to the gunmen in the hope that they would take him and spare his wife and children. He is thought to be be alive in Gaza, but the fate of his family remains unclear.

On October 7, the Bibas family were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz and taken into Gaza.

They were among 252 people kidnapped on Israel's darkest day.

Since then, 112 hostages have returned alive to Israel  105 through a prisoner exchange deal, four released unilaterally by Hamas and three rescued by the Israeli army.
This is the infuriating moment a climate activist defaced a Monet painting Paris' Musee d'Orsay by sticking a protest sign over the famed work of art.

The protester, from French environmental activist group Riposte Alimentaire ('Food Counterattack'), targeted 'Poppy Field' by Claude Monet, defacing it with a sticker that covered half the painting with an apocalyptic vision of the same scene.

The group said it's purpose is to show how the field would look 'ravaged by flames and drought' in the year 2100, if more action isn't taken against climate change.

The museum, known in French as the Musee d'Orsay, is a top tourist destination and home to some of the world's most-loved Impressionist works.

The woman was detained pending investigation, according to Paris police.

A climate activist has been detained today after sticking a protest sign to a Monet painting in Paris' famed Orsay museum

The protester, from French environmental activist group Riposte Alimentaire ('Food Counterattack'), targeted 'Poppy Field' by Claude Monet (pictured)

The museum, known in French as the Musee d'Orsay, is a top tourist destination and home to some of the world's most-loved Impressionist works

It was unclear whether the incident damaged the painting and the museum did not respond to requests for comment.

It was the latest of several actions by protesters from the group to target artworks in France to call for action to protect food supplies from further damage to the climate.

In January, two members of the group were arrested after throwing soup at the Mona Lisa before shouting climate slogans at the gathered crowd at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The activist applying the sticker that covered half the painting with an apocalyptic vision of the same scene

The group said it's purpose is to show how the field would look 'ravaged by flames and drought' in the year 2100, if more action isn't taken against climate change

They sprayed the 16th-century masterpiece by Leonardo Da Vinci with pumpkin soup as they demanded the right to 'healthy and sustainable food'.

The group have taken responsibility for the demonstration on their own website in, what they call, 'Wave 1' of their action.

In February, the group disrupted the European Bioethics Forum, a debate in Strasbourg, France, by walking on stage and demanding action for their cause.

A few days later, they hurled soup at Claude Monet's 'Le Printemps' (Spring) inside the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, France.

The 1872 painting was protected by glass, but still underwent a close inspection and restoration, the museum said after the incident.

In January, two members of the group were arrested after throwing soup at the Mona Lisa before shouting climate slogans at the gathered crowd at the Louvre Museum in Paris

In February, they hurled soup at Claude Monet's 'Le Printemps' (Spring) inside the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, France

In March, the disrupted the Saut Hermes 2024, an annual horse jumping show in Paris, to display a banner which referenced British suffragette Emily Davison who was killed by King George V's horse

The following month, Riposte Alimentaire disrupted the Saut Hermes 2024, an annual horse jumping show in Paris, with members infiltrating the arena to hold a protest banner.

Last month, the group threw orange powder over the floor of the Palace of Versailles' famous Hall of Mirrors building and chanted their calls for establishing social security for sustainable food in the country.

They are advocating for a monthly vital food card loaded with 150 Euros for all citizens to purchase democratically approved products, saying that there is a 'widening gap between the privileged few and the majority struggling to make ends meet'.
Shocking new footage of a German stabbing attack has revealed why a cop tackled a have-a-go hero while he tried to subdue the knifeman, with Mannheim locals claiming they no longer feel safe in their city after the 'nightmare' rampage.

The 25-year-old attacker, identified by local media as Sulaiman A., went on a stabbing spree yesterday morning and knifed well-known Islam critic Michael Stuerzenberger, a police officer and several bystanders in the city centre.

In a chaotic new video from the incident, a scramble of people can be seen embroiled in a punch-up next to signs advertising an anti-Israel protest.

The group can be seen tackling each other to the ground while one man in a blue coat takes multiple swings at another person on the floor.

After throwing a series of overarm punches, at least two cops are spotted lunging towards the man donning the bright coat until he is knocked to the ground.

New footage captured the moment German cops tackled a man to the ground after mistaking him for the attacker during a horror stabbing spree in Mannheim, Germany

Cops could be seen lunging at the man and dragging him down to the floor after they spotted him swinging punches at another man on the ground

Residents in Mannheim city centre were seen visibly upset while laying flowers and lighting candles at the seen of yesterday's stabbing incident

'It is definitely scary, this is our way home. We walk past [the market square] daily and will think about what happened here and that it could happen again any day,' 22-year-old student Emilia, who came to the scene to put down a bouquet, told MailOnline

Mourners gathered to pay their respects after a knifeman went on a deadly rampage and stabbed well-known Islam critic Michael Stuerzenberger

Officers seemingly tackled the man believing he was the assailant after seeing him beating up the other individual who was already floored.

Following the horror attack, locals in Mannheim have said that they now feel unsafe following the 'nightmare' knife attack which left a police officer in a coma and several others injured.

The attack was livestreamed on YouTube and saw the knifeman being shot by officers at the scene. He has undergone surgery and remains in hospital, but has not yet been questioned by police.

But the police officer remains in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery for several hours for two stab wounds to the back and neck yesterday and had been put into an artificial coma, according to the State Criminal Police (LKA).

Locals in Mannheim have been left shocked by the frenzied attack and today came to the market square to lay down flowers and light candles for the victims.

'It is definitely scary, this is our way home,' 22-year-old student Emilia, who came to the scene to put down a bouquet, told MailOnline.

'We walk past [the market square] daily and will think about what happened here and that it could happen again any day.'

She saw the video of the attack around midday yesterday.

Locals in Mannheim have been left shocked by the frenzied attack and came to the market square to lay down flowers and light candles for the victims

Leo, 21, who also brought flowers to express his sympathy for the victims, added: 'To see something like that happen in a place where we spend a lot of time ourselves and to know that could have also been a friend, my girlfriend or myself standing there, that obviously really shocked me'

Chaos broke out when the 25-year-old attacker, identified by local media as Sulaiman A, 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

'I couldn't believe what happened at first,' Emilia added. 'I couldn't believe my own eyes, I couldn't believe that something like this happened only 200 metres away from where I was.'

Her friend Leo, 21, who also brought flowers to express his sympathy for the victims, added: 'To see something like that happen in a place where we spend a lot of time ourselves and to know that could have also been a friend, my girlfriend or myself standing there, that obviously really shocked me.'

'It really hit close to home. There was only hate and violence behind it, nothing rational, nothing human, just rage,' Leo, who moved to the city for university, said.

Emilia added about coming to the scene of the attack: 'We just wanted to honour the policeman. We hope he will get well soon and we wanted to show that we respect what he did.'

Mannheim resident Mehmed Cantekin, 67, told MailOnline that it was 'despicable' to use a knife against people, adding: 'It's a real nightmare.'

'I'm Kurdish and from Turkey and ten years ago when it was Ramadan, you were told you couldn't do this and you couldn't do that there. Now the same thing is happening in Germany. We have to draw a line,' Mr Cantekin said.

Residents in the German city have said that they now feel unsafe following the a 'nightmare' knife attack which left a police officer in a coma and several others injured

Mannheim resident Mehmed Cantekin, 67, told MailOnline that it was 'despicable' to use a knife against people, adding: 'It's a real nightmare'

Mourners were seen leaving teddies and flowers for in memory of the deceased

One member of the public, who prefers to stay anonymous, came to the market square in Mannheim today with a home-made sign saying 'Democracy - no Islamism'

The attack was livestreamed on YouTube and saw the knifeman being shot by officers at the scene

A local spotted paying her respects following the tragic incident

He added that he believed that everyone had a right to their own opinion and one shouldn't be hurt for voicing it, even if it isn't the same as one's own.

This was echoed by fellow Mannheim resident Roland R., 60, who was at the market square at the time of the knife attack yesterday.

'I've seen it all and the attack re-traumatised me after my work colleague was stabbed and bled out in my arms a few years ago. She was killed for leaving the "religion of peace",' he told MailOnline.

'It feels like I'm being squeezed in a vice mentally. That's why I came here today, I need to work through all of this. It happened so fast yesterday and the police put up a cordon soon after.

'I don't understand, how you can have so much hate through your religion,' he said, referring to reports that the attacker, who immigrated to Germany from Afghanistan in 2013, was Muslim. He added: 'Who doesn't have any arguments, grabs a knife.'

Roland said he was 'a bit scared' to share his opinion openly after Islam-critic Michael Stuerzenberger was attacked, but he continued: 'We reap what we sow. Who doesn't fight for their rights and freedoms will be a victim and will be under Sharia law.'

One member of the public, who prefers to stay anonymous, came to the market square in Mannheim today with a home-made sign saying 'Democracy - no Islamism'.

The 35-year-old told MailOnline: 'It was another attack on someone who was using his democratic right to free speech. It is bad that something like this happens and it's happening more often, especially at the hands of Islamists.

'I have experienced today how it affects a lot of people here. They want to talk about, but many are afraid. Islamistic terror is coming closer and closer and now it has arrived in Mannheim.'

Local man holding sign reading: 'Democracy not Islamism' at the scene

One mourner said: 'One should live in peace without attacking another person with a knife. Someone like that is not human to me. No one has the right to hurt others.'

The mood on the market square was sombre today as more and more visitors put down flowers and lit candles, with some signs indicating that they believe the police officer has died

There is a noticibly police presence patrolling the streets today

One sign left by a mourner read: 'Against terror'

A local man was spotted holding a candle at the scene

A sober mood in Mannheim city centre the day after knifeman went on a rampage

Johannes Hauber, 73, from Mannheim, told MailOnline the attack was 'incomprehensible', adding: 'It is difficult to put yourself in the position of the person who does something like that'

One man was seen laying white flowers at the scene of the deadly crime

'This is not normal that something like this happens. I immediately thought yesterday that it could happen to my child, to anyone. I can't understand this,' one local said

He said he had thought about whether it was a good idea to come up to Mannheim from his nearby hometown to voice his concerns about Islamism, but ultimately decided to put his trust in the police to keep him safe.

'But I'm really scared of the future, of what is yet to come,' he added. While some people, including Muslims, came up to him and said they were sorry to hear about what happened, he said he also encountered people who looked 'as if they want to strangle' him.

Johannes Hauber, 73, from Mannheim, told MailOnline the attack was 'incomprehensible', adding: 'It is difficult to put yourself in the position of the person who does something like that.'

But Mr Hauber, who was near the market square today to campaign for a ceasefire in Gaza, said the stabbing at the anti-Islam rally could also incite hate.

He said: 'My first thought after hearing about the attack was "I hope people react rationally and don't get aggravated".'

A 74-year-old pensioner, who travelled to Mannheim from the neighbouring Rheinland-Pfalz state to pay her sympathies to the victims, said she had 'goosebumps' ever since she heard about the attack.

'This is not normal that something like this happens. I immediately thought yesterday that it could happen to my child, to anyone. I can't understand this,' she told MailOnline.

'One should live in peace without attacking another person with a knife. Someone like that is not human to me. No one has the right to hurt others.'

The aftermath of the stabbing is seen in Mannheim

The mood on the market square was sombre today as more and more visitors put down flowers and lit candles, with some signs indicating that they believe the police officer has died.

German media reported his death yesterday, but the State Criminal Police (LKA) said in a statement this morning that the officer had been put into an artificial coma.

This afternoon, the Christian Police Union (CPV) announced that he had died, but this has not yet been confirmed by authorities.

'Our colleague succumbed to his serious injuries after the treacherous knife attack. We are very sad and pray for his relatives,' the CPV said in its Instagram post
The SNP is poised to perform an embarrassing climbdown over its plans to oppose new oil and gas fields.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, First Minister John Swinney disclosed that he is set to review his partys policy against any further exploration in the North Sea.

The U-turn is in direct opposition to the stance held by his predecessors, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

Last week the MoS revealed that the Nationalists planned to reverse their shambolic wood-burning stoves ban  a move which was later confirmed in a parliamentary statement at Holyrood.

The SNPs draft energy strategy, published last year, stated that it would oppose licensing for new oil and gas fields, as Ministers felt that they could no longer support the fossil fuel industry.

John Swinney said he was set to review his partys presumption against further exploration in the North Sea

Sir Keir Starmers Labour has also said it will not allow new oil and gas fields if it comes to power.

Yet rumours have swirled in recent weeks that the SNP is set to soften its position on the policy in a bid to woo voters who are dependent on the sector for a living.

The First Minister confirmed that there is an exploration of the partys former policy, telling The Mail on Sunday in Aberdeen: I want the Scottish Government to work closely and carefully with the oil and gas sector to ensure its sustainability.

We need the oil and gas sector to contribute to the transition to net zero, so it has to be strong enough and robust enough to do that.

In addition to that, I want to make sure that the sector is able to contribute to the objectives of energy security that weve set out in our policy programme.

Its an exploration of our position, thats how I would describe it. The Scottish Government wants to work with the oil and gas sector to ensure its fiscal sustainability.

The move comes after Rishi Sunaks repeated assertions that the Conservatives are the only party which will protect the North Sea oil and gas industry, as it will look to continue granting exploration licences.

Speaking to this newspaper at the beginning of his election campaign, the Prime Minister pointed to his support for Scotlands energy industry which I have unequivocally backed, as have Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives.

He added: You cant say that for the SNP, who have been all over the place on it, and you certainly cant say that for Labour, who want to ban North Sea oil and gas.

I support that industry because its good for Scotlands economy, good for jobs, but its also good for our countrys energy security.

Mr Sunaks view is a position that the Scottish Tories last night maintained  with Andrew Bowie, the Conservative candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, warning North-East voters not to trust the SNP.

Mr Bowie said: John Swinney must think voters in the North-East are buttoned up the back.

The SNP have repeatedly turned their back on the oil and gas sector and the tens of thousands of workers it employs.

They refused to back Cambo. They refused to back Rosebank [oil fields]. They went into coalition with the extremist Greens who would shut down the industry overnight.

The SNP, like Labour, are no friends of the sector.

Last year, Scottish Ministers confirmed that their position was a presumption against new oil and gas fields in its draft energy strategy.

Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government wants to work closely with the oil and gas sector to ensure its sustainability

Even though licensing is reserved to Westminster, it served as a stark warning to the energy industry.

Former net zero and energy secretary Michael Matheson, who continues to be embroiled in the 11,000 iPad data roaming row, said at the time that, instead, there should be focus on renewable energy sources.

He added: While we do not hold all the powers to address these issues at source, this strategy sets out how we can achieve an energy transition that ensures we have sufficient, secure and affordable energy to meet our needs, support Scotlands economic growth and capitalise on future sustainable export opportunities.

However, the strategy was published during the SNPs power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens, which Mr Yousaf dissolved shortly before his resignation.

In recent weeks, the SNPs Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has also hinted that his partys policy on new oil and gas exploration could change.

Mr Flynn said: I think we all need to recognise, irrespective of where you are, the importance of the oil and gas sector to Scotlands economy and the fact that those 100,000 individuals that we are talking about are absolutely crucial in our journey to net zero.

Meanwhile, current Net Zero and Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan was also quoted as saying that Labours position  once shared by the Nationalists  was too extreme, but the SNPs draft energy strategy has not yet been confirmed. However, Mr Swinney has now been clear  the SNP is reviewing the policy.

He has also positioned himself against the Tory policy of a continued windfall tax on oil and gas company profits  put in place to ease energy costs on consumers  as well as Labours plans to hike the penalties even further.

The First Minister said: The Scottish Government wants to work with the oil and gas sector to ensure its fiscal sustainability. I am really worried about the tax grabs that the Conservatives and Labour are applying to the oil and gas sector  its a continuation of whats been going on for 40-odd years.

The UK Government has used the oil and gas resources from Scotland to prop up the weaknesses in the UK financial system, and its a continuation of that activity that causes me deep concern.
Police have dramatically agreed to review the case of a Kirk minister who helped to defraud three elderly brothers out of more than 1 million  after an official report condemned officers handling of the investigation.

In a shocking case which has been repeatedly highlighted by The Scottish Mail on Sunday, the Reverend Ivan Warwick and a businessman friend embezzled property, land and savings from the vulnerable victims  but were never charged by police.

A scathing new report by a care watchdog said officers failed to identify any evidence of financial exploitation, even after the brothers went to a police station to make a formal complaint.

Kirk minister the Reverend Ivan Warwick could yet find himself in court

The review called on the police to apologise to the family of David, Hugh and Roddy McCulloch

Despite being told that hundreds of thousands of pounds had been drained from the victims bank accounts  and the farmhouse they had lived in for decades had been taken off them  police refused to believe a crime had occurred.

The review called on the police to apologise to the family of Hugh, Roddy and David McCulloch and consider bringing a prosecution.

And in a sensational development yesterday, Police Scotland, along with NHS Highland and Highland Council, offered a formal apology to the brothers relatives.

Police also said they would look again at the evidence to decide whether to press criminal charges  meaning Warwick, who once preached to King Charles, could yet find himself in court.

Even though the elderly victims are all now dead, one of their relatives, who repeatedly tried to force the police to take action, said the move was a step towards justice.

Helen Fraser, a cousin of the McCullochs, said: The poor souls were robbed of their home, their farm, their land and their money.

It should have been a criminal case right from the start. They would still be living yet if it hadnt been for what happened to them.

They never got justice from the police when they were alive. But justice could still be done.

The McCullochs, all unmarried, lived together at Logie Farm, near Muir of Ord, Ross-shire, for 30 years, looking after each other while raising cattle and sheep.

Warwick, minister of nearby Fodderty and Strathpeffer Parish Church, befriended the vulnerable siblings, along with his friend, businessman Douglas Stewart.

In 2013 the two men tricked the McCullochs  by then in their late 70s and 80s  into giving them power of attorney, then duped the brothers into giving away their home and land for free.

Warwick and Stewart evicted the brothers  two of whom suffered from dementia  and sold the farmhouse for 390,000, as well as taking 800,000 from their bank accounts.

In 2017 two of the brothers, accompanied by Ms Fraser, who was worried about what was happening to them, went to Dingwall police station to complain that they were being ripped off.

Work under way in 2022 at the Ross-shire farm from which the brothers were evicted

Prince Charles on his way into Canisbay Church accompanied by Rev Ivan Warwick

Although their complaint triggered an investigation by social services, the police did not accept a crime had been committed.

The case has never been prosecuted in the criminal courts, but middle brother Roddy launched a civil case in the years before his death.

It resulted in Warwick, Stewart and their wives being ordered to repay the 390,000 proceeds from the sale of the farm.

A review of the case, seen by The Scottish Mail on Sunday, describes how police were also hoodwinked by Warwick and Stewart.

Quizzed by officers over the missing money, the pair insisted it had been shrewd business planning.

The police later refused to take action, even when further evidence was produced of large-scale fraud. Instead, officers decided it was a civil dispute.

The newly completed report was commissioned by the Highland Adult Protection Committee and undertaken by social work expert David Crawford

He concluded: Social work and Police Scotland should jointly offer an apology to the family of the McCulloch brothers for the failure... to identify the risk of financial exploitation and for concluding the investigation in a way which left the brothers exposed to continuing harm.

Police Scotland yesterday said it is reviewing the case. In a joint statement, the police, NHS Highland and Highland Council apologised to the McCullochs relatives for the missed opportunities at various stages... to identify the risks to the brothers, and... to protect them from further harm.
A PUBLIC relations firm was handed a contract worth an astonishing 508,000 for 38 days of work to trumpet the SNP Governments new Low Emission Zones.

Manchester-based Republic of Media, which has an office in Edinburgh, bagged the lucrative deal for work from February 22 to March 31, ahead of LEZs coming into force in Aberdeen and Edinburgh yesterday and Dundee on Thursday last week.

Government quango Transport Scotland awarded the contract  worth 13,400 a day  despite the fact both it and the SNP administration have their own in-house army of PR and marketing staff.

The contract is in addition to sums in excess of 1.5 million which have already been paid out to other PR firms to promote the LEZs.

The company bagged the lucrative deal for work from February 22 to March 31, ahead of LEZs coming into force in Edinburgh

Millions of pounds of fines have been issued to beleaguered motorists since the first LEZ began last year in Glasgow

Since Scotlands first LEZ began last year in Glasgow, millions of pounds of fines have been issued to beleaguered motorists.

The zones ban hundreds of thousands of older cars from the countrys biggest cities, despite Scottish Government data showing the key pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), being within legal limits in all the areas affected for years.

We also told last month how firms have been forced out of cities by the new zones while councils are spending taxpayers cash hiring cars and vans to replace their own vehicles which dont meet the rules  despite telling the public they have had years to get compliant.

In a farcical indictment of the policy, we also disclosed in April that pollution has increased at the key monitoring station in Glasgow compared with last year, before the LEZ was in place.

The average NO2 level across January, February and March in Hope Street was 44.2 microgrammes per cubic metre, up from 42.5 for the same period in 2023.

Experts said the reason was that the main polluters were buses, not cars, calling into question the entire rationale for the policy.

The contract for Republic of Media is worth a staggering 508,886.08 and includes a brief to uncover insight to inform effective media planning and strategies.

Businesses affected by the LEZs hit out at the cash being splashed out to promote the schemes. Donald MacLeod, a leading member of Scotlands night-time industries, said: To spend this amount on PR for an unwanted policy based on flawed science is outrageous and a disgrace. Government in Scotland should be collaborating with business and people, rather than passing punitive policies like this.

Transport Scotland should be supporting motorists, not continually making things more difficult for them. We told last year how the SNP Government had already spent more than 1.5 million on PR firms promoting LEZs.

Companies such as Big Partnership raked in cash for creative, design and website work, as well as campaign evaluation.

The policy has now cost in excess of 55 million taking into account all fees, including tens of millions given to bus operators to upgrade their vehicles and more than 10 million to councils for the planning, modelling and design of their LEZs.

Meanwhile, cash-strapped Glasgow City Council has spent more than 700,000 of taxpayers money hiring vehicles as some of its own didnt meet emissions standards.

We also revealed last month how dozens of council vehicles in Edinburgh were not ready for its LEZ.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: Through our communications work more than nine out of ten people are now aware of LEZs.
Brazen thieves are targeting and stealing luxury caravans across Scotland, with organised crime gangs breaking into secure sites and towing them away.

Some vehicles vanish in just a matter of minutes, with the crooks snatching caravans worth tens of thousands of pounds, sometimes in broad daylight.

The Scottish Mail on Sunday is aware of several thefts across Scotland, including a number from the Borders as well as incidents in Fife, Auchterarder in Perthshire and Kippen in Stirlingshire.

In March, Police Scotland warned that owners should take extra security measures as criminals look to cash in on the boom in staycations.

The force said: With more people staying at home this summer, demand for caravans and mobile homes has increased and is likely to lead to a rise in thefts, often by organised gangs.

The gang swiftly hook up the Corrieris beloved caravan and vanish with it

In the same month that Police Scotland issued their warning, thieves grabbed a white Swift Sprite Quattro from a yard in Kelso, Roxburghshire, in an early morning raid.

The caravan, which can cost upwards of 20,000, was snatched by two men who attached it to their BMW and towed it away.

Meanwhile, husband and wife Mark and Kaylie Corrieri from Stirling lost their beloved 9,000 Swift Sterling Europa 600 on April 5.

The couple bought their caravan in 2022  but Mr Corrieri, 39, arrived home from work in the early hours to find that it had been stolen from a car park outside their home.

He quickly reviewed CCTV footage of the scene and was sickened to see a gang of thieves making off with it.

The video showed a red van arrive at around 1.15am and three men leap out to hook the caravan onto it while another of the gang stayed behind the wheel. Within seconds they were gone with the caravan in tow.

Mr Corrieri, who runs his own carpet cleaning firm, contacted the police straightaway but the caravan has yet to be traced.

He said: It was sickening when we watched the footage back. To see something that was yours just be taken and driven off is angering and disheartening.

Mr Corrieri, who has three children, April, five, and two-year-old twins Lucas and Oliver, added: It was very much a family venture. We went everywhere in it. Its more about the memories that it held. The kids adored it. We loved it as a family.

Mrs Corrieri, 34, shared a video of her daughter excitedly exploring the caravan for the first time and spoke of her sadness at the thought of the crooks removing every trace of its rightful owners.

She said: The fact that these people who stole it are going to rip off the name plaques above the kids beds is heartbreaking.

April keeps asking if our caravan is coming back for her birthday.

She added: Its so hard to explain to her that there are bad people in this world because her little innocent mind sees the good in everything.

Mark and Kaylie Corrieri from Stirling lost their beloved 9,000 Swift Sterling Europa 600 on April 5

The caravan was like our second home, where we spent quality time together. Mark works so hard and spent so much time making this caravan perfect for us all.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, acquisitive crime lead for Police Scotland, said: In recent months, we have seen a number of caravan thefts across the country.

Officers have been carrying out inquiries to return the caravans to their owners and bring those responsible to justice.

We know that vehicle thefts can have a significant impact on victims, whether its through the invasive nature of the offence, or the financial impact it causes.

This type of behaviour has no place in our communities and we are committed to disrupting and reducing this criminality.

He added: Advice on how to keep your vehicles safe can be found on our website.
Her books have helped Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury rake in record profits and fuelled the hugely popular Romantasy sub-genre.

But while the stories created by American author Sarah J Maas might be set in fictional worlds of humans and fairies, her work has been inspired by Scotlands famous landscape.

Bloomsbury  the publishing house best known for JK Rowlings Harry Potter books  has just posted a 57 per cent rise in profits, taking in 49 million.

When discussing the lucrative period, Bloomsbury chief executive Nigel Newton had one name in mind  Sarah J Maas.

Mr Newton said the 38-year-olds romantic fantasy series Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses had flown off the shelves, with readers addicted to her books.

The books created by American author Sarah J Maas might be set in fictional worlds but her work has been inspired by Scotlands famous landscape

So where, you might ask, does Scotland fit in to all this?

Ms Maass first book  Throne of Glass  was published in 2012 and proved the start of a body of work that has stretched to several series.

Along the way, she has had the opportunity to travel the world. And one destination was high on her list. In a 2014 tweet, New York-born Ms Maas shared her excitement ahead of a holiday to Scotland, including the Isle of Skye, and said she would be using the time to carry out research for her second fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses.

She wrote: Im so ridiculously excited to spend a few days on the Isle of Skye. Dream come true.

While staying there, she enthused: When I die, I want my ashes scattered on the Isle of Skye. I think Ive been looking for this place my entire life.

I literally started crying at a lookout point today because I was so overwhelmed by its sheer beauty and size. I never want to leave. Like, the land is singing to me.

Sarah at Doune Castle, draws inspiration from Scottish locations

Best-selling author Sarah J Maas's romantic fantasy series Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses had flown off the shelves

In a later post, Ms Maas shared a dramatic image of the peaks of Aonach Dubh, Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach, in Glencoe, and made no bones about its influence on her work.

Alongside the photo, she said that a weekend spent editing had given her an excuse to look through all my pics from my trip to Scotland last year (since some areas in the book were inspired by the terrain).

Some of her writing also makes reference to the Picts  surely a nod to the ancient people of the same name who lived in what is now eastern and north-eastern Scotland.

In later years, the author and her husband Josh Wasserman visited Edinburgh with their then baby son Taran.

After she shared a photo of the elaborate doors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, some fans were quick to draw a link between it and the setting in her novels known as the Night Court. She has also spoken about her love of the Outlander time travel books and TV series  set in Scotland  and has visited Doune Castle in Perthshire, which stands in for the shows fictitious Leoch Castle.

An image from the time shows her leaping in the air in front of the castle.

The only question that must surely be on the minds of fans and estate agents handling sales of properties to the worlds rich and famous is: will she ever make Scotland her home?

If, as she says, the land is singing to her, just maybe shell answer the call.
'Doomsday prophet' Chad Daybell was given the death penalty for killing his ex-wife and co-conspirator Lori Vallow's two children in a chilling triple murder case that rattled the state of Idaho.

Daybell, 55, was stone faced as the sentence was handed Saturday as the Idaho jury unanimously agreed that no mitigating factors would make the death sentence unjust. After a brief recess, the judge returned to officially render the court's decision to end the man's life.

After a nearly two-month trial he was found guilty of killing Tammy Daybell, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, on Thursday.

Wearing a blue shirt and tie, Daybell showed no emotion when he declined to make a statement in court after becoming the ninth person on Idaho's death row.

The judge handed down a 15 year sentence for each of the two insurance fraud counts to run concurrently with his murder sentence.

Daybell, 55, was stoned faced as the verdict was read on Saturday (pictured) that he should be sentenced to death

There will be no fines added to the insurance fraud sentence, because Chad has been deemed indigent, however prosecutors have asked for restitution to be paid totally $433K - an amount that the judge said he will take under advisement.

Before the jury began deliberating on sentencing, family members gave impact statements to the court, reported 12News.

'It's not an overstatement to say that I lost everything, but more importantly we all lost Tylee and JJ,' said Colby Ryan, Tylee and JJ's brother, Lori's only living child.

'I stand here today motherless, fatherless, sisterless and brotherless.'

Tylee Ryan's aunt, Annie Cushing, said, 'She was intelligent, clever, funny, sarcastic and had the voice of an angel.'

JJ Vallow's grandmother Kay Woodcock noted he would have turned 12-years-old earlier in the week if he were still alive.

'Would he have been the next Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Tim Burton, Elon Musk? We will never know,' Woodcock said.

The jury reached the verdict Thursday in the bizarre and horrifying case of the doomsday author (pictured) who was charged with murdering his ex-wife and her two youngest children

Tammy Daybell's younger sister Samantha Gwilliam said, 'My sister was ripped from our lives, because of her murder, we lost a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and daughter. She is irreplaceable.'

During the summer of 2020, the remains of the children were discovered on Daybell's Fremont County, Idaho property.

Police said they believe the bodies were buried by Daybell sometime between September of 2019 and June of 2020.

Tammy Daybell died in 2019, mere weeks ahead of Chad and Lori Vallow's wedding.

Though her death was initially believed to be due to natural causes, her corpse was later exhumed and following an autopsy, it was determined that she had been suffocated to death.

Daybell and Lori Vallow were indicted in 2021 on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and grand theft by deception in the children's deaths.

Last year, Lori Vallow Daybell, pictured here in February 2024, the mother of the deceased children, received a life sentence without parole for the killings

The pair were slapped with a handful of additional charges relating to Tammy's death.

Last year, Vallow was convicted and handed a sentence of multiple life sentences behind bars without the possibility of parole.

During his trial, Daybell was accused of crafting an alternate reality so that he could fulfill 'his desire for sex, money and power.'

'When he had a chance at what he considered his rightful destiny, he made sure no person and no law would stand in his way,' prosecutor Rob Wood said.

Prosecutors, who called 67 witnesses throughout the trial, said the couple justified the three killings by creating a detailed and apocalyptic belief system, part of an elaborate scheme to eliminate any obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance.

Daybell's defense attorney John Prior presented a different picture to jurors - noting that Chad Daybell was a religious person but suggested that his belief in things like premonitions were fairly mainstream.

Prior also explained to jurors that Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, had a violent history. He had previously been convicted of attacking Vallow Daybell's third husband, and he shot and killed her fourth husband.

Joshua Vallow, 7, left, and Tylee Ryan, 17. They were last seen on Sept. 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho, before their remains were discovered on Daybell's property nine months later

Tammy Daybell with a grandchild in a photo from her Facebook page. Tammy Daybell died mysteriously in her sleep in Idaho on October 19, 2019. Her death was first believed to have been of natural causes, but after an autopsy was conducted, it was determined she died by asphyxiation

Lori Vallow Daybell, center, sits between her attorneys for a hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, on Aug. 16, 2022. She was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole

In this aerial photo, investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybell's residence in Salem, Idaho, on June 9, 2020 - they found the remains of Vallow's two youngest children, JJ and Tylee

'Whenever there was a problem with Lori Vallow, Alex Cox ran to the rescue,' Prior said in opening statements.

Daybell's attorney also argued that his client lived a normal, faith-focused life before he met Lori Vallow Daybell, who he said showered Daybell with attention.

His legal team described her as a 'beautiful, vivacious person' who drew Daybell into an extramarital relationship.

Daybell's attorney also said he would present several experts in DNA, forensics and pathology who would testify that it's impossible to determine what caused Tammy Daybell's death and that none of Chad Daybell's DNA was found with the children's bodies.
It all began with Angela Rayner's marriage certificate. While researching my biography of her, I obtained a copy of this public document. This is the bread-and-butter stuff of any examination of somebody's life while researching a book.

The certificate's contents surprised me.

It stated that she married union official Mark Rayner in September 2010 but that they lived at separate addresses  she was in Vicarage Road, Stockport, he was a mile away in Lowndes Lane. Nothing strange about that, you might think, but they'd had two sons by then, born in 2008 and 2009. Why weren't they living together as a family?

After checking the electoral roll, it became apparent that Ms Rayner was registered at Vicarage Road until 2015. Odder, her brother, Darren, was registered at Mark Rayner's house in Lowndes Lane from 2010 until 2015.

It all began with Angela Rayner's (pictured) marriage certificate. While researching my biography of her, I obtained a copy of this public document. This is the bread-and-butter stuff of any examination of somebody's life while researching a book

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner pictured with Keir Starmer on the first day of campaigning in Gillingham last month

LORD ASHCROFT (pictured): Who was lying, Ms Rayner or the neighbours? We still don't know the answer  something that I predict will dog Ms Rayner for a long time

So according to the official record, Ms Rayner and her husband lived separately for the first five years of their marriage  but her brother lived with her husband and children. Neighbours said this was nonsense, saying that Darren lived in Vicarage Road and Ms Rayner lived with her husband and children in Lowndes Lane.

What's more, when Ms Rayner re-registered her sons' births in October 2010  a month after her wedding  it was written on their new birth certificates that she lived at Lowndes Lane!

Further research showed that she bought her house in Vicarage Road in 2007 under Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy scheme with a 26,000 discount and sold it seven weeks before she became an MP in 2015 at a 48,500 profit.

She had given an interview in 2023, in her capacity as Shadow Housing Secretary, and talked about right-to-buy. 'I think we need to review the way right-to-buy works,' she said. 'Not abolish it but make it fair and [make sure] we are replacing the [homes] lost.' She said the system must be 'fair and equitable to the public purse, to taxpayers  and that we can then build more affordable housing off the back of it'.

One area she said needed looking at was 'how much of a discount' is on offer, with the clear inference that she believed discounts were too high.

Interestingly, she did not mention she'd been a right-to-buy owner.

Given her political responsibilities, the history of her ownership and occupation of her Vicarage Road house was, therefore, a matter of legitimate interest.

Had she breached electoral law? What about her council tax status?

Asked about this, instead of explaining herself, she said I had an 'unhealthy interest' in her family.

My book was serialised in The Mail on Sunday in February, and that is how this story came into the public realm.

Along with my questions, the Guido Fawkes website raised the possibility that Ms Rayner might have a capital gains tax bill to pay.

Now, Greater Manchester Police has said its investigation into this rum business has ended with no action taken.

Angela married Mark Rayner (pictured), a union official 17 years her senior, in 2010

Many will wonder why the police were involved. It is important to stress the only reason they were is that Ms Rayner said she had taken independent advice about her property and finances that cleared her  but she refused to publish it. Her boss, Sir Keir Starmer, refused even to look at it.

'We know best,' they seemed to say, though for very different reasons  she because she doesn't relish scrutiny, he because he didn't want to upset his deputy and her wing of the Labour Party.

A Tory MP begged to differ and wrote to the police to say public confidence had to be upheld and since Ms Rayner was stonewalling, could they inquire?

They agreed, but had Ms Rayner been open and transparent from the start  qualities she's repeatedly demanded of other politicians  the police would never have been entangled in this peculiar affair.

Others will decide for themselves if the police have left this situation satisfactorily or whether their bland statement clearing her should have explained why they took no further action. We should bear in mind that nobody can be prosecuted for electoral roll fraud unless it's discovered within 12 months. Also, HMRC never comments on personal tax matters  though it has been reported that it will take no action against her.

My view is that this was never about money. And it certainly wasn't about a capital gains tax bill. It was about why Ms Rayner claimed to live in one house when logic and evidence  to say nothing of multiple neighbours' testimony  suggested she lived elsewhere.

Now, Greater Manchester Police has said its investigation into this rum business has ended with no action taken

Many will wonder why the police were involved. It is important to stress the only reason they were is that Ms Rayner said she had taken independent advice about her property and finances that cleared her  but she refused to publish it. Her boss, Sir Keir Starmer (pictured), refused even to look at it

Who was lying, Ms Rayner or the neighbours?

We still don't know the answer  something that I predict will dog Ms Rayner for a long time.

This story was also about hypocrisy. Until my biography, voters didn't have a clue she'd taken advantage of the right-to-buy scheme  a system that many in the Labour Party despise.

It's fascinating that, as a socialist, Angela Rayner was happy to use the scheme.

It is equally noteworthy that she preferred not to talk about that publicly.

And it is breathtaking that she now seems to want to deny others the taxpayer-funded opportunity that she enjoyed.

Voters may want to reflect on all this on July 4.

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit lordashcroft.com. Follow him on X/Facebook @LordAshcroft
A Democratic congressman has called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to pardon former President Donald Trump.

Representative Dean Phillips said in a post his social media that a conviction for Trump only helped boost his campaign.

Phillips then called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to pardon for the former president for 'the good of the country'.

Trump was convicted of 34 charges of falsifying business records in his hush money trial earlier this week.

Posting to X, Phillips said: 'Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim.

'Governor Kathy Hochul should pardon him for the good of the country.'

Representative Dean Phillips, seen here, said in a post his social media that a conviction for Trump only helped boost his campaign

Phillips asked Gov Kathy Hochul to do it 'for the good of the country'

Trump walks to go speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024

Twelve hours after his original post calling for the pardon, for which he was widely criticized for, Phillips added: 'You think pardoning is stupid?

'Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid. (Election charges are entirely different).

'Its energizing his base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost.'

A person close to Hochul told the New York Post that a pardon for Trump was 'unlikely', adding: 'I cannot image a world where she would consider doing this, this makes no sense.'

Phillips earned national attention earlier this year after he launched a primary challenge against President Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.

The Minnesota lawmaker and heir to one of America's largest liquor dynasties suspended his campaign after a disastrous Super Tuesday.

Speaking outside of court on Thursday, Trump said: 'This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge.

'The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here.'

A person close to Hochul told the New York Post that a pardon for Trump was 'unlikely'

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

The verdict comes after five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand.

The charges Trump was convicted of each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison.

According to an exclusive DailyMail.com poll following the guilty verdict in Manhattan, Trump's favorability ratings had climbed.

Of those who said the verdict had changed their view of 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 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.
Nelson Mandela's ANC party that historically freed South Africa from apartheid has lost its 30-year majority in a landmark election.

With over 99 per cent of votes counted, the once-dominant African National Congress (ANC) received just over 40 per cent in Wednesday's election due to the frustration of the voters over unemployment, inequality, and power shortages.

The dramatically weakened vote share of the ANC, well short of the majority it had held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela, means the party will have to share power with a rival in order to keep power and re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term.

The final results are still to be formally declared by the Independent Electoral Commission, but the ANC cannot pass 50 per cent and an era of coalition government - also a first for South Africa - is looming.

The electoral commission said it would declare the results on Sunday and Parliament must meet to elect the South African president within 14 days after election results are released.

Thousands of voters lined up to cast their ballot near Wits University, Wednesday May 29, 2024 for the general elections in Johannesburg, South Africa

Nelson Mandela's ANC party received just over 40 per cent of votes in Wednesday's election

Pictured: Nelson Mandela (front L), accompanied by his wife Winnie, walks out of the Victor Verster prison, near Cape Town, after spending 27 years in apartheid jails, February 11, 1990

Julius Malema (pictured), the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party, said the ANC's 'entitlement of being the sole dominant party' was over

Opposition parties hailed the outcome as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, but ANC remained the largest party by some way.

'The way to rescue South Africa is to break the ANC's majority and we have done that,' said John Steenhuisen, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party.

Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party, said the ANC's 'entitlement of being the sole dominant party' was over.

The way forward threatens to be complicated for Africa's most advanced economy, and there's no coalition on the table yet. The three main opposition parties and many more smaller ones were in the mix as the bargaining begins.

'We can talk to anybody and everybody,' ANC Chairman Gwede Mantashe said on national broadcaster SABC.

Steenhuisen's Democratic Alliance was on around 21 per cent of the vote.

The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led, was third with just over 14 per cent of the vote in the first election it has contested. The Economic Freedom Fighters was fourth with just over 9%.

More than 50 parties contested the election, many of them winning tiny shares, but the three main opposition parties appear to be the most obvious for the ANC to approach.

Electoral commission Chairman Mosotho Moepya said it was a time for everyone to keep calm 'and for leaders to lead and for voices of reason to continue to prevail.'

'This is a moment we need to manage and manage well,' he said.

Steenhuisen said his party is open to discussions with the ANC, as did Malema.

The MK Party said one of their conditions for any agreement was that Ramaphosa is removed as ANC leader and president.

That underlined the fierce personal political battle between Zuma, who resigned as South African president under a cloud of corruption allegations in 2018, and Ramaphosa, who replaced him.

'We are willing to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa,' MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said.

High school students riot in a Soweto street near Winnie Mandela's house protesting apartheid

Thousands of protesters march for the release of anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1987

Julius Malema pictured at the far-Left party's manifesto launch in February

Former president and now leader of the MK Party, Jacob Zuma, pictured centre, arrives at the Results Operation Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 1, 2024

ANC member of the national assembly, Gwede Mantashe (right) talks to former president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla (centre) and other MK Party leaders in the Independent Electoral Commission National Results Operations Centre

MK and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called for parts of the economy to be nationalised.

The centrist Democratic Alliance is viewed as business-friendly and analysts say an ANC-DA coalition would be more welcomed by foreign investors.

The DA has been the most critical opposition party for years and does not share the ANC's pro-Russia and pro-China foreign policy.

South Africa takes over the presidency of the Group of 20 industrialized and emerging-market nations next year.

An ANC-DA coalition 'would be a marriage of two drunk people in Las Vegas. It will never work,' Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the smaller Patriotic Alliance party, told South African media.

The DA says an ANC-MK-EFF agreement would be a 'doomsday coalition' given MK and EFF are made up of former ANC figures and would pursue the same failed policies.

'We have to protect South Africa from a doomsday coalition,' DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said.

The three opposition parties had a combined share that was bigger than the ANC, but they are highly unlikely to all work together.

The DA was also part of a pre-election agreement with other smaller parties to potentially form a coalition.

Amid it all, there was no sense of celebrations from ordinary South Africans, but rather the realization that a rocky political road was ahead.

The Daily Maverick newspaper had a South African scratching his head with the words: 'What Does It Mean For Our Future?' on its front page.

A woman prepared to cast her vote during the South African general election in Soweto township, a suburb of Johannesburg

More than 50 parties contested the election, many of them winning tiny shares, but the three main opposition parties appear to be the most obvious for the ANC to approach

Voters waited in line outside the Yeoville Recreation Centre polling station in Johannesburg on May 29, 2024, during South Africa's general election

Ballot boxes waited to be opened for vote count at Craighall Park Elementary school in Johannesburg

The Die Burger newspaper led with an image of about a dozen political parties' logos going into a meat grinder.

South African opposition parties were united in one thing - something had to change in the country of 62 million, which is Africa's most developed but also one of the most unequal in the world.

The official unemployment rate is 32 per cent and the poverty disproportionately affects Black people, who make up 80 per cent of the population and have been the core of the ANC's support for years. Violent crime rate is also appallingly high.

The ANC has also been blamed - and now punished by voters - for a failure in basic government services that impacts millions of poor and leaves many without water, electricity or proper housing.

More recently, a national electricity crisis that led to nationwide power blackouts angered South Africans across the board.

The ANC has seen a steady decline in its support over the last 20 years, but by around 3 to 5 percentage points each election.

It dropped 17 percentage points this time from the 57.5 per cent it won in 2019, a staggering outcome in the context of the country.

Nearly 28million South Africans were registered to vote and turnout was expected to be around 60 per cent, according to the electoral commission.

People queued deep into the cold winter night on election day and hours after the official poll closing time, with some votes being cast at 3am the following day.

That indicated the desire from many to have their say but also reflected one of South Africa's inherent problems - some voting stations had delays because of electricity outages plunging them into the dark.
A Kentucky family's cruise vacation they had planned a year in advance was canceled just 48 hours before departure after the mother fell victim to identity theft.

Tiffany Banks, along with her husband and four children, were all planning to set sail on the Carnival Celebration when disaster struck.

The day before their flight to Florida for the cruise, Banks received an email about canceled shore excursions.

Upon calling Carnival to investigate, she was hit with the shocking news - their entire trip, already fully paid for, had been mysteriously cancelled.

In the email, a Carnival representative told her that she had cancelled her $12,000 reservation through their online system. She and her family were supposed to stay in the Excel Presidential Suite, the largest room on the ship.

Tiffany Banks, along with her husband and four children, were all set to set sail on the Carnival Celebration when disaster struck.

The day before their flight to Florida for the cruise, Banks received an email about canceled shore excursions. Upon calling Carnival to investigate, she was hit with the shocking news - their entire trip, already fully paid for, had been mysteriously cancelled.

'We have nearly $15,000 tied up in this vacation including excursions. The room itself was I think $12,000 or $13,000, and then we've got a few grand tied up in excursions, and actually with almost $2,000 for flights,' Banks said in a May 12 TikTok video.

She said her and her children were in tears as she claimed she never canceled the trip, and prayed it was just a system glitch.

The cruise line also informed her that Excel Presidential Suite was taken by another customer, so all they could offer her were two interior rooms (the cheapest on the ship) instead. She denied their proposal as she felt it would not fit her entire family.

Carnival also refused to refund her her money as their cancellation policy states that a refund will not be issued within 15 days of the cruise's departure date.

In a tearful follow up video, despite a last-ditch effort to board the ship in Miami, the family was heartbroken as they watched it sail away without them.

Stuck with altered plans, they found temporary lodging at an Airbnb in Florida. While the mom documented their disappointment on TikTok, they attempted to salvage their trip.

@thathippiedoc Well they still arent willing to make this right .. they apologized and then spit in my face with another bogus offer.. i want an apology from them trying to make it look like i was lying or hiding something or even worse - that there were security issues.. i will keep yall posted I promise .. #cruisetokc #carnivalcelebration #truth @carnival you owe me a public apology, and my money !  original sound - Tiffany Banks

After receiving backlash from online trolls, accusing her of fabricating the story, she responded, 'I'm an open book. I talk too much. I give out too much information  that's just me naturally.'

Days after the ship left port, Carnival reached out to Banks and explained what happened.

Banks said the cruise line claimed she was the victim of 'identity theft,' but emphasized there was no data breach on their end.

She revealed that the culprit likely used the booking reference number she unknowingly exposed when she shared a countdown email screenshot on Facebook weeks prior.

The same day she posted her information, a scammer created an account with Carnival and added the booking number to their own profile. Two days before the cruise was to depart, the scammer cancelled the family's reservation.

Banks said Carnival told her they believe the scammer was from British Columbia based on their IP address, but they could not identify them.

Banks revealed that the culprit likely used the booking reference number she unknowingly exposed when she shared a countdown email screenshot on Facebook weeks prior.

The same day she posted her information, a scammer created an account with Carnival and added the booking number to their own profile. Two days before the cruise was to depart, the scammer cancelled the family's reservation.

The company offered Banks a future cruise credit worth $10,404 but under the condition she was to make a social media post 'saying something along the lines of Carnival having resolved the problem,' but she refused.

The company offered her a future cruise credit worth $10,404, but with a condition. They wanted Banks to make a social media post 'saying something along the lines of Carnival having resolved the problem.

Appalled, the mother of four refused their offer, and questioned how someone could take over her reservation that easily if they only had her booking info.

'We're not sailing Carnival ever again,' she said.
The first dating app for lesbians is set to launch  using sex-recognition technology to exclude trans women and ensure only biological females can sign up.

It is the brainchild of feminist campaigner Jenny Watson, who says there are currently no dating apps which cater purely for women who want same-sex relationships.

The current crop of dating apps, she says, are increasingly being used by males who identify as female and who say they too are lesbian.

L'App will use facial recognition technology to verify a person as a biological female.

Ms Watson said would-be users will have to go through a process when they sign up where the app scans their face via their smartphone.

It is the brainchild of feminist campaigner Jenny Watson (pictured), who says there are currently no dating apps which cater purely for women who want same-sex relationships

The software, which Ms Watson claims is 99 per cent accurate, analyses features including bone structure, the shape and positioning of an individual's eyes, eyebrows and nose shape or size. It will also be able to detect if a person is presenting a live image rather than just putting a photo of a woman up to the camera by detecting movement, blinking motions and heat emissions.

Tests have revealed that if someone tries to disguise themselves as a woman by putting on a wig or make-up, the technology will spot the deception.

Ms Watson, 32, a town planner, told The Mail on Sunday: 'There is no female-only dating apps at the moment. Lesbians need an app which they can use without being messaged by trans-identifying males.'

The current crop of dating apps, she says, are increasingly being used by males who identify as female and who say they too are lesbian. Pictured: A trans rights demonstration

She said L'App had also been developed in response to many lesbians finding that they were being banned from existing apps if they dared to specify that they wanted to date only natal females. Speaking about her own personal experience, she said: 'Any time I've joined a lesbian dating app or any other dating app myself, I get banned.

'To avoid trans-identified males, I will always write a little blurb, nothing disrespectful, saying my preference is for women and please respect my boundaries.

'And every time I do that I get banned. On one app I was asked to put down my most controversial opinion, so I wrote that J. K. Rowling was right and was banned for that. It's insane.'

Ms Watson has previously campaigned to protect lesbian spaces, by hosting female-only speed dating nights. She plans to open UK's first single-sex lesbian bar.

She has been criticised as transphobic for excluding transgender women  which she rejects. Her launch comes as a court case is being heard in Australia over whether a trans woman can be lawfully excluded from a female-only social networking app called Giggle.
President Biden's former daughter-in-law is set to tie the knot, years after moving on from her husband Beau by infamously dating Hunter Biden.

Hallie Biden, 50, will walk down the aisle with Ohio financial broker John Hopkins Anning, 53, according to Page Six.

The nuptials could reportedly come as soon as this weekend, with a marriage license already emerging in Ohio's Hamilton County court records.

It comes five years after the end of her controversial fling with Hunter, and the 50-year-old is expected to be called as a witness in the president's son's upcoming trial on gun violations.

Hallie Biden, 50, will walk down the aisle with Ohio financial broker John Hopkins Anning, 53, (pictured together) as soon as this weekend

President Biden's former daughter-in-law was married to his son Beau from 2002 until his death in 2015, during which time Beau served as the Delaware Attorney General

Hallie has reportedly been engaged to Anning for over a year, but the couple held off on marrying until her younger child graduated from high school.

Insiders told Page Six that the big day is set for this weekend, however further details of the wedding or who may attend are unclear.

She was previously married to Beau Biden from 2002 until his death in 2015 from brain cancer, during which time he served as the Delaware Attorney General.

After Beau Biden passed away, she began dating Hunter around the same time he divorced his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle.

The couple continued their tryst for two years, in a time that has now fallen under the spotlight ahead of Hunter's federal trial.

The president's son is accused of lying about a crack cocaine addiction on gun forms when he purchased a Colt Cobra .38 firearm in October 2018, at the same time he was dating Hallie.

Hunter's trial is the first ever launched against the child of a sitting president, and comes just days after Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

He is also set for another trial in Los Angeles in September after allegedly avoiding over $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 to 2019.

Following Beau's tragic passing, Hallie sparked controversy as she embarked on a two year relationship with her husband's brother Hunter

Hallie had two sons, Natalie and Robert, with Beau before he passed away from brain cancer

Also expected to testify in the upcoming trial is Buhle, to whom Hunter allegedly owes further money to, and his ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan.

At his trial, the president's son will face allegations that he deliberately filled out a federal background check form incorrectly, where he wrote that he was not a user of controlled substances.

Hunter has been open about his addiction issues in the past, with prosecutors also presenting evidence that cocaine was found in his gun's pouch.

According to the New York Post, Hallie's testimony could see her detail how Hunter took the .38 firearm to his home in Delaware, and kept hold of it for 11 days before she threw it into a trash can outside a supermarket.

Kestan also reportedly previously revealed further details to prosecutors, including allegations that Hunter would smoke crack cocaine 'every 20 minutes except when he slept.'

Hallie is expected to be a key witness when Hunter goes on trial next week for federal gun violations, as their tryst overlapped with his alleged crimes

Prosecutors are also set to introduce a number of texts and images that they say proves Hunter knowingly lied on the background form, with Hallie expected to be the star witness.

This included a month after the gun was found by Hallie, where he texted her: 'Im a liar and a thief and a blamer and a user and Im delusional and an addict unlike beyond and above all other addicts that you know and Ive ruined every relationship Ive ever cherished.'

In another, he allegedly texted her that he was 'proven unstable when you put a gun in the trash can... out of FEAR.'

Prosecutors said that Hallie would frequently search through Hunter's 'bags, backpacks, and vehicle in an effort to help him get sober, and discovered drug paraphernalia and drugs in his possessions on multiple occasions.'

Hunter faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the felony gun charges, and has pleaded not guilty.
The top ten cities Americans are fleeing from have been revealed, with two glamorous beach towns taking the number one spot for new arrivals.

Moving company PODS revealed its data showing which cities across the country attracted the most new residents, and which saw the most pack up and leave.

Topping the list of cities with the highest amounts of move-outs was Los Angeles, California, which ranked first for its second straight year.

While Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, both held on to the title as having the highest amount of move-ins in the last year.

The company said in their findings that they are seeing more and more people move out towards the Southern Appalachian region.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, seen here, and Wilmington, North Carolina, both held on to the title as having the highest amount of move-ins in the last year

Topping the list of cities with the highest amounts of move-outs was Los Angeles , California, which ranked first for its second straight year

According to their findings, cost of living was the high reason people were fleeing cities and expensive metro zones.

Cities with highest levels of move-outs Los Angeles, California (ranked first in 2023) San Francisco area, Northern California (ranked second in 2023) Miami area, South Florida (ranked fifth in 2023) Long Island, New York, serving parts of New York City (ranked fourth in 2023) Austin, Texas (not ranked in 2023) Central Jersey, New Jersey (ranked sixth in 2023) Chicago, Illinois (ranked third in 2023) San Diego, California (ranked 14th in 2023) Stockton-Modesto, California (ranked ninth in 2023) Hudson Valley, New York (ranked 11th in 2023) Advertisement

LA rounded out the top five alongside crisis-hit San Francisco, the Miami area, Long Island in New York and Austin, Texas.

The company said that higher expenses have 'put the squeeze on residents' who are now fleeing to states with lower overall costs.

Out of the whole country, the data found that California had the highest concentration of move-outs among US states, with seven cities in the top 20.

The Golden State has been battling problems with rising homelessness and open drug abuse in recent years in its major cities.

Homelessness jumped 6 percent to more than 180,000 people in California last year, federal data show. Since 2013, the numbers have exploded by 53 percent.

Californians have been leaving the state in droves in recent years because of this and a high cost of living.

In 2023, California's state population rose 0.17%, marking the first year of growth since the mass exodus that began in 2019.

Meanwhile San Francisco saw many people and businesses flee the area last year to escape the city's 'doom loop'.

The city, like Los Angeles, has been plunged into crisis in recent years with skyrocketing levels of homelessness and addiction.

Last year was the deadliest year on record for drug deaths largely thanks to the proliferation of fentanyl.

Progressive 'harm reduction' policies which don't penalize hard drug use have been blamed for worsening the crisis.

Pictured: Map of California and the counties that have experienced population loss over last five years

Homeless people are seen as the city struggles with widespread fentanyl addiction in San Francisco, California, United States on May 16, 2024

Officials have struggled to get a grip on the situation in San Francisco, with soaring crime rates forcing many household names to close up shop in the city.

According to PODS, the Golden State also 'has a reputation for imposing high sales, income, and property taxes'.

Their findings said that home values in California have increased 6.4 percent over the last year, which is two percent below the national average.

High rents are also forcing residents to look elsewhere, with the company citing an average rental price of a one-bedroom being $2,525 in the state.

Austin, Texas, rounded out the top five this year which was a first for the city after it saw unprecedented growth during the pandemic.

Companies and residents flocked to the city at the time, but the US Census Bureau is now reporting a decline in migration to the city.

The report cites a decline in affordability and a lack of space for new builds as being leading factors.

Other cities with the highest level of move-outs that round out the top ten include Central Jersey, New Jersey, Chicago, Illinois, San Diego, California, Stockton-Modesto, California and Hudson Valley in New York.

Meanwhile Houston, Texas, is seeing a surge in new residents coming to the city having ranked third among cities where PODS saw the largest amount of move-ins.

Houston ranked fifth in last year's findings, but now joins Charlotte, North Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, Ocala, Florida, as well as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, in the top five.

Aerial view of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during sunrise

Wilmington, North Carolina, held on to the title as having the highest amount of move-ins in the last year

In their analysis, PODS said that: 'It appears movers are getting wind of the many perks of living in the Carolinas, making them two of the most moved-to states in 2024, according to our customer data.

'Both states offer beautiful beaches, forestlands, mountains, and vibrant metro cities.

'The cost of living comes in just below the national average and the quality of life is good.

'Four-season weather, southern charm, history, and dynamic arts, culture, food, and wine scenes are big draws, too.

'Residents can also look forward to a growing economy (particularly in North Carolina) and lower tax rates than many other U.S. states.'

It come after a LinkedIn finding that showed that the top 10 fastest-growing cities in America were all in the South, including four in Florida , three in Texas , and two in North Carolina.

Sarasota, Florida topped the list, with a net gain of 107 new workers per 10,000 LinkedIn members January from one year ago.
Staff at the prestigious hospital at the centre of a data breach over the Princess of Wales's private medical records may have had to contend with a 'decoy' trap set by managers, experts believe.

The MoS can reveal that, three months on, The London Clinic remains under investigation and the case has not yet been referred to Scotland Yard, despite Health Minister Maria Caulfield stating in March that police had been asked to look at it.

Bosses at the hospital launched a probe after it was claimed at least one staff member had attempted to access personal details about Kate following her planned abdominal surgery in January.

It is a criminal offence for any NHS or private healthcare staff to access the medical records of a patient without the consent of the organisation's data controller.

Now several data specialists have told this newspaper that, if the breach occurred, staff could have been caught through a 'decoy' tactic used by private hospitals that often have high-profile clients.

The Princess of Wales was receiving private medical care at The London Clinic when staff were accused of attempting to access her personal details following planned abdominal surgery

The London Clinic remains under investigation . It is a criminal offence for any NHS or private healthcare staff to access the medical records of a patient without consent

Health Minister Maria Caulfield has called for the case to be investigated by the police

To protect the health data of VIP patients, hospitals often store it in a file under a fake name.

A 'decoy' file is then created under the celebrity's real name. This contains false information and is regularly checked by bosses to see if any wayward staff have opened it without permission.

If a breach is suspected, hospitals are required to launch their own inquiry while the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) investigates whether management did anything wrong. But this process is laboriously slow.

Sam Smith, of health data privacy group MedConfidential, said: 'It's disappointing but sadly normal that three months on there is no update about the investigation.'

He said data breaches were 'unfortunately common', adding: 'It's rare that people find out when a data breach has happened, even rarer that they can get the evidence to prove it, and if they do, the process is still very slow.'

Tom Llewellyn, a partner in commercial litigation and data protection at Ashfords law firm, said: 'It might take years for action to be taken against the individuals.'

He highlighted a similar case last year when a former NHS secretary was fined 648 for accessing the medical records of more than 150 patients  four years after the breaches took place.

Last month, a hospital doctor was struck off three years after reading the health data of a woman he met on a dating app in 2021.

The London Clinic has provided no update since the suspected breach of the Princess of Wales's health data was reported.

The ICO told the MoS: 'Investigations into reported data breaches can be highly complex and our expert team must be given adequate time to make their enquiries.

To protect the integrity of a live investigation, we will not provide regular updates on its progress to those not directly involved until its conclusion.'

The Met Police confirmed they were 'not aware of any referral' about the breach.

Kensington Palace said: 'This is a matter for The London Clinic.'
China's tech giant Huawei aims to foster Thai digital talent ecosystem

Xinhua) 11:10, June 01, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
The cop, Myron Woodson, has been placed on paid leave during an investigation

His owner filled a $1 million lawsuit and outrage prompted the mayor to resign

A small Missouri town is enraged over the senseless killing of a small dog by a police officer that led the mayor to resign amid growing calls to shut down the police department.

Horrifying bodycam footage captured the moment Teddy, a five-year-old, 13-pound dog, was tragically gunned down by police officer Myron Woodson, in Sturgeon on May 19.

Kevin Abrahamson stepped down as mayor after Teddy's owner, Nicholas Hunter, filed a $1million lawsuit against the city and officer Woodson alleging that his Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated.

During a regularly scheduled city aldermen meeting on Tuesday, dozens of Sturgeon residents came out to show their support for Teddy, reported The Washington Post.

'This is your town, if you don't speak up now, you might not ever get anything to change,' said a woman holding a 'Justice for Teddy.'

Teddy (pictured), a five-year-old, 13-pound dog, was tragically gunned down by police officer Myron Woodson, in Sturgeon on May 19

Outraged Sturgeon (pictured) residents came out to show their support for Teddy during a townhall and called to shutdown the police department

One residents sign said: 'We back the blue except Woodson. Fire him!'

'I think until you get this entire problem solved with the police department, you shut it down,' one man said.

Bodycam footage of the tragic moment starts with Teddy roaming around in an open grass field as Woodson tries to lasso the dogs with a catch pole.

As he tries to catch the dog, Woodson is heard saying: 'Come on, baby. Come on, baby. There you go.'

Each time he attaches the lasso to Teddy's neck the pup backs out of it and runs away.

'I'm going to take you to get help,' Woodson says to the dog.

Minutes later, Teddy is seen playing with a rope attached to a tree as the officer is heard cocking his gun in the background.

Woodson then shoots the disabled dog two times before he walks away and interacts with a neighbor nearby.

'I had to dispatch it,' Woodson says to the neighbor.

Bodycam footage of the tragic moment starts with Teddy roaming around in an open grass field as Woodson tries to lasso the dogs with a catch pole

The woman tells the officer: 'I've got children here though, like don't you think you should warn before you fire a shot?'

Woodson ignores the neighbor's concerns as he is seen waving her off in his shadow reflected on the grass.

The officer's bodycam then shows the moment Hunter arrives and confronts Woodson for killing his beloved pet.

'That's not how you handle a situation. If a dog is a threat to a person and harms a person or shows immediate threat, that's when you use force,' Hunter tells Woodson as he chokes up.

In the video that Hunter made, he asked Woodson: 'Was my dog a threat to you or anyone else?'

'I see a dog that is walking around blindly - I don't know the dog is blind,' Woodson responded.

As he reportedly said he believed Teddy needed to be put down, Hunter questioned: 'So you're putting him out of his misery?'

'What am I supposed to do?' Woodson replied, noting that the tiny Missouri town doesn't have animal control.

'I don't enjoy shooting dogs,' the officer added.

The city has not fired Woodson, but he is on paid leave while an investigation is underway.

Teddy's owner, Nicholas Hunter, filed a $1million lawsuit against the city and officer Woodson alleging that his Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated

In its initial statement the day after the shooting, the City of Sturgeon claimed that Woodson believed Teddy was rabid and feared he may be bitten, despite the officer reportedly not making those claims at the scene.

The city admitted that it was 'later learned' that Teddy's behavior was because he was blind, and that the 'animal's lack of a collar or tags influenced the SPD Officer's decision to put the animal down due to his belief that the animal was injured, sick and abandoned.'

'This whole situation never should have happened, it was handled in the wrong way entirely,' said Teddy's other owner Abbey Harnish.

'Ultimately, nothing is going to bring my dog back, but there's something that needs to be done and change with both the city and the cop.'

Daniel Kolde, one of the attorneys who brought the suit, said, 'We think that Officer Woodson's actions constitute felony animal abuse and, in addition to our filing of our civil suit, we are calling upon the county prosecutor to bring his own criminal charges against this officer.'
Thousands of older people may be at risk of life-threatening heart problems unless the Government sanctions the use of a new jab on the NHS, experts fear.

Ministers were advised nearly 18 months ago by medics to roll out a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Although mostly found in infants, the bug also affects the elderly, killing an estimated 4,000 or so over-75s every winter in the UK from complications such as pneumonia. However, no plans have yet been announced to introduce the jab.

Now alarming new research showing RSV infection can lead to potentially fatal heart complications in the elderly has led to renewed calls for the vaccine to be made available soon to about 5.5 million older people.

Now alarming new research showing RSV infection can lead to potentially fatal heart complications in the elderly has led to renewed calls for the vaccine to be made available soon to about 5.5 million older people (Stock Image)

The data, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, looked at more than 6,000 elderly US patients in their 70s diagnosed with RSV between 2014 and 2023.

A fifth suffered a severe cardiac crisis linked to the bug  most commonly sudden heart failure.

The cardiac risks were even greater in those who already had some element of heart disease, such as high blood pressure or blocked arteries.

RSV is spread by large droplets and the virus can survive on surfaces for up to seven hours.

A vaccine  called Arexvy  has been approved for use in the UK in adults aged 60 and above. Studies show it is at least 80 per cent effective in preventing RSV infections.

Professor Adam Finn, an infectious diseases expert and professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, told The Mail on Sunday: 'It has been known for some time that RSV infection can present as cardiac failure. This research adds further evidence of the seriousness of this infection in old people, particularly those with underlying heart disease.

'I'm optimistic that we will see implementation of a vaccine programme against RSV this year. I hope the disruption caused by the election will not jeopardise that in any way.'

The Health Department said it was working through the full business case, with the aim of finalising an agreement in time for an autumn start.
A girl fighting for life after a drive-by shooting is responding to her parents' voices and squeezed her father's hand yesterday.

The nine-year-old, who was shot in the head while having dinner with her family in an east London restaurant last Wednesday night, is said to be 'improving', according to a close family friend.

It is understood that the family from Birmingham, who were visiting friends for the half-term holiday, had not planned to eat at the Turkish restaurant in Hackney and only stopped there en route because the child suddenly felt hungry.

The girl was shot at Evin restaurant in Kingsland High Street just after 9pm. The shooter on a Ducati Monster motorbike pulled up and began firing at three men sitting outside, believed to be his targets.

The men of Turkish origin, aged 37, 42 and 44, were injured and the girl was caught in the hail of bullets, with one said to have lodged in her head.

A girl fighting for life after a drive-by shooting is responding to her parents' voices and squeezed her father's hand yesterday

Pictured: Forensic officers gather evidence at the scene in Dalston, east London

The girl was shot at Evin restaurant in Kingsland High Street just after 9pm on May 29

One of the men has been discharged from hospital and the other two are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The girl has been on a ventilator since Wednesday. Doctors have performed one operation but were unable to remove the bullet, the family friend said.

But, he added, on Friday doctors began reducing her sedation to see how she responded and yesterday, her family were delighted when she squeezed her father's hand.

The friend said: 'She is on a ventilator but she is responding to some things, which is good. When they [her parents] say something, she responds, like moving her finger.

'Her father spoke with her this morning and she responded, she squeezed his hand, she pressed it.' He said doctors will remove the bullet in another operation but that may be some days away.

The friend, who speaks regularly with the girl's father on the phone, said her parents were a lot more optimistic. He said: 'Doctors are saying it will be good.'

Pictured: Emergency services at the scene in Dalston, east London

Pictured: Police guard the cordon at the scene in Dalston, east London

The girl has been on a ventilator since Wednesday. Doctors have performed one operation but were unable to remove the bullet, the family friend said

The parents are both IT professionals in Birmingham. As their daughter  described as 'intelligent and active' and who loves painting  was on her half-term holiday, they came to London to visit friends.

The friend said the family did not plan to go to the restaurant. But the girl felt hungry and told her parents she wanted to eat.

When shots rang out, she was sitting at a table with her family by the front window while the three men  believed to be linked to a Hackney gang  were at a table outside.

The motorbike, with red wheels and the registration DP21 OXY, was stolen three years ago from a property in Wembley, north London.

Police have appealed to London's Turkish and Kurdish communities for information over the attack.
Swing voters are important in any election and pollsters always have fun with names to describe them.

Remember White Van Man, the working class tradesman, or Mondeo Man, the aspirational young professional, vital to Tony Blair's election successes?

Over the years, we've also had Waitrose Woman, an affluent southerner, Worcester Woman, who lives in a key marginal seat, and Workington Man, a Labour Brexit voter.

This time, it's Whitby Woman, coined by think-tank More In Common. She's 60 and voted for Brexit and Boris Johnson. Will she stick or be seduced by Sir Keir Starmer?

Meet The Mail on Sunday's panel of voters and what they make of it so far. We'll be revisiting them over the next few weeks.

Worcester woman

Lynne Price, 52, from Kidderminster

Married with blended family of five sons. Head of customer services for IT company EBC Group.

'I'm a classic floating voter. My parents were Lib Dems, but in the 1980s and 1990s I fell in with the Conservatives  Margaret Thatcher was a strong woman.

Lynne Price, 52, from Kidderminster who is married with a blended family of five sons

'When I was a bit older, and starting a family, my priorities changed and I went towards Labour. The cost of living is probably my biggest consideration. We spend 1,000 a month on food. We had to downsize last year because we had to tighten our belts.

'I did like what Rishi Sunak said about National Service. My dad did it and it gave him his career.'

White van man

Ian Fox, 68, from Ipswich

Divorced with two children. Painter-decorator. Earned 25,000 last year.

'I was a Tory voter under Margaret Thatcher. The UK economy was good then and I made a lot of money. In 1997, I voted for Tony Blair's New Labour.

'He was clear with his ideas and felt like a Tory to me. If Labour had him now, they'd stroll this election. But they have Keir Starmer. If he came into my pub, everyone would laugh at him.

Ian Fox, 68, from Ipswich is a painter decorator and is divorced with two children

'The key issue is immigration. It's getting out of control.'

Whitby Woman

Sharon Coulson, 58

Married with two children and a stepson. Sales assistant on the minimum wage.

'In 2019, I voted for Boris Johnson because he was a straight talker, and after I'd voted to leave the EU in 2016, I felt he could get the job done. The current leaders do not fill me with that confidence.

'I worry for my children getting on the property ladder. Houses on the market often become holiday homes for rich people from elsewhere.

'Then there is the NHS and staffing levels in hospitals and GPs.'

Sharon Coulson, 58 is a sales assistant on minimum wage from Whitby

Mondeo man

Lewis Richardson, 35, from Wickford, Essex

Works in IT sales

'I grew up with Tony Blair as PM and I remember being told how important education was, so I went off to study communications in 2007. By the time I graduated, all my mates who were tradesmen were in a much better financial position. I am on a good salary now but it has taken a long time to get there.

'I like a bit of what Labour have to say, and a bit of what the Tories have to say.'

Lewis Richardson, 35, from Wickford, Essex who works in IT sales

Waitrose woman

Louisa Dunbar, 42, from Reading

Married with two children. Runs OrangeGrove, which improves business websites.

'I am considering my vote more carefully than ever. We spend roughly 1,700 a month on nursery fees for our youngest  it means holidays and day trips have to be sacrificed.

'With a business of my own, I would like to see a government that introduces incentives for growth. Corporation tax is a big worry. I am someone who wants to see business thrive but feels a moral responsibility for our society.

Louisa Dunbar, 42, from Reading who is married with two children

'Education is another concern. I am not sure it is on the radar of either party. No party has convinced me yet.'

Workington man

Maurice Hetherington, 69, from Cockermouth, Cumbria. Has a partner, a stepson and a son. Retired carpet fitter.

'I grew up in a Labour household. I always felt as working class people that they were the party for us. But by the end of Tony Blair, I started to change my mind.

'I voted Conservative for the first time under David Cameron. But I don't know what to do this time. Keir Starmer seems to change his policies each time. He's an inbetweener, a flip-flopper. I wouldn't like to follow him into battle.

Maurice Hetherington, 69, from Cockermouth, Cumbria. He has a partner, a stepson and a son

'The big issue for me at this election is going to be the young people. We've got two granddaughters  I want them to be able to have jobs when they grow up, and somewhere to live, and access to an NHS dentist.'
Angela Rayner should be described as the real leader of the Labour Party because of the way she forced Sir Keir Starmer to buckle over the Diane Abbott affair, Rishi Sunak said on Saturday.

The Prime Minister, trying to brush off dire new polling figures pointing to a Tory election wipeout, used the launch of his party's election battle bus to repeat his claim that Sir Keir is 'Captain Flip Flop'.

The Labour leader was pressurised into allowing the veteran Hackney politician to stand for his party  despite high-level briefings from his team that she would be blocked following her suspension for controversial remarks she made on anti-Semitism  after his Left-leaning deputy Ms Rayner declared: 'I don't see any reason why Diane Abbott can't stand as a Labour MP going forward.

'I am saying that as the deputy leader of the Labour Party.'

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday at the launch in Redcar, Teesside, Mr Sunak said: 'Look at the flip-flop.

The Prime Minister used the launch of his party's election battle bus to repeat his claim that Sir Keir is 'Captain Flip Flop'

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, at the launch event for Labour's campaign bus at Uxbridge College

You've seen what happened this week with Diane Abbott and that confirms what we already know about Keir Starmer. He can't stick to a position and constantly changes his mind under pressure.

'It makes it clear that Angela Rayner is in charge of the Labour Party. If he is willing to give in to her on this, then the impression of the country is that he will be willing to give in to these factions when it comes to raising people's taxes or the demands of the unions that cost jobs and damage our economic recovery or indeed weaken our defence and security.'

Ms Rayner, who cut a subdued figure while the police investigated her mysteriously complicated living arrangements, has been emboldened by their decision that her actions did not give rise to criminal liability  and has become more of a headache for Sir Keir in the process.

Ignoring questions about the poll reported in yesterday's Daily Mail which forecast Labour could win a majority of more than 300, Mr Sunak unveiled the Mercedes battle bus covered by Tory slogans in red, white and blue.

Amid pressure from the Right-wing PopCons to cut taxes and concentrate on 'core Conservative principles', Mr Sunak said: 'We are already delivering a tax cut worth 900 for working people this year.

'That didn't happen by accident, that happened because of our management of the economy and that we are able to do that is a reflection of our values because I believe hard work should be rewarded.

'That is the type of country I want to build, so you can always expect that we are going to prioritise cutting taxes for people who are working hard and that's what Jeremy (Hunt)'s been very clear about and that's what I've been very clear about.'

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday at the launch in Redcar, Teesside, Mr Sunak said: 'Look at the flip-flop'

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner speaks alongside Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer at the launch the Labour Party's election 'Battle Bus' on June 1

Sipping from a mug of Yorkshire tea, Mr Sunak, who pledged to give 30 towns across the UK 20 million each in an expansion of the Tories' levelling-up policy if the party is re-elected, added: 'I think that increasingly people can see there is a clear choice because we are the ones putting some bold ideas on the table, whether that's National Service, triple lock plus the apprenticeships.

'We have a plan that is working on the economy and taking bold action to deliver a better future.

'And in contrast I keep asking people wherever I go 'can you name a single idea from Keir Starmer and the Labour Party?' And people can't.'

Labour also launched its battle bus, bearing the party's 'change' slogan in west London, as Ms Rayner set off on a 5,000-mile tour of battleground seats.

She said: 'We are a changed Labour Party in the service of working people. And we will never ride roughshod over the economy because we know we need a strong economy.'

And a buoyant Sir Keir said: 'I've come to see this fantastic bus. It's rather like Tory defectors, you wait for ages and then three come along in a row.'

Asked about reports that D:Rream, the band behind Things Can Only Get Better, Labour's 1997 anthem, would snub a request from him for a new song, he said: 'Look, we're not in 1997, we're in 2024.'
Scandal-ridden Colorado Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert had a complete meltdown in front of Colorado viewers during a televised debate.

Boebert, 37, had been working to rally motivated MAGA conservatives to join her campaign for Colorados 4th district, after moving east to more conservative pastures from her current 3rd district position.

But her composure completely collapsed under the pressure of moderator and host of the debate on 9News Denver's Kyle Clark.

Boebert, who became a grandmother at the age of 36, has been fighting against the perception by liberals and even some moderate Republicans about her reckless nature.

A series of scandals have marred her time in office, most infamously when she was asked to leave a performance of the musical Beetlejuice after she sexually groped her date in the dark.

Scandal-ridden Colorado Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert had a complete meltdown in front of Colorado viewers during a televised debate on Thursday night

Some wonder if she can hang on to power after facing everything from an infamous ejection from a theater performance of Beetlejuice (pictured) to a nasty divorce to her son's legal troubles have kept her in the news for all the wrong reasons

Security personnel are seen speaking to the congresswoman and Gallagher inside the theater before escorting them out

Boebert is working to rally motivated MAGA conservatives to join her campaign for Colorado's 4th district, after moving east to more conservative pastures from her current 3rd district position

Boebert agreed to tackle the issue head-on and was given the floor to set things straight.

'I certainly have owned up to my night out in Denver, and Ive gone on that public apology tour, and Im grateful for the mercy and grace that have been shown, but Im not going to continue to live life in shame and continue to be beat up by this,' Boebert began.

'Did you apologize for vaping or did you apologize to voters for what you did that night and the disrespect you showed to service workers that night? What specifically were you apologizing for?' Clark asked, looking for clarification.

Boebert - who divorced her now-ex-husband, Jayson, in 2023 amid accusations of domestic abuse - was filmed lashing out at theater staff after being booted from the theater for singing along - with staff claiming she also vaped and took photos during the performance.

Surveillance footage shows Boebert, wearing a tight, low-cut gold dress and high heels, making a considerable fuss as she and her date are ordered out.

Boebert, 37, and her mystery man quickly made their way through the lobby and out the front doors

Boebert is seen on surveillance camera footage giving ushers the finger

Surveillance footage shows an angry Boebert being escorted from a Denver theater over the weekend for alleged bad behavior

Boebert made quite the scene in front of astonished staff

She was then seen snapping a selfie as she left the auditorium and angrily bared her teeth at staff as she was escorted through the lobby.

But during the debate, Boebert insisted that was not the case.

'I dont believe there was disrespect. I believe things were taken out of context,' Boebert went on.

'But theres video of your interactions with service workers. So are you apologizing for lying?' Clark prodded.

The lawmaker at one point asked the theater staff, 'Do you know who I am?'

'Its been reported that I flipped someone off and I did not. So I think its been mischaracterized,' Boebert stated, despite there being clear, color video footage of her doing just that.

Boebert then attempted to turn the tables on Clark suggesting the video footage should never have been released.

'Im apologizing for you, Kyle Clark, for getting footage and releasing that - and for people seeing this in a very private moment.'

Clark responded saying that it was very important to figure out whether Boebert was telling the truth or whether a public agency was lying about her conduct.

Boebert claimed that the incident was a private one, despite her fondling of her date taking place in a 2,800-seat Denver theater.

By this point, Bobert had become increasingly flustered and attempted to point out how Kyle had even spoken out against using hidden camera footage.

'You just had an interview recently and was saying how disgusting it was to record someone without their knowledge. And you did that very same thing!' Boebert yelled, by which time Clark shut her down and moved onto the next question in the debate.

Boebert has been plagued by distracting incidents both before and during her time in Congress.

In late February, things took another unfortunate turn for Boebert after her son, Tyler, 18, was picked up by the police in Rifle, Colorado, on 22 various different charges including three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His next court case is in June.

Earlier this year, in a Truth Social post, Trump referred to Boebert as a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter'

Boebert's son Tyler, right, has recently been charged with 22 crimes, including five felonies, related to property thefts in the Rifle, Colorado area

Around the time that the arrest was taking place, Boebert's social media accounts were lambasting President Joe Biden's 'crime family' as 'the most corrupt family in American history.'

This marks just the latest drama involving the politician whose greatest hits including allegations that she punched her ex-husband, allegations of pointing a gun at an Obama-supporting employee and trying to prove that a WWE star was her birth father.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Boebert in March amid her son's legal woes and the congresswoman's messy divorce saga.

Trump called the 37-year-old grandmother a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter,' giving the Colorado Republican his 'Complete and Total Endorsement.'

'Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is a Proven Conservative and Effective Leader who delivers for Colorado, and our America First agenda,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A cruise ship worker has revealed the seven essential tips first-time cruisers must take into account if they want a smooth voyage.

Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, who racked up an impressive nine years of experience on board, recently took to her YouTube channel Cruising as Crew to explain how first timers should prepare.

The clip, which is part of an extensive series helping travellers embrace cruise life covers everything from basic necessities like travel insurance and Wi-Fi to buying alcohol.

Sailing four corners of the world can be daunting if you're a first timer but the pro traveller made sure to go into enough detail to put incoming cruise-goers at ease

She first stressed the importance of travel insurance, instructing her 68,000 subscribers to sort this as soon as they've booked their cruise.

Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham now sails across the world and gives travellers advice on her YouTube channel Cruising As Crew

She first stressed the importance of travel insurance, instructing her 68,000 subscribers to sort this as soon as they've booked their cruise

1 . Get your travel insurance as soon as you book

Lucy explained that it's important to be a little organised when it comes to your cruise, citing endless possibilities of unprecedented things that could wrong as a reason to be timely when it comes to purchasing travel insurance.

'Make sure you have booked travel insurance as soon as you have booked your cruise, especially with a cruise vacation, you never know what's going to go wrong.

'The cruise could be cancelled, your flight could be cancelled, you could miss our flight, your flight could be delayed and you could miss the cruise!'

She emphasised: 'You never know what's going to happen so make sure you book travel insurance as soon as your cruise is booked'.

2. Check all of your items are allowed on-board

While this would seem obvious, Lucy explained that often passengers fail to read the basic instructions.

While weapons are obviously banned, more innocuous things like 'letter openers' also pose the risk of being confiscated so it's always worth a quick Google so you don't lose any valuables.

She said: 'Before packing for your cruise vacation I would advise going on the cruise line's website to make sure that there are no prohibited items that you would considering taking with you'.

3. Prepare for bad Wi-Fi

Lucy explained that even if you intend to buy the WiFi provided by the cruiseliner, it is likely to be bad quality so prepare in advance and have all the apps you need for your stay.

She said: 'Most of these cruise lines now will require you to download an app on your phone, you, but you must download these apps before you get on board'.

4. Tell your bank

One thing that many travellers overlook is telling their bank about their cruise trip.

Transactions in multiple different time zones may be flagged as suspicious activity if you fail to inform them.

Lucy said: 'It's super important when you're going on a cruise ship because you're going to be in a different destination every day so if your bank doesn't know that you're on a cruise, it looks exceedingly dodgy.

'One day you're buying something in Kazimir, the next day you're buying something in Miami, it looks weird so make sure that your bank you're going to be hopping from destination to destination'.

5. Book things in advance

Lucy said, if you've got your eyes on something, whether it's a restaurant or a show, book it in advance.

'Make sure you book either before you get on board or as soon as you get on board', the ex-cruise ship worker explained.

She added: 'Sometimes you can book these events through the app but I am still a fan of booking in person'.

Lucy recommended confirming that our online booking still stands as soon as you embark the cruise ship.

She said@ 'I would even do this before you even go to your cabin, before you grab some food, I would make sure that everything is booked in'.

Lucy explained most people go to their cabin, eat, and then book everything but if everyone else is doing this too, you'll either have to tolerate long queues or in the very worst scenario, not be able to get one.

She emphasised: 'As soon as you get on board your crew ship, make sure that you book everything that you want to book for your cruise'.

6. Be patient with guest services

Lucy says, if you've got your eyes on something, whether it's an eatery or a show, book it in advance

Lucy's final tip for first time cruise goers was regarding tipping which goes to cabin stewards and sometimes waiters

Lucy recommends avoiding first-time cruise stress by waiting a little bit longer to sort issues more efficiently.

She said: 'If you need to go to guest services for any reason, maybe you've got a billing issue, a cabin issue, avoid going on embarkation - when everybody goes to guest services with their complaints and queries'.

The perks of delaying your trip down to guest services mean you get to avoid the long queues, and are seen much quicker when you do pop down as most people instinctively seek help on the first day of the cruise.

Lucy added: 'I promise you the day after embarkation, no one's going to be there, you're going to see someone straight away, you're going to have your issue solved immediately'.

She also noted that staff will be less stressed on days following embarkation so it's likely you'll experience more pleasant service.

7. Tipping

Lucy's final tip for first time cruise goers was regarding tipping which goes to cabin stewards and sometimes waiters.

She explained that there is an option to pay gratuities in advance but you don't have to opt for this.

However, she warned that while this was 'absolutely fine', these will be added on to your overall bill at the end of your cruise, so don't be surprised if the total exceeds what you expected.

The experienced cruise ship worker has seen many people over the years become flustered as they didn't think to factor this into their budgets, so it's best to pay it at the time to avoid stress.
A new Netflix documentary has left Brits perplexed with some branding it 'bizarre' and 'intense propaganda'.

Viewers were miffed that Netflix had commissioned 24 Hours in Tesco, with the film following the staff at the supermarket giant.

Netflix describes the documentary as 'a one-off special exploring the secrets behind Britain's biggest supermarket chain, and unpacking what 24 hours at Tesco really looks like'.

Viewers on social media were divided, with some thinking the 43-minute-long documentary simply served as an advert for the retailer.

Meanwhile, others praised the retailer, with one even claiming they ditched their night out to stay in to watch the Tesco documentary.

A new Netflix documentary has left Brits perplexed, with some branding it 'bizarre' and 'intense propaganda'. Pictured: the Netflix logo

Viewers were miffed that Netflix had commissioned 24 Hours in Tesco, with the film following the staff at the supermarket giant

Netflix describes the documentary as 'a one-off special exploring the secrets behind Britain's biggest supermarket chain, and unpacking what 24 hours at Tesco really looks like'

One user took to X, formerly known as Twitter to express their disappointment with what they perceived to be Tesco's overt self-promotion.

They quipped: 'Watching the 24 Hours in Tesco on Netflix out of sheer curiosity, and it's such intense and bizarre Tesco propaganda.

'Someone on the show called the shop "Everything To Everyone". Tesco's...it has what shoppers crave'.

Another chimed in to agree: 'So True. Propaganda'.

A different user joked: '24 Hours in Tesco being in the top three films in the UK has got to be the most British thing ever'.

Netflix viewers were left divided on the supermarket documentary, with some deeming it promotion, although others enjoyed the rare insight into the huge retailer

Another quipped: 'I just watched 24 hours in Tesco on Netflix. Never have I been more proud to be a Clubcard holder than I am today. Absolutely fantastic stuff'.

And one even went as far to label the documentary 'a banger'.

A different X user penned: 'Loving 24 Hours in Tesco', while another admitted: 'I was
Richard Wilkins has lashed out at critics who have branded his son Christian a 'nepo baby' after the budding actor topped the list of the Australia's most privileged offspring.

The term 'nepo baby' refers to a person who benefits from their family connections or privileged background.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Richard said the label irritated him because his son shouldn't be criticised for having parents who are merely trying to support their child.

'I get a little irritated because you look at any law firm or panel beaters and they all embrace their families and give their kids jobs and help them with their lives,' he vented.

'Why wouldn't you do that? That's what being a parent is, helping your child. Yes, you might open a door, but he has to walk through.'

Richard Wilkins has lashed out at critics who have branded his son Christian a ' nepo baby ' after the budding actor topped the list of the country's most privileged offspring

Meanwhile, Christian, who recently moved to the US to pursue an acting career, laughed off the label.

He said his famous family name has made no difference to his success overseas.

'I feel very grateful to be my dad's son and if that's what being a nepo baby is, then whatever,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'And I can tell you this much though. The Wilkins name unfortunately doesn't carry the same weight in Los Angeles, so I don't necessarily feel like a nepo baby over there.'

Meanwhile, Christian, who recently moved to the US to pursue an acting career, laughed off the label. He said his famous family name has made no difference to his success overseas

In fact, Christian has been making waves all on his own in Hollywood.

'It's great. I love living over there. I've already filmed a couple short films this year. I just got cast in an online TV series playing the lead,' he revealed.

'It's very exciting. I feel very grateful to be able to come back here and have a safe landing place and a place that's so beautiful that I get to call home.

'I've always been a big believer that you should chase the fear and it's definitely scary, but so far it's paying off and I love it.'

Richard added, 'His timing last year wasn't ideal, he moved there a week before the writer's strike, so there wasn't much going on, but this year he's back and things are rolling, it's great.'

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Richard said the label irritated him because his son shouldn't be criticised for having parents who are merely trying to support their child

Meanwhile, Christian also addressed the backlash surrounding his bold red carpet looks

Meanwhile, Christian also addressed the criticism surrounding his bold red carpet looks.

The social media star often likes to express himself at events in dramatic frocks, corset, skirts and high heels.

'It honestly does not really bother me at all,' he said.

'People will say whatever they want to say. And there are far more people saying nice things than there are saying negative things.

'I've always been a very big believer that if you have an opportunity to create visibility for minorities, that you should take that opportunity. And I think any potential positives that I'm doing greatly outweigh any negatives.'

The social media star often likes to express himself at events in dramatic frocks, corset, skirts and high heels

The father-son duo have been working together on their new podcast, The Apple & The Tree.

Christian had the idea to collaborate with his father, hoping to blend their professional skills and family bond.

'It was an idea that I had. Basically, I love working with Dad, and he is such an incredible professional. He's so passionate about what he gets to do in it,' he gushed.

The father-son duo have been working together on their new podcast, The Apple & The Tree

'I've always loved getting to watch him and absorb everything that he knows through osmosis and kind of thought wouldn't it be amazing if we got to work together and share some time together and share what we both know, and it's come to fruition which makes us both very proud.'

Meanwhile, Richard reflected on the journey to bring the podcast to life.

'It's taken about two years to get to this point. We stop, go, stop, go, and Christian moved to the US, but it's a really nice feeling to see those wacky photos that we had done come to life and the podcast be produced and put together.

We're happy, proud, and thrilled.'

Stream Richard and Christian's The Apple & The Tree podcast, out now, with new episodes dropping every Thursday.
The battle lines being drawn in Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford's divorce became obvious at a key moment this week.

On Wednesday morning Ruth was seen looking bubbly as she left her hairdresser, close to the estranged couple's 3.2million marital home in Surrey. With a glamorous 'do', she stopped to smile for the paparazzi on her way to her lucrative job at shopping channel QVC. I'm told she was 'very chirpy'.

Meanwhile, a few miles away, Eamonn was described as having 'lost his mojo' at GB News HQ in Paddington, West London, where he presents the breakfast show.

Colleagues are said to have been 'concerned' for him as they watched him mope around the studios. Indeed, following his three-hour slot, he was seen being driven away in a Range Rover looking downcast.

Unlike Ruth, 64, there were no smiles, no acknowledgement of the cameras. 'He just wanted to get home,' says a colleague. It is unclear where 'home' is or if he has moved out of the couple's Weybridge mansion.

Ruth looked chirpy on Wednesday morning as she left her hairdresser close to the estranged couple's 3.2million marital home in Surrey

Following his three-hour slot on the GB News breakfast show on Wednesday, Eamonn Holmes was driven away in a Range Rover looking downcast

It's now a week since Ruth's publicist revealed, out of the blue, that the couple were planning to divorce after 27 years together and 14 years of marriage.

Long believed to be one of the most solid partnerships in showbusiness, it left fans stunned. But I can reveal that rumours the relationship was in trouble had been circulating around the TV industry for months.

And while Eamonn, also 64, is said to be devastated and against ending their marriage, he has another reason to feel irked. Those close to the star point out that if it hadn't been for him, Ruth might not have gone on to forge a successful career, sharing the daytime sofa with him on ITV's This Morning, then becoming a key figure on the channel's lunchtime panel show Loose Women.

For Ruth, who met Eamonn when she was a little known TV presenter in 1997, being the second Mrs Holmes has been fruitful, to say the least. When they got together, he was riding high as the very well paid  and very high profile  anchor of ITV's breakfast programme, GMTV.

Ruth, meanwhile, had just left ITV's regional news bulletins in Plymouth and was jobbing around awaiting her big TV break. It came when she met the smooth-talking Northern Irishman after they were introduced by mutual friends. He'd split from his first wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children, two years earlier.

Certainly, her association with the undisputed king of daytime TV seems to have propelled Ruth into more influential circles. She was snapped up by talent agency YMU, which also represents Ant and Dec and Claudia Winkleman.

In 1999, Ruth joined Loose Women, where she remains. But it was at the end of 2006 that ITV bosses had a brainwave: to put Ruth and Eamonn on the This Morning sofa. Although the couple were yet to marry  they did so in 2010  bosses realised they were looking at a potentially golden Mr and Mrs double act.

Eamonn had already quit GMTV, the breakfast show he'd hosted alongside Anthea Turner and latterly Fiona Phillips, in 2005 and was presenting an early morning programme on Sky News.

Eamonn, 64, is wheeled about by his physiotherapist in March as he makes his way to a medical appointment

Eamonn suffers crippling pain after back and shoulder surgery and is forced to endure hours of gruelling physio each week. He is now reduced to walking with a stick or using a wheelchair

They were given the Friday slot when Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were off, and also presented during the school holidays. While Phil and Holly were in their heyday for much of this time, ITV bosses secretly confided that they knew the audiences preferred Ruth and Eamonn.

An employee at the network tells me: 'They did a few shows and went down a treat. The viewers loved them. They were about as normal as you could get for a famous couple. They bickered, they lived their lives out in front of the cameras. It was authentic.

'But what cannot be ignored is that Eamonn made Ruth, pure and simple. He had been a coveted and decorated broadcaster for so many years. Of course, he gave her a leg up.'

Their fortunes have certainly swapped. It is undeniable that she has leapfrogged her husband, with whom she has a son of 22. One source familiar with the couple said: 'Ruth has come out of this relationship stronger. She has played a blinder with her career.'

It's becoming increasingly clear that Eamonn may not be able to go on working for as long as his soon-to-be ex-wife. After a number of health setbacks in recent years, including a horrific fall at home in 2022, Eamonn has been seen in a wheelchair.

So what does that mean for the divorce? 'It could get nasty,' says a friend of Eamonn's. 'To think that they would go from appearing so happy on TV, to potentially going to war over money is not what their viewers expected.

It was revealed last week that TV's golden couple Eamonn and Ruth were planning to divorce after 27 years together and 14 years of marriage

Eamonn and Ruth tied the knot in 2010, after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at grand 19th century Hampshire hotel The Elvetham

'He made her. Would she be earning the huge amount of money she does if they had never met? No. Surely he would have an argument that, when it comes to money being divided, this is taken into consideration.'

They developed a strong brand  even after they were unceremoniously booted off This Morning in 2021, and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. The axe came after a series of gaffes on air by Eamonn including one when, on live TV, he cast doubt on media outlets that debunked the myth that 5G wireless technology spread coronavirus.

It was said to have put Ruth, still very much ensconced on the Loose Women panel, in an incredibly awkward position with ITV and piled yet more strain on their relationship.

Eamonn was in no mood for shutting up, however. He took a series of swipes at the broadcaster during interviews, accusing channel heads of hypocrisy and describing those who run the show as 'middle-aged white managers'.

He told the Mail's Weekend magazine in 2022: 'When are they going to start being diverse with their management? The diversity is only on screen. It's hypocritical.'

A friend of Ruth's said: 'The whole thing was pretty embarrassing for her. The fall-out with ITV bosses proved hugely awkward for Ruth, who remained an employee with her role on Loose Women and other shows.

'But there was Eamonn going around slagging them off... He maintains he was sacked because he is an older white man but Ruth was still very much in demand there. You can understand how that would cause friction.'

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: 'These things do not come from nowhere!' Friends of Gary Lineker and Jemima Goldsmith reveal the story behind THAT very cosy photo to KATIE HIND Advertisement

After leaving This Morning, Ruth and Eamonn signed a series of lucrative advertising deals to front campaigns aimed at the over-55s, promoting everything from blood circulation boosters to equity release plans and bingo games.

Again, close friends of Eamonn have been quick to point out that he was fundamental in creating their brand. What he wasn't able to control, however, was his recent spell of bad health  a double hip replacement in 2016 was followed by three slipped discs requiring back surgery. To cap this, in 2022, he fell down the stairs, injuring his shoulder. Ruth revealed recently that at times she'd felt more like a carer than a wife.

Another source of marital strife has been the issue of Eamonn's tax bill  a dark cloud that has been hanging over the couple for more than five years. In January, he revealed he had been forced to sell his beloved house in his hometown of Belfast after a 250,000 tax battle with HMRC.

He had spent more than five years at war with the agency after they ruled he was a staff member not a freelancer. He was then allegedly asked for ten years of retrospective tax and national insurance payments. Everything was piling up, say insiders and 'something had to give'.

Even as the divorce was announced last weekend, I'm told, Eamonn was against making the news public after months of trying to save his marriage.

Ruth, though, was determined to walk away. Far from being a joint effort, the statement was arranged by Ruth, with Eamonn refusing to play any part in it. He reportedly told friends he 'didn't want to get involved'.

For her part, the future at ITV looks bright. She didn't appear on Loose Women this week but intends to return. One source said: 'This split is only going to add to Ruth's story, add to her brand. Even in their separation, Ruth will benefit.' No wonder Eamonn is looking so downbeat.
Mindy Kaling has revealed whether she would consider returning to the role of Kelly Kapoor for the new spin-off of The Office.

She made her debut as Kelly in 2005 on the second episode of the sitcom, which was adapted from the UK series of the same name.

Amid a formidable cast that included Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson and John Krasinski, Mindy, 44, established herself as a standout performer.

As the show continued, her star rose, until she eventually became a big enough name to merit her own standalone sitcom The Mindy Project.

Now with a spin-off of The Office in development, Mindy has disclosed whether she would ever go back to the role that launched her career, spilling the truth to People.

Mindy Kaling has revealed whether she would consider returning to the role of Kelly Kapoor for the new spin-off of The Office; pictured this month at the Met Gala

She made her debut as Kelly in 2005 on the second episode of the sitcom, which was adapted from the UK series of the same name; Mindy pictured on season one

She gushed that she would 'of course' be open to the idea, adding: 'For that group of people, I would definitely - Id be open to it.'

Greg Daniels, who adapted The Office for US television and made Mindy a star by hiring her for the series, is also one of the creators of the spin-off.

The new Peacock show, which is currently untitled, is centered on the staff of a newspaper in the Midwest and is expected to begin shooting in July.

Domhnall Gleeson stars alongside Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore, who shot to fame in America by playing a hotel manager on season two of The White Lotus.

When the prospect of playing Kelly again was brought up, Mindy found herself feeling curious about how the character would have changed over the years.

'It's been such a long time since Ive acted as Kelly Kapoor that Im like: "Oh, Id have to get into character" - not to sound method,' said the Late Night actress. 'But Im like: "What would she be like? At my age?"'

Mindy suspects the spin-off is 'gonna be great,' adding: 'I dont have anything to do with it, but Im big fans of the people behind the scenes, so I think itll be good.'

Greg is developing the series alongside Nathan For You co-creator Michael Koman, a comedy writer who previously worked on Late Night With Conan O'Brien.

Amid a formidable cast that included Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson and John Krasinski , Mindy, 44, established herself as a standout performer; pictured on the show with BJ Novak

Along with playing Kelly Kapoor, she also worked as a writer on the series - and was initially the only woman on staff alongside seven men

She left The Office in 2012 to create and star on her own sitcom The Mindy Project, which ran for six seasons until 2017; she is pictured on the program in 2016

The new Peacock show, which stars Domhnall Gleeson (pictured in January), is centered on the staff of a newspaper in the Midwest and is expected to begin shooting in July

Sabrina Impacciatore, who shot to fame in America by playing a hotel manager on season two of The White Lotus (pictured), is also on the spin-off

By contrast to Mindy, Steve Carell has ruled out featuring on the spin-off, saying: 'I will be watching but I will not be showing up. Its just a new thing and theres really no reason for my character [Michael Scott] to show up in something like that.'

However he told The Hollywood Reporter that he is 'excited about it, it sounds like a great conceit. I love the idea  I guess its set in a failing newspaper company, and I worked with Domhnall Gleeson, who is one of the leads; I did The Patient with him and hes an excellent actor and a super nice guy so I think itll be great.'

When Mindy was first cast as Kelly Kapoor, she was mainly known for her off-Broadway comedy Matt & Ben, a parody of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's friendship that she wrote with her college gal pal Brenda Withers.

Television audiences around America were completely unfamiliar with Mindy, then 24, when Greg took a chance on her for The Office.

Along with playing Kelly Kapoor, she also worked as a writer on the series - and was initially the only woman on staff alongside seven men.

She left The Office in 2012 to create and star on her own sitcom The Mindy Project, which ran for six seasons until 2017, lurching from Fox to Hulu in the process.
Jenna Dewan took to Instagram to celebrate her daughter Everly's eleventh birthday with a sweet message and a carousel of throwback snaps on Saturday.

The 43-year-old actress  who was recently spotted showing off her baby bump in a figure-hugging grey maxi dress  penned a heartwarming message for her first born, thanking the youngster for making her a mother.

'My first baby is 11,' she began, 'I am honestly so emotional today it will be a small miracle if i can get through this day without blabbering and crying how proud of you I am and how much I love you every single second of the day!'

'Evie, you are incredible, wise.. beautiful inside and out.. magical, creative, unique, inspiring and truly hilarious 24/7. It is the most extraordinary gift of all to be your mother!

'We share a brain - maybe too much - and we share a heart. But you are all you and the world is a much more sparkly and magnificent place because you are here,' she continued.

Jenna Dewan took to Instagram to celebrate her daughter Everly's eleventh birthday with a sweet message and a carousel of throwback snaps on Saturday

The 43-year-old actress penned a heartwarming message for her first born, thanking the youngster for making her a mother

'My first baby is 11,' she began, 'I am honestly so emotional today it will be a small miracle if i can get through this day without blabbering and crying how proud of you I am and how much I love you every single second of the day!'

'Evie, you are incredible, wise.. beautiful inside and out.. magical, creative, unique, inspiring and truly hilarious 24/7. It is the most extraordinary gift of all to be your mother!' she wrote

'Thank you for making me a mother, continuing to teach me so much about life and its my honor to be by your side forever and ever and ever. Happy birthday my Everly!!!!' she finished.

The actress added various photos of her first-born's most cherished moments and even some candid snaps together.

In one snap, we see the birthday girl doing her math homework while enjoying ice cream at a desert shop.

We also see her posed behind the American flag posing as the President, sporting a blazer and ruched floral top.

Dewan added a heartwarming snap of little Everly hugging her baby bump, just days away from her due date.

The tribute post she shared with her 9.5million followers was a hit racking up over 73.5k likes and 536 comments.

Fans flooded the comments with birthday wishes and support for Everly with one writing, 'Happy Birthday. Such a pretty girl with a beautiful soul. So grown up.'

Another fan penned well wishes and pointed out the similarities between the youngster and her famous father, Channing Tatum. 'Happy birthday gorgeous you are a twin of your dad,' the wrote.

The Setup actress welcomed her daughter Everly with the Magic Mike star during their July 2009 to November 2019 marriage.

The ex-couple has both since moved on as Dewan is expecting her second baby with fiance Steve Kazee and Tatum is engaged to actress Zoe Kravitz.

Jenna and Steve welcomed their first child together - son Callum, four, born March 6, 2020.

'We share a brain - maybe too much - and we share a heart. But you are all you and the world is a much more sparkly and magnificent place because you are here,' she continued

We also see her posed behind the American flag posing as the President, sporting a blazer and ruched floral top

'Thank you for making me a mother, continuing to teach me so much about life and its my honor to be by your side forever and ever and ever. Happy birthday my Everly!!!!' she finished

In one snap, we see the birthday girl doing her math homework while enjoying ice cream at a desert shop

Dewan added a heartwarming snap of little Everly hugging her baby bump, just days away from her due date

Despite having split up over five years ago, the co-parents are amid a legal battle in which Dewan claims both she and the actor acquired the Magic Mike intellectual property together, since they were still married at the time the movie was being developed.

Tatum, who was then an up-and-coming leading man, starred in the first Magic Mike movie in 2012, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Just weeks ago, Tatum's attorneys denied his ex's claims that he hid proceeds in an irrevocable trust.

They also claimed the Magic Mike actor 'has never denied' Dewan's share of community assets or income.

His attorney, Jacqueline Combs, also said the Magic Mike franchise made most of its money after the couple had already separated, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.

During an April hearing, Combs said Tatum has tried multiple times to resolve the issue with his ex without having to go through a separate trial, but were instead met with Dewan's 'unnecessarily litigious conduct and delay tactics.

'This has been going on for six years and it's very important to move the case to trial,' a frustrated Combs told the judge.

Dewan's attorneys said they also were prepared to go to trial, but alerted the judge that the actress is set to give birth in mid-June.

The judge said he was 'very aware' of her due date and ordered time to depose the actress before she has her baby. He added that both Dewan and Tatum should be deposed no later than July 26.

The former Hollywood couple, who were married from July 2009 to November 2019, share 10-year-old daughter, Everly, but have both since moved on; seen on June 17, 2013

Dewan claims both she and the actor acquired the Magic Mike intellectual property together since they were still married at the time the movie was being developed; seen on August 1, 2015 in Los Angeles

Just weeks ago, Tatum's attorneys denied Dewan's claims that the actor hid proceeds in an irrevocable trust; Tautum and Dewan seen on November 6, 2017 in Los Angeles

Dewan is expecting her second baby with fiance Steve Kazee and is days away from giving birth; seen on April 09, 2024 in Beverly Hills

Tatum is engaged to actress Zoe Kravitz, who is nine years his junior; seen on March 12, 2014 in Los Angeles

The parties recently returned to court on May 15 to determine whether the Magic Mike intellectual property issue will require a separate short trial.

For now, a trial date has been set in December. Dewan and Tatum have indicated they plan to call the other to the stand.

'This is your last chance,' Judge Wasserman told both sides. 'This is it.'
His first year as monarch has been beset by challenges that neither he nor anyone else envisaged when he was crowned.

So it was with relief that some of King Charles's most ardent supporters greeted a discreet recent announcement from the Palace.

Officers at the Royal Thames Yacht Club  which has cherished its royal association since its foundation in 1775  were, I can disclose, informed that the King would remain its Patron.

Just as hearteningly, they learned that its next most senior honorary position, that of Commodore, which Charles held for 12 years while Prince of Wales, would remain unfilled  fuelling hopes that it will be taken by the Princess of Wales when her own battle with cancer is safely behind her.

'People are thrilled the King is staying on,' an old sea dog tells me, adding that those at the club are acutely aware of the pressures on the 'slimmed down' Royal Family.

The Yacht Club's next most senior honorary position, that of Commodore, which Charles held for 12 years while Prince of Wales, would remain unfilled  fuelling hopes that it will be taken by the Princess of Wales when her own battle with cancer is safely behind her

Officers at the Royal Thames Yacht Club  which has cherished its royal association since its foundation in 1775  were, I can disclose, informed that the King would remain its Patron

The entrance to the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London

A review of more than 1,000 royal patronages was recently completed, with the Palace announcing that its conclusions would be 'shared with relevant organisations'.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 'I would love to have a radio show in France.' After berating a noisy crowd in Cannes, Sarah, Duchess of York plans an assault on the French airwaves. Advertisement

'Obviously, the club isn't a charity, so there's relief as well as jubilation that the King is remaining as Patron,' adds my man in the clubhouse, which is enviably positioned overlooking Hyde Park. Of course, strong ties with the Royal Family are no guarantee against stormy waters. In 1986, Prince Andrew succeeded his elder brother as Commodore. Such was his fondness for the club that, latterly, he took to dining there  alone, apart from his bodyguard.

Following his 'car-crash' interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019, cautious soundings were taken to see if he would stand down. It transpired that he was disinclined to do so, because the Royal Thames wasn't a charity.

Only in 2021 did Andrew finally bow out, since when the club has yearned to welcome Catherine in his place, as I revealed last year.

'She would be a great role model,' a member told me. 'But royal protocol dictates that it's up to the Royal Family to make the first move.'

C atherine can undoubtedly make waves in a way that Andrew never quite could. She is 'a really good sailor'  the verdict of Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, after she joined him, and the rest of the British team, on a catamaran for a race against New Zealand in Plymouth Sound in 2022.

A friend of the Princess of Wales tells me: 'Decisions about her patronages are on hold until doctors give her the green light to return to public engagements.'

To be Blunt, Emily hates the red carpet

As one of Hollywood's best-paid actresses, she's made a fortune of more than 60 million for starring in blockbusters including the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.

Yet for Emily Blunt the price of fame can be dehumanising.

'You're not human on a red carpet,' moans the star of The Fall Guy. She adds: 'It is something that is so outside of normal life.'

'You're not human on a red carpet,' moans the star of The Fall Guy, pictured at that film's premiere in Los Angeles

The 41-year-old Londoner, who is married to U.S. actor John Krasinski  the father of her two daughters  explains: 'We all normalise it to this day, because it is the only way to try to zen your way through it, because it is so abnormal.

'My dream would be to put on a beautiful dress and just go straight to the event, rather than do the red carpet. That level of exposure is sort of terrifying.'

(Very) modern manners

Travelling light is not an easy task for Mexican socialite Gabriela Gonzalez, who has had to hire a van just to transport her luggage around Europe. 'I have 20 suitcases and it was impossible to bring them with me on the flight,' she tells me. 'There's so many dresses, shoes and bags.'

Mexican socialite Gabriela Gonzalez pictured at the 77th Cannes Film Festival

Even his wife has to beware the kiss of the vampire

She is closing the shutters on her cult fashion label, whose darkly romantic creations have made it a favourite with the likes of the Princess of Wales and Sienna Miller.

Yet it appears Susie Cave still takes pleasure in being The Vampire's Wife.

The designer, 57, was spotted in London's Notting Hill with her Australian rocker husband Nick Cave, 66, who appeared somewhat vampirical as he readied to give her a kiss on the neck.

The pair, who married 25 years ago, have been plagued by tragedy in the past decade.

Sienna Miller was spotted in London's Notting Hill with her Australian rocker husband Nick Cave, 66, who appeared somewhat vampirical as he readied to give her a kiss on the neck

The pair, who married 25 years ago, have been plagued by tragedy in the past decade

In 2015, one of their twin sons, Arthur, died aged 15 after falling from cliffs in East Sussex.

The family endured further tragedy in May 2022, when Nick's son Jethro, 31, from his previous relationship with model Beau Lazenby, died two days after he was released from prison in Australia.

Susie launched The Vampire's Wife in 2014, but had to close the label this year, blaming upheavals in the fashion industry.

The smart set's talking about... Julian's joy over his boy's engagement

He lives in some style in Dorset  where he's one of His Majesty's Deputy Lieutenants  and has won an Oscar and innumerable other awards. But Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes  more formally, Lord Fellowes of West Stafford  is currently giddy with joy for a quite different reason.

His son Peregrine, 33, has just announced his engagement to a sparkling brunette, Henrietta Gunn, 32, who heads the 'bespoke' department at Halcyon Days, the maker of luxurious trinkets which has held numerous royal warrants.

'It's thrilling news,' Fellowes tells me. Ever the storyteller, he talks of his son 'moving on to the next chapter', explaining that Peregrine met Henrietta, an alumna of 43,000-a-year Blundells School, while they were working for film producer turned business titan Charles Finch.

Peregrine, 33, has just announced his engagement to a sparkling brunette, Henrietta Gunn, 32 (pictured)

Peregrine, who's since followed his father into what Fellowes has called the 'snake-pit' of the film world, once shared a flat with India Rose James, heiress granddaughter of the stupendously rich 'King of Soho', Paul Raymond.

But though not moving at the same breath-taking pace as his father  who famously proposed to his future wife, Emma, a great-great-niece of Lord Kitchener, just 20 minutes after meeting her  he's now let love smoulder into flame.

To Henrietta's complete satisfaction... 'The last few days have been a whirlwind,' she tells me. 'We are all very happy and excited for what is ahead.'

Did TV daredevil Bear Grylls push his luck by going public with his friendship with Russell Brand after the latter's baptism in the River Thames?

I ask because of a recent development at the Bear Grylls Adventure attraction in Birmingham. 'All 'Bear-branded' merchandise has had at least 70 per cent knocked off its price,' a visitor tells me. 'There's no discount on anything else.'

It is, surely, a coincidence that Brand, who until quite recently led a restless private life, has been accused of several sexual offences  every one of which he vigorously denies.

Did TV daredevil Bear Grylls push his luck by going public with his friendship with Russell Brand after the latter's baptism in the River Thames?

Petrolhead Rowan Rolls back the years

Having caused mayhem in a Mini as Mr Bean, and wreaking havoc in an Aston Martin as Johnny English in the spoof spy films, Rowan Atkinson is set on reliving his times gone by behind the wheel.

'In the last year or so I've taken the opportunities, when they've arisen, to buy back several cars that I've owned previously,' he reveals.

Rowan Atkinson is set on reliving his times gone by behind the wheel

The comedy star, 69, adds: 'I don't know if it's a symptom of advancing years and an increasingly reflective state of mind.'

He divulges of his latest repurchase, a 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom that he bought back at auction: 'I sold the car after six years and 60,000 miles.' The miles weren't enough to keep them apart, as he says: 'I just loved the Phantom  and I love it still.'

Spare a thought for novelist Jeanette Winterson, who will be hiding away from the influx of 'zombie tourists' revving down to the Cotswolds to tour Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm this weekend.

'They turn up, park anywhere, take a few selfies, leave loads of litter, drive away,' she fumes. 'Punters heading to Clarkson's farm shop make a day of it and come to the Slaughters [a pair of picturesque villages].'

Winterson, 64, who's lived in the Cotswolds for more than 30 years, says she tries to avoid the chaos: 'At the weekend, I race round, do my shopping, and rush home by 10am. Then I lock myself in till Monday.'

Spare a thought for novelist Jeanette Winterson, who will be hiding away from the influx of 'zombie tourists' revving down to the Cotswolds to tour Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm this weekend

Society jeweller Theo Fennell's daughter Coco, whose engagement to TV comic John Robins was called off in 2021, has, happily, found love again  if this photo of the fashion designer with her new beau, photographer Maximillian Webster, is anything to go by.

The blue-haired sister of Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell, 35, shared a snap of herself and Maximillian, 38, whose photographs often consist of partially nude subjects, at a friend's wedding in Bergerac, France.

'They're very much in love,' a pal tells me.

The blue-haired sister of Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell, 35, shared a snap of herself and Maximillian, 38

No star-studded event would be complete without exceptional cocktails, and the art of making a good Negroni or Campari Spritz still holds dear for world-renowned bartender Tommaso Cecca.

'A good life means good things and good things mean a cocktail made in a proper way,' he tells me at the Campari Lounge in Cannes. 'It's important to focus on quality and richness of flavour.'

I'll raise a glass to that.
Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans looked ready for a meet-cute as they worked on their new film in New York City Friday.

The stars, who are working on the romantic comedy The Materialists, were shooting in the West Village in Lower Manhattan.

Johnson, 34, was styled in a yellow, white and brown floral maxi dress with an empire waist and butterfly sleeves.

Her long, chestnut brown locks were styled in a high bun with long bangs framing her face.

The actress' makeup was camera ready with a soft pink lip.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans looked ready for a meet-cute as they worked on their new film in New York City Friday. The pair are starring in the romantic comedy Materialists

Johnson, 34, was styled in a yellow, white and brown floral maxi dress with an empire waist and butterfly sleeves

The leading lady was accessorized in diamond earrings, large black sunglasses and a large diamond solitaire on her right hand.

She wore black and white Nike sneakers as she walked to her mark and was accompanied by her makeup artist, who was armed with her tools of the trade.

Evans, 42, looked relaxed in graphic T-shirt beneath a black jacket.

The Captain America star was dressed in black joggers and black and white Nike sneakers.

His brown hair was parted on the side and his beard was neatly trimmed.

The actor was accessorized with aviator sunglasses.

The plot of film follows a high-end New York matchmaker who gets involved with a married man.

Pedro Pascal, 49, is also headlining the the rom-com with Johnson and Evans.

Her long, chestnut brown locks were styled in a high bun with long bangs framing her face

She wore black and white Nike sneakers and was accompanied by her makeup artist, who was armed with her tools of the trade

The leading lady was accessorized in diamond earrings, large black sunglasses and a large diamond solitaire on her right hand

According to Variety, writer and director Celine Song has not disclosed which of them is the matchmaker.

Succession stars Zoe Winters and Dasha Nekrasova are in the cast as is The Gilded Age's Louisa Jacobson.

Evans currently has two films in post production, the comedy Honey Don't! and a new holiday film, Red One as a bounty hunter who works with Dwayne Johnson's elf to save Christmas.

Evans, 42, looked relaxed in graphic T-shirt beneath a black jacket. The Captain America star was dressed in black joggers and black and white Nike sneakers. He donned aviator sunglasses

Johnson will be seen next playing opposite Sean Penn, 63, in the Sony Pictures Classics film Daddio.

The small drama takes place in NYC cab as a Dakota's character and Penn's taxi driver share a conversation about important relationships in their lives, as they travel from the airport to the passenger's destination.

The movie has received an 83-percent rating from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Daddio opens in theaters June 28.

Later on Friday, Dakota and Chris were spotted together filming outdoors, with the actress donning a warm jacket

At one point, the two shared a kiss in front of the camera while shooting one of the scenes for the upcoming romantic comedy

Johnson and Evans were surrounded by a professional lights as well as a camera nearby while on the set in the Big Apple

The plot of the film follows a high-end New York matchmaker who gets involved with a married man

The Fifty Shades Of Grey actress was also seen standing in the doorway of an apartment in Manhattan in between takes

Later on Friday, Dakota and Chris were spotted together filming outdoors, with the actress donning a warm jacket.

Her brunette locks were pulled back away from her face into a chic up do, allowing her bangs to fall down straight onto her forehead.

At one point, the two shared a kiss in front of the camera while shooting one of the scenes for the upcoming romantic comedy.

Johnson and Evans were surrounded by a professional lights as well as a camera nearby while on the set in the Big Apple.

The Fifty Shades Of Grey actress was also seen standing in the doorway of an apartment in Manhattan in between takes.

She wore the same comfy, black and white-colored Nike sneakers that she had donned earlier in the day.

She wore the same comfy, black and white-colored Nike sneakers that she had donned earlier in the day

Chris later joined Dakota and opted for a dapper ensemble that comprised of a classic black suit

He additionally sported a white dress shirt as well as a pair of black dress shoes that were secured with laces

At one point while holding a light hearted conversation, the stars burst out into laughter and flashed cheerful smiles

Johnson was seen standing on the set as she prepared to film an additional scene for the movie

Chris later joined Dakota and opted for a dapper ensemble that comprised of a classic black suit.

He additionally sported a white dress shirt as well as a pair of black dress shoes that were secured with laces.

The two enjoyed a bit of downtime while relaxing on the steps together in front of the apartment building.

At one point while holding a light hearted conversation, the stars burst out into laughter and flashed cheerful smiles.
Caroline Manzo provided a detailed account of the alleged sexual assault by Brandi Glanville that occurred while they were filming Real Housewives Ultimate Girls' Trip in Morocco.

The RHONJ alum, 62, claimed the former RHOBH star, 51, forcibly groped her vagina while producers were filming the Bravo series in a signed affidavit filed on May 28, according to Page Six.

'When Glanville was sexually assaulting me on the sofa, she was rubbing her vagina on me,' Manzo wrote in the filing, per the outlet. 'The producers just watched and kept filming. They saw that I was in distress and yet, they continued to film.'

Manzo said production failed to intervene, allowing Glanville to persistently consume alcohol and follow her into the bathroom, where Glanville allegedly pushed her against the door, resulting in a head injury.

'[Glanville] then locked me in the bathroom where she forcibly fondled my vagina against my will,' Manzo continued in the legal documents.

Caroline Manzo (left) provided a detailed account of the alleged sexual assault by Brandi Glanville (right) that occurred while they were filming Real Housewives Ultimate Girls' Trip in Morocco. The RHONJ alum, 62, claimed the former RHOBH star, 51, forcibly groped her vagina while producers were filming the Bravo series in a signed affidavit filed on May 28, according to Page Six

'Glanville maliciously sexually assaulted me for her own sexual gratification,' she added. 'She did this by forcibly kissing me, rubbing her vagina on me and then fondling my vagina against my will.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Bravo, as well as Manzo's and Glanville's reps, for comment.

The affidavit comes after Glanville's attorney claimed she was 'used and abused by NBC, Bravo, Warner Bros., and Shed Media' as they accused the network of 'hiding evidence' that would clear her name in an explosive legal letter threatening a lawsuit.

Glanville decided to 'wage a public reputational war' against the network after they 'silenced' her in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against Glanville by Manzo.

Manzo made headlines in 2023 when she alleged that Glanville kissed her without consent and even 'forced her vagina against her back' during filming of the Housewives spin off show in Morocco.

In January, Manzo officially filed to sue Bravo over her claim that production encouraged Glanville to sexually harass.

In legal documents filed a month later, Glanville's attorney's appeared to suggest Manzo was lying, insisting no assault took place, as they demand the network release to them 'all existing documents and data' pertaining to the accusations.

'Ms. Glanville and Ms. Manzo engaged in "dirty dancing," flirting, and playful touching,' the letter reads. 'Throughout the night, they shared a couple of kisses.

Glanville's attorney claims that the TV star has been 'used and abused by Bravo' and they are accusing the network of 'hiding evidence' that would clear her name in a new legal letter (pictured 2023)

Manzo is suing Bravo and claims production encouraged Glanville to sexually harass her during filming the Housewives spinoff Ultimate Girls Trip (pictured 2021)

'We have heard about a supposed "bathroom incident" through press leaks, but Shed Media has repeatedly refused to allow Ms. Glanville or her counsel to see the footage in question; there is no truth to any allegations of impropriety'.

The letter continued: 'It is apparent some allegation was made; however, neither the nature nor the source of that allegation has been clarified by NBC, Shed Media, or Warner Bros.

'We can glean from the press coverageseeded by malicious and deliberate leaksthat Ms. Manzo formally accused Ms. Glanville of sexual misconduct and that Ms. Glanville was sent home as a result.'

They continued: 'It bears emphasis that Ms. Glanville and Ms. Manzo were never alone together; anything that happened took place in the presence of the cast and crew. All the events were captured on camera or picked up via microphone.'

Glanville's legal team maintain her innocence and insist that the TV star was never alone with Manzo, and that her costar 'did not manifest a lack of consent at any point.'

The letter also sees Glanville's reps accuse Manzo of 'feeding a defamatory narrative' to the media and of being the source behind the press leaks regarding the claims.

The letter states: 'We have every reason to believe that Ms. Manzo, with the tacit or express support of Bravo and Shed Media, is the source of the early and voluminous press leaks that began immediately upon Ms. Glanvilles return home.

'Yet Ms. Glanville was admonished to remain entirely silent and to refrain from defending herself. She was further told that assuming her compliance with that directive, she would have the opportunity to work for Shed Media/Warner Bros. again on the condition that she completes 6-months of outpatient therapy with a Warner Bros.-affiliated therapist. Ms. Glanville did so.

'It became apparent afterward, however, that this was a false promise intended to ensure Ms. Glanvilles silence.'

Glanville previously revealed that her face was left disfigured due to stress-induced angioedema - a condition which causes swelling under the skin

The star, pictured left in 2017, has been working with a plastic surgeon to conquer her condition - pictured right in 2024

It continues: 'All the while, Ms. Manzo, Bravo, and Shed Media were feeding a defamatory narrative that destroyed Ms. Glanvilles reputation, employment prospects, mental health, and financial stability and caused untold harm to Ms. Glanville and her family.'

In a statement shared with DailyMail.com, attorney Bryan Freedman called for other 'victims' of Bravo and NBC to reach out to their team and join the 'fight' against the network.

He wrote: 'This is yet another example of the abusive practices of the reality TV industry. Mark Geragos and I have heard from thousands of current and former cast members on reality shows about the physical and emotional harm inflicted on them by virtue of their participation. NBC, Bravo, Warner Bros., and Shed Media intentionally obscure their legal rights, bind them to illegal contracts, and knowingly cause them to suffer in silence.

'We know there are untold numbers of innocent victims who have yet to tell their stories or seek legal redress. We encourage all of them to contact us and join our growing team as we fight for change in this sordid industry.'

The letter highlighted how Glanville has been plagued with health issues ever since Manzo's allegations went public, and said she has been in 'dire straits' after Bravo tried to 'humiliate and ruin her publicly.'

The reality star has talked openly about how her face was left disfigured due to stress-induced angioedema - a condition which causes swelling under the skin

Glanville's team accuses the network of having a 'reckless disregard for the mental and emotional health' of employees - adding that Glanville has been treated like a 'sacrificial lamb' and has faced 'social and economic death.'

They are seeking evidence from the network's servers, storage, personal computers, portable systems.

The legal letter warns that 'Ms. Glanville is uniquely positioned to reveal more revelations' and is just one of thousands of stars to come forward against the network in recent years.

TMZ previously reported that Manzo is suing Bravo and claimed production plied them with alcohol as they filmed the spin-off in Morocco in January 2023.

According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Manzo claims Glanville 'forced her vagina against her back' and 'proceeded to mount Manzo on the couch holding Manzo down with her body, forcibly squeezed Manzo's cheeks together and thrust her tongue in Manzo's mouth, while humping her.'

The documents state: 'Defendants, including Bravo, regularly ply the Real Housewives cast with alcohol, cause them to become severely intoxicated, and then direct, encourage and/or allow them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings.'

'Caroline Manzo is a victim of those harmful actions,' it added.

In her full statement in response to the suit at the time, a representative for Glanville told DailyMail.com: 'Sadly, Brandi had to wake up to yet another lawsuit that includes defamatory, false accusations about her. While filming, Brandi followed what the producers asked of her, and there was no sexual assault.

'She is innocent of these absurd accusations that have weighed on her mental and physical health for far too long without word of support from Peacock, Shed or Bravo.'

The statement concluded: 'This painful storytelling seems endless and needs to stop. She is looking to move on and upward and get her life back.'

This isn't the first lawsuit filed against the network over the Housewives franchise.

Last year butler Marco Vega - who worked and appeared on season two of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip - filed a lawsuit for sexual assault and harassment.

In his lawsuit, Vega said he was 'sexually harassed and abused' while shooting the show at Dorinda Medley's Blue Stone Manor claiming he was slapped on the buttocks by Phaedra Parks and that he was 'forcibly stripped' by Glanville, who ripped his shirt off.

In her lawsuit, Manzo alleged that the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum kissed her without consent and even 'forced her vagina against her back'

Glanville insists she is innocent and 'vehemently denies any wrongdoing' - pictured in 2009

Leah McSweeney filed a discrimination complaint with Bravo last year, alleging she was forced to miss her grandmother's funeral due to filming commitments.

A lawsuit filed by McSweeney is said to be imminent, Page Six reported at the time.

Back in August, a bombshell letter revealed that 80 reality stars had teamed up to accuse the network of 'covering up sexual violence, condoning revenge porn, exploiting minors and denying mental health treatment'.

Bethenny Frankel was believed to have led the charge, though the former RHONY star has since clarified that she is not one of the people who is officially taking legal action against Bravo or NBC.
Real Housewives of Melbourne star Kyla Kirkpatrick has been living it up on a luxury superyacht in France.

The reality TV star 43, is an ambassador for champagne Carbon and has spent weeks sailing along the French Riviera with Hollywood stars.

'It was phenomenal. On a super yacht on billionaire's row and I met some fascinating humans from all over the world. A who's who, it was incredible,' she told the Herald Sun.

'It's a different calibre of person on a super yacht. Matt Damon, members of the royal family, everybody is somebody.'

She recently returned to Melbourne but is planning to travel back to Europe in two weeks for work in Paris.

Real Housewives of Melbourne star Kyla Kirkpatrick (pictured) has been living it up on a luxury superyacht in France

Kyla is the CEO and founder of two companies, Emperor Champagne and The Champagne Dame.

She owns a warehouse in Sandringham and while hit many businesses hard, Emperor Champagne ended up thriving.

Launched in 2017, Kyla describes her company as being the 'largest stockist of Champagne in the Southern Hemisphere'.

She also runs Champagne Dame, which she launched in 2008. The business aims to educate people about Champagne and Kyla travels to France each year to take customers on private tours of the country's best vineyards.

The reality TV star 43, is an ambassador for champagne Carbon and has spent weeks sailing along the French Riviera with Hollywood stars. Pictured with Matt Damon

The stylish entrepreneur balances her business empire with being a mother to eight-year-old daughter Arlington.

Kyla told the Daily Mail Australia back in 2021 that signing up for the popular reality franchise was a massive 'change of pace' for her.

'It's not unusual to find me still in my office after an intense 12-hour day and it's often six days a week, not to mention presenting after hours or on weekends,' she said.

Kyla made her debut in Real Housewives of Melbourne in 2021.
Emily Ratajkowski showed off her signature curves this week as she modeled swimsuits for Khloe Kardashian's brand Good American.

The 32-year-old stunner  who turns 33 on June 7  served up a sizzling look in a hot pink thong one-piece, which was shared on the clothing line's Instagram account.

Other images uploaded on Friday showcased the California-bred beauty in a pink bikini and a black monokini.

The caption of one post teased, 'Lifes just better in a swimsuit. Emily wears the Always Fits High-Leg Swimsuit.'

Ratajkowski was announced as the star of the company's Summer Getaway campaign on Thursday.

Emily Ratajkowski showed off her signature curves this week as she modeled swimsuits for Khloe Kardashian 's brand Good American

The 32-year-old stunner  who turns 33 on June 7  served up a sizzling look in a hot pink thong one-piece, which was shared on the clothing line's Instagram account

Another image uploaded on Friday showcased the California-bred beauty in a pink bikini

The My Body author posed up in an outdoor location with lots of lush greenery and a swimming pool.

Her straight, brunette locks were worn loose, framing her visage in the steamy snapshots.

The mother-of-one's face was softly made up with subtle pink tones dusted on her cheeks and pout, which had a glossy finish.

The pictures, taken by Alexandra Leese, captured Ratajkowski in her element.

The star, who split from Sebastian Bear-McClard in September 2022, wore her famous 'divorce rings' in the campaign photos.

Before officially revealing the runway regular  who goes by the nickname Emrata  as the latest campaign subject, Good American teased a photo of her recognizable backside.

On Wednesday a social media caption read: 'Can you guess who?! Set your alarms for tomorrow, 9am PT - its gonna be a hot one.'

Thursday's big reveal announced, 'Pack your bags, its gonna be a hot one! We just dropped everything you need for your next sunny escape Emily wears the Always Fits Monokini.'

There was also an outtake of Emily in a black monokini, which exposed her washboard abs

Ratajkowski was announced as the star of the company's Summer Getaway campaign on Thursday

Before officially revealing the runway regular  who goes by the nickname Emrata  as the latest campaign subject, Good American teased a photo of her recognizable backside

In addition to modeling for other famous brands, Emily designs, owns and operates her own swimwear collection called iNAMORATA.

On Friday, the bombshell used her Instagram platform to share a new barely-there bikini ahead of the summer season.

She took to the streets of New York City to show off the latest two piece.

'CITY KINI! All new @inamoratawoman live now,' she advertised to her 29.9 million followers.

The Vogue cover girl put on a busty display in an orange and white print triangle top and coordinating thong bottoms.

She teamed the look with sporty, orange, opaque, oval-shaped sunglasses as well as white socks and red and white Vans sneakers.

Ratajkowski, who split from Sebastian Bear-McClard in September 2022, wore her famous 'divorce rings' in some campaign photos

Later on Friday Good American rolled out two more photos of the superstar

Ratajkowski relaxed in the Micro Rib Tank Top and Good Legs Skinny Jeans

It comes after the star appeared on a recent episode of the New York Times podcast Modern Love.

She opened up about her dating life, emphasizing that she's not focused on finding a partner right now.

Emily, who shares three-year-old son Sylvester with her ex-husband, stated on the May 1 episode: 'I take care of so much in my life.

'I take care of my son, I take care of my home, I take care of my schedule, his schedule, my career. The burden of the finances is on me and I don't have a family supporting me financially or any of that.'

She added, 'It feels really hard to imagine somebody who's more capable than me or who could understand my needs in that way.'
Gogglebox star Ellie Warner stunned in a black bikini while frolicking with her son Ezra as she shared a carousel of sweet snaps with her boyfriend Nat Eddleston.

The TV star, 34, delighted fans with a slew of stunning shots from not only her little one's very first holiday, but also his first wedding attendance.

Ellie and her partner Nat soaked the sun during the special holiday, as the internet personality ensured to well-document their trip.

One sunny selfie captured the family trio by the plane ahead of boarding, as Ellie held her tiny one in a baby carrier.

The trio beamed happily as they embarked on their first getaway as a family.

Gogglebox star Ellie Warner, 34, stunned in a black bikini while frolicking with her son Ezra as she shared a carousel of sweet snaps alongside boyfriend Nat Eddleston

Ellie and her partner Nat soaked the sun during the special holiday, as the internet personality ensured to well-document their trip

In one snap, Ellie posed with the tot in the baby stroller, with a beach by evening in the background.

The star looked effortlessly gorgeous asshe opted for a checked green maxi dress with puffed sleeves.

Nat played with little Ezra by a pool, while another shot captured the doting dad walking around the tropical location with their son in the baby stroller.

The family seemed to be making most of their time at the wedding with Ellie looking stunning in a white maxi dress with black pois and a matching bridal hat.

She grinned from ear to ear flaunting a bold red lipstick, as she and Nat cradled Ezra - who the couple welcomed in June of last year.

'Our first holiday as a family, Ezras first birthday and first wedding! Had a fabulous time and thank you to the Corcorans for sharing your special day with us,' she captioned the carousel.

Fans were left in awe of the insightful post, and rushed to comment with one user gushing: 'Great to see Nat looking so well! Ellie you look amazing in that bikini! Love the wedding outfit too .'

One sunny selfie captured the family trio by the plane ahead of boarding, as Ellie held her tiny one in an attached baby carrier

The TV star delighted fans with a slew of stunning shots from not only her little one's very first holiday, but also his first wedding attendance

One heartwarming snap captured Nat playing with little Ezra by a pool

Another shot captured the doting dad walking around the tropical location with the tiny one in the baby stroller

Continuing to capture sweet bits from their holiday, Nat is seen helping Ezra slowly get into the waters

Ellie looked stunning in a white maxi dress with black pois and a matching bridal hat, while rocking a pair of chic black shades, posing with Nat, little Ezra, and the newly-wed couple

Fans were left in awe of the insightful post, with some happy to see Nat looking well following his accident in March 2022

A few fans were also happy to see Nat looking well, with another adding: 'So happy to see Nate looking healthy after his accident. Beautiful family.'

Nat suffered a tragic accident in March 2022 when he was hit by a car while walking home from a night out, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

He was eventually treated in intensive care after he suffered a broken neck and back as well as two collapsed lungs.

But now, the doting dad seems to be doing better than ever and made time to fully enjoy his beloved family.

Ellie announced that she had given birth to her first child with Nat in June of last year when she handed the little one to her sister Izzi for a cuddle on the show.

She also took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of her baby boy sleeping in a yellow blanket and confirmed his name is Ezra.
Eddie Redmayne opted for a laid back look as he grabbed lunch with a female friend in New York City on Friday.

The Good Nurse star, 42, sported a red print T-shirt and black skinny denim, while rocking a pair of retro shades.

The film actor completed his look with a black bag and a pair of white trainers.

Meanwhile his female friend - whose identity is unknown - donned a sea blue floral print maxi dress and black shades for the outing.

The pair appeared in good spirits as they headed to Saint Ambroeus for their meal.

Eddie Redmayne opted for a laid back look as he grabbed lunch with a female friend in New York City on Friday

The Good Nurse star, 42, sported a red print T-shirt and black skinny denim, while rocking a pair of retro shades

The duo appeared relaxed during the sunny day, as Eddie later ditched his shades

The Hollywood sensation has recently admitted that extreme exhaustion from anxiety was ultimately what earned him the Oscar-win for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything - not his acting talent.

The British actor wowed viewers and critics alike with his extraordinary performance as the celebrated theoretical physicist, who lived with a rare form of ALS - a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

For the role, Eddie trained for months with zombie choreographer and movement director Alexandra Reynolds, in order to accurately embody the scientist during various stages of the disease.

But despite the training, he claimed a lack of sleep due to nerves was behind his Oscar-winning performance 10 years ago.

Speaking to a crowd at 92Y in New York City earlier this month, he told host Josh Horowitz: 'When I did the Theory Of Everything... the thing that scared me the most about that film was portraying him authentically.

'I spent months prepping it but the way that films work is you obviously can't shoot chronologically.

'And particularly the first days of shooting, we had to shoot everything that was set in Cambridge, because the students hadn't come back yet for the term. So we had to do all of the scenes that were exterior shots.'

The star went on to explain how he had been feeling immense pressure ahead of his first day on set because he had to play the renowned physicist at four different stages during his life: when he was a young man pre-diagnosis, when the symptoms rendered him unable to walk without a stick, when the disease 'really got a grip on him' and when he was confined to a wheelchair.

The Hollywood sensation has recently admitted that extreme exhaustion from anxiety was ultimately what earned him the Oscar-win for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything - not his acting talent (pictured in 2015)

But the actor (pictured with Professor Hawking in 2014) said extreme exhaustion from anxiety was behind the win - not just his acting abilities

I think the fatigue was so overwhelming,' Eddie said. 'At the end of the day, I had to do a full breakdown scene and I was so tired and so exhausted'

Eddie pictured with his wife Hannah Bagshawe and his Oscar statuette at the Vanity Fair party in 2015

'Every time I feel the anxiety before shooting, it gets so intense,' he recalled. 'The night before the shoot, it got to four in the morning, and I wasn't asleep. And I was being picked up at six!

'I got to five in the morning and I was like "Okay, I'm just not going to sleep." I had a bath, woke up and walked through the streets of Cambridge.'

He then recalled: 'I think the fatigue was so overwhelming. At the end of the day, I had to do a full breakdown scene and I was so tired and so exhausted.

'So when it came to it, the director [James Marsh] poked me and I just fell apart... which is probably very helpful and may have won me an Oscar.'

Eddie's best actor in a leading role Oscar was one of many during the 2014 awards season, with the star collecting a BAFTA, Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his portrayal of Professor Hawking alongside Felicity Jones as his wife, Jane Wilde.

But the ultimate accolade likely came from the eminent scientist himself, who said: 'I thought Eddie portrayed me very well. At times I thought he was me. I think Eddies commitment will have a big emotional impact.'

Professor Hawking died, aged 76, in March 2018.

Eddie paid tribute at the time, writing: 'We have lost a truly beautiful mind, an astonishing scientist and the funniest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet. My love and thoughts are with his extraordinary family.'

The Danish Girl actor, who is married to Hannah Bagshawe, threw himself into training and research for the role, previously telling The Guardian that he visited the Queen Square Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases in London to talk to MND patients and their doctors.

He also treated the disease as if it were a dance and worked closely with choreographer and movement specialist Reynolds, who famously created the movement for the zombies in World War Z (2013).

'I had to train my body like a dancer but learn to shorten muscles instead of stretch them,' he told the publication.

In an interview with Nightline he said: 'I just needed to train my body, just in order to sustain the positions.

'I knew that some of the positions would be specific and contorted and not necessarily comfortable.'

The movie focuses on the love story between Professor Hawking and first wife Jane, whom he met shortly before his devastating diagnosis when he was 21 - and given just two years to live.

Eddie is currently starring in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club on Broadway, following a transfer from London's West End, alongside The Greatest Showman's Gayle Rankin.
Kourtney Kardashian enjoyed a memorable beach getaway with husband, Travis Barker, and their son Rocky in new Instagram photos uploaded on Friday.

The TV personality, 45 - who recently revealed that she had given a viral of her own blood to the Blink-182 drummer as a gift - shared special moments that had been captured on the trip to her 223 million followers.

In one image, the reality star took a picture of the music artist, 48, sitting in the driver's seat of a light blue, vintage Chevrolet Impala.

She additionally snapped a photo of the vehicle that was parked in front of a house with a large palm tree nearby.

Kourtney also included an adorable look at one of Rocky's tiny feet - ahead of the little one turning seven-months-old next month in June.

Kourtney Kardashian, 45, whisked herself on a memorable beach getaway with husband, Travis Barker, and their son Rocky in new Instagram photos uploaded on Friday

In one image, the reality star took a picture of the music artist sitting in the driver's seat of a light blue, vintage Chevrolet Impala

Kourtney also included an adorable look at one of Rocky's tiny feet - ahead of the little one turning seven-months-old next month in June

The mother-of-four also added a snap while enjoying a low-key boat day on the water with the warm sun shining down and brought along a black, Prada purse.

Another picture was taken as they spent time on the sandy shore as the waves crashed down near white lounge chairs that were partially concealed by striped umbrellas.

During the getaway, the Poosh founder indulged in a toasted croissant with a side of strawberry jam and butter. The snack was placed on a wooden tray next to a glass of warm tea as well as red flowers.

The lovebirds also enjoyed a yummy dinner at a restaurant as they seemingly ordered scrumptious, pesto risotto.

The Kardashians star was able to further relax by jumping into a large bathtub that was inside a spacious bathroom.

Kourtney simply captioned her latest Instagram carousel to her followers as, 'weekend.'

The couple welcomed their son Rocky late last year in November - after tying the knot in May 2022. She also shares Mason, 14, Penelope, 11 and Reign, nine, with ex Scott Disick.

Barker is also father to Landon, 20, and Alabama, 18 - whom he welcomed with ex Shanna Moakler. He also remains close to Moakler's daughter from a previous relationship, Atiana De La Hoya, 25.

She additionally snapped a photo of the vehicle that was parked in front of a house with a large palm tree nearby

She also shared a close-up snap of the car to show the Impala sign located on the left side

Another picture was taken as they spent time on the sandy shore as the waves crashed down near white lounge chairs that were partially concealed by striped umbrellas

The mother-of-four also added a snap while enjoying a lowkey boat day on the water with the warm sun shining down and brought along a black, Prada purse

During the getaway, the Poosh founder indulged in a toasted croissant with a side of strawberry jam and butter

Earlier this month, Kourtney and Travis celebrated their second wedding anniversary after holding an intimate ceremony at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, followed by a lavish affair in Italy.

During a recent Q+A session on Instagram, the star opened up about stopping IVF and conceiving their son naturally.

One fan questioned, 'Had 6 failed IVFs - how did u find the strength to keep going? It's debilitating.'

The TV personality answered: 'I stopped after a year of trying (5 failed IVF cycles 3 retrievals) my body relaxed and I believed in God's plan for my life. Lots of prayers for whatever was meant to be for us.'

'Also lots of optimizing my heath,' Kourtney continued. 'I know how hard it is to feel like you're not trying, but believing in God's plan and saying your prayers is so powerful. All the best!'

She also added in a separate slide alongside a snap of herself while pregnant with Rocky: 'I want to be super clear bc it seems my answer to the IV question may have been confusing...'

'I got pregnant 100% naturally, NOT through IVF... one year after stopping IVF actually. Through God's blessing on Valentine's Day.'

Amid the same Q+A session, the reality star revealed that their baby boy also doesn't slip in his crib.

The lovebirds also enjoyed a yummy dinner at a restaurant as they seemingly ordered scrumptious risotto

The Kardashians star was able to further relax by jumping into a large bathtub that was inside a spacious bathroom

Kourtney simply captioned her latest Instagram carousel to her followers as, 'weekend'

During a recent Q+A session on Instagram, the star opened up about stopping IVF and conceiving their son naturally

Amid the same Q+A session, the reality star revealed that their baby boy also doesn't slip in his crib

Another follower asked, 'New mumma here any tips on a baby who only likes to be held to take a nap?'

Kourtney replied with: 'Enjoy every second! We do the same. He's never been in his crib. It's my favorite thing in the world.'

Along with the recent weekend trip, the star also appeared in the fifth season of Hulu's The Kardashians - which premiered earlier this month on May 23.

During the latest episode, the Poosh founder was having a discussion with younger sister, Khloe, and revealed the unique gift that she had given to her husband, Travis.

The mother-of-four disclosed to her sibling that she had gifted her husband a vial of her own blood as a romantic gesture.

The couple are renowned for their extravagant gifts, which have previously rooms filled with flowers and diamond jewelry.

But things took a bizarre turn, when Kourtney revealed they had given each other vials of their of own blood on this week's episode of The Kardashians.

During the beginning of the episode, Kourtney, who was on bedrest following 'rare' fetal surgery on her unborn child, she was visited by Khloe.

Kourtney replied with: 'Enjoy every second! We do the same. He's never been in his crib. It's my favorite thing in the world'

The mother-of-four disclosed to her sibling that she had gifted her husband a vial of her own blood as a romantic gesture

Kourtney was showing Khloe a scrapbook she had made for Travis, highlighting memories from their three-year relationship.

After Khloe looked through the book, Kourtney said: 'Did you see my blood vial in there?' leaving Khloe speechless and momentarily lost for words.

Looking confused, Khloe replied: 'What? No.' Kourtney encouraged her to have another look, and Kourtney replied: 'Gotta see the blood,' before asking: 'It's a real thing of blood?'

When Khloe asked why they had given each other their blood in the first place, Kourtney said: 'Just to like, have each others.'

Speaking in the confessional, Khloe said: 'To wanna show off your blood vials is also like, alright, if that's what you're into, but.. it's very Billy Bob Thornton of them.'

'And, like, my every minute of the day, do I wanna be harnessing a tube of blood? Not for me, but that's what makes the world go round, we're all different. Rock on with your bad self!'

When Khloe asked why they had given each other their blood in the first place, Kourtney said: 'Just to like, have each others'

Speaking in the confessional, Khloe said: 'To wanna show off your blood vials is also like, alright, if that's what you're into, but.. it's very Billy Bob Thornton of them'; seen in 2021 in NYC

The vials also received a visceral reaction from Kourtney's friend Simon Huck, who revealed his shock when she told him about it.

He exclaimed: 'It's sick. I don't even wanna comment on it. And is there still blood in it? ' Kourtney confirmed there was, leading Simon to question: 'Are you okay? Is that like, healthy and safe?'

The couple may have been inspired by their friends Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, who also exchanged gifts of blood during their relationship.

They are currently on a break after calling off their engagement, however when they were together, Megan gave MGK a necklace containing her blood.
Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin were spotted running errands in New York City on Friday.

The 66-year-old actor  who will go to trial for manslaughter over 2021's Rust shooting in July  was casually dressed in a gray polo shirt and gray trousers.

The father-of-eight, who recently spent time with his firstborn child Ireland, added black leather loafers.

His white-gray hair was cut short and slicked back and he was clean-shaven for the outing.

Meanwhile, his 40-year-old wife, who he married in 2012, was stylish in light wash flared jeans and a short-sleeved black shirt.

Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin were spotted running errands in New York City on Friday

The mother-of-seven looked effortlessly chic as she added a pair of oversized black sunglasses.

She added height to her petite frame with a pair of pointy-toe nude-tone high heels.

Hilaria's dark, highlighted hair was worn down, styled in a center part and loose bouncy curls that fell over her shoulders.

The pair were seen without their brood  daughters Carmen, 10, Maria, three, and Ilaria, 16 months, and sons Rafael, eight, Leonardo, seven, Romeo, five, and Eduardo, three.

Last week a judge denied a motion to dismiss Alec's manslaughter case for the October 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Hutchins succumbed to a gunshot wound from a prop firearm that went off on the Rust movie set while in Alec's hands.

Baldwin will face a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison if found guilty.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in New Mexico rejected arguments made by the star's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, according to Variety.

One prosecutor, Kari Morrissey, stated that 'the actor has responsibility for the firearms once it is in their hands.'

The 66-year-old actor was casually dressed in a gray polo shirt and gray trousers. The mother-of-seven looked effortlessly chic as she added a pair of oversized black sunglasses

The mother-of-seven looked effortlessly chic as she added a pair of oversized black sunglasses

Alec will go to trial in July for manslaughter over 2021's Rust shooting, which left cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead; Hutchins pictured in 2021

Last week a judge denied a motion to dismiss Alec's manslaughter case for the October 2021 incident

In April, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter; Gutierrez-Reed pictured in 2021

Alec has plead not guilty ahead of the trial, and has also denied that he pulled the trigger on the gun and that it was his responsibility to make sure the gun was safe.

In April, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced 18 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of Halyna.

Shortly after, an expert speculated that her sentence was 'a bad sign' for the actor.

Alec was offered a plea deal last year that would have kept him from jail time in connection with the manslaughter of Hutchins.

The offer was made on October 5 and Baldwin was given until October 27 to decide, but prosecutors rescinded the offer on October 17.
Alessandra Ambrosio turned heads in an eye-catching outfit while stepping out to grab lunch with a friend in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Brazilian-born supermodel, 43 - who recently flaunted her incredible figure in a bikini during a Napa getaway - was spotted strolling outdoors as she headed to a restaurant to enjoy a tasty meal.

She wowed in a red $1,380 Petar Petrov dress that was belted at the waist and also contained a thigh-high slit at the front for a sultry flare.

The mother-of-two slipped into a pair of open-toed, nude-colored pumps to allow the outfit to be the main focal point.

Her long, brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.

Alessandra Ambrosio, 43, turned heads in an eye-catching outfit while stepping out to grab lunch with a friend in Los Angeles on Friday

The mother-of-two slipped into a pair of open-toed, nude-colored pumps to allow the outfit to be the main focal point

A tan, Celine purse was placed over her right shoulder to hold a few items she needed during the daytime excursion.

Ambrosio accessorized the look with a pair of mini earrings, as well as glittering bracelets and a watch on each of her wrists.

The beauty also opted for an assortment of rings on her hands as well as a pair of large, brown shades.

Her makeup was classically done for the outing, and comprised of a warm blush to her cheekbones as well as a nude tint on her lips.

She was seen strolling along a sidewalk in a quiet neighborhood, and later donned a $320 cropped jacket from the Victoria Beckham x Mango collection.

During an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2022, she opened about how her sense of style has evolved over the years.

'I think I'm still happy to be playful and go with my mood, or match the occasion, so I've always had fun with my looks. But I think the change has been internal.'

Alessandra added, 'Over the years, I have become more confident with who I am and how I present myself. So I can experiment and try on looks without feeling at all self-conscious.'

She wowed in a red $1,380 Petar Petrov dress that was belted at the waist and also contained a thigh-high slit at the front for a sultry flare

She was seen strolling along a sidewalk in a quiet neighborhood, and later donned a $320, cropped jacket from the Victoria Beckham x Mango collection

Ambrosio has been keeping busy and recently enjoyed a relaxing getaway to Napa Valley, and shared a few moments from the trip to her 12 million followers on Instagram

She also explained, 'In my personal life, I keep things simple. I'm a Brazilian girl, even though I now live in LA, so swimsuits and simple beachwear is my style.'

'I love fashion but I don't have to go crazy with buying items. I'm happy with what makes me comfortable...'

Ambrosio has been keeping busy and recently enjoyed a relaxing getaway to Napa Valley, and shared a few moments from the trip to her 12 million followers on Instagram.

In one snap that was included in a photo series, the supermodel showed off her toned figure wearing a stylish bikini inside a sauna.

She lounged on a soft towel that was placed in the large, wooden space and tossed up her hair into a messy bun.

The star also took a dip in a swimming pool while sporting a black swimsuit as she cooled down in the hot weather and took in the scenic landscape.

Alessandra took time to visit some of the wineries in the area, and posed for a snap while standing in a vineyard. She also indulged in a crisp, white wine as she stepped out of the bright sunshine.

Other images in the Instagram carousel included the beauty lounging outdoors and taking a snap next to vibrant, yellow flowers.

The star also took a dip in a swimming pool while sporting a black swimsuit as she cooled down in the hot weather and took in the scenic landscape

Alessandra took time to visit some of the wineries in the area, and posed for a snap while standing in a vineyard

She also indulged in a crisp, white wine as she stepped out of the bright sunshine

Other images in the Instagram carousel included the beauty lounging outdoors and taking a snap next to vibrant, yellow flowers

Shortly before the Napa trip, Alessandra whisked herself away to France to attend the 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival (seen above)

Shortly before the Napa trip, Alessandra whisked herself away to France earlier this month to attend the 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival.

The star made an appearance at numerous events, such as the red carpet premiere of Marcello Mio.

The model stunned in a figure-hugging, light pink gown that clung to her frame and fell down into a short train behind her.

The ensemble was held up with black, bow straps and her locks were styled into a sleek up do, easily revealing a pair of mini, silver earrings for a final touch.
Nadia Bartel showed off her incredible figure as she joined a group of WAGs and influencers on a lavish private jet day trip to Sydney.

The fashion designer, 39, took to Instagram on Saturday to give an insight into the luxury trip, which was organised by Booby Tape co-founders Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano.

She shared stunning snaps from her visit to Sydney earlier in the week to attend the brand's latest product launch event as she showed off her glamorous outfit.

For the day out, Nadia put on a very leggy display in a suede mini skirt and matching bomber jacket, which she styled with a simple white T-shirt.

Nadia, who is the ex-wife of AFL star Jimmy Bartel, added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of white sling-back high heels.

Nadia Bartel (pictured) showed off her incredible figure as she joined a group of WAGs and influencers on a lavish private jet day trip to Sydney

The fashion designer, 39, took to Instagram on Saturday to give an insight into the trip as she jetted from Melbourne to Sydney on a private jet to attend a Booby Tape launch event

For the day out, Nadia put on a very leggy display in a suede mini skirt and matching bomber jacket, which she styled with a simple white T-shirt

She toted her essentials in a small cream handbag and let her caramel tresses fall loosely across her shoulders.

Nadia was joined on the extravagant day trip from Melbourne to Sydney by her pal Rebecca Judd, who cut a glamorous figure in a busty black dress.

Sisters and Booby Tape co-founders Bianca and Bridgett also hosted the likes of Brooke Warne, Rozalia Russian, Effie Katsaounis and Lana Wilkinson on the jet.

The group jetted over to Sydney on the private plane to attend Booby Tape's latest product launch event at Mimi's in Coogee.

They all took to social media to give an insight into the luxury day out as they posted glamorous snaps of themselves posing up a storm on the private jet.

She toted her essentials in a small cream handbag and let her caramel tresses fall loosely across her shoulders

Nadia was joined on the extravagant day trip from Melbourne to Sydney by her pal Rebecca Judd, who cut a glamorous figure in a busty black dress

Sisters and Booby Tape co-founders Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano also hosted the likes of Brooke Warne, Rozalia Russian, Effie Katsaounis, Lana Wilkinson and many others on the jet

Nadia's latest outing comes after she opened up about the fears she used to have around ageing.

The model, who turns 40 next year, told Stellar Magazine how she used to feel that 30 years old was 'old' but has now learnt that growing older as a blessing.

'The 40s are honestly the new 30s. I feel like you've got this whole new vibe going on  you're not stressing about the stuff you used to stress about in your early 30s,' she shared.

'Looking back to when I was turning 30, I almost thought that was really old. Next year I'm turning 40!

'I don't know if it's because energetically I'm in a different place now, but I remember feeling so much stress back then.

Nadia added: 'I remember feeling crappy about it. At 30, I thought I'd have X, Y and Z. And in my early 30s I felt a lot of pressure.

'Now as I approach 40, I feel like I'm in such a good place and so happy with where I am.'
Rosie O'Donnell was spotted filming on the set of And Just Like That... for the first time in a scene with series regular Cynthia Nixon.

On Friday, the 62-year-old comedian joined Nixon, 58, in the heart of New York City as they shot what appeared to be an emotionally moving scene in the middle of a busy crowd.

In a touching moment in Times Square, the pair were seen sharing lots of physical contact as they held hands and were later seen wrapped up in a warm embrace.

This comes as fans speculate O'Donnell's character Mary, of whom little is known currently, will be Miranda's new love interest in the upcoming third season.

As the rumored-to-be on-screen lovers filmed, Nixon's real-life wife Christine Marinoni was also spotted on set and showing her support.

It was previously announced that O'Donnell would be joining the all-star cast in early May following reports of Karen Pittman and Sara Ramirez's exits.

Rosie O'Donnell was spotted filming on the set of And Just Like That... for the first time in a scene with series regular Cynthia Nixon

On Friday, the 62-year-old comedian joined Nixon, 58, in the heart of New York City as they shot what appeared to be an emotionally moving scene in the middle of a busy crowd. In a touching moment, the pair were seen sharing lots of physical contact as they held hands and were later seen wrapped up in a warm embrace

In January, DailyMail.com exclusively reported Ramirez was officially dropped from the show after creators decided their divisive character Che Diaz was 'a waste of airtime' and 'annoying' fans.

Deadline first reported that Pittman, who played Professor Nya Wallace on the Sex and the City spin-off, would be leaving her role after two seasons due to scheduling conflicts.

For her first scene, O'Donnell joined Nixon in Times Square and the pair filmed with a bag of candy in their interlocked hands.

The official Instagram page for the reboot series also shared a photo of O'Donnell posing for a sweet snap besides Nixon.

Referencing O'Donnell's graphic T-shirt with the imagery of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical about the untold story of the witches of Oz, the caption read: 'A Wicked good night in Times Square.'

In the snapshot, the actresses stood in the middle of a busy crowd and bright billboards but commanded attention with their radiant smiles.

She was dressed in casual, tourist-inspired attire while Nixon, as Miranda, modeled her character's signature chic style.

As her character Mary, O'Donnell layered the Wicked T-shirt over a bright blue, long-sleeved top and donned cuffed jeans.

This comes as fans speculate O'Donnell's character Mary, of whom little is known currently, will be Miranda's new love interest in the upcoming third season

As the rumored-to-be on-screen lovers filmed, Nixon's real-life wife Christine Marinoni was also spotted on set and showing her support

O'Donnell was previously revealed to be joining the all-star cast in early May. For her first scene, she joined Nixon in Times Square and the pair filmed with a bag of candy in their interlocked hands

On the same day, the official Instagram page for the reboot series also shared a photo of O'Donnell posing for a sweet snap besides Nixon

For the shoot, O'Donnell wore graphic T-shirt with the imagery of acclaimed Broadway play Wicked

She was dressed in casual, tourist-inspired attire while Nixon, as Miranda, modeled her character's signature chic style

As her character Mary, O'Donnell layered the Wicked T-shirt over a bright blue, long-sleeved top and donned cuffed jeans

She also wore a brown fanny pack around her waist

She also sported gray platform sneakers and wore a brown fanny pack slung low on her hips.

Nixon modeled an emerald green, satin trench coat-inspired dress with a thick, black belt cinching in her waist.

In bright contrast, she donned deep periwinkle, suede wedges.

She also wore a iridescent crossbody bag with a blend of the same colors from both her dress and shoes.

Exactly one week after Sarah Jessica Parker was seen filming a solo night scene, the pair were seen having a quiet conversation in the noisy, bustling crowd.

At one point, they were seen having a moment over a clear baggie of colorful candy and holding it together with their hands touching.

They also shared a big hug during the shoot.

At a different time, when Nixon wasn't beside her wife, she was getting her makeup touched up.

Nixon wore an emerald green, satin trench coat-inspired dress with a thick, black belt cinching in her waist. In bright contrast, she sported deep periwinkle, suede wedges

She also wore a iridescent crossbody bag with a blend of the same colors from both her dress and shoes.

During the shoot, the pair were seen having a quiet conversation in the noisy, bustling crowd

In between takes, when Nixon wasn't beside her wife, she was getting her makeup touched up

During a break, O'Donnell put on her glasses and Nixon was seen interacting with and about to hug someone off camera

During a break, O'Donnell put on her glasses and Nixon was seen interacting with and about to hug someone off camera.

On May 1, it was announced that the talk show host would be joining Nixon, SJP and Kristin Davis in the upcoming third season of AJLT.

Since the exciting news, it has been heavily speculated that O'Donnell's character Mary would be the new love interest of Nixon's Miranda.

Last season, Miranda dated Ramirez's character Che Diaz until their split in the series and the actor was booted from the show.

The Sex and the City reboot series was renewed for a third season last summer before the second season even finished airing.

Production for the upcoming season began in Manhattan in May.

As filming is still ongoing, a release date for the series has not yet been announced but is expected to be released sometime in 2025.
Ulrika Jonsson has insisted that Ruth Langsford wanted to 'crack on with life' by splitting from her husband Eamonn Holmes

Ruth and Eamonn, both 64, shocked the industry when, in May, they announced their plans to divorce after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

In her column for The Sun, Ulrika, 56, hit back at criticism of Ruth for leaving Eamonn in his darkest hour, after it was revealed the star had begun to feel more like 'his carer than his wife' in the wake of his recent health woes.

The presenter said: 'This is baffling to me. Let's face it, Eamonn, 64, has become a leading member of the Grumpy Old Men's club over the years and he's a proper curmudgeon.

'It could just be that all his moaning got on Ruth's nerves. There she is, wanting to crack on with life, and she's got an old misery on two walking sticks dragging her down.'

Ulrika Jonsson has insisted that Ruth Langsford wanted to 'crack on with life' by splitting from her husband Eamonn Holmes

Ruth and Eamonn, both 64, shocked the industry when, in May, they announced their plans to divorce after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together

She continued: 'I like Eamonn. A lot. I met him very early on in my career and he was always super-encouraging, supportive and kind ... But it feels like the knives are out for Ruth - and regardless of the truth behind their split, I'm here to defend and applaud her.'

Ulrika also shared that she believed Eamonn was 'punching' with Ruth - and he knew he was, too. She praised Ruth for not staying in the marriage past its sell-by date and wondered if split would be such an issue if Eamonn initiated it.

The Daily Mail's Katie Hind revealed last week that Ruth has struggled to cope with Eamonn's agonising bad back following slipped discs and a fall at home in 2022.

Speaking previously to Woman's Weekly magazine, the Loose Women presenter did admit his injuries had been 'testing' as they tried to 'manage as a family'.

A friend told Katie that Ruth has become 'more his carer than a wife' as the Belfast-born star became more and more 'grumpy'.

'Eamonn has been thoroughly miserable,' they admitted. 'He has had a torrid time with his health, he's in constant pain, and the truth is he can't contain how miserable it makes him.'

'Ruth has borne the brunt of much of his anger and frustration in recent years  and eventually something had to give. She's still a woman with a real zest for life and in the end it just started to get her down more than she could accept.

'She needs her own life. It's a case of her wanting to get out and enjoy herself. Women at Ruth's age realise that they only have ten, 20, 30 years max left and they want to have some fun.

'They go out, get fit, look amazing and go out and have the time of their lives. Meanwhile, men stay at home being grumpy.'

The friend added: 'The couple have remained living under the same roof, but sleeping in separate rooms  with Ruth increasingly acting more like a carer than a wife. She runs around making his lunch for him despite their fraught relationship.'

A friend told The Mail's Katie Hind that Ruth has become 'more his carer than a wife' as the Belfast-born star became 'more and more grumpy'

A source said: 'Eamonn has been thoroughly miserable. He has had a torrid time with his health, he's in constant pain'

Television's former golden couple Ruth and Eamonn first met in 1997 when Eamonn was presenting breakfast show GMTV.

A mutual friend and fellow TV star, Sally Meen, 58, introduced them.

Two years earlier, Eamonn had split from Gabrielle, mother of his three eldest children, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31.

They decided to call it quits on their commitment as the pressure of commuting to London to present GMTV from their home in Belfast took its toll.

And despite Ruth and Eamonn feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years.

Eamonn even refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex of nearly 20 years.

And while some at the time believed the secrecy to be unnecessary, Ruth only fell harder for her man.

She admitted to The Daily Mail in 2017: 'I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less.'

An insider told the Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff this week: '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.'

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.

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 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' (pictured in 2009)

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'.

Work also contributed to his first divorce after the broadcaster's commute from his family home in Belfast to film GMTV in London took its toll.

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.

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.'

Work also contributed to his first divorce after the broadcaster's commute from his family home in Belfast to film GMTV in London took its toll (pictured on GMTV in 1994)

Eamonn pictured with daughter Rebecca (R) whom he shares with Gabrielle and his son Jack (L) whom he shares with Ruth

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.

Eamonn is now a grandfather after son Declan and his wife Jenny welcomed daughters in November 2023 and 2021.
Danny Dyer was back serving pints almost two years after quitting the role of Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter in EastEnders.

The actor, 46, pulled pints and spouted his now iconic cockney rhyming slang as he joined Peter Crouch, 43, in a hysterical new Paddy Power commercial ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany.

Kicking off the countdown to the much-anticipated tournament, Danny stripped down to his swimming trunks in the ad that boasted of England's unique position of favourite to win the tournament.

Dodgy behaviour abroad, rubbish holiday fashion sense and the less-than seamless Brexit process were all playfully teased as characters from around Europe were questioned about their love of the English.

Danny himself forwent traditional grub and ordered 'egg and chips' as he sat by a Spanish pool before asking the camera: 'Jog on, we're not that bad are we?'.

Danny Dyer, 46, (L) was back serving pints almost two years after quitting the role of Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter in EastEnders (Pictured with Peter Crouch, right)

The actor, 46, pulled pints and spouted his now iconic cockney rhyming slang in a hysterical new Paddy Power commercial ahead of the Euros 2024 in Germany

He was joined in the commercial by former England player Peter Crouch, 43

Before Peter, donned in a huge England flag and matching hat, yelled: 'It's coming home!'.

But despite England's apparent edge in the competition the ad ended with Danny admitting: 'I'm properly bricking it right now'.

Since dominating Italy 3-1 in their European Qualifier overnight, England have established themselves as the 4/1 favourites with Sky Bet to win Euro 2024 in Germany.

Gareth Southgate's side were previously joint-favourites with France at 9/2 - however - with the Three Lions boasting arguably their best squad in the past two decades that includes the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka - there's confidence in the betting market that this is the team that can finally bring home a maiden European trophy.

It comes after Wayne Rooney said he believes Gareth Southgate needs to be smarter in managing player minutes if England are to triumph in the competition.

The former England player believes other nations 'fear' England but says even giving key players 15 minutes' rest towards the end of games will make a huge difference.

He discussed England's chances and tactics with former Manchester United and England team-mate Gary Neville on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.

Wayne said: 'Depending on the opposition, depends on the team that England should go for,'

Dodgy behaviour abroad, rubbish holiday fashion sense and less than seamless Brexit were all playfully teased as character from around Europe were questioned about their love of the English

Danny himself forwent traditional grub and ordered 'egg and chips' as he sat by a Spanish pool before asking the camera: 'Jog on, we're not that bad are we?'

But despite England's apparent edge in the competition the ad ended with Danny admitting: 'I'm properly bricking it right now'

Danny pictured as Mick Carter in EastEnders

'I want to see Phil Foden play in central midfield, but you have Jude Bellingham there as well which is the headache that Gareth Southgate is going to have.

'I suppose he could go with them as two N0 10s and then the three in midfield but then you are relying on your full-backs to give the width.

'It is a strength the last two tournaments, even just giving players a bit of a rest for 15 minutes can make a big difference. We have got the strength and the quality in the squad.

'In the last tournament [Euro 2020], Harry Kane was chasing the Golden Boot, so maybe if that wasn't there, then it would have been easier to bring him off and keep him fresher.

'I'd like to see players minutes managed better.'

Wayne scored 53 goals in 120 matches for England and is excited by the wealth of talent in the current Three Lions side.

'For me, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka must play, they are some good players, aren't they?

It comes after Wayne Rooney said he believes Gareth Southgate (pictured) needs to be smarter in managing player minutes if England are to triumph in the competition

The former England player believes other nations 'fear' England but says even giving key players 15 minutes' rest towards the end of games will make a huge difference (Wayne pictured)

'You look at Foden and Jude, and Jude is getting so many headlines it is almost like Foden is going under the radar a little bit.

'I think Foden scored more goals and got more assists than Bellingham has got this season, which is why Foden must play.'

On England's Euro chances, he added: 'England can win Euro 2024. I think what we have now is that other countries are starting to fear England a little bit.

'In previous tournaments, other teams could see that England were good, but there was never that fear. However, with England now, there is fear.'
Melissa Leong took a plunge in an ice bath on Saturday after discussing how she was getting back into her fitness regime.

The former MasterChef Australia judge, 42, took to her Instagram Stories to give an insight into her health routine as she took a dip in an ice cold bath.

She showed off her incredible figure in a strapless bikini as she took a mirror selfie while visiting wellness studio Nimbus Co.

Melissa posed with a towel over one shoulder as she prepared to submerge herself in the ice bath in a plunge which is believed to improve alertness and reduce pain.

Earlier this month, Melissa told how she was 'getting back' into her training schedule as she once again visited the wellness studio.

Melissa Leong (pictured) took to Instagram on Saturday to share a glimpse at her visit to an ice bath, showing off her incredible figure in a bikini as she posed for a mirror selfie

She joked that she was getting back to her normal routine after 'three straight weeks of eating cake, ice cream and chocolate'.

Melissa regularly takes ice baths and frequently shares snaps of herself preparing for her plunges on her social media.

Melissa is set to return to TV screens next week fronting a new three-part documentary series about Australia's health system.

The TV star is set to appear in the new SBS docuseries The Hospital: In The Deep End, which will air Thursday June 6.

Melissa will feature on the program alongside Samuel Johnson and Costa Georgiadis.

Earlier this month, Melissa told how she was 'getting back' into her training schedule after 'three straight weeks of eating cake, ice cream and chocolate'

Melissa is set to return to TV screens next week fronting a new three-part documentary series about Australia's health system, which will air Thursday June 6

The show will see the trio spend time with medical professionals at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney to further understand health challenges in Australia.

Melissa revealed she wanted to take part in the project so she could get an insight into her mother's career as a nurse.

'Spending time in the emergency department certainly gave me a brief glimpse into what she did,' she told TV Week.

'I think [my mother is] such a tremendously empathetic person. A lot of my inspiration for how I want to be in my life, I take from her.'

Her new TV venture comes after she was dropped from MasterChef Australia last year, leaving fans devastated.

Her new TV venture comes after she was dropped from MasterChef Australia last year , leaving fans devastated (she is pictured on the show with Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo)

She had hosted the series alongside Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo, who was tragically found dead in a Melbourne hotel room on April 30, 2023.

Andy has returned to the cooking competition this year alongside new judges Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Following her exit from MasterChef, Melissa went on to host its spin-off series Dessert Masters alongside Amaury Guichon.

Melissa recently described her hosting gig on Dessert Masters as a 'dream come true' while speaking to Daily Mail Australia.
Salma Hayek looked effortlessly chic as she enjoyed a late-night meal with her husband Francois-Henri Pinault and pals in London's Notting Hill on Friday.

The actress, 57, looked sensational as she wore a cropped khaki jacket and black flared trousers.

She toted her essentials around in a black cross-body bag and adorned a flawless palette of makeup.

Meanwhile, her husband Francois-Henri, 62, who is the boss of luxury fashion group Kering, looked incredibly dapper in a suit.

The businessman seemed in good spirits as he sported a black blazer and white shirt.

Salma Hayek looked effortlessly chic in a khaki cropped jacket on Friday as she enjoyed a late-night meal with her husband Francois-Henri Pinault and pals in Notting Hill, London

Meanwhile, her husband Francois-Henri, 62, (right) who is the boss of luxury fashion group Kering, looked incredibly dapper in a suit

After the dinner, the pair were spotted leaving the swanky restaurant with their pals in tow.

It comes after Salma looked glamorous as she cosied up to her husband Francois-Henri at the Kering Women In Motion event during the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.

She stunned in a gorgeous caped lilac gown as she posed for snaps with the French businessman.

It comes after the couple - who married in 2009 - landed on The Sunday Times Rich List again for 2024 with a combined net worth of 6.147 billion.

Salma commanded attention in the light purple dress which had a flattering one-shoulder design and pretty sheer cape detailing.

Meanwhile, Francois-Henri looked dapper in a black suit and bow tie as he put on a loved-up display with Salma during his event.

Salma wore her long dark tresses in a half up half down style and opted for stylish dangly green earrings.

The pair's net worth is now around 6 billion, dropping from 8 billion in 2023 as their rank on the list dropped from 21st to 31st.

The actress looked sensational as she teamed a pair of black flared trousers with the stylish jacket

She toted her essentials around in a black cross-body bag and adorned a flawless palette of makeup

After the dinner, the beauty was spotted leaving the swanky restaurant with her pal and he escorted her to a car

Meanwhile, the businessman seemed in good spirits as he left the restaurant laughing and chatting with his pal

Francois-Henri has been the chairman and CEO of Kering since 2005, while Salma's net worth is estimated to exceed 100 million due to her film role and beauty and fashion endorsements.

It comes after Salma revealed one of the last thoughts she had when she believed she was going to die in a plane crash with her pal Penelope Cruz.

Actress Salma and fellow Hollywood star Penelope, 50, who have been friends for more than 20 years, had a terrifying experience when their plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Mexico.

Penelope already had a fear of flying and the pair realised something had gone wrong when a member of the crew dashed out of the cockpit and put on an oxygen mask.

During an interview for Vogue Arabia, Penelope asked Salma what she had learned from the hair-raising experience.

It comes after Salma looked glamorous as she cosied up to her husband Francois-Henri at the Kering Women In Motion event during the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month

She stunned in a gorgeous caped lilac gown as she posed for snaps with the French businessman

Salma told her: 'Youve always had a fear of flying and you always give me instructions of what to do if you die in a crash! [Laughs].

'That day we were together on a flight and the plane had an emergency and had to land in the middle of nowhere in Mexico.'

'I knew it was going to happen because I saw the flight attendant coming out of the cockpit and grabbing oxygen.'

'So, I took your hands and said to you that were going to be OK. There is something wrong with the plane, but I need you to calm down. And I was so proud of you because I could see you struggling to calm yourself down.'

'We could do a whole movie about this! And then you said something so beautiful that I will never forget. You said, "I thought maybe we were going to die. But we were going to die together. And we were going to be OK".'
Kat Stewart was once so career focused that she believed having a child would ruin her job prospects.

But it was a storyline on her series Offspring that led to the 51-year-old actress changing her mind.

In the 2010s comedy drama series, her character, Billie Proudman underwent an IVF journey, and it got Kat, who was 37 at the time, thinking about her own fertility.

'I was really enjoying my work and I wasn't prioritising kids because I knew it would slow me down' she tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine.

'I wasn't super maternal, to be honest. I'm so grateful to Offspring because it gave me a little tap on the shoulder and said, "Hey, you can't put this on the backburner forever  here are the stats."'

Kat Stewart was once so career focused that she believed having a child would ruin her job prospects. But it was a storyline on her series Offspring that led to the 51-year-old actress changing her mind. Pictured in Stellar Magazine

Soon after, Kat and her husband, fellow actor David Whiteley, welcomed their first child, son Archie.

'By the end of that series, Archie was on the way. We were very lucky' she told the publication.

Kat returned to work just five weeks after giving birth to Archie in 2012 and kept her first pregnancy close to her chest for months.

Speaking to Show and Tell, she said: 'I had this paranoia that if I had a baby - which is probably why we put it off for so long  that I'd never work again.'

In the 2010s comedy drama series, her character, Billie Proudman underwent an IVF journey, and it got Kat, who was 37 at the time, thinking about her own fertility. Pictured in Offspring

'I was really enjoying my work and I wasn't prioritising kids because I knew it would slow me down' she tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine. Pictured with her husband and two kids

Kat and her husband, fellow actor David Whiteley (right), welcomed their first child, son Archie, in 2012 and daughter Gigi in 2016

'I didn't really tell anyone until I was about five months. I only told people when I had to which is weird but I was just a bit kind of nervous about it and protective of it and I wanted it to be our experience for as long as possible.'

Kat welcomed her second child, daughter Georgia, nicknamed Gigi, in 2016, and brought the newborn to work with her on the set of Offspring just weeks later.

Rather than take a lengthy maternity leave, Kat jumped straight back into work with her five-week-old tot on her hip on the first day of shooting.

'I think it will only enrich the experience of doing the show having them around,' she told The Daily Telegraph of having her kids on set, which also included Archie, who was a toddler at the time.

'I wouldn't normally go back to work this early but Offspring is a family,' she added.

'Archie takes his role as big brother really seriously. He's in charge of calming Gigi down with lullabies.'
Doctor Who fans have branded the show's latest outing Dot and Bubble as a 'rip off' of Netflix favourite Black Mirror, before sharing their fury at the shocking final twist.

Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who episode 5 Dot and Bubble.

The latest adventure takes place in the mysterious world of FineTime where inhabitants live happily and are dependent on the bubble, a social media technology which literally encompasses the user's head, making them almost oblivious to the outside world.

The episode was led not by The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) but Lindy Pepper-Bean (Callie Cooke) who is so engrossed in the bubble she fails to notice giant slugs eating everyone around her.

Netflix's 2016 Black Mirror episode followed a similar theme where people were also followed around by social media and their online ratings from others would effect their day to day lives.

Doctor Who fans have branded the show's latest outing Dot and Bubble as a 'rip off' of Black Mirror 's episode Nosedive.

The latest adventure is on the set plant of FineTime where inhabitants live happily and are dependent on the bubble, a social media technology which literally encompasses the user's head, making them almost oblivious to the outside world (Ncuti Gatwa pictured)

The 2016 Black Mirror episode (pictured) followed a similar theme where people were also followed around by social media and their online ratings from others would effect their day to day lives

Taking to X viewers said: 'Does Doctor Who still want to be Doctor Who? Or is it happy to just rip off Black Mirror, Stranger Things and anything else it fancies?': 'This episode is giving me Nosedive Black Mirror vibes'.

They continued: 'I miss when Doctor who aspired to be more then a budget Black Mirror': WTF was that? First the disappointment of [last week's episode] 73 Yards now Dot and Bubble. A whole episode so they could recognise Susan Twist and rip off Black Mirror. Also why does thus doctor always cry. I swear it's been nearly every episode. And this season started so well'.

The huge twist at the end of the episode revealed that those living on FineTime are in fact racists and Lindy refuses The Doctor's help to take everyone to a safe new home, after discovering the colour of his skin.

Telling him: 'You're not one of us' leaving the Time Lord in tears of frustration and disbelief in a dramatic final scene.

However some viewers were unimpressed with the surprise saying: 'Doctor Who. Dot and Bubble. Not very subtle is he [Writer Russell T Davies]. I Liked the uniqueness of the main character being somebody you detested by the end, can't think of a similar scenario in New of Classic Who before'.

'Doctor Who Dot and Bubble is white saviour Russell T Davies' racism episode in a Black Mirror wrapping. If you aren't low IQ you knew what this was headed 15 mins in but the ending made no sense. Illogically written just for Davies to feel smug and on point'.

And: 'The woke left have to spoil everything, a highly unique sci fi concept boiled down to racism on an alien planet. What the f***. The last five mins is what Doctor Who is over, totally finished'.

Last month Doctor Who fans have given a strong verdict on Ncuti's performance as the 15th Doctor after the BBC show returned for its 14th series

The episode was led not by The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa ) and companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) but Lindy Pepper-Bean (Callie Cooke, pictured)

She is so engrossed in the bubble she fails to notice giant slugs eating everyone around her

The Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday, along with the Time Lord himself, appear fleetingly during the episode

Taking to X viewers said: 'Does Doctor Who still want to be Doctor Who? Or is it happy to just rip off Black Mirror, Stranger Things and anything else it fancies?'

The beloved sci-fi show returned with two new episodes, Space Babies and The Devil's Chord.

Taking to X - formerly known as Twitter - viewers raved that Ncuti is the 'perfect' Doctor and that his 'acting is impressive'.

'This is a really bad episode but Ncuti Gatwa has great energy for the doctor. I hope he gets better episodes.'

Other fans gushed that the Sex Education star is 'incredible' and they are excited to see him in more episodes.

The huge twist at the end of the episode revealed that those living on FineTime are in fact racist, and Lindy refuses The Doctor's help to save everyone from the slugs after discovering the colour of his skin

However some viewers were unimpressed with the surprise

'They're really good Ncuti is incredible; Okay I'm sold on Ncuti now; Ncuti is so immediately warm & lovable from the jump as the doctor #DrWho; I love Ncuti as the doctor.'

'Actually in love with Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor. #DoctorWho; I at least feel like they're slightly better written than last season. Ncuti's doing a great job with the character so far too.'

'I really like the new Doctor Who. Ncuti Gatwa plays the role with a confidence that I hadn't seen from Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker. And I liked both of their incarnations as well.'

Born in Rwanda and raised in Scotland, Ncuti was inspired to become an actor after watching David Tennant in the role.

Doctor Who's Dot and Bubble is available now on BBC iPlayer and airs Saturday, 6.50pm, BBC1.
Renee Zellweger continued filming Bridget Jones' fourth outing Mad About The Boy in London this week.

The American actress, 55, shot scenes as she took her character and late husband Mark Darcy's children to school, before running into PE teacher rumoured love and interest Mr Walker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, 46).

The movie is based on the novel of the same name as Bridget battles motherhood alone following the tragic death of Mark, who was played in the previous films by Colin Firth, 63.

She will also embark on a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27.

Renne donned jeans and a cream padded jacket for the shoot while her young co-stars, who star as daughter Mabel and son Billy, donned school uniforms.

Renee Zellweger, 55, continued filming Bridget Jones' fourth outing Mad About The Boy in London this week

The American actress, shot scenes as she took her character and late husband Mark Darcy's children to school, before running into PE teacher rumoured love and interest Mr Walker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, pictured)

The movie is based on the novel of the same name as Bridget battles motherhood alone following the tragic death of Mark, who played in the previous films by Colin Firth , 63

Renne donned jeans and a cream padded jacket for the shoot

Meanwhile Marvel's Chiwetel looked smart in a double breasted navy suit before all the actors changed to film scenes set on a different day.

Renne later slipped into Bridget's iconic mini skirt and cardigan the character appeared to flirt with the PE teacher who was now dressed in a brown blazer.

Actress Leila Farzad was also on set and appeared chic in a cream woollen coat which she teamed with a matching skirt and brown leather boots.

The return of Bridget's mini-skirt will no doubt remind fans of Bridget's exchange with Daniel in the original film, when the sexist love rat emailed her after spotting her in a very short garment.

He famously wrote: 'Where is skirt? Is skirt off sick?'

And she replied: 'Am appalled by message. Skirt is demonstrably neither sick nor absent. Appalled by management's blatantly size-ist attitude... to skirt. Suggest management sick, not skirt!'

He replied: 'If walking past office... was attempt to demonstrate presence of skirt... can only say that it has failed parlously. Cleave.'

She then hit back with: 'Shut up,please. I'm very busy and important. P.S. How dare you sexually harass me... in this impertinent manner.'

The actress later slipped into Bridget's iconic mini skirt and cardigan to film scenes set on a different day

While her young co-stars, who play daughter Mabel and son Billy, donned school uniforms

Renne collapsed into fits of giggles during a break in filming

The movie will see the iconic character also embarking on a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, who is played by One Day star Leo Woodall , 27

Marvel star Chiwetel looked smart in a double breasted navy suit and blew his whistle

Renne is returning to the beloved role for a fourth time

Bridget and Mr Walker at first appeared friendly

Before the teacher seemingly lost his temper, suggesting love won't come easy for the pair

Chiwetel then changed into a brown plaid blazer

Colin Firth (left) Mark Darcy in the previous films before his character's death with Hugh Grant (right) returning as Daniel Cleaver after being presumed dead in the last film before being found very much alive

Daniel concluded: 'Mortified to have caused offense. Will avoid all non-P.C. overtones in future. Deeply apologetic. P.S. Like your t**s in that top.'

While the exchange was seen as somewhat cheeky and flirtatious at the time, it's now deemed to be rather sexist.

The Telegraph wrote: 'One of the "cancel worthy" aspects of the story is the relationship with Bridgets boss, Daniel Cleaver.

'Cleaver is objectively objectionable: a hard drinking sexual deviant who cheats on lovely Bridget (bad) and leaves her to attend the Alconburys Tarts and Vicars party alone (arguably even worse). But he's also (unfortunately) incredibly sexy.

'Some have said the relationship with Cleaver is sexual harassment because it starts in the work place and ends badly.'

In the new film, Bridget enjoys a fling with Rockstar and PE teacher Mr Walker, as played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as well as reviving her on-off relationship with Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver.

Chiwetel, 46, was seen shooting scenes last week which means only Hugh and Colin Firth  who has a small role in the movie as the late Mark Darcy  are yet to be spotted in character.

Renee and Leo were spotted filming together on May 18 in hilarious scenes as Bridget got stuck up a tree in Hampstead Heath.

Rockstar, who works as a park warden, seemingly comes to her rescue dressed in an all green uniform.

One onlooker said: 'Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There were lots of giggles, they seemed to get on really well.'

Bridget Jones filming comes on the heels of sheer delight from fans after the announcement of the beloved character's return to the big screen.

Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001's Bridget Jones' Diary and returned in 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby.

The movie was officially confirmed last month, with Renee and Hugh Grant's comebacks made official - after his love rat character Daniel Cleaver's death was falsified in 2016's third installment.

Actress Leila Farzad was also on set and appeared chic in a cream woollen coat which she teamed with a matching skirt and brown leather boots

She filmed scenes opposite Renne outside the school

The actress later checked her lines in the script

One Day star Leo Woodall plays Bridget's toy boy lover in the movie

The fourth movie in the franchise - based on the books by Helen Fielding - will be released by Universal film on US platform Peacock on Valentine's Day 2025 while internationally, the flick will be released in cinemas.

Emma Thompson - who played Doctor Rawlings in the last film, is also back, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and White Lotus star Leo Woodall also set to star.

Renee has been busy since she arrived in London two weeks ago to reprise her role as the singleton for the fourth, and probably final, time.

She spent four days filming at ITV's studios in White City, West London, where programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women are made.

There she met presenters from both shows, including Cat Deeley who was said to have been 'super excited' at seeing her.

Many studio staff were 'overcome with excitement' and desperate to get selfies with the Hollywood star when they realised that the movie was being filmed at their workplace.

Scenes were recorded on the set used by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for their now defunct show Saturday Night Takeaway, while audience members from Loose Women were also asked to stay for filming of some scenes.

One source at ITV said: 'It was chaos, imagine having Bridget come to your work. It was literally a dream come true. The place was absolutely buzzing. Word got round so fast, Cat was so excited.'

Bridget's creator Helen Fielding has also been spotted at the filming as she prepares to say goodbye to the much-loved character. The film is due out on Valentine's Day next year.

It was revealed last month that Bridget's obsession with losing weight will be 'played down' in the film amid fears they might be a bad influence.
Paul Mescal cut a casual figure as he stepped out in London on Saturday after enjoying a night out with Natalie Portman earlier this week.

The Normal People actor, 28, sported a dark blue hoodie and a denim jacket as he strolled around the streets of London.

He opted for teaming a pair of dark blue trousers with the casual ensemble and further accessorised with a pair of dark shades.

To complete the outfit, Paul sported a pair of black and white striped trainers and carried a white canvas shopping bag as he listened to music.

It comes after Paul and Natalie set tongues wagging as they could not control their giggles during an evening of drinking.

Paul Mescal cut a casual figure as he stepped out in London on Saturday after enjoying a night out with Natalie Portman earlier this week

The Normal People actor, 28, sported a dark blue hoody and a denim jacket as he strolled around the streets of London

Paul and Natalie, 42 - who interviewed each other for Variety last year - appeared in high spirits as they stepped outside for a cigarette.

She was no doubt pleased to have a fun night out, having quietly finalised her divorce from Benjamin Millepied in March following rumours he was unfaithful.

However Natalie's relationship with Paul is strictly platonic, and the pair have in fact enjoyed a friendly rapport for some time, sources told TMZ on Thursday.

Paul has made no secret of his admiration for Natalie, so he was clearly delighted to be in her company when they were spotted in Islington.

MailOnline contacted Paul and Natalie's representatives for comment at the time.

When they interviewed each other last year, Paul described Natalie as 'brilliant' and admitted: 'If my drama school self knew that I would be talking to you, I would pinch myself many, many times!'

He also complimented her performance in May December, in which she shares a steamy sex scene with younger co-star Charles Melton, 33.

She starred in the film as an actress named Elizabeth researching a couple - Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles) - who had formed when she was 36 and he was 13, sparking a tabloid scandal.

It comes after Paul and Natalie could not control their giggles as they enjoyed an evening out drinking at Bar 69 in Islington on Tuesday, though sources have said they're just pals

Meanwhile, Natalie complimented Paul on his sex scenes with Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers, describing them as 'very hot but also very tender.'

Natalie finalised her divorce from Benjamin in France in March, bringing an end to a marriage of 12 years, her representative confirmed to People.

The former couple share two children - Aleph, 12, and Amalia, seven - and lived together in Benjamin's native France for several years.

Natalie filed for divorce last July, one month after the French magazine Voici ran a bombshell report claiming Benjamin, 46, had an affair with a famous 25-year-old environmental activist called Camille Etienne.

After the claims of his infidelity went public, a source told People Benjamin had a 'short-lived' fling with Camille, but that the dalliance was 'over.'

The insider added: 'He knows he made an enormous mistake and he is doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together.'

It comes after Natalie finalized her divorce from Benjamin Millepied in France in March, bringing an end to a marriage of 12 years, her representative confirmed to People (pictured in 2022)

However, by the following month, Natalie had filed for divorce, and by early this March the legal proceedings were finalized.

The closest she came to addressing her divorce in public was in Vanity Fair this February when she was asked how it felt to have her marriage written about and replied: 'Its terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.'

A friend revealed the collapse of Natalie's marriage was 'was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it.'

The source noted: 'Her biggest priority has been ensuring a smooth transition for her children. She and Ben really love their kids and are equally focused on being the best co-parents they can be. Nothing is more important.'
The I'm A Celebrity jungle has been the home to many feuds and explosive arguments over the years.

However for one celebrity, his feud with his fellow campmate has continued outside of Australia and has now lasted 14 years.

Former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik has revealed he still hasn't forgiven Nigel Havers after they failed to see eye to eye during their time on the show back in 2010.

The politician, now 59, has accused the actor, 72, of being 'two faced' and said he 'stabbed him in the back' after he came out the show.

Speaking to The Sun, Lembit reflected on his time on the reality TV series as he explained: 'Yeah, Nigel Havers was two-faced. He pretended to be my friend.

I'm A Celebrity star Lembit Optik has revealed he has a 14-year feud with 'two-faced' campmate Nigel Havers as he accuses his fellow contestant of 'stabbing them in the back'

The former Liberal Democrat MP has revealed he still hasn't forgiven the actor after they failed to see eye to eye during their time on the show back in 2010

'I only realised what he really thought when I saw the show after I came out. He considered me to be mad, but frankly, I was making his tea for him.'

Nigel was the first contestant to leave the jungle that year, after he chose to exit the show after refusing to do a trial that would have given him a mild electric shock.

Lembit continued: 'I was his tea boy. And the gratitude I got shown was to him for him to stab me in the back when he came out. That's regrettable, and I would point out that I outlasted him in the jungle, and as far as I'm concerned, I win.'

The pair were joined by fellow contestants Stacey Solomon, Shaun Ryder, Alison Hammond and Bond girl Britt Ekland for their series of the show.

And while Lembit was the second to be eliminated, he revealed he doesn't regret going on the show and is honoured to be part of a select bunch to experience it.

It isn't the first time Lembit and Nigel have publicly declared their feud after Nigel joked he wanted 'to kill' him during the show.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain back in 2019, Nigel admitted it would have been great TV if the pair had ever came to blows.

'I was going to kill Lembit Opik,' he told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid.

Speaking to The Sun , Lembit reflected on his time on the reality TV series as he explained: 'Yeah, Nigel Havers was two-faced. He pretended to be my friend' (pictured 2020)

Lembit continued: 'I was his tea boy. And the gratitude I got shown was to him for him to stab me in the back when he came out. That's regrettable, and I would point out that I outlasted him in the jungle, and as far as I'm concerned, I win'

It isn't the first time Lembit and Nigel have publicly declared their feud after Nigel joked he wanted 'to kill' him on the show during an interview on Good Morning Britain

However Lembit was quick to hit back at Nigel as he took to Twitter to accuse the actor of 'blaming him for everything'

'That would have been great TV,' Piers said, as Nigel replied: 'It would have been fantastic. Can you imagine?'

'Why did he wind you up so much?' Susanna asked.

Nigel didn't hold back, saying: 'Everything he did. He was a good guy. You know when someone really gets on your nerves?

'There was no way out of it because you can't read or write or watch the telly or listen to the radio, it was just Lembit Opik going on and on.'

However Lembit was quick to hit back at Nigel as he took to Twitter to accuse the actor of 'blaming him for everything'.

He said: 'Poor Nigel Havers: only celeb to walk out of jungle in my series. He fell in lake - blamed me. In car back to hotel - he blamed me.

'Now hes blaming me for his departure from camp! I apologise for it all: and for his appearance on BENIDORM in case he blames me for that too.'
Alesha Dixon has revealed she refused her daughter's wish to dance alongside her during her Britain's Got Talent performance on Friday.

The show judge, 45, insisted that she will protect her children Azura, 10, and Anaya, four, from the industry until they are 'emotionally intelligent enough'.

Speaking to The Times, Alesha admitted that she is striving to set an example to her two daughters and told Azura that she could not dance alongside her during the live show where she performed her new song Ransom.

Despite Azura's father, Azuka Ononye, being one of Alesha's dancers, the songstress felt the time was not right for eldest daughter.

She told the publication: 'Until the day I feel like she's emotionally intelligent enough to handle anything that comes with the industry, the answer will be no, you will not do that.'

Alesha Dixon has revealed she refused her daughter's wish to dance alongside her during her Britain's Got Talent performance on Friday

The show judge, 45, insisted that she will protect her children- Azura, 10, and Anaya, four- from the industry until they are 'emotionally intelligent enough' (Pictured November 2022)

Alesha revealed her mindset towards the pressures of being in the public eye and admitted that she can't 'control people's perceptions' but she can do her best at being a mother, performers and businesswoman.

'I can't control what other people's perceptions are', she added.

'My feeling on it is that I can be a mother, make music, work on television, be a businesswoman. I can write the rules for myself.'

Azura's desire to join her parents on stage is not unheard of as celebrities often allow their children to reep the benefits of their fame and give them a boost in their own careers.

Other celebrity children including Beyonce's Blue Ivy and Kanye West's North, have already made a name for themselves in the industry as they have thrust into the limelight during their live performances with mum and dad.

Blue has accomplished feats since first performance with her mother on The Renaissance World Tour.

Her popularity and fan base has sky-rocketed since her initially shy dancing performance transformed into a explosion of passion as she joined her mother's backup dancers for a stint in her nightly gigs across the globe.

When Beyonce started her UK tour in May 2023, she sent the crowd wild when her eldest child Blue appeared on stage in London.

Alesha admitted that she is striving to set an example to her two daughters and told Azura that she could not perform with her parents during the live show. Azura's father Azuka Ononye was one of Alesha's dancers for the exclusive performance (pictured April 2020)

Alesha revealed her mindset towards the pressures of being in the public eye and admitted that she can't 'control people's perceptions' but she can do her best at being a mother, performers and businesswoman

Azura's desire to join her parents on stage is not unheard of as celebrities across the industry have allowed their children to reep the benefits of their fame and give them a boost into their own careers

The Crazy In Love hitmaker, 42, was seen dancing and singing alongside Blue Ivy, 12, at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium.

Her husband and Blue's father Jay-Z proudly watched from the audience.

Beyonce looked every inch the proud mother as she watched Blue perform to Kendrick Lamar's track Alright.

Beyonce has been open about being a 'proud' mother as she previosuly shared a special Instagram tribute to her daughter, Blue Ivy, after performing live on stage during the Renaissance tour stop in Paris.

She sang two songs My Power and Black Parade while Blue joined other professional dancers to perform choreography.

The songstress, who shares Blue along with twins Rumi and Sir, five, with husband Jay-Z, uploaded both photos and clips onto the post to commemorate the special night.

Other celebrity children including Beyonce's Blue Ivy and Kanye West's North, have already made a name for themselves in the industry as they have thrust into the limelight during their live performances with mum and dad

Blue Ivy has accomplished feats since first performance with her mother on The Renaissance World Tour

Her popularity and fan base has sky-rocketed since her initially shy dancing performance transformed into a explosion of passion as she joined her mother's backup dancers for a stint in her nightly gigs across the globe

Beyonce has been open about being a 'proud' mother as she previosuly shared a special Instagram tribute to her daughter, Blue Ivy, after performing live on stage during the Renaissance tour stop in Paris.

She sang two songs My Power and Black Parade while Blue joined other professional dancers to perform choreography.

The songstress, who shares Blue along with twins Rumi and Sir, five, with husband Jay-Z, uploaded both photos and clips onto the post to commemorate the special night.

In the caption, the mother of three sweetly penned, 'My beautiful first born. I'm so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel.'

The first snap showed Blue standing towards the front of the stage with her mother directly behind her. She wore a silver, glittering bodysuit along with metallic, baggy trousers, which was similar to Beyonce's stage ensemble.

The Grammy winner then uploaded a short, slow motion clip that showed her eldest child leading other dancers as they began to dance to choreography.

Beyonce could be seen standing on a vehicle in the background while singing a few tracks to the excited audience.

Fans of the child star's performance has consumed the internet in recent months as users cannot stop praising Blue for her dramatic development over a matter of months.

And it is not just Blue Ivy who has been turning heads.

Kanye West's and Kim Kardashian's eldest daughter North West has also been thrust into the spotlight with the help her parent's glitzy careers.

The aspiring child influencer, 10, has recently joined her father in his latest music video and has joined him many times on stage to rap alongside Kanye.

North showed off her rapping skills as she made a surprise cameo in her father's new music video for Talking off his upcoming Vultures album.

She exuded confidence as she joined Kanye, 46, in the video for his song off the controversial Vultures album, which was released on February 9.

In the video, she sings: 'It's your bestie. Miss, Miss Westie. Don't try to test me. It's gonna get messy. It's gonna get messy. Just just bless me! Bless me!'

North is dressed all in black just like her famous father for the new video, which is a collab with rapper Ty Dolla Sign.

And it is not just Blue Ivy who has been turning heads. Kanye West's and Kim Kardashian's eldest daughter North West has also been thrust into the spotlight with the help her parent's glitzy careers

The aspiring child influencer, 10, has recently joined her father in his latest music video and has joined him many times on stage to rap alongside Kanye

The Gold Digger rapper first shared the video on Instagram and revealed that it was directed by Damiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo (aka the D'Innocenzo Brothers).

The song is off Vultures, the first album in a planned three-volume collection.

But just aged 10 North has suffered a lot of backlash from the public for her public performances as she was critised her recent rendition of Simba in The Lion King.

North had performed I Just Can't Wait to be King during Disney's live concert production of The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday and Saturday.

North made her acting debut when she took to the stage at The Hollywood Bowl with her famous parents proudly watching on from the audience.

After belting out lyrics at the crowded venue, she received a standing ovation from the audience.

However, some social media users on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared their thoughts on Kim and Kanye's daughter snagging a coveted role in the musical concert.

One noted: 'Nepotism is literally the best thing to be born with,' while another added, 'The worst case of nepo I have witnessed.'

'Nepotism and the synonym next to it is KARDASHIANS,' followed by laughing face emojis.

'Nepotism is so crazy lol,'

'Someone else's more talented, probably voice and dance trained kid didn't get it because his/her family isn't famous enough.'

'She looks great and it seems like she's having a lot of fun, but I'm definitely not gonna bypass the fact that we all know she wouldn't be there if it wasn't who her parents were. This is classism at its finest!'

Another chimed: 'Aw man...I feel bad for the kids there that are actually talented who could've nailed this.

'I'm sure her mom's influence (or money) is the only reason she got this leading/singing role.'

But just aged 10 North has suffered a lot of backlash from the public for her public performances as she was critised her recent rendition of Simba in The Lion King

Some naysayers said that the 10-year-old only got the gig because she's the daughter of Kim Kardashian (pictured) and Kanye West

One also shared, 'I don't like that fact that she got this solely based on her mom or dad.

'There's a kid out there with real talent that should've been given this opportunity. And no I'm not a hater I actually like the 'Kardashians.''

It's unclear if North went through a standard audition process. DailyMail.com reached out to a Kardashian spokesperson for comment at the time.
Jess White is among the latest crop of singletons to join Love Island's line-up for the new series, which is just days away from airing.

The bombshell, 25, is a retail manager from Stockport and has already been living a lavish lifestyle prior to stepping into the limelight.

Jess' Instagram - @jessamywhite - is filled with snaps of her incredibly luxurious trips as the budding reality star maes the most of her time jet-setting across the world.

Touching down in some of the most stunning tropical locations around the globe, she is seen soaking the sun mostly in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and more.

The reality star is not shy to flaunt her toned physique, sizzling in stylish skimpy bikini sets, designer accessories, and countless glam party outfits.

Jess White is among the latest crop of singletons to join Love Island's line-up for the new series, which is just days away from airing (pictured in Thailand)

The bombshell, 25, is a retail manager from Stockport and has already been living a lavish lifestyle prior to stepping into the limelight (pictured in Vietnam)

And it certainly seems travelling around in some of the most incredible exotic islands is what makes Jess happy.

In one of her posts, she enjoyed feeding water to the local pigs while in the famous Koh Madsum, also known as the Pigs Island, in the gulf of Thailand.

'Quite literally happy as pig in shit,' she penned ironically.

The beauty grinned from ear to ear petting the animals by the beach.

Her most recent New Year celebration was spent in Thailand, as she told followers she has passed time snorkelling in the incredible waters.

Jess has been enjoying a lavish stay at Sea Love Beach Bar & Bungalows, located in the beautiful island of Ko Pha Ngan.

But it seems the brunette bombshell is not just about chill and relaxation, and enjoys embarking on various adventures while on holiday.

Touching down on some of the most stunning tropical locations around the globe, she is seen soaking the sun mostly in Thailand , Indonesia, Vietnam, and more (pictured in Bali)

Jess appears to be a self-confessed fanatic of white beaches and crystalline waters, looking the most relaxed and carefree as she swims without a care in the world

When in Phuket, the star said to have finally 'ticket' one of the main things on her 'bucket list' - as she shared pictures with an elephant while at the famous Green Elephant Sanctuary Park Phuket in Thailand

In one of her carousel posts, she enjoys feeding water to the local pigs while in the famous Koh Madsum, also known as the Pigs Island, in the gulf of Thailand

When in Phuket, the star said to have finally 'ticket' one of the main things on her 'bucket list' - as she shared pictures with an elephant.

Accompanied by a female pal, Jess is captured cleaning the animal's trunk while at the famous Green Elephant Sanctuary Park Phuket.

And of course, she didn't miss a trip at the renowned Phi Beach, where she is seen displaying her eye-popping curves as she posed sitting on the boat, adding a slew of incredible views of the location.

Her endless jet-setting lifestyle brought her to Ubud, Indonesia, where she is captured relaxing by a swanky infinity pool, and flashed a glimpse of her pert bottom in a tiny brown bikini.

While by the day she is busy exploring, snorkelling, and getting a tan - at night she makes the most out of the party life.

One jaw-dropping shot captured her at the Finns Beach Club - one of the most exclusive clubs in Bali, Indonesia, which is said to be all about 'all-day parties, sunset drinks, and the best day out', where a champagne can cost up to a staggering 700.

Continuing her exploration of Asia, Jess also shared bits from her getaway in Vietnam.

Posing in a swanky location, she looked incredible in a nude halter-neck dress, posing with a drink in her hand as she beamed graciously.

Even when far away from white sands and sunny days, she has been posting plenty of throwback shots, admitting she is the 'happiest' when in the sun and describes herself as a travel junkie.

Speaking about her upcoming debut in the villa, Jess said she is ready for love because she wants to enjoy all of the couple activities her friendship group does.

She explained: 'All my friends are in relationships, settled down with babies and Im going to end up that aunt that rocks up at family parties and they say "she's still not met someone, shes still going to Ibiza having a midlife crisis." I just want to meet somebody and to be able to do all of that stuff too.'

But she admitted that she has high standards for herself and that her extrovert personality can intimidate some men.

She said: 'I think Im single because I dont underestimate the fact that Im hard work. I know what I want and I'm not easily pleased.

'When youre a loud, outgoing woman, sometimes it can intimidate men - men dont always want that.

'I think that can sometimes put people off me because I am quite loud and you can hear me before you see me. Some men love that though.'

And it certainly seems travelling around in some of the most incredible exotic islands is what makes Jess happy

Jess has been enjoying a lavish stay at Sea Love Beach Bar & Bungalows, located in the beautiful island of Ko Pha Ngan

One jaw-dropping shot captured her at the Finns Beach Club (pictured) - one of the most exclusive clubs in Bali, Indonesia, which is said to be all about 'all-day parties, sunset drinks, and the best day out', where a champagne can cost up to a staggering 700

Speaking about her upcoming debut in the villa, Jess said she is ready for love because she wants to enjoy all of the couple activities her friendship group does

She said: 'I think Im single because I dont underestimate the fact that Im hard work. I know what I want and I'm not easily pleased'

As for what she loves in a man, Jess has a strict type on paper, saying: 'I would say nice teeth, I love a set of white Turkey teeth but a good set of Turkey teeth.

'I would say personality traits, you have to be family orientated. Im so close to my mum and Id like my future partner to be really close with their family too.

'You have to be tall, you cant be shorter than me, I can't be having to question whether I can wear heels around you and what height of heels I can wear. If youre vertically challenged, its not for me.'
Davide Sanclimenti enjoyed a night out with Harriet Wilson after he was accused of having a fling with her while still dating Ekin-Su Culculoglu.

The Love Island winner, 29, and the blonde beauty appeared in good spirtis as they partied at The Broadcaster in White City.

In a video shared to social media, Davide was seen smiling next to Harriet as he sipped on a cocktail.

The blonde was dressed in a sleeveless white shirt while she let her locks fall loose down her shoulders.

Ekin-Su, 29, recently spoke about the real reason for her out of character behaviour in the Celebrity Big Brother house, noting that it was down to how Davide had allegedly treated her.

Davide Sanclimenti enjoyed a night out with Harriet Wilson after he was accused of having a fling with her while still dating Ekin-Su Culculoglu

The Love Island winer and the blonde beauty appeared in good spirtis as they partied at The Broadcaster in White City

David Sanclimenti partied with Harriet Wilson in London on Friday - just days after former flame Ekin-Su (pictured) claimed he had cheated

She insisted the devastating effect of his alleged deceit from her ex-boyfriend prior to their January split, which left her heartbroken.

Ekin-Su skipped the Big Brother final in March after her management felt she was too 'vulnerable' to return in light of her turbulent time on the ITV series and subsequent drama-filled spin-off show appearance.

The Turkish actress claimed she made a mistake by going into the house after being told Davide had cheated on her and seeing possible evidence for herself.

She told The Sun: 'I should never have gone into the Big Brother house. I was angry, hurt, maybe a bit bitter, definitely insecure - Big Brother is not where you go to heal heartache, let me tell you.

'I went into the show thinking that I could rebuild myself after everything that happened with Davide, but I came off worse. My guard was up.

'I blame myself for making a poor choice in my career. People could see that I wasn't myself, and I can understand why they thought I was being fake.'

She added: 'I never wanted to believe the allegations against Davide but people would tell me I was being cheated on all the time. I was so scared of being alone, and I didn't know who the hell Ekin-Su was meant to be without him.'

The former Dancing On Ice contestant, 29, skipped the Big Brother final in March after her management felt she was too 'vulnerable' to return in light of her turbulent time on the ITV series and subsequent drama-filled spin-off show appearance

Cracks appeared in her relationship with Davide (pictured) less than a month after they won Love Island as a couple in the summer of 2022

Cracks appeared in her relationship with Davide less than a month after they won Love Island as a couple in the summer of 2022.

Hunky Davide was seen leaving a party with two blondes in August of that year.

Ekin-Su said she was left in floods of tears after learning of the incident, insisting she did not want to believe Davide would treat her badly.

When she asked him 'how could you do this to me', she claims he simply replied: 'Excuse me?'

While filming their ITV2 show Homecomings, Ekin-Su said she saw pictures of Davide with females on his phone.
We are in uncharted waters. Donald Trump is a convicted felon. The whole thing is perverse.

The American brand has been dragged through the mud, sunk to the level of a banana republic where rulers take their political enemies out to the jungle to disappear.

This great nation now stands diminished in the eyes of international investors. And the economic consequences for ordinary Americans could be dire.

No doubt, this sordid trial  brought by partisan Democratic prosecutors in Manhattan  has already done serious damage to America's credibility.

I was in London speaking to investors when Stormy Daniels was testifying on the stand  and all the audience members wanted to know was: 'What on Earth does a porn star's use of condoms have to do with campaign finance law?'

They were right.

The unjust persecution of Trump discredits the United States  and sends an urgent message to powerful business owners everywhere that, in Biden's America, they too could stand trial on purely political grounds.

We are in uncharted waters. Donald Trump is a convicted felon. The whole thing is perverse.

I was in London speaking to investors when Stormy Daniels was testifying on the stand  and all the audience members wanted to know was: 'What on Earth does a porn star's use of condoms have to do with campaign finance law?'

No one truly knows how much this conviction will sway November's presidential election. Surely, if this verdict hampers Trump's chances of winning in 2024, there might be cause for concern. And no one will be watching more closely than wealthy investors.

I, like so many others with sizeable investments, managed just two hours sleep Thursday night. For now I have to seriously consider: Do I move my money?

I certainly think there could be a real drag on investment in New York State  and City.

The trial has wounded New York's once sterling reputation as the safest and most attractive finance capital of the world.

Real estate mogul Grant Cardone has already said he'll never do business in New York City again after the Trump verdict.

He rightly questions why anyone would invest in the city if they can't ensure fair legal treatment.

Why take the risk?

If investors like Cardone  who is worth more than $600 million  turn their backs on one of the country's most famous business hubs, the impact will inevitably have a trickle down effect.

Less investment means fewer jobs, and less prestige in the eyes of the global economy.

Already, high-tax Democrat policies and even higher crime have set New York on a path of decline; now investors will be even further disincentivized.

Indeed, the exodus was already happening.

Real estate mogul Grant Cardone (above, right) has already said he'll never do business in New York City again after the Trump verdict.

No one truly knows how much this conviction will sway November's presidential election. Surely, if this verdict hampers Trump's chances of winning in 2024, there might be cause for concern.

Punishingly steep corporation taxes have pushed construction projects originally planned for upstate New York have moved to places like Oklahoma, Virginia, North Dakota and Montana.

In those business-friendly states, you can get a permit for large projects in a just few weeks. In New York, where there are countless layers of red tape to contend with, it can take years.

High-earners and their families are moving, too  from the likes of New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts to Texas, Florida, Tennessee and other low-tax havens.

Add an untrustworthy justice system into the mix and New York is fast proving itself wholly unattractive for big business.

All said, I do still have faith in America's appeals process. Trump's verdict will no doubt be thrown all the way to the Supreme Court.

And once this travesty is correctly checked and this corrupt prosecution scrutinized, investors will feel less spooked.

The US is still the No.1 economy on Earth. It is still the place where most capital comes to invest. Let's hope that doesn't change.
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Industry experts urge cooperation toward a greener future

15:48, June 01, 2024 By Yu Shuaishuai, Zhou Rui, Yang Youzong ( Xinhua

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)

As global society strives for a greener future, boosting open trade and international cooperation is more important than ever, industry experts said, adding that more Chinese companies are building factories overseas, which will bring more opportunities for the local economy and the global clean energy agenda.

SHANGHAI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Washington's latest protectionist move on Chinese clean energy products has raised concerns about the ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States, experts have said.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said that EU nations should avoid undermining free and fair international trade, as trade wars ultimately result in no winners, only losers.

As global society strives for a greener future, boosting open trade and international cooperation is more important than ever, industry experts said, adding that more Chinese companies are building factories overseas, which will bring more opportunities for the local economy and the global clean energy agenda.

FAIR TRADE

"We want fair trade and fair trade means the best product should win with the best price and having at the end the target for the wealth of the people," said Jorg Mosolf, chairman of the Board &CEO, Mosolf Group, one of the leading system service providers for the automobile industry in Europe.

Mosolf, who has been in the industry for over 30 years, told Xinhua during a recent visit to Shanghai that Chinese electric vehicles are very popular in Europe.

"I don't think that is the question of overcapacity," said Mosolf, adding that demands for electric vehicles are high in Europe and Chinese-made cars prevail because of their good design and performance.

He emphasized that the EV industry is crucial to the EU's clear goal of ultimately achieving zero carbon emissions, adding that "the best technology should win."

People visit the booth of BYD at the 91st Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

"We have an interest that the supply chain will improve and not be broken. Our interest is that we find the best way together, how we can live together in a peaceful manner. That's what we support," said Mosolf.

For Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla, the concept of capacity should be viewed dynamically, taking into account the evolving demand.

"The key is to develop high-quality capacity, not outdated capacity," said Tao in a recent interview with Xinhua. She believes that the market will adjust demand, and both businesses and governments should focus on capacity that can create greater consumer space and demand.

COOPERATION NEEDED

In an era where the world is striving to transition toward sustainable energy solutions, industry experts emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach to innovation and economic growth.

Xu Daquan, president of Bosch China, noted that the automotive industry is highly internationalized and cooperation between Chinese and foreign entities is inevitable.

"The automotive industry cannot be decoupled," Xu told Xinhua in Shanghai, stressing openness for the entire industry's benefit.

"Many of the automotive-grade chips used in Chinese-made vehicles actually come from outside China, while at the same time, Chinese-made vehicles are sold all over the world, including significant exports of automotive components," said Xu.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he opposed U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. "Tesla competes quite well in the Chinese market, with no tariffs and no deferential support. In general, I am in favor of no tariffs," he said last week when answering audience questions via video link during VivaTech, an annual technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups in Paris.

"Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good," Musk said.

Employees work at Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory in east China's Shanghai, Dec. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Farrukh Khakimov, head of the department on foreign policy and security at the Development Strategy Center in Uzbekistan, highlighted the benefits of international cooperation, particularly through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, which enhance infrastructure and promote sustainable development.

"Uzbekistan is highly interested in studying China's experience in the green economy and innovative digital economy," Khakimov said on the sidelines of a recent think tank forum in Shanghai.

GROW TOGETHER

Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, said in April that China is likely to be a leading market for hydrogen for the time being, and Bosch is happy to do business with both international and local car manufacturers in China.

"Bosch Group is very confident in China's automotive mobility market," said Xu, adding that the rapidly developing EV market in China promises future growth and opportunities.

As Chinese car companies gradually establish global production and manufacturing layouts, Bosch hopes to leverage its global presence to support Chinese brands in going global and to assist Chinese car companies in achieving localized production, Xu added.

This year, Chinese automobile giant BYD launched its overseas plant in Uzbekistan. Khakimov believes that his home country and China have great potential for cooperation in clean energy.

"China is an important strategic market for Mosolf Group. This is not only due to China's role as a major engine of global economic growth, but also because investing in China means that the Mosolf Group has more opportunities to collaborate and co-create with Chinese companies," said Mosolf.

"Through cooperation and learning, we can promote development and maintain global competitiveness," he said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
Joe Walsh Tours has partnered with City of Derry Airport for a second year to offer religious tours to Lourdes for pilgrims across the Northwest this summer. The pilgrimages will follow a full religious programme facilitated in conjunction with the local Diocese, and the full services of Joe Walsh Tours guides and representatives are available throughout.

The Airport welcomed the first group of pilgrims on Monday 27th May from the Diocese of Raphoe in Donegal, together with Group Leaders, Fr. Stephen Gorman, Director, and Brenda Barrett, Secretary of the Diocese. As the first Lourdes passengers of the year, the Airport provided some complimentary hospitality for everyone travelling.

David Walsh of Joe Walsh Tours stated: "Lourdes has been a much-loved destination for Irish pilgrims for many years and we are delighted to partner with City of Derry Airport so pilgrims in the Northwest region can travel to the shrine from their local airport. We would wish all our pilgrims travelling to Lourdes from Derry this Summer a wonderful time at the sanctuary."

Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, commented: We are delighted to partner with Joe Walsh Tours to offer this very special travel experience for the Northwest for a second year.

The team at Joe Walsh Tours are absolute experts in what they do, and we have no doubt that everyone travelling to Lourdes from City of Derry Airport this summer will enjoy a truly unique and memorable trip.

Brenda Morgan MBE, Head of Business Development at City of Derry Airport, added: We are proud to provide those travelling, particularly any elderly passengers, with the convenience of flying local, reduced travel time and cost, and an efficient journey through the Airport. With single level access and less than 15 mins from our carpark to our departure gate, our passengers can really enjoy a relaxing and stress-free start to their spiritual retreat.

The Derry Diocese will travel on Monday 1st July, returning on Friday 5th July, and a classic pilgrimage, available for anyone who would like to travel to Lourdes, will be departing on Friday 5th July and returning on Wednesday 10th July.

Package prices start from 759pp sharing, and include direct return flights and airport taxes, 20kg check-in luggage, airport transfers and assistance between Lourdes Airport and the hotel accommodation provided, and full board accommodation.
Derry city centre was filled with the pulsating rhythms of African drums and the mouthwatering scents of African cuisine last weekend, as people came together to mark Africa Day.

The celebration in St Columbs Hall was organised by the African Caribbean Community Network (ACCN), supported by Apex Housing Association (Apex) through the Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. The event was also supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Derry City and Strabane District Council.

IN PICTURES: Derry hosts celebration of African culture

The free family event took place on Saturday 25 May with around 600 people in attendance, including Mayor of Derry City & Strabane, Cllr Patricia Logue. Families were treated to music and dance, arts and crafts, face-painting, and a taste of authentic African cuisine.

Doreen Murugi, Founder of ACCN, commented: It was a delight to bring people together to mark Africa Day. It was an occasion to highlight diversity and educate the community about our various cultures and traditions, fostering a spirit of unity within the broader community.

Sheena McCallion, Chief Executive of Apex, speaking at the event said: It is my absolute pleasure to be here and to lend our support through the Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. This celebration of African culture in the heart of the city is a feast for the eyes, and I thank and congratulate the African Caribbean Community Network for sharing their rich culture with us at such a vibrant and inclusive event.

The Africa Day event was supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executives Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executives commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.

Apex currently has twelve shared neighbourhoods across Northern Ireland, with five of these attending the Africa Day celebrations  Woodlands Avenue in Culmore, Dunineany View in Ballycastle, Ballynafoy Close in Belfast, Areema Grove in Dunmurry and Sycamore Drive in Dungannon.

21.5m has been invested in these shared neighbourhoods and their associated good relations plans. In each neighbourhood, Apex works in partnership with local advisory group stakeholders and residents to develop and deliver a good relations plan for the area. This plan includes bridging events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include health and wellbeing, arts and culture, education and training.
Louth County Councils Healthy Louth programme has secured 15,000 in funding from the Creative Ireland programme to launch an innovative project Step Into My World.

The initiative was compiled and will be delivered by the Louth Local Development Company SICAP team, facilitating a collaboration with Healthy Louth and Louth County Council Homeless Section.

The aim of the project is to amplify the voices and experiences of vulnerable individuals who have experienced homelessness, life challenges and misplacement. Using a multi-agency approach and combining expertise and resources, all partners are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by homelessness in Louth.

Step Into My World will seek to provide a platform for marginalised voices by engaging individuals living in Direct Provision, women's refuge centres, homeless shelters and addiction recovery services.

Under the guidance of the SICAP team, a series of individual and group sessions will be facilitated by Art Therapists and Growth Mindset Therapists, participants will explore their realities, challenges, and the stigma associated with their situations.

The project will culminate in the creation of individual recorded narratives and a collaborative art piece that will be publicly displayed.

This initiative not only aims to empower participants to tell their own individual story but also seeks to raise awareness and reduce the stigma often associated with homelessness.

It is anticipated that this in turn will increase empathy and understanding of this serious social issue throughout the broader community.

"We are grateful to Creative Ireland for their support of this project," said Paula Keenan, Healthy County Coordinator for Louth County Council.

"With this funding, we can provide a platform for individuals who have experienced homelessness to share their stories authentically, challenge existing perspectives, and advocate for meaningful change in our society."

Maeve Harkin, SICAP Manager of Louth Local Developments SICAP programme said:

We welcome this value adding funding opportunity that will further enable us to collaborate at a grass roots level with local community groups and services to ensure inclusive outcomes for our local communities.

Step Into My World Project Co-ordinator Ina McCrumlish added:

I am really looking forward to implementing the project in collaboration with the target groups. This project was compiled and will be implemented rooted in the belief that vulnerable people need to be heard.

Their story needs to be told in their own words and more importantly listened to. To listen to another is the first step to empower an individual. In the listening, our hope would be that progress can be made.

Adrian McHugh, Senior Staff Officer in Homelessness at Louth County Council added:

The aim of this project Step Into My World is not only to give a voice to the often unseen and unheard members of our community, but also to celebrate their resilience and creativity. This is a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.

For more information about Step Into My World: Empowering Homeless Voices Through Art, please contact Paula Keenan, Healthy County Coordinator at HealthyLouth@louthcoco.ie
Walking the Labyrinth, a 21 minute documentary made by a group of DkIT 4th year Film & TV students on their Major Project module, has been shortlisted as the only Irish entry to compete in the overall Royal Television Society Awards in London on June 21st.

Although all the winning entries from the Republic of Ireland Awards were sent forward to the judging panel in the UK, representing IADT, TUD, Ballyfermot and DKIT, the only Irish film chosen to compete was Walking the Labyrinth, which is now up against other chosen entries from the UK. The winners will be crowned at an awards ceremony held on Friday 21st June at the IET, Savoy Place, hosted by rapper, author and broadcaster Guvna B.

Sinead Rocks, Managing Director, Nations and Regions at Channel 4 and Chair of the RTS Student Television Awards, said: It feels like every year, we are taken aback by the standard of work submitted to the RTS student awards - and this year is no exception. I look forward to celebrating this excellence alongside some of the key figures in our industry at this years awards ceremony in June.

The DkIT students documentary challenges the history of the Irish government while following the story of a woman who was directly impacted by the Irish mother and baby homes and has taken back control over her life.

The documentary tells the story of Susan who is one of the nine thousand babies born and or raised in Bessborough mother and baby homes. She was adopted into a loving family when she was only two weeks old. Susan uses her art to construct an identity for herself given that her other forms of identity have been constructed for her. Labyrinths are tools for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation.

For Susan, the labyrinth symbolises a journey of self-discovery. The adoption system in Ireland is designed to remove all agency from the adopted person. It was designed so Susan would never discover if she had other family members. This is the story of how an abstract methodology such as art shattered that and at the age of 44, Susan discovered she had a brother.

Jessica Doherty, from Dundalk who was the Director of documentary said "I am absolutely thrilled and honoured that our documentary was the only Irish entry for the prestigious Royal Television Society Awards in London. Being recognized on such a significant platform is truly a privilege.

Additionally, recently receiving the inaugural Dearbhla Walsh Award for best major project was an incredible honour. These accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are excited and grateful for these opportunities and look forward to representing Irish talent on the international stage."
Eagle Times Staff

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.  The Central American nation of Costa Rica is better known for its pristine beaches, cloud forests and abundant wildlife than for its contemporary art, but the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) is out to change that. Since 2021, BMAC has offered an annual trip to Costa Rica that introduces travelers to the countrys vibrant arts scene and  at the same time  provides valuable international exposure and connections to some of its leading artists.

Related artwork is on view at BMAC through June 16 in the museums Living Room. There, visitors can take in artwork by Carolina Guillermet, Mauricio Herrero, Rossella Matamoros, Philipp Anaskin, and others, along with examples of Costa Rican folk art, as well as photographs and original artwork by past participants in BMACs annual trips.

The deepening ties between BMAC and Costa Rica reflect the passion of Ken and Eve Klothen, part-time residents of Costa Rica and Guilford, Vermont. A former BMAC board member, Ken conceived of the annual trip, dubbed Art, Craft, and Nature in Costa Rica, after forging relationships with artists and art institutions in the capital city of San Jose and other parts of the country.

Its exciting to be able to meet the artists and talk with them about their inspiration, process and the challenges they face, said Sarah Freeman, BMACs director of exhibitions, who accompanies the travelers each year. Seeing work in the studio and having the opportunity to hear firsthand from the artist and learn about the context of the Costa Rican art world, its a really rare treat.

Its a wonderful experience sharing my artistic work with visitors from Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, and I feel sincere gratitude for the curiosity and sensitivity of the travelers I met, said Guillermet, a painter, fiber artist, and professor at the School of Fine Arts at the University of Costa Rica. We have no other organized groups coming specifically to get to know our contemporary art and artists, so this type of experience reinforces our human ties and brings us closer.

Herrero, a printmaker, runs Casa 49, a San Jose art studio and gallery that supports a community of artists. He has welcomed BMAC visitors since 2022.

Young and emerging Costa Rican artists are introduced to U.S. art lovers and collectors, and in turn, the North Americans see work and meet artists still unknown in the U.S., Herrero said.

Painter, performance artist, and mixed-media creator Rossella Matamoros finds that hosting BMAC visitors and listening to their reactions to her work makes me realize things about myself and my technique that at times, while doing it, I forget, she said. Its very rewarding for me to have that kind of feedback.

The next BMAC trip to Costa Rica will take place Jan. 12-22, 2025. Space is limited to 12 travelers. For more information and to register, visit brattleboromuseum.org.
A 58-year-old prisoner with a long history of carrying out burglaries in Cork has been spending time in custody painting pictures and the sentencing judge in his latest case advised him: Stick to the art in future.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that she had seen other prisoner art recently and found it impressive. She told David Cronin that he would be better off putting his time into that kind of activity.

Cronin, of no fixed address, appeared at Cork District Court by video link from Portlaoise Prison.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the latest offence committed by Cronin. Gardai examined the scene of the crime at a house on Donovans Road, Cork, where there was blood on the smashed pane of glass in a downstairs bathroom window.

The intruder had entered by this window and stolen a bottle of Jameson whiskey and 60 sterling.

A follow-up forensic analysis of the bloodstain on the broken window established a DNA link to the accused man.

Sergeant John Kelleher said David Cronin had 115 previous convictions commencing many years ago and almost half of them were for burglaries.

Cronin was sentenced to five months in prison. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the accused was putting his time in prison to good use and was involved in painting pictures.
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THE highly-anticipated annual Cork Harbour Festival returns today, with a packed festival programme running across 10 days.

With over 80 events from 50 event partners to explore this year, festival organisers Meitheal Mara have said there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Events include a three hour harbour discovery tour with Ocean Escapes on June 9, a wildlife and coastal exploration tour with Cork Sea Safari running across a number of days, and a city otter walk with Cork Nature Network on June 8.

One of the festival highlights every year is the Ocean to City  An Ras Mor which takes place next Saturday, June 8.

This year, almost 500 Irish and international participants will compete in the gruelling race across the harbour.

Participants are travelling from across Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States and will bring some 200 boats to the event.

Established in 2005, Ocean to City has grown from its origin as a race for traditional fixed-seat boats into an all-inclusive rowing and paddling event, embracing everything from traditional wooden working boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs and longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks, canoes and even stand-up paddle boards.

Three of the Weekes' Mobile crew in action on their dragonboat during the Ocean to City race in 2007. Picture: Denis Minihane.

From the outset, it was hoped that the race could become an annual event, as one Echo article in March of that inaugural year reported.

Speaking at the launch of the race last night, Lord Mayor, Cllr Sean Martin called for the race to become an annual event.

There is a great potential to develop this event further. We wish the organisers every success so that we can repeat it," the then Lord Mayor said.

The piece further reported that top Irish rower and Athens Olympian Gearoid Towey from Fermoy also attended the launch, speaking enthusiastically about the event.

I have been to many venues around the world and it has always stuck out in my mind that Cork Harbour is beautiful, big and safe.

It is great to see something like this being brought to Cork Harbour," he said, adding that his first race was in the Marina and his second in Monkstown."

The Blackrock Muchachas crew competing in the Ocean To City race in 2011. Picture Denis Minihane.

As an official Cork 2005 event, that first year saw crewsfrom all over the country and abroad take part - as has been the case in the years that followed.

Modelled on Londons Great River Race, start times are staggered with the slowest boat types leaving first, and the fastest boat types leaving last.

It includes races over four course distances: the 28km Ocean Course, 22km City Course, 13km Monkstown Course and the 4km Youth Course  all finishing to a warm welcome in Cork city centre.

For more information on Cork Harbour Festival see corkharbourfestival.comcorkharbourfestival.com.
A NORTHSIDE councillor has welcomed news that Cork City Council is currently working on a development using modular housing as a method of delivering new homes and he has called for further such schemes.

Mick Nugent, a Sinn Fein councillor for the Cork City North West ward, told The Echo it was very positive news that the council was increasing its use of modular housing as a way of speeding up the supply of housing in the city.

Its something Ive raised previously in council over a number of years, urging the council to look at the possibilities around rapid build and modular housing as part of its housing delivery programme, and I welcome the reply to my question at the April city council meeting, he said.

Mr Nugent had asked the councils chief executive, Ann Doherty, about the number of modular and rapid-build units involved in the councils social housing programme, and whether there were further developments proposed.

In response, Alison ORourke, Cork City Councils director of services for Housing Delivery and Regeneration, said the council was currently progressing two pilot projects through modern methods of construction, for apartment developments which have been particularly designed with a view to enable the use of 3D modular structural systems and elements, or alternatively 2D structural systems.

Ms ORourke said the projects would provide 133 new homes, with 43 located at Westside, Model Farm Road, and 90 at Cloverhill Court, Bessborough Road.

Both projects have received Part 8 planning approval and are at final tender stage, with construction projected to commence in [the second or third quarter] of 2024, with completion in 2025.

The directorate is also currently considering other rapid build, modular housing solutions within the housing delivery programme, and we have identified a possible additional pilot project. This is currently at feasibility stage but is proposed to be progressed as a rapid-build modular project in 2024, she said.

Mr Nugent said it was good that the council was using imaginative ways of looking at addressing the extreme lack of housing in the current crisis.

Obviously the advantage of modular, rapid build is the speedier delivery of housing that can be turned around for those on our social housing list, and I welcome too that another project is to be progressed this year, he said.

In March, in an interview with The Echo, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he would like to see an increased roll-out of modular homes to help address the housing crisis.

I think we have to push harder and harder on the modern methods of construction, as theyre called  getting houses built faster, he said.

A lot of units are now done off site, in terms of either steel frame, timber frame, or whats called modular but essentially theyre houses that can last 60 years so I would like to see a faster roll-out of those in the coming while.
Further reaction from Donald Trump being found guilty of 34 charges and an investigation into land for housing in Dublin is among the main headlines in Saturday's papers.

The Irish Times leads with the former judge Gerard O'Brien, who was sentenced for the sexual abuse of boys and young men in the 1990s when he was a school teacher.

The Irish Examiner leads with an inquest that revealed the driver's Covid-19 symptoms played a factor in the fatal collision which claimed the lives of two people in their 80s.

The Echo leads with events in Cork during the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Irish Independent reveals there is an investigation underway into the rezoning of land in South County Dublin by a Fine Gael politician.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with Donald Trump calling America a fascist state after he was found guilty of 34 charges.

The Irish Daily Mirror also leads with Trump, as their front page is "Deluded, Deranged and Dangerous".

The Irish Daily Star leads with the trial of a man who is accused of assaulting former Ireland midfielder and pundit Roy Keane.

British papers

Coverage of Donald Trumps conviction for 34 felonies in the US continues to dominate the front pages of Saturdays newspapers.

The Daily Mirror, the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, and the Independent all run with pieces on the former US president in the wake of his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case stemming from a payment that silenced porn star, Stormy Daniels.

Financial Times: Trump lashes out at rigged trial

after historic criminal convictions #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6UELXaxmvm  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Daily Telegraph opts for a piece on former British prime minister Boris Johnson and his opinion on Trumps conviction, claiming it was a hit job.

The Daily Telegraph: Johnson - Trump is victim of

a hit job #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/VpACXxJtZA  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Sun splashes with a piece that says King Charles has told his brother, the embattled Andrew, Duke of York, to move out of his 30-room mansion in Windsor Park.

Moving onto British politics, voters are making it loud and clear to the Conservative Party, with polling indicating a change in government may be on the horizon, as per the i.

i Sport: UK voters message to the Tories - its time

for change #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/EDUXdZSeL3  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Times leads on Sir Keir Starmers vow to create wealth with the economy centric to his pitch to British voters.

The Daily Express splashes on a saliva test that searches for markers in patients DNA to determine their genetic risk of developing prostate cancer.

Daily Express: AT-HOME TEST TO TURN TIDE ON PROSTATE CANCER#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Jr3CV7mJj3  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Guardian opts for a piece on the war in Ukraine, with leader Volodymyr Zelensky claiming Russian troops are hunting and laughing at his people.

The Guardian: Zelenskiy: Russian troops are

laughing at and hunting us #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KgcmrZaJsd  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Daily Star leads with a piece on aliens and a claim from King Charles astronomer that most scientists believe there is life out among the stars.
A fire in the Vacaville hills Friday reached the property of the California Medical Facility prison. Alert California/PG&E

Solano County crews on Friday battled a grass fire that spread to buildings on the grounds of the California Medical Facility prison.

The fire had reached 4 acres by about 4:45 p.m. Friday and was burning off Peabody Road in Vacaville, in the hills and on the sprawling prison property, where several buildings away from the main prison structure had burned.

By 5:37 p.m., the fire was declared under control and mop-up was underway. No injuries were reported.

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A video by KCRA showed fire damage to at least one building near the main prison.
A SAT exam scheduled at the downtown Oakland Marriott was canceled after students waited hours Saturday for the test to begin. Christian Leonard/The Chronicle

Hundreds of students who had come to Oakland to take the SAT on Saturday were told  after hours of waiting in the test room  that the exam was canceled due to internet connection problems.

College Board, a nonprofit that runs the SAT, said in a statement that about 1,400 students had come to the Marriott Hotel in downtown Oakland to take the college admission exam. Though the SAT is entirely online, students are required to take it at test sites. But a shortage of those sites throughout California has forced many families to travel long distances to exam sites  if they can find one with open slots.

Lainie Motamedi, the president of the board of the San Francisco Unified School District, said she was excited to snag a last-minute spot for Saturdays SAT for her son, an 11th-grader. They even reserved a room at the Marriott so he could be in the exam room at the tests scheduled start time of 7:45 a.m.

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The problems started immediately, said Greyson Jones, an 11th-grade student from Half Moon Bay. The students tried to access the exam, but the online system showed only a loading message. Test officials checked repeatedly, but said only that they were working on an issue with the Wi-Fi.

When officials finally announced they were canceling the exam, students cheered, Jones said.

We were just so tired, Jones added.

But the students couldnt leave yet. The proctors had collected their phones, and when they realized how long it would take to return them one by one, they placed all the devices on a table so the students could find theirs  a process that took some of them nearly an hour, potentially making the phones vulnerable to theft.

Overall, a pretty horrible experience, Jones said.

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Lainie Motamedi, shown during her swearing-in to the board of the San Francisco Unified School District in 2022, said problems at an SAT test site in Oakland started Saturday shortly after she snagged a last-minute spot for her son, an 11th-grader. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2022

College Board said in a statement that the number of students wanting to take the SAT on the weekend has exceeded capacity due to the lack of high schools and other sites willing to host the exam. The nonprofit added that while it contracted with a vendor to manage test administration at hotels and other locations, it will revisit vendor processes to ensure students do not encounter problems moving forward.

We know this was an incredibly difficult situation for students who worked hard to prepare for the test, College Board added. We deeply apologize to all affected students. They will receive a full refund, and we are working to ensure they are able to retest.

Marriott Hotels did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Eunice Charles, who drove her 11th-grade son from El Sobrante to take the exam, said he doesnt necessarily need to take the SAT, as the University of California and California State University systems dont consider students scores as part of their admission process. Some other colleges have made admission exams optional. But many students in California still want to take it, Charles said.

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They should just open up more sites, she added.

Motamedi, the SFUSD president, said the next SAT date she could find within 100 miles of San Francisco was an October test in Fairfield. But shes reluctant to sign her son up for the slot, because hell already have to deal with college applications in the fall.

Its a lot to balance, she said. Thats why we were trying to get it done in spring.

The tests fill up really, really quick, and it just doesnt seem fair or equitable, Motamedi added. Its just another stressor and unnecessary burden for these kids.
The San Francisco-operated San Bruno jail was the site of a training exercise that released chemicals that sickened nearby schoolchildren. Ten days after the incident, the San Francisco Sheriffs Office has acknowledged that the canisters of tear gas used in the exercise were old. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

The San Francisco Sheriffs Office acknowledged Friday that the canisters of tear gas used in a training exercise that sickened nearby children on May 21 were old, raising questions about health concerns and safety protocols in a facility less than a half a mile from an elementary school.

In a seven-page statement, released 10 days after the ill-fated training session at the San Bruno jail property, sheriffs officials provided the most comprehensive picture of the incident yet, after days of piecemeal information and mounting frustration from parents of Portola Elementary School students.

The report was the first time sheriffs officials noted  though not in detail  the age of the chemicals, after the Chronicle reported Wednesday that some of the tear gas expended may have been manufactured decades ago, brought in by UC Berkeley police officers involved in the training activities.

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The SFSO confirmed with the UC Berkeley Police Department officers that took part in the training that the CS canisters used were old, and did not have expiration dates, the Friday statement said. We are reviewing the training plan submitted and will receive a completed Training Activity Report from the training participants next week.

Parents who spoke to the Chronicle this past week said several children at the school became violently ill in the days after the exposure, with reactions including projectile vomiting, severe rashes and lung inflammation. Several parents also shared these accounts in a Tuesday evening town hall with school and sheriffs officials, which the sheriffs office summarized in its Friday statement.

While its unclear whether these symptoms were tied to the exposure to tear gas, parents said the timing and consistency of the accounts felt too coincidental to be unrelated.

Students at Portola Elementary School in San Bruno fell ill after the release of chemicals used in a nearby training exercise conducted by the San Francisco Sheriffs Office. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists potential symptoms of exposure to riot control agents, including burning or irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, chest tightness, skin rashes, and nausea or vomiting. The agencys website describes all of these as immediate symptoms, but does not note whether they may also arise days later.

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Experts say research is scarce on how children react to riot control agents and that its unclear how chemical weapons change over time because the full set of ingredients for them are known only by the manufacturers.

The parents also said they felt abandoned by school and sheriffs office officials in the days after the incident and were left to navigate complex questions of health and chemistry largely on their own. Until this past week, parents said officials never asked follow-up questions about their childrens health, and families had to advocate for basic actions including decontaminating Portola Elementarys outdoor surfaces before the school took action.

In a statement to the Chronicle, San Bruno Park School District officials said they were deeply disturbed by the recent gas testing event at the SF county jail located at 1 Moreland Drive in San Bruno.

At the time of the incident, nearly 30 students reported significant symptoms such as coughing, watery eyes, wheezing and trouble breathing. More students developed symptoms once at home including vomiting and rashes, the statement said. 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 dispersed into the air that day. 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.

In response to parents concerns raised at the town hall, San Bruno Park School District Superintendent Matthew Duffy said he will send out a survey for them to record their childrens symptoms. Duffy added that school officials will formally ask that the sheriffs office permanently discontinue training involving chemical agents at the San Bruno jail site.

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Parents at the town hall were additionally troubled when they learned that the sheriffs office conducts chemical weapons training exercises several times a year at the facility.

Sheriffs officials said they have temporarily halted similar training exercises and will continue to update the public as their investigation continues.

A training exercise conducted by the San Francisco Sheriff's Office at the San Bruno jail property released chemicals that sickened nearby schoolchildren. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

The report additionally included health information and the characteristics of one of the two types of gas used in the exercise, CS (2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile), a summary of the training exercises and the days weather conditions, and aerial photos showing the training facility and the school.

Officials said that while OC gas, or pepper spray, was also expended at the training, it is believed that the children were exposed only to CS gas, based on how far CS gas can travel.

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Both CS and OC gas are commonly used by law enforcement agencies as a nonlethal means to subdue violent suspects or control crowds at riots.

According to the sheriffs office statement, CS gas is an aerosol of a solvent (a substance that dissolves other active substances and that easily evaporates) and 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, which is a solid compound at room temperature.

We want to assure San Bruno residents that we are committed to thoroughly reviewing our training protocols to prevent any future incidents that could compromise the well-being of our community members, especially our children, the Friday statement said.

The incident is being investigated by multiple agencies, including the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and San Mateo County Environmental Health Services Certified Uniform Program Agency  Hazardous Materials. The latter, sheriffs officials said, will be sending a notice of violation and additional records requests.

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Kenneth Mattson at a city council meeting in January 2019. The Sonoma County developer is dismissing fraud accusations from his business partner as an attempt to discredit my hard work. Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune 2019

An embattled Sonoma County developer accused by his business partner of bilking their clients responded Friday, saying he was the victim of inaccurate claims which were an attempt to discredit my hard work.

I stand with our investors and business partners to assure these investments remain in good standing, Kenneth Mattson said in a statement sent by his attorney, his first since the accusations emerged. He added that operations of LeFever Mattson Property Management, the company he ran with Tim LeFever, were conducted with integrity and were managed with the intent to enhance the value of the portfolios for investors.

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Mattson has bought a small real estate empire in Sonoma County over the past decade, much of it with LeFever. The purchases have caught the attention of residents in a city of about 10,000, particularly after LeFever accused Mattson of fraud earlier this month and the FBI raided Mattsons home outside Sonoma last week. County records indicate Mattson is delinquent on property taxes on a number of the buildings he owns and that he has sold some of them recently.

Investors who spoke to the Chronicle said theyve been unable to reach Mattson and are concerned about their money  particularly after some stopped receiving monthly payments.

The partners have amassed a real estate portfolio in and around the city of Sonoma with an assessed value of at least $146 million, according to a Chronicle review of public records, as well as significant holdings in other parts of California.

Among the Somona purchases are well-known properties such as the Sonoma Cheese Factory and the historic Generals Daughter event venue. Many were single-family homes.

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To fund these purchases at least in part, LeFever Mattson recruited investors from Sonoma as well as other areas to buy into limited partnerships set up with real estate holdings. Investors said Mattson personally recruited them by promising years of strong returns from owning properties in and around a historic town where pioneers planted Californias first vineyards. Many invested their retirement savings or cashed out their mortgages.

According to LeFever, a large number of Mattsons sales of interests in one of the partnerships, and possibly others, were what we believe are improper transactions.

In a letter to investors in the partnership, known as Divi Divi Tree LP, LeFever described a secretive scheme by Mr. Mattson to allegedly deposit in his own accounts money he had solicited from investors, rather than investing it in the partnership as he had purportedly told them he would. Among other allegations, he accused Mattson of selling interests he was not authorized to sell, selling interests that exceeded the partnerships total value and other financial misconduct.

He said Mattson had resigned as CEO of LeFever Mattson, and that the company had alerted federal authorities.

On Friday, Mattson said client investments were and continue to be my utmost concern. He sought to blame LeFever for stopping regular monetary distributions to Divi Divi investors.

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This is his decision, not mine, he said, in the statement, which at times addressed investors directly. I dispute Tims assertion that the purchase and sales agreements should not be honored, and I am fully supportive of protecting your interests.

The Chronicle spoke Friday night to Mattsons civil attorney, Micheline Nadeau Fairbank, who specializes in business litigation. She said she could not respond to the specific allegations but said any transactions Mattson made were in his capacity as a representative of LeFever Mattson.

To many in Sonoma, Mattson and LeFevers plans over the past several years were a mystery. They were pumping millions of dollars into the area, but they substantially overpaid for some properties. Opposition grew over fears that Mattson and LeFever were trying to use their growing empire to impose their conservative political views on the community.

Residents complained that LeFever Mattson properties were allowed to fall into disrepair. They watched as vacation rentals near the town square appeared to sit vacant. And employees at businesses they had purchased spoke out about problems they saw.
The Liberty ship Jeremiah OBrien steams beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on Sept. 23, 1994, after returning from a five-month, 22,000-mile voyage that took the historic ship to Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Eric Risberg/Associated Press The Liberty ship Jeremiah OBrien is seen on Pier 35 as it is being prepared to be towed by tugboats back to its berth at Pier 45 following the May 2020 four-alarm fire that destroyed an adjacent warehouse. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle The World War II Liberty ship Jeremiah OBrien arrives at Portsmouth England, on May 23, 1994, after a 33-day voyage from San Francisco to join in celebrations of the 50th anniversary of D-Day. The ship, built in June 1943, made 11 crossings ferrying cargo and troops to the Normandy beachheads Omaha and Utah. Alistair Grant/Associated Press The Liberty ship Jeremiah OBrien leaves San Francisco for its 50th anniversary D-Day trip to Normandy in 1994. Russell Yip/The Chronicle The Liberty ship Jeremiah OBrien sits in dry dock on March 15, 1994, during preparations for its trip to France for a 50th anniversary D-Day commemoration. Brant Ward/The Chronicle

This coming Thursday is the 80th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944, when thousands of troops landed on the French beaches in Normandy, a turning point of World War II.

The invasion was supported by a huge armada of ships  perhaps the largest ever assembled. There were mighty battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, troopships, cargo vessels. The invasion was the most complex and daring military operation in the history of modern warfare, historian Carlo DEste wrote.

Aside from the memories of the few remaining veterans of Normandy, the only surviving physical artifact of the invasion in this country is the Liberty ship Jeremiah OBrien, docked at Pier 35 on the San Francisco waterfront. The OBrien carried troops, ammunition and supplies on 11 voyages between English ports and the Normandy beaches. The OBrien and hundreds of other ships were able to bring the power of the United States and the allies to bear, and once that happened the Germans were doomed.

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The OBrien is the only oceangoing ship left from that armada. And to cap the story off, the Jeremiah OBrien returned to the beaches in 1994 on the 50th anniversary of D-Day on a round-trip 22,000-mile voyage that took five months. It was a San Francisco story that is still going on. The OBrien remains an operating memorial ship, open every day.

The ships story begins in a quiet backwater of San Francisco Bay where a federal Maritime Administration officer, a retired rear admiral named Thomas Patterson, discovered a rusty veteran ship from World War II, a Liberty ship named after a war hero named Jeremiah OBrien. The ship had participated in World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific. It still had a dent in its bow from an encounter with a landing craft that happened in Normandy. It had been laid up, preserved in protective oil and grease, waiting like an old car in some garage. Patterson prowled the ship. He opened a drawer in the chart room and there were charts for the French Coast from the Normandy invasion. It was like the crew had just left, he said later.

The ship had been launched in 1943 in Portland, Maine, one of over 2,700 identical cargo vessels called Liberty ships. This one had been built in only 56 days, a small miracle, even in wartime. Long story short: Patterson rounded up volunteers from the Bay Area waterfront community, and after 400,000 volunteer hours and about $2 million in community donations, the old ship was as good as new.

But Patterson and his associates saw the OBrien as a living memorial, not a museum, and as the years went by convinced themselves they could sail the ship from San Francisco back to Normandy to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

You couldnt do a job like this anywhere but on the San Francisco waterfront, Patterson said.

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A lot of people said it couldnt be done. The ship was old and obsolete. It hadnt gone to sea since 1946. You know what I heard? said Richard Hill, an oiler.  That old rust bucket? Its going to sink. 

Hill, who was 68, signed on anyway and sailed from San Francisco on April 18, 1994, bound for Europe, half a world away. The average age of the crew was close to 70. This is the last big adventure in a guys life, said Ralph Algren, a retired printer who was 72 on the day the ship sailed. He hadnt been to sea for more than 40 years and worked as an oiler in the engine room.

The oldest man aboard was George Jahn, the captain, who was 78. The youngest was Nate Taylor, 19, a cadet from the National Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. I went along myself as a utility deckhand and wrote stories about the voyage for the Chronicle.

Id always dreamed of running off to sea, heading out the Golden Gate and turning left, toward Panama, working at sea in the Atlantic, getting up before dawn and looking out at the horizon for the flash of a lighthouse that meant landfall.

We sailed down the coast of California, then the long coast of Mexico, the lights of Acapulco abeam one night, the Panama Canal at the end of April. I had the run of the ship, working on the deck, dropping down to the engine room on occasion, roaming the navigating bridge at night. On the long Atlantic nights I asked Pete Lyse, the third mate, to teach me how to steer the ship. Theres a trick to it, the old sailors told me. You steer the course the mate gives you, you keep an eye on the gyrocompass, but even on a calm night the ship will point left a bit, so you have to watch it. A little right rudder doesnt hurt. You can feel the movement of the ship in the wheel and the engine as if the old ship were a living thing.

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Id go to the engine room most days just to check it out. The ship has a 2,500-horsepower engine: two boilers, three cylinders, the machinery all out there to watch: big pieces of moving steel. It was hot. No air conditioning; in the tropics the temperature in the engine room was close to 130 degrees. It was absolutely lousy, said Jim Gillis, an engineer who was 73 when he made the trip. Im glad I did it, but I would absolutely not do it again.

The first leg of the voyage was the hardest  7,894 nautical miles from San Francisco to Portsmouth, England, in 32 days. The ship also called at Southampton, Chatham and London, sailing up the Thames, and tying up next to the Tower of London in the heart of the city. The ship was a star wherever it went: So many people came aboard in England  10,000 in one day  they wore the paint off the decks. Bill Clinton, then president of the United States, came aboard and shook hands with every member of the crew. It was the first and last time a president has come aboard an American flag merchant ship.

There were poignant moments: On June 6, when the OBrien sailed along the Normandy coast, members of the crew were surprised to learn that what they thought were fields of white flowers were miles of white crosses marking the graves of Americans who did not live to see the great allied victory. It was a sight to remember.

Another was the huge crowds of French people who lined the river as the OBrien steamed downstream from Rouen, headed back toward home.

William Fairfield, an able seaman who had served in World War II in the Pacific, made the whole trip  five months, 22,000 miles. He remembers being on the wheel when the OBrien stopped by New York on the way home. We sailed down the East River and under the Brooklyn Bridge and past the Statue of Liberty, he said. The Statue of Liberty. Isnt that what its all about?

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When the ship returned in September, a flotilla of vessels came out to meet the OBrien. Someone dropped roses as the old ship passed under the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Benito County sheriffs deputies and San Jose police officers captured a jail escapee, authorities said. Getty Images

A man who escaped San Benito County Jail in Hollister has been captured in a San Jose hotel room, authorities said.

Daniel Lopez Zavala, 38, had hopped a barbed wire fence at the jail early Tuesday after being arraigned in early May on misdemeanor charges of assault and battery, the San Benito County Sheriffs Office reported.

Sheriffs deputies and San Jose police officers, after following a lead to the hotel room, arrested Zavala around 7 p.m. Wednesday along with his girlfriend, Luz Mendoza, 31, of Hollister, authorities said.

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Deputies said they are recommending prosecutors charge Mendoza, who they say helped Zavala during his escape.

Zavala pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of escaping from jail and conspiracy to commit escape, Monterey TV station KSBW reported.

In addition to Mendoza, Katrina Cecena and Jose Perez-Gutierrez face charges for allegedly helping Zavala escape, said KSBW, which added that at least one jail staff member has been placed on leave during the investigation.

Zavala has been charged in the past with violations related to guns, drug possession, drug paraphernalia, child abuse, and resisting or obstructing law enforcement, the sheriffs office said. San Benito County prosecutors have pursued 12 criminal cases against him over the past five years. He was sentenced in four of them, while the others are pending, records show.

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Three people have been arrested in the February stabbing death of Santiago Jacobo, an employee of a Pleasant Hill park whose body was discovered by his wife. Courtesy of Maria Jacobo

Pleasant Hill police arrested three people Friday in connection with a fatal February stabbing.

Santiago Jacobo, 37, of Pittsburg died of stab wounds in Pleasant Hill Park on Feb. 10, police said. He was working a late custodian shift at the park but hadnt returned home, leading his worried wife to check on him there and find him unresponsive in the parking lot, according to police.

On Friday, police booked 31-year-old Pablo Gutierrez-Morales of Concord, 24-year-old Vanessa Vera-Aguilar of Antioch and 25-year-old Jazmin Ruiz of Antioch on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

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The three suspects worked with Jacobo at the Watermark, an assisted living facility in San Ramon. Jacobo had been in a relationship with Vera-Aguilar while Gutierrez-Morales was pursuing a new relationship with her, according to police. Evidence shows the three suspects planned, coordinated and executed the attack on Jacobo when he finished his shift at the park, police said.
Four-fifths of respondents surveyed in the April edition of the World Economic Forums (WEF) Chief Economists Outlook expect the global economy to either strengthen or remain stable this year, a notable increase from the previous survey in January.

This positive shift in the survey, which presents a cautiously optimistic view of the global economy highlighting key geopolitical risks, is due to advancements in technology, artificial intelligence and the green energy transition.

However, 97 per cent of respondents foresee geopolitical tensions contributing to global economic volatility, and 83 per cent believe domestic political issues will also be a key source of instability this year, which will witness elections in several nations.

Four-fifths of respondents in the WEF Chief Economists Outlook's April edition expect the global economy to either strengthen or remain stable in 2024. This positive shift is due to advancements in technology, artificial intelligence and the green energy transition. However, 97 per cent foresee geopolitical tensions contributing to global economic volatility.

Geopolitics, domestic politics, debt levels, climate change and social polarisation are expected to be significant drags on growth.

Nearly all chief economists (97 per cent) predict moderate to strong growth in the United States, up significantly from 59 per cent in January. Economies in South Asia and East Asia are expected to maintain at least moderate growth. Three-fourths of respondents foresee moderate growth in China, with only 4 per cent anticipating strong growth.

The outlook remains pessimistic about Europe, with nearly 70 per cent of economists predicting weak growth for the rest of the year.

Moderate growth is generally expected in other regions, with some improvement noted since the last survey.

Important factors influencing business decisions include the overall health of the global economy, monetary policies, financial market conditions, labour market conditions and political factors.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Responding to Taiwans trade restrictions, China recently decided to stop tariff concessions from June 15 for some Taiwanese products that now enjoy preferential tariff rates stipulated in the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.

These Taiwanese products consisted of 134 tariff items, the commission said in a statement.

Responding to Taiwan's trade restrictions, China will stop tariff concessions from June 15 for Taiwanese products under 134 tariff items that enjoy preferential rates stipulated in the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said. The ECFA aimed at reducing commercial barriers between both sides.

Signed by the two sides in 2010, the ECFA intended to lower commercial barriers between China and Taiwan.

In December 2023, the Commission announced to terminate ECFA tariff rates for some products from Taiwan, as Taiwan's unilateral and discriminatory trade restrictions against China breached the ECFA, a Chinese state-controlled news outlet reported.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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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Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:QPM)(FSE:YXEP)(OTCQB:CJCFF) ("QPM" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Placement"), for an amount of

$185,000. The Placement consists of 3,700,000 units ("Hard Units") of the Corporation at a price of $0.05 per Hard Unit. Each Hard Unit issued is comprised of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant of the Corporation (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant gives the holder thereof the right to purchase one common share during the 36 months following the closing date of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.10.

"We thank our existing and new shareholders for supporting us to fund the further exploration of our lithium and gold projects in the James Bay region as well as the continued social acceptability initiatives at our rare earths project near Kipawa, Quebec. This financing is deliberately small to minimize dilution to our shareholders, while continuing exploration." commented Normand Champigny, CEO of QPM.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Placement will be used for general corporate and working capital purposes and for exploration expenditures on the Corporation's projects located in the Province of Quebec.

The Hard Units are subject to a four-month "hold period" commencing on the closing date pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities and, in Quebec, Regulation

45-102 respecting Resale of Securities, and the certificates or DRS advices representing such securities bear a legend to that effect. The Placement remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

In connection with the Offering, the Corporation paid in respect of certain subscriptions a finders'

fee or commission of $ 1,750 in compliance with section 1.14 of Policy 4.1 as well as Policy 5.1 of the Exchange. In addition, the finders received 35,000 non-transferable compensation warrants, with each such warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.10 per common share of the Company for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Placement.

Flow-through financing

The Corporation also announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,000,000 flow-through units ("FT Units") of the Corporation at a price of $0.088 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit issued is comprised of one flow-through share and one transferable common share purchase warrant of the Corporation (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant gives the holder thereof the right to purchase one common share during the 36 months following the closing date of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.10. The FT Units are issued in the context of a structured flow-through share arrangement.

The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses (as such term is defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada) and its provincial equivalent) which, once renounced, will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditure" (as such term is defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025, and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024. For a Quebec resident subscriber who is an eligible individual under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Qualifying Expenditures will also constitute (i) expenses for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec), and (ii) expenses for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining expenses or oil and gas exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

QPM's updated investor presentation and website can be found on www.qpmcorp.com

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM has a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. The Corporation focuses on advancing its Sakami gold project and its newly discovered, drill-ready Ninaaskuwin lithium showing on the Elmer East project. In addition, the Corporation holds a 68% interest in the Kipawa rare earths project located near Temiscaming, Quebec.

For more information please contact:

Normand Champigny

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 514 979-4746

nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca

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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Statements with respect to final approval of the Exchange and the Corporation's expected work programs in 2024 are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Corporation. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, including but not limited to the risks that market conditions, commodity prices, or other circumstances can affect the Corporation, the ability of the Corporation to raise further financing, as well as other risks with respect to the Corporation described in the Corporation's public disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Corporation disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
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., June 01, 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.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/882948/K1_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/recommended-cash-offer-for-mariadb-plc-by-meridian-bidco-llc-bidco-which-is-an-affiliate-of-k1-investment-management-llc-k1-as-manager-of-k5-private-investors-lp-302161042.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2024) - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed the management information circular (the "Circular") and related materials for its special meeting of Rome shareholders to be held on July 2, 2024 (the "Meeting").

At the Meeting, Rome is seeking shareholder approval of the previously announced plan of arrangement transaction pursuant to which Pathfinder Minerals Plc ("Pathfinder"), a non-arm's length party to the Company, has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Rome (the "Arrangement"). Rome also announces that on May 27, 2024, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") granted an interim order (the "Interim Order") in connection with the Arrangement. The Interim Order authorizes the calling and holding of the Meeting to approve the Arrangement. A copy of the Interim Order is attached to the Circular.

If the Arrangement becomes effective, Rome shareholders (other than dissenting Rome shareholders, if any) will receive 19.54 ordinary shares of Pathfinder for each Rome Share held.

Rome Shareholder Approval and Voting

The Arrangement requires the approval of (i) at least 662/3% of the votes cast by Rome shareholders; and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by disinterested shareholders, as required by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, as further described in the Circular.

The Board of Directors of Rome is recommending that shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 14, 2024 are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting. The Circular provides important information relating to the Arrangement and related matters, voting procedures and how to attend the Meeting. Shareholders are urged to read the Circular carefully and in its entirety. The Circular is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile.

Shareholders who have questions regarding the Arrangement should contact the Company at info@romeresources.com or as indicated in the Circular. Shareholders who require assistance with voting at the Meeting should contact Computershare as set out in the Circular.

Final Court Order and Closing

The application for the final order of the Court (the "Final Order") approving the Arrangement is currently expected to take place on or about July 4, 2024. Subject to obtaining the Final Order, the required approvals from Rome shareholders at the Meeting, acceptance for filing from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), the required approvals from Pathfinder shareholders at a Pathfinder shareholder meeting, and certain other regulatory approvals and conditions to implementing the Arrangement as set out in the arrangement agreement dated May 7, 2024 between Rome, Pathfinder and and its wholly-owned subsidiary 1475033 B.C. Ltd., as amended, the Arrangement is expected to be completed in July 2024.

Delisting

Following the completion of the Arrangement, it is expected that the Rome common shares will be delisted from the TSXV and from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Former Rome shareholders who have received consideration under the Arrangement, will hold ordinary shares in the capital of Pathfinder, which is quoted on AIM.

About Rome Resources

Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements and a binding term sheet where it has acquired 51% indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project". Rome has completed an initial phase of drilling on the project where it is responsible to fund exploration up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Contacts

Investors / Shareholders

Mark Gasson

President, CEO & Director

P: +33640612921

Media

E: info@romeresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements 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.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211349

SOURCE: Rome Resources Ltd.
Regulatory News:

Clariane (Paris:CLARI) (CLARIA.PA ISIN FR0010386334), Europe's leading community for care in times of vulnerability (the "Company"), announces that an amendment (the "Amendment") to the 2023 Universal Registration Document (the "2023 Universal Registration Document") was filed on 31 May 2024 with the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF") under number D. 24-0380-A01.

The Amendment updates a number of items in the 2023 Universal Registration Document, including:

the information relating to 2023 highlights the Company's European footprint, financing and real estate strategy, contained in Chapter 1 "Clariane, Europe's leading group serving the needs of the most vulnerable" of the 2023 Universal Registration Document,

the information relating to risk factors, (including risks relating to care and support, property development and construction, execution of the asset disposal plan, regulatory, currency, liquidity and financial covenant breach risks) set out in Chapter 2 "Risk Factors" of the 2023 Universal Registration Document,

the information relating to regulated agreements, changes in corporate governance and the remuneration policy for corporate officers, contained in Chapter 4 "Corporate governance" of the 2023 Universal Registration Document,

the information relating to the indicators for steering and measuring financial performance, the simplified consolidated income statement, the financial statements at 31 December 2023, the simplified cash flow statement, sales for the first quarter of 2024, the financial forecasts for the financial year 2024, the outlook for 2023-2026 and legal proceedings and arbitrations, which is set out in Chapter 5 "Activities and analysis of performance" of the 2023 Universal Registration Document,

the information relating to the financial delegations and authorisations proposed to the General Meeting of 10 June 2024, changes in the shareholder base and the dividend distribution policy contained in Chapter 7 "Information on the Company, the share capital and the shareholder base" of the 2023 Universal Registration Document

On 21 May 2024, the Company presented its strategic plan and outlook for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026.

The Amendment also makes a correction with regard to the Company's listing compartment indicated in Chapter 7 "Information on the Company, its capital and shareholders".

In response to the public health challenges posed by an ageing population and an increase in chronic illnesses, Clariane has developed a range of diversified and complementary forms of support and care in its various regions, organised around the following three segments:

Long-Term Care;

Specialty Care;

Community Care.

As part of its "At your side" corporate project, Clariane is promoting the development of personalised care solutions, grounded in local ecosystems and in the needs of vulnerable people and their carers.

It is developing a common skills base to all its activities, including the use of rigorous medical expertise, consistent quality standards, a policy of skills development and promotion through training leading to qualifications, and the gradual digitalisation of key processes.

In line with its decision to become a purpose-driven company with high levels of accountability, the company's governance includes its stakeholders building trust and regularly measures its non-financial performance.

Following the tightening of credit conditions and sectoral turbulence, Clariane launched a plan on 14 November to strengthen its financial structure (the "Strengthening Plan") (see section 1.2 "Update on the plan to strengthen the Company's financial structure" of the Amendment).

Confirming its objectives for 2024, and building on the progress made with the plan to strengthen its financial structure, the Group announced its main objectives for the period 2023-2026 (see section 5.5 "Outlook 2023 2026" of this "Amendment):

An organic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) objective in revenue of around +5%, driven in particular by a gradual and steady increase in occupancy rates and activity levels in Specialized Care, especially in outpatient care, and by the ongoing catch-up of tariffs, particularly in Germany. The growth objective reflects the projected contributions of the different geographies: France: CAGR 2023-2026 5%, based in particular on an occupancy rate in nursing homes that gradually rises to 93% in 2028, Germany: CAGR 2023-2026 c. 7%, pro forma for the 10% of sites that the Group wishes to cease operating, Belgium Netherlands: CAGR 2023-2026 8%, based in particular on the growth of the network in the Netherlands, with the number of facilities in operation rising from 52 to 90, and an occupancy rate in nursing homes in Belgium that gradually rises to 97% by 2027, Italy: CAGR 2023-2026 2% to 3%, based in particular on an occupancy rate in nursing homes that gradually rises to 98% by 2028, Spain: CAGR 2023-2026 15%, 75% of which will be generated by service contracts.



Across the different geographies, and based on the contributions reflected above, the business segments are expected to evolve as follows:

Long term care: 3% to 5% annual organic growth,

Specialty care: 4% to 6% annual organic growth,

Community Care: 10% annual organic growth.

an improvement objective of 100 to 150 basis points in its pre-IFRS16 EBITDA margin at 31 December 2026 compared with 12.2% at 31 December 2023, driven mainly by revenue growth, notably through occupancy rates and the development of outpatient services, as well as by targeted improvement measures relating to its central cost structure, rent and energy costs and, finally, an improvement in performance in Germany;

a financial leverage objective of less than 3.0x at 31 December 2025 and an LTV of 55% for real estate debt at the same date, reflecting the Strenghtening Plan but also investment discipline with limited levels of investment: around 100 million a year for building maintenance and around 200 million in total for development investment including real estate and an EBITDA to free cash flow conversion rate of around 40% from 2024. In this context, the level of net financial debt1 in 2026, excluding IFRS 16 debt, should be brought down to around 2.7 to 3 billion, with expected real estate debt of around 1.4 billion, giving an LTV of around 55% (assuming a capitalisation rate of 6.7%) and non-real estate debt of around 1.3 to 1.6 billion.

At the same time, the Group has set the following ESG targets for 2026:

7,000 employees enrolled in a qualifying path through the Clariane University

NPS maintained above 40

Lost-time injury frequency rate down to 29

Implementing the SBTi commitments on the carbon trajectory

The Company points out that the documentation for the syndicated loan of 505 million renewed on 25 July 2023 prohibits the distribution of dividends as long as the leverage ratio remains above 3.5x and limits it to 40% of net income in all cases. Against this background, no dividend will be paid in 2024 in respect of the 2023 financial year, as leverage stood at 3.8x at 31 December 2023. The Company's objective is to achieve a leverage ratio of significantly less than 3x by the end of 2025. No dividend policy has been adopted for 2024, apart from the constraints imposed by the syndicated loan.

Upcoming events:



10 June 2024 Annual General Meeting



5 August 2024 Sales and results for the 1er half-year 2024



23 October 2024 Sales for the 3eme quarter 2024



General information

The French version of the 2023 Universal Registration Document and the Amendment are available on Clariane's website (www.clariane.com Investor Relations) and on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). An English version of the 2023 Universal Registration Document is available on the Company's website and an English version of the Amendment will be available shortly. Copies of the 2023 Universal Registration Document and the Amendment are also available, free of charge, from the Company's registered office at 21-25, rue Balzac in Paris (8th arrondissement).

Warning

This press release does not constitute, and shall not be deemed to constitute, an offer to the public or an offer to buy or the solicitation of public interest in an offer to the public, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful absent registration or approval under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The distribution of this document may be subject to specific restrictions in certain countries. Persons in possession of this document are required to inform themselves of and to observe any such local restrictions. The shares of Clariane and any rights to subscribe for shares of the Company) have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act, or in a transaction not subject to such requirements

An admission prospectus relating to the reserved capital increase will be submitted to Clariane S.E. for approval by the Autorite des marches financiers prior to the General Meeting of shareholders on 10 June 2024.

A prospectus relating to the capital increase with preferential subscription rights will be submitted by Clariane S.E. to the Autorite des marches financiers for approval prior to the effective launch of this capital increase

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those included or incorporated by reference, concerning the Group's future growth and profitability that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties relate to factors that the Company cannot control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions. The forward-looking statements contained in this document constitute expectations of future events and should be regarded as such. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties described in Chapter 2 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 30 April 2024 under registration number D.24-0380, as amended in Section 3 of the Amendment to the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 31 May 2024 under registration number D. 24-0380-A01, available on the Company's website (www.clariane.com) and that of the AMF (www.amf-france.org). All forward-looking statements included in this document speak only as of the date of this press release. Clariane S.E. undertakes no obligation and assumes no responsibility to update the information contained herein beyond what is required by applicable regulations.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Neither the Company, nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates or advisers accepts any responsibility whatsoever for the reasonableness of assumptions made or opinions stated or the likelihood of the achievement of projections, prospects or returns. Any responsibility or liability for any such information is expressly disclaimed. Nothing in this document is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation of the future. In addition, no statement in this communication is intended to be nor may be construed as a profit forecast. Past performance of the group cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

In this press release, unless otherwise indicated, all changes are expressed on an annual basis (2024/2023), and at constant scope and exchange rates. The main alternative performance indicators (APIs), such as EBITDA, EBIT, net debt and financial leverage, are defined in the Universal Registration Document 2023, as amended by the Amendment, available on the Company's website (www.clariane.com).

About Clariane

Clariane is the leading European community for care in times of vulnerability. It has operations in six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Relying on their diverse expertise, each year the Group's 60,000 professionals provide services to over 800,000 patients and residents in three main areas of activity: long-term care nursing home (Korian, Seniors Residencias, Berkley, etc.), specialized care facilities and services (Inicea, Ita, Grupo 5, Lebenswert, etc.), and alternative living solutions (Petits-fils, Ages et Vie, etc.).

In June 2023, Clariane became a purpose-driven company and added to its bylaws a new corporate purpose, common to all its activities: "To take care of each person's humanity in times of vulnerability".

Clariane has been listed on Euronext Paris since November 2006, In compartment B

Euronext ticker: CLARI ISIN: FR0010386334

1 Net of the Ages Vie receivable, as described in paragraph 9.2 of the 2023 financial statements, for 74 million euros

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240531264110/en/

Contacts:

Investor contacts

Stephane Bisseuil

Investor Relations Director

+33 (0) 6 58 60 68 69

stephane.bisseuil@clariane.com



Press contacts

Matthieu Desplats

Press Relations Director

06 58 09 01 61

matthieu.desplats@clariane.com



Florian Bachelet

Head of press relations

06 79 86 78 23

florian.bachelet@clariane.com



Julie Mary

Head of press relations

06 59 72 50 69

julie.mary@clariane.com
The news medias quest for a holy grail to replace the advertising revenue that used to be its mainstay has had some success. A new funding emporium is slowly emerging, with fresh money from foundations, sugar-daddies and sugar-mommies, spinoffs and special events, readers now called members, advertisers now called partners, and even state and local governments discovering a sudden fondness for their shriveling hometown press.

And now we have a news organization that makes its money by betting on the fallout from its coverage.

Meet Hunterbrook Media, an investigative business news startup launched in April with a staggering $100 million in funding. It is co-owned with an investment house that tries to profit from the bad news Hunterbrook unearths.

Heres how: Suppose your reporters learn that a company whose shares are traded publicly is doing questionable things. Maybe it makes promises it cant keep, claims income or prospects it doesnt have. Maybe its run by frauds or incompetents or is about to suffer a major reversal. Exposing any of that will probably drive down the companys share price.

So far, this is routine for the prestige business press. Its job is to make sure reputations are deserved and market values are warranted. And its routinely fed by a sturdy industry of research analysts who hunt for stocks that are heading for a fall.

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Thats the world of the short-sellers, who bet on that fall. They borrow shares in companies they believe are overvalued  promising to return them to the lender later on  and sell them. Then, after the stock price falls, the short-seller buys up the shares at the new reduced price, gives them back and pockets the difference.

Shorts have long stoked negative coverage of targeted companies in the business media, which are hungry for the good stories that make for bad press.

Whats new is for the media to wet their own beak, which is precisely what Hunterbrook wants to do. With a scathing story ready to run, it alerts its allied investment house, Hunterbrook Capital, which can take a short position in the targets shares, betting that the story will crater the stock. (Surprisingly, as long as the reporting is based on publicly available information, that doesnt violate insider trading laws.)

Hunterbrook seeks to monetize its journalism in other ways, too. Anticipating its inaugural investigation published in April about the leading U.S. home loan originator United Wholesale Mortgage, Hunterbrook reasoned that the companys doings might be grounds for a class action. So it shared its findings pre-publication with a top litigation firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, and reached out to other law firms about possible securities fraud.

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Hunterbrook argues that this journalism makes money that should be shared with the people who earned it.

There are so many people and organizations that benefit from the work of good media, who are capturing a lot of financial value from it, except for the people in the organizations who are actually doing it, said co-founder Nathaniel Horwitz, among a constellation of blue-chip financial and editorial people associated with Hunterbrook. I think theres an opportunity to reinvest that value in the people who are actually doing the work.

Well, putting cash in the reporters tip jar seems worthwhile. And even if we might prefer taking the traditional, winding road by which the marketplace has incentivized journalism in the commercial era  strong coverage brings more (or richer) readers who bring more advertising money  that route is no longer a robust option.

So has Hunterbrook hit on a legitimate new model for journalism to pay its way, or is there a problem?

Yes, there is a problem. Several of them.

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First, although Hunterbrook applies careful and skillful journalistic technique, it isnt journalism. Thats because journalisms standing as a profession means that its primary duty, regardless of who signs the paycheck, is to its client  the public.

The risk management expert, CIA intelligence analyst, PR adviser, private investigator, financial consultant  all produce incisive reports on contemporary realities, using documents, source interviews, in-person observation. In that regard, theyre just like journalists.

But they arent. They do it to serve their private clients; the journalist does it to advance the state of public knowledge in the vague but evergreen hope of civic betterment.

Hunterbrook has built its editorial strategy around a signature business goal: Tipping off its financial partners so they can invest shrewdly and benefit from preferential access to the information its reporters have turned up. Playing that angle profitably is what defines editorial success. Public illumination, if any, is a side benefit.

Second, if profit-seeking is the point, why stop with shorting overpriced shares? You might just as well invest in competitors that would benefit from the markets revenge, as Hunterbrook did by buying shares in a United Wholesale Mortgage rival. And why not skip the negative news altogether, and go the traditional direction of the lap-dog press by fawning over companies you invested in so their share price will rise?

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While were at it, why limit yourself to financial assets? The local paper that blows the whistle on a toxic landfill  why wouldnt its publishers put their chips behind the companies most likely to profit from the cleanup? Or if good reporting turns up pending zoning changes, why shouldnt they grab tracts that will be upzoned before other would-be investors?

Third, and above all, is the matter of trust. At its most basic, trust in a media organization rests on confidence that its motives are sound, and that it has no ulterior goals that might keep it from acting in the interest of the public it purports to serve. To its credit, Hunterbrook pledges that it wont allow its investment plays to color its reporting. But its editorial vision  its basic judgments about what matters  still rests on a revenue model built on the anticipation of financial gain for privileged insiders.
GUANGZHOU, China, June 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from GDToday:

Organized by the Guangdong Government, the Government of the State of California, Chinese People's for Friendship with Foreign Countries and California China Climate Institute, the first US-China Bay to Bay Dialogue was held in Berkeley, California on May 29 (local time).

More than 200 representatives from both sides attended the Dialogue, including Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR Paul Chan and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Ao leong U.

Governor Wang Weizhong indicated that Guangdong had seized the opportunity of reform and opening up to become the leading economic province in China, with its GDP ranking first for 35 consecutive years. Guangdong will continue to expand high-level opening up by developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, stimulating the three driving forces of reform, opening up, and innovation. Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area are willing to work together with California and the San Francisco Bay Area to strengthen practical cooperation between the bay areas, achieving higher quality and higher levels of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Yang Wanming, President of Chinese People's for Friendship with Foreign Countries, stated that the GBA has accounted for 1/9 national GDP with less than 0.6% national territorial area. He believes that the Dialogue will enhance the collaboration between the two bay areas and realize win-win cooperation.

Zhang Jianmin, Consul General of China in San Francisco, indicated that both two bay areas are the important regions for economy and innovative development in their respective countries, serving as hubs to attract talents, technologies and capital. He emphasized that the cooperation between the two bay areas will inject positive energy to the relationship between China and America.

Gavin Newsome, Governor of State of California, expressed his gratitude to the representatives from the GBA. He believes that the Dialogue will become a platform for both two regions to exchange ideas and pragmatic measures, facilitating future cooperation.

It is reported that the two bay areas will strengthen the cooperation in developing techniques for clean energy and low carbon, especially since Guangdong and California had singed MoUs related to low carbon in 2013 and 2015 and singed another MoU concerning green development in October last year.

"The Greater Bay area is a fascinating part of China and the world," said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. "I think that there is a lot of attention to clean energy, and developing new solutions to climate problems, which is very similar to this area here in California."

She stressed that two regions could start cooperation in zero emission vehicles, land use management, offshore wind and more.

According to Xu Xiaoxia, Director-General of Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, Guangdong and California have reached an agreement in controlling emission of methane, including strengthening R&D in emission control, technical pathways and the establishment of rubust monitoring systems.

This year marks the 10th anniversary for the establishment of Sister Province (State) relationship between Guangdong and California, with 12 pairs of sister cities between the two regions.

"I'm looking to establish a friendship or sister city relationship between San Jose and Shenzhen, because we have so many parallels in the innovation economy," said Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose.

In his opinion, establishing sister city relationship can promote the connection of universities, companies and cultural organizations between the two regions.

Since both Shenzhen and San Jose are the places with developed innovation industries, Mayor Mahan suggested that both two cities can deepen the cooperation of artificial intelligence, by combining the advantages of both sides and reaching sustainability goals.

At the Dialogue, both regions have made 5 key announcements, including deepening the cooperation in the fields of green development, climate change, people-to-people exchange and trade and investment.

Rodney Fong, President & CEO at San Francisco Chamber of Commerce indicated that cooperation starts with people-to-people exchange. He hopes this event can guide the two regions to achieve common goals.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2426984/Video.mp4

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thrive-with-gba--the-bay-to-bay-dialogue-held-to-deepen-mutual-understanding-between-china-and-us-302161150.html
Recently, the Chamkila director spoke about Ranbir Kapoors antics whenever he interacted with his fans and bombarded them with boring questions read more

Ranbir Kapoor and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali worked together in Rockstar and Tamasha, which are considered to be modern cult classics among the cinegoers.

Recently, the Chamkila director spoke about RKs antics whenever he interacted with his fans and bombarded them with boring questions.

Ab dekhiye kaise Ranbir Kapoor interested hota hai kisi mein bhi. Kab uske fans aake usse milte hai, unse zyada toh usko interest hota hai ke bhai aap kaha se aaye ho? Aapne bus pakdi thi? Subah kya khaya tha? Iss tarah ke boring sawal bhi woh puchne lagta hai. Toh interest itna zyada hota hai logo mein (Now see how Ranbir Kapoor gets interested in anyone. When his fans come to meet him, hes more interested in asking, Where are you from? Did you catch a bus? What did you eat for breakfast? He starts asking such boring questions), revealed Imtiaz while talking on the The Ranveer Allahbadia Show.

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The filmmaker also spoke about what takes to be a good actor giving Ranbir as an example. Empathy is one of the inherent qualities They dont have to be kind, but some people possess the ability to look at a person and immediately understand what theyre feeling. But acting isnt merely understanding emotions, its also expressing them, said Ali.

In one of the earlier interviews with The Indian Express, the filmmmaker recalled his first meeting with Ranbir, when the actor was a kid. I saw Ranbir when he was a kid and I was a young man. I was at a restaurant in South Mumbai, where he came with his parents, he had floppily straight hair and was looking very nervous and embarrassed. He later fell down from his chair in the restaurant, further embarrassing himself. He was looking like a typical star kid, wearing formal clothes, revealed the director.
Usual caveats about exit polls aside, much can be gleaned from them. All the pollsters have predicted that the BJP-led NDA will improve its current tally in Parliament. Meanwhile, three have said the BJP will achieve its ambitious 400 paar goal. The exit polls seem to indicate that the Modi magic is stronger than ever and that the Opposition will likely need to undergo a fresh bout of introspection on 4 June read more

Three pollsters have said that it is possible that the BJP-led NDA will get 400 seats in Parliament. Reuters

The exit polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are finally out.

And, the usual caveats about exit polls aside, much can be gleaned from them.

All the pollsters have predicted that the BJP-led NDA, which has 342 seats in Parliament, will expand its current footprint.

Meanwhile, three agencies have said the BJP will achieve its ambitious 400 paar goal.

Pollsters have also uniformly pegged the Opposition INDI alliances tally at well over 100 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha.

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The magic mark in Indias lower House is 272.

But what are the big takeaways from the exit polls?

Lets take a closer look

BJP to come back

This is the big one.

All the pollsters unanimously predicted that the BJP-led NDA, which currently has 342 seats in Parliament, will return to power  with an even bigger presence.

The News18 Mega Exit Poll predicted that the NDA would get between 355 and 370 seats, while the Opposition-led INDIA bloc would win 125 to 140 seats.

The BJP itself is estimated to get 305 to 315 seats.

Meanwhile, the INDI alliance is predicted to net between 125 and 140 seats with the Congress itself getting 62 to 72 seats.

What about 400 paar?

While many in the Opposition scoffed about the BJP-led NDAs 400 par slogan, some agencies said this might be within reach.

Three pollsters  Todays Chanakya, Axis My India and CNX said that the BJP could cross the 400-seat mark.

Todays Chanakya has predicted that the BJP could get as many as 415 seats, while both Axis My India and CNX pegged the BJPs top line number at 401 seats.

This, of course, would be a huge sign of peoples confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a massive blow to the Opposition.

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BJP to make waves in Bengal

Among the eyebrow raising predictions from multiple pollsters is that the BJP is set to become the single-largest party in Bengal.

The News18 Mega Exit poll predicted that the BJP will get between 21 and 24 seats in the state.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress is estimated to net between 18 and 21 seats according to the pollster.

The Jan Ki Baat agency has said the BJP will get between 21 and 26 seats in Bengal.

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Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress is likely to get between 16 and 18 seats.

The D-Dynamics poll puts the BJPs tally in Bengal at 21 and the Trinamool Congress at 19.

Republic Bharat-Matrize poll said the BJP will get between 21 and 25 seats.

It estimated that the Trinamool will net anywhere between 16 and 20 seats.

Foothold in Tamil Nadu and Kerala

The exit polls also seem to point to the BJP-led NDA may find a foothold in Tamil Nadu and Kerala after Prime Minister Narendra Modis southern outreach.

The News18 Mega Exit poll predicted that the NDA would get between 1 and 3 seats in both states.

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The ABP News-C Voter poll gave the NDA the same tally in Kerala, while the D-Dynamics estimated two seats for the NDA.

The India Today-Axis My India agency also gave the NDA between 2 and 3 seats.

The CNX poll predicted the NDA would get from five to seven seats in Tamil Nadu, while the India Today-Axis My India exit poll estimated the coalition would get between two and four seats.

The Jan Ki Baat agency said the alliance would get five seats, while the ABP News-C Voter, India News-D Dynamic, and TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat all had the NDA winning a minimum of one seat.

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Domination in Karnataka

The News18 Mega Exit poll predicted that the NDA would get between 23 and 26 seats in Karnataka.

It estimated that the Congress would get between three and seven seats.

A slew of other pollsters also hinted at the NDA domination in Karnataka.

The TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat put the NDA tally in Karnataka at 20.

It said the Congress would get around eight seats.

The India Today-Axis My India predicted between 23 and 25 seats for the NDA, while the Congress would get between 3 and 5 seats.

The CNX agency said the NDA would win between 19 and 25 seats.

It gave the Congress just four to eight seats.

Jan Ki Baat estimated 21 to 23 seats for the NDA and 5 to 7 seats for the Congress.

Republic TV-P MARQ gave the NDA 22 seats and the Congress just six seats.

ABP News-C Voter said the NDA would get between 23 and 25 seats and the Congress would net between 3 and 5 seats.

The D-Dynamics poll gave the NDA 23 seats and the Congress 5 seats.

Modi magic works yet again, Opposition needs to introspect

The predictions all seem to point to one fact  the Modi magic is stronger than ever despite having served two terms in office.

The Opposition will likely need to undergo a fresh bout of introspection if the predictions bear out on 4 June.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to his supporters . Reuters

If the numbers hold, they would have failed at stymieing the juggernaut that is the NDA, despite combining their forces.

The question that needs to be asked  where do they go from here?

In the 2019 polls, the BJP won 303 seats, while the NDA tally was 353.

The Congress had bagged 53 seats and its allies 38.

The INDI alliance was formed by Opposition parties to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

Opportunistic INDI alliance failed

After the seventh and last phase of voting ended on Saturday, Modi exuded confidence that people have voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government and said the opportunistic INDI Alliance failed to strike a chord with the voters who rejected their regressive politics.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters after a meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc that the alliance will win more than 295 seats.

We have arrived at this figure after speaking with all our leaders. This is a survey of people. People have given this information to our leaders. The government surveys are there and their media friends also inflate figures and put it out. Therefore, we want to tell you about the reality, he said.

BJP president J P Nadda, however, asserted that people have voted for a capable, powerful, developed and self-reliant India and to put aside appeasement, nepotism and corruption, exuding confidence that his party will win more than 370 Lok Sabha seats and the NDA over 400.

The counting of votes will take place on 4 June.

With inputs from agencies
The United States has proposed a truce to address the ongoing war in Gaza. This proposal, outlined by President Joe Biden, aims to bring an end to the hostilities that have wreaked havoc on the region. However, several truce and ceasefire attempts have been made since the war began late last year and have all failed at a long-term solution read more

Smoke billows after an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, May 28, 2024. AP

The United States has proposed a truce to address the ongoing war in Gaza. This proposal, outlined by President Joe Biden, aims to bring an end to the hostilities that have wreaked havoc on the region. Hamas has even responded positively to it.

However, several truce and ceasefire attempts have been made since the war began late last year. They have all failed at a long-term solution. We explain what makes the contents and context of this truce proposal different.

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The situation in Gaza

The Gaza Strip has faced relentless bombardment and military operations that have led to severe humanitarian crises. Reportedly, over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands more have been injured. The infrastructure in Gaza has been decimated, with countless families losing their homes, access to clean water, and adequate medical facilities. In particular, Rafah has suffered significant destruction from airstrikes, further exacerbating the dire conditions.

The Israeli operations have drawn widespread criticism from the international community, with many condemning the disproportionate use of force and the impact on civilians. Human rights organisations have highlighted the catastrophic conditions, emphasising the urgent need for humanitarian relief and a sustainable solution to the conflict.

Displaced Palestinians inspect their tents destroyed by Israels bombardment, adjunct to an UNRWA facility west of Rafah city, Gaza Strip. AP

The three phases of the truce proposal

The truce proposal laid out by President Biden is divided into three distinct phases, each designed to progressively ease tensions and pave the way for lasting peace.

Phase one- Immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid: The first phase involves a comprehensive six-week ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza. This withdrawal is aimed at reducing immediate hostilities and allowing for the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes. In exchange, Hamas would release a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded. Additionally, the remains of hostages who had been killed would be returned.A crucial aspect of this phase is the surge in humanitarian aid, with 600 trucks per day expected to enter Gaza, delivering much-needed supplies such as food, medical equipment, and temporary shelters. This influx of aid aims to alleviate the catastrophic conditions faced by civilians and provide a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.Negotiations between Hamas and Israel would continue during this period, facilitated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. The goal is to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement. Should the negotiations extend beyond the initial six weeks, the ceasefire would be extended to ensure continued progress towards peace. US President Joe Biden has announced a three-step ceasefire proposal for the war in Gaza Strip. Reuters Phase two- Full withdrawal and hostage release: The second phase of the proposal involves the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. This phase, also lasting approximately six weeks, hinges on the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. The exchange of hostages is a critical element, addressing one of the key points of contention between Hamas and Israel.If both parties adhere to the terms of this phase, it would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities. The withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages would signify a significant step towards ending the conflict and building a foundation for peace. Phase three- Reconstruction and stabilisation: The final phase focuses on the reconstruction and stabilisation of Gaza. Supported by the US and the international community, this phase aims to rebuild homes, schools, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure. The reconstruction effort is expected to take between three and five years, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that Hamas does not re-arm during this period.Additionally, the final remains of any hostages who had been killed would be returned to their families, providing closure and a sense of justice for those affected by the conflict. This phase underscores the commitment to long-term stability and the well-being of the Palestinian people.Under the plan, each phase would last 42 days.

Past truce attempts and reasons for failure

November 2023 ceasefire attempt: This attempt failed due to mutual accusations of violations and a lack of a structured framework. The current proposals phased approach and international mediation aim to build trust and accountability. December 2023 ceasefire proposal: The UN-led proposal for a temporary truce and humanitarian corridors collapsed due to disagreements on terms. The new proposals detailed terms for aid delivery and cessation of hostilities provide clearer guidelines. January 2024 negotiations: Disagreements over timelines and compliance mechanisms derailed these talks. The present proposals structured phases and extendable ceasefire period offer a more flexible and enforceable approach. March 2024 mediation efforts: Reservations about international peacekeeping forces led to a stalemate. The current plan emphasises regional and international support without imposing external military presence, aiming to address sovereignty concerns. Previous attempts at talks had faltered partly due to Netanyahus threats to destroy Hamass surviving terrorists in Rafah and the Palestinian organizations demand for an indefinite ceasefire. AFP

How the current proposal is different

The current truce proposal is not happening in isolation but is heavily influenced by various internal and external pressures on both Israel and Hamas, as well as international dynamics.

Reuters quoted a senior US official as saying that Israel was able to make the new offer because of recent battleground gains. There is now really a road map to the end of the crisis. It is a detailed four-and-half-page agreement, the official said. It has been negotiated, again, in painstaking detail. And whats on the table now is really kind of an endgame to the process.

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The official added, Israel has done significant damage to Hamas, and the likelihood of Hamas being able to launch any serious strike or attack or terrorist incident on Israel is not insignificant but its a lot lower than it was before.

Further, global public perception is turning against Israel, which could encourage Israelis to want a stop to the conflict, along with Bidens influence. When the president of US really gets fully behind something, he can create a lot of incentives.

Public opinion and domestic politicsWithin Israel, there is significant pressure from the public and political factions. The heavy casualties and the prolonged conflict have led to growing frustration among Israelis who demand security, a resolution, and the return of the hostages. Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantzs centrist party proposed on Thursday holding a parliamentary vote on dissolving the parliament, but it was unclear whether he had enough support to bring about an early election.The move follows an ultimatum that Gantz issued this month, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a day-after plan for the Gaza war by June 8. He threatened to quit the coalition if no such plan was forthcoming. International criticism and diplomatic isolationGlobally, there is mounting criticism of Israels military actions in Gaza, particularly regarding the high civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis. Human rights organisations and several countries have condemned the operations, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined the ranks of world leaders branded as international pariahs when he became the target of the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant against him and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, for suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israels war in Gaza. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has sought arrest warrants against Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. The war crimes charges against the two are: starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health, wilful killing or murder, and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population. File image/Reuters A non-binding vote at the UN General Assembly on May 10 showed overwhelming international support for an independent Palestinian state, leaving the US and a few of Israels allies isolated. Israel and the US maintain that a Palestinian state should only be established through a negotiated settlement. Advertisement However, as Israel continues to reject the prospect of Palestinian independence, some states have chosen to act independently. Recently, Ireland, Spain, and Norway announced plans to formally recognise a Palestinian state, saying they hope the move would prod other European nations to follow suit. US involvement and diplomatic pushThe United States, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, has played a pivotal role in shaping the current truce proposal. President Bidens administration has been actively involved in mediating the conflict, balancing support for Israels right to defend itself with calls for humanitarian considerations and peace. The US faces its own set of pressures, including domestic political dynamics and maintaining its strategic alliances in the Middle East.The truce proposals phased approach, structured timelines, and comprehensive international mediation efforts represent a significant departure from previous attempts. By addressing the underlying causes of past failures and incorporating lessons learned, the current proposal offers a more robust and sustainable path towards peace in Gaza.

With inputs from agencies
IndiGo has introduced a new feature that enables women passengers to choose their seats on flights by seeing where other women are seated, making travel more comfortable and safe. The decision came after several incidents of harassment made headlines in recent months read more

Based on data given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo is the largest air carrier in India, holding a 60.5 per cent domestic market share in 2023. Reuters

Selecting the ideal seat on an aircraft has the power to genuinely transform a routine trip into an amazing one.

One of the largest airlines in India, IndiGo, has introduced a new feature that enables female passengers to choose their seats on flights by seeing where other women are seated, making travel for women more comfortable and safe.

The decision came after several incidents of harassment made headlines in recent months.

Heres all we know about it.

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The female-friendly seat selection

The new feature is designed especially for Passenger Name Records (PNR) including female travellers, both in solo and family bookings.

The statement says that female travellers checking in online for their flights would be able to choose the female-friendly option on a pilot basis from the low-cost carrier.

IndiGo said in a statement, IndiGo is proud to announce the introduction of a new feature that aims to make the travel experience more comfortable for our female passengers. This has been introduced basis market research, and is currently in pilot mode aligning with our #GirlPower ethos.

We are committed to providing an unparalleled travel experience for all our passengers, and this new feature is just one of the many steps we are taking towards achieving that goal, the airline added.

The airline, however, did not specify a reason for announcing the new feature.

Also read: Peeing, pooping, smoking on planes: Meet the worst flyers of 2023 so far

Assaults against women on flights

Varied attacks against women and children on commercial flights are frequently reported worldwide.

On 26 November 2022, a drunk man identified as Shankar Mishra  a Mumbai businessman  urinated on a female senior citizen onboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi. Although the incident took place in November, Air India filed a police complaint only on 4 January 2023 against the offender, NDTV reported citing the FIR.

Another similar incident that occurred in 2022 caused an uproar as it came to light last year. A male flyer, who was in an inebriated state, allegedly urinated on a blanket of a woman on a Paris-New Delhi Air India flight on 6 December.

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In July 2023, while flying on IndiGo from Delhi to Mumbai, a professor on board sexually harassed a doctor, as per News18.

In September 2023, a woman was groped on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Guwahati.

Sexual assault aboard aircraft  which usually takes the form of unwanted touching  is a felony that can land offenders in prison, according to CNN citing a US report published in April.

Typically, men are the perpetrators, and women and unaccompanied minors are the victims.

Introducing business class

IndiGo has also announced plans to introduce business class in flights this year to provide more options for passengers amid rising economic growth.

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The low-cost airline will launch a tailor-made business product, the details of which will be unveiled around August that will also mark the 18th anniversary of the carrier. The latest announcement also comes less than a month after the profitable carrier said it would buy 30 wide-body aircraft, according to PTI.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers added, Over the past 18 years, Indias and IndiGos growth stories have been closely interlinked. We believe as India gears up to become the third largest economy in the world, its our privilege to provide the New India even more options to choose from as they travel business.

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Based on data given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo is the largest air carrier in India, holding a 60.5 per cent domestic market share in 2023.

With inputs from agencies
The News18 Mega Exit poll has given the BJP-led NDA between 355 and 370 seats with BJP itself estimated to get 305 to 315 seats. The pollster gave the INDI alliance between 125 and 140 seats and the Congress 62 to 72 seats. But what did the other agencies say? read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on 21 May. Exit polls predict that Modi is likely third term win. PTI

As the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections came to an end on Saturday, the exit polls predicted a massive win for the BJP-led NDA.

The alliance currently has 342 seats in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Congress, which is part of the INDI alliance, has 52 seats in Parliament.

Remember, the BJP-led NDA has this time set itself a lofty target of 400 seats.

There are 543 seats in the Lok Sabha and the halfway mark is 272.

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But what do the pollsters predict this time?

Lets take a closer look:

Nearly all pollsters have predicted that the BJP-led NDA will return  with an even bigger footprint.

The News18 mega exit poll has given the BJP-led NDA between 355 and 370 seats.

The BJP itself is estimated to get 305 to 315 seats.

The pollster gave the INDI alliance between 125 and 140 seats and the Congress 62 to 72 seats.

It predicted others would get between 42 and 52 seats.

Todays Chanakya, the most accurate pollster over the past two Lok Sabha elections, has predicted that the NDA will get between 385 and 415 seats  thus possibly fulfilling its pre-poll vow.

The BJP itself is estimated to get 320 to 350 seats seats.

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Meanwhile, the INDI alliance is predicted to get between 96 and 118 seats.

Todays Chanakya has also predicted that other parties will get between 27 and 45 seats.

The Dainik Bhaskar poll has given the NDA between 281 and 350 seats. The pollster has predicted the INDI alliance will get between 145 and 201 seats, while others will net 33 to 49 seats.

The Jan Ki Baat exit poll has predicted a massive gain for the NDA. It puts the alliances estimate between 362 and 392 seats.

Meanwhile, the pollster gives the INDI alliance between 141 and 161 seats and others between 10 and 20 seats.

The India Today-My Axis poll gave the NDA between 361 and 401 seats.

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Meanwhile, the INDI alliance was estimated to get from 131 to 166 seats.

Other parties were estimated to get between 8 and 20 seats.

C Voter gave the NDA between 353 to 383 seats,

Meanwhile, the INDI alliance was estimated to get from 152 to 182

It gave other parties between 4 and 12 seats.

The India News-D Dyanmics poll predicted that the NDA would expand its tally to 371 seats. It said the INDI alliance would net 125 seats, while other parties would get 47 seats.

The Republic Bharat-Matrize poll said the NDA would get between 353 and 368 seats. Meanwhile it said the INDI alliance would get around 118 to 133 seats.

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It estimated that other parties would get 50 seats.

The Republic TV-PMARQ poll also predicted a big win for the NDA with 359 seats. It pegged the INDI alliances seats at 154, while other parties were estimated to get 30 seats.

Nearly all pollsters have predicted that the BJP-led NDA will return  with an even bigger footprint.

The NDTV poll of polls puts the NDAs seat estimate at 358, while it gives the INDI alliance 148 seats. It predicts that other parties will rack up 37 seats.

India TV-CNX has given the NDA between 371 and 401 seats.

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The pollster has predicted that the INDI alliance will get from 109 to 139 seats, while other parties are estimated to get between 28 and 38 seats.

Festival of democracy

BJP chief JP Nadda on Saturday said the people have voted for a capable, powerful, developed and self-reliant India and to put aside appeasement, nepotism and corruption.

Nadda exuded confidence that his party will win more than 370 Lok Sabha seats and the NDA more than 400.

In a statement, Nadda thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this festival of democracy a success for the BJP.

In this election campaign, Prime Minister Modi addressed more than 206 election rallies, did about 23 roadshows, gave about 82 interviews and made tireless efforts to convey the election issues to the people of the country. His efforts are definitely yielding results, the BJP chief said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of several INDI alliance parties met on Saturday to take stock of the Oppositions preparations leading up to the June 4 counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections.

They claimed they will get more than 295 seats  enough to form the next government.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted the INDI alliance has arrived at the figure after feedback from people.

The INDI alliance will get more than 295 seats. We have arrived at this figure after speaking with all our leaders, Kharge told reporters. This is a survey of people. People have given this information to our leaders. The government surveys are there and their media friends also inflate figures and put it out. Therefore, we want to tell you about the reality.

Targeting the BJP, Kharge said, They are trying to give a narrative through government exit polls and we want to tell the people the truth.

Meanwhile, the INDI alliance parties also announced they will participate in the exit poll debates on TV this evening after the

groupings top leaders met and deliberated on the issue.

The development came a day after the Congress said it has decided not to participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on television channels. The party does not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP, it had said.

After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA (bloc) parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said in a post on X.

With inputs from agencies
Pune police have arrested the mother of a 17-year-old who is accused of running over two people while driving a luxury Porsche car. According to the investigation, the accused minors blood sample was allegedly swapped with his mothers to manipulate the alcohol test report and get him off the hook read more

The Porsche Taycan driven by a 17-year-old boy which knocked down two motorcycle riders in the Kalyani Nagar area of Pune on Sunday. Source: X

The Pune Porsche car crash has made headlines for the massive irregularities in investigating the incident.

In the latest development, Pune police have arrested the mother of a 17-year-old who is accused of running over two people while driving a luxury Porsche car.

According to the investigation, the accused minors blood sample was allegedly swapped with his mothers to manipulate the alcohol test report and get him off the hook.

Heres all we know about it.

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The accuseds mother arrested

The mother of the 17-year-old accused, Shivani Agarwal, was taken into custody a few days after it was discovered that the teenagers blood sample for an alcohol test at the Sassoon hospital had been substituted with a womans.

She was absconding since another two accused, Dr Shrihari Halnor and Dr Ajay Tawade, were arrested, and the police were trying to trace her.

Amitesh Kumar, the Commissioner of Police, stated that the accident investigation has shown that the boys blood samples had been replaced with his mothers, as per NDTV.

She was arrested for tampering with evidence and being present at the hospital when blood tests were obtained, according to sources close to News18.

She will appear for the interrogation at about 11:30 am.

The Pune crime branch had previously recorded the mothers statement in the case at the Agarwal residence.

Earlier, the teens mother had appeared in a video message, claiming that a viral video that seemed to feature her son was fake.

She also sobbed in front of the camera and begged the cops to protect her son.

Also read: Pune Porsche crash: How 17-year-olds family bribed doctors, reached out to politicians to cover-up case

Irregularities in medical examination

A medical test conducted by the state-run Sassoon Hospital on the accused minor revealed further irregularities.

At Punes Sassoon General Hospital, the police stated that the teenagers blood samples were thrown out and replaced with another persons, which had no signs of alcohol.

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According to News18 sources, the Pune crime branch had also called in a few Sassoon hospital nurses to question regarding the swap of blood samples.

The Maharashtra Medical Education (MME) department formed a three-member committee headed by Dr Pallavi Sapale, dean of Mumbai-based Grants Medical College, on 27 May to look into the matter.

On 29 May, Sassoon hospital doctors submitted their report to the probe panel.

Earlier, the police arrested Dr Ajay Taware, the then-head of Sassoon Hospitals forensic department, Dr Shrihari Harnol, the casualty medical officer at the time, and Atul Ghatkamble, a Class IV employee, on suspicion of altering the minors blood sample in exchange for financial rewards, as per Indian Express.

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According to an investigation by the police, Dr Taware spoke with the minors father up to 14 times in the two hours before the collection of the boys blood sample on 19 May.

Meanwhile, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has granted permission to the Pune police to investigate the accused minor. As part of the continuing investigation into the accident, they will question him regarding the swapping of blood samples at the Sassoon hospital.

According to Indian Express sources, the minor may be questioned by police in the coming days at the observation house in front of his family members and the child protection officer.

The crash

Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Kostha, both 24-year-old engineers from Madhya Pradesh, were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old, in the early hours of 19 May in Punes Kalyani Nagar area.

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According to the police, the teenager, who is the son of builder Vishal Agarwal, was drunk at the time.

Builder Vishal Agarwal, the teen accuseds father, is brought to Pune Police Commissioners office after his arrest, in Pune. PTI

There was massive outrage after the accused was out on bail within 15 hours on conditions widely described as flimsy.

The Juvenile Justice Board was forced to modify its order and send him to an observation home till 5 June. In the meantime, the police is preparing a case against the teen to try him as an adult.

The investigation in the case also revealed efforts by the influential family to cover up the accused minors crime.

Moreover, the minors father and grandfather, Surendra Agarwal, have been also arrested for allegedly kidnapping the familys driver and pressuring him to take the blame.

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With inputs from agencies
In our weekly roundup from India, we talk about Indias deadly heatwave and its fallout, PM Modis meditation break after Lok Sabha election campaigning, the Pune Porsche case and more read more

A woman walks under an umbrella as heat wave grips the city of Guwahati. Most parts of the north India are sweltering under scorching temperatures. File photo/AP

The great Indian election season is drawing to a close. Today is the last of the seven phases, which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi going to the polls.

The PM is on a meditation break at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. He will fly out this evening. However, his spiritual sojourn has left Bharatiya Janata Partys rivals seething .

The other big story is the summer of 2024. Several parts of India are gripped by an intense heatwave. Delhi recorded its highest temperatures at 52.9 degrees Celsius earlier in the week. The soaring mercury has claimed more than 50 lives and led to a rise in hospitalisations. We tell you how this impacts your health.

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The Porsche drink driving case involving a 17-year-old boy continues to unravel. And a new report says that more teenage girls in India are taking to smoking.

In our weekly roundup of stories from India, we take a deep dive into the news that matters.

1. Its a big day for PM Modi, as Varanasi goes to polls. The prime minister has been praying and meditating at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari for the past two days. He will head back to Delhi this evening, just hours before exit polls are to be released.

Its become a tradition of sorts for Modi to take a meditation break after a hectic Lok Sabha campaign. In 2019, he went to Uttarakhands Kedarnath. This year, he headed to the southernmost tip of the country. So why did the PM pick the Kanyakumari monument? We explain .

PM Narendra Modi at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Friday. New18

2. The world is getting hotter. India is battling a cruel summer with temperatures in some parts crossing the 50 degrees Celsius mark . But how hot is too hot? How much heat can your body tolerate?

The answer is not that simple. The recorded temperature is not all that matters. Humidity has a big role to play. Read on to find out more .

3. The scorching sun is making days unbearable. But in Indian cities, there seems to be no respite even at night. According to a new study, hotter nights are only adding to peoples misery. The high temperatures even after sunset are because of what experts call the urban heat island. Heres what it is and how it impacts your life .

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4. The Pune Porsche case continues to grab the nations attention. The affluent family of the 17-year-old boy who killed two techies did everything in their power to hide the crime. They bribed doctors to manipulate the blood reports of the teen who was reportedly drunk; they also reached out to politicians to intervene. But all attempts to cover up the case have failed. We bring you the complete story .

5. Friday was No Tobacco Day. But sadly Indias teens are not shunning it. A report by the Union health ministry revealed some shocking details. More adolescents, those between the ages of 10 and 16, are consuming tobacco  teenage girls more than boys. Smoking has gone up more than two-fold in young girls.

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Between 2009 and 2019, the smoking rate among girls surged by 3.8 percentage points, reaching 6.2 per cent. In contrast, the smoking rate among boys rose by 2.3 percentage points during the same period. Heres a look at the report .

More young girls are smoking in India than ever before. Representational picture/Pixabay

6. Our last story is one of Indias big dreams. A Chennai-based space start-up AgniKul Cosmos successfully launched the Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket from Sriharikota on Thursday. It was a big relief as this came following four earlier attempts, which failed due to technical glitches.

Humbled to announce the successful completion of our first flight - Mission 01 of Agnibaan SOrTeD - from our own and Indias first & only private Launchpad within SDSC-SHAR at Sriharikota. All the mission objectives of this controlled vertical ascent flight were met and pic.twitter.com/9icDOWjdVC  AgniKul Cosmos (@AgnikulCosmos) May 30, 2024

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The mission saw the first-ever 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket launched from a private launchpad. Heres why its a big deal .

Hope you enjoyed our recommendations for the week. If you like how we explain the news, please return for more .

PS: By next Saturday, we will have an answer if PM Modi wins his third term. We have been closely following the elections; you can find our complete coverage here .
Exit polls are essentially quick interviews with voters. They are usually conducted right after voters exit the poll booth on voting day  as opposed to opinion polls conducted beforehand. The idea is to offer a snapshot of the voters concerns. They are aimed at predicting which party is likely to come to power read more

Several news channels and agencies in India conduct exit polls  with varying degrees of success. AP

The Election Commission has ordered that no exit polls be conducted prior to 6.30 pm on 1 June. The seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls is underway with 57 parliamentary constituencies set to cast their vote across eight states and union territories.

The counting for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will take place on 4 June.

But what do we know about exit polls? What is their history? Why are they relevant? And what about their rules?

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Lets take a closer look:

What are they?

Exit polls are essentially quick interviews with voters.

They are usually conducted right after voters exit the polls on voting day  as opposed to opinion polls which are conducted beforehand.

The idea behind them is to offer a snapshot of the voters concerns. They are aimed at predicting which party is likely to come to power.

Several news channels and agencies in India conduct exit polls  with varying degrees of success.

As per Business Standard, their accuracy depends on a slew of factors including structured questionnaires, in-person or telephonic interviews of random people for fairness, sample size, demographic representation, data compilation, and count method.

The first exit poll was conducted in 1957 by the Indian Institute of Public Opinion.

The group conducted an exit poll during the second Lok Sabha elections.

As per Hindustan Times, it was the Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) that pioneered in the 1960s.

But it was another two decades before exit polls began being taken seriously in the media.

This is when psephologist Prannoy Roy teamed up with David Butler.

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Roy, Butler and Ashok Lahiri would go on to publish a landmark book The Compendium of Indian Elections.

State-run Doordarshan asking the CSDS to conduct a countrywide exit poll in 1996 also brought exit polls further into the mainstream.

Without a structured questionnaire, the data can neither be collected coherently nor be analysed systematically to arrive at vote share estimates, Indian Express quoted Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) director Sanjay Kumar as saying.

What are the rules for exit polls?

Exit polls are governed by The Representation of People Act, 1951.

Section 126 A of the act restricts publication and dissemination of exit polls results.

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Exit polls are usually conducted right after voters exit the polls on voting day  as opposed to opinion polls which are conducted beforehand. PTI

It states, No person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of any exit poll during such period, as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard.

It adds that in case of a general election, the period may commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for the poll on the first day and continue till half an hour after the closing of the poll in all the States and Union territories.

According to Business Standard, this is done so that exit polls dont influence voters or voting patterns.

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Those who violate this provision can be sentenced to a prison term of up to two years, a fine or both.

The Election Commission first issued guidelines on exit polls in 1998. The EC under Article 324 of the Constitution barred newspapers and television news channels from publishing or broadcasting results of opinion and exit polls between 5 pm on 14 February 1998 and 5 pm on 7 March 1998. The first phase in that years general elections began on 16 February 1998, and the final phase began on 7 March.

As per Economic Times, the EC in 2022 said news broadcasters must not air any final, formal and definite results until such results are formally announced by the Election Commission of India, unless such results are carried with clear disclaimer that they are unofficial or incomplete or partial results or projections which should not be taken as final results.

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Why are exit polls relevant?

Because people want to know which party and candidates are likely to win  and quickly.

However, critics say that they are often left wanting when it comes to accuracy.

According to Business Standard, exit polls are also often condemned for being biased, relying on skewed data or improper sample size, and being sponsored or politically motivated.

The Economic Times quoted TK Arun as saying, Exit polls are tricky in India. Indians are prudent people. Why would they tell a pollster anything other than what they figure out the pollster wants to hear? Suppose he voted Congress, and says so to the pollster, the BJP wins the election and extracts from pollsters details of all those who said they voted Congress, what mayhem might not follow? Why take the risk? Indians can be rational when the issue at stake is lack of faith as well.

In the past, exit polls have had both hits and misses galore.

According to Hindustan Times, except for the 1998 and 2014 polls, at least four Lok Sabha polls have gotten it badly wrong.

This includes two back-to-back predictions in 2004 and 2009.

The 2004 exit polls in particular were a massive failure with the pollsters completely missing the Congress coming back to power as the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA with its India Shining slogan lost its majority.

All exit polls predicted a win for the BJP.

Again in 2009, while most pollsters gave the edge to the UPA, they completely missed a huge swing in its favour.

The UPA added 40 more seats to its tally.

A man looks at a television screen showing exit poll results after the last phase of the general election in Ahmedabad on 19 May 2019. File photo/Reuters

In 2014, the BJP won over 330 seats.

While most pollsters said then prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA would cross the 272 mark, almost none of them forecast the decisive performance.

It was only pollster Chanakya, who predicted 340 seats for the NDA, that came close to getting it spot on.

In 2019, most pollsters predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government would return  albeit with a reduced margin compared to the previous election. Of course, we know that the pollsters yet again underestimated the strength of the BJP-led NDA, which would nab 353 seats.

With inputs from agencies
The ruling ANC party is projected to lose its outright majority, securing the most votes, but still having less than 50 per cent of the vote share. That would necessitate the formation of a coalition to govern effectively. Former president Jacob Zumas MK party, with its high voter share, could still emerge as the kingmaker read more

In a remarkable turn of events, former President Jacob Zuma has emerged as the unexpected victor in South Africas recent elections, not by securing a seat himself, but through the dramatic rise of his newly formed political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK). Despite being barred from standing for parliament due to a contempt of court conviction, Zumas influence remains profound, as evidenced by MKs performance and the African National Congress (ANC) significant decline in support.

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Who is Jacob Zuma?

Jacob Zuma has been a prominent figure in the nations political landscape for decades. His political journey began with his involvement in the African National Congress (ANC) in 1959 and its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, in 1962. After serving a 10-year prison sentence on Robben Island for conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government, Zuma continued his activism from exile, playing crucial roles in Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zambia.

He served as South Africas president from 2009 until his resignation under pressure in 2018. Zumas presidency, however, was marred by numerous corruption scandals, culminating in the infamous state capture inquiry, which alleged systemic corruption under his administration.

A woman holds a poster in support of former South African president Jacob Zumas political party, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), during the South African elections, in Nkandla, South Africa. Reuters

Zumas legacy is a complex one. While his presidency was characterised by allegations of corruption, his anti-apartheid credentials and adherence to traditional Zulu customs have garnered him a loyal following. His resignation in 2018, following pressure from the ANC amid numerous scandals, did little to diminish his standing among his supporters. Instead, his forced departure from the presidency and subsequent legal battles, including his conviction for contempt of court, have only bolstered his image as a victim of political machinations.

Zumas exit from ANC and entry into MK party

By 2023, tensions between Zuma and his successor Ramaphosa had intensified. It culminated in Zumas announcement that though he is a part of ANC, he would not support or vote for the ANC under Ramaphosas leadership in the upcoming elections. Zuma also began campaigning for the newly-formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, named after the ANCs former military wing.

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In January 2024, Zuma was officially suspended from the ANC for endorsing and campaigning for the MK party. This suspension was due to ANC rules prohibiting dual membership and supporting rival political entities.

The rise of MK party

The MK party advocates for radical changes, including nationalising land and banks and scrapping the current constitution. These policies have struck a chord with voters frustrated by persistent racial and economic inequalities. MKs platform, similar to that of the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), targets what they term white monopoly capital and proposes sweeping reforms, including expropriating land without compensation and establishing a new parliamentary system with an upper house composed of hereditary traditional leaders.

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In April, months after Zuma was chucked from the ANC, he was named the President of the MK party. Following this, the partys support rose swiftly, catching the ANC off-guard.

All this happened despite Zuma being barred from contesting the elections just days ahead of the polls. He was barred from running in the South African elections due to a previous criminal conviction. In 2021, Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after he failed to appear before a commission investigating corruption during his presidency. According to the South African constitution, individuals who have been convicted of an offense and sentenced to more than 12 months of imprisonment are not eligible to stand for election to the National Assembly.

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The South African Constitutional Court barred ex-President Jacob Zuma from contesting in the 2024 elections. AP

How MK party performed this election

The recent election results highlight the impact of Zumas influence. With about 64 per cent of polling stations reporting, MK secured 11.8 per cent of the national vote, placing third overall and performing surprisingly well. The ANC, on the other hand, saw its support plummet to 41.9 per cent, down from 57.5 per cent in the 2019 election, indicating a potential loss of its majority for the first time in 30 years. In the strategically significant province of KwaZulu-Natal, Zumas stronghold, MK led with approximately 44 per cent of the vote, compared to the ANCs 19 per cent.

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KwaZulu-Natals importance cannot be overstated. Home to the major ports of Durban and Richards Bay, it handles around 60 per cent of South Africas trade and is the largest coal export facility in Africa. MKs dominance in this region shows Zumas enduring popularity and the partys effective mobilisation of voter dissatisfaction.

Coalition govt can make Zuma kingmaker

The ANC, which has been the dominant party since the end of apartheid in 1994, is projected to lose its outright majority, securing the most votes, but still having less than 50 per cent of the vote share. That would necessitate the formation of a coalition to govern effectively. Some analysts have previously noted the possibility of ANC having to form a government with the support of EFF and MK.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa casts his ballot Wednesday 29 May 2024 for the general elections in Soweto, South Africa. AP

While a coalition between the ANC and MK remains a possibility, it is deemed unlikely due to MKs probable demands, such as replacing Ramaphosa and addressing Zumas legal issues. Zuma is scheduled to stand trial next year on corruption charges related to a 1990s arms deal, further complicating any potential alliance.

In the unlikely case the opposition parties decide to band together to form a government, the MK, with its high voter share, would still emerge as the kingmaker.

With inputs from agencies
Isaac Newman, a social science teacher at Florin High School in Elk Grove (Sacramento County), is suing his union for reserving one board seat for someone who isnt white. The Fairness Center

A white teacher in Sacramento County is suing his union for reserving one seat on its governing board for a non-white member  an issue of diversity versus discrimination that is percolating in courts across California.

Isaac Newman, a high school social science teacher, said he wanted to run for a newly created position on the Elk Grove Education Association last December, but was barred from applying because the union created it last year as a BIPOC seat, available only to members who are Black, Indigenous or other people of color.

Union officials apparently believe that the best solution to Americas shameful history of discrimination is more discrimination, Newman said in a statement announcing the suit, filed in federal court last week by the Fairness Center, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that targets unions with legal actions.

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One reason he wanted to join the board, the suit said, was to oppose the (Elk Grove Unified School) Districts recent adoption of what he believes to be aggressive and unnecessary Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) policies.

Combatting DEI has become a hallmark of conservative political programs such as Project 2025, which would seek to abolish remaining legal protections for abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity during the first six months of a new Republican administration.

Asked about the lawsuit, the unions president, James Sutter, said it was a case backed by an outside extremist group to sow fear and division in our community. He did not say why the union had set racial criteria for the seat, one of 11 on its governing board.

Its not the only case on the issue.

California passed a law in 2018 requiring governing boards of publicly traded corporations to have at least one woman on their board, and another law in 2020 requiring corporate boards to include members of marginalized races or ethnicities or the LGBTQ community.

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Both laws were challenged by another conservative advocacy group, Judicial Watch, and were declared unconstitutional by Los Angeles County judges.

The Legislature is thinking in group terms. But the California Constitution protects the right of individuals to equal treatment, Superior Court Judge Emily Green wrote in a ruling overturning the 2020 law.

A California appeals court is considering the states appeals of the rulings. The laws have also been challenged in federal court, with mixed results; in the lead case, a federal judge in Sacramento upheld the law requiring women on corporate boards, and it is now before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

The 2018 state law imposes a rigid, arbitrary, overbroad, and perpetual quota on private parties, attorneys for the Pacific Legal Foundation, another conservative legal nonprofit, said in a filing with the court.

Attorney General Rob Bontas office countered that the law promotes the important governmental interest of remedying past discrimination against women. In 2017, before the law was passed, state lawyers told the court, 29% of major corporations in California had no women on their boards of directors.

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The issues may be somewhat different in the suit by Newman, who teaches at Florin High School in Elk Grove and is challenging an action by a union rather than a state law. But the policy question is similar: Can an institution, either a union or a state-regulated corporate board, promote diversity by reserving one or more positions for members of previously underrepresented groups?

William Gould, a Stanford labor law professor and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, said past court rulings have allowed companies and unions to give some preference to non-whites  for example, the Supreme Courts 1979 ruling in United Steelworkers v. Weber, upholding a companys union contract that required hiring a certain number of Black workers until they equaled their share of the local workforce.

But I have some doubt as to whether any of these programs aimed at diversity can survive in the current Supreme Court, Gould told the Chronicle. He cited the courts ruling last year barring affirmative action admissions at colleges and universities.

Both state and federal law prohibit so-called reverse discrimination, so it seems to me that they have a case, said Reuel Schiller, a labor law professor at UC College of the Law in San Francisco. He said the laws apply to labor unions as well as the government.

Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley and a liberal legal scholar, gave a similar assessment.

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Even as the Opposition sought to put up a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a national level, the INDIA bloc has been rife with infighting in West Bengal read more

While the BJP is seeking a third straight term, the Opposition parties are seeking to unseat it under the banner of INDI Alliance (Photo: PTI)

The weekslong Lok Sabha elections concluded on Saturday (June 1) as the seventh and the final round of voting came to an end.

After the Election Commission (EC)-imposed embargo on exit polls ended on 6 pm on Saturday, the figures started to pour in.

In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounted a sharp campaign against the states Trinamool Congress (TMC). In Odisha too, the BJP led a sharp campaign against the states long-time ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

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The News 18 exit poll figures for the states of West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand are out along with other states.

News 18 exit poll results for West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand

West Bengal

Of the 42 seats of West Bengal, the BJP is expected to win 21-21 seats and the TMC 18-21, according to the News 18 exit poll.

Polling for the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal commenced at 7 AM on Saturday under tight security. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured 22 seats, while the BJP made significant gains with 18 seats, and Congress won two seats.

This phase features several prominent candidates, including Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, sitting MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Sougata Roy, and Mala Roy, former Union minister Debasree Chaudhuri of the BJP, and senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty.

Odisha

Of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, the BJP is expected to win 13-15 seats and the BJD six to eight, as per the News 18 exit poll.

The assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha are being held simultaneously in four phases, from May 13 to June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJD secured 112 out of 146 seats, while the BJP won 23 seats, and the Congress obtained nine seats.

The BJD emerged dominant during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, winning 12 seats. The BJP followed closely with eight seats, and the Congress managed to secure only one seat.

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The current four-phase election in Odisha has reached its final stage, with six Lok Sabha seats in the coastal region going to the polls on June 1. These constituencies include Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and 42 assembly segments. A close contest is anticipated this time.

A total of 66 candidates are competing for the Lok Sabha elections, while 394 candidates are contesting for the 42 assembly seats. On the last day of polling, 9,943,370 electors are expected to vote.

Key figures involved in intense campaigning include former Union Ministers Srikant Jena and Pratap Sarangi, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, and senior BJD leader Rajashree Mallick.

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This phase is particularly crucial for the BJD, which achieved a significant victory in the 2019 Assembly elections and secured an absolute majority in the State Assembly. Facing anti-incumbency after 25 years in power, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his aide V. K. Pandian have ramped up their campaign efforts by touring various constituencies.

Jharkhand

Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand, the BJP is expected to win 9-12 seats and the INDIA bloc is expected to win between six to eight seats, as per News 18 exit poll.

The seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections  which marks the fourth round of polls in the Jharkhand  took place on June 1. Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, BJP won 11 constituencies, while AJSU Party, Congress, and JMM won one seat each in the 2019 polls.

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Elections were previously held in Jharkhand on May 13, May 20 and May 25. The final phase of elections saw intense campaigning, including by PM Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Jharkhand CM Champai Soren, and JMM leader Kalpana Soren. Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, BJP won 11 constituencies, while AJSU Party, Congress, and JMM won one seat each in the 2019 polls.

All eyes are on Dumka seat where BJPs Sita Soren, sister-in-law of jailed former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, is contesting against INDIA blocs Nalin Soren. Sita, a former three-term JMM legislator, joined the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, citing neglect and isolation by JMM after the death of her husband Durga Soren in 2009.

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In Godda, BJP sitting MP Nishikant Dubey is contesting against INDIA blocs Pradip Yadav. The Rajmahal seat is expected to witness an interesting fight as JMMs Borio legislator Lobin Hembrom is contesting as an Independent against sitting JMM MP Vijay Hansdak. The BJP has fielded its former state president Tala Marandi for the seat.In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won the Dumka and Godda seats, while the JMM secured the Rajmahal seat.
The Lok Sabha elections, which culminated on June 1 with the seventh phase, covered 543 constituencies spanning all the states and Union Territories read more

The Lok Sabha elections concluded on June 1 with the seventh and final phase of voting (Photo: Reuters)

With the conclusion of the seventh and the last phase of Lok Sabha elections, attention has now shifted to Exit polls.

Who will form the next government? Will the BJP be able to cross the 400-mark? How many seats will the INDI Alliance win? Exit polls have the answer to these questions.

They give a fair idea of a particular partys performance in the elections and are based on interviews of voters. They are conducted by several organisations that survey people as soon as they cast their votes.

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News 18 exit poll for Northeast India and union territories

The ruling NDA and Opposition alliance INDIA put up a tough fight during the polls with both BJP and Congress exuding confidence over their win in the Lok Sabha elections.

As we approach June 4, heres a look at what the exit polls say about the fate of parties in the northeast and union territories (UTs).

Assam

Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, the NDA is expected to win 10-13 seats and the Congress is expected to win two to five seats.

Within the NDA, the BJP is expected to win 8-11 seats.

The AIUDF is also expected to win one seat.

Elections were conducted in three phases in Assam from April 19 to May 7. The state recorded a voter turnout of 85.45 per cent in the third phase.

The Opposition is eyeing to consolidate Muslim voters in the states who felt alienated by BJPs campaign. However, the BJP has an edge in Assam owing to its extensive groundwork and the implementation of welfare schemes.

The key candidates were Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), Rameswar Teli (BJP), Topon Kumar Gogoi (BJP), Naba Kumar Sarania (CPIM).

In 2019, the saffron party won nine seats and Congress won three.

Rest of Northeast & UTs

Of 15 Lok Sabha seats in the rest of Northeast India and all the remaining union territories, the NDA is expected to win 13 seats. Of these 13 seats, the BJP is expected to win nine.

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Arunachal Pradesh has two LS seats and voting for these constituencies was held in the first phase of elections on April 19. The key candidates were Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal West (BJP), Tapir Gao from Arunachal East (BJP) and Nabam Tuki from Arunachal West (Congress). In 2019, BJP won both seats in the state.

In Manipur, which saw massive outrage over violence between ethnic groups in the state, elections were held in two phases for the two seats from April 19 or April 26. The key candidates were Angomcha Bimol Akoijam from Inner Manipur (Congress), Alfred K Arthur from Outer Manipur (Congress), Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh from Inner Manipur (BJP). In 2019, BJP won one seat in the state.

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Meghalaya saw elections happen in one phase for the two Lok Sabha seats on April 19. Vincent H Pala from Shillong (Congress), Agatha K Sangma from Tura (National Peoples Party). In 2019, Congress won one of the seats in Manipur.

Mizoram has only one Lok Sabha seat. The state went to polls on April 19 during the first phase of elections. The key candidates were Richard Vanlalhmangaiha (Zoram Peoples Movement) and K. Vanlalvena (Mizo National Front). In 2019, the seat was won by Mizo National Front.

In Nagaland, elections were held in one phase for the one Lok Sabha seat. The key candidates were Chumben Murry (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) and S Supongmeren Jamir (Congress). In 2019, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive party won the seat.

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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory, has one seat. Polls were conducted in the islands on April 19. In 2019, Congress won the seat.

Another union territory, Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli, have two Lok Sabha seats one of which was won by BJP.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is seeking a third straight term, the Oppositions INDIA bloc is seeking to unseat the BJP read more

With the conclusion of the seventh and the last phase of Lok Sabha elections, attention has now shifted to Exit polls.

Who will form the next government? Will the BJP be able to cross the 400-mark? How many seats will the INDI Alliance win? Exit polls have the answer to these questions.

They give a fair idea of a particular partys performance in the elections and are based on interviews of voters. They are conducted by several organisations that survey people as soon as they cast their votes.

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The Lok Sabha elections, which culminated on June 1 with the seventh phase, covered 543 constituencies spanning all the states and Union Territories.

The ruling NDA and Opposition alliance INDIA put up a tough fight during the polls with both BJP and Congress exuding confidence over their win in the Lok Sabha elections.

As we approach June 4, heres a look at what the exit polls say about the fate of parties in Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

2024 exit poll for Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh

Gujarat

Of the 26 seats in Gujarat, the BJP is expected to sweep all the 26 seats, according to News 18 exit poll.

The western state of Gujarat, a stronghold of BJP, has 26 seats. The state went to polls on May 7 during the third phase of elections.

Meanwhile, BJP claimed its very first victory in Surat before polling even began in Gujarat after the partys candidate won the seat unopposed.

BJPs Mukesh Dalal was declared the winner as eight out of nine candidates withdrew their nominations.

The state recorded a voter turnout of 60.13 per cent. The key candidates included Amit Shah from Gandhinagar (BJP), Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar (BJP), Amitbhai Chavda from Anand (Congress), CR Paatil from Navsari (BJP), Lalitbhai Vasoya from Porbandar (Congress).

In 2019, the saffron party won all the 26 seats in Gujarat.

Goa

Of Goas two seats, the BJP and Congress are expected to win one seat each, according to News 18 exit poll.

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Goa, the coastal state located in western India, has just two seats but both hold importance for political parties.

The state went to polls during the third phase of elections on May 3.

Goa recorded a voter turnout of 76.06 per cent. The key candidates included Ramakant Khalap from North Goa (Congress) and Pallavi Shrinivas Dempo from South Goa (BJP).

In 2019, the North Goa seat was won by BJP while Congress clinched the South Goa seat.

Maharashtra

Of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, the BJP-led NDA is expected to win 32-25 seats and the INDIA bloc is expected to win 15-18 seats, as per News 18 exit poll.

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Among the NDA, the BJP is expected to win 20-23 seats and other partners are expected to win 12 seats.

Among the INDIA bloc, the Congress is expected to win six to nine seats and other parties are expected to win nine seats.

The state of Maharashtra has 48 seats. Currently, Maharashtra is ruled by a Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. The political situation in the western state started to shake up when Chief Minister Eknath Shinde left the Balasaheb Thackeray-founded party to join hands with the BJP.

Maharashtra saw another significant change in its politics after NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawars nephew Ajit Pawar joined the saffron party as the states deputy chief minister.

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Since then, Maharashtra has become an important political ground as all three parties, BJP, NCP-SP and Shiv Sena try to hold their position in the state.

Maharashtra went to polls in five phases and the fifth phase recorded a 56.89 per cent voter turnout.

The key candidates were Supriya Sule from Baramati (NCP Sharad Pawar), Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur (BJP), Narayan Rane from Ratnagiri-Sindhurg (BJP) and Piyush Goyal from Mumbai North (BJP).

In 2019, the saffron party won 25 seats while NCP won four.

Rajasthan

Of the 25 seats in Rajasthan, the BJP is expected to win 18-23 seats and the Congress is expected to win two to seven seats, as per the News 18 exit poll.

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The state was a battleground between BJP and Congress, with the saffron party recently winning the state elections.

The state went to polls in the first two phases, April 19 and April 26. Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 65.03 per cent in phase 2.

The key candidates were Mahendra Jeet Malviya from Banswara (BJP), Kailash Choudhary from Barmer (BJP), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat from Jodhpur (BJP), Ram Chandra Choudhary from Ajmer (Congress).

In 2019, the saffron party won 24 seats in Rajasthan.

Madhya Pradesh

Of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is expected to sweep with 26-29 seats and the Congress is expected to get zero to three seats, as per News 18 exit poll.

The Hindi heartland state recently saw the BJP win polls in the state legislative elections.

Elections were conducted in the state in four phases from April 19 to May 13. Madhya Pradesh, in its fourth phase, recorded a voter turnout of 72.05 per cent.

The key candidates were Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha (BJP), Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna (BJP), Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh (Congress), Satyapal Singh Sikarwar from Morena (Congress).

In 2019, BJP won 28 seats while won 1.

Chhattisgarh

Of the 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is expected to win 9-11 seats and the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties is expected to win zero to two seats, as per News 18 exit poll.

Another Hindi heartland, Chhattisgarh has 11 Lok Sabha seats. The state went to polls in three phases from April 19 to May 7.

BJP clinched the state in the assembly elections.

Chhattisgarh recorded a voter turnout of 71.98% in the third phase of polling. The key candidates were Chintamani Maharaj from Sarguja (BJP), Jyotsna Mahant from Korba (Congress), Vijay Baghel from Durg (BJP).

In 2019, the BJP won nine seats while the Congress won two.
The Lok Sabha elections, which culminated on June 1 with the seventh phase, covered 543 constituencies spanning all the states and Union Territories read more

As the 7th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections comes to an end, it will be safe to say that the worlds largest democracy chose the administration that will rule the country for the next five years.

With the clock striking 6, exit polls started to pour in with predictions of which alliance would win the intense race to the mighty Indian parliament.

The polls will also ponder on the questions of whether the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) will be able to cross its highly ambitious goal of going 400 paar or INDI Alliance might take the ruling regime by surprise.

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The Lok Sabha elections, which culminated on June 1 with the seventh phase, covered 543 constituencies spanning all the states and Union Territories.

The analysis of who will take the northern seats will remain crucial since it will be interesting to see how top parties will perform in Delhi, the national capital.

As we approach June 4, heres a look at what the exit polls say about the fate of parties in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand and Ladakh.

Exit polls data for (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand and Ladakh by News 18

Delhi

Of the seven seats in Delhi, the BJP is expected to win five to seven seats and the Congress is expected to win zero to two seats, as per the News 18 exit poll.

Polls in Delhi were held in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha poll on May 25. When it comes to voter turnout, Delhi witnessed a significant dip in voter turnout recording 58.69 per cent this time against a polling percentage of 60.6 per cent in 2019. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, BJP won all 7 seats in the Union Territory.

Haryana

Of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, the BJP is expected to win five to seven seats and the Congress is expected to win zero to two seats, as per the News 18 exit poll.

Haryana also saw a dip with 65 per cent voter turnout recorded this year. In the last general elections, the state saw a 70 per cent turnout. In the last general elections, BJP won all 10 seats from the state to the parliament.

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Punjab

OF the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, the Congress is expected to win 8-10, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) zero to one, and the BJP between two and four seats, as per the News 18 exit poll.

Punjab went to polls for all its seats in the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls. The voter turnout in the state till 3 pm was 46.38 per cent. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, INC won 8 seats, SAD 2, BJP 2, and AAP 1.

Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand

In the Himalayan states of Himachal and Uttarakhand, the BJP is expected to sweep all the nine seats, according to News 18 exit poll.

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The state of Himachal Pradesh went to polls on the 7th phase of polling as well. The voter turnout in the state till 3 pm was 58.41 per cent. The state contributes 4 seats in the parliament. In the 2019 polls, BJP won all 4 seats.

Uttarakhand recorded a voter turnout of around 55.01 per cent across the five Lok Sabha seats, it was a major dip from the figures in 2019 which was 61.4 per cent. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, BJP won all 5 seats.

J&K and Ladakh

Of the six Lok Sabha seats in J&K and Ladakh, the BJP and the INDIA bloc are expected to win three seats each, according to the News 18 exit poll.

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Jammu and Kashmir made an indelible mark on Indias electoral history with the highest voter turnout in a General Election in the last 35 years. The region witnessed 58.46 per cent in the General Elections 2024. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference won 3 seats, and BJP 3.

Meanwhile, in Ladakh over 67 per cent, polling was recorded in Ladakh in the election to decide the fate of three candidates in the fray for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union territory. This was the first election in Ladakh since it acquired the UT status.

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India awaits the result

It is important to know that while different pollsters will attempt to predict the results of this years election, the actual result of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections will be released on June 4.
The Lok Sabha elections, which culminated on June 1 with the seventh phase, covered 543 constituencies spanning all the states and Union Territories read more

A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man casts his vote inside a polling station during the seventh and last phase of India's general election in Varanasi, India.Reuters

As the 7th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections comes to an end, it will be safe to say that the worlds largest democracy chose the administration that will rule the country for the next five years.

As the clock struck six, exit polls started to pour in with predictions of which alliance would win the intense race to the mighty Indian parliament.

The polls will also ponder on the questions of whether the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) will be able to cross its highly ambitious goal of going 400 paar or INDI Alliance might take the ruling regime by surprise.

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The Lok Sabha elections, which culminated on June 1 with the seventh phase, covered 543 constituencies spanning all the states and Union Territories.

The ruling NDA and Opposition alliance INDIA put up a tough fight during the polls with both BJP and Congress exuding confidence over their win in the Lok Sabha elections.

One of the major regions where the fight between the different political wings will be strong is the south. Both parties will be looking for a strong fight here since southern states have never been a strong turf for the BJP.

As we approach June 4, heres a look at what the exit polls say about the fate of parties in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

As per the News 18 exit poll, the various parties are expected to perform as following:

South India News 18 Exit Poll Data

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

Of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the INDIA bloc is expected to get 36-39 seats with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to get one to three seats, as per the News 18 exit poll.

Of the 36-39 seats that the INDIA bloc is expected to get, the Congress is expected to get 8-11 seats.

Tamil Nadu Exit Poll

A total of 40 seats will contribute to the parliament from the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Pondicherry. In Tamil Nadu, DMK will face the main test this year. The election in the state featured a three-way race between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the AIADMK, and the INDIA bloc, which includes the DMK, Congress, and other parties.

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The state received a 69.72 per cent voter turnout. If we look at the 2019 polls, DMK won 24 seats, INC 8, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi 1, CPI(M) 2, CPI 2, IUML 1, and AIADMK 1.

Meanwhile, Puducherry recorded 78.57 per cent voter turnout. The UT offers one seat to the parliament and last year, the Indian National Congress won that one seat.

Kerala and Lakshadweep

Of the 21 seats in Kerala and Lakshadweep, the INDIA bloc is expected to get 15-18 seats, of which Congress is expected to get 8-11 seats, according to the News 18 exit poll.

The BJP is expected to get one to three seats.

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Kerala News 18 Exit Poll

In the state of Kerala, the polls were held on 26 April 2024 to elect 20 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. In this years election, the voter turnout was 71.27 per cent. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, CPI(M) had won 1 seat, INC 15, Revolutionary Socialist Party 1, Kerala Congress (M) 1, and IUML 2.

In the Lakshadweep Islands, this years voter turnout reached 83.88 per cent for the one seat in the parliament. In the 2019 polls, NCP won the one seat, the island has to offer.

Karnataka

Of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, the BJP is expected to win 21-24 seats, according to the News 18 exit poll. The BJP-led NDA is expected to win a total of 24-26 seats.

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The Congress is expected to win three to seven seats in the state, as per the News 18 exit poll.

Karnataka News 18 Exit Poll

The polls in Karnataka were significant with with the state recording the states highest-ever voter turnout for a general election at 69.9 per cent in comparison to the last two elections in 2019 and 2014. The elections in the southern state were held in two phases on April 26 and May 7, with 28 seats.

In the 2019 polls in Karnataka, BJP won 25 seats, INC 1, JD(S) 1, and IND 1.

Andhra Pradesh

Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP is projected to win four to six seats whereas the NDA is expected to win 19-22 seats, according to the News 18 exit poll.

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The YSRCP is expected to win five to eight seats.

Andhra Pradesh News 18 Exit Poll

The elections in the state of Andhra Pradesh were held on 13 May 2024 to elect 25 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. This year the state witnessed an 80.66 per cent voter turnout. If we look at last years results, YSRCP had won 22 seats, and TDP won 3 seats in the state.

Telangana

Of the 17 seats, the BJP is expected to win 7-10 seats and the Congress five to eight, according to News 18 exit poll.

The BRS and AIMIM are also expected to win three to five seats between themselves.

Telangana Exit Poll

Telangana went to the polls for the Lok Sabha Elections on May 13. In this years polls, the state recorded 66.30 per cent turnout. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, BJP won 4 seats, INC 3, TRS 9, and AIMIM 1, to formulate the 17 members of the parliament.

India awaits the result

It is important to know that while different pollsters will attempt to predict the results of this years election, the actual result of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections will be released on June 4.
Due to Ukraines strategic location, as identified by Mackinder way before, there were two groups, one backed by Western countries who wanted to surround Russia and the other led by Moscow (which never wanted NATO at its doorstep). This made a conflict predestined read more

It is intriguing that a lot of the conflicts that we see today taking place in the world had a seed a hundred years ago.

There were thinkers whose concepts cannot be brushed aside even today. No one can forget about Chanakya. Even the West had thinkers like Mahan, Sverdosky, Mackinder, and Spykman, to name a few.

Mackinder suggested long ago that geographical location, instead of a countrys economic prosperity, is the fundamental determinant of world dominance. Referred to as Heartland, whoever controls Eastern Europe, Eurasia, will have the ultimate power over the world. Currently, Russia, by virtue of its geographical location, is in a position to dominate as a global power.

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Now correlate it with Ukraine.

Ukraine holds a pivotal position geographically recognised by the West. With control over the north of the Black Sea and a bridge to connect West Asia with Europe, Russia and the US are racing for global dominance. The West, expanding its influence, has reached Ukraine, taking advantage of Ukraines willingness to join NATO. Militarism in Ukraine would accord the Wests security, economic, and political advantages in this vital region. After a constant supply of military aid to Ukraine, stepping back would have repercussions and would send a negative signal of weakness to its allies in Eastern Europe as an uncertain and unreliable partner.

Ukrainian conflict rooted in Mackinder

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, many provinces gained independence, but Russia has sought to keep the neighbouring countries aligned with itself. The expansion of NATO was against the initial policy as it posed a direct threat of conflict to Russia, an economic threat, and a threat to resources  gaining strategic control in the Black Sea. When asked to join NATO, Russia was declined by the US, but it didnt stop reaching Russia through its neighbours.

Ukraines strategic position and control over the Black Sea would solidify the Wests dominance in the European region. That is what Mackinder talked about. Also, Russia is like an impregnable fortress. Thus, there were two groups, one backed by Western countries who wanted to surround Russia and the other led by Moscow, which never wanted NATO at their doorstep.

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Economic significance of Ukraine

Ukraines agricultural and industrial output and strategic location for trade and commerce made the region significant in the East Asia Economic Caucus and for Russia, but Kyiv refused to join.

Exports and the naval port present in Sevastopolon on the Black Sea side provide a vital strategy for Russia to have direct access to the Black Sea. The region also contains one of the densest networks of pipelines.

Putin used the power vacuum to get his territory back. This was essential for Russia in order to stop itself from being surrounded.

The conceptual conflict was implicit and took much of its present form in two turn-of-the-century writings: Alfred Thayer Mahans The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, written in 1890, and Halford John Mackinders defining article The Geographical Pivot of History published in 1904. More recently, Nicholas Spykman, in 1942, propounded what came to be known as the Rimland thesis, which suggested that it was the coasts and peripheries of Eurasiaprincipally Europe and east Asiathat constituted the basis of geopolitical power defined as the Heartland by J Mackinder.

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The basic outlines of both Mahans and Mackinders concepts of world power are well known. Mahan posited that the determining factor in world power is sea power. The trade-oriented, maritime country, Mahan said, reliably prevails over the land-focused country. He thought that sea power was more important than land power in the fight for dominance. According to Mackinders theory of geopolitics, dominance of Eurasia enables dominance of the outlying continents (the World Island), and such a combination is tantamount to a World Empire, whereas Spykman talked of control of the Rimland, which is essential to controlling the world.

For the West, Ukraine is currently the key to Russias vulnerability. The United States and the Europeans view a strong, independent Ukraine as an important part of building a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. The rapid expansion of the NATO alliance and the EU, particularly since the fall of the Soviet Union, aims to secure Europe and eliminate any future threat of Russias influence transforming itself into the Soviet Union again. NATOs invitation to Ukraine has tilted the balance of power in order to bring the eastern gateway firmly under Western control. Russia, after the dissolution of the USSR, now seems resurgent, and the current conflict is aiming to push back the aggressive expansion of the Wests influence under the mask of trade and military alliance. Russia is unlikely to allow the West to expand any further east to achieve its objectives and is viewing this as an existential crisis.

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The Russian Presidents desire to irreversibly secure eastern Ukraine on the Russian mainland can be reduced to two main factors relating to these theories: access to warm water ports, aligning with Spykmans Rimland, and the expansion and protection of Eastern land power, reflecting Mackinders Heartland. In a globalised world, the ability to trade with ease brings economic leverage, and leverage brings power.

Russias massive geographical region has also been a headache due to its year-round frozen ports and poor navigation of sea routes. The Crimean Port of Sevastopol is, hence, vital in providing warm water access to global shipping routes and allowing the Russian military presence in its critical naval port. Secondly, any westward territorial expansion is deemed advantageous to the Russian regime, which sees the US and NATO as threats.

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Directing resources is an important decision taken by a powerful regime in any country. Resources are finite for any global superpower. For centuries, the exponents of sea power have prevailed by devoting the resources necessary to preserve freedom of navigation and to deny any Heartland aggressor use of the seas as a route for expansion.

The region between the Black and Baltic Seas represents the eastern gateway leading to the West, but it can also be viewed as the western gateway leading to the East. Putin remembers the invasions of Napoleon and Hitler through this gateway. Moscow has resorted to both soft and hard power in its efforts to consolidate a sphere of influence in the inner Eurasian heartland of the former USSR called the Eurasian Union.

In the present conflict, Russia quickly blockaded Ukraine by closing the Kerch Strait, which connects the smaller Sea of Azov to the Black Sea and established complete control of the Sea of Azov, and by stationing ships off Odessa and other Ukrainian ports, blocking Ukraine from the sea. This ensured that it eliminated the ability to resupply the Ukrainian military via the sea, which could have moved far more material quicker towards the fighting in the east rather than from the Polish border across the entire length of the country.

The Russian assimilation of Ukraine appears, on the surface, to be a war for land territory, but the central role the seas and naval power play in securing strategic security interests is also to be focused on. To be a major power, Russia needs to control not only the heartland but also the rimland and, thereafter, the seas. Hence, to paraphrase Mackinder:

Those who control the Heartland, command the Rimland,

Those who control the Rimland, command the World Islands,

Those who control the World Islands, command the World

Throughout history, geography has been the stage on which nations and empires have collided. Geography is the most fundamental factor in international politics because it is the most permanent. For that reason, geography also shapes the perspectives of leaders and, thereby, influences their decision-making in matters of foreign policy.

The writer is an earth and space scientist, advisor to several governments, author of 50 books, and mentor to 1,600 civil servants. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Trump created history on Thursday after he became the first former American president to be convicted in a criminal case read more

US President Joe Biden slammed his Republican rival Donald Trump for claiming that the hush-money trial was rigged and called such claims dangerous. While reacting to the verdict on Friday, Biden condemned all the Trump supporters for trying to malign the integrity of the American justice system.

Trump created history on Thursday after he became the first former American president to be convicted in a criminal case. A 12-member jury in a Manhattan courthouse found the business mogul turned politician guilty of falsifying business records to hide the hush money his team gave to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

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The condemnation from Biden came while he was addressing reporters in the White House. He spoke about comments from Trump and right wing about the historic trial after he gave an update on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

What Biden said on the matter?

Biden insisted that the attack against the countrys judicial systems is reckless and dangerous.

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," the 81-year-old president averred.

Biden went on to make it clear that the countrys justice system should be respected. And we should never allow anyone to tear it down, simple as that, thats America, he added.

Trump declares himself innocent

Ever since the verdict was handed over to him, Trump painted himself as a victim and a political prisoner, he also blamed Biden for all his legal woes and referred to his political opponents as fascists.

While addressing reporters at Trump Tower in Manhattan, the former president set the tone immediately by declaring himself innocent and revisiting populist election campaign warnings.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," he said. While his team called the event a press conference, Trump was in no mood to take questions from the media. Instead, he gave a full monologue for 30 odd minutes.

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Meanwhile, a day after former US President Donald Trump was handed over the historic guilty verdict in the infamous hush money case, his campaign said that it had shattered its own fundraising record.

According to the Financial Times, Trumps campaign raised almost twice as much money than on any previous day. The money was raised through an online donor platform.

The campaign said on Friday morning that it had raised $34.8mn following the verdict.

Trumps campaign said that the amount was nearly double the sum garnered on its best-ever day on the WinRed donation platform. With the massive inflow of donations, the site briefly crashed as well.

President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November fifth is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict, said Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a statement.

With inputs form agencies.
Relatives of passengers who died in two jetliner crashes pushed federal officials Friday to prosecute Boeing on criminal charges related to the accidents no later than this fall. read more

FILE - Catherine Berthet, of France, closes her eyes as she holds a photo of her deceased daughter Camille Geoffroy, in front of other families that lost loved ones to crashes of the Boeing 737 Max airliner outside the federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. - AP

US Justice Department prosecutors informed the families of victims that current or former Boeing Co. executives are unlikely to be prosecuted for the fatal crashes of the 737 Max jet in 2018 and 2019. The department cited the five-year deadline for bringing criminal charges as a significant obstacle to prosecution efforts against individuals.

This announcement came two weeks after Boeing was informed that it had violated the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) signed in early 2021. At a recent meeting with the families, Robert Clifford, the lead lawyer in the families civil suit against Boeing in Chicago urged the Justice Department to prosecute the company this year. He emphasised that Boeing engaged in criminal conduct and should be properly penalised.

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Under the terms of the DPA, Boeing paid a $243 million criminal fine and admitted to deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the required level of training for the new jet. The company also committed to improving its internal controls and providing regular progress reports to the Justice Department. In return, the government agreed to withdraw the charge after three years if Boeing adhered to its promises.

Relatives of passengers who died in two jetliner crashes pushed federal officials Friday to prosecute Boeing on criminal charges related to the accidents no later than this fall.

The Justice Department determined two weeks ago that Boeing violated terms of a settlement that let the company avoid prosecution for deceiving regulators who approved the Boeing 737 Max. Prosecutors have said they will announce by July 7 whether the company will face sanctions.

Boeing agreed in 2021 to pay $2.5 billion  mostly compensation to airlines  to avoid prosecution on a fraud charge. Relatives of some of the 346 people who died in the 2018 and 2019 crashes have tried ever since to scuttle the settlement.

It appeared that the fraud case would be dismissed permanently. But in January, a door plug blew off a Max during an Alaska Airlines flight, leading to new investigations of Boeing.

With inputs from agencies.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is set to embark on her third space mission via NASAs Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The flight, initially slated for May 6, was postponed earlier this month due to a technical issue. read more

Boeing is gearing up for yet another attempt to launch NASA astronauts onboard its Starliner spacecraft after the last attempt was scrubbed hours before liftoff.

Originally scheduled for May 6, the launch was called off with about two hours remaining in the countdown. Liftoff is now expected at 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The spacecraft will be launched into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

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Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is set to embark on her third space mission via NASAs Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The flight, initially slated for May 6, was postponed earlier this month due to a technical issue.

Mike Fincke, the backup crew member for the mission, told the media that the crew was excited for the launch and is confident in this mission.

Live Now!



Watch the launch of the second and final CubeSat of @NASA's PREFIRE mission on @RocketLab's Electron rocket from NZ! The Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment will help scientists measure energy loss at the poles.



 https://t.co/tgRjmecmJU pic.twitter.com/fpodCFQNNT  NASA's Launch Services Program (@NASA_LSP) June 1, 2024

The US space agency is looking to certify Boeing as a second commercial operator to ferry crew to the orbital outpost - something Elon Musks SpaceX has already been doing since 2020. Both companies received multi-billion-dollar contracts in 2014 to develop their gumdrop-shaped and autonomously piloted crew capsules, following the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 that left the US temporarily reliant on Russian rockets for rides.

Boeing, with its 100-year history, was heavily favored over its then-upstart competitor, but its program has faced years of delays and safety scares that mirror the myriad problems afflicting its commercial airline division.

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Wilmore and Williams were strapped in and ready to blast off on May 6 when a faulty rocket valve forced ground teams to call off that launch. Since then, a small helium leak located in one of the spacecrafts thrusters came to light - but rather than replace the seal, which would require taking Starliner apart in its factory, NASA and Boeing officials declared its safe enough to fly as is. Final checks on the leak will take place in the hours before launch.

A successful flight would help Boeing dispel some of the reputational damage sustained by successive failures over the years - from a software bug that put the spaceship on a bad trajectory on its first uncrewed test, to the discovery the cabin was filled with flammable electrical tape after the second.

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Its also important for more immediate reasons: the Urine Processor Assembly on the ISS, which recycles water from the astronauts urine, suffered a failure this week and its pump needs to be replaced, Dana Weigel, NASAs ISS program manager, told reporters.

This mission will thus be tasked with carrying spare equipment, which weighs around 150 pounds (70 kilograms). To make way for it, two astronauts suitcases containing clothes and toiletries had to be pulled off, meaning theyll need to rely on backup supplies kept on the station.

If all goes according to plan, the Starliner should dock with the ISS on Sunday and remain there eight days as the crew carry out tests, including simulating whether the ship can be used as a safe haven in the event there is a problem on the ISS. It would then undock, reenter the atmosphere and carry out a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the western United States on June 10.

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With inputs from agencies.
Jon Benjamin was on a work trip to a northwestern region plagued by drug cartel violence when the incident happened. A video posted by an anonymous account on the social media platform X this week appeared to show the moment when Benjamin jokingly pointed the weapon towards the rear of the vehicle read more

Britains ambassador to Mexico was removed from his post after allegedly pointing an assault rifle inside a vehicle carrying embassy staff, reports said Friday.

The UK government said it had taken appropriate action after the incident, without confirming that Jon Benjamin had been sacked.

Benjamin was on a work trip to a northwestern region plagued by drug cartel violence when the incident happened, the Financial Times reported.

Benjamin, a career diplomat, was sacked as ambassador soon after the episode in April, the newspaper said, quoting unnamed people familiar with the matter.

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Foreign officials often travel with bodyguards when visiting danger zones in Mexico, it noted.

A video posted by an anonymous account on the social media platform X this week appeared to show the moment when Benjamin jokingly pointed the weapon towards the rear of the vehicle.

Former UK ambassador to Ghana and Mexico, Jon Benjamin was sacked after pointing gun at staff. pic.twitter.com/rSEDpXtwMh  Ghana Crimes (@GhanaCrimes) June 1, 2024

The face of a passenger  described by the FT as a local embassy employee  sitting in the back seat was blurred out.

In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke, said the account @subdiplomatic, which also complained of alleged mistreatment of Mexican embassy staff.

Around 80 people are murdered every day in the Latin American nation, large swaths of which are controlled by ultra-violent drug cartels.

Asked about the reports, a UK foreign ministry spokesperson told AFP: We are aware of this incident and have taken appropriate action.

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The British government has robust HR processes to address internal issues when they arise, the person added, without elaborating.

The ministrys website says Benjamin was UK ambassador to Mexico between 2021 and 2024.

According to Benjamins account on business networking site LinkedIn, his posting in Mexico ended in May.
A screenshot of a photo released by the San Francisco Police Department during a town hall on an officer-involved shooting shows the loaded crossbow on May 23. San Francisco Police Department A screenshot of a video released by the San Francisco Police Department shows an officer prior to shooting at a suspect who had a crossbow on May 23. San Francisco Police Department

A suspect detained during an officer-involved shooting last week was carrying a loaded crossbow in the Bayview district, San Francisco police revealed Friday.

San Francisco police responded to reports of a man dressed in camouflage-printed clothing walking around with an AK-47 just after 3 p.m. on May 23. Upon finding him near Jennings Street and Donner Avenue, officers realized the male suspect was carrying a crossbow instead.

Officers with the San Francisco Police Department respond to a man with a crossbow on Jennings Street and Donner Avenue in San Francisco on May 23. Provided by San Francisco Police Department

Body-worn camera footage released during a town hall on Friday appears to show multiple responding officers giving the suspect multiple orders to drop the weapon with warnings that they would shoot if he didnt comply. Within minutes of locating the suspect, two officers deployed beanbags and one officer fired his gun after the suspect began to raise both arms with the crossbow in hand.

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The suspect was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries from the fired bean bags. He was not injured by gunshot, according to police.

Police located the crossbow loaded with a 15-inch bolt.

The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Yoshimar Zamora. The police officer who used the department-issued firearm was identified as Officer Jean-Michel MBouroukounda, who was named in a 2022 officer-involved shooting.

Because the incident is an officer-involved shooting, it triggers investigations by several law entities: The District Attorneys Office, the Department of Police Accountability, SFPDs Investigative Services Division and Internal Affairs Division.

No community members shared concerns or comments during the public comment period during the town hall.

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From Japan to Australia, the United States has been deepening defence ties across the region, ramping up joint military exercises and regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea  infuriating Beijing read more

A Chinese defence official accused the United States on Saturday of seeking to build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO to maintain its hegemony in the region.

Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng made the remarks on the sidelines of a major security forum in Singapore where US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier hailed a new era of security for the region.

From Japan to Australia, the United States has been deepening defence ties across the region, ramping up joint military exercises and regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea  infuriating Beijing.

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In the past three years, Austin said there had been a new convergence around nearly all aspects of security in the Asia-Pacific, where there was a shared understanding of the power of partnership.

This new convergence is producing a stronger, more resilient and more capable network of partnerships and that is defining a new era of security in the Indo-Pacific, Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

However, it was not about imposing one countrys will or bullying or coercion, Austin said, in an apparent shot at China, which has increased its sabre-rattling over self-ruled Taiwan and grown more confident in pressing its claims in the South China Sea.

This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart, Austin said. Its about the free choices of sovereign states.

- I will answer the phone -

The Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security forum attended by defence officials from around the world, has become a barometer of US-China relations in recent years.

This years edition 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.

Taiwan is one of the thorniest disputes in US-China relations.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Friday for the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries defence chiefs in 18 months.

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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 further stoked 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

Fridays meeting offered hopes of further military dialogue that could help prevent flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.

Austin said the United States and China would resume military-to-military communications in the coming months, while Beijing hailed the stabilising security relations between the countries.

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I told Minister Dong that if he calls me on an urgent matter, I will answer the phone, Austin said Saturday.

And I certainly hope that hell do the same.

- We are all in -

Underscoring the US commitment to the region, Austin said Saturday that the Asia-Pacific remained Washingtons priority theatre of operations, noting the United States can be secure only if Asia is.

We are all in and were not going anywhere, Austin said.

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washingtons efforts to build an arc of alliances across the region.

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.

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The Philippines has increased to nine the number of military bases open to US troops under a 2014 agreement, including two in the countrys far north less than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Taiwan.

Austin insisted Saturday that Washingtons commitment to defend Manila under their mutual defence treaty remained ironclad, as repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have stoked fears of a wider conflict.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday that the stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace.
The G-7 has consistently focused on preventing Russia from acquiring critical technologies essential for weaponry. However, Russia has circumvented many of these bans by channelling prohibited goods through countries like China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Central Asian nations, often using complex networks of intermediaries spanning various jurisdictions. read more

The Group of Seven (G-7) nations and the European Union are exploring stricter measures against banks aiding Moscow in evading sanctions. Bloomberg cited anonymous sources as saying that some proposals involve targeting third-country financial institutions that utilize Russias SWIFT-like messaging system to bypass trade restrictions.

These deliberations are taking place ahead of a G-7 summit in Italy next month, where leaders intend to solidify strategies for more effective enforcement of sanctions against Russia due to its conflict with Ukraine.

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The G-7 has consistently focused on preventing Russia from acquiring critical technologies essential for weaponry. However, Russia has circumvented many of these bans by channelling prohibited goods through countries like China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Central Asian nations, often using complex networks of intermediaries spanning various jurisdictions.

Last month, the United States and the rest of the Group of Seven major economies will unveil new sanctions and export controls targeting Russia over its war against Ukraine, a U.S. official said ahead of a G7 summit in Japan.

G7 leaders are gathering in Hiroshima on Friday with the invasion of Ukraine, now in its second year, opens new tab, high on the agenda. The U.S. has spearheaded tough sanctions on Russian companies, banks and individuals, and the coming announcement is designed to reaffirm world powers resolve to support Ukraine and squeeze Moscow.The United States and its allies, including the European Union and Britain, have continued to ratchet up sanctions and export-control pressure on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Thousands of targets hit with sanctions by Washington so far have included Russian President Vladimir Putin, the financial sector and oligarchs.

Washington over the past few months has cracked down on sanctions evasion with a heavy focus on dual-use items - those which have both commercial and military applications.

The latest U.S. sanctions package will include extensively restricting categories of goods key to the battlefield as well as preventing some 70 entities from Russia and third countries from receiving U.S. exports by adding them to the U.S. Commerce Departments blacklist.

In addition, the United States will announce some 300 new sanctions against individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft targeting financial facilitators, Russias future energy extracting capabilities, and others across Europe, the Middle East and Asia helping to support the war.

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U.S. sanctions authorities would also be expanded to more sectors of the Russian economy.

The U.S. official said Washington would take significant steps to align its actions closely with the EU and Britain to ensure that the G7 remained as coordinated as possible in response to Russias brutal actions.

With inputs from agencies.
This is the second such incident involving an IndiGo flight in the past week. On May 28, an IndiGo Varanasi flight from Delhi had received an alleged bomb threat. Full emergency was declared for IndiGo flight 6E5314, operating on Chennai-Mumbai route on Saturday after the pilot informed the Mumbai ATC of an alleged bomb threat to the aircraft read more

An IndiGo flight operating from Chennai to Mumbai with 172 persons on board landed in full emergency conditions here on Saturday after it received a bomb threat, sources have said.

The flight landed at around 8.45 am and the passengers deplaning has been completed using the step ladder, a source said.

This is the second such incident involving an IndiGo flight in the past week. On May 28, an IndiGo Varanasi flight from Delhi had received an alleged bomb threat.

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Full emergency was declared for IndiGo flight 6E5314, operating on Chennai-Mumbai route on Saturday after the pilot informed the Mumbai ATC of an alleged bomb threat to the aircraft, the source said.

Confirming the alleged bomb threat to its Chennai-Mumbai flight, IndiGo said in a statement, Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines.

All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft, which is currently undergoing inspection, it said.

Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area, it added.
Indonesias presidentelect, Prabowo Subianto, said on Saturday that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required. read more

Indonesias president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, said on Saturday that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier security conference, Prabowo said U.S. President Joe Bidens three-phase proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction.

When needed and when requested by the U.N., we are prepared to contribute significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire as well as providing protection and security to all parties and to all sides, Prabowo said.

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The 72-year-old former special forces general and current Indonesian defence minister takes on the presidency of the worlds most populous Muslim nation in October.

He said President Joko Widodo had instructed him to announce that Indonesia was also ready to evacuate, to receive and to treat with medical care up to 1,000 patients from Gaza.

The Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, which was run by an Indonesia NGO, closed in November amid the fighting.

Prabowo said a comprehensive investigation into the humanitarian disaster in the Rafah area of Gaza was needed as well as a just solution to the situation in Palestine.

And that means the rights of not only Israel to exist, but also the rights of the Palestinian people to have their own homeland, their own state, living in peace.
Reports suggest that the two individuals, purportedly from Jammu and Kashmir, were arrested in Gilgit-Baltistan on charges of espionage in 2020. They were identified as 29-year-old Feroze Ahmad Lone and 24-year-old Noor Muhammad Wani, both from the Gorez area of Kashmir read more

Pakistan on Friday refused to share details of consular access to the two Indian nationals held on the charges of spying, saying such access had been provided from time to time.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was asked at the weekly briefing about the reported consular access to two Indians who were arrested for allegedly spying in Gilgit-Baltistan.

I will not go into the details of such communications. However, Pakistan does from time to time arrange consular access for the Indian High Commission to its nationals, she said.

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Earlier this week, The Express Tribune newspaper reported that Pakistan authorities granted consular access to India for a meeting with two Indian nationals arrested on charges of spying in 2020.

The consular access was provided at the request of the Indian government and the meeting between Indian diplomats and the alleged spies took place on Monday.

Reports suggest that the two individuals, purportedly from Jammu and Kashmir, were arrested in Gilgit-Baltistan on charges of espionage in 2020. They were identified as 29-year-old Feroze Ahmad Lone and 24-year-old Noor Muhammad Wani, both from the Gorez area of Kashmir.

A three-member delegation from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad met with the two prisoners at Adiala Jail, diplomatic sources said. Interior Ministry officers were also present during the meeting, according to sources.
He said the Philippines would also pursue more robust collaboration with friends such as South Korea, India, amongst others, collaborative endeavours among a few states that share specific interests built into pillars that support the architecture of regional stability read more

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said that his government will pursue more robust collaboration with friends; such as India as collaborative endeavours to build pillars that support the architecture of regional stability.

Under our Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept, we shall develop our capacity to project our forces into areas where we must by constitutional duty and by legal right protect our interest and preserve our patrimony And as we build our defence capabilities, so shall we continue to invest in diplomacy, Marcos said at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday night.

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He said the Philippines would also pursue more robust collaboration with friends such as South Korea, India, amongst others, collaborative endeavours among a few states that share specific interests built into pillars that support the architecture of regional stability.

As we work to uphold the rule of law in international affairs, so shall we build our capabilities to protect our interest in our maritime domain and the global commons, the president said, underlining the increasing tension in the South China Sea and the vast Indo-Pacific region.

In April, the Philippines took delivery of Indias BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as part of a USD 375 million deal signed by the two countries in 2022.

BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), a joint venture company of Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), signed a contract with the Philippines in January 2022 to supply Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System.

Observers said such deals, and many more to be expected, put Manila-New Delhi in growing diplomatic and trade relations amidst Chinas aggressive activities in the region.

Recently, an Indian naval ship paid a goodwill visit to the Philippines and there are multilateral cooperation agreements between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a leading member.

India-ASEAN regularly holds maritime exercises and naval ship visits are part of the total understanding to gain knowledge of each fellow member countrys maritime capacities, the observers opined.

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Addressing the defence-security-focused three-day dialogue that kicked off on Thursday, Marcos underlined commitment to ASEAN centrality, saying it shall remain a core element of his countrys foreign policy.

Simultaneously, we shall strengthen our alliance with the United States and our strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei and all the other ASEAN member states. In this spirit, we pursue trilateral collaboration with Indonesia and Malaysia in the Celebes Sea, he told international diplomats and delegates comprising defence experts at the event.
The Ukrainian military reported that it had downed 35 out of the 53 missiles launched at targets across the country overnight on June 1, as well as 46 out of 47 attack drones. read more

Ukrainian servicemen search a target with a US Stinger air defence missile launcher on the front line in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 28, 2024. - AP

Russia launched its largest missile and drone attack in over three weeks against Ukraines critical infrastructure, with air defenses intercepting two-thirds of the missiles.

A total of 53 missiles, including four Iskander ballistic missiles from Crimea, and 47 explosive-laden Shahed drones targeted Ukraine overnight, according to Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Officials reported injuries across the country, including in the western Lviv region and the central Dnipropetrovsk region. In the Kharkiv region, twelve people, including eight children, were hospitalized after a strike near two houses where they were sheltering, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

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These strikes are part of ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraines power grid, which have persisted since March. Ukraines largest private energy firm, DTEK, reported serious damage to two of its power plants, marking the sixth attack on the companys facilities in two and a half months.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stated on social media that energy infrastructure in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions had also been targeted. The damage has led to nationwide rolling blackouts, and without sufficient air defenses to counter these assaults and allow for repairs, energy shortages could worsen as demand increases in late summer and the cold winter months.

In response to the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated Kyivs urgent need for additional air defense systems from Western allies.

With inputs from agencies.
Marcos said the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors. read more

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has warned China against crossing a red line in the South China Sea, asserting that any Filipino casualties resulting from Beijings deliberate actions would be considered as close to an act of war and met with an appropriate response from Manila.

Speaking at the defence-and-security-focused Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday night, Marcos emphasized the need to bolster defence cooperation with the US as he confronts the Chinese militarys aggressive maneuvers in the disputed waters.

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We shall strengthen our alliances with the United States and our strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, and all the other member states of ASEAN. We will also pursue more robust collaborations with countries such as the Republic of Korea, India amongst others, Marcos said.

Marcos said the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam claim parts of it.

Unfortunately, this vision remains for now a distant reality. Illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, Marcos said.

If a Filipino citizen was killed by a wilful act, that is very close to what we define as an act of war, he said. We would have crossed the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly, he asserted.

Chinas determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region is a permanent fact, he said.

At the same time, the stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace. Its never a choice. Both countries are important, he underscored. Marcos pointed out that security in the South China Sea, through which a huge volume of trade passes, is a global issue.

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Marcos said tensions between the US and China were destabilising for Southeast Asia, calling on Washington and Beijing to work harder to resolve disputes.

Their rivalry is constraining the strategic choices of regional states. Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas, Marcos said.The continued stability of this region requires China and the States to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner, he said.

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.

In recent months the simmering dispute between China and the Philippines over territory in the South China Sea has sharpened into aggressive clashes. Manila has denounced Chinese patrol ships firing water cannons at Philippine boats and supply vessels, injuring some personnel.

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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. The Philippines, a treaty ally of the US, is a key focus of Washingtons efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region as it seeks to counter Chinas 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 US 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 450km from Taiwan.

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The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) also allows US troops to rotate through and store defence equipment and supplies. The US growing presence in the region and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have infuriated Chinese leaders in Beijing.

China has accused the US of using the Philippines as a pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, according to US-China affair watchers and analysts.

Chinas Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun is scheduled to address the annual Dialogue on Sunday and is expected to respond to China-related issues on the South China Sea. The security forum in Singapore was attended by US Defence Secretary Austin and defence chiefs from around the world.

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With inputs from PTI.
Trumps campaign raised almost twice as much money than on any previous day. The money was raised through an online donor platform read more

Former US president Donald Trump has been found guilty of felony on all 34 counts. Reuters

A day after former US President Donald Trump was handed over the historic guilty verdict in the infamous hush money case, his campaign said that it had shattered its own fundraising record. On Thursday, the business mogul turned politician created history for all the wrong reasons after a 12-member jury found him guilty of falsifying his business records.

According to the Financial Times, Trumps campaign raised almost twice as much money than on any previous day. The money was raised through an online donor platform.

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The campaign said on Friday morning that it had raised $34.8mn following the verdict. It is pertinent to note that with this verdict, Trump became the first ex-president ever to be convicted of a felony. He was found guilty on all 34 counts and was accused of hiding the hush money given to adult film star Stormy Daniels from his business records.

The campaign site briefly crashed

Trumps campaign said that the amount was nearly double the sum garnered on its best-ever day on the WinRed donation platform. With the massive inflow of donations, the site briefly crashed as well.

President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November fifth is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict, said Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a statement.

Shortly after the verdict started making headlines, Trumps campaign moved within minutes to start a donation drive and went on to refer to Trump as a political prisoner.

I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial, wrote Trump on the campaign page. I DID NOTHING WRONG!

Even before the verdict, Trumps campaign has stepped up its fundraising efforts, including holding events with oil barons in Texas and a planned June trip to Silicon Valley.

Jason Thielman, who runs the official Senate Republican campaign also noted the spike in the campaign funds. Outrage over the sham verdict against Trump has spurred average Americans into action! Thielman wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.

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Outrage over the sham verdict against Trump has spurred average Americans into action! The NRSC just had its largest online daily fundraising haul of the cycle. The people are energized and determined to take back the White House and Senate!  Jason Thielman (@ThielmanJason) May 31, 2024

The NRSC just had its largest online daily fundraising haul of the cycle. The people are energized and determined to take back the White House and Senate! he added.

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Not only this, Google searches for DonaldJTrump.com and WinRed spiked over 5,000 per cent, the Trump campaign website jumped over 1,000 per cent and the Biden campaign website saw an increase of over 350 per cent, Financial Times reported.

Billionaires like Stephen Schwarzman, Bill Ackman and Miriam Adelson have expressed their intentions to support the former president in the upcoming elections.

With inputs from agencies.
Since the beginning of 2022, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea  the Norths official name  has launched over 100 missiles using this banned technology as it has advanced its nuclear weapons program. In response, the U.S. and its allies have carried out an increasing number of military exercises. read more

The United States and allies South Korea and Japan clashed with China and Russia Friday over North Koreas latest satellite and ballistic missile launches and threats to use nuclear weapons that have escalated tensions in northeast Asia.

The scene was an emergency open meeting of the U.N. Security Council called after North Koreas failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on May 27 and other launches using ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. sanctions.

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Since the beginning of 2022, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea  the Norths official name  has launched over 100 missiles using this banned technology as it has advanced its nuclear weapons program. In response, the U.S. and its allies have carried out an increasing number of military exercises.

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari briefed the council meeting saying sovereign states have the right to benefit from peaceful space activities  but the DPRK is expressly prohibited from conducting launches using ballistic missile technology and its continuing violations undermine global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation treaties.

We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Khiari said. There is a need for practical measures to reduce tensions, reverse the dangerous dynamic, and create space to explore diplomatic avenues.

North Koreas U.N. Ambassador Kim Song insisted that its satellite launches  and it had a successful one last November  are the legitimate and universal right of a sovereign state under international law and the Outer Space Treaty. He stressed that reconnaissance satellites are not only needed to strengthen its self-defense capabilities but to defend its sovereignty.

Kim told the Security Council that the massive deployment of strategic assets and aggressive war exercises by the United States on the Korean Peninsula and in the region have broken all records and destroyed the military balance.

This has turned the Korean Peninsula into the most fragile zone in the world, fraught with the danger of outbreak of war, he said, claiming that joint military exercises since the beginning of the year are a U.S.-led nuclear war rehearsal.

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The DPRK ambassador said the Security Council shouldnt waste time debating the legitimate rights of a sovereign state, but should direct its attention to putting an immediate end to the killing of civilians in Gaza, which continues unabated under U.S. patronage.

South Koreas U.N. Ambassador Joonkook Hwang said it should be his country  not the DPRK  that should claim the right to self-defense.

He said the DPRKs nuclear policy and its rhetoric are getting increasing aggressive and hostile," and Pyongyang no longer views its nuclear arsenal as just a deterrent against the United States, but instead as a means to attack my country.

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He quoted DPRK leader Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo-jong, saying two weeks ago that the only purpose of their tactical nuclear weapons is to teach a lesson to Seoul.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood urged the Security Council to condemn the DPRKs launches and hold it accountable for violating U.N. sanctions.

But two council members, China and Russia, continuously block the Security Council from speaking against the DPRKs behavior with one voice and makes us all less safe, he said.

Wood also accused the DPRK of unlawfully transferring dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

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He rejected as groundless and disingenuous claims by the DPRK and its supporters on the council that its missile launches are a response to U.S.-led military exercises.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva countered that one of the key catalysts for the growing tensions in the region has been and remains the build-up of military activity by the U.S. and its allies.

U.S.-led military drills against the DPRK and numerous other hostile acts with a threatening military component are provoking countermeasures from North Korea, which is forced to take action to strengthen its national defense capacity, she said.

Evstigneeva claimed the unstable situation around the Korean Peninsula is of benefit to Washington, which continues to confidently and deliberately pursue the path of confrontation instead of dialogue.

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She also dismissed claims that Russia is engaging in illegal military and technical cooperation with the DPRK as absolutely unfounded.

Chinas U.N. ambassador, Fu Cong, called the situation on the Korean Peninsula highly tense, with antagonism and confrontation escalating, and called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions or rhetoric that might increase tension.

He warned that a planned large-scale joint military exercise on the peninsula in August practicing a scenario involving a nuclear war will only increase tensions.

U.S. envoy Wood retorted that the United States is in no way a threat to the DPRK, stressing that the U.S. offer to reach out an open hand and hold talks with the DPRK without preconditions over the past few years has been met with a clenched fist.
Colin Twohig, the general manager of Big Sur River Inn. As climate change unleashes stronger storms, scenic but remote Big Sur is more often cut off by landslides. Businesses there fight to survive amid the uncertainty. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

BIG SUR, Monterey County  Standing alongside Highway 1, Colin Twohig pulled out a pack of American Spirits as he watched car after car zoom past Big Surs oldest resort.

It was Memorial Day weekend, known throughout this iconic stretch of coastline as the start of tourist season. Yet, at 2:30 p.m. on that sunny Friday, the Big Sur River Inns parking lot remained mostly empty.

Im stressed, Twohig, the River Inns general manager, said between puffs of his cigarette. We could really use a good weekend.

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Such feelings are nothing new to hospitality workers in Big Sur, where landslides and road closures have become part of daily life. What most concerns Twohig and many other locals is that things appear to be getting worse. For almost a decade now, Big Surs roughly 2,000 residents havent gone a year without significant disruptions to tourism.

An Easter weekend storm caused the collapse of Highway 1 near Rocky Creek Bridge, north of Big Sur. The section reopened to one-way traffic on May 17, earlier than expected, after crews stabilized the cliff. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Just two weeks ago, Highway 1, the areas only road in or out, reopened north of Big Sur in the direction of Monterey after workers spent 48 days repairing damage from a storm-triggered landslide. The less-trafficked section to the south in the direction of Santa Barbara has now been closed for 16 months.

Though business owners try to stockpile enough financial reserves to withstand such setbacks, many know that a day could come  maybe in a year or two, maybe sooner  when the money runs out.

Experts expect climate change to further strain Big Surs already-fragile geology, increasing the frequency of those rockslides that cut off the popular road-trip destination from the rest of the world. No amount of government funding  Caltrans spent $315 million on unplanned emergency work in the area between 2016 and 2023  can permanently cure what ails this 75-mile span of Highway 1.

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Everything there sort of points in the wrong direction for stability, said Gary Griggs, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Everything done on Highway 1 there is a Band-Aid. Its a Band-Aid of different proportions depending on the slide.

As if all that wasnt enough, small-business owners in Big Sur must contend with rising insurance premiums, a regional land-use plan that limits economic growth and something locals simply call the hangover. Either nervous to return or unaware they can, tourists often wait months after Highway 1 finally reopens to begin flocking toward this remote segment of Californias Central Coast.

Climate change may further strain Big Surs already-fragile geology. No amount of government funding can permanently cure what ails the 75-mile span of Highway 1 that snakes along the scenic coast. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

Faced with such monumental challenges, business owners in almost any other region of the country might have given up long ago. Not folks in Big Sur. A hardy people, they view repeated evacuations and prolonged periods of isolation as a fair trade-off for living amid awe-inspiring natural beauty.

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Nestled between the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur features dramatic cliffs, coastal redwoods, panoramic beaches and skies the writer Henry Miller once described as pure azure. But even though its easy to feel suspended from reality in such an idyllic setting, business owners must still turn a profit and make payroll.

Relentless closures are now testing even the most ardent members of Big Surs hospitality industry. Some see only one way to cope: overlook geologists grim predictions, think resourcefully and hope for the best.

I have a different sensibility about it than I used to, said Matt Glazer, executive director of the historic Deetjens Big Sur Inn. Im no longer longing for the old days when we could get through a tourism season with no real hiccups. The normal year is to be prepared for some interruption.

Matt Glazer, executive director of the historic Deetjens Big Sur Inn, says he no longer dreams of the old days when he could get through a tourism season with no real hiccups. The new normal, he says, is to be prepared for some interruption. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

What has unfolded in recent months constitutes more than some interruption. In late March, just as Twohig was starting to make the River Inn profitable again after a rough winter, a landslide near the famous Bixby Creek Bridge sent a large chunk of Highway 1 tumbling 170 feet into the ocean.

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Caltrans soon established twice-daily convoys through the closed area north of Big Sur for residents and essential workers. But as state officials began yet another lengthy  and costly  repair to that volatile road, Twohig barely slept. His days were a blur of meetings with politicians and other business managers, reviews of the River Inns meager finances and brainstorming sessions with managing partner Ben Perlmutter.

Instead of shutting down for the duration of the road closure, Twohig and Perlmutter kept their business open in hopes of retaining staff and supporting the community. They built an online store, slashed prices in the restaurant, donated meals to local charities, organized pop-up music events on the back patio and served hot lunches at the nearby elementary school.

Waiters, line cooks and front-desk clerks went to work installing drywall or finishing other maintenance projects. To make payroll in those tenuous first days post-landslide, Perlmutter and his wife, Laurel Flagg, dipped into their personal savings.

Ben Perlmutter stands in front of his family-owned hotel and restaurant, the Big Sur River Inn. His father almost sold it in 2023 but the deal fell through. Now Perlmutter and business partner Colin Twohig are working to make it thrive. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

A year earlier, Perlmutters father, Alan, had agreed to sell the River Inn to an out-of-town group trying to expand its real-estate portfolio. At age 90, after 3 decades stressing over money and mudslides, he was finally ready to retire.

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It was heartbreaking, Perlmutter said of learning that the resort would leave the family.

For several months, Perlmutter helped his dad with the sale, only for the buyers to back out two hours before it closed. After examining the River Inns taxes, insurance rates and proximity to common rockslide sites, they had decided it wasnt worth the hassle.

Alan Perlmutters disappointment was short-lived. This past September, Ben Perlmutter left a lucrative tech career in San Francisco to take over the family business. Twohig, Bens close childhood friend, had made his own career switch several years earlier when he quit environmental real estate to travel and bartend at the River Inn restaurant. Now in charge of the entire resorts day-to-day operations, Twohigs job is clear: Help Ben keep the doors open.

Business at the Big Sur River Inn plummeted by 80% during the seven weeks that Highway 1 north of the resort was closed after the road washed out. Memorial Day weekend marked a turning point. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

As Twohig gazed upon Highway 1 the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day, he worried about the River Inns future. Business had cratered 80% from its typical level during the nearly seven weeks the road was closed north of Big Sur. Then, shortly after that section of Highway 1 reopened in time for the holiday weekend, Twohig felt renewed panic when a Caltrans official informed him that progress had stalled on the damaged road 14 miles south of Big Sur.

For many months, Twohig had banked on it reopening by the start of summer. Now, barring any more delays, it wouldnt be cleared until October or November.

This was devastating news for a resort that relies on families stopping for food or a room while they make Californias most scenic road trip. Though tourists from the Bay Area and other northern cities can still visit Big Sur before turning around or taking an extensive detour along Highway 101, the River Inn loses 30% of its normal business whenever Highway 1 is closed below Big Sur.

At a time when Twohig was supposed to be celebrating the dawn of tourism season, he instead thought about how he would get creative to reduce his 77 employees hours.

Kirk Gafill, president of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce and manager of fabled cliffside restaurant Nepenthe, estimates that businesses in the area lost a total of more than $1 million a day when Highway 1 closed north of Big Sur. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

Thats not going to be a fun undertaking for me, Twohig said. I will be working hard to look at all of our operating costs and see where more fat can be trimmed.

Many other managers can relate.

Kirk Gafill, president of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce and manager of the fabled cliffside restaurant Nepenthe, estimated that businesses in the area lost a total of more than $1 million a day when Highway 1 was closed north of Big Sur. With the road south of Big Sur likely to be closed at least another four months, managers might need deeper financial reserves to survive.

In Nepenthes case, that means building a cushion that can last 18 to 24 months  not just the usual six to 12. But Nepenthe, which often has two-hour waits for a terrace seat during the summer, might be one of the few Big Sur businesses that can afford to think long-term.

Asked how the River Inn would handle things if major tourism disruptions continue to happen each year, Twohigs answer could be distilled to three words: They better not. It hardly helps that the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan, which guides the areas commercial development, doesnt allow the River Inn to add to its 22 guest rooms. Combine that with a state-wide insurance crisis and surging expenses, and it has perhaps less financial flexibility than ever before.

Nepenthe, which often has two-hour waits for a terrace seat during the summer, might be one of the few Big Sur businesses that can afford to think long-term. Manager Kirk Gafill says businesses need to have an 18- to 24-month financial cushion. kodiak greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

These businesses margins have really been declining over the last several years because of larger macroeconomic events, Gafill said. Then you get something like this very specific event to Big Sur, like a road closure, and it really reduces that margin and that cushion.

Geology isnt on the side of local businesses. Since this stretch of Highway 1 was erected in 1937, tens of millions of tourists have crossed over a mishmash of rock formations rife with gaps and joints. During heavy rains, water seeps into those cracks, mixes with finely crushed rock and creates a smooth mush known to cause landslides.

An evolving climate of stronger storms, fiercer wildfires and higher waves has only exacerbated the situation. Among the numerous calamities to befall Big Sur over the past eight years are a forest fire that destroyed more than 50 homes in 2016, a huge mudslide that stranded residents for eight months in 2017, and a landslide that severed access from the south so thoroughly in early 2023 that it still hasnt been fixed almost 1 years later.

But given the areas many rocky cliffs and huge boulders, transportation officials might only have one option: continue to study the topography closely in hopes of predicting the next big landslide.

The Regents Slide south of Big Sur has contributed to the closure of Highway 1 since February. A clear route down the coast to San Simeon may not be open until October or November. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

Its on the edge of the continent, where things are moving a lot, Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski said. Thats why we put such an emphasis on prevention. We try to identify locations in advance and clear them.

Locals knew the bargain they struck when they chose to stay in Big Sur year-round. Lured by the desire to live in nature, they seldom  if ever  complain about having shaky cellphone reception, no grocery chain and no municipal government beyond the school board.

Some even admit that they look forward to landslides because of the solitude they often bring. When no one is on the highway, longtime resident Magnus Toren said, you remember why you love this place so much.

But without tourism, many residents couldnt sustain themselves. As Twohig showed a visitor around the River Inns five-acre property on that Friday before Memorial Day, he pointed out the large wooden lawn chairs that migrate to the river every spring, the swimming pool where locals spend hot summer days, and the blue-and-yellow ice cream truck that has served guests sweet treats for as long as he can remember.

Some people admit to appreciating the road closures. When no one is on the highway, said longtime resident Magnus Toren, who directs the Henry Miller Memorial Library on Highway 1, you remember why you love this place so much. Kodiak Greenwood/Special to the Chronicle

When Twohig first started working the restaurant bar in 2018, he had told himself he just needed a break and would return to real estate soon enough. Years passed. He realized he was right where he belonged.

This place really means a lot to me, Twohig said. It means a lot to so many people.
Speaking on the sidelines of the forum after Austins speech, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng accused the United States of seeking to build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO to maintain its hegemony in the region. read more

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday the Indo-Pacific region remained a priority for Washington, saying the United States was secure only if Asia is. Austin hailed on Saturday a new era of security in the Asia-Pacific region, as Washington strengthens its network of alliances aimed at countering Chinas growing military might and influence.

The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure. We have long maintained our presence in the Indo-Pacific for this very reason. Its also why we continue to make the investments necessary to meet our commitments to our allies and partners, he said in a post on X.

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The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure.



We have long maintained our presence in the Indo-Pacific for this very reason.



Its also why we continue to make the investments necessary to meet our commitments to our allies and partners. pic.twitter.com/2KmBuvJccD  Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 1, 2024

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum after Austins speech, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng accused the United States of seeking to build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO to maintain its hegemony in the region.

From Japan to Australia, the United States has been deepening defence ties across the region, ramping up joint military exercises and regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea  infuriating Beijing. In the past three years, Austin said there had been a new convergence around nearly all aspects of security in the Asia-Pacific, where there was a shared understanding of the power of partnership.

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Addressing the media, Austin said that this new convergence is producing a stronger, more resilient and more capable network of partnerships and that is defining a new era of security in the Indo-Pacific.

However, it was not about imposing one countrys will or bullying or coercion, Austin said, in an apparent shot at China, which has increased its sabre-rattling over self-ruled Taiwan and grown more confident in pressing its claims in the South China Sea.

This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart, Austin said. Its about the free choices of sovereign states.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security forum attended by defence officials from around the world, has become a barometer of US-China relations in recent years. This years edition 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.

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Taiwan is one of the thorniest disputes in US-China relations. Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Friday for the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries defence chiefs in 18 months. 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 further stoked 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

With agency inputs.
Asked on Saturday at the security summit how he would respond to a direct South Korean request for help obtaining nuclear submarines, Austin said it would be very, very difficult for Washington to accommodate that on top of what we do right now. read more

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States is unlikely to assist South Korea in building nuclear-powered submarines at present due to commitments under the AUKUS pact with Australia.

Speaking at the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore, South Korean request for help in obtaining nuclear submarines, Austin stated it would be very, very difficult for Washington to accommodate such a request in addition to its current commitments.

In 2021, the United States signed the AUKUS agreement with Britain and Australia to share nuclear-powered submarine technology and to sell at least three Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s. Other allies, including South Korea, have shown interest in participating.

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(AUKUS) is no small endeavour, he said. We just started down this path with Australia. (Its) highly doubtful that we could take on another initiative of this type anytime in the near future. The two-stage security pact aims to counteract Chinas growing power in the Asia-Pacific region. It will be the first time Washington has shared nuclear-propulsion technology since it did so with Britain in the 1950s. It includes a second technology-sharing pillar, besides the submarines, which has drawn interest from New Zealand and Japan.

We believe that AUKUS is actually a good addition to regional security, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins said on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday, adding that New Zealand had enquired about the second pillar

Weve had no actual invitation to join it but it is something that we are certainly looking at, she said.



Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said that he could imagine other countries involvement in the future but that the focus for now was on the U.S.-UK-Australia trio getting runs on the board of submarine projects, which are set to last decades.
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, posing security threats for many countries. read more

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addressed top security officials on Saturday, emphasising that war with China is neither imminent nor inevitable, despite increasing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. He highlighted the need for renewed dialogue between him and his Chinese counterpart to prevent miscalculations and misunderstandings.

Austin made these remarks at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, a day after a more than hour-long meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. This meeting was the first in-person discussion between the top defense officials since military contacts between the U.S. and China were severed in 2022 following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which had angered Beijing.

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Both sides maintained their established positions on Taiwan, which China claims and has not ruled out taking by force, and on Chinas extensive claims in the South China Sea, which have led to direct confrontations with other regional nations, especially the Philippines. Austin did not disclose details of their conversation but emphasized the significance of resuming dialogue.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., addressing the same forum on Friday night, stressed the high stakes involved. He stated that if a Filipino were killed in confrontations with China over South China Sea claims, it would be very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly.

Marcos added that he assumed the Philippines treaty partners, which include the U.S., hold the same standard.

In his own speech, Austin lauded how Marcos spoke so powerfully last night about how the Philippines is standing up for its sovereign rights under international law. But when pressed later, he would not say how the U.S. might react if a Filipino were killed in a confrontation with China, calling it hypothetical.

He did say the U.S. commitment to the Philippines as a treaty partner is ironclad, while again stressing the importance of dialogue with China.

There are a number of things that can happen at sea or in the air, we recognize that," he said. But our goal is to make sure that we dont allow things to spiral out of control unnecessarily.

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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, posing security threats for many countries.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles noted that not only had Philippine ships been rammed and hit with water cannons by China, but said a Chinese warplane dropped flares above an Australian helicopter earlier in the year, and in November a Chinese navy ship injured Australian divers in Japanese waters with sonar.

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.

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Chinese Senior Col. Cao Yanzhong, a researcher at Chinas Institute of War Studies, asked Austin whether the U.S. was trying to create an Asian version of NATO with its emphasis on partnerships and alliances, a common Chinese claim. He suggested that could trigger conflict with China, citing ally Russias claim that NATOs eastward expansion was a threat, which President Vladimir Putin has used as an excuse for his invasion of Ukraine.

The eastern expansion of NATO has led to the Ukraine crisis, Cao said. What implications do you think the strengthening of the U.S. alliance system in the Asia-Pacific will have on this regions security and stability?

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Austin said the U.S. is simply cooperating with like-minded countries with similar values and not trying to create a NATO-type alliance, while rejecting Caos interpretation of the cause of the Ukraine war.

With inputs from agencies.
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.
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.
The UN peacekeeping effort has succeeded in eliminating widespread unrest. But there is still no progress in changing the climate of corruption and misrule that has cursed the nation for so long. For two centuries, Haiti has seen one coup, and dictator, after another. A lack of an honest, and popularly elected, government has resulted in corruption, economic decline and what Haiti is today. Even elected governments have not changed the culture of corruption.

That frustration caused great unrest and much rioting least April That led to elections and a new government in September. Meanwhile, between August and September, the country was hit by four major tropical storms, damaging housing or livelihoods for about ten percent of the population. The new government has maintained the Haitian political tradition of saying the right things, and doing the wrong things. The corruption and government inactivity continues. Political unrest is expected to continue, in part because the global recession has led to less money being sent home by Haitians in other countries (particularly the United States.)

The UN has been trying, for over a year, to get the government to hold a donors conference, where major foreign donors and government officials could agree on major aid efforts. The government does not like the prospect of more anti-corruption (auditing and holding politicians personally responsible for theft) measures the major donor nations are demanding. Meanwhile, the UN has to raise at least $200 million a year to maintain the 9,000 peacekeepers. The global recession is making it harder to raise that money, and major donors for the delayed major reconstruction projects are backing off. No one wants to just walk away, because this could lead to another Somalia. But there's waning enthusiasm for pouring money into a country that makes no progress in fixing two centuries of bad habits.
June 1, 2024: Out of 4,500 22-ton F-16 jet fighters built during the last fifty years, about 2,100 are still in service in 25 countries. About a third of these F-16s are in the U.S. Air Force. All these F-16s are not being replaced by the new F-35, which is a 31-ton single engine, single-seat aircraft that entered service in different versions between 2015 and 2019.

The two aircraft are similar in size but the F-35 is much heavier and can carry eight tons of weapons compared to seven tons on the F-16. The F-35 also carries three times as much fuel but the lighter F-16 can travel 4,200 kilometers on internal fuel while the heavier F-35 can only go 2,700 kilometers. Both are single engine, single seat aircraft but the F-35 engine generates 48 percent more power than the one on the F-16. Despite this, the F-16 can carry seven tons of weapons compared to eight tons on the F-35. The F-16 can obtain most of the fire control system advantages of the F-35 by carrying a 241 kg targeting pod and a 207 kg navigation pod. That means nearly half a ton less for weapons on the F-16. Many F-16 users find that the targeting and navigation pods do what is needed as well as the built-in targeting capabilities of the F-16. This is why many current users of F-16s are keeping their aircraft. Price is a major factor. The average cost of an F-16 is about $33 million while an F-35 costs $83 million. Another major difference is operational costs per flight hour. It is $19,000-$25,000 for the F-16 but $44,000 or more for the F-35.

The first F-35s were built in 2006 for development purposes. The aircraft has stealth characteristics and is equipped with all the most modern avionics (aircraft electronics), sensors and capabilities. The F-35 has a max range of 2,800 kilometers for repositioning missions to a different country. For destinations more than 2,500 kilometers distant, the F-35 must land for refueling along the way. Combat range for ground attack missions is 1,200 kilometers while carrying eight tons of missiles and bombs. Combat range for combat with other aircraft is 1,400 kilometers. The F-35 can carry 2,600 kg of weapons internally and 6,800 kg externally. Max speed is Mach 1.6 and max altitude is 15,000 meters.

The F-35B is a STOVAL (short takeoff and landing) version that carries a third less fuel because of the STOVAL modifications. There is an F-35C aircraft carrier version that is like the F-35A but equipped with a tail hook and more rugged landing gear. The wings have larger control surfaces, and the outer portions of the wing can be folded so the aircraft takes up less space on the hanger deck.

Missiles and bombs that the F-35 is equipped to carry include all current American air-to-air missiles as well as all air-to-surface missiles. Pilots benefit from several features that make their job easier and much more effective. The cockpit where the pilot sits features a bubble canopy providing excellent views of what is outside the aircraft. Cockpit controls have been reduced and made easier to see and use. This is done by using a 50 by 20 cm touch display that shows flight instruments, stores management, CNI (Communications, Navigation, and Identification) information, and integrated caution and warnings. Pilots can customize the arrangement of the information. Below the main display is a smaller stand-by display. Pilots also have a helmet-mounted visor, a display that enables the pilot to look at an enemy aircraft and fire a missile at it. This point and shoot capability is an enormous advantage in air-to-air combat. The F-35 electronics also provide a better view of ground targets and the ability to quickly select the most suitable ground attack weapon carried and use it.

The cockpit has a speech-recognition system but does not have a heads-up display. Instead, flight and combat information is displayed on the visor of the pilots helmet using a helmet-mounted display system. The one-piece tinted canopy is hinged at the front and has an internal frame for structural strength. The Martin-Baker ejection seat is launched by a twin-catapult system housed on side rails. There is a right-hand side hands-on throttle-and-stick system. For life support, an OBOGS, or onboard oxygen-generation system is fitted and powered by the Integrated Power Package, with an auxiliary oxygen bottle and backup oxygen system for emergencies.

The radars and electronic countermeasures provide the pilot with an integrated view of the surrounding air space. This degree of situational awareness gives the pilot an enormous advantage in combat because the F-35 pilot can see, either with his eyes or via his sensors, more about what is in the area and in much greater detail than any enemy pilot. About 1,200 F-35s have been built so far and eventually, by 2044, at least 2,456 will be built. Production numbers will increase as more export customers order aircraft. So far F-35s have been exported to Britain, Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, and the Netherlands.

In 2023 Israel ordered another 25 F-35s. Israel already has fifty, organized into two squadrons. With the new aircraft there will be three squadrons. Israel was the first export customer to receive F-35s because it was the only export customer that was regularly involved in combat, including airstrikes. Israel was also the only export customer allowed to modify and upgrade their F-35s. For this reason, the Israeli aircraft is known as the F-35I. The United States initially opposed Israeli requests to carry out modifications and upgrades, but the Israelis had a record of doing this with F-16s and F-15s obtained from the United States, so F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin agreed to cooperate by making some modifications to the F-35Is before Israel received them. These included changes in command, control, and communications systems, including computers, and the thorough integration of intelligence collection, electronic warfare, and weapons systems. Israel agreed to not change anything inside the aircraft but was free to add capabilities on top of the existing infrastructure. Israel Aerospace Industries, for example, was already working on such systems for the F-35I. The F-35I was designed to allow software updates to electronic warfare and weapons systems. F-35I power and cooling systems were modified to allow incorporation of Israeli developed weapons. Israel has developed its own air-to-air missiles and GPS guided bombs.

Since 2021 there have been a lot more joint exercises involving Israeli and foreign F-35s. Details of these exercises have not been publicized but it apparently involves testing current and new F-35 capabilities and sharing that knowledge with other F-35 users. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 a lot of European nations sought to obtain F-35s while canceling plans to buy older models of American and European combat aircraft. F-35s are meant to eventually replace all F-16, F-15s (currently 450), and F-18 (600) aircraft.

Russia and China have not yet produced a stealth aircraft as capable as the F-35, and now NATO nations with F-35s realize they have a substantial edge and have shared that knowledge with other NATO countries. Israel demonstrated what the F-35 was capable of in when their F-35I fighters and some had been operational for over a year. These F-35Is flew training missions near the Syrian border and then operational missions over Lebanon and Syria. This came after years of overcoming opposition from the United States to allowing Israel to modify the F-35A to use Israeli electronic warfare equipment and software, and also to handle Israeli-made missiles and smart bombs as well as a smart helmet, which was something Israel pioneered. This led to the Israeli aircraft being designated the F-35I, which have been in the air since 2018, often armed and within range of hostile radars and anti-aircraft missiles as well as the latest Russian electronic warfare equipment.

Israeli engineers also confirmed fears that the F-35 is eminently hackable. Other foreign users who have received their first F-35s agree that the heart of the F-35s superior capabilities are its software and digital communications with other aircraft and troops on the ground. Users are pointing out all manner of potential network vulnerabilities, and all are actively seeking which of these vulnerabilities are actual and fixable rather than potential and unlikely. F-35 software was designed over a decade ago when much less was known about how combat aircraft software could be hacked, and already some basic changes in F-35 software architecture are underway to deal with that.

The F-35 software is more complex and omnipresent throughout the aircraft than in any previous warplane. Its a major effort to carry out and test any changes. Some major upgrades are needed in how F-35 software changes are made and how quickly. In wartime this would be essential, as otherwise vulnerable aircraft would be grounded when needed most. Foreign users have also provided useful advice on penetration or red team testing and this has become another major effort that was not anticipated.

The U.S. and other foreign users of the F-35 noted Israels F-35I experience, and the Israelis have increasingly been sharing it with allies.

Israel got priority on deliveries because they are literally a combat zone. Initial reactions of Israeli F-35I pilots and air force commanders were positive. What the Israeli pilots and all others who have flown the F-35 agree on is that its software and degree of automation is spectacular, easy to use and very effective. The F-35 has a large number of sensors, as in receivers for electronic signals, as well as six cameras and a very capable radar. The fusion of all that data and presentation to the pilot based on the current situation is impressive and makes the F-35 much easier to fly than any other fighter, despite all the additional capabilities it has.

Israel has become something of an unofficial member of NATO and is sharing a lot of its F-35I knowledge with NATO nations. Israel not only has to deal with Russian aircraft and electronic systems in Syria, but an even more dangerous threat from Iran. Israel has established diplomatic and defense relationships with Arab countries who are also threatened by Iran. That made it possible for Israel to establish diplomatic relations with some Arab Gulf States and that led to American willingness to sell F-35s to the UAE (United Arab Emirates).

The U.S. Air Force had to refurbish several hundred of its 22-ton F-16 fighters, because their replacement, the 31-ton F-35, did not arrive on time. Most existing F-16s are old, and by 2016, many were too old to operate. Back then the average age of F-16s was over 20 years, and the average aircraft has over 5,000 flight hours on it. In 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest models, Block 25 F-16s, passed 7,000 hours. While older F-16s are being retired for their age, they tend to have at least twice as many flight hours as their Russian counterparts. Because of greater durability and ease of maintenance, the seemingly more expensive Western fighters are actually cheaper in the lifetime of an aircraft because they last longer and are easier to maintain than equivalent Russian designs.

The F-16V was introduced in 2012 as the last model of the F-16 but production of the F-16 did not end as planned in 2016 because further sales of the F-16V were certain and it was possible to upgrade some or all of the older F-16s to the Block 7o standard. These Block 7o upgrades are not always possible, or practical, for the oldest models of the F-16. These upgrades include replacing many structural elements as well as installing more powerful engines and the most modern electronics and fire control systems available.

F-16s continue to be upgraded and refurbished. Production of the new F-16V continues because of buyer demand. The changes in the V model are considerable. The airframe is upgraded and strengthened to enable 12,000 flight hours per aircraft. The electronics undergo an even more extensive upgrade which involves replacing the mechanical radar with an AESA phased array radar, an upgraded cockpit, a Sniper targeting pod, a Link 16 digital data link and upgraded navigation gear. The newly redesigned cockpit is all digital and flat screen touch displays that replace dozens of gauges and switches and make it much easier to fly. AESA and the new fire control system make it possible to track multiple aircraft at once as well as track vehicles on land or vessels at sea. The targeting pod enables the pilot to confirm visually what is on the surface and promptly attack it with smart bombs or missiles. Manufacturer LockMart (Lockheed Martin) initially expected to get orders for at least 700 newly built F-16V or less expensive upgrades. An upgrade brings in as little as $10 million per aircraft while five or ten of these upgrades equals the price of one new

F-16V. But when you have orders for hundreds of F-16V upgrades you have a lot of F-16 work. The F-16 thus follows the path of previous best selling fighters. During the 1947-1991 Cold War Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s. After 1991 warplane manufacturing plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong into the 2020s. The U.S. still has about 1,200 F-16s in service, with about half with reserve units. F-16s built so far went to 27 countries before Ukraine requested them. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used airplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons.

Moreover, the new F-35 is on its way to replacing all U.S. F-16s by the late 2020s. The U.S. has plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, while many allies need low cost jet fighters. Many current F-16 users planned to replace the F-16 with the F-35 but that aircraft costs more than twice as much as a new F-16V so air forces are seeking to operate a mixed force of F-35s and late model F-16s. A current example of this is Poland, which is sending its older MiG-29s to Ukraine. These have a few good years left, which is all Ukraine needs.

Since the 1990s most F-16s produced were for export and some cost as much as $70 million each, like the F-16I for Israel. Some nations, like South Korea, built over a hundred F-16s under license. The 16 ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs, it is an effective bomber. Since first entering service some 4,600 F-16s have flown over 12 million hours. Despite fears that a single engine fighter would be less safe, F-16s have, in the 21st century, suffered an accident rate, which is loss or major damage, of 2.4 per 100,000 flight hours.

The F-16 is one of the most modified jet fighters in service. While most are still called the F-16C, there are actually seven major mods, identified by block number like 32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60, 70 and 72, plus the Israeli F-16I, which is a major modification of the Block 52. The F-16D is a two seat trainer version of F-16Cs. The various block mods included a large variety of new components and can choose from five different engines, four sets of avionics, five generations of electronic warfare gear, five radars and many other mechanical, software, cockpit, and electrical mods.

Until Block 70 came along the most advanced F-16 was the F-16 Block 60. The best example of this is a special version of the Block 60 developed for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The UAE bought 80 Desert Falcons, the F-16Es which are optimized for air combat. It is a 22 ton aircraft based on the Block 52 model, which the KF-16 was originally, but with an AESA radar and lots of other additional useful accessories. Block 70 goes beyond Block 60, especially in terms of electronics and airframe enhancement to extend flight life.

The most successful F-16 user is Israel which set a number of combat records with its F-16s. Israel plans to keep some of its late model F-16s flying until 2030 as it retires the oldest ones. At the end of 2016, Israel retired the last of its 125 F-16A fighters. The first 70 were acquired in 1980 and 1981 and included 8 two-seater F-16B trainers. One of the F-16As achieved a record by being the single F-16 with the most air-to-air kills, 6.5, all achieved in 1982 using three different pilots. Israel received 50 used F-16As in 1994 including 14 B models and used these mainly as trainers.
Chinese state security authority warns of 'network espionage traps'; government employee sentenced to 10 years for spying

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 31, 2024 02:31 PM

China's Ministry of State Security on Friday unveiled a case involving a former government employee who was lured by a foreign intelligence agency through the internet, stealing secrets for money. The individual was sentenced to 10 years in prison lawfully.

The rapid development of information technology has brought convenience to people, but it has also brought new dangers around us. From several cases cracked down by national security authorities, foreign intelligence agencies have been using the internet to steal secrets from China by using "phishing" tricks, posing a serious threat to the national security, the ministry said in an article released on Friday.

The national security authorities also warn people not to fall into the "network espionage traps" set by foreign intelligence agencies.

The former Chinese government employee, surnamed He, was under economic pressure due to debt, who logged onto a foreign website and joined various groups to seek money-making opportunities. Through online chatting, He met a person named Xiao Jing who claimed to be from a research institution. Upon knowing about He's financial situation, Xiao Jing offered to help He make extra money by providing internal information from the government agency.

He was engaging in unethical behavior by copying and storing confidential materials from the government agency He worked for, and sending them to Xiao Jing in exchange for rewards.

After investigation, it was found that He had illegally provided nearly 30 confidential documents overseas and made more than 60,000 yuan ($8,287). Xiao Jing was actually a spy working for a foreign intelligence agency. In June 2022, He was arrested on suspicion of "stealing and illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities" and was sentenced to 10 years in prison lawfully, said the ministry.

The ministry also warned that overseas intelligence agencies and their agents use fake online identities to deceive individuals and gain access to national secrets or sensitive information. They post fake job opportunities or friendship requests on social networking sites or job search websites to lure their targets. Common fake identities include journalists, researchers, technical developers, consultants and businessmen.

The state security authorities also remind people to avoid falling into "online espionage traps," enhancing awareness of cybersecurity and maintaining a cautious attitude.

China's Counter-Espionage Law stipulates that activities that endanger national security, which are carried out, prompted, or funded by an espionage organization and its agents, or colluded with by domestic or foreign institutions, organizations, or individuals, constitute espionage activities.

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Army inaugurates Universal Artillery Projectile Lines facility

By U.S. Army Public Affairs May 29, 2024

MESQUITE, Texas -- The U.S. Army's Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition hosted an opening ceremony for the Universal Artillery Projectile Lines facility, a new modular metal parts facility in Mesquite, Texas, on Wednesday, May 29.

"This plant is an important example of how we are modernizing our World War II-era organic industrial base. The Army is spending more than a billion dollars every year to make these critical improvements," said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth. "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. 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. The work done in these production facilities contributes directly to our nation's defense and makes us stronger."

The state-of-the-art facility, which will be operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, will feature high-volume production capabilities for large-caliber metal parts and is equipped with long-stroke, high-tonnage forging capabilities. The facility's 155 mm metal parts production lines also meet Army modernization goals by incorporating high levels of automation, modern manufacturing practices, and digital-data-capture ability. It will offer the flexibility to produce a variety of metal parts ranging from 60 mm to 155 mm, with minimal changeover requirements.

The UAPL is part of the Army's modernization plan to bring the industrial base into the 21st century. 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.

Funding for the UAPL stems from the fiscal 2022 and 2023 congressional supplementals and reprogramming of funds within the Defense Department. Under a package of contracts awarded by the Army worth $576 million, GD-OTS designed and constructed the facility, to include the procurement, transportation, installation and commissioning. Upon completion, the Army will assume ownership of the capital equipment, subsequently leasing it back to GD-OTS through a government-furnished materiel agreement. The new facility underscores the Army's and industry's commitment to bolstering the defense industrial base and maintaining the readiness of our armed forces.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

30 May 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** UN Peacekeepers Day

Good afternoon. In a few minutes, we will be joined by our friend Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of the UN Department of Peace Operations. He is here with you because we are marking the International Day of Peacekeepers.

The Secretary-General this morning took part in the events. He first laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial at the north end of the lawn and delivered remarks at the Dag Hammarskjold ceremony and Military Gender Advocate of the year award.

The Secretary-General paid tribute to the more than 4,300 women and men who have lost their lives while serving under the blue flag of the United Nations since 1948. He said that each loss underscores the urgent need to prevent violence, protect the most vulnerable, and spare no effort to end these deadly conflicts.

This year, we honour  with the Dag Hammarskjold medals  the 61 peacekeepers from 33 countries who paid the ultimate price for the cause of peace last year. The Secretary-General also awarded Major Radhika Sen of India with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

As we mentioned to you, Major Sen served with our peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and as commander of India's contingent engagement platoon; her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls.

More information is online, and we of course congratulate Major Sen.

** Africa Dialogue

This afternoon  at 3 p.m.  the Secretary-General will deliver remarks at the high-level session of the Africa Dialogue series, which is focusing this year on education.

In his remarks, he will remind participants that education is a key ingredient to unlock the full potential of Africa.

Those remarks have been shared with you in advance. They will also be webcast.

** Iran

Earlier today, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly ceremony in remembrance of the late President of Iran, Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi.

In the remarks that were shared with you, the Secretary-General said that the United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms. For that, he said, the UN will be guided by the Charter to help realize peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all.

** Artificial Intelligence

Also today, the Secretary-General addressed, via a video message, the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva hosted by the International Telecommunications Union. He said that artificial intelligence could be a game-changer for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but transforming its potential into reality requires that AI reduces its bias, misinformation and security threats  instead of aggravating them.

He added that we also need global coordination to build safe and inclusive AI that is accessible to all. His full message is online.

** Deputy Secretary-General

For her part, our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has just landed in Antigua and Barbuda today to take part in the closing of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States.

While in Antigua, she will also meet with Government officials, including Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

And on Friday, the Deputy Secretary-General will visit Barbuda to meet with local communities and other stakeholders involved in the reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Irma.

She will be back in New York on Saturday.

** Senior Personnel Appointment

Senior personnel appointment to share with you: Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Noura Hamladji of Algeria as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as UNFCCC. The appointment has been made after consultation with the Conference of Parties through its Bureau. Ms. Hamladji succeeds Ovais Sarmad of India, to whom the Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC are grateful for his dedicated service to the UN climate change efforts.

Ms. Hamladji currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director for Africa at UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), a position she assumed in 2018. She has also served for the UN in Libya, in Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste, and Djibouti and much more information online. We congratulate and welcome her.

** Syria

I have some humanitarian updates, well first, let me just go to the [Security] Council. Our Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, briefed the Council today. And he will be at the Security Council stakeout, after consultations are over and once Mr. Lacroix is done. So that should be probably around 1:15 p.m. if we're lucky.

He told the Council members that in the coming months there will likely be elections in the Government-led areas and local elections for de facto authorities in areas in the north-east. He warned that in the absence of a political process, there is a grave risk that Syrians will simply drift further apart.

The Council also heard from Martin Griffiths, who welcomed the extension of the use of the Bab al-Salam and Al Ra'ee border crossings until 13 August 2024, and he said he hoped that the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing will be extended beyond 13 July.

Also this afternoon, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, at 3 p.m. will brief the Security Council on forced displacement around the world. He is expected to highlight the decade-long, unprecedented increase in refugee flows. He will be at the stakeout after his appearance at the Security Council.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

I have a number of humanitarian updates to share with you, none of them good. Our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) say that intensifying hostilities and severe access constraints continue to impede aid operations in Gaza, at a time when hundreds of thousands of people need life-saving aid.

Humanitarian workers face movement restrictions, including to border areas, and repeated denials of access and delays. This includes planned missions to collect supplies from the Kerem Shalom crossing, on the Karem Abu Salem side, which is in an area where fighting continues to escalate.

We need Israeli authorities to swiftly facilitate access to the crossing so that aid workers can safely reach the crossing to pick up supplies. We also need safe and unimpeded passage to distribute that assistance to scale to people in need, wherever they may need it in Gaza.

As we have said repeatedly, Israel's responsibility to enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance does not end at crossing points into Gaza. The Israeli military also has a responsibility to facilitate aid operations within the Gaza strip.

We and our humanitarian partners continue to do all we can to meet growing needs, amid active hostilities that are putting the lives of aid workers at risk. Mounting an effective humanitarian operation in a war zone requires security assurances for aid workers. It also requires passable roads, adequate fuel, reliable communications, and sustained access.

WFP (World Food Programme) is calling for all border crossings and crossing points within Gaza to be open, as the Israeli incursion in Rafah continues to have a devastating impact on civilians and on humanitarian operations.

Our friends at the World Food Programme warn that there is little the agency can currently do in Rafah, with stocks very low and mobility severely restricted. Constrained access to southern parts of Gaza risks causing the same catastrophic levels of hunger that has been seen in the north  and in central and southern Gaza, hunger levels are deteriorating fast.

WFP says that although some commercial goods are arriving in Gaza, people cannot afford the high prices. Meanwhile, the agency continues to distribute life-saving assistance  reaching one million people since 1 May.

Also, this month, WFP and its partners have reached some 60,000 children under five and nearly 23,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women with two-week supplies of supplements for the prevention of malnutrition. They are also scaling up nutrition services in Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, Deir al Balah and Gaza City.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan, a new analysis today [proved] yet again the heavy toll that civilians are bearing due to the hostilities especially women and children. The analysis  conducted jointly by UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization (WHO)  shows a significant deterioration of the nutrition situation for children and mothers.

In Central Darfur, rates of acute malnutrition are estimated at 15.6 per cent among children under 5 years old. In the ZamZam displacement camp in North Darfur, the figure is almost 30 per cent.

Furthermore, a screening carried out last month by Medecins Sans Frontieres in ZamZam camp found that more than a third of pregnant and breastfeeding women are malnourished, suggesting they are sacrificing their own needs for the needs of their children. The three agencies warned that in the coming months, the situation for Sudan's children and mothers will only worsen. They say the rainy season  which will cut off access to communities in need and raise the rates of diseases  starts in late June.

Meanwhile, in North Darfur, families, including children and older people, are being prevented from leaving the capital city of El Fasher to seek safety. We are receiving deeply worrying reports that medical facilities, displacement camps, and critical civilian infrastructure have been severely damaged.

In a statement today, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, reminded all parties of their obligations to avoid using explosive weapons in populated areas and to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

** Ukraine

And in Ukraine, our Humanitarian Coordinator there, Denise Brown, was in Kherson City today, in the south of the country, where she met with authorities and humanitarian partners to discuss winter preparedness, with energy infrastructures heavily impacted by the ongoing strikes in the region, it is important to make sure that Ukrainians can stay warm during next winter.

Strikes on energy facilities continue across the country and show no signs of abating and continue to cause widespread power outages.

** Haiti

In Haiti, we have received an update from our humanitarian colleagues.

So far this week, WFP has distributed more than 74,000 hot meals to more than 15,000 displaced people in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

Last week, some 2,400 children received mental health and psychosocial support from child protection specialists. Humanitarian organizations also provided information sessions on gender-based violence, protection issues, and sexual abuse to more than 4,000 people living in displacement sites.

Since the beginning of March, UN agencies, national and local partners, as well as Haiti's civil protection department distributed nearly 13 million litres of water across the displacement sites in the capital Port-au-Prince.

Outside of Port-au-Prince, in the Artibonite region, where people have also been impacted by violence, the World Food Programme provided cash assistance to over 13,000 people as part of its emergency activities, and another 6,000 people in this region received food.

And following a tornado that destroyed or damaged over 300 houses in the Bassin Bleu commune last week, WFP will provide food assistance to about 3,800 people there.

** Brazil

In Brazil, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the flooding situation remains critical, with water levels high in many areas of the Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of the country, and as winter weather conditions remain unstable.

The government continues to coordinate response efforts with national responders, UN agencies, and the NGO (non-governmental organization) community.

Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, Silvia Rucks, the UN team in Brazil and humanitarian partners are supporting the response by providing technical expertise and essential supplies, including hygiene and purifying water kits.

The Resident Coordinator's Office remains in close contact with the Government.

We've also offered support for ongoing response efforts and early recovery planning from other specialized agencies.

** Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, I can tell you that our team there, led by Resident Coordinator Richard Howard, is supporting the Government's efforts to address the severe impacts of the landslides. Since the onset of the disaster, our team has been supporting authorities with search and rescue operations, establishing emergency centres, and assessing immediate needs. Our colleagues from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Development Programme, UNICEF, and UN Women are all on the ground, supporting local efforts and providing relief supplies.

** Briefings

Tomorrow, at 10 a.m., there will be a briefing here by Matthew Hollingworth, who is the World Food Programme's Country Director in Palestine.

He will join us virtually live from Jerusalem.

** We the Women Survey

And I just want to flag that the UN Office for Partnerships and the polling company John Zogby Strategies surveyed women around the world on their priorities and the future they want.

The Global We the Women survey  a central piece of the We the Women Campaign  shows that amid a global backlash against women's rights, women are committed to championing rights and representation.

The results from 185 countries show that 86 per cent of women cite climate change, and more than 50 per cent identify conflict as primary concerns for the next decade. In addition, they see mental health and family responsibilities as barriers to reaching their full potential.

** Day of Potato

International Day... this could be my favourite international day of the year because you can bake them, you can fry them, you can saute them. It is the International Day of Potato. Bon appetit!

Potatoes have so many benefits in addition to being a nutritious vegetable. They are a climate-friendly crop and help improve livelihoods, especially in rural areas.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Madame?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Any reaction from the Secretary-General on the Israeli land authority's eviction notice to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency)? They must be out of their Jerusalem premises within 30 days or pay $7 million.

Spokesman : Well, we've seen the media reports. I spoke to my colleagues at UNRWA who have not received anything, any official written communication, and I can tell you that they see this as the ongoing pattern of harassment of UNRWA, its workers and its facilities that we have seen.

Question : You're sure still today they haven't received anything? Because Israeli press is quoting a letter that was supposedly sent on Tuesday.

Spokesman : Well, I mean, maybe check with the Israeli post, but as of half an hour ago, nothing. As far as I know, nothing had been received. Madame?

Question : Thanks, Steph. I have a question about Martin Griffiths. When he announced he was stepping down, it was said he was staying until June. But was it until the end of May or until the end of June? I mean, when he is...?

Spokesman : Not only is it until the end of June, as far as I know, but the good news is that on Tuesday, he will be here in the flesh at this desk to answer any question you may have. Amelie, Mike, then Dezhi.

Question : Thanks. Steph. A few questions. Did any official from the UN go to meet across the street with those protesting against the tribute to Ebrahim Raisi today?

Spokesman : Not that I'm aware. Not that I'm aware there was any request to meet with anyone, but no.

Question : Secondly, I wanted to ask you about the statement given by the Secretary-General today. In that tribute, he noted that President Raisi led Iran at a challenging time for the country, the region and globally. The Secretary-General has not been hesitant to add his own context and background to conflicts, as we saw in the aftermath of 7 October. Obviously, President Raisi led Iran at a time when it funded terrorism in Lebanon, in Gaza, in Yemen, in Russia, against Ukraine. Doesn't seem to add any context in his comments today. Any particular reason why?

Spokesman : I think the Secretary-General delivered a brief statement. I think the words were very clear, all the words. He was just stating a fact. He also reiterated his commitment to the Iranian people in terms of development, in terms of fundamental freedoms.

Question : Last question. Amina Mohammed, off to Antigua, I believe. I know there's been a lot of talk about protocol and diplomatic language when it comes to this particular issue of the passing of Ebrahim Raisi. Amina Mohammed tweeted out recently in the regards to the death of Ebrahim Raisi, a prayer that Allah grant Raisi entrance into the gates of paradise, essentially the highest levels of Heaven. Is that an appropriate statement from a high-level UN official  to pray that a mass murderer of his own people be granted entrance to the gates of Heaven?

Spokesman : She was referring to the death of an individual. Dezhi?

Question : Well, okay. So, a follow-up with Maggie's question. I just asked Monica [Grayley], the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, just passed a preliminary reading with a landslide majority, 42 to 6, to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization. What does the Secretary-General have to say on this result?

Spokesman : Either you or someone else asked me this question yesterday or two days ago. My answer has not changed. First of all, we don't comment on bills that are part of a legislative process. If something becomes law, we will obviously comment on it. And if it's acted upon, we'll comment on it. I think the Secretary-General's support for UNRWA, for its staff members, for the work that it does, has been very clear. UNRWA, like any other UN agencies, are not created out of thin air. They are created by Member States themselves. They operate based on mandates  this one, a mandate from 1949 passed by the General Assembly, renewed not too long ago by the General Assembly. It is incumbent on Member States to defend the organizations they themselves have created.

Question : But do you think this is what you just mentioned, a continuing harassing on UNRWA?

Spokesman : We have seen quite a bit of harassment by Israeli authorities of UNRWA. We've seen harassment. I mean, we saw demonstrations that could have become very dangerous in front of UNRWA headquarters not too long ago. These are very concerning. The Israelis, as hosts, like any host of any UN organization, have also responsibility to protect the safety of UNRWA workers.

Question : So, has any UN officials actually communicated with Israeli officials on the particular issue of the office?

Spokesman : I can tell you that UNRWA is in very close and constant contact with its Israeli interlocutors. Mr. Klein?

Question : Thank you. Has anyone from the United Nations been invited by the [Nicolas] Maduro administration in Venezuela to observe the presidential election there at the end of July?

Spokesman : Not that I am, not that I am aware. Yes, that would be the right answer at this point. Not that I am aware. [He later added: The UN is considering an invitation by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) on 7 March to deploy a UN panel of electoral experts for the presidential election. Unlike UN electoral observation missions, which require a specific mandate by the Security Council or the General Assembly, Panels of Electoral Experts do not issue statements evaluating the overall conduct of electoral processes or their results. They report to the Secretary-General and communicate with electoral authorities and other interested parties.]

Question : Well, then, following up on that, does the Secretary-General have any comment on President Maduro's decision to rescind the invitation to monitors from the European Union?

Spokesman : Look, that's their decision. We have expressed our concern about the political climate in Venezuela and the fact that it has been... the space for civil society and other political voices has been shrinking. Yvonne?

Question : Thanks, Steph. As we know, the Secretary-General often laments the retreat of democratic freedoms across the world. What are his comments today on the conviction of 14 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong?

Spokesman : I would refer to you to our human rights colleagues who have continued to express their concern about these cases, and the Secretary-General fully backs the Human Rights Commissioner in this work.

Question : Okay, but does he have any comments himself? I mean, he's a former pro-democracy campaigner in Portugal himself. Just wondering if he has any personal views?

Spokesman : I mean, our voice has been that of the Human Rights Office, and he backs what they've been saying. Abdelhamid, then Volodymyr.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. During the UN history of 78 years, did it happen that a State has the audacity to declare a UN agency as a terrorist organization? Where they got these mandates...?

Spokesman : These are research questions that you can answer yourselves in in the archive. So, I'm speaking to what we're seeing today. I think we have a full throttled... throated, whatever the expression is in English, defence of UNRWA. We will continue to do so.

Question : More questions?

Spokesman : More questions. Bring it on.

Question : The former [United States] presidential candidate, Nikki Haley, went to south, to northern Israel, wrote on an Israeli bombshell, "go kill them".

Spokesman : Abdelhamid, with all due respect, I would ask you to read the transcript, because one of your colleagues asked me that question yesterday, and I answered it.

Question : Okay. My last question. The Guardian issued a long, two-part articles about the former Mossad Chief, Yossi Cohen, threatening the former prosecutor of ICC (International Criminal Court) and blackmailing her. Did you see the article?

Spokesman : I think Dezhi asked that question yesterday. I answered it and I will answer it again, which is that... what, wasn't you, it was Stefano. Okay, sorry. Stefano. I answered it. It still deserves to be read. And I said that while we have no... We've seen the media reports, we have no way to prove them, but any intimidation, harassment of international civil servants carrying out their duties is just purely unacceptable.

Correspondent : Haaretz today published confirmation, if you want the confirmation. Thank you.

Spokesman : You're welcome. Volodymyr?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. The United States has said that Chinese companies must cease supplying components that can be utilized by Russia in weapons used to attack Ukraine or they will face consequences. Of course, the Secretary-General shouldn't comment on anyone's statements, but what advice would he give to the Chinese representatives in this?

Spokesman : Our advice to the international community is to work towards an end to the conflict in Ukraine in whichever way they can to see an end to the conflict, in line with General Assembly resolutions and the territorial integrity Ukraine. Okay, I'm going to go to Stefano; then I really need to get our guest.

Question : Very quick. Did you mention the ambulance of the Red Crescent? That the two people that died yesterday in Gaza?

Spokesman : When did I, when...?

Question : No, did you? I'm asking.

Spokesman : I mean, did you listen? Did I say those things? Were you listening to what I said?

Question : Yeah. I mean, you mentioned it, right?

Spokesman : No. One of us needs to be paying attention. [laughter] I did not mention anything to that effect. I'm going to go to get our guest.

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Readout of Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer's Call with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso

May 30, 2024

Today, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer spoke with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso to express condolences for the tragic loss of life resulting from a landslide last week in Papua New Guinea. Reiterating President Biden's condolences in his statement on May 24, Mr. Finer pledged continued support from the United States, noting USAID contributions of emergency shelter, water, sanitation, and other critical assistance being provided through the International Organization for Migration to those affected by the disaster, as well as USAID's humanitarian expert working with government officials and humanitarian organizations on the ground. Deputy Prime Minister Rosso thanked Mr. Finer for the U.S. support, and provided updates on the disaster response. The two discussed priority areas of cooperation in the deepening U.S.-Papua New Guinea relationship, including the Defense Cooperation agreement, energy resilience, governance, and humanitarian assistance, and recognized the need to accelerate the partnership further.

###

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Illinois Army Guard Takes on Exercise Immediate Response

By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, National Guard Bureau May 31, 2024

USTKA, Poland -- The seaside location couldn't have been more idyllic. Gentle rolling sand dunes sloped gracefully to the water as the waves rhythmically lapped the coastline. A meandering breeze occasionally fluttered past, carrying a hint of the sea through the nearby pine trees and beachside scrub brush.

The beach was quiet. Peaceful. Relaxing, almost. If not for all the artillery fire.

That came from B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, whose firing position stretched along the sandy shoreline of the Baltic Sea, a few sand dunes or so below their location. The battalion's other batteries were set up nearby, slightly inland but still along the coast.

The firing was part of the battalion's role in providing artillery support during Immediate Response 24, a training exercise in Poland and the Czech Republic running throughout May that included more than 22,000 service members from the United States, Poland, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.

The battalion, set up in a training area near Ustka, used the exercise to build readiness in two ways.

"One thing that we're building that's key here is our continued relationship with Poland," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeremy Miles, the battalion commander. They also built internal battalion readiness by firing artillery qualification tables in an austere environment.

Building relationships and strengthening interoperability with partner nations was one of the key goals of the exercise. For the unit, doing that in Poland was the easy part.

The Illinois National Guard and Poland have been paired together in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program for 30 years - one of the earliest pairings in the program, which began in 1993.

The program links National Guard elements with partner nations worldwide for military-to-military exchanges and mutual training events.

For Miles, who previously served as the officer who coordinated those exchanges between the Polish military and the Illinois Guard, being back in Poland is "like a friendly hug," he said.

"It's kind of an easy transition to come over here," said Miles. "We work well together. And we have for so long, to include multiple years of co-deployments with the Polish."

Forward observers with the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade have been working with the battalion's forward observers during the exercise, calling in fire missions.

"That builds the generational readiness that we're talking about," said Miles, adding that exercises like this help junior leaders gain experience, which they can apply as they advance to higher positions.

"Seeing the Polish soldiers and working with them is great," said Spc. Austin Rodriguez, an artillery crewmember with the battalion's B Battery.

The exercise marked Rodriguez's first time in Poland.

"The best part about being here, I would say, is just being here," he said. "This is my first time in Europe. I haven't been across the Atlantic before, so it's a real big treat for me."

According to some, Rodriquez's gun crew is the best in the Army.

"I'd put these guys up against any gun crew anywhere in the Army," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Terry Rutherford, the gun chief of Rodriguez's crew. "Active component, Guard, it don't matter."

Rutherford may be biased, but he's also quick to point out what makes them so good.

"They're a solid group," he said. "There's not one person that can't do everything in this gun section right now. If somebody slips, it's not a big deal. We just pick each other up."

And they put rounds downrange. Fast. And accurately.

"They are the absolute best," said Rutherford, who enlisted in 1982. "I've done this for a long time. I've been a gun chief for about 12 years, and this is the best section I've ever been associated with and, in my opinion, best section anywhere."

And taking part in Immediate Response makes them that much better, said Rutherford.

"It gets them shooting in a different environment, in a way and a means that they've not done before," said Rutherford. "And you take a gun crew like that, as good as they are, and all it's going to do is elevate them to the next level."

During the exercise, the battalion worked with Soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, which operates the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

"So that's one aspect that we don't get to see very often," said Miles about working with the HIMARS unit. "Working internationally, with our international partners, synchronizing our fires, it's just a whole gamut of opportunities these guys get to experience."

He said it required a lot of teamwork and coordination, including moving the battalion and all its equipment across the Atlantic.

"There is lots of equipment, lots of moving parts requiring coordination all the way up to the theater level down to individual batteries," he said. "And it's just been amazing to watch it come together. There have been hiccups and trials and tribulations, but persistence and perseverance will get you to the end of the day."

Miles credits the Soldiers of the unit for making the mission a success.

"They are so proud of what they do, and I couldn't be prouder of what they're doing," he said. "They have just crazy-high morale being out here on this mission. It's really refreshing to watch them operate."

Rodriquez agreed.

"I'm coming up to the end of my [enlistment] contract," he said. "I believe this is a real big ticket to probably persuade me to stay in."

Rutherford said he's not surprised by any of it.

"We're the king of battle," he said. "There's none better than us."

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Washing Defender 24 out of Poland: DCTC keep vehicles squeaky clean

By Bethany Huff May 31, 2024

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Poland -- Tucked away near the city of Konotop, the Drawsko Pomorskie Combat Training Center bustles with activity as units send their equipment home as the Defender 24 exercise comes to an end.

Approximately 2,000 pieces of shiny, clean equipment shipped from the United States and the United Kingdom to support Defender 24. And while those tanks and trucks built deterrence on NATO's Eastern Flank - they also built up dirt, grime, and mud in the training fields of Poland and the Baltics. Now, with the exercise completed, the dirty job of cleaning that equipment becomes vital to send everything and everyone home.

One of the largest hurdles in shipping military equipment out of the country is ensuring the pieces of equipment are completely clean, meeting both stringent US and Polish environmental standards. DCTC has not only supported Defender by providing living accommodations and food for the duration of the exercise, but it also now supports the cleaning efforts with its brand-new motor pool.

"When it's time to go home, they have everything they need right here," said Master Sgt. Rodney Reynolds, the noncommissioned officer in charge of DCTC. "Instead of packing up and moving down to the port, or moving to another site, they can do it here where they've lived and worked. They know where everything is already, and it's more convenient for them."

This convenience allows for a smoother transition from wash racks to deployment, ensuring that vehicles can be processed and moved quickly to meet tight schedules.

"We have one of three washing stations with agricultural wash and sand washing station in Poland -- and we're the biggest," said Lt. Col. Steven Thompson, the DCTC Garrison Support Element officer in charge.

Currently, DCTC has five permanent wash facilities that provide units with the ability to quickly wash and dry their equipment as they prepare to clear customs to send everything back to their home stations.

In preparation for Defender 24, two of the wash racks went down with limited ability to bring them back up in time. This coupled with a new mandate from customs, seemingly set DCTC up for failure as approximately 2,000 pieces of equipment were coming in a very short time.

"The Polish said, sir, we're going to have to rebuild those pumps completely, and I thought, man, I've got this," reminisced Thompson.

"I did some digging and found out there was an entity that did portable wash racks from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command," said the Searcy, Arkansas native. He described the phone conversation that led to facilitating the needed capacity to handle the high volume of vehicles.

By the time Defender 24 wrapped up, all five of DCTC's wash racks were back in order. The portable wash racks allocated by the 21st TSC worked in tandem to wash and dry all the pieces of equipment.

"These ag washes are vital to the movement of these [service members]," said Reynolds, a native of East Chicago, Indiana. He describes how the timetables can shift making the already tight timeline, tighter. The mix of permanent and portable washes provides the ability to handle large volumes of equipment.

"Now, I can watch the UK and the US vehicles simultaneously and get them out of here to meet their port times," said Reynolds.

DCTC provides the wash rack capabilities to approximately 20,000 pieces or about of rolling stock across Europe annually, excluding exercises such as Defender 24.

The facility at DCTC considers environmental protections for the number of washings it does. Specifically designed to pull the dirty water runoff into gutter-like areas that have oil water separators built in.

"If you look carefully at the motor pool, it kind of tapers off. It has a center point and is like a roof on a house. The water will pull away from the center, and flow into the oil-separating ditches," explains Thompson. "There's an oil filtration system in there, for a lack of a better term, and separates the water and oil.

The washing operations at DCTC have proven to be a critical asset in maintaining the readiness and efficiency of military deployments. With the ability to handle large volumes of equipment and provide rapid, on-site washing capabilities, DCTC ensures that military vehicles are always ready for action. This capability not only supports immediate deployment needs but also enhances the overall operational effectiveness of the military forces stationed and transitioning through the DCTC.

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May 31, 2024

By David Vergun, DOD News

Austin: Nations Around Indo-Pacific Uniting Around Shared Values

The United States is a Pacific nation. This region  more than any other  is shaping the course of this century, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

The secretary was in Singapore today for the Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss regional and global security issues.

"The United States is deeply committed to the Indo-Pacific. We are all in. And we're not going anywhere," he said.

"The United States and this region are more secure and more prosperous when we work together."

Over the past three years, likeminded countries across this region have deepened their ties  and delivered real-world results for the people of the Indo-Pacific, Austin said.

A new model of convergence in this region is not a single alliance or coalition. Instead, it is a set of overlapping and complementary initiatives and institutions, propelled by both a shared vision and a shared sense of mutual obligation, the secretary said.

"This new convergence is about coming together, not splitting apart. It isn't about imposing one country's will. It's about summoning our sense of common purpose. It isn't about bullying or coercion. It's about the free choices of sovereign states. And it's about nations of goodwill uniting around the interests that we share and the values that we cherish," he said.

These interests and values, Austin said, include respect for sovereignty and international law, free flow of commerce and ideas, freedom of the seas and skies, openness, transparency, accountability, equal dignity for every person, and the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue  not coercion or conflict. "And certainly not through so-called punishment.

"Let me be clear. The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure. That's why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region. And that's why we continue to make the investments necessary to meet our commitments to our allies and partners," Austin said.

Austin cited some of the achievements of Indo-Pacific nations working together:

Co-developing with Japan a glide phase interceptor to counter hypersonic threats.

With India, making historic progress on co-producing fighter jet engines and armored vehicles.

Working closely with the Philippines to field maritime defensive capabilities and expand maritime domain awareness across the region.

Making major investments in our submarine industrial base to help strengthen our AUKUS partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom.

Working together to fortify the shared capacity of the defense industrial bases of our allies and partners. That's why so many countries  including the United States  are endorsing a Statement of Principles today to strengthen the resilience of the region's defense industrial bases.

With Japan and South Korea, creating a multi-year trilateral exercise plan. Its highlight is a newly named exercise that will allow our countries to train together in unprecedented ways.

With the Philippines, Australia, France and more than a dozen observer countries, just concluded the biggest Balikitan exercise yet.

Making huge strides in two other major multinational exercises: Super Garuda Shield in Indonesia and Cobra Gold in Thailand. They're both getting larger and more complex.

With Japan, forward-stationing the most advanced formation in the U.S. Marine Corps.

With the Philippines, expanding U.S. rotational access to four new sites in the Philippines through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

With Papua New Guinea, finalized a historic Defense Cooperation Agreement last year.

With Tokyo and Seoul, sharing early-warning data on North Korean missiles  in real time.

Advancing our partnership with Australia and Japan on an integrated air- and missile-defense architecture.

"These agreements are historic. And they're just the starting point," Austin said.

Austin also touched on Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which shocked the world, including the Indo-Pacific region. Russia's war of aggression "has provided us all with a preview of a world that none of us would want. It's a glimpse of a world where tyrants trample sovereign borders, a world where peaceful states live in fear of their neighbors, and a world where chaos and conquest replace rules and rights," he said.

But Russia's lawless invasion also reminds us that free countries can rally together to help the victims of aggression. "Governments and people around the world have rushed to help Ukraine defend itself  including countries across the Indo-Pacific. And the United States will continue to stand strong for a free and secure Ukraine  and for an open world of rules, rights and responsibilities," he said.

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Retired Navy Admiral and Business Executives Arrested for Bribery Scheme

Friday, May 31, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A retired Navy Admiral and two business executives were arrested today on criminal charges related to their roles in a bribery scheme that involved a U.S. government contract.

As alleged in an indictment unsealed today, from 2020 to 2022, Robert Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was a four-star Admiral who oversaw Naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, and commanded thousands of civilian and military personnel. Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, both of New York, are the co-CEOs of a company (Company A) that provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. The Navy terminated a contract with Company A in late 2019 and directed Company A not to contact Burke.

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. 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. 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."

In furtherance of the conspiracy, in December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to Company A to train personnel under Burke's command in Italy and Spain. Company A performed the training in January 2022. Thereafter, Burke allegedly promoted Company A in a failed effort to convince a senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to Company A. 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.

In October 2022, Burke began working at Company A at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.

Burke, Kim, and Messenger are each charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. Burke is also charged with performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States. If convicted, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and Kim and Messenger each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia; Deputy Director of Investigative Operations Grant A. Fleming of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the DCIS Transnational Operations Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office; and Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

DCIS, NCIS, and the FBI are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Trevor Wilmot and Kathryn E. Fifield of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topic: Public Corruption

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Public Integrity Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Criminal Investigative Division (FBI)

USAO - District of Columbia

Press Release Number: 24-690

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Israel: Statement by the High Representative on attempts to label a UN agency a 'terrorist organisation'

European External Action Service (EEAS)

31.05.2024

EEAS Press Team

The European Union is deeply concerned about discussions in the Israeli Knesset on designating UNRWA as a terrorist organisation, and removing its staff's immunities and privileges. The EU is also concerned that the Israeli Land Authority ordered UNRWA to vacate its East Jerusalem premises within the next 30 days.

The EU condemns any attempts to label a UN agency as a terrorist organisation. We recall the crucial and irreplaceable role of UNRWA in the humanitarian response in Gaza. UNRWA provides vital services to millions of people in Gaza, the West Bank, as well as across the region, including in Lebanon and Jordan.

The EU is a strong supporter to the Agency, and remains, with its Member States, its biggest donor. We are committed to continuing our support, also in view of UNRWA's implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report.

The EU is also a firm supporter to the United Nations, and the multilateral and rules based global governance system of which UNRWA, as a UN agency, is a part.

We urge the Israeli authorities to allow UNRWA to continue carrying out its crucial work in line with its mandate.

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Final spurt before the NATO Summit in Washington: Informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Prague

Germany Federal Foreign Office

31.05.2024 - Article

On 31 May, NATO Foreign Ministers are meeting in Prague. Their agenda will focus on getting ready for the Washington Summit in July and NATO's support for Ukraine.

After Berlin and Oslo, Czechia is only the third host of this new informal format. The Ministers will meet here in a very small and confidential setting. Instead of a pre-structured programme, the plan is to enable a more open, direct and interactive exchange - without a script set in advance. In concrete terms, this means that only Ministers will be in the room, without their advisers. No prepared statements will be read; instead, Ministers will engage in discourse and discussions and have a genuine debate.

Main focus of the working session: NATO's support for Ukraine

The main focus of the discussions among NATO Foreign Ministers will be preparing for the Washington Summit in mid-July. Ministers will also look at how to continue supporting Ukraine's defensive efforts and its fight for peace in the face of Russia's war of aggression, which has been going on for more than 800 days now. Last year, the allies established the NATO-Ukraine Council together with Ukraine and raised cooperation to a new level. The task now is to take concrete steps to further enhance NATO's role in supporting Ukraine and in building a resilient Ukrainian army.

It is especially important that Ukraine receives the air defence it so urgently needs. The global initiative for enhanced air defence, which Foreign Minister Baerbock launched with Defence Minister Pistorius, should also be seen in this context. So far, almost a billion euro have been pledged as additional support for Ukraine's air defence. Encouraging allies to provide swift further support for Ukrainian air defence will be another focus of the meeting.

Germany in the vanguard when it comes to defence spending

NATO is the key foundation for Euro-Atlantic security. Together with our partners in the neighbourhood, we therefore want to strengthen NATO's European pillar. This year, Germany - along with 19 other allies - will reach NATO's 2% target for the first time.



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June 1, 2024: In the United States, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has developed a UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vessel) called Manta Ray. The Manta Ray is a species of fish related to sharks that weigh over a ton and can live up to fifty years in the wild. Manta Rays are considered one of the most intelligent species of fish.

The DARPA Manta Ray is also smart and programmed to operate autonomously. These Manta Rays weigh up to 30 tons when carrying their maximum load of ten tons of cargo. Manta Ray is 18 meters long, six meters wide and three meters high. Power is supplied by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which on a full charge enable the Manta Ray to travel 3,000 kilometers, at a speed of 18 kilometers an hour, while submerged. Thats nearly six weeks at sea. Manta Ray uses sonar, radar, a video camera, and other sensors for navigation. Manta Ray periodically comes to the surface to report its position, time of arrival, and receive any new orders from its human controllers.

Manta Ray operates like a fish as it has enough air inside it to achieve neutral buoyancy underwater and travel accurately and in a timely manner to its destination. That could be from the west coast of the United States to someplace in the western Pacific. A new American military strategy is based on having small military detachments on many islands. These detachments are often trying to remain hidden and supplies must arrive without being detected. Manta Ray can do that.

A Manta Ray UUV can be disassembled and the components will fit into standard shipping containers that can be transported by air, ship, railway, or truck to wherever it is needed. DARPA is trying to develop a sufficiently flexible onboard navigation and decision making system to enable Manta Ray to operate autonomously for long periods. Since Manta Ray is difficult for current ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) equipment to detect, UUV can deliver supplies to briefly surfaced submarines, ships, or bases in contested waters. DARPA wants to get some of these new UUVs operational and see what the army, navy, air force or marines can do with them. China has also developed UUVs it uses to monitor surface and subsurface operations in the South China Sea.
Joint statement adopted by China, Arab states calls for immediate cease-fire

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: May 31, 2024 05:58 PM

The full text of the joint statement of China and Arab states on the Palestinian issue was released on Friday. The text noted that relevant resolutions of the United Nations must be fully and effectively implemented and that the two sides will work together to promote an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue as soon as possible.

The joint statement was adopted by China and Arab states at the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum on Thursday.

The joint statement highlights the deep concerns of China, Arab states, and the international community regarding the dire situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a cease-fire, analysts said.

The joint statement has 21 points that China and Arab states have reached consensus on. It noted that both sides condemn Israel's ongoing violations against the Palestinian people; denounce the violations in Rafah city, the bombing of refugee camps, and the control of the Rafah crossing.

The statement said that in the Gaza Strip, 125,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed or injured, the majority of whom are women and children. The Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip is forced to endure deadly famine and blockade that cut off all means of livelihood. Residential areas, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip have been systematically destroyed, and thousands of Palestinians are being detained and mistreated.

Both sides oppose the implementation of plans, intentions, and actions to forcibly drive the Palestinian people out of their homeland, which would undermine the prospects for peace in the Middle East and exacerbate regional conflicts, said the statement.

Both sides call for the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution to achieve an immediate, comprehensive, and sustained cease-fire, halt the forced transfer of Palestinians, ensure the delivery of aid throughout the Gaza Strip, and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions to restore normal life in Gaza. Both sides condemn the US for using its veto power to prevent Palestine from becoming a full member of the UN, said the statement.

The statement noted that both China and Arab states support the International Court of Justice's interim measures issued on January 26, March 28, and May 24, regarding South Africa's lawsuit against Israel. The two sides believe that Israel should comply with relevant legal provisions, especially international humanitarian law. Both sides emphasize that Israel, as the occupying side, is responsible for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Urging Israel to stop its actions in Rafah is to prevent the situation from escalation and addressing the pressing need for humanitarian aid, Liu Zhongmin, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.

The statement also emphasizes the shared stance of China and Arab states on the Palestinian issue, Liu said, referring to the point of the statement that said the Arab side emphasizes the implementation of the resolutions made at the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2023, including breaking the blockade on the Gaza Strip, allowing humanitarian aid from Arab, Islamic countries, and the international community to enter the entire Gaza Strip by sea, land and air immediately.

The statement also mentions the appreciation and support from Arab countries for China's position on the Palestinian issue, as well as the role China has played in providing humanitarian aid, which demonstrates mutual support between the two sides on the Palestinian issue, Liu said.

The statement reviews the peace initiatives proposed Arab states and the resolutions of the UN on the Palestinian issue. By reviewing these historical documents, the statement underscores the consensus and efforts of the international community on the Palestinian issue and emphasizes that resolving the Palestinian issue must be based on UN documents to ensure a just and lasting solution, said Liu.

The statement emphasizes the importance of the two-state solution and calls for Israel to end its occupation of East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and parts of Lebanon, analysts said.

Liu said the statement aims to provide a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective for resolving the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the international community's shared responsibility for achieving peace and stability in the region.

According to the joint statement, both China and Arab states emphasize that peace, security, and stability in the region cannot be achieved without ending the occupation of the territories of the Palestine state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the occupation of the Golan Heights of Syria, and the occupation of territories of Lebanon.

The joint statement calls on the international community to take irreversible measures to promote the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, achieving a political solution based on international law and relevant international resolutions.

Both China and Arab states reaffirm that the two-state solution is the only realistic way to resolve the Palestinian issue. They call for the prompt convening of a larger, more authoritative, and more effective international conference to initiate an authoritative peace process based on internationally recognized principles.

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Latest Philippines claims cannot obscure fundamental illegitimacy of S.China Sea arbitration: Chinese FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 31, 2024 09:41 PM

In response to the Philippines claiming that the recent advisory opinion issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) "reinforces the legitimacy" of the South China Sea arbitration, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that the opinion should not be used by certain countries for their selfish aims. "Any hypes that seek to mislead the public will fail. They will not turn the null and void award into a legal one," Mao said.

The ITLOS recently issued an advisory opinion regarding the obligations of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in addressing the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. Parts of it cited the Arbitral Tribunal's 2016 ruling on the South China Sea.

Philippine officials then stated that the ITLOS opinion "bolsters and reinforces the legitimacy of the final and binding 2016 Arbitration Award, and its unassailable status as part of the corpus of international law."

Responding to such claims at Friday's media briefing, Mao said that China's position on the arbitral award on the South China Sea is consistent and clear, and that the arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and made an illegitimate ruling.

"The award does not constitute part of international law; instead it has had an adverse impact on the international rule of law," Mao said. "China neither accepts nor participates in that arbitration, neither accepts nor recognizes the award, and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award."

Mao argued that China's stance is to uphold the integrity and authority of UNCLOS and the international rule of law. China's position has received understanding and support from the international community.

Regarding the ITLOS advisory opinion, Mao said it focuses on climate change and marine environmental protection issues and doesn't cover issues of territorial and maritime disputes or the validity of arbitral award on the South China Sea.

"The advisory opinion bears on the overall interest of the international community and should not be used by some country as a tool to seek selfish gains. We believe that neither ITLOS or any other country would want to see the advisory opinion being distorted by that illegal, null and void award," the spokesperson noted.

Mao stressed that such attempts to mislead the public cannot weaken China's firm resolve to defend the country's territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests.

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Landsbergis in Prague: "NATO can win, it can deter, and it can welcome new members"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024-05-31

Today, on May 31, in Prague, Czech Republic, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis, is attending an informal meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. This is the last NATO foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit in Washington, D.C., in July.

NATO foreign ministers in Prague are discussing the Alliance's long-term practical and political support for Ukraine and Ukraine's path to NATO membership.

The head of Lithuania's diplomacy told reporters that he expected the Prague meeting and the Washington summit to deliver on the promises made.

"We have to start delivering on our promises. And it's not just about those who depend on our promises but also about our credibility. And I wish that this Alliance will find strength in itself. And as celebrating 75 years of anniversary, it also very clearly declares that yes, we are serious. We can win, we can deter, and we can invite new members," Landsbergis said.

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Bolide missiles for the RBS-70 aircraft defence system delivered to the Lithuanian Armed Forces

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-05-31

Acquisitions and infrastructure development | Development and Strengthening of the Armed Forces

On May 31 the Lithuanian Armed Forces received the Bolide-type missiles for its RBS-70 short-range man-portable missile air defence system to improve air defence efficiency.

The contract with the Swedish company SAAB Dynamics AB on acquisition of the Bolide and MK-2-type missiles for the RBS-70 short-range man-portable missile air defence system was signed in the autumn of 2022. The delivered missiles are worth approx. EUR 15 million.

The RBS-70 is used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces Air Defence Battalion. It was selected for the task on the basis of uncomplicated maintenance, mobility and resilience to electromagnetic jamming.

The Ministry of National Defence channels funds to strengthen air defence in reflection of the lessons learned in Ukraine as the Lithuanian Armed Forces modernization is continued. Over 45% of the national defence budget, which constitutes nearly EUR 1 billion, is planned to be dedicated to the Lithuanian Armed Forces modernization in 2024.

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Steadfast Defender 24 concludes

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

May 31 2024

MONS, Belgium -- NATO's exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 - its largest live exercise in decades - concludes today after four months of intensive, pan-Alliance training.

STEADFAST DEFENDER was the first large-scale NATO exercise series where new regional defence plans, adopted at the Vilnius Summit, were put into action.

More than 90,000 forces, more than 50 ships, more than 80 aircraft flying hundreds of sorties, and more than 1100 combat vehicles from all 32 NATO Allies were involved in the exercise. Training focused on promoting readiness across all domains and at all levels of command from strategic, to operational, to tactical.

Designed to train and demonstrate the Alliance's ability to reinforce continental Europe via transatlantic movement of forces from North America and the UK, STEADFAST DEFENDER comprised several NATO and nationally-led exercises that brought Allied troops together in an impressive display of unity and interoperability.

"Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER demonstrated the incredible strength of the Trans-Atlantic bond between NATO Allies in Europe and those in North America," said the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Christopher G. Cavoli. "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."

At its core, STEADFAST DEFENDER tested the enablement and employment of NATO and National Forces across all domains and across SACEUR's Area of Responsibility. This reinforcement occurred during a simulated emerging conflict scenario against a near-peer adversary.

The exercise was executed in two parts. Part one was a maritime-focused live exercise that involved various headquarters rehearsing the strategic deployment of forces from North America to continental Europe. Part two was a multi-domain demonstration of NATO, national and multinational military capabilities across continental Europe.

"During STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024, we coordinated, conducted and sustained complex multi-domain operations over several months, and across thousands of kilometres, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe," said Brigadier General Gunnar Bruegner, SHAPE Assistant Chief of Staff responsible for Collective Training & Exercises. "The most important take away is that complex exercises at this scale and ambition remain essential to stress-test our readiness, plans and concepts, and for maintaining our operational coherence and unity."

Exercises are important tools through which the Alliance tests and validates its concepts, procedures, systems and tactics. Planned in advance and varying in scope, duration and form, NATO exercises prepare commands and forces for operations in times of peace, crisis and conflict, ensuring the Alliance is ready to defend its populations whenever and wherever necessary, and under any condition.

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Philippines Welcomes U.S.' Role in ASEAN and Rules-Based International Order

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

WASHINGTON D.C. 31 May 2024 -- Emphasizing the crucial role of maritime cooperation in preserving peace and security in the IndoPacific, Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro welcomed the U.S.' support for the rules-based international order underpinned by international law.

US Senior Official Meetings (SOM) Leader Daniel J. Krittenbrink reiterated the U.S.' support for ASEAN Centrality with ASEAN at the center of its the U.S.' IndoPacific Strategy. The Strategy seeks to boost engagement with ASEAN and ASEAN Member States in the economic, political security and socio-cultural fields.

As a peaceful and stable IndoPacific means progress and prosperity for all, Undersecretary Lazaro expressed hope for a future where freedom of navigation and overflight and the non-use of force or threat of the use of force is the inviolable norm, and looked forward to the U.S.' increased role in ASEAN - advancing shared values of democracy and freedom from all forms of coercion and intimidation.

The ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue is held annually to discuss emerging issues and matters of common concern. END

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NATO foreign ministers meet informally in Prague

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

31.05.2024

On 30-31 May 2024, Prague hosted the last meeting of heads of diplomacies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. Poland was represented by Minister Radosaw Sikorski.

The talks focused on the preparations for NATO's summit in Washington scheduled for July and allied support for warring Ukraine. The ministers agreed that continued military assistance for Kyiv is a priority today, and talked about the plans of further support and cooperation between NATO and Ukraine. The head of Polish diplomacy argued that the defeat of Russia's aggression against Ukraine is necessary to restore lasting stability in Europe and underlined the need to increase mobilisation in the delivery of military assistance, which - in his opinion - would translate into better security of the eastern flank. Also discussed during the Prague meeting was the progress in strengthening Allied security and NATO's collective defence, necessary in the face of Russia's increased hostile activity against its members.

Minister Sikorski stressed that NATO must do its best to prepare for the changing nature of threats posed by Moscow. Poland's top diplomat called for support for those European states which are most vulnerable to Russia's destabilising activity.

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Israel military kills 60 Palestinians across Gaza as tanks roll into central Rafah

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 7:04 PM

The Israeli military has killed at least 60 Palestinians over the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip as Israeli tanks were rolling into central Rafah on Friday.

The fatalities were announced on Friday by the Gaza health ministry, which said the attacks had also wounded 280 others.

The Palestinian territory has been enduring the war since last October.

At least 36,284 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and 82,057 others wounded in the brutal military onslaught that began following a retaliatory operation by Gaza's resistance groups.

Also on Friday, the Israeli military reaching the "central" part of Rafah in southern Gaza, despite international outcry over the regime's exceedingly deadly operations against the refugee-packed city.

The regime began a ground operation against Rafah in early May in defiance of some world organizations and leaders, who said the city's hosted around 1.5 million displaced Gazans.

According to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, roughly one million people have fled the city since the onset of the Rafah operation.

Separately, the Israeli regime announced withdrawing from the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza following a 20-day offensive against the area that involved about 200 airstrikes.

According to Palestinian authorities, the offensive has destroyed 70 percent of Jabalia, which is Gaza's largest refugee camp and home to more than 100,000 Palestinians.

Various news outlets, meanwhile, cited the Palestinians returning to the camp following the Israeli withdrawal as describing the area as "unrecognizable" due to the sheer extent of the destruction that had been caused by the Israeli aggression.

"I swear to God, we don't even know where our homes are. We don't know where our house is," a Palestinian man told Reuters news agency. "Find us a solution. I swear to God this isn't right. This isn't right. For nine months we have been patient, but this is shameful. I swear to God. What's happening to us is shameful," he added.

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Israel using truce talks to press ahead with aggression, Gaza genocide: Haniyeh

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 6:47 PM

The head of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has said that the Israeli regime was deliberately prolonging ceasefire negotiations to keep up its genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

"The occupation is using negotiations to continue its aggression against our people," Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday, addressing an event in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

He, however, added that "the resistance factions do not accept to be part of these maneuvers."

The regime launched the war against Gaza last October in response to Al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged by the Palestinian territory's resistance movements.

The Israeli military onslaught has killed at least 36,224 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Egypt and Qatar have been mediating negotiations aimed at conclusion of a ceasefire agreement following one in November, during which Hamas released 105 of the captives that had seized during Al-Aqsa Storm.

In early May, Hamas agreed to another truce proposal enabling cessation of the Israeli aggression and release of the rest of the captives. The Israeli regime, however, rejected the proposal.

Haniyeh added that "the [occupying] entity failed to achieve its goals, thanks to the legendary steadfastness and resistance of the Palestinian people."

The Hamas leader was referring to Tel Aviv's failure to eliminate Gaza's resistance, enable forcible release of the rest of its captives, and cause mass exodus of Gaza's entire population to neighboring Egypt.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Haniyeh noted that "Al-Aqsa Storm raised the Palestinian cause to an unprecedented level and opened the door to recognition of the Palestinian state."

He was referring to the European trio of Spain, Ireland, and Norway's recent recognition of Palestine in a blow to the Tel Aviv regime.

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Iran: Vanquished Israel ramps up Rafah attacks to make up for 'unprecedented' defeats

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 6:45 PM

Iran's Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says Israel's crimes in the Gaza Strip and its southern city of Rafah aim to make up for the regime's "unprecedented" defeats in various fields.

Speaking in a phone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Friday, Bagheri Kani said dozens of innocent and defenseless Palestinian women and children were killed in "bitter and catastrophic" incidents in Rafah in the recent days.

He added that such barbaric attacks leave another disgraceful stain on Israel's record of crimes.

The interim foreign minister emphasized that all Muslim countries in the region are duty-bound to boost cooperation and adopt practical measures to support the oppressed people of Palestine in Gaza, particularly in Rafah.

Israel's three-week-old Rafah offensive stirred renewed outrage after an airstrike on Sunday set ablaze a tent camp in the west of the city.

The strike killed some 50 people, including many children, prompting global condemnations and calls for the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault on Gaza.

The attack came two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop its US-backed aggression on Gaza that has killed at least 36,284 people and injured 82,057 others since it started in October last year.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Bagheri Kani hailed Saudi Arabia's move to provide facilities to the Iranian pilgrims in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and expressed Iran's full readiness to cooperate with Riyadh in holding the Hajj rituals.

'Israel knows no bounds for genocide'

The Saudi foreign minister, for his part, pointed to the recent tragic incidents in Gaza and Rafah and said Israel knows no boundaries to its criminal measures against the people of Palestine.

In a phone call with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on Friday, Bagheri Kani hailed Algeria's efforts and initiatives to circulate a draft UN Security Council resolution to "stop the killing" in Rafah.

He urged Muslim countries to take an urgent and joint action to stop the occupying regime's crimes against the Palestinian people and increase aid delivery to the oppressed Gazans.

The interim foreign minister proposed an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss Israel's criminal acts against the Palestinians which was welcomed by Attaf.

Algeria, representing Arab countries on the council, shared the draft resolution with the 15 council members on Tuesday evening after emergency talks about the intensifying Israeli aggression in Rafah.

The Algerian foreign minister, for his part, said Israel's attacks on Rafah blocked the dispatch of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Attaf said Algiers supports any collective and immediate initiatives by Muslim countries with the purpose of achieving a ceasefire and easing the sufferings of Palestinians living in Gaza.

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Hezbollah says 'fully ready' to respond to Israel's expansion of aggression

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 5:16 PM

The Lebanese Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah has warned the Israeli regime against expanding the scope of its aggression against Lebanon, asserting that they are impervious to the regime's threats and that the enemies are lined up in crosshairs.

The warning was issued by Hezbollah's deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem in an address to a ceremony commemorating four of the movement's members martyred by Israeli strikes held in Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday.

The Hezbollah official said that the Israeli regime has during the past eight months refused to carry out its threat to expand the scope of the war on Lebanon, but that the movement has prepared itself for such a scenario and is ready to give a strong response to such aggressions.

The Hezbollah official said nothing can stop the movement's operations in support of Gaza, and that the attacks will stop only when the fighting ceases completely in Gaza.

The Hezbollah official also said the Israeli invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza will have no achievement and that the regime will not achieve its goal of "eliminating the resistance" and securing the release of its captives.

Hezbollah has been launching operations against the Israeli regime since October 8, a day after the regime launched its genocidal onslaught on Gaza.

The movement has fired hundreds of missiles and drones into the Israeli-occupied territories near Lebanon in what observers have described as a campaign to degrade the regime's military and espionage capabilities.

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Nasrallah: Israel has no place in region's future; cancerous tumor must be eradicated

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 5:00 PM

The leader of Hezbollah's resistance movement has called for global efforts to eradicate the Zionist regime, saying it's a "cancerous gland" that must be removed.

In televised remarks, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said it's their doctrinal, ethical, and religious responsibility to make every effort to get rid of Israel, which has committed countless atrocities against Palestinians.

Nasrallah stated that the ongoing fight for Gaza is a battle of existence, and the defeat of the Israeli regime in this battle will have significant effects across various fields in the entire region.

He emphasized that whoever can be part of the Gaza battle must join it.

The Lebanese leader said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on continuing the war has worsened matters for the Zionist entity.

He added that although some governments have remained silent in the face of the atrocities, the bloodshed in Gaza has been awakening global public opinion and isolating the regime.

Nasrallah also cited warnings from the head of Israel's central bank and army commanders about the disasters occurring inside the Israeli-occupied territories and the Israeli army's failure to defeat Hamas in Gaza.

'Gaza battle will shape future of Lebanon'

He also discussed the ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli regime, saying the battle of Gaza shapes the future of Lebanon and the whole region at the strategic, security, and national levels.

Nasrallah mentioned that the people of Lebanon support resistance against Israel and that the front is vigorously fighting the Israeli regime. He boasted that their attacks have made Israeli officials and settlers desperate.

Regarding Lebanon's presidential crisis, he stated that the battle with Israel has no relation to the issue of Lebanon's presidency.

He blamed foreign interventions and internal disagreements for the country's failure to hold presidential elections for months.

He said the movement is ready to support efforts to overcome the deadlock and called for dialogue to bring internal issues to a satisfactory conclusion.

Yemen anti-Israel operations hailed

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Hezbollah leader hailed Yemen's anti-Israel operations, expressing solidarity with the Yemeni people and army in the face of American-British aggression against them.

He praised the steadfastness of Yemenis in their efforts to support Gaza and their pledge that no amount of pressure can stop their anti-Israel operations.

Nasrallah also commented on the pro-Palestine student protests in the US, saying they've expanded the resistance front to Western society.

"For the first time, we feel that the resistance front is expanding to this extent through the movement of students in American and Western universities as part of the honorable, humanitarian, and moral stance against the Israeli crimes in Gaza," he said.

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Iran condemns deadly US, UK attacks on Yemen, urges world to react

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 2:49 PM

Iran has strongly condemned earlier strikes by the United States and the United Kingdom against Yemen that killed and injured dozens of people across the Arab Peninsula nation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani voiced the condemnation on Friday after American and British warplanes and US warships targeted the western Yemeni provinces of Sana'a, al-Hudaydah, and Ta'izz, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 40 others.

The official reminded that the strikes had coincided with the two Western countries' "unlimited support" for the Israeli regime's ongoing war of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Such attacks, he added, sought to "expand insecurity across the region" and prevent the Yemeni people's "honorable support" for the oppressed Palestinian nation.

American and British forces have been carrying out attacks against Yemen to try to force it to stop its pro-Palestinian operations against Israeli vessels or those heading towards the ports of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Kan'ani considered continued violation of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity to be "a clear example" of contravention of the international laws and regulations and infringement upon the human rights.

"The aggressive American and British governments bear responsibility for the repercussions of these atrocities against the Yemeni people," he asserted.

The spokesperson urged the international community and organizations as well as the world's Muslim countries to act on their legal and humanitarian responsibilities towards the Yemeni people, lending them support and opposing the US and the UK's "provocative and adventuristic" measures in the region.

'A painful response'

Following the attacks, Ali al-Qahoum, a member of the Political Bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement, also vowed a "painful response" to the atrocities.

"The Americans and Britons must have understood how powerful Yemeni strikes will be. Our ballistic missiles can target desired targets in the sea and in the occupied Palestinian territories," he told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network.

Shortly afterwards, the Yemeni Armed Forces said they had targeted US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea in response to the deadly American attacks.

"The operation was carried out with a number of winged and ballistic missiles," the forces' spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said, noting that "the hit was accurate and direct."

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'A direct hit': Yemen targets US aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower in Red Sea with ballistic missiles

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 12:30 PM

Yemen's military spokesman says the country's armed forces have targeted US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea in response to deadly overnight attacks by America on the Arab country.

"The missile force and the naval force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a joint military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier 'Eisenhower' in the Red Sea," said Yahya Saree in a televised statement.

"The operation was carried out with a number of winged and ballistic missiles, the hit was accurate and direct, thanks to Allah," he added.

Saree said this was a response to aerial strikes by the US and UK on several targets across the Arab country, which he said targeted civilians in a "blatant violation of all international laws and a full-fledged war crime."

The American and British warplanes attacked the Yemeni capital Sana'a as well as the governorates of Hudaydah and Taiz.

Yemeni officials say the attacks on Hudaydah targeted the Radio building and the Coast Guard facility and several commercial ships, killing at least 16 people and injuring 41 others.

The Yemeni spokesman vowed the country will not hesitate to respond directly to every new aggression on Yemeni territories, and that it will target all hostile American and British targets in the Red and Arabian seas.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have staged numerous pro-Palestinian strikes since October 7, when the Israeli regime began the Gaza war.

American and British warships have been carrying out attacks against the Arab Peninsula nation to force Yemen to stop its operations against Israeli vessels or those heading towards the ports lying in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Yemen has responded to those strikes by launching attacks on American and British assets in the Red Sea and other waters near Yemen.

On Thursday, Yemeni leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi vowed Yemeni forces will continue their military operations and escalate them "in quality and quantity" in support of Palestinians.

Yemeni rage

Also on Friday, the streets of Sana'a, the capital city of Yemen, were filled with a sea of people expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and advocating for sustained support for the Gaza Strip.

The participants commended the Yemeni military's recent actions against vessels associated with Israel, the US and UK, especially the Yemeni forces' strike on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.

Amidst a display of Yemeni and Palestinian flags, the demonstrators carried signs that condemned the systematic eradication inflicted upon the Palestinian people by the US and Israeli forces.

Similar rallies were held across the Arab country, including the governorates of Sa'ada, Ma'rib, and Rayma.

Marking the 33rd consecutive week, these pro-Palestine demonstrations have become a regular occurrence in Yemen, beginning shortly after the initiation of Israel's war on Gaza Strip.

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Hamas says ready for 'complete agreement' if Israel ends war

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 10:34 AM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has told mediators that it is ready for a "complete agreement" only if Israel stops the war, rejecting further talks amid the ongoing war.

"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," Hamas said in a statement.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday that Tel Aviv had handed over a written Israeli proposal to key mediators, Qatar and Egypt, to resume negotiations for the exchange of captives with Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza.

The last round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, hosted by Egypt earlier this month, stalled due to the regime's invasion of the southern city of Rafah.

Hamas stressed that it will not take part in further talks as long as the genocidal war continues.

"Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, starvation and genocide of our people," the statement read.

The group noted that it has showed "flexibility and positivity in response to the efforts of the mediators throughout all previous indirect negotiating rounds."

However, Hamas said, Israel used the talks "as a cover for the continuation of aggression and massacres against the Palestinian people", referring to the ground invasion of Rafah and the seizure of the vital crossing with Egypt as evidence.

The Israeli invasion of Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population have sought shelter from Israeli strikes elsewhere in the besieged Palestinian territory, has forced more than one million Palestinians to "flee" the city, according to the United Nations.

The invasion continues unabated despite an order from the UN's top court for Israel to "immediately halt" its military assault on the southern city.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas mounted the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 36,224 Palestinians and injured 81,777 more.

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Lebanon's Hezbollah targets gatherings of Israeli forces with missiles

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 7:53 AM

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement has carried out fresh retaliatory strikes on a number of Israeli military positions, among them two gatherings of the occupying regime's forces.

The movement said its forces targeted with missiles and artillery shells several sites and positions of Israeli soldiers in the north of the occupied territories on Thursday to "support the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and support their resistance."

They struck a gathering of Israeli troops in the vicinity of the Jal al-Alam military base and another in the Adather site with artillery shells, "hitting both directly", Hezbollah said in a statement.

The Lebanese resistance movement also struck the Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills as well as the Zebdine site in the Shebaa Farms with rockets.

Hezbollah said the resistance forces further targeted Israel's Zarait barracks with artillery shells, achieving direct hits.

A building used by enemy soldiers in the settlement of al-Manara was hit with "appropriate weapons," in response to the Israeli regime's attacks on Lebanon's southern villages and homes, it added.

Israel launched its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 last year after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a historic operation against the usurping regime in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Israeli military has also been conducting attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah on a nearly daily basis in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah has pledged to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza.

More than 36,200 Palestinians have since been killed in the besieged enclave, 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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Egypt warns of 'military response' after Israel's seizure of sensitive buffer zone

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 7:35 AM

Egypt has warned it's ready to respond militarily after Israeli troops seized a sensitive corridor of land along its border with the Gaza Strip.

According to the Wall Street Journal, ties between Tel Aviv and Cairo are now fraying, with Egypt having told Israel it will not hesitate to respond militarily if it feels its security has been threatened.

It came after the Israeli military said the regime's forces had taken "operational" control over the 14 km-long corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt.

"The Philadelphi Corridor served as an oxygen line for Hamas, which it regularly used to smuggle weapons into the area of the Gaza Strip," Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesperson, claimed, using the Israeli military's code name for the 14 buffer zone.

An Israeli military official has clarified that there were Israeli "boots on the ground" along parts of the corridor.

Israel has claimed there are at least 20 tunnels in the Philadelphi corridor, but Egypt has denied the existence of the tunnel network linking Egypt's Sinai and the Gaza Strip.

"Israel is using these allegations to justify continuing the operation on the Palestinian city of Rafah and prolonging the war for political purposes," a high-level Egyptian source said, according to state-linked Al-Qahera News.

Earlier this year, Egypt said that an Israeli military presence there would violate the 1979 peace treaty between the two regimes.

The seizure of the corridor came as part of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza's southern city of Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population had sought shelter from Israeli strikes elsewhere in the besieged Palestinian territory before the ground invasion of the city.

The invasion continues unabated despite an order from the UN's top court for Israel to "immediately halt" its military aggression against the southern city.

The assault has forced more than one million Palestinians to "flee" the city, according to the United Nations.

In early May, Israel captured the Gaza side of the vital Rafah border crossing, a lifeline to the outside world for Palestinians in Gaza, and it has been closed since then.

Just days ago, an Egyptian soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with the Israeli forces near the crossing. Both sides said they were investigating the incident, which is believed to have been a revenge attack for the massacres committed in Gaza.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas mounted the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 36,224 Palestinians and injured 81,777 more.





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Yemen vows 'very painful' response after US-UK strikes kill over a dozen

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 6:40 AM

Yemen has vowed a "painful response" to overnight airstrikes by US-British forces against targets across the Muslim nation, which killed at least 16 people and left several others injured.

"Yemen will definitely respond to the American and British acts of aggression against our country and the American-British coalition will not be able to ward off our responses," Ali al-Qahoum, a member of the political bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement, told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television.

"The Americans and Britons must have understood how powerful Yemeni strikes will be. Our ballistic missiles can target desired targets in the sea and in the occupied Palestinian territories," he said.

Qahoum suggested that the US, as the top ally of Israel and supporter of the regime's expansion of an ongoing invasion of the Gaza Strip, had no interest in a de-escalation in the region.

"If the United States does not seek to expand the scope of the war, it should then end its support for the invasion of Gaza and its siege. Yemeni attacks will otherwise continue and its scope will also expand," Qahoum pointed out.

Nasruddin Amer, another member of the political bureau of Ansarallah movement, also said Yemeni and Palestinian nations will definitely emerge triumphant and achieve victory.

"This is a divine promise and it will definitely come true. Even if the whole world attacks Sana'a, we will never abandon Gaza," he pointed out.

The remarks came hours after Yemen's official Saba news agency, citing a security source speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that a US-British airstrike hit the radio station building in the al-Hawak district of Yemen's strategic western province of Hudaydah early on Friday.

The source noted that two people were killed and ten others injured as a result.

US and British forces also conducted strikes against the communications network in an area of the Hayfan district in Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz, and on several buildings in the capital province of Sana'a.

Yemen's al-Masirah television channel said 14 people were killed and more than 30 were wounded in the strikes.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have staged numerous pro-Palestinian strikes since October 7, when the Israeli regime began the Gaza war.

American and British warships have been carrying out attacks against the Arab Peninsula nation to force Yemen to stop its operations against Israeli vessels or those heading towards the ports lying in the occupied Palestinian territories.

At least 36,224 Palestinians have been killed and 81,777 others wounded in the brutal Israeli military onslaught that was launched following Al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged by Gaza's resistance groups.

The US has been the main supporter of Israel, providing it with munitions and political support in its brutal war on Gaza. Washington has also used its veto power to protect Israel against UN resolutions.





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Marcos condemns Beijing's 'assertive' moves in the South China Sea

The Philippine president also urged Beijing and Washington to responsibly manage their rivalry.

By RFA and BenarNews staff 2024.05.31 -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on Friday to criticize Beijing's "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.

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 China's 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 country's 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 world's 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 China's 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 he's such a game changer in how the strategic situation plays out," said Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University.

Manila's '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 Manila's 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 year's 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 Washington's 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.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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The Azadi Briefing: Taliban's New Pick For Health Minister Triggers Criticism

By Abubakar Siddique May 31, 2024

The Key Issue

The only technocrat in the Taliban's cabinet has been dismissedand 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 saidon 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 Taliban's 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 Ebad's 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 Akhundzada's leadership, the Taliban has imposed restrictions on women's access to health care and limited women's 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.



Ebad's 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 Afghanistan's dependence on neighboring Pakistan. Transit goods of Afghan traders have been sporadically strandedin Pakistan's ports and border crossings because of bilateral tensions.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban- qalandar-ebad-akhundzada-health/32974055.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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The Next Front In The Battle Over Georgia's 'Foreign Agent' Law

By Andy Heil and RFE/RL's Georgian Service May 31, 2024

TBILSI -- Mika Dzidziguri realized just a few years ago that people from outside the country could help Georgian society turn a corner.

UNICEF and other foreign-based donors and aid organizations were working with her and other parents of children with Down syndrome to raise awareness, correct misconceptions about children with disabilities, and help find jobs for affected young people.

Their work -- aided by international organizations that provided grants and support -- made up for the desperate lack of services in this Caucasus nation of around 3.7 million. Past research has suggested that Georgian civil society groups get some 95 percent of their funding from abroad and frequently "last for only a project or two."

"This wouldn't be possible without the support of international organizations," Dzidziguri told RFE/RL's Georgian Service.

But now she and other community-based activists in Georgia might lose that critical help, after lawmakers overrode a presidential veto to enact a controversial "foreign agent" law to publicly name, and seemingly shame, foreign-backed NGOs as "serving the interests of a foreign power."

"This law is a signal to us that if someone doesn't like our speech or statement, they can shut us down very easily," Dzidziguri said.

Critics of the new law have warned of its potentially devastating effect on the country's 10,000 or so nonprofits, active in areas ranging from antidiscrimination and childhood cancer to local theater and sheltering stray animals.

Dzidziguri's special-needs daughter, Lile, is now an adolescent, and the nonprofit her mother represents, the Georgian Down Syndrome Association, has founded two more organizations to help more kids with disabilities "live in dignity."

Since the passing of the law, Dzidziguri said that her association and its offshoots intend to continue their activities, but "we don't know whether or not we'll be registered as organizations serving the interests of a foreign power."

Legal Options

With the threat of not being able to continue their work hanging over their heads, NGOs in Georgia are looking at their legal options, helped by public-interest lawyers and legal-aid groups who, for a while now, have been planning the pivot from the streets to the courtroom.

Guram Imnadze of the Social Justice Center, a Tbilisi-based NGO that provides rights-related legal assistance to the public, told RFE/RL in mid-May that his and around 30 other groups had been working in task forces, including one to "analyze possible legal strategies."

"We'll try to use all the legal remedies in order to tackle this legislation," he said.

But Imnadze and others recognize that legal battles take time -- his center's own 2017 constitutional challenge of a law on secret surveillance is still pending -- and they know this can pose an existential problem for community-based NGOs in particular.

Imnadze's and around 150 other NGOs have described the registration requirement under the new law as unfair and "degrading" and vowed not to comply.

"Of course, we are not going to register ourselves," Imnadze said. "[But] these community-based organizations...can't easily declare that they won't register themselves" because it could endanger their "well-being, their existence."

Smaller NGOs were already seeking advice from the Social Justice Center well before the "foreign agent" law's adoption.

"Their main concerns and questions are about legal aspects: What kind of legal ways are there to avoid this registration, and how can they proceed with their daily work if this law is adopted?" Imnadze said.

The new law presents all foreign-funded NGOs with the same stigmatization dilemma, he said, but the penalties for noncompliance can make it "almost impossible" for smaller ones to operate.

Organizations will undoubtedly face increased administrative burdens. And due to initially undisclosed late-hour amendments, both organizations and individuals can face substantial fines of 25,000 lari (around $9,000) per month or even higher for noncompliance.

Personal Information Requests

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other Georgian Dream officials say the new law will promote "transparency" and national sovereignty, although NGOs were already required to disclose their funding to the government.

Even the most outspoken critics of foreign-funding levels among Georgian NGOs acknowledge that the law will ensnare far more groups than its Georgian Dream architects suggest.

"Those NGOs that steered well clear of partisan politics, tried to be mission-driven and not donor-driven, practiced genuine solidarity, and respected citizens' agency will get caught up in a policy that wasn't even aimed at them," Almut Rochowanski, a longtime civil society activist and former grant writer and reviewer in the region, wrote recently.

Final decisions on legal strategies, Imnadze said, will have to wait until enforcement begins. He cited the right to privacy guaranteed by the Georgian Constitution, including the proper handling of individuals' personal information.

"Nobody, including state institutions, should have unlimited access to this kind of information," Imnadze said.

Under the new law, the Justice Ministry has the power to request personal information about individuals associated with an "organization serving the interests of a foreign power," including details about a person's political views, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sex life.

Imnadze also said that describing organizations as foreign threats simply because they receive financial aid from foreign partners is discriminatory, especially when numerous state agencies get similar funding.

Fighting The Law At Home And Abroad

One of the most pressing questions for those organizations affected by the new law is whether to fight the legislation in national courts, which are seen by many as highly politicized and influenced by the ruling party, or plan straightaway for a challenge before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the Council of Europe's international court.

For now, the answer may well be both: On May 30, a group of Georgian NGOs declared their intention to initiate legal proceedings at the country's Constitutional Court to challenge the validity of the act. At the same time, they said, they will also file a complaint with the ECHR.

"[We] will use all domestic and international mechanisms to impede its operation until the law is unconditionally repealed," the group said in a statement read out at a news conference in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

Those targeted by the law have already been looking to the international legal community for help. Another Council of Europe body, the Venice Commission, provided considerable international legal ammunition in a nonbinding "urgent opinion" on May 14.

It cited "fundamental flaws" in the law that "involve significant negative consequences for the freedoms of association and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs, as well as the prohibition of discrimination."

The commission's legal opinion also "stressed" the effect of Georgia's "foreign influence" law on civil society organizations in the context of earlier "foreign agent" legislation in Russia and a "transparency" law passed and eventually repealed in EU wild child Hungary.

The Russian legislation, approved in 2012, laid out criteria in the Criminal Code for a "foreign agent" designation for NGOs that receive outside support and has since been ratcheted up and expanded to include media and individuals. It has been used to crack down relentlessly on critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his policies, including with an amendment this month disqualifying "foreign agents" from elected office.

In 2017, five years into the Russian experiment, Hungarian lawmakers avoided using the term "foreign agent" in their own legislation, taking aim at civil society by instead focusing on "transparency."

It took three years before the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the European Union's highest court in matters of EU law, ruled that the Hungarian legislation contravened the bloc's law. It took nearly another year and an EU threat of further action before the Fidesz party of Hungary's populist right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban eventually repealed it. Experts say a newer law on "sovereignty protection" appears aimed at casting a similar pall over NGOs and an even broader segment of Hungarian society.

In its legal opinion, the Venice Commission said that the situation in Georgia is largely similar to that of Hungary, as it singles out "certain entities as 'organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power' on the mere ground of their receiving foreign funding."

This, the commission said, has the "potential of tarnishing the reputation of such entities and creating an atmosphere of mistrust towards them."

Imnadze called "this stigma aspect the biggest similarity" between the Georgian bill and its Russian and Hungarian counterparts, and one that drives home the perils of compliance. It's also a lesson, he said, that Georgian Dream learned from the withdrawal under public pressure of its earlier "foreign agent" bill a year ago.

"The [new] version doesn't include this wording; it's substituted by the actual explanation of what the word 'agent' means," Imnadze said. "So, in that regard, nothing has changed."

Written and reported by Andy Heil in Prague with additional reporting by RFE/RL's Georgian Service.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-foreign- agent-law-ngos-legal-fight/32974127.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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Demonstrators Led By Archbishop Clash With Police In Latest Anti-Government Protest In Yerevan

By Anush Mkrtchian May 31, 2024

Demonstrators led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian scuffled with riot police in Yerevan on May 31 as they rallied in the Armenian capital to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's resignation.

One day after trying to surround the seat of Pashinian's government, the protesters marched to the nearby building of the Armenian Foreign Ministry to demand a meeting with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Galstanian said Mirzoyan or other senior ministry officials must explain what he described as their failure to respond to "humiliating" anti-Armenian statements made by Azerbaijan's leaders.

The top diplomats refused to receive Galstanian and opposition lawmakers accompanying him, leading Galstanian to demand that the police let him into the building to "get the answers" himself.

"Either they will come out or we will go in," he told hundreds of supporters at the main entrance to the building, guarded by a comparable number of police.

After repeatedly threatening to use force during a four-hour standoff with the protesters, security forces tried to push the crowd back from the entrance. The protesters, including Galstanian, resisted, jostling with the police.

The Interior Ministry said afterward that at least 29 people were detained as a result. Two deacons of the Armenian Apostolic Church were reportedly among those arrested, and one of them was seriously injured, according to Galstanian.

Aram Hovannisian, chief of the national police and leader of the security forces at the scene, accused the outspoken archbishop of provoking the clash.

Galstanian, who claimed to have been kicked by one of the officers, blamed the police as well as Mirzoyan for the violence.

"Let the police know that they can't intimidate us. This is just a prelude," he said before leading the crowd back to the city's St. Anne Church, the starting point of his daily protests aimed at forcing Pashinian to step down.

The 53-year-old cleric, backed by the opposition, began his rallies in Yerevan on May 9 after leading protests in the northern Tavush Province against Pashinian's decision to cede several border areas to Azerbaijan.

Pashinian has said that the territorial concessions are necessary to prevent Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia.

His detractors say he is creating additional security risks for the country and encouraging Baku to demand more territory.

Armenian police on May 30 scuffled with demonstrators and detained several of the activists as they rallied in the capital to demand Pashinian's resignation.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-pashinian-azerbaijan- protest-galstanian/32974285.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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Biden Says Israel Has Offered Proposal to Ensure Enduring Cessation of Hostilities in Gaza

Sputnik News

20240531

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden said on Friday that Israel has offered a new comprehensive proposal with a roadmap that would lead to an enduring cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip as well as the release of all hostages.

"Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal, it's a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages," Biden said during a press conference. "This proposal has been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas ... this new proposal has three phases."

Biden explained that the first phase would last for six weeks and include a temporary ceasefire, full withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of hostages from both sides.

The second phase, Biden said, would be a negotiated permanent end to all hostilities in the conflict, and it could include the release of all remaining hostages and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza if Israel's security guarantees are satisfied.

The third phase would be the commencement of a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, Biden said, which would also include aid from international partners to do so.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar are expected to play key roles in trying to keep this initiative alive, Biden noted.

The United States will work with international partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals destroyed during the war in Gaza if a ceasefire is reached between Israel and Hamas, the president added.

"The United States will work with our partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza to help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war," he told the press conference.

The United States will also help ensure that Israel lives up to its obligations under the new proposed three-phase deal on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and hostages release.

"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 that Hamas doesn't do that. The United States will help ensure that Israel lives up to their obligations as well," Biden said.

The POTUS mentioned that he urged the Israeli leadership to stand behind the new proposed ceasefire deal despite pressure from those in Israel who disagree with it.

"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, and 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. Well, I've urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal despite whatever pressure comes," he noted.

 Sputnik

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Houthis Claim Red Sea Attack on American Aircraft Carrier After US-UK Strikes

Sputnik News

20240531

DOHA (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

 Sputnik

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Houthis Threatens to Hit Targets in Red, Arabian Seas After US, UK Strikes on Yemen

Sputnik News

20240531

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

 Sputnik

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US, UK Aircraft Carry Out 13 Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen - Sources

Sputnik News

20240531

CAIRO (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi today. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the proposal submitted to Hamas that would achieve an immediate ceasefire, secure the release of all hostages, and end the war in Gaza. The Secretary outlined how the deal would facilitate a massive surge of humanitarian assistance, allow the return of Palestinians to North Gaza, and begin the reconstruction of Gaza, among other benefits. The Secretary underscored that the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the long-term security of the region. He emphasized that Hamas should accept the deal without delay. Secretary Blinken thanked Jordan for its leadership in providing life-saving humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Solo Press Availability

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Hrzan Palace

Prague, Czechia

May 31, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. Let me begin by thanking our extraordinary hosts here in Czechia, starting with President Pavel, my friend, Foreign Minister Lipavsky - I thank them for hosting this meeting of NATO's foreign ministers in advance of the NATO summit, but more important to thank them for the remarkable Ally and partner that Czechia is, demonstrating over these 25 years of its membership in the Alliance how much it contributes to our common defense, to our common purpose, and to sustaining our common values.

I also want to thank Secretary General Stoltenberg. I've said this many times before; it bears repeating: His vision, his tenacity, his leadership of this Alliance during a highly consequential decade has been nothing short of remarkable, and he's got more leadership to do as we get to the summit in Washington.

It's not an overstatement to say that this is a critical moment for transatlantic security. We've seen in recent weeks Putin ramping up an offensive against Ukraine in Kharkiv in the northeast; Ukrainians continuing to show extraordinary courage in resisting the Russian aggression. The Kremlin's also been intensifying its hybrid attacks against frontline states - NATO members - setting fire and sabotaging supply warehouses, disregarding sea borders and demarcations in the Baltics, mounting more and more cyber attacks, continuing to spread disinformation. I can tell you that in the meeting of foreign ministers today 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.

More broadly, the stakes couldn't be higher in this moment. We know that if Russia's aggression is allowed to proceed in Ukraine with impunity, it will not stop with Ukraine. And other would-be aggressors in other parts of the world will take note and consider pursuing their own aggressions. By continuing to strengthen Ukraine, by continuing to show our determination to make sure that it can effectively defend itself, we're also strengthening the security of the United States, of Europe, of free countries all around the world.

I was in Kyiv a couple of weeks ago, and one of my messages then was that Ukraine is not alone. As the Ukrainian people continue to fight for their freedom, for their independence, for their prosperity, for their democratic future - a future where they decide for themselves the trajectory of their country - they're not alone. The United States is with them. Ally after Ally in NATO and many countries beyond are with them as well. And I heard that reinforced loudly and clearly today among the NATO Allies.

Since Congress passed the President's supplemental budget request of $60 billion last month with overwhelming bipartisan support in our country, we've sent assistance surging to the front: tens of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of anti-tank mines, air defense capabilities already making a difference. Partners are speeding up their own deliveries to Ukraine, doing more than their share. We saw yesterday - and some of you were with us - how Czechia is sourcing artillery shells around the world and transferring tanks as well to Ukraine. The Netherlands and Germany are contributing additional Patriot air defense systems. Sweden is sending $1.3 billion for radar surveillance aircraft, artillery shells, armored vehicles - and the list continues.

Thanks to the extraordinary bravery of the Ukrainians and thanks to this enduring, strong support from partners, the front in the east and northeast is stabilizing. And of course, Ukraine has made significant gains in the Black Sea, pushing back the Russian fleet, allowing Ukraine to continue to grow its economy by exporting - in fact, exporting through the Black Sea as much, even more than it was before the Russian aggression in February of '22.

So at this pivotal time, the work of the Alliance and the NATO summit itself that we'll host in Washington is, I think, more important than ever. We look forward to welcoming our NATO Allies to Washington. And, of course, it's the 75th anniversary of the most successful Alliance in history. So we will celebrate that fact. But even more important, we will be focusing on the steps we're taking to ensure that the Alliance is fit for purpose for the next 75 years to meet the challenges of today and challenges we anticipate tomorrow.

Today, we spent very productive time working to finalize some of the commitments and some of the outcomes for the summit. And I can say that as we stand here and as we'll see in Washington this Alliance is bigger than it's ever been with the addition of two new members, it's stronger, it's more resilient and more united.

At the 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. NATO will help build Ukraine's future force, one that can effectively deter aggression and defend against it if necessary. We'll advance Ukraine's integration with NATO. Thirty-two countries are also negotiating individual bilateral security agreements with Ukraine; 13 have already been concluded. I expect many more will be concluded by the time of the summit. We'll bring them all together to show how powerful that commitment is.

At the same time, we're seeing Allies stand up to increase burden sharing. Two-thirds of Allies are now on track to meet the 2 percent commitment, and we'll welcome more. Back in 2020, 11 NATO Allies were at 2 percent of GDP contributed to defense. By the time of the summit, we expect that number will be over 20.

We're also working in the Alliance to strengthen the Alliance's collective deterrence and defense. We're ramping up production; we're strengthening our defense industrial bases. We'll have new regional plans that will spell out how and what Allies need to do and will do to protect every inch of NATO territory. And we're deepening cooperation between NATO and critical partners - the European Union, partners in the Indo-Pacific.

And here, just as Allies today were seized with the hybrid threat that has grown from Russia, they're also seized with China's support for Russia's defense industrial base. And as I've had occasion to discuss before, including in China, what we've seen from China is not the provision of weapons to Russia, but the provision of critical inputs that have allowed Russia to accelerate its own production of tanks, of missiles, of shells. Seventy percent of the machine tools that Russia is currently importing are coming from China. Ninety percent of the microelectronics that China is importing are coming from China.[1] And I heard Ally after Ally today raise their deep concern about this, and it only made even more clear to me what I shared with Chinese counterparts in Beijing: China cannot expect on the one hand to improve relations with countries of Europe while on the other hand fueling the biggest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.

None of us are under any illusions about the challenges we face today and we'll continue to face in the days and months ahead. But 25 years ago, as Czechia joined NATO ahead of the Alliance's 50th anniversary, a daughter of Prague, my friend, mentor, predecessor, Madeleine Albright, reminded us that, and I quote, "When we stand together, no force on Earth is more powerful than our solidarity on behalf of freedom." That conviction was reinforced for me today by what I heard from all of our Allies, and I can tell you it will be further reinforced when we come together in Washington. It's been true for the last 75 years; I want to track to make sure that it's true for the next 75.

MR MILLER: For the first question, we'll go to Humeyra Pamuk with Reuters.

QUESTION: Hello. Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary. I have two questions - one on Ukraine, one on Gaza. So the Biden administration has allowed Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia to defend Kharkiv. Do you leave the door open for this decision to be expanded to other cities and targets that are deeper inside Russia? And since it took the Biden administration a while to make this decision, I'm wondering: Do you think you were too cautious? Or has your intelligence assessment on the possibility of Putin using tactical nuclear weapons has shifted?

And on Gaza, the UN said humanitarian aid going into Gaza has dropped by two thirds since Israel began its Rafah offensive. Your colleague, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who's an export in - expert on genocide, yesterday said the humanitarian conditions in Gaza were now worse than ever. On April the 4th, President Biden conditioned U.S. military aid to Israel on improvement of the aid situation, among other things. So I'm wondering, why isn't the current dire picture in Gaza triggering a bigger policy shift? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Great. Thanks, Humeyra. So with regard to the use of U.S. arms by Ukraine and Russia, I said this the other day: The hallmark of our engagement, our support for Ukraine over these more than two years, has been to adapt and adjust as necessary to meet what's actually going on on the battlefield, to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs when it needs it, to do that deliberately and effectively. And that's exactly what we're doing in response to what we've now seen in and around the Kharkiv region.

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. And that went right to the President, and as you heard, he's approved the 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. And that, as I said, has been a hallmark of our engagement; it will continue to be.

As I've also said many, many times, we want to make sure that we're proceeding deliberately as well as effectively. So I think time and again we've adapted, we've adjusted, we've provided Ukraine with the systems, the weapons it's needed. But again, as I've shared with you many times before, for example, when it comes to weapons systems, we also want to make sure that they have the necessary training to use the weapons and they have the necessary capacity to maintain them. So you have to look at this in a comprehensive way, and I think if you look back as well as look at what we're doing now, it reflects a very deliberate determination to make sure that we're getting Ukraine what they need when they need it.

With regard to Gaza and the humanitarian situation, the humanitarian situation remains dire for people in Gaza. We've seen changes, some positive changes, but the net effect is not there. The positive changes are that, of course, crossings in the north have been opened in recent weeks, including Zikim. We have a route from Jordan that is getting trucks in. If you look at the number of trucks that are actually getting to Gaza and going in, it's up significantly, but distribution within Gaza is not working effectively. And part of the reason for that are the combat operations in the south. In addition, Rafah gate continues to be closed. President Biden secured an agreement with Egypt and with Israel to make sure that goods could go through Kerem Shalom, including goods coming from Egypt, but Rafah remains closed. And that's a real problem.

So the focus that we have, continue to have, and are working on intensely every day is, again, making sure that we're not just measuring inputs - we're measuring impact. And yes, the impact remains insufficient in terms of addressing the acute needs of children, women, and men in Gaza. But it's a moving story every day as we're working intensely to make sure that the different access points are working and then distribution within Gaza is working more effectively. And that's what we're focused on.

QUESTION: But sir, since President Biden conditioned this on it, then why wouldn't you use that leverage? United States provides almost 70 percent of Israel's weapons. That gives it a big leverage, and President Biden specifically conditioned it on this and other things. Why wouldn't you use that policy?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: The - the issue is the conditions are such that the effective distribution of aid is being impeded. And that's what we're working on, trying to make sure that the conditions are there, and there are ways of doing this much more effectively. We're trying to get the results; that's what I'm focused on.

MR MILLER: For the next question, Henry Foy with the Financial Times.

QUESTION: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. We know that Ukraine hopes and, in some regards, expects an invitation to join NATO this - at the summit. We also know that your administration and other countries are opposed to that this summer. As such, what tangible, real things can you offer, both you as the U.S. and NATO, Ukraine to ease that disappointment and avoid the sense of them feeling let down again and the response that we saw from Kyiv in Vilnius to that? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Well, as the Allies agreed and made clear at Vilnius, the last summit, Ukraine will become a member of NATO. And our purpose now is to put in place the bridge to bring Ukraine closer to and then ultimately into NATO. And as I've said, it's a bridge that I think, as you'll see emerge at the summit, it's both very strong and very well-lit. There will be a robust package of support for Ukraine at the summit, a package that strengthens NATO's cooperation and support for Ukraine; that advances Ukraine's integration into NATO; tangible steps that will increase NATO's role in helping Ukraine build a future force, one that can deter and defend against aggression.

At the same time, you're going to see, I think, the completion of these bilateral security agreements, 32 countries that are engaged in doing that. I expect all of that to come together at the summit as well, and that will help ensure that Ukraine is properly resourced to continue to defend itself. But this is a process, and we're proceeding very methodically and proceeding in a way that is delivering practical benefits to Ukraine, including advancing its membership to NATO in very clear and practical ways.

MR MILLER: John Hudson with The Washington Post.

QUESTION: Thanks. Mr. Secretary, you don't do domestic politics, but you do 

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good, thank you.

QUESTION: (Laughter.) But you do represent the United States on the world stage. What are you hearing from foreign counterparts about the guilty verdict in the Trump trial?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I really have nothing to share on that. We have diplomatic conversations that will remain just that, diplomatic conversations in private.

QUESTION: And former President Trump's trial was defined by his efforts to castigate and delegitimize a court of law. Does that give you any pause about how the Biden administration has responded to another court of law, the International Criminal Court, as well as the International Court of Justice, with regards to Gaza?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I'm not going to comment on the first part of your question because, as I've long said, I don't do politics - I do policy. With regard to policy and the ICC, look, we've been very clear about this. The decision that the prosecutor made was, in our judgment, profoundly wrongheaded. And in creating an equation between Hamas and Israel - Hamas's leaders and Israel's democratically elected leaders - as we said, and as I've said, it's quite frankly shameful. The reality is that the court was created for a very good reason: to be a court of last resort, one that would swing into action where a country either couldn't or wouldn't effectively police itself. And so the principle of what's called complementarity is at the heart of the court's creation and what it does.

And in Israel, you have a vibrant, independent, and very active judicial system. And in the case of Gaza as well, there are many incidents that are under investigation, including some under criminal investigation. There's a case right now before the Israeli supreme court about the alleged denial of humanitarian assistance for Gazans. And so Israel and its system - its democratic system with independent courts and judges as well as a military justice system that can effectively investigate any allegations of abuse - that should be allowed to run its course. And given that - never mind the fact that we don't accept the jurisdiction of the court over Israel, but leaving that aside, Israeli justice should be allowed to run its course.

Finally, I think it's very deeply unfortunate that Israel was prepared to cooperate with the investigation even while rejecting the jurisdiction of the court, and yet the prosecutor chose not to pursue that cooperation.

MR MILLER: And for 

QUESTION: And just lastly, the Kremlin has put out a statement saying that the trial shows the White House is eliminating Biden's political rivals. They're trying to use this as a way to besmirch the American legal system. How do you respond to that?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I would say that's a classic case of projection.

MR MILLER: And for the last question, Alexandra von Nahmen with Deutsche Welle.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. Secretary, you've mentioned China and how they are propping up the Russian war economy. And Jens Stoltenberg said today as well that without the deliveries from China, Russia would not have been able to conduct the war against Ukraine the way they do. So is there anything you can do about it? And if yes, what are you planning to do about that? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes. Again, this is something that Ally after Ally was seized with today. I heard it from virtually everyone in the room. We've already taken action against Chinese entities that have been involved in sanctions evasion, involved in supporting Russia's defense industrial base, including sanctioning more than, I think, now - more than a hundred Chinese entities of one kind or another. And as I've made clear, as necessary, we will continue to do that. From what I heard today, Europeans are also very seized with this, and I would expect to see actions taken by Europeans, by Europe.

And again, I come back to this proposition that's so clear. Russia getting this support from China is, as the secretary general said, a huge difference-maker right now on the battlefield. And for China to purport to have better relations with countries in Europe while fueling this -what I believe is the biggest threat and what Europeans believe is the biggest threat to their security since the end of the Cold War - does not add up. And I think that will continue to have consequences going forward. Thank you.

MR MILLER: Thank you all.

# # #

[1] Ninety percent of the microelectronics that Russia is importing are coming from China.

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Deputy Secretary Campbell's Meeting with European External Action Service Secretary General Sannino

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

On May 28, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino in Brussels. Deputy Secretary Campbell and Secretary General Sannino discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal and the urgency of humanitarian assistance reaching civilians in need. They discussed the challenges posed by the People's Republic of China, including its support for Russia's defense-industrial base. They reiterated staunch U.S. and EU support for Ukraine amid Russia's war of aggression and discussed the use of extraordinary revenues from immobilized Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine. They also discussed cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners and working together on countering disinformation in the Global South.

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Deputy Secretary Campbell's Meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell met on Tuesday, May 28, with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana in Brussels at NATO Headquarters. Deputy Secretary Campbell and Deputy Secretary General Geoana discussed the United States' and NATO's enduring commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's aggression; the impact of People's Republic of China support to the Russian defense industrial base on Russia's war against Ukraine; the growing relationship between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; and priority deliverables for the July 9-11 NATO Washington Summit, including concrete steps Allies will take to help Ukraine defend itself, operationalize NATO support, and progress Ukraine toward NATO membership.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Prague on the sidelines of an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed the United States' and NATO's enduring commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's aggression. They discussed key deliverables for the upcoming NATO Washington Summit, including bolstering Ukraine's defense, deepening ties between NATO and its Indo-Pacific Partners, and further strengthening Allied deterrence and defense. The Secretary underscored the importance of continued progress on Allies sharing the responsibility of NATO's collective defense equitably.

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Designation of Ugandan Public Officials

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The Department of State is publicly designating five current and former Ugandan officials for their involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among is designated due to involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership of Uganda's Parliament. 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 are being designated due to their involvement in significant corruption related to conduct that misused public resources and diverted materials from Uganda's neediest communities. All four officials abused their public positions for their personal benefit at the expense of Ugandans.

Additionally, Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF), is designated due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights. Specifically, Peter Elwelu was involved, while commanding UPDF forces, in extrajudicial killings that were committed by members of the UPDF. As a result of these actions, the designated Ugandan officials are generally ineligible for entry into the United States.

The Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on multiple other Ugandan officials for undermining the democratic process and repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda. These individuals are responsible for, or complicit in, the repression of Ugandan members of political opposition groups, civil society organizers, and vulnerable communities in Uganda.

The United States 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 position through corruption and gross violations of human rights. Impunity allows corrupt officials to stay in power, slows the pace of development, facilitates crime, and causes unequal distribution of resources, which can affect underrepresented and underserved populations disproportionally. Today's actions reaffirm the U.S. commitment to support transparency in Uganda's democratic processes, counter corruption globally, and address the broader culture of impunity that prevents all Ugandans from enjoying their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

These public designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47). The Department is also designating Among's spouse, Moses Magogo Hassim; Kitutu's spouse, Michael George Kitutu; and Lugolobi's spouse, Evelyne Nakimera; they also are generally ineligible for entry into the United States. The additional steps to impose visa restrictions onmultiple other Ugandan individuals are being taken under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act under the policy Secretary Blinken expanded in December 2023.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

31 May 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Briefings

All right, good afternoon, happiest of Fridays to all of you. And thank you, thank you for that.

All right, just a couple of programming notes: at 11 a.m. on Monday we will have another briefing on Gaza, this time from Andrea De Domenico, who's the Head of OCHA's (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He will be joining you remotely from Jerusalem to give us an update on the humanitarian situation.

At 1 p.m., after my briefing and probably Monica's, there will be a briefing in this room by Ambassador Joonkook Hwang, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, who as you know will be the President of the Security Council for the month of June. He will brief you on the programme of work.

The briefing by the President of the Council will be in-person only, there will not be a Zoom connection for that, so if you want to speak to the President of the Council, make an effort to be here.

** Climate

Also, I want to flag that on 5 June, on Wednesday, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will deliver a special address at the American Museum of Natural History, where during those remarks, he will set out some hard-hitting truths about the state of the climate, the grotesque risks that today's leaders are running, and what companies and countries  particularly those who belong to G7 and the G20  need to do over the next 18 months to salvage humanity's chances of a liveable future.

The Secretary-General will also share some new data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The Secretary-General will be joined at the event by his Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael Bloomberg, and also by Sean M. Decatur, the President of the American Museum of Natural History.

If you are interested in attending this event in person, please reach out to Florencia (Soto Nino) in my office. The remarks, of course, will be webcast and will be available to broadcasters who wish to take those remarks live or taped.

On Tuesday at 10 a.m. in this room, we will have Selwin Hart, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Climate Action and Just Transition, as well as representatives from WMO and Copernicus to brief you on background on the Secretary-General's remarks.

If you want to attend virtually that background briefing, please let us know and reach out to Florencia in my office.

** Haiti

Turning to Haiti, I can tell you that the Secretary-General welcomes the designation by the Transitional Presidential Council of Garry Conille as the interim Prime Minister of Haiti. The Secretary-General looks forward to further progress in the establishment of the transitional governance arrangements.

Mr. Guterres encourages all Haitian stakeholders to work together to ensure steady progress in the transition to restore democratic institutions through the holding of elections.

The Secretary-General also stresses the importance of ensuring an inclusive political transition in Haiti, including by appointing women to decision-making positions.

It remains critical that progress in the political transition be accompanied by urgently needed security gains.

The Secretary-General therefore reiterates his call for the swift deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti to support the Haitian National Police in addressing the dire security situation and urgently appeals to all Member States to ensure that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission promptly receives the financial and logistical support it needs to succeed.

And just to highlight the humanitarian situation in Haiti, I want to tell you that the humanitarian cargo flight operated by the UN Humanitarian Air Service was able to fly from Panama to Port-au-Prince airport yesterday. This is the first time a UN cargo flight has landed in the capital in three months.

The flight transported about 15 [metric] tons of medicine and medical supplies to support the operations of UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This will support critical, life-saving operations as insecurity continues to restrict people's access to health care, mainly in the metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite department.

Haitian authorities, WHO and local NGOs (non-governmental organizations) continue to provide a wide range of services to displaced people, including screening for malnutrition, cholera prevention, as well as psychosocial support.

We hope that with the gradual opening of the international airport more supplies would be able to be brought in, for which donor support is very much needed.

The humanitarian response plan for Haiti, which calls for $674 million, is only 21 per cent funded, with only $142 million in the bank.

And a note to add that this morning, UNICEF sounded the alarm about child recruitment and use by armed groups in Haiti.

They said this morning that we have estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of the armed group members are children. These children are subject to coercion, abuse and exploitation stemming from persistent social, economic and political fragility caused by the ongoing violence that has spiralled parts of the country into chaos.

The Ministries of Justice, Education and Labour and Social Affairs in Haiti recently agreed on joint ways of working to support the reintegration of children who previously were members of armed groups. They say this agreement represents a milestone in safeguarding their well-being.

Another reason why we need a quick deployment of the Multinational Security Support force in Haiti.

** Deputy Secretary-General

Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is in Antigua and Barbuda today, where she met with different Cabinet ministers and also with the Resident Coordinators in small island developing States (SIDS). In the afternoon, she is expected to depart for Barbuda, where she will meet with local communities and other stakeholders involved in reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Irma.

Yesterday, the Deputy Secretary-General attended the closing ceremony of the Fourth UN Conference on Small Island Developing States, where she stressed that over the course of the last four days many countries have made commitments to make the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS a reality.

Going forward, she said, no effort should be spared to ensure that the voices of vulnerable and marginalized groups in small island developing States continue to be heard, including persons with disabilities, older persons and indigenous peoples.

Amina Mohammed will be returning to New York tomorrow.

** Peacekeeping

Our colleagues from UN Peacekeeping inform us that experts from around the world and across a wide range of disciplines are at UN Headquarters today for a symposium on "Preparing and Building for the Future: Pathways Towards more Nimble, Adaptive and Effective Peacekeeping". It is organized in partnership with Ghana, India, Norway and Switzerland.

They are sharing actionable ideas on how best to prepare for UN peacekeeping operations to face current and future challenges, including those related to new technologies, digital threats and climate change.

Setting the scene for this forward-looking policy dialogue, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of peacekeeping, whom you've heard from yesterday, said UN Peacekeeping needs to be ready in a changing world to have a diversity of tools to respond to these challenges.

He stressed the importance of Member State support as a precondition for success, given that ultimately, peacekeeping is a political tool.

** Democratic People's Republic of Korea

This morning in the Security Council, Khaled Khiari, the Assistant Secretary-General, for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefed Security Council members on non-proliferation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He said the DPRK's unannounced satellite launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, reiterating that Security Council resolutions expressly prohibit the DPRK from conducting any such launches using ballistic missile technology, and he underscored the need for practical measures to reduce tensions, reverse the dangerous dynamic, and create space to explore diplomatic avenues. Exercising maximum restraint is critical to avoid unintended escalation, he said.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

And turning to the situation in Gaza, I think you had a pretty extensive briefing from Matthew Hollingworth of WFP this morning. But I do want to add that our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us they are alarmed by ongoing hostilities and evacuation orders in Rafah continue to force the closure of key humanitarian facilities there.

As an example, according to our partners working on nutrition, the Malnutrition Stabilization Centre in the Tal as Sultan area of Rafah has completely ceased operations. Efforts are ongoing to relocate to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

But as you'll have seen reports from Tal as Sultan on the killing of two paramedics of the Palestine Red Crescent Society who were trying to respond to a call in that part of Rafah on Wednesday. The World Health Organization says it mourns their deaths and stressed that health workers are protected under international humanitarian law and must always be able to safely perform their work.

As the hostilities in Rafah intensify, only three field hospitals there are still operating, one of them only partially. These facilities are both overwhelmed and undersupplied.

[The UN Relief and Works Agency] UNRWA, says that on Wednesday and Thursday alone, some 32,000 people were displaced from Rafah. This follows the displacement of about a million people from that governorate since the start of the Israeli ground operation there. Families are looking for safety, but as we have said repeatedly, no place in Gaza is safe from conflict.

Internally displaced people who have sought shelter at sites in Khan Younis still don't have enough safe drinking water  that's what our partners who working on water and sanitation are telling us. They have established 10 new water points in Khan Younis, but this is not enough. They report that overall, water production in Gaza is just one fifth of what it was prior to the intensification of hostilities in Gaza in October.

Across Gaza, civilians face heightened health and environmental risks due to limited access to clean water, as well as sewage overflow, infrastructure damage, lack of hygiene items and fuel shortages. In Khan Younis, there are no functional sewage pumping stations, and displaced families are building their own makeshift latrines.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan, another horrific humanitarian situation.

In a joint statement issued today, heads of our UN agencies and other aid agencies warned that millions of people in Sudan are at imminent risk of famine amid intense fighting and access denials.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee, led by our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that time is running out and without an immediate and major step change, we will face a nightmare scenario with famine taking hold in large parts of the country.

Currently, 18 million people are acutely hungry, including 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished.

Despite the tremendous needs, aid workers continue to face systematic obstructions and deliberate denials of access by parties to the conflict.

To prevent this man-made situation from deteriorating further, the agencies are calling for immediate measures to protect civilian and facilitate humanitarian access.

** South Sudan

And just heading south to South Sudan, our peacekeeping colleagues there report that they are deeply concerned by an outbreak of violence in Malakal in Upper Nile state, which led to the deaths of several people that took place yesterday. Following this incident, tensions heightened in the UN Protection of Civilians Site adjacent to the Mission's (UNMISS) base in the state, as well as among communities who are living in Malakal town. The Mission has urged state and local authorities, as well as Government security forces, to maintain calm and stability in the area.

Nicholas Haysom, the head of the peacekeeping mission, cautioned that such violence causes lasting harm to communities and prevents the Mission from carrying out its vital protection and peacebuilding work. The peacekeeping mission continues to engage with authorities and community leaders to de-escalate the situation. Additionally, peacekeepers have intensified their patrols in the peacekeeping protection site.

** Abyei

And just an update from our peacekeeping mission in Abyei (UNISFA): The Secretary-General has placed the acting Head of Mission and Force Commander of the Peacekeeping Mission in Abyei, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, on administrative leave with full pay, pending an investigation involving him.

I don't have any more information to share with you at this point, given the confidentiality of such investigations. However, just to note that administrative leave with full pay is not a disciplinary measure and is without prejudice to the Major General's rights.

The Deputy Force Commander, Brigadier General Ameer Muhammad Umrani of Pakistan, has assumed the role of Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander until further notice.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our humanitarian colleagues say they are deeply concerned by the alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation in North Kivu, in the east of the country. According to OCHA, clashes have resumed in several parts of the towns of Masisi, Rutshuru and Sake.

The fighting is also moving closer to the city of Kanyabanyonga, which is displacing civilians, many of whom have sought safety in nearby towns. As a reference, Kanyabanyonga currently hosts more than 100,000 men, women and children who have fled violence in Rutshuru and Masisi. Humanitarian operations in Kanyabanyonga have been suspended, and at least 48,000 people have been cut off from assistance in the past week. The escalating violence risks worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation in North Kivu, which was hosting more than 2.7 million displaced human beings and that's just as of last month.

OCHA calls on all parties to the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law and to take immediate steps immediately to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Additional resources to address humanitarian needs in the Congo are desperately and urgently needed. Five months into the year, the annual response plan is just 23 per cent funded, with $591 million in the bank out of $2.6 billion that is needed.

Despite this, humanitarian actors reached more than 3.1 million people in DRC with vital humanitarian assistance in the first three months of this year  nearly a quarter of what was targeted.

** Burkina Faso

Our High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, today expressed serious concern at the recent rise in killings of civilians across Burkina Faso, with allegations of responsibility pointing to both armed groups and State actors.

Between November of last year and April of this year, the Human Rights Office received allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law affecting over 2,700 individuals; that's a 71 per cent increase from the previous six months. Close to 1,800 of them were victims of unlawful killings.

Our human rights colleagues say armed groups have intensified their attacks against civilians, including against internally displaced people.

However, Mr. Turk says he is also deeply disturbed that security and defence forces and their auxiliaries have allegedly carried out wanton killings, including summary executions.

He is calling on the Government of Burkina Faso to support a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into these allegations and abuses of international law and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice in trials that meet international standards, with a view of ensuring the rights of the victim and also access to the truth and reparations.

** Human Rights

Staying on Mr. Turk, he is heading to Malaysia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic next week. He will meet with senior Government officials, representatives of civil society organizations and members of the international community, among others. The High Commissioner will also have meetings with the UN system in Bangkok on regional issues. And I am told this is the first time the High Commissioner has visited the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

** Ukraine

Just a few more notes. Denise Brown, our Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, condemned in a statement today the latest attack that took place last night on a residential area of Kharkiv which killed and injured civilians. Our humanitarian colleagues also say that repeated strikes in the same area have impacted rescue efforts.

Humanitarian workers on site provided essential aid, including emergency repair materials, food and drinks for affected people, as well as psychological support.

As of yesterday, local authorities are telling us that evacuation of over 11,000 people from Kharkiv region, due to intensive fighting close to the border with the Russian Federation.

Ms. Brown stressed that the escalation of hostilities  in Kharkiv and in other parts of the country  continues to devastate the lives of families, making humanitarian response efforts even more critical and difficult.

More than 600 children have been killed and more than 1,400 injured across Ukraine since the escalation of the war in February 2022  that's according to data verified by the UN Human Rights Office. But the actual toll is likely to be much higher.

And in front-line communities, children have spent an equivalent to four to seven months in bomb shelters over the past two years. With more than 200 schools damaged or destroyed in 2024 alone and further displacement of children, education is under threat. Access to health and vaccination has also been severely impacted.

** International Days

Two international days: World No-Tobacco Day. Its theme is "Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference". WHO says an estimated 37 million youth aged 1315 years use tobacco globally.

And a note to my children. Tomorrow is Global Day of Parents. The Day provides an opportunity to show appreciation to all parents for their "selfless commitment to children". It is true.

** Financial Contribution

And lastly, we are happy to have a quiz, because that means we have money.

We finish the week with a payment from this country, which has the second largest coral reef in the world (after of course Australia's Great Barrier Reef). That reef is called the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and is 700 miles long and it is also shared with Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Which country are we talking about?

Honduras. What's the capital of Honduras? [response from the crowd: "Tegucicalpa!"]

There you go. That's a former AP Central America Bureau Chief.

We say thank you to our friends in Tegucigalpa. We are up to 112 [fully paid Member States].

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edie, you actually won today. I mean, you semi-won. You didn't lose.

Question : A couple of follow-ups. Did I miss where the Abyei commander was from? What country?

Spokesman : Nigeria. Nigeria.

Question : Nigeria. And secondly, on the Haiti horrible report about children, what age are they considering children, 18 and under?

Spokesman : That's my understanding.

Question : Okay. And my question is, does the Secretary-General have any comment on the New York jury finding Donald Trump guilty of 34 felonies?

Spokesman : No, I think enough people have commented on that case that he doesn't need to add his voice. [silence] Okay, so I'm not begging, but I am here.

Question : Just wondering if you have any updates on Martin Griffith's replacement and the process to replace him. What can we expect? How long will it take? What's happening?

Spokesman : The process is under way. That's step one, and as soon as we have, as we have something to announce, we shall announce it. But I don't think in the coming days. Yes, ma'am.

Question : I'll ask one more question. The Security Council did hear from the Assistant Secretary-General today on the DPRK's missile satellite launches. But in light of the seriousness of this issue, does the Secretary-General have a comment on these repeated launches by the DPRK?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, I think the Secretary-General has condemned these launches, but I think you could take what Mr. Khiari said as speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General. Yvonne Murray, if you can find a microphone.

Question : Thank you very much. Just on the Haiti multinational... What do we call it?

Spokesman : Multinational Security Support force.

Question : Support force. What human rights due diligence has been done on the personnel who are due to be deployed?

Spokesman : They do not go through the UN system because it is not a UN force. But we trust that there will be vetting done.

Question : Okay, but what vetting and who?

Spokesman : I mean, it's a question you have to ask the Kenyans and the others that are part of the force. I felt I heard a little sigh there. Yes?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. My question is about the UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq). As you know, this morning Security Council extended the UNAMI's mandate until end of 2025, I think for 19 more months. Do you have a comment on that?

Spokesman : Yes, and if I can add to just what I just told Yvonne and maybe take away her sigh, but there is specific reference on human rights due diligence in the resolution that created and that call for the creation of the force.

You know, I think we've obviously seen the decision by the Council on Iraq. The Secretary-General notes the UN Mission's significant achievements since it was created in 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 with a safe return and reintegration of internally displaced people and supporting minority communities, among other tasks. The Secretary-General and UNAMI remain fully committed to effectively implementing the residual UNAMI task as mandated by the Security Council, notably electoral assistance, including for the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women, facilitation of progress towards the final resolution of outstanding issues between Iraq and Kuwait, including the missing persons and property file, the promotion of accountability, the protection of human rights, and to prepare transition and liquidation planning consultations with the Government of Iraq to ensure gradual, orderly and responsible drawdown. The UN remains strongly committed to supporting Iraq in their aspirations for a peaceful and secure future. And we will share that with you in writing because that was a lot of words. Okay, Happy Friday to all of you. As usual, if we speak during the weekend, that will not be good.

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Violence drives Haiti's children into armed groups; up to half of all members are now children - UNICEF

UNICEF

Children are experiencing a 'vicious cycle of suffering' as violence continues to spike

31 May 2024

PORT AU PRINCE/NEW YORK, 28 May 2024 -- As armed violence continues to drive the deteriorating conditions across Haiti, the UN has estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of armed group members are children who are subject to coercion, abuse and exploitation stemming from persistent social, economic and political fragility caused by ongoing violence that has spiraled parts of the country into chaos.

The situation for children in Haiti is dire. Ninety per cent of Haiti's population live in poverty and three million children remain in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, years of political turmoil, alongside the devastating economic conditions, have led to the proliferation of armed groups which, in the absence of other means of survival or protection, many of the country's children are increasingly forced to join - a clear violation of their rights.

"Children in Haiti are stuck in a vicious cycle of suffering. Children are pushed to join armed groups out of pure desperation, including horrific violence, poverty and a breakdown in the systems that should protect them," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Children are used by armed groups for different tasks, including as cooks, cleaners, 'wives', or lookouts. But what these children have in common is a loss of innocence and the connection to their communities. The impact on each affected child is a tragedy that demands urgent action. Their protection and welfare must be prioritized, including safely ending the connection with armed groups, ensuring their reintegration into society, and facilitating safe access to essential services and support."

The latest estimates show that more than half a million children in Haiti are living in neighbourhoods controlled by armed groups, which puts them at higher risk of violence, and child recruitment.

Children are frequently compelled to join armed groups either as a means of supporting their families, or due to threats against themselves or their families. Additionally, many children join groups after being separated from their families, as a means of survival and protection.

Recruitment and use of children by armed groups constitutes a grave violation of their rights, and enlisting children of any age into armed groups is a clear breach of international law.

UNICEF, the Ministries of Justice, Education and Labor and Social Affairs of Haiti recently agreed on joint ways of working to support the reintegration of children who previously were members of armed groups. This agreement represents a milestone in safeguarding their wellbeing.

So far in 2024, the violence has intensified, with more than 2,500 people killed, injured, or kidnapped. The UN has verified more than 400 grave violations against children. At the same time, families continue to be displaced by the violence. More than 180,000 children are now internally displaced.

Despite the highly volatile environment, UNICEF is stepping up efforts to protect families and provide life-saving support, including for those who are trapped and cut off from essential services. Together with the Government and partners, UNICEF is helping to sustain national, regional, and - in the most insecure areas - neighborhood systems and services that protect children and families.

UNICEF is calling for accelerated efforts by the international community to protect children in Haiti by:

Ensuring the internationally-supported security mission prioritizes the protection of children, the safety of civilians, and a commitment to uphold humanitarian law and the space for humanitarian action.

Supporting efforts to prevent and end grave violations against children, including protection of schools, hospitals, and other facilities children rely on, and for the safeguarding of humanitarian spaces.

Strengthening support to in-country efforts to secure sustained, predictable, and unimpeded humanitarian access at scale, including safe movement of humanitarian and frontline workers and delivery of essential services and supplies to populations in need.

Increased immediate, flexible funding to meet the humanitarian and protection needs of the most vulnerable as the situation evolves, ensuring aid reaches affected children, including children who have escaped or been released from armed groups, as quickly as possible.

#####

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UN humanitarian flight takes vital medical supplies to Haiti

31 May 2024 - On Thursday, a humanitarian flight operated by the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flew from Panama to Haiti - specifically the Port-au-Prince airport - for the first time in three months, according to Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The international airport had been closed due to rampant gang violence in the country.

The flight carried nearly 15 metric tonnes of medicine and medical supplies to be added to the resources of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mr. Dujarric said this will "support critical, lifesaving operations as insecurity continues to restrict people's access to healthcare, mainly in the metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite department."

Funding shortfall

The Secretary-General's spokesperson said that local non-governmental organizations along with WHO are providing many services to displaced civilians, including "screening for malnutrition, cholera prevention and as well as psychosocial support."

Mr. Dujarric said he hopes that the gradual opening of the airport in Haiti will allow more supplies to be transported; he said that donor support is needed.

A humanitarian response plan for the country requires $674 million but only 21 per cent of the funds - $142 million - has been received, he added.

Multinational Security Support

Meanwhile, UNICEF is warning about child recruitment by armed groups in Haiti, the Secretary-General's spokesperson said.

Reportedly, 30 to 50 per cent of members of armed groups are children, subjecting them to "coercion, abuse and exploitation stemming from persistent social, economic and political fragility caused by the ongoing violence that has spiralled parts of the country into chaos."

The Haitian Ministries of Justice, Education and Labor and Social Affairs are working to facilitate the reintegration of young people who had previously belonged to armed groups in hopes this will safeguard their well-being.

Mr. Dujarric said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the prompt deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti to assist local police in addressing security situations.

He said that Mr. Guterres calls on Member States to ensure the MSS is financially and logistically supported appropriately.

Mr. Dujarric said children being a part of armed groups in Haiti gives reason to quickly deploy the MSS.

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Sudan: as millions face famine, humanitarians plead for aid access

31 May 2024 - Famine in Sudan is "imminent" if aid agencies continue to be prevented from providing relief, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.

In a bleak assessment of the dire situation in Sudan where conflict is in its second year, the heads of 19 global humanitarian organizations issued an alert that further obstacles to providing aid "rapidly and at scale" will mean that "more people will die".

UN aid coordination office OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that famine is "likely to take hold in large parts of the country, more people will flee to neighbouring countries, children will succumb to disease and malnutrition and women and girls will face even greater suffering and dangers".

Staggering scale of hunger

Some 18 million people in the country are already acutely hungry and 3.6 million children are acutely malnourished, the OCHA spokesperson said.

These children are in grave danger, Mr. Laerke insisted, as "they are 10 to 11 times more likely to die" than youngsters who have enough to eat.

Despite soaring needs, aid workers continue to face "systematic obstructions and deliberate denials of access by parties to the conflict", according to the humanitarian agencies' joint statement.

Too dangerous to access

Mr. Laerke highlighted that "movements across conflict lines to parts of Khartoum, Darfur, Aj Jazirah and Kordofan have been cut off since mid-December" and that in March and April of this year, nearly 860,000 people were denied humanitarian aid in these areas.

Conditions for aid delivery are "very poor and dangerous," he added, underscoring that aid workers are being killed, injured and harassed, while humanitarian supplies have been looted.

In addition, the closure in February of the Adre border crossing from Chad to western Darfur has reduced aid delivery in Darfur to a "trickle".

Darfur success

In a more positive development last week, UN World Food Programme (WFP) trucks managed to enter Sudan from Chad through the Tine border crossing. The agency reported that 1,200 metric tonnes of food supplies for some 116,000 people are being transported across the Darfur region.

On Friday WFP Sudan's Leni Kinzli confirmed that the convoys destined for Central Darfur (Umshalaya and Rongatas) have reached their final destinations, while the convoy headed to 12 destinations in South Darfur, including displacement camps in Nyala, is still in transit.

Meanwhile, Mr. Laerke warned that in North Darfur's capital El Fasher, where fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently intensified, some 800,000 civilians are bracing for an "imminent, large-scale attack".

Attacked from all sides

On Thursday, the UN's top aid official in the country Clementine Nkweta-Salami warned that civilians are "under attack from all sides".

She said that medical facilities, displacement camps and critical civilian infrastructure in El Fasher; North Darfur state, have been targeted by parties to the conflict, while parts of the city have been left without electricity and water.

In their joint statement the heads of humanitarian agencies called on the warring parties to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access and adopt a nationwide ceasefire.

Referring to Sudan's two main warring parties, the SAF and RSF, Mr. Laerke said: "We want these generals to find a way to solve their differences not by violence that kills, maims, rapes hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan, but do it in another way".

Concerned about low levels of funding for the crisis, humanitarians also called on donors to urgently disburse pledges made at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours in Paris on 15 April.

Nearly five months into the year, the humanitarian appeal for Sudan for a total of $2.7 billion remains only 16 per cent funded.





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US, Japan, S. Korea reaffirm cooperation on economic, regional security

By Nike Ching May 31, 2024

The United States, Japan and South Korea "strongly oppose" any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters and "strongly condemned" North Korea's recent launches using ballistic missile technology.

This joint statement followed a meeting of senior officials in historic Little Washington, Virginia, on Friday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell hosted Japan's 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 three allies recognized the importance of "opposing unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea" and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"There is no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, and we call for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues," the joint statement said.

On Friday, the three countries, along with several others, voiced their "resolute opposition" to the continued transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia and vowed to impose costs on those involved in the "unlawful transfer of arms" for use in attacking Ukraine.

Last week, the three countries announced unilateral sanctions against Russian ships and North Korean personnel to counter their illicit transactions.

The State Department's second-highest-ranking diplomat told reporters he thought China, which still maintains close ties with North Korea, also has concerns.

"I think they, too, have some anxieties about the steps North Korea has taken with respect to providing dangerous military equipment to Russia," Campbell said during a joint news conference at his farmhouse.

The trilateral dialogue, a key deliverable from the historic 2023 Camp David summit involving the leaders of the three countries, reaffirmed cooperation on economic security, critical and emerging technologies, and maritime security.

When asked if the leaders of the three countries would meet on the margins of the NATO summit in Washington July 9-11, Campbell said that convening a second leaders summit was "among the highest priorities" for the remainder of this year.

The high-level talks unfolded against the backdrop of North Korea's provocations, Russia's war on Ukraine, the imperative of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and the need to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

"We have more shared interests, and we have more shared agendas. So, if we work together, we can produce more relevant and efficient result[s]," Japan's Okano said.

The latest trilateral talks followed North Korea's launch of suspected ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea on Thursday, 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 dropped balloons containing feces and garbage on South Korea's busy streets and public areas.

"These actions will only solidify our resolve to strengthen security cooperation," said South Korea's Kim.

"All of us know North Korea continues to violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and threatened the region with its nuclear and missile program," he added.

"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," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a briefing Thursday.

"We condemn the DPRK's May 29th ballistic missile launch," he noted, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The high-level talks also took place amid other regional and global challenges, including recent large-scale military drills by China following the inauguration of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Friday's talks followed the recent revival of a high-level dialogue among China, Japan and South Korea after almost five years. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended a summit Monday in Seoul.

"We welcome renewed diplomacy between China, Japan and South Korea," Campbell told VOA after receiving a "deep and sincere" debrief from his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

"We welcome the steps towards increasing dialogue and discussion on the critical matters of Northeast Asia," he added.

The launches occurred shortly after the country's unsuccessful attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite and after North Korean dropped balloons containing feces and garbage on South Korea's busy streets and public areas.

"These actions will only solidify our resolve to strengthen security cooperation," said South Korea's Kim.

"All of us know North Korea continues to violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and threatened the region with its nuclear and missile program," he added.

"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," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a briefing Thursday.

"We condemn the DPRK's May 29th ballistic missile launch," he noted, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The high-level talks also took place amid other regional and global challenges, including recent large-scale military drills by China following the inauguration of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Friday's talks followed the recent revival of a high-level dialogue among China, Japan and South Korea after almost five years. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended a summit Monday in Seoul.

"We welcome renewed diplomacy between China, Japan and South Korea," Campbell told VOA after receiving a "deep and sincere" debrief from his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

"We welcome the steps towards increasing dialogue and discussion on the critical matters of Northeast Asia," he added.

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Biden pushes for cease-fire deal as Israel digs deeper into Rafah

By Patsy Widakuswara May 31, 2024

As Israeli forces advance deeper into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, President Joe Biden declared Friday that Hamas had lost its ability to carry out a major terrorist attack on Israel and endorsed what he said was the latest Israeli offer of a cease-fire deal.

"It's time for this war to end, for the day after to begin," he said.

Biden laid out a three-phase deal that would begin with a six-week temporary pause in fighting, which he said would lead to a more permanent cessation of hostilities with Hamas.

The first phase would include a "full and complete cease-fire," Biden said at the White House. That would mean the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all heavily populated areas of Gaza and the release of some hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded and American citizens, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

In addition, Israel would allow more humanitarian assistance into Gaza and the return of Palestinian citizens to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north.

After the initial six-week pause in phase one, phase two would see Israeli forces withdrawing completely from Gaza, in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, including male Israeli soldiers.

"I'll be honest with you, there are a number of things to be negotiated to move from phase one to phase two," Biden warned.

The president said that as long as negotiations continued, however, the cease-fire would hold, even if talks dragged out past the initial six weeks. He vowed that mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar would continue until all of the agreements were reached. And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, Biden said, the Israelis have agreed to turn the temporary pause into a cessation of hostilities "permanently."

In the third and final phase, a "major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence, and any final remains of hostages who've been killed will be returned to their families."

While Biden described the plan as a "comprehensive new proposal" by Israel, except for the maintenance of a cease-fire while talks are ongoing, the plan does not appear to be fundamentally different from a past proposal that Hamas accepted and Israel rejected.

"Hamas considers positively" the contents of Biden's speech, the group said in a statement.

However, Israel appeared less enthusiastic. Soon after Biden's speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying it had presented a proposal that would return hostages while enabling Israel to continue the war until "the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities" was achieved.

While Biden envisioned the deal leading to a potential "historic" normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, many details are unclear.

They include the level of Israeli military presence in each phase, as well as who will govern postwar Gaza, said Gerald Feierstein, director of the Middle East Institute's Arabian Peninsula Affairs Program.

"If there is a firm principle that Hamas itself will not be the governing authority in Gaza after Israeli withdrawal, if they're not going to provide security, then who is? What exactly is the nature of a follow-on Palestinian authority?" he said to VOA.

Rafah operation

Despite an order by the top United Nations court for Israel to halt its assault on Rafah, the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, is moving further into the southern Gaza city.

The IDF is widening its invasion in the city after earlier this week seizing control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic territory along Gaza's border with Egypt.

The offensive has drastically cut off the flow of humanitarian aid, causing widespread hunger. According to estimates by the United Nations, close to a million people have left Rafah, most of whom had been displaced earlier in the war.

"Palestinian people have endured sheer hell in this war," Biden said.

International calls for Biden to press Israel, a close U.S. ally, to halt its offensive have grown louder since Israel's airstrike on Sunday killed at least 45 people in a tent encampment designated as a safe zone.

Independent media investigations identified remnants of the munitions used in the strike as parts of a GBU-39, an American-made 113 kg bomb with a net explosive payload of 17 kg that is intended to be more targeted and accurate.

"The GBU-39 small-diameter bomb is created to be precise, created to be low collateral damage, but there's still both a science and an art to employing these munitions," said Wes Bryant, a former U.S. Air Force Special Operations targeting professional.

"You can't just drop a precision low-collateral-damage weapon in an area saturated with civilians and expect no civilian casualties," he told VOA.

Israel called the strike a "tragic accident" and has promised an investigation. But global outrage over horrifying images of charred bodies and children burned alive has renewed pressure on Biden to follow through on his threat to suspend U.S. delivery of offensive weapons to Israel if it went into Rafah without credible protections for civilians.

Administration officials said Israeli strikes on Rafah have not crossed Biden's red line, which they defined as a "major ground operation" in Rafah.

Earlier in May, Biden halted a shipment of thousands of larger bombs  weighing almost a ton and a quarter ton  that have inflicted high civilian casualties in Gaza. Beyond that, Biden has seemed reluctant to wield much pressure on Israeli leaders to force a change in policy.

Since Hamas launched a terror attack October 7 on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages, Israel has embarked on an offensive to eliminate Hamas from Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel says its forces have killed 30,000 people, the majority of them combatants. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says 36,284 people have been killed, most of them women and children, but does not estimate how many of the dead were combatants.

Kim Lewis contributed to this report.

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Taliban accuse Pakistan of sowing 'distrust' between Afghanistan, China

By Ayaz Gul May 31, 2024

The Taliban government Friday dismissed the findings of a Pakistan probe that attributed a recent fatal attack against Chinese workers in the country to militants operating from Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman, told an Afghan television station that his country had nothing to do with the March 26 attack on Chinese nationals in northwestern Pakistan, insisting it was an internal issue for the neighboring country to address.

"The report published by Pakistan is an attempt to damage the trust between Afghanistan and China. We have repeatedly denied this report as illogical," Mujahid told TOLO TV in his audio remarks.

The response came a day after a Pakistani delegation visited Kabul on Thursday and shared with Taliban counterparts the results of Islamabad's investigation into the killings of five Chinese nationals, along with their local driver, in a suicide car bombing. The victims were working on a China-funded hydropower project in northwestern Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a weekly news conference in Islamabad on Friday that its delegation also had requested assistance from Afghan authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on Chinese workers based on the "concrete evidence" Pakistan had shared with them.

"The Afghan side has committed to prevent the use of their soil for any terrorist activity, and they have agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and to work with Pakistan to take the investigation to its logical conclusion," Mumtaz Baloch said.

Pakistani military and civilian officials maintain that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a globally designated terrorist group also known as the Pakistani Taliban, orchestrated the attack on Chinese personnel from Afghan sanctuaries.

The militant group 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 they have since intensified cross-border attacks with "greater operational freedom."

The Taliban have consistently denied that foreign extremist groups have a presence in Afghanistan and are using their territory to threaten outside countries. Critics, however, have questioned those claims.

This month, a U.S. government quarterly report to Congress noted that the ruling Taliban continued to allow senior al-Qaida leaders, the TTP, and other insurgent groups to operate in Afghanistan.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said Friday that the situation in Afghanistan "remains the main source of instability" in the region.

"Numerous radical groups have gained a foothold there, stepping up attempts to promote their ideas in the neighboring countries," the Russian state-run Tass news agency quoted him as telling a regional defense ministers meeting in Kazakhstan.

"The risk of gangs and terrorism spilling outside the country is growing," Belousov said. He stressed the need for "constant monitoring and prompt measures" to ensure regional stability.

A United Nations report published earlier this year said the Taliban continued to be "sympathetic" to the TTP and supplied it with weapons and equipment, and some Taliban members reportedly joined the TTP in conducting cross-border raids against Pakistan.

The Taliban government has not been formally recognized by the international community.

China has steadily improved relations with Afghanistan, though, since the fundamentalist Taliban regained power in Kabul in August 2021. Beijing was the first to appoint a new ambassador to Kabul and the first to officially accept a Taliban ambassador.

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Famine appears imminent in Sudan as war blocks aid for millions

By Lisa Schlein May 31, 2024

Major relief agencies warn that time is running out for millions of people in Sudan, who are "at imminent risk of famine" because the country's warring parties are preventing aid from reaching them.

Nineteen global humanitarian organizations, including 12 United Nations agencies, urged Sudan's warring parties on Friday to stop blocking food aid from reaching millions of people suffering from acute hunger.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the Office for Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told journalists in Geneva that heads of those agencies fear many of Sudan's 18 million acutely hungry people, including 3.6 million children, will die if the blocked relief pipeline isn't opened.

"If they continue to be prevented from providing aid in Sudan rapidly and at scale, a famine will likely take hold in large parts of the country. More people will flee to neighboring countries. Children will succumb to disease and malnutrition, and women and girls will face even greater suffering and dangers."

According to UNICEF, acutely malnourished children are up to 11 times more likely to die than well-nourished children.

Sudan, which is in its second year of a raging conflict between rival military factions, is home to the largest number of internally displaced people in the world. The U.N. says that nearly 10 million people who have been uprooted from their homes are displaced inside the country. A further two million people have fled for safety to five neighboring countries as refugees.

"Attacks against civilians, including sexual violence, are multiplying, and hospitals and schools are also coming under attack," Laerke said. "At the same time, aid workers face systematic obstructions and deliberate denials of access by parties to the conflict. Movements across conflict lines to parts of Khartoum, Darfur, Al Jazirah and Kordofan have been cut off since mid-December."

The statement by the so-called Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which is chaired by Martin Griffiths, U.N. emergency relief coordinator, expresses concern about the bleak outlook for food production this year as extreme hunger is unfolding.

The relief agencies say they "have a rapidly shrinking window to get seeds to farmers before the main planting season ends and the rainy season begins." If seeds are distributed in time, they added, "people  especially those in inaccessible areas  will be able to produce food locally and avert food shortages in the next six months."

Otherwise, they warn "people will go hungry and be forced to move in search of food, shelter and protection. Let us be clear: If we are prevented from providing aid rapidly and at scale, more people will die."

Laerke said people in El Fasher, the state capital in western Darfur, are in a particularly perilous situation. He said more than 800,000 civilians are bracing for an imminent large-scale attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to take control of the city, the last stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Darfur.

That, he warned, "would unleash catastrophic humanitarian consequences both in the city and across Darfur."

In a statement Thursday, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, warned that "the noose of war is tightening its stranglehold on a civilian population that is under attack from all sides."

She said she has received worrying reports that medical facilities, displacement camps, and critical civilian infrastructure have been targeted by parties to the conflict and that much of the population "has limited access to basic necessities and essential services, including food and health care."

OCHA's Laerke observed that since February the cross-border movement of humanitarian aid from Chad into Darfur has "come to a halt." He said that is why the standing committee is calling for all methods to be used "to get food and other aid into Darfur and other hot spots in Sudan" as soon as possible.

He acknowledged that conditions for the delivery of aid are highly dangerous. "A few days ago, a staff member of Medecin Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) was killed in his home and other aid workers have been harassed, injured and so on," he said. "So, this, of course, needs to stop and it needs to be safe and secure for aid workers to operate and it needs to be safe and secure for people to receive the aid."

Expressing disappointment that the rival SAF and RSF generals, so far, have refused to resume peace negotiations, he said, "We want these generals to find a way to solve their differences  not by violence that kills, maims, rapes hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan  but do it in another way."

In its statement, the standing committee deplored that Sudan seemingly has become a neglected, forgotten crisis, noting that nearly five months into the year, and six weeks after the United Nations held an international pledging conference for Sudan, "we have received just 16 percent of the $2.7 billion we need."

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Readout of President Biden's Meeting with Prime Minister De Croo of Belgium

May 31, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. welcomed Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to the White House today to deepen the United States and Belgium's cooperation on global issues and to bolster transatlantic security. In particular, they reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and discussed efforts to make the greatest use of immobilized sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine. The leaders affirmed the importance of the NATO Alliance and the need to remain vigilant against Russian threats to election integrity.

###

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Remarks by President Biden on the Middle East

May 31, 2024

State Dining Room

1:28 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, folks.

(The President checks his watch.) Just checking it's afternoon. (Laughter.) Good afternoon. Before I begin my remarks, I just wanted to say a few words about what happened yesterday in New York City.

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. And it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens  12 Americans, 12 people like you. Like millions of Americans who served on juries, this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It 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. They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts. Now he'll be given the opportunity, as he should, to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity.

That's how the American system of justice works.

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  our justice system.

The justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear it down. It's as simple as that.

That's America. That's who we are. And that's who we'll always be, God willing.

Now to another issue. I  I want to give an update on my efforts to end the crisis in Gaza.

For the past several months, my negotiators of foreign policy, intelligence community, and the like have been relentlessly focused not just on a ceasefire that would eve-  that would inevitably be fragile and temporary but on a durable end to the war. That's been the focus: a durable end to this war.

One that brings all the hostages home, ensures Israel's 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.

Now, after intensive diplomacy carried out by my team and my many conversations with leaders of Israel, Qatar, and Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, Israel has now offered  Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal.

It's a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages.

This proposal has been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.

Today, I want to lay out its terms for the American citizens and for the world.

This new proposal has three phases  three.

The first phase would last for six weeks. Here's what it would include: a full and complete ceasefire; a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza; a release of a number of hostages  including women, the elderly, the wounded  in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. There are American hostages who would be released at this stage, and we want them home.

Additional, some remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families, bringing some degree of closure to their terrible grief.

Palestinians  civilians  would return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north.

Humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single 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, would be delivered by the international community.

All of that and more would begin immediately  immediately.

During the six weeks of ph-  of phase one, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostol-  to hostilities.

Now, I'll be straight with you. 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 for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

And the United States, Egypt, and Qatar would work to ensure negotiations keep going  all agreements  all agreements  until all the agreements are reached and phase two is able to begin.

Then phase two: There would be an exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers; Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza; and as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the propo-  the Israeli proposal, "the cessation of hostilities permanently," end of quote. "Cessation of hostilities permanently."

Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for Ga-  for Gaza wou-  would commence. And any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families.

That's the offer that's now on the table and what we've been asking for. It's what we need.

The people of Israel should know they can make this offer without any further risk to their own security because they've devastated Hamas form-  forces over the past eight months. At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7th, which  one of the Israelis' main objective in this war and, quite frankly, a righteous one.

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 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.

Well, I've urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

And to the people of Israel, let me say this. As someone whose had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel in 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 and think what will happen if this moment is lost.

We can't lose this moment. Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of "total victory" will not bring Israel in  will not bring down  bog down  will only bog down Israel in Gaza, draining the economic, military, and human-  and human resources, and furthering Israel's isolation in the world.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not  not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security.

But a comprehensive approach that starts with this deal will bring hostages home and will lead to a more secure Israel. And once a ceasefire and hostage deal is concluded, it unlocks the possibility of a great deal more progress, including  including calm along Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

The United States will help forge a diplomatic resolution, one that ensures Israel's security and allows people to safely return to their homes without fear of being attacked.

With a deal, a rebuilding of Gaza will begin [with] Arab nations and the international community, along with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, to get it done in a manner that does not allow Hamas to re-arm.

And the United States will work with our partners to rebuild homes, schools, and hospitals in Gaza to help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war.

And with this deal, Israel could become more deeply integrated into the region, including  it's no surprise to you all  including no  a po-  potential historic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran.

All of this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack.

And all of this would create the conditions for a different future and a better future for the Palestinian people, one of self-determination, dignity, security, and freedom. This path is available once the deal is struck.

Israel will always have the right to defend itself against the threats to its security and to bring those responsible for October 7th 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 that Hamas doesn't do that. And the United States will help ensure that Israel lives up to their obligations as well.

That's what this deal says. That's what it says. And we'll do our part.

This is truly a decisive moment. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.

Hamas needs to take the deal.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire. Now it's time to raise your voices and to demand that Hasa-  Hamas come to the table, agrees to this deal, and ends this war that they began.

Of course, there will be differences on the specific details that need to be worked out. That's natural. If Hamas comes to negotiate ready to deal, then Israel negotiations must be given a mandate, the necessary flexibility to close that deal.

The past eight months have marked heartbreaking pain: pain of those whose loved ones were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th; hostages and their families waiting in anguish; ordinary Israelis whose lives were forever marked by the shattering event of Hamas's sexual violence and ruthless brutality.

And the Palestinian people have endured sheer hell in this war. Too many innocent people have been killed, including thousands of children. Far too many have been badly wounded.

We all saw the terrible images from the deadly fire in Rafah earlier this week following an Israeli strike against  targeting Hamas. And even as we work to surge assistance to Gaza, with 1,800 trucks delivering supplies these last five days  1,800  the humanitarian crisis still remains.

I know this is a subject on which people in this country feel deep, passionate convictions. And so do I. This has been one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world. There's nothing easy about this  nothing easy about it.

Through it all, though, the United States has worked relentlessly to support Israelis' security, to get humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and to get a ceasefire and a hostage deal to bring this war to an end.

Yesterday, with this new initiative, we've taken an important step in that direction.

And I want to level with you today as to where we are and what might be possible. But 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.

It's time to begin this new stage, for the hostages to come home, for Israel to be secure, for the suffering to stop. It's time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.

Thank you very much.

1:42 P.M.

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Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC): No time to lose as famine stalks millions in Sudan amid intense fighting and access denials

31 May 2024

Statement

New York / Geneva / Rome / Washington

Time is running out for millions of people in Sudan who are at imminent risk of famine, displaced from their lands, living under bombardments, and cut off from humanitarian assistance.

With the conflict now in its second year, 18 million people are acutely hungry, including 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished, and famine is quickly closing in on millions of people in Darfur, Kordofan, Aj Jazirah and Khartoum.

Sudan is home to the largest number of internally displaced people in the world at nearly 10 million. A further 2 million people have escaped to neighbouring countries.

Horrific attacks against civilians - including sexual violence - as well as hospitals and schools are multiplying.

In Al Fasher, more than 800,000 civilians are bracing for an imminent large-scale attack, which would unleash catastrophic humanitarian consequences both in the city and across Darfur.

Despite the tremendous needs, aid workers continue to face systematic obstructions and deliberate denials of access by parties to the conflict. Movements across conflict lines to parts of Khartoum, Darfur, Aj Jazirah and Kordofan have been all but cut off since mid-December. The closure of the Adre border crossing in February - our main route into western Sudan from Chad - means that limited assistance is trickling into Darfur. Aid workers are being killed, injured and harassed, and humanitarian supplies are being looted.

In March and April of this year, nearly 860,000 people were denied humanitarian aid in Kordofan, Darfur and Khartoum states. Deliberate hindrances to humanitarian assistance that leave the civilian population without the essentials to survive violate international humanitarian law.

Extreme hunger is unfolding, and the outlook for food production in 2024 is bleak. We have a rapidly shrinking window to get seeds to farmers before the main planting season ends and the rainy season begins. If we act in time, people - especially those in inaccessible areas - will be able to produce food locally and avert food shortages in the next six months. Without immediate action, people will go hungry and be forced to move in search of food, shelter and protection.

Let us be clear: If we are prevented from providing aid rapidly and at scale, more people will die.

Without an immediate and major step change, we will face a nightmare scenario: A famine will take hold in large parts of the country. More people will flee to neighbouring countries in search of sustenance and safety. More children will succumb to disease and malnutrition. Women and girls, already bearing the brunt of the conflict, will face even greater suffering and dangers.

To prevent these worst-case scenarios, we, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Principals, urgently request the parties to the conflict to do the following:

Take immediate measures to protect civilians, including by refraining from directing attacks against them, allowing them to leave for safer areas, and ending sexual and gender-based violence. Facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access through all possible crossline and cross-border routes to allow civilians to receive humanitarian aid. Immediately cease all acts denying, obstructing and interfering with, or politicizing, humanitarian action. Simplify and expedite administrative and bureaucratic procedures related to the delivery of humanitarian aid. De-escalate the situation in Al Fasher and adopt a nationwide ceasefire. Stop human rights violations, including grave violations against children, and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

We are also concerned by the limited support from donors. Nearly five months into the year - and six weeks after the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours in Paris on 15 April - we've received just 16 per cent of the $2.7 billion we need.

Donors must urgently disburse pledges made in Paris and fast-track additional funding for the humanitarian appeal. With a famine on the horizon, we must deliver much more life-saving aid now, including seeds for farmers before the planting season ends.

The clock is ticking. The choice is clear.

Signatories:

Mr. Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Ms. Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro, Secretary General, CARE International

Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

Ms. Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Mr. Tom Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer, InterAction

Ms. Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps

Mr. Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs)

Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Ms. Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children

Mr. Michal Mlynar, Executive Director a.i., United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)

Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

Mr. Andrew Morley, President and the Chief Executive Officer, World Vision International

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 238 - 31 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)

"CNN defense analysts have now determined that the Israeli airstrike on May 26th against a Hamas compound in Western Rafah, which was believed to have possibly caused an explosion and fire which resulted in the death of between 35-45 Palestinian refugees, could not have been Completely Caused by the Israeli airstrike due to the size of the explosion. Shrapnel and parts which were discovered in the rubble of the Hamas compound, which was roughly 200 Meters from the UNRWA refugee camp, suggest that the strike was carried out using 2 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb with 250lb warheads; these bombs would have not been nearly powerful enough to have caused the explosion at the Camp nor would the have been Large enough to cause any kind of Splash Damage to the Camp, which again was over a kilometer from the strike location. This analysis suggests that what Israeli Defense Officials have so far suggested is likely true, which is that Hamas munitions which were hidden roughly half-way between the compound and Camp were detonated by shrapnel from the airstrike, causing the explosion of multiple fuel tanks at the refugee Camp and the eventual fire." OSINTdefender reported.

War Termination

US President Joe Biden on Friday called on Hamas militants to agree to a new offer from Israel on releasing hostages in exchange for a Gaza ceasefire, saying it was the best way to begin winding down the deadly conflict. Biden's speech came after the Israeli military said it had ended operations in eastern Jabaliya in northern Gaza after destroying tunnels and weapons production sites.

Biden said 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 remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire. Biden addressed the nearly eight-month Israel-Hamas war as the Israeli military confirmed on Friday that its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. This is truly a decisive moment, Biden said as he spoke of a three-phase deal that Israeli officials have offered Hamas. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.

Biden announced that Israel has offered a "roadmap" to a full ceasefire in the Middle East ally's military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, including a troop withdrawal and release of hostages. "Here's what it 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 (the) release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners," Biden said in a speech from the White House.

Biden added that the proposed first phase of 6 weeks requires a ceasefire, Israels withdrawal, and the release of the hostages and the remains of their deceased. Biden continued that the second phase will witness the release of the remaining hostages, including soldiers, and the maintenance of the ceasefire, while the third phase relates to post-war and reconstruction. The US President said that the continuation of this conflict will exhaust Israel's capabilities and increase its isolation.

He pointed out that the American negotiators focused during the past days on a ceasefire in Gaza that would lead to the end of the war, the release of the hostages, and a better future for Gaza without Hamas. Biden continued, "Israel has the right to defend itself, and if Hamas fails to comply, Israel will resume its self-defense." He also said, "This deal will lead to calm in the region, including the conclusion of a historic agreement between Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

Biden called on Hamas to accept the new offer from Israel to release the hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying that this is the best way to begin ending this deadly conflict. "With a ceasefire, this aid will be able to be distributed safely and effectively to all those in need," Biden added. Biden said that the Palestinians were subjected to hell and a very large number of civilians were killed, adding that there is a better future to determine the fate of the Palestinian people.

Biden urged the Israeli leadership to support this agreement despite any pressure, and asked them to slow down and think about what would happen if we lose this opportunity. Biden continued, saying: I know that some in Israel will not agree to this plan, including members of the government. Biden also stressed that the United States would help formulate a solution on the Lebanese border that would allow residents of the threatened areas north of Israel to return to their homes.

The first stage lasts 6 weeks and includes: A comprehensive and complete ceasefire.

Withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza.

A number of Israeli prisoners were released, including the wounded, the elderly, and women.

The release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Handing over the remaining bodies of Israeli prisoners in Gaza.

The return of Palestinian civilians to all areas of Gaza, including the north.

Aid enters Gaza at a rate of 600 trucks per day.

The US President said that during these six weeks, which represent the first phase, Israel and Hamas will negotiate to reach the second phase of the deal The second phase lasts 6 weeks and includes:

Sustained cessation of hostilities.

All living prisoners were exchanged, including Israeli soldiers.

Israeli and Palestinian sides will negotiate a permanent ceasefire during those six weeks, but the truce will continue if the talks remain ongoing.

"As long as Hamas fulfills its obligations, the temporary ceasefire will become, according to the phrase contained in the Israeli proposal, a permanent cessation of hostilities." While the third phase, according to Biden, includes the following:

Post-war arrangements

Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

The US President called on the Israeli political leadership not to waste this opportunity, and stressed that if Hamas rejects the Israeli proposal, Israel will continue its war in Gaza. He pointed out that the agreement "will allow Israel to integrate into the region and reach a historic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia." Biden pledged that the United States would help formulate a solution to the situation on the Lebanese border, stressing that there were risks that Israel's isolation would increase globally. For his part, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he authorized the negotiating team to present a plan to achieve the goal of the ceasefire. He stressed that "the war will not end until all its objectives are achieved, including the return of all hostages and the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities."

According to the Mehr news agency , the Hamas movement in an official statement stated: We have a positive attitude towards what was stated in today's speech by US President Joe Biden in his call for a permanent ceasefire, that is, the withdrawal of the occupying forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction and exchange of prisoners. The Hamas movement announced that the US position and regional and international consensus on the necessity of ending the Gaza war is the result of the legendary persistence of the Mujahid people and their courageous resistance. In this regard, Hamas announced its readiness to deal positively and constructively with any proposal for a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Zionist forces from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the return of refugees to their places of residence. Hamas also announced that if the occupying regime of Israel declares its explicit commitment to this ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners is also applicable.

The United Nations announced that the Organization's Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is counting on the new settlement proposal in the Gaza Strip to lead to long-term peace. The official spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement on Friday, Within several months, the Secretary-General was seeking a ceasefire and the full and unhindered access of humanitarian aid, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages being held. In the Gaza Strip. He added that the Secretary-General "is counting on this to lead to the two parties agreeing to a long-term peace."

While stressing that the speech is an admission of Israels failure to achieve the goals of the war, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, warned of what he called a dangerous trap that Israel is trying to set for the Palestinian side in cooperation with parties in the American administration. He stressed that Biden said that the proposal was from Israel and did not say that it was from the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , and therefore the ball now is not in the court of the Palestinian resistance, but rather in the court of Netanyahu, who must officially announce his and his governments acceptance of the proposal.

He explained that the proposal that Biden spoke about included demands for the resistance, including the withdrawal of the Israeli army, although the proposal did not clarify where their withdrawal would take place, highlighting that the issue of a ceasefire in Gaza has not been resolved, as talk about a sustainable end to the fighting in the second phase does not achieve the demands. The Palestinian resistance is in a comprehensive and complete ceasefire.

Barghouti also criticized Biden's talk about normalization without mentioning the Palestinians' right to establish their state.

Regarding how the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) dealt with the proposal put forward by Biden, writer and political researcher Sari Orabi said that Hamas had announced its refusal to receive the Israeli proposal because it had agreed to a previous proposal presented to it by the mediators. He added that the proposal proposed by Biden is consistent with Israeli leaks that said that Israel would make concessions regarding the mechanisms, methods, and numbers of prisoner exchange in the first phase, and would accept to negotiate a ceasefire until the second phase.

Orabi said that the American President in his speech did not talk about a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in the second phase, but rather about a ceasefire as long as negotiations were continuing regarding the second phase with the aim of reaching a cessation of hostilities, which means that this proposal is not based on the principle of stopping the war.

In the opinion of the specialist in Israeli affairs, Ashraf Badr, Biden was addressing Israeli society and the Israeli elite, and his speech is classified under the umbrella of lifting the cover from Netanyahu, pointing out the necessity of linking the speech with the statements of the head of the National Security Council in Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, in which he stated that Israel could She goes to implement the first stage of the deal, but she is unable to stop the war in exchange for the return of all the prisoners.

For his part, Ihab Jabareen, a writer specializing in Israeli affairs, said that Netanyahu had one plan, which was to resolve the Gaza battle the day after the US elections, something that Biden understood and took proactive steps for. He added that the two ministers in the Israeli War Council, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot , could exploit the contents of the speech to put pressure on Netanyahu in order to pull the rug of legitimacy from him.

In the same context, Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Khalil Al-Anani, believes that Bidens speech is linked to his election campaign and the judicial ruling issued against former US President Donald Trump, as he considered it an internal victory for him. The jury convicted Trump of 34 charges against him in a case of falsifying accounting records to cover up the payment of $130,000 to silence a pornographic film actress.

A senior Israeli official said, If Hamas believes that it can dictate conditions or reach a ceasefire through blackmail, then it is mistaken. Reuters quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that there will be no truce or any cessation of fighting in Gaza unless it is part of an agreement on the release of detainees. The official indicated that there is a proposed proposal that includes arrangements for a truce, and that if this offer is not responded to, Israel will proceed with an intense war in Gaza, and with the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, he said.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the government is united in its desire to return the hostages as quickly as possible, and it is working to achieve this goal. Al-Hurra's correspondent reported that Netanyahu's office said that the Israeli Prime Minister assigned the negotiating team to present broad outlines to achieve this goal, while insisting that the war will not end until all its goals are achieved, including "the return of all hostages and the elimination of Hamas militarily and authoritatively (governmentally)." ). Netanyahu's office added, "The precise outlines proposed by Israel, including a conditional transition from one stage to another, allow Israel to maintain these principles." Netanyahu's office did not clarify whether his proposal was the same proposal that Biden described in his speech, and the Prime Minister's Office statement did not directly address Biden's speech, according to what the Times of Israel noted .

The "Kela Plan" ["all-encompassing"] was a comprehensive strategy devised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza. Named after the Hebrew word for "all-encompassing," the plan outlines a multi-stage process aimed at stabilizing and redeveloping Gaza following the recent conflict with Hamas. The plan consists of three main stages:

Humanitarian Aid: This initial phase, expected to last 12 months, focuses on creating safe areas in northern Gaza free from Hamas control. These areas will be managed by Gazan Palestinians under the supervision of a coalition of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, and Morocco. The coalition will also oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation: Spanning the next five to ten years, this phase involves the establishment of the Gaza Rehabilitation Authority (GRA) to oversee reconstruction efforts and manage finances. The GRA will be composed of Gazan Palestinians and will coordinate with a "Marshall Plan" for economic rebuilding and a deradicalization program. Self-Governance: The final phase aims for Gaza to achieve self-governance, with Israel maintaining the right to intervene against security threats. This stage is contingent on the successful deradicalization and demilitarization of Gaza, potentially leading to full self-management and integration into the Abraham Accords.

The plan envisions significant infrastructure development, including new cities, trade routes, and industrial zones, transforming Gaza into a key industrial and trade hub in the region.

Operational Update

Further to the warning about the intrusion of a hostile aircraft in the Metula area and the Kela area, this is a false identification.

Operational Update - Gaza

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced the withdrawal of military forces from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip and the recovery of the bodies of 7 kidnapped persons. Adraee said in a post on X, The forces of the 98th Division completed their mission in eastern Jabalia and withdrew in preparation for the subsequent stages of fighting in the Gaza Strip after they recovered the bodies of 7 kidnapped persons. He confirmed that the division killed hundreds of Hamas fighters "and destroyed 10 kilometers of tunnels." He pointed out that "the forces of the 98th Division fought in eastern Jabalia, above and below the ground, in the middle of an urban area, crowded and booby-trapped."

He accused Hamas of transforming civilian space into a fortified combat complex, of firing toward forces from areas of shelter centers and schools, and of creating underground infrastructure from civilian buildings. He added that the forces destroyed dozens of infrastructure and combat complexes, and found hundreds of weapons, including weapons, explosive devices, hand grenades, and other types of ammunition.

He continued, "Several qualitative workshops were also found to manufacture and destroy weapons," pointing to the raiding of rocket launcher "complexes" and the destruction of their launch pads. He said that the forces found "combat means and intelligence information" about Hamas in the tunnels, and that "the commander of the Beit Hanoun battalion was eliminated" and other fighters who were with him. He pointed out that "the Air Force launched more than 200 air strikes next to the maneuvering forces," during which dozens of militants were eliminated and dozens of infrastructure and weapons warehouses were destroyed.

With the beginning of the fighting in the Rafah area, the fighters of the 401st TDF under the command of Division 162 led the activity along the Philadelphia route. The fighters locate, investigate and destroy many shafts and underground infrastructure in this area. The engineering effort lasted several weeks and was based on intelligence indications, during which the forces located dozens of tunnel shafts and a number of significant signs that were destroyed, some of which are still under investigation. In this activity the fighters encountered the enemy in the underground and eliminated him. Another effort is locating long-range rocket launchers on the Philadelphia axis.

During scans, the forces located five launch sites loaded and ready to fire towards the territory of the State of Israel with several canisters. All the launchers that were located were destroyed. Israeli forces continue to operate and advance on the Philadelphia axis even during these hours, locating and destroying terrorist infrastructures, alongside an effort to allow the introduction of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Majd 601, Lt. Col. Shimon: "We are in the Rafah area, in front of us we can see the border crossing with Egypt, the Philadelphia axis. We locate and find tunnels, smuggling tunnels and tunnels that allow Hamas to bring means and capabilities that could harm our forces and our citizens. Our mission is very clear - to locate those tunnels, and there are a number of them, and send these capabilities away from the enemy."

The combat teams of the 7th, 460th brigades and the paratroopers under the 98th division fought in eastern Jabaliya on land and underground at the same time, in a dense and trapped urban space. Hamas turned the civilian space into a fortified combat complex, fired at the forces from shelters and schools and set up underground infrastructure in civilian buildings. Owner of land, the forces eliminated hundreds of terrorists in intense battles and close-range encounters and destroyed dozens of terrorist infrastructures and combat complexes.

The forces located hundreds of weapons including weapons, explosives, grenades, ammunition and more. In addition, a number of significant workshops for the production of IEDs were located and destroyed. As part of the dismantling of Hamas' capabilities, the fighters raided a large number of rocket launching complexes, and destroyed ready-to-use launchers. In the underground, the forces located, investigated and destroyed with the cooperation of the soldiers of the 2nd unit in Israel over ten kilometers of underground route. The fighters neutralized charges in the tunnels and found weapons and intelligence information about Hamas.

As part of the underground campaign, Beit Hanon and other terrorists who were with him were eliminated. In thorough fighting above and below ground, the forces of the division rescued seven kidnapped martyrs and returned them to burial in Israel. In the fire effort, directed by the fire complex of Division 98, more than 200 airstrikes were carried out in the vicinity of the maneuvering forces, during which dozens of terrorists were eliminated, most of them at the command level in Hamas and dozens of terrorist infrastructures and weapons warehouses were destroyed. The forces of the 98th Division have completed their mission in East Jabaliya and are undergoing combat procedures and increasing their capacity to continue fighting in the Gaza Strip.

The forces of Division 162 continue to operate in a focused and intelligence-based manner in the Rafah area. The fighters of the commando formation, operating in the center of Rafah together with the Givati military police, located in the area rocket launchers, tunnel shafts and IEDs of the terrorist organization Hamas and destroyed a warehouse of weapons used by Hamas in the area. The fighters of the combat teams of the Givati, Bislah, 401 and Nahal brigades located military equipment, long-range rockets and many means of warfare, including weapons, RPGs, charges, vests and ammunition in the areas of operation. Led by the Air Force and the 215th Fire Brigade, aircraft eliminated a Nakhaba terrorist from the Hamas terrorist organization operating in the Rafah region. The forces of the 98th Division and the fighters of the Yalam unit destroyed hundreds of meters of the route of terrorist tunnels in East Jablia in the last day.

Soldiers of the 460th Israel Defense Forces operating under the division eliminated a number of terrorists in encounters and tank fire. In addition, Air Force aircraft attacked at the direction of the forces and eliminated terrorists from the Hamas terrorist organization operating in the area. Fighters of the 679th TDF under Division 99 continue to operate in the center of the Gaza Strip. The fighters directed an Air Force aircraft that killed a number of terrorists who were operating near Israeli forces.

During the last day, fighter jets and aircraft of the Air Force attacked a large number of terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. Among the targets that were attacked, IDF warehouses and armed terrorist squads along with terrorist infrastructure and military buildings.

The Israeli army confirmed that at the end of three weeks of ground maneuvers carried out by the 162nd Division, about 20 tunnels were discovered adjacent to the Philadelphia Corridor, which separates the Egyptian side from the Palestinian side, according to the newspaper " Jerusalem Post ", which asked in its report how the Hamas movement was built. These tunnels are under the eyes of the Egyptian army. According to the newspaper, military officials estimated that most of the tunnels cross into Egyptian territory and are used to smuggle ammunition and materials needed to produce weapons.

The Israeli newspapers questions about how the Hamas movement (which the United States and other countries classify as a terrorist group) succeeded in building tunnels that extend to Egypt under the eyes of the Egyptian army were answered by two military experts who spoke to Al-Hurra website about their explanations for these developments. The newspaper explained that there were about 82 openings near the Egyptian border, and it is estimated that they were connected to smuggling tunnels that could be controlled remotely. Last week, the 162nd Division forces reported the presence of a huge stock of Hamas weapons in the Rafah area.

The newspaper reported that the Israeli army also confirmed that information about dealing with cross-border tunnels had been transferred to Egypt, which sparked criticism within the security establishment. The newspaper pointed out that for years, security officials in Israel have been warning that Hamas runs cross-border tunnels to smuggle weapons, which were allegedly smuggled under the watchful eye of the Egyptian army and police in Sinai, directly from weapons depots in Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah in Lebanon to Hamas weapons depots in Gaza.

Jerusalem Post explained that a few years ago, the Egyptians, under American pressure, launched a large-scale engineering operation, in which they expelled the entire population of Egyptian Rafah from the Philadelphia Corridor area to a distance of several kilometers, destroyed all the buildings adjacent to the border, dug dozens of meters, and identified tunnels. The Israeli army praised the engineering activity with the assistance of the Egyptian army. However, the newspaper believes that it is now clear that under the eyes of the Egyptian army and perhaps with the support, knowledge, or turning a blind eye, Hamas has built a network of smuggling tunnels and has continued to strengthen its capabilities despite Egypts commitment to fighting terrorism in the Sinai region.

Israeli military officials recently said that the Israeli army and the Egyptian army are cooperating closely, including in the tunnel issue, but the newspaper explained that the officials claimed that Egypt owes explanations for what the 162nd Division discovered on the ground. Therefore, more stringent measures and mechanisms must be taken to prevent tunneling in the future. The newspaper pointed out that the process of exposing the tunnels in the Philadelphia Corridor has just begun, and there is still a narrow section near the sea that the Israeli army has decided not to deal with at this stage, and in the near future the stage of mapping and destroying the tunnels will begin.

The Israeli National Security Advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi, had indicated in an interview with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) that Israel must ensure with the Egyptians that smuggling does not occur through tunnels under the border. Hanegbi said in the interview that Israel "must close the border between Egypt and Gaza." Since the outbreak of the most violent war ever in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in October, Israel has repeatedly reported ongoing smuggling through tunnels under the border.

An Egyptian official accused Israel of using allegations of the existence of tunnels on the border with the Gaza Strip to justify its military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, according to what the Cairo News Channel reported on Wednesday, quoting a senior Egyptian source. The channel, which is close to Egyptian intelligence, quoted the senior source as saying, There are no communications with the Israeli side regarding the allegations of the existence of tunnels on the Gaza Strip border with Egypt. The source added, "Israel is using these allegations to justify continuing the Palestinian Rafah operation and prolonging the war for political purposes," stressing that "the Israeli media reports that talked about the presence of tunnels on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip are incorrect."

The head of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, had accused Israel of using allegations to justify its illegitimate occupation of the Philadelphia axis. In January, Rashwan said that Egypt had completely destroyed these tunnels, established a buffer zone, and strengthened border control in a step that makes any smuggling operation impossible, whether above or below the ground.

Major General Mahmoud Abdel Salam Amin told Al-Hurra website, Since 2013, Egypt has fought a difficult war against terrorists in North Sinai, and as a result it has already destroyed hundreds of cross-border tunnels with Gaza that were used to transport fighters and weapons. He added, "The evidence of the success of Egyptian tactics is the disappearance of terrorist threats that were widespread in this region, such as the repeated cutting of gas pipelines between Egypt and Israel, and committing bombing operations to target civilians."

He continued, "To resolve the Sinai crisis and the skirmishes on the Egyptian border with Rafah, we must not rely solely on military solutions as Israel is currently doing, because the process of discovering and clearing all the tunnels is extremely difficult and may take years and requires a huge budget, which both Egypt and Israel will not be able to bear, especially With the Governor of the Bank of Israel announcing that the cost of the war on Gaza, until 2025, will reach 250 billion shekels (about 73 billion US dollars).

The military expert explained, "Governments must have other cards in their hands to play, such as diplomacy and statesmanship, to gain greater control over the course of affairs in the region, as well as incursion among the people." He pointed out that "Egypt's recent decision to form the Sinai Tribes Union headed by the Sinai businessman, Ibrahim Al-Arjani, is a smart political move that is needed at this time because it ensures greater rapprochement between the regime and what is happening on the ground in Sinai and on the Egyptian border."

He said, "Instead of the Netanyahu government accusing the Egyptian side of negligence, it should calm down a little and calculate its steps more effectively to achieve its declared goal of its military operations, because killing more Palestinian civilians or accusing or blaming Egypt will not solve its crisis and will not help it succeed." In eliminating Hamas or even controlling the tunnels.

Tensions have been rising between Israel and Egypt, the first Arab country to recognize the Hebrew state, since the Israelis ignored international warnings and went ahead with a ground operation in Rafah earlier this month. Control of the Philadelphia axis comes only weeks after Israeli forces took control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, on May 7. The Salah al-Din Axis, known as the Philadelphia Axis, extends within the Gaza Strip from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south along the Egyptian border, which is about 14 kilometers. The peace treaty signed in 1979 considers it a buffer zone, and Israel withdrew completely from it as part of its disengagement plan. In the Gaza Strip in 2005. On Tuesday, Israeli tanks were stationed in the center of the city of Rafah, where the United Nations says 1.4 million people, the majority of whom are displaced, are taking shelter.

The military expert, Major General Staff Abdel Moneim Ghaleb, told Al-Hurra website, The goal of Israels escalation is the governments attempt to calm the Israeli interior in light of not achieving any real victory on the ground, and at the same time, attracting American and international pressure on Egypt to push it to open its borders to receive... The Palestinians and their involvement in the conflict, as the Netanyahu government had hoped, while the Egyptian position is expected to continue in a state of alert and vigilance towards Israeli movements, and monitoring any violation of the peace treaty. He added, "These Israeli accusations against the Egyptian side aim to distract attention from Israel's violation of the Camp David Accords by declaring its control over the Philadelphia axis."

Ghaleb doubted the Israeli story, saying, Militarily, the discovery of open tunnels in Palestinian Rafah does not mean that they are still open from the Egyptian side, because they may have been closed and have become outside of any work related to Hamas. The military expert pointed out that it is natural for Israel to make such statements from time to time to justify its presence in this way on the Egyptian borders, to justify its position internally and globally, and to show that the intransigence of the Egyptian side causes a delay in the results of the war in a positive way for Israel so that it does not appear to be a failure, especially with The embarrassment that the Netanyahu government is suffering after the videos published by Hamas, which show their continued presence and confrontation with Israeli soldiers inside the tunnels.

In general, the military expert believes that Israel will not antagonize Egypt more than just making such statements because it is not in its interest or Cairos interest to enter into any direct confrontations.

Al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) - broadcast scenes of the targeting of Israeli occupation soldiers and vehicles in various areas of advance in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. The scenes included the targeting of an Israeli tank with an anti-tank missile, the " Al-Yassin 105 ", and the detonation of an explosive device, targeting 4 Israeli soldiers who were inside a building.

The Qassami scenes also included a series of sniper operations with the Ghoul rifle, directly wounding Israeli soldiers in various places, as well as the bombardment of the occupation crowds with mortar shells on the front lines of advance. Two days ago, Israeli Army Radio revealed that 3 soldiers were killed and others were injured following the detonation of an explosive device planted inside a building in Rafah at the moment a force from the 50th Battalion of the Nahal Brigade entered, leading to its collapse.

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

Operational Update - Lebanon

Yoav Galant, did not succeed in amending the confusing image of the Israeli leadership in the face of Hezbollah, nor in strengthening the image of the army bound by rules of engagement that imposed controlled operational performance on it, nor in creating a serious impact on those to whom it wanted to send messages at home and abroad. It is known that Nasrallah has never claimed at any time that there were no martyrs. Rather, he publicly confirmed on more than one occasion that the party is proud of its martyrs, whose funeral ceremonies are broadcast live.

Following the warning that was activated in the area of the city of Acre, the air defense fighters successfully intercepted an unmanned aircraft that crossed into the country from Lebanon. A warning of rocket and missile fire was activated for fear of falling interceptor fragments. Fighter jets attacked a military structure in the A-Nakura area where a terrorist squad was identified. In addition, a terrorist identified in the Yaron region was attacked. In addition, another warning was activated about the infiltration of a hostile aircraft in the north of the country, during which two explosive drones were identified that crossed over Lebanese territory and fell in a small area, there were no casualties and the incident is being investigated. During the day, one launch was detected from Lebanese territory towards the Metula area, there was no damage and no casualties. IDF forces attacked the source of the shooting. During the night, warplanes attacked four military buildings of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the areas of Itatron and Merkaba in southern Lebanon.

Hebrew media reported that the Israeli army monitored the launching of 3 missiles from southern Lebanon towards areas in the north of the country, today, Friday, causing a fire to break out. Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that the army monitored the launching of 3 missiles from southern Lebanon towards the areas of Baruch and Kfar Yuval in the Upper Galilee (north). The newspaper quoted the Upper Galilee Regional Council as saying that the missiles caused a fire in one of the sites in the Upper Galilee, without causing any injuries or damage.

Hezbollah has announced that it has carried out several attacks against Israeli targets. He said that he targeted the Iron Dome platforms in the Zaoura camp in the occupied Golan with assault marches, causing them to be damaged and set on fire. The party also bombed with Barkan missiles the Branit barrack and the Al-Baghdadi site, and targeted the Maayan Baruch site and the Ramot Naftali settlement in the Upper Galilee, and targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Shomera settlement. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that two missiles were fired towards the Israeli site of Zabdin in the occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said in a statement: In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, and in response to the Israeli enemys attacks on the steadfast southern villages and safe homes, especially the attack on the town of Maroun al-Ras, the Mujahideen targeted On Friday, May 31, 2024, the Islamic Resistance fired heavy Burkan missiles at the Beranit Barracks (headquarters of the 91st Division) and hit it directly, leading to its burning and the destruction of part of it .

The southern Lebanese border has 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.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

Operational Update - Yemen

Yemen's Houthis launched a missile attack in the direction of the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea in response to US and British strikes on Yemen, the Iranian-backed group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Friday. A US defence official told Reuters they were not aware of any attack on the Eisenhower. Six US and British strikes have killed 16 people and wounded 41, including civilians, Saree said in a televised statement. Strikes on the province of Hodeidah targeted the port of Salif, a radio building in Al-Hawk district, Ghalifa camp and two houses, Saree said.

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

Daily life has become "apocalyptic" in parts of southern Gaza since Israel moved into the city of Rafah, though the situation in the north is improving, the UN's food agency said Friday. "The exodus that we've seen in the past 20 days or so out of Rafah has been an awesome and horrific experience for many, many people," Matthew Hollingworth, the World Food Programme (WFP) director for the Palestinian territories. They have fled the fighting to areas where there was not enough water, healthcare or fuel, where food was limited, telecommunications had stopped and there was not enough space to dig pit latrines, Hollingworth told an online briefing.

The public health situation was "beyond crisis levels", he said, adding: "The sounds and smells of everyday life are horrific and apocalyptic." People "sleep to the sounds of war... and they wake to the same sounds", he said. The WFP was able to provide "ever decreasing amounts of assistance", with all of its bakeries in Rafah closed due to a lack of fuel and supplies, he said.

Axis of Resistance

The head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), Ismail Haniyeh, said that there is no concession to a permanent cessation of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Palestinian people will not accept an alternative to resistance, while a senior Israeli official confirmed that there is no truce without the prisoners. Haniyeh added - in a speech at the Arab National Conference held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut - that regarding what is said about a new Zionist position on the exchange and ceasefire deal, the resistance has once again informed the mediators that the established rules of the position of the resistance factions cannot be given up, according to a statement by the movement.

Haniyeh explained that the rules are a permanent cessation of aggression, the occupations withdrawal from Gaza, the lifting of the siege, reconstruction, and an honorable deal for exchange. He stressed that the great sacrifices and changes must be invested in the interest of the Palestinian cause and move forward towards completing the liberation and return project, as he put it. The head of Hamas' political bureau explained that the liberation project is based on the formation of a unified national leadership within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization and a national consensus government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He continued that the liberation project is also based on holding general presidential and legislative elections and forming a Palestinian National Council.

Haniyeh called for coming up with an integrated plan of action based on the concept that the post-October 7 stage differs from what came before it, noting that the Al-Aqsa flood raised the Palestinian issue to an unprecedented level globally, and opened the door to embodying recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people.

Yesterday, Thursday, the Hamas movement announced - in a statement - that it had informed the mediators of its readiness to reach a full agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza. This statement came in the movement's first comment on the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation's announcement, last Tuesday, that Tel Aviv handed over to Egyptian and Qatari mediators its proposal to renew prisoner exchange negotiations with Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said that the Al-Aqsa Flood operation concerns everyone, and that the battle, as it concerns Palestine, also means the future of Lebanon and its water and oil resources. In a televised speech, Nasrallah considered that the battle of the Al-Aqsa flood (which the Palestinian resistance in Gaza is waging against Israel) is a battle of existence and destiny, and Israels victory in it will leave very serious effects on all the peoples of the region, and its defeat will have many great effects on the region and its peoples.

He pointed out that "the Southern Front (Lebanon) continues its work, and is part of the battle that shapes the fate of Palestine, Lebanon, and the region." Nasrallah pointed out that "the Prime Minister of the Israeli enemy, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his lunatics continue the war of extermination in Gaza and Palestine, in the face of the silence of countries and rulers, but thank God these crimes awaken the world."

Nasrallah announced the implementation of an operation a few meters away from an Israeli site, saying, "If our fighters wanted to storm it, they would have entered it." Since last October 8, Lebanese and Palestinian factions in Lebanon, most notably Hezbollah, have exchanged intermittent daily bombardments with the Israeli army across the dividing  Blue Line , resulting in hundreds killed and wounded, most of them on the Lebanese side. The factions say that they stand in solidarity with Gaza.

Allied for Democracy

Will the Knesset be dissolved? What impact will this have on the war in Gaza? Questions that accompanied the announcement by Benny Gantzs party, a member of the Israeli war government, of submitting a draft law to dissolve the Israeli Legislative Council and hold early elections. On Thursday, a centrist political coalition led by Gantz proposed holding a parliamentary vote to dissolve the Knesset, Parliament. This step comes in the wake of a deadline Gantz granted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month to "define a clear strategy for the war in Gaza before June 8," threatening to withdraw from the war government if the Israeli prime minister did not present such a plan.

The Knesset has 120 seats, while Netanyahu's right-wing coalition controls a comfortable majority of 64 seats, while Gantz's coalition has only eight seats in Parliament. To form a government, it is necessary to obtain the support of at least 61 representatives from the Knesset. Israeli political analyst Eddie Cohen says, "The government coalition is strong and includes 64 seats." Therefore, Gantz cannot dissolve Parliament and overthrow the government, according to his interview with Al-Hurra website.

As for the Israeli political analyst, Joab Stern, he confirms that dissolving the Knesset is only possible with a majority. This matter does not currently exist, as Netanyahu and the government coalition have a majority in the Knesset, according to what he told the Al-Hurra website. The current government is not interested in going to elections, because that would be an implicit admission of responsibility for what happened on October 7 and the failures after that date on more than one level, Stern points out. Stern does not expect early elections to be held, unless Netanyahu wants to do so, and he believes that he has a majority in the next elections.

For his part, Israeli political analyst, Shlomo Ganor, explains that if the project is put forward and fails in the voting process, it cannot be put forward again until 6 months have passed, and therefore the matter is considered a stroke of luck. The vote could be achieved by a "majority", but in light of the presence of the "solid" government coalition and the presence of an "overwhelming majority" in the Knesset in favor of Netanyahu, this matter is "unlikely", according to what he told the Al-Hurra website. Therefore, the proposal's chances of success are "very, very weak," Ganor asserts.

A new American intelligence assessment raised doubts about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would remain in power, amid warnings of a danger surrounding the right-wing coalition in Israel, and at the same time renewed protests in the street.

Gantz threatened to resign from the war government if Netanyahu did not agree to the post-war plan for the Gaza Strip. The war government in Israel includes 5 members, most notably Netanyahu, Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, and Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Gantz, Netanyahu's political rival and former defense minister, agreed to join the "war government" after the October 7 attack.

Therefore, Stern believes that Gantz is taking his last steps within the government, and will leave it soon. The Israeli political analyst confirms that "as long as there is a war, it is difficult to go to elections and most of the public is not interested in that," while the opposition and the families of the kidnapped do not have enough power to convince the government to "go to early elections." Stern wonders: Will we see the public take to the streets? Will we see more protests? adding, This may be possible.

Escalating protests, calls for mass demonstrations, and demands to hold early elections, amid internal coalition disputes, are several challenges facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which raises questions about the extent of the possibility of the fall of his government and his departure from power. For his part, Cohen points out that Gantz wants to justify his exit from the coalition. Gantz has "personal ambitions. He is an opponent of Netanyahu. He wants to run for the position of prime minister, and he must withdraw so that he can enter the electoral battle," according to Cohen. He confirms "the decline in Gantz's popularity" because he has "personal ambitions and nothing more than that," as he put it.

As for Ganor, he points out that if Gantz withdraws from the war government and does not change his position, this will lead to the concentration of powers in the hands of Netanyahu alone. A new war council may be formed with the participation of the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, and the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, according to the Israeli political analyst. Without Gantz, Netanyahu's Likud Party, in addition to his far-right allies, will continue to dominate the majority of seats in the Knesset. This means things go from bad to worse, as Ganor puts it.

As a member of the war council, Gantz helped manage the Israeli attack on Gaza before tensions emerged as the military operation proceeded. Ganor confirms that Gantz's withdrawal "will not affect the course of the war in Gaza," because "operational plans are already in place." But perhaps it might increase the pressure on Israel to move forward with regard to discussing the issue (what happens after the end of the war)? Ganor explains. He stresses that "the dissolution of the war council or the loss of two generals, Gantz and Eisenkot," will have a "negative impact in terms of managing the war from an operational and intellectual standpoint," given that they possess "a lot of military experience."

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that an internal poll in the Israeli army showed that only 42% of officers in permanent military service want to continue serving after the end of the war on the Gaza Strip, compared to 49% recorded in August last year. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth described these data as disturbing and interesting, and that they stunned the leadership of the Israeli army and considered them a worrying decline in the willingness of permanent officers to continue their military service.

At the same time, the newspaper noted an increase in officers' requests to retire from the army during the war. The newspaper attributed the reasons for the officers dissatisfaction to the long duration of the war, the damage to the officers family life, and inappropriate compensation, in addition to the pressure and responsibility that some jobs entail.

Yedioth Ahronoth added, "It is not surprising that there is a gap between the military system and the private sector, but the double gap represents anger and resentment among those who serve in the army." The newspaper quoted an unnamed senior Israeli army officer as saying: The permanent officers feel responsible for the harsh consequences of the war. The feeling of failure haunts the officers and they do not want to serve in a failed apparatus.

Haim Ramon, the former Israeli minister, said that Israel is on the verge of an unprecedented strategic defeat, and that its failure in the war on the Gaza Strip is clear, despite the tactical achievements that have been achieved, as he put it. Ramon added, in an article in Maariv newspaper on Friday, that the Israeli press is hiding from the public the fact that the Israeli army failed to subjugate what he called Israel's weakest enemies, and that it did not have an integrated plan to occupy Gaza. He also pointed out that the government failed to achieve the war goals it set.

Ramon said that the Hamas movement was able to restore its strength in every place from which the Israeli forces withdrew, noting that the army was surprised by the number of fighters in Jabalia after it said that it had subdued the Hamas brigades there during the first round.

Earlier, Israeli Channel 13 quoted National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi that Israel had not achieved any of the goals of its war on the Gaza Strip. He added: "We did not eliminate Hamas, we did not provide conditions for the return of the prisoners, and we did not return the residents of the Gaza Strip to their homes safely." He said that the army says that achieving war goals requires several years, not one year. He continued that the War Council did not specify any clear goal for northern Israel and did not set a date or strategic goals.

Recently, criticism has escalated against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant , due to their inability to achieve the war goals they declared, most notably the dismantling of Hamas and the release of detainees in Gaza. Haaretz newspaper published an investigation into the failure of Israeli intelligence to anticipate the attack of last October 7, which concluded that contempt, denial, and the cessation of collecting information about the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) for more than two years in the Israeli army led to the flood of Al-Aqsa .

The newspaper confirmed that the Israeli intelligence failure continued after the start of the war on the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Hamas movement violated the expectations of the Israeli army and most of its members did not enter the tunnels after the war.

Police in riot gear surrounded arm-in-arm protesters Friday at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where pro-Palestinian demonstrations have blocked the main entrance to the campus this week. Campus, local and state police swarmed the protesters, and video showed officers telling people to leave, then taking away signs and part of a barricade, local news stations reported. There appeared to be some pushing and shoving between police and protesters. Officers carried zip ties and appeared to detain a few people.

A university spokesperson said arrests were made, KION-TV reported. The university didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. It wasnt known if anyone was injured. The university was holding classes remotely Friday. We call on these protesters to immediately reopen full access to the campus and return to protesting in a manner consistent with both our community values and our student code of conduct. Denying instructional access is not free speech, university leaders had said in a letter to the community Thursday. Graduate student workers at UC Santa Cruz continued a strike that began last week over the university systems treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza

82,057 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

36,284 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

446 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon

287 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza

289 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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Russo-Ukraine War - 31 May 2024 - Day 828

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the total number of Russian casualties (killed and wounded) since the start of the war in February 2022 has now likely reached 500,000. Russian losses have continued at a high level in 2024, and in May average Russian personnel casualties were over 1,200 per day  the highest reported since the start of the war.

The elevated casualty rate is highly likely a reflection of Russia's ongoing attritional offensive which is being conducted across a wide front. It is highly likely that most Russian forces receive only limited training, and they are unable to carry out complex offensive operations. As a result, Russia employs small-scale but costly wave attacks in an effort to weaken Ukrainian defences.

Russia continues to recruit additional forces to sustain this approach. However, the need to continuously replenish front line personnel will almost certainly continue to limit Russia's ability to generate higher capability units.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the situation on the front remains tense but controlled. So far, 81 combat encounters have taken place. The Defense Forces continue to decisively deter the Russian adversary's attempts to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine, giving it an effective fire effect, exhaustion across the frontline of the combat confrontation.

Defense Forces rocket troops and artillery attacked two Russian personnel concentration sites, one military equipment concentration area, two artillery systems, four control points and a fuel base.

During the day Russian zagarbniki launched on the territory of Ukraine one missile with the use of six missiles and 47 aviation strikes with the use of 48 cabiv, made 531 kamikadze drone. Russian forces also launched more than 2,300 shelling on positions of our troops and settlements using artillery, mortars, firearms and armaments of fighting vehicles.

In the Kharkiv direction, there were two unsuccessful Russian attacks in the area of vovcans ka and lipciv. Defense Forces carry out active measures of fire influence on units of Russian occupiers.

In the Kupyansky direction since the beginning of the day, the number of combat clashes increased to 12. The Defense Forces successfully repelled five Russian attacks in the areas of populated areas of Sinkivka, Berestove, Novoyegorivka and Makiyivka. Ukrainian defenders continue to repel seven more attacks near Petropavlivka, Berestovoye and Novoegorivka. Situation is tense, but under control.

According to preliminary data, since the beginning of the day in this direction Russian forces has lost 64 occupiers and one tank.

In the Lymans komu direction there were four battles. Attempts by the Russian occupiers to advance in the regions of Terniv, Dibrova and Torsk were unsuccessful. Ukrainian soldiers are taking measures to strengthen the front edge of defense.

Throughout the day, eight combat clashes occurred in the Siversky direction. Especially active Russian forces was close to Vyimka. Here, he unsuccessfully tried to fit into the combat order of Ukrainian units. The situation is tense, at the same time under control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

In the Kramators komu direction, the Russian aggressor tried to attack Defense Forces units six times in the areas of Bogdanivka, Ivanivsky, Klishchyivka, Andriyivka and Chasovoy Yar. All attempts were unsuccessful. Losing our positions is not allowed.

In the Toretsky direction Ukrainian military repelled one attack in the area of Kurdumivki.

The largest number of combat clashes took place today in the Pokrovsky direction. Russia does not abandon attempts, with the support of air and artillery, to find weak points in our defense, tries to infiltrate the fighting order of Ukrainian units with continuous assault actions. Out of 27 combat clashes in the districts of Novooleksandrivka, Progresu, Sokola, Novoselivka I, Umansky, Nevel and Netaylovy - 15 were successfully fought by our defenders. 12 fights are currently still ongoing. The Defense Forces are taking measures to stabilize the situation and prevent the Russian forces from advancing.

Previous Russian losses in this direction were almost 200 invaders killed and injured. Three tanks, two armored vehicles, an artillery system and a mortar were destroyed. At the same time, one tank, two combat armored vehicles, two vehicles and six artillery systems were damaged.

Five combat clashes took place in the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day. Zagarbniks are trying to move near the settlements of Krasnogorivka, Novomikhailivka and Konstantinivka. The four Russian attacks have been repelled. The fight is ongoing in the area of Krasnogorivka. Loss of positions and territories is not allowed.

In the Vremivs komu direction Russian zagarbniki three times attacked our units in the area of staromayors kogo. All assault actions of the Russian occupiers have failed. Defense forces are under control.

Four combat clashes took place in the Orihiv direction. Russian occupiers failed to push away our units from Mala Tokmacka, Novodanilivka, Robotinyo and Novoandriivka.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, the Russian occupiers do not abandon trying to knock out the Defense Forces from positions on the left bank of the Dnieper. Four combat clashes in the area of Krynok ended unsuccessfully for Russian forces. Ukrainian military continues to control the situation, loss of our positions is not allowed.

Defense forces inflict tangible losses to the occupiers, actively applying fire-threatening tools on the Russian forces' live force and equipment. Measures to improve the tactical position are taken in designated directions.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 25 to 31 May 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have carried out 25 group strikes with high-precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and UAVs, which hit command posts, military airfield infrastructure facilities, air defence means, ammunition and fuel depots, manufacturing facilities, and storage sites of unmanned aerial vehicles and boats.

In addition, temporary deployment areas of AFU units, nationalist formations, and foreign mercenaries have been hit.

The units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to move deep into the enemy defence during combat actions.

During the week, manpower and hardware of five AFU brigades and two territorial defence brigades have been hit, as well as 20 enemy counter-attacks have been repelled.

The AFU losses during the week amounted to up to 1,740 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, eight Grad MLRS and Vampire combat vehicles, as well as 29 field artillery guns.

During the week, the units of the Zapad Group of Forces have liberated Berestovoye, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), and continued to advance further into the depths of the enemy defence.

The units of the eight AFU formations and two brigades of the Ukrainian National Guard have been defeated. Eleven counter-attacks of enemy units have been repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 2,310 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, 35 motor vehicles, two 122-mm Bastion MLRS fighting vehicles, and 30 field artillery guns, including 14 Western-made guns.

During the week, the units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation on the front line and engaged manpower and hardware of 12 AFU formations close to Seversk, Ostroye, Krasnogorovka, Elizavetovka, Novy, Konstantinovka, Rasdolovka, and Chavov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks by units of an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a territorial defence brigade have been repelled.

The enemy losses were up to 3,415 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 30 motor vehicles, and 25 field artillery guns, of which 11 were manufactured from abroad. Nineteen AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed.

During the week, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued to advance at the depth of the enemy defence. Russian troops have liberated Arkhangelskoye and Netailovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have hit nine AFU formations and the Ukrainian National Guard close to Yasnobrodovka, Konstantinovka, Yevgenovka, Sokol, Rozovka, Semyonovka, Novgorodskoye, and Selidovo (Donetsk People's Republic) were defeated.

Russian servicemen have repelled 31 counter-attacks of enemy assault units.

During the week, the enemy losses were up to 2,515 Ukrainian troops, one tank, 15 armoured fighting vehicles, including three U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, three Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and 51 field artillery guns.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation, defeating manpower and hardware of two brigades of the AFU, two formations of the Territorial Defence Brigade, and one brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.

In addition, four counter-attacks by units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade have been repelled.

The enemy losses were up to 920 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, and 18 field artillery guns, of which five were of Western-made.

Over the past week, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of two brigades of the Marines, three formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and one brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.

The enemy losses were up to 325 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 24 motor vehicles, and 17 field artillery guns, including three U.S.-made M777 howitzers.

Aviation and air defence systems shot down: two MiG-29 and two Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, 14 U.S.-made ATACMS operational and tactical missiles, 17 French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, six U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, six Neptun anti-ship missiles, 58 U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, one Czech-made Vampire and one Olkha projectiles, as well as 312 UAVs.

Over the past week, 45 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered.

In total, 607 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,902 unmanned aerial vehicles, 524 air defence missile systems, 16,208 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,325 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,972 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 22,135 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Exercise Albatross AusIndo concludes

Issued by Defence Media

31 May 2024

Australian and Indonesian air forces have successfully completed another Exercise Albatross AusIndo 24 in Bali, Indonesia.

The three-day exercise concluded on 31 May, providing an avenue for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Indonesian Air Force, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU) to collaboratively plan and conduct training missions.

The exercise was also supported by elements of the Australian and Indonesian navies, focusing on interoperability between maritime patrol aircraft; RAAF P-8A Poseidon from No 11 Squadron, and TNI-AU Boeing 737 from No 5 Squadron.

The Air Commander Australia, Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz AM, CSC, DSM, said Exercise Albatross AusIndo 24 aimed to strengthen the relationship and enhance mutual cooperation, particularly security and awareness in the maritime domain, between the ADF and Indonesian National Armed Forces.

"Exercise Albatross AusIndo 24 provides an opportunity for knowledge exchange between our two nations, both at the aviator-level as well as between our organisations," Air Vice-Marshal Braz said.

"Maritime surveillance makes an exceptionally important contribution to Australia and Indonesia's respective security, and helps ensure a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region."

Exercise Albatross AusIndo 24 built on the maritime patrol skillsets of Indonesian and Australian aircrew, and allowed them to develop a deeper appreciation for each other's air capability.

"This is an important opportunity for our air forces to boost effective interactive military-to-military links via close, agile air and sea missions," Air Vice-Marshal Braz said.

Australia's defence relationship with Indonesia makes an important contribution to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

"We are expanding the scope and complexity of our exercises with Indonesia and strengthening our ability to work together," Air Vice-Marshal Braz said.

"In 2022, we successfully embarked on combined maritime and air patrols for the first time, and Exercise Albatross AusIndo 2024 continues to build on this achievement and strengthen interoperability between our forces."

Exercise Albatross AusIndo was last held in Darwin in 2023, and in Indonesia in 2021; having not taken place since 2012.

It is one of three collaborative exercises conducted between the RAAF and TNI-AU, the others being Exercise Elang AusIndo (air combat); and Exercise Rajawali AusIndo (air mobility).

Hosting responsibility for these exercises is shared between Australia and Indonesia on a rotational basis.

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Canada wraps up participation in NATO's Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024

National Defence

News release

May 31, 2024 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) wrapped up its participation in NATO's largest exercise in decades, Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024. The final sub-exercise under the STEADFAST DEFENDER umbrella was Exercise SPRING STORM in Estonia, which ended on May 17, 2024.

Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24 ran from end of January to end of May, with approximately 1,000 CAF members participating in various exercises across Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Our sailors, soldiers, aviators, and special forces members demonstrated NATO's ability to conduct sustained, multi-domain defence operations alongside our allies over these four months.

Highlights included the participation of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) personnel in Exercise NORDIC RESPONSE in Norway; the participation of His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown with its embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter in Exercise DYNAMIC GUARD and Exercise JOINT WARRIOR; and the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Battlegroup Latvia's participation in Exercise CRYSTAL ARROW in Latvia and Exercise SPRING STORM in Estonia.

The CAF's participation in Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24 emphasizes the critical role of combat readiness and preparedness in NATO's collective defence strategy, contributing to the stability and security of the Euro-Atlantic region. The CAF's ability to engage in and sustain multi-domain operations over several months not only enhances our own operational readiness but also strengthens NATO's deterrence posture and defensive capabilities. This versatility was demonstrated through various exercises conducted in varied environments, underscoring the CAF's capabilities to rapidly adapt to new situations. Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER served as an opportunity to reinforce Canada's commitment to the collective defence of NATO Allies and ensure sustained peace and security in Europe and the North Atlantic region.

Quotes

"As Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24 concludes, the Canadian Armed Forces have once again proven their ability and commitment to stand strong with NATO Allies. Canada's participation in this critical, major exercise reaffirms our unwavering dedication to the defence of Europe and to uphold the shared values and interests of our alliance. Canada stands firm in its role as a reliable partner in the pursuit of peace and security on the global stage." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

"With the successful completion of Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24, the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and assets alongside NATO forces stands as a strong symbol of deterrence and reassurance. This collective demonstration of strength and preparedness reaffirms our pledge to uphold regional security and stability and signals a unified resolve against any threats to our common values." General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff

"NATO military training exercises, such as Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24, are critical to reinforce alliance interoperability and partnership. These exercises enable us to tackle modern-day security threats with a cohesive and synchronized approach while enhancing our collective preparedness and cultivating a sense of unity. Through these efforts, we solidify our ability to adapt to diverse challenges, while fostering strong, interconnected relationships in defense and security." Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command

Quick facts

Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24 saw over 90,000 military personnel from all 32 NATO Allies, along with more than 50 naval assets, over 80 aircraft, and over 1,100 combat vehicles participate in a series of exercises across multiple domains (maritime, land, air space, and cyber), demonstrating the unbreakable bond between NATO Allies in Europe and North America.

CANSOFCOM's participation in Exercise NORDIC RESPONSE included ground and air elements from Canada's special forces who conducted activities related to their core mandate, including direct action, special reconnaissance, and tactical aviation support, while in a remote arctic setting, and reinforced operational versatility and interoperability with Allied forces.

HMCS Charlottetown's participation in Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24 enabled its crew to train alongside NATO Allies in preparation for the warship to assume command of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 this summer.

Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 24 served as an important milestone for the future of the Canadian Army's NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia with the incoming Command Team and Headquarters participating in their first integration exercise.

Operation REASSURANCE is Canada's contribution to NATO deterrence and defence measures in Central and Eastern Europe and is Canada's largest overseas mission with approximately 1,100 personnel deployed. The mission is set to grow to up to over 2,000 personnel persistently deployed by 2026.

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Minister Joly meets with the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

May 31, 2024 - Prague, Czechia - Global Affairs Canada

Yesterday, the Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Jan LipavskA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in Prague, to reaffirm Canada and Czechia's strong partnership and exchange on geopolitical challenges.

During the meeting, the Ministers discussed ways to further support Ukraine and counter Russian aggression, including cooperating on reconstruction efforts, preventing the circumvention of sanctions, and implementing the recent European Union Council decision on the use of revenues from Russian assets. Minister Joly thanked Czechia for its defence cooperation and leadership on the ammunition initiative, which includes support from Canada for Ukraine. Minister LipavskA reiterated Czechia's support of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-led by Canada and Ukraine.

The Ministers discussed the NATO informal Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Prague, as well as the Leaders' Summit in July. They agreed that it would be important for NATO allies to confirm longer-term security arrangements for Ukraine, including through bilateral agreements, and the succession of NATO's Secretary-General.

Minister Joly shared perspectives on a range of global and security issues, including potential areas of cooperation on the Arctic, concerns over destabilizing activities in parts of the world, and the latest developments in the Middle East.

The Ministers exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific and approach to China, and expressed their openness to working together on areas of common interest in the region. Finally, Minister Joly invited Minister LipavskA to visit Canada when their schedules permit.

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Statement on verdict of Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians and activists

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

May 30, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada today issued the following statement on the verdict on the "Hong Kong 47" trial:

"Canada is deeply concerned at the guilty verdicts handed down in the National Security Law (NSL) mass trial of 47 pro-democracy politicians and advocates known as the "Hong Kong 47" or "NSL 47.

"The 47 defendants in this case were arrested and prosecuted for peaceful political activity, including organizing an unofficial primary election. Among them, many were denied bail and held in pre-trial detention for almost two years.

"The trial's result demonstrates that Hong Kong's national security laws, including the recently enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance under Article 23 of the Basic Law, are being used to silence dissent not only in Hong Kong but also overseas.

"The Hong Kong government's decision to appeal the acquittal of two defendants is deeply troubling.

"Canada recognizes Hong Kong's need to address legitimate national security considerations. Hong Kong's national security laws, however, fail to safeguard the human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law and in international instruments to which Hong Kong is a party.

"Canada reiterates its recommendation to China at the UN's Universal Periodic Review of its human rights record to repeal the NSL and for Hong Kong authorities to end the prosecution of all individuals charged under it."

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May 31, 2024

By David Vergun, DOD News

Austin Emphasizes Open Lines of Communication Between U.S., China Militaries

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication at multiple levels between the United States and China during his first meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun.

The two met today in Singapore on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss U.S.-China defense relations, as well as regional and global security issues.

The secretary expressed concern about recent provocative activity by China's army around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that China should not use Taiwan's political transition a part of a normal, routine democratic process a as a pretext for coercive measures.

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.

The secretary also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Austin underscored the importance of respect for the high seas' freedom of navigation that is guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows," he said.

He also discussed Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine and China's role in supporting Russia's defense industrial base.

The secretary also expressed concerns about recent provocations from North Korea, including its direct contributions to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Today's meeting follows the secretary's April 16 video teleconference with his Chinese counterpart. Defense Department officials said they will continue active discussions with Chinese officials about future engagements between defense and military officials at multiple levels.

A senior defense official who was present at the 75-minute meeting between the defense leaders, characterized the secretary's discussions as clear, direct, candid, firm and professional.

Austin said he was concerned about China's coercive behavior against the Philippines, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to its ally is "ironclad," the official said.

He also expressed concerns regarding China's support for Russia's defense sector, telling China's defense minister that if it continues, the United States and its allies will have to take further measures, the official said.

Austin also told the defense minister that China's growing nuclear, space and cyber development of capabilities are a concern to the United States, according to the official.

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Chinese defense chief stresses redline on core issues with Austin

Global Times

Talks positive, practical and constructive at strategic level: spokesperson

By Li Aixin, Guo Yuandan in Singapore and Liu Xuanzun in Beijing Published: May 31, 2024 09:09 PM

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had their face-to-face meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, marking the first in-person talks between Chinese and US defense chiefs since November 2022 and a further step in resuming military dialogue and consultations amid recent tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits.

Dong reiterated China's firm positions on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue, with experts saying that China will firmly defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests, as well as safeguard peace and stability in the region.

The meeting lasted 75 minutes, slightly longer than expected, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at the Ministry of National Defense, told reporters at a press briefing after the meeting.

The meeting was positive, practical and constructive at the strategic level, Wu said, noting that with a meeting like this, the two sides can have a deeper understanding and a firsthand feeling of each other's positions.

During the meeting, the two defense leaders exchanged views on the state-to-state and military-to-military relations between China and the US, as well as the Taiwan question, the South China Sea issue, the Ukraine crisis, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Wu explained.

During the meeting, Dong told Austin that the two militaries' relationship is stabilizing after a decline, which is hard-won and should be carefully cherished, according to Wu.

The purpose of military exchanges should be to enhance understanding, eliminate misunderstandings, build mutual trust, and eventually achieve stability in relations, Dong said, noting that one should not ignore facts, shift blame, or even take chances to smear and suppress the other.

China follows the basic guidelines of valuing peace, stability and trust, and aims to build a non-conflicting, non-confrontational military relationship with open, pragmatic cooperation and gradually accumulating trust, on a basis of equality and mutual respect, Dong said.

Dong urged the US side to effectively implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in the military field, reflected in concrete actions.

For the next step, the two countries are expected to resume conversations between theater commanders, as spokesperson Wu said that related departments are staying in consultation over the matter.

Lieutenant General He Lei, former vice president of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), told the Global Times that the meeting represents positive action by the Chinese and US militaries in implementing the consensus reached at the San Francisco summit. It marks a crucial step of turning the San Francisco Vision into reality.

He Lei said the in-person talks indicate the beginning of the restoration of normal high-level interactions between Chinese and American militaries. This is conducive to stabilizing and improving the military relationship between the two countries and helping ties move forward positively.

The face-to-face meeting comes after Dong and Austin had a video call in April.

To implement the important consensus reached during the November summit meeting between the heads of state of China and the US in San Francisco, the two militaries have resumed dialogue and consultations on the basis of equal footing and mutual respect, observers said.

On December 21, 2023, General Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, had a video talk with General Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military.

In January, the 17th China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks were held in Washington DC in the US. In April, Chinese and US militaries held a working group meeting of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement in Hawaii. In May, the director of the Office for International Military Cooperation under China's CMC held video talks with the US Assistant Secretary of Defense.

These meetings paved the way for the face-to-face talks between the two defense ministers at the Shangri-La Dialogue, observers said.

The in-person meeting is also an opportunity for China's newly appointed defense minister, Admiral Dong, to reaffirm China's principled positions on core interests and major issues face-to-face with Austin. This contributes positively to enhancing mutual understanding between military leaders and managing differences and risks between the two militaries, He Lei noted.

He Lei added that it is essential to emphasize that the US must demonstrate sincerity and integrity by genuinely fulfilling President Biden's repeated commitments, that is to say, the US does not seek a new Cold War with China, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to revitalize its alliances against China, does not support "Taiwan independence," and has no intention of having a conflict with China.

The US' actions must match its words to avoid empty promises, He Lei said.

Firm stances

Dong and Austin's meeting comes after large-scale exercises by the PLA to deter "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces following Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's May 20 separatist "inaugural speech", and also takes place amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea resulting from the Philippines' provocative moves over Chinese islands and reefs.

At the meeting, Dong expressed China's firm stance on the Taiwan question.

Regarding the US congratulating Lai on his "inauguration" and sending a delegation to attend the "inauguration ceremony", Dong stated that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, and external forces have no right to interfere.

The US actions seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint CommuniquAs, and went against the commitments it has made, sending a serious wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, which China firmly opposes, Dong told Austin.

Dong urged the US to correct its mistakes, adhere to the one-China principle, and not in any way assist "independence" through military means.

Lieutenant General He Lei said that the Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests, the political foundation, and the fundamental principle upon which China establishes diplomatic relations with countries around the world.

It is the first redline that cannot be crossed in China-US relations, and any actions that undermine this core, shake this foundation, or cross this redline will be firmly opposed and resolutely countered by the Chinese people and the Chinese government, He Lei said, noting that the PLA has the unwavering determination, strong will, and formidable capability to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and the unity of the motherland.

On the South China Sea issue, Dong said that currently, the Philippines has acted treacherously and provocatively on issues such as Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), which is closely related to instigation and support from external forces.

In particular, the US has deployed mid-range missiles in the Philippines under the guise of military exercises, posing a substantial threat to regional security, a move strongly opposed by China, Dong said.

China insists on resolving differences through equal consultations while adhering to commitments, but will not tolerate actions that escalate provocations, said the Chinese Defense Minister.

Cao Yanzhong, a research fellow at the Academy of Military Sciences of the PLA, told the Global Times that during the administration of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, the South China Sea situation was relatively stable, but this greatly changed after Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr assumed office, in addition to the US instigations that aim to militarily encircle China.

China has two basic stances in the South China Sea issue: maintaining general peace and stability in the region, and firmly safeguarding China's national sovereignty and rights, Cao said.

"We've taken some powerful countermeasures against the Philippine provocations, which served as a demonstration to the world, including the Philippines and the US, that relying on a major power cannot force China to give in on issues of sovereignty," Cao said.

Some are portraying the Chinese delegation as facing greater pressure in this year's dialogue, given the agenda arrangement - having Marcos Jr to deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony on Friday evening, and the traditional US speech that is often harsh on China.

Spokesperson Wu responded that he did not feel this way because China stands with justice and righteousness.

"I would like to quote from a poem to describe my feeling - despite rising wind and waves, we can sit tight in the fishing boat," Wu said.

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China hits back at West's criticism of HKSAR court's verdict on case of conspiracy to subvert state power

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: May 31, 2024 06:21 PM

China's central government authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government expressed strong opposition and condemnation against some remarks made by Western countries, anti-China organization and foreign media that smear the rule of law in the city following the verdict of a case of conspiracy to subvert state power.

The Hong Kong West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts ruled on Thursday that 14 anti-China figures, including former lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung and Helena Wong Pik-wan, were guilty of conspiracy to subvert state power.

Barrister and former district councilor Lawrence Lau Wai-chung and Lee Yue-shun were acquitted.

After 118 days of public trial, the court, having carefully considered the relevant legal principle and the extensive evidence and arguments from both the prosecution and the defense, clearly stated on Thursday that the case involved conspiracy to subvert state power with the aim of undermining, destroying, or overthrowing the current political system and framework of the HKSAR established by the Basic Law and the One Country, Two Systems policy, a spokesperson from the HKSAR government said on Friday. Such acts of endangering national security have nothing to do with the so-called pursuit of democracy and human rights, said the spokesperson.

In total, 47 people were prosecuted in this case, and most of them had been convicted previously. Except for two people who were acquitted on Thursday due to insufficient evidence, the other 45 people have all been convicted so far, demonstrating the scale and severity of the criminal plan, the spokesperson said.

Dozens of former local politicians and extremist separatist activists in other sectors involved in the case, including former legal professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting and secessionist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, pleaded guilty in August 2022.

The Department of Justice of the HKSAR has expressed its intention to appeal the decision regarding the two acquitted defendants.

Some foreign governments and anti-China figures criticized the verdict, expressing the so-called concern over the "deterioration of fundamental freedoms and democratic participation" in the city. The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China called the Biden administration to "sanction judges and prosecutors" for the verdict, according to a public statement.

In response to comments made by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong who said Australia is deeply concerned by the verdict, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service, and the consulates general of the US, the UK and some other countries in Hong Kong regarding the lawful judgment by the Hong Kong court, a spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on late Thursday night.

It also slammed on Friday the remarks on the verdict made by UK diplomat Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Canadian foreign affairs department, and the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Those remarks openly defame Hong Kong's democracy, freedom, human rights, and rule of law, and wantonly smear Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, while beautifying and exonerating anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong and interfering with the legitimate judiciary of the HKSAR, the commissioner's office's spokesperson said.

No one can engage in illegal activities under the guise of democracy and expect to escape legal punishment. These anti-China disruptors conspired to seize control of the Legislative Council through the so-called primaries with the intention of paralyzing the HKSAR government, undermining, destroying, or overthrowing the current political system and framework established by the Basic Law and the One Country, Two Systems principle, the commissioner's office's spokesperson noted.

The judicial authorities of the HKSAR handled the case according to law, fully preventing, stopping and punishing actions that endanger national security. This is reasonable, legal and just, and should not be subject to criticism. The central government firmly supports this, the spokesperson said.

Under the protection of the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, all individuals facing criminal charges have the right to a fair trial by an independent judiciary. The courts in the HKSAR conduct trials independently and without interference, the HKSAR government's spokesperson said.

Some Western countries, anti-China organizations, anti-China politicians, and foreign media, among others, made unwarranted comments on the criminal trials in the HKSAR courts, which is not only highly inappropriate but also disregards the spirit of the rule of law, the spokesperson noted.

Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Friday that the criticism from the West was expected, as it is their routine or designated action with the purpose of smearing China and the HKSAR.

"In fact, such smear has no impact on the local residents, but rather, it has led to greater disappointment and resentment toward the West," Lau said.

Local residents have gained a new understanding of the anti-China and chaotic actions of some individuals in Hong Kong over the past few years, and have increasingly lost trust in them. "The residents are indifferent to their arrests and sentencing, and such calm attitude toward the verdict is the best response and counterattack to the criticism from the West," the expert said.

Such inappropriate criticism is putting pressure and undue influence to the three judges, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran current affairs commentator and deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Hong Kong court would only make judgment as well as consider the verdict and sentencing based on law and facts," Chu said, noting that foreign countries are not in position to comment on China's domestic cases in relation to national security offenses.

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China, Arab states work to build a community of shared future of high quality

Global Times

Joint statement on Palestinian issue calls for cease-fire for regional peace

By GT staff reporters Published: May 31, 2024 08:21 PM Updated: May 31, 2024 10:41 PM

Relations between China and Arab states have reached new heights recently with the interactions of top leaders continuing on Friday and more cooperation documents being signed. Analysts said that the intensified exchanges between China and Arab states will inject fresh impetus into bilateral relations, and the joint China-Arab states statement on the Palestinian issue, which voices the need to end the Gaza conflict, will help promote the seeking of a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday respectively held talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who are paying state visits to China and attended the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which was held on Thursday.

President Xi and President Saied on Friday announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries. Consolidating and developing China-Tunisia relations conforms to the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two peoples, Xi noted, adding that China is willing to work with Tunisia to continue the traditional friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level.

On Friday, President Xi also held talks with Bahrain's King Hamad. The two leaders announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

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.

President Xi's meetings with leaders of Arab states on Friday continued the close exchanges between the two sides, highlighting the fruitful outcomes of this round of engagements and the joint efforts of China and Arab states in building a China-Arab community with a shared future, analysts said.

At the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, China and Arab states adopted the Beijing Declaration and an execution plan of the forum for 2024-2026. They also adopted a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

While meeting with Tunisian President Saied, Xi emphasized that China's stance is highly consistent with that of the Arab countries and expressed a willingness to work with Tunisia and other Arab countries to promote a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue based on the implementation of the two-state solution.

The full text of the joint statement of China and Arab states on the Palestinian issue was released on Friday. The text noted that relevant resolutions of the United Nations must be fully and effectively implemented and that the two sides will work together to promote an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue as soon as possible.

The joint statement highlights the deep concerns of China, Arab states, and the international community regarding the dire situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a cease-fire, analysts said.

The joint statement contains 21 points that China and Arab states have reached consensus on. It noted that both sides call for the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution to achieve an immediate, comprehensive, and sustained cease-fire, halt the forced transfer of Palestinians, ensure the delivery of aid throughout the Gaza Strip, and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions to restore normal life in Gaza. Both sides condemn the US for using its veto power to prevent Palestine from becoming a full member of the UN, said the statement.

Urging Israel to stop its actions in Rafah is aimed at preventing the situation from escalating and addressing the pressing need for humanitarian aid, Liu Zhongmin, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.

Liu said the statement aims to provide a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective for resolving the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the international community's shared responsibility for achieving peace and stability in the region.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 31, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-05-31 18:37

From June 4 to 8, at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of the IslamicaRepublic of Pakistan will pay an official visit to China.

From June 3 to 5, at the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, TArkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will pay an official visit to China.

Associated Press of Pakistan: A follow-up question on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China. Could you share some detail of his visit? And how does China view the current relations between Pakistan and China? And what is China's expectation for the visit?

Mao Ning: This is Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's first visit to China after the new Pakistani government came into office this year. During his visit, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji will meet or have talks with him. The leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Pakistan relations and issues of mutual interest, and jointly draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations. In addition to Beijing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Guangdong and Shaanxi.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad friends. Our friendship has stood the test of time and remained rock-solid andato use a Chinese expressiona"steady as Mount Tai." Under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China and Pakistan have in recent years had close high-level exchanges, steadily advanced practical cooperation, conducted fruitful and high-quality cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and maintained sound communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. 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.

Reuters: According to sources, China has confirmed that it will not attend the Ukraine peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland next month. China has declined the invitation, because the conditions for China's participation are not met, including the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, the sources said. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment on this matter?

Mao Ning: China attaches great importance to Switzerland organizing the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine and has been in close communication with Switzerland and relevant parties on this since early this year. China always maintains that the international peace conference needs to meet the three important elements of recognition from both Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties, and fair discussion of all peace plans. Otherwise, the peace conference can hardly play a substantive role for restoring peace. These elements proposed by China are fair, legitimate and do not target any party. They are written into the Common Understandings on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis jointly issued by China and Brazil recently and reflect the universal concern of the international community, especially the vast developing countries.

Based on what we have heard from various parties and the released arrangement for the meeting, it doesn't seem that the three elements proposed by China will be met. There is an apparent gap between the meeting's arrangement and what China stands for as well as the universal expectation in the international community. In this case, China is hardly able to take part in the meeting and has informed relevant parties of our consideration and concerns. We will continue to promote talks for peace in our own way, maintain communication with all parties and jointly accumulate conditions for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Kyodo News: When meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida asked China again to resume the short-term visa-free policy as soon as possible. China previously said that Japan needs to take reciprocal measures. Has this position changed?

Mao Ning: China attaches importance to the hope expressed by various quarters in Japan for resuming visa-free entry into China. We hope that Japan will work with us in the same direction and jointly raise the level of facilitation for travel between our two countries.

Kyodo News: You just mentioned "work with us in the same direction." Does it mean that Japan needs to adopt a reciprocal measure?

Mao Ning: It means working in the same direction. Both sides need to move forward.

Reuters: Former US President and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump has been convicted by a New York jury of felonies related to the 2016 election. If he is elected, would Trump's conviction prevent him from visiting China if he was invited or present any other difficulties for Sino-American relations?

Mao Ning: I will not comment on the US presidential election or any other US domestic affair. We hope that whoever gets elected will be committed to growing sound and stable China-US ties, because it will be in the interest of both countries and both peoples.

Folha de S.Paulo: The Brazilian Vice President will lead a delegation of ministers next week to Beijing for trade and investment talks. What concrete steps do you expect from the meetings? And another question: An American envoy said in Brazil that "anyone who is thinking of joining the Belt and Road Initiative should think better and see how sovereignty is taken away." In light of the Brazilian delegation coming to Beijing, how do you respond?

Mao Ning: On your first question, China and Brazil are comprehensive strategic partners. Relations between the two countries have registered continued and steady growth in recent years, with frequent high-level visits, fruitful cooperation in various areas, and close coordination on international and regional affairs, setting a fine example of major developing countries working together in solidarity for common development. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. The two sides agreed to hold the meeting of the China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee to discuss further expanding bilateral cooperation. Please stay tuned.a

On your second question, Belt and Road cooperation is an important measure of China's high-standard opening up and an international cooperation platform for inclusive and universally beneficial economic globalization. It has made tangible development achievements and is widely welcomed by the international community. Facts prove that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) advocates extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits instead of supremacy; it advances connectivity instead of decoupling and severing of supply chains; it pursues win-win cooperation instead of antagonism and confrontation. Over the past decade since the BRI was put forward, China has signed more than 200 Belt and Road cooperation documents with over 150 countries and over 30 international organizations, and set up close to 100 bilateral cooperation mechanisms. According to international institutions' estimates, BRI will contribute US$1.6 trillion of annual global welfare by 2030.

Perhaps you could ask this American envoy, can he specify which country's sovereignty was taken away by joining the BRI. As far as I know, many countries who have joined the BRI have actually become better able to protect their independence and sovereignty because of the economic and welfare benefits that the BRI has brought them.

China and Brazil are comprehensive strategic partners and are each other's development opportunities. Both countries highly value independence. We believe that Brazil will not be misled by such baseless rhetoric and will make decisions independently in the interest of its own development. The BRI is highly compatible with Brazil's development strategies such as the New Industry Brazil and the New Growth Acceleration Program. As we mark the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations this year, China stands ready to work for greater synergy between the development strategies of the two countries and achieve more positive outcomes.

CCTV: Days ago, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered an advisory opinion concerning the obligations of State Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as regard to the impact of their climate change response on marine environment. The opinion partly cited the award of the South China Sea Arbitration. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released days ago that this bolsters and reinforces the legitimacy of the 2016 Arbitration Award and its unassailable status as part of the corpus of international law. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: China's position on the arbitral award on the South China Sea is consistent and clear. The arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and made an illegitimate ruling. The rendered award is illegal, null and void. The award does not constitute part of international law; instead it has had an adverse impact on the international rule of law. China neither accepts nor participates in that arbitration, neither accepts nor recognizes the award, and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award. Our attitude is only legitimate and just in order to uphold the integrity and authority of UNCLOS and the international rule of law. The world is not blind to the truth. China's position has received understanding and support from the international community. The fair-minded in the world have criticized and called into question the arbitral award.

The advisory opinion issued by ITLOS focuses on climate change response and marine environment protection, and doesn't cover issues of territorial and maritime disputes or the validity of arbitral award on the South China Sea. The advisory opinion bears on the overall interest of the international community and should not be used by some country as a tool to seek selfish gains. We believe that neither ITLOS or any other country would want to see the advisory opinion being distorted by that illegal, null and void award. Any hypes that seek to mislead the public will fail. They will not turn the null and void award into a legal one, nor could they ever weaken China's firm resolve to defend our territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests.a

Reuters: How much of an achievement is it that Zambia's debt restructuring deal is almost finalized? And what have been the learnings for China from being involved in an official creditor committee and the common framework?

Mao Ning: Congratulations on the important progress in the negotiations on Zambia's debt restructuring. As Zambia's good friend and good partner, China takes seriously Zambia's concerns about the debt issue. China is the first international official creditor to provide debt relief for Zambia and, as the co-chair of the Official Creditor Committee for Zambia, has led its work which made significant progress in Zambia's debt restructuring. Our contribution is well recognized by Zambia and the international community. China will continue to coordinate with relevant parties to move forward the follow-up work regarding Zambia's debt treatment.

In handling the debt issues of developing countries, China has always acted with a long-term perspective of assisting the development of relevant countries. We call on the international community to work with China and continue to take concrete actions to support Zambia and other African countries in achieving greater economic and social progress.

AFP: A follow-up question on Donald Trump. Donald Trump mentioned Taiwan at a recent campaign event. Do you have any comment on this? And does China fear Trump may become the next US President?

Mao Ning: The US presidential election is the domestic affair of the US. I would not comment on campaign rhetoric.

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US, China defense chiefs meet in hope of easing tension

Analysts said first in-person talks between Lloyd Austin and Dong Jun would yield little but break the ice.

By RFA Staff 2024.05.31 -- 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 China's 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 People's Liberation Army.

"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," the spokesman, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said in a statement, referring to the People's 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 China's 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 he's 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.

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 China's 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 Vuving's 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 China's coercive actions, especially over Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It may also criticize China's 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. China's 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.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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US to issue visa bans for Hong Kong officials

The sanctions come in response to Thursday's guilty verdicts against 14 pro-democracy activists.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.05.31 -- The United States will impose visa bans against unnamed Hong Kong officials in response to Thursday's guilty verdicts against 14 democracy activists on "subversion" charges, the State Department said Friday.

The Chinese city's 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 city's 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.

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 March's tough new laws carry up to life imprisonment. Two were acquitted on Thursday.

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 China's "destabilizing actions around Taiwan," according to the readout, as well as U.S. concerns about Beijing's alleged ongoing "support to Russia's defense industrial base."

He also raised America's concerns about human rights abuses in China, "including in Hong Kong," the readout said.

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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US, Chinese defense leaders exchange views over contentious issues in Singapore

By William Yang May 31, 2024

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 Russia's 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 Washington's concern about China's recent two-day military exercise encircling Taiwan and urged Beijing not to use Taiwan's 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 China's internal affairs and that external forces "have no right to interfere in the issue."

Washington's 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 Washington's concerns about North Korea's "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 Washington's 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 China's 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 that's incredibly stabilizing to the overall relationship, [but] I don't think there is a lot of room for adjusting each side's 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 Friday's 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.

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DPRK: EU sanctions nine additional individuals and entities involved in the country's activities related to illegal weapons programmes and supporting Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

31 May 2024 13:00

The Council today sanctioned a further six individuals and three entities in view of sanctions evasion activities carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) that could generate funds for its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of and with flagrant disregard for the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and in view of the military support given by the DPRK to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Those targeted will be subject to an asset freeze and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of those listed is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the European Union will apply to the listed individuals.

The EU is determined to prevent the flow of components, finance and knowledge that could be used by the DPRK to support the development of its nuclear, WMD and ballistic missile programmes. The EU urges the DPRK to cease destabilising actions, comply with its obligations under international law and resume dialogue with relevant parties.

Today's decision brings the total number of persons listed autonomously by the EU to 77 individuals and 20 entities. This comes in addition to all relevant UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions linked to DPRK's illegal programmes into EU legislation, which the EU has also transposed.

From 1 January 2024 until 30 May 2024, the DPRK launched at least 22 ballistic missiles.

The EU has repeatedly condemned the DPRK for such activities, and called on Pyongyang to cease these illegal and dangerous launches, which blatantly violate UN Security Council resolutions and undermine international peace and security as well as the global non-proliferation regime.

Furthermore, the European Council condemned the continued military support for Russia's war of aggression provided by the DPRK, Belarus and Iran in its conclusions of 15 December 2023, and called for preparing further sanctions against them in its conclusions of 22 March 2024.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

The first set of restrictive measures was introduced following UN Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006), adopted shortly after DPRKAs first nuclear test on 9 October 2006. The UN Security Council has repeatedly adopted new measures and extended existing ones since then.

In 2016, the Council of the EU adopted additional, autonomous restrictive measures against the DPRK, complementing the UN sanctions, on the grounds that the DPRK's actions constitute a grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond.

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KCNA Commentary on Air Espionage against DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- RC-135U, a U.S. air force spying aircraft, again committed air espionage against the DPRK near its southern border after taking off from Japan on May 29.

Other spying aircraft of the U.S. and the ROK puppet air force, including U-2S and RQ-4B, engage in round-the-clock monitoring and spying on the DPRK, seriously violating its sovereignty and security.

The DPRK cannot but take serious note of such dangerous hostile act because it has crossed the red line.

RC-135U, which the U.S. claims has only two, is known to be a state-level strategic reconnaissance aircraft with function and mission to report real-time espionage information to the U.S. president and secretary of Defense and other dignitaries.

This clearly proves that such air espionage has been organized and perpetrated under the directions of top executives of the U.S. administration.

The gravity of the situation is further highlighted by various military drills targeting the DPRK being frequently staged on the largest-ever scales along with air espionage and other spying activities.

The U.S. and its lackeys staged 140-odd war drills of aggression against the DPRK from January to April this year, twice as many as last year.

War games to be planned and staged by the U.S. and the ROK puppets in the second half of this year are huger in their scales and extremely provocative and reckless in their nature.

Notably, the large-scale joint military drill dubbed Ulji Freedom Shield to be launched in August will reportedly involve a nuclear operation drill simulating a nuclear attack on the DPRK, and overall examination and completion of OPLAN 2022 aimed at making preemptive strikes on the core facilities and regions of the DPRK.

Against this backdrop, U.S. air espionage, historically notorious for its "trigger" role in deteriorating the situation of the Korean peninsula, is being committed more frantically than ever.

The meaning of such intensified preparatory spying on the core facilities and sites in the DPRK is as clear as noonday.

The situation clearly indicates that to bolster up the muscle for self-defence to thoroughly aim at, deter and frustrate the reckless maneuvers of the U.S. and its vassal forces is a top priority task to be fulfilled with accelerated efforts, indispensable for safeguarding the national sovereignty, security and interests.

The Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK has already clarified the stand that it would take action immediately in case national sovereignty, security and interests are exposed to violation.

The U.S. and other hostile forces are bound to meet unforeseen disaster for their bluffing and reckless espionage. -0-

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DFA Statement on DPRK Satellite Launch

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

31 May 2024 -- The Philippines condemns the DPRK's latest satellite launch using ballistic missile technology which provokes tensions and undermines economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Philippines has repeatedly called on the DPRK to comply with its international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to commit to constructive and peaceful dialogue with the ROK.

The Philippines has consistently supported the call for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK. END

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Credit where credit is due!

This is a moral principle we have to adopt and embrace as emaSwati. For all their political controversies, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) have something to celebrate, of course, they have something to show.Teachers deserve accolades for empowering their members through the Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (SACCO).

It is an undeniable fact that every human being hustles everyday to achieve nothing, but personal development or growth if you like. You cannot deny this, even if you wanted to. This is the reality of life. Of course, to achieve personal development, you must go through certain processes, which are sometimes difficult and unfair to others.

That is where you then need people who think outside the box, people who make impossible situations possible.

This is called thinking outside the box and SNAT has done just that through their co-operative, thank you very much.

The SACCO is a teachers savings scheme, whose membership is made up of teachers, lecturers in colleges and institutions of higher learning in the country, along with employees of the society and those of SNAT.

It was formed and launched in 1986 with the objective to promote the economic interests of its members in accordance with the co-operative principles and the encouragement of members, in the spirit and practice of thrift, mutual and self-help. Our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini, carried the story, revealing that members of the co-operative were set to share E47.3 million.

Calculations

Now, thats a lot of money to share for the reported 12 000 active members of this society. Im sure those good with mathematics have already made their calculations on how much each member stands to get. Only the billionaires of the world can regard such money as a drop in the ocean, but the remuneration of our teachers certainly cannot put them at that level because this is the kind of money that changes the life of an ordinary liSwati immediately and effectively.

According to the story, members are set to share the E47.3 million as interest on savings and dividends on shares. This is contained in the co-operatives budget income statement for the 2024/25 financial year, which projected that over E49.5 million would be obtained as surplus before distribution. Now, thats a huge achievement.

This, as stated in the story, is contained in a report signed by the Board Chairperson, Gugu Mabuza, and presented by the Treasurer, Nkosiyabongwa Dlamini. Apparently, this was handed down to members in a special annual general meeting (AGM) held last Saturday at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre, and attended by 2 777 members. The membership was also informed that interest on loans was budgeted at E102 621 391.13 in the 2024/2025 financial year. This budget interest was highlighted as E9.3 million higher than the projected actual interest income for the 2023/2024 year.

The society received commission on monthly premiums paid to Orchard Insurance, which included credit life funeral cover and family support. It is fair to say that Christmas has come early for the SNAT Co-operative members, especially in such tough economic times experienced not just in the country, but other African states as well. We can all agree that money is very scarce these days, except for those privileged few.

You even find a lot of people who are employed broke hours after payday, a situation that depicts the financial struggles most people are going through in silence. Thats why a member of the SNAT Co-operative must be jumping with joy at this very moment and rightly so. Patience has, indeed, been a virtue for them and they deserve the financial rewards. This should be an eye-opener for other sectors of the countrys economy including my very own, the media. We see a lot of teachers who have built houses for their families, while others have started successful businesses through dividends from the very same co-operative.

Life is probably good for them, but the very opposite can be said of journalists in the country, most of whom look pitiful even on payday. It is unfortunate that this noble profession has gone to the dogs and they are having a feast on it. This is a profession that is supposed to have standards like the teaching or law professions but sadly, in my view, these expected standards are dropping. There are structures within the profession in the country that should be coming up with proper schemes for journalists like the SNAT money-making co-operative.

Fortunately, we have a Minister of Information Communication and Technology Savannah Maziya who believes we are capable of regulating ourselves as journalists. We have to regulate ourselves through creation of credit schemes.

The onus is now on us not to disappoint her. Her eloquence and confidence when addressing matters gives a lot of hope, I must say and quite honestly, she makes a lot of sense when she speaks.

Assigned

It is time we see the value of the people that were assigned to call the shots on behalf of journalists in the country. Here, I am referring to the powers-that-be, which include the Eswatini National Association of Journalists, Eswatini Editors Forum and Eswatini Press Club. They should be taking a leaf from the SNAT Co-operative success story by empowering journalists financially.

This is possible through the creation of such credit and co-operative schemes.I am sure local journalists also want to own their houses, drive cars of their dreams and leave legacies, but such demand good leaders who will think outside the box.Even textile firm bosses can come up with co-operative society to assist their employees, it can be done. It is an open secret that salary pay is very low in those places of employment. You are basically living from hand to mouth when you work in textile firms. We have carried a number of articles where employees of textile firms are complaining about poor salaries. How about having a co-operative that will be designed to benefit those poor workers?

The textile firm industry in the country is massive, consuming a large share of the so-called working class. I am sure there are over 12 000 people employed in textile firms operating in different parts of the country. Some of these textile workers are even operating secret stokvels just to make extra cash, given the peanuts they are paid. This has to change.

A few days ago, there was another interesting story carried by the Times of Eswatini, exposing the alleged theft of meat by a police officer in one of the palaces. While many, especially on social media focused on the funny side of this alleged act, maybe we need to look beyond his act of stealing and consider the compelling factors that made him commit such. Bantfu balambile langephandle bekunene.

Again, this speaks to the struggles people are going through and clearly, it does not matter whether you are a police officer, warder or soldier. These are still emaSwati who need financial empowerment like the SNAT Co-operative, to achieve personal growth. We cannot deny the fact that most people in the country die poor, but if all the sectors can start thinking along the lines of SNAT Co-operative, maybe and just maybe, emaSwati will stay clear of debts that eventually lead to poverty.

This should be part of the Nkwe! approach as espoused by His Majesty the King. The sectors in the country economy must also be seen to be playing their role towards ending poverty among emaSwati. Still on SNAT, while we applaud them for the success of their co-operative, a blind eye cannot be turned on the rigmarole playing itself out in the teaching profession. Until we separate politics from education, the education system in the country will continue not to make sense to some of us.

The Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has already set the ball rolling in addressing the challenges by appointing a task committee and let us see a committed participation of SNAT in this exercise, like we are seeing with their co-operative. The commitment we are seeing from some SNAT leaders when attending court cases is the same energy we want to see from them in addressing the education challenges.

The education minister has put it point-blank that education standards have dropped in the country and this is not just his responsibility to change, but SNAT and other relevant stakeholders as well. Let us not forget that teachers carry the important part of grooming future leaders of this country, people that will drive the economy with informed decisions. This makes education very key in producing such leaders.

It is good to note that the SNAT secretary general is part of the 21-member task team announced by the minister to look into how these challenges can be addressed within six months. This task committee is dominated mostly by individuals with teaching experience, which again underlines the importance of SNATs contribution and commitment in this exercise. For once, let us put politics aside and look after the interests of our school-going kids.
The Security Council must take action against North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on DPRK.

31 May 2024

On Monday, the DPRK launched a military satellite for the fourth time. The launch failed, but make no mistake this remains a flagrant violation of this Council's resolutions. It also recklessly endangered Japanese civilians; the launch triggered missile warnings in Okinawa and missile debris fell into Japan's territorial waters.

The next day, the DPRK fired a volley of eighteen short-range ballistic missiles. This again violated multiple resolutions of this Council; the highest number of missiles fired in a single launch yet.

President, the UK once again reiterates that this Council must take action. Such flagrant violations of Council resolutions cannot be ignored, nor can they be explained away by false equivalence with defensive military exercises. Some Council members have argued that our inaction will somehow help the situation, that if anything we need to reduce our scrutiny and pressure on the DPRK's illegal weapons programme. Well, that approach has categorically failed. They have blocked meaningful action to address the DPRK's activity and it has simply got worse. Their support for DPRK has not secured compliance with this Council's resolutions. It has led to more instability in the region and more disruption to the proliferation rules that keep us all safe.

But it goes beyond that, we are particularly disturbed to hear reports that Russian technicians may have assisted the DPRK with its space programme, following the Russian President's pledge last year to help the DPRK with its space activities.

And we deplore the evidence found by members of the Panel of Experts that Russia is using the DPRK's missiles in its illegal war in Ukraine.

Deliberately undermining the global non-proliferation regime and this Council's authority is a risk to all of us.

President, the DPRK is engaged in a long-term programme of military activity, involving massive use of state resources at the expense of its people. We remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in the country, and I encourage the DPRK to reopen its borders and engage with the UN and its agencies.

The United Kingdom calls on the DPRK to refrain from further launches, return to dialogue and abandon their nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

And we call on all members of this Council to address those threats responsibly and to uphold their commitment to upholding the global non-proliferation regime.

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Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Unannounced, New Satellite Launch, Threatens Peace, Denuclearization Efforts, Speakers Warn Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9643rd Meeting (AM)

SC/15715

31 May 2024



The unannounced launch on 27 May by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of yet another reconnaissance satellite using new technology represents a violation of United Nations resolutions and a grave threat to peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, speakers warned the Security Council today.

Briefing the 15-nation organ, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, noted that the country did not issue safety notifications to relevant international authorities, which represents a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic. While this recent launch failed, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has significantly increased its missile launch activities since 2022, including more than 100 launches using ballistic missile technology, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, he said.

Calling for "practical measures to reduce tensions, reverse the dangerous dynamic and create space to explore diplomatic avenues", he pointed to the expiry of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Sanctions Committee [established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006)]. Thus, the Council needs to create conditions conducive to dialogue, he said, also calling on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea' authorities to facilitate the return of the United Nations country team and resident coordinator to its territory.

When Council members and countries of concern took the floor, many of them condemned the launch as a violation of Council resolutions and highlighted the human rights tragedy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, other speakers underscored its right to build its defences, in the light of the increasing militarization of the region.

The United States' delegate said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is advancing its unlawful weapons programme at an alarming rate, while China and the Russian Federation, who block the Council from speaking against such behaviour with one voice, "make us all less safe". He added that the unlawful transfer of dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions from Pyongyang to Moscow is the reason why the Russian Federation vetoed the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts mandate renewal.

Japan's delegate also expressed regret that the "Council was compelled to silence the Panel of Experts" due to a veto by the same permanent member who has been using weapons in Ukraine procured from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As well, he drew attention to Pyongyang's disrespectful response to the Secretary-General's call on that country to respect the Charter. "How many would have been fed if the money spent on launching military satellites and missiles had been spent on the people instead?" he asked.

Along similar lines, the representative of the Republic of Korea, voicing his regret that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is wasting money on "expensive fireworks", said the estimated cost of launching a satellite is equivalent to several months' worth of food for the country's entire population. Spotlighting to the newly developed technology at use in the launch and reports of Russian experts visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he wondered if this amounted to a technology transfer.

However, the representative of the Russian Federation rejected the unfounded accusations of her country's legal and military cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as well as Moscow's use of weapons from that country in Ukraine. In fact, she asserted, it is the build-up of military activities by the United States and its allies a including decapitation strike drills against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea a which has provoked countermeasures from Pyongyang. This unstable situation benefits Washington, D.C., which deliberately pursues the path of confrontation, she added.

"No one cares more about the [Korean] Peninsula's stability than us," China's delegate said as he called attention to a plan by the United States and other relevant countries to conduct a large-scale joint military exercise on the Peninsula in August, practising a nuclear war scenario. "China opposes the plan," he said, adding that the enduring distrust between Washington, D.C., and Pyongyang has led to many missed opportunities. Instead of sanctions, the Council must shift its focus to the provisions in its resolutions about supporting a political settlement. To that end, he highlighted a text that his country and the Russian Federation are introducing that will use the humanitarian issue as an entry point.

The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea denounced the current meeting as a political provocation and violation of his country's sovereignty. The United States and its allies are attempting to use sanctions to permanently restrict his country's exercise of its right to space development, he said, also pointing to that country's military deployments and aggressive war exercises in his region. This has turned the Korean Peninsula into the most fragile zone in the world, he said, and if it leads to an undesirable situation, the Security Council must be held accountable.

NON-PROLIFERATION/DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Briefing

KHALED KHIARI, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific , informed the Security Council that on 27 May, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted what it described as "the launch of reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1-1 aboard the new-type satellite carrier rocket" from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. According to that country, the launch failed due to the air blast of the new-type satellite carrier rocket during the first-stage flight, resulting from the "reliability of operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine", he added. Recalling the country's successful launch of a satellite in November 2023 and its announcement that it will launch three additional military satellites in 2024, he said that, while it issued a pre-launch notification to the Japanese Coast Guard, it did not issue safety notifications to the International Civil Aviation Organization or the International Telecommunications Union.

Unannounced launches, he stressed, represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic. Noting that many Council resolutions expressly prohibit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from conducting any launches using ballistic missile technology, he also pointed to the Secretary-General's 28 May call on the country to comply with its international obligations and swiftly return to dialogue. Developing a military reconnaissance satellite was part of the country's five-year military development plan, and it has significantly increased its missile launch activities since 2022, including more than 100 launches using ballistic missile technology, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. Underscoring the need for "practical measures to reduce tensions, reverse the dangerous dynamic, and create space to explore diplomatic avenues", he reiterated the Secretary-General's call to re-establish communication channels, particularly between military entities.

He went on to say that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that underpins it. Recalling that on 30 April, the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Sanctions Committee [established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006)] had expired, after having been continuously extended since its establishment in 2009, he encouraged the Council and concerned parties to create an environment conducive to dialogue. Also noting that international travel to and from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is now taking place at a growing rate, he called on its authorities to facilitate the full return of the international community, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the country team.

Statements

The representative of the United States , condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's 27 May and 29 May launches using ballistic missile technology, pointed out that the country was continuing to advance its unlawful weapons programme at an alarming rate, having launched well over 100 ballistic missiles since the beginning of 2022, in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, China and the Russian Federation continuously block the Council from speaking against Pyongyang's behaviour with one voice, "and make us all less safe", he stated. Detailing evidence, he reported that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has also unlawfully transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to aid Moscow's war against Ukraine. "No wonder Russia vetoed the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts mandate renewal in March," he said, rejecting claims that Pyongyang's missile launches are "merely a response to our bilateral and trilateral military exercises". Refuting the refrain that "sanctions do not work", he emphasized that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's dire humanitarian situation "is of the country's own making", as its repressive political climate allows the Government to divert its resources to weapons development.

The representative of Slovenia, underscoring that "persistent and flagrant violations of Security Council resolutions are unacceptable", condemned the launch of short-range ballistic missiles that Pyongyang conducted yesterday and the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite last Monday. She called on the country to cease its provocative actions, return to dialogue and diplomacy and abandon its nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Until then, all States must implement fully and effectively the sanctions in force. She further cautioned that, while Pyongyang has been developing its ballistic missiles, evidence has emerged that Moscow is procuring these same missiles to fuel its aggression against Ukraine. After the military cooperation between the two countries expanded last year, "non-proliferation architecture suffered another hit", she observed, pointing to the Russian Federation's veto on the 1718 Panel of Experts mandate extension.

The representative of Japan condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's satellite launch on 27 May, pointing out that the Council has unanimously adopted multiple resolutions obligating that country not to conduct any further launches. Also recalling the Secretary-General's condemnation of the attempted launch, he noted that, in response, that country strongly condemned the Secretary-General referring to the Charter of the United Nations and other international laws. "Let me ask one simple and easy question: who should reflect on obligations to the UN Charter and other international laws?" he said, highlighting Pyongyang's disrespect of the Organization. Urging Council members to be united on non-proliferation matters, he expressed regret that "this Council was compelled to silence the Panel of Experts due to a veto by one permanent member" that has been procuring military equipment from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to use against Ukraine. "We cannot let the current situation become a new normal," he stressed. Pointing to the human rights situation in that country, he asked: "How many would have been fed if the money spent on launching military satellites and missiles had been spent on the people instead?"

The representative of France condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's 27 May launch that used technologies which are helping to advance its ballistic missile programme a a violation of Council resolutions. He recalled that just yesterday, that country launched several missiles, including at least one ballistic missile and, last September, had enshrined the possession of nuclear weapons into its Constitution. "Our common security is at stake here," he stated, lamenting that the mandate of the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts could not be renewed due to the Russian Federation veto. Moscow does not want the military support provided by the Pyongyang in its war of aggression against Ukraine to be documented, he pointed out. He urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to comply with its international obligations and renew dialogue with the international community to initiate a process of complete, irreversible, and verifiable abandonment of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes.

The representative of Sierra Leone expressed concern about the escalation of Pyongyang's missile capabilities and condemned its recent launch of a satellite into space. Its actions continue to raise the alarm regarding regional stability, arms proliferation and compliance with UN resolutions. Accordingly, he highlighted the importance of diplomatic efforts to address security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and promote denuclearization initiatives. "This recent launch adds to the already tense atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula and increased tensions that could lead to further military actions, a diplomatic stalemate and even the unthinkable a a nuclear catastrophe," he said. Urging the Council to take decisive steps to address these challenges and mitigate the risks of military activities in the region, he stressed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea must unequivocally commit to transparent, complete, verifiable, irreversible and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.

The representative of the United Kingdom said the fourth launch of a military satellite by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea violated Council resolutions and recklessly endangered Japanese civilians. The launch triggered missile warnings in Okinawa and missile debris fell into Japan's territorial waters. The next day, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired a volley of 18 short-range ballistic missiles. Such actions cannot be explained away by allusions to defensive military exercises, he added. Noting that some Council members have blocked meaningful action to address this, he said this has led to more instability in the region. Expressing concern about "reports that Russian technicians may have assisted the DPRK with its space programme", he called on the latter to refrain from further launches and abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

The representative of Guyana , condemning the recent launch using ballistic missile technology by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, implored its Government to comply with relevant Council resolutions. To resolve the conflict on the Korean Peninsula, she encouraged the parties to utilize the tools of diplomacy to progress towards the de-escalation of tensions and, ultimately, peace. Further expressing concern over the dire humanitarian situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, she took note of the readiness of the UN's humanitarian agency to address the needs of the vulnerable population. Referencing the Secretary-General's Agenda for Disarmament, she affirmed that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is critical to its broad objective a reiterating Guyana's principled stance on the total elimination of nuclear weapons, "which we believe is paramount to ensuring international peace and security".

The representative of Malta strongly condemned yet another attempt by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to launch a military satellite. While this launch reportedly failed, such tests can provide the country with useful technological insights to advance its unlawful ballistic missile programme, she cautioned, adding that the rocket carrying the satellite allegedly tested a newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine. "We cannot remain silent in the face of these dangerous provocations," she declared. By continuing to implement its five-year military plan a including through the relentless advancement of its illegal weapons of mass destruction programme a Pyongyang severely undermines the non-proliferation regime. As well, she voiced concern over the dire humanitarian situation in the country and the grave human rights violations perpetrated by the regime, noting that these are closely linked to the promotion of its illicit weapons of mass destruction programme.

The representative of China , noting that the Korean Peninsula is at his country's doorstep, stressed that "no one cares more about the Peninsula's stability than us". Pointing to the lingering legacy of the cold war and the lack of mutual trust between Washington, D.C., and Pyongyang, he said that in the past there were multiple times when the situation was turning around, but did not lead to a political settlement. All parties must seek a solution "in a calm, cool-headed and stable manner", he stressed. However, the United States and other relevant countries plan to conduct a large-scale joint military exercise on the Peninsula in August, practising a nuclear war scenario. "China opposes the plan," he stated. Urging the Council to stop focusing on sanctions, he said that relevant resolutions include provisions on supporting a political settlement, which need to be implemented. The text that his country and the Russian Federation are introducing will use the humanitarian issue as an entry point to create conditions for enhancing mutual trust. He also condemned the United States' military exercises in the Asia-Pacific area and its attempts to establish "unilateral military superiority" in the region.

The representative of Switzerland condemned the most recent launch of a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. While Japanese authorities were notified of the attempted satellite launch, he emphasized that "such a warning is only effective if all relevant regional actors and international organizations are informed in advance". Further, while the obligations arising from Council resolutions apply primarily to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, they also apply to all other States a which are obliged to effectively implement the Council's sanctions. He voiced concern that, even after the relaxation of heavy restrictions put in place by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, access by international humanitarians is still not possible. "The UN system, as well as bilateral and non-governmental actors, are nonetheless ready to resume their support for the DPRK population," he stated, reiterating that "they should enjoy safe and unhindered access".

The representative of the Russian Federation observed that one of the critical catalysts for growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula has been the build-up of military activities by the United States and its allies. This includes decapitation strike drills against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and other numerous hostile acts a with threatening military components a that has provoked countermeasures from Pyongyang. The unstable situation around the Peninsula benefits Washington, D.C., which "continues to deliberately pursue the path of confrontation instead of dialogue", she stated. She also expressed concern over contradictory signals from the United States' allies in North-East Asia a Tokyo and Seoul a regarding so-called strengthened cooperation with Washington, D.C., in the nuclear sphere. As well, she further rejected the unfounded accusations of Moscow's legal and military cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, citing the assertion that it uses Pyongyang's missiles in its special military operation in Ukraine as "untrue".

The representative of Ecuador , expressing solidarity with the people of the Republic of Korea and Japan, said the "Pyongyang regime has again shown its contempt" for the international community. Reaffirming commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation, she said her country would work to promote constructive dialogue towards the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Welcoming the recent high-level meeting by countries of concern, she reiterated the call on Democratic People's Republic of Korea to resume the path of cooperation.

The representative of Algeria stated that recent launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea involve clear risks that threaten to create irreversible harm. He called for an end to "the vicious cycle that threatens the people of the Peninsula, while respecting international law and Security Council resolutions". Given that the lack of consensus in the Council prevents any efforts to end the crisis, he called for all Members to unite their position in order to achieve "tangible progress towards peace and security on the Peninsula". It is the Council's collective responsibility to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to work for nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, he emphasized. He affirmed that "only negotiation and dialogue a not isolation and polarization a will guarantee a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons that enjoys peace and stability".

The representative of the Republic of Korea pointed out that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's launch on 27 May took place only a few hours after the Trilateral Korea-Japan-China Summit concluded in Seoul. The rocket, based on ballistic missile technology, can contribute to further advancing the country's nuclear delivery systems. Thus, that launch was "anything but peaceful", he observed. He also noted that that country had dissipated its scarce resources on the alleged successful launch of its first military satellite last November a "one of the most expensive fireworks" a that could have been better spent on feeding its people. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has no one to blame but itself for its own humanitarian crisis," he said, as it is estimated that the cost of launching a so-called "satellite" is equivalent to almost several months' worth of food for the country's entire population.

Reports of a large number of Russian experts visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to support its recent satellite launch efforts were also concerning, he continued. With the satellite launched aboard a new-type carrier rocket and with the failure due to a newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine, he observed that such a quantum leap in highly complicated rocket science in such a short period of time could be suspected as a possible technology transfer. "Imagine what the world would look like, if a Permanent Member of the Security Council with the world's largest number of nuclear weapons and top military technology, colludes with a pariah State which denounces Security Council resolutions as unlawful and unwarranted," he remarked. Pyongyang has the most aggressive nuclear doctrine in the world, including the possibility of a pre-emptive nuclear attack. Thus, Seoul must take all necessary measures to protect its national security and people by maintaining a robust combined defence and deterrence posture, he said.

The representative of Mozambique , Council President for May, speaking in his national capacity, noted that his country has consistently called for the concerned parties' prudence and responsibility on non-proliferation issues. He said the relative calm of tensions in the first quarter of 2024 should be used as an opportunity to lay the ground for initiating an inclusive and meaningful peace process and dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, as well as for involving regional and international stakeholders. Member States must adhere to established agreements to prevent the misuse of emerging technologies of weapons and, by so doing, promote safety, security and responsible innovation. He reiterated the call for the elimination and non-production of nuclear weapons and urged Member States to promote dialogue, security and peace on the Korean Peninsula through a constructive engagement of the main parties.

The representative of the United States , taking the floor for a second time, reiterated that his country "is in no way a threat" to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and is willing to sit down with that Government for discussions with no preconditions whatsoever. However, efforts by Washington, D.C., "to reach out an open hand has been met with a clenched fist". Citing a possible draft resolution by the Russian Federation and China to help the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with sanctions relief, he stressed that one thing that the Council cannot do is reward Pyongyang for coming to the table. "The message that would send to the would-be North Koreas out there would be chilling and dangerous," he said. Responding to the Russian Federation, he emphasized that the United States is in full compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Further, the transfer of missiles to Moscow by Pyongyang is in clear violation of Council resolutions and "there could be no arguing with that fact".

The representative of China , also taking the floor a second time, emphasized that his country's position vis-A -vis the Korean Peninsula has always been "prudent and responsible". "We judge the issue on its merit," he said, adding that Beijing aims neither to accuse nor shield anybody. If the United States is sincere in breaking the stalemate, it should stop resorting to military exercises and pressure measures and, instead, demonstrate sincerity and promote the easing of tensions on the Peninsula.

The representative of the Russian Federation , taking the floor a second time, rejected the accusations from the Republic of Korea's delegate and said the cooperation between his country and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will continue. That country's technological progress is striking "and is comparable to Seoul's progress", he said, adding that the Republic of Korea must "think about how to put an end to the spiral of escalation".

The representative of the United States , taking the floor a third time, said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, his country, "in essence, suspended our military exercises" while the Democratic People's Republic of Korea accelerated its military programmes. Maybe that country's representative can explain why it chose to do that, he added.

The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea declared that today's meeting was convened at the "outrageous demand" of the United States and its allies to unjustly deal with his country's exercise of its sovereign right to launch satellites. "Our delegation echoes the indignation of the entire Korean people to resolutely denounce it as the gravest act of political provocation and flagrant violation of sovereignty," he stated. Pointing to the massive deployment of strategic assets and aggressive war exercises conducted frequently by the United States on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, he said the military balance there has been seriously destroyed and has turned the Korean Peninsula into the most fragile zone in the world, fraught with the danger of the outbreak of war.

Detailing the actions of the United States and its allies to formalize its attempt at nuclear war provocation against his country, he warned that if an undesirable grave situation is created on the Korean Peninsula due to the war mania of the United States and the Republic of Korea, the Security Council must be held accountable for criminalizing his country's righteous exercise of sovereignty and for acquitting those two countries of their acts of war provocation. "In the long run, the ulterior motive of the United States and its allies is to eventually stifle us with force by permanently restricting the exercise of our sovereign rights, including the right to space development," he said, adding that this is the true nature of the sanctions resolutions against his country. The Council must not waste its time and energy on this matter, but instead direct its due attention to putting an immediate end to the massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip, which continues unabated under United States' patronage, he said.

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UN urges de-escalation on Korean peninsula after launch, missiles

By Margaret Besheer May 31, 2024

A senior United Nations official said Friday that the organization remains "deeply concerned" about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, following North Korea's 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.

Washington's 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 a successful or not a 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 Korea's U.N. envoy was defiant.

"We make it clear once again that the DPRK's 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 Korea's Monday launch took place just hours after a rare trilateral dialogue wrapped up in Seoul among China's premier, Japan's prime minister and South Korea's 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 Korea's ambassador said Pyongyang's 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, Russia's procurement of weapons and munitions from North Korea for use in its war in Ukraine, in violation of the council's own sanctions and arms embargo.

"The DPRK has also unlawfully transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to aid Russia's 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.

Russia's 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 doesn't 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 Council's 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.

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US imposes more sanctions on enablers of Iran's Drone production

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 31, 2024

New York, IRNA -- The US on Friday issued sanctions targeting entities for enabling Iran's drone program, in Washington's latest action seeking to disrupt the production and proliferation of UAVs.

"Today's action reinforces our commitment to disrupt Iran's production and proliferation of deadly UAVs that continue to be used by Russia against Ukraine and by regional terrorist proxies against our troops," US Treasury Department Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement.

The Treasury said it imposed sanctions on four entities that have procured critical parts for Iran's drone program as well as an executive of Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), a subsidiary of Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

The US Treasury said Afshin Khajeh Fard, the chief of IAIO, oversees its efforts to produce drones and missiles.

2050



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EU sanctions Iran's defense minister; US targets Iran Aviation Industries

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 3:28 PM

The European Union has imposed new sanctions on a number of Iranian individuals and entities for their alleged role in the "transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia."

In its press release on Friday, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said it has adopted restrictive measures against six Iranian individuals and three entities claiming that their role in transferring drones or missiles to armed groups and entities undermines peace and security in the West Asia and the Red Sea region.

Furthermore, the bloc decided to list Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and Afshin Khajeh Fard, head of Iran's Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO)

Those targeted will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban to the European Union. Additionally, the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed is prohibited.

On May 14, the European Union expanded its sanctions regime to target Iran's missile capabilities.

In a statement, the European Council alleged that the sanctions had been imposed on Iran in response to the country's support for Russia's war on Ukraine and its supply of missiles and drones to non-state groups in the West Asia region.

Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations that it has supplied weapons to Russia for direct use in the war in Ukraine.

It has also discarded allegations of supplying weapons to anti-Israeli and anti-US groups in the region.

Treasury targets IAIO

The United States also on Friday issued fresh sanctions targeting Iranian entities it accused of "enabling the country's drone program."

In a press release, the US Department of the Treasury said its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is targeting four entities it accused of association with OFAC-designated Rayan Roshd Afzar Company (RRA) that have procured critical parts for Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle program.

OFAC also targets an Iranian executive of Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO).

US Treasury Department Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement that, "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," he added.

The Treasury said Afshin Khajeh Fard, chief of IAIO, oversees its efforts to produce drones and missiles.

Khajeh Fard was also sanctioned by the European Union.

Friday's action freezes any of their US assets and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.

Iranian officials have declared that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile and drone power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly warned that a flow of Western weapons to Ukraine will only prolong the conflict.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the US, alone, has pledged more than $44 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

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Israel put hundreds of warplanes on alert to confront Iran op.: IRGC cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 2:49 AM

A senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the Israeli regime put hundreds of warplanes on alert to confront Iran's retaliatory strikes last month.

"Around 221 warplanes were put on alert to prevent Iran's strikes," Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Division, said in the north-central Iranian city of Qom on Thursday.

The multi-pronged strikes saw the Iranian Armed Forces launching dozens of drones and missiles towards the occupied territories late on April 13. The retaliation, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted heavy damage on Israeli military bases across those territories.

The operation came in response to the regime's aggression against the Iranian diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1. The aggression had led to the martyrdom of two generals of the IRGC's Quds Force, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.

"The usurping [Israeli] regime's recourse to the atrocity was a miscalculation," Hajizadeh said, adding, "They [had] presumed that Iran would not respond to their atrocity, and that the [regional] resistance force would take action instead of Iran."

The commander noted that the Islamic Republic deployed only "20 percent" of its military might during the operation.

"The Israeli regime and the United States (Israel's biggest ally) equipped the regional countries to defend Israel [in the face of the Iranian operation] as means of preventing the damage that the Iranian response could cause," he said.

The commander, meanwhile, noted that the history of the region had now been "divided into before and after Operation True Promise," adding that the Iranian retaliation had served to "hearten the [regional] resistance axis" in its struggle against the occupying regime.

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EU Expands Sanctions On Iran Over Drone Transfers To Russia, Proxies

By RFE/RL May 31, 2024

The Council of the European Union on May 31 placed sanctions on three Iranian entities and six individuals over their involvement in the transfer of drones to Russia and Tehran's regional allies.

The move comes two weeks after the bloc opted to expand the scope of its restrictive measures against Iran because of its military support of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as its backing for the 'axis of resistance' -- a loose network of Iran's regional allies and proxies.

The EU put sanctions on the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates military operations and is in charge of the armed forces' operational command and control. The bloc said it had also blacklisted one of its commanders.

It has also imposed sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGC-N), over its involvement in the delivery of weapons, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Yemen's Huthi rebels and the Lebanese Hizballah, among other armed groups.

Kavan Electronics Behrad, a company based in Iran, has been included in sanctions for procuring and selling components used in the production of drones. The company's chief executive and the chairman of its board of directors have also been added to sanctions.

The EU has also blacklisted Defense Minister Mohammadreza Ashtiani, IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani, and Afshin Khalajifard, who leads the EU-sanctioned Iranian Aviation Industries Organization.

"Those targeted will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban to the European Union. Additionally, the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed is prohibited," the council said in a statement.

Iran has denied supplying drones to Russia to use against Ukraine.

Earlier this week, several EU member states renewed efforts to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization on the basis of a German court ruling.

Abram Paley, the U.S. point man on Iran, has said Washington "absolutely" supports efforts to blacklist the IRGC "worldwide."

The United States designated the IRGC in 2019, which Iran reciprocated by labeling U.S. Central Command as a terrorist organization.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-sanction-iran- drone-missile-russia/32974170.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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Iran's Presidential Hopefuls Register To Run For Early Election After Raisi's Death

By RFE/RL May 31, 2024

Nine presidential hopefuls so far have registered their candidacy to run in Iran's June 28 election, including a conservative heavyweight and a moderate who was barred from running in the 2021 presidential election.

The five-day registration period opened on May 30 and will close on June 3. The final list of candidates approved by the conservative-dominated Guardians Council will be released on June 11.

The early election was triggered by the May 19 death of President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line cleric who died in a helicopter crash along with seven other people, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Based on Iranian state media reporting, former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili was the first political heavyweight to register his candidacy on May 30. The hard-liner is close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and ran his office in the early 2000s. He currently serves as one of Khamenei's two representatives in the Supreme National Security Council.

Jalili has long championed a hard-line stance against the West and was a major critic of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers.

The 58-year-old first ran for president in 2013, finishing third with just over 11 percent of the votes. He also ran in the 2021 election but dropped out in favor of Raisi.

Another big name that has signed up is Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker and nuclear negotiator who registered his candidacy on May 31.

Once considered a political heavyweight, the 65-year-old moderate politician was surprisingly disqualified from running in the 2021 presidential election by the Guardians Council, whose members are directly and indirectly appointed by Khamenei.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) late on May 30, Larijani hinted that he had received the Iranian leader's blessing to run in the election. He posted a map copied from a local ride-hailing application that showed the pickup location as Khamenei's office and his first destination as the Interior Ministry to register his candidacy. The presidential palace was designated as the final destination.

Abdolnasser Hemmati, a moderate former central bank chief who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2021, also threw his hat in the ring on May 31.

Hemmati, 67, was the only nonconservative to be allowed to run in the 2021 election, securing less than 10 percent of the votes. There were more spoiled ballots than votes for Hemmati that year.

Another well-known name to register is Mostafa Kavakebian, a reformist politician and two-term lawmaker who was barred from the 2021 election.

Speculation in Iranian media suggests that a handful of prominent conservative names and low-profile reformist figures might sign up in the next few days.

More than 35 people have sought to register their candidacy since May 30, but the vast majority did not meet the requirements, according to a spokesman for Iran's election headquarters.

Since 2020, Iran has held two parliamentary and a presidential election, all of which saw record-low turnouts.

In recent elections, the authorities severely limited the playing field by disqualifying many moderate and reformist candidates, which may have contributed to the low voter participation. This was especially evident in February's parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, which were held concurrently.

But analysts say the public's disillusionment with the establishment has reached a point where even if the moderate voices were allowed to run, it would not have made a significant impact on voter turnout.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-presidential-election- candidates-register/32973844.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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New US sanctions target Iran drone production

By VOA News May 31, 2024

The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions Friday aimed at disrupting Iran's 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 Department's 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 IAIO's efforts to produce UAVs and missiles, and he has promoted the innovation of Iran's 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 Ukraine's 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 Iran's drone industry.

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Now is the time for a transition to a new partnership between Iraq and the United Nations: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on UNAMI.

31 May 2024

The UK voted in favour of this resolution which renews UNAMI's mandate for a final nineteen-month period. The UN Assistance Mission has made an important contribution to Iraq over the past twenty years. Now is the time for a transition to a new partnership between Iraq and the United Nations. We are pleased that this resolution prioritises support to electoral assistance, women's political participation and human rights during the transition period.

It is also important that the opportunity for progress on Kuwait missing persons is realised during the transition. We look forward to further updates on this, and are ready, if necessary, to consider further options for Council action.

We thank the United States as penholder for their hard work and to all Council members for their constructive approach.

Thank you.

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Deputy Secretary Campbell's Participation in U.S.-Japan Strategic Diplomacy and Development Dialogue

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell met with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Okano Masataka and USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman today in Washington, D.C. on the occasion of the first U.S.-Japan Strategic Diplomacy and Development Dialogue. President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida announced the Dialogue during PM Kishida's April 10 visit to Washington, D.C. The Deputy Secretary, Vice Foreign Minister, and Deputy Administrator emphasized the significance of the new era of strategic global cooperation between the United States and Japan. They reinforced U.S. and Japanese commitments to collaborate with developing partners to address shared challenges. They also stressed the importance of quality infrastructure and sustainability for driving economic prosperity for all.

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Telephone conversation with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

May 31, 2024

12:10

The leaders discussed topical issues related to cooperation in trade, the economy, energy, transport, and logistics sectors. The discussion also focused on some international matters, particularly in the context of preparations for the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which is scheduled to take place in Astana this July.

Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also shared assessments of recent contacts with foreign leaders.

Both leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to comprehensively strengthen the Russian-Kazakhstani strategic partnership and alliance.

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Myanmar junta recruits thousands of soldiers: report

The latest batch includes 4,000 men training in 16 centers across the country.

By RFA Burmese 2024.05.31 -- Myanmar's 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 People's 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.

"I'm 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.

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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Burmese workers in Thailand fear getting drafted under new visa restrictions

Thailand's Labor Ministry is requiring migrant workers to return to Myanmar to extend their stay.

By RFA Burmese 2024.05.31 -- 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 People's 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 Myanmar's 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."

Ye Min noted that many Burmese migrants in Thailand are supporting or actively participating in Myanmar's 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 Myanmar's 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 junta's labor ministry and the Myanmar Labor Attache Office in Bangkok about the new requirements went unanswered Friday.

The Aid Alliance Committee's Ye Min said it is extremely risky for migrant workers to go back to Myanmar.

"It's not easy to re-enter Thailand within one or two months, so it's a very risky system for repatriated workers," he said.

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.

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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Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif heads to China next week

By Sarah Zaman May 31, 2024

Pakistan's 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 Beijing's 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 China's 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."

"There's 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 minister's 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 Pakistan's 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.

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Deputy Secretary Campbell's Meeting with Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Kim

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun today in Washington, D.C. Deputy Secretary Campbell and Vice Foreign Minister Kim emphasized the crucial role of the U.S.-ROK Alliance in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral relationship ahead of their May 31 trilateral meeting with Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Okano Masataka.

During their discussion, Deputy Secretary Campbell and First Vice Foreign Minister Kim touched upon the expanding U.S.-ROK economic partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together to address global challenges while promoting shared democratic values. The two officials condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's hostile rhetoric, actions, and ongoing human rights abuses. They also discussed support to Ukraine in the face of Russia's brutal war and shared insights on the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and uphold the rules-based international order. They also addressed the ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian support to Gaza, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in alleviating the suffering of innocent civilians.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with heads of diplomatic missions of the Arab States

30 May 2024 20:18

1021-30-05-2024



On May 30, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with the heads of the diplomatic missions of Arab countries accredited in Moscow.

The participants engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on the developments in the Middle East with a focus on an unprecedented escalation in the area of Palestinian-Israeli confrontation which has led to immeasurable suffering of the Gaza Strip civilians.

Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed the continuity and consistency of Russia's foreign policy to comprehensively expand partner-like and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Arab countries. He pointed out that Russia condemns terrorism in its every form and manifestation, and Russian diplomacy has, since the first days of the crisis, been pushing for putting an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, freeing the detainees, ensuring uninterrupted shipments of humanitarian aid to the people in need and re-directing the armed conflict onto a political and diplomatic track. Russia has invariably operated on the premise that talks between the Palestinians and Israelis should be aligned in accordance with the existing international legal framework, including the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 and the two-state principle with the creation of a sovereign Palestine within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital that would co-exist with Israel in peace and security.

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that putting forward various peace concepts and expanding the circle of countries that have recognised the State of Palestine testify to the strengthening position of the Global Majority in favour of an early and fair solution to the Palestinian problem as the main prerequisite for long-term stabilisation in the Middle East. In this context, it is important to align the approaches and peacekeeping plans of the players involved in the Middle East settlement in order to create proper conditions for starting direct Palestinian-Israeli talks concerning a set of final status issues. Russia's proposal to hold a consultative meeting of the stakeholder parties at the ministerial level is designed to achieve this goal. At the same time, the countries of the region, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation should play the key role in promoting the peace process in the Middle East. In this context, Sergey Lavrov praised the outcomes of the LAS summit held in Manama on May 16, which re-affirmed a consolidated position in favour of an early political settlement of regional crises and conflicts.

The representatives from the Arab States expressed their gratitude for Russia's energetic efforts, including in the UN Security Council, aimed at ending the bloodshed in the area of Palestinian-Israeli confrontation, delivering humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip and comprehensively normalising the situation in the Middle East. Sergey Lavrov and the ambassadors from the Arab countries reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of Moscow and the capitals of the LAS member states to further coordinate the steps designed to establish a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the principles of international law and the provisions of the UN Charter.

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The Week In Russia: Lies And Legitimacy

By Steve Gutterman May 31, 2024

The Kremlin sought to undermine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's legitimacy. Moscow mounted more strikes on Kharkiv, killing more civilians. And the White House reportedly gave Kyiv the green light for limited attacks on targets inside Russia.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

A 'Tortured Article'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long acted as if he's an expert on the history of Ukraine - or, as he has wrongly asserted many times, its lack of a meaningful history distinct from Russia.



He has used this inaccurate version of history to justify the full-scale invasion of Ukraine both before and after he launched it in February 2022, particularly in what one commentator called a "lengthy, tortured article" published seven months earlier. It was part of a series of spoken and written statements in which he used a false version of the past to seek to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Ukraine and its leadership.



Putin has also bent more recent history to serve his argument against Ukraine, falsely claiming that the downfall of Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014 - to which Russia responded by seizing Crimea and fomenting war in the Donbas - was the result of a Western-backed coup d'etat.



Now Putin is casting himself as an expert on Ukraine's current affairs and its constitution as well: At least twice in the past week, he asserted that Zelenskiy is illegitimate because, under normal circumstances, a presidential vote would have been held two months ago. And, he claimed, the incumbent's authority is not prolonged when elections are canceled under martial law.



So, here's the formula: First, invade a neighboring nation without provocation, starting the biggest war in Europe since 1945, a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and devastated a country. Next, say the president of that country is illegitimate because the war you started led to the cancellation of elections.



Absurd, perhaps, and a jaw-dropping piece of attempted gaslighting. Putin, meanwhile, started his fifth Kremlin term this month and has been president or prime minister since August 1999. In 2020, he engineered a change in the Russian Constitution that could keep him in power into 2036.

Mission Accomplished?

But he may have gotten what he wanted: Western media articles treated Putin's remarks in a remarkably straightforward way, as if he was simply airing his opinion on a debate in another country - and as if his opinion on the matter was one that should be taken into account.



Putin's comments may have also been part of an ongoing effort by the Kremlin to suggest that Russia is potentially open to peace talks but that Ukraine is creating obstacles.



They may also have been meant to play into discussions of the issue in Ukraine, where struggles on the battlefield are causing political tension, and to draw attention away from Russia's actions in the war itself.



In the last few weeks, those actions include persistent, intensified air attacks on the city of Kharkiv and an offensive on a new front that Russia has opened up by pressing across the border north of the city and seizing territory on the Ukrainian side.

A Policy Shift

In both cases, these attacks are killing soldiers and civilians. In one of the deadliest strikes on a civilian target since the start of the full-scale invasion, a bomb attack killed at least 19 people at a Kharkiv home goods hypermarket full of shoppers on a Saturday.

It was another reminder of how Putin has turned back the clock, erasing years of efforts by people in Ukraine to live normal lives in peace more than 30 years after the country threw off Moscow's yoke when the U.S.S.R. fell apart and the disastrous Soviet experiment ended after seven calamitous decades.



The attacks in the Kharkiv region turned up the pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden to let Ukraine use U.S. weapons to strike targets inside Russia, something the White House long opposed, citing concerns about potential escalation.



On May 30, multiple media outlets cited U.S. officials as saying on condition of anonymity that the Biden administration has given Ukraine the green light to strike inside Russia, but only near the Kharkiv region.

Politico was the first to report the policy change. 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 limits to the decision mean it may not be a game changer.

"For this relaxation to have a wider impact on the war, the geographic limitations of the current decision would have to be removed," military analyst Mick Ryan wrote.

Still, he said, Putin and his advisers "now have just a little bit more uncertainty to consider in their strategic decision-making about their brutal invasion and occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/week-russia-ukraine- war-history-elections-attacks-kharkiv/32973779.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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Russia Declares Barred Presidential Candidate, Soldiers' Wives Group 'Foreign Agents'

By RFE/RL's Russian Service May 31, 2024

The Russian Justice Ministry on May 31 added Yekaterina Duntsova, who last year filed documents to register to run for president, to its list of so-called "foreign agents."

Duntsova announced in November 2023 that she was running for president on a platform of ending Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Duntsova, a journalist from the city of Rzhev and a former deputy of the Rzhev city council, has publicly appealed for an end to the war in Ukraine and spoken out against political repression in Russia.

The Central Election Commission in December refused to allow Duntsova to register her party and begin collecting signatures and campaigning. Duntsova believes that she was not allowed to participate for political reasons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin easily won a fifth term in office unchallenged by any meaningful opposition in the March 17 presidential election.

Earlier this month Putin signed a law prohibiting "foreign agents" from running in elections at any level in Russia. That means Duntsova and others labeled "foreign agents" will no longer be able to officially participate in politics.

However, Duntsova said she would not give up on creating her own party that will put forth candidates who will be able to take part in elections.

"My status does not affect the party and its members in any way. Therefore, we will continue, we will prepare candidates for the Moscow City Duma and for other elections," she said on Telegram.

The Justice Ministry also on May 31 declared a women's organization that has been campaigning for the return of mobilized men as a "foreign agent."

The ministry addded the Put Domoy (The Way Home) movement, which has organized women-led protests in Moscow to bring mobilized men back from Ukraine, to its "foreign agent" list.

The Justice Ministry accused Put Domoy of working to create a "negative image" of Russia and the Russian Army and said it had called for illegal protests.

Wives of Russian men mobilized to fight in Ukraine make up the bulk of the organization's membership.

The register of "foreign agents," which Moscow has used to silence dissent, now also includes political strategist and human rights activist Marina Litvinovich and Pavel Ivanov, known as the blogger Partisan, and the publications Republic and Sota, one of the few independent media reporting from Russia.

Sota had previously been added to the register of so-called "undesirable organizations" by the Prosecutor-General's Office.

It said the news outlet had criticized the Ukraine offensive and that its employees included "foreign agents" living abroad.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-foreign-agents-duntsova- put-domoy/32974474.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 remarks during Business Council meeting on BRICS issues, Moscow, May 31, 2024

31 May 2024 13:42

1027-31-05-2024

I am glad to attend our regular meeting of the Business Council under the Foreign Ministry.

We have agreed to focus our today's meeting on a most pressing issue - interaction within the BRICS association.

BRICS is a unique interstate format where representatives of various countries of various religions, civilizations and cultures communicate, work and elaborate joint decisions, which are subsequently implemented. All this is done on the basis of equality, mutual respect, openness and search for a balance of interests.

The purpose of cooperation is understandable: to provide for the creation of favourable conditions for the economic growth of member countries, to resolve social problems and to develop innovatory human potential. No doubt that the interests of all member countries coincide in this matter and meet the hopes of other Global Majority countries, which has been confirmed by doubling our association membership in 2023 (from five to 10). This is also confirmed by the fact that over 30 states have applied for rapprochement with BRICS in one form or another.

A multipolar world order is being formed. This implies respect for the diversity of the world's peoples and their right to determine their own paths and models of development. And associating in this sense is arousing an ever-growing interest, respect and a desire to work together. I repeat that the doors are open to representatives of the most diverse economic and political systems and macro-regions. The only condition is that you must agree to work on the basis of the key principle of the sovereign equality of states. Our Western colleagues are just unable to do this.

Partnership development within BRICS is our strategic priority indicated in the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, approved by President of Russia Vladimir Putin in March 2023. We have been chairing BRICS since January 1.

The motto of our chairmanship is 'Strengthening multilateralism for equitable global development and security.' After five new member countries joined on January 1, the BRICS countries occupy more than 30 percent of the earth's landmass, have 45 percent of the world's population (3.6 billion people), account for more than 40 percent of all oil production and about a quarter of the world's exports of goods (meaning all goods). Their combined GDPs, calculated on a purchasing power parity basis, even if we take only the five founding countries, have long surpassed that of the Western Group of Seven. The International Monetary Fund estimated last year that the BRICS founding five nations showed a GDP of $58.9 trillion, which is 33 percent of global GDP. The G7's GDP is 5 trillion less. Accordingly, it accounts for only 30 percent of the global GDP.

The trend continues with the accession of new countries. Starting from January 1, Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia are new BRICS members. We are now preparing to implement activities under the Russian presidency in all three main areas that have developed over the 15 years of BRICS' existence: politics and security; economy and finance; and cultural, humanitarian and educational contacts. In total, we plan to organise about 250 events.

The BRICS Summit is scheduled for October 2024 in Kazan. As early as next week we will hold a meeting of the BRICS Council of Foreign Ministers in Nizhny Novgorod to be attended by both full-fledged members and invited countries representing a variety of integration entities in the Global Majority as well as other partners in the BRICS+ format.

The main focus of our activity is a search for response to the challenges and threats of our time and working out collective solutions to global problems and objectives of international development. We are paying particular attention (as instructed by the leaders at last year's summit in Johannesburg) to developing recommendations on the creation of multilateral mechanisms that would not depend on the illegitimate actions of the West. It is blatantly using the existing globalisation instruments to pursue its neo-colonial policies aimed at living at the expense of others. Such work is already under way through central banks and finance ministries. It will continue, including with active participation from foreign ministries, given the enormous foreign policy and geopolitical importance of this topic.

We are going to give priority attention to strengthening contacts with business circles. It is because these issues just cannot be solved efficiently without you. We will encourage a direct dialogue between entrepreneurs within BRICS. The Business Council and the Women's Business Alliance set up at Russia's initiative are already operating. We will support your participation in these organisations in every way possible, especially this year when Russia holds the presidency.

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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov holds working meeting with Tajikistan Defence Minister Sherali Mirzo

31.05.2024

'The key question is that we are on the edge, and the situation on the southern borders of the CSTO remains complex - indeed, it is worsening. The situation and the processes under way in Afghanistan are complex. We monitor it, understanding how we are going to work with them. But all of this requires our attention, our coherence, and our readiness,' said Andrei Belousov during the working meeting.

He noted that 'the relations have been reasonably productive for many years' between the military departments of the two countries.

'The same applies to the 201st Base, the training of Tajikistan's servicemen at the base. This applies to combat training and other issues that we address. But the environment is one in which we need to step up our joint efforts. I am confident that we will meet with confidence the challenges that the situation now poses,' stressed the Russian Defence Minister.

Mirzo, for his part, noted that Russia was, and remains, a reliable strategic partner and ally for Tajikistan.

As examples of cooperation between Moscow and Dushanbe in the military field - an important factor in maintaining stability in Central Asia - he described the deployment of the first Russian military base - the largest military facility abroad, as well as the most important strategic facility of the Russian Armed Forces, the Nurek Optical and Electronic Centre, in close cooperation with the Central Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Mirzo also stressed that issues related to the deployment of the 201st Russian Military Base on Tajikistan's territory and its functioning, despite certain difficulties with national legislation, have been resolved.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov participates in CSTO Council of Ministers of Defence meeting

31.05.2024

'The U.S. and its allies' destructive activities have had a major negative impact on the situation,' said Andrei Belousov, speaking at the CSTO Council of Ministers of Defence meeting in Almaty on Friday.

According to his words, Washington and his partners have consistently destroyed the global security architecture to preserve global dominance.

'These countries intentionally provoke crises, armed conflicts, support terrorist and extremist structures, impose sanctions of all kinds, use threats, and blackmailing,' said the Russian Defence Minister.

Most tense situation in CSTO's area of responsibility is in Eastern European region.

The most tense situation in the CSTO's area of responsibility is in the Eastern European flank, owing to the build-up of the North Atlantic Alliance's combat capabilities in the region, declared Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

'The most tense situation today is in the Eastern European region of collective security. It has a significant impact on all CSTO members. NATO is increasing its presence in Eastern and Central Europe, increasing combat readiness, and increasing the number of coalition military forces,' said Andrei Belousov at the CSTO Council of Ministers of Defence meeting on Friday.

According to him, the North Atlantic Alliance is improving its military infrastructure, as well as training and combat reconnaissance activities are intensifying close to the borders of the CSTO countries.

'Steadfast Defender 2024 series of large-scale exercises was held from February to May,' noted the Russian Defence Minister.

West does everything to prolong and escalate armed conflict in Ukraine.

Western countries, by supplying Kiev with weapons, passing intelligence data, and training the AFU, escalate and prolong the armed conflict, declared Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

'These countries do everything to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine. For example, since February 2022, Kiev has been provided with military-technical, financial, and humanitarian assistance worth more than $278 billion,' said Andrei Belousov, speaking at the CSTO Council of Ministers of Defence meeting in Almaty on Friday.

He noted that 'the West is urgently inflating the country with weapons, handing over intelligence, training Ukrainian servicemen, and recruiting mercenaries.'

'With the participation of NATO advisers and specialists, sabotage is being prepared, and Western weapons are being used to damage Russia's civilian infrastructure and civilians in general,' said the Russian Defence Minister.

At the same time, he noted that 'despite the loss of the AFU offensive capabilities and initiatives on the battlefield, the Kiev regime continues to convince the so-called civilised world community of its readiness to fight to the end and regain control of the lost territories.'

Targets of special military operation are met in proportion to Russia's security threats.

In the course of the special military operation, Russia acts in proportion to its security threats, declared Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

'Russia continues the special military operation, and all of its objectives will surely be achieved. We act decisively and proportionately to security threats,' said Andrei Belousov at the CSTO Council of Ministers of Defence meeting on Friday.

Due to the Minister's words, the Russian Armed Forces are optimising the combat operation, developing the country's defence industry complex, improving the training of military personnel, and developing skills as part of operational and combat training activities.

'So, all attempts to defeat us strategically are futile.' the Russian Defence Minister stressed.

Progress is taking place in all tactical directions, and the Russian troops have taken control of 880 kmA of territory this year.

Russian troops forced the enemy to retreat eight to nine kilometers at important sites in Kharkov region, as reported by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

The Russian Groups of Forces are pushing the enemy out of its positions. The progress is taking place in all tactical directions. As a result of Russian active operations at important sites in Kharkov region, the enemy retreated eight to nine kilometers,' said Andrei Belousov at the CSTO Council of Ministers of Defence meeting on Friday.

In to his words, 'thanks to the courageous and professional actions of our servicemen this month, 28 settlements have been liberated.'

'In total, the Russian troops have taken control of 880 kmA of territory this year,' reported Andrei Belousov.

In May this year, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 35,000 servicemen and more than two thousand and seven hundred weapons, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov reported.

'The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to systematically reduce the AFU combat potential. In May this year, the enemy lost more than 35,000 servicemen and more than two thousand and seven hundred weapons. Among the weaponry destroyed were 290 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, including four Abrams tanks, seven Leopard tanks, and 12 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Moreover, 11 aircraft and four helicopters were shot down, 730 field artillery guns and MLRS combat vehicles were destroyed,' said Belousov during the CSTO Council of Defence Ministers on Friday in Almaty.

According to him, 'the Kiev regime deprived of opportunities to gain initiative on the battlefield continues to demonstrate the ability to deal damage to the Russian Federation to western sponsors by delivering strikes at the civilian infrastructure.'

We see, that the intensity of these actions increases prior to the upcoming conference in Switzerland schedueled for the middle of June.

'In May, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation intercepted more than a thousand unmanned aerial vehicles, 250 HIMARS and Vampire MLRS projectiles, 80 Hammer guided aerial bombs, 50 ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, and eight SCALP cruise missiles,' the Russian Defence Minister said.

The day before yesterday, Russian servicemen repelled a massive attack on the Crimean bridge by ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, the Russian Defence Minister said.

'Literally at night of the day before yesterday, the most massive attack by 10 ATACMS missiles with flight-in time under two minutes was launched on the Crimean bridge.

All missiles were successfully shot down. As a result, hundreds of lives were saved,' Belousov said.

'The Joint Group of Forces continues to liberate new regions of Russian from neo-Nazis and takes measure to fulfil the main task of protection the population of the Russian Federation. We will continue to act decisively and in a manner commensurate with security threats,' the Russian Defence Minister stressed.

The North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union in their course of confrontation with Russia are causing tension in Georgia, Armenian-Azeri relations, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said.

'The Alliance's individual countries are seeking to strengthen their positions in the Caucasus, thereby gaining access to the resources of the Caspian Sea and a direct exit to the Central Asia. The situation is being destabilized and protests in Georgia are being funded, from which active anti-Russian actions are being sought,' Belousov said at the CSTO Council of Defence Ministers session in Almaty on Friday.

According to him, 'Armenia and Azerbaijan are unceremoniously imposed mediation services to resolve conflicts'.

'It is proposed that a peace treaty be signed solely on Western grounds and under dictation', the Russian Defence Minister said.

'The plans of Washington and Brussels under the pretext of strengthening security and defence to involve our Armenian partners in the sphere of their interests are of particular concern,' he said.

The Russian Defence Minister noted that the course of NATO and the European Union towards confrontation with Russia is causing tensions in several CSTO regions of collective security.

The situation in Afghanistan calls for the strengthening of the country's border with Tajikistan, as well as other measures to stabilse the situation in the region, said Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

'In the Central Asia region, the main source of instability remains the situation in Afghanistan. Many radical groups have gained a foothold on its territory and have intensified the promotion of their ideas in neighbouring republics. The likelihood of the proliferation of gangs and terrorism outside the country is increasing,' Belousov said at the CSTO Council of Defence Ministers session in Almaty on Friday.

All of this, he said, requires 'permanent control and timely measures to stabilise the situation in the region'.

'In particular, strengthening of the Tajik-Afghan border', the Russian Defence Minister noted.

Military threats emerging around the CSTO perimeter call for improvement of the system of collective security of forces and means, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said.

'The analysis of the political and military situation shows that it remains tense and is characterised by an increase of military threats along the perimeter of the Organisation', Belousov said at the CSTO Council of Defence Ministers session in Almaty on Friday.

In these conditions, he said, 'it is necessary to clearly coordinate and continuously improve the forces and means of the collective security system, the smoothness of decision-making mechanisms'.

'Military cooperation within the CSTO plays a priority role in creating an effective security system. We are determined to develop it in all its main directions,' the Russian Defence Minister said.

According to him, 'it is also particularly important because Western countries are purposefully trying to undermine alliance relations between the CSTO states, discredit the work of the Organisation'.

'Today, a real information war is being waged against us, economic sanctions are improsed, and direct pressure is put on,' Belousov said suggesting in this regard that we focus on a number of key tasks.

Among the tasks, he mentioned in particular the work to improve the CSTO crisis response system.

'In practice, work out the algorithms laid down in the new decision-making and implementation documents for the use of collective security forces and means. To make the necessary changes to the Organisation's legal framework to ensure the rapid deployment of the CSTO troops and the transport of military formations and products', the Russian Defence Minister said.

It is also necessary to 'do not reduce the intensity of operational and combat training in the CSTO framework', he said.

Here, particular attention needs to be paid to the combat readiness of the collective forces and their equipment to improve combat training, said Belousov, emphasising that 'the Russian Federation has gained considerable best experience in modern warfare'.

'We are ready to share it and introduce it into the practice of training the troops during the joint events,' he said.

In addition, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen the internal unity and foreign policy coordination, the Russian Defence Minister said.

'It is important to use influential international platforms to promote common approaches to security issues, to consult regularly both multilaterally and bilaterally. To pay due attention to information support for the CSTO activities in order to maintain its positive image,' Belousov noted.

He also said that it is necessary to develop close cooperation with other regional organisations, especially the CIS and the SCO, as well as friendly countries.

'I am sure that these steps will make the CSTO more effective in the field of security and ensure a steady increase of its reputation,' the Russian Defence Minister said.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia, Belarus Display Air Power Striking Targets in Joint Drills

Sputnik News

20240531

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian and Belarusian air forces had carried out airstrikes on targets as part of a joint flight-tactical exercise.

"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.

A Sputnik

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Medvedev cautions West not to underestimate Russia's willingness to use tactical nukes

TASS

The senior Russian official believes it is possible that the conflict between Russia and the West has already entered its final stage

MOSCOW, May 31. /TASS/. Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev says Western countries may be making a "fatal mistake" in assuming that Russia will never use tactical nuclear weapons (TNW).

"Just a few years ago, they [the West, NATO countries] were saying that Russia would not engage in an open military conflict with the Bandera regime in order not to quarrel with the West. They miscalculated. There is a war underway," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to him, "they may also be miscalculating with the [possible] use of TNWs."

"However, this would be a fatal mistake. After all, as the Russian president justly pointed out, European countries have a very high population density. And for those enemy countries whose lands are beyond the TNW coverage zone, there is strategic potential," he added.

"No matter how much NATO's retired old farts babble that Russia will never use non-strategic nuclear weapons against former Ukraine and what's more, against individual NATO countries, reality is much harsher than their frivolous musings," Medvedev noted.

Medvedev believes it is possible that the conflict between Russia and the West has already entered its final stage.

"Unfortunately, this is neither intimidation nor a nuclear bluff. The current military conflict with the West is developing according to the worst-case scenario," he said.

According to him, there is a constant escalation around the use of NATO weapons.

"Therefore, today no one can exclude the possibility of the conflict shifting to its final stage," Medvedev added.

In an interview with the Economist earlier in the month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg suggested NATO allies should reconsider whether Ukraine could use Western-supplied weapons to carry out strikes on military facilities inside Russia's internationally recognized borders. However, Stoltenberg said at a session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that there should be no NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine because otherwise, it would be difficult to keep the bloc out of the conflict.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported, citing its sources, that after his recent visit to Kiev US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that he planned to suggest that President Joe Biden lift the ban on using American weapons against targets in Russia.

On May 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that when speaking about strikes inside Russia, representatives of NATO countries, "should be aware of what they are playing with." According to Putin, Russia is closely monitoring such a discussion. Once Ukraine's military uses long-range weapons, Moscow will once again have to decide on "a sanitary zone,"A Putin said.

A TASS

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The Secretary discussed the proposal on the table to achieve an immediate ceasefire, secure the release of all hostages, and end the war. The Secretary outlined how the deal will greatly benefit the people of Gaza, including through a massive influx of humanitarian assistance, the return of Palestinians to North Gaza, and the beginning of recovery and reconstruction work. The Secretary underscored the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, and emphasized Hamas should accept the deal. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed how the proposed deal would further ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East, including through greater integration among countries in the region and a pathway to a Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

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Iran reiterates political solution to situation in Syria

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 31, 2024

New York, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani has stressed that Iran remains committed to a political resolution of the situation in Syria and will continue supporting a truly Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process.

Reading an statement before the UN Security Council on Thursday, the ambassador also voiced Tehran's readiness to assist the people and Government of Syria to restore the unity and territorial integrity of their country.

The full text of the statement follows:

Thank you, Mr. President,

We congratulate you on assuming the Security Council presidency for Mozambique this month and successfully managing the Counicl.

We thank Mr. Pederson, the Special Envoy, and Mr. Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for their briefings.

As this is the final briefing of Mr. Griffiths, we join others in expressing our sincere gratitude for his efforts.

Mr. President,

The humanitarian and economic situation in the Syrian Arab Republic remains dire and the Syrian people suffer from profound economic challenges.

After 13 years of conflict, as the UN report indicates, the humanitarian community faces its most challenging funding landscape. The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 is only 8 percent funded significantly less at this time than last year.

The continuance of the destructive policy of unilateral sanctions exacerbates the plight of the most vulnerable segments of society and serves only to prolong the crisis and worsen the suffering endured by the Syrian population.

Unfortunately, Western countries have ignored the dire situation on the ground and continue to pursue their political agenda at all costs. They utilize sanctions as a tool to achieve their objectives, even at the expense of ordinary people who suffer as a result.

Due to the complex and extensive nature of unilateral sanctions, the alleged humanitarian exemptions often prove ineffective and pointless.

We welcome the sovereign decision of the Syrian government to renew the permission granted to the United Nations and its specialized agencies to use the "Bab al-Salama" and "Al-Ra'i" crossings for an additional three months, until 13 August 2024 to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in northwest Syria.

We hope this support will ensure sufficient and predictable funding, and that donors will fulfill their pledges.

We commend the tireless efforts of UN agencies and humanitarian partners in their work towards alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.

However, preventing the diversion of aid to terrorist organizations in the northwest region and ensuring transparent and non-discriminatory distribution of aid are essential aspects that need careful consideration.

We also emphasize the need for unhindered humanitarian access, through cross-line routes, and in full coordination with the Syrian government.

Providing immediate aid is crucial, however, it is not a sustainable solution in the long term.

Efforts must focus on rebuilding critical infrastructure to create conditions for the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

Given the burden that neighboring countries, particularly Lebanon, have carried during the crisis, the return of refugees and internally displaced people to their respective homes in Syria should not be politicized or used as leverage against the Syrian government.

Mr. President,

As we have said time and again, the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic cannot be resolved without upholding the full sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the country.

The restoration of Syria's territorial integrity demands relentless efforts to combat all terrorist groups without interruption.

It is imperative, however, that the protection of civilians remains paramount throughout counterterrorism efforts.

Mr. President,

Iran remains committed to a political resolution of the situation in Syria and will continue supporting a truly Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process, as well as assisting the people and Government of Syria to restore the unity and territorial integrity of their country.

As we have said, the resumption of the meetings of the Constitutional Committee as an effective mechanism for advancing the political process in Syria is necessary.

In this context, we remain committed in our support of the Special Envoy's efforts and his engagement with all parties.

Furthermore, along with its Astana format partners, we are committed to working towards long-term and sustainable normalization in and around Syria.

Mr. President,

The Israeli-occupying regime continues its acts of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, targeting civilians and vital infrastructure.

We strongly condemn these unlawful actions as provocative actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, the UN Charter, and international law and serve only to escalate tensions and undermine stability in Syria and the region.

Despite repeated appeals from the Syrian Arab Republic, the Security Council has failed to take any action in response to these illegal actions, not even condemning them.

The recent massacre of displaced people of Gaza in the Rafah camp by this regime on 26 May has once again demonstrated that Israel crossed all red lines, blatantly violated international humanitarian law, basic principles of international law, the UNSC resolutions, and disregarded the legally binding ICJ's orders. All these violations were carried out with full impunity and fully supported by the United States.

The international community and in particular the Security Council, as the main organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, remain mere observers of these gross violations.

We urgently call on the Security Council to abandon its policy of appeasement and take decisive and urgent action to hold Israel accountable, compelling it to stop its militarly aggression immediately.

Mr. President, we strongly reject the allegations made by the representative of the US at this meeting.

The US tried to deny its responsibility for the current situation in Syria and the broad region by falsely blaming Iran.

The US claims to support civilians and uphold international humanitarian law, yet it persists with its failed policies against Syria, using sanctions as tools at the expense of ordinary people.

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.

I thank you.

9341**9417



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Taiwan to counter China's economic coercion after tariff cut suspension

ROC Central News Agency

05/31/2024 10:54 PM

Taipei, May 31 (CNA) Taiwan's government said Friday it is ready to address China's economic coercion, following a unilateral announcement by Beijing earlier in the day that it is expanding the suspension of preferential tariff rates on Taiwanese imports that had been part of a bilateral trade deal.

According to both the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) under the Executive Yuan, a raft of measures have been prepared to address the potential impact of Beijing's move and alleviate any adverse effects.

The announcement made by China's Ministry of Finance earlier Friday will affect a total of 134 export items, including base oils for lubricants, racing bicycles and textile products, manufactured in Taiwan.

The announcement came less than two weeks after President Lai Ching-te (ea) of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office on May 20. Beijing also launched two days of military exercises around Taiwan and its outlying islands last week.

China previously took aim at preferential tariffs under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in December 2023, when it said it would terminate favorable import duties on 12 Taiwanese products, including propylene, paraxylene, and other petrochemicals, starting in 2024.

At that time, China said the measures were a response to Taiwan's ban on the import of Chinese goods, which it described as a "trade barrier."

In response to Beijing's latest measure on trade with Taiwan, the MOEA said it will facilitate industry upgrading by encouraging businesses to develop differentiated and high-value products.

The ministry also announced plans for greater market diversification, explaining that it will utilize cross-industry alliances to cluster sales and establish joint brands for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand into overseas markets.

According to the OTN, the risks and damages associated with the announced suspension of related goods are controllable.

The estimated amount of the affected exports to China was US$9.8 billion last year, accounting for about 2 percent of Taiwan's total global exports, MOEA data showed.

Both the OTN and the MOEA said China's move constitutes a serious violation of World Trade Organization regulations, urging Beijing to start negotiations with Taipei under related mechanisms.

(By Lai Yu-chen, Tseng Chi-yi, Teng Pei-ju and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/AW

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Taiwan protests China's suspension of tariff cuts (update)

ROC Central News Agency

05/31/2024 07:38 PM

Taipei, May 31 (CNA) Taiwan's government has criticized China for unilaterally announcing a plan to expand its suspension of preferential tariff rates for Taiwanese imports that had been part of a bilateral trade deal, effective from June 15.

Taiwan "strongly protested and expressed its dissatisfaction with" Beijing's decision to further suspend tariff concessions on 134 Taiwanese products under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), Chiu Chui-Cheng (), head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), said at the Legislature on Friday.

Beijing's move is "unilateral" and is not in line with the World Trade Organization's regulations, Chiu said, arguing that it was intended as a "political maneuver" aimed at "exerting pressure on Taiwan."

The announcement made by China's Ministry of Finance earlier Friday will affect a total of 134 items, including base oils for lubricants, racing bicycles and textile products, manufactured in Taiwan.

It came less than two weeks after President Lai Ching-te () of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office on May 20. Beijing also launched two days of military exercises around Taiwan and its outlying islands last week.

China previously took aim at preferential tariffs under ECFA in December 2023, when it said it would terminate favorable import duties on 12 Taiwanese products, including propylene, paraxylene, and other petrochemicals, starting 2024.

At that time, China said the measures were a response to Taiwan's ban on the imports of Chinese goods, which it described as a "trade barrier."

In a statement Friday morning, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua () attributed Beijing's latest move to Taipei's refusal to adhere to the "1992 consensus."

Lai's administration has "refused to acknowledge the '1992 Consensus,' blatantly spread fallacies to promote Taiwanese independence and separatism, and incited division and economic decoupling across the Taiwan Strait," Chen said, without elaborating.

These actions had "severely undermined the foundation for cross-Taiwan Strait negotiations and the ECFA's implementation," leaving Beijing with no choice but to further suspend tariff concessions, Chen said.

The DPP has never acknowledged the consensus, a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between Taipei and Beijing, arguing that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's sovereignty claim over Taiwan.

The opposition Kuomintang, on the other hand, has consistently interpreted the consensus as an acknowledgment by both sides that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means, even though Beijing never publicly endorsed this interpretation.

In addition, the Chinese official said the planned suspension was also prompted by Taiwan's ongoing ban on the imports of over 2,500 Chinese goods.

Taiwan's "discriminatory trade restrictions" on Chinese products have violated ECFA's provisions mandating both sides "gradually reduce or eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on the majority of goods," Chen said.

In a statement issued later on Friday, the MAC -- Taiwan's top government agency handling cross-strait affairs -- called on China to cease its "economic pressure" and "resolve disputes through constructive dialogue [with Taiwan] without imposing political preconditions."

The agency did not comment on Beijing's complaint over Taiwan's ban on Chinese imports.

(By Lin Ching-yin and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/ls

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Cabinet may have Legislature reconsider law revisions: Premier

ROC Central News Agency

05/31/2024 07:03 PM

Taipei, May 31 (CNA) The Cabinet may have the Legislature reconsider recently passed amendments aimed at checking the president's and Cabinet's powers and strengthening the Legislature's ability to investigate corruption, Premier Cho Jung-tai () said Friday.

Cho raised the possibility in his first report to the Legislative Yuan, less than two weeks after he and members of his Cabinet assumed their duties on May 20.

Cho contended that the amendments that the Legislature passed on May 28 risk violating the separation of powers, infringing upon people's rights, and contravening the principles of clarity and proportionality in the legislative process.

The powers he mentioned refer to the different powers endowed to the five branches of the government -- the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, the Judicial Yuan, the Examination Yuan, and the Control Yuan -- under the Constitution of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name.

The new premier said some people took to the streets over the past week to express their concerns over the deliberations that led up to passage of the amendments, which they feared lacked procedural justice.

The Executive Yuan will seek remedies according to procedures stipulated in the Constitution if it finds the amendments unconstitutional and hence unable to implement, Cho said.

His first option is to send the revisions back to Legislature, with the approval of the president, and try to get lawmakers to reconsider the measures.

But if the Legislature passes the revisions again, then the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could have its lawmakers move to ask the Constitutional Court for a ruling on the measures' constitutionality.

Cho was referring to the revisions that would give the Legislature new investigative powers and the power to hold hearings, which include potentially imposing penalties on public officials and related individuals if they refuse to attend or provide information, or present false information.

The amendments also require the president's presence at the Legislative Yuan every year to give a state of the nation address and then answer questions after the speech.

According to Article 3-2 (2) of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China, if the Executive Yuan finds a bill passed by the Legislative Yuan difficult to execute, it can, provided that it has the president's approval, request the Legislature's reconsideration within 10 days of receiving the bill.

Before appearing at the Legislature, Cho and senior Cabinet members met separately with the caucus of the ruling DPP, as well as with those of the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, which proposed the legislative reform bills.

In his report, the premier also reaffirmed the new Cabinet's commitment to implementing President Lai Ching-te's () policy proposals, including ramping up efforts to combat crime and promoting the development of green energy in the country.

The government will update its "next-generation anti-fraud strategy guidelines" first introduced in July 2022 as soon as possible and set up a fraud reporting platform, as part of efforts to raise its capabilities to fight against fraud, Cho said.

The premier also expressed hope that the anti-fraud package, which the Cabinet sent to the Legislature earlier this month for review, would be approved soon.

The proposed package would hold multinational digital companies offering advertising services accountable for fraudulent content on their platforms and increase penalties for those convicted of fraud.

In the meantime, Cho said, the government will continue working toward its goals of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and promoting a nuclear free nation while striving to maintain a stable and secure energy supply.

The government plans to invest NT$900 billion (US$27.68 billion) in energy transition by 2030 and attract additional investment with the aim of turning the challenge of climate change into opportunities for green energy growth, he added.

The opposition parties, however, have insisted that the handling of past and future major investments is one reason why legislative oversight is needed.

Receiving a combined 60 percent of the votes in the January presidential election, both opposition parties during the campaign and afterwards questioned the DPP's allotment of contracts for major investments in various sectors, as well as its handling of Taiwan's locally manufactured COVID-19 vaccine.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/cs

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DPP authorities should bear full responsibility for mainland's tariff measure: ministry

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 31, 2024 02:31 PM

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities should bear full responsibility for mainland's suspension of Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) tariff rates for 134 imported products from the Taiwan island, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Friday.

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Friday that the Chinese mainland will suspend the application of the tariff rates of the ECFA for 134 imported products from the Taiwan island starting from June 15, as the Taiwan island has unilaterally adopted discriminatory prohibitions, restrictions and other measures on the exports of products from the mainland.

One of the items subject to the new rule is lubricant oil.

The decision made by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has been supported by multiple Chinese ministries and government agencies, which said the DPP authorities should bear full responsibility.

"We support relevant authorities' decision to suspend ECFA tariff rates cuts for 134 products from the Taiwan island," Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Friday.

"ECFA is based on the 1992 Consensus and Lai Ching-te's radical stance seeking 'Taiwan independence' has seriously dismantled the foundation for the implementation of the ECFA, forcing the Chinese mainland to expand the scope of suspension," Chen said.

For a long time, the DPP authorities unilaterally placed trade curbs on over 2,500 items of imports from the mainland, and have violated ECFA's principle of gradually easing tariffs and nontariff barriers across the Straits, damaging the interests of companies and compatriots, Chen said.

The new suspension measure followed a decision announced in December last year that suspended ECFA tariff rates cuts for 12 products including some chemicals from the Taiwan island.

The DPP authorities have turned a deaf ear to the mainland's call to take effective measures to remove trade restrictions against the mainland and have even gone further to disrupt the normal trade and economic activities between the two sides, resulting in the new decision to suspend preferential tariffs for more goods from the island, Chen said.

The ECFA is a comprehensive cross-Straits economic pact intended to lower commercial barriers.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan about the proposal to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages, and end the war. They discussed the deal's extensive benefits for the people of Gaza, including a massive influx of humanitarian assistance, the return of Palestinians to North Gaza, and the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza. The Secretary underscored that the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians. 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.

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Tsahkna at Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs: Ukraine has the right to strike military targets outside its territory in the name of victory

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

31.05.2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna attended the informal Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Prague today and yesterday, where he stressed that the goal of the Allies must be the victory of Ukraine, and to achieve this, Ukraine has the right to strike military targets also on Russian territory.

"Wars are not won if victory is not set as a clear goal," Tsahkna said. "The Allies must make Ukraine's victory their objective and take all measures to achieve this."

Tsahkna called on the Allies to further assist Ukraine and in particular to deliver air defence and ammunition to Ukraine. The minister noted that it is also essential to ensure the long-term and sustainable nature of military aid to Ukraine, as this is the only way to enable Ukraine to plan its activities to counter aggression. "Estonia intends to allocate 0.25% of GDP for military assistance for Ukraine every year until 2027 and we call on all Allies to do the same," said Tsahkna. He added that he fully backs the discussions on NATO's increased role in supporting Ukraine.

Tsahkna also reiterated Estonia's previously expressed position that Ukraine has the right to defend itself from aggression, including by striking military targets in Russia. "Estonia was one of the first to provide military aid to Ukraine and has not placed any restrictions on Ukraine's use thereof. We will continue to do so in the same way in the future," the minister assured.

Speaking about the Washington Summit, Tsahkna stressed the importance of sending a clear message that Ukraine is on an irreversible path towards NATO membership.

Strengthening the deterrence and defence capability of the Allies was also discussed at the meeting. In relation to this, Tsahkna emphasised that the current defence spending target of 2% is no longer sufficient in the current security situation. "In order to fully implement our defence plans, the Allies should increase their defence expenditure to at least 2.5% of GDP," the minister said.

Tsahkna also highlighted the need to counter Russia's hybrid activities. "Russia has become increasingly brazen in its hybrid activities that undermine our societies' sense of security, and this must be countered," Tsahkna explained.

Several bilateral meetings were also held in Prague. Tsahkna joined French Foreign Minister StAphane SAjournA in discussing possible next steps to help Ukraine win the war, including the use of frozen assets to help Ukraine. The meeting with his Croatian counterpart Gordan GrliA-Radman focused on the European integration of the Western Balkans, but the situation in Ukraine was also touched upon.

The meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs followed the coordination meeting of Nordic-Baltic Cooperation (NB8) Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which has become a new tradition after Finland and Sweden joined the Alliance.

"Wars are not won if victory is not set as a clear goal," Tsahkna said. "The Allies must make Ukraine's victory their objective and take all measures to achieve this."

Tsahkna called on the Allies to further assist Ukraine and in particular to deliver air defence and ammunition to Ukraine. The minister noted that it is also essential to ensure the long-term and sustainable nature of military aid to Ukraine, as this is the only way to enable Ukraine to plan its activities to counter aggression. "Estonia intends to allocate 0.25% of GDP for military assistance for Ukraine every year until 2027 and we call on all Allies to do the same," said Tsahkna. He added that he fully backs the discussions on NATO's increased role in supporting Ukraine.

Tsahkna also reiterated Estonia's previously expressed position that Ukraine has the right to defend itself from aggression, including by striking military targets in Russia. "Estonia was one of the first to provide military aid to Ukraine and has not placed any restrictions on Ukraine's use thereof. We will continue to do so in the same way in the future," the minister assured.

Speaking about the Washington Summit, Tsahkna stressed the importance of sending a clear message that Ukraine is on an irreversible path towards NATO membership.

Strengthening the deterrence and defence capability of the Allies was also discussed at the meeting. In relation to this, Tsahkna emphasised that the current defence spending target of 2% is no longer sufficient in the current security situation. "In order to fully implement our defence plans, the Allies should increase their defence expenditure to at least 2.5% of GDP," the minister said.

Tsahkna also highlighted the need to counter Russia's hybrid activities. "Russia has become increasingly brazen in its hybrid activities that undermine our societies' sense of security, and this must be countered," Tsahkna explained.

Several bilateral meetings were also held in Prague. Tsahkna joined French Foreign Minister StAphane SAjournA in discussing possible next steps to help Ukraine win the war, including the use of frozen assets to help Ukraine. The meeting with his Croatian counterpart Gordan GrliA-Radman focused on the European integration of the Western Balkans, but the situation in Ukraine was also touched upon.

The meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs followed the coordination meeting of Nordic-Baltic Cooperation (NB8) Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which has become a new tradition after Finland and Sweden joined the Alliance.

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Estonia and Luxembourg-led IT Coalition raises 58 million to support Ukraine's ICT capabilities

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

31. May 2024

At the IT Coalition steering group meeting held this week in Tallinn, Spain announced their intention to join the coalition. The first deliveries of equipment from the IT Coalition have already arrived in Ukraine, and the coalition has raised 58 million euros in financial and material aid to assist Ukraine with information and communication technology to advance its technological superiority on the battlefield.

"The work of the IT Coalition has progressed rapidly, and step by step, we are moving towards meeting Ukraine's capability needs this year. At the beginning of May, the first laptops, monitors, and other communication devices arrived in Ukraine, which were critically needed by and therefore quickly delivered to Ukrainian Armed Forces. It was a pleasure to welcome Spain as a new upcoming member whose contributions are very welcome," said Tuuli Duneton, Undersecretary for Defence Policy at the Ministry of Defence, the representative of Estonia to the Coalition's Steering Group. "We also informed coalition members of Estonia's additional contribution of 2 million euros. This will be mostly used for the development of Oberig system that enables the registration of eligible people to the Ukrianian military service. Together with our partners, we have already managed to cover the most urgent needs, but there is still plenty room to move forward on this year's priority list," Duneton added.

"We are grateful to our partners for their continued support, new contributions, and quick response to our military's critical needs. The initiative of the IT Coalition is two-way: we share our own developments and experience with our partners. Our cooperation brings the use of information technologies in combat operations to a new level," said Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Kateryna Chernohorenko.

Prior to the coalition meeting, a technical session was held where developers from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence gave live demonstration to subject matter experts on the Ukrainian battlefield management system DELTA, which already uses the provided IT assistance on the battlefield. "The Ukrainian team gave us a very informative overview of the system's function and on the technological solutions operating on the Ukrainian front. This, in turn, is valuable input for our defence forces on the tools for enhanced situational awareness and operational planning," added Deputy Secretary General Duneton.

The IT Coalition was established at the UDCG meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein in September 2023 to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence in the area of information and communication technology, in order to help enhance Ukraine's combat capabilities. The IT Coalition currently includes 12 countries (in addition to the leading countries Estonia and Luxembourg, also Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom).

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Minister of the Interior Rantanen speaks with Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs

Finnish Government

Ministry of the Interior

31.5.2024

Press release

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko held a videoconference on Friday 31 May. The home affairs ministers discussed Finland's assistance to Ukraine and Ukraine's immediate support needs. The ministers also talked about Ukraine's preparedness expertise.

In particular, the ministers discussed the concrete support needs related to the capabilities of the forces operating under the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, so that any support provided would directly help the troops on the ground.

Minister Rantanen told her colleague that Finland and the Ministry of the Interior will do their utmost to support Ukraine with concrete measures to meet the country's immediate needs.

"Ukraine needs our support right now and going forward, so I will do my part to speed up the delivery of assistance from Finland," says Minister of the Interior Rantanen.

Providing a wide range of assistance, the Ministry of the Interior coordinates the provision of material emergency relief to Ukraine through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. With the next relief delivery, Finland will send a large amount of energy sector supplies and school supplies.

Ministers discussed preparedness

The home affairs ministers discussed the countries' experiences and expertise related to preparedness.

Finland can make use of the lessons Ukraine has learned in areas such as arrangements to ensure preparedness of critical infrastructure, and the practical work carried out by the rescue services and the police to guarantee preparedness.

Minister Klymenko said that the authorities in his administrative branch were hampered by destroyed infrastructure and had to operate in difficult conditions. The war has introduced new kinds of tasks, working conditions and work-related risks to the Ukrainian authorities. However, Finland can support Ukraine, for example with expertise related to civil defence shelters. The ministers agreed to deepen the cooperation between the two countries to enable Finland make use of Ukraine's experiences.

Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs is in charge of rescue services, police and border management and immigration matters. The Ministry also oversees the National Guard, which is responsible for maintaining order and security in the theatre of operations during the war in cooperation with the police.

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Swiss peace conference on Ukraine falls short of China's requests; China won't attend: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 31, 2024 07:04 PM

China confirmed on Friday that it will not attend a Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland next month, as the meeting falls short of China's requests, according to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning.

Mao emphasized that China values the hosting of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland and has maintained close communication with Switzerland and relevant parties since the beginning of the year.

However, Mao expressed that the meeting arrangements have fallen short of China's requests and the general expectations of the international community, making it difficult for China to attend the meeting.

The Chinese spokesperson emphasized that China consistently insists that international conference on Ukraine should have the recognition of both Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties, and fair discussions on all peace proposals, as these three elements are crucial for the effectiveness of restoring peace.

China's requirements for the summit are fair and impartial, not targeting any specific party, as reflected in the recent joint statement with Brazil on the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis. It also highlights the global concern, especially among developing countries, Mao continued.

Based on feedback from various parties and the disclosed meeting arrangements, it appears that China's three key elements are difficult to achieve, Mao said.

China will continue to promote dialogue and peace in its own way, maintain communication with all parties, and work together to create conditions for a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Mao said.

In the recent joint statement with Brazil, China and Brazil clearly stated they 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, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In addition, China and Brazil jointly issued a six-point consensus on their common understanding for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, calling on all relevant parties to observe three principles for de-escalating the situation - no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party - and stating that "dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis."

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U.S. permits Ukraine to strike Russian targets with U.S. weapons near Kharkiv

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:46, May 31, 2024

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.

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Hungary warns of 'world war' as NATO pushes Ukraine to strike Russia

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 May 2024 4:10 PM

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that the role NATO plays in the Ukrainian conflict risks dragging the US-led military alliance into "a world war."

NATO was "getting closer to war" every week, Orban said on Friday as alliance foreign ministers were meeting in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, to discuss military aid to Ukraine.

His remarks came as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has urged member states of the alliance to reconsider some of the restrictions attached to Ukraine's use of Western arms to strike targets in Russia.

Orban said that negotiations about dispatching French military trainers to Ukraine and to allow Kiev to use Western weapons to attack Russian targets were ideas that were "worrying" and risk world war.

"It is absurd that NATO, instead of defending us, is dragging us, a member state, into a world war. This is as absurd as a firefighter deciding to come and put out a fire with a flamethrower," he said on Hungarian state radio.

"Due to the debate, I revisited the written records of the negotiations between Hitler" and the Hungarian WWII-era leader Miklos Horthy, Orban said.

Horthy, an autocrat who ruled Hungary from 1920 to 1944, passed anti-Jewish laws and oversaw the deportations of several hundred thousand Hungarian Jews to Nazi death camps.

Orban said, "It is entirely clear from these documents that Hungary (was) under tremendous pressure to send more soldiers to the front as quickly as possible and... to deport more Jews from Hungary." .

He said that Hungary "didn't want to participate in either World War I or World War II", but instead "was forced into war".

Orban has been at odds with western nations over support for Ukraine since Russia's "special military operation" started more than two years ago.

On Thursday, media reports cited American officials as saying that US President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use American munitions to strike inside Russian territory, but only near the border region of Kharkiv, where Russia is making territorial gains.

Following US policy change, Germany also gave Ukraine a green light to use German-supplied weapons against Russian targets.

"Together we are convinced that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks," a German government statement said, adding "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."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces launched a major operation against the Kharkiv region, which sits across the border from Belgorod, earlier this month in order to create a buffer zone to protect Russian frontier villages from Ukraine's fatal attacks.

In February 2022, Russia launched what it called a special military operation in Ukraine partly to prevent NATO's eastward expansion after warning that the military alliance was following an "aggressive line" against Moscow.

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Ukraine Gets U.S. OK To Hit Targets Inside Russia. Now What?

By Mike Eckel May 31, 2024

Earlier this week, a Russian early warning radar installation was hit by unidentified projectiles; Ukrainian drones, Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's forces thin has added to the impatience.

As of May 30, that's 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.' That's 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.

"It's 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."

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 Russia's 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 Russia's 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 Russia's 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 posts...deeper 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'

It's 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 Ukraine's 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 committee's 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 we...supply 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: Ukraine's 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 it's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-western-weapons- inside-russia-game-changer/32974223.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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Stoltenberg More Confident About Ukraine's Ability To Defend Kharkiv After Policy Shift On Weapons

By Rikard Jozwiak May 31, 2024

PRAGUE -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he's 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 Ukraine's 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 NATO's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-ukraine-russia-stoltenberg- kharkiv-weapons/32974380.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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Blinken Confirms Biden Change On Policy Toward Ukraine Using U.S. Weapons Inside Russia

By Mike Eckel and Rikard Jozwiak May 31, 2024

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.

"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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-biden-policy-ukraine-strikes- inside-russia/32974016.html

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Chinese Army will never allow Taiwan to become independent: Lieutenant General

Beijing, June 1 (UNI) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will never allow Taiwan to become independent and "break away," Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, said on Saturday.

"The PLA will never allow Taiwan to break away from China, Taiwan's independence is tantamount to war," Jing said on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

The PLA will continue to train troops, conduct preparations in case of a war and fight against Taiwan's independence, as well as promote reunification and resist any external interference, the military official said, adding that the army will resolutely carry out its duties to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
NATO Is In For 'The Long Haul' In Backing Ukraine, Says Stoltenberg

By Rikard Jozwiak May 31, 2024

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.

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-stoltenberg-prague-ukraine- russia/32973641.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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Ukraine Signs Security Deals With Nordic Countries As Russia Ramps Up Attacks

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 31, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on May 31 signed security and cooperation agreements with Sweden, Norway, and Iceland as he attended the third Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit in Stockholm.

The deals were signed as Russian strikes and shelling continued to wreak havoc in Ukraine's cities, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure.

"Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson and I signed a security cooperation and long-term support agreement between Ukraine and Iceland," Zelenskiy wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that the Nordic country also pledged at least 30 million euros ($32.6 million) in financial support for Ukraine until 2028.

"Iceland pledged to provide Ukraine with long-term economic, humanitarian, and defense assistance, as well as to facilitate its future EU and NATO membership," Zelenskiy added.

Earlier, Zelenskiy signed a similar agreement with Norway, with the NATO member pledging more than $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.

"This year, Norway will provide almost 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in military aid to Ukraine. Together with allies, will help us develop capabilities in the field of modern combat aircraft and already records a clear readiness to transfer F-16 fighter jets," Zelenskiy said on X.

Sweden, the third Nordic country that Zelenskiy inked a security agreement with on May 31, has already announced a substantial military aid package for Kyiv.

The package of 13.3 billion Swedish crowns ($1.3 billion) announced by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on May 29 was the 16th since the start of Russia's invasion and includes two Swedish-made SAAB ASCC airborne early-warning-and-control aircraft.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told RFE/RL in Prague, where he was attending an informal meeting of his NATO-member colleagues, that the ASCC aircraft "add significantly" to Ukraine's ability to defend itself.

"An airborne radar is a capacity which Ukraine has lacked and now we, Sweden, will provide this," he added.

Zelenskiy's trip came as Russia struck Kyiv with an Iskander missile and several drones early on May 31, sparking a fire in a nonresidential building in the Ukrainian capital's Holosyivskiy district, the head of Kyiv's military administration, Serhiy Popko, said on Telegram.

Popko said there were no casualties. He added that all incoming drones were shot down by the capital's air defenses.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, the death toll of an overnight missile strike on a five-story apartment block has risen to five, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on May 31, adding that 25 people were wounded in the attack.

Russia has stepped up attacks on Kharkiv, located just 35 kilometers from the border, as part of an attempted Russian offensive in the region that President Vladimir Putin claimed is meant to establish a "buffer zone" to prevent Ukrainian strikes inside Russia's territory.

Meanwhile, a drone attack early on May 31 on an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region damaged three tankers filled with fuel, causing a fire, and injured two people, regional officials said.

Governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that the fire at the oil depot in the region's Temryuk district had been extinguished, while the head of the district said two people were injured by debris after Ukrainian drones were shot down.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces on May 31 also shot down Ukrainian drones over the Voronezh, Belgorod and Tambov regions.

Ukraine has not commented.

In the cities of Kazan and Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Tatarstan region, the local airports were shut down for two hours because of unspecified security threats.

Videos on social media early on May 31 purportedly showed drones flying over the region.

With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Prague

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/krasnodar-kondratyev-drone- depot/32973449.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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Argentina Not Planning to Jointly Produce Arms With Ukraine - Presidency

Sputnik News

20240531

BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Argentina has no plans to work together with Ukraine to produce weapons, as it currently has no capacity for that, Argentine presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said on Friday.

On Thursday, Argentinian newspaper Perfil reported, citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, that Argentina could become an important partner for Ukraine in arms and drone production. Zelensky reportedly made that remark during a press conference with Latin American journalists in Kiev.

"This is not going to happen. We do not have the capacity to [jointly] produce [weapons] at the moment. No such joint work is planned," Adorni told reporters.

Earlier this week, Argentine President Javier Milei reportedly confirmed that he would attend the Swiss-hosted conference on Ukraine in June.

A Sputnik

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Washington to Allow Ukraine to Hit Russia With US's HIMARS, GMLRS, Artillery - Reports

Sputnik News

20240531

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

A Sputnik

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US Weapons Already Used in Attempts to Strike Russian Territory - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20240531

Attempts to strike Russian territory with US weapons are already being made, clearly indicating Washington's involvement in the Ukraine conflict, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, said on Friday.

"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," he told journalists.

Earlier, a US State Department representative told Sputnik that President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to use American weapons for counter-battery operations against targets on Russian territory that threaten the Kharkov region, while maintaining the ban on the use of ATACMS tactical missiles and other long-range strike systems.

The Kremlin agrees with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's opinion that Europe has entered an intermediate stage of preparing for war with Russia.

"We agree. There is absolute inflaming of pro-war sentiments and a deliberate stirring up of pre-war hysteria. And all of this, of course, cannot but have the most negative impact on the overall situation. The escalation of tensions continues," Peskov said in response to journalists' questions about whether the Kremlin agrees with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's statement that the longer the range of weapons that the West provides to Kiev, the further the Russian Army will advance.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto previously said that NATO wants to increase its coordination role in supplying weapons to Ukraine and training its soldiers. Thirty-one countries support this decision, but Hungary does not want to and will not participate. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that in this manner, NATO is "sliding" into the conflict.

NATO Expects Ukraine to Use Western Weapons Against Russia Responsibly

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that allies expect Ukraine to act "in a responsible way" when using Western-supplied weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

"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," he said ahead of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Prague.

Stoltenberg said this week that he favored lifting restrictions on the use of long-range Western weapons against "legitimate targets" inside Russian territory. The Kremlin said NATO allies were now directly involved in a military confrontation with Russia.

A Sputnik

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Russia, Ukraine Swap 75-for-75 POWs in UAE-Brokered Deal

Sputnik News

20240531

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that thanks to negotiations, 75 Russian servicemen have been returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime.

"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.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainian Military Loses Over 35,000 Troops in May - Russian Defense Minister

Sputnik News

20240531

Ukraine's armed forces lost more than 35,000 servicemen and over 290 tanks in May this year, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said.

"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."

"And we see that the intensity of these actions is increasing ahead of the upcoming conference in Switzerland in mid-June," Belousov added.

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.

"In total, 880 square kilometers [340 square miles] of territory came under the control of the Russian army this year," Belousov added.

Ukraine is Plotting Sabotage With Help of NATO

Ukraine 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.

"With the participation of NATO advisers and specialists, sabotage is being prepared, Western weapons are being used to cause damage to civilian infrastructure and civilians in Russia," 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.

A Sputnik

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Biden Allows Ukraine to Strike Russia Near Kharkov With US-Supplied Weapons

Sputnik News

20240531

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden has greenlighted Ukrainian strikes using US-supplied weapons inside the Russian territory for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkov region, but has not authorized the use of long-range missiles, including ATACMS, inside Russia, a State Department spokesperson told Sputnik in a statement.

"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. Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed," the statement said on Thursday.

The Pentagon has been instructed to develop precise recommendations for Ukraine describing the targets in the Russian territory that the Ukrainian Army can hit with US weapons, the New York Times has reported.

The publication said that the Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, had already handed the relevant instruction to the commander of NATO's joint forces in Europe, Christopher Cavoli, and the latter sent the information to Kiev. Cited administration officials conceded that the president's restrictions "could be subject to further loosening," with one insider adding:

"This is a new reality," in the Ukraine conflict.

The secret policy change came after weeks of behind-the-scenes deliberations, with the Ukrainian side insistently pushing for a reversal of the US ban after Russia began a major assault around Kharkov around May 10, wrote the publication. Only a very narrow group of aides were reportedly privy to the discussions. Biden had been headed towards a policy change already before Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken returned from his trip to Kiev, said the report.

Both the National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had already determined that the Kiev regime's losses around Kharkov warranted an exception to the rule against firing into Russia, said the unnamed senior officials. On May 15, after Sullivan conveyed the policy change recommendation to Biden, the president "for the first time" displayed inclination to do so, said the report. At the time, Blinken was in Kiev. Finally, the White House made the official decision to give Ukraine "flexibility" against the advancing Russian armed forces, said one US official.

There had been reports hinting at a looming policy change long before it was announced, with media outlets like The New York Times and Politico suggesting that the Biden administration was edging closer to lifting restrictions on Ukraine striking Russian territory with US-supplied weapons. On Thursday, the issue was believed to be still "under consideration," with no final decision made. As we can now see, it was just more "smoke and mirrors" from Washington. Recently announced decisions of US allies such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany to allow Ukraine to strike Russian military targets using their weapons might have seemed like pressure to get Biden to change his stance. However, in effect, they were emboldened to green light the move only because they had been informed that the US POTUS was "headed in the same direction," noted The New York Times.

In effect, only London authorized Kiev to use Storm Shadow missiles supplied to it to attack Russian facilities prior to Washington's decision, with Foreign Secretary David Cameron weighing in on the matter on May 2

Just a handful of National Security Council and the Pentagon senior staff were ostensibly aware of the change. No wonder that Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh was embarrassingly still maintaining there had been 'no change' in the old policy on Thursday morning in a briefing for reporters. In reality, days before, US Secretary of Defense Austin had already released orders allowing Ukraine to use American weapons to strike military targets over the Russian border.

West's War Rhetoric Reflects 'Agony'

As the reports of an impending policy reversal by Washington gained momentum, Moscow repeatedly warned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western-supplied military hardware could lead to direct conflict with NATO. Russian officials warned that "tough and swift measures" might be taken in response.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the US-led military bloc was toying with military rhetoric, hiking up 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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Secretary Blinken's Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 31, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the phone today. Secretary Blinken highlighted the United States' steadfast support for Ukraine, including its ability to defend itself against Russian military positions over the border within Russia from which the Kremlin is launching attacks against Ukraine. The Secretary affirmed the United States' strong support for the upcoming Switzerland-hosted Summit on Peace in Ukraine. The two agreed to finalize bilateral talks on long-term security arrangements in the next several weeks. They also discussed the impact newly-arrived U.S. military assistance is having on the battlefield. Secretary Blinken highlighted the United States' enduring support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and our commitment to Ukraine's recovery.

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Russia continues to purposefully attack Ukrainian infrastructure: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland tells the OSCE's Economic and Environmental Committee that Russia's commitment to refrain from acts of economic coercion lies in tatters.

31 May 2024

I would like to thank you and the Maltese CiO for dedicating a committee session to this topic. It is quite right that our sessions are flexible enough to address the key concerns of the day.

Mr Chair, can I start by noting that normally when one makes a complaint, it makes sense to stay to listen to the answer just in case it actually addresses or solves the complaint you raised. We sit and listen to Russian disinformation and propaganda in this building every week with more respect than many of us feel is deserved. So I thought the behaviour of the Russian delegation in registering a complaint and leaving without bothering to listen to your explanation was rude and disrespectful to the Chair.

Chair, let us be clear when we talk about the 'destruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine' - this is not destruction caused by hurricanes or floods; not even because of human mismanagement or negligence. The destruction is entirely intentional as one participating State - Russia - seeks to break down Ukraine's resolve.

In this organisation's 1975 Decalogue, Russia joined all other States to commit to 'refraining from any act of military or economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest another participating State's sovereignty.' With Russia's invasion and subsequent assault on Ukraine's infrastructure, this commitment lies in tatters.

Mr Chair, this spring Russia has targeted power-plants, electricity sub-stations and gas storage facilities across Ukraine. Russia's deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure have caused millions of people to experience restrictions to power, heating, and water; and thousands have been displaced. What is more, these attacks hamper humanitarian efforts to stop the situation getting even worse.

When Russia has decided to end its senseless war the OSCE could play a key post-conflict role. We were happy to support the OSCE's assessment of the environmental impact of the war against Ukraine. This, and many other assessments, will be important in holding Russia to account.

To help, the UK has committed A44 million to the Energy Community's Ukraine Energy Support Fund, and we encourage others to do the same. Together, we will help Ukraine repair, restore, and defend its infrastructure. We also remain committed to a sustainable recovery. The Ukraine Recovery Conference will support Ukraine's ambition to build a modern, secure, decentralised, and cleaner energy system, fit for a Net Zero future and with greater integration with Europe.

Thank you.

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Israeli army withdraws from Jabalia refugee camp after weeks of operation

Gaza, May 31 (UNI) 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 defense 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.

The Israeli troops of the 98th Division completed 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 said in a statement on Friday.
The Development of Defense Cooperation, the Global Peace Summit, and the Path to the EU and NATO: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the Prime Minister of Sweden

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 17:40

During his working visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson.

The Head of State thanked him for organizing the third Ukraine-Nordic Summit in Stockholm, the results of which will directly affect the strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted Sweden's significant and comprehensive assistance to our country since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The leaders discussed the further development of bilateral cooperation in priority areas, including the possibility of launching joint defense production in both countries.

The interlocutors coordinated further steps to ensure the implementation of all provisions of the bilateral Security Agreement signed today.

"We are grateful for the strong agreement, which, among other things, provides Ukraine with more than USD 7 billion in military assistance for 2024-2026. I would also like to note and thank you for the 16th package of military assistance worth USD 1.25 billion, which meets Ukraine's request and our urgent needs," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President emphasized the importance of Sweden's active position in the preparations for the first Global Peace Summit. In particular, this refers to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety track, which Sweden is co-chairing.

The parties also paid attention to Ukraine's progress towards integration into the EU and NATO. The President thanked Sweden for its support of the respective aspirations of our country, which is counting on the start of negotiations on accession to the EU in June, as well as on the strong decisions of the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., which will bring Ukraine closer to membership in the Alliance.

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Strengthening of Ukrainian Air Defense, Defense Assistance, and Preparations for the Peace Summit Were Discussed at the Summit in Stockholm - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 17:10

The participants of the third Ukraine-Nordic Summit in Stockholm discussed defense cooperation, military assistance, strengthening of air defense, Euro-Atlantic integration of our country, and preparations for the Peace Summit. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with representatives of the media.

The Head of State began by announcing that Ukraine had managed to return 75 people - military and civilians - from Russian captivity.

The President stressed that Russia now has the capabilities to expand the war and intensify terror against Ukrainian cities and villages. The Russian Federation is preparing relevant groups near our borders.

"We must do everything to destroy Russian warplanes, just as we are already destroying Russian warships in the Black Sea. To do this, we need the Patriot air defense systems, and today we discussed how to ensure this," the Head of State said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted that Ukraine has signed five security agreements with the Nordic countries.

"The agreements specify the amount of military assistance: in all five agreements this year alone, we have EUR 6 billion worth of military assistance alone, which is substantial. Our broad defense cooperation is also documented, and importantly, it includes joint production of weapons and equipment," the President stressed.

During the Summit, the participants also discussed the importance of starting negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union in June, preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., and the Global Peace Summit. Almost one hundred states and international organizations confirmed their participation. At the same time, Russia is blackmailing some of the leaders and trying to block the presence of the countries at the Summit in Switzerland.

"Today we discussed how we can strengthen this peacekeeping effort - the Peace Summit - together, and I thank you for your assistance and support," the President said.

The Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, also noted that the recently announced assistance from his country is focused on air defense capabilities. In particular, it includes two radar surveillance aircraft, as well as artillery ammunition and armored vehicles.

The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, confirmed that the short-term goal of the assistance is to supply Ukraine with ammunition, machinery and defense equipment to win the war.

The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, urged to increase and accelerate assistance to Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr StAre, reminded that his country, together with the United Kingdom, leads a Maritime Capability Coalition intending to provide Ukraine with everything it needs for maritime defense.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the President of Finland and the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Norway and Iceland

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 16:05

On the sidelines of the Ukraine-Nordic Summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr StAre and Prime Minister of Iceland Bjarni Benediktsson.

The Ukrainian Head of State thanked these countries for their comprehensive assistance since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The President informed the leaders about the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's defense needs.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the President of Finland for the defense assistance packages already provided and for Finland's readiness to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

During the meeting with Mette Frederiksen, the President praised the recent announcement by the Danish Government of a powerful assistance package worth over USD 800 million and the active preparations for the transfer of the first fighter jets to Ukraine this summer.

The parties discussed ways of strengthening cooperation between the countries in the defense sphere.

The Head of State thanked Jonas Gahr StAre for Norway's assistance of more than USD 7 billion under the multi-year Nansen Support Programme for 2021-2027 and the increase of assistance to Ukraine by USD 1.2 billion.

"We highly appreciate Norway's contribution to the strengthening of Ukraine's air and missile defense, to the protection of Ukrainian lives. I thank Norway for its active participation in the coalition of modern fighter jets and for a clear signal that Norwegian F-16s will definitely be in the Ukrainian skies," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

During the meeting with the Prime Minister of Iceland, the President paid special attention to the recent approval by the Government of Iceland of long-term assistance to Ukraine for 2024-2028 in the amount of about USD 30 million for the current year.

With all the leaders, Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the preparations for the first inaugural Global Peace Summit in Switzerland and the importance of the widest possible representation of countries from all over the world.

The President of Ukraine thanked Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland for confirming their participation in the Summit and their readiness to work actively on the implementation of the Peace Formula.

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Joint Statement of the Third Ukraine-Nordic Summit in Stockholm

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 15:05

May 31, 2024

At the third Ukraine-Nordic Summit in Stockholm on 31 May 2024, the Prime Ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland and the Presidents of Ukraine and Finland issued the following statement:

We are at a critical juncture in Ukraine's struggle to defend itself against Russia's full-scale war of aggression. We, the leaders of the Nordic countries, jointly reaffirm our countries' unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

The Nordic countries have thus far provided Ukraine with more than EUR 17 billion in military, financial and humanitarian support. We commit to continuing our efforts to provide immediate and long-term support to Ukraine, with the aim of helping Ukraine prevail. This is crucial for European, Euro-Atlantic and global security.

The conclusion of bilateral agreements on security commitments with Ukraine by all the Nordic countries is a manifestation of our resolve to develop deep and comprehensive security cooperation and to maintain our support for the long term. Together with the signatories of the G7 Declaration on long-term support to Ukraine, we send a clear signal that Ukraine can count on us for as long as it is needed.

We will individually and jointly continue to strengthen Ukraine's air defence, maritime and land warfare capabilities. We will continue to contribute to training, provide equipment, support joint procurement, and make financial contributions so as to alleviate Ukraine's acute needs and contribute to building Ukraine's future defence forces.

We will work with Ukraine to increase its defence industry production. In particular, we will jointly strive to increase Ukraine's and our own production capacity to meet Ukraine's needs for battle-decisive munitions. We will work to identify opportunities for the further development and transformation of Ukraine's defence industry into a strong and effective tool for its defence against Russia's war of aggression, and to deter future attacks. Together, we will work with Ukraine to identify opportunities for closer partnerships and priority investment areas, and promote higher self-sufficiency by reinforcing production in Ukraine.

We reaffirm our strong support of Ukraine's Peace Formula. We will continue our diplomatic efforts to promote its implementation. Ukraine deserves a just and lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter, that respects Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We will participate at the highest level in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine to be held in BArgenstock, Switzerland, on 15-16 June, and are contributing to efforts to ensure broad global participation.

We continue to support Ukraine on its path from early to long-term recovery and align our assistance with Ukraine's European integration. We reaffirm our support for Ukraine's reform agenda and commend Ukraine's significant progress on necessary reforms, as Ukraine pursues its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. We support the swift adoption of the negotiating framework for accession negotiations for Ukraine, followed by the first Intergovernmental Conference in June 2024. We believe that Ukraine's future membership of the European Union will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. We will therefore strengthen our joint efforts to support Ukraine's accession to the EU.

Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO. We will continue to support Ukraine on its path towards membership. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening NATO's support to, and relationship with, Ukraine. We support a greater role for NATO in the coordination of security assistance and training, with a view to consolidating long-term support and to building a bridge for Ukraine's future NATO membership. The work that NATO is now undertaking will put Ukraine on a clear path towards NATO membership. The bilateral security agreements will support Ukraine's future integration into NATO. In this regard, we will contribute to a successful NATO Summit in Washington on 9-11 July 2024, including key decisions on Ukraine.

We are committed to countering Russia's war of aggression by constraining its influence, freedom of action and ability to do harm, including through sanctions and measures to prevent their circumvention, and measures to ensure accountability.

Having faced Russia's aggression for more than ten years, including over two years of full-scale war, Ukraine continues to demonstrate extraordinary determination in exercising its inherent right of self-defence. As of today, all Nordic countries have concluded bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. As we move on to implement them, we are inspired by the persistence and spirit of Ukraine's people, soldiers and leadership.

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Ukraine Signed a Security Agreement with Norway

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 13:59

In Stockholm, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr StAre signed an Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support.

This year, Norway will provide Ukraine with at least NOK 13.5 billion (about EUR 1.2 billion) in military assistance. In total, Norway has allocated almost EUR 6.4 billion for the long-term Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine for 2023-2027. Norway's support for Ukraine will continue for the duration of the agreement.

Together with its allies, Norway will help Ukraine develop its capabilities in the field of modern combat aircraft and has already indicated a clear willingness to provide F-16 fighter jets.

In addition, it will make a significant contribution to the development of maritime capabilities in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, continue to provide NASAMS systems and related equipment, and train specialists.

Ukraine and Norway will work to deepen defense-industrial cooperation.

The non-military blocks of the agreement relate to support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula, sanctions, reparations, bringing the aggressor to justice, as well as assistance in economic recovery, humanitarian demining, protection of critical infrastructure, and countering Russian propaganda. Norwegian hospitals will continue to provide assistance to Ukrainians.

Norway firmly believes that the future of Ukraine and its people lies in the Euro-Atlantic community. Therefore, it will work for the country's future membership in NATO.

Norway is the 15th country with which Ukraine has signed a bilateral security agreement in furtherance of the G7 Vilnius Declaration. Earlier, Ukraine signed documents with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, and Iceland.

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Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Norway

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 13:54

Ukraine and the Kingdom of Norway, hereinafter 'the Participants' or 'Ukraine and Norway', condemn in the strongest possible terms the unjustified, unprovoked, illegal, and brutal war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine, by which Russia seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Charter.

Norway is unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders as of 1991, including the territorial sea.

Norway fully recognises the perseverance and spirit of the Ukrainian people as they continue to show extraordinary determination. Ukraine is exercising its inherent right of self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. Ukraine's self-defence against Russian aggression is also a fight for democratic values and European security - and is therefore also vital for Norwegian interests and Norway's security.

The Participants are committed to common values of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They reaffirm the principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the Charter of Paris, including the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the inviolability of borders, which are essential to European and global security.

The Participants will together continue to strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine as well as peace, security and stability on the European continent.

The Participants reaffirm their support for the ongoing reform efforts to strengthen Ukraine's security and economy, aimed at realising Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, including its future European Union and NATO membership.

The Participants have jointly determined to strengthen security cooperation through bilateral security commitments and long-term support measures as set out in this Agreement.

I. Scope

1. This Agreement is intended to further the objectives set out in the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, launched by the Group of Seven (G7) in Vilnius on 12 July 2023 and joined by Norway, together with the Nordic countries. In a joint Nordic statement, the Nordic countries reiterated their commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and advances its reform agenda, as it pursues its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

2. Hereby, Ukraine and Norway have decided to deepen their cooperation and partnership, which is based on their common interests in the defence of international law and order, peace, and the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

3. Norway remains committed to providing unwavering and substantial support for Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to prevail. Norwegian support includes military, civilian and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's war of aggression, to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, to secure its free and democratic future, to enable Ukraine to continue providing services to its people, to meet humanitarian needs, to uphold a functioning economy, and to deter future Russian aggression.

4. Norway firmly believes that the future of Ukraine and its people lies within the Euro-Atlantic community. Ukraine and Norway will continue to work jointly towards Ukraine's future NATO membership. Norway recognises that Ukraine has the right to independently choose its own security arrangements. The security of Ukraine is of great importance to Norway and NATO, as demonstrated by intensified political and practical cooperation.

II. Comprehensive and long-term support to Ukraine

1. Norway will continue to provide extensive military and civilian support and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine (Nansen Support Programme). In addition to the roughly NOK 11 billion (equal to approximately EUR 940 million as of May 2024) provided following Russia's full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, Norway is providing NOK 75 billion (equal to approximately EUR 6.4 billion as of May 2024) for the five-year period 2023-2027 under the Nansen Support Programme. In 2024, Norway's military support will amount to at least NOK 13.5 billion (equal to approximately EUR 1.2 billion as of May 2024). This does not preclude any additional support.

2. Norway's commitment to provide support to Ukraine over the five-year period covered by the Nansen Support Programme has the backing of all the political parties represented in the Storting (Norwegian parliament) and sends a clear message to the Ukrainian people and the international community that Norway will stand by Ukraine in the long term.

3. Norway's support is based on Ukraine's needs and is coordinated with other international efforts. Within the total of NOK 75 billion under the Nansen Support Programme, allocations are to be determined annually and can be adjusted during the year. The same applies to the amount of funding to be distributed between military and civilian support.

4. The Nansen Support Programme allows for assessments and adjustments as Ukraine's needs evolve. The goal for Norway is to provide the most effective and flexible support possible for Ukraine as it defends itself, and on its course towards future membership in the EU and NATO.

5. Norway will continue its multifaceted support to Ukraine for the ten-year duration of this Agreement. Norway recalls that national budgetary provisions apply and require explicit authorisation from the Storting.

III. Military assistance, security and defence cooperation

1. Since the start of Russia's full-scale war of aggression, Norway has made substantial military contributions to Ukraine, including main battle tanks, armour, artillery, rocket artillery, artillery radars, ammunition, air defence systems, mine clearance equipment, anti-tank weapons, drones, and winter gear.

2. The Participants recall the inherent right of states to self-defence, and the unlawfulness of all attempts to redraw borders by force. They reaffirm that Ukraine's security is integral to Euro-Atlantic and global security. Ukraine's security and defence forces are defending not only Ukraine's state sovereignty, independence and territory but also the UN Charter, our shared values and fundamental principles of international law.

3. Norway is determined to support Ukraine as an independent, democratic, and sovereign state, within its internationally recognised borders, capable of deterring and defending itself against future attacks, as well as in the effort to deepen Ukraine's interoperability with NATO and to accelerate Ukraine's transition to NATO equipment and standards. The Participants share the aim of establishing modern, interoperable, and sustainable Ukrainian Defence Forces, including, but not limited to future force design.

4. Ukraine will ensure that Norwegian military assistance is used exclusively for Ukraine's self-defence and is used by the security and defence forces of Ukraine for military objectives in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law. The Participants will cooperate to prevent the diversion and the illegal circulation of defence materiel provided to Ukraine.

5. Norway intends to continue to provide short-term support to Ukraine with the aim of enabling Ukraine to repel Russian aggression and will continue to provide long-term support to help Ukraine defend itself effectively, for as long as it takes. Contributions are aimed at meeting Ukraine's priority needs for military support in all warfighting domains (land, air, sea, space, cyber, and the electromagnetic spectrum). Norway is closely coordinating military support with Ukraine, allies, and partners.

6. Norway's military assistance to Ukraine is focused on maritime security, integrated air and missile defence, and combat aircraft. Norway will actively explore areas of additional support, including potential future donations of ammunition.

7. Norway is committed to continuing extensive training of Ukrainian security and defence forces, including train-the-trainer programmes, through international and bilateral initiatives, while also contributing to modernising military education systems to align with NATO principles and standards.

8. The Participants will cooperate to counter threats to maritime security, and to ensure full adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Participants will coordinate their efforts on strengthening international cooperation and coordination in the domain of maritime security, with the aim of eliminating threats and increasing the level of maritime security in the world.

9. Norway will, together with the United Kingdom, lead the Maritime Security Capability Coalition and will make significant contributions to Ukraine's maritime capabilities. The Maritime Security Capability Coalition aims to support Ukraine with a view to the country becoming a net contributor to maritime security across the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. This will help Ukraine to deter and repel threats, restore economic activity, and move Ukraine towards interoperability with NATO in the maritime sphere.

10. Norway will continue to provide Ukraine with integrated air and missile defence systems, including NASAMS. Norway will aim to further improve the effectiveness of these systems through the donation of materiel, training of personnel, and continual systems development.

11. In close cooperation with allies, Norway will aid Ukraine in developing modern combat aircraft capability, centred around the F-16 system. Norway is contributing to the training and education of Ukrainian personnel on the F-16 system and is already providing instructors and F-16 jets for this purpose. Norway will donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

12. The Norwegian Government is working to strengthen the production capacity of the Norwegian defence industry through national and international measures, including in cooperation with the EU. This will enhance Ukrainian, Norwegian, and Euro-Atlantic security.

13. Ukraine and Norway will work on deepening their defence industrial cooperation. Special attention will be given to preserving the military edge Ukraine requires in its self-defence against Russia's full-scale war of aggression. The Participants will work together to identify priority investment areas, strengthen efforts to reduce existing barriers for cooperation, and eliminate bottlenecks in the supply chain of defence materiel, as well as to encourage and support investments. Norway has made policy changes to facilitate increased defence industry cooperation and direct sales of military equipment to Ukraine.

14. Norway will be open to the possibility of its defence industry localising production and/or sustainment of critical systems in Ukraine, in accordance with Norwegian export control regulations. Norway will work with Ukraine to explore possibilities for research and development (R&D) and technology exchange between Ukrainian and Norwegian R&D entities and defence industries. The Participants will work together to facilitate the protection of any transferred technologies and intellectual property rights.

15. Norway will work with Ukraine to identify funding sources required to enable development of Ukraine's defence industrial base, which will include providing Norwegian investments and financial assistance, in particular while the war is ongoing and during post-war recovery.

16. Norway will support Ukraine's efforts to integrate its defence industry into NATO defence and security frameworks.

17. The Participants will cooperate to enable Ukraine to protect digital infrastructure, and to prevent, detect and counter Russian cyber aggression, cyber espionage, and other hybrid warfare threats, including through increased cooperation on cyber diplomacy. The Participants intend to continue to learn from each other and support each other to strengthen resilience in the face of hybrid challenges. Norway will continue to support initiatives within NATO and relevant international organisations to counter hybrid threats.

IV. Civilian support

1. Norway will continue to provide civilian support to Ukraine under the Nansen Support Programme as part of a broad international effort based on Ukraine's needs. Multilateral organisations, international financial institutions, and other forums, such as the G7 Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine, and the Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on Ukraine, play key roles in the coordination of international civilian support. Norway is committed to supporting Ukraine in numerous areas, including, but not limited to:

a. Budget support provided through established multilateral channels to help maintain critical government functions and services to keep Ukrainian society up and running.

b. Nuclear safety, continuing the long-term Ukrainian-Norwegian cooperation in reducing the risk of nuclear accidents and radioactive pollution. The Participants condemn Russia's illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which further increases risks and threats in the sphere of nuclear security worldwide. The Participants call for the urgent withdrawal of all unauthorised military and other personnel from Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and for its return to the full control of Ukraine.

c. Enhancing the protection, resilience, and restoration of critical infrastructure, including efforts to ensure the population's access to electricity, heat, water, health care, education, and other basic services.

d. Energy security, energy sector reform and measures to further the green transition, which are crucial to strengthening Ukraine's resilience.

e. Business and industry-related support, including contributions to guarantee and insurance mechanisms (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - EBRD, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency - MIGA), and mechanisms to support increased mobilisation of private investments in Ukraine.

f. Democracy and human rights-related support, including support to Ukrainian civil society.

g. Humanitarian assistance through the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and humanitarian organisations to provide food, water, health care, heating, shelter, and education to the most vulnerable people in Ukraine.

h. Substantial funding to humanitarian demining efforts alongside partners to make it safer to move around and to enable farmers to once again cultivate their crops. Given the extraordinary scope of the challenge caused by Russia's massive contamination of Ukrainian soil through mines, ammunition and other explosive ordnance, Norway, in cooperation with other partners, will support Ukraine, in particular the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, in developing and sustaining international demining standards in its operations.

i. Assistance in the medical evacuation of Ukrainian patients, continuing Norway's efforts as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Flights have been provided for the evacuation of thousands of Ukrainian patients and their accompanying family members to various countries in Europe, and hundreds of patients have been transported to receive treatment in Norwegian hospitals.

j. Norway will, together with the EU and international partners, and in close coordination with relevant international organisations and international financial institutions, continue to support Ukraine on its path from early to long-term recovery, and align these efforts with Ukraine's European perspective. Ukraine and Norway will therefore continue to strengthen the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine initiated by the G7 as well as other coordination mechanisms for joint international efforts for reconstruction and to promote the implementation of Ukraine's reform agenda as well as private sector-led growth.

2. The Participants will continue cooperation in the efforts to counter disinformation by Russia or any other actors. They will jointly promote the development of their capabilities to counter information threats, expose Russian and any other malign propaganda and neutralise disinformation campaigns affecting national security. The Participants will regularly exchange information and best practices in the field of countering disinformation.

V. Political cooperation and bringing Russia to justice

1. The Participants recognise that Ukraine and Europe as a whole will not be secure until there is a just peace that respects Ukraine's rights as a sovereign state under international law, including the UN Charter. Ukraine and Norway will therefore work together for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace that has broad international support.

2. Norway welcomes Ukraine's efforts to achieve a just and sustainable peace, based on the principles of Ukraine's Peace Formula. Norway will continue to play an active role in implementing initiatives that reflect the principles of the UN Charter. Norway is participating in the working groups of Ukraine's Peace Formula's ten points and co-chairs two of them. It is up to Ukraine, as a victim of aggression to define when and on what basis a future peace process should be conducted. Norway will continue to support Ukraine politically in international forums with a focus on Ukraine's Peace Formula.

Promoting accountability

3. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to holding Russia accountable for causing losses or damage to individuals and entities, as well as to Ukraine, as a result of its internationally wrongful acts in or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the UN Charter. The Participants reaffirm that Russia must bear the legal responsibility, including by making reparations for any damage caused by such acts, which will also help deter future attacks and support Ukraine's recovery.

4. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to ensuring accountability, in accordance with international law, for international crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including by supporting the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. The Participants will continue to promote effective domestic investigation and prosecution of international crimes within Ukraine and will continue to support the work of the International Criminal Court to ensure allegations of war crimes are fully and fairly investigated by independent, effective, and robust legal mechanisms.

5. The Participants reaffirm that there must be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities. The Participants share the conviction that it is essential to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, the Participants will continue their engagement in the Core Group on options for the establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russia's aggression

6. The Participants reaffirm that Russia is to be held accountable for the damage inflicted on Ukrainian territory and must pay for the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. Russian sovereign assets should remain immobilised until the Russian Federation has paid for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. Norway, working with international partners, aims to continue to pursue all lawful routes through which Russian assets and revenues thereof can be used to support Ukraine, in accordance with European and international law.

7. The Participants recognise the need for, and will continue to work together along with G7 and other states towards the establishment of an international compensation mechanism to provide compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression, as envisaged by the Statute of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine adopted by the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe CM/Res(2023)3. The Participants will, in accordance with their respective legal systems and international law, continue to work together with international partners to explore all possible avenues for the financing of a compensation mechanism, to aid Ukraine in obtaining compensation from Russia and providing prompt and adequate compensation to victims of aggression.

Sanctions

8. The Participants will continue working to ensure that the costs to Russia for its aggression continue to rise, including through sanctions and export controls. The Participants recognise the value of sanctions in restricting Russia's access to the finance, goods, technology, and services it is utilising in its aggression, in bearing down on Russia's revenue streams, and in deterring future attacks, including measures to tackle circumvention of the measures in third countries.

9. Norway will continue to align itself closely with the EU to uphold the pressure on Russia through robust international sanctions, which includes sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy and those in or outside the Russian Federation who are supporting or profiting from the war or assisting in sanctions circumvention in third countries, and to fight the evasion of sanctions as long as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues and Ukraine's territorial integrity is not restored. Norway will cooperate with, and support determined action by the EU to tackle all forms of sanctions circumvention.

VI. European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Commitment to implement reforms

1. The Participants reaffirm that inclusive reform is indispensable for Ukraine's current and future security and prosperity, for its democracy, for the resilience of its institutions and for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, including towards its future EU and NATO membership. The legacy effect created by the war, such as the liberation of the temporarily occupied territory, the transition from martial law, and the need to meet public expectations, will require Ukraine's institutions to be well adapted to managing such challenges.

2. The Participants reiterate their commitment to streamline reform efforts with the priority reform areas established for accession to the EU and NATO and for meeting IMF benchmarks, as well as to align them with other major donors, in particular international financial institutions and G7 partners. A significant part of the Norwegian civilian support is channelled through trusted international partners such as the World Bank, the EBRD and the UN. The Participants support the work of these organisations, including their focus on sustainability, transparency, good governance and anti-corruption.

3. Norway recognises the significant progress Ukraine has made in implementing reforms.

4. Ukraine reiterates its continued commitment to implement reforms, including in the areas of:

a governance: Ukraine commits to continuing institutional governance reform in the interest of building a resilient and inclusive democracy, including the continued reform of its judiciary with strengthened judicial appointment procedures to build public trust in the rule of law;

a anti-corruption: acknowledging that this transcends all areas of reform, Ukraine commits to continuing to build its capacity to prevent and combat corruption across the public and private sectors as well as civil society, including through supporting independent and well-resourced anti-corruption institutions that are able to operate with appropriate accountability and without political interference;

a economic and business environment: modernising the economy by advancing reforms that will attract private finance, boost investor confidence, combat corruption and create a fair and level playing field for all parties, including through a reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs);

a respect for human rights, including workers' participation and media freedom, in order to build a strong and resilient democracy.

5. Norway will continue its support for Ukraine's ongoing reform efforts and its European path. Norway reiterates its support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Norway reaffirms that Ukraine belongs in the Euro-Atlantic family and will become a member of NATO.

6. Norwegian support for reform and good governance will include a mechanism to support technical cooperation between Ukraine and Norway.

7. Norway recognises the significant progress Ukraine has made in implementing reforms in the security and defence sector. Ukraine reiterates that it will continue to engage in comprehensive democratic reforms in the security and defence sector, ensuring full and equal participation of women at all levels of the decision-making process. Ukraine will continue to advance defence reforms and modernisation, including by strengthening democratic civilian oversight of the security sector, and to improve efficiency and transparency across Ukraine's defence institutions and industry.

8. Norway will continue to contribute to Ukraine's security and defence sector reform to promote transparency, accountability and efficiency, and to strengthen democratic civilian control and oversight, taking into account gender as a cross-cutting issue. Norway will continue to support the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and subsidiary agencies in reforming and strengthening integrity in the security sector, and actively and systematically combating corruption. Norway will explore further prospects for cooperation on defence-sector capacity building through NATO.

VII. Consultation and cooperation in the event of future armed attack

1. Any future Russian invasion of Ukraine would violate the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law and would seriously undermine Euro-Atlantic security.

2. In the event of future Russian armed attack on Ukraine, at the request of either Participant, the Participants will consult within 24 hours, bilaterally or via other channels they both deem suitable, to determine appropriate next steps. The Participants will seek close coordination with allies and partners.

3. Norway, in such circumstances, and in accordance with its respective legal and constitutional requirements, will provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment across land, sea and air domains, and economic assistance; impose economic and other costs on Russia, including through aligning itself closely with sanctions decided by the EU; and consult with Ukraine on its needs as it exercises its right of self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

4. In order to ensure the widest and most effective response to any future armed attack, Ukraine and Norway may amend these provisions to align with any mechanism that Ukraine may subsequently agree on with its other international partners, including the participants of the G7 Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023.

VIII. Final clauses

1. This Agreement is valid for ten years from the date of its signature.

2. At the same time, in accordance with the G7 Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023, the Participants intend this Agreement to remain in force as Ukraine pursues its path to future membership in the Euro-Atlantic community.

3. To facilitate the implementation of the Agreement, Ukraine and Norway will ensure dialogue on progress and review changes as necessary.

4. The Participants will, if necessary, designate authorised bodies for the development and implementation of bilateral agreements in accordance with the areas of cooperation specified in this Agreement.

5. In the event that Ukraine becomes a member of NATO before the expiry of this Agreement, the Participants will decide on its future status.

6. This Agreement may be terminated by either Participant by giving written notice to the other. The Agreement will be terminated six months from the date of giving such notice.

7. This Agreement may be amended and supplemented, including by adding annexes thereto, by mutual agreement of the Participants, which will be submitted in writing.

8. Any disputes between the Participants arising out of the interpretation and/or implementation of this Agreement will be settled amicably through negotiation or consultation between the Participants.

9. This Agreement will come into effect immediately upon signature.

Signed in Stockholm on 31 May 2024, in duplicate, in the English and Ukrainian languages, the English version of which shall prevail in the event of any discrepancy.

For Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President

For Norway: Jonas Gahr StAre, Prime Minister

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Ukraine and Iceland Signed a Security Agreement

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 13:12

In Stockholm, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Iceland Bjarni Benediktsson signed an Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support.

Iceland pledged to provide comprehensive and long-term economic, humanitarian and defense support to Ukraine, as well as to facilitate its future membership in the EU and NATO.

During 2024-2028, Iceland will annually allocate at least ISK 4 billion (almost USD 30 million). Support for Ukraine will continue throughout the term of the agreement. Iceland stands ready to finance, procure, and deliver defense-related supplies and equipment. In addition, it is ready to cooperate with Ukraine to enable the development of its defense industry.

A unique part of the agreement is that Iceland commits to continued support in terms of transportation of military supplies and equipment to Ukraine from NATO allies by chartered cargo planes. In addition, Iceland will pay special attention to supporting and equipping Ukrainian women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Separate sections of the agreement relate to support for 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, including education and energy security.

Iceland commits to enhancing its diplomatic representation in Kyiv in order to foster deeper and more regular contact with government offices, parliament, civil society, and the private sector in Ukraine.

Ukraine and Iceland have signed an agreement in furtherance of the G7 Vilnius Declaration, which was adopted on July 12 last year. In total, our country has already signed 14 bilateral security agreements: with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, and Iceland.

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Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support between Ukraine and Iceland

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 13:08

Introduction

Ukraine and the Government of Iceland (hereinafter 'the Participants', or 'Ukraine' and 'Iceland') reiterate their condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, a clear violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter.

Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has caused immense destruction and civilian casualties with monumental consequences for Ukraine, the whole of Europe and the international community. The return of war to the European continent is a stark reminder of Russia's expansionist and aggressive behaviour in direct violation of international law and the European security order.

Iceland reiterates its unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders as of 1991, including the territorial sea.

Iceland conveys deep recognition of the perseverance and spirit of the Ukrainian people as they continue their extraordinary determination in exercising their inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. Ukraine's self-defence against Russia's aggression is also a fight for democratic values and European security - and therefore is vital also to Icelandic interests and Iceland's security.

Iceland, together with the Nordic countries, immediately supported the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine of 12 July 2023 (hereinafter the 'G7 Declaration'), adopted by the Group of Seven (G7) and the EU on the margins of the NATO Summit in Vilnius. At the second Ukrainian-Nordic Summit in Oslo on 13 December 2023 the leaders of the Nordic countries, including Iceland, reiterated their support for the G7 Declaration and unwavering support for Ukraine. They confirmed their continued commitment to provide extensive military, economic and humanitarian support, individually and collectively as Nordics, as well as in the framework of other international formats and platforms. They agreed to start bilateral negotiations with Ukraine on security commitments to be formalised in close coordination with G7 Allies and partners. Iceland hereby formalises its long-term bilateral security commitments to Ukraine.

As stated on multiple occasions, the Nordic countries stand united in bolstering Ukraine's resilience and capacity to defend itself and remain ready to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The Nordics are committed to maintain support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and advances its reform agenda, as it pursues its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

Recalling the long-standing diplomatic relations and friendship since Ukraine regained its independence in 1991, the Participants decide to deepen their cooperation and partnership by pursuing the long-term bilateral security commitments set forth in this Agreement, which are based on common interests in the defence of international peace and the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

I. Comprehensive and long-term support to Ukraine

1. With this Agreement, Ukraine and Iceland have decided to deepen their cooperation and partnership, which is based on their common interest in defence of international law and order, and the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

2. Iceland's commitment to the security and long-term support to Ukraine is in line with Iceland's parliamentary resolution on support to Ukraine agreed by Althingi - the Parliament of Iceland - on 29 April 2024 (hereafter 'the Parliamentary Resolution'). Furthermore, the commitments seek to complement contributions from the other participants of the G7 Declaration, including the EU and the Nordic countries. Iceland's security commitments to Ukraine are coordinated with Allies and partners.

3. Iceland stands ready to consult with Ukraine on a regular basis on strategic matters and to align and coordinate support delivered with the purpose of bolstering Ukraine's defensive fight against Russian aggression. Furthermore, Iceland would welcome inter alia regular Nordic-Ukraine strategic dialogue on the strengthening of Ukraine's defence, resilience, and reform path.

4. Iceland's commitments set forth in this Agreement reflect a strategic choice and involve comprehensive support to Ukraine's inherent right of self-defence against Russia's full-scale war of aggression, prevention of significant escalation and deterrence of future Russian aggression. Any extension of the security commitments will occur in dialogue between the Participants, and in coordination with Allies and partners.

5. Iceland will provide comprehensive and long-term economic, humanitarian, and defence-related support to Ukraine in line with the Parliamentary Resolution.

6. Iceland's support will be based on Ukraine's needs, including as called for in the Ukraine's Peace Formula, and coordinated with other international efforts. As before, Iceland will strive to provide the most effective and flexible support for Ukraine as it defends itself, and on its course to future membership of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

7. In 2022 and 2023, the Government of Iceland provided Ukraine with approximately 2.9 billion ISK in economic and humanitarian support and 2.6 billion ISK in support of Ukraine's defences. In the Parliamentary Resolution, Iceland has committed to a minimum of 4 billion ISK annually during the period 2024-2028, subject to Parliamentary appropriations each year. Total budget, distribution between military and civilian support, and specific allocations will be determined annually. In 2024, Iceland committed 2 million EUR to the Czech Initiative for ammunition purchase in support of Ukraine.

8. Iceland's commitment to support Ukraine over the five-year period covered by the Parliamentary Resolution confirms to the people of Ukraine and the international community that Iceland stands with Ukraine for the long-term. Iceland will continue its multifaceted support to Ukraine for the ten-year duration of this Agreement. Iceland recalls that national budgetary provisions apply and require explicit authorisation from Parliament.

II. Political Cooperation

Just Peace

9. The Participants recognize that Ukraine and Europe as a whole will not be secure until there is just peace that respects Ukraine's rights under international law, including the UN Charter.

10. Ukraine and Iceland will therefore work together bilaterally and in international fora for a just and lasting peace with broad global support, based on Ukraine's Peace Formula, which Iceland welcomes. Iceland will continue its diplomatic efforts to promote Ukraine's Peace Formula globally. Iceland will also participate in and support the implementation of Ukraine's Peace Formula.

Enhanced diplomatic representation

11. While the Embassy of Iceland in Warsaw is accredited to Ukraine, Iceland will also enhance its diplomatic representation in Kyiv in order to foster deeper and more regular contact with government offices, parliament, civil society, and the private sector in Ukraine. This will provide comprehensive insights into Ukraine's needs for support in the context of Russia's aggression.

European and Euro-Atlantic integration

12. Ukraine commits to implement reforms as defined by the EU, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB) and NATO covering inter alia governance, transparency, anti-corruption and democratic control over the security and defence forces. Ukraine's implementation of these reforms is essential for its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

13. The Participants reaffirm that Ukraine is integral to Euro-Atlantic and global security. Iceland is dedicated to supporting Ukraine's reform efforts on its path towards future NATO membership by, but not limited to, advancing practical and political cooperation through NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package, Ukraine's adapted Annual National Programme and the newly established NATO-Ukraine Council. Iceland recalls that Ukraine belongs to the Euro-Atlantic family and will become a member of NATO.

14. The Participants reaffirm that Ukraine is part of the European family and has a future within European cooperative structures.

Accountability

15. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to ensuring accountability for international crimes committed in and against Ukraine, including the crime of aggression. The Participants will continue their work, including in the Core Group, to establish a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

16. The Participants underline their firm dedication to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other international crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including making reparation for any damage caused by such acts, which will also help deter future attacks and support Ukraine's recovery. They concur on the need to ensure accountability for such crimes under international law committed by the Russian leadership and other Russian nationals and in particular by the members of the Russian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine through appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecution at the national or international level, and to ensure the indiscriminate enforcement of international humanitarian law with the view to prevent future crimes.

17. The Participants will continue to promote effective domestic investigation and prosecution of international crimes within Ukraine and will continue to support the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the International Criminal Court. The Participants reaffirm that the Russian Federation is to be held accountable for causing losses or damage to individuals and entities, as well as to the state of Ukraine, because of its internationally wrongful acts in Ukraine or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the UN Charter. Russian sovereign assets should remain immobilised until the Russian Federation has paid for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

18. The Participants will continue to engage within the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children established on 2 February 2024 and pursue the goals set by its Framework Document; contribute to international efforts to bring those responsible for organising the illegal deportation and displacement of Ukrainian children to justice according to the norms of international law and decisions of international judicial institutions; and facilitate all necessary assistance to children and their families affected by the illegal deportation and forced displacement by the Russian Federation, with the aim of their return, reintegration, and the restoration of their well-being, health, and welfare, consistent with the best interest of the child.

Compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression

19. The Participants reaffirm that Russia must pay for the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. Iceland, working with its partners, will continue to explore all lawful routes consistent with applicable contractual obligations and in accordance with international law through which Russian assets could be used to support Ukraine.

20. As a priority, the Participants will continue to work together along with like-minded partners towards the establishment of a compensation mechanism to provide compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russia's aggression, as envisaged by the Statute of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine adopted by the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe CM/Res(2023)3 at the Council Summit in Reykjavik in May 2023. In this regard, the Participants will explore appropriate options for the financing of a compensation mechanism consistent with international law in order to provide prompt and adequate compensation to victims of aggression.

Sanctions

21. The Participants will continue working to ensure that the costs to Russia for its aggression continue to rise, including through sanctions and export controls. The Participants recognise the value of sanctions in restricting Russia's access to the finance, goods, technology, and services it is utilising in its war of aggression, in bearing down on Russia's revenue streams, and in deterring future attacks, including measures to tackle circumvention of the measures in third countries.

22. Iceland will continue to align itself closely with the EU to uphold the pressure on Russia through robust international sanctions, which includes sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy and those in or outside the Russian Federation who are supporting or profiting from the war or assisting in sanctions circumvention in third countries, and to fight the evasion of sanctions as long as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues and Ukraine's territorial integrity is not restored. Iceland will cooperate with and support determined action by the EU to tackle all forms of sanctions circumvention.

23. Ukraine and Iceland will provide each other with up-to-date information on the grounds for sanctions and other relevant information, in compliance with relevant obligations.

. Defence-related support

Comprehensive and long-term support to Ukraine's defences, resilience, and deterrence

24. This Agreement on security commitments covers ongoing, scheduled, and future contributions to Ukraine's defences, resilience, and future deterrence of Russian aggression.

25. Iceland will support efforts to improve the capability of the security and defence forces of Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression now as well as to deter further aggression in the future, and to enhance interoperability with NATO standards.

26. Iceland will work with Ukraine to enable the development of Ukraine's defence industry, where possible. Iceland will support Ukraine's defence industry integration into NATO's security and defence frameworks.

27. Ukraine will ensure that Icelandic defence-related support is used exclusively for Ukraine's self-defence and is to be used by the security and defence forces of Ukraine against military objectives in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law. The Participants will cooperate to prevent the diversion and the illegal circulation of military material provided to Ukraine.

28. Iceland will continue its defence-related support in an agile and responsive manner. Iceland will provide Ukraine with defence-related support and keep enhancing training efforts to meet urgent needs on the battlefield. These efforts are essential to fully restore Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders as of 1991.

Training programmes

29. Iceland will continue to provide training, including train-the-trainer programmes, along with other allies, to improve Ukraine's capabilities in the field, along with supporting these efforts with donations of equipment. Current efforts include:

a) explosive ordnance disposal efforts in Ukraine by providing training, donations of equipment and support in developing and sustaining international demining standards;

b) training for Ukrainian field medics, as well as donation of equipment intended for the caring of the wounded or sick in the field;

c) contributions to the capacity building of Ukraine's maritime domain, by providing training at sea.

Training offered may change in line with Ukrainian needs and Icelandic capacity.

International support funds for Ukraine

30. Iceland will channel defence-related support to Ukraine through international and multilateral instruments, in line with the needs of Ukraine, as appropriate, including efforts such as:

a) NATO's Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package (UCAP) and the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine;

b) Ukraine Defence Contact Group, including through the Demining Coalition and the IT coalition to support efforts to enhance Ukraine's capacity and resilience;

c) Other efforts that supplement, add to or replace ongoing support.

Provision of equipment, supplies and transport

31. Iceland stands ready to finance, procure, and deliver defence-related supplies and equipment. Iceland commits to continued support in terms of transportation of military supplies and equipment to Ukraine from NATO allies by chartered cargo planes.

32. To meet the needs of servicewomen of Ukraine, Iceland has provided funding for the purchase of uniforms, bulletproof vests, and medical and hygiene products. Iceland will continue to support efforts that aim to provide equipment specifically for women in the security and defence forces.

Cyber security and countering disinformation

33. The Participants will cooperate to enable Ukraine to prevent, detect and counter Russian cyber aggression, cyber espionage and hybrid warfare, including through increased cooperation on cyber diplomacy, enhanced cyber resilience as well as providing technical assistance to Ukraine.

34. The Participants recognize that the Russian Federation continues to manipulate information in support of its war against Ukraine. The Participants will enhance their cooperation in the field of countering Russian and any other actor's disinformation and interference in order to promote the development of its capabilities to counter hybrid threats, malign propaganda and disinformation campaigns affecting national security as well as work for organising joint education and training programmes for experts.

Intelligence and security cooperation

35. The Participants will enhance cooperation in the field of intelligence and security in accordance with applicable legal requirements and possibilities.

36. The Participants will seek to conclude an Agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information between their respective countries that will facilitate greater information sharing between various Ukrainian and Icelandic government agencies.

Maritime Security

37. Iceland will contribute to the capacity building of Ukraine's maritime domain through cooperation with Allies and partners. The development of Ukraine's maritime fleet will be achieved through capacity building efforts, industrial cooperation and training efforts as well as donations.

38. The Participants will seek to coordinate their efforts on strengthening international cooperation in the domain of maritime security in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international legal instruments. Ukraine and Iceland will work on options for Iceland to support Ukraine in the development of Ukraine's naval capabilities.

V. Civilian support

39. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war of aggression, Iceland has provided civilian support for Ukraine's resilience, reconstruction, and relief of the war-affected population. This Agreement on security commitments acknowledges a continuation of such efforts.

Humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians

40. Iceland will provide humanitarian assistance based on Ukraine's needs, with the objective to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect civilians. Support will mainly be provided through key United Nations partners, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Civil Society Partners.

Economic support to sustain basic services and underpin reconstruction

41. Iceland will provide economic support to help sustain Ukraine's economy and the provision of basic services to Ukraine's population. Such support will both be geared towards addressing urgent needs as well as supporting reconstruction and creating the foundation for sustainable development.

42. Iceland's support will continue to be based on Ukraine's needs while prioritising areas in which Iceland has experience and knowledge and can provide added value. Special attention will be given to basic needs, the strengthening of social and civil infrastructure, including in the field of education, energy security and energy transition.

43. Iceland will continue to support efforts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as protection of critical infrastructure that will be necessary to secure electricity, heat, water, education, and other services to the Ukrainian people in a way that is both environmentally sustainable and resilient.

44. Iceland remains supportive of Ukraine's reform agenda and will provide support related to democracy, human rights, and gender equality, including the women, peace, and security agenda.

45. Iceland will provide its support through key partners such as the World Bank where Iceland has provided funding to the Ukraine Reconstruction Trust Fund (URTF) and the Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova recovery (SPUR) under the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Facility. Iceland will also continue to work actively within the IMF to ensure macro-financial support and to further international coordination.

46. Iceland's support will also be implemented in cooperation with other partners, international organisations and through civil society organisations, while opportunities for increased bilateral cooperation will be further developed. Iceland will furthermore work to increase private sector engagement and external trade between Ukraine and Iceland.

V. Commitment to implement reforms

47. Iceland recognises the significant progress Ukraine has made in implementing reforms. Ukraine reiterates its continued commitment to implementing reforms including in the areas of governance, anti-corruption and the defence and security sector. Ukraine commits to continue implementing reforms to support and protect Ukraine's democracy and rule of law.

48. Iceland will provide technical and financial resources to support Ukraine's reform path. This involves supporting Ukraine's reform process on the path towards future membership of EU and NATO.

49. Ukraine commits to further advancing reforms improving governance through strengthening institutional controls, improving resilience, and building a just and inclusive society. Ukraine will actively work to promote public trust in the rule of law and strengthen the independence of the judiciary.

50. Ukraine commits to advancing anti-corruption efforts at all levels of society across the public sector, the private sector and civil society. This includes ensuring sufficient resources for the independent anti-corruption institutions for the benefit of society as a whole.

51. The Participants will cooperate to combat serious and organised crime (SOC).

52. Ukraine commits to advancing and developing democratic control and oversight with its security and defence forces and within the wider security and defence sector by focusing on further improving oversight, accountability, and transparency across its security institutions essential for building their legitimacy, efficiency, and accountability.

VI. Cooperation in the event of a future armed attack

53. In the event of future Russian armed attack against Ukraine, at the request of either Participant, the Participants will consult within 24 hours, bilaterally or via other channels they both deem suitable, in order to determine appropriate next steps.

54. Iceland, in such circumstances, and in accordance with its respective legal and constitutional requirements, will provide swift and sustained security assistance as appropriate and economic assistance, to impose economic and other costs on Russia, including through aligning itself closely with sanctions decided by the EU, and to consult on Ukraine's needs as it exercises its right of self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

55. In order to ensure the widest and most effective collective response to future armed attacks, the Participants may amend these provisions in order to align with any mechanism that they may subsequently agree with their other international partners, including the participants of the G7 Declaration.

VII. Consultation, coordination, and review

56. In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement on security commitments and to ensure an ongoing strategic dialogue, appropriate consultation structures between the Participants will be arranged.

57. The Participants will, if necessary, designate authorised bodies for the development and implementation of bilateral agreements in accordance with the areas of cooperation specified in this Agreement.

58. The security commitments are subject to ongoing review in order to monitor progress on implementation with a special focus on ensuring adherence to accountability and transparency.

VII. Final Provisions

59. This Agreement may be amended and supplemented, including by adding annexes thereto, at any time by the written consent of the Participants.

60. Any disputes between the Participants arising out of the interpretation and/or implementation of this Agreement will be settled amicably through negotiation or consultation between the Participants.

61. This Agreement will come into effect from the date of its signature and is valid for ten years.

62. The Participants can jointly decide to extend this Agreement through notification no later than 6 (six) months prior to the lapse of the ten-year period.

63. At the same time and in accordance with the G7 Declaration, the Participants share the opinion that this Agreement is without prejudice to Ukraine pursuing a pathway toward future membership in the Euro-Atlantic Community.

64. In the event that Ukraine becomes a member of NATO before the expiry of this Agreement, the Participants will decide on its future status.

65. This Agreement may be terminated by either Participant by giving written notice to the other Participant. This Agreement will be terminated 6 (six) months from the date of receipt of such notice. The termination will not affect the implementation of ongoing activities or projects, which have been decided prior to the date of its termination, unless the Participants decide otherwise.

Signed in Stockholm on 31 May 2024, in duplicate, in English and Ukrainian languages, the English version of which shall prevail in the event of any discrepancy.

For Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President

For Iceland: Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister

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Ukraine and Sweden Signed a Security Agreement

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 12:06

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson signed an Agreement on Security Cooperation in Stockholm.

During 2024-2026, Sweden will provide our country with military assistance worth SEK 75 billion (about EUR 6.5 billion), which is approximately EUR 2.2 billion per year. The amount of assistance will increase over the ten-year duration of the document.

The military support for Ukraine includes aviation and air defense, armored vehicles, artillery, enhancing maritime security, assistance with mine clearance, 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 partners will also explore joint production opportunities.

A unique part of the agreement with Sweden is the provision of specialized ASC 890 aircraft, as well as the prospect of providing Ukraine with JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, including relevant training.

Sweden will also support the development of Ukraine's modern defense industry potential and develop bilateral cooperation on localization, repair, maintenance and production of Swedish defense products in Ukraine.

Separate blocks of the agreement relate to support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula, sanctions, compensation for damages and bringing the aggressor to justice, as well as assistance to our country in economic recovery, reconstruction, and protection of critical infrastructure.

In addition, Sweden has clearly reaffirmed its support for Ukraine on its path to EU and NATO membership.

The agreement was signed in furtherance of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted last year on July 12. In total, Ukraine has already signed 13 bilateral security agreements: with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and Sweden.

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Agreement on Security Cooperation between Ukraine and Sweden

President of Ukraine

31 May 2024 - 12:01

Preamble

Ukraine and Sweden (hereafter 'the Participants'):

determined to end forever Russia's aggression against Ukraine since 2014 and its full-scale invasion in 2022, which are in blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter and which have brought massive suffering to Ukraine's people and threatened European and global security;

unwavering in our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its borders, which have been internationally recognised since 1991, and to ensuring Ukraine's ability to defend itself, as its inherent right of self-defence against Russia's aggression under Article 51 of the UN Charter, to resist future aggression, to choose its own future, and to prosper;

committed to common values of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

reaffirming the rules and principles of the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the Charter of Paris, including the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the inviolability of borders, which are essential for European and global security;

reaffirming UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/ES-11/1 which recalls that no territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognised as legal;

desiring to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine as well as its economic and social recovery;

reaffirming our support for reforms to strengthen Ukraine's security and economy, which are aimed at realising its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, including towards European Union and NATO membership;

reaffirming the objective of Ukrainian accession to the European Union, as well as our joint commitment to Ukraine's EU integration and related reforms, which Sweden will continue to support;

recognising that Ukraine's defence, recovery, reform and European and Euro-Atlantic ambitions are mutually reinforcing and must go forward together;

supporting the strongest possible concerted efforts in relevant international groupings, notably in the EU, NATO and among Nordic and Nordic-Baltic partners, to ensure coordination and synergies between all like-minded countries; and

recalling the Joint Statement on Support for Ukraine by the leaders of the Nordic countries in support of the G7 Joint Declaration in Support for Ukraine of 12 July 2023 (hereafter 'the G7 Joint Declaration');

have jointly determined to strengthen our security cooperation by pursuing the long-term security commitments and measures set out in this Agreement.

Part I. Scope

This Agreement is intended to further the Joint Declaration launched by Ukraine and the members of the G7 in Vilnius on 12 July 2023 and subsequently joined by Sweden and 24 other states. It complements bilateral agreements between the Participants, including the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden concerning cooperation in the field of Defence of 14 December 2021, as well as agreements between the Participants and international organisations such as the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which remains the foundation of collaboration between the Participants. The Participants will continue to explore ways to further strengthen their long-term relationship and partnership. As stated on multiple occasions, the Nordic countries stand united in bolstering Ukraine's resilience and capacity to defend itself and remain ready to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders as of 1991, including territorial waters. The Nordics are committed to lock-in support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and advances its reform agenda, as it pursues its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. Sweden stands ready on a regular basis to consult with Ukraine on strategic matters and to align and coordinate support delivered with the purpose of bolstering Ukraine's defensive fight against Russian aggression. Furthermore, Sweden would welcome, inter alia, regular Nordic-Ukraine strategic dialogue on the strengthening of Ukraine's defence, resilience and reform path. With this Agreement, the Participants have decided to deepen their cooperation and partnership, which is based on their common interests in the defence of international law, peace, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sweden believes that Ukraine's future membership of the European Union (EU) would make an effective contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. The Participants have decided on coordinating and strengthening joint efforts to support Ukraine's accession to the EU. Sweden believes that Ukraine's future membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) would make an effective contribution to peace and stability in Europe. The Participants have decided on coordinating and strengthening joint efforts to support Ukraine's accession to NATO. The main components of the security commitments provided to Ukraine by Sweden in this Agreement are:

provision of comprehensive assistance to Ukraine for the protection and the restoration of its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, reconstruction of its national economy, and the protection of its citizens;

support to Ukraine's ability of prevention and deterrence of, and counter-measures against, any military escalation and/or a new aggression by the Russian Federation; and

support for Ukraine's future integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, including by supporting Ukraine's reform plans and interoperability with NATO.

Pledge

In the context of this Agreement and subject to its national legal and constitutional requirements, Sweden will provide to Ukraine military assistance to a total amount of SEK 75 billion (approximately a6.5 billion), over the three-year period of 2024 - 2026. In 2022 and 2023, Sweden provided Ukraine with assistance to a total amount of around SEK 30 billion (approximately a2.6 billion), of which around SEK 23 billion (close to a2 billion) in military assistance. Since 2022 Sweden has provided Ukraine with more than SEK 7 billion (some a600 million) in development and financial assistance. This portfolio will continue to grow during the period. Consequently, Swedish assistance for the five-year period 2022 - 2026 amounts to at least SEK 105 billion in total (more than a9 billion), of which military support SEK 98 billion (a8.5 billion). Sweden, as a Member State of the European Union, will contribute to the common financing of military and non-military assistance to Ukraine through the EU, including the EPF instrument, and contributions to the military and civilian missions in Ukraine, EUMAM and EUAM. In addition, Sweden will, as a NATO member, contribute to NATO's efforts in support of Ukraine.

Part II. Defence and Security

Defence and Military Cooperation

Ukrainian-Swedish defence cooperation has deep historical origins. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Sweden has supplied Ukraine with advanced military support. As an immediate response to Russia's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Sweden made the historic decision to donate military equipment to a country at war for the first time since its support to Finland after it was attacked by the Soviet Union during the Second World War. Sweden will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, so that Ukraine can effectively defend itself. The Participants recall the inherent right of states to individual and collective self-defence, enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and the unlawfulness of all attempts to redraw borders by force. They reaffirm that Ukraine's security is integral to European, Euro-Atlantic and global security. Ukraine's Armed Forces and other security and defence forces are defending not only state sovereignty, independence and their territory but also the UN Charter, our shared values and fundamental rules and principles of international law. Sweden is a close defence and security partner for Ukraine. The aim of Ukraine-Sweden defence cooperation is to support an independent, democratic, and sovereign Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, capable of deterring and defending against future attacks, as well as to deepen Ukraine's interoperability with NATO, and to accelerate Ukraine's transition to NATO equipment and standards. The Participants will work together, and with other partners of Ukraine, to support the Ukrainian security and defence forces to fully restore Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, as well as to increase Ukraine's resilience so that it is sufficient to deter and defend against future aggression, including development of Ukrainian Future Force. This will include, but is not limited to, working together so that Ukraine's security institutions are able to perform effectively to European and Euro-Atlantic standards and are fully accountable to the Ukrainian people, Parliament and Government. The Participants share the opinion that the illicit diversion of military items must be avoided. Sweden acknowledges the prevention efforts of the Ukrainian side and international partners and intends to support these efforts where needed. Through this Agreement:

The Participants will work together on ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future, through the continued provision of security assistance and modern military equipment, across the land, air, and sea domains. In the short term, Sweden will continue to support through a supply solution for military equipment systems donated to Ukraine such as the Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) and the Archer artillery system. The Swedish military support will be guided by Ukrainian needs in close cooperation and coordination with partners;

Sweden's support will include short-term military needs as well as the long-term capacity building of Ukraine's Future Defence Force. This will be achieved through the provision of military support across different domains in coordination and cooperation with the relevant international partners and institutions, focusing on key capabilities and urgent needs of Ukraine within the areas of air defence, maritime security, mechanised capabilities, artillery, demining, and unmanned capabilities in all domains.

In the air domain, Sweden's transfer of ASC 890 aircraft will provide Ukraine with an airborne surveillance and command and control capability, significantly enhancing the operational effect of the Ukrainian air defence. This transfer deepens the participants' cooperation within the air domain. Sweden, in cooperation with international partners, will continue its efforts to enable a potential transfer of JAS 39 Gripen aircraft to Ukraine, including training, at an appropriate point in time, taking into account progress in integrating other Western fighter aircraft into the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

Sweden will, alongside other international partners, support efforts to enhance Ukraine's deterrence to external aggressors by developing NATO interoperable modern Defence Forces through: support within the wider area of training (including train-the-trainers programmes) and education for Ukrainian security and defence forces personnel through bilateral, EU and multilateral settings; continue efforts within the field of combat engineers by providing training efforts, donations of equipment and support in developing and sustaining international demining standards. contribute to the capacity building of Ukraine's maritime domain through cooperation with Allies and partners. The development of Ukraine's maritime fleet will be achieved through capacity building efforts, training efforts as well as equipment; support within the field of Unmanned Systems through training and equipment; continue efforts to the capacity building of Ukraine's mechanised capability through training and equipment; support within the field of military medicine (medicine and medical devices and training of combat medics); support the psychological rehabilitation and physical rehabilitation of military personnel; contributions through the European Peace Facility; financial contributions through multilateral capability enhancing funds such as NATO CAP; defence materiel procurement support and co-procurement of military equipment; and support for development of Ukraine's defence procurement organisation and exchange of information and experience regarding operational use of military equipment.

Sweden will support plans and governance structures for Capability Coalitions, both to deliver the future force, and also to bring more coherence to the provision of capability in the current war.

At the time of signing this Agreement, Sweden took active part in the following Capability Coalitions for Ukraine: Air Force Capability, Armour, Maritime Security, De-mining, and Drones.

Sweden will make contributions to the Capability Coalitions for support to Ukraine, in accordance with Ukraine's long-term needs, as well as providing other weapons systems and ammunition agreed by the Participants, in accordance with Ukraine's most urgent needs.

Additionally, Sweden will explore options to support Ukraine to constitute strategic stockpiles.

The Participants confirm their commitment to develop and discuss lessons learned from Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as such cooperation would be mutually beneficial for the Participants. Sweden will continue its support to Ukraine for the duration of this Agreement. The Participants will hold an annual senior-level Strategic Defence and Security Policy Dialogue.

Defence Industry Cooperation

Sweden will work with Ukraine to contribute to the development of Ukraine's defence industrial base, and identify opportunities for closer collaboration and coordination, including for mutual commercial benefit and coordination. Sweden will work with Ukraine to identify and mitigate supply chain bottlenecks impeding the development of capacity and capability of both Sweden and Ukraine for production of priority weapons and ammunition. Sweden will support its defence industry's efforts to work with Ukraine on localisation, repairs, maintenance, and production of Swedish defence products in Ukraine. This includes support for cooperation in production, operation, training, and servicing of the CV90 platform, as envisaged in the Statement of Intent between the Prime Minister of Sweden and the President of Ukraine on enhanced cooperation on the CV90 platform, signed at Harpsund on 19 August 2023. Sweden will work with Ukraine to strengthen protection of the transferred technologies and intellectual property rights. At the same time, Ukraine guarantees the protection of these technologies and intellectual property. The Participants will promote information exchange on their respective defence related research and development efforts, with the aim of implementing joint projects and programmes to develop new defence solutions. Sweden will work with Ukraine to identify funding sources required to enable development of Ukraine's defence industrial base, in particular in the time of war and post-war recovery. Sweden will support Ukraine's development of new defence industrial capacity. Sweden will support Ukraine's efforts to integrate its defence industry into NATO defence and security frameworks. The Participants will work to transform Ukraine's defence industry into a powerful capability enabling Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders of 1991, serving as major driver in economic recovery and being essential part of effective deterrence against the future attempts of aggression to ensure peace and prosperity for both Ukraine, Sweden and the whole Europe.

Information sharing and intelligence

The participants will work together in the field of information sharing and intelligence.

Part III. Non-Military Security

Protection of critical infrastructure

Sweden will continue to support the protection, recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of critical infrastructure and public services in Ukraine.

Information security, combating information manipulation and propaganda

The Participants recognise that the Russian Federation continues to manipulate information in support of its war on Ukraine and will seek to continue to mutually support each other's efforts to tell the truth well. To counter Russian information manipulation and propaganda globally, Sweden and Ukraine will:

collaborate to improve Ukraine's capabilities to counter foreign information manipulation threats, primarily Russian propaganda;

work together with like-minded partners to communicate effectively at an international level, offering the world a truthful alternative to the Russian Federation's disinformation campaigns;

promote the development of joint educational and training programmes for information security professionals, regular exchange of experience and professional events involving information security professionals, as well as providing technical assistance to Ukraine.

Cyber security

Sweden is committed to supporting Ukraine in the implementation of the EU acquis on cyber security. The Participants will explore opportunities to deepen cooperation in cyber security in order to assist Ukraine to prevent, detect, deter and counter Russian and any other cyber aggression, cyber espionage and hybrid warfare as well as to identify and deter the irresponsible and malicious use of cyber capabilities by any state and non-state actors against the Participants.

This will be achieved through enhanced cyber resilience and critical digital infrastructure protection, training of specialists and providing technical assistance to Ukraine.

Cooperation in the sphere of combating serious and organised crime

The Participants recognize the need to counteract the activities of serious and organised crime (SOC), in particular individuals and groups that are trying to infiltrate across Ukrainian society, have criminal influence in certain regions, including the temporarily occupied ones, and are actively used as a tool of hybrid warfare to counteract the processes of recovery and reconciliation in Ukraine. The Participants recognize the need to counteract illicit financing aimed at undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its internal stability.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks

The Participants aim to broaden their ongoing bilateral collaboration to bolster resilience against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Sweden will explore opportunities to assist Ukraine in enhancing its civil protection capabilities and resilience to CBRN-related risks.

Part IV. Political Cooperation

The Participants recognise that neither Ukraine nor Europe as a whole will be secure until Ukraine's territorial integrity is fully restored and there is a just peace that respects Ukraine's rights under international law and the UN Charter. The Participants will therefore work together for a just and lasting peace that has broad global support. Sweden welcomes Ukraine's efforts to create a just and sustainable peace, also based on the principles of Ukraine's Peace Formula where Sweden is a co-chair of the working group on nuclear safety. Sweden is ready to play a leading role in taking forward steps to implement peace initiatives in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.

Sanctions

The Participants recognise the value of sanctions in restricting the Russian Federation's access to the finance, goods, technology and services it is utilising in its aggression, in bearing down on Russia's revenue streams, and to deter future attacks. Since the invasion started, Sweden has, as an EU Member State, contributed to delivering its most extensive sanctions packages against Russia and will continue to work to ensure that the cost to Russia of its aggression continues to rise. While Russia's aggression towards Ukraine continues, Sweden will remain committed to pursuing robust EU sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy and those in Russia and outside who are supporting or profiting from the war, or assisting in sanctions circumvention in third countries. Sweden will also take determined action with partners to tackle all forms of sanctions circumvention. The Participants will provide each other up-to-date information on the grounds for sanctions and other relevant information, in compliance with relevant obligations.

Part V. Legal support

Accountability

The Participants reaffirm their commitment to holding Russia accountable for causing losses or damage to natural and legal persons, as well as to the state of Ukraine, as a result of its internationally wrongful acts in Ukraine or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the Charter of the United Nations. They reaffirm that Russia must bear the legal consequences of its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparation for any damage caused by such acts, which will also help deter future attacks and support Ukraine's recovery. They will, consistent with international law, seek to hold to account those responsible for war crimes and other international crimes, including the crime of aggression, committed in or against Ukraine, including by supporting the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the International Criminal Court to ensure allegations of war crimes and other international crimes are fully and fairly investigated by independent, effective and robust legal mechanisms and by engaging actively and constructively in the work, on the establishment of a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine, including within the "Core Group on options for the establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine". Sweden will support Ukraine in immediate release and return of all unlawfully detained, forcibly transferred and illegally deported civilians, primarily the Ukrainian children, and contribute to international efforts to bring responsible for organising the illegal deportation and displacement of Ukrainian children persons and organisations to justice according to the norms of international law and the decisions of international judicial institutions.

Ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Ukraine will ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, including the Amendments on the crime of aggression adopted by the Review Conference of the Rome Statute held in Kampala, Uganda on 11 June 2010 by Resolution RC/Res.6, as mentioned in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, on the way to its membership in the EU.

Part VI. Fiscal Support, Recovery and Reconstruction

Fiscal support

Sweden will continue to contribute to Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction and has been at the forefront of efforts to support Ukraine's immediate recovery, fiscal and humanitarian needs. Since the full-scale invasion, Sweden has provided bilateral fiscal, humanitarian, stabilisation, civilian crisis management, recovery and reform assistance to meet Ukraine's immediate needs.

Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernisation

Sweden is steadfast in its commitment to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. Sweden will support Ukraine to build increased institutional, economic and social resilience, with a focus on reforms that underpin these areas and contribute to Ukraine's EU integration. Sweden will continue to support Ukraine in implementing the reforms that constitute steps on Ukraine's EU accession path. Sweden will also support recovery and reconstruction in priority sectors, where Sweden has expertise and a unique offer, including green transition, energy, provision of welfare services such as health care and social services, decentralisation, and digitalisation. Ukraine will remain the largest recipient of Swedish foreign aid for years to come. In 2023, Sweden adopted a strategy for its reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine 2023-2027. Amounting to 6 billion SEK (approximately 500 million euros), it is the largest Swedish foreign aid strategy to a single country ever and will contribute to Ukraine's freedom, resilience and economic prosperity. Reconstruction and reform cooperation are two mutually reinforcing components that together contribute to the overall goal of Ukraine's EU integration, building on the successful reform cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine since the 1990's. Sweden will continue to support Ukraine on its path towards EU membership. The Participants recognise that lasting security and prosperity for Ukraine must be underpinned by enterprise and trade. Sweden will continue to support businesses and an improved investment climate, as well as efforts to empower Ukraine as a trading partner, not least with the EU. Sweden will also continue to support efforts to increase competitiveness and combat corruption. To facilitate Swedish companies' support to Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and economic development, Sweden has opened a Business Sweden office in Kyiv and established a special guarantee framework for Ukraine. The Participants recognise the need to unite efforts aimed at protecting the population and territories of Ukraine from the contamination of mines and explosive remnants of war as a result of the Russian aggression. Sweden aims to continue providing financial and other support to Ukraine's humanitarian demining efforts alongside partners. This is important to reduce the threat to human security and boost reconstruction efforts and economic recovery, not least in the agricultural sector.

Macro-economic stability

The Participants recognise the importance of macro-economic stability. Sweden stands behind Ukraine's International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme goals of sustaining economic and financial stability, restoring debt sustainability and promoting reforms that support Ukraine's recovery. Ukraine is committed to implementing the full set of policy requirements as set out in the IMF programme, including in meeting these through the quarterly review monitoring processes during the lifetime of the programme to 2027.

Compensation for damage, loss and injury caused by Russian aggression

The Participants reaffirm that Russia must pay for the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. Russian sovereign assets in Sweden's jurisdiction will remain immobilised, in full accordance with EU and international law, until Russia has paid for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. Sweden, working with its partners, will continue to pursue all lawful routes through which Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine. As a priority, the Participants will continue to work together with others, including G7 states, towards the establishment of an international compensation mechanism to provide compensation for damage, loss, or injury caused in the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, extending to its territorial waters, by Russia's internationally wrongful acts in or against Ukraine, as envisaged by the Statute of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine adopted by the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe CM/Res(2023)3. In this regard, the Participants will explore appropriate options for financing an international compensation mechanism to provide prompt and adequate compensation to victims of Russian aggression.

Part VII. Humanitarian Cooperation

Humanitarian aid, civil defence and resilience

The Participants reaffirm that, as Ukraine begins early recovery and reconstruction, they will ensure the continuation of well-coordinated life-saving humanitarian aid where it is needed. The Participants will work together to ensure a better prioritised, targeted humanitarian response which delivers to those most in need. Sweden will continue to support stabilisation and civil defence needs where there is a strategic fit. Sweden will continue to provide humanitarian aid and civil protection assistance bilaterally, as well as in cooperation with EU and UN institutions. The Participants will also continue to play an active role through the support for temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine.

Social recovery and territorial reintegration

Sweden will support Ukraine to plan for the reintegration of currently occupied territories, to contribute to the vital stabilisation and socio-economic renewal, particularly in liberated and frontline areas, and areas bordering Russia, to promote an inclusive social recovery, and to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. This includes work to strengthen social protection systems, the health care system and support to women, children, veterans, persons with disabilities and other persons in vulnerable situations, including psycho-social support and re-integration, rehabilitation, sustainable solutions for internally displaced persons and their host communities, and to strengthen the conditions for safe and durable return, including from other countries.

Part VIII. Reform

Inclusive reform

The Participants reaffirm that inclusive reform is indispensable for Ukraine's current and future security and prosperity, for its democracy, the resilience of its institutions and for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, including EU and NATO membership. The legacy effect created by the war, such as the liberation of occupied territory, the transition from martial law, and the need to meet public expectations, will require Ukraine's institutions to be well adapted to manage such challenges.

Priority reform areas

The Participants reiterate their commitment to streamline reform efforts against the priority reform areas set for accessions to EU and NATO and IMF benchmarks, as well as aligning with other major donors, in particular the European Union and International Financial Institutions. Ukraine commits to implementing reforms as set out in the EU Ukraine Plan for recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation 2024-2027 linked to the European Commission's Ukraine Facility. This includes the areas of governance, anti-corruption, green transition, digitalisation, and economic development. Ukraine commits to implementing reforms in its defence and security sector - advancing security and defence sector reforms (including defence, intelligence and civilian security institutions) and modernisation including by strengthening democratic civilian control and improving efficiency and transparency across Ukraine's security institutions and defence-related industries, including through activities to support: democratic civilian control of the Armed Forces, a prerequisite of NATO and EU membership and an important indicator of the non-politicisation of the Armed Forces;

good governance within the defence and security sector, including evidence-based decision making, delegated management authority, clear directive structures, and improved recruitment, human resources and retention processes, and the corporatisation and good management of the state-owned defence industrial sector, to meet Ukraine's OECD obligations and EU standards;

improved defence and security procurement processes (for both lethal and non-lethal equipment) ensuring that, wherever possible, the default process is transparent, and all relevant processes are followed to enable audit and evaluation activity; and

increased alignment with Euro-Atlantic values and standards, including through the development and standardisation of International Humanitarian Law, and support for relevant Ministries in implementing their obligations towards marginalised groups. Sweden commits to supporting Ukraine in delivering its reform agenda through financial and political support, and by sharing Swedish expertise.

Part IX. Cooperation in the event of future armed attack

Any future Russian invasion would violate the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, and would grievously undermine Euro-Atlantic security, including that of Sweden. In the event of a future Russian armed attack against Ukraine, at the request of either of the Participants, the Participants will consult within 24 hours on measures needed to counter or deter the aggression. In those circumstances, and subject to its legal and constitutional requirements, Sweden would provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, such as modern military equipment as necessary, and economic assistance; impose economic and other costs on Russia; and consult with Ukraine on its needs as it exercises its right to self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. In order to ensure the widest and most effective collective response to any future armed attack, the Participants may amend these provisions in order to align with any mechanism that Ukraine may subsequently agree with its other international partners, including the participants in the G7 Joint Declaration.

Part X. Implementation of cooperation

The Participants will implement this cooperation in accordance with their international and national obligations, as well as Sweden's European commitments.

The Participants will, if necessary, designate authorised bodies for the development and implementation of bilateral agreements in accordance with the areas of cooperation specified in this Agreement.

The authorised bodies of the Participants can conclude executive and technical agreements on specific areas of cooperation within the framework of the implementation of this Agreement.

Part XI. Timeframe and other provisions

This Agreement is valid for ten (10) years from the date of its signature.

The Participants can jointly decide to extend this Agreement through notification no later than six (6) months prior to the lapse of the 10-year period.

In accordance with the Joint Statement on Support for Ukraine by the leaders of the Nordic countries in support of the G7 Joint Declaration, the Participants intend this Agreement to remain in effect as Ukraine pursues its path to future membership in the Euro-Atlantic community.

In the event that Ukraine becomes a member of NATO before the end of this Agreement, the Participants will decide on its future status.

This Agreement may be amended and supplemented, including by adding annexes thereto, by mutual consent of the Participants, which will be made in writing.

Signed in Stockholm on 31 May 2024, in duplicate in the English and Ukrainian languages, the English version of which is valid in the event of any discrepancy.

For Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President

For Sweden: Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister

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Ukraine: Top UN relief official deplores latest deadly strikes in Kharkiv

31 May 2024 - The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine has strongly condemned the latest deadly Russian missile strikes in Kharkiv.

The attacks occurred in the city's Novobovarskyi district late on Thursday. At least three people were killed and a further 16 injured, according to media reports.

The repeated missile strikes caused significant damage to residential buildings. They also affected rescue workers rushing to the scene.

In a statement issued on Friday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown extended her deepest condolences "to the families impacted by the non-stop attacks by the Russian Federation's Armed Forces."

Humanitarian response hampered

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, has come under relentless shelling in recent weeks. UN agencies have been assisting in evacuating people from other areas of the wider Kharkiv region that have come under attack.

Ms. Brown said the escalation of hostilities in Kharkiv and elsewhere in Ukraine continues to devastate the lives of families, making humanitarian response efforts even more critical and difficult.

"International humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure," she said.

"Living in fear of air strikes at home, at work or while shopping is not normal."

Violations against children

Ms. Brown heads the UN Office in Ukraine which issued a separate statement on Friday condemning the severe violations of children's rights in the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

Heavy hostilities continue to inflict immense physical, psychological, and emotional harm on children, disrupting their lives and jeopardizing their future.

"The most recent wave of Russian attacks in the Kharkiv Region underscores the dreadful cost of the war, and the horrors that the children of Ukraine are facing," Ms. Brown said.

"Many have been killed or injured, and thousands forced to flee from their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the profound stress from having witnessed a truly terrifying situation."

Young lives ended

Over 600 children have been killed, and more than 1,420 injured, since the escalation, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, though the actual toll is likely much higher.

The statement said children spend countless hours in bomb shelters due to indiscriminate attacks. Boys and girls in frontline communities have spent between 3,000 and 5,000 hours underground - equivalent to four to seven months - making their lives stressful and extremely difficult.

Forced displacement further compounds dangers they face, including separation from their families and increased risks of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

Education and healthcare disrupted

The war has also severely affected education, and many schools have adopted online or underground classes. The UN Office in Ukraine expressed particular concern over the situation of children in frontline regions.

Currently, nearly a million boys and girls - a quarter of all Ukrainian children enrolled in school - have been unable to attend in-person learning, particularly those with disabilities and special educational needs.

Children's health is another casualty of the war. Damage to health facilities, together with the displacement of personnel, mean that access to healthcare services is limited.

The statement noted that displaced families and those living close to the front line struggle to obtain necessary medical care, particularly for pregnant women and newborns, while vaccination campaigns have been disrupted, thus increasing the risk of outbreaks of some preventable diseases.

Commitment to deliver

The UN and partners in Ukraine are working to assist the country's children, the statement concluded.

Last year, the UN provided vital primary healthcare to more than 5.1 million children and mothers, and education services to more than 2.5 million students and teachers.

Ms. Brown underlined the UN's commitment to support the people of Ukraine but noted that "no amount of aid will bring back what a generation of children is losing because of Russia's invasion."

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Attacks in Kharkiv City, killing and injuring civilians: Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown condemns attacks in Kharkiv City

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I strongly condemn the attacks that hit the residential area of the Novobavarskyi district in Kharkiv late last night, killing and injuring people, including children, and causing significant destruction to residential buildings. The repeated strikes in the same area also affected rescue workers rushing to help affected people.

I extend my deepest condolences to the families impacted by the non-stop attacks by the Russian Federation's Armed Forces.

The escalation of hostilities in Kharkiv and in other parts of Ukraine continues to devastate the lives of families, making humanitarian response efforts even more critical and difficult.

International humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure. Living in fear of air strikes at home, at work or while shopping is not normal.

Mykolaiv, 31 May 2024

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NATO leader supports alliance's right to defend Ukraine

By VOA News May 31, 2024

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg Friday said he supports the alliances right to help Ukraine defend itself as its war against Russia evolves, including allowing Kyiv to return fire on targets inside Russia using NATO supplied weapons.

Stoltenberg made the comments to reporters in Prague following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. It came as NATO allies, the United States and Germany, altered their policies to allow Ukraine to counter-fire into Russia against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them.

The NATO meeting had been intended as a planning session for the full NATO summit scheduled for July in Washington, but the issue of returning fire dominated discussions this week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week accused NATO and the United States of escalating the war by considering the policy change and warned of consequences.

But Stoltenberg was emphatic in his response Friday. "Let me clear: self-defense is not escalation," he said. "Self-defense is a fundamental right. Ukraine has the right and the responsibility to protect its people, and we have the right to help Ukraine uphold its right of self-defense."

"Of course, Russia doesn't like this," he noted. "Putin wanted to deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine. But we will not be deterred."

The United States announced Thursday it had given Ukraine permission to use U.S.-supplied weapons to target Russia, but only in the Kharkiv region bordering Russia.

The decision marks a major policy change. Until now, U.S. President Joe Biden had refused to allow Ukraine to use American weapons for assaults inside Russian territory. A U.S. official, speaking on background, said the U.S. policy against the use of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, has not changed.

Following the U.S. decision, Germany announce Friday it also would allow Ukraine to return fire into Russia using German-supplied weapons.

Speaking to reporters in Prague shortly after Stoltenberg, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that Ukraine had approached U.S. officials in recent weeks and asked for authorization to use U.S. weapons against Russian troops on the other side of the border. The request was passed along to the president, and Biden approved.

"The hallmark of our engagement in Ukraine over these more than two years is to adapt and adjust as necessary to meet what is actually going on on the battlefield," Blinken said. "Going forward, we will continue to do what we are doing, which is as necessary, which is adapt and adjust."

Also Friday, Stoltenberg said he wanted NATO member countries to commit to supporting Ukraine with $43 billion annually in military aid.

"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-defense," Stoltenberg said.

NATO countries already provide 99% of Ukraine's military aid, Stoltenberg said.

In fighting Friday, Ukraine shelling killed five people in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed leader of the region, reported on social media.

Russian casualties since the beginning of its war in Ukraine have now likely reached 500,000, the British Defense Ministry said Friday.

The death rate for Russian personnel remains high, the report said, with Russian casualties in May reaching 1,200 daily, "the highest reported since the start of the war."

The ministry said Russian forces were "highly likely" receiving "only limited training" and did not have the capability to carry out complex operations.

Also, Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a prisoner exchange with Russia, which brought 75 Ukrainian prisoners a both civilians and military personnel a back home. Zelenskyy made the announcement as he met with leaders of Nordic countries in Sweden.

The Russian news agency RIA, citing Russia's Defense Ministry, reported Ukraine handed over 75 people in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates. It was the first prisoner exchange in nearly four months.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.



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Biden allows Ukraine to hit Russia with American weapons near Kharkiv

By Patsy Widakuswara May 31, 2024

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, Moscow's advances on Kharkiv in recent weeks may have persuaded him.

The White House's decision "does the minimum to help Ukraine with a difficult situation in the northeast," removing "a major burden on Ukraine's efforts to defend civilians in Kharkiv and to stop the Russian offensive," said John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council's 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 Moscow's 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 EU's plan. Biden and other G7 leaders are set to formally give their support during their summit in Bari, 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 Croo's 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.





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THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

CALGARY, Alberta, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (TSXV:CMC; OTCQB:CWSFF) (Cielo or the Company), a renewable fuel company leveraging market ready licensed technology to produce low carbon fuel from wood by-products, is pleased to announce the closing of the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering of unsecured convertible debenture units of the Company (collectively, the "Convertible Debenture Units") at a price of C $1,000 per Convertible Debenture Unit(the "Private Placement"). Pursuant to the closing of this final tranche of the Private Placement, the Company issued 90 Convertible Debenture Units for gross proceeds of C $90,000, consisting of 90 Convertible Debentures and 225,000 Warrants, which brings the total raised under the Private Placement to C $2,130,000.

Each Convertible Debenture Unit is comprised of: (i) one unsecured convertible debenture (each, a "Convertible Debenture") in the principal amount of C $1,000.00 (the "Principal Amount") convertible into common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares" and each such Common Share, a "Conversion Share"); and (ii) 2,500 detachable share purchase warrants (each, a "Warrant") exercisable into Common Shares (each such Common Share, a Warrant Share).

The Principal Amount of the Debentures, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, will mature and become due and payable in cash on the date that is 24 months from the date of issue of the Convertible Debenture Units (Issue Date), subject to earlier conversion or redemption (the "Maturity Date"). The Principal Amount owing under the Debentures will accrue interest from the date of issuance at 12.0% per annum on a 30/360 calendar basis, payable every six (6) months in cash, except the first payment will be made in November 2024 and will consist of interest accrued from and including the Issue Date. As the Convertible Debentures will be unsecured debt obligations of the Company, each Convertible Debenture will rank subordinate to all secured debt obligations of the Company.

The Principal Amount may be converted, for no additional consideration, into Conversion Shares at the option of the holder of a Convertible Debenture (each, a Holder) at any time after the Issue Date at a conversion price (the Conversion Price) of $0.40 per Conversion Share. However, the Company may force the conversion of the Convertible Debentures (the Forced Conversion), at the Conversion Price, in the event that the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) is greater than C $1.00 for any ten (10) consecutive trading days. In the event of a Forced Conversion, the Company will provide notice to Holders by issuing a news release announcing the details of the Forced Conversion, including the date upon which the Forced Conversion will occur. In addition, the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures may be redeemed by the Company at any time without penalty.

Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Warrant Share at a price of $0.70 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the Issue Date. However, the Company may accelerate the expiry of the Warrants (the Warrant Term Acceleration) in the event that the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the Exchange is greater than C $1.00 for any ten (10) consecutive trading days. In the event of a Warrant Term Acceleration, the Company will provide notice to holders of the Warrants by issuing a news release announcing the details of the Warrant Term Acceleration, including the accelerated expiry date of the Warrants.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for the continued advancement of its renewable fuel projects, namely the wood byproduct to Bio-SynDiesel Project in Carseland, Alberta (the Carseland Project), which is currently undergoing front-end engineering and design, and the Companys railway tie to Bio-SynDiesel project in Dunmore, Alberta, as well as general working capital and corporate growth purposes. The Carseland Project will be situated adjacent to an existing synthetic fuel facility owned and operated by Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels Inc., which deploys patented technology developed by Expander Energy Inc.

The Private Placement is subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, as applicable, including the final approval of the Exchange. The Exchange has conditionally approved the Private Placement. Commissions of cash and/or non-transferrable warrants (each a Broker Warrant, collectively the Broker Warrants) may be paid in connection with the Private Placement in accordance with applicable laws. There were no commissions paid in connection with the Final Tranche.

The Debentures and Warrants, as well as Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares, will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring on the date that is four months and one day after the corresponding Issue Date, being October 1, 2024.

None of the securities offered in the Private Placement have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT CIELO

Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. is fueling renewable change with a mission to be a leader in the wood by-product-to-fuels industry by using environmentally friendly, economically sustainable and market-ready technologies. The process and technology does not use food as feedstock as we are proudly advancing our non-food derived model based on our exclusive licence in Canada for patented Enhanced Biomass to Liquids (EBTL) and Biomass Gas to Liquids (BGTL) technologies and related intellectual property, along with an exclusive licence in the US for creosote and treated wood waste, including abundant railway tie feedstock. We have assembled a diverse portfolio of projects across geographic regions and secured the ability to leverage the expertise of proven industry leaders. Cielo is committed to the goal of producing renewable fuels from wood by-products that contribute to a cleaner fuel source and generating positive returns for our shareholders. Cielo shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) under the symbol CMC, as well as on the OTC Markets under the symbol CWSFF.

For further information please contact:

Cielo Investor Relations

Ryan Jackson, CEO

Phone: (403) 348-2972

Email: investors@cielows.com



CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, achieve, could, believe, plan, intend, objective, continuous, ongoing, estimate, outlook, expect, may, will, project, should or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

Forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and are subject to certain factors and assumptions. Cielo is making forward looking statements with respect to, but not limited to: the Private Placement and the terms thereof, including the use of proceeds, the terms of the Convertible Debenture Units, including the Convertible Debentures and Warrants, the hold period applicable to the securities issued under the Private Placement, the Forced Conversion and the Warrant Expiry Acceleration; and the location of the Carseland Project.

Investors should continue to review and consider information disseminated through news releases and filed by the Company on SEDAR+. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Companys actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.
Luxembourg  1 June 2024 - Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced, after a competitive tender process, the award by Petrobras of four long-term day-rate contracts for pipelay support vessels (PLSVs) commencing in 2025. The contracts have a combined value of over $1.25 billion and will be recorded in the backlog in the second quarter.

The contracts for Seven Rio, Seven Cruzeiro and Seven Sun comprise a firm three-year period while the award for Seven Waves comprises a firm four-year period.

Yann Cottart, Vice-President Brazil, said: Subsea7 is pleased to extend its successful, long-term relationship with Petrobras that has covered both day rate PLSV activities and major greenfield projects since 1998. We look forward to continuing to work together to deliver complex and challenging deepwater developments with high standards of safety and reliability.

*******************************************************************************

Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Brs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

*******************************************************************************

Contact for investment community enquiries:

Katherine Tonks

Investor Relations Director

Tel +44 20 8210 5568

ir@subsea7.com

Contact for media enquiries:

Tracey Miller

Group External Communications Manager

Tel +44 1224 265 733

tracey.miller@subsea7.com

www.subsea7.com

Forward-Looking Statements: This document may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, future, goal, intend, likely may, plan, project, seek, should, strategy will, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the Risk Management section of the Groups Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; (xvii) global availability at scale and commercially viability of suitable alternative vessel fuels; and (xviii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 1 June 2024 at 09:30 CET.

Attachment
GUANGZHOU, China, June 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XPeng Inc. (XPENG or the Company, NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle (Smart EV) company, today announced its vehicle delivery results for May 2024.



XPENG delivered 10,146 Smart EVs in May, representing a 35% increase year-over-year and an 8% increase over the prior month. The XPENG X9 notably achieved monthly deliveries of 1,625 units, reaching a cumulative total of 11,456 units, and has continuously held its top-selling position in both the all-electric MPV and three-row model segments in China since its launch. Year-to-date, XPENG has delivered 41,360 Smart EVs, representing a 26% increase year-over-year.

In May, the monthly active user penetration rate of XNGP in urban driving scenarios reached 84%. Also, by May 2024, the accredited XNGP on-road test mileage by XPENG R&D team exceeded 6.46 million kilometers, bringing the Company closer to achieving XNGPs full nationwide road coverage by the third quarter of this year.

During XPENGs AI Day event on May 20, 2024, the Company officially announced the full-scale rollout of its AI-powered in-car operating system, XOS 5.1.0 or AI Tianji OS, to eligible users. This rollout highlights XPENGs leading position in end-to-end AI model application in the China auto industry, as well as the worlds first AI Valet Driver that leverages advanced AI technologies.

About XPENG

XPENG is a leading Chinese Smart EV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, San Diego and Amsterdam. The Companys Smart EVs are mainly manufactured at its plants in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENGs beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPENGs goal and strategies; XPENGs expansion plans; XPENGs future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, Chinas EV market; XPENGs expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPENGs expectations regarding its relationships with customers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPENGs filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and XPENG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Contacts:

For Investor Enquiries:

IR Department

XPeng Inc.

Email: ir@xiaopeng.com

Jenny Cai

Piacente Financial Communications

Tel: +1 212 481 2050 / +86 10 6508 0677

Email: xpeng@tpg-ir.com

For Media Enquiries:

PR Department

XPeng Inc.

Email: pr@xiaopeng.com

Source: XPeng Inc.
TORONTO, June 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) was pleased to support several events across Ontario today, as injured workers and their allies marked Injured Workers Day in the province.



For decades, injured workers have been leading the fight for justice for workers injured on the job, said Laura Walton, OFL President. We echo their call for a comprehensive compensation system that covers all workers and real income supports that lift injured workers out of poverty.

In Toronto, over 100 people joined a rally at Queens Park, which included speeches by injured workers and supporters.

Earlier this week, Jamie West, ONDP MPP for Sudbury and Official Opposition Critic for Labour, spoke about his injured workers bill, which passed second reading on Thursday.

Im advocating for June 1 to be officially proclaimed as Injured Workers Day in Ontario, said West. Injured workers should never feel invisible, and this day will ensure they are recognized by the government.

Rallies also took place today in London and Windsor, while injured workers in Thunder Bay marked the occasion on May 30. All events were led by the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG).

As we gather to commemorate our 41st Injured Workers Day, we have much to celebrate, including recently announced reviews that should benefit injured migrant workers and the passage Thursday, on second reading, of MPP Wests Injured Workers Day bill, said Willy Noiles, Acting ONIWG President. We look forward to seeing Wests long overdue legislation becoming law in time for June 1, 2025.

At the end of April, the OFL launched its Injured Workers Bill of Rights , an initiative to promote injured workers demands among all workers in Ontario.

While we fight to win the supports that injured workers urgently need, we also fight to ensure the best health and safety standards in all Ontario workplaces, added Walton. Prevention is key to ensure no worker becomes injured or ill at work, and that all workers make it home safe at the end of the day.

The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. It is the largest provincial labour federation in Canada. Visit OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok .

For more information, please contact:

Jenny Sellathurai

Interim Director of Communications

Ontario Federation of Labour
EVANSVILLE, Ind., June 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recognition of National Homeownership Month, First Federal Savings Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are encouraging consumers to consult their local community banker about how to make the homebuying process simple, efficient and more affordable.



Owning a home is a major purchase and an important component in building financial independence, said Elisa Snyder FVP, Retail Lending Sales Manager, at First Federal Savings Bank. We want to make what can be a lengthy and complex process as effortless as possible and walk you through what to expect so you can assess your needs and find suitable options to finance your first or forever home.

Whether you are refinancing or purchasing your home, First Federal Savings Bank can help you determine:

The ideal loan amount and products to meet your budget considerations. We can review the mortgage process in detail and flag ideal programs and loan features.

We can review the mortgage process in detail and flag ideal programs and loan features. How mortgage rates, terms, and related expenses (including property taxes and insurance premiums) affect payments. This will help you set a home budget and manage your homeownership expenses.

This will help you set a home budget and manage your homeownership expenses. Your rights and obligations under your mortgage contract. Todays consumers have many financing optionseach with unique stipulations outlined in the fine print.

Todays consumers have many financing optionseach with unique stipulations outlined in the fine print. Suitable government-sponsored programs. In addition to federal homeownership and home-buying assistance programs, we can recommend state, local government, and specialty programs for consideration.

In addition to federal homeownership and home-buying assistance programs, we can recommend state, local government, and specialty programs for consideration. Additional resources to help create a budget and set financial targets. We offer homebuyer seminars and other helpful resources. Free online educational tools can also be found at www.hud.gov .



For many Americans, homeownership helps strengthen community roots, establish financial stability, and create generational wealth, said ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey. As relationship lenders, your local community bank can shepherd you through the process and improve your outlook as an informed buyer.

For more information on how First Federal Savings Bank can support your homeownership needs, visit us at https://www.firstfedsavings.bank or contact us at (812) 492-8142.

About First Federal Savings Bank

First Federal Savings Bank was established on Evansville, Indiana's Westside in 1904. A community bank offering eight locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson County. First Federal Savings Bank is also proud to offer Home Building Savings Bank locations in Daviess and Pike County.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nations community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, Americas community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBAs website at icba.org.
QUEBEC CITY, June 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Skills/Competences Canada (SCC) released the final medal results of the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) 2024, in Quebec City. Over the past week, over 500 students and apprentices from across the country competed for the title of national champion in over 40 Skill Areas at the Centre de foires dExpoCite. The complete list of medalists is available on the Skills/Competences Canada Website.



Approximately 250 medals were awarded to the top competitors in six skilled trade and technology sectors, including: transportation, construction, manufacturing and engineering, information technology, services and employment. The competitors were evaluated based on strict industry standards and competed against the best in Canada.

During SCNC, approximately 6,000 student visitors, industry leaders, government officials and industry celebrities were in attendance to take part in the onsite activities such as the Skills Showcase featuring First Nations, Inuit and Metis Skills, the Empowering Women in the Trades initiative and over 50 Try-A-Trade and Technology activities. Celebrities included Cynthia Gauthier, welder and professional monster truck racer, and a strong advocate for women in skilled trades.

The goal of SCNC is to engage Canadian youth and promote all of the rewarding and lucrative careers that are available to them in the skilled trades and technologies. It is the only national multi-trade and technology event of its kind for young students and apprentices in the country.

"The Skills Canada National Competition allows us to engage with our countrys future skilled workforce and inform them of the many opportunities that exist in the skilled trades and technologies. Through interactive activities, they can discover their interests and the great careers that are available to them in these in-demand sectors, said Shaun Thorson, Chief Executive Officer, Skills/Competences Canada.

In addition, RBC Future Launch awarded successful participants from each province and territory with a $1,500 RBC Best of Region Award at the Skills Canada National Competition. The annual award recognizes these leaders as they continue their education and training in the skilled trades industry. According to an RBC report, Powering Up: Preparing Canada's skilled trades for a post-pandemic economy, Canada will face a shortage of 10,000 skilled trade workers by 2026.

The Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) is supported by our Funding Partner the Government of Canada, as well as our Presenting Sponsors, UA Canada, Cenovus Energy and Home Hardware. SCNC 2025 will be held at the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) District, in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 29 and 30, 2025.

About Skills/Competences Canada

Skills/Competences Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, notforprofit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. For more information visit: www.skillscompetencescanada.com

Follow Skills/Competences Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. The event hashtag is #SCNC2024.

PHOTOGRAPHY and VIDEO

View the Skills Canada Flickr page daily to access and upload hundreds of high resolution pictures of competitors in action.

View SCCs YouTube channel to view the livestream of the event and catch all of the action.



MEDIA CONTACT : Michele Rogerson, micheler@skillscanada.com, 613-266-4771.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa7cd513-86e9-4705-b606-3c96285f52d3
Susan Neiman in The New York Review of Books:

Decolonization, said Frantz Fanon, began a new chapter of history. Its common enough for the politically engaged to magnify their engagement, if only to sustain themselves through the cycles of danger and boredom that accompany serious political struggle, but in this case Fanon might have understated things. Stronger nations have overtaken weaker ones since the beginning of recorded historyindeed, since before there were nations in our sense at all. Contrary to much current opinion, colonialism did not begin with the Enlightenment, whose ideas were later twisted to support it.

Until the last century imperialism was as universal a political practice as any: the Romans and the Chinese created empires, as did the Assyrians, the Aztecs, the Malians, the Khmer, the Mughals, and the Ottomans, to name just a few. Those empires operated with different degrees of brutality and repression, but all presupposed the logic recorded in Thucydides dialogue between the Athenians and the Melians: big states swallow little ones as night follows day. Its a law of nature against which reason has no claim.

Enlightenment philosophers asked whether such assumptions really are as natural as alleged, and they used their reason to ground a thoroughgoing attack on colonialism. Kant congratulated the Chinese and the Japanese for their wisdom in refusing entry to unjust invaders; Diderot urged the Hottentots to let their arrows fly toward the Dutch East India Company. Like progressive intellectuals in our day, these thinkers had limited political success, at least in the short term: the colonial projects they condemned only expanded in the nineteenth century. Pace the ambivalent American experiment, it wasnt until the twentieth century that Enlightenment ideals about universal human rights began to undergird real anticolonial struggles from Ireland to India.

More here.
Vancouver, May 31, 2024 - DeepRock Minerals Inc. (CSE: DEEP) ("DeepRock" or "the Company"), announces today that pursuant to its news release dated March 20, 2024, it intends to close the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement on or around Monday June 10, 2024. The private placement is an offering of Units at $0.02 each for gross proceeds of up to $500,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of a non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a Share for $0.06 during the 24 months following the Warrant's issuance date.

The Company will provide further details in a subsequent news release upon closing in respect of the number of securities issued and gross proceeds raised. All securities issued will be subject to a statutory four-month hold.

Some of the Company's directors and officers will be participating in the private placement. The participation of the Company's directors and officers, and other related parties in the Private Placement would be considered a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101-Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the requirements to obtain formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in connection with the Insiders' participation in the private placement by relying on Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 (as the Company is not listed on a "specified market") and Section 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 (as the private placement is a distribution of securities for cash not exceeding $2,500,000 which has been approved by independent directors). The private placement is not expected to result in the creation of a new control person of the Company. To the Company's knowledge, there is no material information concerning the Company or its securities that has not been generally disclosed.

About DeepRock Minerals

DeepRock Minerals is a Canadian mineral exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Andrew Lee

President/CEO/Director

604-720-2703 / ys.andrew.lee@gmail.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves 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 of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, May 31, 2024 - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed the management information circular (the "Circular") and related materials for its special meeting of Rome shareholders to be held on July 2, 2024 (the "Meeting").

At the Meeting, Rome is seeking shareholder approval of the previously announced plan of arrangement transaction pursuant to which Pathfinder Minerals Plc ("Pathfinder"), a non-arm's length party to the Company, has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Rome (the "Arrangement"). Rome also announces that on May 27, 2024, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") granted an interim order (the "Interim Order") in connection with the Arrangement. The Interim Order authorizes the calling and holding of the Meeting to approve the Arrangement. A copy of the Interim Order is attached to the Circular.

If the Arrangement becomes effective, Rome shareholders (other than dissenting Rome shareholders, if any) will receive 19.54 ordinary shares of Pathfinder for each Rome Share held.

Rome Shareholder Approval and Voting

The Arrangement requires the approval of (i) at least 66% of the votes cast by Rome shareholders; and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by disinterested shareholders, as required by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, as further described in the Circular.

The Board of Directors of Rome is recommending that shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 14, 2024 are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting. The Circular provides important information relating to the Arrangement and related matters, voting procedures and how to attend the Meeting. Shareholders are urged to read the Circular carefully and in its entirety. The Circular is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile.

Shareholders who have questions regarding the Arrangement should contact the Company at info@romeresources.com or as indicated in the Circular. Shareholders who require assistance with voting at the Meeting should contact Computershare as set out in the Circular.

Final Court Order and Closing

The application for the final order of the Court (the "Final Order") approving the Arrangement is currently expected to take place on or about July 4, 2024. Subject to obtaining the Final Order, the required approvals from Rome shareholders at the Meeting, acceptance for filing from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), the required approvals from Pathfinder shareholders at a Pathfinder shareholder meeting, and certain other regulatory approvals and conditions to implementing the Arrangement as set out in the arrangement agreement dated May 7, 2024 between Rome, Pathfinder and and its wholly-owned subsidiary 1475033 B.C. Ltd., as amended, the Arrangement is expected to be completed in July 2024.

Delisting

Following the completion of the Arrangement, it is expected that the Rome common shares will be delisted from the TSXV and from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Former Rome shareholders who have received consideration under the Arrangement, will hold ordinary shares in the capital of Pathfinder, which is quoted on AIM.

About Rome Resources

Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements and a binding term sheet where it has acquired 51% indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project". Rome has completed an initial phase of drilling on the project where it is responsible to fund exploration up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Contacts

Investors / Shareholders

Mark Gasson

President, CEO & Director

P: +33640612921

Media

E: info@romeresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd. believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements 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.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211349
Vancouver, May 31, 2024 - Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CNSX: ARS) ("Ares" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated May 10, 2024 which announced a non-brokered private placement offering of a minimum of 5,555,555 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") and a maximum of 22,222,222 Units at a price of $0.18 per Unit pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the "LIFE Exemption") for gross proceeds of a minimum of $1,000,000 and a maximum of $4,000,000 (the "LIFE Offering"), it has closed the first tranche of the LIFE Offering by issuing 5,984,986 Units at a price of $0.18 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,077,297.28.

James Walker, CEO of Ares, said, "We have already exceeded the minimum we were seeking from this offering in this first tranche, and we continue to receive more orders for our next tranches. There is clearly great support and enthusiasm for our project, which is encouraging for everyone that has worked hard to build this project. The Company is close to launching the only fluorspar mine in the United States and bringing an exported industry back to U.S. shores. We are making tremendous progress towards commissioning our operation and are looking forward to sharing all our progress occurring at both our mine and processing sites. The Company has expedited the installation of new mineworks to ensure feed for our new plant, which is currently under construction, and our new acidspar manufacturing facility which will be delivered next quarter. The proceeds of our raise will contribute towards our ramp installation, which is now over halfway to reaching the body of the fluorspar mineralization on our permitted mine site. Once processed the Company will see its first revenue and shift from being a mining company to a manufacturing company. It's great to see progress in all areas of the Company and watching it get continuously closer to its goals."

Each Unit shall consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one non-transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable into one (1) Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.26 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years following the closing date of the Life Offering, provided that, if the 10-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Shares as quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") (or such other securities exchange on which the Common Shares may be traded at such time) is equal to or greater than $0.40 at the close of any trading day, then the Company may, at its discretion, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by issuing a news release (a "Warrant Acceleration News Release") announcing that the expiry date of the Warrants shall be deemed to be on the 30th day following the date of the Warrant Acceleration News Release (the "Accelerated Expiry Date") (the "Acceleration Clause"). All Warrants that remain unexercised following the Accelerated Expiry Date shall immediately expire and all rights of holders of such Warrant shall be terminated without any compensation to such holder. Units offered under the Life Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions for Canadian resident investors pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche, an aggregate of $86,183.80 was paid in cash and a total of 478,798 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") were issued to Canaccord Genuity Corp. as finder's fees. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (a "Finder's Warrant Share") at a price of $0.26 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of two (2) years following the closing date of the first tranche. The Finder's Warrants are subject to the Acceleration Clause. Any securities issued as Finder's Fees are subject to a 4-month hold period from the date of issuance.

The balance of the LIFE Offering is expected to close on or before June 24, 2024, and is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the LIFE Offering as disclosed in the Life Offering Document dated May 9, 2024, which is available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website (www.aresmining.com), for completing the ramp installation to intersect fluorspar mineralization at depth at its Lost Sheep fluorspar property located in Delta, Utah, to provide feed for the manufacturing facility which is currently under construction and for general and corporate working capital purposes. None of the securities issued in connection with the Life Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

Ares Strategic Mining Inc.

James Walker

Chief Executive Officer and President

For further information, please contact James Walker by email at jwalker@aresmining.com

DISCLOSURE AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Life Offering, including the total anticipated proceeds, the expected use of proceeds and the closing (including the proposed closing date) of the balance of the Life Offering. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including the assumption that the Company will close the balance of Life Offering on the timeline anticipated, will raise the balance of the gross proceeds from the Life Offering and will use the proceeds of the Life Offering as anticipated. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include: the risk that the Life Offering does not close on the timeline expected, or at all; the risk that the Company raises less than the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Life Offering; the risk that the Company does not use the proceeds from the Life Offering as currently expected; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined and the risk that exploration and development activities will cost more than the amount budgeted for such activities by the Company; risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals; risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions; access and supply risks; risks associated with the Company's reliance on key personnel; operational risks; regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks; title and environmental risks; and risks relating to the failure to receive all requisite regulatory approvals. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Suzanne Schneider in Dissent:

Amid the mass slaughter and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, it is easy to forget the political drama that gripped Israel only one year ago. After assuming power in December 2022, a new far-right government led by Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed a slate of judicial and administrative reforms that prompted a wave of anti-government protests. Concerned journalists, former U.S. and Israeli government officials, and major American Jewish organizations issued ominous warnings about democratic backsliding. Israel, it seemed, was heading in the direction of illiberal Hungary.

This framing was never quite convincing. While hundreds of thousands of Israelis marched to save democracy, most refused to address, or even acknowledge, the occupation. A country that maintains an unequal citizenship system for Jewish and Palestinian Israelisand disenfranchises approximately 35 percent of the population in territory it controls on account of their ethnic identitydoes not match the conventional definition of democracy. But there is an alternative idea of democracy in vogue among partisans of the global right, one built around the right to discriminate and to privilege the needs of the nation over those of individuals in general and minorities in particular. It is this version of democracy that has long prevailed in Israel, and which the Jewish states supporters now offer as a blueprint for illiberal leaders around the world.

Aided by new institutional networks that spur the circulation of right-wing ideas and practices among Israeli, Hungarian, and American conservatives, the Zionist right has acquired ideological heft and global recognition by joining the legal right to discriminate to a defense of national particularism, tradition, and other conservative values. The champions of illiberal democracy claim to represent a venerable alternative to both liberalism and fascism; their political vision is more accurately described as ethno-authoritarian. One problem, as Israelis began to experience during last years crackdown on anti-government protests, is that states built around eliminating enemies of the people eventually tend to devour their own.

More here.
Matthew Reisz at The Guardian:

While neuroscientists sometimes treat emotions as human universals, historians are keen to show how the words we use to describe our feelings, and indeed the feelings themselves, change with the times. Nostalgia was one of the most studied medical conditions of the 19th century, Arnold-Forster explains, believed to cause palpitations and unexplained ruptures in the skin as well as depression and disturbed sleep. It was first diagnosed among 17th-century Swiss mercenaries and referred to a kind of pathological patriotic love, an intense and dangerous homesickness. (Since sufferers were assumed to be missing the pure mountain air, one doctor suggested they should be put in tall towers to recuperate.) It was not until the early 20th century that homesickness and nostalgia in the current sense began to be seen as distinct.

Yet it continued to be treated as rather suspect. In the mid-20th century, a psychoanalyst called Nandor Fodor dismissed nostalgia, along with utopian politics and even the vogue for Tarzan films, as the manifestation of a latent desire to return to the womb.

more here.
One day this past March, Ivy Wilson Terrell came home to find a blinking red police camera installed on a utility pole outside her New Orleans home. The police were launching a citywide surveillance system. I thought, You have got to be kidding me. This cannot be in front of my house, Terrell toldTerrells experience is far from unique. Cities nationwide are installing flashing police cameras in an effort to deter crime in certain neighborhoods. While some residents welcome the cameras, others say they feel like theyre being spied on, like theyre living in an Orwellian police state. And to some visitors and businesses, the cameras give the impression that an area is unsafe. That was certainly my notion of these cameras when I first encountered them in Baltimore. The flashing blue lights of the citys police surveillance cameras made me feel like Id been transported into an episode of The Wire.But these cameras forbidding look deflects from the fact that they serve a purpose. Flashing camera systems have become common policy this past decade, with systems in several U.S. cities and spreading, says Nancy La Vigne, vice president of justice policy at the Urban Institute. Generally placed in crime hot spots, their purpose is twofold: the flash is meant to notify criminals that cameras are in the area and that the footage is being fed to police control rooms. A 2011 Urban Institute study found that these cameras were cost-effective at reducing crime in Baltimore and Chicago.La Vigne, who co-wrote the study, says political support for cameras depends on how theyre presented to the receiving communities. In January, New Orleans top-down, $40 million plan included license plate readers, cameras outside bars and liquor stores, and the flashing ones in residential areas. The plan received little public input, and was subsequently ripped by protestors, media and the ACLU. Mayor Mitch Landrieu suggested scaling it back before he left office in May.The more successful programs, says La Vigne, are approached democratically. Project Green Light in Detroit, for instance, is a partnership between businesses and the police. Stores pay the city between $4,000 and $6,000 to have flashing cameras installed outside. Memphis has a similar program, in which residents can pool money to have SkyCop cameras in their neighborhoods. In 2016, Memphis allocated money to extend these cameras to underserved areas to help residents who want them but cannot afford them.This voluntary approach is the best upfront path to winning support for overhead cameras, says La Vigne. Once installed, demand for them seems to grow. In the cities La Vigne studied, the biggest complaint from the residents was, Why arent there cameras in my neighborhood?To that end, aesthetics matter. I found that the flashing green lights in Detroit, while not pleasant, were less harsh than Baltimores blue lights and New Orleans red ones. So maybe the solution is as simple as making the cameras noticeable enough that they deter criminals, but not so obtrusive that they bother law-abiding citizens.
HMD's next own-brand smartphone will be called Skyline, according to a new report from the company's home of Finland. The Skyline is said to make its debut in July, as it's apparently due to appear in stock at one Finnish retailer on July 10.

This will be higher-end than what we've recently been used to from the HMD and Nokia brands, as it will allegedly retail for 520. It will be offered with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in black, and it will unsurprisingly have dual-SIM support. Its model number is TA-1688.

HMD Pulse Pro

While no more details about it have been leaked this time around, it's quite likely that this is the device previously known by the codename Tomcat. If so, then the Skyline should have an FHD+ OLED touchscreen with 120 Hz refresh rate, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC will be powering it.

On the rear there will be three cameras (108 MP main, 8 MP most likely ultrawide, 2 MP macro or depth sensor), and for selfies a 32 MP snapper will be employed. The handset is expected to sport a 4,900 mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. It will be IP67 certified for dust and water resistance, and will run Android 14 from day one. It has an under-display fingerprint sensor as well as stereo speakers too.

A different device coming soon is codenamed Nighthawk, and this one should be under 300. It's rumored to have an FHD+ OLED screen with 120 Hz refresh rate too, but this will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, depending on which version you go for.

It has a 108 MP main camera too, but only one additional snapper on the back, and seemingly the same 32 MP selfie shooter as the Skyline. This one gets a 5,000 mAh battery however, and a headphone jack. It too will run Android 14 and will have stereo speakers.

Source (in Finnish)
The Sony Xperia 1 VI is out now, but many of you are probably wondering if the hefty price tag (1,399) is really worth it or if last year's Xperia 1 V would do just fineespecially considering the lower price tag of around 850. That's nearly twice as cheap.

If it were that simple, we wouldn't have done an extensive comparison between the two. The newer Xperia 1 VI does things a little differently, and we believe that most of the changes are for the better. Still, it's hard to justify the huge price gap, so we dive deeper into the different aspects like display, battery life, performance, camera, etc. Nothing trumps real-world experience.

So how much better is the Sony Xperia 1 VI 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 video or in the following text.

Size comparison

Sony

Xperia 1 VI 162.0 x 74.0 x 8.2 mm

(6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) 192 g

Sony

Xperia 1 V 165.0 x 71.0 x 8.3 mm

(6.5 x 2.8 x 0.33 in) 187 g

Despite the Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 1 V sharing the same screen diagonal, dimensions are quite different, and perhaps everyone will have an opinion on which one feels nicer to hold.

Since Sony changed the display's aspect ratio, the newer 1 VI turned out to be wider and shorter. This is in line with the current design standards and steers away from the "remote control" feel of its predecessor. The latter is sensibly slimmer and taller, making it easy to hold, but reaching the top part of the display with your thumb is a challenge.

No significant change in thickness and weight, though. At least not a noticeable one.

Display comparison

Sony

Xperia 1 VI LTPO OLED

120Hz 1080x2340

pixels 396

ppi 6.50"

Sony

Xperia 1 V OLED

120Hz 1644x3840

pixels 643

ppi 6.50"

This is perhaps the biggest change in this year's Xperia 1 VI. Some may say it's a downgrade, but it's for the better.

The new Xperia 1 VI offers a 6.5-inch OLED display like last year, but dials down on resolution. It's now 1080 x 2340px with a more popular 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The older Xperia has a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 1664 x 3840px resolution - a standout configuration in the smartphone world as a whole.

However, the 4K resolution was rarely utilized. In fact, there are only a couple of scenarios (video playback included) that triggered the full 4K resolution. The rest of the time, the system prefers 1080p. So, at the end of the day, you aren't missing out on pixels.

Moreover, the most recent Xperia employs a more energy-efficient LTPO OLED panel with a variable refresh rate and achieves considerably higher brightness in auto mode - 1,310 nits vs. 936 nits, according to our tests.

Battery life

The two Xperia's have dependable battery lives, but the clear winner is the newer 1 VI. It's not only better in terms of overall endurance (17:27h vs. 12:24h Active Use Score), but it also beats its predecessor in most scenarios.

The Xperia 1 VI's web browsing and video playback runtimes show a huge improvement over the last generation as well as a measurable one in the gaming test. Our best guess is that the more efficient FHD+ LTPO display is the one to blame. Interestingly enough, the last year's 1 V scored better in the 4G talk scenario.

Charging speed

Sony

Xperia 1 VI

5000 mAh 15min

27% 30min

50% Full

90min 30W

Sony

Xperia 1 V

5000 mAh 15min

27% 30min

50% Full

97min 30W

Both handsets aren't particularly competitive in this regard, so it's safe to say that the Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 1 V are equally slow to the finish line. The two phones are both rated at 30W of max charging power, but in our testing, the newer Xperia is a tad faster to charge to 100%. The difference is just 7 minutes, though.

Upon further testing, we found out that the Xperia 1 VI plays well with faster-charging adapters, so you will be able to squeeze out a couple of percentage points if you use a higher-rated USB Power Delivery charger.

Speaker test

Although Sony didn't emphasize much on the improved sound system on the Xperia 1 VI, we noticed a few things.

Firstly, the 1 VI is notably louder than its predecessor, and secondly, it has nice tuning overall. In fact, it's probably safe to say that the Xperia 1 VI has one of the best speakers we've heard in a while. The sound is warmer, fuller and more lively compared to the Xperia 1 V., which sounds dull and flat compared to the 1 VI.

Performance

Naturally, the newer Xperia 1 VI is faster than the older 1 V as it employs a more recent chipset. We have the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Xperia 1 V. Both the CPU and GPU promise a noticeable bump in raw performance.

Sony

Xperia 1 VI Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

4 nm 256GB 12GB RAM

Sony

Xperia 1 V Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

4 nm 256GB 12GB RAM

No change in the memory configurations, though. Both devices ship with 12GB/256GB. Storage is still expandable - a rarity among flagship smartphones. Unfortunately, the 512GB variant is available only in Japan for the time being.

Benchmark performance

Sony

Xperia 1 VI AnTuTu 10

1,612,156 Geekbench 6

6,119 3D Mark

16,109

Sony

Xperia 1 V AnTuTu 10

1,310,354 Geekbench 6

4,916 3D Mark

12,923

There's a measurable difference between the two phones, with the Xperia 1 VI offering about 25% faster CPU and GPU performance, despite our 1 VI unit not utilizing the SD8 Gen 3's full potential as it posted lower benchmark scores than other flagships. Still, our CPU and GPU throttling tests showed favored the Xperia 1 VI over the 1 V.

Camera comparison

The two Xperias share the same camera hardware, but there are a couple of changes to the telephoto camera in this year's 1 VI that add value to the overall user experience. The new telephoto is capable of 7.1x optical zoom and 4cm focusing distance at 120mm, which suggests some solid macro capabilities.

The main camera uses a 48MP, 1/1.35", 1.12m sensor coupled with f/1.9 aperture. The telephoto is 12MP f/2.3-3.5, 1/3.5" with variable optical zoom 85-170mm, which roughly translates to 3.5x-7.1x. The older Xperia uses the same setup but with up to 5.2x zoom.

The third camera is 12MP f/2.2, 1/2.5" ultrawide and also remains unchanged between the two generations. The same goes for the 12MP f/2.0 selfie unit.

A notable difference between the two phones lies in software. Sony has streamlined the camera experience this year and is putting all the Pro-oriented features in the default camera app. No need for apps like Cinema Pro, Video Pro, etc. All features and settings are available in the newly designed camera app. Some of the Pro video capturing options available on the Mark V will only be added to the new camera app on Mark VI this Fall.

However, the Xperia 1 VI gets a new full-res 48MP mode on the primary camera. The ultrawide camera has also gotten an automatic Closeup mode. And overall, the new camera app feels a lot snappier than before.

Image quality

When it comes to quality, the main and ultrawide cameras output almost identical stills. It's hard to notice any difference at all, but we did see a different tonal curve on the Xperia 1 VI, leading to brighter and crisper highlights.





Xperia 1 VI: 0.7x  1x  2x  3.5x  5.2x  7.1x

The Xperia 1 VI pulls ahead in this comparison with considerably sharper and more detailed 2x crop zoom stills from the main cam. The quality improvement is easily visible.





Xperia 1 V: 0.7x  1x  2x  3.5x  5.2x  7.1x

Interestingly enough, the Xperia 1 V seems to offer nicer 3.5x zoom photos. The samples are cleaner and more detailed. The 5.2x comparison between the two is a pretty close call, but the Mark V's 5.2x pictures again look a tad better. And in good light, the 7.1x optical zoom provided by the 1 VI is marginally better compared to the digital zoom from the Xperia 1 V at the same zoom level.





Xperia 1 VI: 0.7x  1x  3.5x  5.2x

Nighttime photography seems to be relatively the same this year, with little to no difference in the main and ultrawide cameras' processing. The newer Xperia has a slight advantage over its predecessor in the telephoto department with nicer noise reduction and a tad better sharpness and detail in the 3.5x zoom mode. However, the 5.2x lowlight zoom photos come out unsatisfactory from both phones.





Xperia 1 V: 0.7x  1x  3.5x  5.2x

Sony deserves praise for the new telemacro mode offered by the Xperia 1 VI. It is probably the first phone on the market to offer telemacro photography with such a high magnification. However, getting good shots out of it requires a tripod and good lighting.



Xperia 1 VI telemacro mode

Video quality

The two cameraphones record identical-looking videos with their main and ultrawide cameras, but there's a noticeable difference in the telephoto's output. Neither zoom camera delivers standout video quality, but for some reason, the older Xperia has a tad clearer and more detailed videos across all zoom lengths - 3.5x, 5.2x, and 7.1x included.





Xperia 1 VI: 0.7x  1x  3.5x  5.2x  7.1x





Xperia 1 V: 0.7x  1x  3.5x  5.2x  7.1x

Verdict

The Xperia 1 VI is surely Sony's best Xperia yet. It arrives with plenty of upgrades - the better display overall (we don't miss the rarely used 4K resolution), the longer battery life (among the best there is), the more simplifed and versatile camera experience (with telemacro mode and up to 7.1x stepless optical zoom) and one of the best speakers we've experienced.

The Xperia 1 V, however, offers largely the same user experience as its successor, so the question remains whether these upgrades are worth the 550 price premium. If the price gap between the two wasn't as wide, we would have easily recommended the newer Xperia, but for the time being, that's not the case.

Get the Sony Xperia 1 VI for: The brighter display with conventional aspect ratio.

The longer battery life.

The nicer speakers.

The longer optical zoom.

The new telemacro mode and automatic Closeup mode on the ultrawide.

The incredibly detailed full-res 48MP photos from the main cam.




Haiti - Politic : Reactions on the election of Garry Conille as transitional PM





Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada Melanie Joly and CARICOM on the appointment of Garry Conille as Prime Minister of the transition :



Canada :

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I commend the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) for the nomination of the new Prime Minister-designate of Haiti and for moving toward achieving this important transition of power.



"We encourage Prime Minister-designate Garry Conille and the TPC to install without further delay a new government that puts the well-being of the Haitian people first. We look forward to Prime Minister-designate Conille and the TPC taking the appropriate steps toward reestablishing democratic institutions, holding free and fair elections, advancing good governance, and working with the international community to restore national security and provide much-needed relief to the Haitian people, who have endured so much.



"The ties between Canada and Haiti are strong. As Haiti continues on its path toward the restoration of democracy, Canada will remain a committed partner in providing security, development, and humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people."



CARICOM :

The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcome the unanimous election of Garry Conille by the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) as Prime Minister of the Transition which "is another important step forward on the path to free and fair elections and the return to constitutional order in Haiti."



Aware that there are still many challenges ahead, CARICOM expresses its support for the new Prime Minister-designate and reiterates its commitment of support to the Transitional Presidential Council, and to the people of Haiti. CARICOM looks forward to the early completion of the process to officially establish the institutions of transitional governance.



CARICOM commends the Transitional Presidential Council for putting the interest of the country and the people of Haiti above all else. This will remain a paramount objective as the TPC, working with Transitional Prime Minister Conille, continues to move forward in restoring security and in establishing the critical broadly representative institutions necessary for the delivery of public services, the provision of humanitarian relief, facilitating socio-economic improvement, and the holding of free and fair elections in a timely manner."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





3.77 tonnes of WASH equipment

In support of the Ministry of Public Health and Population and to improve hygiene conditions in the sites of displaced families in the metropolitan area, PAHO-Haiti delivered 3.77 tons of WASH equipment to the West Health Directorate. These materials will be distributed in 12 sites.



CPT : Statement from the Department of State

"The U.S. welcomes the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council's selection of an interim prime minister, a critical step toward improving security and enabling free and fair elections. We encourage them to work collaboratively with all sectors on behalf of the Haitian people," Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesperson



The Argentine Ambassador meets the President of the CPT

Friday May 31, 2024, Argentinian Ambassador Cesar Alberto Faes paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Transitional Presidential Council, Edgard Leblanc Fils and the Presidential Advisor, Louis Gerald Gilles. Bilateral cooperation was at the heart of the exchanges. The possibility of exploring new avenues of cooperation between the two countries was also raised.



UN : Importance of women in the Transitional Government

Friday May 31, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the nomination by the Presidential Transitional Council of Garry Conille as Prime Minister, emphasizing the importance of ensuring an inclusive political transition, particularly in appointing women to decision-making positions See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42456-haiti-flash-young-people-women-and-members-of-the-diaspora-in-the-transitional-government-video-speech-pm.html



Remarks from the EU Ambassador

"The election of Prime Minister Garry Conille unanimously by the CPT represents an important step forward. The new government that is coming will have to get to work as soon as possible to meet the urgent needs of Haitians. The European Union remains committed to providing support in the areas of its competence to promote this process and the upcoming elections," Stefano Gatto EU Ambassador to Haiti.



Hurricane season : "Tropical Storm Risk" increases its forecasts

The day before the start of the hurricane season (June 1), the British Tropical Storm Risk Institute published an update of its forecasts.

- 24 tropical storms (+4)

- 12 hurricanes (+1)

- 6 major hurricanes (+1)

See all forecasts : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42399-haiti-flash-noaa-predicts-a-hurricane-season-above-normal.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The demonstrators are demanding that Helsinki University sever its ties with Israeli universities, including terminating exchange programs and ending research collaborations.

Demonstrations by Helsinki University students in support of Palestine have entered their second month, with protesters continuing to camp outside the university's Porthania building. The protest, organised by the Students for Palestine movement, began in early May and shows no signs of abating.

Vilja Hermansson, a student at Helsinki University and a member of the movement, stated, Collaboration with Israeli universities clearly violates Helsinki University's ethical principles, as these institutions are complicit in genocide, apartheid, and violations of international human rights.

Protesters have set up tents and brought camping gear, indicating their readiness for a prolonged demonstration. They accuse Israeli universities, such as Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, of significant involvement in the violence in Gaza, including developing military technologies used there and training military personnel in collaboration with the Israeli army. The boycott demands are institution-focused and do not target individual Israeli researchers.

The movement draws inspiration from actions in Norway, where five universities decided to cut ties with Israeli institutions in February. Hermansson emphasized, Five Norwegian universities boycotted Israel in February, and Finnish universities must follow suit. We do not accept apartheid or genocide.

Since November, the Students for Palestine movement has been advocating for an academic boycott of Israel at Helsinki University. The protest is part of a global wave of similar demonstrations, with significant student protests occurring across the United States, described as the most intense since the Iraq War protests of the early 2000s.

Helsinki University has responded by freezing its exchange programs with Israeli partners due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. The university expressed its concern over the conflict and announced plans for an ethical review before resuming exchanges. However, it does not intend to limit academic freedom, allowing researchers to continue collaborating with Israeli counterparts.

The universitys leadership has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and committed to actively participating in the reconstruction of higher education and research once feasible. Nonetheless, the university maintains its dedication to research ethics and academic freedom.

On May 15, police detained thirteen protesters at Helsinki University following a demonstration inside the main building. The police cited the need to protect against crimes and disturbances, with charges including disobedience to police and obstruction of public officials. The demonstration included around a hundred participants and featured slogans such as "Free, free Palestine."

Protests in solidarity with Palestine have also taken place at other Finnish institutions, including Aalto University, where students marched out of lectures and gathered for a demonstration. The university had previously removed pro-Palestine banners from its premises, citing a policy of neutrality in political matters.

Meanwhile, a counter-protest in support of Israel was held at Helsinki's Rautatientori, with participation from around 200 people and included speeches from political figures such as MP Paivi Rasanen.

HT
On May 16, the Supreme Court of India asked the central government to take immediate steps to deport 17 people declared foreigners by Assams Foreigners Tribunals (FT) and are currently lodged in a foreigner detention centre  officially known as a Transit Camp  in the states Goalpara district.

Less than a week later, another bench of the court, headed by the Chief Justice of India, halted the deportation of Maya Rani Barman, who belongs to the Rajbongshi community and was declared a foreigner by one of Assams many FTs in 2019.

The two contrasting orders within the same week from the same court have, once again, brought to sharp relief the disparate character and adverse consequences of Assam's distinct foreigner detection regime, which has pushed countless lives into an abyss of uncertainty. They especially reveal the lingering threat of forced deportations built into this system, which top courts have done little to address.

Disenfranchisement in numbers

In Assam, the quasi-judicial FT regime, by virtue of a 1964 executive order, has the power to create a special category of non-citizens called Declared Foreigners or Declared Foreign Nationals (DFN). These are distinct from the Convicted Foreign Nationals (CFN) who are marked out as such by regular judicial courts for entering India without valid papers and thus, violating the Foreigners Act, 1946.

DFNs, on the other hand, are punished for a different reason  for failing to convince one of Assams 100 FTs that they are genuine Indian citizens after being summoned on mere suspicion of being illegal foreigners. No other state has FTs and thus also, such a unique category of citizenship deprivation. FT summons can be based on direct references by the states border police or another Assam-specific provision of electoral disenfranchisement, known as the Doubtful (D-) Voter system.

In February, Assam chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, told the state assembly that FTs had declared 1.59 lakh people foreigners as of December 2023. As many as 96,987 people had been marked as D-Voters between 1997 and 2023, he further revealed.

Among them, over 89,000 were later removed from the negative list. He also said that 26,144 D-Voters had received FT notices while 11,819 cases were pending.

Last September, state cabinet minister, Atul Bora, revealed that 30,089 illegal foreigners had been deported as of August 31, 2023. But, the same month, chief minister Sarma gave a very different number for those deported since 2001: 3,100.

It is likely that Bora included pre-2001 deportations, which might have happened after Assamese agitators signed an accord with New Delhi in 1985 resulting in the Parliament inserting an Assam-specific provision for identification (and deportation) of post-1971 migrants in the Citizenship Act, 1955.

This constellation of statistics is indicative of the industrial scale at which Assams foreigner detection regime operates, often with arbitrariness and without accountability. It also reflects deeper demographic anxieties about outsiders  what Indian-American anthropologist Arjun Appadurai calls fear of small numbers  hardwired into Assams political life.

Unsubstantiated and wild figures are often thrown around to bolster these fears. Earlier in May, for instance, Sarma announced at an election rally in Jharkhand that infiltrators from Bangladesh made up 1.25 crore  or approximately 34%  of Assams population.

Threat of deportation

It is worth noting why the CJI-led bench stayed Maya Rani Barmans deportation to Bangladesh  she was born in Cooch Behar in West Bengal and later moved to Assam after marriage. She told the court that she was unable to maintain all her documents not just because she migrated to another state but also because the floods in Assam destroyed them. The court duly acknowledged this.

In effect, Barman is likely an Indian citizen who was merely unable to prove her documentary citizenship because of extraordinary circumstances. Yet, if not for the apex courts intervention, she could have been deported to Bangladesh  a country that is perhaps wholly unfamiliar to her. Her case is symptomatic of a larger malaise in Assams citizenship determination regime, which often ends up forcibly deporting genuine Indian citizens to an alien foreign country because of documentary lapses.

Therefore, the other order by the court to deport the 17 DFNs lodged in the Goalpara transit camp is deeply worrying. If the centre does go ahead with it, a set of genuine Indian citizens with no roots in Bangladesh would end up in a foreign land. In order to do so, however, New Delhi would first have to request the Bangladeshi High Commission in India to approve the return list. This is unlikely to happen as Dhaka does not officially acknowledge the presence of illegal Bangladeshis in Assam, save for some select cases of CFNs.

Further, India and Bangladesh do not have anything resembling a deportation treaty or a bilateral migrant return policy at the moment. This is largely because of political divergences on both sides over the divisive issue of illegal trespassers. However, there is hardly a case for putting in place such a treaty as it might rationalise the mass deportation of genuine Indian citizens de-nationalised on dubious grounds to Bangladesh.

Instead, it is incumbent on the Supreme Court to take a comprehensive look at the existing system of citizenship deprivation in Assam to prevent a repeat of cases like those of Barman. There is enough evidence to indicate that the FT regime is plagued with systemic faults and judicial negligence. For starters, it should revisit the case of the 17 DFNs to assess if they really deserve to be deported to an alien land.

Angshuman Choudhury is an Associate Fellow with the Centre for Policy Research, and focuses on Northeast India and Myanmar. The views expressed are personal.
Eight years ago, I heard Ben Macintyre speak at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Hed recently written A Spy Among Friends, and held an evening crowd spellbound with photographs and a racy story  that of Kim Philby, the young Cambridge graduate who joined the British intelligence service, and rapidly rose through its ranks, all the while being a mole for the Russian KGB.

Today, spies are still in the news, and closer to home as well, with the recent example of India and Canada diplomatic row over the alleged involvement of Indian agents in an assassination plot.

Its baffling to know the truth behind the shadowy reports of deception and duplicity. Heres where I turn to spy stories: here are all the reasons why we need to read spy stories. And no one tells them better than historian turned spy novelist Ben Macintyre.

Earlier this year, I met Macintyre, once again at the JLF. We talked about his growing up in Oxford, his friendship with John le Carre, and the techniques he uses to make his real-life stories such a racy read. Here are edited excerpts of our conversation.

Tell us about your childhood reading

I was born in Oxford, where my father taught history at the University. He loved telling historical stories. So, history was central to our growing up. My brother and sister also ended up studying history and the conversation at home was all about history, my poor mother, I think it must have driven her mad.

I read a lot of children's fiction, people like Geoffrey Trease, nobody reads him now. But his books were sort of historical novels for teenagers, and I grew up on these. R J Unstead was a great narrative historian of the 1970s and 80s.

You were born in Oxford. Why did you choose to study history at Cambridge?

My father was insistent on not letting us go to Oxford. He was head of the history department at his college, and he would have ended up teaching us, which would have been ghastly. He wanted us to go somewhere else, which is quite right. So, we all (my brother, sister and I) went to Cambridge. And we all did history.

How much did your fathers writing influence yours?

My father was a scholarly historian. He believed in the full apparatus of historical research. He died very young. But we had lots of lovely conversations about our different styles. My historical writings are narrative-driven. Every word in them is true. But they are told as stories. We were different sorts of historians, but I loved that.

Your stories are steeped in history. And yet, how do you also write a lot about the psychology of a spy?

There's an old acronym that is used in intelligence services in the western intelligence services: M I C E, which stands for money, ideology, coercion, and ego. These are considered to be the four basic elements of espionage. In order to become a spy or to recruit a spy, you need to have at least one of those elements and probably all four.

Intelligence runs on money. Nobody ever admits it. But if you are recruiting an agent in a foreign country, you have to pay them and you have to pay them a lot. All modern intelligence services run on black money. It isn't ever identified, it doesn't come out of any obvious budget.

Theres ideology. Many spies believed that they gathered intelligence for a good cause. In fact, the best ones all believe that they are in some way motivated by an ideological commitment. Theres coercion, often they end up being forced to become spies because of blackmail or for lack of money. And ego.

Ben Macintyre (second from right) at the Jaipur Lit Fest Feb 2024(Sonya Dutta Choudhury)

What I love about your books is that they read like racy spy novels. How do you achieve this?

I've always been fascinated by fiction. Though I've never written any, if I started, I wouldn't I wouldn't know where to stop. So, I think that's kind of the key to my technique. I never make anything up. But I do use novelistic techniques; create cliffhangers, set a clue going in chapter one, that won't be answered until chapter six.

Narrative non-fiction is a very specific kind of genre. And it's often very difficult. You can't do it unless you have a lot of information. You need to conduct very, very dense research. Because you need to be able to say things like, "The room smelled of old cigarette smoke". And if you're going to write that, you have to know that it's true. You need a source that is telling you that this is right. So that's why with a lot of my books, there's an awful lot of quotations in them. If I state something as fact in one of my books, it's only when I know it to be true. You should have a balance between creating a sort of moving narrative that moves you want to turn the page while sticking to historical veracity.

Youve been friends with John le Carre, the biggest legend in the world of spy writing. Tell us about your friendship

We would go for long walks together on Hampstead Heath. Every month or so we would sort of gather and have long conversations. He was brilliant, and he was super helpful.

I remember him saying to me very early on, that in order to write these kinds of books, you need to have jeopardy on every page, something has to be at stake. It doesn't necessarily have to be something like "Are they going to be killed or not?" But you need to create a world in which the reader can believe, so they are involved in the story and that they have a stake in what the outcome is.

He wrote fiction and I wrote non-fiction, yet he felt that we wrote similar kinds of stories. I was very flattered by this. It was a social friendship, too. I mean, we saw each other outside of work, we didn't just talk about books.

You are a journalist and also an author? How do these two identities influence each other?

My first love was journalism, and I'm still a journalist. I've been on the staff of The Times for 34 years. It taught me about deadlines. I use my journalistic skills in researching my books, because a lot of the source material for my books is living people. So, when I am interviewing people, I am gathering their memories and memories are very unreliable. You have to be very careful about memory, similar to being cautious in journalism, as what people tell you may not be true.

I love the short-form journalism that is produced. By tomorrow, it's gone and something else has taken its place. Meanwhile, a book has a longer, richer life. I find the balance of the two works really well for me  once I am struggling with a book, I turn away, with some relief, towards a column. And then I turn away from the column and back to the book.

You must meet a lot of real-life spies

I know lots of people on both sides, both in the internal and the external services (MI5 and MI6). The funny thing about spies is that they love telling their stories. I mean, they're supposed to be secret, but they're not. If you live in a secret world, the temptation, when you're not in that world, to tell your stories is overwhelming.

Have you met an Indian spy? What was it like?

Yes. Its the same thing. The truth is espionage is the same the world over, and intelligence agencies are all trying to do the same thing  which is to persuade people in foreign countries to betray their own countries.

Where was this meeting?

I cant say that.

Do you think you might write a book about spies set in South Asia?

I wrote a book recently that had a large Chinese aspect to it. It's called Agent Sonya, and the first half takes place in Shanghai, China.

But I am led by the story, I wouldnt go seeking out a story that happens to have a particular geographical location, it depends on what I find.

My next book which is coming out this October, is set in London, around the siege of an embassy that took place in 1980. The one after that will be set in Iran.

And finally, what are some of your favourite spy novels?

I'm a big fan of the novelist called Charles Cumming, who writes in the same vein as John McCarry. He writes wonderful spy novels. And Mick Herron is also rather brilliant. I love Robert Harris too.

.

What about you, dear Reader - who are your favourite spy stories? Do write in with recommendations. And until next week, happy reading!

Sonya Dutta Choudhury is a Mumbai-based journalist and the founder of Sonyas Book Box, a bespoke book service. Each week, she brings you specially curated books to give you an immersive understanding of people and places. If you have any reading recommendations or suggestions, write to her at sonyasbookbox@gmail.com
Public sector undertaking (PSU) stocks of the BSE PSU index posted a record combined profit of over five lakh crore rupees during the financial year 2023-24, according to ACE Equity data, as reported by Business Today. PSU profits surge in FY24(unsplash)

The profit after tax (PAT) of the 56 PSUs of the index surged 48% to 5.07 lakh crore from 3.43 lakh crore in FY23. As many as 14 PSUs posted profits of over ten thousand crore.

The share of public sector companies in India's total stock market capitalization has soared to a seven-year high of over 16 percent in May, driven by a strong rally in state-owned companies. This surge is a significant rise from the low of 7.8 percent in October 2020, doubling since then, according to a Moneycontrol article.

Also Read | PSU stocks create 7 lakh crore wealth in election season. Will this continue?

It's crucial to have assurance in execution efficiencies, particularly in defense orders, which span multiple years, Neeraj Chadawar, Head of Fundamental and Quantitative Research at Axis Securities told Moneycontrol. While there are substantial orders in the defense sector, uncertainties about execution efficiencies remain for the next three to four years.

Besides reduced government interference, analysts attribute the rally in PSU stocks to burgeoning order books for these companies over the past four to five years as most belong to the core sector, which is seeing a turn in the cycle, the Moneycontrol article read.

Also Read | These 'Modi stocks' may benefit from BJP win in Lok Sabha elections, CLSA says

Indias top 5 performing PSUs, as reported by Business Today, include:

State Bank of India (SBI), Indias largest PSU lender is also Indias most profitable PSU. Its PAT surged 20% to Rs.68,138 crore during the financial year 2023-24 from Rs.56,558 crore in the previous year. Banks, which constitute a bulk of the PSU pack, have cleared their books after a prolonged period of bad loans. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC): It had the second highest PAT at Rs.54,705 crore in the financial year 2023-24, registering an annual profit growth of 61% against Rs.34,012 crore profit in 2022-23. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC): IOC, with a profit of Rs.41,615 crore came third. Its PAT jumped 284% in a year from Rs.10,842 crore in the previous year. Coal India: Its profit rose 16% to Rs.36,942 crore in FY24 from Rs.31,731 crore in the previous year. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC): At number five is LIC, with a PAT of Rs.36,844 crore during 2023-24. It registered profit growth of 16% against Rs.31,812 crore in 2022-23.

This year, listed PSU firms collectively added almost Rs.18 lakh crore, reaching a total market capitalization of Rs.67.4 lakh crore. In contrast, the BSE PSU Index has seen a significant gain of 35 percent, while the benchmark Sensex and Nifty have only risen by 3 percent, Moneycontrol reported.

Also Read | MTNL, BSNL to sell off Mumbai properties to state departments, PSUs
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said he has no faith in exit polls and predicted that the Congress will cross double digits in the state in the Lok Sabha elections, but refrained from giving any figures. DK Shivakumar.(ANI file photo)

The party leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President had been claiming that the party will win 15-20 out of 28 seats in the state.

ALSO READ | Contractor dies by suicide over unpaid dues by Karnataka govt body

"I have said that I have no faith in the exit polls. Today also, I'm saying the same thing. Someone called me just now saying that they (channels) are showing that we will get only two or three or four seats in Karnataka. We will get more than double digit, wait and see," Shivakumar told reporters here.

He said, "I have no faith in exit polls and their assessment, as they don't go interior. They would have done it based on some sample size, I don't believe in it. The INDIA bloc is ready to take over the mantles."

ALSO READ | Prajwal not bigger than law: Political parties welcome SIT action

Early exit polls predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA, with the ruling alliance projected to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sweep Karnataka.

The then ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance had come a cropper, winning just one seat each in 2019 Lok Sabha poll, while the BJP had swept, by winning 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, and had ensured the win of a party supported independent candidate in Mandya.

ALSO READ | Prajwal Revanna, accused of rape, sent to 6-day SIT custody

The JD(S) this time is in alliance with BJP, which has given the regional party three seats -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.

The counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly shot dead an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activist and left four others injured in Ajnala, police said on Saturday. Two motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activist and left four others injured at Ajnala late on Friday. (Representational photo)

The assailants fled the spot at Lakhuwal village in Ajnala after committing the murder on Friday night, police said.

The incident took place when a group of people were sitting outside a house, Ajnala police station SHO Balbir Singh said, adding the two motorcycle-borne assailants came suddenly and opened indiscriminate fire on the gathering.

One person, who was later identified as Deepinder Singh, alias Deepu, died in the firing, he said and added he had recently joined the AAP.

Four others were injured in the incident, the police official said.

The SHO said investigation is on to identify the accused.

Polling is underway in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of Punjab and the lone Chandigarh seat in the seventh and final phase of parliamentary elections on Saturday.
Seema Rani, 47, a differently abled voter from Fazilka, on Saturday became an inspiring figure in the community as she voted by pressing the electronic voting machine (EVM) button with her toe. Seema Rani, 47, a differently abled voter from Fazilka, signing the poll register with her foot before voting on Saturday. (HT Photo)

Seema, who was born without arms, demonstrated extraordinary resilience by signing the register with her foot and going on to cast her vote in the Ferozepur parliamentary constituency.

Every vote counts and I wanted to make sure my voice is heard. Never mind the challenges we face, participating in democracy is our right and responsibility, she said.

Accompanied by her two brothers, one of who is a government teacher and the other a barber, Seema said she has been a regular voter since she turned 18. Ive always wanted to contribute to my nation. Despite my limitations, I participate in the nations development by voting in every election. Everyone must participate in the biggest festival of democracy, she said.

Seema has overcome numerous challenges in life and is a home-maker.

Her presence at the polling booth was appreciated by voters and polling officials alike. Fazilka deputy commissioner Senu Duggal praised Seemas courage and commitment. Her determination to vote despite her challenges is truly inspiring, she said.
In a first, Patiala returning officer (RO) Showkat Ahmad Parray on Saturday roped in 200 government school students to keep an eye on poll officials through live webcasting of polling booths. Government school students keeping an eye on poll officials through live webcasting of polling booths in Patiala on Saturday. (HT Photo)

It is learnt that the students were given the required training before tasked with keeping a vigil on the poll officials.

Elaborating on the initiative, Parray said that the aim was to engage and sensitise future voters so that they understand the democratic process and realise the importance of free and fair elections.

Over 200 students are keeping a watch on various polling booths in the constituency. Each student is keeping an eye on 15 to 20 polling booths through webcasting. These students alert us whenever there is any issue during the polling. We immediately call up the presiding officer to rectify the mistake, if any, said Parray, who visited the webcasting monitoring room on Saturday.

Poll officials at a polling booth in Patiala were taken by surprise when the returning officer caught them having snacks during the voting process. At another booth, one of the poll officers was caught napping during when voting was on.

When the students informed the RO that poll officers were having snacks, he asked the presiding officer, in real time: Everyone is eating. Didnt you all have breakfast in the morning?

In another feedback, a student informed the RO that one of the polling booths under his watch seemed to be crowded. The RO then called up the presiding officer of the booth and directed that the polling process be expedited to beat the rush.

In another incident, the RO pointed out that no voter was seen at a polling booth. Why are voters not coming? Please make public announcements to ensure they turn up, Parray told the presiding officer over phone.
Delhi: The high court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking the demarcation of a seers shrine on public land in Delhi, highlighting the potential for widespread misuse if such allowances were made for all spiritual leaders. The court emphasised the critical need to prioritise public interest over individual claims to public property. Delhi high court (File Photo)

Justice Dharmesh Sharma, delivering the verdict on Friday, underscored the broader implications of allowing religious structures to proliferate on public land. In our country, we might find thousands of sadhus, babas, fakirs, or gurus across different parts of the landscape. If each one is allowed to build a shrine or samadhi sthal on public land and continue to use it for personal gains by vested interest groups, it would lead to disastrous consequences, jeopardizing larger public interest, justice Sharma held.

The plea was filed by Avinash Giri, the successor of Mahant Shri Naga Baba Bhola Giri, requesting the district magistrate of Daryaganj to demarcate a shrine situated at Old Delhis Nigambodh Ghat. Avinash claimed possession of the shrine since 2006 and expressed concerns over its potential demolition, following the demolition of nearby structures by the Flood Control and Irrigation Department of the Delhi government.

The court, however, underlined the inherent contradiction in Naga sadhus seeking property rights. Making no attempt to write a thesis on the way of life of Naga sadhus, as we understand in the Hindu religion, Naga sadhus are devotees of Lord Shiva and they are ordained to live a life of complete detachment from the worldly affairs, and therefore, seeking property rights in their names does not conform with their beliefs and practices, the bench said.

Representing the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), additional standing counsel Shobhana Takiar argued that the shrine was situated on DDA-owned land. The court noted that there was no evidence to suggest that the shrine held any historical significance or was dedicated to public worship.

Since the petitioner has placed no iota of evidence that the shrine is a place of historic significance and devoted to the public at large, the DDA is not enjoined upon to give any notice to the petitioner. The mere fact that the matter of demolition has not yet been considered or approved by the Religious Affairs Committee does not hold weight, as it is not a shrine devoted to the public but a private shrine, justice Sharma observed.

The court concluded that the property in question was intended for larger public projects, such as the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River. It declared the seers successor a rank trespasser and dismissed the plea, stating it was bereft of merits.

The seers successor has no right, title, or interest to continue using the shrine, the court ruled.
Kolkata: Seventeen months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive meet in Delhi that his party should reach out to Muslims, especially those from the economically backward strata, the minority community may have emerged as a major hindrance to the saffron camps target of winning 30 of Bengals 42 Lok Sabha seats in the seven-phase elections, feel stakeholders and experts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah (File Photo)

The primary reason, they say, is the communal overtones in the campaign speeches BJP leaders delivered in Bengal, especially after the first three phases covering the north Bengal regions eight seats of which BJP won seven in 2019.

Although the BJP set a record in Bengal five years ago by winning 18 seats, its victory march in the south Bengal region was confined to regions with a high number of tribal voters or a sizeable population of Hindu Dalits many of whom came from Bangladesh as refugees. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was enforced in March, was promised to this section by the BJP in 2019.

Ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and chief minister Mamata Banerjee has projected CAA as a threat to both Hindus and Muslims saying it is a precursor to enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) which left 1.9 million Hindus in jeopardy in BJP-ruled Assam in 2018 and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on which Uttarakhand passed a law in February.

Also Read: Clashes in Bengal during final phase voting; EVM vandalised, crude bombs hurled

The second reason, cited as a catalyst in the polarisation process, is the Calcutta high courts May 22 order which cancelled Other Backward Class (OBC) status awarded to 77 Muslim communities by the state government.

This is clear from the chain of events that led to the classification of the 77 classes as OBCs and their inclusion to be treated as a vote bank, the order, which came three days before the sixth phase of polling, said.

Banerjee, while challenging the high courts order, said: I have respect for the judiciary but BJP got an order passed today and I wont accept it. OBC reservations will continue.

BJP leaders countered Banerjee saying she was attacking even the judiciary to protect her vote bank.

During the last decadal census held in 2011, Bengals Hindu population stood at 70.54 % while Muslims comprised 27.01%. This made Bengals Muslim population the second highest among all Indian states where the community is in the minority. Only Assam, with a Muslim population of 34.22%, was ahead of Bengal in 2011.

Bengals projected population in 2023 was 104.2 million and the Muslim population was projected to be around 30%. According to surveys done by all parties, Muslim voters play a decisive role in at least 120 of Bengals 294 assembly seats, of which BJP could win only 75 in 2021. On average, seven assembly segments comprise one Lok Sabha seat in the state.

In the 2021 assembly polls, the BJP fielded nine Muslim candidates but none could win. There was no Christian in the fray. The sole Buddhist candidate, Bishal Lama, won the Kalchini seat in north Bengals Alipurduar district.

In north Bengals eight districts, where members of the scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) communities have a sizeable presence, the BJP captured 30 of the 54 assembly seats.

Muslim votes would have consolidated against BJP in any case this year but these developments have ensured that the section of Muslims who might have voted for CPI(M) or Congress, something we saw in the 2023 panchayat polls, will back none but TMC, said Professor Maidul Islam from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences.

Also Read: For BJP, final phase of Bengal Lok Sabha polls is an acid test

This chain of events may influence even secular and liberal Bengali Hindus. A section of these people might have toyed with the idea of voting for either the CPI(M) Communist Party of India (Marxist) or Congress. They may give it a second thought and ultimately back TMC. The BJP is likely to benefit in one way though. The conservative Hindu voters, especially those from the OBC category, are likely to back BJP, Islam added.

In 2019, the BJP wrested seven of eight seats in the north Bengal region which stretches from Malda to Darjeeling districts. These seats went to polls in the first three phases. According to the 2011 census, the Muslim population in Malda was 51.27%.

Since the BJP won the Malda North seat in 2019 because Muslim votes got divided between TMC and Congress, Banerjee did not honour the INDIA coalition in Bengal saying the Left and Congress were indirectly helping the BJP.

Of the three Lok Sabha seats in Murshidabad district, which is part of south Bengal and has the highest Muslim population of 66.28%, two went to polls in the third phase. Of the 16 south Bengal seats that went to polls in Phase three, four and five, the BJP wrested seven in 2019.

BJPs best performance in the south Bengal region in 2019 was in the districts that went to polls in the sixth phase. In Purulia and Bankura districts, for example, the Muslim population is less than 10% according to the 2011 census. In 2019, the saffron camp won five of the eight seats where elections were held on May 25.

Critics inside the BJP pointed out that there is no Muslim among the state committee office bearers and heads of the frontal organisations. In a reshuffle that took place months after the 2021 polls, Ali Hossain, the then minority morcha (front) president and the only Muslim face, was removed.

It would be a mistake to think that no Muslim has voted for the BJP in Bengal. Those with nationalist feelings have certainly backed our party, Hossain said, citing the participation of Muslims in BJP processions in north Bengals Cooch Behar district where the minority community comprises 25% of the population.

Also Read: Elections in Bengal are all but bipolar contests

The communal overtones in the speeches of the BJP leaders after the third phase were not sudden. It was planned because elections in the regions where BJP did well in 2019 were already over. But these have not affected voters. Common people can see through the BJPs thought process, said Md Yahiya, chairman of the West Bengal Imams Association which represents clerics from around 26,000 of Bengals 40,000 mosques.

Political science professor Udayan Bandopadhyay said: Muslim votes have consolidated in favour of TMC. They do not support the Left or Congress in this state. From what I have studied, Muslims have geared up to play the same role they played in 1977 when they opposed Congress because of the vasectomy drive that RSS also supported. For Muslims, this ongoing election is a war for survival.

It is impossible for the BJP to win the confidence of Bengals Muslims. They cannot ignore the threat posed by CAA and UCC, said TMC spokesperson Santanu Sen.

Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, No matter what the stakeholders and experts may say, we believe that TMCs so-called monopoly over Muslim votes has ended. In fact, it has started collapsing in Kolkata and surrounding areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi recorded 56.35% voter turnout in the seventh and final phase of the parliamentary general election on Saturday, according to a communique by the district election officer. Voters in Varanasi on Saturday. (PTI PHOTO)

The Saturdays turnout fell short of the 57.13% mark recorded in the 2019 polls and 58.35% voting witnessed in 2014 in Varanasi.

Besides Modi, the electoral fate of six other candidates was locked in electronic voting machines in Varanasi as voting concluded smoothly. As many as 41 candidates were in the fray against Modi in 2014 whereas 26 contested against him in 2019.

Voting started in Varanasi slowly and picked up pace by noon. Elderly people and first-time voters were among those who participated in the festival of democracy. Long queues of voters were seen at polling booths since morning.

Sikkim governor Laxman Acharya cast his vote at a polling booth in Ramnagar. Uttar Pradesh ministers Ravindra Jaiswal, Dayashankar Mishra Dayalu and Anil Rajbhar exercise their franchise at polling booths in their respective areas.

Arrangements like drinking water, shades, volunteers, and wheelchairs for divyang voters and elderly voters have been made, Varanasi district magistrate S Rajalingam said

In view of heatwave, arrangements for ORS packets were made for polling staff and security personnel in Varanasi, Chandauli and Mirzapur.

Coolers were also arranged at some booths in the city area to give relief to the voters.

Rajalingam and his wife cast their votes at a booth in a primary school in the Cantt area. Varanasi commissioner of police Mohit Agarwal also cast his vote. Divisional commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma and his family members exercised their franchise at a polling booth in JP Mehta Inter College.

Banaras Hindu University cardiologist Prof Om Shankar, who observed a 20-day hunger strike to press his demand to give entire fourth floor and half of the fifth floor in super specialty building of Sir Sundar Lal Hospital, IMS-BHU, to the department of cardiology, also exercised his franchise. He said that he cast his vote for right to health and equality.

There are 19,97,577 voters in Varanasi. Voting was held at 1909 polling booths of 660 polling centres in the constituency.

The seven candidates in fray from this seat are Prime Minister Narendra Modi-BJP, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai of the INDIA bloc, Athar Jamal Lari of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Gagan Prakash Yadav-Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), Kolishetti Shivkumar-Yug Tulsi Party, Sanjay Kumar Tiwari (Independent) and Dinesh Kumar Yadav (Independent).

Ajay Rai, who finished third against PM Modi twice in a row in 2014 and 2019, is contesting the election on the Indian National Congress symbol.

Voting passed off peacefully in Mirzapur, said superintendent of police, Mirzapur Abhinandan. He said no report of any untoward incident or complaint was received in the constituency.

In Ghazipur, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha exercised his franchise. In Mirzapur, Union minister Anupriya Patel cast her vote. In Ballia, BJP candidate Neeraj Shekhar, and SP leader and former minister Ambika Chaudhary cast their votes.
Residents of Lucknow have begun taking their grievances directly to the houses of their elected representatives. For representation only (HT File Photo)

Over the past three days, one MLA and two corporators have led groups of frustrated citizens to local power substations, demanding solutions to the persistent power cuts affecting various areas of the city.

Former corporator of Para, Nagendra Singh Chauhan, said that residents of Para reached his house asking him to accompany them to the substation where the staff was not listening to them.

He said, The publics growing impatience with the power supply situation has resulted in heightened pressure on the authorities to deliver consistent electricity services. This escalation highlights poor maintenance of infrastructure by UPPCL.

Similarly, Mukesh Singh Chauhan, who was the candidate of INDIA alliance from Lucknow North assembly seat and is current corporator from Indira Nagar said, Daily, a number of residents come to me with the complaint of power cuts. I call the executive engineer and superintendent engineer daily to address the complaint of power cuts.

Power cuts continue

On Saturday, power cuts were reported in Para, Ismailganj, Sector C Rajajipuram, Sarojini Nagar, Maulviganj, Yahiyaganj, Monarch city, Balaganj, and Yaseenganj. These areas have been plagued by frequent and prolonged power outages, disrupting daily life and causing significant inconvenience.

In Bakshi Ka Talab Adarsh Singh a resident of Diboi village in BKT sat on a demonstration saying that the power connection of his house was snapped for pending dues of just 8,257 only. The executive engineer assured the resident to restore the connection and enquire about the employees who snapped his connection.

Lineman suffers burn injuries

Meanwhile, in a tragic incident in the Raj Bhavan Division, a lineman suffered severe burns after coming in contact with high-voltage current. The incident occurred due to the negligence of SDO Ashutosh Tiwari, who instructed the lineman to work on a live line. The lineman, identified as Ram Milan, was performing maintenance work when the accident happened, resulting in serious injuries.

Ram Milan was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where his condition remains critical. The incident took place in the Balu Adda area of the Raj Bhavan Division. Senior officials from Madhyanchal were present at the Civil Hospital to oversee the treatment of the injured lineman.

LESA officials say that innovative cooling measures have been implemented for all 30 power transformers under the Vrindavan division. By using sprinkler systems connected to water pipes, the transformers temperature has been successfully reduced from a dangerous 60-70 degrees Celsius to a safer 50-55 degrees Celsius.

MD Madhyanchal says

The managing director of Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited Bhawani Singh Khangarot addressing media said, The power condition is improving, while the damaged transformers are being swiftly replaced. Damaged units are then sent back to the workshop for repairs. This approach has significantly reduced downtime and enhanced the efficiency of departmental operations. Officials have been instructed to expedite transformer replacements, and compliance with these directives is being observed.

He said Madhyanchal (DISCOM) officials have also been directed to engage with journalists, public representatives, and other dignitaries, ensuring satisfactory communication and prompt resolution of issues.
The security issue of the district court campus in the heart of the city has once again cropped up after a man managed to enter the court premises with a firearm. For representation only (HT File Photo)

This glaring lapse in courts security on Friday took place almost after a year of shootout in the courtroom on June 7, 2023, in which gangster Sanjeev Maheswari Jeeva was shot dead.

The sensational shootout took place during the hearing of the late BJP leader Brahma Dutt Dwivedis murder case in which Maheshwari was an accused.

After the incident, the security of district courts was beefed up across the state. However, it seems as time has passed, the security scenario is back to square one in district court in the state capital.

Former president of the Central Bar Association of the district court Sunil Dwivedi on Saturday took up the issue with district judge Ashwani Tripathi.

I met the district judge today and apprised him about the lapse in courts security. He also expressed concern over the issue. The issue will be taken up with the district administration, said advocate Sunil Dwivedi.

All eight DFMDs installed at the entry gates of the district court are not working. They have turned showpieces. How can a person enter the court campus carrying a firearm? This is only possible due to security lapse, added Dwivedi.

The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh will also take up the issue of security in district courts with the state government.

Security of district courts across the state need overhaul review and complete revamp, said advocate Rohit Kant.

A section of lawyers also feel that without restricting entry of litigants security of district courts cannot be made foolproof.

High court like security needed

Lawyers are demanding high court-like security at the district court campus.

The Uttar Pradesh police and the CRPF are in-charge of the Lucknow high courts security.

Entry and exit of lawyers is from gate number six that is properly manned by cops. Without producing an identity card issued by the Oudh Bar Council of the high court no one can enter the court campus.

Security personnel present at gate number six have the right to ask for ID proof from any lawyer entering the court.

Inside the high court campus, CRPF is in-charge of security.

In this years budget, the state government has allocated 100 crore for installing CCTV cameras and other security equipment in district courts across the state as part of beefing up security at court campuses.

Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force

The Yogi Adityanath government has constituted Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF), a specialised dedicated security force, for security at district courts across the state.

It was constituted after the sensational killing of a double murder accused in a courtroom in Bijnor district before chief judicial magistrate on December 17, 2019.

The force is yet to be deployed in all district courts across the state.

Biometric smart card system yet to be implemented

The state government has proposed a biometric-based smart card system for entry of lawyers in district courts.

The move is aimed at ensuring security of district courts across the state.

The pilot project will be introduced in district courts of Lucknow and Azamgarh. Thereafter, it will be implemented in other district courts in a phased manner.

The smart cards will be issued to genuine lawyers and are regular visitors to courts. This would help in keeping out unwanted elements from courts.

Without restricting entry of litigants in district courts, security of court campuses cannot be ensured, said Gyan Singh Chauhan, senior advocate, Lucknow high court.

The demand for the special security force in court campuses mooted time and again.

Serial court blasts on November 23, 2007

Blasts rocked district court campuses in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad, which is now Ayodhya.

After these blasts it was for the first time that a proposal for special security arrangements for district courts across the state was proposed.

However, till date the proposal is yet to be implemented even after a series of incidents in court campuses across the state.

First woman chairman of Bar Council of UP shot dead

After the sensational killing of the first woman chairman of Bar Council of UP, Darvesh Yadav, on the Agra district court campus on June 12, 2019, once again voices were raised for deploying the special security force in court campuses.

Advocate Jagnarayan Yadav shot dead in Basti district court

Advocate Jagnarayan Yadav, 63, was shot dead inside the court campus in Basti district on February 28, 2019.

After this incident once again lawyers bodies across the state demanded special security arrangements in district courts across the state.
A shopkeeper was charred to death, while consumer utility items worth several thousand rupees were gutted as a fire broke out in a grocery shop in the Bakshi Ka Talab area of Lucknow on Saturday morning. The fire-ravaged shop in Bakshi ka Talab in Lucnow on Saturday (HT Photo)

The body of the deceased was taken to the government hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Fire department officials said that locals said that the fire in the shop was caused due to the bursting of the refrigerator compressor.

Today at 8:36 am, a caller reported a fire in a shop in village Kotwa police station BKT under fire station Bakshi Ka Talab. The caller said that a man had been badly burnt. Fire service ambulance from FS BKT also left for the spot, fire station officer, BKT, Prashant Kumar said.

On reaching the spot, it was seen that a grocery shop was on fire and a person (Shivbahal Maurya) was found burnt to death in it. Chief fire officer Lucknow Mangesh Kumar and civil police were also present.

In another incident of fire at a house near Sector 17, Munshi Pulia vegetable market, under the Indiranagar police station, a gas cylinder caught fire in the kitchen on the first floor of Subhash Chandra Shuklas house.

The fire department team extinguished the fire but not before it had destroyed three rooms and a kitchen on the first floor of the house. House owner Subhash Chandra Shukla was partially burnt and was taken to hospital by the police for treatment.
MUMBAI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday tweeted that under the Mahayuti government, the state had retained its top position in foreign domestic investment (FDI) for the second consecutive year. Maharashtra attracted investment of 1,25,101 crore in 2023-24, marginally higher than the figure of 1,18,422 in 2022-23. The Congress, however, has contested Fadnavis claim, saying that Maharashtra has been in the top position in FDI since 2000. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (ANI Photo/ Ishant)(Ishant)

According to data released by the Department For Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on May 30, Maharashtra has attracted 30% of the total FDI coming to all states in the country. Although Maharashtra is followed by Karnataka, which received FDI of 54,427 in FY-24, the gap between the two states is huge. Despite investment of 60,600 crore in FY24, Gujarat has slid to the third position because of the low cumulative equity inflow (CEI) in the last five years. As per the CEI, Maharashtra has received 30% of the countrys FDI, while Karnataka and Gujarat received 22% and 17% respectively.

Fadnavis slammed the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray for its poor show vis-s-vis FDI between November 2019 and June 2022. Maharashtra lagged behind in attracting investment during the MVA tenure and has once again bounced back to the top position for the last two consecutive years under our government, he tweeted. It takes courage to walk the talk, act and prove yourself. Mere jabbering takes no courage.

The investment in this financial year is more than double the total investment received in Gujarat, and more than the combined sum of second-ranked Gujarat and third-ranked Karnataka, the deputy CM added.

Congress leader and Maharashtra general secretary Sachin Sawant, however, contested Fadnavis claim. According to the figures released by the union industries department, Maharashtra has constantly been Number One between 2000 and 2012, attracting 33 per cent of the FDI that came to the country, he said in a post on X. Again, according to central government figures, Maharashtra was in the top position from 2019 to June 2022 during the MVA governments tenure if the cumulative investment of two and a half years is considered. The state lagged behind in FY 21 and FY 22 because the anti-Maharashtra central government diverted the 78% and 53% FDI in software and hardware that came from Singapore, USA and Mauritius to Gujarat and Karnataka respectively. This resulted in Gujarat jumping to the top position in FY20-21. It was a deliberate move by the Modi government to divert the investment to BJP-ruled states.
The counting of votes for the election to the Arunachal Pradesh assembly, polling for which was held on April 19, will take place on Sundaytwo days ahead of votes for Lok Sabha seats across the country are counted. Adequate security arrangements have been put in place at the counting centres to ensure the process passes smoothly. (Representative Image)

While counting of votes for the two Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state would happen on June 4, counting of ballots for the assembly polls to Arunachal Pradesh (and Sikkim) have been preponed as the term of the present assembly ends on June 2.

Though there are 60 members in the state assembly, polling took place only in 50 constituencies as 10 ruling Bharatiya Janata Party candidates including chief minister Pema Khandu and his deputy Chowa Mein won their seats unopposed.

Counting of votes will begin at 6am on Sunday at 40 counting centres in 25 district headquarters. Postal ballots would be counted first, followed by electronic voting machines (EVMs) around 6.30am. The counting is expected to be over by noon, Arunachal Pradesh chief electoral officer Pawan Kumar Sain said.

He added that adequate security arrangements have been put in place at the counting centres to ensure the process passes smoothly. As per Election Commission guidelines, no victory processions would be allowed after announcement of results.

Elections had taken place to 50 assembly constituencies as BJP candidates had won unopposed in 10 seats. As June 2 is the last day for the existing assemblys tenure to end, we want to complete the counting process soon. Thats why counting is set to begin from 6am and not 8am, Sain said.

Arunachal Pradesh witnessed 82.95% voter turnout on April 19. While BJP put up candidates in all the 60 seats, opposition Congress contested from only 19 seats. The seats which BJP have won unopposed are Ziro-Hapoli, Taliha, Tali, Sagalee, Roing, Mukto, Itanagar, Hayuliang, Chowkham and Bomdila.

As the voting result for the state assembly election are set to be announced on June 2, I extend my best wishes to all the BJP candidates. I am confident that BJP will win with a thumping majority, BJP leader and deputy CM Chowna Mein posted on X on Saturday.

In 2019, the ruling BJP had retained power by winning 41 seats, Janata Dal (United) won 7, National Peoples Party (NPP) got 5, Congress won 4, Peoples Party of Arunachal Pradesh got 1 and the rest 2 seats were secured by Independents.
The preparations for counting of votes on June for the Lok Sabha elections in two constituencies of Manipur are in full swing, officials said on Saturday. The counting of votes in Manipur will be taken up at 24 counting centres in 11 district headquarters. (Representative Image)

All necessary arrangements as prescribed by the Election Commission are well in place. A three-layer security cordon will be enforced at all counting centres on counting day and entry of unauthorised persons will be restricted, said Manipur chief electoral officer (CEO) Pradeep Kumar Jha. However, authorised media persons with valid pass and counting agents will be allowed access to the counting centres.

Counting of votes will be taken up at 24 counting centres in 11 district headquarters of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Jiribam in a total of 50 counting halls, the CEO said in a press release.

Five counting halls have been earmarked for counting of Postal Ballots and ETPBS at the headquarters of the two Returning Officers of l-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency and II-Outer Manipur (Scheduled Tribe) Parliamentary Constituency and the remaining 45 halls will be used for counting of EVMs and VVPATs, the CEO added.

Informing that 25 Counting Observers have been appointed by Election Commission of India and will be arriving before the date fixed for counting, the CEO said, one Electronic Corporation of India Limited engineer for each counting hall has been assigned where EVM counting will be done. The counting will commence at 8am at the counting halls, he said.

Authorised counting agents of candidates are informed to reach the counting centres well in time to participate in the opening of strong rooms as notified by the respective Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer, the release said.

Training of the Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Counting Officials including the Micro Observers have been completed. The counting process in the counting halls will be under CCTV/videography coverage. Each round of counting will be updated through ENCORE application and will be available for public access through Voter Turnout Mobile Application and results.eci.gov.in, the release added.

The Lok Sabha polls were held in Manipur in two phases- inner Manipur parliamentary constituency on April 19 and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on April 26.

The Phase I polling held on April 19 will decide the fate of six candidates-- Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam(INC), Th Basantakumar (BJP), Maheshwar Thounaojam(RPI-Athawale), Independent candidates RK Somendro alias Kaiku, retired Col H Sarat and Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba.

The Phase II polling held on April 26 will decide the fate of four candidates-- Alfred Kanngam Arthur (INC), Kachui Timothy Zimik(NPF), Independent candidates S Kho John and Alyson Abonmai.
The counting of votes polled in the assembly election in Sikkim will be held on Sunday, officials said. While the SKM is trying to retain power in Sikkim for the second time in a row, the SDF, which was in power for 25 years till 2019, is now trying to bounce back. (Representative Image)

Election for the 32 seats in the states legislative assembly was held alongside the Lok Sabha polls on April 19 in the first phase. Sikkim has only one Lok Sabha constituency. The counting is scheduled to begin at 6am on June 2.

Counting of Lok Sabha votes would take place on June 4.

Sikkim witnessed primarily a bipolar contest between the ruling-Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and its principal opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to put up a fight in around five seats. Also in the fray was the Citizen Action Party (CAP), which is gradually emerging as a force to be reckoned with.

While the SKM is trying to retain power for the second time in a row, the SDF, which was in power for 25 years till 2019, is now trying to bounce back.

SKM leaders including its president Prem Singh Tamang Golay have been claiming that the election is a cake walk for the party and the Sikkimese voters would give another five years tenure to the party.

Jacob Khaling Rai, the SKM spokesperson said: We are confident to win more than 26 of 32 seats. Voters will not give another chance to the SDF, whose 25-year-long tenure in the state was marred by corruption and nepotism.

Pawan Chamling, the SDF president and who was the longest serving chief minister of the country said: Sikkim voters have realised their mistake of voting SKM to power in 2019. Hence, they will again vote the SDF back to power.

SDF spokesperson Arun Limboo said, We will win 19 to 26 seats.

Though the electoral fight seems to be between the SKM and the SDF, the BJP and CAP, which was formed on January 26, 2023, are optimistic of clinching some seats.

The BJP, which was an alliance partner of the ruling SKM, decided to go all alone and is contesting from 31 assembly seats and lone Lok Sabha seat. The CAP, which is doing flag-less and slogan-less politics, is contesting from 30 assembly seats and lone Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress is contesting from 18 assembly seats and lone Lok Sabha seat. SKM and SDF are contesting from all 32 assembly seats and lone Lok Sabha seat.

Passang Gyali Sherpa, the BJP Sikkim state spokesperson told HT: Sikkimese voters have voted for the performance of Modi government and its zero tolerance for corruption.

Dilli Ram Thapa, the BJP Sikkim state president, said: BJP will play a pivotal role in the formation of the government. We are open for discussions with all the parties to ensure the betterment of Sikkim and the citizens.

The BJP had secured less than 2% of the vote in the 2019 election. In 2019, soon after the election results were announced, 10 of the SDF MLAs joined the BJP while two SDF MLAs joined the ruling SKM.

In a neck-and-neck fight in 2019, out of 32 seats the SKM had won 17 and SDF 15. Two of the SDF MLAs including the then chief minister Pawan Chamling and one SKM Candidate had won from two seats each.

In the assembly by-election held for the three seats, the SKM president and present chief minister contested from one seat and the BJP in alliance with the SKM contested from two seats and won. At present, SKM has 19 MLAs, BJP 12 and the SDF one. The known SDF MLA is Pawan Chamling, the former chief minister.

Rajiv Ravidas, a political analyst in Sikkim said: Though in the past, elections were contested directly between the two parties, this year there would be four corner contest and the BJP and CAP are also expected to win a few seats.

Protected under Article 371(F) of Indian Constitution, Sikkim, which was a sovereign country till 1975, enjoys special status. Opposition parties including the SDF and CAP have been accusing the ruling SKM for diluting the special status, while the ruling SKM has hit back and is holding the SDF, which was in power for 25 years for compromising with the special status.

As far as the election campaign was concerned, the ruling SKM was far ahead in organising public meetings and rallies.

Chief minister Golay, who formed the SKM in 2013, was with the SDF for a long period and was an MLA and minister multiple times. He started his revolt against the then ruling party SDF and particularly Pawan Chamling in 2009. Four years after his revolt, Golay formed SKM and in 2014 election, it won 10 seats.

Among the important candidates contesting the election are the chief minister himself, who is contesting from two seats namely Soreng-Chakung and Rhenock. His wife Krishna Kumari Rai is contesting from Namchi-Singithang constituency. Pawan Chamling, the former chief minister is contesting from two seats namely Poklok-Kamrang and Namchabong. Dilli Ram Thapa, the state BJP president is contesting from Upper Burtuk constituency. Ganesh Kumar Rai, the chief minister candidate of CAP, is contesting from Melli and Bhaichung Bhutia, who had floated his own party Hamro Sikkim Party in 2018, is contesting as SDF candidate from Barfung constituency.

For the lone Lok Sabha-seat, while the SKM has fielded sitting MP Indra Hang Subba, the SDF has fielded former Lok Sabha MP PD Rai. BJP has fielded Dinesh Nepal, CAP has fielded Bharat Basnet and Congress has fielded Gopal Chhetri.

Sikkim has one seat reserved for the Buddhist monks named Sangha. The seat has 4,065 registered monk voters. This year the SKM fielded sitting MLA Sonam Lama, the SDF fielded Tshering Lama, BJP fielded Tseten Tashi Bhutia, who is the convenor of Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC). Tseten Tashi Bhutia who underwent kidney transplant never campaigned for himself, as he is still in the hospital.

Sikkim has a total of 463,929 voters out of which 232,381 are male voters and 231,545 are female voters and three transgender voters.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has announced the launch of BTech and MTech programs in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at its campus at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham launches BTech, MTech in AI and Data Science, check details.

A press release issued by the institution stated that the courses are approved by AICTE, Govt. of India.

Prof Kamal Bijlani, Dean at School of Artificial Intelligence in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham spoke about the innovative programs in AI and Data Science, and emphasized that the importance of AI in education and industry has been growing steadily.

Also read: Calicut University UG Admission 2024: Last day to apply for 4-year program, direct link inside

He said, With the advent of Generative AI and free AI tools in the market like ChatGPT (OpenAI, Microsoft), Gemini (Google), Llama (Meta) and others, the battle between the AI technology giants to gain the lead in Generative AI has intensified.

Prof Bijlani stated that organizations need to add an AI team that provides AI tools and maintains its data on GPU-based private AI servers, thereby providing quick precise answers based on its own private data.

Highlighting the role of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, he said that the institution has been a catalyst to provide the industry ready skilled AI engineers that will create, maintain and enhance the AI ecosystem of an organization.

The intent of providing these innovative AI courses in the Delhi NCR area is to provide a pool of AI engineers and create a research-based ecosystem of AI collaboration with government and industry, Prof Bijlani added.

Speaking about the course, Prof Bijlani added that the core computer science courses form the foundation of the program, based on which, the basic and advanced AI courses like Machine Learning will be taught.

Students will be offered specialization in robotics, IoT, AR/VR, medical applications and other areas. Emphasis will be on hands-on mini-projects and the use of AR/VR in learning.

Also read: TS DOST 2024 Phase 1 registration ends today at dost.cgg.gov.in, direct link to apply here

Our collaboration with universities like Stanford, UC Davis and IIT-Bombay will provide mentoring and research opportunities for students, said Prof Bijlani.

Prof. Praveen Bist, Registrar (Asst.) at School of Artificial Intelligence in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, highlighted that students would get many advantages by studying at the campus in Amrita Hospital in Faridabad.

The hospital provides large number of opportunities for conducting various AI pilot projects. The students would get exposed to the operations of a large healthcare network, thereby getting actual industry exposure on a continuous basis, Prof Bist added.

As per Prof Bist, students would get the opportunity to get involved in a range of projects that would not only provide practical experience but also contribute to advancing technology in their respective fields.

Also read: NEET UG 2024 Answer Key: Last date to raise objection extended till today, apply at neet.ntaonline.in

Examples of such projects include NLP Chatbots, image recognition system, autonomous navigation, humanoid robot interactions, smart home automation system, wearable health-monitoring devices, virtual reality training simulator, VR therapy applications, predictive analytics for disease outbreaks, etc., he added.

Worth mentioning here, admissions for the two programs are already underway. The admission to BTech course is based on scores from either JEE or Amrita Entrance Examination  Engineering (AEEE).

To apply, aspiring candidates need to register at the Universitys CSAP portal.

For more details, visit the official website of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
Bundelkhand University has issued the Admit Cards for UP B.Ed Joint Entrance Examination or UP B.Ed JEE 2024 on its official website. Candidates who will be appearing for the examinations can download the hall tickets by visiting the Universitys website at bujhansi.ac.in. UP B.Ed JEE Admit Card 2024: Download hall tickets through the direct link given here.

How to download UP B.Ed JEE Hall Tickets 2024:

Go to the official website at bujhansi.ac.in.

On the home page, click on the UP B.Ed JEE Hall Ticket 2024 link.

Enter login credentials and click on submit.

Check the Hall ticket displayed on the screen.

Download and print a hard copy for further use.

Also read: IISER IAT Hall Ticket 2024 released at iiseradmission.in, heres direct link to download

It may be mentioned here that after downloading the admit card, candidates are required to paste the same photograph on the hall ticket as they did on the application form, in the space provided. Additionally, they also have to print a duplicate copy of the hall ticket.

On the day of the exams, candidates must bring both copies of the admit card, one of which has to be given to the exam invigilator.

Also read: TSPSC Group 1 Services 2024 Hall Ticket out, here's the direct link to download admit card

After downloading the Hall ticket, candidates must verify the following information on it:

Name

Roll Number

Exam Date

Exam Timings

Photograph

It may be mentioned here that UP B.Ed JEE 2024 is scheduled to be conducted on June 9, 2024, for admission to the Bachelor of Education course.

Also read: APSC CCE Mains Exams 2024: Application window closes today at 5 PM, apply through direct link here
As the days go by, the Jujutsu Kaisen manga draws closer to its end, leaving fans wondering about the series' creator, Gege Akutami. Although people are making predictions as to what Akutami should do next, one thing that fans are sure of is what they hope he should focus on next. With Jujutsu Kaisen's climax approaching, fans share their thoughts on what the series' creator should do next(Netflix)

As of now, Jujutsu Kaisen is in the middle of a dangerous confrontation with the antagonist, Sukunaan extraordinarily powerful form of a demon. The strongest sorcerers are coming together to ensure this powerhouse is vanquished, which is sure to be really exciting. This dramatic strain is still evident, and it is believed that Chapter 262 aims to bring more tension into the mix.

As the show finale comes closer, fans at Reddit have started to churn the speculation mill over the possibilities of the author portraying something from his preceding creations after Sukunas elimination.

ALSO READ| Is Jujutsu Kaisen manga ending soon? Shinjuku Showdown Arc reaches climax

Fans wish Gege can come back with another story years from now

Akutami could return to one of his previous mangas, such as Nikai Bongai Barabarujura or No. 9, but fans wish otherwise.

Id love to see him take a much-needed break, I know manga schedules are notoriously killer, one Redditor commented.

Hopefully the money hes set with lets him breathe and he can come back with another story years from now when hes ready and on his own schedule.

Another Redditor piped in, I do think if he does come back, hell probably come back working under the same conditions that Sui Ishida is working under. Hell be allowed to draw when he wants in a bi-weekly schedule.

Sui Ishida, the creator of Tokyo Ghoul, returned with Choujin X in 2021. Tokyo Ghoul's immense success granted Ishida this flexibility, and fans believe Jujutsu Kaisen's acclaim should afford Akutami similar privileges.

ALSO READ| Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 261 spoilers: How Yuta can return to his real body

After a well-earned break, fans speculate that Akutami might release a few Jujutsu Kaisen one-shots. There is also talk of potential collaborations, with one exciting prospect being a partnership with Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man. Its a pipe dream, but I thought it would be neat if Akutami collaborated with Tatsuki Fujimoto on a manga, a fan suggested.

Fujimoto has mentioned he is interested in stepping back from illustrating his manga once Chainsaw Man is finished, and their talents are complementary.
Wind Breaker's first season of anime TV adaptation is sprinting towards the finish line with only four episodes remaining to close the 13-episode run of the weekly Friday broadcast. As one of the most anticipated premieres of the Spring anime lineup, the high school-based series based on Satoru Nii's manga series has been serving some of the most satisfying episodes centred around action-packed rivalries that dig deeper than one may notice at the first shallow glimpse. Still from Wind Breaker Episode 9.(CloverWorks)

With each fistfight and showdown, all nine episodes so far have opened a separate book of character-focussed narratives and nuances. However, every fulfilling ride must end somewhere. Before that happens, the Wind Breaker anime plans to go out with flying colours. As immaculate fight sequences team up with seamless animation, Wind Breaker's each flying punch tells a story that keeps soaring new heights each episode.

Crunchyroll describes the series as: Welcome to Furin High School, an institution infamous for its population of brawny brutes who solve every conflict with a show of strength. Some of the students even formed a group, Bofurin, which protects the town. Haruka Sakura, a first-year student who moved in from out of town, is only interested in one thing: fighting his way to the top.

Also read | My Hero Academia Chapter 424 spoilers: Shigaraki's heartbreaking fate revealed; Final War leads to bittersweet Epilogue

Check out the release schedule for the upcoming episode of the CloverWorks animation.

Wind Breaker Episode 10 Release date

According to several media sources, the next Wind Breaker episode will air in Japan on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 12:26 am JST.

Where to watch Wind Breaker Episode 10?

After local Japanese TV networks broadcast the episode, international audiences may rely on Crunchyroll to watch the episode.

Global audiences may refer to the following estimated release schedule for its eventual Crunchyroll premiere:

Pacific Daylight Time: Thursday, June 6, at 8:26 am

Eastern Daylight Time: Thursday, June 6, at 11:26 am

Central European Summer Time: Thursday, June 6, at 5:26 pm

Indian Standard Time: Thursday, June 6, at 8:56 pm

Australian Central Standard Time: Friday, June 7, at 12:56 am

Also read | Junes anime releases 2024 unveiled: The Rising Impact, Dear Friends spin off, Sword of the Demon Hunter and more

Wind Breaker Episode 9 Recap

Upon finishing watching the latest episode, a fan described the 9th entry as Cinema on X/Twitter. Reflecting the general sense of sentimental attachment many have attained with this show over the past nine episodes, they were especially moved by the emotional aspect of this series.

Episode 9 resumed with the breathtaking fight between Umemiya and Choji as the rest watched silently, holding their breath and awaiting the result of the epic showdown.

As their face-off continued, Umemiya's comments about Choji's weightless fists and impactless attacks prompted his emotional breakdown. Digging deeper into a reflective mood, he eventually got the better of his opponent, Umemiya's constructive criticism playing an instrumental role in his rise.

Umemiya soon takes charge, but not before headbutting with him a quick flashback of a more whimsical past when they first crossed paths at a Furin vs Shishitoren fight.

In the end, the Shishitoren and Bofurin conflict is resolved. Therefore, Episode 10 will likely focus on the students' perspectives as the next chapter zooms in on the culture at Furin High, with more character-focused stories making it to the forefront.
Ranveer, Sara's new pics from Europe

Ranveer sported a black hat and smiled wide for the camera in a picture of the actor from the cruise with a guest. Meanwhile, Sara Ali Khan was joined by friends for a day out in Rome, where they all posed in front of Trevi Fountain for a group picture. The actor also soaked up the sun during an outing in Cannes, France. She sported casual looks in the pictures that have been doing the rounds on social media.

Celebs at second Ambani pre-wedding

Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Pandey, Karan Johar, Disha Patani and Karisma Kapoor, among many other stars, are on a luxurious cruise to celebrate Anant Ambani's upcoming wedding.

Between May 28 and June 1, around 800 guests were treated to a series of parties and events aboard a luxury cruise liner during a picturesque journey from Italy to the South of France, spanning 4,380 kilometres. On May 29, the celebration kicked off with a welcome lunch, followed by a 'Starry Night'- themed evening gala. The festivities will end on June 1 in Portofino, Italy.

Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant to wed on July 12

Mumbai is abuzz with excitement as Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, prepare to tie the knot. The highly anticipated wedding will take place on July 12 at the prestigious Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai.

The wedding festivities are meticulously planned, adhering to the traditional Hindu Vedic customs. The main ceremonies will commence on Friday, July 12, with the auspicious Shubh Vivah or wedding function. The celebrations will continue on Saturday, July 13, with Shubh Aashirwad, where attendees will receive divine blessings. The final event, Mangal Utsav or the wedding reception, is scheduled for Sunday, July 14. For this grand occasion, guests have been asked to dress in 'Indian chic.'

With ANI inputs
Mumbai, Actor Sharib Hashmi says he shares a great bond with "The Family Man" co-star Manoj Bajpayee and was eagerly looking forward to reprise his role of JK Talpade in the show's upcoming season three. Share a special bond with Manoj Bajapyee, fun to reunite with him: Sharib Hashmi on Family Man' 3

Created and directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, the action thriller series features Bajpayee as Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class guy trying to maintain a balance between his personal and professional life as a covert intelligence officer.

Hashmi plays Talpade, a close friend and colleague of Tiwari, in the show, which started with its critically-acclaimed first season in 2019 and followed by the sophomore chapter in 2021.

The filming for the upcoming third season of the Prime Video show began last month.

I was very excited to begin work on the third season of The Family Man, and Im very happy with the scenes that weve shot. Im waiting for the next schedule to begin, I look forward to getting back to playing JK, the 48-year-old actor told PTI in an interview.

Hashmi said reuniting with Bajpayee on The Family Man series is always fun and special.

We both share a special bond, Ive a great comfort level with him. When we become JK and Tiwari, we get into that groove and have that same banter, we pull each others legs. It didnt seem that we didnt shoot for this long, he said.

The actor said that he never anticipated that their onscreen camaraderie will attract a huge fan-following.

We did hope that people would like us but we didnt know that our onscreen friendship would get so much love. Some people have written poems about that. It feels great that our hard work has paid off, he added.

Hashmi, who has garnered critical acclaim for his work in Filmistaan, Tarla, Fighter, among others, said he believes in working with utmost honesty, whether he has one scene in a film or a full-fledged role.

I never take my work for granted, Ive confidence in myself. Ive talent too but Im not over confident that I can do everything on my own as an actor. I need support and guidance from the director, and that is important for me. I think a lot before saying yes to a film, whether I do one scene in Fighter or a full-length role in Tarla, the actor said.

Hashmi's upcoming movie is Malhar, set in rural Kutch and described as a heartwarming exploration of three intertwined tales of love, struggle, and resilience.

The anthology movie also features Anjali Patil of Newton fame, Rishi Saxena, Shrinivas Pokale, Vinayak Potdar, Mohammad Samad and Akshata Acharya, among others.

There are three stories in this, theres a story of two children who are friends, another is a teenage love story, and one is a story where I, Anjali and Rishi feature. I liked how the director weaved these three stories; besides I liked the character, the script and team, Hashmi said.

Im not headlining the film. Rather Ive a cameo but it doesnt look like a small role. Im hoping the audience will like the film, which touches upon some relevant topics, he said.

Malhar is set to release in theatres on June 7. The film is directed by Vishal Kumbhar and produced by Praful Pasad under the banner of V Motion Pictures.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
During a recent event, Shweta reacted to the rumours around her daughter's acting debut, with a firm no. She expressed her views when she joined an event for podcasters in Mumbai to represent her daughter.

What did she say

"I am here to represent my daughter, and I am very excited for her and proud of her. I am thrilled to be here to collect the award on her behalf, Shweta said while accepting the Best Female Podcaster Award on her behalf for her podcast, What the hell, Navya!

She went on to talk about her daughter's talent, sharing, I think it is wonderful, it is a great way of reaching out to people. You can carry it wherever you go, you can listen to it on a train or a bus. I think it is a fantastic and wonderful medium of getting your word across."

Shweta was also asked about Navyas plan to make an entry into Bollywood. To which, she said, I think you are very well acquainted with the work Navya does and she has her hands full. I don't think Bollywood is the way to go for her."

Navya and Agastya are Amitabh Bachchan's grandchildren and Raj Kapoor's great-grandchildren.

Know more about Navya

Navya has been busy creating her own path away from the arclights of Bollywood. She has always maintained that she is more interested in the business side of her family.

Navya, whose father is businessman Nikhil Nanda, has been working towards various social causes such as women empowerment, gender equality and social justice through her passion project.

Well, I also come from a business family too. So, I was very clear that (I dont want to join acting and do this). At the end of college, I realised that this is what I wanted to do, she had told Hindustan Times in the past.
Days after, the former Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley was pictured signing off on Israeli artillery shells, with the message Finish them intended for Gaza, a similar old photo of Chris Evans resurfaced online, inciting a heated debate among fans. Chris Evans(REUTERS)

This week's viral photo on social media showed the Captain America star seemingly autographing a missile. Akin to Haley's picture drawing heavy fire, the Marvel hero eventually got embroiled in a war of words against the Internet.

The eight-year-old image provoked even fans of the generally loved Hollywood actor to go up against him as they accused him of signing what appeared to be an Israeli bomb. As the virtual contention reached Evans' ears, he turned to his Instagram Story on Thursday, breaking silence on the alleged claims made against him.

Chris Evans offers clarification about the misconception' surrounding his years-old picture

There's a lot of misinformation surrounding this picture. Some clarification: This image was taken during a USO tour in 2016, Chris wrote on Instagram. Further divulging that he accompanied a group of actors, athletes and musicians to show appreciation for our service members, he asserted that the object he appears to be signing in the viral photo is not a bomb, or a missile, or a weapon of any kind.

Also read | Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies daughter Shiloh seeks legal help to drop Pitt from her surname

This isn't the first time this particular picture roused a virtual wrangling. Evans' viral image previously became the talk of the virtual town when an Israeli airstrike reportedly ravaged the shelters set up in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, killing dozens of people on May 26, primarily women and children, according to the Associated Press.

Debunking the accusations against himself, Evans stated the supposed bomb in this case was actually an inert object used for training or display purposes only. Along with his online clarification against the fiery misconception, he also embedded a screenshot of a February 2024 Agence France-Presse article proving his claims. you can read the quote from the Air Force in the next story, he added.

The AFP Fact Check article titled  Photo of Captain America star misrepresented amid Gaza conflict affirms that the internet speculations about him are false. It further states that the US military captured the snap of the actor as he and other stars visited them in Turkey in December 2016 for a holiday tour sponsored by the United Service Organisations.

Also read | Even without Taylor Swift, 2024 midyear top 10 tours gross is up 83%; Seventeen is the highest-ranking Asian act

The Director of communications for the USO, Jennifer Passey, told AFP that the picture of Evans holding an unidentified weapon was unrelated to Israel's offensive on Gaza. I can verify this is a photo from our 2016 USO Holiday Tour and was taken by a DoD photographer at that time, she wrote in an e-mail.

Additionally, an Air Force spokesperson affirmed that the weapon in the infamous Chris Evans photo was an inert training aid," rendering it useless for the actual battlefield. The object Chris Evans is signing in the USO tour photo from 2016 is an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) inert training aid The object is meant to model an artillery shell and is for display and training purposes only, they told AFP.

Chris Evans controversy continues to blow up

However, his efforts didn't quite quell online fury as he'd hoped. Many continued to speak up against him, calling him out for signing an object associated with traumatic images of a violent political reality. Moreover, some even focused on how, despite debunking the picture's truth, he still maintained his silence on the Palestinian cause.

No one gives a f*ck if it's a fake training bomb; the point is military propaganda isn't cute, someone wrote on X/Twitter. Another user tweeted, Chris Evans taking to insta after being utterly silent for 8 months just to post to his stories about how it wasn't an actual bomb he was signing, just a training device, but can't even share that shi**y AI Rafah post everyone else has is just.....yeah. Steve Rogers would never.

A third wrote, Ohhhh, sure thing, Chris Evans. Its perfectly all right for you to sign something that merely REPRESENTS the bombs being dropped by our military on human beings. And its just fine for you to post about this, but not any info or donation links about Palestine.

Amid the Israel-Hamas unrest, Chris Evans' bomb picture again gained traction in May despite being an old snap, as Nikki Haley's picture while touring Israel's northern border with Lebanon went viral.
Stars are aligning as K-pop fans brace themselves for another weekend filled with their favourite melodies that will make headlines on the global stage. The 2024 K-Wave Concert Inkigayo show, to be held on Saturday, June 2, 2024, will offer a uniting platform to numerous talents ready to share the stage and the spotlight. 2024 K-Wave Concert Inkigayo show will be held at Inspire Arena on June 2.

This year's K-Wave Concert will bring together spectacular combinations of South Korean performers under the roof of Incheon's revolutionary concert hall and curate a one-of-a-kind concertgoing experience at the Inspire Arena. For the exclusive live show, sponsored by Coca-Cola Creations, ATEEZ's Yunho, NewJeans' Haerin, and ZEROBASEONE's Han Yujin will join hands as the music show's MCs.

Their onstage chemistry is expected to produce an unforgettable dynamic. Taking the lead with his adept skills as a host who's helmed several stages before, Yunho will step up as the reliable pillar of this never-before-seen trio.

Meanwhile, Yujin will channel his newfound experience as one of SBS Inkigayo's currently active MCs. Alternatively, Haerin will try her hand at hosting for the first time since her debut with NewJeans in 2022.

Also read | Even without Taylor Swift, 2024 midyear top 10 tours gross is up 83%; Seventeen is the highest-ranking Asian act

Here's what we know about the upcoming musical showcase in South Korea:

2024 K-Wave Concert Inkigayo lineup

The star-studded performing lineup for the weekend concert has assembled a unique gathering of popular global artists and the hottest rookies in K-town.

From powerhouse performers, including aespa, ATEEZ, ITZY, Stray Kids, TREASURE, ONEUS and EXO's Suho, to rising stars NewJeans, NMIXX, Kep1er and indomitable rookie groups ZEROBASEONE, DXMON, ILLIT, MCND, NEXZ, TWS, UNIS and XG, a well-rounded roster will take Incheon's Inspire Arena by storm on Saturday.

Where to watch K-Wave Concert Inkigayo 2024?

According to media outlet Newsis, the K-Wave Concert Inkigayo will air a week later, on June 9, 2024, via the South Korean television channel SBS TV at 2:55 pm KST. Japanese fans may tune into the Amazon Prime Video Channel K.

Also read | HT Exclusive: Kino reveals K-pop's strength & weakness, Pentagon's lifelong commitment' on solo rebirth with Naked

In other news, ZEROBASEONE is also slated to perform at the June 8 Busan One Asia Festival. ILLIT and TWS will also attend the June 15-16 Weverse Con Festival in Incheon. Several music acts from the K-Wave Concert lineup will also be heading out to Japan for the two-day Show! Music Core concert on June 29 and June 30 this month.
Banita Sandhu, aka Miss Malhotra in Bridgerton season 3, is on cloud nine after her Hollywood debut. It was like a dream come true. Its the biggest show on Netflix right now. I have never been on a set like that. The makeup, costume, dance, and everything else felt like I was living in it, it felt so real while shooting, the actor shares and adds that the shoot felt like a school trip. The best memories were when we were shooting in locations in these palaces outside London. The night shoots and morning hours that we were all putting in, everything was so exciting, because everyone was into it so much. Banita Sandhu in Bridgerton

The actor, who made her Bollywood debut with Varun Dhawan in October (2019), says that she doesnt think of it (Bridgerton) as a (Hollywood) debut. Even when October released, I did not think of it as my debut in Bollywood, I just thought of it as my first film with a learning experience. As an actor, I really go with my heart and gut when making a decision about working with someone, its not really a strategic move that this is my entry in the industry. That can set a lot of pressure on expectations. I am more into the on-set experiences, she shares.

With Bridgerton, I got so many comments like, Oh, you look so pretty! I think in a lot of my Indian movies, I am hardly wearing makeup and I dont look my best. This is the first time that I got all dolled up for this global thing and thats why people are seeing that side of me as well, says the 26-year-old, highlighting her different role in the American TV series. Of course, it will open up different avenues for me in Bollywood. In India, I havent had that glamorous role yet. I have had great opportunities in India irrespective of what I do in the West. Moreover, I would genuinely love for my work in India should speak in the West because I am so proud of my Indian movies, especially October. The West is finally opening the eyes to International cinema. So, it should work the other way around too, like my work in India should open to opportunities in the West too, she further adds.

Sandhu also tells us that while she had her doubts initially, she was still sure about Indias power as an audience. I spoke to my parents about this and said that I am not really sure if Ill have the kind of reaction Ive already had, especially when there were so many incredible actors who had a bigger storyline, the actor continues, But, it really speaks about the power of the Indian audiences and the love that you get from India, and that is something I will always cherish. OTT has a wider reach, but I do think that even if it was theatrical, the Indian audience would have supported one of their own.

Further on, Sandhus aim is to focus across various genres, whether its in Bollywood or West. I want to broaden my horizons into different genres. I am shooting for G2 (PAN India film) right now which is again a huge action movie, so it will be different for the audience to see me in that kind of a role. I have done a lot of emotional dramas and I would also love to explore the comedic space. Many people have said that I have a comedic presence in real life. I recently watched Crew and I loved it, so I think something of that sort would be really cool to do for me next, she concludes.
After the Congress decided not to participate in the Lok Sabha election 2024 exit poll debates, to take place on June 1, Union home minister Amit Shah took a swipe at the grand old party, accusing it of being in denial mode and conceding defeat. He said that Congress has been in denial since party leader Rahul Gandhi began playing key roles in its affairs. Union home minister Amit Shah. (File Photo)

Attacking the opposition, Amit Shah said, The Congress ran the campaign through the polls that it is going to get a majority. But it has now realised the reality and knows that it faces a rout in the exit polls to be broadcast after the elections tomorrow.

The home minister further added that Congress does not have the face to take questions from the media over exit poll predictions on Saturday, so it is debunking the entire exercise and claiming that it has no meaning.

Attacking Rahul Gandhi, Shah said, Exit polls have been happening for a long time but, because of the defeat, they don't know how to explain and that's why they are boycotting. Since Rahul Gandhi has taken in charge of Congress, they are in denial mode.

Shah said Congress leaders should not be in denial and instead introspect, as he accused the party of casting aspersions on the Supreme Court and the Election Commission when judicial judgments and poll results do not favour it.

"The BJP has lost many polls but has never boycotted the media or exit polls," he said, expressing confidence that exit polls will indeed prove the ruling alliance is getting "400-paar".

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera on Friday announced that the party has decided not to take part in any exit poll debates on television news channels. He said in an X post that Congress doesn't want to indulge in a political slugfest for the sake of TRP.

Khera said, 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.

As per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, television news channels and news outlets will be allowed to publish exit poll data and its results after 6:30 pm on June 1, after the voting for Lok Sabha election concludes.

(With inputs from PTI)
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former intelligence chief of Andhra Pradesh AB Venkateshwara Rao was reinstated in service on Friday, hours before his retirement on superannuation. Andhra Pradesh: Suspended IPS officer taken back into service, retires by evening

Chief secretary S Jawahar Reddy issued orders reinstating him in service and posted him as director general of police (DGP) in the department of printing and stationery, following a direction from the state high court on Thursday.

Rao had been under suspension since February 2020, except for a brief period of 11 days in June 2022, on the charges of procuring some security-related equipment like aerostat and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from Israel during his tenure as the state intelligence chief between 2014 and 2019.

The chief secretary, while revoking Raos suspension, said the state government, on overall consideration of the entire issue, considered that it is equitable and fair that the officer be reinstated into service immediately.

The government decided to give him appropriate postings so as to enable him to retire on the day of superannuation. However, the reinstatement is subject to clearance of the criminal cases pending against him, Jawahar Reddy said.

Soon after receiving the posting orders, the 1989-batch IPS officer took charge in the department of printing and stationery in Vijayawada around noon and laid down the office in the evening.

Addressing the office staff on retiring from the service, Rao thanked all his supporters and colleagues who had stood by him in troubled times. I always stood by justice and performed my duty with dedication and commitment. I shall continue to be in the service of the people even after my retirement, he said.

Rao, who was suspended from service on February 8, 2020, fought a prolonged legal battle with the government to get reinstated in his service. While the case against him is still on, the high court on Thursday granted him relief, directing that the government take him back into service.

The reinstatement will not preclude the petitioner from proceeding with criminal action. Hence, we are of the view that appropriate orders will be passed after filing of the counter affidavit by Rao, the high court said.
Silchar: A 22-year-old woman and her 30-year-old husband were arrested in Assams Cachar district after an intervention of District Child Protection officers for trying to kill their three-year-old son, police said. Accused Jaba Das and Rajdeep Das at Rangirkhari Police Outpost in Silchar after the arrest (HT Photo/Sourced)

The woman identified as Jaba Das allegedly poured hot oil on her kid for crying too much. According to the neighbours, the incident took place on Friday evening. The father has been identified as Rajdeep Das, a driver.

According to the neighbours, the mother was abusive towards the child and she used to beat him.

Suspecting something unusual, we informed the child helpline. We suspect that the mother poured hot oil on her kid because he was crying too much, said one of the neighbours.

District Child Protection officers said they rescued the kid with several burn injuries. The child has been sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) for treatment and they are investigating the matter further, said officials.

The burn injuries were caused by either hot oil or some hot utensils. Well talk to the child once he gets well, said an official.

Silchars Rangirkhari police outpost officer in-charge Himakshi Nath said the parents were arrested from the Sonai road area of the town.

Nath said that a case has been registered against the couple under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 335 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 326 (causing severe injuries using various dangerous means or instruments), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

The child is under treatment at SMCH, and the parents are going through interrogation. We are investigating the matter further, Nath told HT on Saturday.

According to the doctors at SMCH, the child has multiple burn injuries including the private area of his body. Some injuries are fresh while some look a bit old. It seems the child was facing torture for several days.
The Lok Sabha election exit polls on June 1 predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is all set to improve its tally in the southern states, the results of which will be announced on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP managed to secure only 29 out of 129 seats across the five southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, as well as the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Of these, 25 came from Karnataka and four from Telangana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the BJP will perform well in the three southern states (X/narendramodi)

For the 2024 polls, the Axis My India exit poll has predicted 20-22 seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka and 2-3 seats for Janata Dal (Secular), besides 3-5 seats for the Congress party.

Read: Kerala exit polls: UDF seen winning at least 15, BJP projected to open account

The ABP-CVoter exit poll has given 23-25 seats to BJP in Karnataka, which has 28 Lok Sabha seats, and the saffron party had won 25 in 2019.

In Tamil Nadu, where the BJP drew a blank in 2019, it is expected to make inroads by winning 1-3 seats, while the ruling DMK will win 20-22 seats, according to Axis My India.

In Kerala, where the BJP has never won a Lok Sabha seat, it is predicted to open its account. Many exit polls have predicted that the party may win 2-3 seats.

The saffron party is pinning its hopes on Union ministers Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V. Muraleedharan, actor Suresh Gopi, and Anil Antony, the son of Congress leader A.K. Antony, from different constituencies in the state.

Follow full coverage of Lok Sabha elections 2024



Even in Andhra Pradesh, the NDA is predicted to sweep the state. According to the ABP-CVoter exit poll, the NDA is expected to get 21-25 seats and YSRCP to get 0-4 seats in Andhra Pradesh.

In 2019, YSRCP had won 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the Telugu Desam Party, which forged an alliance with the BJP, had bagged the remaining three seats.

Read more: CVoter exit poll predicts 353-383 seats for BJP-led NDA, 152-182 for INDIA bloc



However, News18 exit polls predicted that the BJP is likely to win 4-6 seats in Andhra Pradesh, with the NDA securing 19-22 seats. The YSRCP is likely to win 5-8 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh.

All 25 Lok Sabha seats of Andhra Pradesh, along with 175 assembly constituencies, voted in the fourth phase of polling on May 13, 2024. The contest was expected to be triangular, with the Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP pitted against the Congress-led INDIA bloc and the NDA.
An IndiGo flight 6E 5314 from Chennai to Mumbai on Saturday made an emergency landing in Mumbai airport due to bomb threat.



IndiGo flight 6E 5314 operating from Chennai to Mumbai had received a bomb threat. Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol and the aircraft was taken to a isolation bay as per security agency guidelines, the airline said in a statement. An Indigo flight 6E 5314 from Chennai to Mumbai made an emergency landing in Mumbai airport due to bomb threat. (HT file)

All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection. Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area, the IndiGo statement added.

On Friday, a Delhi-Srinagar Vistara flight carrying 177 passengers received a bomb threat mid-air. The flight landed safely in Srinagar and all the passengers and crew were evacuated.



After normal operations resumed at the Srinagar airport, the airport authorities stated that the bomb threat call was deemed 'non-credible' after security checked. The Air Traffic Control of Srinagar had received the information of a 'threatening call'.



On May 28, passengers on board an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Varanasi had to be evacuated at the Delhi airport after receiving a bomb threat.

IndiGo flight 6E2211 operating from Delhi to Varanasi had received a specific bomb threat at Delhi airport. All necessary protocols were followed and aircraft was taken to a remote bay as per guidelines by airport security agencies. All passengers were safely evacuated via the emergency exits," IndiGo had said in a statement.



However, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended all four cabin crew on that flight for violating rules during the evacuation as they left the jet using the emergency slides with their bags.

In a video clip of the evacuation that went viral on social media, a pilot was seen coming out of the aircraft through the emergency slide with a baggage. Under international norms, passengers and crew are not permitted to take their baggage at the time of evacuation as that will increase the time for evacuation.
As exit polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections project a big victory for the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the opportunistic INDIA bloc failed to strike a chord with the voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance is projected to win a big majority in Lok Sabha.(ANI)

They are casteist, communal and corrupt, he posted on X.

Modi, without referring to the exit poll results, suggested that the opposition's focus on criticising him rather than presenting a forward-looking vision contributed to their projected poor performance.

Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, dismissed the exit poll results as manipulated. He predicted a decisive win for the INDIA bloc, claiming they would secure at least 295 seats. Ramesh accused Modi of orchestrating the exit polls to play psychological games and expressed confidence that the actual results on June 4 would differ significantly.

"The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA Janbandhan will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority," Ramesh asserted.

The outgoing Prime Minister can remain smug for three days in the meanwhile. These are all psychological games he is masterminding but the ACTUAL results will be very different, he added.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) also rejected the exit poll forecasts, particularly regarding the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. TMC leader Santanu Sen recalled how previous polls had inaccurately predicted BJP victories, only for the TMC to win decisively in the 2021 state elections. Sen expressed confidence that the TMC would win over 30 Lok Sabha seats.

Most of the exit polls had predicted a victory for the BJP in the 2021 assembly elections. But we all know what the actual results were -- TMC won a two-thirds majority. We believe in people's polls, not opinion polls or exit polls. The TMC will win more than 30 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Sen claimed.

The CPI(M) echoed this sentiment, with leader Sujan Chakraborty advising caution and urging people to wait for the official results, as exit polls and opinion polls often do not align with actual outcomes.

In Tamil Nadu, where BJP is expected to make gains, the party's state unit K Annamalai hailed the exit poll predictions as a significant step forward for the party in a state traditionally dominated by AIADMK and DMK. Referring to the exit poll results, Annamalai expressed optimism about the party's prospects on June 4.

A state where you said BJP can't enter, a state till yesterday AIADMK and DMK were saying we are NOTA party...today we have proven that our vote share is above 20%. On June 4, we will prove that we are going to open our seats and we are going to send MPs from Tamil Nadu on behalf of NDA and BJP from different corners of the state...people of Tamil Nadu have said that they will stand with PM Modi, he told ANI.

A summary of six exit polls projected the NDA could win between 355 and 380 seats, a number that is likely to boost financial markets when they reopen on Monday.
Hours before the exit polls predictions were set to be released on Saturday, the leaders of the opposition INDIA allies huddled in New Delhi at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in a crucial meeting. In the meeting, it was decided that the INDIA allies will not boycott exit poll television debates. The Congress earlier announced it would not participate in exit poll television debates which only encourage 'speculation and slugfest'. While the decision invited criticism from the BJP who saw the 'boycott' as Congress conceding the election, the absence of Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin from INDIA meeting raised eyebrows. 23 opposition leaders attended the INDIA bloc's informal meeting on Saturday at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.

Lok Sabha election 2024: Full coverage

INDIA parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls. After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera announced after the meeting

Mamata, Stalin, Mehbooba Mufti skip meeting

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee earlier announced that it would not be possible for her to attend the meeting on the day of the last phase of the election. Apart from the election, Mamata cited cyclone relief work as a reason for missing the meeting.

In West Bengal, Trinamool contested alone but did not come out of the opposition alliance.

DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin said he would not go to Delhi but DMK will be represented by TR Baalu in the meeting. "Our #INDIA bloc, formed to defeat the ten-year fascist regime of the BJP and save India, has met the expectations of the people and stands on the cusp of victory. It has rallied a formidable coalition of democratic forces against the BJP, who thought there was nobody to challenge them. This alliance now offers hope to all Indians in the electoral arena," he posted.

"Through relentless campaigning, the leaders of the INDIA bloc have dismantled the false image the BJP created in the public sphere. With just three days remaining until our impending victory, I urge our cadre to remain vigilant during the vote counting process," Stalin wrote.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti earlier said she might skip the meeting as her mother underwent eye surgery.

INDIA meeting ahead of June 4: Who all attended?

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann attended the meeting. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav, Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren and JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya arrived at the meeting.
As the long-drawn Lok Sabha elections end, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is predicted to win up to 383 seats, according to poll survey agency C-Voter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Odisha on Wednesday. (PTI)

If the predictions hold true on the results day on June 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the only second Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three straight terms to power in general elections

Read: Odisha exit poll: BJP likely to double seats tally in Naveen Patnaik's bastion



Of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, the pollster has predicted NDA winning between 353 to 383 seats. The opposition INDIA bloc may win anywhere between 152 to 182 seats, the surveyor said.

The ruling alliance at the Centre is also tipped to see a rise in its vote share from 45.1 per cent in 2019 to 45.3 per cent in 2024. The BJP alone is expected to poll a vote share of 38.9 per cent, compared to 37.4 per cent in the previous general election in 2019. Follow full coverage of Lok Sabha elections 2024



The INDIA bloc, which comprises 28 opposition parties, including the Congress to put up a fight against ruling NDA, may get a vote share of 39.9 per cent in the Lok Sabha election 2023, according to the C Voter numbers.

C-Voter says the Congress party, which secured a vote share of 19.5 per cent in 2019, will also see a rise in its share to 21.4 per cent

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition of 28 opposition parties, was formed in 2023 with its first meeting in June at Patna, Bihar.

Overall, most exit polls on June 1 predicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi would win a historic third term in the just-concluded Lok Sabha Elections 2024, with a few predicting the NDA would win over 400 seats.

Read more: CVoter Maharashtra exit poll result 2024: Tough battle between NDA, INDIA bloc



The BJP-led NDA, aiming for a record third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has set a target of winning 400 seats in this election.

In 2019, the NDA bagged 353 seats, including 303 to the BJP alone. The UPA won 91 seats, including 52 to the Congress party. In 2014, the NDA won 336 seats, with the BJP winning 282 seats. The UPA won 59 seats, with 44 going to the Congress party.
Maharashtra is poised for a neck-and-neck contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA and the INDIA bloc in the Lok Sabha elections as ABP-CVoter exit poll results 2024 predicted between 22 and 26 seats for the former and between 23 and 25 for the latter. The NDA may secure 45.3 per cent vote share, while the INDIA bloc could end up securing 44 per cent vote share in Maharashtra. Others are likely to get a 10.7 per cent vote share, ABP-CVoter predicted. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis.(File)

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 42 seats, while in 2019, the alliance bagged 41 seats in Maharashtra. This time, it seems the BJP-led NDA is set to face a tough fight from the opposition's INDIA bloc. Follow full coverage of Lok Sabha elections 2024

Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, 35 were polled in four phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13. Votes will be counted on June 4. An election official said the average voter turnout in the last four phases was 62.9 per cent. In the 2019 elections, the average for these constituencies was 62.5 per cent.

In Maharashtra, a fierce battle was witnessed between the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction)-BJP alliance.

Some of the key candidates contesting the election include two Union ministers belonging to the BJPPiyush Goyal from Mumbai-North and Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur, Congress Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central, BJPs Pankaja Munde from Beed, and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule from Baramati, among others.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP had won 23 Lok Sabha seats in the state, its alliance partner Shiv Sena (which was then undivided) won 18 seats, NCP (undivided) won four, and Congress and AIMIM each won a seat. An independent candidate won one seat.
The Delhi government on Friday approached the Supreme Court, seeking a directive for the state of Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh through the Wazirabad barrage as several parts of the national capital continued facing a severe water crisis amid unbated summer heat and soaring demands. The Supreme Court of India (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

Highlighting the acute heatwave and red alert conditions in Delhi, with temperatures soaring to a record-breaking 52.3 degrees Celsius (in one station), the petition stated: This unprecedented surge in temperature has led to an extraordinary and excessive demand for water, which is not being met by supply from neighbouring states, precipitating a full-fledged water and sanitation crisis.

The plea explained that due to increased demand, the water levels at the Wazirabad barrage have critically reduced, putting the health and well-being of Delhis 25 million residents at grave risk.

The Government of NCT of Delhi has taken all administrative measures to ensure optimisation, rationing and targeted supply of water in the national capital; yet, the shortage of water remains acute and it is clear, by all indicators, that the NCT of Delhi is in dire need of additional water, it maintained.

The petition highlighted Delhis arrangement with Himachal Pradesh, which has agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi. However, since Himachal Pradesh does not share a physical boundary with Delhi, this water must be released through the Wazirabad barrage, located in Haryana.

Therefore, Respondent No 1s (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 added.

For 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... This has resulted in a massive crisis of water..., Delhi minister Atishi said.

In response, Haryana irrigation and water resources minister Abhe Singh Yadav said 1,049 cusecs of water was being supplied to the national capital per day from Munak headworks through carried lined channel (CLC) and Delhi branch. This is 11 cusecs per day more as against 939 cusecs per day determined by Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) after accounting for enroute losses... the state government is supplying more than Delhis actual water share at Delhi contact point, Bawana, Haryana officials said, blaming depletion of water at Wazirabad on internal mismanagement.

In recent days, the Delhi Jal Board has supplied far lower than its target of 1,000 million gallons a day (MGD), for instance, on May 27, it dispatched 966MGD. According to latest Delhis Economic Survey, the Capital needs roughly 1,290MGD.

According to the Delhi government, it has already raised the issue of unrelenting heat and the consequent water crisis in the national capital with the Haryana government and has further requested the latter to release the surplus water in the Wazirabad barrage.

However, the State of Haryana is yet to accede to such request. Be that as it may, by way of the instant petition, the Petitioner-Government does not intend to shift the blame on the State of Haryana or any other state, and only prays for an immediate resolution of the ongoing water crisis in the national capital through the release of the surplus water  including but not limited to surplus water being provided by the State of Himachal Pradesh in the Wazirabad barrage, by the State of Haryana, stated the plea.

The petition clarified that the Delhi government does not intend to set a precedent that would require any state government in the future to provide the nations capital with an increased volume of water by pleading for the release of excess water.

The petitioner seeks this surplus release of water by the State of Haryana as a one-time solution to redress the present emergency and resolve the ongoing water crisis in the NCT of Delhi, said the Arvind Kejriwal government in the top court.

Citing a 1996 Supreme Court order (Delhi Water Supply & Sewage Disposal Undertaking Vs State of Haryana), which directed Haryana to ensure water supply through the Yamuna River during a similar crisis, the Delhi government argued that the present situation is much more severe and urgent. The plea urged the Court to intervene in the public interest to prevent a severe health crisis.

The petition emphasised that access to water is a fundamental human right and essential for sustaining life. Access to water forms an essential component of the guarantee of dignity and quality of life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The current water crisis violates this right, leaving the residents of the NCT of Delhi without adequate clean drinking water, the Delhi government stated.

The Delhi government also informed the Court that it has cracked down on water wastage and illegal connections by imposing fines and deploying teams to enforce compliance. Despite these efforts, the crisis persists, necessitating the Supreme Courts intervention, it added.

The petition concluded with a request for the Supreme Court to direct Haryana to immediately and continuously release water at the Wazirabad barrage, including surplus water from Himachal Pradesh. The government emphasised that this request is a stop-gap measure to address the current crisis until the monsoon arrives and the situation normalises, underscoring the critical need for cooperation between states to ensure the fundamental rights of citizens are upheld, particularly during times of crisis.
The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday opposed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's application seeking an extension of his interim bail granted by the Supreme Court last month, claiming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief made false statements about his health. The agency, which arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, refuted the politician's claim that he lost six kilograms since he was incarcerated. Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, Arvind Kejriwal shared a video message on Friday. (ANI)

The Delhi court posted the matter to June 5, which means Kejriwal will have to surrender before the Tihar Jail authorities on June 2, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

On Friday, addressing the people of the nation, Kejriwal claimed the sudden weight loss could be an indication of a serious disease.

Kejriwal had sought an extension of his interim bail from the Supreme Court. However, the apex court's office refused to accept his plea, saying he had the liberty to move the trial court seeking regular bail. Later, the Delhi chief minister applied for a regular bail in Delhi's Rouse House court.

Referring to Kejriwal's claim that he needed seven days to undergo a battery of medical tests to rule out the possibility of a disease, the Enforcement Directorate argued in the court that the former suppressed the nature of these tests.

The agency claimed Arvind Kejriwal has gained one kilogram of weight. It said instead of getting his medical tests done, he was travelling across the country.

Also read: Arvind Kejriwal to surrender on June 2, claims 'have signs of a serious disease'

The agency also questioned the maintainability of Arvind Kejriwal's plea seeking an extension of his interim bail. It argued that the Supreme Court had granted him the liberty to seek regular bail, not the extension of interim bail.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta pointed out that Kejriwal had declared yesterday that he would surrender on Sunday.

"Is he taking a chance before surrendering? He is not voluntarily surrendering. We were misled by yesterday's press conference," Mehta said, per Bar and Bench.

Mehta said Kejriwal's statement was misleading. He added that the Supreme Court's direction on the date of surrender cannot be modified.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for ED, said for the grant of bail, Kejriwal would have to be in custody first.

"He has to surrender first, either he has to be in custody or he has to be deemed to be in custody and no order is there for the sameSo interim bail is not maintainable," he added.

Mehta said: There is a mandate of the Supreme Court that you shall surrender on 2nd June. My submission is that only the court can modify this direction, and therefore he approached the Supreme Court first and without declaring the same before this court.

He added that the petitioner had been economical with truth and did not inform his counsel that he announced the date of his surrender.
New Delhi, A court here on Saturday reserved its order till June 5 on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's interim bail plea on medical grounds after the ED opposed it saying he campaigned throughout the Lok Sabha elections but "now when he has to surrender, he suddenly claims to be ill". Excise policy case: Court reserves for June 5 order on Kejriwal's interim bail

The Aam Aadmi Party national convener will have to surrender on Sunday at the Tihar jail as his interim bail granted by the Supreme Court in an excise policy-linked money laundering case expired on June 1.

The Enforcement Directorate , which is probing the case, made the submission before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja who reserved the order on Kejriwal's plea for June 5.

The case relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

The judge observed that the application was for grant of interim bail on medical grounds and not for the extension of the interim bail granted by the Supreme Court.

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 gets over.

Kejriwal campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Maharashtra after being released from the Tihar jail.

After the judge reserved the order, Kejriwal's counsel urged the court to pass the order on Saturday itself, considering that he has to surrender on Sunday.

The judge, however, declined the request, saying the arguments and the documents submitted by the advocates of the accused as well as the prosecution were voluminous.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told the court that Kejriwal made misleading claims at a press conference on Friday that he would surrender on June 2 on his own.

At a press conference here on Friday, Kejriwal said he will be surrendering on June 2. "I will leave my house around 3 pm to surrender. It is possible that this time they will torture me more, but I will not bow down," he said.

Kejriwal had also alleged, "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."

Doctors have advised several tests and "they feel this could be a sign of some underlying medical condition", he had claimed.

The ED's counsel said in court, "Kejriwal campaigned throughout his interim bail period and now he suddenly claims he is ill. Kejriwal suppressed facts and made false statements, including about his health."

Kejriwal's counsel told the court that he was ill and needed treatment.

The ED said the interim bail is not maintainable as the trial court cannot modify the order of the Supreme Court mandating Kejriwal to surrender on June 2.

"The Supreme Court order says he will surrender. That order has not been modified till date. He has to surrender. He is not on interim bail because of this court's order. He is on interim bail because of the Supreme Court order. He is asking for extension of the Supreme Court order, which is not permissible," the probe agency's counsel said.

The liberty granted to him is that he will apply for regular bail, and there is no liberty for extension of interim bail, Mehta said.

"A person who is saying that his condition is serious, look at his conduct. From the day he was released, he is campaigning everywhere and not like one minute or two minutes, it's for hours. At that time, nothing happens to his health. But when he has to surrender, he is suddenly ill," he said.

The ED alleged that Kejriwal wants to cheat the court by delaying medical tests. "If any tests are required, we'll provide all facilities in jail. If required we will take to AIIMS or any hospital," it said.

The ED's counsel, "A person who claims on TV that I may die, kidney failure etc, didn't go for a basic test since May 25? The entire system cannot be taken for a joy ride. It is a game being played by the litigant with the system. The prayers may not be granted."

Polling for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi was held in the sixth round of the seven-phase geenral elections.

Seeking the relief, Kejriwal's counsel told the court that despite his ill health, the A leader campaigned because that was the purpose for which the interim bail was granted by the Supreme Court.

"Stress due to the campaign increased his sugar level. Today, when I go back to jail without tests being done, I am subjecting myself to risks. This is only to ensure the fact that the treatment given to me is in conformity to the ailment I have. I am not asking for interim bail for two months or three months. What is the prejudice that will cause to them," the counsel asked.

The court has, meanwhile sought ED's response by June 7 on Kejriwal's another application seeking regular bail in the case.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The much-awaited exit poll predictions 2024 will start coming in after 6.30pm today after the embargo period stipulated by the Election Commission. Apart from the Lok Sabha elections, assembly elections were held in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. Exit polls are predictions based on what voters said while exiting the booth after exercising their franchise. Agencies like Axis My India, Today's Chanakya, IPSOS, CVoter, CSDS conduct exit polls. Voters show their index fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their ballots to vote at a polling station in Amritsar on June 1, 2024, during the seventh and final phase of voting in Lok Sabha elections. (AFP)

Track exit polls LIVE here

Exit polls in 2019: How accurate were they?

Exit poll predictions are never to be blindly relied on as there is always room for mistakes. Instances where exit polls went awry in the recent past are not scarce either. However, in 2019 and 2014, the exit poll predictions did not miss the mood of the nation.

In 2019, the exit polls on average predicted NDA's tally at 306 and UPA's at 120. The prediction was underwhelming when the actual results came as the NDA won 352 seats with the BJP at 303. The then-UPA got 93 seats with the Congress at 52.

Amit Shah attacks Congress for skipping exit poll debates call: Denial mode

Exit Poll agency NDA UPA India Today-Axis 339-365 77-108 News 24-Today's Chanakya 350 95 News18-IPSOS 336 82 Times Now VMR 306 132 India TV-CNX 300 120 Sudarshan News 305 124 Actual Result 353 93

Exit polls in 2014: How accurate they were

2014 marked the landslide victory of the BJP-led NDA which many exit polls failed to gauge though they anticipated that the NDA was coming to power. They only missed the huge margin the NDA was going to make. An average of eight exit polls predicted 283 seats for the NDA and 105 seats for the UPA. The NDA for 336 seats with the BJP at 282; the UPA got 60 with Congress 44.

Exit Poll agency NDA UPA India Today-Cicero 272 115 News 24-Chanakya 340 101 CNN IBN-CSDS 280 97 Times Now ORG 249 148 ABP News-Nielsen 274 97 NDTV-Hansa Research 279 103 Actual Result 336 60

What's different in 2024?

The 2024 election is not between the NDA and the UPA, it's between the NDA and the new grouping of the opposition INDIA. Ahead of the election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set an ambitious target of NDA 400 paar where BJP on its own will get over 370 seats.

The Congress already announced that it would not take part in exit poll debates on television channels to fuel speculation and slugfest for TRP.
The exit polls on June 1 have predicted victory for National Democratic Alliance in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly polls held on May 13. AP Exit Poll 2024 Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being greeted by TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party president K Pawan Kalyan (PK) in Varanasi.(PTI)

According to NDTV India - Jan Ki Baat, the ruling Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) led by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will be voted out of power.



The poll surveying agency has tipped that the NDA, of which Bharatiya Janata Party, Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena are constituents will come to power with 111 to 135 seats. Follow full coverage of assembly and Lok Sabha elections 2024



Another pollster, TV5 Telugu has given clear mandate to the NDA with 161 seats, and 14 seats to YSRC, which entered the electoral contest, contesting all 175 assembly seats.



However, under the seat-sharing arrangement within the NDA, Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP was been allocated 144 assembly segments. On the other hand, BJP fielded candidates on 10 Assembly seats and Janasena Party contested 21 assembly seats.

In the 2019 assembly elections, YSRCP had come to power with 151 seats, while the TDP had won 23, and the Jana Sena could win only one seat.



Votes to elect the new government will be counted on June 4 along with Lok Sabha polls.



Jagan Mohan Reddy returned to Andhra Pradesh after two weeks on Saturday. He along with his wife Bharati, and daughters Harsha and Varsha flew to London on May 17.



On returning, he was giving a rousing reception by his party workers, legislators and ministers at Gannavaram airport. The chief minister had left for foreign tour after the Lok Sabha and assembly polls ended in the state on May 13.

On May 11, while speaking to a Telugu news channel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had predicted that the YSRCP government in the state will be voted out of power.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned a handwritten note after completing his 45-hour-long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari on Saturday, saying that he now feels a divine energy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kanniyakumari on Saturday. (ANI)

In the note, shared by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, PM Modi wrote: It is my fortune that today, after so many years, as India embodies the values and ideals of Swami Vivekananda, I too have had the opportunity to meditate at this sacred place.

Calling it one of the unforgettable moments of his life, Modi said that every moment of his life and every particle of his body will always be dedicated to the service of the nation.

With wishes for the progress of the nation and the welfare of its citizens, I offer my utmost reverence to Ma Bharati, he wrote.

PM Modi reached Kanniyakumari on May 30 to meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. According to mythology, Goddess Parvati also meditated on one foot at the same place as she waited for Lord Shiva.

It is on this rock that Mother Parvati and Swami Vivekananda had meditated. Later, Eknath Ranade transformed this rock into a Shila Smarak that brought Swami Vivekananda's thoughts to lifeSwami Vivekananda, a leader of spiritual renaissance, has been my ideal, my energy, and the source of my spirituality, PM Modi wrote in his letter.

He added, Years ago, after traveling across the entire country, when Swami Vivekananda meditated here, it was here that he envisioned a new direction for Indias revival.

During his stay at the memorial, PM Modi, who was clad in saffron while he meditated, also performed 'Surya Arghya' at sunrise - a ritual associated with spiritual practice.

Meanwhile, Modi's meditation evoked a strong response from the opposition INDIA bloc.

Former Bihar deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday dismissed Modi's spiritual activity in Kanniyakumari as mere photo shoots. Modi ji isn't doing any meditation, only photo shoots are happening. Once the photo shoot ends, they will come back, he said.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh slammed Modi for releasing photos of him meditating inside the Vivekananda Memorial, as photography is not allowed in the sacred area. While raising a question over the issue, Singh asked that is PM Modi not governed by law and rules. He further asked the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to respond to the issue.
Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar on Saturday asserted that the state government will not protect anyone in the illegal money transfer case involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd and would take action in accordance with law. The assertion comes hours after opposition BJP sought a CBI probe into the illegal money transfer case and demanded that Minister of Scheduled Tribes Welfare, B Nagendra be dismissed. "We will not protect anyone... whoever it may be , we will take action in accordance with law," Siddaramaiah told reporters in response to a question on a case involving Minister Nagendra and BJP seeking his removal. The illegal transfer of money came to light after the Accounts Superintendent at the Corporation, Chandrashekhar P, died by suicide on May 26, leaving behind a death note. It revealed the unauthorised transfer of 187 crore belonging to the corporation from its bank account, and from that, 88.62 crore was illegally moved to various accounts allegedly belonging to "well-known" IT companies and a Hyderabad-based cooperative bank. Chandrashekhar has named the Corporation's now suspended 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 state government has constituted a four-member SIT team headed by Manish Kharbikar, Additional Director General of Police, Economic Offences, at the Criminal Investigation Department in Bengaluru, to conduct the probe. Deputy CM D K Shivakumar maintained that the government will not protect anyone and no one will be spared. Addressing reporters here, he said, "The BJP is doing politics, I won't question them. During the BJP regime too such things have happened. Basavaraj Bommai is aware of it, everyone else also knows it... We are investigating the case, we will not spare anyone." When pointed out that while in opposition the Congress had sought the then Minister K S Eshwarappa's resignation following the suicide of a contractor naming him, but is not acting against its own Minister now, Shivakumar said there is no direct reference to Minister Nagendra in this case. "If any documents or proof or any involvement is found, whatever needs to be done, the government will surely do it. The government is transparent, there is no question of sparing anyone. We will take action. We will protect the interest and safeguard the government. The money is important, our officials are trying to trace it," he said. The Deputy CM further said that a couple of days is required. "After that the government will definitely take action. Some arrests have been made, actions have already been taken. The Minister has spoken to me and the CM, we are inquiring into it," he added. On the demand for a CBI investigation, he said there is a procedure that if more than certain crores of money is involved in a bank fraud case , the case will naturally go to CBI. "Whether we give it or not. there is a procedure, we also know that, we are ready to cooperate. They should also probe without politics. As of now the case is not with the CBI, we are investigating," he added. Meanwhile, amid media reports that a bank account named after IT firm Happiest Minds Technologies Ltd, is among the beneficiaries of the money embezzled at the Corporation, the company in a statement clarified that the bank account does not belong to it. "We have absolutely no connection to the bank account or the branch mentioned and this has been confirmed by RBL Bank authorities as well. We vehemently deny these malicious efforts to malign our Company's reputation," it said in a statement. "We are confident that a thorough investigation will reveal the truth and expose those responsible for these false and baseless accusations. We are also pursuing all legal avenues available to us to protect our Company's reputation," it added.

Govt won't protect anyone in illegal money transfer case, says CM Siddaramaiah
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to Assam government, Assam Forest Department; the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEFCC); District Commissioner, Sibsagar; and the Divisional Forest Officer on an application that has alleged that former principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, Assam, MK Yadava illegally diverted 28 hectares of forest land for a police commando battalion camp at Assam-Nagaland interstate border in Geleky Forest Reserve. The New Delhi bench of NGT has already suo motu taken up the matter against alleged illegal diversion of 44 hectares of protected forest. (REUTERS)

NGTs eastern bench in its order dated May 29, published on the NGT website, has ordered the constitution of a committee comprising of the Additional Director General of Forest, MoEFCC dealing with the Forest (Conservation) Act; Additional Secretary, MoEFCC nominated by Secretary, MoEFCC; and Deputy Director General of Forests (C), MoEFCC, Integrated Regional Office, Meghalaya to look into the matter.

The committee shall visit the site and submit its report . The Additional Director General of Forest, MoEFCC shall be the nodal officer for filing the report on affidavit, the order said, hearing an application by Rohit Choudhury Vs State of Assam.

We are of the opinion that the matter relates to substantial environmental issue and violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and requires consideration, the order stated.

The illegal permission has been granted by the then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Assam, Shri MK Yadava who is at present the Special Chief Secretary (Forest), Govt. of Assam. It is alleged that the concerned official has misused his power and position to illegally divert a large part of the forest area without fulfilling the requirements of Compensatory Afforestation and Net Present Value which makes him personally liable for compensating and restoring the damage done to the forest, NGT said, referring to Choudhurys application.

I have not received the NGT notice yet, said MK Yadava, special secretary, forests, Assam on Friday.

The New Delhi bench of NGT has already suo motu taken up the matter against alleged illegal diversion of 44 hectares of protected forest to set up the Assam Polices Commando Battalion located near the Assam-Mizoram border in Hailakandi district. Yadava, then PCCF, allegedly allowed construction by a commando battalion unit in a protected forest in Hailakandi, ostensibly to stop encroachments by Mizo people from neighbouring Mizoram, creating a furore among local conservationists, compelling the Union environment ministry to take notice and direct the state government, in March this year, to immediately halt construction.

On March 28, the Union environment ministry submitted an affidavit in the matter which admitted that the construction of the battalion is in contravention of the Forest Conservation Amendment Act. The Assam government informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has stopped the construction of a commando camp on 44 hectares at Hailakandi after the Union environment ministrys intervention.

HT reported on April 10 that in 2023, M K Yadava, then the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force in Assam, approved the construction by a commando battalion unit in the Assam-Mizoram interstate border area of Inner Line Reserve Forest involving diversion of forest area of around 44 acres. Construction started shortly after that without a prior forest clearance under the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023.

Yadava has since been appointed as special chief secretary (forest) by the Assam government following his retirement in February. He suggested that the construction by the commando battalion would be important to check alleged encroachments by the Mizo people and was, therefore, ancillary to conservation. He recommended that the construction project be be approved. The Union environment ministry had taken strong objection by the interpretation of the Forest Conservation Act offered by Yadava.

Yadava gave the same excuse for allowing diversion in Geleky forest reserve. The documents show that on November 15, 2022, Yadava wrote to the officer in charge, Eastern Assam Circle stating that the construction of a police battalion can be approved in the interest of conservation and protection of forest land at Geleky.

HT reported on May 24 that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote to Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on April 13, requesting that the ministry accord post facto forest clearance to the construction of a commando battalion unit in a protected forest because it will be key to stop encroachments from across the state border. Drone photographic images have established that rampant construction of pitch roads, bridges, police battalion camps, offices, and settlement of encroacher villages from the Mizoram side is going on unabated in more than 3,000ha of reserve forests (RF), he said. HT had sought responses from the Assam CMs office and Yadav on the matter but did not recieve a response.

On May 25, HT reported that MoEFCCs regional office in Shillong sent a show cause notice to MK Yadava, special additional chief secretary of Assam, on May 14 under the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023. The notice said Yadava, deemed guilty of the said offence, has 60 days to respond and explain why a complaint should not be filed in court. Failure to respond will result in legal proceedings, it warned.

I do not wish to speak about the show cause notice. I will respond to the authorities directly, Yadava had said on May 24 responding to whether he has received the show cause notice.
The seventh and final phase of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will take place today, June 1, across 57 PCs in seven states and the UT of Chandigarh. As has been the case in the previous six phases, the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will see more intra-alliance conflicts than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, compared to the previous phases, the intra-alliance conflicts for both NDA and INDIA will be the highest in this phase. While these conflicts are largely notional for the NDA, the intra-alliance conflicts are higher for INDIA compared to other phases because 22 of the 57 PCs voting today are in Punjab and West Bengal. These are two of the three big states (the third being Kerala), where the Congress did not strike a seat-sharing arrangement with dominant regional contenders. With candidates for all PCs now available, it is also now possible to analyse the overall picture of the two alliances now. Here is what it shows. The seventh and final phase of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will take place today, June 1, across 57 PCs in seven states and the UT of Chandigarh

What is the NDA arithmetic in this phase?

Of the 57 PCs in this phase, the BJP is contesting 51. The party has a formal seat sharing arrangement with the Apna Dal (Soneylal) or ADS and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) on two and one PCs in Uttar Pradesh; and with the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) on two and one seats in Bihar. However, its allies  Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSPS), Republican Party of India (Athawale) or RPI(A), and the AJSU Party (AJSUP)  are also contesting seven PCs. This makes the share of seats with intra-alliance conflicts in this phase higher than all previous phases. However, these conflicts are all largely notional.

What is the overall NDA arithmetic?

With a self-imposed target of winning 370 seats, the BJP is contesting 441 of Indias 543 PCs by itself, the highest since 1996, when it contested 471. Its biggest allies are all contesting under 20 PCs. The five biggest of them are the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janata Dal (United), the Shiv Sena, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and the Lok Janshakti Party(Ram Vilas). These parties are contesting 17, 16, 15, 10, and five PCs; in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar, respectively. However, two NDA allies have fielded candidates in a comparable number of PCs without a formal seat-sharing arrangement in most of them. These allies -- RSPS and the RPI(A) -- are contesting 18 and 10 PCs, with the RSPS having an arrangement with BJP on one PC (Parbhani in Maharashtra).

Highest number of intra-alliance fights for both camps in phase 7

What is the INDIA arithmetic in this phase?

The Congress is contesting 31 of the 57 PCs in this phase. The party has a state-wise seat sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party (SP) on nine PCs in Uttar Pradesh; with the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPIM on one, one, and six PCs in West Bengal; with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) or CPI-ML and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on three PCs each in Bihar; and with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on three PCs in Jharkhand.

However, there are overall 92 candidates from INDIA in this phase, with intra-alliance conflicts in 29 of 57 PCs. This brings the proportion of PCs with intra-alliance conflict in this phase to 50.9% for the group, the highest in any phase so far. To be sure, this number was similar (50.5%) in the fourth phase. However, serious intra-alliance conflicts in the fourth phase were only in nine of the 48 PCs with conflicts. This is not the case in this phase. Of the 29 PCs with intra-alliance conflicts for the INDIA group in this phase, 22 are in Punjab and West Bengal. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are almost equal contenders in 13 PCs in Punjab, given the Congress won the most seats in the state in the last Lok Sabha election and AAP won the last state election. The Congress-Left alliance and the TMC are similarly bitter rivals in West Bengal, although the former has ceded ground to the BJP in recent elections.

What is the INDIA arithmetic overall?

After winning less than 100 seats in the past two Lok Sabha elections, its worst performance in any Lok Sabha election, the Congress is contesting the fewest number of PCs it has ever contested: 328. The five biggest contestants of the INDIA group other than Congress are the SP, the CPIM, the TMC, the AIFB, and the CPI. These five parties are contesting 234 PCs. As is obvious from these two numbers, the INDIA group is far from coherent, despite the Congress ceding the most ground since 2004, when it contested 417 seats. There is a conflict between INDIA members on 178 PCs overall, although major conflicts are limited to the 75 PCs in West Bengal, Kerala, and Punjab.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may retain power with a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha, exit polls have predicted. While most pollsters projected that the ruling alliance might score its highest-ever tally in national elections, some claimed it may achieve its ambitious 400 paar dream. People wearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's face in Rajasthan. (File photo)

Narendra Modi, who will likely equal Jawaharlal Nehru's record of becoming the prime minister of the country thrice in a row, had set a steep target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400 seats for the alliance. No other party barring the Congress ever won 400 seats in general elections.

What the exit polls predicted

The India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicted the ruling NDA may cross the 400-mark. The agency said the BJP-led alliance may win 361-401 seats. The Opposition's INDIA bloc is likely to win 131-166 seats, it added.

India TV-CNX exit polls also predicted similar figures for the BJP -- between 371 and 401 seats. The INDIA bloc may win between 109 and 139 seats.

The Republic TV-P Marq said the NDA will win 359 seats and the INDIA bloc will bag 154 seats. The Republic TV-Matrize poll gave 353-368 seats to the NDA and 118-133 seats to the opposition. The Jan Ki Baat poll gave 362-392 seats to the ruling NDA and 141-161 to the Opposition's alliance.

According to exit polls, the BJP is expected to improve its seats tally in southern states.

In Telangana, the Congress and the BJP are neck and neck. According to exit poll results telecast by TV9 Bharatvarash, BJP-led NDA is poised to win seven of the 17 Lok Sabha seats; the INDIA bloc will win eight seats.

India TV's exit poll predicted the BJP-led NDA will get 8-10 seats and the INDIA bloc 6-8 seats.

Per News18, the BJP is expected to win 7-10 seats in Telangana, the INDIA bloc 5-8 seats and the BRS 2-5 seats.

In 2019, the BJP had won only four seats in the state.

In Tamil Nadu, however, DMK-led INDIA bloc will likely win most of the state's 39 seats. According to the Axis-My India exit poll, the BJP-led NDA is expected to win 2-4 seats in the state. The INDIA bloc is set to win 33-37 seats.

In Kerala, Congress-led UDF is expected to win 17-18 seats, according to Axis My India. The exit poll predicted that NDA will likely get its highest-ever vote share of around 27 percent. The alliance is expected to win a few seats in the state as well.

The News 18 exit poll predicted 1-3 seats for NDA in Kerala. It said UDF is expected to win 15-18 seats and CPM-led LDF 2-5 seats.

The Times Now-ETG predicted one seat for the BJP in Kerala. It said Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF are expected to win 14-15 and four seats respectively.

Most of the exit polls have predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led alliance in Karnataka. Per the polls, the alliance is expected to win over 20 seats.

In total, per ABP-Cvoter, the NDA will double its 2019 figure of 32 seats. The coalition could win 55 to 64 constituencies in the five southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. News18 gave the NDA 51 to 64 seats in the region, while Axis My India gave it 59 to 67.

BJP to rule the roost in Hindi heartland

In Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 members to the lower house of Parliament, the NDA is projected to win 69 to 74 seats, while the INDIA bloc is expected to secure 6 to 11 seats, according to Republic Bharat-Matrize. It predicted that Mayawati's BSP, which won 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, won't be able to open its account.

Meanwhile, NDTV-Jan Ki Baat has predicted that the BJP-led NDA has chances of winning between 68 to 74 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the exit polls showed the BJP improving its 2019 tally.

In Madhya Pradesh, per the India Today-Axis My India poll and India TV, NDA is set to win 28-29 seats. Times Now ETG has predicted a clean sweep for the ruling alliance.

In Jharkhand, the India Today-Axis My India poll survey predicted the victory of the NDA in 8-10 seats. Times Now-ETG has given 13 of the state's 14 seats to the alliance.

In West Bengal and Odisha, most exit polls predicted that the BJP will upset Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal.

NDTV-Jan Ki Baat exit poll has predicted between 21 and 26 seats for the saffron party and 16-18 for the Trinamool Congress.

India News-D-Dynamics also gave 21 seats to the BJP and 19 to the Trinamool Congress, while Republic Bharat-Matrize predicted between 21 and 25 seats for the BJP. It predicted between 16 and 20 seats for Mamata Banerjee's party in the state.

In Odisha, most exit polls predicted that the BJP will register significant gains.

BJP to maintain lead in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh

The BJP will likely emerge as the single-largest party in Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Axis My India has predicted 6-9 seats for the BJP-led NDA and 2-4 seats for the INDIA bloc in Haryana. Times Now-ETG has predicted 7 seats for the BJP-led NDA and three seats for the INDIA bloc. According to the 'Today's Chanakya' exit poll telecast News 24, NDA is expected to win six seats.

In Uttarakhand, both Times Now-ETG and News 24-'Today's Chanakya' exit polls predicted that the BJP will win all five seats.

Axis My India predicted that the BJP will win all four seats in Himachal Pradesh. According to India TV exit polls, NDA is expected to win 3-4 seats in the state. The Times Now-ETG exit poll has given three seats to the BJP and one seat to the INDIA bloc.

Gujarat

The BJP is expected to win all 26 seats in its bastion, Gujarat. According to exit poll figures by Times Now-ETG, NDA is set to sweep all 26 seats. India TV's exit poll also predicted that the Congress-led INDIA bloc won't even open its account in the coastal state.

The Congress is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat in alliance with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
June 2 marks 10 years of Telangana as a separate state. While the movement for a separate Telangana goes long back in history, the final push was motivated by perceived inequality in development and the claims of political and economic elite in united Andhra Pradesh usurping most of its rewards. How have the two states done a decade after their separation. How Andhra, Telangana fare 10 years after bifurcation

Trajectory of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana GSDP

Centre for Monitoring Indian Economys (CMIE) States of India database gives GSDP values for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from 2011-12 onwards. Andhra Pradeshs GSDP at 3,79,402 crore was 1.07 times than that of the Telangana in 2015-16, a year after their split. This gap has largely remained stagnant since then with only marginal deviation over the years. In terms of per capita GSDP, however, Telangana has fared better than Andhra Pradesh. The per capita GSDP of Telangana was 1.27 times higher than that of Andhra Pradesh in 2015-16. This gap has seen gradual increase since then with the per capita GDP of Telangana being 1.31 times that of Andhra Pradesh in 2023-24. Notably, the gap in GSDP between both the states had seen consistent decline between 2014-15 and 2019-20. However, the pandemic-induced contraction in Telanganas economy in 2020-21 undid some of this progress in closing the gap, as Andhra Pradesh registered a positive GSDP growth during the year. To be sure, both these states have had a higher compound annual growth rate than Indias overall GDP during this period. (See Chart 1)

Most of Telanganas wealth is still concentrated in the greater Hyderabad region

This is apparent from the fact that the four districts with the highest Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) in Telangana, namely Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Sangareddy belong to the Hyderabad Metropolitan region. In fact, the combined GDDP of Rangareddy and Hyderbad alone in 2021-22 was higher than the sum of GDDP of the bottom 25 districts. There were 13 districts till they were split to create 26 districts in 2022. However, the district-wise GDDP figures for the state, the latest of which is the first revised estimate from 2021-22, is only available for the undivided 13 districts. These figures show that wealth is more evenly distributed in Andhra Pradesh compared to Telangana. This is evident by the fact that out of the 33 districts in Telangana, only five has a higher GDDP than Vizianagaram, the district which had the least GDDP in Andhra Pradesh.

How Andhra, Telangana fare 10 years after bifurcation

Wealth distribution among the population

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) contains data on the state wise wealth distribution of the population. The NFHS-4 report, which contains data from 2015-16 shows that in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as much as 52.4% and 49.4% of the population respectively belonged to the lowest three wealth quintiles. Meanwhile, 47.6% and 50.6% of the population belonged to the highest two wealth quintiles in both states, respectively. However by NFHS-5, in 2019-21, the proportion of the population in the lowest three wealth quintiles increased to 55.6% and 50.4% in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively. To be sure, the proportion of population in lowest quintile specifically in Telangana has seen a decline over this period from 6.3% to 5.1%, while in Andhra Pradesh, this figure has gone up from 4.6% to 5.2%. (See chart 2)

Fiscal prudence

Telangana has done comparatively better than Andhra Pradesh when it comes to controlling its fiscal deficit. The former has had consistently lower fiscal deficit as percentage of GSDP compared to the latter . Telanganas low fiscal deficit has largely been because it is a revenue surplus state unlike Andhra Pradesh. Except for the years 2019-20 to 2021-22, Telangana has registered a revenue surplus in every other year since 2014-15. This has been mainly due to the states own tax revenue which has ranged from 53% to 72% of its revenue receipts over the years.(See chart 3)

How both states have fared in social development indicators

HT analysed 11 development indicators from the NFHS report dealing with social welfare. Out of these, Andhra Pradesh showed improvement in nine of the indicators between 2015-16 and 2019-21 while Telangana only improved in seven. Telangana did especially badly in the indicators related to child nutrition, with the state registering an uptick in stunting, wasting and insufficient nutrition in children below five years of age. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh both saw a decline in the proportion of mothers who had at least four antenatal care visits. There has also been a decline in the proportion of men with 10 years of more schooling in Andhra Pradesh.
New Delhi, Top leaders of the INDIA bloc will meet here on Saturday to discuss their strategy for the counting of votes on June 4, even as the TMC and PDP are set to skip the meeting. INDIA bloc leaders to meet in Delhi on Saturday to discuss strategy, TMC and PDP likely to skip

Senior leaders of the Congress, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, A, RJD, Shiv Sena and NCP will hold discussions at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence this afternoon.

TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already said they will not attend the meeting as there are elections in the state, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is likely to skip the meeting.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann are also likely to attend the meeting, besides senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal.

DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said party leader T R Baalu will attend the meeting.

"June 4th will mark the beginning of a new dawn for India. In today's meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, DMK will be represented by our party Treasurer and leader of DMK's Parliamentary Party, Thiru. T.R. Baalu avl," Stalin said in a post on 'X.'

Kharge had said this was an informal meeting where they would only discuss what kind of preparations they should have on the day of counting and how people should be alert, whether it is about the EVMs or the use of Form 17C.

The meeting is only for discussing the counting preparations and the Congress has already told its state units to be alert about Form 17C.

People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said she was likely to skip the meeting due to personal reasons. "I may not go as my mom has undergone an eye surgery," she told PTI.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah will attend the meet as he left Srinagar on Saturday morning.

The seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway on Saturday, including in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday thanked voters for their active participation in the Lok Sabha elections. In a post on X, PM Modi said the commitment and dedication of voters bolsters the democratic spirit of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah (file photo)

PM Modi also thanked women and youths for taking part in the democratic process.

India has voted! A heartfelt thank you to all those who exercised their franchise. Their active participation is the cornerstone of our democracy. Their commitment and dedication ensures that the democratic spirit thrives in our nation. I would also like to specially appreciate Indias Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti. Their strong presence at the polls is a very encouraging sign, he wrote on X.

Also read: Exit poll 2024 results: 5 pollsters predict over 350 seats for BJP-led NDA in Lok Sabha elections

Voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections ended on Saturday.

After the culmination of campaigning for the seventh phase of the polls, PM Modi went to Kanyakumari's Vivekananda Rock to meditate.

All the exit polls have predicted an easy victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. Contradicting the INDIA bloc's prediction that the ruling party may fall short of the majority, most of the exit polls predict a landslide victory for the JP Nadda-led party.

Also read: Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: Pollsters predict third term for Narendra Modi

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP-led NDA won 353 seats.

If exit polls prove to be right on June 4, this will be the Bharatiya Janata Party's biggest victory in the Lok Sabha elections ever.

If the NDA wins the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi will become the only person after Jawaharlal Nehru to be the prime minister of the country thrice. Former PM Manmohan Singh had become the prime minister twice -- from 2004 to 2014.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over releasing the photos of him meditating inside the Vivekananda Memorial as photography is not allowed in the sacred area. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and PM Modi(File)

ECI advised PMO to ensure MCC isnt violated during Modis meditation: Official

While raising a question over the issue, Singh asked that is PM Modi not governed by law and rules. He further asked the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to respond on the issue.

While replying to an X user Kapil (@kapsology), who pointed out that PM Modi released the meditation hall's photos inside the Vivekananda Memorial as photography is not allowed and punishable by the law, the Congress leader said, "Thank you for pointing it out. Is Narendra Modi not governed by law and rules or rules don't apply to him. Would the PMO please respond?"

The X user said, "This is the first time you see the Meditation Hall photos inside the Vivekananda Memorial as photography here is not allowed and punishable by Law. But what is 'Camera-jeevi' without a camera?"

Do it at your home: Congress prez Kharge calls PM Modi's Kanniyakumari meditation drama

He also shared a screenshot of photography rules in the X post, which read, "The photography rules for visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial are strict and limited, as it is a protected and sensitive area. You are not allowed to take any photos or videos inside the monument, as it is prohibited and punishable by law. You can only take photos or videos from outside the monument, or from the ferry, with prior permission from the authorities. You should also respect the privacy and dignity of other visitors, and not disturb or harass them with your camera."

PM Modi arrived at Tamil Nadu's coastal town of Kanniyakumari on Thursday where he began his 45-hour meditation in the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. It would conclude on Saturday evening.

He started his meditation at the Dhyana Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati also meditated at the same place on one foot as she waited for Lord Shiva.

Before going into meditation, PM Modi offered prayers at Bhagavathy Amman Temple after the culmination of the Lok Sabha election campaign.

Kanniyakumari is the southernmost tip of India, 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.

Modi continues meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial

PM Modi is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, and in 2014, he visited Shivaji's Pratapgarh after the poll campaigns.

(With inputs from ANI)
Exit polls on June 1 predicted a clear mandate for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala in the Lok Sabha election, the results of which will be declared on June 4. Rahul Gandhi with Congress leaders during an election rally ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, in Kannur, Kerala.(PTI)

The alliance comprises the Indian National Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress and the Revolutionary Socialist Party.

Of the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies, the UDF is expected to win 15 to 18 seats, according to the News18 Mega Exit Poll. It has also predicted that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has a chance of winning 2 to 5 seats, and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may win 1 to 3 seats.

Meanwhile, Times Now-ETG has also predicted that the UDF can get between 14 and 15 seats. The LDF is tipped to get 4, and the NDA may win one seat.

ABP-C Voter sees BJP-led NDA winning 1 to 3 seats

Another pollster, ABP-C Voter, has given a high number of seats to the UDF, predicting that the alliance can win anywhere between 17 to 19 seats. It has given zero seats to the LDF and 1 to 3 seats to the NDA.

Uttar Pradesh: NDA set for a big win again, predict exit polls

In Kerala, the Bharatiya Janata Party has never won a Lok Sabha seat and ran a high-decibel campaign to open its account. The saffron party is pinning it hopes on Union ministers Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V. Muraleedharan, actor Suresh Gopi and Anil Antony, the sone of Congress leader A.K Antony, from different constituencies in the state.

At least five exit polls predicted a clear majority for the NDA. the alliance is also projected to open its account in Southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sweep Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The most exit polls projected the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could win more than 350 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, where 272 are needed for a simple majority
Exit Poll 2024 Highlights: Welcome to our live blog covering the eagerly awaited exit poll results for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections! Most of the pollsters have predicted a comfortable win for the BJP-led NDA, projecting a third successive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, powered by big gains in states like West Bengal and Telangana and repeating its 2019 performance in most of the states. The BJP-led NDA is likely to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala but may see a fall in its tally in states like Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana, according to the pollsters....Read More

Exit polls are surveys conducted with voters immediately after they leave polling stations. These polls aim to predict the outcome of an election before official results are available.

Andhra Pradesh Exit Poll results 2024 LIVE updates

Congress on Friday announced its decision not to participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on television channels. Congress spokesperson and media department chairperson Pawan Khera said the voters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured, adding that the party doesn't see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP.

Follow Exit Poll results 2024 in Hindi

BJP president J P Nadda claimed that the Congress's decision amounts to an "unequivocal confirmation" that the opposition party has conceded the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In a post on X, Nadda urged voters not to waste their votes in the seventh and last phase of the polls on Saturday, arguing that the Congress typically opts out when it doesn't expect favourable results but has no compunction showing up if it thinks it has even an outside chance.

However, the grand old party on Saturday said all INDIA parties would participate in the exit poll results.

Delhi Exit Poll LIVE updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his extensive Lok Sabha campaign with a rally in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. Since the Election Commission announced the poll schedule on March 16, Modi has conducted 206 public outreach events, surpassing his 145 engagements during the 2019 elections. Over the 76-day campaign period, he visited all five southern states, focusing on improving the BJP's standing in regions where it previously had little success. Modi's relentless campaigning, marked by rallies, roadshows, and 80 media interviews, highlighted his role as the BJP's primary vote-getter. The impact of his efforts will be revealed on June 4, when the election results are declared.

In a vigorous campaign effort to boost the Congress' chances in the Lok Sabha elections, party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra each participated in over 100 public outreach events. Rahul Gandhi campaigned in Punjab on the final day of campaigning for the seventh phase of voting, while Priyanka Gandhi led a roadshow in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Kharge engaged in more than 100 rallies, over 20 press conferences, and over 70 media interactions. Rahul Gandhi took part in 107 rallies and major events, and Priyanka Gandhi was involved in 108 public meetings and roadshows, giving numerous media interviews. Priyanka Gandhi focused on Rae Bareli and Amethi as she campaigned in 16 states and one union territory.

Exit polls 2024: India Today-Axis, News 24-Today's Chanakya  how accurate they were in 2019, 2014

Exit poll predictions should not be blindly trusted, and there have been notable instances of incorrect predictions in recent years. However, the exit polls for the 2019 and 2014 Indian general elections almost accurately captured the overall sentiment.

In 2019, exit polls predicted an average of 306 seats for the NDA and 120 for the UPA. The actual results were significantly higher for the NDA, which won 352 seats (with the BJP alone securing 303), while the UPA won only 93 seats (with Congress getting 52). India Today-Axis My India had predicted 352 seats for the BJP-led NDA, while News24-Today's Chanakya also predicted a big win for the BJP.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 303 seats, 21 more than its 2014 tally, while the Congress party was restricted to 52 seats. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and YSRCP won 23 seats each, followed by Mamata Banerjee's TMC 22, Shiv Sena 18, JD(U) 16, BJD 12, BSP 10, SP 5, NCP 5, and CPI(M) 3.

This time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of over 400 seats for the NDA, with the BJP aiming for more than 370 seats.

Stay tuned as we bring you real-time updates, expert analyses, and reactions from across the political spectrum. Whether you're keen to know which party might hold the reins of power or how individual states have swayed, our comprehensive coverage aims to keep you informed every step of the way.

These are just predictions and pollsters could get it wrong.
The mega Lok Sabha election 2024 is set for its final phase on Saturday. Voting for the seventh phase will begin at 7 am across 57 constituencies across eight states and Union territories.



Besides this, 42 constituencies of Odisha assembly will also simultaneously go to polls.



Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Punjab will vote in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha election.



ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 7: Voting date, list of constituencies/seats, key candidates | Full schedule



Here are 10 things to know about the final phase of the big electoral battle.



1. According to the Election Commission, 10.06 crore voters across 1.09 lakh polling states will exercise their right to vote. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has exuded confidence of crossing the 400 mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.



2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third straight term in office, is in poll fray from Varanasi in this phase. He had defeated Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal in 2014 and Shalini Yadav of Samajwadi Party in 2019 election. This time, Modi is being challenged by UP Congress chief Ajay Rai, who had also contested against him in the past two elections.



ALSO READ: 57 seats, over 10 crore voters: Phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections in numbers



3. In Uttar Pradesh, 13 constituencies will go to polls. Besides PM Modi, the other high profile candidates include Union minister Anupriya Patel (Mirzapur), Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary (Maharajganj) and Ravi Kishan (Gorakhpur).



4. In Bihar, eight constituencies will go to polls in the seventh phase. The prominent candidates include Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti (Pataliputra), former Union minister and BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad (Patna Sahib) and Upendra Kushwaha (Karakat) and Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh (Karakat) among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term as MP from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.(PTI)

5. Punjab will vote in all 13 constituencies on Saturday. The members of INDIA bloc, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, are contesting the elections separately. Even Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP are fighting the elections alone. Preneet Kaur (Patiala), ex-CM Charanjit Channi (Jalandhar) and Shiromani Akali Dal's Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Bathinda) are among the key candidates.



6. The other state which has hogged a lot of limelight in this election is Himachal Pradesh, mainly due to actor-politician Kangana Ranaut entering the poll fray. The National Award winning actor is the BJP face from Mandi, contesting against Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh. Union minister Anurag Thakur is seeking a fifth term from Hamirpur, while senior Congress leader Anand Sharma is in fray from Kangra.



7. At least nine constituencies of West Bengal are voting in the last phase. The Basirhat constituency has gained a lot of prominence as the BJP has fielded Rekha Patra, who filed a complaint in the Sandeshkhali sexual assault case. Trinamool Congress has fielded veteran Haji Nurul Islam. Several Trinamool Congress (TMC) heavyweights including Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Sougata Roy (Dum Dum), Sudip Bandopadhyay (Kolkata Uttar) and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat) are in the poll fray.

8. According to the Election Commission, 13 Special trains and eight helicopter sorties (for Himachal Pradesh) were deployed to ferry polling and security personnel.



9. The EC added that a total of 2707 flying squads, 2799 static surveillance teams, 1080 surveillance teams and 560 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.



10. The Election Commission has reiterated its instructions on not publishing any exit polls until at least half an hour after polls in all states and UTs have ended.



(With agency inputs)
Imphal: At least four people have died with 13 injured and over one lakh people have been affected due to the massive flooding in Manipur following heavy rainfall due to cyclone Remal, according to an official report. Incessant rainfall since past one week amid cyclone Remal has caused massive flooding across the northeastern state (HT Photo)

Incessant rainfall since past one week amid cyclone Remal has caused massive flooding across the northeastern state, with the water levels in most rivers passing through Imphal city increasing rapidly.

According to an Imphal local newspaper, five persons  two in Senapati and three in Imphal West district  died from May 28 to May 31, respectively.

According to the latest by the Relief & Disaster Management Department issued here on Friday evening, a total of 1,26,950 people across 255 villages/localities have been affected, 16,364 houses were damaged, while 20,504 stranded people were evacuated in the state.

Also Read: Manipur: Flood waters receding, many areas in Imphal still flooded

It added, that 522 hectares of crop areas have been affected, while as many as 292 landslides were reported in less than three previous days in several areas of hill districts.

To accommodate the affected people, 51 relief camps have been opened, the official report said.

Since Sunday, the water levels in most rivers passing through Imphal increased rapidly and two major rivers  Nambul and Imphal  already overflowing into several parts of Imphals East and West districts.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed in Imphal West and Imphal East districts, while the air force, navy and army were deployed in the Imphal West district, the official report said.

According to the report, relief materials were distributed in several flood-affected areas, including in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Jiribam, Noney, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Chandel, Churachandpur, Senapati and Kakching.

According to Assam Rifles, which is also deployed in the rescue mission, to date, a total of 2,561 individuals, including 969 men, 992 women, and 601 children have been rescued.

Sixteen columns of Assam Rifles also distributed food as packed hot meals to 2,050 individuals on 30 May on May 30 and 3,000 on May 31, totalling 5,050 meals, it added.

On Friday, officials said that water levels of the flood-affected areas have been slowly receding in most of the localities in and around Imphal town. However, the main market areas -MG Avenue, Thangal Bazar and Paona are still under water while fresh flooding was reported from Nambol in Bishnupur district.

On Friday evening, chief minister N Biren Singh, accompanied by the state chief secretary Vineet Joshi, visited the flood-affected Paona Bazar in Imphal.

Also Read: Manipur: Heavy rainfall causes flooding in many areas of Imphal

In a post on X on Saturday, he wrote, Earlier today, I received a call from Honble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji regarding the flood situation in Manipur following Cyclone Remal. Expressing his deep concern about the situation, Shri Amit Shah Ji has assured us of all possible support from the central government during these challenging times. We are truly grateful for his proactive assistance and unwavering commitment.

In a separate post, the CM wrote, I join the people of Manipur in expressing our gratitude to Honble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji for the compassionate support in these challenging times. The ex-gratia of 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and 50,000 to the injured reflects your unwavering commitment to aiding those affected by Cyclone Remal.

On Thursday evening, states water resource minister Awangbow Newmai while speaking to reporters in Imphal informed that the government is putting maximum effort into controlling the flood and added that the Imphal River was breached at 18 places leading to overflowing, sliding and seepage, while it breached at four places along Nambul river, leading to overflow. However the affected areas of the rivers have been put under control, he said.

He said that as preventive measures the state has announced a two-day holiday for schools and colleges.
Amid polling in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, a mob reportedly threw EVM and VVPAT machines into a pond at booth numbers 40 and 41 in Kultai, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. EVM and VVPAT machine were reportedly thrown in water by a mob in Kultai, South 24 Parganas(PTI)

Follow LIVE Updates

The mob got agitated on being allegedly threatened by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters. The mob then threw the EVM into a nearby pond.

The West Bengal Election Commission soon responded to the incident, stating that an FIR had been lodged and necessary action had been initiated. The poll body further said that the voting process is, running uninterrupted.

"Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU , 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond. Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. The poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer," it said in a post on X.

For BJP, final phase of Bengal Lok Sabha polls is an acid test

Voting is currently underway at nine Lok Sabha constituencies in the state along with 48 other seats across seven states and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Till 9 am, the nationwide polling percentage was 11.31 percent, according to the Election Commission's (EC) voter-turnout app. West Bengal reported a turnout of 12.63 per cent till 9 am.

A voter turnout of nearly 12.15 per cent was recorded in Jharkhand till 9 am. Uttar Pradesh logged a polling percentage of 12.94, Bihar 10.58 and Himachal Pradesh 14.35. Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 9.64 per cent in the first two hours of polling while Chandigarh registered a voting percentage of 11.64. Odisha recorded around 7.69 per cent voting till 9 am.

Elections in Bengal are all but bipolar contests

More than 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.

Some high-profile names in the fray in this phase include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is eyeing a third term from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, former union minister and BJP stalwart Ravi Shankar Prasad (Patna Sahib), Actress Kangana Ranaut (Mandi), Congress' Manish Tewari (Chandigarh), TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Samajwadi party leader Afzal Ansari (Ghazipur) and Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh (Karakat).

(With inputs from agencies)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who began his meditation inside the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari on May 30 continued his meditation for the second day on Friday. He is on a 45-hour long meditation which he will complete on June 1 afternoon. Modi was seen wearing saffron clothes and holy ash and vermillion on his forehead as first pictures of his meditation emerged on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditates at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, where Swami Vivekananda did meditation, in Kanniyakumari on Friday. (ANI)

Modi woke up early on Friday to catch the sunrise by the sea before entering the hall to continue his meditation. On June 1 after completing his meditation, he will pay a floral tribute at the 133-feet-tall Thiruvalluvar statue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said. There is a three tier security blanket on and off the coast.

As campaigning for the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls drew to a close, the PM came to Indias southernmost parliamentary constituency in Kanyakumari where he began his three-day meditation. This is the Modis eighth visit to the state since January. Tamil Nadu went to polls in the first phase on April 19.

On Friday morning, Modi meditated for 20 minutes and did pranayama (breathing exercises) in front of what is widely believed to be the footprint Bhagavathi Amman (Goddess Parvathi) where she meditated on the rock for Lord Shiva. The BJP released photos and videos of Modi performing the Surya Arghya ritual and meditating with the imposing statue of Swami Vivekananda in the background as the sun rose from the Bay of Bengal.

On May 30, after landing, Modi went to the Sri Bhagavathi Amman temple on the seashore to offer special prayers. He then took a special boat by the state-run Poompuhar Shipping Corporation Limited to reach the Vivekananda Rock Memorial for the 45-hour-long meditation.

Saint-philosopher, Swami Viveknanada had meditated here for three days in 1892. The memorial was built in 1970. Modi made similar trips for meditation following the parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2019 to Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh and Uttarkhands Kedarnath.

Special arrangements have been made at the meditation hall  Dhyana Mandapam inside the Swami Vivekananda Memorial at mid-sea while there is an elaborate security blanket on and off the coast here. The Coast Guard, Coastal Security Group, marine police and the state police are on duty in Kanyakumari district.

Amid complaints from the opposition that Modis is violating the model code of conduct and criticism that tourism has been affected in Kanyakumari due to his visit, some were allowed on the rock memorial on Friday under tight security protocol. But, the meditation hall has been completely cordoned off, a police officer said on condition of anonymity.
New Delhi, Delving into the complexities surrounding women's property rights under various personal laws and other customary practices, experts on Saturday stressed the need for legislative reforms to address existing inequities and empower women economically. NCW hosts final consultation on women's property rights, calls for legislative reforms

The experts met for a consultation on the vital theme of "Women's Rights under Property Laws" organised by the National Commission for Women .

In a statement, the NCW said the final consultation delved into the complexities surrounding women's property rights under Hindu Law, Muslim Law, Parsi Law, Christian Law, and other customary practices.

"Participants engaged in nuanced discussions, recognising the need for legislative reforms to address existing inequities and empower women economically. This consultation aimed to address the complexities and challenges faced by women in asserting and safeguarding their property rights," it said.

The event, inaugurated by NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma, brought together an array of distinguished participants including former high court judges Deepa Sharma and Justice Manju Goel, former Law Secretary P K Malhotra, vice-chancellors, senior advocates and academicians.

In her opening remarks, Sharma highlighted the complex nature of women's property rights in India, noting the significant influence of religion, marital status, kinship norms, and tribal affiliations.

She spoke on the disparities across different states and religions, which often result in limited property rights for women, thereby affecting their economic autonomy and perpetuating gender discrimination.

Over recent months, the NCW has conducted regional consultations in partnership with educational institutions and legal bodies to gather diverse insights and recommendations.

The NCW said key discussions centred on discriminatory provisions within existing property laws, particularly those related to inheritance and succession rights, and the necessity for comprehensive reforms to ensure gender equality and justice for women.

The consultation deliberated on issues such as the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the Indian Succession Act, 1925, Muslim Personal Law, Parsi Succession Laws, matrimonial property laws, and customary laws. The discourse highlighted the challenges faced by women in asserting and safeguarding their property rights.

The NCW said it acknowledged the insights and suggestions provided by all participants and stakeholders during the consultation process.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the voters in 57 poll-bound constituencies to turn up in large numbers and cast their votes in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections.



Today is the final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As 57 seats across 8 states and UTs go to the polls, calling upon the voters to turnout in large numbers and vote. I hope young and women voters exercise their franchise in record numbers. Together, lets make our democracy more vibrant and participative, Modi, who is contesting from Varanasi, posted on social platform X.



ALSO READ: How decade-long Modi regime has fared on growth indicator



Voting began at 7 PM in 57 constituencies across eight states and Union territories on Saturday. The fate of 904 candidates including Modi will be decided by 10.06 crore voters in 1.09 lakh polling stations.



India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh will witness polling in 13 out of 80 seats in the seventh phase. Varanasi is the most high-profile constituency, from where PM Modi is seeking a third straight term as a parliamentarian. He is facing Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai.



In Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's bastion Gorakhpur, sitting BJP MP Ravi Kishan is facing Samajwadi Party's Kajal Nishad and Bahujan Samaj Party's Javed Ashraf. Union minister Anupriya Patel is contesting from Mirzapur.



Bihar will witness eight seats including Patna Sahib and Pataliputra going to polls in the seventh phase. Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti is contesting from Pataliputra. On the other hand, former Union minister Ravishankar Prasad is contesting from Patna Sahib.



In West Bengal, Sandeshkhali survivor Rekha Patra is the BJP candidate from Basirhat. The other prominent candidates include TMC's general secretary Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Sudip Bandopadhyay of TMC (Kolkata Uttar), Sougata Roy (Dum Dum) and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat).



Besides this, all 13 seats of Punjab are voting in this phase. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and its INDIA bloc ally Congress are contesting polls alone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters to cast their votes in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections
PM Narendra Modi meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial: Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed his 45-hour-long meditation at at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari on Saturday, June 1. PM Narendra Modi was in Kanniyakumari on a spiritual visit where he had been meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial during his meditation in Kanniyakumari on Saturday. (ANI)

This coincides with the conclusion of polling for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Meanwhile, former Bihar deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday dismissed Modi's spiritual activity in Kanniyakumari as mere "photo shoots."

"Modi ji isn't doing any meditation, only photo shoots are happening. Once the photo shoot ends, they will come back," Tejashwi Yadav said.

Modi had arrived in Kanniyakumari on Thursday, May 30. According to mythology, Goddess Parvati also meditated on one foot at the same place as she waited for Lord Shiva.

This is the southernmost tip of India. 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. Modi is sending a signal of national unity by going to Kanniyakumari.

Modi concluded his election campaign in Punjab's Hoshiarpur on Thursday, for the final and the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls 2024, which will be held on June 1.

Modi 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.

The PM is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 1 embarked on the second day of his meditation break at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari. PM Modi will conclude his meditation today, as eight states and UT go to polls for the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024. PM Modi meditates for the second day in Kanniyakumari

PM Modi commenced his second day of meditation in Tamil Nadu after performing the 'Surya Arghya' during sunrise at the Vivekananda Rock, where Swami Vivekananda once meditated before attaining enlightenment.

The prime minister carried out 'Surya Arghya,' a ritual associated with spiritual practice involving salutations to the Almighty, manifested in the form of sun.

The PM poured little water from a traditional, beaker-like small vessel into the sea as an offering (Arghya) and prayed using his prayer beads (Japa mala). He was clad in saffron and also paid floral tributes to a statue of Swami Vivekananda, officials said.

The prime minister then walked around the mandapam with his 'japa mala' in his hands. After his two-day meditation comes to an end on Saturday evening, PM Modi will travel to Delhi after the Lok Sabha polls come to an end.

Kanyakumari is famous for its sunrise and sunset and the memorial is located on a tiny islet near the shoreline. At the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the PM embarked on meditation on the evening of May 30 and he is scheduled to complete it today.

PM Modi arrived at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on Thursday. According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Parvati also meditated at the same place on one foot as she waited for Lord Shiva.

The prime minister travelled to Kanniyakumari on Thursday after ending the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) poll campaign in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. Eyeing a third term in office, PM Modi extensively campaigned nationwide for the Lok Sabha polls, the results for which will be announced on June 4.

During the election season, PM Modi 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.

(With inputs from ANI)
Jabalpur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed grief over the May 19 Pune Porsche crash and promised the guilty will not be spared, the father of IT professional Ashwini Koshta, who was killed in the incident, said here on Saturday. An officer on special duty sent by the Maharashtra government to Jabalpur facilitated the talk over phone with CM Shinde, Ashwini's father Suresh Koshta told PTI. Ashwini Koshta and Anish Awadhiya, both 24-year-old IT professionals hailing from Madhya Pradesh, died on May 19 after a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old drunk boy, hit their motorcycle in Kalyani Nagar in Pune. The subsequent revelations of a massive cover-up to ensure the minor gets off the hook allegedly involving his kin as well as doctors from a state-run hospital in Maharashtra's second largest city provoked national outrage. "CM Shinde expressed grief over the incident. He assured us of a thorough investigation in the case. He asserted the the culprits will not be spared. The Maharashtra CM told me he will monitor the case and review it daily," Suresh Koshta informed. Expressing shock at the alleged involvement of the mother of the juvenile in the conspiracy to change the blood samples collected to test alcohol consumption, Suresh Koshta said he was extremely pained to see so many departments indulge in corrupt practices to cover up the matter. "It is unimaginable. No one can be trusted these days," rued Ashwini's distraught mother Mamta Koshta. Suresh Koshta said he had sought the intervention of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to ensure the probe into the case in the neighbouring state is carried out in a fair and transparent manner. On Saturday, the juvenile's mother was arrested after the Pune police's probe confirmed that his blood samples were replaced with hers. During the day, the Pune police spoke to the minor for about an hour in their presence of his mother in the observation home where he is lodged till June 5. Pune police have so far arrested the minor's father, grandfather, two doctors and a staffer of government-run Sassoon Hospital for alleged involvement in various aspects of the case, ranging from swapping of blood samples to confining and threatening a driver to take blame for the crash.

Porsche crash case: Maharashtra CM has assured thorough probe, says deceased's MP-based father
Pune, Baseless allegations are being made against Pune MLA Sunil Tigre linking him to the Porsche crash that left two software engineers dead, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Saturday. Pune car crash: Allegations against MLA Sunil Tingre baseless, says Ajit Pawar

Tingres belongs to the Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and represents the Vadgaon Sheri assembly constituency in Pune city.

Earlier, there were allegations that Tingre had intervened to ensure that the juvenile got favourable treatment from police after the accident.

Asked about Tingres name popping up in connection with the case, Pawar told reporters, Sunil Tingre is an MLA of the area where the incident took place. Whenever such incidents take place, the local MLA often visits the site. Did Sunil Tingre try to suppress the matter? The allegations against him are baseless.

When asked if he had called up Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar after this incident, Pawar said, I often call the commissioner of police over multiple issues but I haven't made a single call to him in this case.

Two IT professionals were killed in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar in Pune after a Porsche allegedly being driven by the minor, who the police claim was drunk, rammed into their two-wheeler.

Pawar said that Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the home department, had instructed the Pune police the day after the accident to carry out an intensive probe.

Even the chief minister has given the right instructions. Action was taken against those police officials who initially delayed the procedure. Those from Sassoon General Hospital who were involved in the case have also faced police action, he added.

In the Porsche case, the minor has been sent to an observation home till June 5, while his father, realtor Vishal Agarwal, and grandfather Surendra Agarwal have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping the familys driver and putting pressure on him to take the blame.

Police have also arrested two doctors and a staffer from the Sassoon hospital for allegedly swapping the minors blood samples with those of his mother to show that he was not drunk at the time of the accident.

In the latest action, the teenagers mother was arrested.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The mother of teenager involved in Pune Porsche crash was on Saturday arrested for helping his blood sample after the accident, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said.



This is the fourth arrest from the family with minor, his father and grandfather already apprehended. The arrest comes days after the Pune Police told a local court that the blood samples of the the juvenile driver were allegedly exchanged with those of a woman.



ALSO READ: Bail drama, police laxity, corrupt doctors, MLA ties: Inside Pune Porsche crash case The Porsche car was found without number plate in Pune.

The Pune Police had arrested two doctors at Sassoon hospital for allegedly manipulating the minor's blood sample. 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)," a police officer had told PTI.



Two software engineers Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta were killed in the wee hours of May 19 in Pune's Kalyani Nagar after a Porsche allegedly being driven by the drunk minor rammed into their two wheeler.



The 17-year-old minor 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.



The Pune Police have received the permission to question the minor in the presence of his counsellors and the members of his family. The juvenile, lodged at the Yerawada Correction Centre, will be questioned for at least two hours.



The teenager is the son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal. He was initially granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), with a condition to write a 300-word essay, sparking a massive public outrage.



The Pune Police later approached the JJB, which remanded the boy to an observation home for 14 days till June 5.
The Navi Mumbai police on Saturday arrested four members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who had allegedly put in motion a plan to murder Bollywood star Salman Khan. The police extensively used technology to thwart the nefarious designs of the gang. Bollywood actor Salman Khan, guarded by security personnel, leaves a polling booth after casting his ballot to vote in Mumbai on May 20, 2024.(AFP)

Elaborating on their investigation, the Navi Mumbai police said today they had leveraged the gang's social media interactions for gathering intelligence.

The action comes months after the police made several arrests in connection with a firing outside the actors Mumbai home.

Vivek Pansare, the deputy commissioner of police Zone II (Panvel), told media that Panvel police station's senior inspector, Nitin Thackeray, received inputs in September-October last year that a conspiracy was afoot to harm one of the most popular people in India.

Later, the Navi Mumbai police's officers and informers infiltrated WhatsApp and other social media groups of the Bishnoi gang.

The police said the arrested gang members had surveyed Salman Khan's Panvel farmhouse, his Banda home and places he frequents for film shooting. They said the gang was trying to get weapons for their plot from abroad.

In April, the police registered a case against 17 people, including Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi.

Accused Dhananjay Tapesingh, alias Ajay Kashyap (28) was arrested from Panvel on April 28. The same day, Gaurav Bhatia, alias Sandeep Bishnoi, was taken into custody from Gujarat, the official said.

While the third person Vaspi Khan, alias Waseem Chikna, was picked from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Rizwan Khan, alias Javed Khan, was arrested from Bangalore, he added.

"In April, we received information that some people are conducting recce at the Panvel farmhouse of Salman Khan. We infiltrated our informers and police officers into Lawrence Bishnoi gang's WhatsApp groups and other social media... We arrested the 4 accused from Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Sambhajinagar... They had also conducted a recce in Bandra," said Pansare.

Lawrence Bishnoi is lodged in Ahmedabad's Sabarmati prison. Anmol Bishnoi is believed to be holed up in the United States and Canada.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
New Delhi, The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a Delhi government plea seeking a direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its ongoing water crisis. SC to hear on Jun 3 Delhi govt plea seeking direction to Haryana to release surplus water

According to the cause list of the apex court, a vacation bench of justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter.

The plea filed by Delhi's Water Minister Atishi has made the Centre, the BJP-governed Haryana and the Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh parties to the petition, saying that access to water is essential for survival and is 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 plea said.

"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," it added.

The plea 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 crisis 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 have 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. It is necessary to augment the water supply to address the present crisis, it added.

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 an 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 that Haryana's facilitation and cooperation, which is not being provided as on date, is, therefore, 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.

The national capital has been facing a severe water shortage and 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.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and actress Kangana Ranaut cast her vote in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha election on Saturday, and exuded confidence that the party will sweep all the four seats in Himachal Pradesh. Ranaut, who is BJP's candidate from Mandi, said that there is a complete Modi wave in the state. BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut after casting her vote at a polling booth during the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Mandi (PTI)(PTI)

Appealing to the voters to exercise their franchise, Kangana Ranaut said after casting her vote, "I appeal to everyone to exercise their right to vote in this festival of democracy. There has been so much bloodshed so that we can exercise this right".

"There is a complete Modi wave in Himachal Pradesh. Our Prime Minister has conducted almost 200 rallies, gave at least 80-90 interviews in just two months," she added. Exuding confidence in BJP's "400 paar" slogan for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the actor-turned-politician said, "We are soldiers of PM Modi, and will win all four seats in Himachal Pradesh".

Ranaut also attacked the opposition for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day meditation break in Kanniyakumari. Ranaut said, Meditation is not new for the Prime Minister. Even when he was not a politician he used to meditate. Now these people have a problem with that too.

The Mandi parliamentary seat in Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a high profile election battle, as Kangana Ranaut makes her debut in politics. She is fighting the polls against Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

The Mandi Lok Sabha seat is currently held by Pratibha Devi Singh, Virbhadra Singh's wife. She wrested the seat for the Congress in the by-election that was held following the demise of then BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma.

The four Lok Sabha constituencies in Himachal Pradesh -- Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, and Shimla are voting in the seventh and the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections today in addition to the bypolls in six assembly seats in the state.

The results of the Lok Sabha election 2024 will be announced on June 4.

(With inputs from ANI)
K Veerakumar, 42, is on a very long leave from his private company just to watch live CCTV footage of a lock and seal guarding EVMs stored for the Chennai South constituency. Its been more than 40 days that he has been on this duty for Tamil Nadus Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) candidate J Jayavardhan. Party comes first for me, says Veerakumar. Thousands of agents like him representing states political parties  DMK, AIADMK, BJP, NTK and independent candidates are working in shifts to monitor the strongrooms 24x7. The wait for counting of votes has been the longest in this southern state which went to Lok Sabha polls in the first phase on April 19. Its exactly 46 days until counting on June 4. Tamil Nadu: Agents linked to political parties keep a close watch on EVMs before counting day

People aware of the matter said every candidate has roped in two to three agents to work in shifts of 8-12 hours. Jayavardhan has one of the highest number of agents  six AIADMK workers double up to work in three shifts round the clock. The DMK and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here have a total of three agents to work a shift each while there are two independent agents. They monitor the strong rooms for the South Chennai Lok Sabha constituency housed inside the citys premier institution Anna University. We have become like family, says Veerakumar of making friends with agents from rival parties who were engaged in a bitter election campaign. The time spent here brought them close. We talk a lot about our parties, our candidates. We debate, we gossip, but there is no fight, he says. Chennai South is one of the most watched constituencies where Jayavardhan who won the seat in 2014 has contested against former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan who is the BJP candidate and incumbent DMK MP Tamizhachi Thangapandian.

At the start of his shift at 10am, Veerakumar and his peers from other parties go together to check on the lock and seal accompanied by the tahsildar and a police personnel. We have to sign in at least 10 places before we reach the door, Veerakumar says. The primary job of these agents is to watch the CCTV footage of the lock and seal of these strong rooms and alert election officials and party candidates if there is anything amiss.

Initially, the agents here were sitting on plastic chairs under a tent on the campus. Due to the heat, we requested the district collector to let us stay indoors, Veerakumar said. From April 24 onwards, these agents moved inside a classroom on the ground floor where the Greater Chennai Corporation provided them with 10 pedestal fans, a water dispenser and two monitors which would relay footage from two CCTV cameras.

The political party agents across the state received passes valid from April 19 nightwhen the EVMs were moved from voting centres to strong roomsuntil 6am on June 4when the EVMs would be shifted to 39 counting centres. The counting will be conducted in rooms adjacent to the strong rooms in the same buildings and preparations for which are in full swing in Tamil Nadu.

The passes allow the agents to be inside the heavily secured buildings to monitor the 234 strong rooms where EVMs are stored across Tamil Nadu. The state has 39 parliamentary constituencies. The EVMs of each Lok Sabha constituency are stored by dividing them into assembly constituencies which are 234 in Tamil Nadu. No one is allowed inside the strong room. The buildings where they are stored are cut off from everything where only election officials, security personnel, candidates and their agents are allowed. Every strong room door is locked and sealed and guarded by about 1,300 CRPF deployed across Tamil Nadu round the clock, said chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo. So far, across Tamil Nadu there have been half a dozen complaints of the footage stopping due to power outages. In the initial days, we received complaints from three districts that due to heating of the electrical circuit, rains and thunder, some fuse (of the CCTV) stopped working so we asked the electrical systems to be strengthened with lightning arrester, said Sahoo. We have been guarding them for more than 40 days. It is a long period for us too and it has been smooth, said Sahoo.

The scene in Coimbatore parliamentary constituency which is witnessing another high stakes battle with BJPs Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai as candidate is quite different from the camaraderie among agents in Chennai South. We are not close, says K L Swaminathan (53) one of Annamalais agents deployed to watch the footage. We greet each other, sit in our respective chairs and just monitor. Its an eight hour shift and its important work so our time goes by fast. Swaminathan is an old hand who has been with the party for 27 years. But, this is the longest number of days Ive done this work. Swaminathan is a full time party worker. The strong room is inside the Government College of Technology. On May 31, he also inspected the counting centre in the adjacent room since Swaminathan will also be Annamalais agent on June 4 when votes are counted. The tables, speakers, and cameras are all ready, he says. With Annamalai away campaigning across India, BJPs Coimbatore district president Ramesh Kumar liaisons between him and the party agents. We have three agents working three shifts, says Kumar. There is no pay involved for any partys agents because this is part of party work. We arrange food for them and ensure that they have 16 hours of rest after eight hours of work.

But, there are those who are voluntarily doing this work with no rest while reporting for their day job. 35-year-old M Tamilarasan is a field officer in a private company in Villupuram district. He completes his day job and reports for night duty to watch CCTV footage of Villupurams incumbent MP- K Ravikumar of the VCK (a DMK ally) had contested. On May 4, when Tamilarasans shift ending in the morning, he saw that a power outage stopped the recording of the CCTV. I was about to leave. It happened at 7.28 am and the issue was corrected at 8.10 am, Tamilarasan says with precision.

Following this and three other incidents, CEC Sahoo instructed state departments to back up all 234 strong rooms with efficient generators and an additional CCTV camera was installed in each of the strong rooms.

While several agents have been passing their time by watching Youtube videos, Instagram reels, cell phones were banned at the Aringar Anna Arts and Science College where Tamilarasan is on duty. After we reported that incident the district officials did not want us to take photos so we had to leave our mobiles at the gate with the police, he says.

Tamilarasan who has as M Ed and M. Phil degree has been using this time to complete reading books and preparing for exams to the Teachers Recruitment Board. There is another VCK agent who is attempting to complete Russian writer Leo Tolstoys collection while a 65-year-old AIADMK candidate, he says, simply enjoys sitting through the shift. These agents have had a key role to play in Indias long seven phase electoral process and are now keenly waiting for the results.
On June 2, 2014, Telangana was carved out as a separate state through bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh. The fledgling state, which has grown into one of the strongest and the most developed states of India in the last 10 years, is gearing up for a grand celebration of its 10th formation day on Sunday. On June 2, 2014, Telangana was carved out as a separate state through bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh. (Wikimedia commons)

The separate statehood to Telangana materialised after decades of intense struggle by the people in different phases, against their discrimination in education, employment, allocation of funds for the development of backward areas of the region, provision of irrigation and drinking water facilities and exploitation of resources of the region allegedly by the Andhra rulers.

In fact, Telangana region had been a separate geographical entity as part of erstwhile Hyderabad state ruled by the Nizam, who annexed it with the Indian Union in September 1948. In 1956, the Telangana region was merged with the then Andhra state which had by then separated from Madras Presidency, as part of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 on linguistic lines.

Since then, the people of Telangana had been fighting for the demerger of the region to form a separate state again. The first major struggle took place in 1968-69, which turned into a violent agitation claiming the lives of around 360 people in police firing in different parts of the region. It was crushed ruthlessly by the then Indira Gandhi government at the Centre.

A martyrs memorial, constructed at Gun Park in front of the state assembly, still stands as a mark of tribute for those who laid down their lives for the separate state. Even today, it has become a focal point for any agitation to reflect the aspirations of Telangana.

There were attempts to revive the movement for separate state by various groups  students, academics, social organisations and even political leaders in the next three decades, but they could not build it up into a well-organised movement of masses, though the aspiration for a separate state was still raging among the people.

Telangana activists like former Kakatiya University vice-chancellor Kothapalli Jayashankar and former Osmania University professor M Kodandaram realised that the only way to achieve the statehood to the region was to convert it into a political movement, because the formation of a new state would be possible only through an act of Parliament.

In 2001, the movement for separate Telangana state was reignited by K Chandrashekar Rao by floating a political outfit  Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Soon, the movement gained momentum and KCR, as the TRS chief is called, received massive support from the people, which was reflected in the local body elections and later in the 2004 assembly elections.

Though the Congress-led UPA government included the Telangana state formation in its common minimum programme, it could not take any decision due to stiff resistance from the Congress leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions; particularly from then chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR).

KCR, who was part of the UPA, came out of it and intensified the movement. On the political front, he mobilised support from various national and regional parties across the country to build up a consensus on separate Telangana. But YSR had put his foot down firmly to prevent the bifurcation of the combined state.

It was only after the untimely demise of YSR in a chopper crash in September 2009, the Telangana movement regained its momentum. This was the last phase of the agitation, which began with the fast unto death by KCR in November 2009, forcing the UPA government to make an announcement on December 9, 2009, on the commencement of the process for separate Telangana state.

This triggered revolt from Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders, who resigned en masse to stop the bifurcation. As a result, there was a massive outrage in Telangana region and the people from all walks of life joined the movement under the auspices of Telangana Joint Action Committee headed by M Kodandaram.

They brought the administration to a standstill with their 42-day long Sakala Janula Samme (All peoples strike). A protest rally in the name of million march held on Tank Bund turned violent. This phase of agitation also witnessed more than 400 youngsters dying by suicide out of frustration over the delay in the formation of the state.

Finally, the Congress government at the Centre conceded the demand for the separate state and introduced the bill in Parliament in February, 2014. There were acrimonious protests from Andhra leaders, who even resorted to releasing pepper spray in the Lok Sabha to prevent the passage of the bill, but couldnt stop it.

On June 2, 2014, which was the appointed day for bifurcation, the Telangana state came into existence amidst massive celebrations across the region.

What Telangana gained

The slogan on which Telangana movement thrived was  Neellu, Nidhulu, Niyaamakalu (water, funds and recruitments), in which Telangana was allegedly facing discrimination from Andhra rulers.

So, when KCR took over as the first chief minister of Telangana after winning the assembly elections in 2014, these three issues were on the top of the agenda of the TRS (now, renamed as Bharat Rashtra Samithi or BRS) government.

Popular Telangana activist and former chairman of Telangana state public service commission (TSPSC) Ghanta Chakrapani says the biggest gain from the Telangana state formation was to gain its own identity. The people of Telangana came out of the shadow of Andhras and proved their identity and their unique culture. The entire country now acknowledges Telangana as the most progressive state, he said.

Secondly, after separation, Telangana was able to utilise its resources for itself, unlike in the past when Telangana resources were diverted to Andhra. The revenue generated within Telangana was spent on its own needs, rather than elsewhere. As a result, it could grow into one of the revenue-surplus states, Chakrapani said.

Thirdly, Telangana was able to utilise its water resources to a large extent. Whether it was the Kaleshwaram project or Mission Kakatiya (revival of old tank irrigation), the optimum utilisation of water resources resulted in increase of paddy production from 4.57 million metric tonnes in 2015 to over 20 million metric tonnes in 2023. Every village was able to get potable drinking water through Mission Bhagiratha scheme, he said.

In the last 10 years, Telanganas economy grew by three-fold with Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) registering a growth of 155.71%, which was among the best in the country, according to official figures. So was the per capita income of the state which grew at an average rate of 12.1% in comparison to Indias average PCI growth rate of 9.2%.

The state also witnessed rapid growth in industrial and I-T sectors with several top industrial houses like Tatas and Mahindras establishing their units in the manufacturing sector, while I-T giants like Amazon, IMB, Google and Apple setting up their offices in Hyderabad. The I-T exports registered a four-fold growth in the last 10 years.

At the time of formation of Telangana, there were apprehensions that the Telangana leaders might be lacking administrative skills and there would be flight of capital from Hyderabad to Andhra and other states. But it proved otherwise, Chakrapani pointed out.

However, with regard to the third aspect of providing employment opportunities to the young population, the KCR government did not achieve much progress. Though around 150,000 posts were filled up, they could not match up to the growing unemployment.

The education sector also did not achieve much progress to the extent it was expected to be. Particularly, the higher education sector was grossly neglected. There were no attempts to enhance the skills of the educated population. So is the case with the health sector, which was neglected.

Similarly, there was no improvement in the living standards of the underprivileged sections, though some welfare schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Dalit Bandhu, Kalyanamasthu, Shadi Mubarak etc, were introduced but they did not bring about radical changes in the social sector, Chakrapani said.

Kodandaram, who spearheaded the last phase of the Telangana movement, said the BRS government had belied the expectations of the people. We fought for heralding a democratic state, but what we witnessed in the last 10 years was a dictatorial regime. So, the people had to wage a battle again to liberate themselves from this anarchic rule, he said.

He said KCR began treating Telangana as his own fiefdom and destroyed its democratic structure. BRS had become a family party with KCRs son KT Rama Rao, daughter K Kavitha and nephews T Harish Rao and J Santosh Kumar dominating the party and the government. As a result, the people got fed-up and defeated the party in the recent elections, he said.

He said the basic needs of common man in Telangana were yet to be fulfilled. Though the BRS claimed to have improved the economy of the state, the fruits havent reached the people, as KCRs family looted the booty, Kodandaram alleged, adding that there was a need to rebuild Telangana all over again.

Senior journalist and Telangana activist Pasham Yadagiri said the so-called progress made by the state in the last 10 years was a myth. The state has been pushed into a debt trap with over 7 lakh crore outstanding loans and there were no jobs for the youngsters.

KCR ruled the state like a typical feudal lord and was inaccessible to the common man. Only his family gained the benefits of the separate state, he said.

Unresolved issues with AP

Even after 10 years of bifurcation, there are several contentious issues that remain unresolved between the two Telugu states. Both the states are battling it in the tribunals over sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters.

Division of several assets as enumerated in Schedules 9 and 10 of AP Reorganisation Act, still remains a contentious issue. While Schedule 9 talked about the division of State Public Sector Units, Schedule 10 listed out training institutes that are required to be shared between the two states. Out of 91 PSUs, the division of 22 PSUs still remains unresolved.

There is also a long-pending dispute between Telangana and Andhra over payment of electricity dues. Andhra Pradesh is demanding that Telangana pay the dues to the tune of 7,000 crore for the power that it supplied to Telangana.

Though the bifurcation act says that the government properties would be shared between the two states in as-is-where-is condition, Andhra Pradesh is still demanding a legitimate share in the value of lands and buildings located in Hyderabad.

Geographically divided, emotionally united

Though the two Telugu states were divided geographically, the emotional bonding between the people on either side remains intact.

In fact, the people of the Telugu states were always united and it was the political leaders who created the wedge between them for their selfish political gains. Now that the two states are separated, they have no axe to grind at each other, said political analyst and author Ramesh Kandula.

He said in fact, the people of Andhra and Telangana have come closer than they were before the bifurcation of the state. The flow of investments from Andhra have been on the rise in the last 10 years and so is the migration of Andhra people to Hyderabad for education and employment purposes.

The craze for Andhra cuisine has gone up more in Telangana and one can see more Andhra restaurants at every nook and corner of Hyderabad and parts of Telangana. Similarly, one can find Hyderabad Biryani outlets and Haleem centres in Andhra, pointed out B Rajasekhar, a software engineer from Visakhapatnam, working in Hyderabad.

The cultural assimilation between the two states is also evident from the way films made on Telangana lifestyle and culture like Balagam have become big hit in Andhra, while Andhra-made films do brisk business in Telangana.

The fact that Andhra-born music director MM Keeravani is composing the new Telangana anthem  Jaya Jayahe Telangana, is a classic example of the cultural bonding between the two Telugu states, Kandula added.
Bhubaneshwar: A polling official and an elderly voter died as voting began for the final phase of 42 Assembly seats and six Lok Sabha seats in Odisha as 22.64% of the 9.96 million (99.6 lakh) voters exercised their franchise till 11am, officials aware of the matter said on Saturday. According to the data from the election commission, 37.64% voter turnout was recorded till 1pm (Representative Photo)

According to the data from the election commission, 37.64% voter turnout was recorded till 1pm.

According to officials, booth-level officer Manoranjan Sahu passed away in Fatehpur in the Binjharpur Assembly constituency minutes after he felt pain in his chest. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Also Read: Lok Sabha elections phase 7: 57 seats vote in last leg of mega 2024 battle | 10 points

Similarly, an elderly voter identified as Surendra Mohanty passed away in booth no 159 of Ishwarpur gram panchayat of Nilagiri Assembly constituency in Balasore district, said officials.

Officials said intense heat and high humidity were proving to be a problem in coastal districts as many voters complained of uneasiness while standing in the queue for voting.

As many as 41 people, including 12 in the steel city of Rourkela, died of suspected heatstroke in the last 24 hours as an unprecedented heatwave swept the state on Thursday. More than 60 people have been hospitalised since Thursday in several parts of western Odisha due to heat stress.

Of the 9.61 million voters, the highest in any phase, around 5.88 million (50.88 lakh) are men, 4.87 (48.72 lakh) are women and 687 third-gender electors. The electors are casting their votes across 10,882 booths to decide the fate of 460 candidates contesting in the fourth and final round of simultaneous elections in the state.

Voting began at 7am on Saturday in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seats, along with the 42 assembly segments that constitute these parliamentary constituencies.

Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) former leader and former Union minister Pratap Sarangi, national vice-president Baijayant Panda, Ruling Biju Janata Dals (BJD) Sudam Marndi, Lekhashri Samantsinghar, Congress Srikant Jena and Jharkhand Mukti Morchas (JMM) Anjani Soren some of the prominent candidates are in fary among the 66 Lok Sabha candidates.

In the Assembly polls, BJDs ministers Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Preetiranjan Ghadei, BJP state president Manmohan Samal and Congress former state president Niranjan Patnaik are some of the top contestants in the fray among the 394 candidates in the Assembly elections.

Around 70,000 polling personnel are engaged for the smooth conduct of the elections in 10,882 booths. To maintain law and order, around 126 companies of the Central Armed Police Force have been deployed.

Also Read: 85 die of heat stress as mercury soars

Meanwhile, pre-poll violence and incidences of cash distribution continued to rock Odisha. A clash erupted between the BJD and the BJP workers over cash distribution at Bhutamundai village in Paradip assembly constituency, officials said.

A complaint against incumbent BJD MLA from Paradip, Sambit Routray, was logged by the BJP, alleging he was threatening to assault its party workers. In the Remuna Assembly constituency, the flying squad of the election commission of India on Friday night seized cash of Rs.1.18 lakh allegedly from several women Self Help Group (SHG) members who were distributing money in the Mission Shakti building on the premises of Remuna block in Balasore district.
People wait in queues to cast their votes at a polling station during the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Bihar's Kaimur district, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Uttar Pradesh exit poll 2024 Highlights: Exit poll results released by news channels on Saturday evening showed that the BJP-led NDA is likely to sweep Uttar Pradesh, winning at least 65 out of 80 Lok Sabha seat in the state, while the opposition INDIA bloc (SP-Congress in Uttar Pradesh) to take the remaining ones....Read More

Click for live exit poll results for Lok Sabha elections 2024

Through an exit poll, survey agencies try to gauge which way an election is headed, and predict which party or alliance is likely to win how many seats. However, exit polls have often gone wrong; therefore, these must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Uttar Pradesh, the countrys most populous state, sends 80 members to the 543-seat Lok Sabha, the highest among all states and Union territories. Here, too, the electoral battle was between the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc. The BJP contested 75 seats and gave five to its smaller allies. From the INDIA group, Samajwadi Party contested 62 seats, Congress 17 seats, and one seat went to the Trinamool Congress.

Some of the countrys most high-profile constituencies are in Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi (Narendra Modi), Lucknow (Rajnath Singh), Amethi (Smriti Irani), Rae Bareli (Rahul Gandhi), Kannauj (Akhilesh Yadav), and more. Another high-profile constituency is Gorakhpur, which gave BJPs Yogi Adityanath five straight Lok Sabha terms, before he vacated the seat in March 2017 to take over as the states chief minister.

In the 2014 national polls in Uttar Pradesh, the NDA won 73 seats (BJP: 71, Apna Dal: two) and 64 (BJP: 62, Apna Dal: two) in 2019.
West Bengal Exit Poll highlights: This poll is crucial for West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee to mark her dominance in Centre's politics.

West Bengal Exit Poll highlights: West Bengal voted in seven phases to elect 42 members of parliament. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) aims to repeat its 2021 Assembly election success and not repeat the 2019 parliamentary elections results when the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 18 seats. Follow- Exit Poll 2024 LIVE...Read More

The high-stakes campaign has seen intense attacks among the TMC, BJP, and the Left-Congress alliance.

Follow- Lok Sabha elections 2024 all updates

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 result: West Bengal

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 18 seats, the AITC (TMC) won 22 seats, and the INC won 2 seats.

West Bengal Exit Poll: Check time

Exit poll results started airing on various TV channels after voting ended on June 1. The Election Commission has banned exit polls from 7 am on April 19 to 6:30 pm on June 1, until polling concludes.

ALSO READ- Exit polls 2024: A look back at how accurate they were in 2019, 2014
The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to upset the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in West Bengal as NDTV-Jan Ki Baat exit poll has predicted between 21 and 26 seats for the saffron party and 16-18 for the TMC in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, voting for which was concluded on Saturday, June 1. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (ANI photo)

India News-D-Dynamics also gave 21 seats to the BJP and 19 to the Trinamool Congress, while Republic Bharat-Matrize has predicted between 21 and 25 seats for the BJP. It predicted between 16 and 20 seats for Mamata Banerjee's party in the state.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP' had won 18 of Bengal's 42 seats, while the Trinamool Congress bagged 22 seats.

Meanwhile, Republic Bangla has predicted a reversal of 2019, giving the BJP 22 seats and the Trinamool 18.

These pollsters predicted that the Congress will, at best, equal its performance in 2019, when it had won two seats. Jan Ki Baat has predicted 0-2 seats for the Congress, the figure given by India News-D-Dynamics is two and Republic Bharat-Matrize has predicted between 0 and 1. Republic Bangla exit poll says the party will fail to open its account in Bengal.

Some exit polls predict NDA majority in LS elections

Early exit polls predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA, with the ruling alliance projected to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sweep Karnataka.

The Republic TV-P Marq poll claimed that the ruling alliance will win up to 359 seats and the opposition INDIA bloc will bag 154 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The Republic TV-Matrize poll gave 353-368 seats to the NDA and 118-133 seats to the opposition.

The Jan Ki Baat poll gave 362-392 seats to the ruling NDA and 141-161 to the opposition alliance.

The Election Commission of India will count votes polled in electronic voting machines (EVMs) on June 4 and results will be announced on the same day.

A victory for Modi, 73, will make him only the second prime minister after independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive terms.
India hosted the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ACTM) from May 20 to 30 in Kochi, Kerala in which over 400 delegates from 56 countries including diplomats, scientists and experts came together to discuss the affairs of Antarctica such as science, policy, governance etc. On the sidelines of the conference, Vishnu Varma caught up with Thamban Meloth, the director of National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), to discuss Indias research activities in the cold continent and the impact of climate change. Edited excerpts: Thamban Meloth, the director of National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) discusses Indias research activities in the cold continent and the impact of climate change (PTI)

How important is holding the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) which is now in its 46th edition?

For the continent of Antarctica, this is the only body that can define its governance procedures, create the rules for it and consider the activities to be carried out there. Everything requires the approval of the ATCM parties and this meeting is the only place where everything is decided. So this annual affair is extremely important because its all about governance, policies, law, procedures and operations etc. Its always only hosted by each of the 29 consultative parties which in turn have the powers of governance. India is one of them. The host is chosen in alphabetical order and the next host country will be Italy.

With India hosting the conference this year, what was on the agenda?

This year, we are continuing (discussions) with a strong focus on the tourism in Antarctica and how it has been increasing a lot of late, especially adventure tourism, which has safety implications. So therefore, its important. This ATCM is a milestone because we have a new working group dedicated to development of a framework for tourism activities. That means, we will come up with regulatory mechanisms on how to control and manage tourism activities in Antarctica. The working group will continue for a couple of years to come up with the framework. It will have its own decisions, resolutions and an Annex like fixing liabililty as to who will be responsible for what. The idea is that in the next 3-4 years, we should have the complete framework ready.

What is the nature of Indias current research activities in Antarctica?

India began its activities in Antarctica way back in 1981. We have come a long way from having a small station called Dakshin Gangotri in 1983. Then we had another station Maitri in 1988. Dakshin Gangotri doesnt exist anymore. We built another station Bharati, around 3000 kms away. The stations are platforms for scientists to stay and conduct experiments and create observatories. India is carrying out research related to climate change and its impact on the continent and how it will affect tropical countries like India where monsoons are the dominant climate systems. So thats an important theme. Secondly, we also study how life evolved in extreme conditions and how they adapt and survive. We try to study the large amount of ice deposited in Antarctica as it provides a way to study climate and whats going to happen to the ice in future. Extreme weather is also being reported in Antarctica which was unheard in the past. For example, in March 2022, when its winter there, there was a situation where one particular station, where the temperature should have been minus 60 degrees celsius, actually recorded around minus 11 degrees celsius. That was because of a weather system called Atmospheric River. Its a long system carrying warm moisture from Indian Ocean and Atlantic region and travelling thousands of kilometres. When such a system reaches a dry place like Antarctica, within one day, it can cause changes in temperature as well as precipitation like rain or snow depending on the temperature. This has been increasing of late and an important area of study to understand how extreme weather from rest of world is affecting Antarctica. Some of the NCPOR studies clearly show that some of the extreme weather in central India and north India had a strong connection to Arctic and the Arctic sea ice. Some studies also show that whats happening in Antarctica could be having an impact on a place like India. Its important to understand what happens in Antarctica doesnt stay there and it reaches all over the world affecting climate, sea levels and our lives. Climate change has a defining impact on food security as well.

With extreme weather events like cloudbursts now becoming more common and inflicting massive damage within a localised area, do you think there should be more policy-making on climate change at the grassroot panchayat level in India?

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has agreed that we need panchayat level stations to study (extreme weather events). The situation has changed so fast. We have these convective clouds which can suddenly trigger cloudburst. We need to have investment in a large scale to establish observation systems at localised levels. A state like Kerala is still much more educated about understanding the impact. People at ward level and panchayat level are serious about it. The rest of the country still are yet to understand properly because when you experience, you learn about it. The government is very clear about policy making. We have an Indian Arctic policy in 2022 and India Antarctic Act in 2023. It is up to us to study further and how the monsoon forecast can be improved. We would require a dense network of observatory systems and modelling which can go to a high resolution at the local level. Unlike any weather system, monsoon climate system is the most difficult to predict anywhere in the world. The tropical region is highly dynamic.
With all the excitement and joy around Payal Kapadia winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, for All We Imagine as Light, I decided to look back at Chetan Anands Neecha Nagar (1946).

It won what was then the Grand Prix, and would today be more or less the equivalent of the Palme dOr, at the first edition of this festival, in 1946. And while it is a matter of gratification that India won this prestigious prize 78 years ago, the story of what exactly happened is a little complicated.

The French first thought of setting up an international film festival in time for 1940. Then World War 2 broke out, so it was only in 1946 that the first edition of the festival could be held, at Cannes. Nineteen countries submitted films in competition. Every nation represented left with a Grand Prix and this first Festival finished on a unanimous note of success, the festival website states. (IMDb lists 11 winners, so perhaps some countries had more than one film in competition.)

Anand won the Grand Prix alongside greats such as Billy Wilder, Roberto Rossellini and David Lean. It was certainly an honour, but not quite the Cannes awards as we know them today.

Which doesnt take anything away from the film; it just interests me how facts live on, but context fades away.

Neecha Nagar, loosely based on the Russian writer Maxim Gorkys 1902 play, The Lower Depths, is an uplifting story of an impoverished communitys battle for justice. Sarkar is a greedy, corrupt industrialist-builder who lives in Ooncha Nagar and wants to divert a ganda nallah (dirty drain) from a swampy area into Neecha Nagar.

He has plans for a lucrative housing project once the swampland is cleared. In his sharp double-breasted suit, smoking a cigar, the imposing actor Rafi Peer plays the role with a smug, mocking air of thuggish power. The Neecha Nagar villagers launch a spirited protest under the inspirational leadership of a college-educated, kurta-pyjama-clad young man named Balraj (Rafiq Anwar). After many hardships and heart-wrenching sacrifices, the villagers ultimately prevail.

The film was made at a time when socialist and leftist ideas dominated intellectual and creative thought. Anand, originally from Lahore, had come to Bombay to work in films. His home in Bandra soon became a meeting point for painters, writers, dancers, poets, musicians and budding filmmakers, some of whom went on to found the influential Indian Peoples Theatre Association (IPTA), a leftist organisation that served as a nursery of talent.

Neecha Nagar was written by Hayatullah Ansari, who was influenced by leftist progressive writers and later by Gandhian ideals. He was editor of the Urdu newspaper Qaumi Awaz for several years. Though leftist writer Khwaja Ahmad Abbas is invariably referred to as co-writer of the film, there is no mention of him in the Neecha Nagar credits, nor in the films credits as cited on the Cannes festival website, nor on IMDb. So Im a little puzzled as to how his name keeps cropping up.

Neecha Nagar is quite clearly a metaphor for British rule in India.

It is a well-told, moving tale of oppression and protest, with some arresting visuals. There are stark close-ups of the filthy drain as it snakes its way through the poorer neighbourhood, oozing thick sludge, full of litter, a magnet for vultures.

When Sarkar then cuts off water supply to the village, causing disease and death, there is the unforgettable scene in which a thirsty boy sits at the edge of the drain, and eventually drinks from it.

The film contains intense close-ups of villagers stoic faces, as they face calamity after calamity. The climactic sequence is particularly stirring, as men and women hold up mashals (lit torches) and sing the rousing song Hum Rukenge Bhi Nahin, as they march in protest. Sometimes they are visible only as flickering specks on a black screen. And there is that inspired moment when the mashals seem to form a rough map of India.

The film has many interesting firsts to its name. It was Anands directorial debut. It was actress Kamini Kaushals first film (she plays Balrajs sister). It was the first film for which Ravi Shankar composed the music (he would go on to compose for many more).

Balrajs love interest Maya, Sarkars daughter, is played by the directors wife Uma Anand; it was her only screen appearance. Actress, dancer and choreographer Zohra Sehgal too appeared on the screen for the first time, in a small role; she choreographed the films graceful, sinuous dance numbers, of course.

Unfortunately for Chetan Anand, despite the Cannes award, Neecha Nagar didnt make any waves in India. It was only later, with films such as Taxi Driver (1954, starring his younger brother Dev Anand), Haqeeqat (1964) and Hanste Zakhm (1973) that he found success.

(To reach Poonam Saxena with feedback, email poonamsaxena3555@gmail.com)
Much of the poetry published in Sri Lanka has never made it out of the country.

This is how it tends to be for poetry; print runs are small, and audiences, local. But here are powerful stories of a nation in ceaseless turmoil; of island-denuding tsunamis and civil war.

I hear there isnt much art / In the bombing of Jaffna... in the old man on a bicycle / fleeing his burning compound, writes Indran Amirthanayagam, in Not Much Art (2001).

Subtle verses of resistance seek to defend the power of the word, as in Illavalai Wijayendras 1990 Tamil work, To Those Who Bear Sticks, translated by Shash Trevett in 2022: But my words remain upright / They beat and subdue yours / Having lost to my words / you return bearing sticks.

Poets act as curators, archivists and preservers of language itself, as in the case of Tamil in Sri Lanka, says Trevett, 49, a poet whose family moved to the UK when she was 13, to escape the civil war. This power is part of what prompted three poets with roots in that country  Trevett, Vidyan Ravinthiran, 40, and Seni Seneviratne, 73  to compile an anthology of Sri Lankan verse.

Shash Trevett.

Out of Sri Lanka (Penguin India) features work by over 100 writers, some written in English and some translated from the Tamil and Sinhala. The poems date from 1948 and 2022, written by poets in Sri Lanka and with roots there but now living around the world.

This anthology represents a human rights intervention, it is  discussing a country afflicted with amnesia, in denial of its past  a matter of putting things on record, the editors write, in their introduction.

This is a book for those who love Sri Lanka, miss their home, or remain within it, says Trevett. Many young poets are writing in interesting ways, merging Sinhala, Tamil and English, for instance, in ways that seek to break down barriers. Then there are poets from the diaspora writing of generational trauma so powerfully that we wanted readers in Sri Lanka to see their work.

.

Excerpts from an interview with Trevett, on behalf of the trio.

What does the poetry of this time frame, 1948 to 2022, represent?

Poets in the early years of that period were pioneering free verse and breaking free from the constraints of colonialism. These concerns are reflected in their work.

Before the civil war, the Tamil poets main complaint was the caste system. Sinhala poets write about the sadness of families split apart as women sought employment as domestic workers in the Middle-East or South-East Asia. Then the civil war engaged the Tamil poets from the 1980s onwards. Exile and dislocation became prominent themes for Tamil poets fleeing the war and for Sinhala poets who faced the challenges of migrating to a new country.

The constraints of building a life as a second-generation immigrant are dealt with very skilfully by poets of the diaspora. They write engagingly about occupying a third space, belonging neither here nor there, and what that does to their sense of self.

The introduction touches upon the stark difference between the lives and work of Tamil and Sinhala writers. How has this changed?

During the civil war, Tamil poets wrote about what was happening around them: Death, destruction, subjugation. The Sinhala poets largely did not mention the war. They were writing about falling in love, travelling, emigrating.

The Tamil poets of the 1980s and 90s felt greatly let down by this absence of solidarity. The Sinhala poets did speak out against the states brutality in quashing the Marxist uprisings of the 1970s and 80s, in the south. But the separate zones of interest seem to have been clearly marked during the civil war.

Nowadays Sinhala and Tamil poets are translating each others work, doing readings together and forging a new republic of letters. There is so much hope resting on these young poets.

Were there any regrets about the final selection?

A big regret is that we failed to represent the Malayaha Tamils from the Hill Country. We struggled to find any good translations of their poetry. They face so much discrimination in Sri Lanka, I only hope that someone else will shine a spotlight on their work very soon.

Sometimes we have also had to leave out a big name because of poor or inadequate translation. I hope that efforts are made to elevate the art of translation in Sri Lanka. With so many poets speaking all three languages, translations between the three should be a thriving art.

What do you hope people will take away from the collection?

I think we were driven by a wish to show that the island was so much more than palm trees and golden beaches. We discovered young poets who, in a post-war Sri Lanka, were tackling corruption, dislocation, sexual and identity politics, alongside age-old preoccupations with family life or love.

I think we were all often delighted by what we read, sometimes sobered, sometimes upset. Almost every poem we included in the book evinced some sort of reaction from us and we hope that they will similarly strike the reader.

With more translations, at least of prose, and more attention paid globally to literature of the subcontinent, do you think Sri Lanka is finally starting to get the attention it deserves?

Poetry out of Sri Lanka still has a long way to go before it can compete equally with, say, India, on the global stage. I would love for many of the poets we feature to become better-known in the UK.

The 2022 Booker Prize for Shehan Karunatilaka has raised the profile of Sri Lankan literature. VV Ganeshananthan, whose work is included in our anthology, is also being lauded at the moment, for her 2023 novel, Brotherless Night.

Poetry is not as widely read as prose, but we hope that readers around the world will be interested enough to pick up this book and dip into it. And this is just the beginning. We hope that others will build on, and extend, our work.
The desert was unbelievably red with chilli-powder sand, as a young man in our group put it. Like most of us, I had thought that the Thar desert held the only dunes in India. So I was thrilled to come upon this weird beauty in my own backyard, near Tirunelveli in southern Tamil Nadu. The water-guzzling Prosopis juliflora is invading parts of the region, while in the desert trees such as neem and cashew are being planted. (Photo by Mridula Ramesh)

Teri Kaadu (Waste Forest, as the locals called it) is spread over 500 sq km and is a vast expanse of undulating red sands that are constantly shifting with the southwest winds. Based on their location, they are further classified into the Inland (next to the Western Ghats), Near Coastal and Coastal (which occur up to 15 km from the coast) Teri.

How did this desert come to be? Our local guide told us these sands had been carried here by the winds from further inland. I later learnt that the real story is far more layered.

Jayangonda Perumal, scientist and professor at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, who studied and dated these sands, says the desert came into being thousands of years ago. About 20,000 years ago, during the last glacial maxima, sea levels were about 100 metres lower than they are today. This exposed the sea shelf, a rich source of sand and sediment. The winds of the retreating monsoon blowing diagonally from the Bay of Bengal into the eastern coast of India, carried the sands from the sea shelf here, to create the dunes.

Then, the climate changed. The winter monsoon began to strengthen about 15,000 years ago, and the rivers powered by this monsoon began carrying more silt down from the nearby mountains, shaping the land into what is today the Inland Teri. Nearer the coast, the stronger monsoon winds were depositing sands from the sea, and so, fed by sand from river and sea, the dunes grew.

Peacock tracks in the sand by the river. (Photo by Mridula Ramesh)

Then, between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago, the summer monsoon became more powerful and sea levels began to rise. During this period of fluctuating arid and humid climate, the coastal dunes began to take the shape they bear today, and began to redden as the iron-rich heavy minerals in the sand were leached by streams, rainwater and groundwater, and then oxidised. Perumal says the fluctuating climate played a key role in the relative rapidity of the reddening.

Clearly, when we understand the whispers of the sands, we begin to understand our own past.

Less than 15 km northwest of the red desert, on the banks of the river Thamirabarani, lies the Iron Age megalithic site of Adichanallur. Excavations led by German antiquarian Friedrich Jagor in 1876 found burial urns containing skeletons and a considerable number of iron weapons and implements here, which he of course carted away to Berlin. More than a century later, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under T Sathyamurthy, then superintending archaeologist of the Chennai Circle, discovered over 80 skeletons at the site. Dating these skeletons showed that Adichanallur was at least 3,000 years old. The latest excavation by T Arun Raj, director of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology in Noida, found 91 burial urns along with gold ornaments, copper utensils and a horde of iron weapons.

Burial urns dated to 1400 BCE have been found at the megalithic site of Adichanallur, on the banks of the Thamirabarani river (below). The remains represent a range of races; perhaps this was a burial ground for foreigners? (Photo by Mridula Ramesh)

(Photo by Mridula Ramesh)

Raj says that, using the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry method, rice and millet husks recovered from the urns were dated to 1400 BCE. With less than 2% of the site excavated, Adichanallur has more secrets to share. Already, many have remarked on the multi-racial profile of the skulls: some were Caucasoid, others Negroid, and many of possible Mongoloid origin. Was this then a burial ground for foreigners?

Korkai, an unremarkable village today, lies 20 km east of the burial urns and about 7 km from the present-day seashore. But historians believe that it could be the Kolkhoi of Greek records, a bustling centre of world trade. Indeed, the Greeks referred to the Gulf of Mannar as the Kolkhic Gulf. More evidence comes from Sangam-era poetry, written 2,000 years ago, which compares Korkais famous pearls with the teeth of a beautiful woman.

How did a bustling city become an unremarkable village? A study of satellite imagery reveals that the river has shifted south repeatedly. Indeed, it poured so much silt (oh the trade-off between agricultural productivity and port operations!) into this area that it literally pushed the sea back. The past two millennia have seen lands end move forward by several km. And so, over centuries, Korkai became landlocked and trade shifted to Kayal, about 8 km to the south-east.

By the time Marco Polo came calling in the 13th century, Cail was a great and noble city, a port of call for ships from Hormuz, Aden and Arabia. Here, no horses are bred, he wrote. And so, he added, the wealth of the country is spent in importing about 2,000 horses a year. Indeed, on the wall of the nearby temple of Tirukurungudi is a frieze that shows horses and camels being traded.

On the wall of the temple of Tirukurungudi near Kayal is a frieze that shows horses and camels being traded.

Alas, the silt (thamirabarani is literally copper-coloured river)! The sea was pushed away from Kayal too. European traders shifted base to the more stable Tuticorin, 22 km to the north.

Climate, working through sand and water, has always shaped our story. Ancient Indians understood this, and built structures that accounted for the flow of sand and water. There is a still-functioning horseshoe-shaped check dam in one of the rivers of the region, that takes advantage of the rivers shape, seasonal water flow and sedimentation patterns, and feeds the tanks of this dry land. Today, we try to reshape sand and water through colonially inspired dams with mixed success. Consider the fate of the Sundarbans delta where the sea is overtaking land because, among other things, there is not enough silt coming through, in part due to the many dams and barrages on the rivers feeding the delta.

The colonial frenzy to reshape is ubiquitous in the region today. The Teri is being lost, in part to trees being planted on it. The Gazetteer lauds the efforts of then collector EB Thomas, who as early as 1848 was planting palm trees here, to prevent the Teri from spreading. Parts of it became a forest reserve. When we visited, we saw neem and cashew being planted, with an occasional palm peeking through.

The children in our group, as children are wont to do, began digging in the sand, and soon, red gave way to black; just a few inches below the surface, the sand became hotter and wetter. Indeed, the Gazetteer notes that the sands have a curious habit of trapping rainfall and channelling it downstream. If trees are planted here, what will happen to the farmers growing paddy and banana in those otherwise dry, downstream regions?

In my last column, I wrote of how the Gujarat government turned to the Prosopis juliflora in the 1960s, to hold back the Rann. At what point does the cure become worse than the disease?

Today, the regions dry landscape is overrun by the water-guzzling invasive, P. juliflora. This land has little water to spare, and going by studies based on satellite imagery, the extent of waste land in the Thamirabarani basin has increased. In the rivers mouth, the mangroves are also suffering. Globally, pollution, salt pans and shrimp farms are threatening mangrove forests, and the Punnakayal (or New Kayal) mangroves are no exception.

Last December, the district received more than its annual quota of rain in a matter of days, a potent reminder that the climate is changing. Hundreds of tanks, some poorly maintained, breached their borders, their waters adding to the chaos. My textile factory, located in this district  this region is the land of my forefathers  flooded for the first time since its inception more than 60 years ago.

We had to travel to the Punnakayal beach by boat because the bridge connecting the beach with the mainland had been washed away in the deadly floods. Once there, our group went beachcombing. And while there were shells aplenty, I remember visiting these beaches as a child, and the shells being much bigger. Was that just nostalgic memory or was it because the ocean had acidified? Yet another fingerprint of rising carbon-dioxide levels?

The red sands and the forgotten ports are reminders of how climate has rewritten our story in the past. The climate is changing again, even as we weaken natural and traditional defences such as mangroves, hardy local shrubs, anicuts and tanks.

But my sense is that our bigger weakness in our battle with climate change is apathy. We look to faraway polar bears and water crises in other cities to drum up support for climate action, but neglect what is happening in our backyard.

In all my years here, I had never visited the Teri Kaadu or Adichanallur, nor appreciated their true meaning. Standing amid the red sands, I was reminded of the poetry of the great Vaishnavite seer Nammalvar, whose final resting place was next door to our hotel (it has his verse tastefully inscribed on its walls). Born blind, deaf and mute, the story goes that he crawled into a nook in a tamarind tree, as a child, and waited for the gods to appear. As they did, he sang:

The two big worlds are within you, /

You hold the Chakra in your hand. /

Unbeknownst to me, you have entered into me /

You live within me, so who is bigger? You or me? /

Who can even tell?

Nammalvar was reminding us that the truth we seek lies within. There are Adichanallurs and Teris in your part of the world, waiting to be discovered and to inspire. Waiting even as they fade.

(Mridula Ramesh is a climate-tech investor and author of The Climate Solution and Watershed)
Globally, asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases that affects 300 million people across the world and is expected to increase by 100 million by 2025. Exposure to triggers like outdoor pollution, viruses, pollen and other environmental factors increases the risk of new onset asthma and asthma-related outcomes. Heatwave can trigger severe allergic asthma: Precautions to take. (Photo by Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times)

Interestingly, apart from environmental pollutants, studies have found a strong correlation between extreme temperatures and allergic asthma. Studies have found that extreme heat poses a considerable impact on asthma and may pose as an important trigger.

Extreme heat and asthma: Understanding the connection

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vijay Warad, Consultant Allergist at Sahyadri Hospital in Pune, explained, Extreme heat leads to fluid loss in the body, which impacts the blood circulation in the body including to the lungs. Since the pulmonary function is impacted due to heat, asthma patients may witness an attack and breathlessness. Moreover, the extreme heat and humid weather conditions can increase the levels of the air pollutants, mites and common allergens leading to increase asthma attack. There has been a strong correlation where higher ambient carbon-dioxide concentrations and warmer temperatures results in increased pollen production, especially in the urban areas.

He elaborated, These particles in the air can irritate sensitive airways and can lead to allergic asthma. Experts predict worsening heatwaves in the near future and significant increase in allergic asthma cases. As temperatures increase, dust particles also increase with increasing potency of allergens. Due to global warming, pollen seasons are extended. During winter again, due to smog, these pollens present in the air are trapped down, alongwith vehicle exhaust, dust and construction dust. Talking about rural areas, because of pesticides overuse these pollen potency has increased.

Precautions to be taken

With such extreme heat conditions in major cities of India, Dr Vijay Warad suggested some precautions that one should consider -

Stay hydrated: To avoid body fluid loss, one must stay hydrated and ensure blood circulation and maintain pulmonary function

To avoid body fluid loss, one must stay hydrated and ensure blood circulation and maintain pulmonary function Stay indoors as far as possible, to avoid outdoor pollution: One must stay indoors as far as possible. In case need be, proper precautions need to be taken while travelling outside and avoid travelling out between 11 am to 3 pm when the weather condition are extreme.

One must stay indoors as far as possible. In case need be, proper precautions need to be taken while travelling outside and avoid travelling out between 11 am to 3 pm when the weather condition are extreme. If indoors, keep windows closed to avoid exposure to pollution: It is not that only outdoor pollution affects asthma. If one stays indoors, proper precautions like keeping windows closed, using air humidifiers and air conditioners is recommended.

It is not that only outdoor pollution affects asthma. If one stays indoors, proper precautions like keeping windows closed, using air humidifiers and air conditioners is recommended. Monitor asthma symptoms: Apart from precautions, one must be aware of asthma symptoms like breathlessness, chest tightness, irritation in the nasal pathways etc

Apart from precautions, one must be aware of asthma symptoms like breathlessness, chest tightness, irritation in the nasal pathways etc Proper dust and pollen filter mask to be used. Even car air conditioner should have pollen filters to avoid exposure.

Even car air conditioner should have pollen filters to avoid exposure. Be aware of weather forecast, information on seasonal variations and aeroallergens levels in environment and plan your schedule accordingly: One must be aware of the weather forecast for the city and plan their schedule accordingly. Avoid heatwave alert days and orange/ red alert days to prevent complications.

By following these precautions, one can manage their allergies better and prevent triggers that cause allergic asthma. Heatwave and extreme conditions increase the chances of allergic asthma. It is important to talk to your doctor in case any symptoms persist and manage the condition with right measures.
Five Southern African countries on Friday committed to expanding the use of a special common visa to allow easier movement of tourists as the region seeks to boost arrivals. Southern Africa to expand special tourist visa for easier travel across 5 countries (Photo by Twitter/LetsTravelEarth)

Officials from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries that make up the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, pledged in principle to broaden use of the special visa, called a univisa, which allows entry into multiple countries.

The univisa is currently used in Zambia and Zimbabwe and covers day trips to Botswana through Kazungula.

Regional leaders attending a KAZA heads of state summit in Livingstone, Zambia, said they want the special visa extended to other states in the conservation area as well as the southern African economic bloc.

"We must simply say that this will happen," Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said in his address. "I am grateful that my colleagues have reached consensus on the univisa."

Botswana Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said his country would fully adopt the univisa.

KAZA member states also resolved to urge the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to lift a ban on the trade of elephants and ivory.

The 184-member inter-governmental CITES regulates wildlife trade to protect certain species from over-exploitation. It banned trade in African elephant ivory in 1989 after the animal's population had declined sharply in the previous decade.

KAZA states say they hold $1 billion worth of ivory stockpiles, which they want to trade to fund conservation programmes.
Bengaluru-based real estate firm Puravankara Limited said on June 1 that it has acquired 12.75 acres of land in Patlipada on Ghodbunder Road, Thane, near Mumbai, and will be developing a residential project with an estimated revenue potential of 4,000 crore. Bengaluru-based real estate firm Puravankara Limited said on June 1 that it has acquired 12.75 acres of land in Patlipada on Ghodbunder Road, Thane, near Mumbai (Representational photo)(Praful Gangurde/ HT)

The land has an estimated potential carpet area of 18.20 lakh sq ft and a potential Gross Development Value (GDV) of 4,000 crores over the project lifecycle, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The land has been acquired by its wholly-owned subsidiary company, Purva Oak Private Limited.

The company did not disclose the name of the seller and the deal value.

Also Read: Bengaluru-based Puravankara crosses 5,914 crore in sales in FY24

The company had earlier also announced two other redevelopment projects including the one in Pali Hill and Lokhandwala.

"We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of a prime 12.75-acre land parcel in Thane, further solidifying our commitment to Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)s sustainable and dynamic real estate market. We have added over 7,500 crores of GDV to our MMR portfolio between these three acquisitions," said Ashish Puravankara, Managing Director, Puravankara Limited.

Puravankara plans to launch the housing project during the festive season

The land parcel acquisition in Thane is the third major announcement from Puravankara in the past seven months. We look forward to launching this project during the festive season this financial year with a vision to develop one of the finest projects in Thane, said Rajat Rastogi, CEO - West and Commercial Assets, Puravankara Limited.

Also Read: Bengaluru-based Puravankara Ltd to redevelop housing society project in Mumbais Pali Hill

According to the company, the land parcel is strategically located in Patlipada on Ghodbunder Road- a micro-market highly preferred by home buyers due to the value-laden proposition, connectivity advantages, and robust social infrastructure. The upcoming metro line 4 will further improve the area's connectivity.

Additionally, the Eastern Freeway extension will provide seamless accessibility to South Mumbai, while the Thane Borivali twin tunnel project under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) will significantly reduce travel time between the Eastern and Western Express highways, the company said.

Several branded developers in Thane real estate market

Thane real estate in the last few years has witnessed the entry of several branded real estate players like Raymond Realty and Oberoi, Rustomjee. Hiranandani already has a presence in the Thane market.

In May 2024, L&T Realty had also signed a joint development agreement (JDA) for a slum rehabilitation project to develop 31.25 lakh sq ft worth 697 crore in Thane near Mumbai.

Also Read: Non-resident Indians from the US dominate real estate sales in Bengaluru; 2BHK and 3BHK housing units most popular

The per sq ft rate of residential apartments in the Thane real estate market varies between 10,000 to 25,000 depending on the locality and proximity to social infrastructure, according to local brokers.

Puravankara Ltd has completed 86 residential and commercial projects of around 50 million square feet across nine cities - Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mangaluru, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, and Goa. The company's total land bank is around 36 million square feet, and ongoing projects add up to 32 million square feet.

Also Read: More than 101 land deals for approximately 2,989 acres closed in FY-24 across cities, including Ayodhya
Deepinder Goyal often takes to X to share not just about his company, Zomato, but also to give people a glimpse of his other ventures. In his latest post, he talked about his conversation with entrepreneur Shakir Haq, founder of the Empire chain of restaurants, in his podcast. Goyal also shared a tidbit about visiting Bengaluru for the first time. Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal's post on Bengaluru has gone viral. (File Photp)

Empire was the first place I visited when I went to Bengaluru for the first time in 2015. And it's easily one of the city's most popular dining destinations today, he added.

In the following few lines, he shared more about his podcast. "IIn the latest episode of Breaking Bread, I sat down with Empire founder Shakir Haq to discuss the recipe behind the chain's success, he posted.

In his podcast Breaking Bread, Deepinder Goyal speaks with Shakir Haq about various topics.

Take a look at Zomato CEOs X post here:

The post was shared a day ago. Since then, it has collected more than 2.6 lakh viewsand the numbers are only increasing. The post has also accumulated nearly 1,000 likes.

What are your thoughts on this X post?

Wait - you only visited Bangalore in 2016?! Seven years after starting Zomato? If this is true, then who needs Bangalore to build a startup? wrote an X user.

This is very interesting, added another.

They have become really costly, expressed a third.

"Empire is not just a restaurant; its a Bengaluru institution. Excited to learn from Shakir Haq about the passion and perseverance that fueled its success!" added a fourth.

Deepinder Goyal is the founder, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Zomato. He has an integrated masters degree in technology in mathematics and computing from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

What are your thoughts on this post by Deepinder Goyal?
A Canadian serial killer, convicted in 2007 of murdering six women, died Friday after being attacked two weeks ago by a fellow inmate. Serial killer Robert William Pickton(REUTERS)

Robert Pickton, 74, a former pig famer from western Canada, is one of the country's most notorious killers.

Although he was sentenced to life in prison for six murders, he was suspected of killing many more women.

Pickton died in Quebec on Friday "in hospital following injuries resulting from an assault involving another inmate on May 19, 2024," Correctional Service Canada said in a statement.

ALSO READ| Execution of serial killer by lethal injection halted in Idaho. Heres why

His victims were killed between 1997 and 2001. Vancouver police were criticized at the time for not taking the women's disappearances seriously because many were prostitutes, drug addicts or Indigenous.

Pickton was arrested in 2002.

During his 18-month trial the court heard gruesome evidence of how police found the heads and hands of some women stored in buckets on the ramshackle farm, bones under the pig shed, and the DNA and personal items of the six women in Pickton's home.

In total, the remains or DNA of 33 women were found on his farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. He bragged to an undercover police officer that he had killed 49 women in total.
Prince Harrys role in the monarchy claims to be reduced, but this can turn out to be a great source of issue for Harry and his estranged brother, Prince William. Prince Williams vision for Prince Harrys future role in the royal family(Reuters)

William, who is in the line to the succession, would thus be letting his brother, the Duke of Sussex, who may be expecting a better relationship with royals, as the former reveals Princess Dianas former butler, Paul Burrell.

As Burrell opined, Prince Harry will be utterly cut off from the Royal Family by the time William is king since the Duke effectively sabotaged any possibility of a rapprochement after the publication of his tell-all book.

Burrell told the New York Post, I think [Harry] might be holding out hope for when William becomes king.

Harry believed there would be a new chapter and a new leaf with a place for him but he would be so estranged by then that he would be barely recognisable to the public.

The former butler said that the royals did not want Harry back on a full-time role after he quit his royal duties in 2020.

ALSO READ| John Lennon's son says idiot Prince Harry deserves to be mocked in an expletive-laden rant

Regarding how the royals are handling the situation at the moment, Burrell said that they are just letting him get on with it now, but Harry is taking another step closer all the time to isolation.

Charles and William came ready for a fight with Harry

Recently, another revelation surfaced that, King Charles III and Prince William almost came ready for a fight during a private meeting with the Duke of Sussex, according to Harry's last year memoir, Spare.

In Spare Harry describes how he plans to meet Charles and William at the Frogmore Cottage following the burial of their grandfather Prince Philip.

He was left standing and was waiting for the arrival of Charles and Prince William, who both did not look cheerful at all. While he was trying to keep his emotions in check and explain his side, but the monarch and William didnt want to hear anything anything from his side.

ALSO READ| Prince Harry another step closer to isolation? Royal expert says mess between him and William wouldn't exist if

Prince Harry wrote, I'd vowed not to let this encounter devolve into another argument. But I quickly discovered that it wasnt up to me.

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.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it launched a series of attacks on Israeli military positions Saturday after state media reported Israel had stepped up its own strikes the night before. Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the Iran-backed Hezbollah has exchanged almost daily fire with the Israeli army in support of its Palestinian ally.

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the Iran-backed Hezbollah has exchanged almost daily fire with the Israeli army in support of its Palestinian ally.

ALSO READ- Syria says Israeli strike kills girl, wounds 10 civilians

On Saturday morning, the Lebanese Islamist group said it had carried out "an air assault using explosive drones against... the Yiftah barracks, targeting the positions of enemy officers and soldiers".

It said the attack was in retaliation for a drone strike on a motorcycle in Majdal Selm earlier in the day.

The Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee said two people were wounded in the drone strike.

ALSO READ- Israeli strike kills Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon group responds with drones

The Israeli military said in a statement that "two Hezbollah terrorists operating in the region of Majdal Selm were struck by an aircraft".

Later on Saturday, the Lebanese Shiite movement said it had "shot down a Hermes 900 drone which was attacking our people and villages".

Hezbollah, which has increased its use of drones in recent weeks, has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Israeli military positions "in response to Israeli aggression against southern localities and civilian homes".

"The enemy (Israel) intensified its attacks last night," Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

They included "a series of drone strikes... which resulted in deaths, injuries and extensive damage" in multiple locations near the border, NNA said.

The Israeli military said in a statement on Saturday that its fighter jets had struck "significant Hezbollah assets" in several areas of southern Lebanon, including Adloun, 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border, in response to launches aimed at northern Israel.

On Friday evening, a woman was killed and multiple people wounded in an Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of Adloun that "completely destroyed" a house, NNA reported.

ALSO READ-Heartbreaking loss of civilian lives: India on Israeli airstrike on Rafah camp

The nearly eight months of violence have left almost 450 people dead in Lebanon, mostly fighters but including at least 80 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

Among them are 20 rescuers, including 10 members of the Islamic Health Committee.

On the Israeli side, at least 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the violence, according to Israeli authorities.
The militant Hezbollah group said it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon and fired rockets at an Israeli military base on Saturday, hours after Israeli drone strikes killed at least one person and wounded several others. Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike on the southren Lebanese village of Siddiqin on June 1, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters(AFP)

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters struck the Hermes 900 Kochav drone, saying such aircraft have been targeting militants and civilian homes. The exchange of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border has been intensifying over the past weeks with Israel's military push on Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

The Israeli military said a surface-to-air missile was fired toward a drone operating in Lebanese airspace, adding that it was hit and fell in Lebanese territory.

"The incident is under review," the military said.

The Hermes 900 Kochav is a medium altitude and long endurance drone that can carry four anti-tank guided missiles.

ALSO READ| Hezbollah claims to have launched air attacks on Israeli military positions in support of Palestine

Hezbollah said on Saturday that its fighters also attacked an Israeli army base in the border town of Kiryat Shmona with Burkan rockets "scoring direct hits, igniting a fire and destroying part of it".

Burkan rockets can carry a warhead that weighs between 300 kilogrammes and 500 kilogrammes.

The Israeli army confirmed a rocket hit a military base in Kiryat Shmona, without giving details.

Israeli media reported the rocket attack on Kiryat Shmona, and released images showing significant damage to infrastructure. No casualties were reported.

Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli drone strike on a motorcycle near the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm wounded two people, state-run National News Agency said. The agency reported another drone strike on Saturday afternoon in a village near the southern city of Nabatiyeh.

An Israeli airstrike on a house in the coastal village of Adloun killed one woman and wounded several others on Friday evening, the agency reported.

Late on Saturday night, Israel's warplanes attacked areas west of the northeastern city of Baalbek, slightly wounding two people and causing material damage, the agency said.

Such strikes deep inside Lebanon and far away from the Israeli border have been rare since the latest round of fighting began nearly eight months ago. The Saturday night strike was about 100 kilometres from the Israeli border.

Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military posts along the Lebanon-Israel border a day after the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Over the past seven months, more than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them fighters but they also include more than 70 civilians and noncombatants. In Israel, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since October.
A Hong Kong Christian newspaper has left its front page mostly blank ahead of the 35th anniversary of China's 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square, as concerns mount about dwindling freedoms in the city. Hong Kong newspaper runs blank front page ahead of Tiananmen anniversary

The weekly Christian Times wrote in its latest issue, seen online Saturday, that it "can only respond to the current situation by turning paragraphs into blank squares and white space", adding that society has become "restrictive".

Hong Kong used to be the only place on Chinese soil where people could openly mourn those who died on June 4, 1989, when the government sent troops and tanks to crush democracy demonstrations in Beijing.

But public forms of commemoration such as candlelight vigils have been banned or driven underground as Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020.

Hong Kong this week arrested seven people for sedition, accusing them of making social media posts that "took advantage of an upcoming sensitive date".

The Christian Times usually publishes Tiananmen-related content ahead of every anniversary, but this year said its front page could not be printed "due to an issue".

"In recent years, Hong Kong's society has changed drastically and become more restrictive," the paper said in an editorial published along with another mostly redacted article.

"Even a prayer based on historical memories may arouse 'concern'."

Hong Kong bishop Stephen Chow called this week for forgiveness and healing in an article that obliquely referenced the June 4 anniversary.

"It is still a sore spot that needs to be properly addressed... Nevertheless, I realise that I cannot wait and must instead move forward," Chow wrote.

A Catholic mass to commemorate victims of the Tiananmen crackdown held annually for more than three decades was axed in 2022 after organisers said they feared violating Hong Kong law.

Hong Kong authorities have said the national security law was needed to stop violence and restore order after massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, while critics have accused the law of curtailing fundamental freedoms.

su-hol/sst

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Israeli forces hammered Rafah in southern Gaza with tanks and artillery on Saturday, hours after US President Joe Biden said Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) (AP)

Shortly after Biden's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country would still pursue the war until it had reached all its aims.

He reiterated that position on Saturday, saying that "Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel".

A permanent ceasefire without those conditions being met was "a non-starter", he said.

Hamas, meanwhile, said it "views positively" the plan laid out by Biden.

In his first major address outlining a possible end to the conflict, the US president said Israel's three-stage offer would begin with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.

It would also see the "release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded, in exchange for (the) 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 while the talks remained underway, Biden said.

The US leader urged Hamas to accept the Israeli offer. "It's time for this war to end, for the day after to begin," he said, in comments echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Israel insists on war aims

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his counterparts from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday to press the deal.

UN chief Antonio Guterres "strongly hopes" the latest development "will lead to an agreement by the parties for lasting peace", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the Israeli offer "provides a glimpse of hope and a possible path out of the war's deadlock", while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen welcomed a "balanced and realistic" approach to end the bloodshed.

Saudi Arabia stressed its "support for all efforts aimed at an immediate ceasefire" and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Indonesia, meanwhile, said it was ready to send "significant peacekeeping forces" as well as medical personnel to Gaza if a ceasefire is agreed.

But Netanyahu took issue with Biden's presentation of what was on the table, insisting on Friday the transition from one stage to the next in the proposed roadmap was "conditional" and crafted to allow Israel to maintain its war aims.

"The prime minister authorised the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving (the return of hostages), while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved," Netanyahu's office said.

"The exact outline proposed by Israel, including the conditional transition from stage to stage, allows Israel to maintain these principles."

Israel has repeatedly vowed to destroy Hamas since the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7.

Intense shelling

Israel sent tanks and troops into Rafah in early May, ignoring concerns over the safety of displaced Palestinian civilians sheltering in the city on the Egyptian border.

On Saturday, residents reported tank fire in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood in west Rafah, while witnesses in the east and centre of Rafah described intense artillery shelling.

"From the early hours of the night until this morning, the aerial and artillery bombardment has not stopped for a single moment", a resident from west Rafah told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"There are a number of occupation (Israeli) snipers in high-rise buildings overseeing all areas of Tal al-Sultan... making the situation very dangerous", the resident added.

There was also shelling and gunfire from the Israeli army in Gaza City, in the north of the Palestinian territory, according to an AFP reporter.

Before the Rafah offensive began, the United Nations said up to 1.4 million people were sheltering in the city.

Since then, one million have fled the area, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has said.

The Israeli seizure of the Rafah crossing has further slowed sporadic deliveries of aid for Gaza's 2.4 million people and effectively shuttered the territory's main exit point.

Everything is ashes

Israel said last week that aid deliveries had been stepped up.

But Blinken acknowledged on Friday that the humanitarian situation was "dire" despite US efforts to bring in more assistance.

The World Food Programme said daily life had become "apocalyptic" in parts of southern Gaza since Israel began its assault on Rafah in early May.

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, 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 at least 36,379 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

In northern Gaza, witnesses said that after carrying out a three-week operation in the town of Jabalia and its neighbouring refugee camp, troops had ordered residents of nearby Beit Hanun to evacuate ahead of an imminent assault.

The Israeli army said troops "completed their mission in eastern Jabalia and began preparation for continued operations in the Gaza Strip".

Jabalia shopkeeper Belal al-Kahlot said there was nothing left of his store after the Israeli operation. "Everything is ashes."

The Israeli military announced the deaths of two soldiers in Gaza, taking to 294 the number of Israeli troops killed since the start of ground operations in late October.
Two far-right Israeli ministers threatened on Saturday to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau's government if he goes ahead with a hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden. People attend a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and to call for the release of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel(REUTERS)

Biden said on Friday that Israel had offered a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire including the release of hostages held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

But Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said they would quit his government if the deal went ahead.

ALSO READ| US declares fresh Gaza cease-fire proposal is decisive moment, but Israeli PM Netanyahu says otherwise

Ben Gvir said his party would "dissolve the government" if the deal went through and slammed the proposal as "a victory for terrorism and a security risk to the State of Israel".

"Agreeing to such a deal is not total victory -- but total defeat," he said.

Smotrich said he would "not be part of a government that will agree to the proposed outline".

"We demand the continuation of the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages return," Smotrich said on X, adding that he opposes the return of displaced Gazans to the territory's north and the "wholesale release of terrorists".

Earlier on Saturday, Netanyahu insisted that the destruction of Hamas was part of the Israeli plan laid out by Biden.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid vowed to offer Netanyahu "our safety net for a hostage deal if Ben Gvir and Smotrich leave the government".

Without Ben Gvir's and Smotrich's parties, Netanyahu's coalition could lose its majority in parliament.

Thousands of Israelis meanwhile rallied in Tel Aviv to demand acceptance of the ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by Biden, with many fearing the premier would disown the proposal.

"I hope that somehow Biden puts enough pressure so the government and Netanyahu will take the deal," protester Diti Kapuano, 46, told AFP.

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, 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.

At least 36,379 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since October 7, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run territory.
Opposition Labour party leader Keir Starmer pledged Saturday to cut the number of migrants entering Britain, in response to one of the key issues going into the country's general election. Labour's Starmer vows to cut immigration and tackle 'bad bosses'

"Read my lips - I will bring immigration numbers down" Starmer, who is favourite to defeat the ruling Conservatives in the July 4 election, said in an interview with The Sun tabloid.

The former top prosecutor detailed Labour's plans for the first time since campaigning began two weeks ago.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government has seen net regular migration levels soar to 685,000 last year more than three times the level in 2019, when the Conservatives won an election pledging to cut the figure.

Migration has become a contentious topic, with 18 percent of people saying it is the single most important election issue, according to a YouGov poll released Saturday.

While Starmer did not provide a timeline or exact figures for bring down migration numbers, he said passing laws to curb it would be a top priority, The Sun reported.

The plan would punish bosses who break labour laws for example by violating health and safety regulations or paying below minimum wage by banning them from bringing workers from abroad.

Labour would also require employers to train UK nationals first, adding that bosses had become "too reliant" on foreign workers.

Starmer has adopted a tougher stance on borders and immigration than his predecessors, in line with his push for Labour to move to the centre and get back into government after 14 years.

Labour has said it would scrap the Conservatives' flagship scheme to send failed asylum seekers to Rwanda, which Sunak has admitted will not be implemented before the election.

Starmer has said he would instead target the people-smuggling gangs who bring undocumented migrants across the Channel in small boats and take other measures.

aks/tw

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A new Louisiana law that makes it a crime to approach within 25 feet of a police officer under certain circumstances is an affront to the movement for racial justice and violates the First Amendment, civil rights attorneys say. Louisiana law that could limit filming of police hampers key tool for racial justice, attorneys say

Critics have said the law  signed this week by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry  could hinder the publics ability to film officers. Bystander cellphone videos are largely credited with revealing police misconduct such as the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer.

When you enact a law that prevents people from seeing for themselves whether injustice is being done, that is the biggest thing against civil rights you can ever do," said Shean Williams, an attorney with The Cochran Firm in Atlanta.

Williams said images of police attacking demonstrators during the civil rights movement were instrumental to its success in advancing racial justice.

Proponents argue the new law will create a buffer zone to help ensure the safety of officers and that bystanders would still be close enough to film police interactions. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, signed a similar measure into law in April, saying it would help ensure law enforcement officers in his state can do their jobs without the threat of harassment.

In a statement at the time, DeSantis drew a distinction with blue states, saying Florida would continue to be "the friendliest state in the nation towards our law enforcement community.

The Louisiana measures author, state Rep. Bryan Fontenot, said the legislation was drafted to provide officers peace of mind and safe distance to do their job.

At 25 feet, that person cant spit in my face when Im making an arrest, Fontenot said while presenting his bill in a committee earlier this year. The chances of him hitting me in the back of the head with a beer bottle at 25 feet  it sure is a lot more difficult than if hes sitting right here.

But attorneys say states, including Florida and Louisiana, already have laws that criminalize efforts to obstruct police.

The key in every other state is, Are you disrupting the conduct of the officer?  " said Gerry Weber, a constitutional law expert in Atlanta who has represented numerous people in lawsuits over filming police misconduct. "One of the problems with the Louisiana law is it creates a presumption that one is interfering if theyre within 25 feet and they have been given a warning.

Weber helped reach a settlement more than a decade ago that required Atlanta police to stop interfering with people who record officers performing their duties in public.

At least one other state created a law similar to the ones in Louisiana and Florida. In 2022, Arizona made it illegal to knowingly film a police officer from 8 feet or closer if the officer told the person to stop.

U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi in Phoenix last year blocked enforcement of that statute, saying it prohibits or chills a substantial amount of First Amendment protected activity and is unnecessary to prevent interference with police officers given other Arizona laws in effect.

The Louisiana law does not specifically mention filming. It prohibits knowingly or intentionally approaching an officer who is lawfully engaged in the execution of his official duties after being ordered to stop approaching or retreat. Violators face up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both. It goes into effect on Aug. 1.

But even without an explicit reference to filming, the First Amendment concerns remain, said Susan Meyers, a senior staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Courts have been clear that people have a right to observe and film police doing their jobs in public, she said.

What are they saying? How are they conducting themselves? she said. There are in fact very few ways for the public to hold these public servants accountable for their actions.

Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said she experienced the importance of filming police first-hand last year when she and some colleagues were pulled over by an officer who said he suspected the vehicle they were in was stolen.

The car wasn't stolen, and Odoms, who has denounced the new Louisiana law, said she believes the justification was pretextual. On a dark, deserted road, she said filming the encounter gave her comfort.

I'm probably within 8 to 10 feet of the officer and then two or three feet, she recalled. I would not be able to do any of that.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
DENALI PARK, Alaska  A Malaysian climber likely died of exposure and altitude-related illness earlier this week after sheltering for days in a snow cave with minimal survival gear near the top of Denali, North America's tallest mountain in Alaska, park officials said Saturday. Malaysian climber who died in a cave near the top of North America's tallest mountain is identified

Zulkifli Bin Yusof, 36, likely died Wednesday in a 19,600 foot elevation cave in Denali National Park and Preserve, park spokesman Paul Ollig said Saturday. The National Park Service recovered his body Friday night, Ollig said.

Yusof was part of a three-man climbing team, all of whom listed their address as the Alpine Club of Malaysia in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, according to Ollig. Yusof's two partners survived.

Park rangers first received an SOS message from the team at 1 a.m. Tuesday, indicating the climbers were hypothermic and unable to descend after reaching the Alaskan mountain's 20,310-foot summit.

One of the men, a 48-year-old, was rescued Tuesday night after descending to a 17,200-foot camp. He was described by the park as having severe frostbite and hypothermia.

Late Thursday, the parks high-altitude helicopter pilot was able to drop a bag with survival gear near the snow cave and saw a climber waving at him, but strong winds prevented a rescue at that time, the park said.

The other climber, a 47-year-old, was rescued Friday morning after days of cloudy, windy conditions.

Two of the three men had previous experience on Denali, Ollig said. All three had previously climbed other high-elevation mountains, he said.

The climber rescued Friday was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for additional care and was in surprisingly strong condition, walking on his own even, considering what he endured, Ollig previously said. The climber's name and additional information about him and the other survivor would not be released by the park.

The other climber is also recovering at a hospital.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Sammy Teusch was a boy only ten years old who suffered harassment both in school and out of school before he was forced to commit suicide early this month, as was confirmed by the police on Friday. Hence, while recognizing that bullying had been a problem at the victims school, police have declined to press charges in relation to his suicide. Indiana boy Sammy Teusch, 10, kills himself after relentless bullying at school (GoFundMe)

The 10-year-old Indiana native died on May 5 from asphyxiation by strangulation, suicide, according to the Hancock County Coroner.

Officials have admitted that Sammy experienced some bullying, as his parents have insisted, but concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant any criminal charges.

At the very beginning, everybody started saying this was bullying, this was a result of bullying, and I say this with a heavy heart, unfortunately, we do not know the cause of this, Greenfield Police Chief Brian Hartman stated on Friday.

ALSO READ| Sammy Teusch death: Dad describes horrifying moment he found Indiana boy dead, 'I couldn't save him'

There was no note or no text messages. Sammy didnt say why he felt he had to do this.

Investigation finds bullying in Sammy Teusch's case

Following a four-week investigation, police determined that Sammy had been targeted both at Greenfield Intermediate School and outside of it.

However, his family reported that at least two bullying incidents occurred on school property, specifically in the cafeteria and on the bus.

We believe he encountered some rough times at school from other kids, Hartman confirmed.

ALSO READ| Sammy Teusch death: Family says bullied Indiana boy who killed himself was deeply empathetic: 'Didn't deserve this'

I do have statements and facts to back that up. There were also things that happened outside of school ... There has probably been an accumulation of things having happened in this childs life that led up to that traumatic decision he made that day.

The school was not found negligent in Sammy's death because administrators had addressed the incidents, including giving one of the alleged bullies a one day in school and a one day out of school suspension, according to the police chief.

This finding contradicts the claims made by Sammys parents, who stated that they had complained to the school about the bullying roughly 20 times since it began last year when Sammy was in elementary school. The bullying started with taunts about his glasses and teeth and quickly escalated to violence, they said, alleging that the school never adequately addressed their concerns.

The bullying continued up until the moment Sammy decided to take his own life, his parents claim. The 10-year-old was found dead in his bedroom by his 13-year-old brother Xander, per report.

ALSO READ| Sammy Teusch death: GoFundMe raises whopping $72,983 within days of Indiana boy's suicide

Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin released a statement on Friday saying that the police findings are consistent with the information gleaned from Greenfield-Centrals internal investigation.

Greenfield-Central takes all bullying concerns very seriously. We have provided and will continue to provide a safe environment for students in our schools.
The African National Congress party 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. President Cyril Ramaphosa led ANC has also been blamed for a failure in providing basic government services, rampant unemployment and increasing crime rates (File image)(REUTERS)

With more than 99% of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40% in Wednesday's election, well short of the majority it had held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela. The final results are still to be formally declared by the independent electoral commission that ran the election, but the ANC cannot pass 50%.

At the start of the election, the commission said it would formally declare the results by Sunday, but that could come earlier.

While opposition parties have hailed the result as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remained the biggest party by some way. However, it will now likely need to look for a coalition partner or partners to remain in the government and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. Parliament elects the South African president after national elections.

The way to rescue South Africa is to break the ANCs majority and we have done that, said main opposition leader John Steenhuisen.

Also read: Lok Sabha elections 2024 Exit polls results live

The way forward promises to be complicated for Africas most advanced economy, and theres no coalition on the table yet.

Steenhuisen's Democratic Alliance party was on around 21% of the vote. The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led, was third with just over 14% of the vote in the first election it has contested. The Economic Freedom Fighters was in fourth with just over 9%.

More than 50 parties contested the election, many of them with tiny shares of the vote, but the DA and MK appear to be the most obvious for the ANC to approach, given how far it is from a majority. Which coalition the ANC pursues is the urgent focus now, given Parliament needs to sit and elect a president within 14 days of the final election results being officially declared. A flurry of negotiations are set to take place and they will likely be complicated.

Steenhuisen has said his centrist party is open to discussions. The MK Party said one of their conditions for any agreement was that Ramaphosa is removed as ANC leader and president. That underlined the fierce political battle between Zuma, who resigned as South African president under a cloud of corruption allegations in 2018, and Ramaphosa, who replaced him.

We are willing to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa," MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said.

MK and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called for parts of the economy to be nationalized. The Democratic Alliance is viewed as a business-friendly party and analysts say an ANC-DA coalition would be more welcomed by foreign investors, although there are questions over whether it is politically viable considering the DA has been the most critical opposition party for years.

An ANC-DA coalition "would be a marriage of two drunk people in Las Vegas. It will never work, Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the smaller Patriotic Alliance party, told South African media.

Despite the uncertainty, South African opposition parties were hailing the new political picture as a much-needed change for the country of 62 million, which is Africa's most developed but also one of the most unequal in the world.

South Africa has widespread poverty and extremely high levels of unemployment and the ANC has struggled to raise the standard of living for millions. The official unemployment rate is 32%, one of the highest in the world, and the poverty disproportionately affects Black people, who make up 80% of the population and have been the core of the ANC's support for years.

The ANC has also been blamed  and now punished by voters  for a failure in basic government services that impacts millions and leaves many without water, electricity or proper housing.

Nearly 28 million South Africans were registered to vote and turnout is expected to be around 60%, according to figures from the independent electoral commission.
Days after four ISIS suspects hailing from Sri Lanka were apprehended at Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, a person believed to be their handler has been arrested in the island nation's Colombo city, police said on Saturday. Gujarat: The 4 suspected ISIS terrorists hailing from Sri Lanka arrested at Ahmedabad airport.

Also Read | 4 suspected ISIS terrorists from Sri Lanka arrested at Ahmedabad airport

The accused, 46-year-old Pushparaja Osman, was arrested on Friday by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka Police.

We have information that he made telephone contact with the four people arrested in Ahmedabad. We had recently announced a cash reward of two million for credible information on his whereabouts. We had also issued a wanted notice against him and a video of him for the public, police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said in a press conference.

It is yet to be verified if the four are linked to ISIS, the spokesman stated further, adding that investigators are also probing if the group had tried to promote the ISIS ideology in Sri Lanka.

The authorities here launched a high-powered operation last month to investigate the group, saying that they no chances would be taken after the horrific Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019, which claimed nearly 300 lives.

The suspects

They have been identified as Mohammad Nusrat, Mohammad Nafran, Mohammad Faris, and Mohammad Rashdeen.

While Nusrat is a businessman who operated in Colombo, where he sold telecommunication devices and electrical equipment imported from places such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai, Nufran is the son of the first wife of an underworld criminal who was sentenced to death for his role the killing of a High Court judge.

Faris was employed as a cart-puller and Rashdeen is a three-wheeler driver with possible links to crystal meth trafficking.

(With PTI inputs)
As climate change makes disasters such as cyclones, floods and droughts more intense, more frequent and striking more places, fewer people are dying from those catastrophes globally because of better warning, planning and resilience, a top United Nations official said. UN official highlights how better preparation has shrunk disaster deaths despite worsening climate

The world hasn't really noticed how the type of storms that once killed tens or hundreds of thousands of people now only claim handfuls of lives, new United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Kamal Kishore, who heads the UN's office for disaster risk reduction told The Associated Press. But he said much more needs to be done to keep these disasters from pushing people into abject poverty.

Fewer people are dying of disasters and if you look at that as a proportion of total population, it's even fewer, Kishore said in his first interview since taking office in mid-May. We often take for granted the progress that we've made.

Twenty years ago there was no tsunami early warning system except for one small part of the world. Now the whole world is covered by a tsunami warning system" after the 2004 tsunami that killed about 230,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, Kishore said.

People are getting better warnings about tropical cyclones  also called hurricanes and typhoons  so now the chances of dying in a tropical cyclone in a place like the Philippines are about one-third of what they were 20 years ago, Kishore said.

As the former disaster chief for India, Kishore points to how his country has cut deaths thanks to better warnings and community preparedness such as hospitals being ready for a surge in births during a cyclone. In 1999, a supercyclone hit eastern India, killing almost 10,000 people. Then a nearly similar sized storm hit in 2013, but killed only a few dozen people. Last year, on Kishore's watch, Cyclone Biparjoy killed fewer than 10 people.

The same goes for flood deaths, Kishore said.

The data backs up Kishore, said disaster epidemiologist Debarati Guha-Sapir of the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, who created a global disaster database. Her database  which she acknowledges has missing pieces  shows that global deaths per storm event has dropped from about a ten-year average of 24 in 2008 to ten-year average of about 8 in 2021. Flood deaths per event have gone from ten-year averages of nearly 72 to about 31, her data indicates.

While there are fewer deaths globally from disasters, there are still pockets in the poorest of countries, especially in Africa, where deaths are worsening or at least staying the same, Guha-Sapir said. It's much like public health's efforts to eradicate measles, success in most places, but areas that can least cope are not improving, she said.

India and Bangladesh are poster nations for better dealing with disasters and preventing deaths, especially in cyclones, Guha-Sapir said. In 1970, a cyclone killed more than 300,000 people in Bangladesh in one of the 20th century's greatest natural disasters and now Bangladesh has done fantastic work in disaster risk reduction for years and years and years," she said.

Pointing out wins is important, Guha-Sapir said: Gloom and doom will never get us anywhere."

While countries such as India and Bangladesh have created warning systems, strengthened buildings such as hospitals and know what to do to prepare for and then react to disasters, a lot of it is also just because these countries are getting richer and better educated and so they can handle disasters better and protect themselves, Guha-Sapir said. Poorer countries and people can't.

Fewer people are dying, but thats not because climate change is not happening,'' Kishore said That is despite the climate change. And that is because we have invested in resilience, invested in early warning systems.''

Kishore said climate change is making his job tougher, yet he said doesn't feel like Sisyphus, the mythical man pushing a giant boulder up a hill.

You are getting more intense hazards, more frequently and new geographies, Kishore said, saying places, like Brazil that used to not worry too much about floods now are getting devastated. The same goes for extreme heat, which he said used to be an issue for only certain countries, but now has gone global, pointing to nearly 60,000 heat wave deaths in Europe in 2022.

India, where temperatures have been flirting with 122 degrees , has reduced heat deaths with specific regional plans, Kishore said.

However with the new extreme temperatures we are seeing, every country needs to double its efforts to save lives, he said. And that means looking at the built environment of cities, he added.

Cutting deaths is only part of the battle to reduce risk, Kishore said.

We are doing a better job of saving lives but not of livelihoods, Kishore said.

While fewer people are dying you look at people who are losing their houses, people who are losing their businesses, a small farmer that is running a poultry farm, Kishore said. When they get flooded or hit by a storm, they may survive but they've got nothing, no seeds, no fishing boats.

On that we're not doing as well as we should, Kishore said. We cannot accept that losses will occur. Of course they will occur, but they could be minimized by an order of magnitude.

Read more of s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

Follow Seth Borenstein on X at @borenbears

______

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. is solely responsible for all content. Find s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .org.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
As Donald Trump lambasted the guilty verdict of his hush money trial this week, he stood inside a Manhattan courthouse that was the site of one of the most notorious examples of injustice in recent New York history. And he had a part in that. FILE - New York City Council candidate Yusef Salaam speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, on May 24, 2023, in New York. Donald Trump was found guilty in same courthouse where five Black and Latino youths, including Salaam, were wrongly convicted 34 years ago in the 1989 vicious attack on a white female jogger. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)(AP)

It's the same courthouse where five Black and Latino youths were wrongly convicted 34 years ago in the beating and rape of a white female jogger. The former president famously took out a newspaper ad in New York City in the aftermath of the 1989 attack calling for the execution of the accused in a case that roiled racial tensions locally and that many point to as evidence of a criminal justice system prejudiced against defendants of color.

Trump denounces guilty verdict in courthouse tied to Central Park five case

But on Friday, a day after making history as the first U.S. president convicted of felony crimes in a court of law, Trump blasted that same criminal justice system as corrupt and rigged against him.

This is a scam, he said of the case brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office led by Alvin Bragg, the first Black person in the role, and overseen by Judge Juan Merchan, who is of Colombian descent.

This is a rigged trial. It shouldnt have been in that venue. We shouldnt have had that judge, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Friday from Trump Tower in Manhattan.

ALSO READ| Boeing and NASA call off first astronaut flight launch minutes before liftoff

Black civil rights leaders highlight irony

Some Black Americans found irony in Trump railing against the injustice of his own conviction, in a courthouse where five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongly convicted in a case Trump supported so vociferously. The Central Park Five case was Trump's first foray into tough-on-crime politics that preluded his full-throated populist political persona. To many, Trump employed dog whistles as well as overtly racist rhetoric in both chapters of his public life.

But lately, in his outreach to Black and Hispanic communities, Trump has adopted the language of criminal justice reform advocates. He claims Black Americans and Latinos can relate to him because prosecutors are out to get him like they have been out to get many men and boys in their communities.

Donald Trumps conviction is going to be a problem for him with many Black people because, guess what, many Black people do not like people who violate our criminal laws, said Maya Wiley, a New York civil rights attorney and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Black people are disproportionately the victims of crime. Its not that they just side with people whove been convicted of a crime.

Wiley, who ran unsuccessfully for New York City mayor in 2021, said the citys Black and Hispanic residents also remember Trumps comments about the Central Park jogger case.

ALSO READ| Boris Johnson calls Trump's conviction no ordinary political assassination, warns his legal troubles will make

They havent forgotten the fact that Donald Trump took out a full-page ad suggesting the death penalty for the Central Park Five, who have been exonerated and were the victims of an abusive system, Wiley said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, an advocate for the five exonerated men, called Trumps conviction a symbolic measure of justice for them.

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 just after the verdict was read.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. Donald Trump is the criminal, and those five men are exonerated, he said.

Salaam, who won a seat on the New York City Council last year, said he didnt take pleasure in the former presidents guilty verdict even though Donald Trump wanted me executed even when it was proven that I was innocent.

Salaam and the other young men had their convictions vacated in 2002 after evidence linked another person to the crime. Trump in 2019 refused to apologize to the exonerated men.

We should be proud that today the system worked," Salaam wrote Thursday on the social media platform X. "But we should be somber that we Americans have an ex-President who has been found guilty on 34 separate felony charges.

We have to do better than this. Because we are better than this, he wrote.

Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project Action Fund civil rights group, said Trump hasn't been subject to the type of unfair treatment in the criminal justice system that Black and Hispanic communities know too well.

He didnt have a violent arrest by police, he didnt stay a night in Rikers Island because he couldnt afford bail, he didnt even go to jail. He could pay a battery of lawyers to represent him and he can pay for an appeal," Dianis said.

Racial justice advocates are also using the historic moment to remind the public that Trump and his associates attempted to overturn the will of voters by challenging the 2020 presidential election results in heavily Black and Latino districts. The hush money trial was just one part of a broader narrative around electoral justice, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, who called the verdict against Trump 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 after the verdict was heard Thursday.

ALSO READ| US declares fresh Gaza cease-fire proposal is decisive moment, but Israeli PM Netanyahu says otherwise

Johnson, who leads the nations oldest civil rights organization, said Trump's criminal conviction ought to disqualify him from 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, he said.

Sharpton cautioned against gloating over the verdict.

Instead, celebrate by casting votes for leaders who will protect democracy  not who want to kill it.
A last-minute issue interrupted Saturday's launch countdown for Boeing's maiden astronaut mission. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams were scheduled to liftoff on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. (AP)

Two veteran NASA astronauts, Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and Sunita "Suni" Williams, 58, were strapped into the company's Starliner capsule and awaiting liftoff when the countdown was halted at three minutes and 50 seconds.

Just before the hold, all of the mission teams voted in the "go/no go" poll and declared Starliner "go" for launch.

"This is a great day to be proud of your nation," Wilmore remarked from the capsule following the poll.

With only a split second to take off Saturday afternoon, there was no time to work out the current issue, and everything was cancelled.

The cause of the automatic hold is unknown, but mission teams anticipate a 24-hour turnaround time, according to the NASA webcast. Teams will prepare to safely rescue the crew from the capsule.

The launch was earlier postponed for leak checks and rocket repairs.

NASA wants a backup for SpaceX, which has been carrying astronauts for four years.

In May, company and NASA officials stated that despite a propulsion system leak, the Starliner capsule can safely transport two test pilots to the International Space Station. The minor helium leak was identified following the initial launch attempt on May 6, which was canceled due to an unrelated rocket fault that has now been resolved.

Engineers suspected a faulty rubber seal the size of a shirt button, and said that even if the leak worsened, it could be fixed in flight.

Demos in 2019 and 2022 had no one on board. Boeing was forced to repeat the empty trip due to software and other issues the first time.

"We're not going to fly until we're sure we're safe," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free stated.

Boeing's Starliner capsule has already been years late in carrying passengers to the ISS for NASA. SpaceX has launched crews since 2020. NASA wants both firms to provide taxi service so that they can support each other.

(With AP inputs)
After a Manhattan jury convicted Donald Trump of buying the silence of adult film star Stormy Daniels, former UK PM Boris Johnson slammed the hush money case verdict, stating that this was no ordinary political assassination. Boris Johnson warned that legal measures to hinder Donald Trump's 2024 White House bid may backfire.(AP)

New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg's staff effectively persuaded the 12-member jury in New York to decisively convict Trump on all 34 charges.

After deliberating the charges, the 12 jurors reached an immediate verdict that determined Trump was in violation of the law by fabricating company documents to hide hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 elections.

Responding to the verdict in The Daily Mail, Johnson warned that legal measures to hinder Trump's 2024 White House bid may backfire if the ex-President experiences a poll rebound following his hush money conviction.

The former PM, who maintained close ties with Trump during his administration, slammed the legal hit job after the ex-president was found guilty on all 34 counts of manipulating company documents.

This was no ordinary political assassination. This was a machine-gun mob-style hit-job on Trump, Johnson said, insisting that "anti-Trump lawfare is backfiring."

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, he added.

In reference to 2024 US presidential elections, he went on to claim that Trump's legal problems make his victory more likely, not less.

Following his conviction on all 34 counts, Trump's approval rating increased by six points, according to a JL Partners snap survey.

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, JL Partners told Daily Mail.

Also Read: E. Jean Carroll and Hillary Clinton's subtle digs at Trump after hush money conviction go viral

Trump allies blast judicial system

Trump's Republican allies have amplified attacks on the judicial system and denounced those who argue that people should respect the legal system that found him guilty in the New York hush money trial.

The GOP has always portrayed itself as the "law and order" party, advocating the justice system and stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law.

But after Trump lambasted the conviction as the outcome of a "rigged, disgraceful trial," his congressional allies also followed in his footsteps.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) branded the case a "weaponization of our justice system," while potential vice presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said it was a "complete travesty that makes a mockery of our justice system.
While Donald Trump's family and allies slammed the historic hush money guilty verdict against the former president, writer E. Jean Carroll and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's reactions garnered attention of the netizens for their reactions on jury's decision. Hillary Clinton and E. Jean Carroll have reacted to Donald Trump's conviction in hush money trial.(AP/Getty)

During the 23rd annual Global Leadership Awards, which were hosted by the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership in Washington, Clinton made a veiled reference to Trump's conviction.

Clinton, who faced a defeat against Trump in the 2016 election, addressed the audience asking, "Anything going on today?"

After the crowd burst out laughing and cheering, the ex-Secretary of State continued, Well, I have to tell you, there's nowhere I'd rather be than right here.

A video of Hillary posted on X has garnered over 1 million views, with one netizen commenting, No just a typical day. You know now that I think about it Trump does seem a bit angrier than usual.

Justice has prevailed! #LockHimUp, another reacted.

On the day of Trump's conviction, Clinton took to Instagram to post about new products for her Onward Together initiative, which she formed to help leaders advocating for progressive principles and preserving democracy.

The latest merchandise is a mug featuring a faceless Clinton drinking from a teacup with the words, "Turns out she was right about everything." The design "happened to be finalized today," she stated in her post.

The mug pitch from the former first lady comes after Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a crime. A Manhattan jury, composed of 12 New Yorkers, declared Trump guilty of manipulating financial documents in connection with a hush money payment delivered by his longtime fixer and former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Also Read: Elon Musk says X's town hall with Donald Trump will be interesting

E. Jean Carroll issues one word reaction

Following a historic guilty decision against Trump, writer Carroll responded with a one-word statement.

"Justice!!" she said in a post on X, with a picture of Daniels who testified in the hush money trial.

The columnist had filed two cases against the former president, accusing him of sexually assaulting her and then defaming her. In May 2023, a jury awarded Carroll $5 million after determining that Trump physically assaulted her in 1996 and slandered her by claiming she lied about it. In January 2024, a jury directed Trump to pay $83 million in damages to her for defamation.

This week, Carroll's lawyer Roberta Kaplan hinted at the potential of pursuing a third defamation lawsuit after Trump launched another diatribe saying he had never met Carroll except for a handshake.

Trump's sentencing, which could include prison, in the hush money case will be announced on July 11.
Donald Trumps 'favourite' child, Ivanka, is openly showing support for her dad after he was announced guilty in a controversial Hush Money Trial. Breaking her silence with a social media post just hours after the verdict, Ivanka, who stepped down from politics after serving as a senior advisor during Trumps government, has sparked speculation about her future intentions as she reportedly joined the 'gloomy' Trump family along with her husband Jared Kushner Former President Donald Trump, left, talks to his daughter Ivanka Trump as they wait for the start of a UFC 299 mixed martial arts bout, early Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Miami. (AP)

Ivanka Trump returns to family fold

The 42-year-old previously held the position of senior advisor in the Trump administration and served as the Director of the Office of Economic Initiatives and Entrepreneurship. Amid her father's 2024 presidential bid, she consciously refrained from engaging in political activities, citing her commitment to prioritising the well-being of her family and children.

Also read: Jennifer Lopez 'devastated,' cancels million-dollar tour amid Ben Affleck split rumours and low sales

Page six reports that the second child of Donald from her first wife Ivana has currently swept into town to support her dad amid the fallout from the hush money hearings. This comes shortly after insiders spotted Melania and Barron inside the Trump Tower. Everyone has gathered around Trump.

Trump family turns gloomy after Hush Money verdict

According to reports, the former First Lady was reportedly present inside the Trump Tower during the hearing. Despite the recent conviction, the family has continued to stand by Trump, who now is the first former US president to face criminal charges.

Everyone says Melania and the entire family are rallying around the former president. But the mood is nonetheless gloomy and gloomier right now. [The verdict] is definitely viewed as a downer at Mar-a-Lago, the source told Pagesix.

Also read: Ivanka Trump breaks silence after dad Donald Trump's shocking conviction in Hush Money scandal

Donald Trump spoke to all his children post-verdict

Donald and his children are reportedly sticking together during the hard time. All five kids, most of whom are politically active excluding Barron, who pulled back from his latest GOP stint, and Ivanka, who is staying away from the political scene, reportedly had a long talk with Donald Trump. Trump talked to both Melania and all his children, including Ivanka. [But] Trump says the real verdict will take place in November when the people vote.

In 2022, Ivanka firmly denied any involvement in the 2024 presidential bid when questioned about her role. However, recent reports suggest that the businesswoman, who recently posted a powerful social media message expressing love for her father after his verdict, is now considering the possibility of re-entering the campaign fray.
Prince Andrew, the disgraced son of Queen Elizabeth, has resorted to immature behavior as King Charles continues to insist him to leave Royal Lodge and move into Frogmore Cottage. Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, had been hiding in a darkened room to make a point, despite the King's orders to vacate the Royal Lodge, The Times reported, citing a source.(Getty)

The cottage is believed to be in terrific shape after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle renovated it, and Andrew might save a lot of money if he shifts there.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were residing at the cottage before shifting to the United States with their son Archie, and they kept it until they received an eviction notice last year.

Now Charles has reportedly threatened him of terrible consequences if he continues to live there. According to sources, the monarch is deeply concerned about the state of the Royal Lodge, which is deteriorating.

The Duke of York had been hiding in a darkened room to make a point, despite the King's orders to vacate the Royal Lodge, The Times reported, citing a source.

Earlier, Prince Andrew had signed an agreement with Charles if he could pay for the maintenance of the 30-room Windsor estate.

Also Read: Prince Andrew's daughter Beatrice becomes unlikely leading lady amid Kate Middleton's absence

What if Andrew disobeys King Charles?

Charles' close aide told the site that Andrew "spends his days watching television in a darkened room."

He said that if the monarch's brother declined to give up the Lodge, Charles would no longer pay for his expenses and hefty security.

It can be done tidily or untidily. It can be done with grace and dignity or it can be forced upon him. Its all rather sad," Charles' friend said.

The insider went on to say that life at Royal Lodge would become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for Andrew.

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.

Andrew's aide sheds light on the scenario

However, Andrew has yet to budge. One Duke of York associate told The Times that if the impasse continues, he is probably going to "dig in" and that he has already received a "stay of execution" due to Sarah Ferguson's and the King's recent cancer diagnosis.

The Royal Lodge, which originally housed the Queen Mother, is a 19th century Grade II-listed property featuring a pool and 90 acres of land. In 2003, Andrew signed a 75-year leasehold for the property.
The US said a fresh Gaza cease-fire proposal that would pause fighting between Israel and Hamas for at least six weeks could mark a decisive moment in the conflict  if both sides agree terms after several failed attempts at peace. US President Joe Biden said Hamas has been degraded to the point it could no longer carry out an attack like the Oct. 7 incursion into Israel that triggered the war. (Bloomberg)

President Joe Biden said Hamas has been degraded to the point it could no longer carry out an attack like the Oct. 7 incursion into Israel that triggered the war. Detailing the three-part proposal from the White House on Friday afternoon, he urged all parties to accept the deal.

Hamas says it wants a cease-fire, Biden said. Hamas needs to take the deal and by doing so prove that they are really serious about wanting to end the conflict, he added.

Benjamin Netanyahu issues stern statement

Yet hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that he hasnt changed his conditions for ending the war. Those are the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring Gaza doesnt pose a threat to Israel, his office said in a statement on Saturday.

The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent cease-fire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter, he said.

Hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the US and European Union, has said its ready to deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on an indefinite stop to the conflict, including a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Iran-backed group called for the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, and the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal for hostages if Israel declares its explicit commitment to that.

Taken together, the comments show fresh impetus by the US to secure a deal that will be agreed by both sides  an achievement that would count as a major win for Biden just months before the US elections. Yet neither Israel nor Hamas appears to have changed its position substantially, suggesting theres much work left to do.

Hamas said it views positively what the president said, particularly his call for a permanent cease-fire.

Israel and Hamas have held back-and-forth negotiations via Qatari and Egyptian mediators throughout the nearly eight-month war thats convulsed the Middle East and devastated the Gaza Strip.

The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement to pause the fighting since a short break in late November. Negotiators appeared close to striking an understanding about a month ago, only for talks to fall apart. Since then, Israel has sent ground troops into Rafah, the southern Gazan city where it says some Hamas leaders and thousands of fighters are based.

Blinken speaks with Middle East leaders

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke separately by phone about the proposal with his counterparts in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, all countries key to longer-term regional stability. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres endorsed the framework.

The war started when Hamas fighters attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israels subsequent campaign to destroy the group has left more than 35,000 people dead in Gaza, according to authorities in the Hamas-run enclave, and triggered a grave humanitarian crisis.

The war has stoked broader regional tensions and briefly brought Israel and Iran into rare direct conflict. Iran backs Hamas and other militant groups operating across the Middle East, which have ramped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and targeted US military bases.

For Biden, an agreement would help blunt the political damage hes sustained, as his support for Israel has fractured his electoral coalition. Progressive voters have called on him to break with Netanyahu and restrict arms shipments, while a series of high-profile protests on college campuses have added further pressure.

Biden sketched out a three-part road map for the agreement, with a first phase that would last for six weeks and see Israel withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza. Hamas would release some hostages and the bodies of some of those killed in captivity, while Israel would return some Palestinian prisoners.

A second phase would see the exchange of all remaining living hostages and the removal of Israeli troops from Gaza, followed by a third phase that would see a major reconstruction plan commence.

The offer is almost identical to a cease-fire plan Hamas presented several weeks ago, according to a senior US official who briefed reporters after Biden spoke. The official, who requested anonymity to describe internal thinking, added that Hamas has privately been more open to a deal than its public statements would suggest. Israel rejected that proposal out of hand.

Biden addressed tensions within Netanyahus government, which relies on the support of right-wing parties, saying that Israel risks draining its resources and becoming further isolated internationally the longer the war goes on.

The people of Israel should know they can make this offer without any further risk to their security, Biden said. I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan.
As social media users were awaiting Donald Trump's reaction following the historic hush money case verdict, the former US President on Friday made it clear that he is going to fight and appeal his felony conviction. However, netizens were quick to question the silence maintained by former first lady Melania Trump and ex-adult film star Stormy Daniels, who accused Trump of having an affair with her. Netizens have questioned the silence maintained by former first lady Melania Trump and ex-adult film star Stormy Daniels, who accused Donald Trump of having an affair with her.(Getty/AP)

Trump's family members, including his two sons and daughter Ivanka, immediately issued their response to the verdict.

Guilty on all counts. 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 Jr. wrote in one post.

Calling the case rigged, he went on to blast the incumbent US President. "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!"

Echoing similar views, Eric Trump said, May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election.

Even Ivanka, who has remained away from his father's campaign this time, broke her silence with an emotional post on her Instagram account. Sharing a throwback picture, featuring her and Trump, she wrote: "I love you Dad" with a heart emoji.

Meanwhile, former federal prosecutor Ron Filipkowski asked in a post on X, Where was Melania?

Trump delivered a speech on Friday in attendance of Eric and his wife, Lara Trump. However, Melania did not attend, spurring many to wonder about her absence and silence on social media.

Melania has been noticeably silent and never showed up to the trial, unlike other family members, journalist Michael Tracey wrote on X.

Another X user wrote, Melania Trump never came to the courthouse to support her spouse.

Why do we think Melania Trump is going to release a statement supporting her business partner? She's probably busy trying to figure out if Trump's legal fees are going to affect her income? a third netizen reacted.

Also Read: Elon Musk says X's town hall with Donald Trump will be interesting

What about Stormy Daniels?

Attorney Clark Brewster representing Daniels, who was at the centre of Trump's hush money trial, said that the GOP leader's latest conviction hit her hard.

In an appearance on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports, the lawyer said, I got a pretty instant report from the courthouse. And so, it hadnt hit the news yet when I told her, really. And, she was really kind of taken aback.

I think it was the culmination of a lot of things  the finality of it and, you know, the worry and nervousness that she had throughout leading up to this, he continued, but noted Daniels expressed no true happiness with the results. It was more or less a relief that it's over.

Hinting that Daniels may have even been surprised by the ruling, Brewster mentioned, The finality of it really hit her hard.

On Thursday, a 12-person Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 charges of misrepresenting company documents in relation to a hush money payment delivered to Daniels to purchase her silence about an alleged affair ahead of 2016 presidential elections, making him the first former commander-in-chief to be convicted of a felony.
It is interesting to know that even after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left their duties as royal couples, discussions have occasionally occurred regarding stripping them of their royal status. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle blasted for taking advantage while royals are unable to conduct overseas tours (Photo by Kola SULAIMON / AFP)(AFP)

Several rumours have emerged throughout the years, including information about the royals, having the press inform them, and even complicity in using their royal influence to negotiate millionaire partnership agreements with large companies such as Netflix and Spotify.

Despite their step down and overall decision, some people can argue that Meghan and Harry aimed to make money using their royal affiliations.

Most recently, the couple launched a new website featuring Meghan's royal coat of arms and introduced her new business venture, American Riviera Orchard. American Riviera Orchard prominently bears her royal title on its official Instagram and website, by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

ALSO READ| Here's what Prince William plans for his brother, Prince Harry, as he prepares to take the throne

Quirky title Meghan Markle would assume without her duchess monike

However, should the titles 'Duke and Duchess of Sussex' be officially revokedwhich would require an act of parliamentMeghan would still retain a royal title, albeit an unusual one, as pointed out by a royal expert.

Given Harry's princely status by birth, even if the Dukedom bestowed upon him by the late Queen Elizabeth were rescinded, he would still hold the title of prince, and Meghan would be referred to as Princess Henry.

Notably, Princess Michael of Kent, adopts the feminine form of her husband's title, in line with tradition, as she married into the Royal Family and her husband, Prince Michael, lacks another title.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine and a royal expert, stated, I don't think anything will happen to the titles because, if they lose their titles, Harry is still a prince of the blood, and Meghan, instead of being the Duchess of Sussex, [would] be Princess Henry. That really would [confuse the Americans].

I think [it's] probably best just to leave it because it looks unkind, it looks unnecessary.

Seward added, The Queen gave them the titles, let them keep them - they're going to be 'H and M' anyway. I think the best thing is to leave them, ignore them, and let them get on with it - which is really what the Palace and the Royal Family are doing.

ALSO READ| Prince Harry another step closer to isolation? Royal expert says mess between him and William wouldn't exist if

However, Harry and Meghan dropped His Royal Highness when they left royal duties and never relinquished their princely and ducal titles. Furthermore, according to the British royal succession laws after Charles became the king, Archie and Lilibet were the official Prince and Princess.
US President Joe Biden unveiled a three-phase Israeli proposal to end the war in Gaza on Friday, which includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) (AP)

Here are the key elements of the "comprehensive" plan that the 81-year-old called a "roadmap to an enduring ceasefire."

Phase One

Biden said the first phase includes a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas of Gaza."

Hamas would release "a number" of hostages captured in the October 7 attacks on Israel, including women, the elderly and the wounded. The remains of some hostages who had been killed would also be returned.

US hostages held by Hamas would also be freed, Biden said, adding that "we want them home."

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange.

Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their "homes and neighborhoods" throughout Gaza, including in the north, which has been devastated by months of Israeli bombing.

Humanitarian aid would "surge" to 600 trucks a day entering Gaza, while the international community would deliver hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters and housing units.

During the initial six-week period, Israel and Hamas would "negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostilities."

The ceasefire would also be extended if the negotiations continue, with mediators the United States, Egypt and Qatar working to ensure they continue, Biden said.

Phase Two

Israeli forces would completely withdraw from Gaza under the second phase of the plan, lasting around another six weeks.

Hamas would release "all remaining living hostages" including male Israeli soldiers. This has been a key sticking point for Hamas in the past.

If both sides keep to the deal it will lead to the "cessation of hostilities permanently," Biden quoted the Israeli proposal as saying.

Phase Three

A major reconstruction and stabilization plan for Gaza would begin, backed by the US and the international community.

Homes, schools and hospitals would be rebuilt, Biden said. He would also work with regional partners to ensure it happens in a way that "does not allow Hamas to re-arm."

The reconstruction phase would take between three and five years, a senior US official said.

The final remains of any hostages who had been killed would be returned in the third phase.

What if it goes wrong?

Biden said that if Hamas "fails to fulfill its commitments under the deal, Israel can resume military operations."

But he added that Egypt and Qatar would work to make Hamas stick to the terms, while the United States would do the same for Israel.
CAIRO  A court run by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday sentenced 44 people to death, including a businessman working with aid groups, on spying charges, a defense lawyer said. Yemens Houthis sentence 44 to death on charges of collaboration with a Saudi-led coalition

The 44 were among 49 people who were detained by the Iran-backed rebels and accused of collaborating with the enemy, a reference to the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war with the Houthis since 2015, lawyer Abdel-Majeed Sabra said. Four were given prison sentences, Sabra said.

Sixteen were sentenced to death in absentia, while 28 were brought before the Specialized Criminal Court in the capital Sanaa, Sabra said.

Among those sentenced to death was Adnan al-Harazi, CEO of Prodigy Systems, a Sanaa-based company that developed systems to help humanitarian groups register and verify the distribution of aid to those in need in the war-stricken country.

The Houthis detained al-Harazi in March last year after throwing stones at his company. Saturdays court ruling included the seizure of al-Harazis properties, Sabra said.

Sabra accused the Houthis of torturing the suspects physically and psychologically, adding that they were disappeared in solitary confinement for nine months.

He said the defense team withdrew at the beginning of the trial after the judges refused to allow them to obtain a copy of the case documents, describing the trial as unfair.

A spokesman for the Houthis didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thousands have been imprisoned by the Houthis during Yemens civil war. An investigation found some detainees were scorched with acid, forced to hang from their wrists for weeks at a time or were beaten with batons.

Courts in Sanaa and other Houthi-held areas in Yemen used to give harsh sentences to those accused of collaborating with the Saudi-led coalition. In September 2021, the rebels executed nine people who were convicted of involvement in the killing of a senior Houthi official, Saleh al-Samad, in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition in April 2018.

Yemen was plunged into a devastating conflict when the Houthis descended from their northern stronghold in 2014, seizing Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and forcing the government into exile.

A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized government. The conflict has turned in recent years into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The automatic drink machine sparked concerns among some that teens and young adults could soon be without jobs.

The automatic drink machine (left) at a Sydney market riled up some Aussies who voiced their concerns about limited jobs available for young people. Source: Manly Observer/Google images

A "futuristic" find at a local market has reignited concerns for future generations, as young Aussies, including teens and graduates, continue in their battle with finding suitable jobs, permanent or otherwise.

The minimum age to work across Australia varies, with some states allowing teens as young as 13 to get a job. However, some fear the rise of tech might take away working opportunities for young Aussies in years to come.

Residents in Sydney's Northern Beaches were treated to a state-of-the-art bubble tea vending machine which made an appearance at a local market during the week. A photo shared online by the Manly Observer shows a man ordering a drink, which is then made using a robotic arm before being dispersed.

"Meanwhile over at Dee Why Market it's the year 2050, and locals are getting bubble tea made with a robotic arm," said the post, however not everyone was as impressed

The bubble tea vending machine uses a robotic arm to make the selected drink, with some fearing it can put young kids out of jobs. Source: Manly Observer

"Id rather go to a cafe and be served by a real person. Keep people in jobs,' one person hit back. Meanwhile, another simply said, "Keep kids in Jobs".

"It is easy for people to love all this automation now, but when their children cannot get jobs due to 'robotic arms' in shops/businesses, it will be too late," another person responded, encouraging people to instead "support businesses who employ actual people/teens."

"This will eventually be all restaurants," another noted.

Josh Peak, the secretary of the SDA union recently told the ABC that working has many benefits for young people, including "developing life skills and great friendships". Many start out in the retail and fast food or hospitality industries

"There's no doubt that getting your first job in the retail fast food sector is a really exciting time and brings a range of really good experiences," he said.

Competitive job market in Australia

A rising number of Gen Zs, including recent uni graduates, have expressed their frustration at not being able to find sufficient work. The unemployment rate rose to a two-year high of 4.1 per cent in April. Despite employers adding 38,500 jobs in the month, the number of unemployed people jumped by 30,000.

Competition for jobs is also fierce right now with more employees competing for fewer jobs. SEEK found job ads declined 4.7 per cent last month, while the number of applications per job has been steadily rising, jumping 8.6 per cent.

Competition for live roles continues to grow, with applications per job ad rising significantly in March, and in almost all industries, SEEK ANZ managing director Kendra Banks previously told Yahoo Finance.

However, Zetter Recruitments director of recruitment, Ursula Colman, explained how Gen Zs either had unrealistic expectations about their pay or the time needed in the office.

"The amount that people are willing to work for has definitely changed. We will often have entry-level roles and Gen Zs are like: No, that's not paying enough, I'm looking for more," she said.

"We are seeing more and more Gen Zs wanting to work from home and, historically, those first roles in your career are grafting roles where you're having to commute and work long hours."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
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.
Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas and a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, warned fellow members of his party not to take "lightly" Donald Trump's conviction of 34 felony counts related to hush money payments to a former porn star before the 2016 election.

"You had 12 jurors who, from all appearances, really devoted themselves to seeking the truth in this case, and all 12 of them unanimously said on 34 counts Donald Trump is guilty. I don't think that should be lightly dismissed," Hutchinson said in an interview Friday on "NewsNation Now."

He said Trump's conviction could have serious implications for the upcoming election.

"You can challenge the judge's jury instructions, it could obviously be reversed on appeal, but don't diminish what the jury found after hearing weeks of testimony. And that's the major point," he said.

"This is a serious moment for the United States of America. No one should be gleeful about a conviction of a former president," Hutchinson added.

A Manhattan criminal court jury on Thursday found the former president guilty of falsifying business records in an effort to cover up a $130,000 payment to silence Stormy Daniels' allegations that she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, at a news conference on Friday reiterated his baseless claims that President Joe Biden "rigged" the case against him.

His Republican allies have also slammed the conviction, with GOP Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert calling it a "sham verdict."

Hutchison cautioned Republicans to be "very concerned" with the way they talk about the verdict against Trump.

"Republicans should be very concerned that we have a presumptive nominee that has now been convicted of serious felony charges. And so that's the message that I think's important," the former governor said. "We ought to be careful about how we address this."
The neighbor linked to Justice Samuel Alito's upside-down flag controversy told the Guardian that she believes Alito used his security detail to intimidate her for her anti-Trump lawn signs following the 2020 election.

After her conflict regarding the signs with the justice's conservative, Donald Trump-supporting wife, Martha-Ann Alito, in 2021 a large black sedan that was part of Alito's secruity detail began parking in front of Emily Baden's mother's home in the neighborhood, where Baden then lived, she told the newspaper.

She believed whoever was behind the darkly tinted windows was keeping watch on her and her family.

"This happened a handful of times," Baden told the Guardian. "I took that as directly threatening."

Baden and her husband reported that the car again showed up in front of Baden's mother's house after the New York Times broke the story about the controversial upside-down American flag hanging from the Alitos' flagpole at the couple's home in Alexandria, Virginia, before Joe Biden's inauguration. The flag is a symbol of support for the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection that aimed to toss out presidential election results and replace Biden with donald Trump.

Alito, who is expected to function as an impartial Supreme Court justice, has said his wife flew the flag from their home and that he knew nothing about it.

He told the Times his wife raised the flag in response to a "neighbor's use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs," which he did not detail.

Baden found the pushback onerous.

She believes the implied threat from the hovering black car was: "We could do terrible things to you, and nobody would be able to do anything about it. When it comes to justices at the Supreme Court, they make the laws, but the laws don't apply to them."

The Alitos could not be reached for comment.

Lawmakers citing ethical breaches have pushed Justice Alito to recuse himself from cases concerning illegal attempts to overturn the presidential vote, including deciding Trump's claim of absolute immunity from election subversion charges. They cited the upside-down flag and a religious flag flown at the Alitos' vacation home that's also linked to Trump's MAGA movement.

Alito refused to comply with the lawmakers' demand in a letter Wednesday, saying he was "duty-bound to reject your recusal request."
A lawyer for Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress at the center of Donald Trump's hush money trial, said the former president's conviction on all 34 felony counts "hit her hard."

"I got a pretty instant report from the courthouse," Clark Brewster, her lawyer said in an interview Friday on NewsNation's "Elizabeth Vargas Reports." So it hadn't hit the news yet when I told her. And she was really kind of taken aback and she got emotional."

Brewster explained: "I think it was the culmination of a lot of things  the finality of it and, you know, the worry and nervousness that she had throughout leading up to this," Brewster said.

He emphasized that Daniels did not express "happiness" about the verdict.

"It was more or less a relief that it's over, and really kind of even surprised at the verdict even though we anticipated that it could be a hung jury or probably a conviction. The finality hit her hard," Brewster said.

Daniels has typically appeared to deal with the stress and vicious attacks on her with aplomb, hot poses  and dead-pan humor, which has earned her a loyal social media following on X of more than 1.3 million fans.

But her husband, Barrett Blade, also revealed the couple's fears being at the center of the Donald Trump storm when he said last month they were considering leaving the country for their own safety if Trump was acquitted.

If it's "not guilty we gotta decide what to do. Good chance we'll probably vacate this country," he said in an interview on CNN.

"If he is found guilty she's still going to have to deal with all the hate," Blade added.

"I don't see it as a win situation either way, I know that we would like to get on with our lives, I know that she wants to move past this ... but I don't know if that ever will be," he said.

A jury in Manhattan criminal court found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election to hide her allegations that she had a sexual relationship with him 10 years earlier.
A new poll has found that a significant 10% of Republican voters say they are "less likely" to vote for Donald Trump this November following his conviction in a hush money trial in New York City.

But a majority said the verdict would have no bearing on their vote.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted in the hours after the former president was found guilty Thursday on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, showed that 56% of Republican voters say it won't affect their vote, while 35% said Trump's conviction would make them more likely to support him.

Among independent voters, 56% say they would still vote for Trump despite the verdict, 25% say they are less likely to do so, and 18% say they are more likely to cast a ballot for him Nov. 5.

Any margin of voters pulling away from Trump because of the conviction could have serious consequences for his bid to return to the White House.

The poll found that he and President Joe Biden remain neck-and-neck, with 41% of voters backing Biden and 39% supporting Trump if the election were held today.

More than half of voters, 53%, say that the judge should not sentence Trump to jail time in the hush money case, while 46% say he deserves to be imprisoned, the poll found.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be named the Republican presidential candidate.

Asked about whether the case against Trump was politically motivated, as he has claimed, 52% disagreed, saying the prosecution was about upholding the rule of law.

Forty-six percent said it was an attempt to keep Trump out of the White House.
Social media takedown artists had a field day taunting MAGA lovers and other Donald Trump supporters threatening civil war after the former president was convicted of 34 felony counts in his hush money case to cover up sex with a porn star ahead of the 2020 election.

"Oh ho ho the chowderheads are in their feelings today, man," said one extremely harsh critic in a TikTok video. Aside from a couple of "psychos out there," as for civil war "you're too f---ing comfortable to sacrific anything. You guys barely take the stairs," he added.

2016: Hillary wins - Civil War!

2017: Border Wall or Civil War!

2018: Repeal Obamacare or Civil War!

2019: Impeach Trump - Civil War!

2020: Biden wins - Civil War!

2022: Lose midterms - Civil War!

2023: Indict Trump - Civil War!

2024: Convict Trump - Civil War!  _ (@SundaeDivine) June 1, 2024

Many of the skewering quips in the trending "civil war" chatter were visual:

MAGAs preparing for Civil War...pic.twitter.com/1bfbxEH9C5  Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) March 19, 2024

Trump would like you to have a civil war now, Americaso he can avoid prison pic.twitter.com/CgpTCzKr6K  Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) May 30, 2024

Uh oh. MAGAs are hankering for a Civil War againpic.twitter.com/NIoJSNMRaj  Thank you Joe Biden (@IvanasStairCam) May 31, 2024

How's the civil war going? pic.twitter.com/p63MQVeuY5  Voice of Reason (@raggapegs) June 1, 2024





MAGA getting ready for civil war.



pic.twitter.com/FKnm3kGeko  Dittie (@DittiePE) January 26, 2024

Not everyone was amused. They pointed out the violence of the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021  and terrorism. One commented about a past civil war threat from Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: "Your laughter will not save you."

A local radio station reported that Mattus told police he made the bombs as protection from undocumented immigrants and a corrupt government.



'Ready for civil war': Cops find conspiracist's car packed with pipe bombs https://t.co/Ix5I7WvmaV   Lauren Ashley Davis - OG Meidas Mighty  (@Meidas_LaurenA) May 24, 2024
Convicted killer Chad Daybell was sentenced to death Saturday for the grisly slayings of his first wife and the two youngest children of his second wife, imprisoned-for-life "Doomsday Mom" Lori Vallow Daybell.

Daybell, 55, sat with his hands in his lap and showed no reaction as Judge Steven Boyce announced the jury's unanimous decision in Boise, Idaho, the Associated Press reported.

The punishment came two days after the self-published author of doomsday fiction loosely based on Mormon teachings was convicted of conspiracy, first-degree murder and related crimes in the killings of 49-year-old Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow.

Prosecutors alleged that Chad Daybell was motivated by a "desire for sex, money and power."

During the penalty phase of his trial, relatives of the victims made emotional statements, with JJ's grandmother, Kay Woodcock tearfully describing how the boy would often softly touch others and ask if they were OK.

"I can't express just how much I wish for more time to create memories," Woodcock said as she began weeping.

Vallow Daybell's oldest child, Colby Ryan, also told jurors that it was "like a nuclear bomb dropping" when his siblings were killed three years after his father died.

"My three kids will never know the kindness of Tylee's heart or JJ's silly and goofy personality," he said. "It's not an overstatement to say that I lost everything."

Chad Daybell didn't testify during either the evidence or penalty phase of his trial, CBS News said.

Lori Vallow Daybell, 50, was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole for murdering her two youngest kids and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, who was found dead of asphyxiation in her home in October 2019.

The children disappeared a month earlier and their remains were found buried in Chad Daybell's yard the following summer.

Lori Vallow Daybell told a friend she believed they'd been possessed by evil spirits and turned into "zombies."

Both she and Chad Daybell, her fifth husband, tried to blame all three killings on Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, who died in late 2019.

Lori Vallow Daybell still faces trial in Arizona over the fatal shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was JJ's father.
The female passenger defended her right to speak however she wants after the driver took issue with her phone call to a friend.

Alejandra claims her male Uber driver told her she must only speak English when in Australia, rather than her native tongue Spanish. Source: Getty/TikTok

A Colombian woman visiting Australia has detailed her upsetting experience with an Uber driver who she claims made an unfair request while she was travelling in his car in Perth last month.

The woman named Alejandra claims the male driver told her she must only speak English when in Australia, and not her native tongue Spanish, after a phone call with her friend while in the back seat of the vehicle.

The traveller filmed part of the interaction before sharing it on TikTok. In the video, the woman is heard defending herself and her right to speak in whatever language she wants.

"This is our language. Spanish is my language, and I will always speak Spanish if I want. Even if I'm here in Australia," she said to the male driver whose response is unclear in the video.

"What I'm saying is, show respect. I'm talking with my friend, personal things and I shouldn't be thinking 'oh maybe I can talk in English so he can hear all the gossip."

Uber driver apologises to female passenger

Again, the male driver appears to defend his reasoning, although what he says is unclear in the recording. The woman went on to say "[speaking Spanish] is my thing," and reassured the driver "we're not making fun of you," referring to the phone conversation between her and her friend.

"We don't care. We are just talking about our personal things, our personal life, so I don't understand what is the problem," she went on to explain, to which the Uber driver was heard saying, "Okay, I'm sorry. I apologise".

Aussies applaud woman's reaction to Uber experience

Alejandra's interaction with the Uber driver attracted a large response on social media with many applauding the woman for her response and for "advocating" for herself.

"Driver needs to chill, many tourists and residents speak multiple languages here," said one Aussie. "He needs to respect you, limit to his job drive and thats it," another said.

"So proud of how well you stood up for yourself, but am also so sorry you had to experience that here," said another. While someone else wrote: "You taught him a good lesson and he apologized so it's good"

One however said they "understand the [Uber] driver though" explaining: "It happened to me in another country, but once I learned the language there, I got to know people aren't speaking about me."

Another simply said, 'he is right" but didn't offer a reason why.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Koalas were a familiar site across the suburb until the 1980s and several crossing signs remain like 'ghosts' of what they once had.

Locals do not want koala crossing signs removed from the Pittwater despite the animals now being locally extinct. Source: Sonja Elwood

Driving through one Aussie suburb youll notice four street signs that are no longer relevant. But locals warn they shouldn't be ignored. And they dont want them removed. The ageing signs around the northern Sydney Pittwater region warn motorists to drive with caution because koalas cross in this area.

But koalas are now regionally extinct and act as a warning to the rest of the state who take the marsupials presence for granted. Local koala advocate John Illingsworth describes the signs as being like ghosts of what was once here.

Resident remembers when koalas roamed the streets

Born in idyllic Newport, south of Palm Beach where the television drama series Home and Away was filmed, Illingsworth has memories of koalas around his neighbourhood that go back to the 1950s.

There were always koalas around when I was young. I do recall them occasionally walking up the street, he said.

Related: Tourist town 'in shock' after koala habitat bulldozed by developer

John Illingsworth remembers seeing koalas around the Pittwater area up until the 1980s. Source: Supplied

Illingsworth remembers one being attacked by a dog in the mid-1960s, and he fought the animal off on that occasion. But the koalas clumsy attempt to defend itself made him realise they didnt have a hope against increased urbanisation. Today there are dogs damn-well everywhere, he said.

The last time he heard a koala bellow he was in Clareville and that was back in 1982. Although records suggest they werent wiped out from the area until seven years later.

The Pittwater signs are almost like a ruin of an extinct species.Saul Deane, Total Environment Centre

The key factors that killed the region's koalas?

While dogs played a role in picking off the last of the Pittwaters koalas, Illingsworth believes there were two key factors that predated their regional extinction. I just think its human ignorance and wickedness really. We created habitat loss and brought in motor cars, he said.

We wont slow down, we wont drive our cars less. We will cut down gum trees because they drop limbs and replace them with something more benign. And if you throw in chlamydia, all those things were the perfect storm.

He believes Aussies understand what the lessons are from the loss of the Pittwaters koalas. But they havent had any effect.

Theres just logging everywhere, he said. And with development, Australia is the land of the vested interest and the vested interest wins all the time.

Developer LendLease has removed large habitat trees that once lined Appin Road in Sydney's south-west. Source: Barry Durman

South-west Sydney's koalas face 'slow road to extinction'

Saul Deane, a koala habitat protection specialist at non-profit Total Environment Centre is warning the Pittwater case could soon be repeated in south-west Sydney.

It's there that the Albanese and Minns Governments have backed the continued replacement of koala habitat with new multi-million dollar housing projects by massive development corporations including Walker Corporation and LendLease.

In the Pittwater there were certainly a few big developments. Slowly what happened was that habitat corridors the koalas needed were all cut off, Deane said.

Then it just became a slow road to extinction. They put together a koala management plan but by then it was too late. And the last of the koalas were mopped up by dogs and car strikes.

Gunnedah once called itself the Koala Capital of the World. Source: Michael Dahlstrom

The Pittwater is just one of many regions in NSW where koalas have become regionally extinct. Gunnedah once claimed to be the "koala capital" but now you'd be lucky to see one anywhere.

Deane describes it as really sad that the history of regional koala extinction may now playing out again in the south-west, despite a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry concluding that koalas will likely be wiped out across the entire state in just 26 years.

Other priorities are put ahead of the survival of our iconic and endangered animals, he said. We will see the same outcome play out slowly all over again unless the state government steps in.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Danielle Nichole Munn has created a diverse community since opening her store Witch Slapped in Pittsfield. Munn keeps a community fund to help out those in need and is currently raffling off this 'manifestation station' designed and donated by Dianne's Designs for $10 at ticket. PreviousNext

Community Hero: Danielle Nichole Munn



Danielle Munn with friends in this photo courtesy of Casi Kristant, left. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Witch Slapped owner and founder Danielle Nichole Munn has been nominated for the May Community Hero of the Month.

The Community Hero of the Month series recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community.

The series is in partnership with Haddad Auto and will run for the next six months. Nominate a community hero here

Munn moved to the Berkshires in 2018 when she met her husband, Gary Munn, who grew up in the area.

"I have never lived in a more diverse and more welcoming and more connected community ever and I've lived in 12 different cities," Munn said.

She comes from an Italian Roman Catholic family but did not feel connected to that kind of faith.

"I didn't feel connected to that type of life, that type of faith, so I've spent most of my life growing through my belief systems," Munn said.

Her mother was the first person to give her a dream book, which led her down the path of becoming a witch.

When she first opened their store in 2022 , the idea was to create a place where witches, pagans, or anyone in the spiritual faith can come and commune because they do not have their own churches.

Since then, it has grown to be a welcoming environment where everyone belongs.

"Our idea is to create a place where the outsiders belong," Munn said.

"Where if you don't feel like you fit into society or the regular things that happen out there, this is probably your place."

By bringing together a diverse group of people with different experiences and expertise, the store has created a network that allows it to connect people to diverse resources.

"I walked into the store a few months after she opened and immediately I could see how she connects with people and community. I'm surprised she's not a community organizer as someone who is a community organizer by trade," Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said.

"She knows how to connect people and has so much empathy. And that's sort of the center of her business model, which is very unique, but it's really working."

It happens every day, where someone comes in expressing a need and another person just walks through the door with that skill or connection to the resource, Munn said.

In addition, Munn helped spearhead several fundraising initiatives, including food drives, holiday hardship drives, domestic violence aid drives, book drives, and more.

"We do quite a bit as a facility, as a community center, but as a community, as a coven, as a group of people that come together," she said.

She has also opened her shop to organizations seeking space to host events that fund their initiatives, including the Elizabeth Freeman Center, Berkshire Pride, and others.

"[Munn] really is the epitome of the new generation of businesses here in our downtown. She not only has come in and welcomed everyone within our community, but she works very well and collaborates with all of the businesses around her and really talks to the heart of the Berkshires," Rebecca Brien, managing director of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., said.

She is here in Pittsfield rooting for the other businesses and the people who come through her door. The world needs more people like Munn, Costa said.

When she sees a problem, she immediately builds a community to help solve it, whether it's an individual who is struggling with homelessness, an abusive relationship, or other issues, she said, adding Munn is a natural leader in that way because everyone rallies around her and says "yes."

"Everyone deserves to live in a community where they feel like they belong. And I don't know anybody who's walked into the store and didn't feel welcomed and we all just connect," Costa said,

Drag queen Casi "Poppy DaBubbly" Kristant has been able to utilize the space for her Poppy classes and drag story hour, so it has become a welcoming environment, Kristant said.

"I been living in the Berkshires only about two months and stumbled upon the store, and [Munn] instantly welcomed me in, and the whole community that I currently have is because of [her,]" Kristant said.

"[Munn] introduces like energies to like energies and makes friends, creates a warm space where people just really can feel comfortable and welcome, and included."

The store has a food bank people can use that is currently getting a bit low, so she will be putting a call out to her community soon to let them know it needs to be replenished.

"We have more people in need than we have giving, but the process is working the best we can, and immediately when I asked for help, our people show up. They really show up for everything," Munn said.

Witch Slapped has a general community fund dedicated to its outreach programming. The current fundraising effort is a manifestation station raffle.

A $10 raffle ticket offers the chance to win a "manifestation station" (a table and two chairs with astrological upholstery) valued at $500, designed and donated by Dianne's Designs. All the proceeds will go toward the community fund.

Since opening her store and center, Munn has grown her community. She hopes to expand one day by establishing a nonprofit section that is partially subsidized by the store.

"The idea is that we created the store part so that the sales would not only pay for the establishment for the space and the overhead, but that the extra money there could then be put into the passions and the projects that we're trying to work on within our pagan community, but then within our neighborhood community," Munn said.

The store has become more than a store for many people, she said. Since opening, it has reached between 5,000 to 7,000 community members, what some call coven members.

"I couldn't believe, actually, the attraction at first, but now that we've built, there are go-to people within our community, and I don't do this alone," Munn said.

"I may be the representative of the person who says, 'OK, let's let's do this,' but it takes the entire coven, and those that are willing to give themselves in order to get this to work."

It is more than a store, she said. It is a judgment-free gathering place. People can come in, relax, feel safe, and don't have to buy anything.

"The Berkshires in general, but also Pittsfield, has just grown in how it's trying to expand its art, its community, and all of the diversity. And I think what [Munn] brings inside Witch Slapped is a hub of that," Kristant said.

"It's a place where everyone can bring their art, their classes, their special skills, and just share together. So, the way it impacts the community though is [Munn] has really created that space where people can come and be together and grow together, which is awesome."

The area is constantly growing and changing and even in this small community, it can not always feel inclusive, Kristant said.

"But Danielle created this space that is inclusive and allows people to grow and ask questions come in and ask questions come in and meet new friends. And for a community to grow. It needs space to grow and Danielle's created that space."

The lending library, for example, where people can come in and borrow as many books as they need and give as many books they can, Munn said.



Kristant, aka Poppy DaBubbly, is one of the community members who uses space in the store for activities and story hours. What Munn has done with Witch Slapped should be a "shining example" of what other businesses can do, Brien said.

"I really think that it allows everyone in our downtown, regardless of your background, regardless of your beliefs, and regardless of where you're from, to feel that they are welcome in her safe space," she said.

Since starting to work at Witch Slapped, retail associate Bree McCusker has met so many more people and become much more connected to the community, she said.

The outreach initiatives that Munn has done have had an "amazing impact in this small community in Pittsfield, as a whole in the Berkshire County, and larger," McCusker said.

"I've seen people be supported in times of need. I've seen the community rally in a rush when there was an emergency with a family in need immediately."

She has also seen her involvement in the community in a political way, working on fundraising efforts for Costa's City Council campaign.

"That made me more aware and actually influenced me to vote. So it's had many rippling waves," she said.
New York Man Charged With Enticing a Child

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A 62-year-old New York State man was arraigned Friday for enticement of a child.

David Stypa was arrested on Thursday and charged with enticement of a child younger than 16; two counts of disseminating obscene matter to a minor; and attempt to commit a crime.

Stypa was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court in front of Judge Jennifer Tyne, who ordered he be held on $100,000 cash bail.

The defendent was arrested following an investigation into his online communications with a minor and is alleged to have been in communication with the child over online platforms. When Stypa was arrested, he was allegedly in route to meet the minor in Pittsfield.
Global technology leader, Epson, has unveiled its revitalized brand message, Engineered for Good in Southeast Asia. This pivotal shift underscores Epsons commitment to marry innovation with purpose by co-creating cutting-edge technology solutions that contribute towards a sustainable future.

Epsons evolution from Its in the Details to Engineered for Good marks a strategic leap towards a sustainable-driven future

In an era where brands are distinguished by their values and aspirations, Epson redefines its identity to champion sustainability and meaningful innovation. The shift from its former brand message It's In the Details heralds a new purpose for Epson to go beyond product excellence and leverage on technology as a way to enrich communities. Epsons corporate philosophy of sho-sho-sei - or, efficient, compact, and precise in Japanese - also aligns with this new brand message.

The actions of individuals and businesses, no matter how small, will play an important part in helping Southeast Asia achieve a sustainable future. Epson recognizes that sustainability is a foundational element of responsible business practices. Hence, it is important that we communicate and advocate the use of Epsons eco-efficient technology which helps reduce energy consumption, enhance productivity, and minimise the overall environmental impact of every Epson product, shares Tan May Lin, Regional Director of Brand and Communications, Epson Southeast Asia.

Our Engineered for Good brand campaign reflects Epsons unique philosophy of delivering efficient, compact, and precise innovations. By further embracing innovation, we aim to combat global environmental challenges and societal issues, to enrich peoples lives and contribute to a better world.

This brand shift also builds on Epsons momentum towards its Environmental Vision 2050, which stipulates a goal to become carbon negative and underground resource-free by 2050. At the end of 2023, Epson Southeast Asia adopted 100% renewable energy at all major sites and factories worldwide, including the Batangas plant in the Philippines. Specifically in Southeast Asia, Epson also completely phased out laser printers at the end of 2023, due to laser technologys limited ability to make significant steps towards improved sustainability compared to inkjet printers.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the

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Movie legend Robert De Niro has been stripped of a prestigious leadership award, after a fiery speech outside the Donald Trump hush-money trial was deemed a distraction by organisers.

A jury convicted former president Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to adult 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.

De Niro, 80, was invited by Trumps opposition team, Joe Bidens presidential campaign, to say a few words at a press conference outside the courthouse. He called the former Home Alone 2 star a tyrant and has been vocal in his criticism throughout the proceedings, even issuing a response following the verdict.

When Trump ran in 2016 it was like a joke, he said in the courthouse speech. This buffoon running for president. No, never could happen. We have forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who werent taken seriously until they became vicious dictators. With Trump, we have a second chance, and no one is laughing now.

The Oscar-winning actor was due to attend the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundations Celebration of Service to America Awards next week where he was expected to receive their highest honour. The Goodfellas star was to be awarded the 2024 Service of Leadership Award in recognition of his charitable work and public service.

However, his invite to the ceremony has now been rescinded, according to The Huffington Post.

The Independent has contacted De Niros team for comment.

The Celebration of Service to America Awards is dedicated to honoring the vital local journalism and public service that local radio and television stations provide to their communities, the NAB said in a statement provided to Deadline. This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners.

The statement continued: While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr De Niros 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.

( Getty Images )

De Niro responded to the developments with a statement to The Hill in which he said, I support the work of the NAB Leadership Foundation and would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for what the Foundation has done and will continue to do for the good of us all, and I wish them well for their continued good work.

Trump and De Niro have previously exchanged blows in the past as the actor has been a fierce critic of the former presidents policies, while The Apprentice star has branded him a loser in return.

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Robert De Niro, whose acting talents have greatly diminished, with his reputation now shot, must even use a teleprompter for his foul and disgusting language, so disrespectful to our Country, he wrote in a post last year.

He has become unwatchable both in movies, and with the FOOLS that destroyed the Academy Awards, bringing them from one of the top shows in the Country to a Low Rated afterthought, the ex-president added. De Niro should focus on his life, which is a mess, rather than the lives of others. He has become a total loser, as the World watches, waits, and laughs!
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Diary entries from Nicole Brown Simpsons secret journal, detailing the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband OJ Simpson, have been revealed in a new Lifetime documentary The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson.

The two-night special, which premieres on June 1, marks the 30th anniversary of Simpsons murder at age 35. It features exclusive interviews with her three sisters and closest friends who shed new light on her life and tragic death, filmmakers said.

On June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson was stabbed to death alongside her friend Ron Goldman outside her Brentwood, California home. OJ was charged with the murders but acquitted by a jury at what became known as the trial of the century. OJ Simpson died from prostate cancer in April at the age of 76.

In the new documentary, Denise, Dominique and Tanya Brown open up about the relationship between Nicole and OJ.

Denise shares how she missed signs of abuse because they seemed very loving toward each other.

Nicoles private diary told a different story about their relationship, one filled with verbal, emotional and physical abuse.

open image in gallery Nicole Brown Simpson and OJ Simpson. Diary entries featured in a new Lifetime documentary highlight the abuse Nicole says OJ inflicted. ( A&E Networks/Getty Images )

The first handwritten diary entry, shown in episode one, detailed a fight they had in the first year of their relationship, shortly after the death of OJs one-year-old daughter Aaren, whom he shared with his first wife Marguerite Simpson.

Early in 1st year 1977 in San Franciso after his baby died I found an earring in my apt bed on Bedford, she wrote. I accused OJ of sleeping with someone named Teri. He threw fit, chased me, grabbed me threw me into walls. Threw all my clothes out of window onto street [from] 3rd floor. Bruised me, calmed him down.

Later in the episode, Judie Manto, a longtime family friend of the Browns, recalled visiting the Simpsons at their Laguna beach house. She described the energy at the house as light and energetic, but then [OJ] would just come and it would be like a black cloud all of a sudden.

open image in gallery Nicole Brown Simpson kept a private diary detailing the abuse she suffered ( Screenshot courtesy of Lifetime )

Beach house  Hit me, threw me up against the walls. Threw my camera, it broke the paneling  moldings off the doors to master bdrm and garage door, Nicole wrote in a second diary entry.

Finally, the episode recounted the time OJ got angry over a gay man kissing his and Nicoles son, Justin. The family was, at the time, gathered at a restaurant in Hawaii for Christmas in 1988.

There was a gay couple that was sitting at the table and they just thought Justin was beautiful, Denise explained. One of the guys, he kissed Justin on the forehead. And it was so sweet and so nice, and as soon as we walked out all hell broke loose.

open image in gallery This image released by Lifetime shows promotional art for The Life & Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson," premiering June 1 on Lifetime. ( AP )

open image in gallery OJ Simpson famously tried on the gloves during the trial over the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson that became known as the trial of the century ( AFP via Getty Images )

In a clip shown from the 1996 video deposition of OJs close friend, Marcus Allen, he told lawyers: After Nicole had let the man hold the baby, she took the baby back, OJ supposedly had said, Why did you have that gay guy hold my baby, or something like that and she says, Why are you concerned about him being gay? Your father is gay. And OJ got very upset with her.

OJ had a fraught relationship with his father, Jimmy Simpson, who had come out as gay later in life and died from AIDS in 1986 at age 66.

Nicole described the incident in her diary, writing: Hawaii gay man kissed Justin. OJ threw me up against walls in our hotel and on the floor. Put bruises on my arms and back. The window scared me  thought hed throw me out.

Denise said the next day, Nicole wore a long-sleeved shirt despite the warm weather. I knew he was pissed off, but I didnt know anything else that happened behind closed doors, she said. I read in her diary afterwards that he had her up against the wall, over the balcony, doing the usual  hurting her.

For the last three decades, the Brown sisters have been anti-domestic violence advocates, educating the public on signs of abuse as well as advising and supporting victims.

Speaking on Good Morning America ahead of the documentarys release, Denise said that she hopes it will show people who Nicole was before her murder became the trial of the century.

The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson two-night event premieres on June 1 at 8p/7c on Lifetime.
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Actor Maya Hawke says Stranger Things fans attending her live gigs left her almost depressed.

The 25-year-old, who is the daughter of Pulp Fiction actor Uma Thurman and Dead Poets Society star Ethan Hawke, made her breakthrough as Robin Buckley in the record-breaking Netflix series.

The sci-fi show follows a group of friends as they band together to beat the monstrous Demogorgon in parallel universe, The Upside Down.

Hawke, who has made a candid nepo admission about her role in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, made her transition to music in the same year, releasing To Love a Boy and Open in 2019. In a new interview to promote her third album, Chaos Angel, the Asteroid City star opened up about the impact of the shows fame, and its cult following, on her music career.

I was almost depressed about it, she told The Times, reflecting on the prevalence of Stranger Things fans at her gigs. Hawke recalls assuming people attended due to her association with the show.

Like, Im glad there are people here, but I guess they dont care about the music.

However, Hawke says she soon realised there was genuine overlap between those who were interested in the show and those who related to her music.

Its an experience she said her Stranger Things co-stars Joe Keery (Steve Harrington) and Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler) have been through, as they released music shortly after their breakthrough roles.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images )

Last month, Keery was forced to address rumours of a Taylor Swift collaboration, after they were both seen in a New York studio at the same time.

Keery, who releases his music under the name Djo, put speculation around a possible collaboration to rest.

I just happened to be there the day that she was there, he said on The Spout Podcast.

Hawke, also addressed her nepo-baby background, admitting that she had secured roles on legendary director Quentin Tarantinos movie Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood because of her connections.

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open image in gallery Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington and Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson ( Courtesy of Netflix )

Ive been wildly made fun of for this clip when I said, on the red carpet, that I auditioned, she said, although she confirmed she did make an audition tape.

I never meant to imply that I didnt get the part for nepotistic reasons  I think I totally did.

The actor who has recently referred to her family as the indie Kardashians added that she is comfortable with not deserving the life that she leads.

Deserves is a complicated word, she said. There are so many people who deserve to have this kind of life who dont, but I think Im comfortable with not deserving it and doing it anyway. And I know that my not doing it wouldnt help anyone.
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Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are on course to win more than 350 seats in Indias general election, according to four exit polls released after the final day of voting, extending the governing alliances already large majority in parliament.

The broad opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive (INDIA) alliance, led by the Congress party, was projected to win more than 120 seats. Indias lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, has 543 seats in total, with a simple majority of 272 required to form the government.

Exit polls have a patchy record in India, with analysts saying it is a challenge for them to get the numbers exactly right in such a large and diverse country. In recent years they have typically predicted the result correctly but underestimated the winners margin of victory.

All four exit polls had the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning more than the 352 seats it won in 2019, with pollsters Republic PMARQ predicting it was likely to win 359 seats, with the INDIA bloc on 154.

The poll from India News-D-Dynamics predicted 371 seats for the NDA and 125 seats for the Congress-led-opposition alliance. Other parties not aligned to either bloc were likely to secure 47 seats, it said.

Polling company Jan Ki Baat projected between 362 and 392 seats for the NDA and 141 to 161 for the INDIA bloc. And pollsters Republic Bharat-Matrize projected the Modi-led alliance would win 353-368 seats in the lower house of parliament. The INDIA bloc was unlikely to win more than 133 seats, its survey said.

open image in gallery Supporters cheer to welcome Modi during a roadshow ahead of the last phase of elections in Kolkata, India on Tuesday ( AP )

The opposition alliance had already dismissed the exit polls ahead of their publication, calling them prefixed.

Nearly one billion people were eligible to vote in the seven-phase election that began on 19 April and ended on Saturday, held through the worst of the scorching summer heat in many parts.

Mr Modi began his re-election campaign by focusing on his achievements over the last 10 years but soon switched tactics to mostly targeting the Congress by accusing it of favouring Indias minority Muslims. Islamophobic party adverts and rally speeches by the prime minister led to admonition from the election commission but no further action.

open image in gallery Supporters wave flags with images of Indian National Congress (INC) party leader Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Amritsar on 25 May ( Getty )

Pre-poll surveys suggested the BJP would easily keep or extend its majority in the election, and Mr Modis top campaigners spoke of winning as many as 400 seats. But the party ran into a spirited campaign by the INDIA alliance, sowing some doubt about how close the race might be.

The opposition has largely campaigned on affirmative action programmes and saving the countrys constitution from what they call Mr Modis dictatorial rule, an allegation the BJP denies.

open image in gallery Farmers shout slogans against Modi, during a protest to demand minimum crop prices on the outskirts of Gurdaspur on 24 May ( Getty )

Indias election commission will count the ballots, which are all entered into electronic voting machines, on 4 June. Results are expected the same day.

A victory for Mr Modi, 73, will make him only the second prime minister after Indias first, Jawaharlal Nehru, to win three consecutive terms.
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Almost two dozen election officials have died of suspected heatstroke in India ahead of the last day of voting in the countrys general election.

Daytime temperatures have been reaching close to 50C this week in Delhi and other parts of the country, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) says the heatwave over northern and central India is expected to continue for at least another two days.

Deaths linked to the heatwave were reported from several states on Friday, including a number that were involved in voting on Saturday in the seventh and final phase of the election. Results are due to be released on 4 June.

In Indias most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, at least 15 died of heat stroke, reported the <em>Press Trust of India</em>.

The dead include seven home guard soldiers, three sanitation workers, one clerk posted at the Chief Medical Officers office, one consolidation officer, and one worker in the home guard team, Dr Raj Bahadur Kamal, the principal of Mirzapurs Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College, told the agency.

He said they were brought to the facility with high fever and high blood pressure.

Two polling officials died in UPs 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.

Fourteen people died in Bihar on Thursday, officials said, including 10 people involved in organising the election. Election officials are typically required to stand on duty all day, often outdoors. Five fatalities were reported in the Bhojpur district, said the disaster management department. Three election officials died in Rohtas and one each in Kaimur and Aurangabad districts.

open image in gallery A delivery partner with the Indian online delivery company Swiggy wipes sweat off his face as he waits outside with other delivery partners at one of Swiggys Instamart dark stores on a hot summer day, during a heatwave in New Delhi ( Reuters )

The department said it has initiated the process of granting compensation to the families of those who died.

Despite the blistering hot summer, hundreds of thousands lined up outside polling stations to cast their ballot for the last 57 parliamentary seats being contested on Saturday, including in prime minister Narendra Modis constituency in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi.

In Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, voters lined up outside polling stations early on Saturday morning to avoid the scorching heat, with temperatures expected to reach 34C amid 75 per cent humidity.

The election is considered one of the most consequential in Indias history. If Mr Modi wins, hell be only the second Indian leader to retain power for a third term after Jawaharlal Nehru, the countrys first prime minister.

open image in gallery A boy drinks water to cool himself in a tubewell on a hot day at the fields in New Delhi, India, 31 May 2024 ( EPA )

Nearly 970 million voters  more than 10 per cent of the worlds population  were eligible to elect a new parliament for five years. More than 8,300 candidates are running for office.

Most polls show Mr Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party leading over the broad opposition alliance thats challenging them, led by the Congress party. Exit polls are due to be released after voting closes on Saturday, and not before 6pm.

open image in gallery Voters wait for their turn to cast their vote during the seventh and final phase of voting of the national election in Varanasi , India, Saturday, 1 June 2024 ( AP )

Mr Modis campaign began on a platform of economic progress, with promises to improve the lives of the poor and turn India into a developed nation by 2047. But his and his partys rhetoric have turned increasingly shrill in recent weeks as he gave back-to-back incendiary speeches that targeted the countrys Muslim minority, who make up 14 per cent of Indias 1.4 billion people.

His party has faced stiff resistance from the opposition alliance and its main face, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party. They have attacked Mr Modi over his Hindu nationalist politics and are hoping to benefit from growing economic discontent.

Pre-poll surveys showed that voters were increasingly worried about unemployment, the rise in food prices and an overall sentiment that only a small portion of Indians have benefitted despite brisk economic growth under Mr Modi, making the contest appear closer than initially anticipated.
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In 2020, successful family vloggers Myka and James Stauffer made a startling announcement that would end her influencer career.

They were rehoming their autistic son, Huxley, nearly three years after adopting him from China.

The boy had been front and center of many of their parenting and lifestyle videos before suddenly vanishing from their posts.

Many among their one million followers on Instagram and YouTube started asking why, which led to a jarring confession that prompted swift and widespread backlash.

Now, four years later, they are the subject of a new three-part docuseries premiering at Tribeca Film Festival. An Update on Our Family, which takes its name from the title the Stauffers used on their infamous YouTube video in which they revealed Huxleys fate, is directed by Rachel Mason and focuses on the YouTuber family from Ohio as it seeks to expose the hidden-in-plain-sight, unregulated family vlogging industry.

In a trailer for the forthcoming documentary, fellow vloggers detail the events leading up to Huxleys disappearance from the Stauffers YouTube channel, while experts emphasize just how much money parents can make from posting content about their children online.

open image in gallery Myka and James Stauffer sparked widespread backlash when they re-homed their autistic adopted son Huxley in 2020 ( YouTube )

Back in May 2020, Myka and James Stauffer revealed on YouTube that they had re-homed their four-year-old son nearly three years after they adopted him from China.

According to the couple, who also have four biological children, they had seen numerous medical professionals regarding Huxleys severe needs and decided he had a lot more special needs that we werent aware of.

International adoption, sometimes theres unknowns and things that are not transparent on file, James said in the video. And once Huxley came home there was a lot more special needs that we werent aware of and that we were not told.

For us its been really hard hearing from the medical professionals, a lot of their feedback, and things that have been upsetting. Weve never wanted to be in this position. And weve been trying to get his needs met and help him out as much as possible... We truly love him.

YouTuber Myka Stauffer reveals she has 'rehomed' adopted son with Autism

Myka explained in the video that they believed their son needed more medical assistance but maintained that there wasnt an ounce of our body that doesnt love Huxley with all of our being.

Do I feel like a failure as a mom? Like, 500 percent, she said, before revealing that Huxley had found a new forever family with the help of the adoption agency.

They found somebody that they felt would be ultimately the best fit and he is thriving, he is very happy, he is doing very well and his new mommy has medical professional training and it is a very good fit, Myka said.

At the time, the Stauffers shared the update to their nearly one million subscribers  more than 700,000 on Mykas YouTube channel and over 300,000 on the familys vlog channel, The Stauffer Life. They first announced their decision to adopt on social media in July 2016, when they shared a YouTube video titled: BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!! BABY #4.

The Stauffers posted nearly 30 videos throughout their adoption journey, culminating in a YouTube video titled: Huxleys EMOTIONAL Adoption VIDEO!! GOTCHA DAY China Adoption. The video, which was posted in October 2017, had been viewed more than five million times prior to Myka permanently deleting her channel.

According to NBC News, the Stauffers used a GoFundMe page to raise money to pay for Huxleys adoption from China. The couple reportedly earned a total of $800, while they said the adoption cost them $42,000.

In another video uploaded in September 2019, titled: Emotional China Adoption Update Two Years Home, the parenting blogger said Huxley had been in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy since his autism diagnosis and was doing so well.

The YouTuber explicitly revealed the extent of Huxleys needs in an article she wrote for Parade that year, saying that he was diagnosed with a stroke in utero, has level three autism, and sensory processing disorder.

Mykas final photo of Huxley was posted to her Instagram  where she had more than 168,000 followers  in March 2020, two months before they revealed he had been placed in a new home.

Last month was the hardest month I have ever had as a mama. And Im still working through all of it. But instead of leading with my heart, Im following yours! she captioned the post.

Unsurprisingly, the revelation sparked backlash across all corners of the internet. Several users claimed the Stauffers had used Huxleys adoption for clicks, likes, and praise, while others called on brands to end sponsorship deals with the family.

open image in gallery Mommy blogger Myka Stauffer apologizes after rehoming her autistic son Huxley three years after he was adopted from China ( Instagram / Myka Stauffer )

open image in gallery Stauffer alleged Huxley had a lot more special needs that we werent aware of ( Instagram / Myka Stauffer )

open image in gallery Stauffer claimed any money made from posts about Huxley went towards his care ( Instagram / Myka Stauffer )

open image in gallery The apology is the last post on Stauffers Instagram page, which has been dormant since 2020 ( Instagram / Myka Stauffer )

Myka Stauffer really just gave her kid away because adoption wasnt a dreamy aesthetic journey like she thought itd be, another person said. These IG moms are another level of gross. That poor sweet little boy.

An investigation was later launched by Ohio authorities in June 2020 into the well-being of both Huxley and the couples four biological children. The Delaware County Sheriffs Office said it received several enquiries regarding the welfare of the then four year old. In a statement to The Independent at the time, a spokesperson for the department said: Our primary concern is for the well-being of this child, as well as the other children in the household. Our investigation is ongoing, and will include contact with all children to ensure their safety.

All adoption cases are confidential, and must go through a thorough process, with specific requirements and safeguards. In private adoptions there are the same legal requirements that must be adhered to. These include home studies as well as background checks on the adopting parent(s). In this case we are confident that the appropriate process is occurring.

The spokesperson also confirmed that Huxley was not missing and that both parties are being represented by attorneys to ensure full compliance with the court process.

According to attorneys for the Stauffers, the process of finding a new home for Huxley did not include any considerations for placement in the foster system, but rather to hand-select a family who is equipped to handle Huxleys needs.

One month later, the Delaware County Sheriffs Office announced that it would not be filing charges against the Stauffers.

In a lengthy Instagram post shared in June 2020, Myka addressed the widespread backlash and apologized for all of the hurt they caused their fans and followers.

This decision has caused so many people heartbreak and Im sorry for letting down so many women that looked up to me as a mother, she began the Instagram statement. Im sorry for the confusion, and pain I have caused, and I am sorry for not being able to tell more of my story from the beginning.

I could have never anticipated the incidents which occurred on a private level to ever have happened, and I was trying my best to navigate the hardest thing I have ever been through, Myka continued, acknowledging that she was not selective or fully equipped or prepared when she started the adoption process and that she needed more training.

I cant say I wish this never happened because Im still so glad Huxley is here and getting all of the help he needs, she said. I also know that even though he is happier in his new home and doing better that he still experienced trauma and Im sorry, no adoptee deserves any more trauma.

I wanted to help so bad I was willing to bring home any child that needed me, she continued. For this I was naive, foolish, and arrogant.

In the statement, Myka also expressed her admiration and respect for every adoptee, adoption parent, and special needs parent before addressing a couple complete rumors about her familys decision to find Huxley a new home.

She clarified that they didnt share content about their adoption journey to gain wealth and denied claims the family was under any type of investigation by authorities.

While we did receive a small portion of money from videos featuring Huxley and his journey, every penny and much more went back into his care, she wrote, adding that getting Huxley the care he needed was very expensive.

Myka concluded her statement, which had comments disabled: We love Huxley and know that this was the right decision for him and his future. Praying that Huxley only has the best future in the entire world.

Since the controversy, the Stauffers have kept a low profile on social media. Myka deleted her YouTube channel and her last post on Instagram remains her 2020 apology statement. Her husband James continues to post on YouTube under the channel Stauffer Garage, where he shares videos of himself car flipping, cleaning, and detailing to his 1.3 million subscribers.

Meanwhile, Huxleys newly adoptive mother  who works as an accessible education teacher  changed his name to the Chinese name Yue Lin after his adoption in 2020. Shes continued to share photos of him on Instagram, where hes seen surrounded by his adoptive and foster siblings.

An Update On Our Family debuts at the New York City film festival on June 6 at AMC Theatre 19th Street East 6 in Manhattan.
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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 Fortson's 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.

A criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is ongoing.
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The nine-year-old girl injured in the drive-by shooting in east London is still on a ventilator as doctors try to remove the bullet from her head, her family revealed.

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.

Her IT professional parents are said to have moved to Birmingham from India over two years ago.

CCTV footage caught the moment the motorcyclist opened fire in Dalston ( @CrimeLdn )

They were visiting London to meet family friends and go for dinner when the motorcyclist opened fire at around 9.20pm.

Her grandmother told reporters in Kerala, India that they were praying for her survival.

The child is on the ventilator. Even after major surgery, the doctors havent been able to remove the bullet, said Mary Paul, Lissels grandmother. She said the childs brain had swollen due to the depth of the wound.

Another major operation is scheduled after two days, she told The New Indian Express. We are praying to God for her survival and full recovery.

The owner of the restaurant told the Guardian the child was very lively and really cute.

I think at the moment the shots were fired she might have been jumping on the chairs  They were having dinner as a family. There was definitely another child, because that child was very scared.

Girl, 9, critically injured in Dalston shooting was innocent victim of gun crime, police confirm. ( Sky News )

We were in shock and everyone fell to the floor and tried to protect themselves.

There was loads of shouting and then we realised that one of the bullets had hit a child inside. The child was not with them [the three men outside], she was sitting at a table behind them.

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, injured 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.

The restaurant where the shooting took place in Dalston ( The Independent )

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.

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.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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A father stabbed his partner 17 times before changing his clothes and going on a school run to pick up their daughter, a court heard.

Keisha Christodoulou, 32, had told Leon Murray, 35, that she wanted to end their relationship the day before she was knifed to death at her home in Deptford, south London on November 1, 2022.

Murray then changed clothes and went to pick up their six-year-old daughter from school as normal.

Leon Murray went to pick up their six-year-old daughter from school after the killing ( (Met Police/PA) )

He told school staff that it is done and that he had ended Keisha.

Staff quickly called 999, as did Murray, telling police what he had done.

Emergency responders rushed to the flat to find Keisha dying from a chest wound on the living room floor.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the chest.

Murray admitted killing Keisha but claimed diminished responsibility at his murder trial at Wood Green Crown Court.

But the jury accepted the prosecutions argument that Murray had no substantial impairment of his responsibility and that he knew what he was doing.

DI Adam Clifton, who led the investigation, said: Murrays horrific response to Keisha deciding to end their relationship is as senseless as it is selfish. Throughout the investigation and trial, Murray has tried to paint himself as a victim. The verdict of the jury shows that they rejected this.

The level of violence used in the attack is utterly shocking and our thoughts remain with Keishas family and friends, particularly her three young children whose lives will never be the same.

Tackling violence against women is one of our top priorities and we will continue in our efforts to bring dangerous perpetrators like Murray to justice. I would encourage anyone suffering domestic abuse to seek support.

Leon Murray, of no fixed address, was found guilty on Friday, 31 May.

He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, 3 June.
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Battle of Britain Memorial Flights will not take place during the forthcoming 80thcommemoration of D-Day following the crash of an RAF Spitfire last week.

The crash, in which the pilot Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed, is being investigated by the Defence Air Investigation Branch (DAIB) and it has been decided that it would be too risky to carry out further flights before what went wrong is ascertained.

The decision on the D-Day ceremony was made by the Chief of Air Staff and senior officers.The aircraft wreckage has been removed from the crash site at RAF Conningsby to allow for detailed investigation and Director General of the Defence Safety Authority is in the process of initiating an independent Service Inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.

Twelve aircraft in total in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) were due to take part in the commemoration consisting, before the crash, of six Spitfire, two Hurricane, one Dakota, two Chipmunk, and one Lancaster.

The Ministry of Defence said  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 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 5-6 June 2024.

Squadron Leader Long, from Suffolk, lived in Lincolnshire with his wife, two daughters. His family said in a statement  Mark lived his life with an unwavering passion with laughter, love and dedication. His talent for flying was there for all to see, and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious. Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all.
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Nestled in the heart of Surrey, in one of Britains most affluent boroughs, some residents of Bramley describe it as a destination village, centred around a thriving high street comprised largely of independent local businesses.

But those living there warn the otherwise quaint village is being blighted by a leak from the petrol station in the village centre, which on Friday saw Thames Water issue a warning to some 616 properties urging them not to drink the water in their taps.

The leak, stemming from a garage taken over last year by Asda, was first discovered in 2021, when locals began to notice fuel bubbling in the stream running through Bramleys centre, and landlords at the Jolly Farmer discovered the reek of petrol emanating from the village pubs cellar.

So while Fridays notice was alarming to residents, many had already been concerned by news that a handful of homes last year had been issued with a similar warning, while the prestigious girls boarding school St Catherines was also hit with the same alert a fortnight ago.

And in another stark symptom of the leak, fumes emanating underground mean manhole covers throughout the village have been daubed with the alarming message of danger, do not open  with the fire brigade frequently called out whenever the drainage system and other service conduits require maintenance.

A warning of danger, do not open is painted on a manhole cover opposite the petrol station ( The Independent )

Meanwhile, BT Openreach, whose junction boxes are stationed all through the village, have been left struggling to carry out maintenance of its fibre broadband or phone networking, because of the fire risk posed by running electrical current through copper wire, local officals said  leaving concerns about possible degradation of the local network servicing thousands of people.

Its just been snowballing out of control really, Bramley and Wonersh councillor Jane Austin told The Independent, describing Fridays drinking water alert as just the latest in a series of grim and miserable things that have happened to our village.

According to Thames Water, which has been carrying out regular tests for months, reviewed by the UK Health Security Agency, Fridays do not drink alert came after test results received on Thursday indicated a possible deterioration in quality in some areas and elevated levels of hydrocarbons.

Drinking water contaminated with hydrocarbons can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, however low levels of exposure are not expected to cause long term health effects, Thames Water said, stressing that its alert was precautionary and that the village water supply has been safe to drink up to this point.

It is expected that residents will be forced to continue using bottled water for around three to four weeks whle testing continues.

An emergency bottle bank has been set up outside Bramley Library ( The Independent )

Among the steady drip of residents making their way to pick up water from the emergency bottle bank set up outside Bramley Library was David Bayley, a retiree in his 70s, who said he didnt yet know the actual facts about the incident but so far was grateful to Thames Water for providing alternative drinking water.

Yes its inconvenient  Ive got to walk to all the way to my car with this heavy load  but there are worse things in life. Getting poisoned by your water supplies is one of those worse things, and at least theyve stopped that, he said.

But for many, the more pressing issue is the ongoing construction work to replace a water pipe outside the petrol station, which have brought the steady flow of traffic along the high street  which forms part of the major A821 arterial route linking Guildford and Horsham  to a near halt.

Residents warn they are merely the latest in a series of road works linked to the petrol station, which serve to turn the heart of the peaceful village  and each of the entrances and exits to the north and south  into a neverending traffic jam.

Bramley high street was gridlocked for much of the day on Friday ( The Independent )

While one resident walking home with his bottled water was among several to lament that it now takes about an hour to drive through the typically commuter-friendly village, much of the strongest concern is centred around the impact on Bramleys much-treasured local businesses.

The road closures have been going on for months and its massively affecting the businesses, said 37-year-old dance teacher Holly Bridger, speaking on the high street over the sound of idling engines, adding: Everyones just avoiding Bramley because of it.

One business feeling the strain is the No Naked Walls Gallery, whose owner, Sharon Withers, describes Bramley as a little destination that people love to come and visit, with a thriving high street. But with her gallery of 11 years sitting opposite the library, the car park typically serving her customers now acts as a bottle bank, and was on Friday full of residents cars, Thames Water vans and teams of broadcast journalists.

Im sitting here today having to find other ideas of having a pop-up somewhere else that people can get to, or other opportunities elsewhere, because understandably I can imagine people dont particularly want to come to Bramley at the moment, Ms Withers told The Independent.

The traffic is gridlock and nobodys going to want to drive to the village. Suppliers have just cancelled delivering or turning up because they dont want to be in the traffic. And if they dont want to be, I cant imagine customers want to be  and now theres no parking either.

Warning that the leak has not been taken seriously for a long time and the level of disruption thats now generated is extreme, Ms Withers added: I just hope they get it sorted out soon. The concern is theyre going to dig it all up again for BT, gas, electric  is it weeks of this, and then its going to be dug up again and again?

Roadworks at the petrol station can be seen in the distance from the Jolly Farmer pub ( The Independent )

At the far end of the village, the barman at the Jolly Farmer could be heard telling the pubs lone customer at around 4pm: Its killing us  this is not a normal Friday.

Being the first people in Bramley to discover the the leak after smelling the stench of gas in his cellar  only to be told by the fire brigade that it was mould  of the pubs two landlord brothers, Chris Hardstone, has for months been forced to close the pubs B&B accommodation due to the smell.

Describing the battle to try to get people to believe there was a problem, Mr Hardstone lamented not just the gridlock plaguing his and other businesses, but added: Now youve got all the after-effects ... Bramptons all on clay and sand, so its permeated everywhere in the substrata and it can take a hell of a long time for that to work its way out.

Chris Hardstone said it was a battle to get people to believe there was a problem ( The Independent )

Despite the initial struggle for the issue to be taken seriously, new insights into the cause leak have now been discovered  and were relayed to residents at a packed village hall meeting called by local MP Jeremy Hunt on the evening of Rishi Sunaks general election announcement.

During work at the petrol station earlier this year, a years-old rupture in the main inlet pipe used to deliver petrol in the tanks was discovered  believed to have been caused by construction equipment in 2016.

While the pipe had been patched up using a temporary fibreglass repair, this is believed to have disintegrated in the intervening years to 2021, when Bramley residents first noticed the petrol smell, now at times emanating from the stream through the village.

Noting that residents now have very real and understandable concerns about how long has this happened for, is it harmful, whats going on, Cllr Austin added: Its shocking to me that people were not more all over this at the beginning. I really did have to push hard for people to take me and fellow residents seriously.

Warning that  in addition to months and months of serious cleanup and remediation in relation to the leak itself and its devasting impact on businesses  BT Opereachs struggles to maintain its fibre broadband system as a result will be the next issue after this, Ms Austin said: We are a really strong community, we will get through this.

But I think a lot of people are anxious right now and were getting to the point where weve really had enough of this now.
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A man who needs full-time care after a bicycle collision left him with a traumatic brain injury has been repeatedly refused benefits by the Home Office.

Under the conditions of his visa, Adam, who is from Syria but has lived in the UK for a decade, isnt allowed to access any public funds. In September 2022 he suffered brain damaged after he collided head-on with another cyclist in London.

The 27-year-old is now partially blind, has lost hearing in the right ear, cannot communicate properly and cannot leave the house unless in a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

Wife Layla, 32, has made a desperate plea to the government to allow her husband to access benefits as she struggles to support their large family alone.

The Home Office has twice refused to change the conditions of Adams visa and allow him to access universal credit or disability benefits.

Layla said she is struggling to afford enough food for her family ( The Independent )

Layla told The Independent she has now become a full-time carer for Adam, whose name has been changed to keep the family anonymous, on top of looking after six children aged between one and 13.

She said: He can move around inside the home but he cant go out unless its in a wheelchair or mobility scooter. He is not able to have a conversation, he doesnt understand things. When he speaks he says all these muddled up random words.

She said after the accident Adam spent three weeks on life support and a further eight months in hospital.

He had to re-learn every single basic skill, she said. He forgot all of his English. He didnt have any recollection of ever coming to England. He didnt know who any of us were. We had to feed him baby food and get him back to trying to chew. Its been life changing.

Adam has had to re-learn every single basic skill after a traumatic injury ( The Independent )

Layla said she has been overwhelmed dealing with everything herself and the family only have enough food because of the generosity of neighbours and the local mosque.

Layla, who is a British citizen, said: I get universal credit, PIP, and child benefit. We have to get taxis to the hospital appointments and that takes a huge chunk of my money, but Ive got no other option. Food shopping for our family is expensive and Im spending hundreds a week on basics. I do a lot of washing as well because I have to change Adams bed sheets almost every day, as he has a lot of accidents.

Adam can only leave the house either in a wheelchair or mobility scooter ( The Independent )

Layla is trying to save up to convert a downstairs garage into a room for Adam, as he currently sleeps upstairs. She worries about him falling down the stairs as the accident has left Adam with epilepsy.

He has had two serious seizures recently where he was blue-lighted to hospital, she said. Adam is waiting to have a metal plate to replace part of his skull that is missing, but the operation was delayed by months as he got an abscess.

Layla described the stress of taking Adam to a Job Centre interview to assess his fitness to work: They still made us sit and wait there for an hour and I ended up in tears. I just felt like we were just another name and number on a list.

Adam, 27, has lost hearing in his right ear and has to use a hearing aid ( The Independent )

The Home Office first refused Adam access to public funds in December, saying he had not provided evidence to show he was unable to meet essential living needs. Layla said when she first applied she was overwhelmed by the accident and struggled to understand the process.

She submitted a comprehensive application for help in February with support from charity Ramfel, but it was rejected in April.

Millions of people in the UK have a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition attached to their visa, leaving them at risk of destitution if they can no longer work.

In 2023, 3,511 people applied to remove the condition from their visa, with around two-thirds being successful. In February 2023, a High Court judge ruled that Home Office caseworkers should give careful consideration to a persons disability when applying NRPF.

Nick Beales, of Ramfel, said: This tragic case shows everything wrong with the no recourse to public funds policy, which the government frequently imposes on exceptionally vulnerable people.

Adam is brain damaged and clearly cannot work for the foreseeable future. The government has medical evidence confirming this, yet concluded that he can apparently survive without any state support.

Labour MP for East Ham Stephen Timms MP said: I am deeply troubled that the Home Office are refusing to lift the NRPF condition on Adams visa. Things have been very difficult for the family since his accident, and particularly Layla who is having to support a family of eight by herself. I hope the Home Office are now mindful of their puzzling handling to this case and now reconsider it as a matter of priority.

A Home Office spokesperson said: There are strong and important safeguards in place for individuals who find themselves in the most challenging circumstances, including in certain circumstances, the ability to apply for the no recourse to public funds condition to be lifted.
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The UKs ambassador to Mexico has been sacked after he was caught on camera aiming an assault rifle at an embassy employee on an official trip through drug cartel heartlands.

Jon Benjamin, 61, was seen smiling before looking through the sight of the weapon and pointing it at the person sitting in the back seat of the diplomatic vehicle during an official trip to two Mexican states ravaged by drug killings.

The unidentified employee from a local embassy is seen gesturing to the camera as laughter is heard in the background.

Benjamin appears to point the rifle at someone in the backseat of a car ( X/Subdiplomatic )

Mr Benjamin, 61, is no longer listed as the ambassador on the UK government website, according to the Financial Times.

A video which purports to show the incident was posted on X/Twitter, by an anonymous user, who writes alongside the video: In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke.

The account added: Mexican staff members of the embassy are terrified of speaking up about these injustices because internal whistleblowing tools are broken and favour British diplomats. They are afraid to lose their livelihoods if they speak up.

We are desperate for justice.

Mr Benjamin was seen giving Liz Truss a tour of Mexico City in 2021 when she was foreign secretary.

Benjamin gives Liz Truss a tour of Mexico City during her time as foreign secretary ( X/FCDOGovUK )

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not officially announced Mr Benjamins position. However, the governments official website states that he was UK ambassador to Mexico between 2021 and 2024.

According to the website, Mr Benjamin joined the diplomatic service in 1986, and previously represented the British government in Chile, Ghana, Turkey, Indonesia, and the United States, during his 35-year career.

The FCDO said in a statement: 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.

Since mid-April, Rachel Brazier has been charge daffaires at the British Embassy in Mexico City, a role where a diplomat serves as an embassys chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador.

Mexicans will vote on Sunday in a historic election shadowed by cartel violence.

Mexican marines patrol past tourists on the beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico ( AP )

With two women leading the contest, Mexico will likely elect its first female president  a major step in a country long marked by its macho culture.

The election campaign was marred by drug cartel killings On 14 May, gunmen apparently linked to a cartel shot and killed 11 people in a single day in Chicomuselo. On 17 May, 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 east of Chicomuselo.

At least 125 candidates have been killed throughout the country this year, according to the electoral violence tracker Data Civica, while even more have been threatened, attacked and kidnapped.

Cartels have expanded control in much of the country and raked in money  not just from drugs but from legal industries and migrant smuggling. Theyve also fought with more sophisticated tools like bomb-dropping drones and improvised explosive devices.
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It began as a whisper, in the nerdier corners of political social media.

Now, as the election nears, the question isnt quite a roar, but its being asked everywhere, from national newspapers to the pages of The Spectator, the bible of the right: is Rishi Sunak facing a Canada 1993 moment?

The similarities are enough to send shivers down the spines of Tory candidates  ruling Conservatives challenged at an election by a right-wing party called Reform.

In Canada, the result was electoral oblivion: 167 parliamentary seats lost  including those of then-prime minister Kim Campbell  to leave the Progressive Conservative Canadian Party with just two seats, and the Liberal Party in power.

With Sunaks party already facing a 24-point deficit in the polls to Labour, is there a chance that British Conservatives could face a similar fate?

The answer, it seems, is no  or at least, not unless things go catastrophically wrong for the Conservatives between now and 4 July.

Loading....

Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, told The Independent that, although they face a challenge from voters either switching to Reform UK or not turning out at all on polling day, things would have to get signficantly worse for the Tories to end up with a Canada-style wipeout.

Labour would require a 33-point lead, which would leave the Conservatives with fewer than 10 seats, according to Mr Baxter.

He said: Its amazing that were asking the question, seeing that the Conservatives won a thumping majority just five years ago. But five years is a very long time in politics.

Facing down Reform UK

The threat from the right is coming from Reform UK, led by Richard Tice and supported by Nigel Farage, though the former Ukip and Brexit Party leader is not running himself. They have zeroed in on high immigration as a key issue on which to challenge Mr Sunak.

Currently, Reform UK is polling at 12 per cent, nine points behind the Conservative Party. Although Reform UK is not predicted to win any seats, Mr Tice has vowed to stand a candidate in every constituency.

View more

The key concern for the Tories, however, is in marginal seats. In the most recent byelections, Reform UK received 13 per cent of the vote in Wellingborough and 10.4 per cent in Kingswood.

In the Kingswood byelection, Labour beat the Conservatives with a majority of 2,501  almost the exact number of votes Reform UK received (2,578).

Chris Hopkins, of leading polling firm Savanta, added: Reform UK here doesnt even look likely to pick up one parliamentary seat in our upcoming election, let alone become the official opposition.

The main role of Reform UK in this general election isnt going to be winning seats, but helping the Conservatives lose theirs.

There are lots of seats where the splintering of the right vote will make it much easier for Labour and the Liberal Democrats to pick up seats.

Currently Reform UK is polling at 12 per cent, nine points behind the Conservative Party ( AFP via Getty )

Key differences from 1993

In 1993, Ms Campbell became the Progressive Conservative Party leader just four months before the Federal Election, something that significantly hurt her electoral chances, according to Professor Daniel Beland, director of McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.

And while the names are similar, the challenge from Canadas Reform is not the same as Britains in 2024. In Western Canada, the Reform Party that was created is quite different from the UK version, because it was purely a regional party, said Professor Beland.

They didnt run candidates across the country in all 295 constituencies, and were weak outside Western Canada.

The party was fuelled on the idea that too much power in the country was held in Quebec, so there was lots of regional resentment.

Kim Campbell became Progressive Conservative Party leader just four months before the Federal Election ( AFP via Getty )

Ten years later, still reeling from the electoral thrashing, the party ceased to exist and merged into the new Conservative Party of Canada.

Ultimately, debunking the Canada question will be of cold comfort to Mr Sunak, as the prime minister stares down the barrel of general election defeat. And while a repeat performance of 1993 is highly unlikely, the eerie similarities may still be enough to keep a Tory grandee or two up at night.
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Keir Starmer has dodged questions about Diane Abbott as he launched Labours election battle bus.

The event was the first time Sir Keir had appeared in public with his deputy Angela Rayner after Labour said the party veteran was free to contest her seat.

The dramatic U-turn came after Ms Rayner said the trailblazer, the UKs first black MP, should be allowed to stand  in a break with her party leader.

At the launch in London, Sir Keir repeatedly claimed I dealt with this yesterday as he tried to brush off questions.

Asked what had changed when he said on Friday that the veteran left-winger could stand as a Labour candidate, he said: "I dealt with that issue yesterday.

"Today is about taking our argument to the country and getting people back to work."

(From left to right) Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, at the launch event for Labours campaign bus at Uxbridge College, London ( PA )

Asked about concerns among black voters, Sir Keir said: "Let me give my message to voters, because I think this is very, very important, which is if you want change, the power's with you... you have to vote for change."

Earlier one of his allies Liz Kendall, the shadow work and pensions secretary, denied he was forced into an about-turn by Ms Rayner.

Asked whether he had been bounced into a decision by Ms Rayner, Ms Kendall told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I completely reject that.

Its really important that the Labour party sets the highest possible standards for every single candidate, she said. Theres been a process, weve gone through that. Shes free to stand.

The announcement followed days of pressure from within his party about whether or not Ms Abbott would be blocked from standing.

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 earlier this week, but it was briefed out that she might be barred from running for the party in the General Election.

On Thursday Ms Rayner said there was no reason to prevent the former shadow home secretary standing.

But Rishi Sunak said it was clear she was in charge. The prime minister claimed the row confirms what we know about the Labour leader.

Its that he doesnt stick by anything he says. Just constantly changes his mind. And its clear that Angela Rayner is in charge of the Labour party, and not him at the end of the day.
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A leaked document has revealed that the Lib Dems are set to launch a massive tactical voting push to try to squeeze the Labour vote in more than 50 Tory seats.

Sir Ed Daveys party is hoping to regain its place as the third party in the Commons from the Scottish National Party and will be targeting at least 53 Tory-held seats in the so-called blue wall in the coming weeks.

The MRP superpoll overnight suggests that their aim is within reach predicting 51 Lib Dem gains if there is tactical voting.

The initiative is called Operation 1997 in an attempt to recreate the 1997 election campaign led by the late Lord Paddy Ashdown when the party won 46 seats as a result of tactical voting.

After a start to the campaign dominated by Sir Ed doing stunts, including falling off a paddleboard, the memo from Dave McCobb, the partys director of field campaigns, suggests that they have got off to a flying start.

Ed Davey is cooking up something for the election campaign ( PA )

In the document addressed to Rhiannon Leamon, the leaders chief of staff; Mike Dixon, the party chief executive; and Olly Grender, the director of communications; he claimed that the feeling on the ground is that this is a once-in-a-generation election akin to 1997.

He went on: We have now delivered a staggering two million leaflets since Rishi Sunak stood on the steps of Downing Street last week. On top of that, we have knocked on 100,000 doors in key election battlegrounds.

But he warned that early feedback from activists suggested that the Tories will hold on to constituencies in their so-called blue wall of safe seats right across the south and in areas like the north west because Labour will split the vote and a lack of tactical voting.

Liberal Democrats launch local election campaign by smashing through blue wall of hay

He said: Pockets of extra votes for Labour, who came third in many of our battlegrounds, may hand Rishi Sunak seats in Surrey, Hertfordshire, Sussex, Somerset and many more areas.

There are clear signs this election will be decided by a handful of votes in key blue wall battlegrounds. If Labour achieves over 10 per cent of the vote in these seats, it will hand seats to the Conservative Party.

He noted that in recent huge by-election wins, the Lib Dems had squeezed the Labour vote to single digits to overturn massive Tory majorities.

In Tiverton and Honiton Labours support dropped to 3.7 per cent, Chesham and Amersham 1.6 per cent, and Somerton and Frome 2.6 per cent.

He went on: Therefore, we are launching Operation 1997. I have given the green light for the biggest wave of squeeze leaflets in the partys history  not since 1997 has the party seen a campaign like this.

Every leaflet will have a specific local message to Labour voters asking them to lend us their vote. We will highlight this Labour memo which states blue wall seats where we are in second place are non-battlegrounds.

We will also be flooding blue wall marginals with leaflets on our NHS policies. This is an NHS election in the blue wall. Conservative voters, too, want the NHS to be the top priority.

Mr McCobb added: I need your help to ensure Operation 1997 is a success in the next seven days. This will determine the outcome of this election in the blue wall.

He said that the aim was to have reached every Labour voter in the blue wall by Monday.

The Independent understands that the targeting of Labour voters to vote tactically will include every seat where the Lib Dems could win with a swing of up to 15 percent.

This includes 53 seats with some high-profile targets including chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Godalming and Ash.

LBC presenter Iain Dale has already been scared off by the Lib Dems from being the candidate in another target, Tunbridge Wells, after they unearthed derogatory comments he made about the area in 2022.

Others on the list are former chancellor Nadhim Zahawis ex-seat of Stratford-upon-Avon and Wokingham where Brexiteer Sir John Redwood has just retired.

Other seats beyond a 15 per cent swing could also be targeted, including Chesham and Amersham which the Lib Dems won in a by-election in 2021.

Here is a list of the Tory-held Lib Dem target seats where they can win with a swing of up to 15 per cent:

Carshalton and Wallington 0.64%

Wimbledon 0.74%

Cambridgeshire South 1.25%

Cheltenham 1.25%

Cheadle 2.09%

Eastbourne 2.11%

Esher and Walton 2.68%

Guildford 2.96%

Lewes 3.71%

Hazel Grove 4.18%

Westmorland and Lonsdale 4.74%

St Ives South West 4.85%

Finchley and Golders Green 5.98%

Cities of London and Westminster 6.05%

Winchester 7.08%

Taunton and Wellington 7.84%

Harrogate and Knaresborough 7.91%

Sutton and Cheam 8.27%

Woking 8.50%

Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe 8.70%

Eastleigh 8.72%

Didcot and Wantage 9.22%

Dorking and Horley 9.44%

Godalming and Ash 9.63%

Dorset West 10.71%

Chelsea and Fulham 10.82%

Henley and Thame 11.05%

Newbury 11.24%

Wokingham 11.59%

Hitchin 11.67%

St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire 12.24%

Ely and Cambridgeshire 12.35%

Devon South 12.66%

Wells and Mendip Hills 12.66%

Sussex Mid 12.90%

Frome and Somerset East 12.92%

Thornbury and Yate 12.96%

Chippenham 13.06%

Farnham and Bordon 13.27%

Devon North 13.33%

Glastonbury and Somerton 13.33%

Tunbridge Wells 13.4%

Earley and Woodley 13.48%

Harpenden and Berkhamsted 13.50%

Yeovil South West 13.52%

Bicester and Woodstock 13.66%

Norfolk North 14.05%

Chelmsford 14.32%

Cornwall North 14.59%

Romsey and Southampton North 14.68%

Epsom and Ewell 14.68%

Surrey Heath 14.74%

Aylesbury 14.9%
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A defiant Liz Truss has insisted she was not the worst prime minister  as she handed the unwanted accolade to Tony Blair.

The 48-year-old, Britains shortest-serving prime minister, oversaw the disastrous mini-Budget in 2022 that sent the markets into freefall during her 49 days in office.

However, the South West Norfolk MP has claimed that three-time election winner Tony Blair was instead the worst leader the country had ever had.

In an interview with her local newspaper, Ms Truss also again refused to accept responsibility for her downfall, blaming unelected officials in the Bank of England and other forces for her exit from No 10.

I campaigned in a leadership election on policies that got the support of Conservative party members, policies that in my view were the right policies. I was thwarted in delivering that, she told the Eastern Daily Press.

Liz Trus went down in history as Britains shortest-serving prime minister when she resigned on 20 October 2022 ( PA Archive )

People criticise politicians who say something and then dont deliver it  I would never do that. I am truthful. I believe what I am doing and I follow through on that.

She added: We have a problem in this country that someone elected on a mandate cant deliver that mandate because the unelected state dont want to deliver it. We need to change the way Britain is governed.

Ms Truss, who has claimed her efforts to cut taxes were sabotaged by the deep state, said: The worst prime minister in recent years is Tony Blair who created things like the Equality Act, the Human Rights Act and the Climate Change Act.

She will be defending a majority of 26,195 at the general election but has been cited as one of the Tory figureheads at risk of losing their seats with Labour commanding a double-digit lead in most opinion polls.

Ms Truss held the seat since 2010 but faces stiff competition from independent candidate James Bagge, a former Conservative, and Toby McKenzie, Reforms candidate.

Mr Bagge, a lawyer and ex-army officer, was among prominent local Conservatives who resigned from the party in protest at Ms Trusss selection as its candidate for the seat by Tory HQ.

Rishi Sunak was last week urged to deselect Ms Truss after she appeared on a far-right platform founded by a commentator Carl Benjamin who joked about raping an MP, promoting her book, Ten Years to Save the West.
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Nearly 450 MPs have had their personal information exposed on the dark web, according to new research.

The study, conducted by Proton in partnership with Constella Intelligence, found over two thirds of MPs had been exposed by hacks or breaches of third party services theyve signed up to using their parliamentary email.

MPs affected include cabinet ministers, opposition front benchers, as well as those on committees that look after the UKs cybersecurity.

In total, MPs' emails were exposed a total of 2,110 times on the dark web, with the most frequently targeted MP experiencing up to 30 breaches, the study found.

Some 216 passwords associated with MPs breached accounts have also been exposed, and researchers said this could constitute a serious national security issue.

If an MP reused one of these exposed passwords to protect their official email account, it could also be at risk.

MPs online presence was also affected, with Instagram profiles leaked 16 times, LinkedIn profiles 117 times, Twitter handles 21 times and Facebook accounts 21 times.

When Facebook accounts are compromised, hackers have access to personal data, including home address, mobile number, bank account details, and contacts. They can also access voice data and their photos.

The study further found British MPs demonstrated worse account security than their European and French counterparts.

Less than half of MEPs (44 per cent) had their personal information exposed on the dark web, and just 18 per cent of the French National Assembly and Senate.

Criminals often carry out what is known as a credential stuffing attack. This means entering thousands of stolen passwords and email addresses across various platforms, exploiting the fact that people frequently reuse passwords.

Eamonn Maguire, Head of Account Security at Proton, said: In today's digital landscape, robust cybersecurity practices are crucial, especially for those in positions of power. A single leaked password can lead to severe national security breaches, given the access that MPs possess.

Many people underestimate their vulnerability, but the reality is that everyone is a potential target. Vigilance is essential for anyone in the public eye to safeguard both personal and national security, and we call on the new government after the General Election to take cybersecurity seriously, and for all MPs to adopt better account security practices."
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The Conservatives launched a desperate bid for funding on Saturday after complaining of a slump in online donations in recent days.

A begging letter sent to supporters warns the party will have to curtail its election campaign without an injection of cash.

The plea comes amid grassroots fury at claims the prime ministers allies are parachuting advisers and backers into winnable seats.

An email sent to members on behalf of senior Tory Alan Mabbutt claimed tough decisions would have to be made within 48 hours if the partys finances did not improve.

Rishi Sunak on his campaign battle bus ( PA )

These could include scrapping some online ads and deciding which constituencies we can help. And which ones we can't.

The mailshot included a graph showing how donations had taken a hit in recent days.

The email comes just days after a leaked memo warned of the difficulty of raising funds in some of the partys seats.

The Conservatives have raised millions in donations in recent months.

But new rules on limits mean that each party can spend up to 35 million at this election, an 80 per cent increase and the highest number in British political history.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are set to go head to head in a TV debate next week (PA) ( PA Wire )

Rishi Sunaks allies have been accused of operating a chumocracy in securing winnable seats in the general election for people close to the inner circle around the prime minister.

Since the election was called last week, the party has had to fill around 191 seats.

Emergency rules mean constituency associations can be asked to pick from a shortlist of three or just have a candidate imposed.

The Independent understands that Great Yarmouths association had a stand off with Tory bosses at CCHQ over the shortlist sent to them.

There have also been reports a Tory councillor in Bognor Regis publicly complained the choice of candidates did not reflect members wishes.

There have also been complaints that those who have been dubbed real ideological Conservatives, such as the former Brexit minister Lord Frost, have been left unable to apply for seats.

Former Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman has accused party bosses of operating a chumocracy.

David Goss, the prime ministers deputy political secretary, became the latest high profile figure from Downing Street to be selected for a winnable seat in Wellingborough and Rushden, which the party recently lost to Labour in a by-election.

Lord David Frost during the launch of the Popular Conservatism movement at the Emmanuel Centre in central London last year ( PA )

He followed former army officer James Clark, a special adviser to Mr Shapps, who has been selected for Great Yarmouth.

To add to the Tories woes the first mega-poll of the campaign suggests the party is heading for electoral disaster and could win just 66 seats in parliament.

The result would be a Labour landslide, with Sir Keir Starmers party securing 476 MPs  a majority of 302  once tactical voting has been taken into account.

Among the big names who could lose their seats are the deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden, home secretary James Cleverly and defence secretary Grant Shapps.

However, Rishi Sunak is expected to hold on in Richmond, North Yorkshire, although with a massively reduced majority
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The African National Congress (ANC) party has lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result that puts South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of apartheid.

A dramatically weakened mandate for the legacy party of Nelson Mandela, down from the 57.5 per cent it got in the previous 2019 parliamentary election, means the ANC must share power with a rival in order to keep it  an unprecedented prospect.

We can talk to everybody and anybody, Gwede Mantashe, the ANC chair and current mines and energy minister, told reporters in comments carried by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), dodging a question about who the party was discussing a possible coalition deal with.

Vote tallying from Wednesdays poll was entering its final stages on Saturday, with results from 99.53 per cent of polling stations giving the ANC 40.21 per cent.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), had 21.80 per cent, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, managed to grab 14.60 per cent, while the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, got 9.48 per cent.

We have achieved our mission: ... to bring the ANC below 50 per cent. We want to humble the ANC, Mr Malema told journalists at the results centre.

We are going to negotiate with the ANC for a possible coalition deal, he said, although that would not be quite enough to clinch a majority without including another party on the current count.

The ANC has won every previous national election by a landslide since the historic 1994 vote that ended white minority rule, but over the last decade its support has dwindled as the economy stagnated, unemployment rose and roads and power stations crumbled.

MKs strong performance, especially in their leader Mr Zumas home province of KwaZulu-Natal, is one of the main reasons the ANC failed to secure a majority.

Analysts say one option for the ANC could be a government of national unity involving a broad spectrum of many parties, rather than a formal coalition between a few  an arrangement similar to the one set up after 1994s historic all-race vote.

Mr Malema said the EFF was against that idea and preferred to be part of a coalition.

Political parties share of the vote determine their seats in the National Assembly, which elects the nations president.

Investors in Africas most industrialised economy will hope the uncertain picture can quickly become clear and that the country avoids an extended period of wrangling if the main political players struggle to agree how they can cooperate.

Some parties have questioned what they say are vote-counting inconsistencies that may lead to some results being contested.

Electoral Commission chair Mosotho Moepya told a news conference on Saturday that every concern raised in these objections will be considered and we will do so carefully.

Meanwhile, ANC first deputy secretary general Nomvula Mokonyane urged voters and communities to remain peaceful.

Despite the ANCs result, president Cyril Ramaphosa could still keep his job, as the former liberation movement was on course to get about twice as many votes as the next party. But he will be weakened and could face calls to quit both from opposition parties and critics in the deeply divided ANC.

On Friday, however, Ms Mokonyane  one of the ANCs top officials  backed him to stay on as party leader, and analysts say he has no obvious successor.

A deal to keep the ANC in the presidency could involve opposition backing in exchange either for cabinet posts or for more control of parliament, perhaps even the speaker.

One of the positions we are going to demand from the ANC is ... the speaker of parliament, Mr Malema said.

The election commission has pencilled in a final results announcement for Sunday.

Reuters
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New York City police said Saturday that they took 34 people in custody following a pro-Palestinian protest at the Brooklyn Museum, which reported damage to some artwork and harassment to security staff by demonstrators.

Hundreds of protesters marched to the museum Friday afternoon, set up tents in the lobby and unfurled a Free Palestine banner from the buildings roof before police moved in to make arrests.

New York City police officers tackled and punched some protesters during scuffles that broke out in the crowd outside the museum while some demonstrators hurled plastic bottles at officers and shouted insults. Other protesters held banners, waved Palestinian flags and chanted boisterously on the steps of the grand, Beaux Arts museum, which is the citys second largest.

City police said of the 34 people detained, six were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to assault. Another 23 were released after receiving tickets or summonses for misdemeanors including trespassing, making graffiti, damaging property and resisting arrest. Police did not say what happened to the remaining five people.

Museum spokesperson Taylor Maatman said in a statement that the museum closed an hour early because of concerns about peoples safety and the art collections.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gather in front of the Brooklyn Museum during a protest demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza on Friday, May 31, 2024, in the Brooklyn borough of New York ( AP )

Unfortunately, there was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed, Maatman said.

The rally started Friday afternoon across the street from the Barclays Center, home of the NBAs Brooklyn Nets. Marchers banging drums and chanting then made their way to the museum about a mile away.

Organizers, including the group Within Our Lifetime, called on supporters to flood and de-occupy the museum, saying they wanted to take over the building until officials  disclose and divest  from any investments linked to Israels actions in Gaza.

Videos posted on social media showed guards at the museum trying to secure its doors against the surging crowd and demonstrators finding other ways inside.

Within Our Lifetime posted on social media that its chair, Nerdeen Kiswani, was targeted and violently arrested by police.

New York City has seen hundreds of street demonstrations since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.

The Brooklyn Museum sits at the edge of Crown Heights, which is home to one of the citys largest communities of Orthodox Jews.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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The former second-in-command for the US Navy has been arrested on bribery and conspiracy charges.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) says four-star Admiral Robert Burke, 62, played a role in a bribery scheme that involved a government contract during his time in the Navy. Mr Burke was the vice chief of naval operations from June 2019 to June 2020 before becoming commander of the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy. He retired in 2022.

The retired admiral voluntarily surrendered himself to law enforcement in his home state of Florida on Friday. He was processed by local police before being released a few hours later, defense attorney Timothy Parlatore told The Independent.

Mr Burke was charged alongside two New York-based co-CEOs: Yongchul Charlie Kim and Meghan Messenger. Their company, NextJump, provided a training program for a portion of the Navy in 2019, the DOJ said.

All three face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. Mr Burke also faces charges of performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the US. He could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Admiral Robert Burke, pictured in 2017, has been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery by the US Department of Justice ( Getty Images )

Reed Brodsky, who represents NextJump, declined to comment on the record.

The DOJ says Mr Burke met with the co-CEOs in 2021. The department claims he agreed to use his influence to secure two Navy contracts with their company in exchange for future employment.

Mr Burke was employed by the company in 2022, just after retiring from the Navy, with a salary of $500,000, according to the DOJ. However, he left the company a few months later.

He will plead not guilty at his Washington, DC, arraignment, which has yet to be scheduled but will likely take place in the coming weeks.

I can state very confidently that Admiral Burke does intend to go to trial, and that we do expect to win at trial, Mr Parlatore told The Independent.

Mr Parlatore said the DOJ is basing their case off the timing of Mr Burkes employment with NextJump  and that his client never had an employment agreement with them.

Think about how many admirals and generals that have gone on to work for Raytheon or any of these other contracting companies they dealt with, he told The Independent.

Meanwhile, US Attorney Matthew Graves says Mr Burke used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain.

The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs, Mr Graves said in a statement. 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.
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A former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter has admitted to fatally stabbing a man in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Andrew Osborne,35, pleaded guilty to stabbing and killing 47-year-old Brian Wilkerson inside an Ocean Casino hotel room on 23 September 2022. After entering his plea on Thursday, the New Jersey State Police guidelines recommend a 25-year sentence, the Atlantic County, New Jersey Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

He will be sentenced in August.

Osborne stabbed Wilkerson in the head and neck before leaving his hotel room wearing his victims shoes and pants, local outlet NJ.com reports. The whole ordeal lasted less than half an hour.

Wilkersons door was opened just before 7am the morning of his murder, with the deadbolt engaged to keep it from closing, according to NJ.com. Ten minutes later, security footage captured the former MMA fighter exiting an elevator on Wilkersons floor at 7:09am.

The door closed two minutes later and opened again at 7:30am, according to the hotels lock report, per NJ.com. Security footage captured him returning to his room with a black bag  Osborne and his wife then went to the parking garage just minutes later and left the hotel.

Osborne checked in just hours before the murder, while Wilkerson checked in the night before. His body was discovered at 1:30pm the day of his murder, NJ.com reports.

Police say Osborne and his wife went back to their home of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before police arrested the ex-MMA fighter three days later.

Osborne fought in the MMA from 2012 to 2013, according to ESPN.

Wilkerson was from Galloway, New Jersey, according to his obituary. The 47-year-old worked for a construction company until becoming a bookkeeper in 2008. He also attended a local Lutheran church.

Brians death was very tragic and sudden and will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him, his obituary reads.
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Brett McAlpin, a member of the Mississippi Goon Squad convicted for torturing two Black men in a racist assault, has been accused of assaulting an incarcerated man in 2021.

Christopher Mack filed the lawsuit this week, stating McAlpin beat him for 45 minutes after he was arrested on 27 May 2021. McAlpin, a former Rankin County, Mississippi deputy, is named alongside eight other defendants in the suit, according to NBC News.

Mr Mack says the incident began when McAlpin and another deputy attempted to question him following his arrest, reported the outlet. Mr Mack says he chose to remain silent, and as a result, a third deputy hit him in the head with a set of keys.

McAlpin and another deputy then allegedly began to beat him, before he was dragged into a pod where six other people also participated in beating him, Mr Mack says, per NBC News.

As a result, Mr Mack says he suffered broken ribs, a broken nose and bruises, NBC News reports.

Brett McAlpin, pictured in his 2023 booking photo, is accused of brutally beating an incarcerated man while working as a deputy in 2021. ( Forrest County Adult Detention Center )

Mr Macks attorney says his client also suffered psychological damage from the attack.

You can recover from a broken nose and broken ribs, Trent Walker told NBC News. Theres obviously ongoing psychological injury and were certainly trying to make sure that he gets the help that he needs there because as with many people that have been subjected to this sort of violence, its a traumatic incident.

McAlpin was previously convicted of a horrific racist attack against two Black men in 2023.

McAlpin was one of six men found guilty of subjecting Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker to hours of abuse after breaking into the home they were staying in without a warrant in January 2023. He was handed the longest sentence of the Goon Squad: 27.25 years.

The group inflicted hours of torture, including tazering, waterboarding and assault with a sex toy. Former deputy Hunter Elward then shot Mr Jenkins in the month.

The group then attempted to cover up their crime by planting a gun on Mr Jenkins, destroying surveillance footage and submitting fake drug evidence.

The Independent has contacted the office of Aafram Sellers, attorney for McAlpin, and the Rankin County Sheriffs Office for comment
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Chad Daybell has been sentenced to death after an Idaho jury found him guilty of killing his wife and his girlfriends two youngest children.

Daybell, 55, a self-proclaimed prophet and doomsday cult author remained emotionless as he learned his fate. District Judge Steven W Boyce issued the sentence. The prosecution requested restitution in the amount of $130,000 and $300,000 to LifeMap Assurance Company and Primerica Life Insurance Company, which the judge approved.

Daybell was not ordered to pay any fines in the case.

The decision came two days after the jury handed down a guilty verdict on May 30, 2024 in the 2019 deaths of his wife Tammy Daybell, and Lori Vallows two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven.

The 12 jurors deliberated for just under six hours after listening to two months of testimony that revealed a deeply disturbing tale of murder, unexplained deaths, apocalyptic cult beliefs, and bizarre claims of zombie children.

The Idaho man had been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft. He was found guilty on all counts.

First-degree murder can be punished by death in Idaho but jurors must find that a statutory aggravating circumstance exists and no mitigating circumstances exist, which would make the imposition of the death penalty unjust.

In this case, the jurors found that the murders were heinous, atrocious or cruel.

Judge Boyce said he would not be analyzing the courts rationale, stating that the evidence on the record has demonstarted the seriousness of Daybells crimes.

Any lesser sentence would depriciate the seriousness of these offenses, because this life insurance was obtained based on the murders of individuals and procuring life insurance payouts, he said.

Chad Daybell sits and closes his eyes after the jurys verdict in his murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on May 30, 2024 ( AP )

The investigation into the deaths began five years ago, after JJs grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock asked police to check on the child. Investigators soon realized both children were missing, and a multistate search ensued. The investigation soon took several unexpected turns.

Daybell and Vallow were having an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly, investigators said. Vallows husband, Charles, 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, 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.

His wife at the time, Tammy Daybell, died in October 2019 from what was initially believed to be from natural causes. Just two weeks later, Daybell and Vallow were married on a beach in Hawaii, raising suspicion among law enforcement officials.

It was only after Vallows children were reported missing  and authorities began delving into the couples bizarre cult beliefs  that questions were asked about Tammys death and her body was exhumed for an autopsy  something the family refused initially.

It was determined she had died of asphyxia and Daybell was charged with her murder, as well as the murders of Vallows children, who were found buried in Daybells Rexburg backyard in June 2020, nine months after they went missing.

Prosecutors say it was Daybells desire for sex, power, and money that led to the killings and that he and Vallow justified the crimes by creating an apocalyptic belief system that people could be possessed by evil spirits and turned into zombies.

The only way to save a possessed persons soul was for the possessed body to die, she said.

Three dead bodies ... and for what? prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors during closing arguments on Wednesday. Money, power and sex  thats what the defendant cared about.

The remains of Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybells property in June 2020 - nine months after they went missing ( AP )

But Daybells defense attorney, John Prior, told jurors that there wasnt enough evidence to tie Daybell to the deaths.

He said police looked only for things they could use against Daybell rather than the actual facts of the case  and he claimed that Vallows late brother, Alex Cox, committed the crimes.

Prior pinned the murders on Cox and Vallow and said Daybell was manipulated by Vallow who he described in opening statements as a voracious and very sexual woman who lured him to do her bidding.

This beautifully stunning woman named Lori Vallow comes up and she starts giving him a lot of attention, Prior said of the couples first meeting at a religious convention in October 2019. She pursued him. She encouraged him.

Lori Vallow smirks in her mug shot after being handed life without parole ( Idaho Department of Corrections )

Last year, in the same courtroom, Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison.

Jurors heard how she, Daybell and Cox were fuelled, in part, by their bizarre cult beliefs. Cox died of natural causes during the investigation and was never charged.

Like Vallow, Daybell himself never took the stand in his own defense. When Judge Boyce asked him if he wished to make a statement following his sentencing on Saturday, the death row prisoner leaned into a microphone and said No.
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Gabby Petitos mother said shes forgiven her daughters killer Brian Laundrie but slammed his mother and insisted she deserved to be forgotten.

Nichole Schmidt, whose daughter went missing in the summer of 2021, made the admission while speaking to a crowd at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Investigators say that her boyfriend Brian Laundrie killed her before he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head with his body being found in a Florida nature reserve.

The couple had been on a cross-country road trip, stopping over at National Parks, when Petito vanished and Laundrie returned home without her.

I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you, Ms Schmidt told the audience. I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life.

Gabby Petitos mother, Nicole Schmidt, said that she forgives her daughters suspected killer but blames his mother for ruining their families ( AP )

Petitos mother, however, did not hold back when speaking about Laundries mother Roberta, according to Fox News.

As for you, Roberta, and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mine with your evil ways, I see no empathy in your eyes, she said. No remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions.

She continued: You do not deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be forgotten.

Laundries parents told authorities during deposition hearings that their son had called them in an erratic state leading them to be concerned for Petitos safety. However, Petitos parents allege that the Laundries never reached out to them and ignored their efforts to communicate with them.

In this image taken from police body camera video provided by the Moab Police Department, Gabrielle Petito talks to a police officer after police pulled over the van she was traveling in with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, near the entrance to Arches National Park on Aug. 12, 2021 ( MPD )

Petitos parents have alleged that the Laundries knew about her murder and tried to conceal that knowledge. Laundries remains were found in a park near their home. He was the only suspect in the murder and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents found a handwritten confession that was in a waterproof bag.

Even though the mans parents denied knowledge of the crime they had sent a $25,000 retainer to a defense attorney. The Petitos settled a lawsuit against the Laundrie family earlier this year.

Tara Petito, Gabbys stepmother, also spoke at the event and criticized Laundrie.

In this image taken from police body camera video provided by the Moab Police Department, Brian Laundrie talks to a police officer after police pulled over the van he was traveling in with his girlfriend, Gabrielle Petito, near the entrance to Arches National Park in Utah on Aug. 12, 2021 ( MPD )

The suspected murderer allegedly abandoned Petitos remains in Wyoming and drove home to go camping with his parents, sister and her children.Only someone with true evil in their heart would do such a thing, the mother said, describing Ms Laundrie.

Ms Schmit called her daughter a bright light, describing her as a talented artist and free spirit.

I implore you all, live by these simple words directly from Gabby: Just be a nicer person,.
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Convicted Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, who brought 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 Wednesday. He was 74.

The Correctional Service Canada said in a statement that Pickton, an inmate from Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec, died in hospital following injuries resulting from an assault involving another inmate on May 19.

A 51-year-old inmate was in custody for the assault on Pickton Sunday at a prison in Quebec, 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.

The remains or DNA of 33 women, many picked up from Vancouvers Downtown Eastside, were found on Picktons pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. He once bragged to an undercover police officer that he killed a total of 49 women.

Families of some of the victims have campaigned against a police application seeking to destroy evidence related to cases against Pickton, the Vancouver Sun reported, claiming that they could be useful someday if DNA technology can eventually tie him to the murders of the other women.

Pickton released a self-published memoir in 2016, but it was quickly removed by Amazon.
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A father was found guilty of manslaughter Friday for the 2021 death of his son, whom he was filmed on surveillance camera forcing to run on a high-speed treadmill despite the boy falling over repeatedly.

Following a four-week trial, a jury in Ocean County, New Jersey passed on a more serious murder charge, but found that Christopher Gregor, 31, was guilty of both aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment. He could faced up to 30 years in prison.

His son, Corey Micciolo, 6, died in April of 2021, after being taken to a hospital complaining of symptoms including slurred speech, stumbling, neaseau and shortness of breath.

At the hospital, the boy told doctors that his father, who wasnt aware he had a son until the boy was five, forced him to run on a treadmill because he was too fat.

"Were happy with the verdict and we thank the prosecutors office, Coreys mother, Breanna Micciolo, told the Asbury Park Press after the decision.

Mario Gallucci, an attorney for Gregor, said outside the courtroom his client absolutely plans to appeal the verdict.

"He was not surprised, Gallucci added. "He knows it was just the first step in a long battle.

During the trial, both sides sought to present competing versions of how the shocking treadmill video either did or did not connect to the childs death weeks later.

What kind of father would do this to their son? Christine Lento, an assistant prosecutor, told the jury during closing arguments. Everything that you need and want to know is captured on this video, she added.

Gregor was originally charged only with the child endangerment offense, though the charge was later upgraded to murder when a medical examiner amended their autopsy report to show Coreys cause of death as homicide.

Dr Thomas Andrew, former chief medical examiner for New Hampshire, who helped revise the examiners initial report, testified for the prosecution that the child died as a result of blunt force injuries to the chest and lacerations to the heart and liver.

A different expert, Dr Michael Baden, former chief medical examinder for New York City and host of the HBO show Autopsy, testified for the defense that there was a more than 50 per cent chance the child died of pneumonia or another cause.

Another prosecution witness, an infectious disease specialist, argued the autopsy showed no signs of pneumonia.

Breanna Micciolo, Coreys mother, said she tried to report suspected abuse more than 100 times in 18 months to New Jersey officials, but no action was taken.

I dont know if it was incompetence on [the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency] side or they just didnt believe me, Micciolo told News Nation last year.

The defence didnt dispute the shocking nature of the treadmill video, but argued the evidence didnt show that the harm the child suffered there was connected to his death.

When you see that video, you are going to be horrified. Youre going to be mortified. But Im telling you right now that the evidence youre going to see... his death had absolutely nothing to do with that treadmill, the defence argued in opening statements.

Gregors mother also testified that her son was adamant that something happened when he (Corey) was with his mother.

Sentencing is scheduled for 2 August.
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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.
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Hardcore followers of Donald Trump are calling for riots, insurrection, and assassination after he was criminally convicted of falsifying business records on Thursday.

A New York jury found the former president guilty on 34 counts of falsifying records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a conspiracy to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

Republican politicians widely refused to accept the verdict from the Manhattan trial, decrying the process as "rigged", "corrupt", "ridiculous", and "bulls***".

But in messages seen by The Independent, and others reported by Reuters, Trump loyalists on right-wing social networks went much further.

"Find the jurors. All of them. Take no prisoners," wrote one user on a Trump-focused message board.

"Just give them the rope," said another, in an explicit reference to lynching. "The time for talking has long gone. Let them swing outside the courthouse."

Protesters gather outside Trump Tower in New York City on the day of his conviction ( Stephanie Keith/Getty Image )

Some posts used coded language, such as one which urged "short drops"  that is, execution by hanging  for the people responsible for Trump's trial.

Another user replied with "short walks and long drops", plus a helicopter emoji  an apparent reference to "death flights" such as those used by right-wing dictators in Argentina and Chile to dispose of dissidents.

One post seen by Reuters claimed that "someone in New York with nothing to lose needs to take care of Merchan," referring to the judge who oversaw the trial, while another declared: "Time to start capping some lefties."

The overwhelming sentiment from MAGA loyallists is that Trump's conviction is wholly unjustified, and proves that the American political and justice systems are irretrievably rigged.

"One million men (armed) need to go to Washington and hang everyone. That's the only solution," said one message quoted by Reuters.

The majority of posts seen by The Independent did not preach violence but instead were advocating electoral solutions or non-violent civil disobedience. But calls for extrajudicial murder were not difficult to find.

A thread urging Trump supporters to "LEGALLY destroy the professional lives" of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, and trial judge Juan Merchan attracted particular scorn.

"Thats a lot of unnecessary words to say 'try and hang'," replied one user. "All the ghillie suits in America and you want to use the broken and corrupt judicial system. F*** off," said another, referring to a type of camouflage suit used by military snipers.

Other responses included "my AR-15 is legal", "rope", and "they have addresses. you know".

Insurrectionists loyal to then-president Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier at the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021 ( AP Photo/Julio Cortez )

Some of the messages found by Reuters were posted on Trump's own social network, Truth Social, which has rules against violent language. Some of the posts highlighted by the news agency were later removed.

"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," said a spokesperson for Truth Social.

Republicans' comments on the trial, and their adoption of Trump's rhetoric of "rigging" and "corruption", closely mirrored the language of the former president and his allies in the run-up to the attack on the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021.

Back then, Trump's team repeatedly claimed without any compelling evidence that the 2020 presidential election had been "rigged" and "stolen".

Many experts and critics of Trump have blamed that rhetoric for the violence of January 6, and some now fear that similar violence could follow from the hush money trial.

"I do think a lot of these folks have been looking for an excuse to maybe mobilize for a while," terrorism researcher Amy Cooter told Reuters.

"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]."

The Independent has asked Donald Trump and his staff for comment.
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Alex Smith, a public health expert working in the humanitarian field, read all of Samantha Powers books before he joined the agency she now leads. He carried around copies with him, and even hosted a book club in Rome when she released her memoir in 2019.

But this week, he delivered a blistering criticism of the woman he respected for years when he resigned from the US Agency for International Aid (USAID in protest over her failure to speak out against the same crimes she had built a career exposing.

She has been a very passionate vocal advocate for human rights and specifically against genocide. So to see her not talk about international law now, about illegal acts that Israel is currently very publicly carrying out, it is very frustrating for me and a lot of staff, Smith, who worked as a contractor at the agency for four years, told The Independent by phone.

Smith, who worked as a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, became the ninth official to resign from the Biden administration over its unconditional support for Israels war in Gaza, and only the second to leave USAID  the agency devoted to humanitarian assistance.

He said Powers refusal to name and blame Israel for blocking aid into Gaza, as a famine that threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands takes hold, was inconsistent with his values.

Specifically, he criticized Power for not calling out what is causing it, and stating the very obvious fact that starvation of children is a war crime and a crime against humanity.

But he also offered some insight into Powers thinking and a possible explanation for why a prolific campaigner against genocide would self-censor at such a crucial time.

US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power speaks during a news conference at the National Palace of Culture in Guatemala City, Guatemala, January 15, 2024. ( REUTERS/Jose Cabezas )

Smith said he believes that political pressure from the White House, as well as from Republicans like Matt Gaetz who has threatened to defund USAID for what the Florida congressman has characterized as its radical leftist ideology, was stopping her from speaking out publicly.

I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Having read her books, I understand that she often takes stands that she sees as the lesser of two evils, he said.

In this case, she wants to preserve the budget of USAID, which is an arguable moral case that you can make, that preserving our budget does help millions of people around the world.

However, Smith said he and his colleagues were uncomfortable about the agency censoring itself to keep the money coming in.

Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

I think me and a lot of staff think that if you are preserving our budget by not telling the truth about war crimes and crimes against humanity, thats not acceptable, he said.

Smiths resignation comes two weeks after The Independent published an investigation into dissent at USAID in response to the Biden administrations handling of Gazas hunger crisis.

The investigation revealed that at least 19 internal dissent memos have been sent since the start of the war by staff at USAID criticizing US support for Israels war in Gaza.

Power herself has spoken out about the effectiveness of government officials resigning in protest.

As a young college graduate, while the Bosnian war was ongoing, she wrote in her journal : My only regret is that I dont work at the State Department so I can quit to protest policy. Instead, I sit impotent and incapable.

Power began her career as a journalist covering the mass killing of Bosnian Muslims by Serbians, and became a powerful advocate for using American power to protect innocent civilians.

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid shortages of aid supplies, after Israeli forces launched a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah. ( REUTERS )

Later, she became a foreign policy advisor for Barack Obama at a time when he stubbornly resisted pressure to use the US military to protect civilians in the Syrian civil war. She joined USAID as its administrator in 2021.

Smith said Powers decision not to identify a culprit in Gazas worsening humanitarian disaster mirrored the development she wrote about in her 2019 memoir, The Education of an Idealist, in which she documented her shifting ideology from the politics of protest to a kind of brutal pragmatism.

Power has gone further than most US officials in declaring that a famine has likely already taken hold in parts of Gaza in a Senate hearing in April. In doing so, she became the first high-ranking US official to make that declaration.

Speaking to other donor governments about the crisis in Gaza on Wednesday, Power said civilians there were paying a devastating and unacceptable price in this war, particularly in the wake of the IDFs expanded operations in Rafah.

A USAID spokesperson said: We have consistently made clear, internally and externally, that far too many innocent people have been killed and injured in Israels war against Hamas. Hundreds of staff across the Agency are working tirelessly to accelerate aid, to advocate for greater protections for civilians and the improvement of deconfliction, and to advance diplomatic efforts.

Israeli tanks move towards Rafah in the Gaza Strip ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

Cindy McCain, the US director of the UN World Food Programme, said earlier this month that there was a full-blown famine in Gazas north. Since then, Israel has launched an offensive in the city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians were sheltering, causing the closure of a major crossing to aid and a dramatic worsening of Gazas hunger crisis.

Israel has vehemently denied that there is a hunger crisis in Gaza, or that it has restricted aid. It says fighting with Hamas, the militant group that triggered the current war when it killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in Israel on 7 October, has hampered aid efforts. But Powers reluctance to be forthright that Israel is a major cause of the famine has caused frustration among USAID staff, Smith said.

There really theres sort of a self-imposed culture of not talking about Gaza within leadership, he said.

He added that he believes that Powers and other leaders are likely reacting to political pressure from the White House.

No administration officials or spokespeople have stated clearly that the famine is intentional. No officials have said intentional starvation of a civilian population is a violation of international law, Smith said. So either administration officials at Powers level have been told not to state those facts or theyre choosing to self-censor, parroting the administrations public stance.
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A contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has resigned in protest over the Biden administrations support for the war in Gaza  and in an interview with The Independent said that political pressure from the White House was silencing dissent at the agency.

Alex Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, said he was given a choice of resigning or being fired after a presentation he was due to deliver on child mortality among Palestinians was cancelled by USAID leadership.

In his resignation letter to the head of USAID, Samana Power, he alleged that the agency was treating the war in Gaza and Palestinians differently than other conflicts and humanitarian emergencies.

Read his resignation letter in full below:

( Alex Smith )

( Alex Smith )

( Alex Smith )

27 May, 2024

Dear Administrator Power,

After years of service to USAID, this will be my last communication to your office in my position as a Senior Advisor on Gender, Maternal Health, Child Health, and Nutrition.

This is a heartbreaking and dangerous moment in world history. Since October last year, Israel has launched a deadly campaign of collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, mass starvation, and cultural erasure of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. More than 35,400 people (two thirds of them women and children) have been killed in Gaza, and another 500 people (100 of them children) have been killed in the West Bank. At least 10,000 more people are missing under the rubble. More than 7,350 West Bank Palestinians have been abducted, often without charge or in administrative detention.

Over 1.7 million people, more than 75% of Gazas population, have been displaced since October. The UN estimates that around 640,000 Gazans have been displaced from Rafah, since May 6th. Hundreds of thousands of children and other civilians are at risk of death or life-long illness due to poor living conditions and intentional starvation. Over 79,000 people in Gaza have been injured. UNICEF estimates a thousand children have lost one or more limbs. The intentional bombing of all 36 of Gazas hospitals means most Palestinians lack access to even basic first aid, let alone maternal care and other vital health services.

Rather than sanctioning this horrific violence, the United States has consistently provided political cover for Israels actions, blocked UN votes for ceasefire and recognition of Palestinian statehood, dismissed the possibility of legal redress in the international courts, and provided tens of billions in financial support and arms to continue the slaughter. Years ago, I read all of your books on genocide, on the integrity of international humanitarian systems, and on idealism. I had thought that you and our leadership at USAID would surely speak out or allow others to speak out about what is true and what is right in a framework of international law.

USAID has always prided itself on our programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law. USAID defends human rights norms and international law when Ukrainians suffer from Russias crimes. In Ukraine, we call for legal redress when people are victimized, and name perpetrators of violence. We even work with human rights organizations collecting evidence for international prosecution. We boldly state Slava Ukraini in peppy promotional videos. When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses theyre currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water. When Ukraine was invaded, we at USAID volunteered and rallied with Ukrainian partners to plan for the day after the war and rebuilding of health systems. For the Palestinians, however, no such plan exists, and worse: the US continues to deny vital funding to the most effective aid coordinator, UNRWA, despite zero evidence of malfeasance.

On May 22nd, 2024, I was scheduled to present a session to a conference of USAID colleagues and partners. My abstract An Intersectional Gender Lens in Gaza: Ethnicity, Religion, Legal Status, and Maternal/Child Health Outcomes was submitted in February 2024 and vetted for quality in three rounds by 35 reviewers. My presentation was one of a few selected out of 368 submissions. One of the discussion themes of the conference focused on intersectional gender and the fact that indigenous women and women from racial and ethnic minorities often experience higher maternal mortality rates and other negative maternal health outcomes. My presentation addressed this issue directly, citing UN and US government sources and data. It focused on maternal and child health outcomes in Gaza and the long-term implications of starving and bombarding pregnant women in this and previous conflicts.

One day before I was to present, however, I received from leadership a list of words I was forbidden to say, including Israel-Gaza border, Palestinian state, and Palestinians in reference to Palestinian/Arab citizens of Israel who identify as Palestinians. I was also told that a UN OCHA map of Gaza which accurately describes the 2022 borders was unacceptable. Later the same day, my session was canceled without explanation. Every reference to it was quietly deleted from the conference website. This decision denied the conference participants the opportunity to receive accurate, relevant, data-driven information about a serious global health and human rights crisis.

On the same day that I was to have given my presentation based on credible reporting, data, and facts, Israels Minister of Strategic Affairs told Sky News, there is no famine in Gaza and there never has been famine in Gaza. What a sad state of affairs were in when offencive, perhaps criminal, misinformation and propaganda can be broadcast to millions around the world while at the same time important and accurate information cannot be whispered at a conference on gender equality and human rights.

As a Senior Advisor on Gender, Maternal Health, Child Health, and Nutrition, it has been my job to address harmful social and human rights issues impacting health outcomes in a wide range of contexts, including conflict-affected areas. Ive carried out these duties for four years, providing technical and policy assistance across our missions in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. As specific needs arose, I also volunteered for rotations on the COVID Vaccine Task Force, the Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment (GenDev) Hub, and the Ukraine Response Management Team (RMT).

I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race. I can no longer in good conscience continue to be silent amidst USAIDs de facto policy of ignoring human suffering when that suffering is perpetrated by an ally. Actively silencing discussion of Palestinian lives and the ongoing global health disaster is dehumanizing, not only to the people of Gaza, but to the people of the United States who deserve to know the extent to which we are paying for and supporting crimes against Palestinians.

I sincerely hope that in future years the leaders of USAID regain their moral footing and speak truthfully in important and dangerous times such as these.

Sincerely,

Alexander Smith
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Special counsel Jack Smith has again asked a Florida federal judge to block Donald Trump from making statements that could harm law enforcement officials in his secret documents case.

Trump has made false claims about the 2022 Mar-a-Lago classified documents search, claiming that Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrived at his home prepared to kill him. He had made the same assertion days prior, prompting Mr Smith to file another motion asking US District Judge Aileen Cannon to modify the conditions of Trumps release.

Trumps repeated mischaracterization of these facts in widely distributed messages as an attempt to kill him, his family and Secret Service agents has endangered law enforcement officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case and threatened the integrity of these proceedings, Mr Smith wrote in the filing.

In a fundraising email, Trumps campaign claimed that President Bidens campaign was locked & loaded ready to take me out.

Jack Smiths office is asking the judge presiding over Former President Donald Trumps secret docs case to bar him from making statements endangering FBI agents ( Getty Images )

Trump was not at his home when the historic raid occurred. Authorities have said that his statements targeted use-of-force policies for the Federal Bureau of Investigation stating that officers are allowed to use lethal force when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person.

In the filing, Mr Smith said: Trump, however, has grossly distorted these standard practices by mischaracterizing them as a plan to kill him, his family and US Secret Service agents.

Those deceptive and inflammatory assertions irresponsibly put a target on the backs of the FBI agents involved in this case, as Trump well knows.

Mr Smiths previous motion on the matter was denied on Tuesday, after Judge Cannon found that Mr Smiths office did not adequately discuss the matter with Trumps legal team, calling their efforts wholly lacking in substance and professional courtesy.

Prosecutors violated procedure by not consulting with Trumps defense team before filing the motion. The second time around, Mr Smiths team included a certificate confirming prosecutors had communicated with Trumps legal team through a phone call on Wednesday and emails on Thursday and Friday.

Attorneys for the former president asked that the motion include a statement reading Trump opposes the motion.

On the merits, President Trumps position is that the requested modification is a blatant violation of the First Amendment rights of President Trump and the American People, which would in effect allow President Trumps political opponent to regulate his campaign communications to voters across the country, the statement read.

Its not the first time Trump has been asked to keep quiet.

Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the former presidents financial fraud trial, placed a gag order on him in an effort to stop him from publicly intimidating jurors and witnesses. Trump was fined thousands of dollars after violating the order several times. On Thursday, he was convicted on 34 felony counts in New York of falsifying business records.
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Social Security Inspector General Gail Ennis resigned from her post following allegations that she tried to bar a major investigation into the agency.

Ms Ennis, a Trump appointee, had been in her post since 2019. She announced her resignation in an email to her 500-person staff on Friday, The Washington Post reported. The Social Security Administration is one of the largest agencies in the nation.

Approximately 69 million Americans receive monthly retirement benefits through the office and another 15 million receive disability checks.

Michelle Anderson, the assistant inspector for audits, will take her place until President Joe Bidens administration can select a replacement.

Congressional members on both sides of the aisle called for Ms Ennis to be replaced following reports of low productivity and morale at the agency. There had also been complaints of retaliation against whistleblowers and criticism for the way she handled an anti-fraud program.

When Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz launched an investigation into the office through the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Ms Ennis allegedly attempted to obstruct it, he announced in March.

She had failed to cooperate with investigators, withheld documents and told staff not to participate in interviews, the newspaper reported.

The investigation came after The Washington Post reported that an anti-fraud program run by the agency fined disability recipients hundreds of thousands of dollars after they had been accused of disability benefits fraud.

According to the outlet, the practice started before Ms Ennis assumed her role but continued under her leadership. Additionally, he found that the office had levied fines against poor and disabled Social Security recipients without notifying them, thus violating their rights to due process.

But thats not where the problems stopped.

The office suffered from performance problems in recent years. Dozens of staff members, including senior investigators and auditors quit or retired in frustration due to a lack of leadership and focus.

Ms Ennis had seen a copy of the investigations findings before resigning. In her resignation email, Ms Ennis called the inspector generals office a vibrant organization that had become a leader in the watchdog community during her tenure, the newspaper reported.
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A unanimous 12-person jury in New York found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts against him in his so-called hush money case.

The jury agreed, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Trump not only had a hand in falsifying records but did so in order to commit or conceal another crime  specifically, that he violated state law against conspiracy to influence an election by unlawful means.

Those unlawful means include violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, the falsification of other business records, and violations of state and federal tax laws.

He was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, stemming from his reimbursements to Michael Cohen for his hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump then agreed to reimburse him throughout 2017. Invoices, pay stubs and accounting notes marked that the payments were for legal expenses (for work that was not performed), pursuant to a retainer (that did not exist).

Each count relates to an invoice approved by Trump, a ledger entry that documented the invoice and corresponding check, and a check signed by Trump.

In total, there were 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 entries in accounting records that marked the payments.

These are the full 34 counts against the former president.

Count 1: Michael Cohens invoice for January-February 2017

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated February 14, 2017, marked as a record of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 2: A corresponding ledger entry from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher number 842457, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 3: A corresponding ledger entry from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher number 842460, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

The verdict sheet in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump after it was handed down ( AP )

Count 4: Cohens check for $70,000 from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated February 14, 2017, bearing check number 000138, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 5: Cohens invoice for March 2017

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about March 16, 2017 through March 17, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated February 16, 2017 and transmitted on or about March 16, 2017, marked as a record of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 6: A corresponding ledger entry from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about March 17, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher number 846907, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 7: Cohens check for $35,000 from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about March 17, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated March 17, 2017, bearing check number 000147, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 8: Cohens invoice for April 2017

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about April 13, 2017 through June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated April 13, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 9: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 858770, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 10: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017, bearing check number 002740, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 11: Cohens May 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about May 22, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated May 22, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 12: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about May 22, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 855331, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 13: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about May 23, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated May 23, 2017, bearing check number 002700, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 14: Cohens June 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 16, 2017 through June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated June 16, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 15: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 858772, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 16: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017, bearing check number 002741, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

The verdict sheet in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump is photographed Thursday, May 30 ( AP )

Count 17: Cohens July 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about July 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated July 11, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 18: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about July 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 861096, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 19: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about July 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated July 11, 2017, bearing check number 002781, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 20: Cohens August 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about August 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated August 1, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 21: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about August 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 863641, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 22: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about August 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated August 1, 2017, bearing check number 002821, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 23: Cohens September 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about September 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated September 11, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 24: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about September 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 868174, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 25: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about September 12, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated September 12, 2017, bearing check number 002908, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 26: Cohens October 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about October 18, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated October 18, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 27: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about October 18, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 872654, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 28: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about October 18, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated October 18, 2017, bearing check number 002944, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 29: Cohens November 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about November 20, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated November 20, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 30: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about November 20, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 876511, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 31: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about November 21, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated November 21, 2017, bearing check number 002980, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 32: Cohens December 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about December 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated December 1, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 33: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about December 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 877785, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 34: Cohens check for $35,000 from Donald Trumps personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about December 5, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated December 5, 2017, bearing check number 003006, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.
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Donald Trumps inflated sense of his own importance should not be news to anybody at this point but the sheer scale of the presumptive Republican presidential candidates self-regard remains a wonder to behold.

Not content with bragging about being so popular he could literally get away with murder, taking credit for the shape of the New York City skyline or claiming that the wars in Ukraine and Gaza would simply not have happened if he had remained in the White House, Trump appears to think of himself in ever-grander terms.

Prior to being found guilty of paying off a porn star, Trump left the Manhattan courthouse where his hush trial was playing out on Wednesday and compared himself to Mother Teresa, insisting that not even she could beat these charges.

Why the legendary Catholic nun and humanitarian might need to silence Stormy Daniels is beside the point  the episode was just the latest example of the former president comparing himself to an iconic figure of global significance, from American presidents and rock and roll stars to notorious mobsters.

Below, we take a look at some of the famous figures Trump has improbably likened himself to, from Nelson Mandela to Al Capone.

Nelson Mandela

Before Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Trump compared himself to the late South African anti-Apartheid icon in April, a man who spent 27 years in jail as part of his fight for equality.

Shamelessly, the former president claimed to see similarities between Mandelas struggle and the gag order imposed on him by Judge Juan Merchan in his hush money case.

Nelson Mandela, the legendary anti-apartheid leader, soon after his release from jail in 1990 ( AFP/Getty )

If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the clink for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOR, Trump posted on Truth Social.

According to Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen, the Republican presidential candidate was not always such an admirer of Mandela.

In his 2020 memoir Disloyal, Cohen wrote that Trump once said of the South African leader: Mandela f***ed the whole country up. Now its a s**hole. F*** Mandela. He was no leader.

Jesus Christ

Trump has long nurtured a Messiah Complex and frequently encourages parallels between himself and Jesus when courting the votes of the Christian evangelical crowd.

The AI image Donald Trump posted of a mock court sketch, in which Jesus Christ sits alongside him ( Dom Lucre/X )

In March, he reposted a message from a follower on Truth Social, who had expressed sympathy for Trumps legal troubles that read: Its ironic that Christ walked through His greatest persecution the very week they are trying to steal your property from you.

In 2023, he also suggested that, other than himself, only Christ could have secured the votes needed to become speaker of the House of Representatives and posted an AI image, created by another supporter, of Jesus sitting beside him in court.

The Mona Lisa

During an interview with the Welsh TV channel S4C at Mar-a-Lago last June, Trump likened himself to Leonardo Da Vincis world-famous Renaissance portrait as he talked up the devotion of the MAGA fans who turn up to his rallies.

The Front Row Joes get it and they see it, he said, alluding to the regulars at his events and their ability to see his qualities.

You have people that follow the rock bands, and they listen to the same songs over and over. You have people that go to the Mona Lisa and they will see it hundreds and hundreds of times and it gets better every time. And Broadway plays and they will see it 20 times.

Elvis Presley

Trump posted a composite image eerily merging his face with that of the King of Rock n Roll on Truth Social in February.

For so many years people have been saying that Elvis and I look alike. Now this pic has been going all over the place. What do you think? he asked his followers.

Trumps question was met with ridicule, not least from late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who quipped during his show a day later: I think youve embarrassed yourself again.

A less disturbing composite image of Donald Trump and Elvis Presley than the version he placed on Truth Social ( Getty )

Kimmel did find some points of comparison between the duo, however: They both have amazing heads of hair, they both live in a lavish southern estate... and they both have their own trademark dance moves.

The TV star also noted that both men were totally under the control and influence of The Colonel, cutting to a photo of Trump eating KFC on his private jet.

The only thing Donald Trump has in common with Elvis is that he too will die on the toilet, eating an Arbys beef and cheddar, with a fried banana on it, he concluded.

Al Capone

At this years Conservative Political Action Conference in February, Trump drew a parallel between himself and the infamous Prohibition-era Chicago mob boss.

Remember this, Ive been indicted more times than Alphonse Capone, Scarface, he said at the Republican gathering, relishing the gory details of the gangsters reputation.

Gangster Al Capone circa 1930 ( Getty )

If he had dinner with you and he didnt like the smile on your face  thought you were mocking him by smiling  you would be dead before you went home and said hello to your wife.

Trump isnt the only person to have made the Capone comparison, incidentally.

In 2020, his biographer Timothy OBrien, compared him to the crimelord when talking about the possibility of former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg turning on his old paymaster.

Al Capone ultimately went down because they got his accountant... and the accountant is the one who showed federal investigators how Capones organizations were cooking his books, OBrien told MSNBC.

Weisselberg is currently serving his second stint in Rikers Island prison, most recently for perjuring himself on Trumps behalf.

Sir Winston Churchill

Speaking at a rally in Michigan in September 2020, Trump denied reports that he had deliberately downplayed the threat of Covid-19 in the early days of the pandemic  and likened himself to the wartime British prime minister as justification.

As the British government advised the British people in the face of World War II, Keep Calm and Carry On. Thats what I did, Trump told his audience.

When Hitler was bombing, I dont know if you know this, when Hitler was bombing London, Churchill, great leader, would oftentimes go to a roof in London and speak.

Sir Winston Churchill ( PA )

He continued: And he always spoke with calmness. He said we have to show calmness. No, we did it the right way and weve done a job like nobody.

Its possible that Trump got the idea of the Churchill comparison from journalist Piers Morgan, who once gave the former president a replica of Churchills signature Homburg hat during a particularly toadying interview in June 2019.

The Trump 2024 campaigns director of communications Liz Harrington would later be ridiculed for sharing the cover of American Spectator magazine on social media on which her boss was hailed as The New Churchill.

George Washington

In July 2023, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself in place of George Washington leading the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

The post came in response to the United States celebrating the 247th anniversary of its independence from Great Britain but only succeeded in inviting a deluge of mockery online.

He would have sold us out faster than Benedict Arnold did, one user wrote, a cutting reference to the major-general who betrayed the revolutionary cause to support the British.

Abraham Lincoln

Shortly before Election Day 2020, Trump improbably claimed at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania that he had always competed against Honest Abe.

You know were the party of Abraham Lincoln, a lot of people dont know that. The great Abraham Lincoln, a man that Ive always competed against, Trump said.

Abraham Lincoln ( Getty )

I said, I can be more presidential than any president ever, except for the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln when hes wearing the hat.

Trump made the comparison again earlier this year in even more jaw-dropping fashion.

During a campaign stop at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Georgia, he claimed that he had done more for Black Americans than Lincoln, who signed the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves.

Ive done more for the people of Atlanta than any other president by far, he claimed.

Ive done more for the Black community than any other president since Abraham Lincoln  and maybe including Abraham Lincoln, frankly.

Ronald Reagan

Trump has excused his former political alliance to the Democratic Party by comparing himself to the Hollywood actor who became Americas 40th president.

If you look at Ronald Reagan, and he was a Democrat, he was actually, Don, he was a Democrat with a very liberal, or at least a pretty liberal bent, and he became a Republican with a somewhat conservative  I wouldnt say very, but he was a conservative Republican, Trump told CNNs Don Lemon in September 2015.

Ronald Reagan ( AP )

After journalist Michael Wolffs unflattering book, Fire and Fury, was published in 2018, Trump also invoked Reagan in an social media rant.

Tweeting angrily about fake news, he declared: Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I!

Two years later, however, he was rather less keen on the parallel after the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute complained about Trump using his predecessors image on commemorative Reagan-Trump coins, an underrated grift from the man who has more recently offered up personalised Bibles, cologne and golden sneakers.
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On the 23rd day of his criminal trial, on the 15th floor of a Manhattan courtroom, defendant Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 counts against him.

One hour before a juror quietly announced guilty 34 times, the former president was laughing with his attorneys, preparing to pack up for the day and return the next morning.

Shortly after 5pm on May 30, the Republican nominee for president became a convicted criminal, accused of falsifiying business records as part of an election conspricacy that involved covering up payments to an adult film star whose story of an affair threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan District Attorneys Office had walked into the courtroom at 4.09pm.

Moments later, Trump entered the hallway, where police barricades penned in a handful of photographers and print reporters who could capture his movements.

Mr Trump, are you nervous about a verdict? a reporter asked.

He briefly stopped, turned to the cameras and said: I want to campaign.

In an adjoining courtroom where roughly 100 reporters could watch a closed-circuit broadcast of the proceedings on three large flat screen TVs, Trump  in a blue satin tie  could be seen at the defense table between his attorneys Todd Blanche, on his right, and Emil Bove, to his left. Trumps son, Eric, sat in the first row behind him.

Two minutes later, New York Justice Juan Merchan returned to the bench.

He announced his plans to excuse the jury at 4.30pm. Heavy sighs filled the overflow room.

Trump immediately swatted Blanches arm with a smile and whispered in his ear. Blanche jumped up to speak with Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass, who was huddled with his team at the prosecutions table. Blanche returned to his seat, and Trump told him something that made him nearly double over with laughter. Trump smiled.

After roughly nine hours of deliberations, it appeared the jury had not reached a verdict, and would return in the morning.

Judge Merchan sent an officer to knock on their door, to summon them back to the courtroom to be excused.

Reporters prepared to shut their laptops and bolt for the courtrooms double swing doors to beat a rush to the elevators.

Judge Merchan returned to the courtroom at 4.36pm.

He held a note from the jury that had been signed at 4.20pm. We the jury have a verdict.

Trumps body language immediately shifted. His shoulders tensed. He crossed his arms. His attorneys stared straight ahead, stone-faced.

The note continued: We would like an extra 30 minutes to fill out the form. Would that be possible?

Merchan issued a brief warning.

Im sure you will hear from the sergeant and the major and everyone else, but please let there be no outbursts of any kind when we take a verdict, he told the court. Ill be back out in a few minutes.

A court officer in the overflow loudly announced that we must keep the outbursts to a minimum.

Trump makes history as first criminally convicted former US president

The overflow room fell silent, punctured by occasional static from court officers radios, their footsteps as they paced the room, and a cascade of keyboards clacking to capture the moment.

Trump uncrossed his arms and kept them to his side, closed his eyes and tilted his head up slightly. He sat at the defense table in that position for most of the trials seven weeks.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg entered the courtroom and took a seat in one of the pew-like rows behind the assistant district attorneys leading the case.

Judge Merchan returned to the bench roughly 20 minutes after he announced that a verdict had been reached.

Bring out the jury, please, he said. A court officer called out all rise.

As the 12 jurors entered the room at 5pm, the screens in the overflow room went dark, keeping their movement out of view of the closed-circuit broadcast.

Has the jury in fact reached a verdict? Merchan asked, pivoting to the foreperson in the first seat.

The foreperson, Juror 1, said yes.

A court clerk asked him 34 questions.

How say you to the first count of the indictment, charging Donald J Trump with falsifying business records in the first degree? she asked.

The foreperson, his voice quiet and steady, announced the first of 34 answers:

Guilty.

The room filled with a few deep breaths and sharp sounds of fingers frantically hitting laptops.

To count two?

Guilty.

To count three?

Guilty.

Thirty-one more questions, and 31 more answers, delivered at a brisk pace.

Trump sat motionless, his lips tightly closed, his gaze ahead of him at nothing in particular.

Bove, who sat expressionless through most of the trial, gently shook his head.

Blanche, the former presidents lead attorney, sat forward with his elbows on the table and his head in his hands.

A courtroom sketch depicts Donald Trump shaking his son Eric Trumps hand after he was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records on May 30 ( REUTERS )

When the foreperson was finished, each member of the jury was asked to confirm their decision, one by one.

Trump craned his head towards the jury box, narrowing his gaze, and remaining silent without any visible signs of emotion as all 12 jurors said yes.

From the overflow room and the adjoining hallway, cheers from a growing crowd in the park across the street could be heard 15 floors below.

Merchan thanked the jurors at 5.11pm. He noted the trials seven-week timeline, and the nearly 200 hours spent inside the courthouse.

Thats a long time, away from jobs, families, and other responsibilities, for a stressful and difficult task, he said.

He admired your dedication, your hard work, and said he could see how involved, how engaged you were.

They gave the attention this matter deserves, he said.

Judge Merchan also noted that they do not have to speak to anyone about their decision. No one can make you do anything you dont want to do, he said. The choice is yours.

He said he would meet with them personally to thank them and for their feedback. The jurors were then excused.

Blanche quietly requested a long-shot motion to dismiss the verdict. The judge denied it within seconds.

Within minutes, Judge Merchan scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 10am.

What is the current bail status? he asked the prosecution. Steinglass said there is none.

Trump will remain RORd, - released on his own recognizance - prior to sentencing, Judge Merchan said.

He adjourned at 5.17pm, marking the end of the first-ever criminal trial, and first-ever criminal verdict, of an American president.

Court officers shouted out clear the courtroom seconds later.

More than a year after he was indicted, and after hundreds of hours of investigations, trial testimony, arguments and deliberations, Trumps conviction took only minutes.
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A new poll shows that nearly half of independent voters and some Republicans want Donald Trump to end his presidential campaign.

A Morningside Consult poll from Friday said that 49 percent of independent voters and 15 percent of Republican voters want Trump to end his 2024 bid after his felony conviction. However, just 8 percent of Trump supporters said they want his campaign to end. Their poll also demonstrated that 54 percent of voters approve of the historic verdict.

On Thursday, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of an election conspiracy that involved covering up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story of an affair threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trumps sentencing is on 11 July, just days before the Republican National Convention where he will be named the official GOP presidential candidate.

The same poll indicated half of voters oppose a prison sentence for Trump. 69 per cent of voters think a fine would be appropriate, while 49 per cent think Judge Juan Merchan should place him on probation, according to the Morningside Consult poll.

Supporters of former president Donald Trump wave banners after Trump spoke at a press conference at Trump Tower the day after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money criminal trial. A new poll shows nearly half of independent voters think Trump should now end his presidential campaign ( EPA )

President Joe Biden commented on the conviction on Friday, decrying his reckless attacks on the trial and insisting the verdict is evidence that the justice system works.

Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself, he said, adding that the case against Trump had been brought in a state court, not a federal one, and was decided by an ordinary jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you that was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen.

Meanwhile, some of Trumps die-hard supporters are calling for violence online in the wake of his conviction.

Find the jurors. All of them. Take no prisoners, wrote one user on a Trump-focused message board.

Just give them the rope, said another, in an explicit reference to lynching. The time for talking has long gone. Let them swing outside the courthouse.

Several prominent GOP politicians have also refused to accept the verdict, calling their ruling rigged and corrupt.
Many soldiers will insist that killing their enemies is not personal. But when Stepan Barnas suicide drone unit takes Russian soldiers lives, he does not disguise his feeling that every killing is a very personal payback for the death of his brother last year.

Stepan and his older brother, Oleh, were both well-known Ukrainian politicians long before Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Stepan had been the governor of the Ternopil region in the countrys west.

Oleh had been a member of the Ukrainian parliament. He gained notoriety in 2015 when he grabbed the then prime minister, Arseniy Yatseniuk, whose politics he disagreed with, while Yatseniuk was addressing the parliament, and dragged him off the podium.

Both brothers joined the Ukrainian army days after the invasion started and took part in some of the wars fiercest battles. Oleh was one day short of his 55th birthday when he was killed in action near the town of Vuhledar in the eastern region of Donetsk in April 2023.

Stepan says: I realised a year ago that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were going to transform, enormously, the nature of this conflict, and that drone warfare was fast evolving into one of the dominant battlefield factors.

Although the Ukrainian military, compensating for Russias overwhelming superiority in numbers of troops and weapons, had started experimenting with and utilising drones after Putin illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, many still regarded UAVs as almost toy-like and insignificant early on in this invasion.

Last year, Stepan experienced first-hand how devastating drones can be. He and a group of his comrades from the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, in which he serves as a senior sergeant, were defending a location near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

Stepan, the units founder, was the governor of the Ternopil region in the countrys west before the Russian invasion ( Askold Krushelnycky )

Their position, fortified with trenches and bunkers, jutted out into Russian-occupied territory. The enemy surrounded them on three sides. The skies were crowded with Russian drones ... attacking us. The area was mostly flat steppe with no trees or other cover, so vehicles coming to resupply us or evacuate our wounded were easy targets. We had to carry shells for our artillery on our shoulders over open ground. You can imagine what that felt like, Stepan says.

He says that last December his battalion commander allowed him to start organising his own drone unit operating along their three-mile section of the brigades 20-mile front west of Bakhmut. Stepan was confident he could leverage the contacts he had made and those who had voted for him when he held political office to get funds and receive drones for the unit of 15 men he picked.

After a period of training in the mechanics and piloting of first-person view (FPV) drones  using goggles showing a pilots view of the drones video camera  the unit began working. It is called Barney  a play on the Barna name and that of a cartoon bear on wrappers of a favourite childrens chocolate bar.

Speaking from a concealed base behind the brigades lines, Stepan says: Like everyone else here, Im fighting for my country. But when you lose your brother in that fight, of course it affects you. This unit is a type of memorial to my brother. People contribute funds to us in the name of my brother. That includes my parents. But its not just for my brother.

A drone operator in eastern Ukraine  early on in the Russian invasion, many still regarded the devices as almost toy-like ( Reuters )

He is clear about the toll it takes. We work 24/7, with around half of us at this base at any time, and groups of usually three in two forward positions.

We work very close to the enemy. At present we have two forward positions: one two-and-a-half kilometres from enemy lines, and the other one kilometre. So very close to the enemy, practically next to them, Stepan adds.

It is at the forward positions that the units men fly the FPV drones at targets that have been identified by reconnaissance. The operators can chase vehicles at 60mph and follow enemy soldiers into their trenches and bunkers.

While The Independent is visiting the base, one of the forward units reports that it has been spotted by what appears to be a Russian reconnaissance group consisting of seven men. The men at the base watch video monitors showing a feed from a reconnaissance drone flying high above the area  the Russians cautiously closing the approximately 700-metre distance to the three drone operators.

Rapid communications fly between the base and its commanders at brigade HQ to decide how to save the three men at the forward post from capture or death.

One of the Barney Units members, with the call-sign Simon, says of the situation: If our guys try to run they will be shot down or blown up by drones. Sending a vehicle to extract them is a dangerous option, because itll be an easy target  but well take that risk if theres no other way.

The Russians reach about 300 metres from the drone operators before the decision is made to send Ukrainian fighters  likely snipers  towards the three trapped men. A firefight erupts and the Ukrainians shoot dead two of the Russians, while the others flee back towards their units.

Barney Unit monitors three comrades who are threatened by an approaching Russian reconnaissance group ( Askold Krushelnycky )

Very quickly, everyone returns to their work. With relief obvious in his voice, Simon explains how the unit only uses suicide drones as they dont come back.

He adds: The Russians can track it as the drone returns, identify our positions and hit us. There are drones which drop their bombs and come back, but we dont use them at all.

The unit uses at least 400 drones per month, each costing around $450 (350). The simple, light drones have a cross-shaped skeleton, with propellers at each of the four tips. They cost a fraction of the cost of an artillery shell or rocket, but can destroy a Russian armoured vehicle worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Parts for the drones come from Ukraine and elsewhere. But the biggest share of the thousands of drones used by Ukraine and Russia each week are purchased from China.

At the Barney Units base, in the Siversk area of the Donetsk region, each drone is inspected and adjusted for a specific role. Farmer  whose call sign derives from his pre-war job as a turkey farmer  says: When they come in, these birds [drones] are for civilian use, for pleasure maybe. But its not a fighting bird. We do everything to make sure it flies properly; that turns it into a fighting drone.

Farmer, with soldering iron in hand, adapts the drones computer to recognise the signals from new components governing the detonation of the explosive. He says his unit tries to devise improvements to every part of the drones  from making them faster to enabling them to better elude Russian electronic jamming designed to down them.

He says the unit has to master the latest developments in technology, but also uses primitive techniques to manufacture explosives. Leading the way into a camouflaged outdoor area, Farmer shows one of his unit bashing away to break an explosive removed from a landmine into smaller pieces. Another one melts the shards atop a makeshift woodstove before pouring the liquid into moulds of different shapes.

He adds: We have had to make do for the last six months with a lack of artillery and rocket shells. We have to do stuff like this  melting explosives to manufacture supplies for the unit. Sometimes I wonder whether well have to fight the Russians with bows and arrows next.

Soldiers from the unit, in the Siversk area of the Donetsk region, melt explosive gathered from a mine to form a drone bomb ( Askold Krushelnycky )

Many soldiers along the front line faced shortages of shells when fresh military aid from the US was held up in Congress. An aid bill was signed off in April, but supplies have only just begun to reach them.

Farmer says both Ukraine and Russia are racing to develop artificial intelligence systems to guide the flight of drones. When that happens, the existing electronic countermeasures, which disrupt the signals between the FPV operator and the drone, will be redundant, he adds. It will take drones to another technological level and will change warfare for ever.

Farmer's comrade, Winston (who chose the codename because Churchill is a hero of his), says the distance the drones travel and their speed depends on the weight of both the battery and the explosive device they carry. He adds: Other factors are the temperature and wind speeds. If we arent flying far, then we put in a smaller battery, and the drone, with a 3kg bomb  the maximum weight of the bombs we use, can go several kilometres.

There are differences in [the] size of the batteries, he adds. We have some weighing 200g, others 500g. If we reduce the weight of the battery, we increase the weight of the bomb. The bigger the bomb, the larger the explosion. Its simple maths.

Unit member Simon says: Before this, I was in the infantry for a year. It was close-up and terrifying, and you didnt think about the fact you were shooting a person... you dont usually get a chance to see who exactly youve shot, but you know its absolutely real.

Here, its different: you dont get the feeling that youve killed a human. You see the target, but when you hit theres an explosion, and you lose the video, and you dont see the instant of death. So its like a game.

Stepan says their drones hit their targets more than 70 per cent of the time, adding: We dont know exactly how many Russians we have killed since we started  much more than 100. The biggest motivation for the unit is to defeat the Russians and get the b*****ds out of our territory.

But I do believe that each time one of our drones hits the Russians its payback for them killing Oleh. So is revenge at work here? Yes, it is!
Xem them

...

Tin bai cuoi cung

Khong con du lieu e load
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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there will be no permanent ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed  undermining Joe Bidens announcement of a new ceasefire proposal.

His comments came in the wake of a dramatic intervention by the US president in laying out the proposal for a three-phase deal to bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Hamas releasing hostages. The families of Israeli hostages called for all parties to immediately accept the proposal.

Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, Mr Netanyahu said.

Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter, he added.

Displaced Palestinians in Rafah last week ( AP )

Benny Gantz, a centrist former general who joined Mr Netanyahu in an emergency coalition, has threatened to bolt this week if the prime minister does not form a Gaza day-after plan with him.

But in a possible sign that that could be deferred, Mr Gantz on Saturday voiced appreciation for Mr Biden and called for the Israeli war cabinet to be convened to decide the next steps.

Israels war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October, during which around 1,100 people were killed and another 250 were taken into Gaza as hostages. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the subsequent Israeli bombardment, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory.

Mr Biden had outlined the plan on Friday, saying that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel. He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended ceasefire.

David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, urged Hamas to accept the proposal. 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, he said. On Saturday, prime minister Rishi Sunak called the proposal welcome news and said The UK could flood Gaza with far more aid if the deal is accepted.

Netanyahu has expressed serious doubts about the new ceasefire plan ( Reuters )

Hamas said it viewed the proposal presented by Mr Biden positively and called on the Israelis to declare explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a hostage exchange and other conditions.

Ceasefire talks ground to a halt last month after a major push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal in the hope of averting a full Israeli invasion of Gazas southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is vital to uprooting Hamas fighters.

Israel on Friday confirmed its troops were operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led to an exodus of around 1 million Palestinians out of the city and has thrown UN humanitarian operations based in the area into turmoil.

Speaking from the White House on Friday, Mr 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. However, Mr Netanyahus remarks cast doubt on his commitment to the plan.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Mr Netanyahu to agree to the deal, saying his party would support it even if ultranationalist factions in the governing coalition rebelled. Mr Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure from hardline ministers to keep pushing Israelis military offensive in Gaza. Mr Lapid's pledge meant a deal would probably pass in parliament.

The government of Israel cannot ignore president Bidens consequential speech. There is a deal on the table and it should be made, Mr Lapid said in a social media post on Saturday.

Mr Biden said the proposal would involve three distinct phases: 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.

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.

Paramedics carry a Palestinian man wounded by Israeli gunfire in Rafah yesterday ( Reuters )

The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war.

The negotiations came after what the families of hostage said was an aggressive meeting on Thursday with Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who told them that the government wasnt ready to sign a deal to bring all of the hostages home and that there was no plan B.

Mr Hanegbi said this week he expects the war to drag on for another seven months, in order to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.

However, Mr Netanyahu has promised a total victory that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure and return the hostages, and on Saturday, the government said its conditions for ending the war have not changed.

Many hostage families blame the governments lack of will to secure a deal for the deaths of many of the hostages in captivity.

We know that the government of Israel has done an awful lot to delay reaching a deal and that has cost the lives of many people who survived in captivity for weeks and weeks and months and months. Our hearts are broken by the amount of people we will receive that are no longer alive, Sharone Lipschitz told Associated Press. Her mother Yocheved was freed in the November ceasefire, and her father Oded is still in captivity.

Additional reporting by agencies
This weekend sees the final votes cast in India's general election, with months-long protests by farmers in Punjab one of the main weak points in Narendra Modis campaign for re-election as prime minister.

The farmers, who are demanding state-backed price guarantees for their crops, have clashed with the authorities over recent months. Attempts to march to Delhi have been blocked, leaving them camped at the capitals borders.

Arpan Rai speaks with the farmers about their protest and how many see India's general elections, in which Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a third term in power, as their chance to force change.
Bodycam footage shows the moment a suspect tried to grab a police gun before being shot by an officer outside an Albuquerque Walmart in April.

Footage shows an officer tracking down Adrianna Gonzales to the store near Menaul and Wyoming after a string of armed robberies.

Her boyfriend Mark Benavidez, wanted by police, was with her. The pair had split up; after Gonzales surrendered in the parking lot, officers waited for Benavidez.

He was tackled to the ground before grabbing a detective's rifle, firing it several times before two officers grabbed their guns and shot him five times.

He died at the scene.

Albuquerque Police department says they are investigating how he grabbed the gun.
Thursday was, for a long time, the day most favoured to hold elections here. As the day before payday, it was officially deemed that the lower orders were less likely to be drunk and disorderly. Times change but the British authorities have stayed with the Thursday polling day tradition they gifted Ireland.

Ireland has drifted only slightly to polling on Fridays, and occasionally on Saturdays. But for largely historical reasons we have not gone over to the mainland European, and largely Catholic, tradition of holding elections on a Sunday.

So voting across the 27 EU member states for the 720-member European Parliament begins next Thursday in the Netherlands, then Irish voters will follow suit on Friday and pick its 14 MEPs. On Saturday, voters in Latvia, Malta and Slovakia will go to the polls while all the rest of the 22 member states will vote on the big Sunday tomorrow week.

Just to complicate the picture, the Czech Republic and Italy will allow voting on back-to-back days: Friday and Saturday for the Czechs, and Saturday and Sunday for the Italians.

Anyway, its a long process that will take time to unravel. But already, the opinion polls suggest the far-right will make gains which could, in extremis, spell trouble for the cohesion and efficiency of the European Union.

That could also raise questions about European Commission president Ursula von der Leyens campaign to get another five-year term.

The European Parliament has been steadily gaining power over the past 30 years, and it is at its most powerful immediately after each election. That is when MEPs meet to elect the head of the commission, ratify the appointment of the commission, the head of the Council of Ministers and EU special foreign policy envoy.

Current polling suggests up to a quarter of seats in the next European Parliament will go to the populist right  up from a fifth of the seats that went to them in 2019. The influential think tank, the European Council on Foreign Relations, has warned that this could make it much harder for the EU to muster necessary MEP majorities for policies like fighting climate change and continuing integration.

The far-right threat may be exaggerated as it has at times in the past. Yet polling suggests Marine Le Pens National Rally party in France, Alternative for Germany and Italian premier Giorgia Melonis fascist-originated Brothers of Italy will make gains.

This is part of a trend that has seen far-right parties in Europe go from the fringes to the centre and closer to the levers of power. Along with Italy, far-right parties are involved in government in Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands.

But the EUs far-right parties struggle to achieve unity and are divided into two blocs, with the Independence and Democracy group, dominated by Frances Marine Le Pen, predicted to get about 70 seats. While Meloni talks about a right-wing alliance, she is part of the alternative European Conservatives and Reformists, and has ruled out a merger with the Le Pen-dominated grouping.

President von der Leyen provoked a backlash from the mainstream Christian Democrat EPP, to which Fine Gael belongs, the Socialists who once hosted Labour, and President Emmanuel Macrons group, Renew Europe, to which Fianna Fail is allied. All three deplored von der Leyens efforts to win Melonis support.

But while on paper the trio of EPP, Socialists and Renew should still have a comfortable overall majority, the commission heads ratification vote will be by secret ballot, and the matter is crosscut by national issues which could see votes lost from these three blocs.

So, it is understandable that von der Leyen should seek fire insurance  a move which has now threatened her mainstream backing. Stand by for some frantic activity after the European Parliament election results come in. First, President von der Leyen needs to convince EU heads including Taoiseach Simon Harris. Then she must sell the case to the 720 MEPs.
The EU can be a hard sell at times. The European parliament even more so. It doesnt score very highly in the relevance charts when people think of the slow-grinding mechanics of a bureaucratic legislature that feels very far away.
Limericks mayoral election: who could become Irelands answer to Boris Johnson?

The winner of Fridays poll will become the countrys most powerful elected figure in local government. We join some of the candidates on the campaign trail in a contest that is proving hard to call

Limerick mayoral candidate Dee Ryan (right) with one of her campaign team canvassing in the Castletroy area of Limerick City. Photo: Don Moloney

Kim Bielenberg Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 10:30

John Moran, once one of the countrys most powerful civil servants, gently strokes the back of his red setter Henri as he outlines his vision for Limerick.
Mary Lou McDonalds personal popularity sinks as party drops seven pointsAlmost one in four now say they will vote for Independent candidates

Fine Gael is in pole position in all three European constituencies, with Independents also firmly in the hunt as voters prepare to go to the polls.

The Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll shows Fine Gael leading the charge, with three of the partys candidates ahead of the pack in Dublin, Ireland South and Midlands-North West.

Independent candidates are also polling strongly in all three constituencies, with less than a week to go before the country goes to vote.

Meanwhile, Sinn Feins support has plummeted as the poll has recorded a massive seven point drop to 22pc in voter support for the party in the last week of the local and European election campaign.

This is a 15 point drop in Sinn Feins record high of support in October 2022 when the party commanded 37pc of voter support.

Mary Lou McDonalds party is now neck and neck with Taoiseach Simon Harriss Fine Gael who are up three points to 22pc in the last month.

Ms McDonalds personal popularity has dropped to 36pc, while Mr Harris (48pc) is now the countrys joint most popular party leader alongside Fianna Fails Micheal Martin (48pc).

However, the poll showed the most popular option for voters ahead of next weeks elections is Independent/others who have increased support by four points to 23pc.

This means almost one in four voters are planning to vote for Independent candidates or those representing small political parties.

In a forced choice, the public voted overwhelming in favour of the next government being a combination of Fine Gael-Fianna Fail-Independents (59pc) rather than a Sinn Fein led government excluding Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (41pc).

The state of the other parties are Fianna Fail up one to 17pc and Social Democrats down one to 5pc. The Green Party (4pc), Aontu (3pc), Labour Party (3pc) and Solidarity-People Before Profit (2pc) are all unchanged.

The poll also finds Independent candidates strongly positioned to take a seat in each of the three European constituencies.

Sinn Fein remains well-positioned to win three seats, too, but it is in a tight battle in Midlands-North West.

In an unprecedented development, Independents/others (23pc, up four points in a month) is now the largest political grouping in the country, according to the poll.

That increased support may see Independent TD Michael McNamara elected in Ireland South, where Independents 4 Change MEP Mick Wallace cannot be discounted.

In Midlands-North West, Aontus Peadar Toibin and Independent Irelands Ciaran Mullooly are both strongly challenging for seats, where the Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan also looks set to be re-elected.

In Dublin, Independent Irelands Niall Boylan is also well in contention for the final of four seats, with Independents 4 Change MEP Clare Daly mounting a strong challenge with the Greens Ciaran Cuffe and Labours Aodhan O Riordain.

Fianna Fail looks set to take a seat in each constituency, as will Fine Gael, which is challenging for two seats in Midlands-North West.

Sinn Fein looks certain for one seat in Dublin and will most likely take two, including in Ireland South, but is in a battle to win a third seat in Midlands-North West.

The fall in opinion poll support for Sinn Fein can only be described as astonishing for a party which was riding high less than a year ago, recording support in the range of 30pc-35pc.

The fall in Mary Lou McDonalds approval rating will also alarm the party, with finance spokesman Pearse Doherty now challenging her in popularity among all voters.

Asked who was their preferred leader of Sinn Fein, the poll found Pearse Doherty (20pc), Mary Lou McDonald (20pc), Michelle ONeill (14pc) and Eoin O Broin (6pc), with the remainder of respondents stating neither, or unsure, or of no opinion.

Among Sinn Fein voters, a slim majority of 52pc still back Ms McDonald, but a sizeable 30pc now favour Mr Doherty for the leadership.

The poll was taken between Thursday and Friday with a same size of 1,770 and a margin of error of 2.4pc

Next Friday, June 7, the voters will select 949 councillors to serve across 31 local authorities.

Meanwhile, 14 seats in the European Parliament are up for grabs across the three EU constituencies of Dublin, Ireland South and Midlands North West.

In Limerick, voters will also decide on who should be the countrys first directly elected mayor.

Ahead of polling stations opening on Friday, Fianna Fail are the largest party in local government while Fine Gael are second. Despite their dramatic fall in support, Sinn Fein are expected to make gains in council seats as they took less than 10pc of the vote in 2019.
John Moran used a photo of himself with Bishop Brendan Leahy in advertising for his campaign.

A high-profile candidate in the race to become the first directly elected mayor of Limerick has become embroiled in a row with the local bishop.

Former Department of Finance secretary general John Moran sparked concern among the local Catholic church organisation after a picture of Bishop Brendan Leahy appeared in his election material.

Mr Moran paid for a full-page advertisement in local newspaper the Limerick Post featuring a photograph of himself and the Bishop of Limerick along with the caption: Some blessings ahead of the next four weeks.

However, it has now emerged the former chair of the Land Development Agency (LDA) did not seek the approval of Bishop Leahy to include his image in the sponsored advertisement which featured a series of photographs of Mr Moran with local people.

The photograph has led to some consternation within the Limerick Catholic church with confidants of the bishop insisting it was inappropriate for his image to be used in election material for any candidate.

Its the very principle of it  you cant have the bishop being seen to be associated with one candidate which could give the impression to his followers that this is who they should be voting for in the Limerick mayor election, a church source said.

It is understood the bishop has been contacted by his local congregation about appearing in the election advertisement with Mr Moran.

A representative for the bishop has also contacted the Limerick Post asking that his image not be included in any further political advertisements.

The photograph was taken by Mr Morans team after a mass in Limerick and the bishop is among a number of local people who have appeared in the advertisements which mimic the newspapers In the picture section.

A spokesperson for Bishop Leahy said: Bishop Leahy had a number of photos taken by and with members of the public following a commemorative mass to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of Athlunkard Street in Limerick on April 28.

However, he did not give approval for any photo to be used in promotional election material by any candidate from this or any other event during the election campaign.

In response, Mr Moran said: This is news to me  I havent been contacted by anyone from the bishops office to express any dissatisfaction with the advertisement.

Mr Morans team said they are using sponsored content in local newspapers because he does not believe the local or national media are giving proper coverage of the historic mayoral election.

The former civil servant is in the running for the coveted elected position but will have to see off contenders from Sinn Feins Maurice Quinlivan, Fine Gaels Daniel Butler and Fianna Fails Dee Ryan.

The race is expected to be decided on transfers with none of the perceived leading candidates thought to have a quota.

The Limerick mayor role comes with an annual salary of more than 150,000 and the candidate selected for the position will be responsible for a 1bn budget. The winner will serve a five-year term.
Three in court over killing of journalist in night of violence in Derry

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 man firing a handgun, including the shot that killed Ms McKee, was played during the trial at Belfast Crown Court yesterday.

Ms McKee (29) died after being hit in the head by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while watching rioting in the Creggan area of Derry on the night of April 18, 2019.

The New IRA claimed responsibility.

Peter Cavanagh leaves Laganside Court, Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney

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 that 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.

Mr 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 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.

Jordan Devine leaves Laganside Court, Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney

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.

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.

The barrister told the court that officers in Land Rovers had reported hearing bullets hit their vehicles.

The court was then played footage from a mobile phone which had been seized by police.

Mr McDowell said this showed 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.

Paul McIntyre leaves Laganside Court, Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney

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 Mr Devine and Mr McIntyre, picking up items from the ground in the aftermath of the shots being fired.

He said another masked men, who the prosecution claim to be Mr Cavanagh, was seen beside the gunman as the shots were being fired and then walking off in the same direction.

Mr McDowell said: It is submitted that the actions of Mr McIntyre, Mr Devine and Mr 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.

Seven other men are on trial on a number of charges, including rioting and throwing petrol bombs.

Earlier yesterday, 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.

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.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.
Almost 2,000 retained firefighters held rolling stoppages last year in a bid for better pay. Stock image

A union for retained firefighters who went on strike last year has warned that a pay dispute could escalate after rejecting a 750-a-year increase.

It is understood officials at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage made an opening offer of a 300-a-year hike in their retainer payments during talks with Siptu yesterday. The offer was later increased.

But sources said union officials sought an increase in thousands, not hundreds.

The meeting followed a commitment by Housing Minister Darragh OBrien to advocate for the firefighters at national pay talks, which ended with an agreement earlier this year.

Almost 2,000 retained firefighters held rolling stoppages last year in a bid for better pay.

Newly-recruited retained firefighters have guaranteed earnings of around 18,000 a year, of which the retainer payment makes up about 12,000.

This includes an uplift in pay worth around 3,500 agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) following the industrial action.

Siptu said in a statement that it is seeking an urgent meeting at the WRC. It said this concerned the failure of the Government to follow through on a commitment for a significant second increase to the retainer payment

Following a meeting with local government and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage officials today concerning a second increase in the retainer, the management side made an unacceptably low initial offer, which was nowhere near the required amount to resolve the dispute, Siptu sector organiser Brendan OBrien said.

He said the Siptu Retained Firefighter Negotiating Committee rejected a second slightly improved management offer, but management said it was not in a position to make any further offers.

Our negotiating committee feel extremely let down by the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien and the Government concerning the approach they are currently taking, which needs to be amended to avoid an escalation of this dispute, he warned.

Karan OLoughlin of Siptus Public Administration and Community Division said the union is organising an urgent meeting of the National Retained Firefighters Committee next week. She said Siptu members in the retained fire service have put their faith in the ministers word and while there is acknowledgement that progress was made with aspects of a WRC agreement, they await his support on this final piece.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was contacted for comment.
Illustration: Liu Rui/GT



Global TimesPhilippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that the presence of the US was "crucial to regional peace," as his country faces what it perceived as growing Chinese pressure in waters off its coastline. In response, the Chinese delegation said that the Philippines' assertion of upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea rings hollow, while displaying enthusiasm for participating in bloc confrontations holds true.

Speaking at the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual major security forum, Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for "peace, stability, and prosperity" in the South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors, without naming China.

"I have a question for the Philippines - What is the relationship between ASEAN Centrality and US leadership in the Asia-Pacific region? Which is more important, ASEAN or the Squad?" Lieutenant General He Lei asked during a following press conference Friday. He is a member of the PLA delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue.


The Irish fast-food restaurant landed in Terminal 2 just beside the arrivals area, the airport announced.

Supermacs is located next to the recently opened American pizza chain Papa John's  the space previously occupied by Wrights of Howth.

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It follows the DAA's announcement in January to open 23 new and improved bars, cafes and restaurants, bringing the total number of outlets to 42.

Half of the new and revamped units were set to be opened by June  at the start of the busy summer period. New food outlets have been coming to Irelands busiest airport since the beginning of this year.

The project is carried out in partnership with Irelands food services and hospitality specialist KSG and operator Lagardere Travel Retail.

Supermacs, Papa John's, Insomnia Coffee and Pret A Manger were some of the big food and beverage chains announced to come to Dublin Airport this year.

Other outlets coming to the food hall include Nomad, Street Kitchen, and Bluebird Coffee Roasters.

Existing outlets, such as Butler's Chocolate Cafe, Burger King and Jump Juice, were set to add their existing presence in the terminal both airside and landside.

Terminal 1 sees big changes coming to its food hall, introducing new Korean and Thai street food options, a new Italian restaurant, and a new Arthur Guinness Bar.

The existing SoMa outlet will be replaced by a new restaurant Lilians Restaurant and Bar at the 300 gates, named after aviation pioneer Lilian Bland.

Passengers travelling through Terminal 2 can also eat at Fitzgeralds Restaurant and Bar  named after Desmond Fitzgerald, an architect responsible for the design of the original Dublin Airport terminal. It occupies the space previously occupied by the Oak Bar.

While announcing the expansion in January, Chief Commercial and Development Officer at DAA, the operator of Dublin Airport, Vincent Harrison said the airport has listened to passengers wishing to have more food options.

Passengers will soon be able to enjoy everything from Italian, Asian and Mexican outlets through to loved local favourites and up-and-coming Irish brands, Mr Harrison said at the time.
Chef Aine Budds: I was drinking on my breaks in work  take a break, go to the pub, drink loads of pints and go back. No one batted an eyelid

At 22, after just three years working in fine-dining kitchens, Aine Budds checked into rehab. Now nearly two years sober, the Allta chef opens up about her addiction, the female restaurateur who backed her at her lowest point  and why the hospitality industry needs to start talking about its drink and drug problem

Aine Budds talking about her sobriety

Katie Byrne Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 03:30

In the early days of her career in restaurants, a fellow chef took Aine Budds aside to give her some well-meaning advice. You need to make up your mind what youre here for, he said to her. Are you here to party or are you here to be a chef?
Hotel review: Galway three-star promises outrageous comfy beds and almost all mains under 20

Galways Nox Hotel could be a four-star, but its made a smart decision in choosing to exceed expectations with three... as a brisk trade of locals, tourists and work stays reveals

Inside Nox Hotel, a Galway three-star punching above its weight

Pol O Conghaile Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Simple hotels that know what they are and do it well are the bread and butter of Irish hospitality. But they often go unsung  due to a lack of glamour, celeb chefs or big marketing bucks.
This is not a Nimby issue: Probe into dezoning of lucrative site for 500 homes in south Dublin

Protected disclosure from developer referred to head of Department of HousingFine Gael politician described as a ringleader for dezoning land for housing in south DublinContentious site sold for housing seven years ago now heading for a third High Court case

How a Council dezoned an area of South County Dublin preventing land from being built

Fionnan Sheahan Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Its a road to nowhere. You go past the school grounds on the right and a group of houses on the left, through a roundabout and then arrive at a hoarding with a padlocked gate. Inside are five acres of overgrown land in the heart of south Co Dublin.
Stefanie Preissner: I worry that peoples vote will be influenced by the last conspiracy theory TikTok they saw instead of the truth

As the local and European elections approach, we are battling algorithms and curated content that is stronger than willpower or common sense

"Before the internet, mad Michael from town could have had his tinfoil hat ideas. Now he can go online and spread them." Image: Getty

Stefanie Preissner Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 13:00

I have been listening to commentators howling about social media, AI and its threat to democracy for years now, but it wasnt until this month that I actually felt it might be a serious and genuine threat.
Former US president Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after being found guilty in his New York criminal trial. Photo: AP

It is an indictment of our times when there is a sense of shock in the US that the justice system actually does what it was intended to.

Former president Donald Trump, and many of his followers, imagined he was invincible when it came to rules by which mere mortals must abide. Their outrage speaks to a collective belief that had taken hold, as if his base had conjured up some charm that made him immune to the courts and the consequences that come with them.

Trump has assumed a messianic aura, above the boundaries of right or wrong, out way beyond the reach of the long arm of the law.

Some of that enchantment has at least been knocked off by guilty verdicts on 34 felony counts.

Evidence, it seems, still matters. So, too, does truth and integrity. But Trump, the vast majority of Republicans and the entirety of the MAGA camp will fervently hope that this intrusion of reality will be short-lived. And they could be correct. For if anything, most Republicans believe the guilty verdicts can unify their party to rally behind their candidate ahead of Novembers presidential election.

Trump is confidently expecting his campaign to even benefit from increased fundraising. Indeed, the most recent ABC News/Ipsos poll before the jurys announcement, found that only 4pc of his supporters would withdraw their support were he convicted, 16pc said they would reconsider. These figures, though not substantial, could still be significant in what is anticipated to be an extremely tight White House race.

If the verdict was reassuring, the former presidents denouncement of it was disturbing.

Attacking it as a rigged, disgraceful trial and groundlessly accusing the judge of being corrupt, Trump assailed the Biden administration for its witch-hunt.

The diatribe grew darker as he claimed Americas borders were being breached by hordes of rapists, the mentally ill and terrorists. No evidence to support any of these claims was offered. Depressingly, none may be required, if the unquestioning loyalty to Trump persists within the Republican party.

The real verdict, he said, will be given by the people when they vote in November. For the sake of democracy we must hope so. But given the lengths to which he went to overturn the last election, its hard to believe he has rediscovered a respect for the democratic process. Especially given his adherence to the lie that the 2020 election was stolen.

Though Republicans and Trump may dismiss the verdict, its significance can not be downplayed. He will be the first criminal candidate in history to compete for the most powerful job in the world.

All his great wealth and privilege could not shield him from the judgment of 12 ordinary men and women.

Ironically, with his ranting about the whole system being stacked against him, he is also drawing attention to the fact that the law does not make exemptions. Not even for him.
Uncle and nephew co-author new book on their ancestor Joe Wade and his influence on Irish nationalism

Joe Wade: Footsteps of Rebellion, is co-written by Kevin McCormack and Paul L Davies

The fascinating story of a family from north county Dublin and its involvement in Irish nationalist movements, has been told in a new book.

Co-authored by Kevin McCormack (64), who lives in Cork, and his nephew Paul L Davies, from Wales, Footsteps of Rebellion tells the history of their ancestor, Joe Wade.

Joe Wade was born in Balbriggan, where Mr McCormacks father also hailed from. The family owned the historic White Hart Inn pub in the area until it closed in 2015.

Joe Wade and his family's story is told in the book Footsteps of Rebellion

A number of years ago, I saw Joe Wades marriage details next to his baptism entry in Balbriggan, Mr McCormack said.

The marriage happened in St Louis, but was recorded in Balbriggan as a letter of freedom would have been required.

The research and writing of the book spanned three years, revealing many connected stories that expanded the scope of their project, which is told through Joe Wades experiences.

Paul and I both realised this was a particularly special story that we felt we needed to share, Mr McCormack said.

Joe becomes a passionate figure in Irish nationalism, forming the Irish Transvaal Brigade in South Africa alongside his friend Major John MacBride, to rebel against English rule in the Anglo-Boer War.

Mr McCormack said that gathering the records to piece their ancestral history together proved very difficult.

Birthplace of Joe Wade in Stephenstown, Balbriggan

One of the most surprising elements of their research was around a man called Festus J Wade, a cousin of Joe Wade and another ancestor of Kevin and Pauls.

Festus J Wade is described as the son of Thomas R Wade, who emigrated from Ireland to St Louis in the US after the famine.

Festus established himself as a prominent banker and philanthropist, eventually becoming the President of the Mercantile Trust Company.

His influence extended to the highest levels of American society, including his close personal friendship with President William Howard Taft.

Festus played a significant role in American finance and politics, as well as supporting the reconstruction efforts after the sack of Balbriggan by the Black and Tans in 1920.

Festus Wade was a prominent figure in American business and politics

I think the most surprising thing we discovered was Festus Wades work with the US government and being a personal friend of President Taft, Mr McCormack said.

Equally, Joe Wade being so close to John MacBride (executed 1916), including looking after him in St Louis.

John MacBride was a significant figure in Irish history. Born in Westport in 1865, he later became involved in nationalist politics and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).

MacBride played a notable role in the Irish Transvaal Brigade during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) in South Africa.

Joe Wade was said to have played a pivotal role in setting up the Irish Brigade with John MacBride and others in the Transvaal.

Joe Wade: Footsteps of Rebellion is now available on Amazon in hardback and Kindle Only for 16.30. Those interested in getting a copy in person can do so by popping into The Balrothery Inn in Balbriggan
At Tralee International Resource Centre for the launch of 'Te Rodel Nevo Drom (We are looking for A New Way). Photo Domnick Walsh.

A new HSE-funded health strategy supporting Roma families in Cork and Kerry has been launched at the Tralee International Resource Centre (TIRC).

The 'Te Rodel Nevo Drom (We are looking for A New Way) initiative is a consultation process that involved talking with over 60 representatives from the Roma community, NGOs, and statutory agencies.

The findings were completed between January and April in 2023. The experience and expertise of Isac Ianko and Marcela Venzel was key to the research. The work reflects the voice of their community.

Isac and Marcela say the strategy for Roma health needed researching as it represents the Roma world and its journey. They added that it shows clarity and simplicity.

Priscilla Lynch, Head of Primary Care for HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, acknowledged the role of Tralee International Resource Centre and their support for the Roma community in Kerry.

I welcome the recent establishment of Roma Supports in Cork and future supports in Kerry, which will add greatly to our capacity to meet the needs identified and recommendations made in this consultation, she said.

Ms Lynch referenced the role of its Community Work and Social Inclusion departments in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, adding that by supporting partnerships with the NGO sector at community level, their work reflects the analysis in Slaintecare that acknowledges social exclusion.

Co-ordinator of TIRC, Mary Carroll, explained that having worked with the Roma community for many years, this research is the way forward in effecting real change for the Roma community, who have experienced adversity.

The findings cover the health and social needs of the Roma and the key is that they have been translated into actions, some of which can be progressed immediately, while others will require longer term planning and resources, she said.

Actions include the need to improve awareness of policy makers and providers, to celebrate Roma culture, increase access to translation and interpretation, develop a Roma Info-line and work specifically with Roma women, Ms Carroll added.

A summary of the strategy details is available from TIRC at 066 712 7918 or by emailing reception@tirc.ie. The strategy document is available at hse.ie/romahealthstrategy and on the TIRC website: www.tirc.ie
Louth mum Emma Duffy has given up her job in marketing to bring the tradition of the Tooth Fairy to a new generation of children.

While losing their first or milk teeth is a rite of passage for young children who look forward to seeing what money the Tooth Fairy has left under their pillow, Emma saw the opportunity to turn the tradition into a force to nurtue childrens emotional well-being and self-esteem.

The result is My Forever Tooth Fairy which Emma has created with the help of her daughter, eight-year-old Eabha.

I had been working in the corporate world, in marketing in local software firm Intact for twenty years, says Emma, who lives in Faughart, outside Dundalk. In summer 2022, I began formulating this idea and putting it together.

The inspiration for the brand came when Eabha began losing her first teeth and engaging with the tooth fairy.

"She had no interest in the money but she was totally enthralled by the magic of it all.

Conscious that her young assistant is listening beside her, Emma explains: "I began researching the tooth fairy and realised that it could be quite a magical experience that reassures children of their own intrinsic worth.

"The tradition of the tooth fairy coming to children is common in Ireland, the UK and the United States but I felt it was something that could benefit children worldwide.

In Emmas story, the each child has their own Forever Tooth Fairy, who collects the teeth once they have lost them, gaining the magic powers that belong to each child. These superpowers, such as love, confidence, and kindness, are then spread by their Forever Tooth Fairy across the world.

I decided that if I was going to tell the story, I was going to do it right, says Emma.

In addition to the beautifully illustrated book, the My Forever Tooth Fairy gift set which includes a beautiful plush fairy doll, a tooth tote and display case.

"Its a story that parents can read to their children and its also a keepsake and something that they can use to keep track of the years as they loose their teeth, from about four or five to around twelve.

After a long search Emma engaged a Welsh artist Alice Wong to illustrate the book.

"Shes a Mum too and I went to Wales to visit her twice. We both bonded on how we wanted to bring this to life.

Emma also put a lot of work into sourcing the doll which accompanies each giftpack.

"The doll is 30cms and her face is made from soft vinyl while her body is soft and squishy so she can be cuddled.

There are two fairies, a girl fairy called Fayla and a boy fairy called Fayne whose names are based Fae on the old term for fairy.

As she developed the product, Emma got great support from Louth Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers Programme.

"They have been phenomenal in the encouragement they have given me. They can see the opportunities in what I am doing. I would love for it to go on the global market. No-one else has taken the story of the tooth fairy and built it into a product like this so why shouldnt an Irish company?

Emma is so confident that the My Forever Tooth Fairy will come to rival a certain Christmas Elf, without making constant demands on parents, that she has left a well-paying job and invested her life savings into the venture.

"I am committed to it and am putting everything behind it.

The girl fairy version launches for pre-order in mid-June with the giftpacks arriving for delivery in mid-July.

"The first editions will hopefully become collectors items, says Emma who is already working on new products and are set to explore international opportunities to bring the magic of the tooth fairy to children worldwide.

She has already given My Forever Tooth Fairy a test run, reading the story to pupils in Kilcurry National School and they gave it the thumbs up!

"The kids loved it, says Emma.

She is also taking as a good omen that fact that there is a fairy fort in a field at the back of her house.

"Id forgotten all about it until my husband Alan mentioned it. I said its written in the stars that My Forever Tooth Fairy will be a success.
KP, the Irish Cuckoo that was tracked on migration from Co Kerry to the Congo Basin in Central Africa and back again. Photo: Valerie OSullivan

Imprinting is an interesting phenomenon. Imprinting is the process by which a newborn, in the critically important time immediately after birth, establishes a behaviour pattern of recognition and attraction towards something.

A baby typically imprints firstly on its mother or care-giver, then its family and other people and learns in the process that it is human. Many animals imprint on the first moving object they encounter. The ethologist Konrad Lorenz showed that goslings imprinted on him when he was the first moving object they encountered after hatching. They grew up believing they were human rather than geese.

Cuckoos are an exception. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds like Meadow Pipits but somehow the young Cuckoo does not imprint in its foster parents. The young Cuckoo grows up knowing it is a Cuckoo although it is totally cut off from its own kind and has no opportunity to absorb any Cuckoo culture. When it fledges, it knows it has to migrate to overwinter in Africa, and it knows when to leave and where to go to get to the traditional wintering grounds that its species uses.

To try to understand what is going on, a Cuckoo Tracking Project was initiated by the British Trust for Ornithology and our own National Parks and Wildlife Service. Three Cuckoos were caught in Killarney National Park in May 2023, were fitted with satellite tracking devices, and were released.

One of them, code named KP, was tracked as he set off in July on the 9,000km journey to Central Africa, spent the winter in the rainforests of the Congo Basin, made the return journey to Ireland in April of this year, and landed home in Killarney National Park in the same area where he was originally caught.

In the past, it was believed that migrating land birds like the Cuckoo travelled over land and avoided long sea crossings. KP added an interesting twist in that when he reached the north of Spain on the return journey he headed out to sea and crossed the Bay of Biscay on a long sea crossing from Spain before landing at Dungarvan, Co Waterford (1,090km) on May Day. Such a long sea crossings had never been recorded in Cuckoos in Europe before.

For more information on KPs travels go to https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project/kp.
Kremlin warns of devastating response as western allies authorise strikes at targets inside Russia

US and Germany specifically agreed to attacks to defend Kharkiv on Ukraines border with Russia

Ukrainian servicemen shout glory to Ukraine after returning from captivity during POWs exchange in Sumy region, Ukraine. Photo: AP

Illia Novikov, Matthew Lee and Karel Janicek Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 03:30







Germany joined the United States yesterday in authorising 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.
Police investigators work at the scene where a man attacked people at a far right-wing information stand of the Buergerbewegung Pax Europa (BPE) in the central market of the city of Mannheim, Germany. Photo: Reuters

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 yesterday, authorities said. Six people were wounded, including a police officer who intervened.

Police quickly put an end to the attack by shooting the assailant, who also was wounded. The assault happened shortly after 11.30am on the Marktplatz, a downtown square in the southwestern city of Mannheim.
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.
Photo Courtesy: Indian Embassy in Qatar X page

A significant number of enthusiasts visited the Indian Mango Festival, also known as Indian Hamba, at Souq Waqif marketplace in Qatar's capital city Doha recently.

The event was inaugurated amidst a distinguished gathering, including Ibrahim Fakhroo, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Nasser Rashid Al Naimi, Managing Director of the Public Establishment for Organising Exhibitions and Conferences, reported ANI.

The event is taking place in the city from May 30 to June 8.

Expressing enthusiasm over the large number of visitors, the Indian Embassy in Qatar posted on X: "Indian Mango Festival at Souq Waqif is attracting 1000s of visitors. Event is Organized by Souq Waqif &Indian Embassy, from May 30-June 8. Enjoy fresh mangoes & delicacies from Alphonso, Kesar, Badam, Mallika & other varieties. "
Photo Courtesy: Representational image by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

California/IBNS: American tech giant Google on Friday said that it had made "more than a dozen technical improvements" to its artificial intelligence (AI) systems after its retooled search engine was found spitting out erroneous information, reports said.

According to reports, Google unleashed a makeover of its search engine in mid-May that frequently provides AI-generated summaries on top of search results, and soon after, social media users began sharing screenshots of its most outlandish answers.

The California-headquartered tech major has largely defended its AI overviews feature, saying it is typically accurate and was tested extensively beforehand.

In a Google blog post on Friday, head of the company's search business But Liz Reid acknowledged that "some odd, inaccurate or unhelpful AI Overviews certainly did show up."
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab of viral video

Pune police have arrested the mother of the 17-year-old boy who is accused of running over two people while driving his high-speed Porsche recently.

The mother swapped her blood sample in order to prove that her son wasn't drunk when the accident occurred, police were quoted as saying by NDTV.

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.

Eyewitnesses 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.
Photo Courtesy: pib

Kolkata: Violence erupted in several parts of West Bengal on Saturday during the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with 13 percent voter turnout recorded by 9 am.

Indian Express reported citing the Election Commission (EC), by this time, around 715 complaints had been filed by political parties.

These complaints included issues such as malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs), polling agents being barred from entering booths, and voters being threatened or prevented from casting their ballots in various constituencies.

Polling is taking place in nine seats in West Bengal under tight security measures: Dum Dum (10.86 percent turnout), Barasat (12.94 percent), Basirhat (15.66 percent), Jaynagar (13.13 percent), Mathurapur (13.54 percent), Diamond Harbour (14.16 percent), Jadavpur (13.46 percent), Kolkata Dakshin (10.16 percent), and Kolkata Uttar (8.92 percent), the report said.

An Assembly bypoll is also taking place in the Baranagar constituency under the Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat, with approximately 11 percent voter turnout recorded.

Reports of violence emerge

In Bhangar, within the Jadavpur constituency, a clash erupted between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), with crude bombs being thrown by both sides, reported the Indian Express.

When the police arrived, protests ensued, with both parties accusing each other.

The police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and recovered some crude bombs from the area.

The Election Commission has requested an action-taken report on the incident, according to the report.

Later, another clash occurred between TMC and ISF workers in the Phulbari area of Bhangar, prompting the police and central forces to use batons to disperse the mob.

At booth numbers 40 and 41 in Kultali, located in the South 24 Parganas district, an electronic voting machine (EVM) and a voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine were reportedly thrown into the water. However, the Election Commission clarified that these were reserve machines, the report said.

The polling process has not been vitiated. Those which were kept in reserve were thrown in water. We have sought a report from the presiding officer, said a senior EC official, according to the report.

CEO West Bengal said in a post on X, Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU, 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond.

It added, Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. Poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer.

Meanwhile, in Canning, South 24 Parganas district, three voters sustained head injuries while attempting to cast their votes, alleging that they were attacked by TMC workers, the Indian Express reported.

In the Diamond Harbour constituency, CPIM candidate Pratik ur Rahman reportedly caught fake voters and agents at polling booths.

In the Kolkata Dakshin constituency, BJP candidate Debasree Chaudhuri chased away outsiders from polling stations.

In the Dum Dum constituency, CPIM candidate Sujan Chakraborty assisted his party agent in returning to a polling booth after the agent had been threatened and beaten by TMC workers, the report said.

A total of 1.63 crore voters, including 83.19 lakh men, 80.20 lakh women, and 538 individuals of the third gender, are eligible to cast their votes at 17,470 polling stations.

In Cossipore, within the Kolkata Uttar constituency, BJP candidate Tapas Roy encountered protests from TMC workers after visiting some polling booths and was met with 'go back' slogans. Meanwhile, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at Mitra Institution in the Kolkata Dakshin constituency.

People are voting in a festive mood in all nine constituencies. The weather has also improved and there is not much heat. This will allow people to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise. I hope that they will give a befitting reply to the Centre for depriving Bengal of funds in the last five years. There will be a reflection of that in todays voting, he said after coming out of the polling booth, according to the report.

Meanwhile, in the Bermajur area of Sandeshkhali, the BJP claimed that TMC workers and police officers threatened its polling agents on Friday night after visiting their homes. The party shared video clips and asserted that the women of Sandeshkhali had once again protested against the TMC government's actions to intimidate people ahead of the final phase of elections.

The brave women of #Sandeshkhali have chased away corrupt and compromised West Bengal Police. Our women leaders are speaking to them and each one of them will vote against the tyranny of Mamata Banerjee. This is a fight like none other and will be taken to logical conclusion, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote in a post on X.
Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Kolkata: Violence marred voting in West Bengal in the 7th phase of Lok Sabha elections , with reports of clashes emerging from across the state. Despite violence in Bengal, the state witnessed one of the highest voter turnout at 58.46% in the final phase till 3pm, more than the overall.

Violence was reported in Kultali, located in Bengal's South 24 Parganas, where a mob allegedly threatened by Trinamool Congress supporters threw an electronic voting machine (EVM) into a pond. Taking to X, Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer stated that reserve EVMs and papers were looted by a local mob, and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines were also thrown into a pond.

"FIR has been lodged by the sector officer and necessary action has been initiated. The poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVMs and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer," the tweet stated.

BJP National President JP Nadda expressed confidence that his party will sweep the Lok Sabha elections, claiming they will not only retain their current seats but also achieve significant gains in Bengal, Odisha, and the southern states.

"There (Bengal) are 42 seats, we will win 30 seats there. In Odisha, we will win over 18 seats out of the 21 seats. In the same way, we will double our tally in Telangana. We will win seats in Tamil Nadu, we are going to win seats in Kerala and our vote share will definitely increase everywhere," he told news agency ANI.

Nadda also took a swipe at Trinamool Congress supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that the people of the eastern state are "fed up" with the current ruling dispensation and are "prepared to seek retribution."

"Mamata ji was known for 'Maa, Maati, Maanush'. We all saw what Shahjahan Sheikh did to 'Maa'. The condition of the soil (Maati) was made such that the infiltrators kept occupying the land and running land jihad. The condition of 'Maanush' was made such that without bribes, and without giving money to TMC workers, no work was done," he told ANI.

In South Bengal, the dominance of the ruling Trinamool Congress is being challenged amid an internal power struggle. Notable candidate Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour) faces a tough three-way contest.

In Basirhat's Sandeshkhali segment, BJP's Rekha Patra is challenging Trinamool veteran Haji Nurul Islam, amidst allegations of local atrocities and land grabs by the ruling party.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata, a bevy of Tollywood celebs reached polling booths to cast their votes. Actor Mithun Chakraborty stood in a queue at a polling booth for 40 minutes to cast his vote.

Various other Tollywood actors and actresses exercised their franchise, prominent among them are Nusrat Jahan, who is also the outgoing TMC MP from Bashihat, Mimi Chakraborty, the sitting MP of Jadavpur constituency, Raima Sen and her mother former TMC MP Moon Moon Sen, Koel Mallick among others.
New Delhi/IBNS: The high-pitched and long-drawn Lok Sabha Elections 2024 concluded on Saturday, with all eyes on June 4 when the results will be declared.

58.3% of total votes were polled till 5 pm in the seventh and final phase of the national elections, which began on April 19.

In the ultimate phase, several heavyweights like Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Ravi Kishan in Gorakhpur, Kangana Ranaut in Uttarakhand's Mandi, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee went to polls.

The campaigning for the last phase concluded on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began an almost 48-hour meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

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.

On the polling day, sporadic incidents of violence occurred with supporters of AAP and Congress clashed in two booths of Tagore Memorial School on Saturday.

In West Bengal, infamous for political clashes, 10 people were injured as TMC and ISF workers clashed in Bhangar, which falls in the Jadavpur constituency.

Seven people were arrested in connection with the incident.

CPI-M candidate from Diamond Harbour chased down an alleged fake polling agent from a booth, leading to commotion.

As the elections concluded, Prime Minister Modi thanked his party workers as well as the Election Commission of India besides taking a dig at the anti-BJP front, INDIA.

Modi posted on X, "Heartfelt gratitude to our outstanding security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the entire elections. Their efforts have ensured a safe and secure environment, enabling people to take part in the polling process with ease. Their service to the nation is deeply appreciated by each one of us."

Heartfelt gratitude to our outstanding security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the entire elections. Their efforts have ensured a safe and secure environment, enabling people to take part in the polling process with ease. Their service to the nation is deeply  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 1, 2024

"I would like to commend the @ECISVEEP for their exemplary efforts in ensuring a smooth and fair electoral process. Their dedication and meticulous planning have been crucial in upholding the integrity of our democracy, allowing citizens across the nation to vote with confidence and security. Our electoral process is something every believer in democratic values takes inspiration from."

I would like to commend the @ECISVEEP for their exemplary efforts in ensuring a smooth and fair electoral process. Their dedication and meticulous planning have been crucial in upholding the integrity of our democracy, allowing citizens across the nation to vote with confidence  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 1, 2024

"I would like to applaud each and every NDA Karyakarta. Across the length and breadth of India, often braving intense heat. I compliment them for meticulously explaining our development agenda to the people and motivating them to come out and vote. Our Karyakartas are our greatest strength."

I would like to applaud each and every NDA Karyakarta. Across the length and breadth of India, often braving intense heat. I compliment them for meticulously explaining our development agenda to the people and motivating them to come out and vote. Our Karyakartas are our greatest  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 1, 2024

He added, "I can say with confidence that the people of India have voted in record numbers to reelect the NDA government. They have seen our track record and the manner in which our work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden.

"At the same time, they have seen how the reforms in India have propelled India to being the fifth largest global economy. Every scheme of ours has reached the intended beneficiaries without any bias or leakage."

The opportunistic INDI Alliance failed to strike a chord with the voters. They are casteist, communal and corrupt. This alliance, aimed to protect a handful of dynasties, failed to present a futuristic vision for the nation. Through the campaign, they only enhanced their  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 1, 2024

The Election Commission of India has put up an X post which reads, "Thank you, voters! Your participation has made the 7th phase of the Lok Sabha elections a grand success."

Thank you, voters!



Your participation has made the 7th phase of the Lok Sabha elections a grand success.#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #Elections2024 #IVote4Sure pic.twitter.com/45c3z9WiCF  Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) June 1, 2024

INDIA claims to win 295 seats

While Modi seems confident to return for his third consecutive term, a feat achieved only by India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, INDIA alliance claims to win at least 295 seats.

After an all-party meeting in Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed INDIA is winning 295 seats, which would ensure Modi's exit from power.

Exit polls predict Modi's thumping win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to return for a record-equalling third term in office with the BJP-led NDA alliance set to get a thumping majority defeating the combined opposition's INDIA Bloc, according to the exit poll results after the seventh and final phase of polling in the country on Saturday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) can garner around 350 or more seats while the INDIA bloc led by the united opposition is likely to get 125 to 150 seats, the exit polls indicate.

Amid a slogan to win over 400 seats in the 543-member Parliament, the exit polls give a massive mandate for a third Modi term.

According to the Republic-PMARQ poll, NDA will win 359 seats and INDIA bloc around 154 followed by 30 by others, while Republic-Matrize poll projects upto 368 seats for the saffron bloc.

Matrize project said the NDA is likely to get 353-368 seats while the INDIA bloc will get 118-133 seats. Others will get 43-48 seats.

Exit poll by India News-D-Dynamics projected 371 seats for the Modi-led BJP and NDA alliance.

NDTV India-Jan Ki Baat has suggested 362-392 seats for the BJP-led NDA and between 141 and 161 seats for the INDIA bloc.

The BJP is likely to gain seats in the south and in the east of India in states like West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh besides opening account in a state like Tamil Nadu where exit polls say it can win between one and seven seats.

The poll by Jan Ki Baat has predicted between 21 and 26 seats for the BJP in West Bengal against 16-18 by the Trinamool Congress led by a fiesty Mamata Banerjee. The BJP is projected to win in 9-12 seats in Odisha of its total 21 seats.

The NDA can get upto 21 seats in Karnataka out of 28 seats, according to exit polls by Republic TV.

Overall, all the pollsters predicted a return of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, winning over 350 seats.
The Montana Department of Revenue confirmed it made an error when appraising property values in Browning that bumped tax bills two to four times above normal in the impoverished area.

Located east of Glacier National Park, Browning serves as headquarters for the Blackfeet Reservation and is home to a little more than 1,000 people.

After researching the value increase for the Browning area, we have discovered the land values for properties within the town of Browning were pointed to the wrong valuation table in our computer system, a department spokesperson said in a statement Friday.

The statement notes that the error affected about 350 property owners' land values in Browning.

Two lawmakers familiar with the situation said the department plans to adjust each affected property down about $30,000 in market value. Lee Montana reviewed documents that confirm these statements.

In a letter to Glacier County commissioners, Jason Boggess, a regional manager at the Department of Revenue, said all affected property owners will receive a revised 2023 classification and appraisal notice, showing a decrease in value.

Once the property owner receives the revised assessment, they have 30 days from the date on the notice to appeal their new value, he wrote. Safeguards have been put in place, so errors of this nature will be discovered prior to sending future classification and appraisal notices.

Boggess added the department will work with the Glacier County Treasurer so refunds of overpayments can be made for the 2023 tax year.

Lee Montana reported on Wednesday that some Browning residents saw their homes' appraised values increase by 500%. And many must now pay two to four times as much in property taxes as the year before. Residents and local officials said the numbers didnt make sense, given that 40% of people in Browning live in poverty and that the area did not see population growth or new development  factors which contributed to higher appraised values and corresponding property tax hikes statewide.

In September 2019, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council issued a cease-and-desist order to local field tax assessors who had allegedly mistaken trust land, which is not taxed, for fee land, which is taxed. County officials say the order remains in place, though they are unsure how or whether the order influenced recent assessments.

Glacier County Commissioner Mary Jo Bremner said she was relieved the "mistake has been acknowledged and will be corrected."

"This is what we wanted for the people in Browning and Glacier County," she said. "An answer to why their taxes were assessed so high."

State Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning, said he wants to know how the valuations were done, how the error occurred and how the department will ensure it wont happen again in Browning or elsewhere.

Why is it that the errors occurred in a poverty-stricken area? Running Wolf asked. For a group of taxpayers in an oppressed area to pay more than they should  its really a slap in the face.

Running Wolf said members of the American Indian Caucus plan to meet with the Department of Revenue at the next Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council meeting on June 6 in Billings.

Well be grilling them then, he said.
Photo Courtesy: Fardeen Khan/Netflix Instagram page

Actor Fardeen Khan made a powerful comeback to Bollywood with Sanjay Leela Bhasanli's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and recently he shared the clippings of the first scene he shot for the project.

Praising Bhansali and sharing his experience of joining the team, Fardeen added a note on Instagram to reflect on his latest Bollywood journey.

The scene features Bibbojaan, played by actress Aditi Rao Hydari, whose performance in the movie also earned appreciation from fans.

Alamzeb (Sharmin Segal) is also a part of the scene where she could be seen interrupting the intimate conversation between Fardeen and Aditi.

In his long Instagram post, the actor 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."

Praising Bhasanali, he said: " 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. 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."

Heeramandi was released on Netflix on May 1.

The series is about the lives of tawaifs in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj.

It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha, with Farida Jalal, Shekhar Suman, Fardeen Khan and Adhyayan Suman in recurring roles.
Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Kolkata/IBNS: Tollywood leading stars Dev, Jeet, Mimi Chakraborty, Nusrat Jahan were among the Bengali film personalities who cast their votes in their respective constituencies in Kolkata, which went to polls in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.

Dev, an outgoing two-term TMC Lok Sabha MP seeking a re-election, went to a school in South Kolkata.

Jeet went to cast his vote with his wife, Mohna Madnani. The superstar, who is waiting for the release of his film Boomerang this month, sported a cap, sunglasses and a white designed half-shirt amid the scorching heat.

Mohana Madnani and Jeet

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, a star campaigner for the BJP, cast his vote early in the morning at Belgachia Veterinary College in North Kolkata.

Tollywood actress Mimi Chakraborty, a former TMC MP who served the Jadavpur constituency from 2019 to 2024, visited the Sarda Academy School in Kasba along with her mother to cast her vote at around 1 pm.

Tollywood celebs casting votes

Actress and former TMC MP from Basirhat, Nusrat Jahan, went to Abdul Wahid Memorial School in Broad Street, Ballygunge, to cast her vote at 11 am.

Dressed in a kurta, Nusrat flashed her inked finger as she came out of the polling booth.

Koel Mallick

Senior Bengali actress Koel Mallick, who was accompanied by her father- veteran actor Ranjit Mallick- and mother Deepa Mallick, cast her vote and said, "It is our responsibility to cast votes. I pray all people stay well and busy at work.

"I keep hearing about brain drain, I hope there will be a day when people from other states will come here for work. If this happens, the economy will improve and poverty will be driven out."

Moon Moon Sen (L) and Raima Sen (R)

Raima Sen, who was joined by her parents to a school in Ballygunge to cast her mandate, shared "a safe democracy", "end of violence" and "more education and jobs for people" were the issues which she kept in her mind.

Among other celebrities who cast their votes were filmmaker Raj Chakraborty and his wife, actress Subhashree Ganguly, filmmaker Arindam Sil, actresses Paoli Dam, Srabanti Chatterjee, Sauraseni Maitra, Rukmini Maitra, Sandipta Sen, Angana Roy among others.

Sauraseni Maitra with her parents

West Bengal went to polls in all seven phases of elections that began on April 19. The results of the elections will be declared on June 4.

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)
Flags of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fly in Pyongyang. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Micha Brandli

The Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas (DPRK) repeated launches using ballistic missile technology not only violate Security Council resolutions but also pose a serious risk to aviation and maritime traffic, a senior UN official said on Friday.

At 10:45 PM local time on 27 May, the DPRK, also known as North Korea, conducted what it described as the launch of reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1-1 aboard the new-type satellite carrier rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

According to the DPRK, the launch failed due to the air blast of the new-type satellite carrier rocket during the first-stage flight. It attributed the failure to the reliability of the newly developed liquid oxygen-petroleum engine, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), told ambassadors at the Security Council.

Developing a military reconnaissance satellite is part of North Koreas five-year military development plan, unveiled in January 2021.

Since 2022, the country has significantly increased its missile launch activities, including more than 100 launches using ballistic missile technology, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. This year alone, the DPRK has launched two intermediate-range solid-fuelled ballistic missiles in January and April.

Breach of Security Council prohibitions

Ahead of the latest launch, DPRK issued a notification to the Japanese Coast Guard but did not notify the specialised UN agencies  International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The DPRKs unannounced launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, he warned.

Assistant Secretary-General Khiari briefing the Security Council.

He also underscored the need for the country to comply with its international obligations.

Sovereign States have the right to benefit from peaceful space activities, he said.

However, Security Council resolutions expressly prohibit the DPRK from conducting any launches using ballistic missile technology.

On 28 May, the UN Secretary-General strongly condemned the attempted launch, reiterating the call for the DPRK to return to dialogue to achieve sustainable peace and complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Create space for dialogue

Mr. Khiari highlighted the urgent need for practical measures to reduce tensions and create space for diplomatic avenues.

The Secretary-General has emphasised the importance of re-establishing communication channels, particularly between military entities. Exercising maximum restraint is critical to avoid unintended escalation, he said.

He also urged all Member States, and members of the Security Council, to seek unity, and for all parties to create an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation.

At this particularly difficult moment in securing global peace and security, it is imperative to de-escalate the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

UN ready to assist

In addition to addressing the security concerns, Khiari noted that the United Nations and its partners are ready to assist the DPRK in addressing the basic needs of its vulnerable populations.

With international travel to and from the DPRK increasing, he encouraged the authorities to facilitate the full return of the international community, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team.

A collective return would enhance international support for the people of the DPRK and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, he concluded.
Photo Courtesy: UNICEF/Frank Dejongh

The UNs top human rights official on Friday voiced serious concern over the dramatic deterioration of the situation in Burkina Faso, where almost 1,800 people are reported to have been unlawfully killed between November last year and April.

Allegations of responsibility point to both armed groups and State actors.

While armed groups are presumed responsible for the vast majority of incidents and victims and should be held accountable, I am also deeply disturbed that security and defence forces and their auxiliaries, the Volontaires pour la defense de la patrie, allegedly carried out wanton killings, including summary executions, Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in statement.

The reported killings were among the alleged violations and abuses affecting at least 2,732 individuals in the West African country between November 2023 and April 2024.

That figure was a sharp spike of 71 per cent compared to the previous six months.

Civilians under attack

According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, armed groups, such as Jamaat nusrat al-islam wal-muslimin, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and other similar organizations, have stepped up their attacks against civilians, including internally displaced people.

State forces are also alleged to be behind the violence.

In one particularly abhorrent incident, over 220 civilians, including 56 children, were reportedly killed in attacks allegedly carried out by the military in two villages in the north on a single day in late February.

Burkina Faso has been under military rule since early 2022 amid an insurgency by extremist militants which triggered a series of coups and counter coups. Capt. Ibrahim Traore was named transitional president in September 2022, and the transitional government has continued to battle insurgents and further reported counter-coup attempts.

Amidst the highly volatile situation, more than six million Burkinabe, out of a total population of 20 million, have been left dependent on humanitarian assistance.

Respect international law

I fully appreciate the complex security threats that Burkina Faso is facing. A response to these threats will only succeed if international law is fully respected throughout. I therefore reiterate my call to the authorities in Burkina Faso to take all possible measures to ensure the protection of civilians, High Commissioner Turk said.

He urged the Government to support a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into all allegations of violations and abuses of international law, and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice through legal due process.

There must be justice and accountability if the authorities are to reassure the population, restore social cohesion and rebuild trust between civilians and the security forces, Mr. Turk added.

The High Commissioner had raised his concerns on the situation in Burkina Faso with Government officials, including President Traore, during a visit to the country in March.
Photo courtesy: IOM

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine has strongly condemned the latest deadly Russian missile strikes in Kharkiv.

The attacks occurred in the citys Novobovarskyi district late on Thursday. At least three people were killed and a further 16 injured, according to media reports.

The repeated missile strikes caused significant damage to residential buildings. They also affected rescue workers rushing to the scene.

In a statement issued on Friday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown extended her deepest condolences to the families impacted by the non-stop attacks by the Russian Federations Armed Forces.

Humanitarian response hampered

Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, has come under relentless shelling in recent weeks. UN agencies have been assisting in evacuating people from other areas of the wider Kharkiv region that have come under attack.

Ms. Brown said the escalation of hostilities in Kharkiv and elsewhere in Ukraine continues to devastate the lives of families, making humanitarian response efforts even more critical and difficult.

International humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure, she said.

Living in fear of air strikes at home, at work or while shopping is not normal.

Violations against children

Ms. Brown heads the UN Office in Ukraine which issued a separate statement on Friday condemning the severe violations of childrens rights in the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

Heavy hostilities continue to inflict immense physical, psychological, and emotional harm on children, disrupting their lives and jeopardizing their future.

The most recent wave of Russian attacks in the Kharkiv Region underscores the dreadful cost of the war, and the horrors that the children of Ukraine are facing, Ms. Brown said.

Many have been killed or injured, and thousands forced to flee from their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the profound stress from having witnessed a truly terrifying situation.

Young lives ended

Over 600 children have been killed, and more than 1,420 injured, since the escalation, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, though the actual toll is likely much higher.

The statement said children spend countless hours in bomb shelters due to indiscriminate attacks. Boys and girls in frontline communities have spent between 3,000 and 5,000 hours underground  equivalent to four to seven months  making their lives stressful and extremely difficult.

Forced displacement further compounds dangers they face, including separation from their families and increased risks of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

Education and healthcare disrupted

The war has also severely affected education, and many schools have adopted online or underground classes. The UN Office in Ukraine expressed particular concern over the situation of children in frontline regions.

Currently, nearly a million boys and girls  a quarter of all Ukrainian children enrolled in school  have been unable to attend in-person learning, particularly those with disabilities and special educational needs.

Childrens health is another casualty of the war. Damage to health facilities, together with the displacement of personnel, mean that access to healthcare services is limited.

The statement noted that displaced families and those living close to the front line struggle to obtain necessary medical care, particularly for pregnant women and newborns, while vaccination campaigns have been disrupted, thus increasing the risk of outbreaks of some preventable diseases.

Commitment to deliver

The UN and partners in Ukraine are working to assist the countrys children, the statement concluded.

Last year, the UN provided vital primary healthcare to more than 5.1 million children and mothers, and education services to more than 2.5 million students and teachers.

Ms. Brown underlined the UNs commitment to support the people of Ukraine but noted that no amount of aid will bring back what a generation of children is losing because of Russias invasion.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab from viral video posted on X

In a shocking viral video, a Christian man was caught on camera chained and brutally beaten up in Pakistan's Lahore city over delayed garbage collection, an episode once again highlighting the dismal state of minorities in the country.

The victim was identified as 35-year-old Christian sanitation worker Yasir Masih.

Hussain Masih, father-in-law of Yasir Masih, said he found the 35-year-old sanitation worker in the Gujjarpura area of Lahore chained to a chair in the street, reported ANI.

Hussain Masih was quoted as saying by the Indian news agency that Yasir was attacked by Muhammad Khadim Hussain, his son, and three others for not immediately complying with their demand to collect garbage and sweep their doorstep.

Yasir had promised to fulfill the request after completing his official duties of cleaning streets. However, upon visiting their house, he was directed to clean the roof, where he was subsequently assaulted with iron rods, punches, and kicks before being chained, the news agency reported.

The victim managed to escape despite being chained.

Demanding justice, his family members protested at the Lahore Press Club.

Police have arrested Malik Hussain and two others.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Unknown six people allegedly abducted a beggar and drove her to an undisclosed location before gangraping her in Pakistan's Sadiqabad area, media reports said on Saturday.

The victim, a resident of Transfer Chowk in Sadiqabad, lodged an FIR with the police stating that she was returning home after begging at 10pm when four persons riding a car abducted her, reported Dawn News.

She was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location.

She said six persons gangraped her and then put her in a car to throw her at a spot.

Police have registered a case after conducting medical examination of the victim.

No one has been arrested so far.
Greeces Migration Minister has strongly denied allegations that the United States were considering transferring migrants to Greece and Italy.

Mr. Kairidis denial was sparked by a report by CBS claiming that the Biden administration was planning to refer some migrants in Latin America for resettlement as part of a fresh effort to discourage people

in the region from traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border

Mr. Kairidis said the report was not accurate, explaining that Greece had not entered into any agreement with the American government, nor has there been any request of this nature.

The minister further speculated on the motives behind the anonymous sources cited by CBS, noting that the Biden administration was under significant pressure with the upcoming elections.

Europes challenge with irregular migrants saw 300,000 arrivals in 2023, but the U.S. encountered a staggering three million, a figure tenfold that of Europe.

He emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying that President Biden was facing a severe crisis at the southern U.S. border.

While denying any current agreement with the U.S., Mr. Kairidis acknowledged ongoing discussions within Europe aimed at bolstering legal migration to address labour shortages.

We have been pursuing this approach from the start, with six new accords nearing completion, Mr. Kairidis said

The CBS report also highlighted a broader strategy by the Biden administration to mitigate illegal border crossings by providing legal immigration pathways.

This past year has seen a combination of such programs with stricter enforcement policies, including a new rule presuming ineligibility for U.S. asylum for migrants who have not sought protection in another country.

   iefimerida.gr
The Israeli and Greek air forces conducted a joint exercise in Greek airspace this week, the Israel Defense Forces announced.

The militarys statement was accompanied by a video showcasing moments from the Israel-Greece exercise.

During the exercise, Boeing 707 aerial refuelling aircraft participated in the flights, refuelling dozens of Greek fighter jets.

The exercise was part of a scheduled training program and regional cooperation between the two countries.

   iefimerida.gr
A 27-year-old Palestinian man accused of assaulting, stabbing, and raping a 33-year-old Albanian woman in Omonia has been released on restrictive terms despite having no known residence.

Judicial sources said the decision by a local investigating magistrate was decreed because the the victim of the alleged assault had not yet provided an official statement.

Police said they were unable to obtain

a deposition from the young woman because she was not in a condition to speak.

Attempts also by the investigating magistrate to obtain a statement, visiting the victim at the hospital, failed to heed any result because of her condition.

Still, the judicial official refused to detain the accused migrant, releasing him instead on restricted conditions and sparking public outrage.

Police found the 27-year-old earlier this week after a police patrol heard a woman screaming from an apartment in central Athens. Police broke down the door and found the woman stabbed, bound, and naked on the bed. The migrant was also found in possession of a knife.

The 33-year-old woman of Albanian descent identified the man as her tormentor and rapist before being transferred to the George Gennimatas state hospital.

The suspects release has caused public outcry, with many questioning the decision given the severity of the allegations and the victims inability to testify immediately due to her condition.

   iefimerida.gr
Seven parties are considered as exceeding the electoral threshold to send MEPs to Brussels
The Senate Committee on Army has condemned the the heinous attack on the troops of Operation Udoka at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint, Aba in Abia State.

Recall that the unfortunate incident happened on the 30th of May, 2024, during the Biafra Remembrance Day.

It was gathered that the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed that the assault was carried out by IPOB/ESN terrorists, resulting in the tragic loss of 5 personnel of the armed forces.

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The military also confirmed the loss of six civilian lives in the crossfire.

Reacting to the development on Saturday, in a statement signed by its chairman Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua, the Senate Committee on Army said that the attack is an affront to the peace and security of the nation.

The statement reads: Our hearts go out to the families and colleagues of the fallen soldiers, whose sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten. Each soldier lost represents a significant loss to our nations defense and stability.

We urge a comprehensive investigation into this despicable attack to ensure that justice is served and those responsible are brought to account. It is imperative that the lifeline of these terrorists, the people, recognize the gravity of their actions and refrain from offering support to such destructive elements.

READ MORE: Sit-At-Home: Gov. Otti Places N25m Bounty On Killers Of Abia Soldiers

The Senate Committee on Army stands in solidarity with the armed forces and affirms our unwavering support for their efforts to protect our citizens and maintain peace in the region.

We call for a decisive and resolute response from the military to combat this act of terror, ensuring the group responsible faces overwhelming military pressure until their complete defeat.

In times like these, unity, resilience, and collective resolve are paramount. We must stand together against all forms of violence and insurgency that threaten the security and stability of our beloved nation.
The National Assembly, on Friday, dissociated itself from a purported draft bill seeking to return Nigeria to a regional system of government.

Information Nigeria reports that a document titled A bill for an act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, went viral on social media.

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The bill is said to have been drafted by one Akin Fapohunda, who is not a member of the National Assembly.

Reacting, Yemi Adaramodu, the Senates spokesperson, said there is no such bill before the national assembly.

Such a bill is not with us. And who is sponsoring the bill? The National Assembly plenary is always held openly with the media in the chambers.

READ ALSO: Osun State Joins New National Anthem Train, Directs Schools To Comply

In which order paper has such been reflected? he queried.

Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the House of Representatives, also denied the existence of such a bill.

The committees on rules and business and constitution review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them, Punch quoted Rotimi as saying.

Nigeria practised the regional system of government after it gained independence in 1960.

In 1979, after military rule, Nigeria adopted the presidential system of government and has maintained it to date.
The operatives of the Kwara state Police Command have arrested seven suspects allegedly involved in car snatching in Lagos and Ilorin.

It was gathered that the commands spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi (DSP), led this out on Friday evening in a statement made available to the public.

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She noted that the police operative were alerted to their suspicious activities at a dump site located around the Madi area, along Okolowo/Jebba Expressway in Ilorin, where some suspects were seen dismantling a car.

The statement reads: At approximately 1200hrs on 24/05/2024, detectives were alerted to suspicious activities at a dump site located around the Madi area along the Okolowo/Jebba Expressway in Ilorin, where individuals were seen dismantling a car.

READ MORE: Kwara Police Detain Doctor, Nurses Over Missing Placenta, Umbilical Cord

Upon arrival at the scene, Abdulateef Abdulwahab, Wasiu Musa, and Tajudeen Abdulrasak were arrested. A dismantled Nissan Almera car, ash in color, with Lagos registration number AKD919AU, was recovered.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the Nissan Almera was snatched at gunpoint in Lagos State and transported to Ilorin for dismantling and resale.

Two other suspects, Olarewaju Sukirulahi and an individual known as Old Solder, remain at large. Efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend these fleeing suspects.

Theft and other illegal activities will not be tolerated in Kwara State, and those who engage in such acts will face the full weight of the law.
The Abia State government has placed a N25 million bounty on the killers of five soldiers in the State.

Five soldiers of the Nigerian Army were reportedly killed by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) while trying to enforce sit-at-home at Obikabia junction in Aba on May 30.

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The IPOB earlier gave a directive for total compliance with the sit-at-home order to commemorate Biafra Day.

The army however disclosed on Friday that it would avenge the killing of the soldiers.

Okey Kanu, State Commissioner for Information, in a Friday statement, condemned the attack on the soldiers by the suspected separatists.

The statement read: The Abia state government considers the event of Thursday, May 30, 2024, a serious affront to its resolve by criminal elements who are hell-bent on returning Abia to the dark days of insecurity and fear amongst citizens, especially in Aba, the economic heartbeat of the State.

READ ALSO: World No Tobacco Day: One Out Of 10 Nigerians Smokes  Expert Reveals

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.

To underscore its resolve, the state government is offering a N25 million (twenty-five million naira) 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.

The security formations in the state have been directed to treat informants with all the confidentiality required to guarantee their full cooperation and assistance until the criminals are fully apprehended and brought to book.

Furthermore, the Abia state government will, in line with its commitment to the welfare of the security operatives working within its territory, take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers, including payment of regular stipends to their spouses and the education of their children to university level.

Meanwhile, State Governor, Alex Otti met with security agencies where it resolved to continue to engage with relevant stakeholders and community leaders to ensure security in the State.


The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Friday, informed that it is not involved in murder of soldiers in Abia State.

Last week, IPOB declared May 30 as a sit-at-home in the south-east to honour our heroes and heroines who died in the civil war between 1967 and 1970.

IPOB has also been enforcing sit-at-homes in the South-East since its leader, Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention.

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Unfortunately, on Thursday, five soldiers were killed by gunmen in Abia State.

The gunmen who were purportedly enforcing the sit-at-home, opened fire on a military checkpoint in Obikabia junction in Aba.

Reacting in a statement, IPOBs spokesman, Emma Powerful, pointed accusing fingers at politicians as perpetrators of the attack.

According to him, those responsible for this attack (on the military at their check point in Aba) are politicians.

READ ALSO: Ten Rescued As Two-Storey Building Collapses In Lagos (Pictures)

He declared that those responsible for the attack were planning to create chaos in the State while warning Governor Alex Otti to be careful about those targeting Aba for crisis.

They are planning to create problems in peaceful Enyimba City; so the Governor of Abia State must be careful (because) they (politicians) are coming to create crisis in Aba.

Those who were used to attack military on duty are criminals, not IPOB. We are much engaged with sit-at-home to remember our fallen heroes and heroines who died during the genocidal war against Biafrans and Ndi Igbo. IPOB condemns the criminal activities of yesterday (May 30, 2024).

We condemn the attack on military on duty in Aba. We are not involved because sit-at-home was time for mourning of our heroes and heroines and not for attack on anybody.

Therefore, anybody mentioning IPOB as responsible for the attack on (the military) in Aba must be under the control of something. IPOB have no chance to attack anyone, he added.
Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ologunagba has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare state of emergency in the petroleum sector.

Speaking with Information Nigeria on Saturday, about his assessment of Tinubus one year in office, Debo queried the current administration over the state of the nation, adding that the country is the same with how the President met it in 2023.

The PDPs chieftain condemned the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies made by the federal government.

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He said: Are Nigerians better now than they were one year ago? The answer is clearly No.

Are you talking about the arbitrary and wreckless removal of fuel subsidy? Are you talking about how the income of people can no longer support anything they are doing? Its not just what the party said, its about what you and I feel on the streets.

Are you talking about the purchasing power, the pump price of petrol without any cushioning effect, the price of domestic gas, the electricity tarrif increase, the unguarded so called deregulation, the floating of the naira where today, planning becomes difficult, where many blue chip companies and multinationals leaving Nigeria, and with the attendant loss of employment which has caused social dislocation for the country.

READ MORE: Lawyers To Sue Tinubu For Reintroducing Old National Anthem

Debo urged President Tinubu to revisit his policies on petrol product pricing, adding that the survival of the countrys economy strongly depend on it.

The president should go back to his policies on petroleum products pricing because the economy of this country is tied heavily with petrol and petroleum products. Nigerias total earning is about 90 to 95 per cent from crude oil, so if you must do that, there must be what I call a marshall plan. There must be an emergency declaration in that sector.

The only way to begin to reverse this, is to ensure that at least, one of the four refineries is working. Nigeria has about 44,000 barrels per day internal consumption. Four of the refineries are dead, not working. So, all the 44,000 barrels are taken out for refining. When they are doing this, just look at the cost.

What the presidential should have done is, is to have sold the four refineries, and find which of them can be fixed within the first nine months of the administration. If you are refining 100 barrels per day in Nigeria, it means that, youre not taking them abroad again for refining, were not paying freight, were not paying cost of insurance, logistics, hauling charges, storage, transportation for tankers. That means therell be less pressure on the foreign exchange

Now, by-products of refining from crude is almost over 50 by-products from crude from plastic, diesel, black oil, kerosene, aviation fuel. All those should be produced in Nigeria. All the companies that uses those by-products will not need to seek for foreign exchange to go and import raw materials.

The cost of refining, which will be in dollars, will no more be there. When theres less demand because theres a supply, then it will shore up in terms of pricing and value. Its simple economics but I dont think they are listening to anybody. Thats the challenge.
Terell Stafford, managing and artistic director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, plays the trumpet during the Charlie Parker 100th birthday tribute. Read more

In the latest in a string of financial and legal battles, the Philly Pops is being sued in a federal racketeering lawsuit by its former artistic director of jazz, Terell Stafford, who alleges he wrongfully lost his job and is owed money under his contract.

Stafford, engaged as the Pops jazz leader in 2019 and Temple Universitys director of jazz studies and chair of instrumental studies, filed the complaint May 22 in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia seeking nearly $3.7 million in damages.

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But its unclear how much longer there will be a Philly Pops around to sue.

Separately, leaders of the group said this past week that dissolution of the Pops parent organization, Encore Series Inc., seems likely.

As far as I can tell, unless a miracle happens, were done, said Salvatore M. DeBunda, a Pops board member and former chairman. The group previously hoped to raise enough money with its Save the Pops campaign to continue operations. It didnt happen, he said.

Even so, we are still trying to do everything we can to survive, said DeBunda.

No official action regarding a dissolution has been taken by ESIs board, he said, adding that he would like to see provisions made in some form for patrons who purchased Philly Pops tickets for performances that never happened.

ESI president and CEO Karen Corbin declined to comment on the future of the company.

In addition to ESI, Staffords lawsuit names longtime Pops leader Frank Giordano as a defendant, as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc. and its president and CEO, Matias Tarnopolsky. The complaint leans on both the Pops year-old lawsuit against POKC  its former landlord  as well as a recent Philadelphia Magazine story detailing the Pops organizational plummet. The suit accuses the Pops and POKC of a conspiracy to monopolize the market for live orchestral music and own jazz in Philly.

POKC responded to the suit Friday with a statement saying that it appears to be driven by Encore Series failure to meet its alleged contractual obligations to Mr. Stafford. The additional claims are baseless, and we intend to defend against them vigorously.

Staffords suit further extends the litigious aftermath of the Pops collapse. In November 2022, the group led for decades by legendary pianist Peter Nero announced it would shut down at the end of the 2022-23 season. After the Pops reversed that decision, POKC evicted the Pops from its home in Verizon Hall, citing back rent and other unpaid debt. The Pops own musicians filed a lawsuit against it for unpaid wages and other obligations.

ESI then sued POKC, citing antitrust violations, claiming that POKC was trying to put the Pops out of business, an allegation POKC has called a wholly unsupported assertion.

Most recently, a successor group to the Pops, No Name Pops, announced that it was in talks with Neros family to acquire rights to the Philly Pops name, though no deal has been signed, a spokesperson for the new group said.

To settle the matter of money owed to its former musicians, the Pops agreed to pay $300,000 in a stipulation approved in December by the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania  but the Pops never made payment, said American Federation of Musicians lawyer Jennifer P. Garner on May 22.

Staffords suit says that after the Pops announced it would be folding, the musician lost out on income due under his 2021 and 2022 employment agreements and potential future income, as well as additional compensation promised in connection with work on a Pew-funded project that ultimately failed to happen.

The suit accuses Giordano of conspiring with Tarnopolsky to facilitate POKCs takeover of the Pops business, intentionally misrepresenting the financial condition of the Pops to the board of directors, donors, employees, and the general public in order to fraudulently induce a shutdown of operations, and intentionally misrepresenting the level of support for this decision within the Pops organization.

Giordano said he had no knowledge of the suit until being called by The Inquirer.

Staffords relationship with the Philly Pops grew over a number of years. He once played as a freelance trumpeter with the group, and has recently worked on ambitious artistic and educational projects. He helped the Pops land its first-ever grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts for a program celebrating Philadelphia organ great Shirley Scott, according to the lawsuit. The $318,000 award was rescinded after the Pops collapsed and the program was never produced.

In 2019, the Pops absorbed the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, which Stafford founded in 2013, while naming him the Pops artistic director for jazz.

That smaller group had been doing two or three Kimmel concerts and a few other gigs each year and wasnt a very lucrative venture when Stafford began talking to the Pops about a takeover, he told The Inquirer in 2019.

After the Pops proposed to provide an infrastructure for it, financially and otherwise, my wife and I did a little celebration dance, Stafford said at the time.

Basically, the Pops saved the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia.
The University of the Arts has completed its first-ever comprehensive capital campaign, raising money for campus renovations, scholarships, endowment, and more. The arts school on South Broad Street aimed for $50 million in gifts when it launched the effort in 2018, but has ended up exceeding the goal by a considerable amount.

The campaign pulled in a total just north of $67 million, the school announced Tuesday.

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Its extraordinarily exciting because many people felt we could never hit $50 million, said David Yager, University of the Arts president and CEO.

Where did the school  which didnt have a particularly well-developed tradition of philanthropy  find support for the campaign? Yager lists sources in several categories:

Trustees who had never given very large gifts have stepped up. People that Ive built a relationship with or the institution has a relationship with. Some alumni who popped up, 50-years-ago alumni who never had kids, those kinds of things. A lot of non-alumni who are just supporting what were doing.

A lot of them were surprises, Yager said in an interview. I was basically told there was nobody on the board who would give you a seven-figure gift, and we proved that wrong.

The single-largest donation to the campaign was $25 million from the estate of Dorrance Dodo Hill Hamilton, the late Campbell Soup heiress who served on the schools board for decades, a number of them as board chair.

The arts school entered the campaign hoping to build dorms, and at one point eyed becoming a partner in a larger development on the southwest corner of Broad and Lombard Streets. With rents going up in Center City, the question of student housing has become more urgent.

The plan now is for the university to try to sell Pine Residence Hall at 15th and Pine Streets and to use the proceeds to improve the schools existing housing in several other buildings, said Yager.

Most of the schools current residences were never designed properly, they were just apartments, and then we did what I would call a modest conversion rather than really going in and making them like residence halls should be today, he said. And because we have good locations and because a lot of the rooms have way too much space because theyre apartments, we probably will get very close to the same number of students [as it has with Pine Hall] if we go in that direction.

Plus, he said, not partnering with a developer allows the school to control our future in terms of paying rent to someone else and worrying if we didnt fill them and all those kinds of things.

Money from the just-completed campaign, dubbed Uniquely UArts: The Campaign for Creative Capital, will be spent and saved for a variety of efforts.

The biggest chunk, about $24 million, will be kept in perpetuity in endowment. About $17 million is being used for capital projects, like a new student center in the former Gershman Y building at Broad and Pine Streets, the Laurie Wagman Recording Studios, and Living Steps, a new gathering space for students. Restricted funds totaling about $14 million are being used for programs and academic disciplines. $5.5 million will go toward scholarships. About $5 million is being set aside as discretionary funds  for expenditures like tuition relief, housing costs, food expenses, and art supplies.

The university, which typically has about 1,500 students, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in its music, art, dance, theater, film, design, and other schools, and traces its roots to 1876.

One major element in the campaign was the renovation of the Philadelphia Art Alliance building. The school took over the alliance and acquired its Italian Renaissance-style structure in 2017, giving the university a presence in Rittenhouse Square for art exhibitions and other events.

Building systems were modernized, with historic elements  plaster, molding, and woodwork  restored. Everybody who walks in says, Wow, this feels like a new building but still has all the beauty of what the building was, Yager said.

In the works back on Broad Street, in the old Gershman Y, are a new student center and a film-screening room for both students as well as the public.

The university gave up a major arts hall in its space reshuffling of the past few years by selling the Merriam Theater (now called the Miller Theater) to the Kimmel Center for $11 million.

We did lose a performance space, not a good one but we lost a performance space, said Yager, and thats still been really problematic for large performances. And the cost of rentals has just gone off the deep end in terms of spaces, so were still trying to work on that.

In addition to the immediate material benefits to the university, the completion of a first-ever comprehensive campaign helps to establish a tradition of philanthropy that had been lacking compared with some other schools.

The needs are ongoing. Still unfunded: a renovation of the Arts Bank at Broad and South Streets, and a new dance studio for the Gershman building. Those projects likely wont be funded through another large capital campaign, but by holding conversations with individual donors, Yager said.

With all of the terrible things that have gone on in the world in the past couple of years, he said, we still have some really amazing good stories about people stepping up and being generous. You read about the bad stuff, but there are many more good people out there doing really good stuff.
NEW YORK  Though heard at Carnegie Hall as long ago as 2004, composer-flutist Valerie Coleman was received like a major new discovery on Friday when the Philadelphia Orchestra unveiled her new Concerto for Orchestra (Renaissance) in a Debussy/Ravel program (featuring much-honored pianist Mitsuko Uchida) that received a rock star audience welcome.

The piece was premiered Thursday in Philadelphia (to be repeated Saturday and Sunday at the Kimmel Center). Coleman is part of the citys Imani Winds chamber-music group and the author of three previous works written for the Philadelphia Orchestra, including Seven OClock Shout  a COVID-era, trauma-transcending piece establishing her as a composer using the congenial Aaron Copland/Samuel Barber tradition as a launching point for her own distinctive voice.

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Oddly, on Friday, Coleman chose not to face her newfound admirers with a bow from the Carnegie stage, but waved from her aisle seat on the main floor. She later said that it would just take too much time to go up and back. Besides, listeners went out of their way afterward to address her directly and emphatically at her seat. Commonly heard: You are a great composer!

The title, Concerto for Orchestra (Renaissance), carries double meaning, referring to Bartoks landmark Concerto for Orchestra, as well as the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s that previously prompted Coleman to write smaller-scale musical portraits of poet Langston Hughes and cabaret star Josephine Baker. The new piece is her largest (so far, she said after the premiere), and one showing how she has made quantum leaps with an often-spectacular orchestration that she attributes to the guidance of music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

Her pieces are full of extra-musical references  this ones three movements are subtitled American Odyssey, Portraits, and Cotton Club Juba  but arent dependent on reading program notes to create a vivid listening experience. That said, Coleman cites specific passages in the new work that refer to paintings of African American artist Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) that document the northward migration amid Jim Crow laws with vivid colors and folk-art directness, as well as depicting World War II more abstractly with diagonal perspectives, bodies mashed together, and an overall sense of danger.

As with the Lawrence paintings, each section of Colemans music had its own distinctly crafted color palette, but within that, eloquent, disparate layers of meaning that also give most sections of the orchestra antic animation solo moments with the kind of unfiltered truth that one doesnt expect in the symphonic medium. The first movement was full of bustling, contrasting personalities, but what developed in the amassed string section was broad, tectonic motion suggesting important shifts in the society being depicted.

The second two movements ran together in what wasnt anything so tidy as an orchestral tone poem, but a landscape full of ever-evolving discoveries. If the brass were playing fanfares, they werent typical, twisting around with anything-but-predictable jazz-influenced motion  and with the subtle defiance of an alternate sensibility.

The final Cotton Club section couldve inspired conventionally showy symphonic jazz but was dense and eventful, dipping into dark back rooms, full of hectic and at times heedless activity. Arresting, slashing orchestral gestures could be heard any number of ways, whether liberating or debilitating.

Yet these large Coleman canvases maintained a chamber music feeling in sound, drawing their overall power from details within details. The consistent vitality made the music endlessly engaging  attracting the ear not by being imposing or commanding, but by being inviting. This piece may take listeners years to fully digest, but never do you feel that the music is leaving you behind.

The piece was played by the Philadelphia Orchestra with great conviction  and conducted by Nezet-Seguin with obvious relish. But what followed was a fasten-your-seat-belt performance of Debussys La Mer.

While many conductors have this French impressionist composer treading in soft-sole shoes, this performance put him in spike heels, sounding like a companion piece to Stravinskys fierce Rite of Spring. Years of hearing La Mer and its elemental depiction of the sea never suggested that it could be played this way.

Agree or not with this approach, the performance was consistently and convincingly conceived and viscerally compelling. It was also loud  which is an increasingly heard complaint of Nezet-Seguins performances among New York audiences.

Pianist Uchida left a strangely mixed impression in Ravels Piano Concerto in G. One associates her more with Beethoven and Schubert, and the fidelity to the written score demanded by those composers was much in evidence as she played Ravel.

But theres much more to that piece than whats on the page. Her rhythm lacked flexibility. The first two movements almost seemed prosaic. The final movement kicked in with Uchida giving Ravels keyboard runs Mozartean precision and elegance. But in general, she seemed to be keeping up with the concerto rather than leading it.

This is clearly a minority opinion  the audience loved it  though its good to know that this great musician is indeed human, and not one to please everybody all the time.

The program will be repeated at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kimmel Center. Tickets: $25-181. Information: 215.893.1999 or https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/
Mazzoni Center community health engagement manager Vince Du gives a dose of Jynneos smallpox and mpox vaccine to a patron at Level Up Bar and Lounge on Walnut St. in December 2022. Mazzoni is stepping up vaccination efforts this summer following a slight rise in mpox cases reported nationwide. Read more

Despite a national rise in reported mpox infections, cases in Philadelphia have so far remained low, health officials say.

Still, this summer, local health organizations who work with men who have sex with men, a higher-risk group for the virus, are increasing vaccination efforts to get more people protected.

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We want to cast as wide a net as possible, said Stefan Lynch, the director of nursing and integrated services at the Mazzoni Center, a Center City-based health organization for LGBTQ people.

Mpox is a virus similar to smallpox, but its symptoms are milder, including a rash and flulike symptoms. An outbreak began in the United States in 2022, peaking at 3,000 cases per week nationwide that summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus can spread through direct, skin-to-skin contact with mpox rashes or scabs and contact with saliva, mucus, or bodily fluids around the genitals of a person who has mpox, the CDC says. Pregnant people can also pass the virus to their fetus, or their newborn during and after birth.

Gay, bisexual, and trans men who have sex with other men are among those at highest risk, Lynch said, as well as people who have frequent anonymous sex partners.

Uptick in mpox cases outside Philly

Earlier this month, the CDC issued a warning on a more severe variant of mpox endemic to Central Africa and increasingly spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. No cases involving that variant have been reported in the U.S.

Case counts related to the variant behind the 2022 mpox outbreak have been largely stable, in part thanks to a vaccination campaign.

But cases nationwide since January are higher than during the same time period in 2023, according to CDC data. New York City has seen an uptick in reported cases in that time period: 39 cases were identified between January and April 2023, compared with 151 cases between January and April 2024.

Pennsylvania saw just one case of monkeypox between January and April 2023, and recorded 33 cases in the same time period in 2024. Health officials in Philadelphia say cases in the city have been stable since last year.

Given that people often travel for Pride Month in June (Philadelphias Pride Parade is on Sunday), health workers here want to guard against the potential spread of the virus, Lynch said.

Rates here are low, which is lovely, Lynch said. That said, its Pride season, not just here, but around the world. People travel, they go to parties, and they might be traveling to places where the mpox incidence is a little higher.

Promoting preventive vaccines

Mazzoni is launching a campaign on dating sites frequented by men who have sex with men, and targeting men of color in particular: Rates of mpox vaccination among Black and Latino men who have sex with men are lower than among their white peers, Lynch said.

At the height of the mpox outbreak, Mazzoni was vaccinating as many people as they could, whether or not they were patients at the center, Lynch said. Then, the organization shifted mostly to vaccinating current patients. This summer, however, it will again be offering mpox vaccines to anyone who wants them.

Theres no longer a national vaccine shortage like there was when this first came into play, so were allowing people to self-identify as someone who might be at risk, he said.

Mazzoni wants those in high-risk groups to make sure they are fully vaccinated. The mpox vaccine, Jynneos, comes in two doses.

Two years ago, during the initial outbreak, a lot of people who were in high-risk groups got the first shot. But a lot didnt get the second, Lynch said.

Ideally, the second Jynneos shot is delivered four weeks after the first, but its still effective when given two years later, Lynch said.

Even if you had one two years ago, you dont need to restart and get two more. For a lot of people, the idea of getting one shot is much more palatable than getting two shots, he said.
Councilperson Jeffrey Young Jr, answers questions from Fairmount residents about the homeless services center at 2100 W. Girard Ave. Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Read more

Some residents of Fairmount are irate that a nearby homeless shelter is being turned into an addiction triage center without input from the surrounding community. News of the shelters expansion came just a week before the high-profile closing of an encampment of people experiencing homelessness and addiction in Kensington, long at the center of the regions opioid crisis.

Neighbors quickly started a petition to halt the triage center project, and they garnered over 1,100 signatures. At a contentious community meeting, they expressed fears of their neighborhood becoming Kensington 2.0.

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As professors of political science and public policy, we have studied public opinion about opioid treatment policies in the U.S. Our research shows that while Americans acknowledge the general need for opioid addiction treatment facilities, they dont like these services to be located near where they live. This not in my backyard  or NIMBY  opposition is true for people across the ideological spectrum.

We have also found that whether people support expanded opioid treatment policy spending or not can depend on whether they share a racial identity with the people they see might benefit from that policy.

We conducted a series of experiments and gathered survey data from both urban and rural respondents across the country to understand how both of these dynamics shape opposition to opioid treatment policies.

Role of race and media

In one experiment, we asked both white and Black respondents to read a media profile of someone struggling with opioid addiction. We randomly varied aspects of the profiled individuals identity, including whether they were white or Black, male or female, or lived in an urban, suburban, or rural area.

We found that both white and Black respondents were more supportive of funding treatment programs after reading a profile about someone who shared their racial identity. We did not find similar effects based on shared gender or geography.

Our findings, published in the March 2024 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Political Behavior, suggest that race remains a dominant cleavage in shaping public attitudes toward opioid policy.

As a result, the way that media outlets depict people struggling with addiction could affect support for these policies. For example, evidence increasingly shows that overdose rates among Black Americans are rising faster than rates among white Americans, which could lead to a decrease in public support for opioid treatment policies among white Americans. Media coverage that emphasizes how the opioid crisis affects both white and Black communities may avoid this backlash.

Finding common ground

In addition to race, our research shows an individuals income and how opioid treatment policies are funded also affect peoples support.

In an earlier study we did, we asked respondents whether they supported a $100 million state bill to respond to the drug epidemic. However, we randomly varied the structure of the bill.

Half our respondents saw a redistributive bill, where residents with a household income greater than their states median income would pay $55, and those below the median income would pay $5. The other half of our sample saw a need-based bill, where respondents living in areas with high opioid overdose rates would pay $55, and those in areas with low overdose rates would pay $5.

Respondents across the board preferred the redistributive bill compared to the need-based bill. This shows that Americans are willing to chip in rather than leave struggling communities to foot the bill on their own.

While higher-income Republicans showed little support for a redistributive funding bill, lower-income Republicans supported it.

Given that Democrats across the income spectrum supported the redistributive funding bill, our research suggests the potential for a coalition between Democrats and lower-income Republicans. Policymakers could take advantage of this to enact popular policy to address the crisis.

Building treatment

Even with this broad support, however, funding may have a limited effect if there arent more opportunities to build outpatient treatment centers and inpatient residential programs.

For example, addiction researchers have found that one of the most effective ways to respond to the opioid crisis is through medication-assisted treatment, such as methadone. Methadone treatment can require daily visits to a clinic for the first 90 days. Therefore, those seeking help must have reasonable access to a nearby clinic.

We asked survey respondents whether they supported opening a new methadone clinic, but randomly varied whether the clinic was either a quarter-mile away from their home, about a five-minute walk, or two miles away, about a 40-minute walk. While Democrats showed greater average support for clinics, both Democrats and Republicans showed 15 percentage points less support when the clinic was sited just a five-minute walk away.

Overcoming opposition

NIMBY attitudes across the political spectrum can impede construction of new opioid treatment facilities wherever they are proposed. However, we believe innovative policy solutions can help to prevent this.

State and local policymakers can take cues from the federal governments military base closure strategies, for example. Rather than voting on base closures one at a time  a strategy that would enable local opposition to block each closure  Congress has to decide on a single bundle of closures determined by an independent commission. This bundling spreads the spatial impact of the policy in a fair way.

Given that residents in cities like Philadelphia typically support opioid addiction treatment centers in theory, political leaders can harness this support but require infrastructure to be geographically spread out  and not just in the areas of the city where political opposition is less acute.

Justin de Benedictis-Kessner is an assistant professor of public policy, Harvard Kennedy School; Michael Hankinson is an assistant professor of political science, George Washington University.
Kailini Ross holds a box of albuterol, a medication to prevent shortness of breath, in Lahaina, Hawaii on May 2. Ross has been suffering from multiple respiratory issues since last years wildfire. MUST CREDIT: Mengshin Lin for The Washington Post Read more

LAHAINA, HAWAII  Every morning before she drives to see her students at Lahainaluna High School, Kailini Ross smears a thick lotion across her skin, so the soot that has gotten into her lungs, and remains in the air, does not fill her pores.

She then slowly climbs the three flights of stairs between her classrooms, budgeting enough time to sit at the top and rest her wheezing lungs.

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She's "all scraped up" inside, she said.

Ross is far from alone. In west Maui, thousands of people are living in the burn zones  in or near homes that absorbed heavy amounts of toxic smoke from the most deadly wildfire in U.S. history. Many residents say their health is compromised or declining due to exposure to ash, debris, and smoke, according to a health report provided to The Washington Post.

Conducted by University of Hawaii researchers and grass-roots organizations, the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study surveyed and tested 679 people, most of whom lived in Lahaina at the time of the blaze, as well as others from the Upcountry area, where another fire burned. While it was not a randomly controlled trial, researchers found that exposure to smoke, ash, and debris is strongly associated with worse physical health outcomes and reported symptoms.

About 74% of these residents had elevated blood pressure levels, indicating a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, and up to 60% may suffer from poor respiratory health, researchers said.

In their report, the researchers noted the studys limitations, including the fact that it may not be broadly representative of all individuals affected by the wildfires and lacks some pre-fire baseline data for comparisons. The study also depended on self-reported findings, which could introduce bias into the result, with participants potentially offering responses they perceive as more socially acceptable rather than their true experiences.

Even so, researchers say the study is the most comprehensive effort yet to understand the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires. Over time, they say, it will help researchers see if peoples health conditions are the result of exposures, through regular testing of those who agreed to participate  up to 2,000 people over 10 years. It also comes at a time when scientists, especially in North America, are working understand the short- and long-term effects of being exposed to wildfire smoke.

You can see it in the data. We are capturing a broad insight into exposures and issues that no one has done before, said Ruben Juarez, a professor of health economics and one of the lead researchers in the study. He added that in addition to detailed questionnaires, participants are being screened for lung damage, blood pressure, and mental health conditions, with access to healthy services that many in west Maui lack.

We are following people over time to see how these issues exacerbated, he said. We want to mitigate and prevent these problems from occurring in the future.

Fed by dry grasses and fanned by ferocious winds, the Maui blaze demolished much of Lahaina, killing more than 100 people. It tore through thousands of old homes and commercial buildings, incinerating batteries, electrical equipment, cars, and other pollutants. Ever since, trade winds have been stirring up and blowing that debris into neighborhoods that survived the fire.

A sweeping conclusion

Yet questions remain about the degree that local residents are exposed to toxic contaminants. Last week, the Hawaii Department of Health released a statement concluding that it had found no evidence of widespread exposure to toxic lead from the fires, based on a screening of about 557 people at community events between December and February. With lead as an indicator of exposure, we do not expect to find health impacts caused by toxins in the wildfire ash, it said.

Experts and environmental health scientists, including an independent adviser to the Maui exposure study, expressed concerns that the state made such a sweeping conclusion made so quickly.

There is robust scientific evidence of both the short- and long-term harmful health impacts of air pollution exposure, and air pollution that results from wildfire that burned buildings and other structures may be particularly toxic, said Alison Lee, a National Institutes of Health-funded physician-scientist who specializes in the health effects of wildfire and air pollution exposures. More research is urgently needed to better understand these health impacts.

In response, a state Department of Health spokesman acknowledged there are elevated levels of copper, cobalt, antimony, lead, and arsenic in the ash.

What the Lead Screening Report results showed is that lead (which can be used as an indicator for contaminant monitoring) is not being found in clinically significant levels in people, Stephen J. Downes, the departments director of communications, said in an email. This is reassuring  the contaminants are not getting into peoples bodies in concerning amounts.

In Rosss case, she had been living at home in the Leialii neighborhood right at the edge of the burn line. During the fire, flames destroyed part of her back patio. After six weeks, she started having trouble breathing, her nose and throat always burned, and she was lightheaded.

She went to the doctor, who found particulates in her lungs and sent her home with an armful of medications. An inspector for her insurance company found high levels of lead, arsenic, and low levels of asbestos inside her home, according to records The Post reviewed.

Looking for progress

For Ross and many other survivors, it has been strangely hard to see the progress the town has made while they have lost their jobs and homes, with many still living in hotels.

In Lahaina, green grass has mostly covered the burn scar, growing around and out of the few rusted, burned-out cars still waiting to be collected. Tall, black fabric walls surround much of the charred neighborhoods, largely hiding them from view. New housing projects have broken ground. The shopping center is revamped and freshly painted, with stores selling sunscreen and key chains to tourists, who are again enjoying happy hour on Front Street.

Yet for many, the safety net that existed before the fires is much smaller.

As the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study details, the fire crippled the islands health-care infrastructure, with a particularly heavy impact on Native Hawaiians, Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos.

More than 4 in 10 people reported challenges in accessing medical care, compared with about 1 in 10 before the fire. More than 13% of respondents currently dont have health insurance, the study said. Nearly 38% of Hispanic participants reported that they were now uninsured, compared to just 5% for west Maui as a whole.

For many residents, housing is a constant worry. Even before the fire, affordable housing was scarce, and now rent for a two-bedroom apartment has jumped to $5,000 to $8,000 a month, residents and community advocates said. Insurance payouts have also been slow, leaving them unable to fix their homes or pay for those high rents. Nearly half of the studys participants said they were struggling to secure food and housing.

According to researchers, rates of depression and anxiety are very concerning, having spiked post-fire and stayed that way. More than half of participants showed depressive symptoms  higher than before the fire, when a survey showed that third of Maui residents reported such symptoms.

In February, around the six-month mark when researchers began surveying residents, the Maui Community Mental Health Center saw a big uptick in people seeking help. Some were unable to sleep, still hearing screams in their dreams, having panic attacks when a siren wails, or feeling guilt they had survived while so many others did not, said John Oliver, a program manager.

Before she started therapy, Ross said she would cry all night long. It was as if, she described, the entire town was screaming.

That sorrow lasted every day, every night, she said. It is thicker at night. When you are alone, you can feel it  it is so thick, the sorrow. Its there when I drive through town.  Its there when I see the crosses and the leis and the faces of those who died. So many people I know who died.

Often, their emotion seeps out unexpectedly. Sitting in front of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees and aid workers at Lahainas recovery center, residents grew visibly frustrated by the paperwork they had to submit and resubmit to get assistance. Some complained about how their insurance company doesnt return calls. Some started to cry.

Everyone is so tired and ready to give up, said Maria Linz a coordinator with the Kakoo Leialii Recovery Center and also a burn zone resident and participant in the Maui exposure study. Linz has been helping dozens of her friends and neighbors navigate the exhausting maze of red tape while also going through it herself.

There is no light at the end of the tunnel at this point because the tunnel is so far ahead, she said. We cant even see the beginning of the tunnel at this point.

Emily Archangel, Linzs neighbor, feels this way. Her job is to smile and greet tourists at the same hotel shes been living in with her sick husband since the fire. But she recently got to the point of why wake up? she said.

There is no guidance, no parameters on how to handle this kind of stress, she said.

Archangel, 63, reached out to her doctor, who urged her to talk to people about how she was feeling and told her she was not the only survivor with thoughts of ending her life. The researchers found that, too: In the past month, about 30 other people in the burn zone have contemplated suicide, which is notably higher than the 0.8% of the respondents living on Maui who filled out a survey a few months before the fire.

Despite such findings, researchers added there is a bright note to the survey results. Many participants said they felt a powerful connection with their community and with grass-roots groups, despite the challenges they face.

Ross sees this in her students, at the Native Hawaiian-run food distribution center that operates out of a park, next to a tent where volunteer chiropractors are trying to eliminate pain where they can.

And sometimes, to remind herself how light she felt before the fire, how easy it was to breathe, she floats in the ocean after school, imagining the the ions taking away all the negative energy out of my body.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit 988lifeline.org or call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
All eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Lancaster were closed Friday following a shooting. Read more

Eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike were reopened Friday evening about seven hours after a man was shot in the head in a possible road rage incident, according to state police.

The 40-year-old man, who was driving in a white flatbed truck, was transported to Reading Hospital after being shot after 1 p.m. Friday in Brecknock Township, Lancaster County. The mans condition Friday night was unknown, and he had not been publicly identified.

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The shooting took place on the eastbound side of the highway at mile marker 291.3, and police are asking anyone who was driving through the area around 1:10 p.m. to contact the Pennsylvania State Police station in Lancaster.

Police havent identified a suspect, and it remains unclear what led to the shooting.

The eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike had been closed at Exit 286 at U.S. 222 while police conducted an investigation of the shooting.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Its been quite a spring for Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and his softy-soft approach to handling violent crime.

First, there was Krasners announcement about a new prolific gun offenders unit, which would  finally  do more to prosecute the gun crimes he has been so reluctant to pursue.

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Then, there was the so-called Peoples Press Conference  which was convened by Krasners office to offer a defense of his do-nothing policies. Finally, there was a scathing and revealing House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Center City about the widespread dissatisfaction among residents with Krasners approach (or non-approach) to criminal prosecutions.

The sad truth of the matter is that Philadelphia has a faux district attorney, a prosecutor in name only who seems focused only on advancing a far-left agenda that he bills as criminal justice reform for the sake of public safety.

While I dont know if Krasner is going to suddenly morph from Let Em Go Larry to Lock Em Up Larry, Im somewhat hopeful that the recent House Judiciary Committee hearing might compel Krasner and other progressive district attorneys to start really doing their jobs. Maybe, just maybe, the new gun unit is an indication Krasner is feeling the pressure to rethink some of his policies.

Maybe.

The Republican nominee for attorney general, Dave Sunday, told The Inquirer that one of the factors that motivated him to enter the race to become the commonwealths top prosecutor is the pervasiveness of gun crimes in the state.

Sunday noted that its both a federal and a state crime for those convicted of felonies to possess a gun. Sunday said these are fairly straightforward cases to pursue in court, but Krasner has been reluctant to prosecute them.

In April, Krasners announcement about the gun unit came just five days after a shooting at a celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Three people were wounded; five people  four of them juveniles  have been arrested and charged with various offenses.

The announcement about the new gun team made me go hmm. Why? Because in the 100 Shooting Review Committee Report released in 2022, Krasner said, We do not believe that arresting people and convicting them for illegal gun possession is a viable strategy to reduce shootings. But the stated purpose of the new gun unit is to focus on adults and juveniles who repeatedly and illegally possess firearms in the city of Philadelphia. Is this a change in Krasners focus?

Its worth pointing out that during his announcement about the new gun unit, Let Em Go Larry didnt mention his earlier statement about viable strategy in the shooting review report. I didnt see many mainstream news reports reference it, either.

Also, Krasner has repeatedly acknowledged that the number of homicides in the city is down sharply, by 40% so far this year when compared with the same time in 2023. So why do we need the new gun unit?

Could it be that after the horrifying shooting at the Ramadan event, Krasner wanted the public to see that he was doing something about prosecuting cases? Or maybe its because Philadelphians of all backgrounds are crying out in recent polls for elected officials to do something  anything  about crime?

Just as jarring as Krasners apparent about-face on shootings was his insensitive description of the House field hearing  which focused on the victims of violent crime  as a dog and pony show. The testimony of grieving families whose loved ones were murdered is a dog and pony show?

But lets focus on the accounts of some of the witnesses who spoke, including Terri OConnor, widow of Philadelphia Police Cpl. Jim OConnor. Her husband was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2020 while serving an arrest for a man wanted in a homicide.

OConnor told the Judiciary Committee that her husbands accused killer was a repeat offender who had been arrested in earlier incidents  only to be released back onto the streets by the district attorneys office.

We have a district attorney who says crime is down. Well, obviously, if you dont prosecute criminals, of course, it appears that way, OConnor said during the hearing at the William J. Green Federal Building.

Noting the rise in retail theft in the city  a crime Krasners office wont prosecute as long as the items stolen are valued at less than $500  U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said Krasner had presided over historic levels of homicide in the city, including a record 562 killings in 2021.

Manhattan, Chicago, Washington, and Philadelphia have violent crime problems, said Jordan. But this is not the only thing they have in common. They all have soft-on-crime prosecutors who favor the criminals over the victims and their families.

Philadelphia has a faux district attorney, a prosecutor in name only.

Among those who also testified at the Philadelphia hearing were Joel and Pauline Fitzgerald, the parents of Temple University Police Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald, who was killed in the line of duty in February 2023.

The only way to enforce these murders of police officers is to enforce our laws, Pauline Fitzgerald told the committee.

The most heartbreaking portion of the Fitzgeralds testimony was when they stated that criminals in Philadelphia know Krasner gives them a free pass.

I wonder if Krasner continues to act this way in the hopes that, come election time, super-lenient voters will give him one.

We can only hope not.

A prosecutor in name only who accuses those who try to get him to do his job of being antidemocratic and authoritarian doesnt deserve a free pass to avoid aggressive scrutiny of his own actions.

After all, whats more antidemocratic than ignoring the pleas of crime-weary Philadelphians and abetting unchecked lawlessness?

Larry Miller is a former police reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune. He is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia.
I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters, OK? Its, like, incredible.  Donald Trump, Sioux City, Iowa, Jan. 23, 2016

Donald Trump has not shot anybody on Fifth Avenue ... not yet. Its one of the few felonies hes managed to avoid in a yearslong crime spree thats included defrauding banks, running a scam university and a scam charity, committing what a judge later ruled was a rape, pulling off a hush-money scheme to interfere with the 2016 election, abusing his office to seek dirt on Joe Biden from Ukraine, plotting an attempted coup and encouraging his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol, making off with top-secret papers, and promising to destroy the planet for $1 billion in campaign contributions.

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Among other things.

And when Trump didnt lose any voters, just as hed promised, the establishment  Congress, judges and prosecutors, the news media  froze.

It took the untainted eyes of 12 everyday people  a software engineer, a security engineer, a physical therapist, a salesman, an investment banker, a businessman, a product manager, a retired wealth manager, two lawyers, and two educators  to reveal what the system has been refusing to see for decades: that the streaking Emperor of Fifth Avenue had been wearing no clothes the whole time. And that the felonies Trump committed on that famed street, at Trump Tower, should not go unpunished.

These were the dozen regular folks who comprised the jury that made American history at 5:10 p.m. on May 30, 2024, when they found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his 2016 preelection hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to cover up their affair  the first-ever felony conviction of a U.S. ex-president.

The criminal conviction of Trump  who still faces 54 other felony counts in three separate cases  was an epic event, and yet, it didnt mark the end of anything. History will likely see it as the beginning of the end, but the end of what? The end of a con mans nation-changing career? Or the end of the American Experiment? The next eight months or so will tell us.

Trump has displayed none of the remorse he needs to convince Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan to spare him prison time. Instead, the 45th president proclaimed, We are living in a fascist state, and then tried to justify that claim with both absurd attacks on Merchan, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and President Biden  whom he falsely alleged had orchestrated the state-level prosecution  and with ridiculous lies about Democrats planning to quadruple taxes and stop you from having cars.

 READ MORE: The troubling reason Trumps trial is so boring | Will Bunch Newsletter

The unhinged Friday morning rant was almost laughable except for one thing: His critiques of the U.S. justice system and the American way writ large were endorsed by virtually all of the Republican Party, making the November election a referendum on whether or not a red Caesar dictator will be given carte blanche to bulldoze what he claims is a broken country. GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, who shirked his Washington, D.C., duties to spend a day at the Manhattan trial sucking up to Trump, set the tone when he called Thursdays verdict a shameful day in American history.

It takes a staggering level of cynicism for the political party that gave you a bogus war on drugs that made the United States the world leader in locking up people, especially Black and brown people, and that blocked any and all police reform after a cop named Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd on video, to now claim American justice is rigged and unfair.

That said, Im going to say something a little surprising here. When Trump charges that the American system is badly broken, hes not wrong. The last nine years have exposed a deep strain of weakness and even impotency among so many of the institutions we once trusted  our prosecutors and our judges, in the hallways of Congress, and the news media.

Not because they went after Trump. But because they let him get away with it. Well, most of them did.

How appropriate that a short-fingered vulgarian who launched his career in real estate discriminating against Black would-be tenants, and who has wallowed in every stereotype about African Americans, including his claim that Black voters have embraced him because hes an accused criminal, finally met his match in a soft-spoken, focused Black prosecutor from Harlems Strivers Row. Bragg patiently sifted through the potential cases against Trump until he found the right one. And what a contrast between Bragg and Americas feckless attorneys general like Bill Barr, who quashed slam-dunk federal charges against Trump for the same hush-money scheme, or Merrick Garland, who for two years acted like a deer in the headlights when confronted with an ex-presidents criminality.

And how fitting that Trump  who, in his current campaign, claims migrants coming into the United States are not people, as a prelude to an Orwellian, door-knock-in-the-dead-of-night deportation scheme that involves mass detention camps and dictatorial powers  will be sentenced by a judge who came to America from Bogota, Colombia, at age 6 and embarked on the American dream as a first-generation college student. Compare Merchans evenhanded, no-nonsense judicial temperament with the clown antics of two justices on the nations highest court: billionaire-friendly globe-trotter Clarence Thomas and flag-flying Samuel Alito.

One of the things the Trump trial revealed is how much America has changed in exactly 50 years since Watergate and the resignation of the last thoroughly criminal president, Richard Nixon. That year saw one huge mistake  successor Gerald Fords pardon of Nixon, which only boosted the fiction that a president is above the law  but 1974 also showed how back then, the system largely did work. Congress members from both parties probed White House crimes and voted for impeachment. The U.S. Supreme Court was unanimous in forcing Nixon to turn over his tapes. Some news outlets, like the Washington Post and CBS, were aggressive in chasing the truth.

In 2024, the system is largely not working. A corrupted, partisan federal judiciary slow-walks Trumps other cases. Milquetoast newsroom leaders are too afraid of bias allegations to fight for democracy. The Republican Party has become a dangerous cult that uses threats of retribution or even violence to enforce discipline. It took 14 Americans outside of these warped elite circles  Judge Merchan, DA Bragg, and the 12 citizens who served on the jury  to finally put the brakes on a naked Trumps seemingly unstoppable crime spree.

In a year dominated by cowards, the courage of the Trump jury is remarkable. With their anonymity preserved (so far, anyway), these seven men and five women were able to look at Trumps behavior and judge him without fear of getting primaried or losing their six-figure salary or all the other craven reasons that prevent our elite watchdogs from doing their job. They were serious about their civic duty and deliberated for 10 hours before declaring what we all have seen with our own eyes.

Donald Trump is a felon.

We deserve a government as good as the American people  and we dont have that. We have to save ourselves. Much as it took a physical therapist and a salesman and a teacher and all the rest to finally bring Trump to justice, its going to take about 80 million of us to save the United States from a completely unglued and retributive dictator in the Oval Office, before we start the long process of rebuilding this wreckage from the ground up. Our institutions may be broken but the regular folks of this country just gave me so much hope. Its, like, incredible.

 READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter
For former President Donald Trumps most fervent Pennsylvania supporters, Thursdays guilty verdict does little to change their faith.

If anything, it motivates them.

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I feel exactly the way I did when he was indicted. This is a witch hunt, said Dominic Chickilly, 33, a Trump supporter from Schuylkill County. Theyre doing everything they can to stop him and its absolutely just fired me up more.

That energy was already evident Friday in Doylestown, where the GOP Bucks County office is headquartered.

Just a minute ago, a couple walked into the office and asked how they can help, Pat Poprik, chair of the countys Republican committee, said. What can we do? they asked. This verdict can ruin our country.

Poprik concluded, If you politicize the courts, you create a travesty of justice, and you get a lot of people up off their couches to help.

Now all eyes are on how the verdict motivates  or dampens  support for Trump in places like purple Bucks County, one of the swing counties that will be pivotal to winning Pennsylvania in November. President Joe Biden won Bucks in 2020 but the county voted Republican down ballot that year. Hillary Clinton won the county in 2016, but only by about 4,000 votes over Trump.

One guilty verdict later, Republicans worry Trumps conviction could play out against them in the bellwether county and others like it.

We will do everything we can to get out in the community and let people know that what they need to be focused on is Trumps policies, Erie County GOP chair Tom Eddy said. Erie County is one of three swing counties in Pennsylvania that voted for President Barack Obama in 2012, and then Trump in 2016. Biden won it in 2020, but it remains a key battleground.

For the next five months, all youll hear is, He is a felon, Eddy said. The Democrats have done a pretty good job of trying to demonize Trump. Now we have to talk to people and say, Dont listen  look at what hes done.

Biden won Pennsylvania by a little more than one percentage point in 2020. Trump won it by just under a percentage point in 2016. Most polling of the state, which could be key to electing the next president, shows Trump narrowly leading.

So far, the two campaign footprints have been drastically different. Biden has blanketed the state with 24 field offices, with a heavy concentration in Philadelphia and its suburbs. Trump has made far fewer trips, a result, in part, of the trial he was obligated to appear at four days a week.

But his campaign is already stepping up efforts in the state, announcing that its first campaign office will be opening in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to RNC officials.

As the campaign moves forward, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican who represents parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania and a cochair for Trumps campaign, said the plan is to keep talking about issues  the border, the economy and crime. Meuser was at a campaign office opening in Wilkes Barre this week and said several are opening in coming weeks around the state. Were trying to keep overhead low and effectiveness high, he said.

A fundraising bump

The former president boasted Friday that the conviction created a fundraising bump  needed cash for battlegrounds like Pennsylvania, as well as for offsetting legal fees.

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley said in a statement Friday that more than 485,000 donors have contributed $34.8 million since the verdict in the New York show trial was announced last night.

He added, The American people stand behind President Trump in the face of this unprecedented weaponization of the judicial system and we are laser-focused on investing these resources to get out the vote, protect the ballot, and reelect President Donald J. Trump.

That Trump was found guilty on Thursday on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree wont just bring in dollars  itll inspire voters to get to the polls, according to Arnaud Armstrong, the executive director of Win Again PAC, a Pennsylvania group working to persuade Republicans to embrace mail voting.

In an environment where turnout is hugely important, I can see the verdict becoming a big asset for the Republican Party, Armstrong said. It confirms all the worst fears and gravest concerns about left-wing ideological creep into our institutions, like the courts.

Republicans are most engaged when they see a gross injustice. It happened with [Supreme Court Justice] Brett Kavanaugh, when he was attacked in his confirmation hearing [in September 2018.] People got really upset, and it won elections for lots of Republicans in 2018 who otherwise would have lost.

Well, the Trump verdict is Kavanaugh on steroids. The conviction kicks the hornets nest, and it will greatly increase activism.

What Trumps conviction is saying to Republicans is that personal liberty is at stake, said Jackie Kulback, GOP Committee Chair of Cambria County.

If they can do that to a former president, she said, whats going to stop them from coming after a common citizen?

There is no evidence that Americans liberties are being threatened after a jury found Trump guilty of attempting to illegally influence the 2016 election by funneling a hush money payment to a porn actor. Nor is there evidence, as Trump himself has asserted, that the Biden administration orchestrated Trumps prosecution to help the president get reelected.

Biden himself spoke out against Republicans reaction to the verdict Friday.

Its irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict, he said, speaking at the White House. 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. Twelve people like you.

Left-wing conspiracy

Already, conservative media is using the verdict to help the GOP discount the jurys findings, said Matt Jordan, director of the Pennsylvania State University News Literacy Initiative, which helps students and citizens distinguish reliable journalism from the noise that often overwhelms and divides us, according to its website.

The idea is to feed the theory that theres a huge cult of left-wing conspiracy out there trying to victimize Trump and, by association, all Republicans, Jordan said.

Its misinformation to show that any attack on the partys leader is a sign that the entire system of justice in America is corrupt, he added. Everything is rigged.

Trump himself emphasized that point, saying Thursday that the trial was a disgrace.

Al Smith, 67, a Nazareth carpenter, agreed in an interview Friday.

At first, I was numb when I heard the verdict. Then I thought, This is not how justice is done. So, I got energized to help Trump. And thats how Ill stay.

Staff writer Nick Vadala contributed to this article.
Mike Domanico, co-owner of The Trump Store in Bensalem, is having a busy week.

Within hours of jurors in New York declaring former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony charges, Domanico had secured 50 Free Trump T-shirts in time for the upset customers he expected to pour in Friday.

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That morning, he and his wife, Monica, who co-owns the store, prepared to open not only the store but also a mobile shop set up in front of Target World gun shop in Chalfont. Inside the main store, wedged into the Bensalem Plaza Shopping Center, the Domanicos had T-shirts and flags, tiny Trump shirts for children, pop-up greeting cards and even a locally made Trump gnome.

 READ MORE: The Trump Store sells merchandise to supporters outside fundraiser

Between the two Bucks County outlets on Friday, there were only four Free Trump shirts left by 3 p.m.

Domanico, 54, is expecting more political prisoner type of shirts to come in by Monday or Tuesday.

We expect to sell a lot of them because everybodys so mad, its crazy, he said.

There is no evidence that President Joe Biden orchestrated Trumps prosecution to help himself get elected. Biden spoke out against Republicans distrust of the verdict Friday.

Its irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict, he said, speaking at the White House. 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. Twelve people like you.

 READ MORE: Theres a new Trump Store in the suburbs for supporters who wouldnt dare wear one of these shirts in Philly

Still, Domanico is convinced that the jurys guilty finding is a farce and so are many of the customers visiting his Bucks County shops.

Lisa von Deylen, manager of the Bensalem store, said it had been busy all day. People get particularly motivated to shop when there are ridiculous things that happen to Trump, like the Mar-a-lago raid or when Trump was indicted, she said, noting that along with the Free Trump shirts, merch that said Never surrender and Wanted: Trump for President were racking up sales.

People get fed up, said von Deylen, who turns 58 Saturday. They get fired up and then they come out.

While supporters have felt emboldened by Trumps narrative that hes a victim of the justice system, a March Politico and Ipsos survey found that a conviction could cost Trump more than one-third of independents, and a February NBC News poll showed that a conviction in the New York trial could swing 18- to 34-year-old voters from Trump to Biden. But those polls were based on a theoretical event, and the hush money trial has done little to shift a tight race so far.

Customers trickled into the Bensalem store throughout Friday afternoon, bonding over their distaste for Biden and reacting together to Newsmax playing on a TV above the cashier desk. Several customers said it was their first time at the store.

Does that mean were finally going to be able to lock Hillary up? von Deylen asked a customer.

Rachel Zoubroulis, 51, of Huntingdon Valley, came to the store for the first time on Friday to show her support for Trump after the verdict. Zoubroulis is a longtime Trump supporter, but the guilty verdict motivated her to donate to Trumps campaign for the first time. Zoubroulis, a homemaker, part-time student, and mother of six, said her 18-year-old son was going to register to vote as a Republican Friday.

While other supporters on Friday said they felt the verdict would strengthen Trumps chances in the election, Zoubroulis said she didnt know what to expect.

Were just in such uncertain times, she said. Black is white, you know, up is down. Its just all over the place. So I hope everybody sees this for what it is and it ends up being a very positive outcome for him. But at the end of the day, who knows?

 READ MORE: The Trump Store in Bucks County reopened as a life-sustaining business by selling Trump face masks

Staff writer Nick Vadala contributed to this article.
Barbecue season in Ireland is always a little fraught with the threat of rain ever present. However, in our house we have found that putting up the inexpensive pop-up gazebo means that we dont fret nearly so much about the odd shower interrupting the flow.

Red wines for barbecues should be capable of being served cold or at least cool  this has been my guiding principle for this piece. Even if the sun isnt shining, you want wines that will be lively and fresh tasting and capable of coping with spice rubs and a heavy hand with the barbecue sauce.

The traditional take on wines for barbecue would be spicy rich Rioja Crianzas or Reservas aged in American Oak barrels, meaty dark Soth African Pinotage, and darkly fruity Malbecs from Argentina. These three regions have a strong tradition of grilled meats so it makes sense and these wines will absolutely work well provided they are served a little cooler than usual.

However, Ive taken a fresher approach with some of my suggestions here, including a lightly fruity 12% Austrian red and an 11% wine from Mallorca made with the local Callet grape. Ive also suggested a high-priced Beaujolais Cru but feel free to pick up a supermarket Beaujolais Cru instead; SuperValus Andre Goichot Beaujolais range is often reduced to under 15, for example, as is Dunnes Stores Pierre Ponnelle, whose Beaujolais Villages often comes down to 12 (regular price is 15).

My two bargain suggestions are from Portugal and the Languedoc, two of the most reliable regions for inexpensive red wines.

1. Laurent Miquel Pere et Fils Syrah-Grenache, Languedoc, France, 9

Dunnes Stores

Laurent Miquel Pere et Fils Syrah-Grenache, Languedoc, France

Does Laurent Miquel make the best entry-level supermarket wines available? I think so. Neasa and Laurent Miquels wines are always fruit-focused and balanced and this is a fine example  this time a collab with Laurents father Henri. From night-picked grapes this has red and black fruits and a touch of chocolate and spice. Rounded and fruit-driven with balancing acidity.

2. Marques de Borba Colheita, Alentejo, Portugal, 12.95

OBriens

Marques de Borba Colheita, Alentejo, Portugal

Reduced from 18.50 for the next month this is a fairly typical Alentejo blend containing Alicante Bouschet, Aragones, Touriga Nacional, and Trincadeira. Spice-tinged black cherry fruits on the nose, juicy ripe red and black fruit flavours with clove and allspice accents, concentrated and full bodied. Serve this a little cool for best results.

3. Heinrich Naked Red, Burgenland, Austria, 22

MacCurtain Wine Cellar; Pinto Wines; Ely Maynooth; SIYPS.com

Heinrich Naked Red, Burgenland, Austria

Austrian reds are ideal companions to grilled food and perfect chilled  especially if they are somewhat natural like this one from a fine Austrian producer. This is a blend of Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, and St. Laurent, the three classic Austrian red varieties. Red berry aromas, crunchy bright fruit flavours, lively and juicy with cherry-skin fruits on the finish.

4. Kilos Winery Motor Callet 2020, Mallorca, Spain, 25.99

MacCurtain Wine Cellar; Lilith; A Taste of Spain; Nudewineco.ie; 64 Wines

Kilos Winery Motor Callet 2020, Mallorca, Spain

This Mallorcan winery is something special, founded in 2006 they are credited with saving the native Callet grape  a dark skinned but lower alcohol grape (this is 11% abv). Organic with no added sulphur this has bright juicy red fruit aromas, cherry and soft red fruit flavours, and lithe ripe palate. Also watch for 12 Volts for a couple of Euro more.

5. Bonnet Cotton, Brouilly Beaujolais Cru 2021, Bio, France, 41

Sheridans; Pot Duggans; Whelehans; Green Man; SIYPS.com

Bonnet Cotton, Brouilly Beaujolais Cru 2021, Bio, France

Beaujolais is the perfect wine for a barbecue, bright and juicy and best served lightly chilled. Brouilly is the largest and most southerly of the Beaujolais Cru and this organic producer practises minimum intervention. This is sumptuously soft and supple with black cherry fruits and rounded dark fruit flavours. Other Beaujolais Crus to try: Jean Foillard (LAttitude 51), Bonne Tonne (Mannings), Lapierre (64 Wines).

Beers and cider

My beer and cider recommendations include a couple of classics plus a throwback or two. Besides these suggestions, a visit to a good beer specialist like Bradleys, Redmonds, or Matsons is a must, as most craft brewers have summer specials  too many to mention. One to watch, for example, is Rye Rivers Pinata Party a sour made with pineapple, lime, chilli, and smoke.

A brewery to keep an eye on is the revamped 8 Degrees Brewing which was recently bought back from Pernod Ricard by the original founders Cam Wallace and Scott Baigent (spouse of food writer Caroline Hennessy of this parish). Their first beer is Deja Vu Hopfenweisse and their second will be a Double IPA called The Crux  of course 8 Degrees classic brews like Bohemian Pilsner and Howling Gale Pale Ale are still available.

Other breweries whose range you should keep an eye on for summer specials include Whiplash, Blacks Kinsale, Ballykilcavan, Dungarvan, and gluten-free specialists 9 White Deer from Macroom (also home to the great Bambie Thug!).

6. Killahora Bottle Conditioned Pet-Nat, 6% abv, 750ml, 12

Bradleys; Urru; Ardkeen; Celtic Whiskey Shop; killahoraorchards.ie

Killahora Bottle Conditioned Pet-Nat

Killahora Orchard in Glounthaune, just east of Cork City, continues to impress. This is wild yeast fermented and aged in Irish whiskey barrels and made from Killahoras own apples. More complex than many a Pet-Nat wine with bruised pear aromas, dried apple notes, somehow both bitter and sweet with a refreshing tart finish. Also watch for their delicious Johnny Falldown Cider.

7. Stonewell Dry Irish Craft Cider, 5.5% ABV, 500ml, 3.99-4.49

Bradleys; Galvins; Matsons; Carry Outs; Ardkeen; SuperValu; widely available

Stonewell Dry Irish Craft Cider

I first featured this cider in 2013 but not since  it deserves a revisit. A proper cider with tannic complexity, its brewed near Kinsale from Irish grown Dabinett and Michelin cider apples.

Aromas of ripe apple and cooked pears, tangy and refreshing on the palate with apple-skin bitterness and a light astringency and tang, baked apple flavours on the dry finish.

8. Hopburgh Helles Lager, 4.7% ABV, 500ml, 4.49

Independents; McHughs; Martins; Redmonds; Lilith; craftbeersdelivered.com

Hopburgh Helles Lager

Brewed by Hopkins & Hopkins at their Bow Street Brewery in Dublin 7 this is one of the best Irish craft lagers Ive tasted. Slow cold fermentation and minimum six weeks lagering, it pours a light gold with light honey and floral aromas, and is balanced and clean with a characterful noble hop presence. This is crisp, fruity, and refreshing.

9. Rascals Strawberry Vanilla Shake IPA, 440ml, 5% ABV, 5.20

Matsons; Redmonds; McHughs.ie; CraftCentral.ie; Rascalsbrewing.com

Rascals Strawberry Vanilla Shake IPA

Rascals Brewing in Inchicore, Dublin, is 10 years old this year and celebrating with collabs and new beers as well as new branding. This classic summer special is back too. Made with strawberry puree, wheat, and lactose, this pours pleasingly hazy with aromas of citrus, vanilla and red fruits  a fruity-hoppy palate and a tangy dry finish. Summer in a glass.

10. Dot Brew Easy Amber, 440ml, 5% ABV, 4.00

Stockists: Bradleys; Matsons; Redmonds; Craftcentral.ie

Dot Brew Easy Amber

You need an amber or a rye ale for your barbecue or just for those times when you want something a little more savoury. This has baked peach and dark caramel aromas, a dark berry and savoury, malty palate and refreshing hop finish.

Also watch for Dot Brews 2% micro fruit ale in Sauv Blanc casks, his White Peach Sour and his new Aldi Nova IPA.
Last week, along with Norway and Spain, Ireland recognised the state of Palestine.

This was a welcome, if small, step toward greater solidarity with the Palestinian people and, in a global sense, an uncontroversial one.

The decision taken by those three nations merely brings the total number of UN member states who recognise Palestine to 146 from a total of 193.

Almost immediately, however, some sought to equate this move with literal terrorism.

Sky News Adam Boulton made this point most literally, captioning the Irish governments statement to the press with the words Terrorism works  comments for which, it would appear, he has suffered zero censure from his workplace.

That, however, was small beer when compared to the most striking response to Irelands announcement, a baffling video that was widely shared in the hours that followed.

Hamas: Thanks Ireland it blared in large capital letters set atop a chintzily animated Irish flag billowing in digital wind.

There followed images of Hamas fighters shooting guns, intercut with the crochet-stockinged legs of some Irish dancers, all soundtracked with Inn House Whiskey by Ian Post and Ziv Moran.

A pedant might note that this music choice created a strange dissonance between the jaunty, rock-tinged Oirish-scented audio bed, and the courtly childrens steps displayed on screen, but seeing as the musics other visual counterpart was Hamas fighters shooting assault weapons, I will concede those mismatched dance moves were a relatively minor crime, and one we can push past without further comment.

To add insult to injury, it was followed shortly afterward by another video which blared Hamas: Gracias Espana, and intercut the same Hamas footage with Spanish guitar music and Flamenco dancers, rather suggesting the videos editors keeps a big red box marked crude national stereotypes within easy reach at all times.

Clearly it could do with a refresh, since even those low standards were breached in the video attacking Norway. It announced Hamas: Thanks Norway  in English, presumably because the Norwegian for thanks Norway wasnt worth looking up  overcut with an inscrutable Viking fire

ritual which seemed even less germane to the pastimes of modern-day Norwegians than flamenco or jigs and reels.

These were, all in all, very odd documents, whose production values and muddled attempts at deploying stereotypes caused as much bemusement as offence, before one even addressed the source from which they came.

For these videos were shared on Twitter, not by some fringe, anonymous crank with a roman statue for an avatar and eight numbers after their name, but by the Israeli foreign minister himself, Israel Katz.

My first thought was to wonder why the $26.4bn package that America signed off for Israel last month didnt stretch to a professional video editing package.

My second was, oddly, a distinct lack of surprise that Israels comms apparatus was resorting to such garbled PR moves, since the last six months have shown it is either unable or unwilling to do much else.

THE FACTS

To recap once more, at least 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October, 15,000 of them children.

Israel has bombed  and in most cases, destroyed  every university and hospital on the strip, and innumerable schools, shelters, safe zones, and places of worship.

They have killed at least 100 journalists and 500 medical workers.

Within all this death, there have been enough distinct massacres that they now bear shorthand names to be more easily distinguished from each other; the flour massacre, the Jabalia massacre, the Al-Shifa massacre, to name but three.

All of this has been done in full view of the world, with unimaginable atrocities beamed directly into the pockets of a horrified global audience 24 hours a day.

Both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court sanctioned Israel last week, with the former ordering them to cease their bombardment of Rafah, and the latter issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant respectively.

In lieu of actually stopping the onslaught, Israels chief response has been to charge its critics  as it does with protesters, aid groups, human rights organisations, Ireland, and the UN itself  as terrorist sympathisers.

Two days after those arrest warrants were issued, another massacre was added to the list, when Israel bombarded the Rafah crossing, killing at least 50 Palestinians in a designated humanitarian area, and injuring at least 200 more.

A move so shocking it provoked even wider global condemnation than before, and prompted Netanyahu to issue a rare admission of guilt, before resuming the bombing the following day, killing a further 21 Palestinians.

Sometimes a word like indefensible risks losing all meaning through over-use, but Israels ongoing response to its crimes suggests that they, at least, have fully internalised the concept.

They long ago realised that attempting to defend their actions is unnecessary, given that their primary benefactor in Washington has neither the will to stop bankrolling their atrocities, nor even the clout to moderate their pace.

It is clearer now than it has ever been, that the rules-based international order Israel so constantly holds in contempt, has little mollifying effect.

Escalating condemnations and public protests, recognitions of Palestinian statehood, and censure from the planets most senior legal bodies, are good and proper steps but they are no substitute for direct sanctions.

This week, Simon Harris called for all countries to use every lever at their disposal to bring about the maximum pressure to result in a ceasefire. It is way past time for this to involve us divesting from Israel economically.

Israels ambassador to Ireland, Dana Elrich warned last week that 5bn in trade between the two countries could be risked by any move in this direction.

Within a comms strategy that was days ago branding us step-dancing terrorists, a statement of such clarity is welcome, and we should thank her for it.

For in giving us a number she extended a rare privilege; nothing less than quoting us, out loud, the price of our soul.
I said I would provide a queen for the festival and thank God I did.

One of the country's biggest Star Wars fans has unveiled his greatest creation yet after replicating Queen Amidala's throne from Star Wars: Episode I  The Phantom Menace.

Nuri Albakri, the inspiration behind this weekend's Feel the Force festival in Dunmanway, Cork, devoted a staggering 84 hours to the work of art. It will take pride of place at Atkins Hall as all things Star Wars come to town.

Nuri, who loves recreating props and costumes associated with the movie franchise, is the proud owner of one of Irelands most impressive Star Wars collections.

The chef channelled Padme Amidala (nee Naberrie)  the teenage queen of the fictional planet Naboo for his latest masterpiece.

Nuri, who has been constructing toys from a young age when his family were unable to afford them in his native Malaysia, says the throne is the largest prop he has created to date. It cost around 700 to produce and weighs in the region of 120kg.

It takes four people to carry it, Nuri laughed. There is quite a bit of stress because I was doing it on my own and there was no blueprint. I tried to do the best I could. One of the guys working for Pinewood Studios told me it looked the same as in the movie so I am very happy about that. We have plans to move it to Comic Con after the festival.

"This is the biggest prop Ive made from all the toys Ive ever put together. It took a lot of hours and stress but I learned from the university of YouTube how to treat wood as well as sand and do fillers. Im lucky to have a big kitchen as Im not sure where we would be able to keep the chair otherwise.

Nuri Abarki sits on Queen Amidala's throne.

The Malaysian native worked hard to make the throne a functional piece of furniture.

You have to build the frame first and make sure its sturdy as you never know who will want to sit on it. It takes the whole day to build a frame like that. It has to be done right because a lot of people are going to want to try it out.

Local support

Nuri says the support of the people of Dunmanway helped him to realise his passions

Ive been living in Ireland since 2005 and the people around here are so good. They were the ones who saw what I did and put me out there. I really appreciate what they have done for me. This is not an easy thing to pull off but its what happens when good and creative people come together.

There has been a considerable buzz surrounding the 50-year-old in recent weeks.

Im planning to collect my passport and the embassy asked me if I could come and pick it up in person. They had seen my picture in the newspaper and said that everyone was very proud of me. To me, this is very big as there arent a lot of well-known Malaysian people in Ireland. When the embassy found out about what I was doing they were really supportive."

The most rewarding part for Nuri is making children smile.

Every single day I have a kid giving me a high five. Theres going to be lots of kids. I cant wait to put on the Star Wars costume because it makes the kids so happy to see the characters. I will definitely be smiling inside the helmet.

Local woman Ruthann Sheahan will model a replica of Queen Amidala's gown to complement Nuris craftsmanship.

The outfit was made by West Cork movie costume designer Gwen McGuirk. The passion project took three months in total to complete.

Costume designer Gwen McGuirk makes final adjustments while fitting Queen Amidala's dress to Ruthann Sheahan in preparation for the Feel the Force festival which takes place over the bank holiday weekend in Dunmanway, Co Cork. Picture: David Creedon

Im still doing the finishing touches, Gwen laughed. Some days I put in eight or 10 hours. Its a great challenge because the costume designers working on these films have a whole department behind them. In my case, it was just me but it was still really nice to do.

"When costume designers are working on film sets their pieces might only get shown for a couple of seconds. Often its a case of blink and youll miss it so its great to have a platform like this where so many people will have the chance to see it.

"Queen Amidala might even get out of her throne and walk around and meet festival goers which means people will have the chance to see the costume up close.

The festival will be peppered with Star Wars themed activities including photo booth opportunities, a screening of the short film Stormtroopers by Micheal Fitzgerald and vendors, among other attractions. Local schools have got in on the act after creating props for the event with many businesses decorating their windows with a Star Wars theme. There will also be a number of workshops taking place throughout the town. Donations from the event will go to the Co-Action hub in Dunmanway.

To find out more about events taking place as part of the Feel the Force festival visit here
This weekend marks the end of an era for the Irish Naval Service as its former flagship and last Irish warship built in Ireland, the LE Eithne, leaves Cork Harbour for the last time.

Nearing its 40th birthday and loved by the crews that served on her, the naval vessel is set to be taken apart for scrap.

From countless patrols safeguarding our waters, to providing Humanitarian Search and Rescue in the Mediterranean, and forging friendships with navies around the world in the diplomatic role, LE Eithne's legacy is etched in the hearts of all who served onboard her, the Naval Service said.

Her departure marks the end of an era, but her spirit will forever remain a part of our naval heritage.

LE Eithne was the last Naval Service ship built in Cobhs Verlome Dockyard and went into service in 1984. Two years later she became the first Irish warship to cross the Atlantic. It was decommissioned in 2022.

The LE Eithne sailed out of Cork Harbour at 1pm today for its final voyage.

The Naval Service added: To the personnel, who have served onboard her, called LE Eithne home, to those that supported and maintained her, to family and friends who supported our operations, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your courage and commitment have made Ireland proud.

As we watch her depart, let us remember the countless memories, friendships, the challenges overcome, and the many lives touched by her service.

"Though she may no longer grace our shores, LE Eithnes story will continue to inspire future generations.

Fair winds and following seas, LE Eithne. You will be missed, but never forgotten. Slan agus go raibh maith agat.

Retired vice-admiral Mark Mellett, who was Irelands highest ranking military officer until his retirement in September 2021, called the LE Eithne a "remarkable ship with technology well ahead of her time" and "the last Irish warship built in Ireland".

The adjunct professor at University College Cork (UCC) and decorated for his role as captain of the LE Orla which intercepted the drugs boat Brime off the south west coast in 1993, Mr Mellett tweeted: "In 2005 she was in the top 50 great places to work. A credit to the thousands of women and men who served onboard. A ship does not make a crew - a crew makes a ship!"

The LE Eithne became the first Irish warship to cross the Atlantic. It was decommissioned in 2022. Picture: Larry Cummins

This year, the strength of the Irish Naval Service fell to a new low of 722 amidst an ongoing staffing crisis.

Cork County Council had written to the Minister for Defence in recent years asking that LE Eithne be retained in Cork as a monument, rather than scrapped or sold. These plans never came to fruition.

Its believed that it wasnt sold on as the Government were keen to avoid the embarassment over the sale of the LE Aisling, which eventually ended in the hands of Libyan warlord General Khalifa Haftar.

The auction achieved just 110,000 for the State and after going through the hands of companies in Holland and the UAE it was purchased by Haftar for a reputed 1.3m.
A mayday call for help was issued after a fire broke out on board a 25ft pleasure boat off the west coast of Cork on Saturday.

The incident occurred around 5pm just off the Seven Heads coast.

Crew members sent out the mayday for help when a fire started in the boat's engine room.

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat, under coxswain Ken Cashman, and a crew of five, proceeded immediately to the area of distress.

The lifeboat arrived at the scene around 5:40pm to give assistance as required.

The Courtmacsherry sea angling boat, under skipper Taylor Murphy, was also in the area and stood by to help.

Courtmacsherry crew under coxswain Ken Cashman arriving back from today's callout.

However, the crew on the boat were able to extinguish the fire and shut down the problematic engine.

They were able to continue their passage on their second engine and the lifeboat stood alongside and escorted it past the Old Head of Kinsale.

The pleasure boat arrived back into Kinsale at 7pm and docked at the Marina.

Commenting on the rescue, Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat voluntary operations manager, Brian O'Dwyer said: "It was great to be of assistance today on an incident that could have been very dangerous with a fire on-board.

"It was appropriate that the casualty issued a mayday call for help quickly, as minutes matter in an incident like this."

This was the second callout in three days for the lifeboat in Courtmacsherry.
Who is running?

Derek Blighe  Ireland First

Ken Brennan  Ind Ire

Neilius Cotter  FF

Kay Dawson  FG

Diarmuid Hanley  Lab

Thomas Horgan  Ind

Noel McCarthy  FG

Deirdre OBrien - FF

Joe OBrien - SF

Peter ODonoghue - Ind

Frank Flynn  FF

William OLeary - Ind

Frank Roche  Ind

Mary Ryder  Green Party

Joe Tobin  Ind

What you need to know

Political analysts will be keeping a very close eye on the Fermoy constituency for potential national swings of public opinion. Thats primarily because the runners here include a Fianna Fail defector who publicly lambasted his partys hierarchy for "losing touch with its grassroots" and a prominent member of right-wing party Ireland First.

To make matters even more interesting you can throw an anti-vaccine campaigner into the mix.

Theres a huge poster on the gable wall of a property in Rathcormac of local man William OLeary. He caused consternation among The Soldiers of Destiny when jumping ship to the independents a few weeks ago and launching a very public attack on FF leadership.

The poster is well positioned, as many believe OLeary is too. Its right on the villages main street heading north. You cant miss it.

Former party colleagues who will be running against OLeary will be wondering if hell do them damage at the polls.

Read More Fergus Finlay: It feels like political parties want the elections finished with quickly

They and other mainstream party members will also be concerned about the impact that the high-profile founder of Ireland First Derek Blighe will have when the ballot papers are counted.

Blighe, who is prominent in anti-immigrant protests in Fermoy, is also running in the European Elections.

Fianna Fail are running Mayor of County Cork Frank OFlynn and Deirdre OBrien, daughter of former TD Ned OKeeffe, and have drafted in Nelius Cotter a young candidate from Castletownroche to replace OLeary on the ticket.

The mayor is from the village of Glanworth and one of his former neighbours, Joe OBrien, is a first-time candidate running for Sinn Fein.

Both he and OFlynn will have the same contacts despite representing different parties. OBrien spent many years living in Glanworth and knows many people there.

Again, like OFlynn, he was also employed by the Dairygold Co-Op. OBrien worked in the companys sales section and his job brought him into contact with a lot of people across the North Cork region. The two candidates are also steeped in the GAA.

OFlynn is also acutely aware that being mayor might be a high-profile job, but the title doesnt win you elections.

Outgoing mayors (all Fine Gael) Noel OConnor (Mallow), Barbara Murray (Youghal) and Buttevant-based Fine Gael councillor Tom Sheahan were all shock fallers in previous elections.

Cllr Frank O'Flynn is the Fianna Fail candidate in the Fermoy local election: 'Theres no such thing as a safe seat.' Picture: David Creedon

Theres no such thing as a safe seat. Im acutely aware the last three outgoing mayors lost their seats. While others can be out canvassing the mayor still has to attend events all over the county and also chair meetings. Maybe thats why, O'Flynn said.

The Fine Gael candidates are the well-seasoned Noel McCarthy, an off-licence owner in Fermoy who is also chairman of its Tidy Towns, and Kay Dawson from Mitchelstown. Both are seen by their party as solid and should do well. McCarthy topped the poll last time out.

In 2019, OFlynn came in second position, followed in third by Ms OBrien, William OLeary in fourth, and Kay Dawson in fifth.

The other independent seeking re-election is agricultural contractor Frank Roche (Castletownroche) who was a bit of a surprise victor in the 2019 election when he picked off the last seat.

Since then, he has built solidly on his voter base, although Roche must be seen as the most vulnerable and easiest to unseat by the newcomers to the field.

Sinn Fein could steal a seat here for Joe OBrien as they have a reasonably strong base locally.

Labour is running Diarmuid Hanley. This was once a happy hunting ground for the party. Noel McCarthy was previously a Labour county councillor before jumping ship a few years ago to Fine Gael. However, it could be an uphill struggle for Hanley considering the party has slumped in the polls in recent years.

Also on the ballot paper is first-timer Joe Tobin (Independent), a community activist who is involved in a number of groups and associations in Fermoy.

Another is Ken Brennan running for Independent Ireland, who is from the village of Conna, on the south-eastern extremity of the municipal district.

There is also a somewhat more colourful candidate in the form of Peter ODonoghue, who is from Kilworth. Hes an anti-vaccine campaigner who came to prominence during the covid pandemic.

All the candidates will be seeking a good turnout from voters in their municipal district. It encompasses an area east to west from Araglin to Doneraile and north to south from Mitchelstown to Rathcormac.
In the spirit of profiling candidates for high office, it is imperative to begin a piece such as this by stating the contender in question  independent Saoirse McHugh in this instance  is in something. But what? In a hurry is always a good one, especially when the candidate is young and fiery and unburdened by legacy trauma, which, for the most part, McHugh is. But that does no justice to her.

In a pickle suggests a politician who has perhaps overstepped, underperformed, or failed to declare a vested interest in any number of things. Again, not McHugh. Her emancipation from the Green Party four years ago may have cost her the logistical and financial support this campaign could have badly done with, but it also suits her agenda.

In over her head fails to account for her previous campaign experience, as well as her considerable subject matter expertise on the environment. No, McHugh is not in any of these things. What she most definitely is, however, is indifferent to what you think of her, which is arguably the most counterintuitive trait imaginable for somebody looking for votes for election to the European Parliament.

We meet in Salthill, not long after her appearance on Drivetime on RTE Radio One, where Sarah McInerney grilled her and four other candidates from the Midlands North-West constituency on their suitability for Brussels. I ask her how it went, and she immediately makes a screwed-up face.

Ah, only alright, she says, referring to an answer she gave regarding the entry requirements into the country, and whether somebody could do so with or without documentation. I meant that they could, and then enter, then claim aslyum, but Sarah is good, and I got schooled. Its okay. Its all part of it.

And so she begins an evening of canvassing, going door to door, trying  in her own unique way  to convince the electorate the environment, sustainable food, clean water, public transport, these are issues that  far from going away  are becoming more and more important.

A native of Achill Island, McHugh has been an environmentalist for as long as she can remember. Throughout her life she has worked on agricultural projects around the world, volunteered with environmental NGOs and completed a masters in sustainable agriculture.

Frustrated with a lack of progress on environmental issues, she ran for the Green Party in the European and general elections in 2019 and 2020, nearly succeeding on both occasions. A remarkable enough feat for a political novice in such tightly contested constituencies.

Although unsuccessful, her vision for a just and ecologically sound society has earned her widespread support, and her willingness to put the old political establishment in its place, as it were, was a breath of fresh air.

She quit the Green Party after they went into Government in 2020. At the time, she said the Programme for Government that had been negotiated and later backed by a majority of Green members was a terrible document.

Saoirse McHugh: 'The difference between now and five years ago regarding where people see the environment on their list of priorities is scary.'

This time around, she is going it alone. Well, not completely alone. Her soon-to-be-husband Colm Cafferky diligently supports her, managing her campaign, and on this early summer evening, knocking on every second door, politely yet passionately spreading McHughs message.

The difference between now and five years ago regarding where people see the environment on their list of priorities is scary, McHugh laments, citing the chaotic five years since as the reason many have lost focus on what most experts regard to be the greatest existential threat to the planet.

Covid, vaccines, immigration. A lot has happened, and thats what we are facing on the doorsteps. I see Facebook especially as a huge issue in terms of where so many people are getting their information. You dont have much time to talk them around at the door, but in a lot of cases you can.

People are angry, but they are misdirecting their anger. Whether it is housing, or their partner not being able to get access to the proper medical treatment they need. Its terribly sad, but fascinating to hear where they lay the blame, when, once you start listening to them, you understand what the real issue is.

On the doorstep, McHugh is assured, personable but unapologetic. Another trait which flies in the face of the stereotypical overpromising, underperforming politician. If she hears something she disagrees with  on immigration, say  she politely listens, before offering a direct, astutely constructed rebuke.

This year's campaign gained a lot of publicity for her recent spats with fellow candidates Peter Casey and Barry Cowen. On last week's live debate on Upfront with Katie Hannon, McHugh announced herself with a now trademark series of put-downs of fellow independent Casey, lightning quick to call the controversial independent out when said he had been a migrant in three different countries legally. "Didnt you tweet last year that you entered a country illegally?" she asked.

"Dont be silly," he replied, despite the fact she was right. The tweet from 2023 was found and reposted almost instantaneously by viewers, proving Casey had indeed said that.

She later lit up X by saying to Casey "You're a clown, would ya stop! Peace is what will keep us safe in response to his persistent interruptions of her answers.

Independent European election candidate Saoirse McHugh says jobs alone will not be enough unless there is affordable housing and transport options available to people.

Highlighting these exchanges annoys McHugh, as she feels it detracts from her platform as an environmental campaigner. What it does do, however, is amplify what an outlier McHugh is. A threat, perhaps, to the old-school patriarchy of Irish politics. If she does revel in her role as disruptor extraordinaire, she hides it well.

Ive no interest in it, honestly. People want to make a thing of it, but all Im doing in those moments is responding to what's said to me.

In Salthill, things are much more tranquil. The canvas is what Cafferky describes as fairly typical. Some unanswered knocks, some hysterical pets, spinning around at the window, and at least one 21-year-old young fella claiming to be only 17, therefore too young to vote.

Those who do answer are willing to engage. Some recognise McHugh, others do not. All are curious. There is some talk of chemtrails (from the constituents, not the candidate). Some mention of Palestine. Bizarrely, theres even some conversation about the influx of young, handsome, muscular men into the country (the inference being they are too healthy and well fed to be seeking refuge here in Ireland).

At each stop, McHugh pushes her environmental agenda.

One elderly chap, sceptical about McHughs passion for improved public transport as a sustainable alternative, quipped: Sorry now, but I dont think Ill live to see that.

No, responded the candidate, but I might.

I know who you are, says another lady, and for one dreadful moment, I hold my breath, thinking her greeting was an accusation. I neednt have worried.

Ill be voting for you. And Ill be telling my friends to vote for you as well.

The two talk while Cafferky chats easily about the struggles of running a campaign that brings the pair to Portlaoise, Dundalk, and Donegal.

We wouldnt be doing it if we thought we didnt believe we could make a difference.

I wish they were all like her, McHugh says, closing the gate behind her.

I linger, catching the woman before she shuts her front door.

Do you mind me asking you why youre voting for her? She considers the question, a little taken aback.

Because I believe her, she says. Ive listened to her talk. Ive heard what she has to say. She is authentic.

An rud Is annamh is iontach.
Two issues are set to dominate life on this planet for decades to come. One of those is currently being dealt with primarily through a head in the sand approach. The other is now the subject of moral panic in which reason is lost and emotion is being heightened and exploited. This is the deeply unserious if not tragic manner in which politics is operating at a time of impending existential change.

Last Monday the Taoiseach opened the National Economic Forum in Dublin Castle. The event brings together a range of sectors in political, social, and business life to discuss how the country goes ahead from here. The theme for the discussion was to identify the challenges and opportunities for the country in a more shock prone world.

Simon Harris' keynote address made no mention of the biggest shock coming our way. If we continue failing to properly address climate change the planet will be uninhabitable at the end of this century. Anybody under thirty today will see in their lifetimes transformative change that will impact on every aspect of living. It is difficult in historic terms to think of a generation that bears more responsibility for the kind of existence to be handed down to those who will follow. Yet climate continues in most political contexts to be the issue that dare not speak its name.

Later on Monday, Mr Harris launched his partys Euro and local election campaign. He singled out a few issues that are now vital by his estimation. These included housing, migration, law and order, and even a threat to democracy. Absolutely zero about that which will completely overshadow all of these problems in a matter of decades.

Opinion polls suggest that there is genuine worry about the planet among the public. Most of our leaders quite obviously believe that such concern does not translate into acceptance of the transformative change required to address the issue. These leaders may be correct in their assessment but leaders are supposed to lead, not simply pander or follow. Yet, with a few exceptions, the general approach is to firmly place head in the sand and hope that it will all go away.

On Tuesday, the results of this kind of politics were laid bare. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that at the current rate Ireland would still only reach a reduction of 29% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, rather than the legally required 51%. The key priority must be to translate the aspiration in our policies and plans to implementation on the ground, according to EPA director gernal Laura Burke. Good luck with that.

Later on Tuesday, the Friends of the Earth Organisation held an online hustings for Euro election candidates to size up policies from the various parties and independents. There were no candidates present from Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, the main governing parties. Can you imagine either party showing such indifference to farming, business or banking interests?

By complete contrast the body politic is currently engaged in feeding into a manufactured moral panic being spread about what is referred to as immigration.

In the coming decades the movement of people, partly but not wholly due to climate change, is going to accelerate. This will occur at a time when western countries like ours will require an influx of workers to compensate for an aging demographic.

Public 'fear'

Yet, right now, opinion polls suggest that large tracts of society are worried about immigration. This, of course, is complete nonsense. They are not worried about the immigrants who staff the health service, saving lives and healing. Neither are the public worried about the immigrants who deliver their takeouts on the cheap. Most of the public profess that they have no problem with genuine asylum seekers fleeing war or persecution.

What the public are apparently worried about, some might say petrified, is the cohort of asylum seekers whose application for protection is rejected. This represents at current levels, somewhere in the region of 10,000 people a year, or 0.2% of the states population of 5 million.

That tiny group of people is the actual subject of the moral panic about immigration. Some of these people most likely will leave of their own volition. Others presumably work illegally in order to survive. They are no burden on the State because officially they dont exist. They are most likely being exploited.

It is difficult to envisage how they can survive indefinitely living in this twilight world. It is impossible to envisage that they represent a threat to our way of life.

Yet a large cohort of the population have now been conditioned to consider this to be a serious issue worthy of concern, or more importantly, anger. There are candidates in the upcoming election, political entrepreneurs, who are running for election largely on this issue.

We are being invaded, Peter Casey, a candidate in the Euro elections in North West, told RTE last Wednesday.

We need to protect our borders from nefarious people, Niall Boylan said in a debate on RTEs This Week programme last weekend. When told the gardai have stated there is no increase in crime among asylum seekers or immigrants, Boylan replied. I never said criminal.

The real worry is how this stuff has impacted on the parties who espouse actual policies. This week Fianna Fail candidates were again mentioning their new proposal to deport immigrants who commit serious crime even though there is no evidential basis for any such measure. Sinn Fein literature across all elections mentions open borders, a fantasy product of the far right. (For the record, Sinn Fein is opposed to open borders, which is a bit like saying they are opposed to the bogeyman as there is no such thing as the bogeyman).

The EU asylum and migration pact is another example of the moral panic infecting politicians.

There is a case to be made that a pact designed to cut down on asylum seeker numbers is abhorrent to human rights. That is not the case being made by most opponents. Many politicians are concerned that the pact will erode sovereignty. At least half of all laws passed by the Oireachtas originate in the EU. None of these have elicited concerns about sovereignty. Yet this, an agreement designed to manage an issue by co-operation, is being presented as a conspiracy against national sovereignty.

In the Dail this week, Fianna Fails Willie ODea was the latest to call for a referendum to be held on the issue. Better still, why not submit it to a poll on Twitter, overseen by Elon Musk.

Thats where were at. The existential threat is being treated like a passing fad while a problem with accommodating asylum seekers is now considered the harbinger for complete social upheaval. One day, many decades from now, they will look back on this and wonder what the hell was going on.
Israels prime minister has called a permanent ceasefire in Gaza a non-starter until long-standing conditions for ending the war are met, appearing to undermine a proposal that US President Joe Biden had announced as an Israeli one.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office came a day after Mr Biden outlined the plan, and as families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas called for all parties to immediately accept the proposal.

Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, the statement said.

Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place.

Israel has now offered a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire  and the release of all the hostages.



Yesterday, this proposal was transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.



Today, I want to lay out its terms for the world. pic.twitter.com/0cdypBP9wb  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

On Friday, Mr Biden asserted that the militant group is no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one in October that started the war.

He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended ceasefire.

Talks stopped last month after a push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal in the hope of averting a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gazas southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is key to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the October 7 attack.

Israel has confirmed its troops are operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led around one million Palestinians to leave Rafah and thrown humanitarian operations into turmoil. The World Food Programme has called the living conditions horrific and apocalyptic as hunger grows.

This is a decisive moment.



Now is the time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas comes to the table, agrees to this deal, and ends this war that they began. pic.twitter.com/ugWZYmaWuJ  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

Families of hostages said that time was running out.

This might be the last chance to save lives, Gili Roman told The Associated Press.

His sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was freed during a week-long ceasefire in November but sister-in-law Carmel is still held. Our leadership must not disappoint us. But mostly, all eyes should be on Hamas, Mr Roman said.

Families described an aggressive meeting on Thursday with Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who told them the government was not ready to sign a deal to bring all hostages home and there was no plan B.

Mr Hanegbi said this week he expects the war to continue another seven months to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.

Mr Netanyahu has promised total victory that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure and return the hostages. On Saturday, his government said its conditions for ending the war had not changed.

Our proposal to end the war in Gaza begins with a complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza, the release of hostages and hostage remains, the ability for Palestinians to return to Gaza, and a surge of humanitarian assistance.  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

Many hostages families accuse the government of a lack of will to secure a deal.

We know that the government of Israel has done an awful lot to delay reaching a deal, and that has cost the lives of many people who survived in captivity for weeks and weeks and months and months, Sharone Lifschitz said. Her mother, Yocheved, was freed in November but her father, Oded, is still held.

The first phase of the deal proposed by Mr Biden would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from the wars devastation.

Mr Biden acknowledged that keeping the proposal on track would be difficult, with a number of details to negotiate to move from the first phase to the second. Mr Biden said if Hamas fails to fulfil its commitment under the deal, Israel can resume military operations.

Hamas said on Friday it viewed the proposal positively and called on Israel to declare an explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

In Deir al-Balah, where many Palestinians have fled following Israels ground assault on Rafah, there was some hope.

This proposal came late, but better late than never, said Akram Abu Al-Hasan. Therefore, we hope from God, the American administration, and the European community in general to continue to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire.

This is a decisive moment:



Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove they mean it.



Hamas needs to take the deal. pic.twitter.com/UcXOP3iZG6  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

The main difference from previous proposals is the readiness to stop the war for an undefined period, according to analysts. It leaves Israel the option to renew the war and diminish Hamass ability to govern, but over time, said Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum in Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University.

It was a very good speech  it seems that Biden is trying to force it on the Israeli government. He was clearly speaking directly to the Israeli people, said Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organisation.

Also on Saturday, Egypts state-run Al-Qahera News said officials from Egypt, the United States and Israel would meet in Cairo over the weekend for talks about the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side in May.

The crossing is a main way for aid to enter Gaza. Egypt has refused to open its side, fearing the Israeli control will remain permanent. Egypt wants Palestinians to be in charge again. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks.

Hamas attack on October 7 killed around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250. More than 36,370 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israels campaign of bombardment and offensives, according to Gazas Health Ministry.
(Photo : Unsplash/Omurden Cengiz )

While pregnancy discrimination permeates every aspect of the workplace, employers cannot ask about the family plans of pregnant individuals, which, on the other hand, they are not obligated to disclose.

Three Main Types of Pregnancy Discrimination:

Discrimination during the hiring process

Discrimination during pregnancy

Discrimination upon returning to work

Pregnancy discrimination covers termination, retaliation, or denying time off for pregnant employees.

Discrimination During the Hiring Process

As outlined in the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, hiring managers are prohibited from asking about a person's pregnancy status or future family plans, even if a candidate is visibly pregnant during an interview. On the contrary, moms who are working while pregnant can inquire about the company's insurance, benefits, and maternity leave policies, and in certain states, short-term disability can also be applied to pregnancy.

Discrimination During Pregnancy

Employees are not obligated to disclose their pregnancy to employers unless they need specific benefits related to pregnancy, such as accommodations or maternity leave. In such instances, they may need to inform their employer and, in some cases, provide a doctor's note as evidence of their condition.

Discrimination Upon Returning to Work

Employers are generally not allowed to alter the job or role of a pregnant employee, except in cases where the change involves a promotion or a position with equal or higher pay that may be more manageable for the employee.

READ ALSO: What Working Mothers Need to Achieve Work-Life Balance

Know Your Rights: 7 Things to Know About Pregnancy Discrimination

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) bars discrimination in various employment aspects, such as hiring, firing, promotions, pay, and benefits. It outlaws policies that restrict women from certain roles due to pregnancy or age and those that disproportionately affect women based on pregnancy or potential pregnancy. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) applies solely to workplaces with 15 or more employees. For organizations with fewer than 15 employees, local Department of Labor Women's Bureau offices must be consulted to explore potential assistance from state or local agencies. Employers are prohibited from terminating employees for filing a complaint against them under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, provided the complaint is made in good faith. Being pregnant cannot be grounds for bypassing someone for a promotion. If you take pregnancy or maternity leave, your employer is required to keep your position open for the same duration as they would for an employee on sick or disability leave. You are not obligated to disclose your pregnancy or family plans to potential or current employers, as refusal to hire based on pregnancy is illegal as long as you can fulfill the job requirements. Unmarried pregnant individuals may face different treatment, depending on the workplace. Some courts have ruled that religious or youth-focused organizations can discriminate against employees for violating principles against premarital sex. However, these employers must show equal treatment regardless of gender, and pregnancy benefits cannot be restricted to married employees in most organizations.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Motherhood Penalty: The Price Mothers Have to Pay for Growing a Family While Working

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Big tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI joined forces in a significant global agreement on A.I. safety at the Seoul A.I. Safety Summit last week.

Tech Companies Collectively Committing A.I. Safety

Following the agreement, companies from different countries, such as the U.S., China, Canada, the U.K., France, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, will voluntarily commit to ensuring the safe development of their most advanced A.I. models.

The commitments made on Tuesday only apply to frontier models, which are the technology behind generative A.I. systems like OpenAI's GPT series of large language models, including the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot.

A.I. model makers agreed to publish safety frameworks outlining how they will address challenges with their advanced models, like preventing misuse by malicious actors. These frameworks will establish red lines for tech firms, defining intolerable risks such as automated cyberattacks and bio-weapon threats. To address such extreme situations, companies plan to incorporate a "kill switch" to halt the development of A.I. models if they cannot mitigate these risks.

Rishi Sunak, the U.K.'s Prime Minister, stated on Tuesday that it is unprecedented to have numerous top A.I. companies worldwide agreeing to the same A.I. safety commitments, emphasizing that these commitments will ensure transparency and accountability in the development of safe A.I. by the world's leading A.I. companies.

Controversies Surrounding OpenAI Leadership

Departures from OpenAI are attributed to more than just immediate A.I. safety concerns. Insiders indicate that the main issue is a lack of confidence in Altman's leadership regarding safety commitments. Critics argue that Altman prioritizes fast A.I. advancement over safety, which has raised additional worries within the safety team. Moreover, his fundraising efforts, including seeking investments from regimes with questionable human rights records, have further unsettled employees committed to ethical A.I. use.

READ ALSO: OpenAI Disbands Superalignment Team Responsible for Controlling A.I. Risks Amid Leadership Friction

The super-alignment team, led by co-founder John Schulman, primarily focuses on maintaining the safety of current products, limiting their capacity for proactive safety measures. This shift in attention and resources poses a risk to the team's ability to adequately address future A.I. risks, echoing concerns raised by Leike about the need for better preparation and resources to manage forthcoming A.I. models and their societal consequences.

The company's alleged practice of mandating departing employees to sign off-boarding agreements with non-disparagement clauses, sometimes at the expense of their equity in the company, has intensified this sentiment. This policy could result in employees forfeiting substantial financial assets if they decline to comply, which has also deepened the mistrust.

Will The A.I. Safety Pledge Be Enough?

The A.I. pledge signed at the Seoul A.I. Safety Summit 2024 encompasses additional safety measures, like watermarking AI-generated content to counter misinformation and subjecting A.I. tools to security testing by independent experts before public release. These voluntary commitments seek to establish a precedent for global A.I. safety standards and encourage collaboration between tech firms and governments to address the risks linked with A.I.

The effectiveness of the kill switch pledge for A.I. safety hinges on its implementation and OpenAI's ability to retain and utilize the necessary expertise to ensure these safety measures are effective.

RELATED ARTICLE: Ex-OpenAI Board Members Casting Doubt on Altman's Leadership, Cite Profit-Driven Pressures Necessitate External Oversight

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You have likely heard a friend or coworker, perhaps even yourself, complain about feeling stressed and overwhelmed with their busy schedule.

Stress Bragging in The Workplace

This behavior is familiar to everyone, and we may have engaged in it ourselves at times, according to Jessica Rodell, a management professor at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and the study's lead author in the Personnel Psychology journal.

While "stress bragging" or "busy bragging" indicates the person's perceived importance and indispensability, recent research suggests that it could do you more harm than good.

Its Implications Towards Colleagues

In an initial survey, 360 participants assessed statements from hypothetical coworkers recently returning from a conference based on likability, competence, and the likelihood of offering assistance at work.

In the survey, the colleague exhibited stress bragging and described the conference as "just one more thing on their full plate, they were already stressed to the max and others have no idea the stress they are under."

Participants consistently rated the individual exhibiting stress bragging as notably less likable and less competent than those who mentioned work stress or expressed positivity about the conference. Participants also indicated they would be less inclined to assist the complaining coworker if they were overloaded with tasks.

Rodell observes that individuals inadvertently damage themselves by engaging in behavior that will enhance their image among colleagues.

READ ALSO: Disengagement vs. Depletion: Identifying and Treating The Root Cause of Workplace Burnout

Stress Bragging Only Breeds More Stress

Rodell's team discovered similar outcomes when surveying an additional 218 actual employees regarding their encounters with stress-bragging coworkers. They also found that employees with colleagues who engage in stress bragging frequently reported experiencing elevated levels of personal stress and burnout.

When someone consistently discusses and boasts about their stress, it creates the impression that being stressed is commendable and considered a typical and anticipated aspect of the work culture, which can influence coworkers, making them feel more stressed, ultimately leading to increased burnout or disengagement from work just like a contagious spiral effect, where stress spreads from one person to the next. Meanwhile, individuals who casually mentioned their stress levels or were perceived as stressed did not generate the same negative reactions from their coworkers and did not contribute to increasing stress levels among their colleagues.

The issue is not being stressed itself. Individuals perceived as stressed are viewed as more competent. Hence, employees must reconsider before bragging about their heavy workload or overloaded schedule, says Rodell. If one genuinely feels stressed, confiding in the right person and discussing it is acceptable. However, it is important to recognize that stress should not be treated as a badge of honor to boast about, as it can have negative consequences.

Rodell also suggests that managers should be more crucial in identifying this behavior. She emphasizes that it is not benign and affects not only the bragging coworker but could also have a ripple effect with broader implications for the workplace.

RELATED ARTICLE: Being Too Passionate About Your Job Can Also Lead to Burnout, Says an Ivy League Stress Expert

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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill to encourage employers to assist their employees in covering childcare costs.

The Expensive Cost of Childcare

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, child care in Pennsylvania is too expensive, and few childcare providers meet the needs of working families.

Diane Barber of the Pennsylvania Child Care Association acknowledges the challenges families and childcare providers face. Local childcare expenses can exceed $11,000 annually, consuming up to 14% of a parent's income, surpassing the government's recommended 7%, and the costs are going up as childcare centers are experiencing workforce shortages. Barber also highlights concerns about starting wages ranging from $12 to $15 per hour in childcare centers, which are notably lower compared to other job opportunities like Target, where wages start at $20 per hour.

The Pennsylvania House Bill for Childcare Tax Credits

The Pennsylvania House overwhelmingly passed a bill with bipartisan support of 155-47 vote, offering employers a tax credit to aid their employees with childcare expenses. Under the proposed legislation, the first $500 of assistance provided to an employee would qualify for the credit.

Although intended to encourage companies to support their employees, some local lawmakers who opposed the bill argue that assistance should be directed straight to families.

Varying Tax Credit Bill Oppositions

Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstine opposed providing additional funds to employers through targeted tax breaks, preferring instead for the money to benefit those who bear the expenses. Despite opposition, three-quarters of House lawmakers supported the measure, advancing it to the Pennsylvania Senate, where supporters are hopeful for its passage.

State Representative Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery), who co-sponsored the bill with state Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia), emphasized the importance of childcare access for maintaining a functional economy because, without access to childcare, there would be no workforce, resulting in a halt to tax revenue and economic activity.

According to a statement issued by House Democrats, the suggested tax credit amounts to 30% of the entirety of an employer's contributions towards childcare for all its employees, with only the initial $500 in contributions per employee being considered, which would not be classified as income on an individual's income tax returns.

During her floor speech, Hanbidge criticized what she termed "inadequate wages" for childcare workers in Pennsylvania, attributing the shortage of such workers to the low wages. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean hourly wage for childcare workers in Pennsylvania last year was $14.18 per hour, which is $1.24 less than the national average. According to Hanbidge, fostering partnerships with employers willing to assist in covering essential employee childcare expenses can also enhance the economy and fortify the future.

READ ALSO: California's Fast Food $20 Minimum Wage Starts on Monday: How Bad Will It Hurt Businesses?

Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York, two neighboring states, already offer incentives for businesses that support employees with childcare expenses or offer childcare services. Additionally, similar proposals are under consideration in Alabama, Connecticut, and Wisconsin.

The bill's approval comes after Governor Josh Shapiro's December signing of the expansion of Pennsylvania's childcare tax credit, which also garnered bipartisan support.

RELATED ARTICLE: Federal Income Tax Brackets and Rates in 2024

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A Tesla employee who worked at the company for five years expressed disbelief after being laid off in a role he described as "really hard."

Tesla has long gained a reputation for being a demanding workplace, as indicated by Glassdoor reviews, where employees often work long hours and are required to dedicate time on weekends.

A Moment of Feeling Trapped in A Nightmare

Despite years of dedication and proven abilities, many employees in the tech and IT sectors have found themselves facing layoffs. Like others in the tech industry, a Tesla employee was shocked when he received an email informing him that his position had been eliminated. After joining Elon Musk's company in 2019 as an entry-level production associate, he was taken aback when, after five years of hard work, he received the news of his layoff.

During the interview with Business Insider, the man described how he progressed within the company over five years, ultimately reaching the role of production supervisor. He recounted how he was en route to work when he received the email about his position's elimination. Upon attempting to use his badge at the turnstile, a security guard confiscated it and informed him of the impact of the job cuts, which left him feeling as though he was trapped in a nightmare.

READ ALSO: Tesla Continues Slashing Jobs, Adds 601 More in California, Government Notice Says

Being Resilient Because of Tesla's Culture

The Tesla employee elaborated that he worked diligently during his tenure at Tesla to maximize efficiency and productivity. His shifts often extended to around 12 hours. As he was on a salaried basis, there were occasions when he had to stay even longer to fulfill his responsibilities and opted to sleep inside his car in 2021 to minimize travel time. He compared the job to being an industrial athlete due to constant movement and believed additional rest was necessary for his productivity, efficiency, and friendliness at work.

He opted to stay at the factory to eliminate his hour-and-a-half commute while his coworkers were surprised, as it was not a common practice in the company's culture. Losing his job at Tesla taught him the importance of adapting swiftly in life, emphasizing that dwelling on things or complaining does not get you anywhere.

Despite being laid off, the former Tesla employee emphasized that his opinion of Tesla remained unchanged. He still strongly identifies with the company's mission and goals. While he dedicated himself to his work at Tesla, this setback does not diminish his commitment to being a diligent worker.

Tesla Gears Towards Its Next Phase of Growth

With over 140,000 employees as of December, Tesla continuously reduces its workforce by 10% due to a decline in electric vehicle demand to ensure the company remains agile, innovative, and ready for the next growth phase, according to CEO Elon Musk's memo to staff.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tesla Halfway Through Massive Layoffs, Now Lists 17 Job Vacancies for Autopilot and Robotics Divisions

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Forget about quietly quitting. Millennials have come up with a new sneaky way to skip work: quiet vacationing.

Many Americans do not have guaranteed paid time off from work, but even when they do, they are not using it all. According to a new Harris Poll survey of 1,170 American workers, 78% of US workers admit to not taking all their paid time off days, with Gen Z and millennials being the highest percentages.

Younger professionals avoid asking for time off as they experience pressure to adhere to deadlines and uphold productivity levels. Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll, explains that they feel anxious about asking for paid time off (PTO) because they do not want to appear unproductive.

It is not quite openly quitting, but more like quiet vacationing.

Millennials are "Quiet Vacationing"

Many millennials in the workforce have found workarounds to play hooky, with nearly 4 in 10 admitting to taking time off without informing their managers. A similar proportion of millennials admit to "moving their mouse" to appear active on company messaging platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, even when they are not actually working or schedule out-of-office messages to give the impression that they are working overtime.

Rodney notes that there is a significant workaround culture in play in a CNBC article. While Gen Zers tend to be more vocal about workplaces that discourage time off, millennials prefer to handle it themselves but discreetly to achieve a work-life balance behind the scenes.

READ ALSO: Employees Acting Out Roles in "Productivity Theater," Do Managers Need to Micromanage?

How Can Employers Possibly Address The "Quiet Vacationing" Trend?

Rodney suggests that when individuals feel compelled to sneak out for breaks, it indicates a lack of supportiveness in their workplace's paid time off (PTO) system or culture.

To alleviate this tension, bosses can be transparent about the process of requesting time off, normalize the practice by taking time off as a boss, support their employees when they take time off, and even mandate a certain amount of time off.

Unlimited PTO is not always the answer. Rather than relying solely on unlimited PTO, employers can explore creative approaches to their time off benefits. For instance, they could implement company-wide week-long shutdowns around major holidays, compensate new hires for taking a vacation before they start, or mandate that employees take a certain number of PTO days each quarter to distribute their time off more evenly throughout the year.

According to the Harris Poll survey, many Americans express the desire for the United States to implement laws similar to those found in Europe. These laws would establish clear boundaries between working hours and personal time and include policies such as extended vacation periods (such as a month off in August), longer lunch breaks, workweeks shorter than 40 hours, and regulations to safeguard slower response times outside of work hours.

RELATED ARTICLE: Hush Trips: The Other Side Employees "Get Away With It All" While Being Clocked In

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Young professionals today are focusing on their retirement more than ever. On average, Gen Zers begin saving for retirement at 22, compared to millennials at 27, Gen Xers at 31, and baby boomers at 37, as found in a recent survey of 4,500 US adults by Northwestern Mutual in January.

The Gen Z Super-Savers

Shared with CNBC Make It, Lillian Zhang began planning for retirement while still in college. At 20, she opened her first retirement account, a Roth IRA, after discovering them through personal finance YouTube channels. For two years, she maximized contributions using savings and earnings from summer internships. After graduating, she shifted her focus to maximizing her 401(k) with her new job. Now 24, Zhang has accumulated a six-figure sum across three retirement funds. She recently opened a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA for her content creator side business.

Zhang now represents a rising group of individuals who are part of Gen Z super-savers.

Why Do Gen Zers Want to Save Early for Retirement?

What motivates young individuals to stash away money they will not access for years?

Anxiety plays a significant role. Many worry about stagnant wages amidst rising living expenses, explains Paloma Thombley, Chief Human Resources Officer at Handshake, a job platform for college students and recent graduates.

According to Northwestern Mutual, Americans now believe they must save $1.46 million to enjoy a comfortable retirement, marking a 53% increase from 2020. Meanwhile, Thombley notes that Gen Zers observe millennials facing challenges in achieving common financial goals such as paying off student loans and purchasing homes.

Some young people witness their older relatives facing financial difficulties. According to a December survey conducted by Handshake with 2,500 college undergraduates, over half either currently support their parents or grandparents financially or anticipate doing so in the future, which is more prevalent among students of color than their white counterparts.

Meanwhile, like many others her age, Zhang lacks confidence that Social Security will be available when she retires. Social Security's trust funds are expected to be depleted by 2035, leading to benefit reductions unless Congress intervenes. This uncertainty leads Zhang to believe that relying solely on Social Security for retirement income is risky, motivating her and others to take personal responsibility for their financial futures.

Gen Zers Lean on Employers' Retirement Benefits

With doubts about government support for retirement, young individuals focus on employers who assist in covering retirement expenses.

According to data from Handshake, retirement benefits rank high on the list of priorities for the Class of 2024 when considering new job opportunities. 65% of college seniors state that they would refuse a job offer from a company that does not provide an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan.

Employers have significantly influenced Gen Z's robust retirement savings. According to a recent Vanguard report, individuals aged 18 to 24 were 32% more inclined to participate in their workplace retirement plans than older counterparts at the same age. This is attributed to increased options for automatic enrollment and improved access to plan information.

READ ALSO: The Growing Trend of Boomers Extending Careers: A Pursuit of Financial Stability and Personal Fulfillment

Gen Zers Are Redefining Their Dreams

Beyond anxiety, numerous Gen Z individuals view aggressive retirement savings as a means of seizing control in an uncertain future, especially when traditional support systems are unreliable. Social media platforms contribute to this effort by creating a sense of community. Zhang notes that peers on YouTube and TikTok provided valuable insights that educational institutions and workplaces may lack, such as pre-and post-tax investment strategies, practical methods for investing retirement funds, and the significance of compound interest. Zhang also perceived retirement savings as an annual objective rather than a distant goal spanning decades.

Thombley notes that young professionals today have unprecedented access to personal finance guidance, making them acutely aware of opportunities they must seize to stay ahead. Similarly, just as they redefine workplace dynamics and career trajectories, Gen Z individuals are reshaping their perceptions of retirement, tailoring them to align with their preferences and priorities.

Regarding her retirement aspirations, Zhang is still navigating her options but remains confident that she will have the financial means to pursue her dreams. For her, the key lies in saving diligently now to ensure flexibility later on, granting her the freedom to pursue her passions without financial limitations.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why Social Security Is Particularly Crucial for Older Women's Financial Security?

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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

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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

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China, Bahrain establish comprehensive strategic partnership

Xinhua) 09:22, June 01, 2024

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)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
1:12:33 I'd like to add something to help answer the question from the girl at. In a general sense, there isn't really a difference between an agnostic and an atheist. However, just as with a strong vs. weak anthropic principle, there is a strong and weak atheism.

The weak atheistic position is the typical agnostic stance that says one is not convinced that there is a god, but they don't know it to be certain that there isn't a god. The strong atheistic position is the one the girl assumed was the only interpretation of atheism, where they are absolutely certain that no god can exist. The typical atheist is a weak atheist, and I would argue that the generalization of atheism would better be suited to that interpretation. However, on another note, I am a strong atheist.

I have discovered ways to determine that there can be no god. A scientific approach would generally not accept such a claim of certainty, and this is because most of science operates on the premise of observable evidence and the analysis thereof. However, science also operates from the basis of reason, and statements such as "inquiring as to the color of height would be invalid" are true statements.

This statement is true because there is an inherent incompatibility between color and height. Asking such a question is simply incoherent. There is importance to this method of reasoning. It establishes a priori truths, absent observation, which are certain. I have used this same method to discover that there is no space (domain space; not position space) for any god to exist. This is an a priori conclusion, and it is acquired without observation.

A priori: knowledge deduced through pure reason and justified independently from that of experience or observation. I would argue that this is the only means by which such a strong position could be achieved, and I don't intend to undermine the very real application of the scientific method. There are extremely useful applications based on levels of certainty that are understood via the scientific method, and much of our technology functions because of these scientific facts.

However, an issue of such importance as the mechanism which grants my presence is far too important for me to be content with probabilities, however great they might be. Dawkins has stated that he couldn't be fully convinced of anything by observation, even if a 500-foot-tall Jesus appeared before him and pledged the existence of a god. He would still have some level of doubt because of theoretical possibilities like hallucinations and simulated universes.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zDWAqs9Ybo&ab_channel=reality

2024528

Newsround 

 Shelter 2024  145,800  2023  15%

 16,263  10% 45 





 200  1 

 80% 

 2010  2023  48,000  112,000 

 55 

 18 



 1970  25%

Poverty is killing the UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zDWAqs9Ybo&ab_channel=reality 2024528 Figures from the government show there are record numbers of children in the UK who are affected by homelessness.

Newsround has looked at government data in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - and the number of children in temporary accommodation is rising in three out of four UK nations.

Housing charity Shelter has found that in England, a record 145,800 children were recorded as being homeless in 2024 - that is the highest it's ever been.

This has gone up by a record amount - a 15% increase since 2023.

The latest set of figures for Scotland show there were 16,263 children in households that were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness.

This is 10% higher than the previous year and is the equivalent to 45 children in Scotland becoming homeless every day.

Poverty is killing the UK

When people picture homelessness, they tend to imagine people sleeping rough on the street, tipped into insecurity by substance use problems. Viewed this way, one might imagine the US would rank highest in any international comparison.

Wrong. The main form of homelessness is people living in temporary accommodation, the main driver is an inability to afford housing, and America is not even particularly close to the worst. The UK holds that ignominious title, with an astonishing one in 200 households living in emergency lodging outside the formal housing sector

There is a certain out of sight, out of mind quality to temporary accommodation, but it accounts for more than 80 per cent of homelessness across the OECD. Hundreds of thousands of people across the developed world live this peripheral and fragile existence, and Britains record is dire.

After declining for several years, the number of English households living in temporary accommodation more than doubled between 2010 and 2023 from 48,000 to 112,000, the highest figure since records began. Im quoting figures for England because it has the most complete data out of the four UK nations, but the others are if anything worse.

Conditions in these buildings are often atrocious. Damp and mould are commonplace, as are insect and animal infestations. The disruption of being moved from place to place causes adults to drop out of work and children out of school. In the past five years alone, the parlous state of temporary accommodation has been cited as a contributing factor in the deaths of 55 children in England.

These arrangements also impose enormous costs on local councils, which last year spent almost 1.8bn on emergency shelter, a figure that has more than doubled in real terms over the past decade.

This nightmare scenario is due to three main factors: woefully inadequate rates of housebuilding, a dwindling social housing sector and the erosion of financial support for those unable to afford market rents.

Relative to population size, the UK builds fewer homes than the vast majority of other developed countries. This has sent private sector rents spiralling, exacerbated by a 25 per cent shrinking of the social housing sector since the 1970s, slowly closing a crucial safety valve. sources:

https://trustforlondon.org.uk/news/wh... https://theconversation.com/the-uk-go... https://www.ft.com/content/24117a03-3... https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68574869

Record number of children affected by homelessness in the UK

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68574869

16 May, 2024

Figures from the government show there are record numbers of children in the UK who are affected by homelessness.

Newsround has looked at government data in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - and the number of children in temporary accommodation is rising in three out of four UK nations. Housing charity Shelter has found that in England, a record 145,800 children were recorded as being homeless in 2024 - that is the highest it's ever been. This has gone up by a record amount - a 15% increase since 2023. The latest set of figures for Scotland show there were 16,263 children in households that were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness. This is 10% higher than the previous year and is the equivalent to 45 children in Scotland becoming homeless every day. Newsround have been investigating the impact of homelessness on children in our special programme No Place to Call Home.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Donald J. Trump, found responsible for rape and found guilty of a whole raft of election fraud felonies, is a horrible person and bears no comparison to Joe Biden. But in one respect they have an unfortunate resemblance. Both have shown profound disrespect for the courts adjudicating their or their friends cases.

In his remarks on Trumps guilty verdict on Friday, Biden said,

I just want to say a few words about what happened yesterday in New York City. The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed. Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. This was a state case, not a federal case, and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens-Americans, 12 people like you, like the millions of Americans who have served on juries. This jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen, and it was a process that Donald Trumps attorney was part of.

The jury heard five weeks of evidence, and after careful deliberation, they reached a unanimous verdict. They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts. He will be given the opportunity, as he should be, to appeal that decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity. Thats how the American system of justice works.

It is reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict. Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it literally is the cornerstone of America, our justice system. The justice system should be respected and we should never allow anyone to tear it down. Its as simple as that. Thats America, thats who we are, and thats who well always be, God willing.

Those are noble sentiments. Biden was pushing back against Trumps unhinged rants against the court that convicted him.

Trump alleges that Judge Juan Merchan had conflicts though he refuses to specify them. He says he didnt testify because; 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, and then they sue you for perjury.

Actually, if you dont commit perjury then you wont be charged with perjury.

He said of the New York County District court and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, They are in total conjunction with the White House and the DOJ. Just so you understand, this is all done by Biden and his people.

This allegation is entirely untrue. Biden has no authority over a state court.

Trump also asserted that he is innocent of the charges and said he never shtupped that porn star.

But Biden contradicted himself on every single point when it came to his reaction, and that of his spokesmen, to the request for warrants by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

When ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced the warrant request, Biden immediately said, Let me be clear, we reject the ICCs application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.

He went on to parrot a talking point circulated by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbyists, who work closely with Israels Ministry of Strategic Affairs psy-op outfit, saying that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. But Karim Khans warrant request, which also targeted three Hamas leaders, charged them with different crimes than it did Netanyahu and Gallant. It made no equivalence between the two. Bidens purloined talking point is without substance.

Biden said he did not believe that Israel is guilty of genocide in Gaza. But the ICC did not charge Israel with genocide in the warrant request, but rather with war crimes and crimes against humanity. So that assertion was a mere red herring.

Biden challenged the jurisdiction of the ICC over Israeli war crimes in Gaza: We dont recognize their jurisdiction, the way its been exercised, and its that simple.

But by the rules of the Rome Statute, signed by 124 of the worlds nations, including several key NATO countries that are close US allies, the court does indeed have jurisdiction. Palestine became a non-member observer state of the UN in 2012 and signed the Rome Statute in 2015. In 2018 the Palestine Authority, which was created by Bill Clintons Oslo Peace Treaty, asked the ICC to take up war crimes in Palestine, and in 2021 the court concluded that it had jurisdiction.

Bidens rejection of jurisdiction is anyway hypocritical, because his administration jumped up and down for joy when in 2023 the ICC indicted Russian strongman Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories to the Rome Statute and so ICC jurisdiction there is far less well grounded than its jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories.

Bidens State Department was ordered, likely by Biden, to falsify a report to absolve Israel of responsibility for blocking humanitarian aid flows into Gaza, overruling the advice of its own experts, according to a former senior US official who resigned this week.

Just as Trump rejected the right of the Manhattan district attorney to prosecute him, Biden dismissed the right of the ICC to take up Netanyahus obvious war crimes.

Just as Trump thinks hes above the law, Biden thinks Netanyahu is above the law.

Just as Trump falsifies his business records, Biden falsifies government reports on Israel.

Biden ultimately does not respect the rule of law when it comes to Israeli actions and policies any more than Trump respects the rule of law when it comes to Trump.
Park Seo Joon is getting criticized by netizens after rumors sparked that he is dating Chinese-American Lauren Tsai.

The "Itaewon Class" star made headlines after Taiwanese media outlets reported that the duo was spotted in Japan.

What added fuel to the fire were the social media photos posted by the South Korean star and Tsai from the same location.

Following Park Seo Joon's dating rumors, his agency, Awesome ENT, released a brief statement, addressing the actor's issue.

As obtained by a media outlet, the agency couldn't confirm the alleged romance since it involves the actor's personal life.

"We understand that various artists and fashion industry figures were invited to this event," the agency said. "We ask for your understanding that it is difficult to confirm details regarding his personal life beyond his official schedule."

In addition to this, there were also reports saying that Park Seo Joon has officially introduced Lauren Tsai to his close friends, including fellow Wooga Squad member Choi Woo Shik.

Eagle eyed fans noticed that the Chinese-American visual artist and actress is following the "Parasite" star on Instagram and vice versa.

Meanwhile, a series of snaps taken at Park Seo Joon's private party are going viral as they feature the duo sitting next to each other.

Although fans are gushing over their chemistry, some seem bothered by Park Seo Joon's new relationship.



Park Seo Joon a 'Walking Red Flag' According to Netizens

In a TikTok video titled "BREAKING! Happy New KBIZ Couple! '' the post showcased photos of Park Seo Joon and Lauren Tsai at his party, claiming that the actor officially introduced her as his girlfriend.

In the comment section, netizens expressed their mixed reactions regarding the new couple alert.

While some mentioned that they are a good match, others labeled Park Seo Joon as a "walking red flag."

It was after netizens brought up the actor's past interview back in 2014, where he left a notable remark regarding being a husband and his ideal girl.

At the time, Park Seo Joon mentioned that he wanted his future wife to leave her job to take care of the family.

Explaining the reason behind it, he said that the children's formative years are very crucial to how they will grow up and that they should be raised by their mother.

"I heard that one's childhood forever shapes the person's perspective on life. It seems unloved childhood leads to problematic adult life. Either he won't have good social skills, or he could end up being a felon to be extreme. I will be their good father figure, but the children need their mom. It could be wrong, but to me, this is an answer now."

Unfortunately, the actor received a wave of criticism from the public, noting his misogynistic comment about women.

IN CASE YOU MISSED : Park Seo Joon Promotes New K-dramas of Wooga Squad Members Choi Woo Shik, Park Hyung Sik

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
I read the novel  engagement , written by Pearl. S. Buck

The novel tells a story about two young people, urged by their families, are about to get engaged, but they are not prepared enough and have doubts. After some twists and turns, they finally come together.

1Lew Arnold and Isabel Starr, their families are friends. Although they are not neighbors, they are not far away. When they are children, often play together during the holidays. their kissing was just for fun, not love . When grew up, graduating from college, Lew loved Isabel and often stayed together. Lew and Isabel are only child. Their parents are eager for them to get married and have children. At the suggestion of parentsLew proposed to Isabel and Isabel agreed. They decided to get engaged on June 21.

After the news came out, Blessed by many others. Miss Barclay of Wedding dress shop called Isabel to congratulate and would like to make wedding clothes for her. On the day of fitting, Miss Barclay expressed her admiration and praise for Isabel's marriage. Her own love failed. At this time, Lew also came and saw Isabel who was trying on the wedding dress. Isabel and Lew asked each other if they loved each other, and they both showed their love for each other. They kiss each other. Lew realized that he was really getting married. 2) Other people's praise for in their marriage satisfied Isabel. But she felt that the engagement was too hasty. She was not sure whether Lew was suitable or not. She felt that it was wrong for her to rush to agree to the engagement. There should be a time to think.

And at the same time, Lew felt that he had made a mistake. He got engaged because his parents liked Isabel. He suddenly felt that he didn't want to kiss her again.

One noon, Lew met his uncle, Philip, who broke up with a Spanish woman on the day of engagement and never got married again. He regretted it now. Lew told his uncle what he was feeling now, and his uncle advised him to continue. Tell him that he will be a little uncomfortable now, but will get used to it after a while after marriage. But if really don't want to marriage, should make a decision early. In the afternoon, Lew went to the law firm where his father worked to discuss a case. One man accused another man of destroying his relationship with his wife. But his wife said that she did not love her husband. She married him at the pressure of her parents. Lews father believes that there is no such thing forcing their children in marriage now. At this time, Lew wants to tell his father that Isabel is so beautiful that she may go with others in the future. But he was afraid that his parents were unhappy and didn't dare to say it.

The wedding dress was delivered to Isabels home, and Lews grandmother sent Isabel a silver tea set. Isabel's mother was very happy and said to Isabel: it is very important for a woman to marry the right man. But Isabel think Lew is wrong man. but she dared not tell her mother.

3) Everything is ready for the engagement. One day, Isabel made an appointment with Lew. When they met, they were very constrained. They went out for a drive together. In the car, Lew tells Isabel that he doesn't want to be engaged. Although she is very beautiful and he has always loved her, he has changed since he saw Isabel try on the wedding dress . he apologize. Isabel asked Lew to drive her home. There was no conversation on the way. When they got home, Lew was worried about Isabel and refused to open the door to let her off. At this time, Isabel said that she also had this idea, although she had always liked him. They agreed that in order not to make their parents angry, the engagement would continue. After the engagement, they can marry with other. After getting off the bus, they entered Isabel's house together. At this time, Lew told Isabel that he wanted nobody but her. Isabel told Lew that she would not marry anyone except him. They are friendly again.

4l think:

A) Parents can introduce their children to marry with someone, but they can't make them feel stressed. I also had a girl like Isabel when I was about ten years old. When I was 22, my mother asked me to visit her mother. When I saw her mother, I saw her at the same time. I think now, this is my mother's intentional arrangement. But I just graduated from university and have no idea of love and marriage, I only just happy to meet her again. My mother didn't blame me. She is a movie star later!

B) A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE IS NOT IN BEAUTY AND MONEY, BUT IN LOVE and Congenial . My wife and I come from different work unit, we dont know each other before ( I think I dont like having a wife in same work unit) . We work for a task together eight months, I dont think about love with her. Just at the last day of we work together, it means maybe we can not meet again, suddenly I think I should say something to her, I ask her to play with me tomorrow, she agreed. Then we play in the park every weekend, after more than half year, she told her family and I told my family, my work unit gave me a little house, we married. No engagement, no wedding dress, no gift, no congratulations. She never ask me if I love her and I dont ask her either. I know she like me and she knew I love her, thats enough.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - The Trump campaign announced its website crashed due to the number of donations pouring in after he was found guilty of 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts after a very brief deliberation on Thursday May 30. He faces sentencing on July 11.

The 'Team Trump' campaign account officially announced that their site was down on Thursday evening.

'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.'

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.

Trump came out of the courtroom visibly perturbed after the jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

'This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,' he lamented in front of eagerly-awaiting camera crews and press.

The ex-president said the 'real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people.'

'Everyone know what happened here...this is a Soros-backed DA.'

'We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man.'

'That's okay, I'm fighting for our country, I'm fighting for our Constitution. This was done by the Biden administration in order to hurt a political opponent.'

'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.'

Prosecutors had a high bar to reach in order to convince the 12-person New York jury that Trump conspired to help his 2016 election campaign by paying pornstar Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged sexual encounters.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's wrapped up all the evidence and witness testimony they claimed was sufficient enough to nail Trump on 34 felony counts of 'falsifying business records.'

Trump's team tried to lay out a strong defense of the former president, distancing him from Cohen's payments to Stormy Daniels.

They also reiterated several of their strongest points, that hush money payments are not illegal and Trump solely wanted to spare his family humiliation from Stormy's alleged affair claims.

The case is the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - Hillary Clinton, a former United States of America Secretary of State and two-time ex-presidential candidate has started selling 'She Was Right' mugs after former President Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records in his New York hush-money case.

Hillary who faced Trump in 2016 presidential election and lost shared a photo of her merch on Instagram, just after Trump was convicted.

The coffee mug features a mockup of her sipping tea, with the phrase "TURNS OUT SHE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING" written above. The post came with the caption "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, youll support Onward Together groups defending democracy and get a pretty great mug to sip tea from. Link to purchase in my profile."





The link in her bio goes to the shop page on Onward Together, and the mug in question is going for $22. There's a tote bag too with the same imagery and lettering, not to mention other items that tout reproductive and human rights and other Democrat-leaning phrases.

Recall that Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in his New York hush money case where he was on trial for several weeks, facing charges.

The former President who is technically facing prison time, will be sentenced in July.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - Professor Wole Soyinka has said that he may reapply for the restoration of his permanent residency in the United States following the conviction of former US President, Donald Trump.

Trump was on Thursday, May 30, convicted on all 34 charges of falsifying business records in hush money trial.

Following his conviction, the Nobel Laureate revealed plans to apply for the restoration of his US green card.

In 2016, Soyinka promised to destroy his US green card if Donald Trump won the US elections.

After Trump defeated Hilary Clinton, Soyinka confirmed carrying out his threat.

However, Trump lost reelection in 2020 and has since faced several legal issues, leading to his conviction on Thursday.

In reaction to Trumps conviction in a statement on Thursday, Soyinka said: "Seeing that this trite, personal gesture attracted such inordinate attention at the time, let me answer the question before it is asked: Yes, I may choose to apply for restoration of my card of Permanent Residence, known as the Green Card. Possibly."

Soyinka went on to describe the verdict on Trump, as a "daybreak on a new democratic promise."

He said: "For millions in anguished parts of the world, certainly for us in vast swathes of the African continent, this is daybreak on a new democratic promise. The warning is clear. sooner or later, the clamour of equity breaks down the stoutest gates on guard across the citadel of impunity.

"The Trump debacle is a challenge also, a call to preparedness and steadfastness. 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. Nonetheless, a celebration, albeit in a minor key, is justified.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - Jamaican dancehall star, Vybz Kartel will reportedly remain behind bars despite his murder conviction recently being overturned.

Jamaica Supreme Court Justice Andrea Thomas on Thursday, May 30, handed down the ruling, stating that without a verdict or acquittal by the Privy Council, the murder charge against them remains in effect.

In view of the fact that their appeal is not yet determined, they should remain in custody until their appeal is concluded That is until a verdict of acquittal is entered or there is a decision for a retrial, Justice Thomas said.

On Wednesday, the prosecution and defense members made arguments in Kartels habeas corpus case, which would have determined whether the artist would be granted bail.

Lawyers representing Kartel and two of his three co-accused filed the habeas corpus application on Monday, May 14, seeking their release due to issues the defense did not wish to disclose.

The application follows the Privy Councils March 14 ruling that Kartel and his co-accused have their convictions overturned for the 2011 murder of Clive Lizard Williams. The Privy Council ordered that the case be returned to Jamaicas Appeal Court to decide whether a retrial is necessary for Kartel and his co-accused, Shawn Shawn Storm Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John.

The Privy Councils ruling followed an appeal made in February by lawyers representing the then-convicts, who argued various grounds, including the admissibility of telecommunication evidence, allegations of jury misconduct, and pressure on the jury to reach a verdict.

Since the ruling, Kartel has remained in prison.

Shortly after, Kartel questioned the need for a retrial in a statement to Fox 5 News, saying, I feel victorious in this very moment as the Privy Council, in their infinite wisdom, understood the assignment and remedied the situation by quashing my conviction! I am now back to being an innocent man in the eyes of the law.

A grave injustice was done to me and my co-accused in the original trial and my cries were heard in the lands highest court.

He added: I am confident that the Court of Appeal in Jamaica will do the right thing in the name of equity, fairness, and justice and free us. Some people have expressed their concern to me that a retrial may be ordered, but to them I say (albeit with my limited knowledge of the law), What is there to retry?

In April 2014, Kartel was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after serving 35 years. His co-accused were also handed life sentences, with Shawn Storm and Jones being eligible for parole after 25 years, and St John being eligible after 15 years.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - A knifeman has been apprehended for stabbing several bystanders and a police officer at a political rally in Germany in an attack that was live-streamed on YouTube.

The frenzied attack happened in the city of Mannheim where anti-Islamist campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger was speaking at an event of the Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE), a group that advocates against the 'Islamisation' of Europe.

While anti-Islamist campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger was speaking, a man dressed in a dark hooded jacket, green shirt, and tracksuit bottoms attacked Stuerzenberger to the ground and violently swung a large blade at him in front of onlookers.





Other BPE members tried to drag the knifeman away, but the attacker broke free to cause more harm.

Police descended on the scene almost immediately as one officer tried to pull the knifeman back but failed to gain control of the blade, allowing the attacker to plunge it into his torso.

His colleagues were heard screaming 'throw the knife away!' - but the knifeman ignored the orders before the officers opened fire from near point-blank range and sent him to the ground.

The horrific attack was captured in its entirety by a cameraman who was livestreaming the event on the BPE's YouTube page. But the stream has since been taken down.

Mannheim Police offered a brief statement online in the wake of the attack but gave no information on the condition of the attacker or his 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.

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.

'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.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - A police officer was killed and five other people were wounded in a mass shooting in a trendy Minneapolis neighborhood on Thursday evening, May 30.

Minneapolis police confirmed that six people  two cops and four civilians  were shot near 22nd and Blaisdell in the citys trendy Whittier neighborhood around 6 p.m.





A 28-year-old officer was killed and another is in critical condition, law enforcement sources told The Star Tribune.

Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe, Gov. Tim Walz tweeted, adding that the state stands ready to provide any resources necessary.

Walz said State Patrol troopers were assisting Minneapolis police.

After the shooting, dozens of cops flocked to the Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis where several were seen sobbing and consoling each other.





Police saluted the body of a fallen Minneapolis officer as it was escorted to a waiting medical examiners vehicle outside Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis shortly after the shooting on May 30, 2024.

Back at the scene, several residents waited behind police to be let back into their homes.

Reuben Molina said he was in his apartment when he heard several shots ring out from a floor below.





He told he newspaper he heard a woman phone 911 and tell the dispatcher two people were shot in the head.

I could hear the bullets ricocheting and bouncing off stuff as Im trying to get somebody to come inside to check on the people who were shot, he said, adding that he saw one wounded victim being taken away.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - Selena Gomez has revealed she made a plan to adopt a child ay 35 if she had not met someone by then.

On Wednesday 29 May, the Rare Beauty founder appeared in a Time Magazine profile when she talked about her current relationship with producer and songwriter, Benny Blanco, whose real name is Benjamin Joseph Levin.

I was alone for five years, and I got really used to it, she told the outlet.

A lot of people are afraid of being alone and I probably tortured myself in my head for like two years being alone, and then I kind of accepted it. Then I came up with my plan, which was I was going to adopt at 35 if I had not met anyone.

However, the Only Murders in the Building actor then ended up with her friend at the time after asking him to set her up with someone.

It just happens when you least expect it, she reflected on her current relationship.

At another point during the interview, she even addressed Blancos previous comments made on Howard Sterns SiriusXM show where he said he predicted the two of them getting married and having kids.

When I look at her, I do say, I dont know a world where it could be better than this, Blanco told Stern at the time.

Im predicting marriage, Stern had told him.

And Blanco replied, You and me both.

However, he noted that there was no ring currently picked out or a proposal planned.

I dont have anything. What do you mean? Ive got no shoes on. Ive gotta get my act together, he said.

I wanna have kids, thats my next goal, he continued. I have a lot of godkids; I got a ton of nephews. I love being around kids.

Selena laughed when the magazine brought up Blancos interview.

He cant lie to save his life. If hes asked a question, hell answer it, she said.

Despite her happiness in her current relationship, she noted that she also tries to be careful with what she chooses to publicly share and what she doesnt.






Friday, May 31, 2024 - 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, May 27.

Mr Rowland-Stuart, believed to have been murdered with a samurai sword, was pronounced dead at the scene.





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.

'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.
I read the third article of the book  The Good Deed,  Dagger in the Dark. This article told the story of the CPC army assassinating a doctor who is respected by the people but didnt thinking about politics.

1) In a small town Taipo in northern China, there was a Liang family. Each generation had been outstanding, and many descendants had gone to various parts of the world. In the town this family now, there was a famous traditional Chinese physician, Old Doctor Liang and his eldest son, Liang Yu. Liang Yu went to the United States to study surgery. After studying surgery, he returned to China to treat people with his father.

After the Lugouqiao Incident, 1937, Japanese troops occupied this town. The Liang family also take seriously the treatment of Japanese wounded soldiers, and therefore received the respect of the Japanese occupiers.

Shortly after Japans surrender, Old Liang passed away. Liang Yu also learned some knowledge of internal medicine of traditional Chinese medicine from his father. So he worked at both internal medicine and surgical diseases. After another year, Liang Yu's wife gave birth to twin sons. Liang Yu sent his two younger brothers to study in the United States, one studying medicine and the other studying pharmacy.. A year later, Liang Yu's wife gave birth to another daughter, and Liang Yus mother died of old age.

Then there was the Kuomintang Communist War. Many wounded soldiers from the Kuomintang came to the hospital, and later many wounded soldiers from the Communist Party. Liang Yu treated them same.

At this time, many wealthy families were afraid of the Communist Party and fled to Hong Kong. Liang Yu's wife also wanted to escape, but Liang Yu believes that he is a doctor, he only cares about treating the sick and saving the people, whether they are the Kuomintang or the Communist. Liang Yu did not want to escape.

After the Communist Party entered the town, they treated the Liang family well. They didn't occupy Liangs home. The commander went to see Liang Yu, affirmed his work, and invited him to join the Communist Party. But Liang Yu said he does not care about politics, just treating diseases.

2) One day, two non Communist wounded soldiers arrived, seriously injured, they were left behind by the Kuomintang Army retreat, requiring amputation. After treatment, the wounded soldiers said they should leave immediately, otherwise Liang Yu would be punished. But Liang Yu believed that he would not. Later, the Communist commander came and asked Liang Yu to hand over the two wounded soldiers of the Kuomintang army. Liang Yu refused. The commander said, " No more wounded soldiers of the Kuomintang Army shall be admitted in the future. Otherwise, the hospital will be confiscated. Liang Yu replied, "Everyone here supports me. You dare not confiscate it. Everyone in the world is a brother

In the following days, Liang Yu admitted several wounded soldiers of CPC party. One early summer evening, a man came and said that his father was seriously ill and asked Liang to go for treatment. Liang followed this man. When they went to a remote place , the man stab Liang Yu to death with a dagger.

These were seen by a woman passing by. She went to the Liang family and asked Mrs. Liang to take the children and run away quickly. Mrs. Liang took her children and fled to another city by boat.

Then the villagers know. Someone wrote a letter to Liang's younger brother in the United States telling them not to come back! The Taipo people solemnly buried the Liang Yu.

3I think:

A) There had been many assassinations in history, many of them for political reasons. For example, in 1946, the Kuomintang assassinated Li Gongpu ()and Wen Yiduo. (). In 1971, Lin Biao's (son attempted to assassinate Mao Zedong. Ruth sent me a paperBrief Timeline Of America History referring to the assassination in the United States: " 1865 Lincoln assassinated, 1963 JFK assassinated, and 1968 Martin Luther King assassinated. I think: with social progress, towards democratic harmony, assassination will be less and less!

B) In times of war, treating the wounded equally, regardless of the enemy or ourselves, is ostensibly humane, but it is not practical. We should recognize the nature of war, support the just side, and oppose the aggressive side!

Dagger in the DarkTentative Prompts

Introduction: Dagger in the Dark is a very short story, only ten pages long, but in addition to its rather compelling plot and characters, it presents several historical and cultural bits of information that deepen and enrich our understanding of the story and its author. And on top of that, we have the added element of its being identified as a true story by the narrator.

?1. What above all interested you, grabbed your attention in Dagger in the Dark?

2. Look carefully at the opening and closing paragraphs. What does the narrator/author want us to understand about this particular story? How does he/she describe the usual literary creative process? Do you think that it might describe the authors usual process for arriving at a subject for a new story, how inspiration comes to her? Why might she insist that this story is different? Does her insistence affect how the story is written, its style, how you read it?

3. The second paragraph provides the setting in the northern city of Taipo , where the Liang family (not their real name) have lived for generations and ends with :In these times it is not safe to speak the names of noble men. What time is the writer referring to ? Why change the family name

4. Also on the opening page, we are given information regarding the noble origins of the Liang family and the long tradition in China that nobility has never been inherited as an estate.It was believed that in each generation a man should make his own mark, and therefore no son could properly take his fathers title as though it were a velvet robe or a coat of ermine (91-92). Why introduce this information at the storys beginning? What might its purpose be?

5. The Japanese invasion of China, which began as an official war in 1937 with the battle of the Bridge at Marco Polo, not far from Taipo, and the conflict between the Nationalists and the Communists for control of China serve as the time frame for this story. Which of these two groups, the Japanese invaders or the Chinese Communists, seems to be seen in a better light by the citizens of Taipo? How might we explain this?

6. Does this story reflect what weve read before regarding the peasants treatment under the Communists and how they really felt toward Communist leaders and landlords?

7. Who are the heroes in this story, the most admirable characters? What are they like? What motivates them to behave as they do?

8. Did the elder Dr. Laings decision to end his life surprise you? What does it signal in the story

9. To whom are the last lines of the story addressed? What seems to be the message?




Saturday, June 1, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Mt Kenya residents to remain united.

Speaking at Mutonyora Comprehensive School's thanksgiving ceremony in Kinangop, Nyandarua County on Friday, Gachagua said opponents are determined to divide the community and alleged that a scheme has been lodged towards that end.

The DP pleaded with leaders from the region to speak in one voice.

Gachagua urged the community in the larger Mt Kenya region not to allow what he termed traitors to divide them.

"Dont allow traitors to divide our community. Beware! I can see them plotting against us," Gachagua said.

"I'm not too clever and neither am I a fool, there is something I know and when I look keenly, wake up early and look, I see darkness, I see someone plotting against us, and our children being used to divide us, said the Deputy President, who spoke in his native Kikuyu language.

The Kenyan DAILY POST












Saturday, June 1, 2024 - Gatundu South Member of Parliament Gabriel Kagombe is currently a guest of the state after he was arrested on Friday in connection with the fatal shooting of a boda boda rider in Thika,11 days ago.

Kagombe was arrested in the Kileleshwa area three days after police launched a manhunt for him.

The MP's arrest came after detectives conducted ballistics on all firearms that were at the scene on the fateful day and preliminary investigations confirmed that he is the one who discharged the killer bullet that killed the Boda Boda rider.

The first-term lawmaker is likely to face murder charges on Monday at the Kiambu Law Courts.

The legislator had attended a ceremony to launch the construction of a market in Thika when chaos erupted between supporters of Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a and Kamenu MCA Peter Mburu.

The skirmishes left one person dead and several others with multiple injuries. David Nudati, a 26-year-old man was fatally shot.

DCI officers later ordered all firearm holders who were present during the melee to surrender their guns to their Kiambu Road headquarters.

The other MPs present during the fracas were Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichungwah and Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, June 1, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua sought to explain his move to issue a public apology to former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Speaking during a stopover meeting in Limuru, Gachagua asserted that most of the leaders in the vote-rich region including him, were misled to attack Uhuru Kenyatta.

He acknowledged that it was not wise to attack their leader publicly given that a section of the public also mocked the former President.

Therefore, he noted that it would be wise to apologize to Uhuru to avoid a repeat of the same.

"We were misled, we attacked and shouted down President Uhuru. I requested forgiveness, did you forgive me? Never again will we attack our leader. Do not stab your brother in the back.

"That is why I personally went live on TV and Radio to seek forgiveness from our son Uhuru Kenyatta for attacking him during the campaigns. We acknowledge our mistake. The bad thing would be to repeat the mistake," he stated.

Gachagua detailed that the apology was also necessary given that there were still plans to cause division among the current leaders.

He also cautioned the young leaders from the region not to be used in fueling division in the mountain, noting that the vote-rich region is always the target for people planning to cause division.

Uhuru is yet to comment on Gachagua's public apology.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, June 1, 2024 - Former Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero has told off Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja against attacks on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Kidero says Sakaja must concentrate on restoring order in Nairobi city which he says is filthy instead of politicking.

We must learn to respect leaders in office, its even biblical, he said.

He noted that succession politics should not cloud the minds of elected leaders to the point they fail to discharge their duties to the electorates.

Kidero says its disheartening to hear leaders referring to senior UDA party leaders with very demeaning remarks.

Biblically, if youre looking down upon leaders, youre disobeying God, he said.

Kidero spoke at Ndiru on Friday in Rangwe Constituency during the 3rd phase of grassroots elections of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

On Thursday, Sakaja attacked Gachagua accusing him of bullying governors and other elected leaders.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, June 1, 2024  Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has warned Governor Johnson Sakaja against attacks on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking yesterday, Kidero told Sakaja to concentrate all his energy on restoring order in Nairobi City which he said was filthy instead of politicking and attacking the DP.

We must learn to respect leaders in office, its even biblical, he said.

He noted that succession politics should not cloud the minds of elected leaders to the point they fail to discharge their duties to the electorates.

According to Kidero, hearing leaders referring to senior UDA party leaders with very demeaning remarks is disheartening.

Biblically, if youre looking down upon leaders, youre disobeying God, he said.

The former Nairobi governor noted that when the country elected President William Ruto in 2022, it was a joint ticket with the Deputy President.

That joint ticket is the Presidency, you cant purport to attack the DP, that means youre also disrespecting the President, he said.

Kidero spoke at Ndiru on Friday in Rangwe Constituency during the 3rd phase of grassroots elections of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 1, 2024 - The Member of Parliament for Gatundu South Constituency Gabriel Kagombe was arrested yesterday in connection with the fatal shooting of a boda boda rider during a violent altercation in Thika two weeks ago.

The National Police Service spokesperson, Resila Onyango, confirmed Kagombe's arrest on Friday evening.

According to Onyango, the MP had gone into hiding following the incident, but police officers eventually located him in the Kileleshwa area.

The incident in question occurred 11 days ago when two groups of politicians and their supporters clashed over a market project in Thika town.

The confrontation escalated quickly, leading to the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old boda boda rider, and injuring another individual.

The violence erupted during a ceremony intended to launch the construction of a new market.

The event was attended by several MPs, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah, the host Alice Nganga, GG Kagombe (Gatundu South), and Njoroge Kururia (Gatundu North). The situation turned chaotic when area MCA Peter Mburu was supervising the construction of sheds, sparking tensions among the gathered supporters.

During the melee, an MP reportedly drew his pistol and fired several shots into the crowd. This reckless action resulted in the death of Nduati and caused injuries to others, including 46-year-old Anthony Kamau, who was left with a bullet lodged in his chest.

Following the incident, DCI officers conducted ballistics tests on all firearms present at the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapon which discharged the fatal bullet belonged to Kagombe who is not new to such controversies.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 1, 2024 - UDA Party Secretary General Cleophas Malalah has defended his move to fly the official national flag in his vehicle like Cabinet Secretaries.

Speaking during an interview yesterday, Malalah said he sits in the Cabinet as an advisor to President William Ruto.

He explained that he advises the President on implementing the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.

The President, in his wisdom, said that he would like to have an advisor in the cabinet to oversee issues related to the party's manifesto.

"The party is the one that formed the government; without the party, there is no government.

"Therefore, the President told me to sit in the cabinet and advise him whether our political agenda is being implemented and executed properly, Malalah explained.

Malalah noted that he was sworn in to sit in the Cabinet after President Ruto issued a directive for him to oversee the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.

Besides, he noted that there is a thin line between the UDA party and the government.

"There is a very thin line between the party and the government because if you go to the State House, you will find the Kenyan flag being lowered at six pm, but the UDA flag is not lowered until the day we leave that place, Malalah added.

In June 2023, the Cabinet cleared Malalah alongside the Chairperson of Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii, National Security Advisor Monica Juma, and the Advisor on Women Rights Harriette Chiggai to be attending the Cabinet meetings.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, June 1, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has once again apologized to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family for abusing him during the 2022 presidential campaigns...

Gachagua was among Mt Kenya leaders who launched a multi-faceted war against the former President who was begging residents to elect Raila Odinga instead of President William Ruto.

Gachagua, who was named by Ruto as his deputy, has now claimed that he was tricked into hating Uhuru who he said had good intentions for the country.

The second-in-command, who spoke in Nyandarua County on Friday, claimed that they were misled into turning against the retired head of state, adding that he had already sought the region's forgiveness.

As I said, we will never again come against our kingpin. We were misled, we attacked and shouted down President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"I requested for apology did you forgive me? Never again will we attack our leader, never again," Gachagua said.

The DP observed that it was only in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region that they turned against their kingpin, urging them to unite.

"Let us love each other. Other communities do not fight or hate one another.

"But there is always war here in our mountain. There is no day we will ever come against our kingpin like that.

"Tell our young people not to accept to be used to fight our Kingpin," he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 1, 2024  The infighting within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is causing more harm than good to President William Ruto.

This was revealed by former KANU Secretary General Nick Salat, who asked UDA leaders to stop wrangling and help Ruto achieve his agenda.

In a statement, Salat accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other UDA leaders of engaging in political squabbles at the expense of development.

According to Salat, the current political spat is taking away gains Ruto made during his historic State visit to the US.

Our agenda as leaders is to talk about goodies Ruto brought from the US. His state visit was good for the nation, Salat stated.

Let us not water down Rutos successes because his unique style of leadership has changed many lives.

At the same time, Salat castigated Gachagua for letting Ruto down by engaging in unnecessary squabbles instead of helping the president.

The President has good leadership and development agenda but his disciples are not delivering and that should change, he stated.

He warned UDA that if they dont stop the squabbles, Raila Odingas Azimio will take advantage and attack them.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Memorial Day just passed, and I reflected on those in my extended family who were lost in battle. My stepfathers two brothers, whose names are carved in the World War II monument of a nearby small town, are most prominent in my mind. If I remember correctly, one died in Germany and the other in the Pacific. My stepdad was so affected by the loss of his older brothers that he actually lied, probably for the first time in that sainted mans life, and said he was of age to fight. He served in the Pacific but survived to come home to live his life and help raise me after my biological fathers car went over a cliff.

These thoughts led me to think about the definition of heroism and what it takes to be one. Charging into battle against heavy fire is clearly an example. Every person brave enough to leave their amphibious vehicle and advance across the beaches of Normandy or Tarawa definitely qualifies. But for the majority of our most celebrated heroes, the end is quick. A single bullet, grenade, or bomb, and their terror and suffering are over in an instant. We who exist because of their sacrifices salute the flag-draped coffins when they return, engrave their names in granite, and honor their sacrifice on this day of remembrance.

But not every warrior wears a uniform, and not every loss is remembered. There are many battles that we all face in life, and all kinds of ways to be a hero. And to die. One of those heroes, to me anyway, was a man named Jay Lawrence. Jays life was not easy on the day of his death. He had been driving a truck back in the 1980s when his brakes failed. This happens occasionally, and steep inclines will sometimes have a specially constructed deceleration system, sometimes water-filled barrels, while others have gravel-covered inclines. None of these were available to Jay.

Anyone driving a large commercial truck would know that this means you need to find a safe place to stop the vehicle. Sometimes, this is by running it against a guardrail. Jay was on a bridge, and impacting the steel supports at high speed could kill him or send his truck over the side. It was a tough decision. Seeing a baby seat in the car ahead of him clarified things for him, and he jerked the wheel to the right, impacting the steel girders at full speed and determining the course of protracted suffering he would experience for the rest of his life.

It is easy to withstand pain, even severe pain, for brief periods of time. I have laughed after breaking a bone and stitched up my own forehead without lidocaine after cracking it with a crowbar while working on a car. Note to self: some CV joints have retaining pins that must be removed before they will slide out, no matter how hard you pull on a crowbar. I stitched it up myself so I wouldnt have to get laughed at by my peers in the ER, where I worked as a physician. Im not tough. Just lucky. Jay was not so lucky, and the severe injuries he sustained would cause him to constantly suffer debilitating pain.

Unlike the pain I experienced, which was intense but brief, Jay had suffered severe back injuries that required surgical intervention and fusions of the lower back and neck. This is very different, and let me make something clear. Unless we are talking about a laminectomy or spinal cord stimulator placement, your back surgery is not intended to relieve your pain. We all hope it will, but most people hurt worse after back surgery than before. Back surgery aims to stabilize the spine, to keep you mobile and not paralyzed. No way cutting through muscle and screwing metal into bone wont hurt.

But Jay was luckier than most, for now, tolerating this well and continuing with his life, and heres another point. While acute injuries heal, severe chronic pain does NOT get better with time. Nor should it be expected to resolve after surgery. Jay had been prescribed opiates for his pain after surgery but recovered to where he could get by without them, routinely working sixty-hour weeks to support himself and his family. In 2005, Jay met and married his wife, Meredith, and together, they worked on having a happy, healthy life together, giving up drinking entirely and focusing on building their lives.

Jay still had some pain, which the alcohol had helped, but now depended on NSAIDs and over-the-counter medications if it flared. Despite this pain, he was constantly helping others. Then, around 2007, something changed. Over time, as we age, the intervertebral discs separating our vertebrae start to shrink. This is not noticeable at first, but by the time we are aged, we are usually at least an inch and often several inches shorter than when we were young. The nerves to our legs, arms, and our entire bodies come out between these vertebrae, and disc degeneration can cause problems here.

As the vertebrae get closer, they can start to press on these nerves. This is most common in the neck and lower back, as these more mobile spine areas seem to wear out sooner. For Jay, it started with a loss of feeling in his legs, and he started falling. And there was also pain. No one who has not experienced severe nerve pain can understand the realities of this condition, where the very pain reporting system is coopted to send a constant signal at maximum volume. Sometimes inversion tables and stretching can give some relief, but often not. When these fail, it is time to see the doctor again.

The first-line therapy for someone with structural back pain, as Jay had, would be physical therapy and medications. NSAIDs are used cautiously as they have serious side effects and risks; then stronger medications, perhaps tramadol if there is no history of seizures, codeine if the patient is able to metabolize it effectively, about 16% of the population cannot, and gabapentinoids specifically for nerve pain as well as some antidepressants. The spinal interneurons in the descending pain inhibitory pathways use serotonin; boosting serotonin in the substantia gelatinosa might relieve some.

None of these medications come without risk, and this seems to be something the DEA just does not understand. They are adamantly opposed to the use of opiates, although NSAIDs kill more people than heroin. Or that the gabapentinoids side effects frequently include low back pain and muscle aches, the exact symptoms we are trying to treat. Or that antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide, as can gabapentinoids, or that alcohol is often used to moderate pain in the untreated and is much more dangerous than any of these. The DEA does not have the expertise to understand this.

The doctors in Jays case tried everything reasonable. From 2008 to 2011, he had steroid shots, nerve blocks, and a spinal cord stimulator. He was also prescribed opiate medications, which helped ease his pain and make it more tolerable, giving him some quality of life. One of the other problems with chronic back pain is that it limits our mobility and activities, which leads to postural muscle atrophy and weight gain, removing structural support while adding extra stress to the spine when its already failing under its current load. Jays pain got worse despite these interventions, and he had a third back surgery.

Despite this, his pain continued to worsen as time went by, and a morphine pump was installed. Morphine pumps, also called intrathecal pumps, are placed under the skin with a catheter leading into the spinal canal. The very first intrathecal injection was back in the late 1800s and used cocaine mixed with morphine, which is not as crazy as it sounds, as cocaine is an excellent local anesthetic, still used today for nasal surgeries. The first implantable one was placed in 1981 for a cancer patient, and their use has increased over the decades if a trial shows that they would be effective.

These are now battery-powered with an injection port to refill the medication, and they work well for some. Even if the pump works for baseline pain control, chronic pain fluctuates with sleep quality, activity, mood, and a thousand other things, including the weather. Jay was on breakthrough pain medications to control this well-known, studied, and documented issue. The constant level of severe pain was taking a toll on Jay in many ways, but mainly on his mental state. There are many theories on why this might be the case, but I think that it is the result of severe chronic sleep deprivation.

It is well known that the human brain cannot continue to function well without sleep. And that low-quality sleep, while keeping us alive, can still lead to mental problems. Toxins that are not removed build up, and stress hormones spike, creating a neurotoxic environment that inhibits neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. No one does well without sleep, and sleep deprivation, dementia, and even death are well-documented. In any event, the severe stress from the pain began to take a toll on Jays mind. Jay developed the confusion we would all have if we stayed up just two nights in a row, and it got worse.

Over time, he developed what was called trauma-induced dementia, but not all his doctors agreed on this diagnosis. A better term might be chronic stress-related dementia, but I think we should call it what it is: dementia as a result of unrelieved suffering. Ill even abbreviate it DUS so doctors take it seriously. Jay had also been suffering from anxiety and PTSD and had been on alprazolam as well as 120 mg of morphine daily through the pump. Thats 120 MMDE and twice the CDC recommendation for opiate-naive patients starting opiate therapy by primary care doctors. None of these apply to Jay.

The 2016 CDC guidelines clearly state that they were not meant for patients like Jay; that doesnt stop the DEA. You can see where this is going. Now, being on benzodiazepines and opioids was very common for about a half-century. Many people with severe chronic pain have severe anxiety, often from whatever process caused their pain but sometimes from stewing in stress hormones released because of the pain. The mechanism is simple. Pain is reported to the amygdala from the insula and thalamus. The amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which activates the sympathetic nervous system.

Epinephrine levels rise, the heart rate goes up, the respiratory rate goes up, norepinephrine is released in the periaqueductal gray matter, and we become more awake and alert, and we can then escape whatever is hurting us. Except in the case of severe chronic pain. That we cannot escape. When we experience chronic pain, a signal goes out to the locus ceruleus to avoid sleep and to the hypothalamus again to release corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which travels to the pituitary and triggers the release of ACTH, releasing longer-acting stress hormones that keep our bodies on high alert.

But over time, like constantly revving a car engine, we increase the risk of breakdown. When the CDC came out with its guidelines, it made clear they were voluntary and a single factor of consideration for the doctors alone. That didnt stop local and federal governments from enforcing those recommendations for a few as mandates for everyone. With state medical boards and the VA suspending pain specialists for exceeding the CDCs mandatory maximum, it did something much, much worse. It gave the DEA another false metric they could use to target pain doctors and patients.

If a patient died in their sleep for any reason while on more than 90 MMDE, or even less in some cases, a jury would be told that the doctor was an overprescriber, defined as anyone who exceeded the usual or the CDC recommendation. This included all doctors who treated patients with the highest levels of pain. Then, those prescribing benzodiazepines and opiates together were excoriated and even prosecuted for prescribing dangerous medications in dangerous combinations, a totally invented crime, and for ignoring the risk of overdose. (Prescription medications cause less than 7% of these.)

A patient dying while on a medication does not mean that they died because of the medication. But the authorities had a new tool in the war on drugs, and doctors were a lot safer to target than real drug dealers, who sometimes shoot back. Medical offices started being raided by black-clad DEA stormtroopers, and every doctor treating pain was terrorized, watching their colleagues hauled away. I remember this time well and recall telling my patients that I would have to adjust their medications because of new state and federal mandates, but still, I tried to do so with compassion and reason.

But thats not what happened to Jay. His pain specialists weaned back his alprazolam, not because they thought it was best for him to do so, but because they felt it was safer for them. Jay ended up on one a day to help him sleep, but the worsened anxiety made this almost impossible, and he would stay up until the early morning hours, exhausted but unable to rest. His wife began sleeping in another room because of his tossing and turning, but they still enjoyed watching television and walking their dogs on good days. On bad days Jay had to stay in his chair with tears running down his face.

In January of 2017, Jays doctors decided it was too risky for them to continue his dose of morphine. They also said they would not continue treating him as a patient if he stayed on alprazolam, even though it was prescribed by a different doctor. Jays wife begged them to reconsider, but they would not, and I understand why. They were scared. Scared people make poor decisions, and they do not want to go to prison. The doctor said, My patients quality of life is not worth losing my practice over. I understand how he felt, and I cannot say that he was wrong in his assessment.

I can say that he failed his most sacred obligation to his patient. Medicine is a special calling, and to those who have sacrificed years of their lives in study and student loans, its practice is a special privilege and reward. Or at least it used to be. I cannot say that it is now. Doctors are retiring or just quitting in droves, and I dont blame them either. How smart is it to stay on the battlefield when the enemy has all the guns and ammunition? What point is there in fighting to the bitter end if you know that you will lose? And that is where my greatest personal vulnerability exists. The Marines did not teach me to quit.

In almost identical circumstances as those doctors treating Jay, I made the decision to continue my patients medications, diazepam, and oxycodone in that case, and for that, I am looking at prison time. The government said that I prescribed a dangerous combination and that I ignored the risk of overdose. And when my patient died alone and terrified in a jail cell after being denied medical care for eight hours, not having taken his medications in twenty, the family was told he died of an overdose. The DEA tried to give me life in prison on this premise, and while they failed at that, I could still get twenty.

Despite the coroners report clearly saying that, while a contribution from overdose or withdrawals cannot ever be completely excluded, the death was from a cardiac problem, in this case, heart failure. I had long thought that the stress of my patients pain and anxiety, if untreated, would increase his risk of death more than continuing the medications. The police proved me right when they took these from him, and he died. But Jays doctors did the safe thing. For them anyway, and reduced his medications, even claiming when challenged that too many patients were making up their pain complaints.

Jay and his wife got in their car to leave, and he told her this might be it for him; he didnt think he could continue to live if the pain was worse. Jays Xanax was stopped, and over the next month, February, his morphine was decreased. Immediately, his pain and suffering increased. Despite this, Jay did not forget Valentines Day, buying jewelry for his wife for the first time since their engagement and taking her out to dinner. His medications were scheduled to be decreased again in March. The night before that appointment, Jay decided that his personal battle of a quarter-century was over.

He woke up his wife to say goodbye and discussed how he would end his suffering. He did not have enough pills to do the job, but he did have, as most Americans do, a gun. They drove to the park where they had renewed their vows in 2015 and parked. With Meredith holding his hand, he pointed the gun at himself and pulled the trigger. His wifes immediate reaction was horror but also relief, knowing that his ordeal was over and that he could finally rest. The authorities saw things differently and decided to arrest and prosecute Meredith for assisting a suicide. She was put on probation.

Packed away for safekeeping, I have several uniforms. One is a Marine dress uniform that I hope to be buried in when the time comes. Another is my Air Force dress uniform and the blue missileers flight suit I wore when I had command and control of nuclear weapons. Back in my Strategic Air Command and Space Command days, that now seems like another lifetime. On those uniforms are not a few ribbons, badges, and medals; among others, there is one for national defense service, another for air force achievement, and a presidential unit citation.

They mean a lot to me, but I can tell you right now I have never faced an ordeal or suffered as much as Jay in the battle he fought. If I ever do, I hope to be as strong as he was for all those years. None of us know how long we could stand up to the agony of severe chronic pain. Doctors whove never felt it will doubt it, and the sadists and psychopaths among us, and we have not a few, will even laugh at the suffering. Not long ago, one of these laughed about women being traumatized in childhood, and another said, Dead is dead, to a colleague lecturing about the increase in chronic pain-related suicides.

Dead, as many veterans suffering chronic pain would affirm, is indeed dead, doctor. And that should matter to you. I would also like to point out that often, in our consideration of the fallen, we neglect to remember the other casualties of war. Those who earn the militarys most feared honor: that of being a gold star mother, father, or widow. This appellation grants you nothing but a reminder of what was taken from you. With that thought in mind, let me speak for a moment about the courage, dedication, and absolute strength of Meredith Lawrence. While Jay was a true warrior, her strength was divine.

L. Joseph Parker is a distinguished professional with a diverse and accomplished career spanning the fields of science, military service, and medical practice. He currently serves as the chief science officer and operations officer, Advanced Research Concepts LLC, a pioneering company dedicated to propelling humanity into the realms of space exploration. At Advanced Research Concepts LLC, Dr. Parker leads a team of experts committed to developing innovative solutions for the complex challenges of space travel, including space transportation, energy storage, radiation shielding, artificial gravity, and space-related medical issues.

He can be reached on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Ireland will head to the polls once again on June 7th for both European and local elections. National and local politicians have been canvassing intensively all around the country in recent weeks, knocking on tens of thousands of doors and listening to the concerns of voters.

Here is everything you need to know.

What are the dates and times for the upcoming local and European elections?

Polling takes place for both the local and European elections on Friday June 7th between 7am and 10pm. A polling information card will be sent to your home address, and this will have the details about your local polling station, which should be nearby. There are about 6,500 polling stations nationwide.

What will I need in order to vote?

Its always advisable to have your polling information card with you but you can vote without it; just make sure to bring a valid form of personal ID. This could include the following: a passport, a driving licence, a public services card, or an employee or student identity card with a photograph.

Who can vote in the Local/European elections?

Only Irish citizens aged 18 and over who are on the register of electors can vote in the European election. If youre an Irish citizen currently living in another EU country, you are able to vote in that country. If you are from another EU member state but are living in Ireland you can vote in the European election in Ireland.

The difference with local elections is that you do not have to be an Irish citizen to vote. As long as you are over 18 years of age, live in the relevant local electoral area and are listed on the register of electors you can cast your vote.

Voters can check the register online at checktheregister.ie as well as at your city and county council offices.

What should I expect when I arrive at the polling station?

Ireland uses proportional representation (PR) for voting in elections with each voter having a single transferable vote (STV). Using the PR-STV system means that voters can vote for as many or as few candidates in order of their preference.

Each ballot paper contains short instructions on how to vote, which you should read and follow carefully. The ballot paper will also show a list of names, in alphabetical order, party emblems and images of each candidate. There will be a box to the right of each candidates name.

You mark your preference for each candidate in the box to the right. You mark a 1 in the box beside your first choice candidate and, if you wish, a 2 in the box beside your second choice candidate, a 3 in the box beside your third choice candidate, and so on.

If you do not want to fill out a preference for all candidates on the ballot paper, the box beside those you are not voting for must be left empty. Do not make any other mark on the ballot paper. If you do, your vote may be considered invalid/spoilt and not counted.

How many candidates are running for election?

In the local elections, there are about 2,000 candidates running in 31 local authorities, covering a total of 166 local electoral areas (LEAs). There are between three and seven seats in each. These local politicians are competing for 949 seats.

There are a record 74 candidates running in the European Elections, for only 14 seats. The three constituencies for Junes EU elections are: Dublin (four seats), Midlands North-West (which had four seats but will have five in this election) and Ireland South (five seats).

Across the EU, a total of 720 MEPs will be elected. Seats are allocated on the basis of population of each member state of the European Union. No country can have fewer than six or more than 96 MEPs.

What do local councillors do, and how much are they paid?

Councillors have both a legislative role and an advocacy role within local authorities, are responsible for the council's policy, but the chief executive, an unelected official, is then tasked with implementation.

Councillors have the power to make decisions on the rate of Local Property Tax, the annual budget of the local authority, climate action plans and local area plans. They have the power to hold the local authority to account by scrutinising annual accounts, examining targets, following up on audits and requiring the chief executive to report on different matters.

They also represent and advocate for their constituents, meeting with them and trying to address the issues they raise. Each councillor attends meetings of the full council and the local authority committees of which they are members. A new increased salary for councillors, which now stands at 28,724, was introduced in 2021. They also get an annual expenses allowance to cover travel and subsistence and a mobile phone allowance.

What do Members of European Parliament (MEPs) do, and how much are they paid?

The European Parliament does not have the power to initiate laws. Instead, the European Commission, the executive body, drafts legislation for the bloc.

MEPs in the parliament can then vote to block legislation, which gives them important leverage. They also ratify international agreements, approve the EU budget drafted by the Commission and scrutinise the work of other EU institutions. MEPs also have the final say in approving the president of the European Commission, who is currently Ursula von der Leyen.

Each MEP takes home the same gross salary  10,075 per month as of July 2023. After taxes and insurance, the monthly total lands at 7,853. Former members are also entitled to a pension when they turn 63.

What are the European Parliament constituencies?

There are three constituencies voting for MEPs in Ireland, which will elect 14 MEPs, one more than in the 2019 elections. The Dublin constituency, consisting exclusively of the county Dublin area, will elect four MEPs.

The Midlands-North-West constituency will elect five MEPs, representing the counties of: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

The South constituency will also elect five MEPs, representing the counties of : Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

When will we get the results?

For the local elections, the counting of the ballots will start on the morning of Saturday, June 8th. The ballot papers will be sorted and separated.

Counting of the locals will be conducted first. The first seats will be filled by the afternoon, but the final results may not be counted for several days.

For the European elections, the count will commence at 9am on Sunday, June 9th. Politicians and political pundits will be carefully watching the boxes open on Saturday morning, hoping to get an idea of how the weekend will play out from early tallies.

What is the significance of Local Elections?

Local elections are about who leads communities and ensures the delivery of certain public services. The elections allow people to elect councillors to represent them in their local authorities.

The results also serve as an important indicator of public opinion across Ireland ahead of a general election within the next 10 months. Politicians are reporting the biggest issues on the doorsteps to be housing, local issues such as infrastructure and the state of roads and paths, transport and immigration.

What is the significance of European Elections?

The European Parliament election is the central way for Irish citizens to have a say on shaping the European Unions policies. Almost four million voters in Ireland will join more than 330 million Europeans to choose 720 lawmakers.

The results will affect the blocs plans over the next five years, but, like the local elections, the Irish vote will also be seen as a barometer of the national mood. The EU has a complex governing structure and can often seem distant from national issues. But members of the European Parliament (MEPs) vote on legislation that has a major impact on people in Ireland.
A Kilkennywoman has spoken about how fostering has become the journey of a lifetime for her.

Children have so many challenges when they come to you, but its rewarding to watch them mature, said foster carer Mary Mulligan. To see them not do the things they might so easily have done if they werent in care thats a big win, she said.

Its a difficult path that they walk, and you are there for them to lean on. Walk with them; make sure that whatever is in front of them is in front of you too.

Mary (56) and her husband Adam started fostering back in 2000 when they took a pair of siblings for respite care. Marys hankering to be a foster carer stretches further back than that, to the age of 17, when a distant relation of Marys became a foster carer and inspired her to do the same someday.

The couple have fostered nine children - three of them for over 15 years - as well as a child who came to her and husband Adam, at six months and who is still with them aged 24.

The couple have experience of fostering children with complex needs on a long-term basis while being supported by multidisciplinary teams and other experts dealing with developmental and behavioural difficulties.

In fact, Mary and Adam are in the process of adopting one of the children who has been in their care since he arrived in their home at the age of two.

It was so emotional for us that he wanted to be in a family with us, she says.

Fostering then is not without its rewards, but there are challenges too, and learning to work together as a couple has been key to Mary and Adams endurance over the years.

We wouldnt always agree on how to handle a challenging situation. You have to find a way of talking the matter through  agree to disagree. You will be challenged, but being able to stick together through that challenge is what matters, says Mary.

Fostering is very rewarding, but I dont want to give the impression that its all wonderful and not without challenges; to do that would be setting people up for difficult experience. Its about finding a way forward; you have to be doggedly determined.

One particularly challenging time for Mary was having to hand back a child she took in as an infant and had supported for four years.

You put yourself out there emotionally, mentally, physically to look after someone elses child and you go through that again when you have to give it back, she said. Its hard; like a mourning period that you go through, and you think , I cant do that again, but you can do it. Resilience develops over time within you; resilience you dont even know you have until the next time.

Rewards

But the rewards are there in watching a child you nurtured going from strength to strength, says Mary.

Not every child in care will go to college. Fostering is about watching how they progress, and that progress might be slow, but it mounts up over the years.

Its about walking a road with them, and you dont know how long it will be or whats on it. That doesnt mean they wont reach their destination, they just might take a different route. You cant measure success against college courses and grades; this type of success looks different.

Mary says that she has been helped in her carer role by Tuslas trauma training and support programme, which helps to recognise and understand the behaviours that children exhibit. That, combined with the strong support of link workers, social workers and social care workers has helped sustain foster carers in their bid to help raise vulnerable children.

I have found that there are really good people in Tusla  exemplary examples of staff who believed in what you were trying to do; people who would hang in there when a child wouldnt engage.

Peer Support

Mary worked in social care, helping homeless people and those in elderly care, and she has used the skills gleaned in those roles alongside her fostering experience to take on a newly created role in Tusla as a peer support worker, advising foster carers in need of an experienced head on wise shoulders.

While aimed at supporting carers in their first year or two with the Agency, Mary says it will also benefit longer-term foster carters because support is crucial at a later stage, too, especially when a child enters their teen years.

Its very important that foster carers are supported in ways that allow them to instil resilience, she said. Its my job to help foster cares find that resilience. You learn from other people who have been down that road; people who will keep you in that good state of mind.

The pilot programme, which has been running for six months, has six peer support workers working in areas across the country.

As a peer support worker my role is to listen, not to run in with a solution but to help them find a solution that suits them; help them to find their resilience, said Mary.

Its all about hanging on in there. When you see them doing that theres a great sense of achievement, and you know the resilience will build from that.

Fostering is an extraordinarily generous act performed by ordinary people going that extra mile for young people at a time when they most need help.

Foster parents are people like you and me, said Jacqui Smith, Tuslas National Lead for Fostering. They are farmers and hairdressers, creche workers, schoolteachers, homemakers and shop assistants who open their homes to children at a time of incredible uncertainty.

That gesture and commitment changes childrens lives and it changes the lives of the families who foster in all kinds of amazing ways. Now, more than ever, children in our communities need loving, safe, stable homes where they can thrive and grow. You can be that adult that changes a childs life forever.

Mary and Adam have been doing just that for 24 years now. They have walked side by side with the children in their care on a sometimes-winding road, she added. Its a journey that can last a lifetime, but its one that neither Mary nor Adam shows any sign of ever wanting to end.

The increase in demand means that Tusla is looking for people from diverse backgrounds, in communities across Ireland, to provide all types of foster care and other supports for young people who need them. A schedule of events will be held throughout June, which will include local and online information sessions for anyone interested in learning more about becoming a foster carer.

For more information and to register for a foster information session visit fostering.ie, call 1800-226771 or visit www.fostering.ie
A guest post from a reader:

Im a naturalized citizen in NZ. Meaning my kids are aware of and somewhat interested in their American heritage as well as their NZ history. So my daughters school was having a Diversity Day where students from different backgrounds were encouraged to show off parts of their culture. Parents were invited to see the event and explore what diverse cultures were at the school. My daughter decided that since most Kiwis are exposed to a huge amount of American culture on a routine basis she would team up with her friend from an Asian country to showcase her culture instead. They worked on a couple of ways to do this, demonstrating the writing and language as well as showing off clothing and some food. They worked hard on this over a few days.

So Diversity Day comes and the students who were doing projects such as my daughter were invited to set up stands in a couple of classrooms almost an hour and a half before the parents were supposed to be there. There were lots of cultures, Turkish, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, South African, Indian, Vietnamese, Maori, French and Russian. Then students from about half the classes in school were invited to tour around and explore the stalls and see what was there. 30 minutes later it was all done, students to clean up and go to workshops. No parents to see what had been worked on and what amazing things the children had done.

What did happen was the students were sent off to study diverse arts and crafts in workshops set up by the school and helpers. The workshops covered such a wide range of topics as various Maori arts and crafts, Kapa haka, Maori singing, Maori language, Maori cooking, Maori myths and history and then there was an Aboriginal face painting class. At the end of this time the students were ushered into the hall for the public celebration of Diversity by the school. This was a showcase of the range of diverse cultures made up of the school Kapa haka group, The Maori dance troup, the Kapa haka groups from 2 other schools and a Pasifika performing arts group performance.

My daughter came home in tears. She said she worked so hard on everything and it was all shoved aside to make room for more time for the same kapa haka groups that perform at every school function, every event and that get special showcases at the school once a term. Multiple students were upset over the fact that they didnt get to show their parents how their stations looked and to show off to other parents as well. My daughter said she never wants to bother working on anything culture related at school again as this is a similar occurence to how the primary school dealt with the diversity situation.

As far as Im concerned the school is working to alienate students and tell people from other cultures that they dont matter, dont count and that they will not be given the time to express themselves or showcase their varying culture or history within the NZ system. That as far as education is concerned there are 2 cultures: Maori, then everything else. While I want to emphasize the importance of promoting Maori culture as it is a uniquely NZ culture and worthy of preservation I find it hard to support the method of doing that by squashing and essentially insulting every other culture that has arrived here. I have faced similar culture disparities in various training classes and instructional environments but am able to deal with them in my own way as I was an adult before I moved here so will always have an element of outsider to my thinking. To have that feeling put in to my daughters mind while she has lived her entire life here enrages me to a point I dont want to think about. It reinforces the attitudes that I faced when I was told that it was acceptable for Maori students to not call me by my first name as English wasnt their first language (spoiler: it was their first language) but that it was racist and I could be given written warnings if I got their names wrong despite attempting to learn Maori as my 4th language.

To all those who think any kind of monoculture can mean Diversity:

You keep using that word, I dont think it means what you think it means.
A 26-year-old Buffalo man was charged Friday with indecent exposure after police received multiple calls earlier in the week for a man exposing himself on Elmwood Avenue and at a business on West Delavan Avenue.

Buffalo Police said they apprehended Orlando Martinez and charged him with two counts of public lewdness, a class B misdemeanor.

Northwest District officers responded at 5 p.m. Tuesday to an indecent exposure call at the West Delavan Avenue business. Police received another call about an hour later, this time for lewdness in the 900 block of Elmwood Avenue.

Martinez was identified as a suspect for both incidents. Buffalo Police said detectives are investigating similar incidents at other locations in the area on the same day.
The annual BTS Festa will kick off next week in celebration of the popular boy group's debut day as many fans await the return of band members currently serving in the military, its agency said Saturday.

BigHit Music uploaded the schedule for the 2024 BTS Festa, an annual festival to celebrate the anniversaries of BTS' debut on June 13, 2013, on the band's official social networking account.

The disclosure of the official poster for the 2024 event will mark the opening of the event Sunday, with a variety of programs scheduled until its closure on June 13.

Next Saturday, Bangbangcon will offer free online streaming of BTS concerts, while a surprise event and presents have been announced for June 13.

"We hope many members of ARMY will make happy early summer memories at the 2024 Festa," BigHit said, thanking fans for their love and support toward BTS. ARMY is the name of BTS' fandom. (Yonhap)
Korea's exports extended year-on-year gains for the eighth straight month in May on the back of strong shipments of semiconductors, data showed Saturday.

Outbound shipments rose 11.7 percent year-on-year to $58.1 billion last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Imports shed 2 percent to $53.1 billion last month, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.96 billion. Korea has been maintaining a trade surplus for 12 consecutive months.

It was also the highest trade surplus in 41 months.

By sector, exports of chips jumped 54.5 percent year-on-year to reach $11.38 billion, maintaining growth for seven straight months.

Outbound shipments of display products also rose 15.8 percent over the period to $1.63 billion, the highest monthly figure for 2024.

Car exports moved up 4.8 percent to $6.49 billion, the highest for any May.

Other major gainers included petroleum, electronics, petrochemical and textile products.

By destination, exports to China came to $11.38 billion, up 7.6 percent from a year earlier, the highest in 19 months.

Shipments to the United States also moved up for 10 consecutive months, rising 15.6 percent to $10.93 billion.

Outbound shipments decreased 7.4 percent in 2023 amid the sluggish performance of chips coupled with global economic uncertainties. (Yonhap)
By KTimes

Dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook, currently embroiled in allegations of employee harassment, revealed on his YouTube channel with his wife that he had previously accessed employees' internal messenger conversations, raising concerns about privacy infringement.

Kang's wife said, "There were hateful remarks about our son and fellow employees on the company messenger. While it was wrong to look without permission, we felt it needed to be addressed."

The couple explained that they discovered an auditing function on the administrator page during the transition from the free to the paid version of the messenger.

While internal messengers are primarily intended for work use, they often become a platform for casual conversations among colleagues.

The revelation that company administrators can monitor these messages has caused a stir among office workers, who had assumed these communications were private, akin to KakaoTalk, which cannot be accessed without a warrant.

Even though policy requires employee consent for such monitoring, the mere possibility of access has raised significant concerns about privacy and personal data protection. This is similar to the controversy over using security cameras in Kang's office.

According to industry sources, Kang's company, Bodeum Company, uses Naver Works, which includes functions such as messaging, internal communication, calendar, address book and email.

Launched by Naver in 2013, it is used by startups and small to medium-sized enterprises that find it challenging to establish independent work systems.

Other popular tools in Korea include Kakao Work, Teams, Slack and Flow. According to the terms of service, employee consent is required for administrators to access messages.

An official from Naver Works said, "The monitoring function is not intended for surveillance, and the terms specify that companies must obtain prior consent from employees before accessing data."

Few firms have explicit rules

However, field responses indicate that few companies have explicit regulations or notify employees about this capability.

A 39-year-old office worker, Kim, who works in HR, said, "Our company has no specific regulations regarding the internal messenger, and I don't recall giving consent. We just have to be cautious ourselves."

An industry insider said, "Accessing content is generally allowed when security incidents, power harassment or sexual misconduct issues arise. Administrators can either view the data themselves or request information from the service provider."

Employees who have only recently become aware of this possibility expressed shock. Jung, 35, who works for a construction company, said, "I've made negative remarks about the company with colleagues, and now I realize they could be exposed. There are even concerns that we're being watched through laptop webcams."

Office CCTV installation

Another point of contention is the installation of security cameras in the office. Kang refuted former employees' claims that the cameras were for surveillance, stating they were installed to prevent theft.

According to the Personal Information Protection Act, installing security cameras in restricted-access office areas requires employee consent, but businesses with fewer than 30 employees can install them without violating the law.

Due to ambiguous regulations, disputes over security camera installations between employers and employees are common. Companies emphasize security, while employees stress privacy, often leading to government mediation.

Regarding the controversies over internal messengers and security cameras, field experts agree that indiscriminate company surveillance without privacy considerations is unacceptable.

Jang Jong-su, a labor attorney at Workplace Harassment 119, said, "While tools like messengers are company assets, accessing them without employee consent and a valid reason can violate the related laws. Even in a work context, personal boundaries exist, and employers need to be aware of this issue."

The case of Bodeum Company is complex, making a definitive judgment difficult. Since the facility is also used for dog training, the Animal Protection Act, which mandates security camera installation to prevent animal abuse, could be applicable.

An official from the Personal Information Protection Commission said, "We have not yet launched an investigation into Bodeum Company. This issue appears to require a comprehensive review involving animal protection laws and labor relations."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
South Korea's top envoy to the U.N. denounced North Korea's failed satellite launch this week as "one of the most expensive fireworks" on Friday, stressing that it has used its scarce resources for the launch despite persistent food shortages.

Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook made the remarks as the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) held an open meeting to discuss the North's failed launch of the satellite on Monday, which Seoul, Washington and others criticized as a violation of UNSC resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology.

"The launch is one of the most expensive fireworks," Hwang said. "The DPRK dissipated its scarce resources into that launch, which could have been better spent on feeding its people."

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Hwang highlighted that North Korean leaders are enjoying luxury goods and showing off their military arsenal "at the cost of the people who suffer from chronic food shortages."

"The DPRK has no one to blame but itself for its own humanitarian crisis," he said. "It is estimated that the cost of launching a so-called 'satellite' is equivalent to almost several months' worth of food for the entire population of the DPRK."

Robert Wood, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., struck the same note.

"The DPRK's dire humanitarian situation is of the country's own making," he said.

"(North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un could alleviate his people's suffering immediately by allowing international aid organizations to re-enter the country and by investing in his people's well-being instead of his unlawful weapons programs."

Wood reiterated that any North Korean launch using ballistic missile technology is a "flagrant" violation of UNSC resolutions regardless of whether it is successful or not.

"Each launch informs the DPRK of its capability gaps and allows Pyongyang to further advance its weapons programs," he said "This council has the responsibility to condemn these launches and to hold the DPRK accountable for its violations."

In addition, he pointed out that China and Russia continue to block the UNSC from "speaking against the DPRK's behavior with one voice and makes us all less safe."

Following the North's satellite launch, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned it and called on the recalcitrant regime to return to dialogue. (Yonhap)




Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan "strongly" condemned North Korea's recent satellite and missile launches, and reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as they held trilateral talks in Virginia, Friday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano issued a joint statement after the meeting at Campbell's private retreat at Iron Bell Farm, where they unveiled a plan to form a "coordinating mechanism" for trilateral cooperation.

The meeting came as tensions have heightened on the peninsula due to Pyongyang's failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite Monday and its artillery drills involving what it called super-large multiple rocket launchers days later.

"We strongly condemned the DPRK's recent launches using ballistic missile technology, including a so-called 'military reconnaissance satellite,' which took place in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions," they said in the statement. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and call on the DPRK to engage in substantive dialogue with us without preconditions," they added.

Campbell reiterated that the U.S. commitments to the defense of South Korea and Japan are "ironclad" and backed by the full range of capabilities, including nuclear, and reaffirmed the U.S. pledge to strengthen extended deterrence with the two Asian allies, according to the statement.

Noting that the trilateral partnership is "essential" to security in the Indo-Pacific, they expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific and recognized the importance of opposing unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea.

To further "institutionalize" trilateral cooperation, the three diplomats instructed their respective teams to "expeditiously develop parameters for a trilateral coordinating mechanism," they said.

The coordinating body, if established, is expected to be the culmination of the three countries' efforts to reinforce three-way cooperation that has picked up pace amid improvement in bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo, long frayed over historical feuds.

"We're committed to forming some sort of coordinating body, a secretariat of some kind," Campbell said during a press availability before the talks. "We have been tasked by our leaders to support that to make sure that we maintain forward momentum on the important work of this trilateral grouping."

Commenting on continued North Korean provocations, Campbell pointed out Washington's efforts to have China exert its influence in order to address security challenges from Pyongyang.

"We've made very clear about our concerns of North Korea's provocative actions," he said. "We asked for China to weigh in on Pyongyang to ask them, to first of all, refrain from such action and to accept the offers of dialogue and diplomacy that each of our three nations put on the table."

He also underlined Beijing's close ties with Pyongyang, as well as its "anxieties" about the North's military transactions with Russia.

"I think they too have some anxieties of steps that North Korea has taken with respect to providing dangerous military equipment to Russia in this desperate time of battlefield tensions in Ukraine," he said. "We will continue to make our case with China and other countries about our concerns of North Korean activities."

Asked about the debriefings he received from South Korea and Japan about their trilateral summit with China in Seoul on Monday, Campbell said that the U.S. welcomes "renewed" diplomacy among Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo.

"We appreciate the partnership with both Japan and South Korea, trusting us with a very deep and sincere debrief," he said. "We welcome the steps towards increasing dialogue and discussion on the critical matters of Northeast Asia."

Campbell said that Friday's three-way talks were aimed in part at preparing for a trilateral summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later this year.

Asked about the possibility of a three-way summit taking place on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Washington in July, he said that no exact decision has been made yet.

"I think we're committed to doing a trilateral meeting at the leader level. We haven't decided exactly," he said. "This is the highest priority for us for the remainder of this year."

Vice Foreign Minister Kim highlighted the North's continued violation of UNSC resolutions, including its arms transfers to Russia.

"Despite strong warnings from the international community, Russia and North Korea are continuing the illegal arms transactions or transfers of refined oil," he said. "We will continue to work together with the international community to curb the unlawful Russia-North Korea cooperation."

He also commented on ongoing efforts to find an alternative to the now-disbanded U.N. expert panel tasked with monitoring the enforcement of anti-North Korea sanctions.

"It will take some time, but we have already begun our discussion on this issue," he said. "The goal is to find a more effective mechanism to monitor the implementation of UNSC resolutions."

Prior to the trilateral talks, Campbell and Kim held bilateral talks, where they discussed North Korea-related issues.

"The two officials condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's hostile rhetoric, actions and ongoing human rights abuses," Matthew Miller, the State Department's spokesperson, said in a readout.

"They also discussed support to Ukraine in the face of Russia's brutal war and shared insights on the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and uphold the rules-based international order." (Yonhap)




The United States is unlikely to help Korea build nuclear-powered submarines at the moment, as it is stretched by AUKUS commitments to Australia, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore.

In 2021 the United States signed the AUKUS pact with Britain and Australia to share nuclear-powered submarine technology and to sell at least three Virginia-class boats to Australia in the 2030s.

Several other allies, including Korea, have expressed interest in involvement.

Asked on Saturday at the security summit how he would respond to a direct Korean request for help obtaining nuclear submarines, Austin said it would be "very, very difficult" for Washington to accommodate that "on top of what we do right now."

"(AUKUS) is no small endeavour," he said. "We just started down this path with Australia. (It's) highly doubtful that we could take on another initiative of this type anytime in the near future."

The two-stage security pact aims to counteract China's growing power in the Asia-Pacific region. It will be the first time Washington has shared nuclear-propulsion technology since it did so with Britain in the 1950s.

It includes a second technology-sharing "pillar," besides the submarines, which has drawn interest from New Zealand and Japan.

"We believe that AUKUS is actually a good addition to regional security," New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins said on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday, adding that New Zealand had enquired about the second pillar

"We've had no actual invitation to join it but it is something that we are certainly looking at," she said.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said that he could imagine other countries' involvement in the future but that the focus for now was on the U.S.-UK-Australia trio getting "runs on the board" of submarine projects, which are set to last decades. (Reuters)
The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan agreed Saturday to take measures to prevent the recurrence of a 2018 maritime spat over Japanese patrol aircraft, an incident considered a major hindrance to efforts to strengthen bilateral security cooperation.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, announced the agreement following their talks held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

The dispute flared up in December 2018, when a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft made an unusually low-altitude flyby over a South Korean warship. Seoul decried the plane's approach as a "menacing" flight, while Tokyo has accused the South Korean vessel of having locked its fire-control radar on the plane.

The incident had remained a source of friction for years until Seoul and Tokyo's defense chiefs agreed to begin working-level talks on the issue in the annual security forum held in Singapore last year, in what marked the first defense ministerial talks between Seoul and Tokyo since November 2019.

The latest agreement is expected to help move forward defense ties between the two nations amid deepening trilateral security cooperation also involving Washington.

Under the agreement, both sides will seek to ensure the "smooth and safe" operations of their warships and aircraft on waters through fluent communications in accordance with the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.

Based on the international maritime agreement which aims to prevent unplanned encounters between naval vessels from escalating into collisions, Seoul and Tokyo will abide by safety distances and altitudes, and engage in active communications through relevant radio communication procedures.

"Both sides agreed on the importance of promoting mutual understanding through ensuring smooth communications," the ministers said in a joint statement. "Going forward, the ROK Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will carry out operations in accordance with the agreement in the event of their peacetime encounter at sea."

In efforts to activate defense dialogue and rebuild mutual trust, the countries also agreed to conduct regular vice defense ministerial talks and resume working-level policy meetings as well as high-level exchanges between their servicemen, according to the statement.

"Both ministers concurred that South Korea-Japan security cooperation is the cornerstone of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, which stands firm and is beneficial for the two countries that share core values and strategic interest," the ministers said, adding such cooperation is "essential" in deterring North Korean threats, and realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Following Saturday's talks, Shin told reporters that South Korea has secured the safety of its naval vessels via the latest agreement and said both sides will work to restore the level of their exchanges to before the 2018 incident.

Shin said he will share the outcome of the meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a trilateral meeting of the defense chiefs of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo set for Sunday.

"South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will discuss areas where they can work together," the minister said. "It will make the trilateral cooperation more official and further expand it."

Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have been beefing up their security cooperation following the landmark trilateral summit between their leaders at Camp David in August last year.

Bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo have also thawed after South Korea announced a decision last year to address the thorny issue of compensating Korean victims of Japan's 1910-45 colonial-era forced labor through the so-called third-party reimbursement plan. (Yonhap)




By Jung Da-hyun

Starting in July, Jeju Island will implement a cashless system for all bus services. Foreign tourists planning to visit the resort island are required to purchase and load money onto a transportation card to access its bus network.

According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Friday, the pilot program for cashless buses will be implemented on all 218 routes across the province from July 1 until the end of September. The initiative aims to streamline operation costs, enhance service quality and mitigate safety risks.

The decision has been made based on the declining usage of cash for bus rides on the island.

According to the province, card payments dominated bus transactions last year, accounting for 53.68 million people, or 90.2 percent of total passengers. Conversely, cash payments were utilized by 9.8 percent of passengers, totaling 5.77 million individuals.

Despite this low usage, an annual expenditure of 105 million won ($75,758) is allocated for managing cash transactions. This move toward cashless transactions is seen as a strategic response to optimize efficiency and financial resources within the public transportation system.

Bus passengers can pay by using a transportation card, a mobile transportation payment via a QR code or transferring bus fares to an account specified in the fare payment guide.

Some point out potential challenges for foreign tourists and elderly passengers who may face inconvenience due to unfamiliarity with transportation card transactions or difficulty in navigating account transfers.

A provincial official addressed the issue of cashless bus usage among foreign tourists, emphasizing that a significant portion of foreign tourists are Chinese, who frequently rely on Alipay for transactions. In response to this, the province is actively exploring opportunities to expand the integration of Zero Pay into the system.

Following a three-month pilot phase, Jeju Island will decide whether to extend the program or fully implement the operation of cashless buses.
Some 150,000 people, including thousands of LGBTQ Koreans and their supporters gathered in central Seoul for annual Pride celebrations Saturday, despite the event's traditional venue being put off limits by the authorities for the second consecutive year.

Same-sex marriage remains unrecognised in Asia's fourth largest economy, and activists have long emphasised the need for legislation outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

This year's Pride Parade, marking its 25th anniversary and one of the largest in Asia, was denied permission to gather at the Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, where the main festivities have traditionally been held.

Seoul's conservative mayor, Oh Se-hoon, has said he "personally can't agree with homosexuality," but municipal authorities blamed a scheduling conflict and said the venue had already been reserved for an outdoor event themed around books.

It instead took place in the streets in central Seoul, with companies and organisations including the US embassy, IKEA and Amnesty International participating to show support.

Areas surrounding Seoul's major thoroughfares Namdaemun-ro and Ujeongguk-ro were packed with excited participants wearing rainbow-themed costumes and make-up, some blowing bubbles and many waving orange balloons -- the theme colour for this year's edition.

"The colour range symbolises an intermediary quality between red and yellow. It doesn't belong anywhere but exists independently, ... akin to our queer way of being," organisers said in a statement.

According to the Pride organisers, three other venues managed by the Seoul city government, including the Seoul Museum of History, were also prohibited from being used for side events due to "causing social conflict."

The authorities' decision was "nonsensical," but it does not diminish the pride that LGBTQ individuals feel for the annual event, participant Na Joo-youn told AFP."

"I'm openly queer, which means I often have to fight for what I believe, which sometimes makes it hard to live as myself," Na, 26, said.

"Today, I get to enjoy being myself. Those who oppose the Pride Parade have been around for a long time, but whatever they do or say, they cannot erase our existence."

LGBTQ festivals have often been targeted by evangelical Christian groups, who have thrown water bottles and verbally abused Pride marchers and tried to block their route by lying down in the street in the past.

Just a few hundred metres away from the main streets where the festival was held, Christian protesters denounced LGBTQ rights, holding signs that read "No!! Same-sex Marriage" and "The country built with blood and sweat is collapsing due to homosexuality."

"We're opposing homosexuality because we want these who think they are 'homosexuals' to be truly happy by accepting God's ways, which only permit the union of a man and a woman," Jang Mi-young, a 65-year-old Christian protester, told AFP.

Nearly a quarter of Korea's 52 million population is Christian and churches remain a significant political arena, particularly for legislators.

In addition to the festival still facing difficulties in securing venues, attempts to pass laws banning discrimination on the basis of sexuality have languished since around 2007, with lawmakers coming under pressure from conservative and religious organisations.

"It would not be an exaggeration to say that the human rights of sexual minorities in Korean society are regressing, (rather than meeting) global standards," Hyeonju, one of the festival's organisers, said.

This year's festival included a group of Korean queers protesting against Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Waving the Palestinian flag and banners that read "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," they accused Israel of "pink-washing," or boasting of its acceptance of the LGBTQ community to cover up rights abuses against Palestinians.

"As the saying 'LGBTQ is everywhere' is not just a rhetorical statement but contains literal truth, many sexual minorities are living, getting hurt and dying in Palestine, where a genocide is being committed," they said in a statement.

"Queers living in Korea deeply wish for the survival and liberation of Palestinian queers." (AFP)




U.S. President Joe Biden laid out Friday 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 as 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 1,200 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.

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." (Reuters)
Donald Trump said Friday he would appeal the guilty verdict that made him the first U.S. president convicted of a crime, though he will have to wait until after his sentencing on July 11 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 a "rigged" attempt to hobble his comeback White House bid and warned that it showed no American was safe from politically motivated prosecution.

"If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," Trump, 77, said in an unscripted 33-minute speech. Applauded by supporters, Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 election took no questions from reporters.

"We're going to be appealing this scam," he said.

Trump will have 30 days from the date of his July 11 sentencing to file a notice of appeal.

Democratic President Joe Biden, who will face Trump in the Nov. 5 election, said Trump had been given an opportunity to defend himself in the same justice system that applies to all Americans.

"It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict," Biden, 81, said at the White House.

Thursday's guilty verdict catapults the United States into unexplored territory.

The charge Trump 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 Trump's public criticism of jurors and witnesses during the trial, which prompted Justice Juan Merchan to impose a $10,000 fine, could push the judge to impose a tougher penalty, said Rebecca Roiphe, a former New York prosecutor.

Any sentence would likely be suspended until the appeals process plays out. A close ally, House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, predicted the U.S. Supreme Court would eventually overturn the verdict.

"I think theyll set this straight, but it's going to take a while," he said on Fox News.

Incarceration would not prevent Trump from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win.

Trump's July 11 sentencing comes just days before the Republican Party is due to formally nominate him as its presidential candidate at its convention in Milwaukee.

Trump was found guilty of 34 criminal counts of falsifying documents to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to illegally influence the 2016 election, in which he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump still faces three other criminal prosecutions  two for his efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat to Biden  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.

What do voters think?

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.

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.

In the battleground state of Georgia, retiree Wendell Hill, 65, said the verdict would not cause him to abandon Trump.

"It is all politicized. I still don't understand what crime he's supposed to have committed," he said as he set up chairs for a concert in downtown Marietta.

Carol Cuba, 77, a longtime Republican voter, said she was disgusted with Trump.

"For the first time in my life I'm thinking about voting on the dark side," she said referring to the Democrats.

Trump's campaign said it raised $52.8 million online in the 24 hours after the verdict. Several major Republican donors said they would continue to donate to Trump's campaign despite the conviction.

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 Michael Cohen testified that Trump approved a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels. Cohen, who handled the payment himself, testified that Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal work.

Falsifying business documents is normally a misdemeanor 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. (Reuters)
The African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result 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 percent of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40 percent in Wednesday's election, well short of the majority it had held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela. The final results are still to be formally declared by the independent electoral commission that ran the election, but the ANC cannot pass 50 percent.

At the start of the election, the commission said it would formally declare the results by Sunday, but that could come earlier.

While opposition parties have hailed the result as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remained the biggest party by some way. However, it will now likely need to look for a coalition partner or partners to remain in the government and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. Parliament elects the South African president after national elections.

The way to rescue South Africa is to break the ANCs majority and we have done that, said main opposition leader John Steenhuisen.

The way forward promises to be complicated for Africas most advanced economy , and theres no coalition on the table yet.

Steenhuisen's Democratic Alliance (DA) party was on around 21 percent of the vote. The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led, was third with just over 14 percent of the vote in the first election it has contested. The Economic Freedom Fighters was in fourth with just over 9 percent.

More than 50 parties contested the election, many of them with tiny shares of the vote, but the DA and MK appear to be the most obvious for the ANC to approach, given how far it is from a majority. Which coalition the ANC pursues is the urgent focus now, given Parliament needs to sit and elect a president within 14 days of the final election results being officially declared. A flurry of negotiations are set to take place and they will likely be complicated.

Steenhuisen has said his centrist party is open to discussions. The MK Party said one of their conditions for any agreement was that Ramaphosa is removed as ANC leader and president. That underlined the fierce political battle between Zuma, who resigned as South African president under a cloud of corruption allegations in 2018, and Ramaphosa, who replaced him.

We are willing to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa," MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said.

MK and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called for parts of the economy to be nationalized. The Democratic Alliance is viewed as a business-friendly party and analysts say an ANC-DA coalition would be more welcomed by foreign investors, although there are questions over whether it is politically viable considering the DA has been the most critical opposition party for years.

An ANC-DA coalition "would be a marriage of two drunk people in Las Vegas. It will never work, Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the smaller Patriotic Alliance party, told South African media.

Despite the uncertainty, South African opposition parties were hailing the new political picture as a much-needed change for the country of 62 million, which is Africa's most developed but also one of the most unequal in the world.

South Africa has widespread poverty and extremely high levels of unemployment and the ANC has struggled to raise the standard of living for millions. The official unemployment rate is 32 percent, one of the highest in the world, and the poverty disproportionately affects Black people, who make up 80 percent of the population and have been the core of the ANC's support for years.

The ANC has also been blamed  and now punished by voters  for a failure in basic government services that impacts millions and leaves many without water, electricity or proper housing.

Nearly 28 million South Africans were registered to vote and turnout is expected to be around 60%, according to figures from the independent electoral commission. (AP)
In a recent turn of events, HYBE's Weverse platform has become a battleground for freedom of expression, sparking outrage among fans and leading to accusations of censorship.

The controversy revolves around Weverse's guidelines, specifically targeting discussions related to politics, a move that many see as an attempt to stifle important conversations.

Weverse, a platform cherished by fans for its direct interaction with idols and community-building features, has recently witnessed a surge in discussions regarding the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Fans took to the platform to share information and raise awareness, utilizing their voice to shed light on global issues.

However, the mood took a sharp turn when fans noticed a guidelines notice from BTS's Weverse addressing political discussions.

IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: HYBE's Audacious Plan Unveiled - Trying to Lure Every SM Employee Away? The notice explicitly mentioned that posts promoting prejudice or discrimination based on political stance would not be allowed, a move seen by many as an indirect way of silencing pro-Palestine voices.

The notice stated, "Posts and comments that discriminate against or promote prejudice against any political stance, religion, gender, disability, age, race, region, occupation, etc., are against our guidelines."

The announcement drew swift backlash from fans who felt their freedom of expression was being curtailed. One fan expressed their frustration, saying, "not weverse censoring us rn... that's just great. glad to know where they stand," highlighting the growing discontent among the community.

This incident is not isolated but part of a larger wave of discontent among fans regarding HYBE's handling of sensitive topics. Fans have been protesting against the company for several months, demanding transparency and a more open dialogue on important issues.

theyre actually monitoring really quickly rn on the fan letters too-

*i was trying to like the letter

i saw a few just for them to get deleted in a few mins.. https://t.co/q8QhMdqbVH pic.twitter.com/agsxSVJo0p       (@jtj0T7) May 31, 2024

So fans are not allowed to make these comments on Weverse but Scooter can?!!  how come these rules dont apply to him? https://t.co/bvWg6w5TqK  Sal T (@Sq517) May 31, 2024

In response to the outcry, HYBE has yet to issue a formal statement addressing the concerns raised by fans. However, the controversy continues to simmer, with fans determined to make their voices heard and resist any form of censorship on platforms meant for free expression and engagement.

YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: HYBE Addresses Reports Surrounding ADOR's Management Changes - Here's What The Company Said

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.
On May 31, KBS's Music Bank became the center of a heated debate in the K-pop community. NewJeans, nominated against aespa, took home first place with their hit song "How Sweet."

However, the group's celebration was marred by accusations of disrespect towards LE SSERAFIM's Eunchae, who is also an MC for the show.

During the acceptance speech, Eunchae was seen checking to see if NewJeans had finished speaking after a prolonged silence.

Just as she began to speak, Danielle from NewJeans interrupted to thank ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. The camera then switched back to Eunchae, leading many to perceive this as a deliberate slight.

NewJeans member Danielle gained attention during their Music Bank win for directly mentioning ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin amid the ongoing HYBE feud. #NewJeans #MusicBankWin #MinHeeJin #HYBE #ADOR https://t.co/MeXpOEHVEi  KpopStarz (@kpopstarz) May 31, 2024

The incident has sparked a debate, with fans taking to social media to voice their opinions. Many believe that NewJeans intentionally disrespected Eunchae, especially given the ongoing legal tensions between ADOR and HYBE, involving Min Hee Jin's targeting of LE SSERAFIM.

Oh I'm really starting to dislike these girls because why would you even do this??pic.twitter.com/2ocyU0iTO5  Nabi will    (@busanbreeeze) May 31, 2024

The first girl already thanked MHJ so the blonde one interrupting Eunchae to say it again is very... well https://t.co/Zuo74dnDfe May 31, 2024

I wish nothing but the worst for Newjeans and their psycho CEO. Cutting Eunchae off just like that and then proceeding to thank that btch who caused a lot of pain to Le Sserafim BTS Illit right in front of her. Mocking the whole situation when you should be ashamed! Nah fvck off! https://t.co/UHPhiI6qMw  MoiseslovesBTS   (@mb130) May 31, 2024

IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: NewJeans' 'Bubble Gum' MV Director Recounts Experience Working With Group

Conversely, a significant portion of the fanbase is defending NewJeans, suggesting the interruption was accidental. They point to the previous week's episode of Music Bank, where Eunchae and NewJeans shared a light-hearted interaction, as evidence that there is no ill will between them. Some fans are even calling the backlash a "witch hunt."

yall are pissing me off its neither of their faults eunchae is doing her job (they have a final speech and then the winners do encore) and danielle also wanted to say more (its sad what she said for a lot of reasons but anyway) yall need to get jobs https://t.co/o7750Bx2RX May 31, 2024

they spoke at the same time??? Yall are just looking for reasons to hate on them you miserable hoes and that downfall you all are praying for aint happening stay mad https://t.co/JdRtkej9J8  @ (@jiurinaluv) May 31, 2024

people calling a young girl an evil bitch when she was literally just waiting for the applause to end so she could continue talking. they accidentally spoke over each other its not that deep youre all crazypic.twitter.com/a7CBLIebX5 https://t.co/EcU5laxkTA  bitches love my white materia (billions must pray) (@y0rhaunitA2) May 31, 2024

As ADOR and HYBE continue their disputes, it appears their artists are becoming collateral damage in the conflict. The public scrutiny and fan wars are adding pressure on groups like NewJeans and LE SSERAFIM, making it challenging to navigate their public appearances without controversy.

The incident has left the K-pop community polarized. One fan commented, "It's clear that NewJeans had no intention of being disrespectful. This is being blown out of proportion." Another stated, "Considering the tension between ADOR and HYBE, this felt very pointed. NewJeans should have been more careful."

The debate over whether NewJeans disrespected Eunchae or if the outrage is an overreaction continues to rage on.

YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: NewJeans Accused of Plagiarism For 'How Sweet' - K-Netz Defend Girl Group

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 spoke about the possibility of her taking NewJeans away from HYBE in her latest interview.

On May 31, 20, Min Hee Jin appeared on KBS9 and had an interview with the anchor.

During the interview, it was acknowledged that two executives close to Min Hee Jin were dismissed, and replaced by HYBE executives.

They stated, "ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, who held her second press conference today, was smiling. Currently, two close associates of CEO Min were dismissed at ADOR's temporary general meeting of shareholders and were replaced by three executives recommended by HYBE."

Min Hee Jin talked about the difference between her first and second press conference, stating, "The first press conference was held under difficult circumstances out of necessity, while the second press conference was held after a decision had been reached yesterday, which allowed me to more freely explain my situation."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: NewJeans Danielle Causes Buzz by Acknowledging ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin During 'Music Bank' Win

Min Hee Jin is still facing ongoing lawsuits. On May 22, BELIFT Lab filed a lawsuit against her, accusing Min Hee Jin of defamation among other charges after Min Hee Jin accused HYBE and BELIFT Lab of plagiarizing NewJeans for ILLIT's debut.

The anchor asked, "With the reorganization of ADOR's board, will the head-on clash with Min Hee Jin continue?"

The ADOR CEO responded, "I think the situation is the same. Side-stepping will not resolve anything, and confrontation has always been necessary, so I think this will continue."

She then expressed why she wants to reconcile with HYBE, saying, "I proposed reconciliation from the perspective that a quick decision is needed for the shareholders, fans, and most importantly, the members of NewJeans."

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Min Hee Jin Addresses Allegations She Talked Badly About NewJeans Members in Messages

The anchor then remarked that HYBE believes Min Hee Jin plans to snatch NewJeans away. Min Hee Jin retorted that this was not true at all, and it was impossible for her to do so.

Min Hee Jin retorted, "Thats completely not true. In a situation where HYBE makes all decisions, any action I take would be known to them, making the idea of taking them away impossible. I think this was made up for negotiations to defend ADOR, but it is impossible to do."

She also commented on fans believing the management dispute is burying NewJean's potential, stating, "I dont consider it a management dispute. Any issue that becomes problematic is certainly not good for NewJeans, and I hope to resolve it quickly. The injunction was filed to secure legitimacy for a quick resolution."

Min Hee Jin was then asked about the difficulties of running a K-pop agency. She revealed, "Its necessary to institutionalize measures so that employees can work comfortably. Currently, the risk of looking highly manufactured is high. There is growing concern that because the work protocol is set, then the work looks mass-produced. Above all, I'm very worried about what will happen to NewJeans. Their first Japanese single is coming out on June 21, and their scheduled Tokyo Dome event seems to be proceeding as planned. Beyond that, I dont know what will happen."

CHECK THIS OUT: Min Hee Jin Expresses Hope of Reconciliation With HYBE: 'Let's Stop Fighting'

Earlier, after winning the injunction, Min Hee Jin held a press conference at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, explaining her stance regarding the shareholder's meeting that happened that same day.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
News / National

by Staff reporter

The National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), led by opposition politician Job Sikhala, has pledged to organize mass protests against President Mnangagwa's attempt to secure an unconstitutional third term in office.The Zimbabwean Constitution limits a president to two five-year terms, making this Mnangagwa's final term. However, there have been increasing calls among his Zanu-PF supporters for an extension, with the slogan "2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo (Mnangagwa will still be in office in 2030)" gaining popularity at party events.Mnangagwa has dismissed any ambitions for a third term, stating he will abide by the Constitution. Nonetheless, there are concerns that the ruling party might amend the Constitution to allow him another term.NDWG Secretary General Gerald Tavengwa accused Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF of overseeing a declining economy and committing human rights abuses."The National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) is appalled by the deteriorating living conditions of ordinary Zimbabweans, worsened by the economic austerity measures and human rights abuses of the Zanu-PF regime. It is surprising that citizens have remained silent in the face of repression and extortion, despite the Constitution of Zimbabwe guaranteeing the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration," Tavengwa said in a statement.He continued, "At a time of our choosing, we will call for peaceful protests and mass action to demand justice, equality, and freedom. We will not be swayed by the cowardice of others, nor will we be deterred by the regime's threats and violence. The people of Zimbabwe deserve better, and we will fight for a brighter future."Let the regime and its apologists be warned: the people will not be silenced forever. We will rise and demand justice, equality, and freedom."
By Prabhakar Chaturvedi

New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): Delighted over the successful launch of the Agnibaan SOrTeD (suborbital technological demonstrator), the co-founder and CEO of AgniKul Cosmos, Srinath Ravichandran revealed that the spacetech startup is "in advanced stage talks with 13 customers."

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections Results 2024: We Will Win 295-Plus Seats, Say INDIA Bloc Leaders After Delhi Meeting.

In an interview with ANI, Ravichandran spoke about Agnibaan SOrTeD, the cost of the launch, support from the ISRO and the company's financial status.

The space tech startup is in talks with entities from Europe, Japan and the USA, he told ANI.

Also Read | Lokshahi Exit Poll Result 2024 for Maharashtra: Big Reverses for MahaYuti, Major Gains for MVA As per Exit Poll Projections.

"All of our customers are based out of Europe and Japan and in addition, a few are in the US."

Ravichandran said, "We will see some of these talks translated into the actual business contract when we launch our next flight."

Revealing the cost incurred on the launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD, he said it takes around USD 1,000 to develop such rockets, but for us it took only one-tenth (1/10) of this cost.

"We have managed to reduce the cost using our research and development (R&D). It is very affordable given the technology we chose to develop the rocket," he added.

Explaining further about the cost front, the AgniKul Cosmos co-founder said, "The cost of developing the rocket is low not because we have compromised on the quality of parts or something but because the engine is using a different technology and that is how cost reduction was possible. It is a huge reduction in the cost." Agnibaan SorTED is a suborbital rocket which means that such launch vehicles may go into space, but then their path (or trajectory) carries them back to the Earth.

"We have built it using multiple interested technologies such as 3D printers and cryogenic technology, and we launched it from our own launchpad," he added.

Giving insights into the revenue part of the company, Ravichandran said that the company has not reached at the revenue-generating stage.

He added that the margins will be greater when it reaches the revenue-generating stage.

"Today we are in the phase of more R&D and development of technologies. That is why more money is outgoing than the revenue."

He said that the company is using the raised money from the investors to build intangible assets such as IP and technologies among others. "Once launches will start, every launch will bring a huge margin. This is how industry operates," according to the co-founder.

Incubated at IIT-Madras, Agnikul was the first Indian startup to sign an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in December 2020.

The startup has recently secured Rs 200 crore in its Series B funding round, with investments from Celesta Capital, Rocketship.vc, Artha Venture Fund, Mayfield India, and others. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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 August 31. Live Nation shared that attendees who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded. Jennifer Lopez Is Focused on Work Amid Rumoured Marital Dispute With Husband Ben Affleck  Reports.

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 wouldn't do this if I didn't 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 I'd love to capture this moment in time the way that album captured that moment in time.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Guwahati, Jun 2 (PTI) The ruling BJP of Assam on Saturday termed the exit poll results as a reflection of people's faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the results put the saffron party-led alliance in the state at a comfortable tally.

The opposition parties including Congress and AIUDF, however, maintained that the actual results will be different than the ones from the exit polls.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024: BJP-Led NDA Poised To Return to Power With Thumping Majority in LS Polls, Cross Its 2019 Tally, Says Post-Poll Prediction.

Most of the exit poll results put the BJP and its allies' tally in the state from nine to 12 seats, Congress' at zero to two seats, and others, including AIUDF, at zero to one seat.

The BJP has nine MPs in the outgoing Lok Sabha, Congress has three and one each is held by AIUDF and an Independent.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024: No Faith in Exit Polls, Congress Will Cross Double Digits in Karnataka, Says DK Shivakumar.

"The exit polls results match the prediction made by our party and the chief minister. It reflects the people's faith in Modi ji and how they want to see him as the prime minister for a third term," BJP spokesperson Dewan Dhruba Jyoti Maral said.

He claimed that the same results will be reflected when the actual counting of votes takes place on June four.

"BJP and its allies tally will be in double digits here," Maral added.

The BJP had fielded candidates in 11 seats, leaving two for Asom Gana Parishad and one for UPPL.

Congress leader Debabrata Saikia maintained that much importance cannot be given to exit poll results as it has proved to be inaccurate in the past.

"We have to wait for three more days and the actual results will be known," he said.

The Congress had contested in 13 seats, while its ally Assam Jatiya Parishad had fielded its nominee in one seat.

AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam claimed that though most of the exit polls have put the party's tally at naught, it was confident of winning at least one seat.

"We will surely retain Dhubri. And the numbers given to BJP and allies will come down," he maintained.

Polling for the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state was conducted in three phases, with 81.56 per cent voter turnout.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna, Jun 1 (PTI) The BJP on Saturday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging RJD president Lalu Prasad violated the model code of conduct while casting his vote in Patna.

In the complaint, signed by several office bearers of the state BJP, including legal cell head SD Sanjay, it was alleged that Prasad entered the booth with a "gamcha" around his neck, on which the RJD's poll symbol, the lantern, was printed.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024: 'Opportunistic INDI Alliance Failed To Strike Chord With Voters, Regressive Politics Rejected, Says PM Narendra Modi.

"It appeared Prasad was trying to influence voters inside the polling station. This is clearly a violation of Representation of People Act and Model Code of Conduct," said the complaint.

"It is, therefore, requested that a case be registered against the RJD president, who is also a former Chief Minister of Bihar," it added.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Exit Poll Result 2024 for Jammu and Kashmir: Exit Polls Project Three Seats to National Conference, Two to BJP.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
News / National

by Staff reporter

Retired Colonel Lionel Dyck, a distinguished veteran of the Zimbabwe National Army and head of the Dyck Advisory Group (DAG), has died. He succumbed to cancer in Capetown after a prolonged battle with the illness.Early Life and Military CareerBorn in 1944 in Southern Rhodesia, Lionel Dyck embarked on his military journey in 1961, serving in the Rhodesian Army. His dedication and service continued until 1980, a pivotal year marking the country's transition to independence and its new identity as Zimbabwe.Following the establishment of Zimbabwe, Dyck maintained his commitment to the military. He formed a close professional relationship with the then Minister of Defence, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is now the President of Zimbabwe. In recognition of his service, Dyck was honoured with the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe.In 1986, Dyck was appointed a Commissioner of Oaths, a significant role highlighting his respected status. He retired from the army in 1990 and relocated to South Africa, where he lived until his passing.Entrepreneurial Ventures in South AfricaIn South Africa, Dyck ventured into business, founding a company dedicated to demining and anti-poaching efforts. His entrepreneurial spirit led to considerable success and wealth. In 2012, he established the Dyck Advisory Group (DAG), a private military contractor firm specializing in mercenary operations, demining, and anti-poaching services.Dyck's reputation as a skilled private military contractor grew, and his services were sought after by many. His legacy is marked by his contributions to both military and civilian spheres, particularly in areas concerning safety and conservation.Retired Colonel Lionel Dyck's life and work left an indelible mark on many. He will be remembered not only for his military prowess but also for his entrepreneurial achievements and dedication to humanitarian causes.
North 24-Parganas (West Bengal) [India], June 1 (ANI): An alleged clash broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers at Bayarbari in West Bengal's Basirhat amid the seventh and final phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.

BJP candidate from Basirhat Lok Sabha seat Rekha Patra said, "If you (police) want to raise your hands on me, then do so. You are the police (administration), but you should be ashamed that you are slaves of the Chief Minister... The Chief Minister has bought you... The police are slaves of the Chief Minister, they (police) will not give any answer."

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Over 58% Voting Till 5 PM in 57 Constituencies of 8 States.

She also accused the TMC of conducting proxy voting at a booth in Basirhat's Bayarbari area.

"Vote looting is going on here, no one has voted here, proxy voting has taken place here," she said.

Also Read | Rajasthan Road Accident: En Route to Funeral of Wifes Father, Man Killed in Car Accident in Kota.

Earlier today, a clash also broke out between TMC and BJP workers at Meraganj in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, leaving several people injured.

"Several people were injured in the clash between the TMC and BJP at booth numbers 40 and 41 in Meraganj," police said.

A TMC leader, identified as Bakibullah Laskar injured in the clash alleged that their workers were beaten by the BJP in front of the police and that six of them were injured. "We were beaten (by BJP) in front of the police. Six of our workers were injured," Laskar told ANI.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Utpal Naskar levelled counter allegations, claiming that TMC attacked and injured seven of their booth agents.

"When BJP agents were on their way to sit in the booth, they were stopped on the way and beaten... Police went there... Later the police called the BJP booth agents and tried to make them sit in the booth... but after that TMC attacked... 2 booth agents were injured in this... a total of 7 were injured," BJP leader Utpal Naskar told ANI.

Following the incident, heavy police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain the law and order situation.

Also, there were reports of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) being looted by a local mob, and VVPAT machines being thrown into a pond in South 24 Parganas.

According to the Chief Electoral Office of West Bengal, an FIR has been filed by the Sector Officer, and necessary action has been initiated in this matter.

"Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs and papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP School at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU, and 2 VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond," CEO West Bengal posted on X.

In its statement, the West Bengal Police stated that steps have been taken against the miscreants.

"This incident happened in the morning around 6 am much before the polling process in Bengal. Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated. Polling in Bhangar started without any interruption and is going on peacefully," the police said.

The voting for the seventh and final phase was concluded in West Bengal's nine seats, including Barasat, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Dum Dum, Jaynagar, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar, and Mathurapur.

The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kochi, June 1 (PTI) The Kerala police on Saturday said it has arrested the alleged mastermind behind the international human trafficking network involved in organ harvesting.

Ernakulam Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena said that 41-year-old Ballamkonda Ram Prasad also known as Pratapan was the alleged mastermind behind the mafia and was hiding out in a hotel in Hyderabad.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Will Win over 370 LS Seats, NDA Over 400, Says JP Nadda.

A special investigation team of Kerala police arrested Pratapan, a native of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The police said that according to preliminary information received by it, many people have carried out kidney transplantation related transactions through the Andhra resident.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Over 58% Voting Till 5 PM in 57 Constituencies of 8 States.

The victims of the organ trafficking operation were from rural areas and the organs were allegedly removed in Iran, police said in a statement.

Pratapan had first got in touch with the organ trafficking mafia to donate his kidney, but as he suffered from some diseases, his organ could not be taken, it claimed.

Later, he joined the group, became their main person and contacted organ recipients through social media, police further claimed.

He would send the donors from India to Iran where they were received by one Sabith Nasar, who is already in police custody, the statement said.

After the organs were donated, the donors were sent back to India by Nasar, it said.

Besides Nasar and Pratapan, police have also caught one Sajith Shyam, suspected to be the one controlling the financial affairs of the gang, the statement said.

Nasar, hailing from Valappadu in Thrissur district, was taken into custody from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) two weeks ago following a tip-off from Central agencies.

All the accused have been charged under relevant provisions of the IPC and the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.

A detailed investigation has been launched into the matter by a huge team headed by the Ernakulam Rural SP, the statement said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kanyakumari, June 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 45-hour meditation on the Vivekananda Rock Memorial that began on Thursday continued today and will conclude on Saturday evening. This coincides with the conclusion of polling for the final phase of Lok Sabha polls. PM Modi started his meditation at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'.

The Prime Minister arrived at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on Thursday. 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 Narendra Modi Meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari, Pics and Videos Surface.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Morning visuals from Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. PM Narendra Modi started his meditation here on 30th May evening which will continue till 1st June evening. pic.twitter.com/3x2HyyUaIA  ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2024

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, after the culmination of the Lok Sabha election campaign. 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. PM Narendra Modi Visits Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari Before Commencing 48-Hour Meditation at Dhyan Mandapam in Tamil Nadu (Watch Video).

The Prime Minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. 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.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ranchi, Jun 1 (PTI) Voting for three Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand commenced on Saturday, amid tight security, officials said.

Polling began at 7 am in Dumka, Rajmahal, and Godda, and will continue till 5 pm.

Also Read | Live News Updates Today.

A total of 52 candidates, including eight women, are contesting in this final phase, the state's fourth and the seventh nationwide. Nineteen candidates each are competing in Dumka and Godda, while Rajmahal has 14 contestants.

Approximately 53.23 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots in these three constituencies, with Godda having the highest number of voters at 20.28 lakh, and Dumka the lowest at 15.91 lakh. Over two lakh are first-time voters in the 18-19 age group, while 439 are aged over 100 years.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: A Look at Key Candidates, Battlegrounds in Seventh Phase of General Polls.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said preparations are in place for free and fair polls, including sealing the borders with neighboring Bihar and West Bengal, where polls are also taking place.

Arrangements have been made to transport elderly citizens and persons with disabilities (PwDs) to and from the polling booths, he added. Since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, illegal items and cash worth approximately Rs 135 crore have been seized in the state.

Of the 6,258 total booths, 5,769 are in rural areas. Two hundred forty-one booths will be managed by women, 11 by the youth, and 7 by PwDs. Additionally, there are 18 unique booths showcasing the specialties of their respective areas.

All eyes are on Dumka seat where BJP's Sita Soren, sister-in-law of jailed former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, is contesting against INDIA bloc's Nalin Soren. Sita, a former three-term JMM legislator, joined BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, citing 'neglect' and 'isolation' by JMM after the death of her husband Durga Soren in 2009.

In Godda, BJP sitting MP Nishikant Dubey is contesting against INDIA bloc's Pradip Yadav. The Rajmahal seat is expected to witness an interesting fight as JMM's Borio legislator Lobin Hembrom is contesting as an Independent against sitting JMM MP Vijay Hansdak. The BJP has fielded its former state president Tala Marandi for the seat.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won the Dumka and Godda seats, while the JMM secured the Rajmahal seat. The final phase of elections saw intense campaigning, including by PM Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Jharkhand CM Champai Soren, and JMM leader Kalpana Soren.

Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, BJP won 11 constituencies, while AJSU Party, Congress, and JMM won one seat each in the 2019 polls.PT NAM MNB

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pune, June 1: The mother of the Minor accused in the Pune car accident case, which took the lives of two IT professionals who were travelling on a bike on the night of May 19, has been arrested on Saturday, a police official said. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the arrest, stating, "The mother of the minor accused has been arrested in the case."

Meanwhile, days after the Porsche car crash case that has sent shockwaves across the country, retired IAS officer Arun Bhatia has written a letter to the Chairman of Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC) seeking the transfer of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar from the city. Pune Porsche Car Crash: Shivani Agarwal, Mother of Minor Accused Arrested, Says Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.

Bhatia has also requested the human rights body to investigate the conduct of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar since he "represents the police force in the city".

The appointment of the doctor as Chief Medical Officer based on a politician's recommendation should be investigated and the Health Secretary punished, Bhatia stated in the letter. Bhatia has also asked for a report from the police regarding the step-by-step sequence of events and reasons for delay and lapses in the investigation process which must be obtained and brought into the public domain immediately."

"The present Police Commissioner cannot be relied upon to do this," he mentioned. The retired civil servant accused the Police Commissioner of shielding the crime and his corrupt officials. "To cap this scandal the court released on bail the seventeen-year-old who had emerged from a pub to take the wheel instead of placing him in a remand home", he said. Shivani Agarwal, Mother of Teen Accused in Pune Porsche Crash Case, Under Probe for Giving Her Blood Sample Instead of Her Son's.

Earlier on Friday the court sent the father and grandfather of the accused minor involved to judicial custody for 14 days. Also, the Pune Police Crime Branch on Friday filed a production application for the father of the minor accused before the Pune District Court in the first FIR wherein charges of 120B were added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhubaneswar, Jun 1 (PTI) The death toll in the explosion of a stockpile of firecrackers in Odisha's Puri mounted to nine after three of the injured people died, a senior official said on Saturday.

A total of 21 people are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Also Read | Tashigang, World's Highest Polling Station, in Himachal Pradesh, Sees 79% Voter Turnout in Lok Sabha Election 2024 (Watch Video).

A total of 30 people were injured in the explosion that happened during Lord Jagannath's 'Chandan Yatra', a ritual, on the night of May 29.

According to information received from the Health & Family Welfare Department, three injured people died since late Friday night, the official said.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Exit Poll Result 2024: News 24-Today's Chanakya Exit Poll Predicts Clean Sweep for BJP in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.

"The total death toll rose to nine. Presently 21 patients are under medical treatment in different hospitals, the official said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered an inquiry into the incident and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased.

The Puri collector has taken steps for the payment of ex-gratia, the official said.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Satyabrata Sahu, who is also the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), has started a probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, Puri Police said it registered a suo motu criminal case and an investigation is underway.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 1 (ANI): Accusing the Trinamool Congress of indulging in violence on voting day to save its "corrupt" regime, CPI (M) West Bengal secretary and former MP Mohammad Salim on Thursday appealed the people to cast their vote for peace.

"People should vote for peace in Bengal and other parts of India. Trinamool Congress indulges in violence to keep its corrupt regime in West Bengal. BJP and TMC are together because they saw the growing support for the Congress-Left alliance in the state," Salim told ANI after casting his vote at a polling station in Kolkata in the last phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Also Read | Thane Water Cut: TMC Announces 10% Supply Disruption From June 5.

Salim, who is also the CPI(M) candidate from the Murshidabad constituency, said that the Left is confident of regime change at the Centre.

Though TMC is part of the INDIA alliance at the national level, the party does not have a seat-sharing agreement with the Left parties and the Congress in the state.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: 40.09% Voter Turnout Recorded in Seventh Phase Till 1 PM, Himachal Pradesh Leads With 48.63% Turnout.

The state witnessed untoward incidents during the voting on Saturday.

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) were looted by a local mob and two VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond in South 24 Parganas officials said.

According to the Chief Electoral Office, West Bengal, an FIR has been lodged by the Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated.

"Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs and papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU, 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond," CEO West Bengal posted on X.

The CEO further informed that fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer.

"Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by the Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. The poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer," the CEO added.

BJP leader Amit Malviya criticised the incident and said that the democracy is up in flames in West Bengal.

"Democracy is up in flames in West Bengal. Bombs have been hurled in Jadavpur's Bhangar, irate villagers in Joynagar's Kulti have thrown an EVM and VVPAT machine in a pond because TMC goons won't let them vote," he posted on X.

Malviya further said that Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjee's nephew and heir apparent is contesting is the most affected constituency.

"But the worst affected is Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjee's nephew and heir apparent is contesting from. BJP workers are being intimidated, not allowed to sit in the booths, their polling documents Ana ched and destroyed... WB Police is acting like Abhishek Banerjee's henchmen. Even the Muslims have not been spared because a large number of them are voting for CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahman. TMC's 'secularism' dies the moment Muslims start voting against it," he wrote on X.Voting began at 7 am in West Bengal's nine seats including-- Barasat, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Dum Dum, Jaynagar, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar, and Mathurapur.

After the close of voting on June 1, the outcome of exit polls will be aired on various TV channels. The Election Commission has issued a ban on exit polls from 7 am on April 19 to 6:30 pm on June 1, till the conclusion of polling.

Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha is seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 1 (ANI): In a significant crackdown, Assam Police intercepted a consignment of illicit cough syrup intended for the narcotics market. The truck was en route from Guwahati to Agartala when it was stopped at the Churaibari checkpost on the Assam-Tripura border.

The incident occurred around 3:45 PM on Saturday during a routine check by the police. Upon inspection, the authorities discovered the truck, disguised as carrying various online transport goods, was concealing cartons of 'Eskuf', a cough syrup known for its misuse as a narcotic.

Also Read | News 24-Today's Chanakya Exit Poll Result 2024 for Madhya Pradesh: BJP Winning All 29 Seats, Including Chhindwara Constituency, in State.

A total of 3,300 bottles of Eskuf, packed in twenty-two cartons, each containing 150 bottles, were seized. The black-market value of the confiscated syrup is estimated to be around INR 1.6 million.

The driver of the truck, identified as Sonu, has been detained and will be charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He is set to be presented before the Karimganj Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court on Sunday.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Exit Poll Results 2024: Brokerage Firms Give BJP a Thumping Majority, Markets 'Poised' for Rally on June 3.

This seizure marks the third consecutive day of successful drug interceptions by the Assam Police, raising serious questions about the efficacy of the Tripura Police in combating drug trafficking. Despite the regular capture of narcotics at the Churaibari checkpoint, no significant drug seizures have been reported within Tripura's jurisdiction, suggesting a possible lapse in local law enforcement vigilance.

As Assam Police continue to safeguard the region from drug infiltration, the contrasting performance of Tripura Police has sparked concerns and criticism regarding their role and effectiveness in addressing the narcotics menace at the state's borders. (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], June 1: In a setback for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in West Bengal, the exit polls on Saturday predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will move ahead of Mamata Banerjee's TMC in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

The polling for 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal were held in seven phases. The counting is scheduled for June 4.

The exit poll outcome was declared after the conclusion of polling for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. Aaj Tak-Axis My India Exit Poll Result 2024 for West Bengal: Post-Poll Prediction Projects Massive Gains for BJP, Likely to Lead in 26 to 31 Seats; TMC May Get Limited to 14 Seats.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC had won 22 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, and the BJP won 18. Congress won only 2 seats.

The exit polls predicted the BJP-led NDA creating history by winning more Lok Sabha seats than TMC in the elections.

According to the News18 exit poll, the BJP-led NDA is expected to win 21-24 seats in West Bengal. The TMC is set to win 18-21 seats.

India TV poll said that the BJP-led NDA may get between 22-26 seats, TMC 14-18 seats, and Congress to get 1-2 seats.

The ABP News-CVoter exit poll predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in West Bengal. The BJP is predicted to win 23-27 seats while the Trinamool Congress is expected to get 13-17 seats. The Congress to get 1-3 seats.

According to News 24-Today's Chanakya Analysis, the BJP is poised to win 24 seats, TMC to get 17 seats and Congress to get 1 seat.

According to the India Today-Axis My India, BJP will get 26-31 seats, TMC to get 11-14 seats and INDIA bloc to get 0-2 seats.

A voter turnout of 69.89 per cent was recorded in Bengal till 5 pm in the last phase of Lok Sabha polls in which nine seats went to the elections, the Election Commission said.

Several prominent candidates contested from various constituencies, such as Abhishek Banerjee (TMC) and Amrita Roy (BJP) from Diamond Harbour and Krishnanagar, respectively. Mahua Moitra (TMC) also contested from Krishnanagar. In Tamluk, Abhijit Gangopadhyay represented the BJP.

The Baharampur constituency saw a three-way contest between Yusuf Pathan (TMC), Nirmal Kumar Saha (BJP), and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress). In Kolkata Uttar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC), Tapas Roy (BJP), and Pradip Bhattacharya (Congress) were the main contenders.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4. Lok Sabha Exit Poll Results 2024 by India Today-Axis My India: BJP To Emerge As Single Largest Party in West Bengal, TMC Distant Second; Check Projected Seat Numbers Here.

In the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, the BJP secured 282 seats and the party secured 303 seats in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019.

The 42 parliamentary seats of Bengal polled across all seven phases--on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

The voting for the 543-member Lok Sabha was held across seven phases. Votes will be counted on June 4.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Noida, Jun 1 (PTI) Fire broke out in an IT company in Noida's Sector 63 on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

No person suffered any injuries in the fire that broke out on the second floor of the company's building around 2 pm, Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Choubey said.

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He said the fire broke out due to a blast in the indoor unit of an air conditioner.

"When the fire service unit were alerted about the blaze, six water tenders were immediately sent to the spot. Additionally, four more vehicles were sent to meet any requirement," Choubey said.

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"However, the fire was doused using the service of three vehicles only. The fire broke out due to a blast in indoor unit of an AC in the company," the CFO said.

He said some company workers were on duty at the time of the incident but no body suffered any injuries in the episode.

An "AC blast" generally refers to an explosion or fire involving an air conditioning (AC) unit. Such incidents can occur due to various factors, often related to electrical or mechanical failures, according to officials.

The officials have also urged people to not run their ACs continuously for long durations in order to prevent any mishap in the prevailing extreme hot weather conditions.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
News / National

by Staff reporter

Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi has issued an arrest warrant for Zanu-PF Masvingo youth chairperson Delight Mandebvu after he failed to appear in court today.Mandebvu faces three assault charges related to an incident where he allegedly assaulted prominent Masvingo lawyer and former mayor Collen Maboke, his wife Tariro, and a relative, Simbarashe Matyei, following a vehicle sideswipe along the Masvingo-Bikita road on March 3, 2024.Prosecutor Godknows Mugondo requested the warrant due to Mandebvu's absence and lack of communication with the court.An arrest warrant authorizes a police officer to detain a person and bring them before the court.The Mirror has obtained a letter dated May 27, 2024, from Mandebvu's lawyers, Machaya and Associates, informing the prosecutor that Mandebvu is in South Africa as part of a Zanu-PF youth delegation supporting the African National Congress (ANC) election campaign in the upcoming national elections.The letter explains that Mandebvu is engaged in national duty in South Africa as a member of the Zanu-PF youth league observer team and requests a postponement of the court date to any time in June. It proposes June 10, 2024, as the new trial date.Mandebvu appeared in court last Tuesday on crutches with a plaster on his left leg. However, video footage of him dancing and participating in ANC activities last week has surfaced online.Initially, Mandebvu appeared in court two weeks ago, claiming that Maboke had run him over, resulting in his inability to walk. He also stated that he needed time to find a lawyer outside the province, as local lawyers were avoiding his case.Mandebvu returned to court last Tuesday, requesting an additional week to secure legal representation.
New Delhi, June 1: MG Motor India on Saturday reported 5 per cent dip in wholesales at 4,769 units in May compared to the same month last year.

The company had dispatched 5,006 units to dealers in May 2023. Upcoming Tata Altroz Racer Teased Again Ahead of India Launch.

The automaker in a statement said it received positive traction for its electric vehicles (EVs) last month. Hyundai Motor Group Hires Former Porsche Engineer Manfred Harrer To Improve Its Vehicles Performance.

With 36 per cent of the company's overall monthly sales, the EV portfolio remained a major contributor in May 2024, it added.
New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) The UNM Foundation and Ahmedabad-based UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre have joined hands to provide financial assistance for heart transplants to needy patients.

Under the terms of the agreement, UNM Foundation shall provide full financial assistance to UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre (UNMICRC) for conducting heart transplants to needy patients for free.

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Patients suffering from advanced heart failure, unresponsive to guideline-directed medical therapy and those who lack the financial means to afford the necessary treatment will be eligible for this financial assistance, UNM Foundation said in a statement.

UNM Foundation, named after UN Mehta, the Founder of Torrent Group, is a charitable arm of the Mehta Family.

Also Read | World No Tobacco Day 2024: PV Sindhu Urges Everyone To Unite in The Health Ministry Campaign Against Tobacco Use.

Heart transplant surgeries and the post-operative care required are expensive and generally out of bounds for underprivileged patients. This first of its kind collaboration in the country aims to alleviate the financial burden on underprivileged families facing the devastating challenge of advanced heart failure.

"This unique initiative by the UNM Foundation is a beacon of hope for countless families requiring a heart transplant but lacking the financial means for it. By providing comprehensive financial support, we are not only saving lives but also ensuring that the highest quality of medical care is accessible to those who need it the most," UNMICRC Director Chirag Doshi stated.

UNMICRC will announce the patient eligibility criteria. This initiative will be in effect from June 1, 2024 for an initial period of five years.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Florida, Jun 1 (AP) 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.

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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 deputy's 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.

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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. Fortson's 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, I'm standing there thinking I'm about to get shot, I'm 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 Aden's action.

We appreciate what the internal investigation has shown and what the sheriff has done to this point, Williams told The Associated Press. We don't 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 sheriff's office in July 2019, but resigned two years later. He rejoined the sheriff's office 11 months ago.

The apartment complex where Fortson lived is about 8 miles (13 kilometres) 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 plane's 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 valour 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 woman's 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 Fortson's 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 didn't 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, Sheriff's 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 sheriff's office.

After the third knock, she said Fortson told her, I'm gonna go grab my gun because I don't 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, It's 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. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sana'a [Yemen], June 1 (ANI): Yemen's Houthi rebels say that they have launched a missile strike on a United States aircraft carrier in the Red Sea in retaliation for recent deadly strikes by the US and UK in Yemen, Al Jazeera reported.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the attack on the Eisenhower carrier on Friday, following earlier claims by the group that at least 16 people were killed in US and UK assaults on Yemen's Hodeidah province. This marks the highest publicly acknowledged death toll from multiple rounds of strikes linked to the group's alleged assaults on shipping.

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Al Masirah television, a Houthi-controlled channel, broadcasted footage showing wounded civilians being treated in Hodeidah, revealing the fallout from Thursday's attacks. At least 42 people were reported injured.

"The American-British aggression will not prevent us from continuing our military operations in support of Palestine," Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said on X, warning that the rebels would "meet escalation with escalation".

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The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that attacks on 13 Houthi targets resulted in the destruction of eight uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and over the Red Sea, according to Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence stated that Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on Hodeidah and Ghulayfiqah. It described targets as "buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones, as well as surface-to-air weapons".

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the military action as a form of "self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose".

The Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, controls significant portions of Yemen after nearly a decade of conflict against a Western-backed and Saudi-led coalition. They have vocally supported Palestinians amid Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza, launching repeated drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb strait, and the Gulf of Aden since November.

Iran condemned the US-UK strikes as "violations of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity ... international laws and human rights", Al Jazeera reported, citing, Iranian state media.

"The aggressor US and British governments are responsible for the consequences of these crimes against the Yemeni people," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.

According to the US Maritime Administration, Houthis have launched over 50 attacks on shipping, resulting in casualties, vessel seizures, and disruptions to global trade routes. The campaign has forced shipping firms to seek alternative routes, impacting approximately 12 per cent of global trade that traverses the Red Sea.

Despite retaliatory strikes by the US and UK aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities, the rebels have continued their assaults. In their latest actions, they targeted a Greek-owned bulk carrier and other vessels in response to Israeli strikes on Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tokyo, Jun 1 (AP) Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on Saturday canceled his planned flight around the moon on a SpaceX vehicle because of uncertainty about when it may be possible.

The tycoon in 2018 launched plans for the lunar flyby voyage. He bought seats for eight traveling companions in 2022 for what would be his second space journey after his 12-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS) on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2021.

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Maezawa was aiming the moon trip for 2023, a target seen by most space observers as overly optimistic given the progress of SpaceX's Spaceship mega-rocket project.

would have been the first private flight around the moon.

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That project became unfeasible, said the mission organizer on Saturday in a statement posted on its website. Without clear schedule certainty in the near-term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project.

To all who have supported this project and looked forward to this endeavor, we sincerely appreciate it and apologize for this outcome, it said.

Maezawa had selected eight people for his dearMoon project from 1 million applicants. They included a lead rapper for the K-pop group Big Bang, and Americans DJ Steve Aoki and filmmaker Brendan Hall.

Separately on Saturday, Maezawa said in his message on X: I can't plan my future in this situation and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence (I made) the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time.

I apologize to those who were excited for this project to happen, he said.

He said he signed the contract with SpaceX in 2018 assuming the launch would be possible by the end of 2023. It's a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch.

SpaceX's two test flights of its mega-rocket last year ended in explosions minutes after liftoff. In a third test in March, its spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.

Maezawa and his producer in December 2021 became the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009.

Maezawa made his fortune in retail fashion, launching Japan's major online fashion mall, Zozotown. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing [China], June 1 (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.

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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.

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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)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tan Tan (Morocco), Jun 1 (AP) High-ranking military officials from the US and its top African allies watched intently as dust and flames shot up from pieces of the Sahara Desert hit by tank and artillery fire. They looked up as pilots flew F-16s into formation. And they listened intently as Moroccan and American personnel explained how they would set up beachheads to defend the Atlantic coastline in the event of a potential invasion.

The practice scenario was among those discussed during Africa Lion, the United States' largest annual joint military exercise on the continent, which concluded Friday in Morocco.

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Over the past two weeks, roughly 8,100 military forces from nearly three dozen maneuvered throughout Tunisia, Ghana, Senegal and Morocco as part of the war games held this year as militaries confront new challenges in increasingly volatile regions.

Generals from the United States and Morocco, which hosted the finale of the two-week event, celebrated Africa Lion's 20-year anniversary and how partnerships between the U.S. and African militaries have expanded since it began.

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This exercise has grown over the years since 2004, not only have the number of multinational service members that we train with, but also the scope of the training as well, which has expanded to more than just security, said Gen. Michael Langley, the head of the United States' Africa Command.

But despite the spectacle of live-fire demonstrations and laudatory remarks about partnerships by Langley and Col. Maj. Fouad Gourani of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, parts of Africa are getting much more dangerous.

The United Nations earlier this year called Africa a global epicenter for terrorism. Fatalities linked to extremist groups have risen dramatically in the Sahel, the region that stretches from Mauritania to Chad.

Since 2020, military officers disillusioned with their governments' records of stemming violence have overthrown democratically elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and began distancing themselves from Western powers.

From 2021 to 2024, militants killed more than 17,000 people across the three countries, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

The United States is holding steadfast to its strategy of coupling weapons assistance and intelligence sharing with initiatives designed to boost civilian populations and strengthen institutions.

But it faces new competition. Decades after the end of colonialism, Africa has once again become absorbed in fighting among Great Powers, with Western influence waning and countries accepting more economic and military support from Chinese firms and Russian contractors.

At Africa Lion, the U.S. military showcased part of what it offers countries facing instability inside and just beyond their borders. Besides tanks and bombers, the joint exercises included operations and practice in field hospitals, medical evacuations and humanitarian assistance.

The exercise emphasized a whole of government approach to addressing the root causes of instability, ranging from climate change to displacement, rather than solely focusing on military might.

It's important that we not only be associated with kicking down doors, said Col. Kelly Togiola, a command surgeon who helped set up a field hospital alongside Moroccan doctors as part of the exercise. In times of crises, those relationships that matter.

That strategy differs from what's being offered by Africa Corps, the descendent of the Russian state-funded private military company Wagner, whose leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died last year. Yet it's come under scrutiny since military officers with a history of participating in training exercises have risen to positions of power after the ousters of democratically elected leaders in countries such as Guinea and Niger.

Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said regardless of how much the U.S. military broadens its efforts, its continued focus on counterterrorism will keep empowering military leaders throughout West Africa.

The nature of security assistance is that it's much more visible, impactful and manipulated by the recipient for ill, Hudson said. When we come in with training and toys, we reinforce within societies these power dynamics that in the long run are not helpful to the consolidation of civilian democratic rule.

Despite training exercises like Africa Lion, U.S. military leaders face difficulties prolonging their partnerships in places they've long characterized as strategically critical. Countries such as Niger and Chad  which participated in Africa Lion  have embraced Russian trainers and paramilitaries and pushed for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The U.S. military officials note their assessment of the threat of malign Russian and Chinese influence but say they can work in countries that accept assistance from geopolitical rivals.

To juggle curbing Russian influence while opposing the overthrow of democratically elected leaders hasn't worked everywhere, especially as the U.S. military often attaches strings to how countries can implement training and weapons provided.

U.S. law makes governments deposed in military coups ineligible for large portions of assistance, despite the military's talk of equal partnership and noninterference.

Rachid El Houdaigui, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, said the growing youth populations in west African countries wanted to forge new political identities and were skeptical of the West after years of insecurity.

African states consider variety favorable. It allows them to choose and gives them many possibilities, he said of countries in the Sahel that have opened their doors to Russian and Chinese assistance. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ahmedabad, June 1: In another tragic incident involving underage driving, a 17-year-old boy driving his dads SUV struck and critically injured a 16-year-old girl in Ahmedabads Hebatpur. The incident occurred in Thaltej, where Diya Prajapati, a Class 10 student, was walking near her home in Sandipani Society. The girl is currently fighting for her life in hospital. This incident follows a similar accident in Pune where a 17-year-old boy, driving his fathers Porsche car under the influence of alcohol, killed two people.

TOI reported that the speeding Fortuner SUV hit Diya, causing severe injuries. Passersby rushed her to a private hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Porsche Car Crash: Shivani Agarwal, Mother of Minor Accused, Arrested, Says Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.

The boy, who had recently passed his Class 10 exams, was driving his father's SUV without a license due to his age. Following the accident, he attempted to flee but was apprehended by the public. The N Division traffic police have detained the boy and are investigating the incident, including the speed at which the SUV was traveling. Porsche Accident in Pune: New CCTV Video Shows Luxury Car Running at High Speed Moments Before Driver Rams It Into Motorcycle, Killing Two People.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic West) Neeta Desai confirmed that a complaint had been filed, but due to her busy schedule, she did not provide further details. The FIR was not uploaded to the Gujarat Police portal by late Friday night, raising questions about the city traffic police's actions.

A source revealed that the juvenile's parents were not immediately reachable, but his relatives have been contacted by the police. This incident follows a similar case on May 19 in Pune, where a 17-year-old boy driving a Porsche Taycan at over 200 kmph hit a motorcycle, resulting in two fatalities. Pune police subsequently arrested the boy's father and grandfather on suspicion of attempting to cover up the incident.

The authorities in Ahmedabad are urging parents to ensure that their children do not drive without a valid license to prevent such tragedies. The investigation into the Hebatpur incident is ongoing, with the police working to gather all necessary evidence and witness testimonies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 01, 2024 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, June 1: In what may be a major breakthrough for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the southern states, Kerala is set to witness the party winning seats for the first time ever, besides scoring victory in Tamil Nadu after a long gap, as per the projections of the Axis My India Exit Polls. According to Axis My India Exit Polls, the BJP is expected to win 2-3 seats each in Tamil Nadu and Kerala out of the 39 and 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in the respective states.

The INDIA bloc, though, is projected to maintain its dominant position in both the states. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK-Congress alliance is seen gaining a clear majority with 33-37 seats, while in Kerala, the UDF is projected to win 17-18 seats. The BJP making inroads in Tamil Nadu and Kerala shows Prime Minister Narendra Modis 'South Push' and high-pitched campaigning yielding results for the party for the first time. Exit Poll Result 2024: Some Exit Polls Predict Comfortable Majority for BJP-Led NDA in Lok Sabha Elections

Though the BJP is projected to win a small number of seats, its increased vote share shows the scale and intensity of the partys penetration in both the southern states. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP is projected to get 14 per cent of votes, while the Congress and DMK together are seen bagging about 36 per cent vote share. In Kerala, the BJPs 27 per cent vote share is good enough to challenge the UDF's vote share of 41 per cent. Republic P-MARQ Exit Poll Results 2024 for Karnataka: NDA Likely to Secure 22 Seats, INDIA Bloc Trails Behind With 6 Seats, Says Post-Poll Prediction

Karnataka, which is currently ruled by the Congress, is projected to give clear gains to the BJP with a decisive vote share of 55 per cent. The INDIA bloc is seen lagging at 44 per cent. In terms of seats, this would translate into 23-25 seats for the BJP and 3-5 seats for the INDIA bloc. For the unversed, the BJP has consistently drawn a blank in Kerala, while it won a few seats in Tamil Nadu during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 01, 2024 07:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Patna, Jun 1: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday asserted that the INDIA bloc, of which his party was a part, would form the next government at the Centre and that the ruling BJP-led NDA was on its way out. The former Bihar Deputy CM, who spearheaded the Lok Sabha polls campaign of the opposition coalition in the state, was talking to reporters here after casting his vote.

"The INDIA coalition will form the government after results are out on June 4. The NDA will be voted out", claimed the 34-year-old leader, whose exertions have left him with an injured spine, causing him to move around in a wheelchair. The RJD seemed to share ally Congress' skepticism over exit polls, when asked about the latter's decision not to take part in TV debates on the post-poll surveys. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: INDIA Bloc Will Not Allow BJP To Change the Constitution, Says Rahul Gandhi

"You tell me who are the people conducting these exit polls and which one of these should we take seriously? The fact is, we have been on the ground, among people, and we have a first-hand sense of the public mood", asserted Yadav. The RJD leader also dismissed suggestions that the INDIA bloc's meeting in Delhi was aimed at preventing allies from breaking apart in the event of the coalition falling short of a majority. Will Repeal NRC, CAA if INDIA Bloc Voted to Power, Says Mamata Banerjee at Lok Sabha Election Rally

"I will be at the meeting and we will let you all know what was on the agenda afterwards", added Yadav, who later boarded his flight for Delhi along with wife and little daughter. Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much talked about meditation retreat at Kanyakumari, the RJD leader said he saw it as a "photo op", which did not resonate with people who were voting "to save the Constitution and to punish the government for price rise and unemployment".
News / National

by Staff reporter

At least 11 disgruntled political parties are demanding a recount of the votes and accusing the IEC and the ANC of vote rigging.The parties have lodged complaints to the IEC saying they have a lot of evidence from different parts of the country supporting their claims.With over 98% of votes counted, the ANC has received 40.28% with over six million votes followed by the DA with 21.63% from over three million voters and the MK with 14.71% from over two million votes.The president of African Congress for Transformation Ace Magashule said in Fourways where his son and staff members voted the results are zero yet they voted for the party.In the Free State where the party has more support it received 1.83% which amounts to just over 15,000 votes.Magashule said they have given the IEC raw data which include pictures and videos of presiding officers in position of ballot sheets marking them voting for the ANC."The recounting will expose the fraud and expose the integrity of the IEC," he said.The UDM's Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said they are also part of the group of political parties in the Western Cape and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and parts of the Eastern Cape that signed and submitted petitions to the IEC."There are a lot of irregularities; results slips signed by the party agent look different from those on the IEC website."In some of the voting stations where we had votes, the numbers are not the same as those of the IEC."We believe the ANC is behind the vote rigging, maybe had they not stolen votes they would be even poor maybe even at 35%," he said.Responding to the allegations, the first deputy secretary of the ANC Nomvula Mokonyane said political parties that feel aggrieved know the channels to follow to lodge their complaints.The IEC said it expected to announce the final results on Sunday.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday expressed confidence that the Congress will win at least 10 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state and that the INDIA bloc would form a government at the Centre.
INDIA bloc parties will get more than 295 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday, asserting that they had arrived at the figure after feedback from people.
A parked ambulance in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, officials said. Firefighting operations were underway, they said. Further details are awaited. Indore Fire: Massive Blaze Engulfs Ink Factory in Madhya Pradesh, No Casualties Reported (Watch Video).

Fire Breaks Out in Parked Ambulance at Jabalpur

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: A parked ambulance in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur caught fire. Firefighting operations were underway. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/IsomOOARVh  ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
The "World's Coolest Dictator," Nayib Bukele, has now started his second term as the president of El Salvador. However, the bitcoin-hawking strongman may not have made it to his second term as police stated they found bombs that were planted at several locations all over the country on the eve of his second inauguration.

According to Reuters, Salvadoran police claimed they arrested seven "veterans" who had fought in the country's 1992 civil war. They also allegedly arrested the plot's alleged financier, Jose Santos Melara, a former leftist lawmaker who was part of the FMLN party, which was formed by former guerrillas. Bukele used to be part of the FMLN.

Police stated that the alleged bombers "were part of the so-called Salvadoran Insurrection Brigade and their objectives were to detonate (explosives) at gas stations, supermarkets, and public institutions," before showing the press some photos of the explosives that these alleged terrorists tried to detonate.

Bukele was expelled from the FMLN party when it was still in power back in 2017. He then ran against his former party and was elected president, criticizing his former party's 1992 peace accords with the government that ended the El Salvador Civil War.

Despite the El Salvador Constitution banning him from running for another term, Bukele kicked out Supreme Court justices opposed to him and replaced them with his loyalists. These Supreme Court justices allowed him to run despite many of the country's legal experts crying foul. This then led to him winning that landslide victory in the elections last February.

"Violence has no place in politics," opposition politician and Bukele election rival Luis Parada said in a statement on social media, pointing out that the national police under Bukele has a "history of false accusations ... especially during the last two years."

READ MORE: El Salvador Gang Crackdown: At Least 241 Dead in Prisons Since Nayib Bukele Began His Campaign Vs. Gangs

Nayib Bukele Touts Record in War Against Violent Gangs in Election Victory

Coming into the election, Nayib Bukele has had sky-high approval ratings. This is all because of his popular crackdown against the violent gangs that have plagued Central America, including MS-13 and Barrio-18.

"We went from being the most insecure country in the world to the safest country in the entire Western Hemisphere," the president told his followers from the balcony of the country's presidential palace soon after winning the election.

"The Salvadoran people spoke and not only loud and clear, but they spoke in the most forceful way in the entire history of democracy in the entire world. If that doesn't convince you, journalists, gentlemen from NGOs, international organizations, the UN, the OAS," he added, addressing the international observers. "If that doesn't convince you, nothing will convince you."

Joe Biden Confirms US Delegation Will Attend Nayib Bukele Inauguration

The inauguration itself will happen on June 1, and several countries will be sending their own delegations to the event, including the United States, as President Joe Biden himself has confirmed.

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will be leading the delegation, which will include William H. Duncan, United States Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador, Commerce Undersecretary Marisa Lago, and more.

READ NEXT: El Salvador Authorities Dismantle Migrant Smuggling Ring

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: How DANGEROUS is EL SALVADOR Capital ? San Salvador - yatri doctor
Marian Robinson, former First Lady Michelle Obama mother, passed away at 86 on Friday.

Robinson, who lived in the White House to help raise Sasha and Malia, was a stabilizing force for the Obama family, ABC6 reports.

Michelle Obama praised her mother's unwavering support, calling her the family's "steady backstop."

The family's statement highlighted Robinson's wisdom and grace, describing her as having an innate yet hard-earned understanding that the world's rough edges could be softened with grace.

Robinson's presence and support were deeply valued by the Obama family during Barack Obama's presidency.

READ NEXT: Star-Studded Joe Biden Fundraiser to Feature George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Barack Obama

Early Life and Family

Marian Lois Shields was born and raised on Chicago's South Side. She initially pursued teaching before becoming a secretary.

In 1960, she married Fraser Robinson, and they had two children: Craig in 1962 and Michelle in 1964.

In a 2022 "Good Morning America" interview, Michelle Obama and her mother discussed their close bond, recalling family meals and Michelle's love for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Marian Robinson was a pillar of support when Michelle married Barack Obama, according to Fox News.

The family noted she remained a refuge during unpredictable times, including on Election Night 2008.

After Barack's win, she moved into the White House to help raise Sasha and Malia, humorously saying, "Just show me how to work the washing machine, and I'm good."

Robinson preferred to avoid the spotlight, forming close friendships with White House staff and enjoying simple pleasures like buying greeting cards at CVS.

Occasionally recognized by customers, she would smile and say, "Oh, I get that a lot."

Despite initial reluctance, Michelle Obama mother adapted to White House life, enforcing bedtimes, watching TV, and indulging in candy with her granddaughters.

Her presence as "first grandma" created a sense of normalcy and stability for Sasha and Malia, essential for their upbringing.

A Legacy of Education and Resilience

Marian Robinson was dedicated to her children's education, ensuring both Craig and Michelle graduated from Ivy League universities.

Fraser Robinson worked full-time despite having multiple sclerosis to provide quality education for them.

Michelle Obama often highlights the open, honest conversations they had as children, fostering confidence and curiosity, BBC noted.

After Barack Obama's presidency, Robinson returned to Chicago but stayed actively involved with her family.

Michelle celebrated their bond with a Mother's Day photo three weeks before Robinson's passing.

Marian Robinson's cause of death was not disclosed.

Survived by her children Craig and Michelle, daughter-in-law Kelly, and six grandchildren, Robinson's family expressed deep gratitude for her life.

They aim to honor her memory by living up to her example.

Michelle Obama mother's life, marked by love, resilience, and wisdom, saw her rise from a humble background on Chicago's South Side to the White House.

As "first grandma," she brought stability and warmth to the Obama family.

Her legacy endures through her descendants, who cherish her memory.

Her passing marks the end of an era for the Obama family, but her love and influence will resonate with them and all who knew her.

They celebrate her life and the profound impact she had on their hearts.

READ MORE: Obama Joins Biden to Defeat Trump

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, dies at 86 - From ABC7
Liberal actor Robert De Niro's critical comments against former President Donald Trump have cost him an honor from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

The prestigious NAB Leadership Foundation's Service to America Award, slated to be awarded to De Niro, has been rescinded following his vocal anti-Trump stance during a press conference, Fox News reports.

The NAB, known for its bipartisan stance, rescinded the award considering De Niro's recent activities, which they feared would overshadow the philanthropic purpose of the event.

"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," the NAB spokesperson resumed. "To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event."

While acknowledging De Niro's right to free speech, an NAB spokesperson emphasized the need to maintain focus on the charitable work of award recipients.

READ NEXT: Trump Criticizes Robert De Niro Over Courthouse Remarks

De Niro's Anti-Trump Tirade

Robert De Niro's criticism of Trump reached a peak when he attended a press conference sponsored by the Biden campaign outside Trump's Manhattan trial.

During the event, De Niro labeled Donald Trump as a "danger" to Americans and criticized his impact on New York City and the nation.

Despite the NAB award's rescindment, De Niro remained unapologetic, expressing gratitude for the Foundation's work while continuing to voice his opposition to Trump's policies and actions.

De Niro's outspokenness against Trump extended to the former president's historic felony conviction, where he labeled the verdict as justice served, according to the Independent.

Following Trump's historic felony conviction on 34 counts related to concealing hush money payments to a porn star, De Niro expressed his opinions on the matter.

Labeling Trump as "crazy" and a threat to the country, De Niro reiterated his commitment to speaking out against what he perceives as destructive actions.

De Niro's Concerns and Fears

Robert De Niro admitted to concerns about his safety due to his vocal criticism of Donald Trump but remained steadfast in his determination to resist intimidation.

Despite potential risks, De Niro emphasized the importance of standing up against threats to democracy and holding public figures accountable for their actions.

Robert De Niro's feud with Donald Trump began before the 2016 presidential election.

The actor has used speeches at awards shows and political events to criticize Trump's policies and actions.

Their exchanges have often sparked heated reactions from Trump, Variety noted.

At the 2018 Tony Awards, De Niro famously exclaimed "f*** Trump" on stage, prompting a flurry of tweets from Trump, who called De Niro "a very Low IQ individual" and mocked his acting career.

Recently, De Niro spoke at a Democratic event, accusing Trump of evading justice and insisting that he belongs in jail.

READ MORE: Biden Authorizes Ukraine to Use US Weapons Against Russia

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Actor Robert De Niro loses award after heated press conference near Trump trial - From Straight Arrow News
As expected, Donald Trump's supporters are not taking the news of him being found guilty of all 32 counts of falsifying business records too well as they are now threatening violence. Some of them are even calling for the death of Judge Juan Merchan after a jury that Trump's own lawyers had a massive input on found him guilty.

"Someone in NY with nothing to lose needs to take care of Merchan," one Trump supporter wrote on Patriots.Win. "Hopefully he gets met with illegals with a machete," furthering false claims that Biden is helping illegal immigrants.

Others are calling for people to kill their fellow Americans and promoting Trump's dictatorial and populist promises, with one poster on Gateway Pundit suggesting, "Time to start capping some leftys, this cannot be fixed by voting."

Despite claiming to be the "law and order" candidate, Trump has repeatedly whipped up his supporters to make threats of violence and give out intimidating rhetoric. This was especially true after Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. He falsely claimed that the election was stolen and whipped his supporters to a frenzy on January 6, 2021. This, of course, led to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Trump's own rhetoric is not helping either. Despite the strong evidence laid out against him and being found guilty by a jury, he has made his supporters believe that this trial was unfair and there was no evidence of his wrongdoing, even though he left a paper trail and his own aides and Trump Organization employees testified against him.

"1,000,000 men (armed) need to go to Washington and hang everyone. That's the only solution," another poster added, calling for yet another insurrection on Patriots.win, while another poster stated, "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."

Donald Trump Forcing Republican Politicians to Bow Down Before Him or Be Exiled

As Trump supporters are still coping, Republican politicians, whose Christian values are being called into question as they line up to defend a convicted felon who cheated on his wife with a porn star and was also behind a violent insurrection.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Guilty on All Counts in Porn Star Hush Money Case

However, as the BBC pointed out, with the Republican Party being under Trump's thumb, it is either you are with him or against him, and those against him often get exiled.

This is shown by how Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican who is running for Senate in liberal-leaning Maryland, was treated. After the Trump guilty verdict, he urged all Americans to "respect the verdict and the legal process." This did not make the Trump worshippers in the party happy.

Chris LaCivita, a top official with the Trump Campaign soon replied, "You just ended your campaign," which the BBC noted was an implication that "if you're not with us on this, you're politically dead." This is from the party that says they advocated "free speech."

Trump Media Shares Plunge Even More After Donald Trump's Guilty Verdict

Meanwhile, more fallout from Donald Trump being found guilty, as shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, tumbled even more. It was already slumping prior to the guilty verdict, and now it is falling even faster.

The Associated Press reported that Trump Media shares immediately fell by 9% in after-hours trading on Thursday, which was the day when Trump was found guilty. It continued to slump by 5% on Friday.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Guilty: Joe Biden, Republicans, Everyday People React

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: MAGA MELTS DOWN After Trump Guilty Verdict!
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Warren Hills Regional High School students celebrated their prom at the Stroudmoor on Friday.

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THIS weeks article is going to be part 1 of 2. I tried reducing the word count so it would fit into one piece, but I have too many important things to tell you and I didnt want to leave anything out which is why Im spacing it out for you over the next two weeks.

And the subject matter was inspired by a gentleman who reached out to me recently because hes 11 years away from retirement and he wanted to get a fact-check as to what he thinks hell be in receipt of from his pension funds when he turns 65.

And he was reasonably happy with the news I gave him because based on his current contributions and what he had accumulated to date, I confirmed that they were going to cover what he thought his monthly expenses in retirement would be, but only just.

This future outcome for him certainly wasnt planned, it was more by luck than design. Because looking at his pension statements wasnt something he paid much attention to. He always thought that what he and his employer were contributing was going to be enough, but he had no cold hard numbers to back up this hunch of his.

Anyway long story short he was lucky, but he might have felt much differently if I told him his pension funds were going to pay him a whole lot less than he needed.

Which got me thinking, what advice do people like him need when they are perhaps 10 or 15 years away from retirement?

And when your planned retirement date is a decade or more away it can seem like such a distant event that its much too soon to be looking at it.

But I think that after decades of hard work and saving, you dont want to arrive at a point close to retirement and be hit with the news that your pension is going to pay you a lot less than you had expected and needed.

Those 10 or 15 years will fly by and leaving it to the year before you retire or even five years before only to discover what your pension/s will pay you is too short a time period especially if corrections or improvements need to be made to the fund youre invested in or the amount youre saving each month.

You see the problem with under saving or being in the wrong fund is that if you delay looking at both you may not have enough time to make any changes required, which is why I believe people need to be forewarned than forearmed and you can only become this way if youre actively reviewing your pension and knowing well in advance what it will translate into based on current balances and current monthly contributions.

What you want to avoid are future shocks and surprises and you dont want to end up saying, had I known then what I know now I would have done things differently, so taking action and ownership of your pension a minimum 10 years from your planned retirement date is the route Id choose rather than just winging it and hoping it will be alright on the night.

Okay. with all of that in mind Im going to outline what I think the key areas you need to be looking at and reviewing at least 10 years away from your chosen retirement age and they are.



Create a retirement budget

One of the most basic questions you have to ask yourself when planning for retirement is, how much money will I need when I stop working?

And you cant answer this question unless you know how much your monthly living expenses will be.

I mean how can you know if what youve saved or the amount, youre saving is enough, if you dont know how much youll spend in retirement?

Which is why Id say the first thing you need to do is sit down and create a mock retirement budget and you can do this by using your existing monthly outgoings as your reference.

What expenses will no longer be paid in retirement i.e. mortgage, kids off the payroll, costs associated with work, transport, food, clothes, travel etc. and what expenses will become a factor in retirement i.e. health insurance if currently paid by your employer and perhaps travel will be a cost that goes up in retirement rather than down.

I think setting out what all those estimated costs will be is your starting point because you need to know what youre up against. And when you start this process, you dont have to be exact right away and maybe it will take you a few months of reviewing your spending to really zone in on what your likely to spend in the future. And I know this exercise sounds like a pain in the ass and it sort of is, but its really important so Id say spend time at it and be as accurate as you can be.

And when do this you may also be surprised at how much you might be able to cut back on right now and use those savings to either pay off debt quicker or increase your retirement savings, and more to come on both of these areas next week.



Estimate your retirement income

Next you need to look at what you are on track to receive from your current pensions be they a defined contribution or a defined benefit pension or a combination of both and you also need to look at others youve contributed to in the past, and what they will pay you.

And what youre looking from each is (a) what they will pay you each month after tax and (b) what tax free lump sum entitlements you can get from each of them.

And perhaps now might also be a good time to consider consolidating all of them into one pension fund, that being your active one, if you can that is. It might just simplify things for you along with giving you a clearer picture of what your total funds are and will amount to.

You should also start looking at what you are on track to receive from the state contributory pension.

And under the yearly average method of working out what youll be entitled to, your average number of PRSI contributions is calculated using your total reckonable contributions and credited contributions and dividing this number by the number of years between when you entered into insurable employment in Ireland and your chosen pension drawdown date.

For example lets say youll have 1,200 PRSI contributions at retirement and you have 35 years of employment from when you first started working to when you reach 65, then your average yearly rate is 34 i.e. 1,200/35.

That means you can expect to be in receipt of 249.30 per week.

The amount you are going to be in receipt of will depend on what that average number is.

The maximum rate of payment is currently 277.30 and thats available to those with an average rate of 48. And the minimum rate of payment is paid to those with an average of at least 10 and that weekly figure is 110.80. There are four other bands that fall in between these two figures.

So important to figure out what that future payment will look like because it will be added to what youve built up yourself.

And now that you know what income youll be in receipt of based on your current plan and how much youre likely to spend in retirement, if a gap exists between the two you or your financial adviser will be able to figure out how much more you need to save each year to make up the deficit.

Or youll know what youre doing is fine and youre on track or if you cant save anymore and there is a shortfall at least youll be able to plan for a future which might be an income that is lower than youd have liked or perhaps you may have to continue working albeit at a reduced pace to make up the shortfall but regardless of where you land, at least youll know what the outcome is likely to be.

Next week, Ill follow up and tell you about three other areas you need to be aware of if you want to set yourself up for success when it comes to your future retirement.

Liam Croke is MD of Harmonics Financial Ltd, based in Plassey. He can be contacted at liam@harmonics.ie or www.harmonics.ie
A group of German and Austrian travel journalists is visiting Irelands Hidden Heartlands this week, cruising on the River Shannon. They are here as guests of Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland.

The visiting journalists  representing various daily newspapers with a combined audience of 1.12 million readers  are here to find out more about cruising holidays on the Shannon and to experience at first-hand the spectacular scenery and the wealth of things to see and do in Irelands Hidden Heartlands.

This year, 240 inland cruisers on the Shannon are moving to sustainable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel, reducing their carbon emissions by 92%  so a key message for Tourism Ireland is the fact that a cruising holiday on the Shannon is more environmentally friendly than ever.

The journalists began their cruise in Carrick-on-Shannon and continued to Heron Cottage in Kilnagross, where they enjoyed a fishing lesson. They cruised from Dromod to Clondara via the beautiful Camlin River and also visited the National Famine Museum Strokestown Park and Clonmacnoise.

German and Austrian travel journalists with Katja Meinken-Wiedemann, Tourism Ireland (back, left), at the marina in Carrick-on-Shannon, getting ready to enjoy their cruise on the Shannon. Also pictured are guide Paul Garland (front, second left) and Yvonne Schoen, Carrickcraft (front, centre).

Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite this group of journalists to visit Irelands Hidden Heartlands, said Nadine Lehmann, Tourism Irelands Manager Germany. Fact-finding visits like this are a really effective way for us to shine a spotlight on cruising on the Shannon and Irelands Hidden Heartlands  through their articles, the journalists will encourage their readers to come and experience this part of Ireland for themselves.

German and Austrian travel journalists with Katja Meinken-Wiedemann, Tourism Ireland (second left), at Heron Cottage, where local fisherman David Price (second right) taught them how to catch their own fish.

Our aim is to inspire German holidaymakers to come and discover this part of Ireland and enjoy a holiday which allows them to connect with nature and enjoy spectacular landscapes. A key message for Tourism Ireland is that cruising on the River Shannon is more eco-friendly than ever from this year, with the cruisers now using sustainable fuel.
The final countdown is now underway for Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movements, Hospice Sunflower Days on-street collection for North West Hospice which is taking place on Thursday, 6th and Friday 7th June 2024.

Volunteers will be taking to the streets of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal to sell sunflower merchandise to help raise vital funds for North West Hospice.

The public can also show their support for their chosen hospice or homecare service by dedicating a virtual sunflower online in memory of a loved one whilst making a donation and there is still time for schools to register to host a Sunflower FUN Day before the end of June. All details around the campaign can be found at www.sunflowerdays.ie

Miriam OCallaghan, Hospice Sunflower Days Ambassador pictured with Therapy Dogs Vixy and Bo at the Together For Hospice launch held in Dublin. Pic: Robbie Reynolds

Hospice and specialist palliative homecare services need to raise approximately 20 million each year to provide their patient centred care and as our population ages, demand for specialist hospice and palliative homecare services continues to grow.

They rely on funding raised through donations and fundraising campaigns, such as Hospice Sunflower Days, to help them to continue to provide this care and support.

Every euro raised locally, stays locally so by donating online or supporting the on-street collection you are really helping your local hospice or homecare service by allowing them to fund their hospice services, upgrade hospice or homecare facilities or purchase new equipment.

Speaking ahead of the 2024 Hospice Sunflower Days on-street collection, Olive McTague, Charity Manager, North West Hospice, said: We are really looking forward to our upcoming on-street collection for Hospice Sunflower Days 2024 and we are calling on the public to help us make a real difference by donating to our volunteers on the 6th and 7th June. People can also show their support by donating what they can online and remember every euro raised locally, stays locally so your contribution will really help North West Hospice.

You can support North West Hospice by donating to the on-street volunteers on Thursday, 6th or Friday, 7th June, or by dedicating a virtual sunflower today at www.sunflowerdays.ie
Government of Canada supports leading research infrastructure at the University of Saskatchewan





Funding will advance the next generation of cutting-edge Canadian research and innovation infrastructure

SASKATOON, SK, May 31, 2024 /CNW/ - Modern, high-quality research facilities and equipment are essential for breakthroughs in Canadian research and science. These laboratories and research centres are where medical and other scientific breakthroughs are born, helping to solve real-world problems and create future economic opportunities.

Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, highlighted the Budget 2024 investments that will support innovation at the University of Saskatchewan's Canadian Light Source Inc. and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.

Through Budget 2024, the Government of Canada is investing $83.5 million over three years, starting in 2026?27, to support Canadian Light Source. This is the only facility of its kind in Canada where a synchrotron light source allows scientists and researchers to examine microscopic matter. This specialized infrastructure contributes to breakthroughs in areas like climate change?from climate-resistant crop development to green mining processes.

Budget 2024 also invests $30 million over three years, starting in 2024?25, in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization. This will help complete the critical infrastructure that establishes the organization as Canada's Centre for Pandemic Research and a world leader in infectious disease research and vaccine development for humans and animals. This investment will enable the study of high-risk pathogens to support vaccine and therapeutic development, a key pillar of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy.

Canada's world-class research facilities play a critical role in finding solutions to major challenges and advancing a resilient and sustainable future. Investments in infrastructure drive innovation and help attract and train the next generation of scientific talent, creating a better future for all Canadians and people around the world.

Quotes

"When it comes to funding research and innovation, we are funding the economy of today and tomorrow. From building a clean, resilient future to developing life-saving vaccines, we cannot wait for another global reminder of the critical nature of this work. The cutting-edge research being undertaken at the University of Saskatchewan is so important for the future; it was a pleasure to get to witness and learn more about it today."

? The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

"Canadian research has helped improve our society, economy and healthcare, time and time again. These strategic investments underscore the government's dedication to fostering innovation, addressing global challenges, and nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders. Through enhancing cutting-edge facilities and equipment, these initiatives will propel Canadian research to new heights of excellence."

? The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"USask is a leader in innovation and the development of knowledge and skills to lead world-class research and discovery. This federal investment will contribute to the continued pursuit of innovation at our CLS and VIDO labs and to USask's mission to be the university the world needs."

? Peter Stoicheff, USask President

Quick facts

Since the start of operations in 2005, Canadian Light Source has enabled over 5,000 scientists from 56 Canadian academic institutions and 45 countries to publish over 7,500 scientific papers, highlighting discoveries in a wide variety of fields, in over 1,000 international scientific collaborations. From helping in the fight against COVID-19 to creating new cancer-fighting drugs, developing more nutritious and climate-resistant crops, and supporting clean-tech and green mining processes, Canadian Light Source's infrastructure and experts help researchers solve problems, train the next generation of scientists, and support industries in becoming more efficient and sustainable.

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization is expanding its capabilities in supporting scientists from Canada and around the world to develop vaccines and therapeutics for humans and animals: Opening the Vaccine Development Centre, a containment level 3 capable biomanufacturing facility that meets good manufacturing practice requirements?one of only a few in the world. Adding containment level 4 capacity, which will allow work with any pathogen. Building a new animal facility capable of housing a wider range of animals, which will expand their preclinical research and development capacity.

and around the world to develop vaccines and therapeutics for humans and animals: Since 2016, the government has provided more than $16 billion to support science and research.

to support science and research. This new investment builds on existing federal research support: The Strategic Science Fund, which announced the results of its first competition in December 2023, providing $800 million to support 24 third-party science and research organizations starting in 2024?25; Canada recently concluded negotiations to be an associate member of Horizon Europe, which will enable Canadians to access a broader range of research opportunities under the European program starting this year; In addition, Budget 2024 provides $825 million to increase support for master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral students, as well as $1.8 billion to the federal granting councils to increase core research grant funding and support Canadian researchers. The steady increase in federal funding for extramural and intramural science and technology by the government, which was 44% higher in 2023 relative to 2015.



Associated links

Stay connected

Follow @CDNScience on social media for Canadian science news: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

31 may 2024 at 17:30

News published onand distributed by:
ApartmentLove Provides Bi-Weekly MCTO Status Update





TORONTO, May 31, 2024 /CNW/ - ApartmentLove Inc. (CSE: APLV) ("ApartmentLove" or the "Company") is providing this bi-weekly update on the status of the management cease trade order issued on May 9, 2024 (the "MCTO"), by its principal regulator, the Alberta Securities Commission, under National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"), after the Company's previous announcement on May 1, 2024 (the "Default Announcement"), that it expected to be unable to file its audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 and associated management's discussion and analysis and certifications, along with its annual information financial form for the year ended December 31, 2023 (collectively, the "Annual Filings").

The Company anticipates filing the Annual Filings on or before June 17, 2024.

As a result of the delay in filing the Annual Filings, the Company will be unable to file its interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and associated management's discussion and analysis and certifications (collectively, the "Interim Filings"). The Company anticipates filing the Interim Filings on or before June 19, 2024.

Except as herein disclosed, there are no material changes to the information contained in the Default Announcement or the Company's subsequent press release on May 17, 2024 with respect to the issuance of the MCTO. In addition: (i) the Company is satisfying and confirms that it intends to continue to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203 and issue bi-weekly default status reports for so long as the delay in filing the Annual Filings is continuing, each of which will be issued in the form of a press release; (ii) the Company does not have any information at this time regarding any anticipated specified default subsequent to the default in filing the Annual Filings; (iii) the Company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings; and (iv) there is no material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

Disclaimer and Reader Advisory

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding the timing, review, completion and filing of the Annual Filings and Interim Filings, and duration of the MCTO. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the Company may not complete its audit and file the Annual Filings as currently anticipated, or at all; the Company will be subject to a general cease trade order in the event that the Annual Filings are not completed and filed; and other related risks as more fully set out in the Company's continuous disclosure documents which have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.com. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking statements contained herein.

ApartmentLove | the feeling of home

SOURCE ApartmentLove Inc.

31 may 2024 at 19:22

News published onand distributed by:
Statement by Minister Khera on Portuguese Heritage Month





The Government of Canada issues a statement to mark Portuguese Heritage Month

OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2024 /CNW/ - Today marks the beginning of Portuguese Heritage Month, a celebratory period to acknowledge and honour the significant contributions Portuguese Canadian communities have made to our country.

Portuguese explorers were among the first Europeans to set foot into what is now known as Canada. Among the first Portuguese communities that came to the country's major cities in 1953, 70 percent fled difficult living conditions from Portugal's Azores region. Today, there are nearly 500,000 Canadians of Portuguese descent, representing one of the largest Portuguese diasporas in the world.

Through their courage, perseverance and hard work, Portuguese Canadians have helped our country grow and flourish. Their contributions to building our country in every field serve as an example for all Canadians. From medicine to the arts, science to sports, and politics to education, people of Portuguese descent play an integral role in the fabric of our Canadian society.

On Dia de Portugal (Portugal Day) on June 10, and throughout the month, I invite all Canadians to take part in the activities that celebrate the cultures and traditions of Portuguese communities in Canada.

Happy Portuguese Heritage Month!

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

1 june 2024 at 09:00

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THROUGH thick and thin, Strange Boy is a Limerick man. Halfway through Joyces Ulysses, he was inspired to pen a new song, in which he tackles the competitiveness of rap culture.

Under his moniker Strange Boy, Jordan McNally Kelly combines hip-hop with elements of Irish traditional music. The Caherdavin native is often described as a 1000-year-old poet, reincarnated in the body of a young man.

In a long-awaited new track titled Ulysses, featuring Krome, Strange Boy spitefully reminds us that Limerick is number one on the map.

In rap, there was this kind of competitive culture of saying 'You're the best or I'm the best rapper, and people just competing with other people.

"I kind of drew from that because you'll be seeing a lot of times where Dublin is very centred in the music scene and the conversations, theres a lot of stuff happening in Dublin, which is fine and I love Dublin, but, I think too much is getting pushed towards Dublin. It was kind of spiteful writing that lyric, he explains.

After falling down a rabbit hole on YouTube, Strange Boy fell in love with an old song which struck a chord, one dedicated to a Limerick man, through thick and thin - a saying artists in the Treaty City live by, as they always show up for one another.

We all know each other as well, that's another thing. Down here, it's a lot more tight-knitted, we all go to each other's shows and support each other.

I just think because Limerick is a lot smaller than Dublin, it doesn't have as many resources, it doesn't have the same amount of money coming into it. So, for Limerick to have the music scene that it has, which, in my opinion, is on par or even above Dublin, I think we just punch above our weight, you know?

READ MORE: Airs and Graces for TikTok star ahead of show

At the moment, the rapper is halfway through James Joyces Ulysses, which inspired the title of his track. To read through Joyces bible-sized novel, patience is key.

Its a book you need a bit of patience with. A lot of the stuff in it is pathology, you don't really know what he's talking about. But I'm just reading it now for the sake of it. As a songwriter, the words that the man uses in it, and the way he strings together sentences, it's almost like poetic, its good, says Strange Boy.

Its a mad book. Its definitely engaging my brain anyway, I didn't get the chance to read all the books in school. So I'm kind of making up for it now in my twenties, he continues.

The 1000-year-old poet is currently working on his next album, which wont be out for a while. But fear not, he has something else in store - a four-track EP, which should be out by the end of the summer.

Speaking of his next album, he says: Its just in the same vein as my debut. Its gonna be all trad, but it's a lot more conceptual, Im talking about the characters I would've come across when I grew up in Limerick, and stuff I would've seen, stuff I would've been involved in.

The artist says growing up in Limerick was mad.

It was very hectic, it was just mad. Especially when I was a kid, youd just be getting up to all sorts. You wouldn't know what you'd be seeing at certain points in your life. Some things were traumatising, and some things were very funny.

As the mayoral candidates are getting ready for the upcoming elections, is there something that could be added to their manifesto?

I wouldn't be too involved into the politics, but I will say this, they should be putting on more events, like the ones that you'll be seeing up in Dublin. It just gives people something to do, because some days, some weeks around here, certain people will get up to their own stuff, and some other people might cause trouble around here.

"Young fellas have nothing to do, so its just good to keep people occupied. I'm not a politician and I could be here all day talking about all the different problems, all the ins and outs, but just put on more events for the arts and showcase the music scene.
Heartfelt tributes have been pouring in for a Tipperary man after a workplace accident.

Liam Donnelly of Gurteen, Nenagh died in a workplace accident in Roscrea on Wednesday afternoon.

Originally from Holycross and aged 52, he was working as an electrician at a water treatment plant.

Mr Donnelly is reposing in Hugh Ryan's Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles on Saturday, June 1 from 5pm to 7pm.

Arriving at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Templederry on Sunday, June 2 2nd June at 1.30pm for Requiem Mass at 2pm. Burial afterwards in Templederry New Cemetery.

Since the tragic news broke out, tributes have been pouring in for Mr Donnelly, who has been described as a "caring gentleman".

"So saddened and shocked to hear the sudden and tragic loss of our great friend Liam, our hearts are broken. Such a lovely kind, caring gentleman, always a lovely smile & loved having the craic.

"Always there for us to give a help in hand whenever we needed him. Our deepest and sincere sympathies to Marie, Dale, Ross, grandson Harry, Dale and Ross partners Cara, Zoe and all extended families relatives and friends. Thinking of ye all at this difficult time," a friend wrote in tribute.

"Deepest sympathy to Marie, Dale, Ross and extended Donnelly and Shanahan family on your devastating loss. Will always remember his wit and good humour and very talented skills. May Liam rest in peace," someone paid in tribute.

Gardai are investigating the death, which occurred shortly after 12.30pm on Wednesday, May 29.

A spokesperson for the gardai confirmed that the HSA and local Coroner have been notified.

Mr Donnelly's remains were removed to UHL for a post-mortem.

Enquires are ongoing.

Predeceased by his parents Michael and Maura, brother Seamus.

Deeply regretted by his heartbroken family; wife Marie (nee Shanahan), sons Dale and Ross, grandson Harry, partners Cara and Zoe, brother Kieran, sister Aine, Kieran's partner Bernie nephews Luke and John, nieces Elisha, Grace, Olivia, Hollie, Jackie, Michelle, Elaine and Joanne, sisters-in-law Diane, Teresa and Eileen, brothers-in-law Paul, Mick and Jack, uncles, aunts, cousins, work colleagues, neighbours and many friends.
A photo exhibition portraying children waiting for an organ transplant has been displayed in Belfast on the first anniversary of landmark reform of Northern Irelands donation laws.

To mark the date, Belfast City Hall also hosted an awareness-raising family fun event organised by Organ Donation Northern Ireland.

Most adults in the region are now considered potential organ donors after Daithis Law came into effect on June 1, 2023.

The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) legislation changed the way consent is granted.

Adults are now deemed to have given consent as potential organ donors after their death unless they choose to opt-out or are in an excluded group.

The law was named after Belfast boy Daithi Mac Gabhann who inspired a campaign to change organ donation laws in Northern Ireland.

Seven-year-old Daithi is battling hypoplastic left heart syndrome and needs a new heart.

He is the subject of one of the powerful images that make up The Call exhibition.

Brought to Belfast by Northern Irelands Public Health Agency, the name of the exhibition refers to the wait for a potentially life-changing phone call to say a suitable donor has been found.

Like other children depicted, Daithi has been photographed holding a symbolic red telephone.

Award-winning photographer Debbie Todd captured the images of the children in an exhibition created by Red Sky Foundation, a charity that raises funds for babies, children and adults who are born with or develop heart conditions and who are in need of cardiac care.

Across the UK, there are more than 7,000 people in need of a transplant, 241 of whom are children.

There were 35 paediatric donations across the UK in the last year, with 158 paediatric transplants received by patients.

Children requiring a heart transplant wait for 2.5 times longer than adults on average.

Mairtin Mac Gabhann, Daithis father, said the family was incredibly proud that he was part of the exhibition.

Our son Daithi has been waiting for a new heart for six of his seven years  a heart-wrenching journey that has been filled with stress and uncertainty, he said.

Children like Daithi wait around 2.5 times longer than adults for the gift of a transplant and face a higher risk of dying while on the waiting list.

Joining the NHS Organ Donor Register as a whole family, regardless of age, is a courageous decision. While it may seem like a lot to ask, it is our only option as organ donation is the last resort and the only lifesaving gift that people on the waiting list can receive.

We deeply thank the Red Sky Foundation for their support with The Call exhibition and their crucial work in raising awareness about paediatric organ donation.

Though Daithi is now featured in The Call, our family eagerly hopes for the day we receive that life-changing call. We have been campaigning for years now around organ donation and firmly believe that together, we can all make a huge difference and give children like Daithi a chance at a brighter future.

The Health Minister has welcomed the life-saving organ donations made in Northern Ireland last year  Minister Nesbitt praised the impact of 'Daithi's Law', exactly one year on from its introduction. Read about the law and it's impact here: https://t.co/qFtylVncy7 pic.twitter.com/0gV7D5Nb3D  Department of Health (@healthdpt) June 1, 2024

Photographer Ms Todd added: I hope that the photographs will encourage the many people who see them to discuss whether they would accept a donated organ to save their child. And, if so, would they give the gift of life to another child?

Aidan Dawson, chief executive of the Public Health Agency, congratulated all involved with the artwork.

The Call will give hope to many families on the waiting list for an organ transplant, he said.

The conversations generated by this exhibition will help to open up the sensitive topic of paediatric organ donation, and aims to encourage families to consider registering decisions for the whole family.

One year on from the introduction of Daithis Law,

welcomed the increase in the number of donors and families supporting organ donation.

The total number of deceased donors increased in 2023/24, with 64 donations proceeding to save lives, up from 59 in 2022/23.

The latest data highlights the continued positive impact organ donation has on saving lives, said Mr Nesbitt.

In total, the 64 organ donors from NI in 2023/24 have saved 158 lives, and 79 patients from here have had a life-saving transplant.

Seeing the increase in the number of donors and families supporting organ donation is incredibly positive and also gives hope to those in great need of a life-saving transplant.

The Call exhibition can be viewed by the public for two weeks at the event space at 2 Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre.
Manbro Industries Q4 Results Live : Manbro Industries declared their Q4 results on 30 May, 2024, with the topline increasing by an impressive 1103.24% year-over-year. However, the company reported a loss of 0.03cr for the quarter.

It is interesting to note that in the same period of the previous fiscal year, Manbro Industries had reported a profit of 0.29cr.

In comparison to the previous quarter, the revenue declined by 67.22%, reflecting a significant fluctuation in performance.

The Selling, general & administrative expenses saw a notable rise of 4.48% quarter-over-quarter and a substantial increase of 17600% year-over-year.

Similarly, the operating income witnessed a sharp decline of 97.08% from the previous quarter and dropped by 97.6% year-over-year.

The earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 is reported at -0.6, indicating a decrease of 110.3% year-over-year.

On the bright side, Manbro Industries has demonstrated strong returns for investors, with a 10.25% return in the last week, 167.43% return in the last 6 months, and an impressive 115.53% year-to-date return.

Currently, Manbro Industries boasts a market cap of 40.54 Cr, with a 52-week high/low trading range of 809.1 and 85.77, showcasing the company's stock performance over the past year.

Manbro Industries Financials Period Q4 Q3 Q-o-Q Growth Q4 Y-o-Y Growth Total Revenue 4.67 14.24 -67.22% 0.39 +1103.24% Selling/ General/ Admin Expenses Total 0.07 0.07 +4.48% -0 +17600% Depreciation/ Amortization 0 0 -0% 0 -0% Total Operating Expense 4.66 14 -66.71% 0.1 +4728% Operating Income 0.01 0.24 -97.08% 0.29 -97.6% Net Income Before Taxes 0.01 0.24 -95.85% 0.29 -96.57% Net Income -0.03 0.24 -112.45% 0.29 -110.28% Diluted Normalized EPS -0.6 4.81 -112.47% 5.82 -110.3%
Elon Musk is racing to a sci-fi future while the AI chief at Meta Platforms is arguing for one rooted in the traditional scientific approach.

That divide in thinking was on display this past week during the latest flare-up in the cold war between Musk and Facebooks parentsparking a debate over the meaning of science."

No sooner had Musk taken to his social-media platform X to celebrate raising $6 billion for his AI startup xAI than Metas top AI scientist, Yann LeCun, criticized the rival company and Musk himself.

Musk turned to a favorite rebuttala veiled suggestion that the executive, who is also a high-profile professor, wasnt accomplishing much: What science have you done in the past 5 years?" Musk asked.

Over 80 technical papers published since January 2022," LeCun responded. What about you?"

To which Musk posted: Thats nothing, youre going soft. Try harder!"

The ensuing dayslong back-and-forth came as Musk, Meta and other tech giants are offering differing visions of an AI future and positioning themselves to be seen as the leaders in the field.

At stake are the hearts and minds of AI expertsacademic and otherwiseneeded to usher in the technology that investors are betting will unlock new ways of operating for industries and daily life. Beneath the tweets is a tension that has long endured in Silicon Valley between researchers and scientists exploring new ideas and entrepreneurs and investors eager to capitalize on those findings.

The episode began Monday when LeCun, also a New York University professor, took a shot at Musk, who had tweeted to encourage applicants to apply for jobs at his startup.

Join xAI," LeCun wrote, if you can stand a boss who: claims that what you are working on will be solved next year (no pressure). claims that what you are working on will kill everyone and must be stopped or paused (yay, vacation for 6 months!). claims to want a maximally rigorous pursuit of the truth but spews crazy-ass conspiracy theories on his own social platform."

Some read Musks science" dig as dismissing the role research has played for a generation of AI experts. For years, the Metas and Googles of the world have hired the top minds in AI from universities, indulging their desires to keep a foot in both worlds by allowing them to release their research publicly, while also trying to deploy products.

For an academic such as LeCun, published research, whether peer-reviewed or not, allowed ideas to flourish and reputations to be built, which in turn helped build stars in the system.

LeCun has been at Meta since 2013 while serving as an NYU professor since 2003. His tweets suggest he subscribes to the philosophy that ones work needs to be publishedput through the rigors of being shown to be correct and reproducibleto really be considered science.

If you do research and dont publish, its not Science," he posted in a lengthy tweet Tuesday rebutting Musk. If you never published your research but somehow developed it into a product, you might die rich," he concluded. But youll still be a bit bitter and largely forgotten."

After pushback, he later clarified in another post: What I *AM* saying is that science progresses through the collision of ideas, verification, analysis, reproduction, and improvements. If you dont publish your research *in some way* your research will likely have no impact."

The spat inspired debate throughout the scientific community. What is science?" Nature, a scientific journal, asked in a headline about the dust-up.

In some corners, LeCun was cheered on. Despite getting much less $$, recognition & visibility than entrepreneurs, the scientists who publish their groundbreaking research openly are the cornerstone of technological progress & massively contribute to making the world a better place!" Clem Delangue, chief executive of the AI startup Hugging Face, tweeted.

Others, such as Palmer Luckey, a former Facebook executive and founder of Anduril Industries, a defense startup, took issue with LeCuns definition of science. The extreme arrogance and elitism is what people have a problem with," he tweeted.

For Musk, who prides himself on his physics-based viewpoint and likes to tout how he once aspired to work at a particle accelerator in pursuit of the universes big questions, LeCuns definition of science might sound too ivory-tower.

Musk has blamed universities for helping promote what he sees as overly liberal thinking and other symptoms of what he calls the Woke Mind Virus.

Over the years, an appeal of working for Musk has been the impression that his companies move quickly, filled with engineers attracted to tackling hard problems and seeing their ideas put into practice.

Ive teamed up with Elon to see if we can actually apply these new technologies to really make a dent in our understanding of the universe," Igor Babuschkin, an AI expert who worked at OpenAI and Googles DeepMind, said last year as part of announcing xAIs mission.

The creation of xAI quickly sent ripples through the AI labor market, with one rival complaining it was hard to compete for potential candidates attracted to Musk and his reputation for creating value. And that was before xAIs latest round raised billions of dollars, putting its valuation at $24 billion, kicking off a new recruiting drive.

It was already a sellers market for AI talent, with estimates that there might be only a couple hundred people out there qualified to deal with certain pressing challenges in the industry and that top candidates can easily earn compensation packages worth $1 million or more.

Since the launch, Musk has been quick to criticize competitors for what he perceived as liberal biases in rival AI chatbots. His pitch of xAI being the anti-woke bastion seems to have worked to attract some like-minded engineers.

As for Musks final response to LeCuns defense of research, he posted a meme featuring Pepe Le Pew that read: my honest reaction."

Write to Tim Higgins at tim.higgins@wsj.com
Moderna Inc. gained US approval for its RSV vaccine in older adults, giving the biotech company a second product as it seeks to move beyond its reliance on the fading market for Covid-19 shots.

Also Read: The Covid Vaccine Windfall Turns on Pfizer and Moderna

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Modernas vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, a flu-like illness that affects elderly adults and babies most severely, according to a statement Friday. The decision had earlier been expected by May 12, and was delayed because of administrative constraints at the agency, Moderna said earlier this month.

Modernas shot, called mRESVIA, was cleared for use in adults 60 and older and will compete with products that arrived last year from GSK Plc and Pfizer Inc. Those two generated about $2.4 billion in sales combined, with GSK emerging as the clear leader.

The vaccines effectiveness declined 5% during a follow-up analysis performed for the FDA, which could put Modernas shot at a disadvantage, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analysts. Moderna shares fell as much as 7.1% as of 2:41 p.m. in New York. They had rallied in recent weeks on speculation the company might develop a vaccine against a form of bird flu thats been spreading in cattle and has infected three US farmworkers.

Fall Season Moderna said it expects to have mRESVIA available in the US for this falls respiratory virus season.

The approval is a big moment for Moderna, which previously only had just one product, its Covid shot. Like rival Pfizer, Modernas stock price has plunged as the world moves on from the pandemic. The RSV shot  the first ever drug using mRNA technology approved for a disease other than Covid  gives it another much-needed revenue stream.

Although later to market, Moderna is betting on a potential advantage over Pfizer and GSK: It has the only RSV shot that comes in a pre-filled syringe thats easier for pharmacists to administer than others that require multiple steps. Bloomberg Intelligence expects the RSV market for seniors to be worth $11 billion by 2032, with GSK holding a 45% share, Pfizer having 35% and Moderna with 20%.
Samir Modi has alleged that his mother planned an attack on him. This has intensified a dispute over inheritance among the family of the late KK Modi. Samir, KK Modi's younger son, filed a police complaint in Delhi, the Economic Times reported.

The executive director at Godfrey Phillips accuses his mother, Bina Modi, her security officer, and other company directors of causing him grievous hurt. Bina Modi also serves as a director at the same company.

Also Read: Pune Porsche crash: Mother of minor accused arrested over tampering blood sample. What we know so far The incident happened on Thursday when I was trying to enter the scheduled board meeting of GP at Jasola in Delhi. I was prevented by Bina Modis PSO from entering the meeting. When I insisted, he tried to push me and said that I was not allowed to enter the board meeting, Modi told ET.

Despite his mother offering to buy his share, Samir Modi decided not to leave the company after the alleged attack. Meanwhile, a Godfrey Phillips spokesperson dismissed the allegations.

Also Read: Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast: NIA arrests 5th accused, an 'ex-convict in LeT terror conspiracy case' These allegations are entirely false and atrocious. The alleged episode occurred outside the board room when the audit committee meeting was in progress at about 12 noon. This has been captured on in-house CCTV cameras, which can be provided to the relevant investigating authorities, the spokesperson told the publication.

Samir Modis allegations Samir Modi earlier told the publication that he had requested the appointment of one of the top five auditing firms to conduct a valuation based on his 25% share.

He revealed to ET that, two days before a recent board meeting, he had been presented with the names of two companies and asked to choose one for the valuation process.

Also Read: Can ED arrest an accused under PMLA after special court's cognizance? SC says this However, on the board meeting day, he encountered an obstruction; his mother's security officer prevented him from entering the meeting venue. Samir claimed that, as he attempted to gain access, the security officer allegedly grabbed his hand and twisted it.
Jet fuel, also known as aviation turbine fuel (ATF), saw a significant reduction of 6.5 per cent on June 1, down by 6,673.87 per kilolitre (kl) to 94,969.01/kl in New Delhi, as per a PTI report. This reduction comes after a slight increase of 0.7 per cent ( 749.25 per kilolitre) on May 1.

In Mumbai, the ATF price dropped to 88,834.27/kl from 95,173.70/kl. Prices vary across states due to local taxes, it added.

Commercial LPG Prices Lowered Oil companies also reduced the price of commercial LPG by 69, setting the new price at 1,676 per 19-kg cylinder. This marks the third consecutive monthly decrease, following cuts of 19 per cylinder on May 1 and 30.5 on April 1.

The price for domestic cooking gas remains unchanged at 803 per 14.2-kg cylinder. April 1 witnessed the first reduction in commercial LPG prices since January, after increases of 14 on February 1 and 25.5 on March 1.

State-owned fuel retailers Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) adjust ATF and cooking gas prices on the 1st of every month based on international fuel prices and the exchange rate.

Petrol and Diesel Prices Steady Petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged, with rates last adjusted in mid-March when they were reduced by 2 per litre.

Petrol costs 94.72 per litre in Delhi, while diesel is priced at 87.62.

Also Read | Maruti Suzuki cuts prices of auto gear shift models by 5,000 from today

Windfall Tax on Crude Oil Reduced The government has lowered the windfall tax on domestically-produced crude oil to 5,200 per tonne from 5,700, effective from June 1, 2024.

This tax is imposed as Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED). The SAED on the export of diesel, petrol, and jet fuel remains at 'nil'. The new rates are effective from June 1, as per an official notification.

India first implemented windfall profit taxes on July 1, 2022, following other nations in taxing the supernormal profits of energy companies. These tax rates are reviewed every fortnight based on the average oil prices from the preceding two weeks.
JEE Advanced 2024 Answer Key: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, is scheduled to release the Answer Key of the JEE Advanced 2024 exams on Sunday, i.e. June 2, 2024 at 10 am. Candidates who have appeared for the JEE Advance 2004 exams can check and download the Answer Key at the official website of JEE Advanced 2024 at jeeadv.ac.in. The link to download the provisional answer key will activate after 10 am tomorrow.

Earlier on Friday, IIT- Madrasthe nodal agency to conduct the exam released the response sheet (OMR sheet) of the JEE Advanced 2024 exams, which help the students in checking the JEE Advanced provisional answer key.

Also Read | UGC NET June 2024 exam, city slip schedule released at ugcnet.nta.ac.in JEE Advanced answer key 2024: Objection Window According to IIT Madras, notification, feedback and comments on provisional answer keys can be made from June 2, 2024, to June 3, 2024, up to 17 IST. A final answer key will be released along with the results on June 9, 2024 (10 IST).

Also Read | UP B.Ed. JEE 2024 admit card released at bujhansi.ac.in; steps to download, other details Jee Advanced 2024: Official Website Candidates can check their response sheets available on the official website of Jee Advanced 2024: jeeadva.ac.in.

Candidates need to log in to the official website using their credentials, such as registration number, date of birth, and registered mobile number to download the Answer Key.

Also Read | UPSC Prelims 2024 Admit Card to be released soon for June 16 Civil Services exam. Direct link to download Jee Advanced 2024: Steps to download the Answer Key Go to the official website of JEE Advance 2024: jeeadva.ac.in

Click on the JEE Advanced Answer Key 2024 link available on the home page

A new window will open; enter your login credentials: Registration Number, DOB and registered Mobile Number

The JEE Advanced Answer Key 2024 will be displayed

Download the Answer Key and save it for further reference Jee Advanced 2024: Important dates to remember Online display of provisional answer keys: June 02, 2024 (10:00 IST)

Feedback and comments on provisional answer keys: 2-3 June (17: 00 IST)

Online declaration of final answer key and Results of JEE (Advanced) 2024: Sunday, June 09, 2024 (10:00 IST)

Online registration for Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT): June 9-10 (17:00 IST) JEE Advanced 2024: Result According to notification, the IIT Madras will announce the JEE Advanced 2024 result on June 9, 2024. The JEE Advanced 2024 results will display the candidate's marks in the exam, including their Common Rank List (CRL) and Category Rank list.
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and its allies, the BJP and the JanaSena, are likely to wrest power from the Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP in the state in the 2024 assembly polls, predicted several exit poll results on Saturday. Peoples Pulse and TV5 Telugu exit polls predicted a majority for TDP+ in Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls.

The exit poll prediction for the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024, were released after 6:30 pm on Saturday, June 1. The voting for the 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on May 13. The official results for the elections will be declared by the Election Commission on June 4.

What are exit polls? Exit polls are opinion polls which are released after the voting for an election ends. Several pollsters release exit poll predictions to guess who may win when the final results are declared. It gauges the mood of the people and try to understand their political preferences.

Pollsters believe that YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is currently facing an uphill task of retaining power in Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy's main rival in the 2024 assembly polls is the alliance of former Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jana Sena. They are part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Meanwhile, Congress in Andhra Pradesh is led by CM Jagan Reddys younger sister YS Sharmila.

The ruling YSR Congress Party is largely banking on welfare measures that its government has extended to the masses in Andhra Pradesh , while the TDP-BJP-JanaSena alliance banks on the consolidation of anti-establishment votes.

What pollsters predicted for Jagan Reddy in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls? Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections: News18 Poll Hub survey showed that BJP-led NDA is likely to win 19-22 seats of the total 25 in Andhra Pradesh, the YSRCP may win five-eight seats.

The ABP-Cvoter Exit Poll said that the TDP-BJP is projected to win 21 to 25 seats, and YSRCP may get zero to 4 seats in the Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha polls. The INDIA may win 3.3 percent vote share, while the BJP may get a 52.9 percent voteshare, and YSRCP may bag 41.7 percent vote share, the survey said.

However, Jan Ki Baat predicted a neck-and-neck fight between the NDA and the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh assembly polls 2024: Peoples Pulse exit polls predicted 111-135 seats for the TDP and its allies, while it said the YSRCP is likely to win 45-60 seats. According to TV5 Telugu, the TDP is likely to win over 161 seats in the state, while YSRCP could get restricted to 14.

Earlier, Political strategist Prashant Kishor predicted a "massive defeat" for Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP in the 2024 assembly polls. Reddy is currently the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He had won 151 seats of the total 175 seats in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh assembly polls. The BJP had won zero seats, while the TDP had bagged 23 seats. Tollywood actor Pawan Kalyan-led JanaSena Party had won just one seats in the 2019 assembly polls.

In an interview with RTV Andhra Pradesh, Kishor said, "Jagan Mohan Reddy got a historic mandate in 2019. I have been saying that for the last few months, Jagan is headed for a massive defeat as he will be reduced to just 51 seats."

Kishor also cited reasons which could probably lead to Jagan Mohan Reddy's defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He said, "He must have made a series of blunders [as he's now standing on the verge of facing a defeat after a historic win in 2019 polls]."

"He has started thinking of himself as the provider of the Andhra people. In a democracy, people elect their leaders; they don't elect their kings or providers...Jagan Reddy believes that the people need nothing but cash transfers...," Kishor said.
Exit Poll 2024 today: The largest festival of democracy will conclude on Saturday after the voting for the seventh and the end of the last phase of polls on 57 seats, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi. The conclusion of the mammoth electoral exercise today will be followed by exit polls, which will start pouring in from Saturday evening.

Catch Exit Polls 2024 LIVE Updates here Most exit polls will start as soon as the voting period officially ends. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results will be declared on June 4. Until then, these exit polls will strive to predict the final outcome of the general elections.

Also Read: Google Doodle celebrates seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 with voting symbol

Amid colossal anticipation surrounding the Lok Sabha 2024 exit polls, Congress on Friday announced to not participate in any exit poll debates on television news channels. The party decided to abstain from participating in exit poll debates by calling them speculation and slugfest for TRP.

Congress's criticism is rooted in a patchy record of exit poll predictions in India. In many cases, these exit polls have been widely off the mark. Before the announcement of exit polls for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, take a look at the accuracy of these exit poll results in the previous two general elections.

Lok Sabha Elections result in 2019 In the Lok Sabha elections 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a second consecutive victory. The alliance emerged victorious by winning 353 out of 543 seats. Out of the total seats won by the NDA, the BJP won 303 seats. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was limited to nearly 93 seats.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 exit polls

Exit poll agency NDA UPA India Today-Axis 339-365 77-108 News 24-Today's Chanakya 350 95 Times Now-VMR 306 132 News18-Ipsos 336 82 CVoter 287 128 India News-Polstrat 287 128 Results 353 93

Lok Sabha Elections 2014 The BJP-led NDA alliance toppled the Congress-led UPA government in 2014 with a landslide victory. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA alliance won 336 seats, whereas the Congress-led UPA won 60 seats. Take a look at the exit poll data for the Lok Sabha elections held in 2014.

Lok Sabha Elections 2014 exit polls

Exit Polls NDA UPA India Today-Cicero 272 115 News24-Chanakya 340 70 Times Now-ORG 249 148 CNN IBN-CSDS-Lokniti 276 97 India TV-CVoter 289 101 NDTV-Hansa Research 279 103 Result 336 60
BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut from Mandi constituency on Saturday cast her vote at a polling station in Himachal Pradesh for the seventh phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She also urged people to exercise their right to vote in the festival of democracy.

I have cast my vote right now. I want to appeal to the people to take part in the festival of democracy and exercise their right to vote. PM Modi's wave is there in Himachal Pradesh...I am hopeful that the people of Mandi will bless me and we will get all 4 seats of the state... Himachal Pradesh's 4 seats will contribute to '400 paar'..., she said.

...The way people have been misguided is that I will not be available here. I want to say that my entire team will be here... Gone are the days when people used to win in the name of their families, the people of the country are more aware and they want able people, the Bollywood actor told ANI.

Also Read | Live updates on Lok Sabha elections phase 7 voting

Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat is witnessing a clash of the two richest titans--Congress party's Vikramaditya Singh, scion of the erstwhile Rampur "royal family" and son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh, and BJP's Kangana Ranaut.

Kangana is banking on her celebrity image, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Ram temple factors. Vikramaditya is hoping to sail through riding on the legacy of his father Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the sitting MP from Mandi.

The Mandi constituency holds symbolic significance for the Congress, as it is considered a bastion of the Virbhadra family. Currently, Pratibha Devi Singh, the late leader's widow, holds the seat. She wrested it for Congress in the bye-election that was held following the demise of then-BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma.

There are 13,77,173 voters in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, including 6,98,666 males, 6,78,504 females, and three third gender. The sprawling constituency spreads over six districts and comprises 17 assembly segments.

Polling in Himachal Pradesh is underway. The BJP, which won all four Lok Sabha constituencies in the state in the 2019 elections, is eyeing an encore this time.
NEW YORK (AP)  New York City police said Saturday that they took 34 people in custody following a pro-Palestinian protest at the Brooklyn Museum, which reported damage to some artwork and harassment to security staff by demonstrators.

Hundreds of protesters marched to the museum Friday afternoon, set up tents in the lobby and unfurled a Free Palestine banner from the building's roof before police moved in to make arrests.

New York City police officers tackled and punched some protesters during scuffles that broke out in the crowd outside the museum while some demonstrators hurled plastic bottles at officers and shouted insults. Other protesters held banners, waved Palestinian flags and chanted boisterously on the steps of the grand, Beaux Arts museum, which is the citys second largest.

City police said of the 34 people detained, six were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to assault. Another 23 were released after receiving tickets or summonses for misdemeanors including trespassing, making graffiti, damaging property and resisting arrest. Police did not say what happened to the remaining five people.

Museum spokesperson Taylor Maatman said in a statement that the museum closed an hour early because of concerns about people's safety and the art collections.

Unfortunately, there was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed," Maatman said.

The rally started Friday afternoon across the street from the Barclays Center, home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. Marchers banging drums and chanting then made their way to the museum about a mile away.

Organizers, including the group Within Our Lifetime, called on supporters to flood and de-occupy the museum, saying they wanted to take over the building until officials  disclose and divest  from any investments linked to Israel's actions in Gaza.

Videos posted on social media showed guards at the museum trying to secure its doors against the surging crowd and demonstrators finding other ways inside.

Within Our Lifetime posted on social media that its chair, Nerdeen Kiswani, was targeted and violently arrested by police.

New York City has seen hundreds of street demonstrations since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.
More than 200 passengers on an Air India flight bound for San Francisco experienced a difficult ordeal in the national capital due to a delay exceeding 30 hours.

The delay was attributed to a technical glitch, the non-operational air conditioning system on the aircraft, and issues related to the payload.

PTI reported citing sources, After being rescheduled multiple times since Thursday evening, flight AI 1183 took off from the Delhi airport at around 2155 hours, capping a long wait for the passengers, including aged people and children.

While there were more than 200 passengers, 21 of them decided to deboard the flight on Friday night, the sources told PTI.

Due to night landing restrictions at San Francisco, Air India officials have reportedly sought the necessary permissions for landing. The duration of the Delhi-San Francisco flight is approximately 16 hours, meaning that by the time it arrives in the American city, it would be nighttime.

The flight, which was originally scheduled to take off at around 1530 hours on Thursday, was delayed for nearly 6 hours before being rescheduled for Friday. On Friday, the flight, to be operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, was first scheduled for around 1100 hours departure which was changed to 1500 hours and after finally pushing back at around 1745 hours, the plane came back to the bay, the sources said.

Initially, a technical glitch was suspected and later payload issues were noticed. The airline is expected to offload some cargo and then depart for San Francisco, the sources told PTI.

One of the sources told PTI announcement was made that due to temperature issues, the flight could not take off, and added that the air conditioning was also switched off.

Air India has not issued an official statement regarding the significant flight delay. Earlier today, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to the airline regarding certain flight delays and apparent lack of adequate care for passengers.

The notice specifically mentioned the extensive delays of two international flights: AI 183 from Delhi to San Francisco on May 30 and AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco on May 24.

Meanwhile, Air India's regular flight from Delhi to San Francisco departed at around 1900 hours on Friday.

On Thursday, some passengers of the Delhi-San Francisco flight fainted as the aircraft's air-conditioning system was non-functional and passengers also had to wait for around an hour in the aerobridge, Shilpa Jain told PTI.

Jain, who is a passenger on the flight, said that on Thursday, the aircraft was changed due to a technical glitch and the passengers boarded another plane, wherein the air-conditioning system was not working.

The plane had aged people and children, who were feeling uneasy. Later, at around 2200 hours on Thursday, the flight was rescheduled, she told PTI.

According to her, the revised departure time was about 2000 hours and passengers had boarded the aircraft at around 1920 hours. With the air-conditioning system non-functional, passengers were agitated and after almost an hour, they came out. The passengers had to wait for nearly an hour in the aerobridge before the gates were opened to go back to the airport, she said.

About the delay and subsequent rescheduling of the flight on Thursday, an Air India official said the aircraft had developed a technical issue and engineering checks were carried out. Due to the delay, the crew had crossed the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) and also if the flight had taken off, it would have reached San Francisco when there are night landing restrictions there, the official added.

Jain said the flight was originally rescheduled for a departure on Friday at 1100 hours and has now been revised to 1500 hours. She also claimed that the airline did not offer the option to reschedule or cancel the bookings.

The airline official stated that passengers had various options, including a full refund, complimentary rescheduling, and hotel accommodation. This incident marks the second time within one week that passengers on an Air India flight to San Francisco have experienced significant delays.

Earlier on Thursday, passengers of the AI 183 flight took to social media to express their frustration about the delay, with one passenger noting the absence of air-conditioning on the plane.
As Delhi continues to battle a severe water crisis amid rising temperatures, residents in several areas in Delhi including Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp and the Geeta colony are among those facing acute shortages.

Residents of these areas wait in long queues to fill buckets from water tankers in the blazing heat. However, in a viral video on Reddit, residents of Sanjay Camp, were seen chasing a water tanker after having to wait for it for hours.

In the video, young boys can be seen climbing atop a moving water tanker as several other residents run along it with buckets and pipes.

Also read: Emergency measures imposed amid heatwave | List of what is banned The Reddit user shared the video and said, Desperate residents have been seen chasing after water tankers with buckets, some even climbing amid water crisis in Delhi.

Netizens reacted to the video by slamming politicians for being busy with their agendas and not caring about the people.

"There are so many problems in India, that affect the everyday lives of citizens that need to be solved. Unfortunately, our politicians are always busy with election campaigns funded by public money and we are busy with watching their drama," one user commented.

Also read: Car wash in Delhi: You have to pay fines amid serious wastage of water; netizens react to AAP minister Atishi's post "These people who are running for water, once they will get plenty of it they will start to waste it. India has no strict laws on water wastage, so many people in my neighborhood wash streets with clean water. India population is growing and we need to act accordingly. A single monsoon, if harvested properly can fulfill atleast a year of water supply. But who cares right, all these politicians are busy doing Hindu-Muslim," another added.

On a lighter note, a user invoked a meme reference and said, "Ruko jara sabar karo." While another equated it to the movie "Fukrey 3".

Also read: LG VK Saxena hits back after Atishi's appeal to BJP; slams 'irresponsible attitude of government' Politics over water supply in Delhi On Friday, Delhi government approached the Supreme Court to get immediate additional water from neighbouring Haryana. In its plea, the Delhi government had said that it is constrained to file the petition on account of the acute shortage of water being faced by the people of the national capital, triggered by the ongoing severe heat conditions in North India.

However, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has hit back at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying Haryana is providing its complete quota of water to Delhi and the Aam Aadmi party government is "spreading lies" to hide its own "corruption."
As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted favourable conditions for further advance of southwest monsoon, after reaching Kerala and advancing into northeast India on May 30, a Times of India (TOI) report has suggested a slower monsoon.

The Southwest monsoon made an early onset over Kerala and the northeastern region this year.

Quoting a senior IMD official, the TOI report said the southwest monsoon has lost its steam. It added that the southwest monsoon may progress slowly for a few days.

Also read: Monsoon Tracker: With an early onset in Kerala, here's when Mumbai, Delhi, other cities will receive rainfall According to the report, the slow progression is concerning for regions that normally witness onset of monsoon after Kerala. These regions include parts of Maharashtra.

Cyclone Remal caused the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon to get stronger, taking it to northeast India, while the Arabian Sea branch has weakened, the IMD official told TOI.

The official also said that peninsular India will see some rainfall activity in the next few days, but it may be subdued.

Also read: Weather today: IMD warns of heatwave in Delhi, 9 more states; 5 on alert for heavy rains "It will take a few days for the monsoon to re-align, thus causing a delay in monsoon entry over south Maharashtra and later even northwest India. June rainfall forecast for northwest India shows below normal rains," the official added.

IMD on Southwest Monsoon The IMD said conditions are favourable for further advance of the monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of south Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area and Kerala, some parts of Karnataka and Rayalaseema, some more parts of Tamil Nadu and Southwest Bay of Bengal during next 2-3 days.

Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala and Mahe, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are very likely to get isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall between 1-3 June, it said.

Also read: IMD Heatwave Update: Nagpur witnesses record temperature of 56C; Delhi, Bihar on red alert The weather agency also predicted that Southwest monsoon would arrive in Madhya Pradesh by June 15, two days before its usual onset.

Talking to PTI, Pramendra Kumar, meteorologist of IMD Bhopal Centre, said, "Monsoon is likely to set over Madhya Pradesh around June 15 or a day or two ahead of its normal schedule."

Southwest Monsoon in Kerala Widespread rains have lashed several parts of Kerala triggering landslides, uprooting trees and leading to waterlogging.

Kottayam, Idukki and some parts of Ernakulam have been witnessing intense downpour since Friday night. Landslides and trees getting uprooted were reported at Poochapra and Kolappra areas, located in the interiors of hill district Idukki last night.
Pune police have arrested the mother of the juvenile involved in the Porsche car accident following confirmation that his blood samples had been substituted with those of his mother, stated the city police chief on Saturday.

As reported by PTI, Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar said the accident investigation has revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.

Meanwhile, Police had told a local court two days ago that the blood samples of the juvenile were exchanged with those of a woman.

In the early hours of May 19, two IT professionals tragically lost their lives in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, when a Porsche, purportedly driven by an inebriated minor, collided with their two-wheeler.

The 17-year-old minor has been remanded to an observation home, while his father, realtor Vishal Agarwal, and grandfather, Surendra Agarwal, have been apprehended. They stand accused of allegedly abducting the family's driver and coercing him to shoulder the blame for the incident.

Earlier on Friday, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) granted permission to the police to investigate the minor reportedly implicated in the Porsche collision that resulted in the deaths of two tech professionals, PTI reported.

The police had submitted a request to the JJB, seeking authorization to conduct an inquiry into the 17-year-old who is presently detained in the observation home.

The hearing took place before the JJ board and it allowed our plea, said Shailesh Balkawade, Additional Commissioner of Police (crime).

Furthermore, retired IAS officer Arun Bhatia has penned a letter to the Chairman of the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC), urging for the relocation of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar from his current position in the city.

Earlier, the police have taken action against two doctors and a staff member from Sassoon General Hospital for purportedly tampering with the teenager's blood samples to indicate that he was not under the influence of alcohol during the accident.

On Friday, the police filed a petition for Vishal Agarwal's detention regarding the alleged manipulation of the blood samples. Earlier in the day, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) A A Pande remanded the real estate developer and his father (the minor's grandfather) to judicial custody for 14 days following the completion of their police custody in the driver kidnapping case.

ccording to the police, approximately a dozen calls were exchanged between the juvenile's father and Dr. Ajay Taware, one of the doctors arrested, while samples were being collected for alcohol testing.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been asked to appear before a court in Bengaluru in connection with a defamation case filed by the BJP leader. He has been asked to appear in court on June 7.

The Special Court for Peoples Representatives in Bengaluru also granted bail to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar in connection with the matter.

The defamation case on alleged false advertisements was filed by BJP general secretary Keshav Prasad.

While Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar appeared in person before the Bengaluru court, Gandhi, who was also supposed to appear, did not turn up.

To this, the BJP raised objections saying Gandhi should not be given an exemption under CrPC 205 since he had skipped an appearance for the second time.

However, Congress had argued that Gandhi was attending the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi and was also a contestant in the Lok Sabha polls and requested the court for exemption from Saturday's hearing.

They also promised that the Congress leader would be present on the next date.

The court granted an exemption to Gandhi and directed him to be present before it on June 7.

What did the Congress do? In the run-up to the 2023 Assembly election in Karnataka, the Congress had ran a campaign of '40 per cent Sarkara', accusing the then BJP government of collecting a commission of 40 per cent on public works and exorbitant bribe in posting and recruitments.

They had also put out posters of 'PayCM' with a QR code showing the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in the middle of it. Scanning the QR code would redirect to a web page developed by the Congress which had contents accusing rampant corruption prevailing in the state under the BJP rule.
A new air cargo route has been launched between Pakistan and China to further enhance trade ties between the two all-weather allies, ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Beijing next week.

According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, the new air cargo route inaugurated on May 28 linked Guizhou, China with Karachi, Pakistan.

Also read: Eng vs Pak T20I series: Pakistan's Azam Khan brutally trolled for poor performance; netizens say, biggest tragedy ever The route was launched with the departure of an all-cargo plane carrying six tonnes of freight, including clothing, electronics, and various commodities, from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, China Economic Net (CEN) reported. After nearly six hours of flight time, the plane arrived in Karachi. It was to return to Guiyang loaded with blue crabs from Pakistan, according to Guiyang Customs.

Also read: It was our fault': Pakistan violated peace agreement with India in 1999, says former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif The flights on the route were planned to be operated three times a week, carrying goods including hardware accessories, clothing fabrics, and electronic accessories.

This air route is significant as it marks the first direct connection between Guizhou and Pakistan, as well as the first air freight route linking the province with a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) country.

Also read: Explained: All about 1999 Lahore Declaration and how Pakistan 'violated' it Officials believe that this new route will help establish Guiyang as a cargo distribution centre in southwest China and reduce the time for Pakistans quality fresh products to reach Guizhou.

The inauguration of the Guiyang-Karachi air cargo route is expected to facilitate trade between the two regions, according to the APP report. In January, the two countries launched an air cargo route connecting Ezhou Huahu Airport in central Chinas Hubei province with Pakistans eastern city of Lahore.

Also read: 'Pakistan wants Narendra Modi to lose Lok Sabha elections', says Fawad Chaudhry. Here's why The air cargo link comes ahead of the five-day official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from June 4. He will meet the top Chinese businessmen to seek more investments in the second phase of the Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
A New Jersey jury on Friday found Christopher Gregor guilty of manslaughter after he forced his six-year-old son to run on a treadmill at high speeds, leading to his death. A viral video of the 31-year-old forcing his son to run on a treadmill showed how the young kid was repeatedly asked to run on the machine even after he was thrown away because of high speed. Gregor allegedly forced his child to do so because he was fat.

In a significant decision in the case, an Ocean County jury found Gregor guilty of manslaughter on Friday, reported Asbury Park Press. However, he managed to dodge a murder charge in the disturbing case. The accused in the case appeared stonefaced when the verdict was announced. However, his ex-partner and mother of the victim Corey, Breanna Micciolo, burst into tears after hearing the verdict.

Were happy with the verdict and we thank the prosecutors office, Asbury Park Press quoted Micciolo as saying.

Soon after the verdict, netizens hailed the decision.

I'll be awaiting to know his sentencing. I hope the other prisoners see this video and treat him well, commented a user on X.

Still don't understand how this went on as long as it did. What was the mom doing? No one else noticed?, wroe another user.

How can you do that to your own children ? Im not sure he deserves prison,

Good. Actual justice was served, in a case with actual evidence., wrote another user.

Put him in the general population and make sure all his new friends in the yard know that he murdered his own childjustice will be served, I guaran-damn-tee it!"

Also Read: Google Doodle celebrates seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 with voting symbol

Despite finding Gregor guilty of manslaughter, the jury rejected the murder charge against the accused. If he would have found guilty of killing his son, then Gregor would have to face a 30-year to life imprisonment sentence. However now the accused will face 10 to 30 years in jail on the lesser charge. He will be sentenced on August 2.
Kate Middleton is planning to surprise her fans by making an unexpected public appearance, according to the Daily Mirror. While she is not expected to attend the Colonel's Review on June 8, her appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 15 has not been ruled out.

Also Read: Kate Middleton spotted hanging out with Prince William and other family members amid cancer treatment However, it will depend on how she feels on that day, the publication added. King Charles, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, has been quite candid about his recovery process. Kate, on the contrary, has been tight-lipped about her cancer treatment. Neither of them has revealed the type of cancer they are battling.

Kate Middleton has been resting at home while undergoing chemotherapy. She is expected to make public appearances only when her doctors allow her to.

Also Read: Incredibly sad: Amid Kate Middletons cancer treatment, Prince William and Princess of Wales issue public statement If the Princess of Wales manages to make an appearance on June 15, it will indeed be a surprise because it was earlier revealed that her cancer treatment would not allow her to make any public appearance for the entire year of 2024.

According to a friend of Kate and William, the princess focuses on improving her health. The friend told The Daily Beast that avoiding any kind of stress or anxiety was the most important thing for her at the moment.

Lots of people involved in planning need to know what all the principals are doing a long way in advance. I am told that Kates diary for this year is empty. There is nothing planned. She may not appear in public for the rest of the year, the publication quoted another source as saying.

Trooping the Colour The Palace has informed that, on June 15, King Charles, 75, will not ride a horse and travel with Queen Camilla, 76, in a carriage. Every year, Trooping the Colour celebrates the birthday of the British monarch.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  In 2021, the Biden administration turned down a meeting request with El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, on a trip to Washington, snubbing the self-proclaimed world's coolest dictator for fear a photo op would embolden his attempts to expand his power base.

A little more than three years later, it's the United States that's courting Bukele. A high-level delegation led by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and senior White House and State Department officials, attended Bukele's inauguration in San Salvador on Saturday to a second term.

The visit  unthinkable until recently  caps a quiet, 180-degree shift in Washington's policy toward the small Central American nation of 6 million that reflects how the Biden administration's criticisms of Bukele's strong-armed governing style have been overtaken by more urgent concerns tied to immigration  a key issue in this year's U.S. presidential election.

Theyve realized what hes been doing works, Damian Merlo, an American adviser to Bukele who is registered to lobby on the Salvadoran government's behalf, said in an interview from El Salvador. If the U.S. is serious about wanting to address the root causes of migration, then Bukele is someone who has actually done it.

The 42-year-old Bukele, who was reelected with 85% of the vote, has been wildly popular at home for his frontal attack on powerful gangs, which has converted what was once the world's murder capital into one of Latin America's safest countries. The improvement in public security is credited with a more than 60% drop in migration from the Central American country to the U.S. since Bukele took office in 2019  a stark contrast with a growing exodus of migrants from other parts of Latin America.

We conquered fear, and today are truly a free nation, Bukele said in a speech Saturday to hundreds of supporters from the balcony of the National Palace after being sworn in for a second, five-year term.

Cured of what he called the cancer of gang violence, he said that his next term would be devoted to strengthening El Salvador's economy, vowing to apply the same independent, unconventional approach that has characterized his rule and won him admirers from conservatives throughout Latin America.

Im not here to do what others think I should do. Im here to do whats best for our country, he said.

Until recently, Bukele's crackdown on the gangs  as well as political opponents  had drawn fire from Washington. A state of emergency originally declared in 2022 and still in effect has been used to round up 78,175 suspected gang members in sweeps that rights groups say are often arbitrary, based on a persons appearance or where they live. The government has had to release about 7,000 people because of a lack of evidence.

After Biden took office, the U.S. sanctioned several of Bukele's top aides on allegations of corruption and shifted foreign assistance from government agencies to civil society groups highly critical of Bukele.

In 2021, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said that Washington had  deep concerns about El Salvador's democracy " after lawmakers loyal to Bukele removed several Supreme Court justices that were among the last check on the president's power. A few months later, the new justices lifted a constitutional ban on consecutive reelection, something the U.S. State Department denounced as the outcome of a clear strategy to undermine judicial independence."

The about-face, observers say, started a little more than a year ago when Biden sent William Duncan, a career diplomat, to San Salvador as U.S. ambassador. Then, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill in Washington. Bukele, a gifted communicator who in the past praised former U.S. President Donald Trump and cozied up to China, has also avoided direct confrontation, although he still managed to ruffle feathers when he attended a conservative political gathering outside Washington earlier this year.

"Migration trumps everything else," said Michael Shifter, a former president of Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. The ideal Latin American partner would be effective in its security policy while respecting human rights norms and practices and cooperating with the U.S. on migration. But rarely do all these desirable things go together, which poses tough choices for U.S. policymakers.

Shifter said that such a high-level delegation like the one in El Salvador is rarely sent to presidential inaugurations, even of the United States' closest allies in the region. Besides Mayorkas, it includes Brian Nichols, the assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, and Daniel Erikson, Bidens top national security adviser on Latin America. Six members of congress, including three Democrats, and Donald Trump Jr. are also attending.

Pretty solid way to travel, Trump Jr. said in a video posted on TikTok as he was escorted by El Salvador's police to the inauguration ceremony. Just promoting those who support freedom around the world.

Mayorkas met with Bukele on the eve of his inauguration to discuss migration, public security and ways to strengthen the fight against narcotics trafficking.

I want to express the United States dedication to supporting the growth and prosperity of El Salvador through continued bilateral cooperation, Mayorkas said in a message on social media.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But Ricardo Zuniga, a retired U.S. diplomat who handled migration talks with Central America in the early days of the Biden administration, said that Washington may come to regret its recent embrace of Bukele.

Bukele will be in power for many years to come, so you need to have a working relationship, said Zuniga, who was the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs until his retirement last fall. But you also have to be clear eyed. This is an authoritarian government ruled by a single party that is not sympathetic to U.S. strategic interests.

___
Elon Musk-owned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) will soon host a "town hall" with Donald Trump, shortly after the Republican presidential candidate was found guilty of illegally influencing the 2016 election by paying hush money to a porn actor. No date has been announced for the event, which could also feature independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

The information was confirmed after Musk responded to a New York Post story about X hosting a town hall with the former US president by saying "This will be interesting". Notably, Musk, who has voted for both Republicans and Democrats in the past, has been increasingly critical of the Biden administration in recent days as he has moved closer to Trump.

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal also suggested that Trump could choose Musk for a role in the White House if he wins the upcoming presidential election.

Elon Musk defends Trump's guilty verdict: While reacting to Trump's guilty verdict in the Hush money case, Musk reacted, 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 billionaire added

Trump was convicted on 34 criminal counts related to falsifying documents to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, allegedly aimed at swaying the 2016 election, in which he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Indian-origin Sunita Williams is all set to embark on her third journey to space on Saturday. Williams will pilot Boeings Starliner first crewed spacecraft to the orbiting International Space Station (ISS), days after the mission was postponed due to a technical snag. She will also be accompanied by another NASA astronaut in the test flight.

When will Sunita Williams' third flight to space begin? Sunita Williams' flight to the ISS is set to lift off from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre around 10 pm Indian Standard Time today, according to NASA. The test flight mission will carry NASA astronaut Barry 'Butch' Wilmore along with Williams. The two will become the first humans to go aboard Starliner spacecraft as per the US space agency's Commercial Crew Program.

About Sunita Williams Sunita Williams is a former record holder of most space walks by a woman. She is also a United States Navy Officer and was a part of expedition 14 and expedition 15. While serving as an officer in Navy, she was later recruited by NASA. She has also received Padma Bhushan award for her achievements.

Williams concluded her tour of duty by returning to Earth with shuttle Atlantis' STS-117 flight to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California on June 22, 2007. Her career as an astronaut began when she was selected by the US space agency in June 1998.

About Starliner's debut crew launch flight The debut crew launch flight will begin after the spacecraft will be catapulted into space on an Atlas 5 rocket of the rocket company United Launch Alliance (ULA). The spacecraft is expected to reach ISS on Sunday, after which the astronauts will remain at the space station nearly for a week. During their stay, they will perform a range of tests related to the spacecraft.

If the launch goes as per plan, then the Starliner spacecraft will land on June 10, according to NASA. Starliner will begin its return flight from the ISS and re-enter Earth's atmosphere. After it will make a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the southwestern United States on June 10.

What's at stake for Boeing in Sunita William's space mission? The success of this flight test mission will pave the way for Boeing to supply its spacecraft, Starliner, and its systems for crewed rotation missions to the ISS. If the mission is successful, then NASA will begin using the Starliner capsule to send four astronauts, or a mix of crew and cargo, for its missions to low Earth orbit.

NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) are ready for the June 1, launch of the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test according to an announcement during a prelaunch media briefing from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
In an era marked by opulence and grandeur, the maharajas of India stood as unparalleled exemplars of luxury. With wealth amassed from their dominions, these regal figures elevated indulgence into a celebrated art form, drawing the attention of the world's premier luxury brands due to their relentless pursuit of the finest possessions.

Today's billionaires, with their extravagant celebrations, pale in comparison to the maharajas, whose legendary acquisitions of global treasures secured their status as favorites of iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Christofle, Mauboussin, and Rolls-Royce.

Epitomizing the lifestyle of "champagne wishes and caviar dreams," these royals embodied Coco Chanel's notion of luxurywhere true extravagance begins after necessity ends.

Iconic acquisitions and eccentricities

Take, for instance, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in the 1920s, who commissioned Cartier to create a lavish necklace featuring the seventh-largest polished diamond in the world, a rare 234.65 carat yellow cushion-cut De Beers diamond, weighing around 1,000 carats in total.

Another notable figure, Maharaja Pratapsinhrao, commissioned a golden cage from Van Cleef & Arpels for his pet frog, which he whimsically employed as a local weather forecaster in Baroda. This cage, adorned with rubies, sapphires, agate, and gold, was as extraordinary as its purpose.

Meanwhile, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, utilized a rare Jacob diamond simply as a paperweight.

These displays of lavishness made the maharajas essential clients for luxury brands. This point is illustrated by the fact that, while the British uber-luxury automaker Rolls-Royce sold 50-60 cars in India last year, between 1903 and 1945, approximately 800 of its vehicles were delivered to India, some even adorned with fine gold.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, once declared the world's richest man by Time magazine, owned 50 Rolls-Royce cars, including the esteemed Silver Ghost. He was not alone in his admiration for this marvel of engineering. Sir Fateh Singh Bahadur, the Maharana of Udaipur and Mewar, also cherished a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. They were in good company, joined by global magnates such as Lionel de Rothschild and the Duke of Westminster, who also owned this prestigious vehicle.

Beyond opulence: Cultural and material legacy

These esteemed individuals, both men and a notable few women, cultivated tastes that spanned far beyond automobiles. Their selections of bone China were sourced from Royal Worcesterone of the oldest existing brands, established in 1750and Minton, a leading name in ceramics during the Victorian era. Their choices in glassware included Lalique and Baccarat crystal, while their stationery was procured from Smythson of Bond Street. When it came to perfumes and cosmetics, only the finestDetaille, Dior, and Chanelwould suffice.

Although many maharajas were noted for their fashion sensibility, true sartorial elegance was often the domain of the women. Maharani Suniti Devi of Cooch Behar captivated attention at the coronation of King Edward VII in a French-crafted white satin gown adorned with a gold 'Empire' wreath design. However, the ultimate style icon was Maharani Indiraje of Cooch Behar, an enthusiastic gambler, who famously ordered Salvatore Ferragamo to create 100 pairs of shoes for her.

Such extravagant spending shadows the current sales figures of these luxury brands in India, despite its 200 billionaires and 326,400 millionaires. Louis Vuitton has recently opened its fourth store in India, while Cartier maintains just two, and Dior three. The annual turnover of these stores is likely dwarfed by what the maharajas would have spent in just one day of shopping in Paris.

The term 'maharaja' has thus come to symbolize extravagance and opulence in modern usage. This was evident when the International Finance Corporation named its first onshore rupee bond the 'Maharaja bonds' a decade ago. A more commonplace yet equally grand example is the Maharaja Mac from McDonald's.

However, the advent of independence signalled the end of the lavish revelries of the maharajas, and as their once limitless funds diminished, their treasured jewellery began to surface in auction houses around the globe.
Half of its population does not have access to electricity and the law still prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies, but Ethiopia could nevertheless become the future stronghold of bitcoin mining in Africa and a major player in the world.

In 2022, the Ethiopian government legalized cryptocurrency mining  the process of solving increasingly complex equations using computers to validate transactions in electronic currencies, including bitcoin. Two years later, around twenty companies set up their mining containers and supercomputers on the outskirts of the capital.

In February, Addis Ababa signed electricity supply agreements with twenty-one companies, including nineteen Chinese, so that they could be connected to the Ethiopian network. A boon for these bitcoin farms, which are desperately seeking new markets after being banned in China in 2021, then pushed out in other countries  notably Kazakhstan and Iceland  due to the energy crisis that these huge electricity consumers have worsened. Global bitcoin mining uses more energy in a year (121 terawatt hours) than a country like Argentina.

The completion of the great Renaissance Dam

The race to access sufficient electrical energy is intensifying around the world, explains Batyr Hydyrov, president of Uminers, which plans to install 24,000 machines in the Ethiopian capital by the fall. The overall slowdown in mining is due to the scarcity of installation sites and limited power capacity.  On these two points, Ethiopia has what it takes to establish itself as a future Eldorado for bitcoin miners.

After years of diplomatic battle with Sudan and Egypt, Ethiopia is on the verge of completing its Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile, the largest in Africa (5,300 megawatts), which alone should double its electricity production. The Ethiopian authorities intend to use this surplus of green energy to power huge mining farms.

The latter are presented in Ethiopia as the tool which could, in the long term, become the main provider of foreign currencies ahead of coffee and gold. The country has been experiencing a serious economic crisis since the Tigray civil war (2020-2022). Since its exclusion from the American trade agreement AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) in January 2022, Ethiopia has faced the flight of foreign companies to its soil and a shortage of foreign currency.

The government is killing two birds with one stone, says Dawit Mengistu, the founder of the Ethiopian Blockchain network. At the same time, the purchase of licenses and electricity brings in dollars and, at the same time, we sell the energy that we do not use.  The Luxor Technologie firm estimates that Ethiopia has some 3,000 megawatts of surplus electricity.

An obsolete electricity network

This is enough for miners to monetize it, which will then allow other infrastructures to be developed, says Alessandro Cecere, one of the firms researchers. In addition to being plentiful, Ethiopian electricity is cheap  about a third cheaper than in Texas, the global stronghold of bitcoin mining.

The potential for electricity production in Ethiopia is unlimited, but the distribution is terrible, recognizes Kal Kassa, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur based in Addis Ababa, where power cuts are recurrent. At the end of March, an outage plunged the country into darkness for four hours.

Ethiopia loses up to 23% of its electricity due to the capacities of the transport networks or their obsolescence, the reliability and quality of the often aging distribution networks, according to a note from the general management of the French Treasury. To modernize the network, the World Bank granted Ethiopia a $523 million loan in April.

Moreover, Ethiopia benefits from a geographical advantage. Mining tools, which emit large amounts of heat, require a constant supply of electricity to cool them.

Addis Ababa is located above 2,000 meters above sea level and temperatures quickly drop below 20 degrees. So you save a lot of money because the computers cool almost on their own, estimates Kal Kassa, who considers that the activity could bring in nearly $2 billion each year to Ethiopia. According to him, the country has the capacity to host 5% of global mining activities within two years.

Unbeatable energy prices

Currently, almost all of the companies that have obtained a license are headquartered in China. It is obvious that there was a political agreement with the Chinese, confides, on condition of anonymity, a European investor who deployed his machines in Ethiopia under the license of a Chinese mining farm. Its the meeting between the Ethiopian governments interest in storing dollars and the interest of Chinese companies in finding a new base and low-cost energy, he summarizes.

Addis Ababa and Beijing have enjoyed close economic relations for decades. China holds three-quarters of Ethiopias bilateral debt after investing massively in the countrys infrastructure, notably the railway line linking Addis Ababa to Djibouti or in transmission lines linking the great Renaissance Dam on the Nile with the rest of the territory.

For Ethiopia, cryptocurrency mining, an extremely energy-intensive activity, is a risky bet because it could jeopardize its energy security, as was the case in Kazakhstan and Iceland, where the networks were regularly saturated by mining farms. bitcoins. It is up to Addis Ababa to decide whether mining revenues will be allocated to the goals of connecting millions of Ethiopians to electricity. Today, Ethiopia experiences the third largest energy access deficit in sub-Saharan Africa, with around half of the population still lacking access to reliable electricity, according to the World Bank.

As for bitcoin companies, if they say they are attracted by unbeatable energy prices, they will closely follow local regulations. Currently, only one social tax (3%) is imposed on minors. But the Ethiopian government is preparing to increase taxes. Africas second most populous country also presents political risk. Less than two years after the end of the Tigray war, almost half of Ethiopian territory remains inaccessible, plagued by insurgencies and instability.
SINGAPOREChina sought to pitch itself as a friendlier global power to governments in the Middle East this week. Yet its reluctance to offer a security presence is limiting Beijings influence in the region.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted senior officials from Arab nationsincluding the leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emiratesfor a China-Arab states conference in Beijing on Thursday. With the Biden administration facing heavy domestic and international criticism over its handling of the Gaza war, China sees an opportunity to promote its brand of foreign policy to leaders in the region.

But, despite the blowback against the U.S. over its support for Israel, the Gaza conflict has shown that Washington remains the preeminent foreign power in the Middle East. A year after brokering a landmark deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Beijing has been on the outside of negotiations over a Gaza cease-fire and has stayed on the sidelines as a crucial trade route through the Red Sea comes under fire.

Its main tool for gaining clout has been a willingness to invest, particularly in the energy sector. And it has benefited from an Arab world eager to use its relations with China as leverage against Washingtonoften to regional leaders frustration.

In opening a Thursday conference between China and the 22-nation Arab League, Xi used his keynote speech to press home his position on the Gaza conflict. He also harked back to longstanding trade ties along the ancient Silk Road, promising to help his guests boost economic development and bring peace to the region.

In this turbulent world, peaceful relations come from mutual respect, and lasting security is built on fairness and justice," Xi said, restating Chinas support for an international peace conference to end the war in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-state solution should not be wavered at will," he said.

China has increasingly positioned itself as a benevolent force in Middle Eastern affairs, one that acts responsibly in trying to calm regional tensionsin contrast with the U.S. and other Western powers that Beijing accuses of exacerbating local conflicts.

Chinese officials have leaned more heavily into this role since the Gaza war broke out last year, intensifying a diplomatic outreach to the Arab world.

Resentment in the Middle East over Washingtons backing of Israel provides an opening for China to deepen ties with traditional American partners in the region such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, analysts say. The question is how far China is willing to go, and what risks it is willing to take, to exert its influence.

Beijing has shown little interest in displacing Washington as a political and security force in the region, said Steven Wright, an associate professor of international relations at Qatars Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

Instead, it is more about economics and a development-first agenda," Wright said.

The absence of a Chinese military response to attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea underscored the fact that Beijing wont replace Washington as a security guarantor in the Middle East. The U.S., in contrast, has launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthis in response to the attacks.

China is a different type of great powerthan the U.S.in the region," said Dawn Murphy, an associate professor at the National War College in Washington. China sees one of its strongest features as a great power is the fact that it has positive relations with all countries" there.

That approach hasnt played as well in Israel as Beijing might have hoped, according to Dr. Avner Golov, the vice president of Mind Israel, an organization that provides consultation to Israels national-security establishment and decision-makers.

While the U.S. response to the Red Sea attacks showed its ability to back its allies and mobilize forces quickly and get results," the Chinese reaction revealed the constraints on Beijings clout, Golov said.

In his Thursday speech, Xi doubled down on promises of economic cooperation with Arab states, including investments in energy, finance, food security and artificial intelligencechanneled through his signature Belt and Road Initiative to develop global trade infrastructure.

Xi also pledged to donate 500 million yuan, or roughly $69 million, to support humanitarian efforts and postwar reconstruction in Gaza, in addition to a package of 100 million yuan that China committed earlier.

Arab nations collectively count China as their top trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $398 billion in 2023, up from $36.7 billion in 2004, according to Chinese state media. All 22 members of the Arab League have signed agreements to cooperate with Beijing on the Belt and Road Initiative.

Beijings ambitions in the Arab world have expanded beyond trade in recent years. In addition to brokering the surprise detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, Chinese officials have courted Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East to temper international criticism of the Communist Partys efforts to forcibly assimilate Muslim minorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

More recently, in April, Beijing hosted representatives from rival Palestinian groups, the hard-line Islamist group Hamas and the largely secular Fatah, for talks on a possible reconciliation. At the time, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the two groups expressed a desire to reconcile and continue their dialogue to achieve Palestinian unity.

The meeting didnt yield progress, and China was the latest in a series of unsuccessful mediators on Palestinian reconciliation, including Russia.

Xi himself sat down with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi on Wednesday, with both leaders agreeing to work together to resolve the Gaza conflict. Sisis Beijing visit comes amid strained ties between Egypt and Israel over the latters military offensive against the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Cairo has been considering a downgrade of diplomatic ties with Israel, having signaled that it would join South Africas court case accusing Israel of genocide.

Following Thursdays conference, China and the Arab League issued a joint declaration that called for a cease-fire in Gaza, advocated implementing the two-state solution" to resolve the Palestinian issue, and criticized the U.S. for blocking attempts to give the Palestinians full membership in the United Nations.

Experts on Chinese foreign policy say Beijings diplomatic gestures on Gaza help boost its image as a responsible global power, though such efforts have done little to help resolve the decadeslong conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

With the Israel-Hamas war, I think Chinas assessment is, even if they applied pressure to Israel or to Hamas or to Iran, they wouldnt have the ability to actually impact events on the ground," said Murphy of the National War College.

Deng Li, a Chinese vice foreign minister, laid out Beijings hands-off approach at a Monday briefing ahead of this weeks conference.

Beijing believes that the masters of the Middle East are the people of this region, and the problems of this region must be solved by the people of this region," Deng said.

Dov Lieber and Jared Malsin contributed to this article.

Write to Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@wsj.com
Karnataka court on Saturday, June 1, granted bail to Karnataka Chief Mminster Siddaramaiah and deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in connection with a defamation case filed against them by BJP leader Keshava Prasad.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had pressed charges against the Congress leaders for disseminating false advertisements targeting its party leaders, including the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. On Saturday, Karnataka CM and deputy Chief Minister appeared before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. Following their plea, the court has granted them bail.

Also read: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, cabinet ministers threatened via email: Will show you one more trailer. Next explosion in BJP MLC and General Secretary Keshav Prasad had filed the defamation case alleging that 40 per cent commission was charged for execution of all public works. The case was filed against Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

As per the complaint raised by Keshava Prasad, the advertisement issued last year on May 5 in all mainstream newspapers accused the Congress leaders of making "fanciful, baseless, foundation-less and irrational" allegations against the BJP.

"The advertisement showed the images of accused D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah seeking votes for the Congress. The complainant said that this shows that both the accused were directly responsible for all the false statements in the advertisement, the complaint reads as reported by Deccan Herald.

Also read: Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse case: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah writes to PM Modi to cancel Hassan MP's diplomatic passport The complainant further alleged that the advertisement made "false and reckless" allegations under the caption Corruption Rate card, Deccan Herald reported, citing the complaint note. He claimed that "false" allegations were levied against the saffron party by the KPCC and the other three accused, who had conspired and planned to defame.

Also read: Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar says rivals using tantriks from Kerala for black magic to undermine Siddaramaiah govt On the other hand, the Karnataka court also summoned Rahul Gandhi in connection with the defamation case. However, Rahul Gandhi, in his petition, sought an exemption from appearing in court. He cited election commitments for his unavailabilitynevertheless, the court-mandated his appearance on June 1. Due to Rahul Gandhi's absence, the court adjourned the hearing and reserved its order until 3 pm today.

CM and I reached the court today. Rahul Gandhi could not come today as there was an INDIA alliance meeting. BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal had said that BJP is corrupt. He said the BJP government had fixed rates for various posts, ANI quoted Deputy CM DK Shivakumar as saying.
Exit Poll 2024 today: The Lok Sabha election's final phase, spanning seven stages, will conclude on Saturday. Subsequently, attention will turn towards exit polls, which are expected to predict the possible composition of the upcoming government.

The primary focus will revolve around determining whether the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or the opposition bloc led by Congress, known as INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), is likely to emerge victorious.

According to the regulations set by the Election Commission of India (ECI), exit polls are prohibited from being conducted during the voting process. However, they are permitted to be published 30 minutes after the last vote is cast.

In accordance with these rules, exit poll data cannot be released prior to 6:30 pm on June 1, which marks the conclusion of the last round of polling. These regulations are governed by Section 126A of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951.

Despite being eagerly awaited and scrutinized, exit polls are not flawless. Several factors can contribute to inaccuracies in their predictions:

1. Assumption of Truthful Responses Exit polls operate under the assumption that voters will honestly disclose their choices. However, this premise can be flawed, as some individuals may deceive pollsters, while others may feel pressured to conceal their true opinions, especially from marginalized communities.

2. Insufficient Representation of Women Exit polls often inadequately represent women, despite their significant influence on voting outcomes. This disparity in sample sizes can lead to errors, particularly in constituencies where women outnumber men.

3. Human Errors in Sampling Human involvement in sampling introduces the possibility of error. Field resources may inadvertently select convenient polling booths, skewing results, especially towards urban areas.

4. Margin of Error Exit polls typically come with a margin of error ranging from 1% to 3%. In closely contested states, this margin becomes particularly significant, impacting the reliability of predictions.

5. Reliance on Historical Data Exit polls often rely on historical election data for analysis, which may not accurately represent current sentiments due to India's diverse demographics and evolving voting patterns.

6. Budget Constraints and Methodological Pressures Tight budgets and time limitations can compromise the quality of exit polls, affecting research depth and data collection. Moreover, the pressure to deliver prompt results can lead to shortcuts in methodology, potentially skewing outcomes.

7. Lack of Comprehensive Caste and Socio-Economic Data Limited data on caste and socio-economic demographics pose challenges for accurate polling. The absence of recent caste census data and comprehensive information on voters' economic profiles hampers predictive accuracy.

In the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, pollsters had predicted around 285 seats for the NDA. However, the BJP-led alliance won a landslide victory by winning 353 seats, with the BJP alone securing 303 seats. The Congress won 52 seats, and its UPA won 91 seats.
Mumbai: In an effort to capitalise on the rising prices of silver, Hindustan Zinc, Indias leading producer of the precious metal, will maximize its output at the expense of zinc, the company's honcho said.

Silver prices have shot up 15% in the past one month, and 30% in the past year. Zinc prices, on the other hand, have remained flat in the past year and shown a slight rise since April.

We have decided that we'll change our operating regime in our Chanderiya smelter to focus more and more on lead and silver production," Arun Misra, the company's chief executive said in an interview on Thursday. Silver is a by-product of lead production.

The company plans to increase silver production by 10 tonnes per month starting June, according to Misra. But the company has retained its FY25 guidance of 750-775 tonnes silver production.

This could add up to 100 crore to the company's top line each month if the current rally in silver prices persists. It could also improve the companys margins as silver is a high-margin commodity.

With 817,000 tonnes produced in FY24, Zinc had nearly 80% share of the company's overall refined metal production by volume in the fiscal, and silver had less than 0.1%. Hindustan Zinc also produces lead.

Any commodity price rally is beneficial for Hindustan Zinc," said Kunal Kothari, Research Analyst at Centrum Broking. In FY25, their profitability will see a significant improvement, especially when compared to FY24."

Kothari added that Hindustan Zinc's Ebitda could reach 19,000 crore by FY26 from 13,677 crore in FY24 despite conservative estimates at 10-15% lower to current zinc and silver prices".

Thats over 18% CAGR," he said. Ebitda is short for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

Adjustable process

Hindustan Zincs Chanderiya Lead-Zinc smelter produces lead and zinc from ore. The lead thus extracted is further purified to remove impurities and silver is recovered as a by-product. The process can be adjusted to prioritize the production of either zinc or lead. Hindustan Zinc will prioritize lead production to maximize silver recovery.

The current cost-price matrix of lead and silver was more beneficial than zinc, prompting the decision, Misra said. Prices of silver have gone up by around 15% in just the past month to reach levels of 92,000 per kg, data from commodity exchange MCX shows. Many experts are expecting the price to breach the 1 lakh milestone.

Meanwhile, zinc prices have been tepid for the better part of the past year to hover around the $2,500 mark per tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME). Zinc prices have improved since April to reach $3,000 levels per tonne.

Attributing the current surge in silver prices to a global demand shortfall, Misra said there was a 20% deficit between silver demand and production.

There has been a sudden surge in consumption of silver in the western world, mostly for solar and other industrial applications, led by the green economy," Misra said.

Silver rallies not uncommon

In India specifically, silver rallies are not uncommon he said, with one such price surge event almost every alternate year.

In our opinion, it will be maybe another two or three years till the time we have new mines, if at all they come up, to augment the supply," Misra said. "Till that time, this rally will continue. We always believe that the rally will continue, but the supply-demand gap looks like it is going to support our hypothesis."

The rally in silver has lifted the stock of Hindustan Zinc too, with the scrip more than doubling since the beginning of the year despite an 11% correction in the past five trading sessions.

Hindustan Zinc shares closed 2.9% higher at 687 on the BSE on Friday. Benchmark Sensex ended the session 0.1% higher.
Lok Sabha Election Phase 7 Voting: As the voting in the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election began on Saturday, Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers to protect democracy and the Constitution.

"In this great festival of democracy, the country will vote in the last phase today. All of you are requested to exercise your right to vote in large numbers to protect democracy and the Constitution," Kejriwal posted on X.

Go to vote yourself and take your neighbours along with you. Dictatorship will lose, and democracy will win, he added.

The AAP chief has been on bail in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy. The Supreme Court had on May 10 granted 21-day interim bail to the chief minister to enable him to campaign during the Lok Sabha polls. The court had directed him to surrender on June 2, a day after the last phase of the Lok Sabha election.

After getting the bail, Kejriwal campaigned across the country extensively, attacking the BJP-led Union government and accusing it of being dictatorial and wanting to crush Opposton misusing central investigative agencies.

In the last phase of the election, voting is being held in 57 parliamentary constituencies across eight states and the Union Territories including Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The 57 Lok Sabha seats include 41 general category seats, three reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and 13 for Scheduled Castes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the 906 candidates in the fray in this phase, during which 10.06 crore electors are eligible to cast their votes.

Of the seats at stake, the BJP had bagged 25 in 2019, while the Congress won eight, and the Trinamool Congress won nine. The Biju Janata Dal won four seats and the Janata Dal (United) won three; the Bahujan Samajwadi Party, Apna Dal, and Akali Dal won two seats; and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Aam Aadmi Party each snagged a single seat.

Over the last six phases, voting has been completed in 486 Lok Sabha seats across 28 States and Union Territories.

Today, the voting is taking place in the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies of the Odisha State Legislative Assembly.

The counting of the votes polled is scheduled to take place on June 4 when the results will be known.
The seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal's nine parliamentary constituencies saw sporadic outbreaks of violence, particularly in Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour, where TMC, ISF, and BJP supporters clashed.

As reported by PTI, while election officials initially reported peaceful voting, they also acknowledged receiving 1,450 complaints by 11 am, mainly from political parties alleging EVM malfunctions and obstruction of agents from entering polling booths.

Around 28.10 per cent of over 1.63 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling to the nine Lok Sabha seats, an Election Commission official said.

Tensions escalated as clashes erupted between supporters of the TMC, ISF, and BJP across various regions of the state, stemming from disputes over preventing polling agents from accessing booths.

In Bhangar, located within the Jadavpur constituency, a confrontation ensued between Trinamool Congress and Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters, with allegations of crude bombs being thrown from both factions.

Also Read: Mallikarjun Kharge reveals his choice for Prime Minister post if INDIA bloc comes to power

Protests erupted as police intervened, with both factions accusing each other of inciting the violence. Security personnel resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and restore order. During the intervention, several crude bombs were recovered from the scene.

Angry voters of Kultuli within Joynagar constituency took drastic measures by hurling electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VV-PAT) machines into nearby waterbodies. Their actions were fueled by feelings of electoral misconduct, reflecting their frustration over perceived voting restrictions.

"Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU , 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond," the office of CEO West Bengal posted on X.

Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. Poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer, it further said.

PTI reported that TMC supporters have accused the ISF of orchestrating the violence to intimidate voters. Prompt action from local law enforcement led to lathi charges and the arrest of suspects in Polerhat area of Bhangar.

Another incident occurred where the vehicle of an ISF worker was vandalized in Baghajatin area. Accusations have been leveled against Trinamool Congress supporters for the alleged incident.

In Diamond Harbour, the pocket borough of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is also seeking re-election, witnessed clashes between TMC and BJP supporters as the saffron party candidate Abhijit Das alleged malpractices by the ruling party. The TMC, however, denied the allegations.

In Jadavpur area's Ganguly Bagan, CPI(M) workers were allegedly beaten by the TMC activists and their camp offices were ransacked. The TMC, however, denied the allegations and accused the Left party of intimidating the voters.

The state Congress unit wrote to CEO Aariz Aftab requesting him to take stern action against alleged irregularities and rigging that are taking place in various pockets.

In the Bermajur area of Sandeshkhali, the BJP levelled accusations against TMC workers, alleging that they, along with police officers, intimidated BJP polling agents by visiting their residences on Friday night. Supported by video evidence, the party claimed that women in Sandeshkhali had voiced their dissatisfaction with the TMC government's actions, portraying them as efforts to intimidate the population ahead of the final phase of elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the citizens on Saturday to vote in large numbers in the Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

In a post on X, PM wrote, Today is the final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As 57 seats across 8 states and UTs go to the polls, calling upon the voters to turnout in large numbers and vote. I hope young and women voters exercise their franchise in record numbers. Together, lets make our democracy more vibrant and participative.

The final phase of voting started on Saturday, covering 57 parliamentary constituencies across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. This phase signifies the culmination of the world's largest polling event, which began on the 19th of the previous month and has traversed through six phases, encompassing 486 Lok Sabha seats.

As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), an estimated 10.06 crore electors, comprising around 5.24 crore males, 4.82 crore females, and 3574 third-gender electors, are anticipated to participate in this phase by exercising their right to vote.

In the final phase of polling, a total of 904 candidates are contesting. Notable candidates include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nishikant Dubey, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Charanjit Singh Channi, as well as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Misa Bharti.

Additionally, six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh will undergo by-polls on June 1, which will impact the Congress government in the state as all six seats were previously held by Congress, and the MLAs from these seats cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls.

The seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh where polling is scheduled include Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Meanwhile, polling for the remaining 42 Assembly Constituencies of the Odisha State Legislative Assembly will also occur.

The ECI said that polling for 28 states/UTs and 486 parliamentary constituencies has been conducted smoothly and peacefully. Vote counting will take place on June 4.

Earlier phases of the Lok Sabha elections were held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, and May 25. Additionally, assembly polls have been conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha has witnessed simultaneous polls with the Lok Sabha and the assembly in the last four phases.
All 13 parliamentary seats of Punjab are voting in the seventh and final round of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 today, June 1.

Punjab holds significance in these general elections, as it witnesses a face-off between two key parties of the INDIA bloc the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. Also, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting its first Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, without its long-standing ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) since 1996.

In the 2019 general elections, the Congress emerged as the leading party in Punjab, securing eight seats. The BJP and SAD managed to win two seats each, while the AAP secured one seat.

Multi-cornered fight Thus, in Punjab, a four-cornered fight is expected between the four major parties  the Congress, the AAP, the SAD and the BJP.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lead the AAP's campaign. Kejriwal is out on interim bail until June 1, the day of the polls. Punjab matters for the AAP because it is the only state in the assembly, other than Delhi, where it is in power.

This will be the AAPs first Lok Sabha election after it swept Punjab, bagging 92 out of 117 seats in the 2022 assembly polls. The parliamentary polls also hold significance for AAP, from Punjab, where it won four seats in the 2014 polls, its maiden Lok Sabha election.

For the Congress, Punjab matters as it was a ruling party from here. Additionally, the grand old party won eight out of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2019 general elections.

In the 2022 assembly polls, the AAP almost decimated the Congress and SAD, which had ruled the state for 10 years, along with its former ally, the BJP.

SAD Vs BJP For SAD, which is contesting its first general election without its patriarch, the late Parkash Singh Badal, 2024 is important to revive its panthic roots. The partys manifesto, released earlier this month, makes a panthic (Sikh) and pro-Punjab pitch, emphasising a democratic and federal structure with political and fiscal autonomy for the state. Panthic principles above politics and Punjab for Punjabis, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said while releasing the manifesto on May 18.

The BJP, contesting all 13 seats, is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the partys leading star campaigner. The BJP candidates also hope the Ram Mandir inauguration in January this year could swing the migrant Hindu votes in their favour.

According to the 2011 census, although Hindus constitute 38.15 percent of the states population , the state remains predominantly Sikh, comprising over 57 percent of its population.

The BJP has also been faced with fierce protests from the farmer union members, who are boycotting its candidates.

Until 2019, when the BJP was in alliance with SAD, the saffron party would contest Lok Sabha polls from three seats  Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar. It won Hoshiarpur in the last two elections and bagged Gurdaspur five times since 1998. The party lost Amritsar in the last three elections.

INDIA bloc partners rivals in Punjab

Though the Arvind Kejriwal-led party contested the polls in Delhi in alliance with the Congress, they are pitted against each other in Punjab. In a recent interview, Kejriwal said that his party decided not to fight the election with Congress in Punjab because the BJP was not a serious player in the state.
SINGAPOREDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that a war with China is neither imminent nor unavoidable, striking a nonconfrontational tone a day after his first face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

Speaking at a security summit in Singapore on Saturday, Austin signaled that the Biden administration is seeking to cool tensions with China, despite an increase in friction following military activities by both countries around Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.

Our goal is to make sure that we dont allow things to spiral out of control unnecessarily," Austin said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defense officials organized by the London-based think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

A fight with China is neither imminent, in my view, or unavoidable," he said.

The speech followed a 75-minute meeting Austin held Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun. The pair reaffirmed plans to reopen direct lines of communication, part of efforts to reduce U.S.-China friction and preserve a delicate rapprochement between the two powers.

A U.S. official said it was clear and candid," while a spokesman for Chinas Defense Ministry described the talks as positive."

At the same time, in his Saturday speech, Austin emphasized continued support for U.S. allies and partners who are more and more concerned by increased Chinese military activity in the Indo-Pacifica statement that drew a rebuke from a top Chinese official Saturday.

The defense secretary said that, even as the U.S. devotes considerable effort to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, Asia remains Americas priority theater of operations."

Austin detailed Washingtons efforts to better integrate the militaries and defense industries of like-minded" nations committed to a a free and open Indo-Pacific." The U.S., South Korea and Japan have deepened security relations to counter rising threats from China and North Korea.

Tensions have risen recently as both China and the U.S. object to each others military activities around Taiwan and in the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea as its own, including areas claimed by several other countries such as the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally.

Chinese vessels have become increasingly aggressive in disrupting missions to supply a detachment of marines the Philippines keeps stationed on a disputed reef called Second Thomas Shoal. The U.S. has repeatedly warned that an armed attack" on Philippine vessels would invoke their mutual defense pact.

The harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerouspure and simple," Austin said Saturday. And we all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains open and free."

China has steadily pressed its claims in the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes each year. It has built fortified artificial islands in part aimed at denying the U.S. Navy freedom of navigation in the area.

Austin outlined Saturday what he called historic progress" made over the past three years with allies and partners across the Asia Pacific.

He noted advances in ventures to co-produce jet-fighter engines and armored vehicles with India, and major expansions of joint military exercises with the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. The U.S. is also working with Japan to counter threats from hypersonic weapons.

Without naming China, Austin said critics will invariably oppose these efforts. They will continue to reject the rule of law, and they will try to impose their will through coercion and aggression," he said.

A senior Chinese delegate at the Shangri-La Dialogue issued a stern response to Austins remarks.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy claims to promote cooperation but in reality builds exclusive clubs that sow divisions, Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, deputy chief of the Chinese militarys Joint Staff Department, told reporters. The true motive is to converge various small circles into a big circle that is an Asia-Pacific version of NATO, to maintain American hegemony."

The U.S. strengthens its military presence to force other countries to choose sides and advances the eastward expansion of NATO," Jing said, adding that these maneuvers create chaos and bind regional countries with the American war chariot."

Jing accused Austin of implicitly criticizing Chinas legitimate operations to protect our rights" around Second Thomas Shoal. He said Austins remarks were completely unreasonable," adding that the Philippines and the U.S. were colluding to provoke confrontation and crisis.

Earlier, in a question-and-answer session following Austins speech, Senior Col. Cao Yanzhong, a research fellow at Chinas Academy of Military Sciences, asked the defense secretary if the U.S. was pursuing a NATO-like alliance in Asia.

He suggested that Russias invasion of Ukraine was prompted by an expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationa claim often advanced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to justify his decision in 2022 to invade his smaller neighbor.

I respectfully disagree with your point that the expansion of NATO caused the Ukraine crisis," Austin said, drawing applause from the audience.

The Ukraine crisis obviously was caused because Mr. Putin made a decision to unlawfully invade his neighbor, who had an inferior military at that point in time," he said. He assumed he could very quickly roll over his neighbor and annex the country. That was two-plus years ago. He has not achieved any of his strategic objectives to this point."

Write to Feliz Solomon at feliz.solomon@wsj.com and Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@wsj.com
On Thursday, a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to falsify business records and illegally influence the 2016 election, making him the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. But the real trial comes in November, at the ballot box, and it is unclear how Trumps felony convictions will affect the vote. We can gather some clues, however, from research on how voters see their leaders and make political choices.

One major factor is character assessment. Political scientists have found that, in deciding on a candidates suitability for office, voters take into account, in the first place, their warmth," that is, whether they seem to empathize with them and operate with moral integrity. Voters also care about competencea candidates knowledge, intelligence and overall effectiveness as a leader.

But exactly how much weight do they assign to these traits? In a 2017 analysis of voter surveys in U.S. presidential elections between 1984 and 2008, Lasse Laustsen and Alexander Bor at Aarhus University in Denmark found that voters valued warmth much more than competence. When asked to clarify which particular elements were most important, voters put empathy over attributes like integrity, intelligence and effectiveness. The relatively low effect of competence relates to the recent surge to power of populist outsiders with little previous experience in politics," the authors write.

These results suggest that voters who believe Trump has their best interests at heart arent likely to care very much about what a jury has to say about his integrity.

The existing beliefs of voters also play a key role, of course, in their choices. Put simply, when voters are more partisan, they are less likely to be swayed by new information, including a felony conviction.

We can see this in a snap poll by YouGov of 3,040 American adults, conducted just hours after the jury delivered its verdict this week. Half of the respondents agreed that Trump was guilty of the charges, 30% said he wasnt guilty, and 19% admitted they were not sure. These responses appear to be informed by party affiliation. Among Democrats, 86% said they believed he was guilty, 5% said he was innocent, and 9% werent sure. Republicans inverted these views, with just 15% believing he was guilty, 64% saying he wasnt and 21% admitting they were undecided.

This sharp divide seems to be a clear example of motivated reasoning," a mode of decision-making in which we evaluate new information based on how it aligns with our existing beliefs and tribal values. Basically, when we are bombarded with data and details, we typically resort to a kind of cognitive inertia. Our brains find ways to accept even flimsy evidence that supports our worldview and discount whatever might challenge our assumptions.

There is evidence that motivated reasoning can even alter our moral compass. In a study published in the journal Political Psychology in 2019, researchers asked American voters to consider various scenarios in which a political candidate had broken a moral code. In general, people were far more likely to forgive transgressions, including an extramarital affair, if the candidate belonged to the same political party. This held true even if the candidate violated a voters most cherished values.

Motivated reasoning is both bipartisan and easily measured. A 2022 study in the journal American Behavioral Scientist, for example, examined whether reports dismissing claims of election fraud influenced confidence in the legitimacy of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The researchers found that while fact-checking articles managed to correct some false beliefs about voter fraud, overall attitudes about the election typically toed the party line. These results reveal the alarming size of the partisan legitimacy gap," the authors wrote. Specifically, Democratic and anti-Trump respondents reported levels of belief in electoral legitimacy that nearly tripled that of Republican and pro-Trump participants.

While Trump was in office, public opinion about his trustworthiness became more polarized. In a study tracking the views of American voters in 2016 and 2019, published in the journal American Behavioral Scientist in 2020, researchers at the University of Colorado found that those who supported Trump in 2016 viewed him more favorably years later, while those who distrusted him early on ended up feeling even more distrustful.

What all of this research suggests is that Trumps conviction is unlikely to have much impact on his existing fans or foes. Those who love him will likely love him even more; those who loathe him have yet another reason to do so.

David Robson is the author of The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network," published by Pegasus on June 4.
Nine months after overthrowing Ali Bongo Ondimba, General Brice Oligui Nguema, president of the Gabonese transition, was received on the evening of Friday May 31 at the Elysee by Emmanuel Macron. The culmination of a five-day tour, this meeting with the French head of state constitutes a further step towards the normalization of the power of the 49-year-old putschist soldier, treated as a reliable and friendly partner by France. A relationship very different from the execrable ones that prevail with the heads of the juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

During this French stage, the soldier took care to justify his coup detat, a national liberation for the Gabonese people, he said on Wednesday in Paris. The putsch took place a few hours after the announcement of the contested re-election of Ali Bongo Ondimba and ended fifty-five years of dynastic power for the Bongo, father and son. The rupture that has occurred in our country must be understood as the radical desire of the Gabonese to access healthy governance, he continued. Even if, in form, we are putschists, in essence we are not, explains a Gabonese minister to Le Monde.

French diplomats emphasize the positive signals sent by the new Gabonese authorities. In particular, they promised to end the transition by August 2025 by organizing a presidential election, in which Brice Oligui Nguema should have the right to run. While Paris is witnessing, helpless, a decline in French influence in the Sahel, it welcomes the good relations maintained with Libreville since the coup detat  these had on the contrary deteriorated under Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose father was one of the pillars of Francafrique.

Aligned views

No vindictive speech has yet been made by the Gabonese junta, which refuses to see the presence of the French base on its soil as a symbol of neocolonialism. Can we imagine that the NATO military base in Germany calls into question the sovereignty of this country? Why would a French military base here do it? , Estimates Charles MBa, the Gabonese Minister of Public Accounts. At the initiative of Paris, as in other African countries which host French bases, discussions are nevertheless underway on the future of this influence.

On several issues, the two countries display aligned views. After the holding of the One Forest Summit in March 2023 in Libreville dedicated to the preservation of the tropical forest, where Emmanuel Macron made the trip, Paris intends to continue its collaboration with Ali Bongos successor on ecological issues. The two leaders signed a declaration of intent to develop this partnership through the formation of a coalition of public and private partners wishing to provide financial support to Gabon for the implementation of its commitments in terms of protecting its carbon and biodiversity resources, and to invest in the bioeconomy in Gabon, the French presidency announced in a press release.

Economic relations were indeed at the heart of the visit. Accompanied by a dozen ministers and a strong delegation of businessmen, General Oligui Nguema became his countrys VRP. We are before you to invite you to Gabon, land of all opportunities, he told the six hundred French and Gabonese entrepreneurs who came to listen to him on Wednesday in Paris, during the first Gabon-France economic forum supervised by Medef and the Gabonese Ministry of the Economy.

Between patriotism and openness

The message undoubtedly reassured French bosses who were worried after the new regimes decision to promote, in the name of economic patriotism, the interests of Gabon. The State recently bought Assala, one of the oil flagships, from the American investment fund Carlyle, dashing the hopes of the French Maurel et Prom which was in the running.

However, Libreville assures us, French companies, which operate on 25% of the Gabonese market, remain key partners in revitalizing the country. The Gabonese Minister of the Economy, Mays Mouissi, and the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, signed protocols of principle of participation relating to the repair of the Transgabonais railway and the rehabilitation of the saturated landfill of Mindoube.

French companies are ready to establish a new Gabon-France economic partnership and to support the action of your government, rejoiced Philippe Labonne, president of the Africa committee of Medef International. The new authorities have clarified their intentions, between patriotism and openness to international partners. We want to have control of most of our resources. Everything that concerns Gabon must be decided by the Gabonese, explains Charles MBa.

But sovereignty does not preclude friendship. We want to develop our economy with national operators without rejecting foreigners to whom we appeal to invest massively, while respecting our rules, argues the technocrat who was exiled for seven years in France. The minister also met several French personalities, including Dominique Strauss-Kahn who offered his services to facilitate relations between Gabon and donors.

Before leaving France, Brice Oligui Nguema will participate on Sunday in the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Landing. In Airaines (Somme), on Sunday, he will pay tribute to Captain Charles Mesany NTchorere, a Gabonese soldier who died a hero, shot by the Nazis during the Second World War, and patron saint of the Gabonese army.
The launch countdown for Boeing's new Starliner space capsule on its inaugural crewed test flight was halted on Saturday, postponing the mission for at least 24 hours.

The CST-200 Starliner's first voyage carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) has been highly anticipated and much-delayed as Boeing scrambles to gain a greater share of lucrative NASA business now dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

The first attempt by Boeing to send an uncrewed Starliner to the space station in 2019 failed due to software and engineering glitches. A second try in 2022 succeeded, paving the way for efforts at getting the first crewed test mission off the ground.

Also Read | Exit Poll 2024 Live Updates: Today's Chanakya predicts BJP-NDA may cross 400-mark; PM calls INDIA bloc 'opportunistic' A May 6 countdown was halted just two hours before launch time over a faulty pressure valve on the Atlas upper stage, followed by weeks of further delays caused by other engineering problems, since resolved, on the Starliner itself.

The gumdrop-shaped capsule had stood poised for blastoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida atop an Atlas V rocket furnished by United Launch Alliance, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture.

The postponement was announced during a live NASA webcast.

Also Read | Lok Sabha exit polls: Neck-and-neck fight in Jammu and Kashmir Launch forecasts on Saturday had called for a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions, and ULA said on social media earlier in the day that all systems were "go" for an on-time liftoff.

Boeing, whose commercial plane operations are in disarray after several sequential crises, badly needs a win in space for its Starliner venture, a program several years behind schedule with more than $1.5 billion in cost overruns.

While Boeing has struggled, SpaceX has become a dependable taxi to orbit for NASA, which is backing a new generation of privately built spacecraft that can ferry astronauts to ISS and in the future - under its ambitious Artemis program - to the moon and eventually Mars.

Also Read | Odisha exit polls 2024: BJP predicted to win 15 Lok Sabha seats, BJD 3-8 Starliner would compete head-to-head with SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which since 2020 has been NASA's only vehicle for sending ISS crew to orbit from U.S. soil.

The flight would mark the first crewed voyage to space using an Atlas rocket since the storied family of Atlas launch vehicles first sent astronauts, including John Glenn, on orbital flights for NASA's Mercury program in the 1960s.

Once launched, the capsule is expected to arrive at the space station after a flight of about 26 hours and dock with the orbiting research outpost some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

Plans call for the two astronauts to remain at the space station for about a week before riding the Starliner back to Earth for a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the U.S. Desert Southwest - a first for crewed NASA missions.

The test flight comes at an especially critical moment for Boeing. Its airplane business is dealing with fallout from a midair blowout of a cabin panel door plug on a nearly new 737 MAX 9 in January, as well as previous deadly crashes of two 737 MAX jets.

Also Read | Exit polls 2024: BJP may beat Mamata Banerjee's TMC in West Bengal Getting Starliner to this point has been a fraught process for Boeing under a $4.2 billion fixed-priced contract with NASA that has since swelled to roughly $4.5 billion, according to a Reuters review of contract changes since it was awarded in 2014.

The space agency wants the redundancy of having two different U.S. rides to the ISS, which is expected to retire around 2030. NASA is encouraging private development of new space stations that could replace the ISS after its retirement, potentially giving Starliner new destinations.
Instagram is bringing major upgrades to its notes feature which will add support for likes, mentions and prompts. The new updates are likely to add usability of the Notes feature and in many ways make it akin to Stories and Posts.

Informing about the new update via a blogpost, the Meta owned company wrote, Were beginning to roll out Notes, a new way to share your thoughts and see what your friends are up to. Notes are short posts of up to 60 characters using just text and emojis. To leave a note, go to the top of your inbox, select the followers you follow back or people on your Close Friends list, and your note will appear at the top of their inbox for 24 hours. Replies to notes will arrive as DMs in your inbox."

New features coming to Instagram Notes:

1) Prompts:

The new prompts feature will allow users to start discussions with their followers by adding a new UI element where each reply is shown with the follower's profile picture, their reply and online status.

2) Likes:

Users can now showcase their appreciation for a note by giving a like, similar to how the like functionality works on posts and stories. The original poster can also track the people who have liked their note.

3) Tag users:

Similar to how the feature works in stories and posts, Instagram users will now be able to tag their friends by adding their user id next to the @ icon. The tagged user will receive a notification and can then reply to the Note.

Meta takes action on AI-generated content:

Recently, Meta had taken action on the likely AI generated content regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict which was used deceptively on Facebook and Instagram. The social media accounts posted as Jewish students, African Americans, and other concerned citizens are targeting the US and Canadian audiences. The campaign was attributed to Tel Aviv-based political marketing firm STOIC, the company stated.

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3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here!
Stories in this Regional News Roundup are excerpted from weekly newspapers from around the region. This is part one, with part two scheduled to appear in Sundays Tribune.



KOOSKIA  Although the vacant lot on the corner of Main Street and A Avenue here is still empty, there are significant plans going forward for a new Kooskia Community Library by the Prairie River Library District.

Ellamae Burnell, director of PRLD, and Dawn Stryhas, a trustee and member of the Friends of the Kooskia Library (FoKL), attended the May meeting of the City Council to report to Mayor Tina Ulmer about the status of the project.

We are really excited to have this started, said Burnell. There is a survey available that can be picked up at the circulation desk at the Kooskia library now, and it can also be accessed on the PRLD website. We see it as a multi-use facility.

Residents of Kooskia and nearby communities can let FoKL and the library district know what they would to see in the new building.

The donors of the lot, Dawn and Bart Stryhas, envision much more than books. In a follow-up interview, Dawn said:

More people are reading books online or listening to them, so we want to offer much more than books, like more programs for the people and to make it a community center. We especially want to have collections of Idaho and local histories.

The new library will become a place for activities like crafts, presentations by guest speakers, meeting rooms for other organizations, and we would like to display art and artifacts from private collections, rotating exhibits that would keep people interested and coming back to see more.

Burnell spoke to the City Council about fundraising to begin this summer. A sign is in the works proclaiming, Future Site of the Kooskia Community Library, with the architectural drawings and information displayed for the public to see by the time Kooskia Days rolls around.

Burnell let the City Council know they are planning a gala to begin the fundraising in the fall. It will be a dinner and a silent auction.

 Lyn Krzeminski, The Clearwater Progress (Kamiah), Thursday
By late February, the State Board of Education was losing the University of Phoenix narrative, and losing support in the Statehouse.

Executive Director Matt Freeman put his dismay in writing.

Ever since (Attorney General Raul Labrador) filed his lawsuit last June, the Board has necessarily kept a low profile on the merits and process of the transaction, Freeman wrote in a Feb. 25 memo to board members.

However, I do not believe we can maintain that posture any longer. Certain legislators and members of the media are vilifying the Board and impugning its motives and reputation. We need to get the facts around process, due diligence and the structure and benefits of the transaction out to policymakers and the public.

But after Freemans memo, and by the end of March, both the House and Senate cast votes against the $685 million Phoenix purchase  throwing the University of Idaho acquisition into limbo, and delivering a sharp rebuke to the board that endorsed the plan in May 2023.

On top of that, the 2024 Legislature shoehorned language into a far-reaching school facilities bill that gives the Senate the power to confirm or reject a State Board executive director. (This new policy will go into practice in 2025; Freeman is stepping down effective June 30.)

Through a public records records request, Idaho Education News obtained hundreds of pages of State Board emails from Jan. 1 through May.

The emails weave a story of the State Boards failed attempts to head off a public embarrassment at the Statehouse. They also reveal strained moments between the players on the same side of the Phoenix debate  parties who maintain Phoenix could transform adult learning in rural Idaho, and provide the state with millions of dollars in revenue from the online education giant.

January-February: a courtroom victory, a gathering storm

For the boards eight members  seven gubernatorial appointees and elected state superintendent Debbie Critchfield  a courtroom battle overshadowed the advent of the 2024 session.

In January, Labradors lawsuit came before Ada County District Judge Jason Scott.

The judge sided with the board, saying its closed-door discussions of the Phoenix purchase were allowed under Idaho open meeting law. But the Jan. 30 ruling only came after all eight State Board members took the stand for hours of laborious and sometimes repetitive questioning.

When the testimony wrapped up on Jan. 25, Freeman gave board members a pep talk.

It has been a frustrating and stressful distraction from the education advocacy and leadership work you were appointed to do, he wrote in an email. You may be feeling a bit disillusioned or demoralized with public service. Quite honestly, and unfortunately, I wouldnt blame you if you were.

Board members had little time to celebrate Scotts verdict. By early February, a Statehouse game of peek-a-boo began to play out.

On two occasions, a proposal addressing the Phoenix issue appeared on a Senate committee agenda  but was pulled off the calendar at the last minute. This bill was never introduced, but it caught the attention of Phoenix backers.

Lots of risks starting to escalate and wanted to make sure we get on the same page, said Theo Kwon, chief operating officer of Apollo Global Management, Phoenixs owner, in a Feb. 3 email to State Board member Kurt Liebich.

Early that Saturday evening, Liebich wrote back. It looks like the Legislature is going to try to create more mischief. I have not heard any details about what they are going to discuss, but I will plan on attending the meeting.

That Senate committee meeting never materialized. But other meetings, and tense conversations with lawmakers, would soon follow.

February-March: The debate shifts to the House

The first Phoenix proposal went public on Feb. 15. The House State Affairs Committee introduced a resolution that would require the State Board to reconsider its Phoenix vote, while giving the Legislature the authority to sue to stop the sale.

Joined by Caroline Nilsson Troy  a former legislator who now serves as UIs government relations liaison  Freeman went to committee members to cajole and commiserate.

We opened each meeting telling them we understand they are frustrated, and we (Board and U of I) are frustrated too because the transaction has not progressed as intended, Freeman said in his Feb. 25 email to board members. Freeman laid some of the frustrations at Labradors office door, saying the open meetings lawsuit prevented the State Board and UI from fully discussing the sale with lawmakers.

House State Affairs chairman remembers his meeting differently.

Rep. Brent Crane said he didnt ask questions. Instead, he said he was pressed for information  namely, a sneak preview of what he planned to ask in a public hearing. Crane told the group to come to the committee room and find out.

The conversation needed to take place in a public setting, but it was also strategic, Crane, R-Nampa, told EdNews on Thursday.

Freeman said he and Troy heard a chorus of concerns. Lawmakers said they needed more financial details. They said they had heard only problems with the purchase  nothing about the positives. And they wondered when and how they would have a say in the decision.

All of these concerns flavored the Statehouses Phoenix debates, which began in House State Affairs.

The fate of the House resolution was likely sealed before Freeman and Troy tried to win over committee members.

The resolution had backing from Crane, the committees powerful chairman, who had already publicly admonished the State Board and UI for cutting lawmakers out of the conversation. The resolution had bipartisan backing: Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, was its co-sponsor.

Behind the scenes, and in emails obtained by EdNews, Crane and two other House State Affairs members restated their concerns with the deal.

In a Feb. 29 email to Crane, Rep. Heather Scott criticized UI President C. Scott Greens decision to hire his previous employer for Phoenix consulting.

Tremendous conflict of interest, said Scott, R-Blanchard.

As EdNews reported on Feb. 27, the international law firm Hogan Lovells had received $7.3 million in fees for Phoenix-related due diligence work; Green had worked for the firm before returning to his alma mater as president in 2019.

In emails to a constituent  and to Joanna Hayes, editor of the Argonaut, UIs student paper  Gannon restated his concerns. He said he had decided to keep silent on the purchase, until it became clear to him that important details werent being made public.

Bigger is not necessarily better  The College of Idaho is a good example  and I am concerned about adding 80,000 out-of-state online students, Gannon wrote Feb. 26.

On March 1, House State Affairs passed the resolution, with one no vote. On March 5, it easily passed the House, on a 49-21 vote.

February-March: Fitful, fruitless attempts to change the narrative

As an anti-Phoenix surge swelled in the Statehouse, the State Board tried to fight the tide. To no avail.

In early March, the State Board drafted a guest opinion, signed by Liebich, explaining the boards continued support for the Phoenix purchase.

On one level, the piece seemed to be the State Boards attempt to tell its side of the story  and address the concerns Freeman and Troy heard from lawmakers who said they hadnt heard a case for the sale.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  President Joe Biden on Friday condemned Donald Trumps unfounded assertions of a biased legal system as reckless and dangerous  breaking his long-held silence on the presumptive Republican nominees criminal woes as Trumps nearly three dozen felony convictions injected a new element of uncertainty into a volatile presidential campaign.

Bidens sober denunciation of his predecessor and his defense of the U.S. legal system  delivered in just under two minutes from the White House  came after campaign aides made clear they would continue to focus on issues such as democracy, abortion rights and other freedoms that have formed the foundation of the presidents reelection bid.

He noted the dozen jurors who found Trump guilty of all 34 counts stemming from a hush money case were selected the same way every jury in Americas chosen and that the former president had every opportunity to defend himself. As Biden underscored Trumps right to appeal, he emphasized that the American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict. Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it literally is the cornerstone of America, Biden said Friday, adding of the U.S. legal system: We should never allow anyone to tear it down.

It was a significant shift in rhetoric for Biden, who had long steered clear of Trumps legal drama in order not to fan accusations that the prosecutions were politically motivated. But as the New York proceedings dragged on, Biden campaign aides increasingly dipped their toes into Trumps legal drama  releasing innuendo-laced statements alluding to the trial, taunting Trump with the phrase free on Wednesdays (the trials scheduled day off) and unexpectedly showing up this week at the Manhattan trial with the actor Robert De Niro in a tactic that got mixed reviews even from some Democrats.

Biden campaign officials, while still not telegraphing a major strategy change to focus squarely on Trumps convictions, said the verdict fits into their broader narrative about Trump: that he does not care about ordinary Americans and for Trump, it was all about himself.

Other Democrats said Trumps convictions  stemming from a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to an adult film actor  bolstered other arguments that Biden and the party were making against the presumptive GOP nominee.

I believe Trumps conviction for election interference-related crimes fits very nicely into the story that the president wants to tell about how Trump is a danger to democracy, said Dan Pfeiffer, who served as communications director in the Obama White House.

Biden campaign officials acknowledged that Trump is a largely known entity and that much of the publics opinions about him are settled. But they said the convictions could be a significant moment  such as Trumps first impeachment in 2019 or his role encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters  that would break through to a larger audience. The convictions could also accelerate what the Biden campaign has struggled to crystallize to voters: the chaos that constantly surrounds Trump but has been largely forgotten by the public.

The campaign hopes the convictions could influence two groups of voters in particular, according to one Biden campaign official. One includes Republicans who disdain Trump and likely supported someone like former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the primaries, but nonetheless would find it difficult to vote for a Democrat. The thinking is that the convictions would bring into focus why they oppose Trump to begin with, the official said.

The other group is the voters who havent paid attention to the campaign so far but could be reminded of Trumps liabilities through the convictions. The official was granted anonymity to discuss internal campaign thinking.
A man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after an acetylene tank stored in the trunk of his car exploded in Holden Saturday morning, the Department of Fire Services announced.

Holden police and firefighters arriving at the area of 216 Brattle St. Saturday morning found a car that had sustained catastrophic damage and an adult man who neighbors had pulled from underneath the vehicle, Holden Fire Chief Russell Hall, Holden Police Chief Timothy J. Sherblom, and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said in a joint statement.

The man was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, according to the statement.

The explosion did not cause any significant fire damage. While its origin is still under investigation, officials believe the man had stored an acetylene tank in the trunk of his vehicle and that the tank leaked while the car was parked overnight. The exact source of the ignition is unknown but investigators believe it was accidental.

Acetelyne is a highly flammable gas often used in welding and cutting, Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Department of Fire Services, said in an email Saturday afternoon.

A leak in a confined space could be ignited by the smallest spark, so it poses a grave danger of fire or explosion, Wark said.
On what National Weather Service forecasters called an absolutely gorgeous day, more than a dozen beaches across Massachusetts are closed, limiting the options for those looking to enjoy the warm weather on Saturday.

In all, nearly 20 beaches are closed from Great Barrington in Western Massachusetts to Lynn on the North Shore, according to a Beach Water Quality Dashboard posted to the states website. The majority of the closures were due to a bacterial exceedance, while the dashboard lists a harmful cyanobacteria bloom and simply other as the reasons for other closures.

If a beach is closed, do not swim or enter the water at that location to avoid risk of illness, the dashboard warns.

Among the beaches closed on Saturday are Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach in Worcester, Wollaston Beach in Quincy, and Cochituate State Park Beach in Natick.

The dashboard is updated twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and shows the results of recent water quality tests at beaches across the state. More than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches in the state are regularly monitored.

And despite the closures, state officials say the beaches are still perfectly safe for recreational activities aside from swimming.
In one Massachusetts hotel being utilized as an emergency shelter, its name and location redacted from state documents, inspectors in October reported evidence of roaches, inoperable windows and missing smoke detectors.

At another hotel, evaluated that same month, inspectors recommended a drain cleaning company come in to address excessive drain/fruit flies.

Others were flagged for air quality hazards due to mold and mildew and infestations of rodents.

While documents provided to MassLive by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) describe the unsanitary conditions found at some hotels and motels sheltering houseless migrants and permanent Massachusetts residents, they also revealed something else.

Though contract language allowed for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to inspect hotels, it rarely did so.

Since September 2022, the state has contracted with 128 hotels at varying points to serve as shelter sites for unhoused families with no place to stay, a requirement resulting from its right to shelter law.

Records requested by MassLive show state inspectors inspected just about 20 of those hotels. Hotel names and locations were blacked out in the records provided.

These hotels are private businesses that are licensed and inspected by local governments, a EOHLC spokesperson said in a statement. Although the state is not the authority that inspects and licenses these hotels, we do reserve the right to visit and examine hotel rooms in response to complaints from families in our shelter system. When we identify issues, we work with the property owner to try to resolve them.

Following multiple complaints from families living in the hotels, most of which have been utilized for less than year so far, the office plans to inspect every hotel used to house a family via an in-house agency inspection team, and to inspect them periodically and annually going forward.

Many families staying there would otherwise be sleeping on the floor of Logan Airport.

In March, a 30-year-old Haitian man named Roldy told MassLive he heard that migrants typically spend about two weeks sleeping at the airport before they are admitted into the states overflow shelter sites.

Many of them dont speak English and require translation services. Massport workers typically lead them into taxi cabs outside the terminals, taking them to family welcome centers set up throughout the state by Gov. Maura Healeys administration.

We have nothing, Roldy said in Spanish about his family of three. At the moment, I dont even have a dollar.

When initially placing families in hotels, the state relied on local hotel licensing processes for inspection of hotel conditions. Typically, hotels are inspected yearly by local building departments, while boards of health must ensure sanitary conditions adhere to state law.

But state records show those processes proved to be ineffective in some cases. MassLive was unable to identify where because of the redacted nature of the documents.

When inspection requests are made, the state receives them through its constituent service team, its service provider partners, and the National Guard and regional response teams that staff and oversee a fraction of the hotel shelter sites.

When a health and safety violation was identified in a hotel, state officials usually gave a 24-hour deadline to see it fixed, records show. In one instance, in January 2023, it gave a hotel two months to address the issues, which included mold spores, gnats, mice and bed bugs.

But its unclear what follow-through took place to make sure violations were taken care of.

In March, the city of Taunton took matters into its own hands and sued the Clarion Hotel for overcrowding for housing around 450 people  100 more than the 350 allowed under building occupancy limits. In its lawsuit, the city seeks more than $100,000 in unpaid overdue fines from its only hotel that entered into a nine-year shelter contract with the state.

The Taunton Gazette reported in March that the 155-room Clarion Hotel has since complied with the building code and submitted the required documentation to raise occupancy limits.

As of Thursday, 7,435 families were residing in the states emergency shelter of system. Almost exactly half  3,777 families  are in hotels and motels as opposed to traditional shelter sites.

The EOHLC spokesperson said the state has taken extensive efforts to consolidate down to fewer hotel sites.

MassLive reporters Luis Fieldman and Irene Rotondo contributed to this story.
Those in the market for a new couch, mattress or sofa will soon find two new shopping options at Assembly Row in Somerville.

This year, two stores whose parent companies filed bankrupt and left Somerville storefronts vacant for close to a year, will soon be replaced by two furniture stores at the often-expanding Assembly Row, according to a representative for the smart growth development. Assembly Row will also see a new restaurant when Posto moves from David Square.

The stores  Bobs Discount Furniture and Raymour & Flanigan  are replacing Christmas Tree Shops and Bed Bath & Beyond, which both filed for bankruptcy last year, the Boston Globe reported.

Federal Realty, the real estate company that leases out properties in Assembly Row, told the Globe the glut of popular furniture and home stores in Somerville creates an even more compelling destination.

Posto | 400 Assembly Row

Posto, which opened in Davis Square in 2009, will move to Assembly Row either this summer or fall, according to a press release from Goldstein Pierce, a public relations agency that represents Assembly Row.

The Italian eatery will offer a new takeout market/cafe next to its full-service dining area, the press release read.

Bringing Posto to Assembly Row is a terrific addition for everyone  hotel guests, visitors, shoppers and residents alike, David Middleton, vice president and general manager of Assembly Row, said in the statement.

Posto serves a variety of Italian dishes, including handmade pasta, grilled meats, fish and poultry and its famous Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, the press release read.

Raymour & Flanigan | 177 Middlesex Ave.

Raymour & Flanigan, a furniture store headquartered in upstate New York, opened its first store in Greater Boston May 24, according to furnituretoday.com.

The furniture store has 10 locations in Massachusetts and more than 145 stores in the U.S., according to its website.

The furniture store offers customers furniture and mattresses from top brands, furnituretoday.com reported. The store also offers three-day-or-less delivery.

For many years, we have proudly served nearby markets in the Northeast, and now were thrilled to bring our unparalleled service and product offering to Boston, Seth Goldberg, president of Raymour & Flanigan, told furnituretoday.com.

We offer a huge, in-stock assortment of furniture and mattresses with exceptionally quick delivery as part of our unwavering commitment to making the shopping experience as convenient and easy as possible, Goldberg continued.

Bobs Discount Furniture | 119 Middlesex Ave.

Bobs Discount Furniture will open in Assembly Row in the fall, the press release read.

Bobs Discount Furniture offers customers furniture items such as mattresses, sofas, couches and dining room sets, according to its website. The furniture store has 11 locations in Massachusetts and more than 170 across the United States.
A 36-year-old Massachusetts man died after walking into traffic and getting hit by a tractor-trailer on the Maine Turnpike in Kittery, Maine early Saturday, according to police.

Chhoeunly Phoeung, the Massachusetts man, was driving a Mazda CX-5 southbound on the Maine Turnpike around 3:10 a.m. Saturday when he left the highway, striking several objects at the entrance to the Maine State Police weigh station in Kittery, state police said in a statement.

After Phoeung crashed his car, he walked into traffic on the turnpike and was struck by a tractor-trailer, the statement detailed.

He was driven by ambulance to Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he was pronounced dead, according to the statement.

State police continue to investigate the incident.
A man was killed and two children were injured in a rollover car crash in which the vehicle went off Route 3 in Plymouth and into a river Friday afternoon, according to police.

First responders were called to the single-car crash on Route 3 at the Eel River in Plymouth shortly before 5 p.m. Friday, the Plymouth Fire Department said in a statement.

The car, a 2015 Nissan Rogue, was traveling southbound on the highway near the 10.6 mile marker when, for reasons yet to be determined, it went off the left side of the roadway and into the river, landing on its roof, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police. The vehicle also went over guardrails, the department noted.

Arriving Troopers and EMS worked quickly to extricate the vehicles occupants, state police said.

Firefighters had to enter the river and use hydraulic tools to free the driver, a 50-year-old Plymouth man, from the car. The effort took roughly 20 minutes, according to the department.

The man was flown to a Boston trauma center by a medical helicopter, the department said. He was pronounced dead at the facility, according to state police.

Two children, an 11-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl, were in the car during the crash, suffered serious injuries and remain hospitalized, state police said.

The left and right travel lanes of the highway were closed for nearly three hours. Traffic was able to pass via the breakdown lane while an analysis and cleanup took place, state police noted.

The crash is under investigation by state police, the department said. Troopers were assisted by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Plymouth EMS, the Plymouth Fire Department and the Plymouth Police Department, according to state police.
BOSTON  The Red Sox havent gotten much from Ceddanne Rafaela out of the No. 9 spot in their lineup. But if he can occasionally run into one  or two, like he did Friday  itll be a much-welcomed bonus for an offense that spent most of May sputtering.

Rafaela launched two homers  including a go-ahead three-run shot  into the Monster seats as the Red Sox cruised to a 7-3 win over the Tigers. The blasts extended Rafaelas lead over all rookies (and the team) by giving him 33 RBIs and made sure another excellent start by Tanner Houck (1 run, 3 hits in 7 strong innings) wouldnt be spoiled. The Red Sox  wait for it  got back to .500 at 29-29; they ended May with a record of 12-16.
SPRINGFIELD  Cuban cuartro player Andres Lopez Poco, wearing a stark white outfit with silver trim and illuminated by a bright, white spotlight, strolled down the center aisle of the MassMutual Center, plucking a Latin tune on the 10-stringed instrument. He led the Holyoke Community College faculty to their places lining the entry to the arena. Once teachers and instructors were in place, Lopez departed, Pomp and Circumstance played over the house public address loudspeakers and the graduates and achievers, all 709 of them, processed into the arena to the thunderous cheers, applause and shouts from families gathered to witness.

Holyoke Community College celebrated its 77th commencement Saturday, acknowledging those who overcame adversity, both external and internal, to achieve their goals.
More than two weeks after Uxbridge Town Meeting members voted down a $27.6 million school budget, some residents are unsure what to expect when a new budget proposal is put up for a vote at a Special Town Meeting on June 18.

Uxbridge resident Casandra Ashley told MassLive she is unsure how she will vote on the next budget as it has not been revealed but says she wants to see funding allocated towards librarians, teaching positions, support staff and school security and less funding towards administrative staff salaries and the public relation firm the school employs, John Guilfoil Public Relations.

These are not fluffy add-ons, Ashley said about the positions she wants to see funding for. These are the backbone of our school.

Uxbridge Town Meeting members voted against its school budget by a margin of 221 to 216 on May 14, effectively giving Uxbridge Public Schools no funding for staffing, programs and maintenance for the coming fiscal year on July 1. Passing the budget requires a two-thirds vote, according to a Special Town Meeting warrant.

The budget totaled $27.6 million  an increase of 12% in funding from last year. According to the budget, the 12% increase was caused by factors such as rising transportation costs and an overall decrease in revolving fund balances.

Tina Ryan, a resident and parent of Uxbridge Public School students, told MassLive that she voted against the first budget because of what she felt was an opaque process led by Uxbridge Superintendent Dr. Michael Baldassarre.

Ryan accused Baldassarre and the administration of limiting engagement, citing a meeting where stakeholders were invited to attend but were asked to submit their questions up front and had no follow-up questions. She also felt that Baldassarre did not take input from stakeholders on several occasions, such her request to no longer hire the public relations firm as she believes the school does not need to hire one.

The process itself was flawed, Ryan said. It did not solicit, encourage or utilize stakeholder input.

Baldassarre did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

A lack of clarity and trust

Some residents told MassLive that one reason the budget failed during the May 14 Town Meeting was that some attendees had little trust in Baldassarre.

Erica Joy, a resident who voted in favor of the budget on May 14, told MassLive there was no presentation during the night of the vote and that it offered residents little clarity on how the funding was being allocated for the schools. Despite the budget being posted online, Joy said there could have been more of an effort from Baldassarre and the School Committee to clarify residents questions.

I think there has been questionable spending of school funds and people want to know exactly where the money is going, she said. The superintendent did not really answer questions regarding the increase.

Stacey Rafferty Mone, another Uxbridge resident who voted in favor of the original budget proposal, agreed with Joy and said the distrust of Baldassarre has been a longstanding issue among residents.

There is a lot of distrust with the superintendent and, when a clear explanation of the proposed budget wasnt given, I can understand why attendees were questioning the increase that was being requested, Mone said.

In 2023, an investigation by the Edward Davis Co. was commissioned by Baldassarre following the resignation of six of the seven School Committee members at that time, according to reporting by the Telegram & Gazette. The report of the investigation states that the resignations were likely due to the superintendents perceived unwillingness to participate in his agreed evaluation process and his implied threat of a potential civil rights claim against some School Committee members within the same time period.

In response, hundreds of Uxbridge residents signed a petition on Change.org in May 2023 asking that Baldassarres contract not be renewed.

Whats next

According to the Uxbridge town calendar, a School Committee hearing will be held on June 4, where the new budget will be revealed. A Special Town Meeting will then be held on June 18, where the budget will be put to a vote. If a budget does not pass by July 1, Uxbridge Public Schools will have no funding for the upcoming school year and will shut down, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE),

Benjamin Casper, the Uxbridge School Committee Chair, told MassLive that for the budget to pass, a two-thirds majority vote in its favor will be required at the meeting. Casper said that he is confident the town will pass a budget before the July 1 deadline.

There is, of course, a budget that will pass at Town Meeting, there has to be for the benefit of the community and I think that all parties understand that, Casper said. It is up to us as elected School Committee members to advocate for the best balance that allows the administration to continue to provide a premium experience for students.

Ryan told MassLive she plans to attend the Special Town Meeting and encouraged other parents and residents in Uxbridge to attend. Though she did not say how she would vote, Ryan said that if the school does not receive funding next year, it would result in parents sending their children to schools outside of the district.

It is clear to me that if we dont pass a budget, we will lose more and more great staff and more and more people will go out of district costing us more money, she said.

Another budget fight in Winchendon

As Uxbridge residents decide whether they will pass a school budget, people in Winchendon are undergoing a similar process.

In Winchendon, 65% of Town Meeting voters rejected last week a proposed schools budget.

Winchendon Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen proposed a new school budget with minor tweaks on Wednesday with a bottom line identical to the defeated budget.

Winchendon resident Jennifer Hutchings voted against the budget last week. But despite her mixed feelings about the budget, she said she doesnt feel like she has a choice except to support the budget during the next vote, or the schools would not be funded for fiscal 2025.

I still dont think this budget benefits students and I am not in favor of it. But I will vote for it because I think the alternative is worse, she said.

Winchendon has until July 1 to pass a school budget. If no budget is passed, Winchendon Public Schools will have no money for the school year, resulting in all schools being shut down with teachers and school staff laid off from their jobs, according to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Dubai Internet City showcases homegrown entrepreneurial excellence at GITEX Africa (www.GITEXAfrica.com) in Morocco; The globally influential tech hub has led the Middle Easts digital transformation drive for 25 years.

Dubai Internet City is reinforcing the profound significance of collaboration to nurture impactful innovation that harnesses emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) as the regions leading technology hub spotlights entrepreneurial successes from its ecosystem at GITEX Africa, held in Morocco on 29-31 May.

Part of TECOM Group PJSC, a champion of business excellence pivotal to Dubais economic growth and diversification, Dubai Internet City has led the regions digital transformation for 25 years by uniting more than 3,500 industry leaders, such as Google, Microsoft, VISA, and MasterCard, to deliver globally impactful innovation.

Dubai Internet Citys legacy highlights how co-creation can help to unlock AI-enabled economic growth  led by industry champions and supported by strategic visions such as Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the newly launched Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI (DUB.AI)  and deliver lasting value for future generations around the world.

A diverse range of accelerators and enablers must collaboratively build pathways to harness the promise of AI and ensure its benefits deliver globally impactful innovation, said Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group, on behalf of Dubai Internet City. As the cradle of digital transformation in the region and home to the worlds leading early AI adopters, Dubai Internet City is uniquely positioned to catalyse this journey.

Inspired by the long-term vision of Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and DUB.AI, our vibrant and inclusive ecosystem embraces global expertise to further drive innovation and economic development for the good of all. We aim to reinforce the significance of collaboration between stakeholders across the value chain, including policymakers, tech corporations, and start-ups as we spotlight the best and brightest talent from our ecosystem at GITEX Africa.

Start-up showcase

Dubai Internet City has united more than 29,000 professionals and entrepreneurs who work, connect, and innovate within its ecosystem, home to global tech brands including Fortune 500s and corporations like Google, 3M, and Microsoft, in addition to start-ups and innovators from across the world. This includes African-backed companies such as the Sudanese-owned Neulink, a platform to streamline, simplify, and automate tasks for pharmacists and the mobile-based door-to-door valet trash service We4Recycle. Dubai Internet City is also home to Egypts Nile.com and South Africa-founded TravelStart.

As Business Acceleration Partner of GITEX Africa, Dubai Internet City will offer networking and educational opportunities led by success stories from its ecosystem, including all-in-one messaging platform Grambell; AI-powered customer experience management platform Sprinklr, which launched its offices at Dubai Internet City on the side-lines of GITEX Global 2023 in October; sustainable innovation specialist Abcurr Entrepreneurial Institute; and AI-powered digital twin enabler Twyn.

Dubai Internet Citys participation in GITEX Africa follows its successful participation as Innovation Partner of GITEX Global in October 2023, during which the destination announced landmark developments including the addition of international industry giants Endava, Yango, and Sprinklr to its repertoire of customers, as well as strategic partnerships with German Entrepreneurship GmbH, Koreas National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), and Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) to empower global entrepreneurs seeking to live, work, and invest in Dubai.

Dubai Internet City has accelerated the regional digital transformation drive for 25 years and is part of TECOM Groups portfolio of business districts, which also includes Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Industrial City, Dubai Outsource City, and Dubai Design District (d3).
MAYO GAA has requested a cost analysis for the development of a centre of excellence in Castlebar.

First announced in December 2022, Mayo GAA aims to develop a new centre of excellence following the acquisition of land at Mulvey Park, which is situated near Castlebar Mitchels home ground of Josie Munnelly Park.

It is planned to establish three pitches - including a 4G surface - a ball-wall, and a six-lane running track at the facility.

Mayo GAA has been in negotiation with Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo County Council and the OPW over the project.

Touhy told last Decembers county convention that fundraising would not start until agreement had been reached with all the relevant stakeholders.

We have asked for a cost analysis to be done and groundswork to be done on the development before we present it to the county board to know exactly what were talking about here, Touhy said at the May meeting of Mayo GAAs county board.

When thats completed, well present the draft plan to the county delegates for their attention.

John Farragher, Garrymore GAAs delegate, said he did not want to see the costings for the development leaked to the media in advance of it being presented to delegates.

Farragher was referring to a report regarding Mayo GAAs tax affairs which appeared in the Irish Independent the day before the 2023 Mayo GAA convention.

The figures contained in the article were cited from Mayo GAAs 2023 financial report, which had been circulated to clubs days previously.

The article referred to a tax liability in excess of 100,000 which was primarily related to the payment of wages at Cul camps.

County board delegates were last updated on the matter at the April meeting of the county board when Mayo GAA Treasurer Valerie Murphy said that the Mayo GAA was seeking an update from the Revenue Commission on the matter.

The matter was not discussed in detail at the 2023 county convention due to the extremely sensitive nature of the case.

Thats totally undermining the officers, and the executive, said Farragher in relation to the leak prior to the convention.

In reply, Touhy said he was very disappointed to see details of Mayo GAAs finances reported in the media before the county convention.

Well do our best to feed that [costings on Mulvey Park] immediately to the delegates once that information is available, said Touhy.

Speaking to The Mayo News, Mayo GAA Secretary Ronan Kirrane said that there had been no update from the Revenue Commission on the matter.

Whenever it comes it, we will be telling delegates, but there has been no movement on it, said Kirrane.
A MAYO writer came home from the Kingdom of Kerry with the Single Poem Award which was won at the prestigious Listowel Writers Festival 2024.

Now in its 53rd year, Listowel Writers Week opened with a gala event, featuring the presentation of a number of prestigious literary awards. Ballina native Finola Cahill was among the winners when she took home the Single Poem Award for her poem 'The Death of a Foal'.

The Single Poem Award was reintroduced this year after a pause of some years, and was adjudicated by TS Eliott nominee Victoria Kennefick and sponsored by the Royal Valentia Hotel. In her introduction, Dr Faye Boland said there had been a huge response and a huge number of entries.

In 2023 Finola was the winner of the Waterford Poetry Prize, and in the past two years she was shortlisted for the Cuirt New Writing Prize, the Mairtin Crawford Short Story Award, the Fish Poetry Prize, the Bridport Poetry Prize, and others.

Finola was one of 37 writers selected to participate in the 2023 Irish Writers Centre national mentoring programme, and her place in the programme was generously funded by the Mayo Arts Office. She is currently working towards publishing her first collection, for which she has received an Agility Award from the Arts Council.

Guest of honour President Micheal D Higgins was among attendees of the gala evening, and was being presented with the John B Keane Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to literature and poetry. President Higgins has been a supporter of the festival since its inception in the 1970s.

Now in its 53rd year, Listowel Writers week continues until Sunday. The festival promotes writing of all genres and creates an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible audience  where writers and readers gather to celebrate the written word together.
IT has been confirmed that the disused Belmont Hotel in Knock has been offered as accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

The Department of Integration, which has yet to respond to queries on the matter from The Mayo News, confirmed to Midwest Radio that the property has been offered as accommodation for refugees from Ukraine.

The property is currently being assessed as part of the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said a spokesperson from the department.

The property has been offered to provide accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Over 200 people gathered outside the 65-bedroom hotel at a public demonstration on Tuesday evening.

The gathering was addressed by a number of election candidates, who expressed concern about the lack of consultation with the local community and the lack of services in the area.

The controversy erupted after a leaked letter emerged from Tom Gilligan, Mayo County Council's Director of Services for Housing, to Mr Bobby Carter, discussing the potential use of the hotel as refugee accommodation.

Mr Gilligan later confirmed to The Mayo News that this correspondence - which took place last July - related to accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine.

Works have recently taken place inside and outside the hotel, which closed in 2010 and is in a dilapidated state.

A crowd of over 200 gathered outside the Belmont Hotel in Knock (Pic: John Corless)

Under new government rules, Ukrainian refugees may reside in state-provided accommodation for no more than 90 days before having to source their own accommodation. Mayo, which has seen over 4,000 Ukrainian refugees arrive since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, recently recorded a drop in the number of Ukrainians in state-provided accommodation.

Paul Lawless, Aontu local election candidate for the Claremorris Local Electoral area, hit out at local elected representatives failure to show up at Tuesdays demonstration outside the Belmont Hotel.

Mr Lawless said that county councillors were informed of communication between Mayo County Council and the hotel owner regarding using the property for Ukrainian refugees.

A letter from Tom Gilligan sent to county councillors on July 17, 2023, referred to attached correspondence in relation to the Belmont Hotel.

Mr Gilligan sent the letter after councillors advised at a council meeting that they would like to be informed of upcoming refugee projects that may be coming on stream.

Mr Gilligan told The Mayo News that the refurbishment of the Belmont Hotel would be completed in two phases.

According to the letter between Mr Gilligan and Mr Carter, the hotel has been proposed to accommodate Ukrainian refugees for a minimum of two years before reverting back to tourist accommodation.

Mr Lawless called for a stricter migration system, a system that actually enforces the existing immigration laws.

We are two years into this crisis, two years of Government politicians calling for more public consultation. The truth is the Government is purposefully keeping local communities in the dark, he stated.

Mr Lawless also hit out at the difference in planning laws for housing and accommodation centres for refugees and International Protection Applicants, which, he said, allows wealthy property owners who are making vast sums of money to bypass the planning system. Meanwhile, ordinary hard working people must go through a lengthy, expensive planning process.
Police officers will not be returning to Charlottesville schools  for now.

The citys school board voted unanimously at its Thursday meeting to postpone a final decision on whether to spend nearly $600,000 to bring youth resource officers, or YROs, into schools.

The officers would mark a change in course for Charlottesville City Schools, which voted in 2020 to remove school resource officers, or SROs, amid a nationwide reckoning regarding the role of law enforcement in American life and, specifically, the effectiveness of police in schools.

The possibility officers could return sparked a vocal pushback in the community and even on the school board considering the proposal.

The motion to postpone the controversial decision, offered by Board Member Amanda Burns, requests school division Superintendent Royal Gurley take the matter under review until March 27 of next year, when he will present his findings and recommendations to the board.

While 17 teachers, students and community members called for the board to spend more time researching a new school safety model and the YROs during the public comment portion of Thursdays meeting, those opposed to the initiative were still frustrated by the boards vote.

I wish we didnt have to vote at all, Ernest Chambers, vice president of the Charlottesville Education Association teachers union, told The Daily Progress after the meeting. I wish that we would invest in people that are doing great work right now.

School Board Chair Lisa Larson-Torres outlined some of the items the board has asked Gurley to investigate, including a comprehensive audit of the current safety model as well as the budgetary implications of changing that model. Additionally, she mentioned the opportunity for outside input throughout the process, with committees composed of employees involved in equity and inclusion, behavioral specialists, students, teachers and community members.

Prior to the hard deadline of March 27, the motion also establishes two other dates when Gurley will be expected to provide updates to the board: Oct. 19 and Dec. 7.

The lingering question is where the school division will find the programs funding of $571,000, as Charlottesville City Council already approved its budget back in April. The issue of money was a focal point for many who voiced their opinions at Thursdays meeting. About a dozen school division employees, sporting the teachers union trademark red T-shirts, held up signs throughout the meeting that read, Spend $ on CSAs, counselors, restorative justice, social workers instead.

The idea that we, either the city or the school division, would actively try to place three police officers in our buildings at a price tag of almost $600,000 is a slap in the face to every staff member who knows how desperately we need additional math and reading specialists, mental health personnel and to keep our building subs, said Christine Esposito, a gifted education specialist at Walker Upper Elementary School.

Esposito, along with many of her colleagues in the citys schools, asked the board to instead consider investing that money into mental health resources, support specialists, teacher salaries and care and safety assistants, or CSAs, who serve as certified school security officers. CSAs were included in the new safety model implemented in 2021 after the SROs were removed.

Neighboring Albemarle County, which also removed SROs in 2020, brought back a single SRO last year, despite similar pushback from the community and school staff.

If you want to continue to request half a million dollars from the city for our schools, pay our teacher and staff shortages, increase the pay and increase the number of CSAs that we have, invest in mental health professionals and services and social workers, said Josh Scott, a parent of a student at Jackson-Via Elementary School.

Several of the CSAs from Charlottesville High School also came out Thursday to address the board, emphasizing the meaningful connections theyve fostered with students that have allowed them to calmly resolve conflicts and other disruptive behaviors. They said they feel as though the school situation has gotten better than it was from last years fall semester, when massive student brawls prompted police responses, a teacher sickout canceled classes and a principal resigned.

While not all of the CSAs were opposed to the idea of bringing on YROs, they did voice concerns about police officers escalating situations and failing to properly handle students mental health issues.

The student representative on the school board, Charlottesville High School senior Quels Allen, sent an email to board members prior to the meeting in which she expressed a similar sentiment.

Witnessing my friend being forcefully handled by a police officer in eighth grade has left a lasting impression on me, says Allens email, which Larson-Torres read aloud at the meeting. This and other similar experiences have led me to strongly believe that the presence of police in schools is inappropriate.

Scott, who virtually tuned into the meeting, identified himself as a Black man and shared a traumatic, unwarranted encounter he had with the Albemarle County Police Department as a 19-year-old.

If youth resource officers are introduced back to the schools, I fear, every year, hundreds of kids will be traumatized just as I was, he said. As a father, I committed to myself and my kids that I would break several generational cycles for them, but if they are reintroduced it almost ensures the cycle will continue.

Parents and teachers pointed to academic literature that indicates having police in schools increases student arrests and discipline but has a null effect on student safety. Back in 2020, Charlottesville City Schools cited evidence that SROs were not particularly effective at deescalating or decreasing violent or criminal activity and that SROs had a habit of targeting children of color.

[SROs] in our schools undermine the goals of building a safe and connected learning community, said Laura Sirgany, an instructional assistant at Johnson Elementary School. Police in schools create an atmosphere of distrust and violence that threatens our students mental health.

Last week, the Charlottesville teachers union passed a resolution opposing the return of police to city schools.

Evidence clearly indicates that police officers in schools do not increase school safety, and lead to large increases in student arrests for trivial offenses, which is counterproductive to creating a safe learning environment for all students, reads the resolution. Moreover, the money that would be spent employing police officers in our schools could be used much more effectively for restorative justice and community outreach programs, and/or additional social workers and counselors.

The topic of school safety was raised after a February survey in which 60% of respondents  comprising students, parents and staff  supported learning more about YROs. A quarter of respondents opposed exploring the model.

That survey led to the creation of a working group of school and Charlottesville Police Department staff, which gathered information about the YRO model and how it could be applied to Charlottesville City Schools.

The school board reviewed that information at a May 18 work session and in a 5-2 vote chose to include the matter on its agenda for Thursday.

The YRO model before the board comes from Cambridge, Massachusetts  where in April a YRO accidentally discharged his firearm in a school restroom.

Charlottesville City Schools spokeswoman Beth Cheuk told The Daily Progress a few days before Thursdays meeting that the YRO program being considered would vary from the discontinued SRO program.

While the positions would need to be filled by the police department, Cheuk said the school would have a voice in who is hired for the positions to ensure they are the right fit to work with our students.

YROs would receive training in adolescent development and understanding the school environment. The model would borrow elements from the world of social work to address student and family needs. They would work evenings and after-school events so they could continue building relationships with school members, and they would focus on diversion programs to avoid arrest and emphasize restorative justice practices.
Highlights: North India's extreme heat is associated with a rise in schizophrenia cases, emphasizing mental health impacts

Heatwaves pose unique risks for schizophrenia patients due to disrupted thermoregulation and medication effects

Urgent measures are required to address heat-related mental health challenges, especially for vulnerable populations

  Trusted Source

New study finds people with schizophrenia were at higher risk during B.C.'s 2021 heat dome



Go to source Trusted Source

Did You Know?

During extreme heat waves, people with schizophrenia are three times more likely to be hospitalized. #mentalhealth #heatwave #medindia

During extreme heat waves, people with schizophrenia are three times more likely to be hospitalized. #mentalhealth #heatwave #medindia

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Heatwave and Mental Health: A Growing Concern

  Trusted Source

High temperatures on mental health: Recognizing the association and the need for proactive strategies-A perspective



Go to source Trusted Source

Advertisement

What is Schizophrenia and How Extreme Heat Affects the Brain

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Increased Hospitalizations and Mortality Rates

Why Schizophrenia Is Dangerous in Extreme Heat

The Mind Loses Control in the Heat

Vulnerable Populations at Greater Risk

Preventive Measures and Recommendations

Increasing Awareness: Educate the public and healthcare providers about the risks of extreme heat on mental health, particularly for individuals with schizophrenia.

Educate the public and healthcare providers about the risks of extreme heat on mental health, particularly for individuals with schizophrenia. Improving Access to Cooling Resources: Ensure that vulnerable populations have access to air-conditioned shelters, cooling centers, and adequate hydration.

Ensure that vulnerable populations have access to air-conditioned shelters, cooling centers, and adequate hydration. Monitoring Medications: Healthcare providers should closely monitor patients with schizophrenia during heatwaves, adjusting medications if necessary to reduce the risk of heat-related complications.

Healthcare providers should closely monitor patients with schizophrenia during heatwaves, adjusting medications if necessary to reduce the risk of heat-related complications. Community Support: Strengthen community networks to provide assistance and check on vulnerable individuals during extreme heat conditions.

New study finds people with schizophrenia were at higher risk during B.C.s 2021 heat dome - (http://www.bccdc.ca/about/news-stories/stories/2023/schizophrenia-risk-heat) High temperatures on mental health: Recognizing the association and the need for proactive strategies-A perspective - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10696165/)

As the scorching heat wave grips North India, with temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius in many parts of Delhi NCR, there is growing concern about its impact on mental health. The extreme heat is not only causing physical ailments but is also triggering serious mental health conditions, including schizophrenia . This alarming trend highlights the need for greater awareness and preventive measures to protect vulnerable populations from the fatal consequences of extreme heat on mental health ().The intense heatwave in North India is causing widespread distress, with an increasing number of people seeking medical attention for heat-related illnesses . While conditions such as heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are well-known, the impact of extreme temperatures on mental health is less recognized. However, recent observations indicate a surge in cases of schizophrenia triggered by extreme heat, underscoring the urgent need to address this issue ().Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that disrupts the brain's ability to transmit information effectively. The brain region most affected by schizophrenia also regulates thermoregulatory functions, which help the body respond to temperature changes. In normal conditions, this part of the brain signals the body to sweat when it is too hot or to shiver when it is too cold. However, in individuals with schizophrenia, these signals can become disrupted, making it difficult for them to react appropriately to extreme temperatures.Research conducted at the University of Waterloo in Canada highlights the heightened risk of hospitalization and mortality among people with schizophrenia during extreme heat conditions. The study points out that individuals from lower socioeconomic groups, racialized communities, and the homeless are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of extreme heat, exacerbating existing health disparities.People with schizophrenia face unique challenges during extreme heat waves. Their inability to perceive and respond to heat appropriately puts them at a higher risk of heat-related illnesses. Moreover, the medications commonly prescribed for schizophrenia, such as antipsychotics , can increase core body temperature, further compounding the risk of heat stress and heat stroke.In extreme heat, the brain's failure to send accurate signals to the body can be life-threatening for individuals with schizophrenia. Their bodies may not respond by taking necessary precautions, such as seeking shade or drinking water , making them more susceptible to heat-related complications. This lack of response can lead to severe consequences, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death.The findings emphasize the increased vulnerability of certain groups to extreme heat. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, racialized communities, and those experiencing homelessness often lack access to air conditioning and other cooling resources, making them more exposed to the dangers of extreme heat. This exposure exacerbates the risk of developing or worsening mental health conditions like schizophrenia.To mitigate the impact of extreme heat on mental health, it is crucial to implement preventive measures and provide support to vulnerable populations. Recommendations include:The link between extreme heat and the triggering of schizophrenia is a critical public health concern that requires immediate attention. As climate change continues to drive temperatures higher, understanding and addressing the mental health impacts of extreme heat will be essential in protecting vulnerable populations and preventing fatal outcomes. By increasing awareness, improving access to resources, and implementing targeted interventions, we can mitigate the risks and safeguard mental health during heatwaves.Source-Medindia
1:18PM: The Padres have announced that both Musgrove and Darvish have placed on the 15-day IL. Musgroves injury has been termed as right elbow inflammation and his placement date is retroactive to May 29, while Darvish has a left groin strain and a May 30 retroactive placement date. Vasquez and Logan Gillaspie have been called up from Triple-A.

Darvish lasted only three innings before his hamstring forced him out of his start against Miami last Wednesday, though the injury has now been diagnosed as a groin problem. This could be a new injury stemming from the initial issue, or simply a clearer diagnosis after a couple of days of testing. The Padres listed Darvish day-to-day at first, so it seems possible that Darvish might be back after only 15 days if the injury is somewhat minor in nature.

12:30PM: Joe Musgrove has been scratched from his scheduled start today and will instead be placed on the Padres 15-day injured list. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (X link), Musgrove is again suffering from the triceps tendinitis that already sent him to the IL at the start of May. Right-hander Randy Vasquez was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to take Musgroves spot on the active roster and to start todays game against the Royals.

Somewhat ominously, Acee wrote that Musgroves triceps issue is not believed at this time to be a season-ending injury. While this is positive news at the moment, the fact that theres enough uncertainty over this lingering injury that an early end to Musgroves 2024 campaign is even a possibility is certainly not a good sign. Even if no structural damage is found, even relatively minor cases of inflammation or tendinitis can lead to lengthy layoffs, if a pitcher simply continues to feel discomfort when throwing.

Musgrove looked pretty good in the two starts since returning from the first IL trip, posting a 2.16 ERA over 8 1/3 frames. After laboring through three innings in his first outing on May 21, he looked much sharper on May 26 when tossing 5 1/3 shutout innings against the powerful Yankees lineup in a 5-2 Padres victory. Considering how Musgrove had a 6.37 ERA in his 41 innings prior to that initial IL visit, it seemed as though he was over his triceps problems and back in his normal form as a frontline member of San Diegos pitching staff.

Vasquez is a logical fill-in candidate while Musgrove is out, yet Vasquez doesnt have much big league experience, and his 5.82 ERA over 21 2/3 innings this season indicates that he might not be an ideal choice as a longer-term rotation patch if Musgrove has to miss a significant amount of time. Even beyond Musgrove, Yu Darvish is also dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him out of his last start, and it isnt yet known if Darvish will be able to make his next start or if he might also need to visit the 15-day IL.

The Padres next off-day isnt until June 13, plus the rotation has some depth question even with Darvish and Musgrove both healthy. Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Matt Waldron have settled into rotation roles, and that trio plus Darvish, Musgrove, and Vasquez have accounted for all of the Padres starts this season. Ryan Carpenter or Jackson Wolf could be the top Triple-A depth options, though even accounting for the Pacific Coast Leagues hitter-friendly bent, Carpenters 8.74 ERA and Wolfs 6.69 ERA are cause for concern. (Vasquez also has a 7.45 ERA in 19 1/3 innings for El Paso.)
ANN ARBOR, MI - Bouakhanh Greene frequently looks over and laughs at a picture of her holding a big cooking knife as a 5 year old.

The photo shows Greene, barely graduated from toddlerhood, thinly slicing cabbage for fried egg rolls. Growing up in a traditional Laotian family, she, her mother and the women in her community ran the kitchen.
YPSILANTI, MI -- June is Pride Month, which means Ypsilanti is gearing up to celebrate LGBTQ+ people throughout the month.

From yoga and art to a drag brunch and the annual festival, heres how you can celebrate Pride Month around Ypsilanti.

Drag Brunch at Sidetrack

Kick off the month by having brunch with drag queens at Sidetrack Bar and Grill on Sunday, June 2.

The all-ages drag show at 56 E Cross St. will feature Ypsilanti-based drag troupe Boylesque, including performers Hershae, Maxi, Baddie, Lana, and Viv, and hosted by Jadein Black.

Seating begins at noon and the show begins at 12:30 p.m. Sidetracks brunch food menu is available, along with a full bar.

The event will raise money for Ann Arbor Pride, which is later in this summer. Tickets are available online for $12.

Chalk Up for Pride 2024

People are invited to chalk up Ypsilanti sidewalks with pride-themed art.

The free event is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 6, in Depot Town and in front of the Ypsilanti District Library on Michigan Avenue.

All ages are welcome. Chalk is available but limited, so attendees are asked to bring their own chalk.

Ypsi Pride 2024

The annual Ypsi Pride draws hundreds to the Depot Town area with drag, theater performances, local and queer-owned vendors and food trucks.

The free event is 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 7 this year. More than 30 artists  from musicians and DJs to burlesque dancers, drag artists, and theater groups  are slated to perform across two stages, one at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse and the other on East Cross Street.

Headliners include R&B soul artist Alise King, musician and burlesque dancer Fearless Amaretto and singer, songwriter, and trumpeter Baddie Brooks.

Over at The Love Stand, 315 North River St., there will also be a Young Ypsi Pride where people ages 12 to 24 can enjoy music, dancing, face painting, refreshments, games, a photo booth and lots of other entertainment.

The Ypsi Rugby Football Club will also host a touch or flag game at 6:30 p.m. at Frog Island Park, with a Q&A afterward. Food trucks include Mr. Creole Caribbean, Sugarcane Galore, Tacos El Panda, The Iron Food Truck Co. and The Treat Truck.

Those 21 and older can end the night with an afterparty at Mash Ypsilanti, 400 North River St., starting at 10 p.m.

East Cross Street will be closed between River Street and Riverside Park during the celebration. More information is available on Ypsi Prides Instagram page.

Zion Pride: Outdoor Yoga and Mental Health Fair

The fourth-annual event at Ypsilanti yoga studio Zion Well will feature an all levels yoga class, a dance party and food trucks.

Hosted in Riverside Park, the event begins at 9:30 a.m. with coffee, water and giveaways. The all-levels yoga class begins at 10 a.m.. The dance party starts at 11 a.m. Throughout the event, there will also be live music by DJ Love Permeator.

Tickets are available online for $25. The proceeds support Michigan nonprofit Stand with Trans

QUEER: Celebrating Work by LGBTQIA Artists

The third-annual art gallery is a celebration of local, queer artists.

Its an example of how varied the work is among the local LGBTQIA community, according to the gallerys Facebook page, whether it is handwritten in journals, painted on canvas, sewn into fabric, typed into Notes app, sung into a microphone or whispered into each others ears.

QUEER: Celebrating Work by LGBTQIA Artists opened Friday, May 31, and runs through Sunday, July 21, in The Gallery at Stone & Spoon, located on the second floor at 110 West Michigan Ave.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A Grandville man accused of distributing child pornography told an investigator he also took photos of children in public places and watched children in dance studio parking lots, the FBI said.

Thomas Hungerford, 55, is named in a criminal complaint alleging distribution of child pornography, punishable by five to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

On Thursday, May 30, Hungerford waived his right to a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids and was ordered jailed pending grand-jury proceedings.

Hungerfords cell phone was seized during a child-pornography investigation by the FBIs Omaha, Nebraska, division.

A review of the cell phones contents showed that Hungerford, using the alias, Barry Sanders, and a man under investigation in Omaha had shared 2,238 messages and 679 media files, which included child pornography, Aaron Eastham, an FBI special agent in Grand Rapids, wrote in the complaint.

The two talked about their predilection for prepubescent girls, and what they would do if they were ever lucky enough to have access to a girl, the FBI agent wrote.

In a Nov. 6 online conversation, Hungerford said he was outside of a dance studio but too far away to take photographs, the FBI said in court records.

I kinda park outside of where the parents are all parked for obvious reasons. I can see them coming and going ALOT better but theyre a bit farther away. Next time Im going right into the mix, Hungerford wrote, the FBI said.

On Jan. 23, Hungerford sent a non-nude video depicting a prepubescent female child walking two dogs and doing gymnastic moves, wearing a one-piece bathing suit or leotard, the FBI said.

The FBI in early May served an administrative subpoena to Comcast to identify subscriber information for the IP address Hungerford used, which came back to his wife.

He was soon identified as the suspect.

The FBI interviewed Hungerford on May 23 while using a search warrant at his lakefront home. He allegedly admitted having child pornography on his cell phone, iPad and two USB drives.

He admitted to being attracted to girls between the ages of 8-14-years-old and admitted to taking photos of children in public places, such as parks and stores, Eastham wrote in the complaint.

Hungerford admitted he broke into two homes to steal childrens clothing and underwear, the FBI said. Investigators found such items during the search of his home.

He told the FBI that he watched children through windows at night and taken video of a 16- or 17-year-old girl.

He also admitted to entering the girls locker room of a high school, at an afterschool event, and stealing underwear from the lockers, Eastham wrote.

The school was not identified.

In a transcript of his conversation with the other man, Hungerford allegedly talked about a girl in high school.

Ive been spying on her and her younger sister for about 6 months. Its just been a bit since I peeped on her  I recorded her in a VERY intimate moment with her boyfriend, he said, according to the complaint.

Hungerford is to return to court on June 27 for arraignment if indicted, or a status conference. His attorney declined to comment.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
Get a Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card for $60. With the fluctuating costs of food and household essentials now is a good time to buy.

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Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership ($60 Value) + a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card

Primary Members receive one FREE Household Card for anyone over the age of 16 and living at the same address

Valid for NEW MEMBERS ONLY or for members whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months.

Costcos 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: They guarantee your satisfaction with the products they sell with a FULL refund. Product-specific limitations apply. See the Costco membership counter for more details. Membership cards issued at any Costco membership counter

Your membership MUST be redeemed by October 31, 2024, to qualify for this promotion, but we encourage you to redeem within 30 days of your purchase

For additional information about Costco membership, please review the Member Privileges and Conditions

Specifications for Gold Star Membership includes an annual fee of $60. Youll get one free household card to use at Costco.com, Cosco Business Centers and Costco warehouses all over the world. The card can be used for travel services, at Costco gas stations, optical departments, pharmacy and more.

Important Details

Valid for NEW MEMBERS ONLY or for members whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months

ONLY available to U.S. & Puerto Rico customers

Quantity Limit 2

Limit one per household

Max quantity that can be purchased per customer: 2. One must be for personal use and the other must be gifted.

Qualified members will receive their $20 Digital Costco Shop Card by email within 2 weeks of redeeming their purchase

Membership can be used at over locations within the United States & over 800 locations worldwide  see a list of all US Costco locations here

Nontransferable and may NOT be combined with any other promotion

$20 Digital Costco Shop Card will expire on November 1, 2024

$20 Digital Costco Shop Card is NOT redeemable for cash , except as required by law

$20 Digital Costco Shop Card can be redeemed in warehouse and online

Digital Costco Shop Card is not one-time use (dont have to spend all $20 at once)

A Costco membership is $60 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $60 upgrade fee a year

Each membership includes one free Household Card

When redeeming your purchase it may be subject to sales tax

Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT, and Costco Shop Cards. Departments and product selection may vary

NOT eligible for promo codes or other discounts

Redemption deadline: Your membership MUST be redeemed by October 31, 2024 to qualify for this promotion, but we encourage you to redeem within 30 days of your purchase

Have questions on how digital purchases work? Learn more here

Terms
Mark Canha is not in the starting lineup on Saturday after he was removed from the lineup on Friday night due to hip soreness.

The Detroit Tigers (28-29) and Boston Red Sox (29-29) meet on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. at Fenway Park.

In addition to Canha, catcher Carson Kelly; infielder Andy Ibanez; and outfielder Akil Baddoo will be available off the bench.

On the mound, Tigers right-hander Reese Olson (1-5, 1.92 ERA) will face Sox righty Cooper Criswell (2-2, 3.96).

Olson allowed one unearned run in 6 1/3 innings in his last start on May 25 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 2-1 victory gave Olson his first win of the year.

This will be Olsons first game at Fenway Park and the first time hes faced the Red Sox in his career.

Criswell pitched in 10 games last year for the Tampa Bay Rays but didnt survive the end-of-season roster purge. He was signed by the Red Sox, who planned to use him as depth. But Criswell was summoned to the big leagues on April 13 and has been more than good enough to stick around.

Hes coming off his shakiest start of the year on May 27 at Baltimore. He allowed seven runs on seven hits in four innings to the Orioles.
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0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
Question true feline aficionados about registered breeds of cats and you may just end up in a fistfight.

This year some 15 new cat breeds have been recognized. But it depends on what association of cat owners and breeders you talk to.

There are basically three main associations that recognize new breeds. That alone may get the fistal truculence started. There are people breeding cats both day and night trying to get breed recognition from one of these organizations. Breed recognition is very limited, and the numbers may surprise readers. The International Cat Association recognizes 71 breeds, the Cat Fanciers Association names 44, and the Federation Internationale Feline has the shortest list with a mere 43.

Which organization one belongs to is a bigger dust-up than a family Thanksgiving dinner when drunk uncles bust up the furniture trying to convince one another who is the better Republican.

This column arose from a worldwide news story claiming a new breed of cat, now called the salmiak, had arisen out of Finland in 2007. The term is Swedish and refers to a specific, extra salty licorice candy favored by both the Swedes and the Finns. Now, who likes the candy better, Swedes or Finns, and who developed it first can result in a biffo, too.

So, what does this kitty look like? If you can imagine mostly short-haired cats with the finest, most well distributed salt and pepper hair pattern, youve got it. Each hair is black near the base but then grows in white near the tip end. Some of the cats have white faces or white and black faces, and white bellies or paws. Others have a white throatlatch, to use an equine term.

When scientists looked at these new cats, they started to wonder just how the genetics worked out. Among DNA jockeys who study coat and hair colors in different animals and people, the genetics are somewhat well understood. In the animal world though, because people are constantly breeding different looking animals to one another, that DNA deck keeps getting reshuffled.
By late February, the State Board of Education was losing the University of Phoenix narrative, and losing support in the Statehouse.

Executive Director Matt Freeman put his dismay in writing.

Ever since (Attorney General Raul Labrador) filed his lawsuit last June, the Board has necessarily kept a low profile on the merits and process of the transaction, Freeman wrote in a Feb. 25 memo to board members.

However, I do not believe we can maintain that posture any longer. Certain legislators and members of the media are vilifying the Board and impugning its motives and reputation. We need to get the facts around process, due diligence and the structure and benefits of the transaction out to policymakers and the public.

But after Freemans memo, and by the end of March, both the House and Senate cast votes against the $685 million Phoenix purchase  throwing the University of Idaho acquisition into limbo, and delivering a sharp rebuke to the board that endorsed the plan in May 2023.

On top of that, the 2024 Legislature shoehorned language into a far-reaching school facilities bill that gives the Senate the power to confirm or reject a State Board executive director. (This new policy will go into practice in 2025; Freeman is stepping down effective June 30.)

Through a public records records request, Idaho Education News obtained hundreds of pages of State Board emails from Jan. 1 through May.

The emails weave a story of the State Boards failed attempts to head off a public embarrassment at the Statehouse. They also reveal strained moments between the players on the same side of the Phoenix debate  parties who maintain Phoenix could transform adult learning in rural Idaho, and provide the state with millions of dollars in revenue from the online education giant.

January-February: a courtroom victory, a gathering storm

For the boards eight members  seven gubernatorial appointees and elected state superintendent Debbie Critchfield  a courtroom battle overshadowed the advent of the 2024 session.

In January, Labradors lawsuit came before Ada County District Judge Jason Scott.

The judge sided with the board, saying its closed-door discussions of the Phoenix purchase were allowed under Idaho open meeting law. But the Jan. 30 ruling only came after all eight State Board members took the stand for hours of laborious and sometimes repetitive questioning.

When the testimony wrapped up on Jan. 25, Freeman gave board members a pep talk.

It has been a frustrating and stressful distraction from the education advocacy and leadership work you were appointed to do, he wrote in an email. You may be feeling a bit disillusioned or demoralized with public service. Quite honestly, and unfortunately, I wouldnt blame you if you were.

Board members had little time to celebrate Scotts verdict. By early February, a Statehouse game of peek-a-boo began to play out.

On two occasions, a proposal addressing the Phoenix issue appeared on a Senate committee agenda  but was pulled off the calendar at the last minute. This bill was never introduced, but it caught the attention of Phoenix backers.

Lots of risks starting to escalate and wanted to make sure we get on the same page, said Theo Kwon, chief operating officer of Apollo Global Management, Phoenixs owner, in a Feb. 3 email to State Board member Kurt Liebich.

Early that Saturday evening, Liebich wrote back. It looks like the Legislature is going to try to create more mischief. I have not heard any details about what they are going to discuss, but I will plan on attending the meeting.

That Senate committee meeting never materialized. But other meetings, and tense conversations with lawmakers, would soon follow.

February-March: The debate shifts to the House

The first Phoenix proposal went public on Feb. 15. The House State Affairs Committee introduced a resolution that would require the State Board to reconsider its Phoenix vote, while giving the Legislature the authority to sue to stop the sale.

Joined by Caroline Nilsson Troy  a former legislator who now serves as UIs government relations liaison  Freeman went to committee members to cajole and commiserate.

We opened each meeting telling them we understand they are frustrated, and we (Board and U of I) are frustrated too because the transaction has not progressed as intended, Freeman said in his Feb. 25 email to board members. Freeman laid some of the frustrations at Labradors office door, saying the open meetings lawsuit prevented the State Board and UI from fully discussing the sale with lawmakers.

House State Affairs chairperson remembers his meeting differently.

Rep. Brent Crane said he didnt ask questions. Instead, he said he was pressed for information  namely, a sneak preview of what he planned to ask in a public hearing. Crane told the group to come to the committee room and find out.

The conversation needed to take place in a public setting, but it was also strategic, Crane, R-Nampa, told EdNews on Thursday.

Freeman said he and Troy heard a chorus of concerns. Lawmakers said they needed more financial details. They said they had heard only problems with the purchase  nothing about the positives. And they wondered when and how they would have a say in the decision.

All of these concerns flavored the Statehouses Phoenix debates, which began in House State Affairs.

The fate of the House resolution was likely sealed before Freeman and Troy tried to win over committee members.

The resolution had backing from Crane, the committees powerful chairperson, who had already publicly admonished the State Board and UI for cutting lawmakers out of the conversation. The resolution had bipartisan backing: Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, was its co-sponsor.

Behind the scenes, and in emails obtained by EdNews, Crane and two other House State Affairs members restated their concerns with the deal.

In a Feb. 29 email to Crane, Rep. Heather Scott criticized UI President C. Scott Greens decision to hire his previous employer for Phoenix consulting.

Tremendous conflict of interest, said Scott, R-Blanchard.

As EdNews reported on Feb. 27, the international law firm Hogan Lovells had received $7.3 million in fees for Phoenix-related due diligence work; Green had worked for the firm before returning to his alma mater as president in 2019.

In emails to a constituent  and to Joanna Hayes, editor of the Argonaut, UIs student paper  Gannon restated his concerns. He said he had decided to keep silent on the purchase, until it became clear to him that important details werent being made public.

Bigger is not necessarily better  The College of Idaho is a good example  and I am concerned about adding 80,000 out-of-state online students, Gannon wrote Feb. 26.

On March 1, House State Affairs passed the resolution, with one no vote. On March 5, it easily passed the House, on a 49-21 vote.

February-March: Fitful, fruitless attempts to change the narrative

As an anti-Phoenix surge swelled in the Statehouse, the State Board tried to fight the tide. To no avail.

In early March, the State Board drafted a guest opinion, signed by Liebich, explaining the boards continued support for the Phoenix purchase.

On one level, the piece seemed to be the State Boards attempt to tell its side of the story  and address the concerns Freeman and Troy heard from lawmakers who said they hadnt heard a case for the sale.
WHITMAN COUNTY

Marriage licenses

Tuesday

Matthew Robert Hockett, 22, Thornton, Wash., and Darby Jo Soliday, 20, of Harrington, Wash.

Nathaniel Theodore Akesson, 23, of Colfax, Wash., and Madison Renae Wolfe, 21, of Pullman

Wednesday

Timothy Robert Harris, 32, and Fierros Zoilaluz Mendez, 36, both of Pullman

Thursday

Diego Cisneros, 26, and Kaitlin Marie Picanco, 24, both of Pullman

LATAH COUNTY

Marriage licenses

May 24

Ian Jacob McMillen, 20, and Emma Elizabeth McIntosh, 20, both of Moscow

Tuesday

Joshua Taylor Holland, 30, and Shaylee Melissa Holler, 28, both of Pullman

Dillon Marshall Hill, 22, and Alexis Nicole Chandler, 21, both of Moscow

Thursday

Jeremy Michael Wagner, 38, of Lewiston, and Victoria Christine Johnson, 35, of Moscow

PULLMAN POLICE

May 24

9 a.m.  Property was reportedly stolen from the 200 block of Kamiaken Street.

10:09 a.m.  Officers responded to a domestic dispute on the 400 block of Grand Avenue.

May 25

8:44 p.m.  A bicycle was reported stolen from the 700 block of Maiden Lane.

Police responded to a domestic dispute on the 300 block of Robert Street overnight.

Sunday

9:09 a.m.  A patient was transported to the hospital from the 800 block of Providence Court.

9:20 a.m.  Vehicle theft was reported on the 1500 block of Merman Drive.

1:42 p.m.  A storage unit was reportedly burglarized on the 1500 block of Turner Drive.

8:59 p.m.  Fraud was reported on the 700 block of Fairmount Road.

Trespassing was reported on the 900 block of C Street overnight.

Monday

3:07 p.m.  Officers responded to shoplifting reported at Walmart.

Trespassing was reported two times in Pullman Monday.

Police responded to two domestic disputes in Pullman Monday.

Thursday

1:46 p.m.  Fraud was reported on the 1300 block of Hillside Drive.

4:39 p.m.  Officers responded to a domestic dispute on the 500 block of McKenzie Street.

WSU POLICE

Monday

10:03 a.m.  A 23-year-old man was arrested for alleged third-degree driving with a suspended license on Providence Court.

WHITMAN COUNTY SHERIFF

May 24

4:50 p.m.  Fraud was reported on Cache Creek Road in Rosalia.

5:41 p.m.  A structure fire was reported on Baird Road in Rosalia.

May 25

12:52 p.m.  Deputies responded to a domestic dispute on Woodworth Street in Uniontown.

Sunday

5:14 p.m.  A 49-year-old man was arrested on a warrant on Kamerrer Road in Pullman.

5:18 p.m.  Deputies arrested a 55-year-old man on a warrant on Sunset Road in Thornton.

6:56 p.m.  Fraud was reported on Front Street in Albion.
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Starting high school can be a scary event for a student.

For Jewel Elliott, she only lasted a week at Moscow High School in fall 2020 before dropping out.

I guess I just kind of felt extremely overwhelmed going from Moscow Middle School to Moscow High School, she said.

Stressed out by the bigger courseload and bigger school, and lacking the motivation to do online courses during the height of COVID-19, Elliott decided to sulk at home instead of going to class.

Elliotts older sibling attended Paradise Creek Regional High School in Moscow and told Elliott the school could be her chance at a fresh start.

It was.

Now, in spring 2024, Elliott finds herself loving school and ready to graduate with strong grades Wednesday. She plans to attend the University of Idaho next year to study criminology.

Going here, I feel the motivation to actually attend and I definitely have seen a lot of improvement in myself, she said.
Glossy terrazzo floors, windows that tint automatically and a 315-square-foot nursing room are just some of the features that can be found under the sloped steel roof of the Spokane International Airports newest addition.

More than 100 local business leaders, developers, elected officials and community members gathered in the airport Thursday for the unveiling of the west end of the Concourse C expansion. The addition, which is the first phase of a multiyear effort to grow the airport, will bring three new gates, six new ticketing counters and enough outlets and chairs to satisfy even the most tech-oriented, weary travelers.

Speakers at the event included County Commissioner Al French, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell  who was instrumental in securing more than $59 million in federal funding for the roughly $150 million project.

You are in for a treat when you see the finishings and you see some of the special amenities that are here for the traveling public, Brown said.

Those amenities and improvements go far beyond the confines of the concourse itself, airport CEO Larry Krauter said. Visitors can look forward to a plaza with landscaped flower beds in front of the structure, and beneath the airport is a state-of-the-art baggage system estimated to cost $12 to $15 million.

Spokane International Airport Board Chairperson Ezra Eckhardt said board members spent years working with designers, engineers, architects and construction crews to bring the vision of a modern, expanded concourse to life. That work went as far as selecting the finishing elements, such as the mother-of-pearl terrazzo floors, the basalt tiles lining the wall and the spruce panels attached to the curved ceiling.

The end result brings a sense of the wilderness Spokane is known for directly inside, in appearance and literally  all raw materials used in the project came from within a 500-mile radius of the airport.

A decision was made not only to support the regional businesses but help minimize shipping emissions, Eckhardt said.

Even the new gate signs resemble trail markers, and the entrances to the restrooms feature tile mosaics of local features like Bowl and Pitcher in Riverside State Park.

Eckhardt said the renovation, as well as the phases that will follow, could not have come at a more crucial time. The airport was one of the fastest to recover post-pandemic among small to midsize airports nationwide, and a record-high 4.13 million visitors passed through last year.

Annual traffic is expected to grow beyond 6.2 million passengers by 2030, Eckhardt said.

We expect that trend of growth to continue well into the future, Eckhardt said. Thats why we began laying the groundwork for the terminal expansion project several years ago.
The Washington State Charter School Commission moved to close Pullmans first and only charter school.

Commissioners voted to draft a resolution to revoke the Pullman Community Montessoris charter during a special meeting Friday in Olympia.

Since the beginning of the year, Commission Executive Director Jessica de Barros said the group had received 72 complaints filed against the Montessori.

Commission staff performed an investigation into the school, and through an intensive process, multiple violations were found. This included deficiency in safety compliance, changes to the education program and a lack of financial viability, according to documents attached with the meeting agenda.

The board began the process to close the Montessori in March, and initiated a notice to revoke the schools charter. The Montessori was given a month to respond, but after the school introduced new leadership, reviewing policies and its finances, the commissions decision had not changed.

The resolution was made ultimately because the school does not have enough funds to operate.

Commission Deputy Director Harium Martin-Morris said enrollment has declined by 29% since January; it began with 113 students and dropped to 80. He said though enrollment is not a singular driver of revenue for a school, it is highly correlated at a minimum. Poor enrollment variance is an indicator of financial issues, he added.

The Montessori projected to end the school year with 14 days worth of cash on hand. As a third-year school, Martin-Morris said, it should have had 60 days of cash.

PCM is currently not financially viable and has insufficient funds to remain open, Martin-Morris said. Even if the school is able to open in the fall of 2024, the current financial situation of PCM puts it at significant risk of midyear-closure, which would negatively impact PCM students and families.

He added the Montessori anticipated a $500,000 budget deficit for the 2024-25 academic year, illustrated in budget materials submitted to the commission.

Additionally, the school had made educational program term changes that were not approved.

In February, the Montessori requested to close its older elementary classroom and move 11 students to the adolescent community classroom, with one teacher and classroom assistant, according to the documents.
I love to travel, and if you are reading this, then I have embarked on my final journey.

I was born in 1928 in my grandmothers farmhouse in the beautiful Meadows Valley of Idaho. I only weighed in at 3 pounds but, with loving care from my family, I thrived and lived to the ripe old age of 96.

At age 3 my parents, Miles and Dorothy Irwin Becker, moved to Grangeville. I lived there until I graduated from Grangeville High School, class of 1946.

When I was a child, I spent summers in the Meadows Valley with my beloved grandmother Leota Becker on her ranch, riding horses and helping her with the chores almost every day. The valley was irrigated by small canals originating from Goose Creek and its tributaries. I was fascinated by the small fish and amphibians that made their homes there.

I married Dale B. McHugh on Aug. 26, 1946, and we started a life adventure together that lasted until he died in 2002. I was a war bride for several years while he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.

Dale and I were blessed with seven children: five girls and two boys, whom we raised on the Blue Camas Prairie and in Moscow.

My favorite things to do were swimming, crocheting and spending time with my family; also, collecting antique fine china and glassware as well as picking huckleberries.
Our beloved Dr. Betty Adams departed this life on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Pullman Regional Hospital.

Betty Kathleen Adams was born early in the Great Depression in 1931 in Springfield, Mo., to Isabel Martha Adams (nee Lambeth) and Herbert Maupin Adams. Her father was a schoolteacher, and being a smart, busy little girl (a test to her wheelchair-bound mother) she started attending his classes at the age of 4. After the U.S. entered World War II, her father wanted to help the war effort, so they left the family farm in Missouri and moved to Camas, Wash., where her father worked at the Naval Shipyard nearby. They lived on a small farm with a dog, a cat and a horse for Betty to ride. She graduated from high school in Camas in 1948 at the age of 16 and began college immediately at Washington State University.

After graduating from WSU in 1952 with a bachelors degree in Zoology, she attended medical school at the University of Washington. Betty was one of just four women in her class of 76 students. She spent her internship at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane.

Although she had intended to be a physician focusing on womens health, in 1957 she was asked to fill a vacant position as the only woman physician at the WSU Student Health Center. This opportunity would see her working and living in Pullman for the next 67 years. As director of WSU Student Health Services (1979-88), Dr. Adams instituted vaccination requirements as part of new student initiatives. She retired after working 39 years.

Betty was a very active member of the local Community Congregational United Church of Christ. She had an inclusive outlook and liked to keep track of political news. At the time of her death, she was still on the board of directors for Palouse River Counseling, as well as a member of P.E.O. and the Kiwanis Club. Betty also played pool every Friday with a group of good friends.

Betty was noted for her quick wit, welcoming smile, warm heart and listening ear. Over the years, she acquired many friends who became family. After good friend, Nancy Ramaker, moved into Bettys roomy home, Betty became close with Nans entire family living in the Seattle area and added them to her homemade family.
Geoffrey William Harold Beckett, our local hero and locksmith, unlocked the pearly gates and went to heaven on Monday, May 27, 2024. He passed peacefully at home, holding his wifes hand. Loved by many, missed by all, disguised as a biker, Santa and friend. When Geoff passed away and arrived at the pearly gates of heaven, Saint Peter said, Weve been expecting you. Weve been locked out for centuries.

Geoff loved Moscow. He moved here in 1972 and worked at Varsity Bar, serving burgers and beers, a perk he more than enjoyed himself while pursuing his masters degree in economics at the University of Idaho. Wanting a job where he could be his own boss, he began taking locksmith courses. Eventually, he became a Master Locksmith and Safe Technician and purchased the Post Office Square Shopping Center, which was established in 1949 as the oldest shopping center in Moscow. Geoff had a lot of pride in his accomplishments, but even more so in his family.
Backs Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is one of the most successful voluntary conservation programs in the nation. This program is essential for the soil, water and natural resources that are so important who live and enjoy the great outdoors in Idaho and around the country. In addition, the CRP habitat provides cover, protection of resources and critical nutrition for big game and upland birds.

It is a critical time for the Conservation Reserve Program. The 2023 Farm Bill has been held in committee by the House of Representatives. The Farm Bill exists now by a continuing resolution which means that prices paid per acre continue at levels far below the rates paid 38 years ago. The result being that every year as contracts end, property owners are looking at other options. Many of them are contracting with or selling their ground to producers and these farms are being put into production.
Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office Vehicle View Photo

Chinese Camp, CA  Two men spotted putting a motorcycle and other items from a Chinese Camp property into their pickup were handcuffed.

Tuolumne County Sheriffs Dispatch recently received a call from a subject reporting a burglary in progress on Curry Street near Red Hill Road and off Highway 120. The call reported that he was watching two male subjects, later identified as 43-year-old Christopher William Boylan of Golden Valley, Arizona, and 53-year-old Daniel Rodriguez of Bakersfield, California, take items from the property.

At the scene, a deputy and a CHP officer questioned the two subjects and detained them. Inside the get-a-way truck bed were a Yamaha motorcycle, solar batteries, and other miscellaneous items valued at over $950. Meanwhile, a call was made to the property owner, who confirmed the items in the back of Boylans truck were his.

Subsequently, Boylan and Rodriguez were arrested for felony grand theft, vehicle theft, having stolen property, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Americas TOP-SECRET $745 MILLION stealth nuclear bomber takes off in first publicly acknowledged test flight

Recently released images of America's top-secret $745-million stealth nuclear bomber showed the aircraft taking to the air for its first publicly acknowledged flight test.

The B-21 Raider was first unveiled in December 2022, but the U.S. government has been discreet about showing off the high-tech, radar-evading stealth nuclear bomber.

In pictures released on May 22, the futuristic bomber can be seen flying as it undergoes flight testing. The testing is an important step before a minimum first order of 100 of the stealth aircraft can be approved for manufacture.

Described as a "dual-capable bomber," the B-21 Raider can launch both conventional and nuclear weapons.

The B-21 Raider has a flying wing shape similar to its predecessor the B-2 Spirit but will incorporate advanced materials, propulsion and stealth technology to make the former more survivable in a future conflict. There are also plans to produce the B-21 Raider in variants with and without pilots.

During testimony at the Senate Armed Services Committee in early May, Department of Defense Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Andrew P. Hunter said the B-21's flight testing is currently on schedule.

Hunter added that the program is "doing what flight test programs are designed to do," which is helping the Air Force learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, "but in a very, very effective way."

The B-21 Raider is a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating-strike stealth bomber. It will have a major role supporting national security objectives and assisting U.S. allies and partners worldwide. The B-21 Raider's weapon system is manufactured under the Air Force's contract with Northrop Grumman.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to the Air Force, the B-21 Raider is designed with "an open systems architecture, enabling rapid insertion of mature technologies, and allowing the aircraft to remain effective as threats evolve over time." (Related: NUCLEAR UMBRELLA: Macron commits Frances 300 BALLISTIC MISSILES to deter a possible Russian attack.)

The Air Force's statement revealed that the B-21 Raider is slated to enter service in the mid-2020s with a production goal of a minimum of 100 aircraft. It is a nuclear-capable craft and is the first of its kind to be introduced since the end of the Cold War.

B-21 Raider underwent extremely secretive development, last photographed in 2023

While press releases described the recent test flights as the B-21's first, it was spotted conducting a test flight in California late last year.

Matt Hartman, an aviation photographer, first caught the B-21 Raider in flight at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility in November 2023. He was able to record a video of the earlier, less public test flight from a road near Air Force Plant 42 Palmdale, California.

Hartman's footage featured the uniquely shaped B-21 Raider in flight and flanked by another plane before it took a sharp turn.

Aerospace company Northrop Grumman is producing six test aircraft, with each one estimated to cost at least $750 million.

The B-21 Raider is allegedly virtually "invisible" to all enemy stealth radars and will be equipped with the latest features in military tech. The aircraft weighs around 30,000 pounds, with a wing span of 172 feet and can reach maximum speeds of 621 miles per hour.

At a November unveiling event, Air Force Global Strike Commander Thomas A. Bussier said that the B-21 Raider is "the future backbone of the bomber fleet."

The Air Force plans to have at least 220 B-21 Raiders to replace old B-1 and B-2 bombers. The service has estimated that the program could cost at least $203 billion over 30 years to develop, purchase and maintain the B-21 fleet.

The B-21 Raider is part of the Pentagon's efforts to update the three legs of its nuclear triad, which also includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads. The Pentagon is shifting from the counterterrorism campaigns of the last few decades to meet China's rapid military modernization.

Visit MilitaryTechnology.news for more stories about military weapons.

Watch the video below to learn how the Pentagon was caught hiding war crimes.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Putin takes a ride in a NUCLEAR-capable bomber that can reach the U.S.

Eye-opening interview: Canadian economist Chossudovsky blasts U.S. government for pushing nuclear war propaganda, recommending safe use of nuclear weapons in conventional war theater.

Ukrainian KAMIKAZE DRONE sets off explosion, crashing into Russian airbase and damaging supersonic bomber.

Republican congressman calls for NUCLEAR obliteration of Russia and Gaza.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
Biden trying to provoke WWIII before the election by secretly granting Ukraine permission to strike targets in Russia

After much speculation, President Joe Biden has given Ukraine permission to use American-made weapons to strike targets in Russia, drawing accusations that he is trying to provoke World War III ahead of the election.

The decision was reportedly secretly communicated to Kiev well before it was officially confirmed. A U.S. official told CNN: The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. supplied weapons for counterfire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them.

According to Politico, Ukraine asked the U.S. to change its stance on this matter after Russias offensive on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-biggest city, got underway this month. The U.S. has now agreed to give Ukraine some flexibility in defending itself from attacks on the border.

The decision will allow Ukrainian forces to employ long-range weapons supplied by the U.S. to attack part of Russian territory near the border with the Kharkiv region. For example, they can now use rockets and rocket launchers provided by the U.S. to shoot down Russian missiles that are launched toward Kharkiv and at troops that are amassing across the Russian border near the city, as well as Russian bombers who send bombs toward Ukrainian territory.

However, Ukraine will not be permitted to use the weapons for launching long-range missiles to hit military targets deeper within Russia or to hit civilian infrastructure. An official said that they did not expect the U.S. to broaden the area in which this type of weapon use is allowed.

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 Biden administration had been giving some indications that this shift was coming, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken telling reporters earlier in the week that Bidens policy toward Ukraine could evolve as needed. Then, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby failed to rule out a potential change to this policy.

However, the U.S. remains steadfast in its refusal to let Ukraine use one of the deadliest munitions it has supplied Kiev for firing into Russia: the long-range ATACMS missiles that can hit targets as far as 200 miles away.

Policy shift could lead to dramatic escalation

This marks a significant shift from the administration's original position that such action would escalate the war by getting the U.S. more involved. Although this remains a big concern, the president reportedly changed his mind as conditions for Ukraine on the battlefield grow increasingly bleak and Russia continues to advance.

The decision has upset Kremlin officials. Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia wasnt bluffing when it mentioned potentially using tactical nuclear weapons against Kiev and that the conflict with the West could lead to a full-blown war.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned there would be serious consequences if Ukraines allies in the West relaxed their policies, and he took the opportunity to emphasize Moscows nuclear strength to drive the warning home.

Several U.S. allies, including France and the United Kingdom, have maintained that Ukraine should be allowed to attack inside Russia with western weapons. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has been pushing the U.S. and other countries to give Ukraine the power to pursue targets inside Russia, and this week, he took his pleas from closed-door efforts to the public, asserting: To deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves.

After insisting for so long that the U.S. would not back down on this matter, one has to wonder just how big of a role Biden's hopes of holding onto the presidency as the election draws closer played in his sudden change of heart.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Politico.com

AlJazeera.com
BMJ slaps down Scientific Americans Laura Helmuth for unscientific trans activism

In a shot across the bow against Scientific Americans continued descent into unscientific twaddle, a BMJ investigation documented over a dozen social media posts by editor-in-chief Laura Helmuth promoting transgender care for children, despite scientific evidence showing such treatment has had  devastating consequences  for minors.

(Article by Paul D. Thacker republished from DisinformationChronicle.Substack.com)

Laws preventing trans kids from getting gender-affirming treatment are dangerous and abusive, as well as against all medical evidence, Helmuth posted on X in late 2022, one of many examples that The BMJ sent to Scientific American and its publisher Springer Nature, asking them to explain Helmuths trans advocacy which runs contrary to medical evidence.

In other social media posts, Helmuth has labeled critics of dangerous trans gender medicine for children biased, bigoted, antiscience, misinformation, cruel, and compared them to Nazis.

Last year, Helmut promoted false news in Scientific American that argued, The research is clear and all the relevant medical organizations agree: Gender-affirming care is evidence-based & medically necessary & leads to much better outcomes for trans kids than refusing them care.

Six days later, The BMJ released an investigation of new research finding that the evidence for trans gender care for children lacked evidence and that medical authorities were urging caution.

England, Scotland, Wales, and Sweden have all ceased prescribing puberty blockers for children, except for research studies, and the Finnish psychiatrist who first founded the field of transgender care for children now calls it dangerous. Many countries medical authorities have concluded that studies promoting trans treatment for children were either biased or of low quality.

The BMJs targeting of Laura Helmuth was a warning, of sortsan admonition that Helmuth should focus on science, cease the advocacy, and stop saying stupid things. But if you continue to read Scientific American, expect Helmuth to continue saying stupid things.

Last month, Harvards Steven Pinker labeled Helmuth a woke fanatic on X and promoted an article discussing Scientific Americans descent into progressive ideology. Another noble American institution run into the ground when clueless trustees handed over the keys to a woke fanatic, Pinker posted.

The article Pinker promoted appeared in City Journal (Unscientific American) and carefully documented the magazines decline into a political rag since Helmuth took the reins in early 2020. Other outlets have also cast a disapproving eye on Helmuths political crusades.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Helmuth tweeted last year that sparrows have four different chromosomally distinct sexes, forcing the community notes on X to correct Helmuths error.

It's just incredible how far @sciam -- a periodical I admired -- has fallen from its mission to provide accurate, clear, and vivid coverage of science, Yale professor and physician Nicholas Christakis, posted on X.

EXCLUSIVE: unScientific American! Popular magazine is slammed by experts over woke article titled Why Human Sex is Not Binary, reported The Daily Mail, a few months prior to Christakis criticism of Helmuth. Dr Carole Hooven, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University, told The Daily Mail that Scientific Americans unscientific claims could put women in danger.

On average, men are bigger and stronger than women, and commit the overwhelming majority of rapes and murders. Most men could kill most women with their bare hands, Hooven explained. These facts have informed the establishment of laws and social policies that protect female spaces, particularly those where women are in vulnerable positions such as where they sleep or shower (prison cells and locker rooms, for example).

Chicago University emeritus professor of ecology and evolution, Jerry Coyne, has written several times about Helmuth promoting factually inaccurate claims in Scientific American, which he labeled Scientific Pravda.

Somebody called my attention to three new articles and op-eds in Scientific American that have no science in them, but are pure ideology of the progressive sort. I agree with some of the sentiments expressed in them, as in the first one. But my point is, as usual, to show how everything in science, including its most widely-read popular magazine, is being taken over by ideology. Not only that, but its ideology of only one stripe: Leftist progressive (or woke, if you will) ideology, so that the opinion section is not a panoply of divergent views, but gives only one view, like a Scientific Pravda. Remember that the editor refused when I offered to write an op-ed expressing different (but of course not right-wing) views.

In a previous City Journal article in 2022, science writer Nicholas Wade called Scientific Americans shift away from science a new Lysenkoism referring to the Soviet doctrine that forced biologists to ignore evolution and the genetics of plants to conform to political ideology.

And in an investigation I conducted for the BMJ (The covid-19 lab leak hypothesis: did the media fall victim to a misinformation campaign?) I noted that Helmuth harassed CDC Director Robert Redfield for telling CNN he thought the COVID virus may have come from a Wuhan lab:

The growing tendency to treat the lab leak scenario as worthy of serious investigation has put some reporters on the defensive. After Robert Redfield, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, appeared on CNN in March, Scientific Americans editor in chief, Laura Helmuth, tweeted, On CNN, former CDC director Robert Redfield shared the conspiracy theory that the virus came from the Wuhan lab. The following day, Scientific American ran an essay calling the lab leak theory evidence free.

In short, Helmuth is a political fanatic who doesnt care much for science, unless its science that fits her personal politics.

The BMJs investigation highlighted the Cass Review which found little evidence to support Helmuths claims that the puberty blockers or other trans therapy for children are safe, including surgery. Dr. Hilary Cass is a British physician and former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, who spent three years examining the evidence for treating gender questioning young people.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Dr. Cass said that doctors in the United States are out of date with understanding trans care for children. But what some organizations are doing is doubling down on saying the evidence is good, Dr. Cass told the New York Times. And I think thats where youre misleading the public.

And in podcast for the BMJ, Dr. Cass noted that of the 100 studies for puberty blockers and hormone treatment, only two were of passable quality. She also dismissed claims by activists such as Helmuth that trans care lowers risk of suicide in children.

There, unfortunately, is not evidence that gender affirming treatment in its broadest sense reduces the suicide risk, Dr. Cass said, during The BMJ podcast.

Below are several social media posts by Laura Helmuth crusading for trans care for kidsmany of them dangerous messages for children, all lacking quality medical evidence.

To find the latest quality medical evidence on trans care for children, please read The Cass Review, which NHS England commissioned to improve NHS gender identity services, and ensure that children and young people who are questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria receive a high standard of care, that meets their needs, is safe, holistic and effective.

Read more at: DisinformationChronicle.Substack.com
Are you ready for the CLIMATE VACCINES about to be unleashed by anti-human globalists?

Unless We the People stop them, climate fanatics like billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates are planning to inject you and your family with climate change and global warming "vaccines."

Right now, they are already injecting meat animals with climate jabs, claiming these are necessary to keep the animals "safe" from fictitious diseases. Eventually, they will proceed to start jabbing you and your family with the same "vaccines," assuming you let them.

Technocracy.news writer Yudi Sherman warned back in January that the only way to stop these "genetic maniacs" from destroying the human race with their mystery chemical injections is to "take away their keycards and their containment suits, immediately escort them out of their laboratories, permanently ban them from any other scientific research for life, and then raze the buildings to the ground."

If it sounds extreme, consider the fact that a company called ArkeaBio just raised $26.5 million in Series A seed funding to begin developing climate jabs for the human masses. You can be sure that once these injections are ready to go, there will be another "pandemic" or "emergency" to predicate their forced use.

"If you can't grasp the seriousness of this, then you may be marked for depopulation," warns the Technocracy.news editor.

(Related: Bill Gates cannot wait for "Pandemic 2" when he hopes to forcibly inject the entire planet with climate jabs.)

"Vaccines" to prevent cows from passing gas

This might sound like something from The Babylon Bee, but the reality is that ArkeaBio has already begun developing a new "vaccine" that mad scientists say will stop cows and other meat animals from releasing methane emissions, i.e., passing gas.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

The claim is that the shots will alter the animals' immune systems in such a way as to create antibodies that target methane-producing microbes.

ArkeaBio secured its first major investment in late 2022 from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, an investment fund founded by Bill Gates.

"Our vaccination-based approach allows for much-needed decarbonization of global meat and dairy products across multiple geographies, supporting greater sustainability in agriculture," the company's website explains.

ArkeaBio has not announced any plans to create a human version of its anti-fart injection, but another company called Gingko Bioworks has. Gingko, which is also funded by Gates, is pushing to develop mRNA (modRNA) injections that it says will help to stop the planet from warming.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has expressed support for the plan, stating it is a "critical response to the climate crisis."

"In the face of climate change, vaccines play a crucial but underestimated role," wrote British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) back in December on its website.

AstraZeneca, maker of a shamed and now-pulled-from-the-market viral vector Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, also wants in on the gravy train by manufacturing its own climate jabs as well.

Two months prior, Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president of vaccines at rival Sanofi, wrote an entire article called "Vaccine innovation is a critical response to the climate crisis" that expresses the same interest in developing climate injections.

The only type of "climate change" these demons are trying to stop is their own change from rich to poor as their corrupt financial and war empire implodes on itself. Big Pharma will die unless it continues to churn out new injections for every made-up disease under the sun, the latest being so-called climate change.

"This madness has to end now," one angry commenter wrote about the insanity coming from Big Pharma and the Bill Gates brigade.

"I'm immensely comforted to know the flood Gates of biotech are unleashed, to wash us in redemptive waters of climate salvation by delivering us from the ubiquitous evil of carbon," joked another about the religious cult aspects of climate change.

Climate change is a scam designed to separate you from your assets and wealth. Learn more at GreenTyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

Technocracy.news

NaturalNews.com
Denver to deploy DRONES to respond to 911 calls

Denver, Colorado's law enforcement is preparing to introduce aerial drones for specific circumstances instead of dispatching officers, as per an announcement from the citys police department.

This innovative move is made possible through a $100,000 grant from the Denver Police Foundation, with plans to commence the program within six to twelve months.

The initiative was done after the city's Democrat-led government reduced the Denver Police Department's (DPD) budget by $8.4 million, forcing the department to opt to use drones as initial responders. These drones will evaluate incidents to determine whether a physical police presence is warranted.

DPDs Strategic Initiatives Bureau Director Phil Gonshak clarified: "The DPD will still respond to any service call where direct physical intervention by a police officer is requested. However, in scenarios like a reported altercation at Colfax and Cherokee, if a drone survey reveals no disturbance or traffic issues, our officers will be redirected to other pressing calls."

Sgt. Jeremiah Gates, who oversees Arapahoe Countys drone unit, sees drones as an inevitable part of law enforcement's future, stating: "Drones are becoming integral to law enforcement, whether we embrace the idea or not."

Highlighting their practical use, Gates elaborated: "Using drones, I could investigate a reported suspicious vehicle remotely and ascertain whether its legitimately suspicious, thereby avoiding unnecessary interactions with officers and conserving resources." He also emphasized that drones could discern whether a reported weapon is not a firearm, potentially de-escalating volatile situations before officers approach suspects.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The use of drones is playing a significant role in reshaping contemporary law enforcement practices, contributing to enhanced safety for both communities and police personnel.

As of July 27 last year, around 1,400 police departments across the U.S. have incorporated drones into their operations. This figure is anticipated to surge in the foreseeable future as drones become increasingly accessible and advanced in their capabilities, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Drones are used as first responders, for search and rescue operations, for the facilitation of rapid collection of evidence for accident and crime scene reconstruction and for extensively surveilling events with large numbers of attendees. (Related: SPY IN THE SKY: NYPD will use surveillance drones to monitor private parties this weekend.)

More commonly, drones are being used by police departments for reconnaissance in breach and clearance operations.

ACLU of Colorado raises concerns about potential abuse and misuse of drone technology

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there are currently over 850,000 drones registered in the U.S. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there are only about 660,000 police officers in the entire country. Despite the promising applications of drones in law enforcement, voices from civil liberties circles have raised apprehensions regarding privacy infringements and the risk of misuse.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado Staff Attorney Laura Moraff voiced concerns over the ramifications of widespread drone surveillance, especially in her state. She emphasized the potential impact on fundamental freedoms, expressing worries about the chilling effect of constant surveillance on activities such as speech, organizing and protesting.

Moraff also underscored the risk of disproportionate policing in Black communities, which often bear the brunt of numerous 911 calls. Highlighting the issue of racial bias in reporting, she cautioned against the indiscriminate deployment of drones in such areas, which could exacerbate over-policing.

She further noted that the normalization of drone surveillance could profoundly influence public behavior, as individuals may feel compelled to alter their actions and interactions under constant scrutiny.

Although law enforcement authorities assure responsible drone usage, the persisting concerns regarding potential abuse and the erosion of privacy rights underscore the need for vigilant oversight to prevent the establishment of a surveillance-oriented state.

Watch this video about Denver's drone initiative.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Police department in Pennsylvania using drone tech to crack down on theft and other petty crimes.

NARCO-TERRORISM: Notorious Mexican cartel now using drones and chemical explosives.

NYPD has been stalking civilians with tracking robots, drones and GPS locators.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

LATimes.com

Police1.com

AXON.com

Brighteon.com
Former Finnish government minister once again standing trial for tweeting Bible verses

A former Finnish government minister has submitted her defense to the Supreme Court of Finland as she once again stands trial for a tweet that included Bible verses

In June 2019, former Minister of the Interior Paivi Rasanen of the conservative Christian Democrats party questioned the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, of which she is an active member, regarding its sponsorship of that year's LGBT pride parade in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.

To express her grievances, Rasanen took to Twitter. Her tweet was accompanied by Bible verses which, 13 hours later, led to her being interrogated by Finnish police about her Christian beliefs. She was reportedly asked repeatedly to explain to the police her understanding of the Bible.

The police also investigated a church pamphlet she authored in 2004 titled "Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Concept of Humanity."

Since then, Prosecutor General of Finland Raija Toiviainen has levied three criminal "hate speech" charges against Rasanen, wherein she endured a total of 13 hours of interrogation, months of waiting for court procedures, two onerous trials and countless lies spread by the media. (Related: New hate speech law in Poland would punish people who insult LGBT ideology with 3 years in prison.)

The "hate speech" charges fall under the "war crimes and crimes against humanity" section of the Finnish Criminal Code. In August 2023, she faced her second trial at the Finnish Court of Appeal. Now, she stands trial for the third time.

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.

Fortunately, the state prosecutor appealed the case. Her legal team, supported by ADF International, has argued for the dismissal of the case and for costs to be awarded to Rasanen. They claim that international law protects her right to freedom of expression and that hate speech laws do not negate this right. The defense also stated that Rasanen has consistently advocated for the dignity and non-discrimination of all people.

"Vague or far-reaching laws against advocacy of hatred, or blasphemy, offense to religious feelings and similar offenses are not only arbitrary; they can also lead to the direct and structural marginalization of religious or belief communities," the defense stated.

Human Rights advocates condemn the charges against Rasanen

The situation has attracted international media attention and provoked outrage from human rights experts.

Paul Coleman, the executive director of ADF International, compared Rasanen's case to something from the Middle Ages, warning of "creeping censorship" in Europe's historically free nations.

"In a democratic Western nation in 2024, nobody should be on trial for their faith  yet throughout the prosecution of Paivi Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola, we have seen something akin to a 'heresy' trial, where Christians are dragged through court for holding beliefs that differ from the approved orthodoxy of the day," Coleman said.

The state's persistence in pursuing Rasanen and Pohjola, for nearly five years despite multiple acquittals is "alarming," Coleman added, expressing concern that "the process is the punishment in such cases, creating a chilling effect on free speech for all citizens."

"Their right to speak freely is everyone's right to speak freely," he concluded.

Watch the full episode of "Renz Rants" with Tom Renz discussing how leftists continue to promote the LGBTQIA+ agenda.

This video is from the Thomas Renz channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Michigan legislators pass "hate speech" legislation prohibiting "misgendering"  violators face five-year prison sentence or $10,000 fine.

Hollywood celebrities want all children and teens thinking about one thing all day  sex changes  and they want all oppositional "hate speech" censored by Big Tech.

Gay justice minister announces that criticizing transgenders will soon be CRIMINALIZED in Poland.

Michigan House of Representatives passes bill that makes misgendering a HATE CRIME.

Dont look now, but "misgendering" is now an "act of violence," meaning Leftist punishment for this heinous "crime" is coming next.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

ADFInternational.org

Brighteon.com
Texas AG Ken Paxton says Trump verdict is dark and shameful day in American history

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies yesterday during a controversial trial in New York, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is describing the verdict as an outright assault on Trump and every American who believes in justice and the rule of law.

The jury concluded that he illegally falsified business records to cover up a payment of $130,000 to an adult film star to keep quiet about an extramarital affair they had ahead of the 2016 elections. The verdict came after just two days of deliberations and marks the first time an American president has been found guilty of a crime.

Paxton said in a statement released yesterday: Today is a dark and shameful day in American history. The corrupt Biden administration, an unhinged Judge and the deceitful Manhattan District Attorney and the New York Attorney General have conspired in a grotesque abuse of power, revealing their true agenda: to destroy our democracy and the Republic for which it stands.

He added: These cowardly, spineless political hacks have turned our justice system into a weapon, something you would expect in a third-world dictatorship, not the land of the free.

Paxton attended the trial in person in New York last month in a show of support, calling it a sham and a travesty of justice in a post on X about his visit.

Trump said he was considering asking Paxton to be U.S. Attorney General

Earlier this month, Trump told a reporter that he would consider asking Paxton to be the U.S. Attorney General should he secure a second term in the White House.

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.

Hes very, very talented. I mean, we have a lot of people that want that one and will be very good at it. But hes a very talented guy, he said.

Paxton has been a longtime supporter of Trump, carrying out a legal challenge to his presidential election loss that was ultimately unsuccessful, and speaking at a pro-Trump rally. He has also sued the Biden administration on numerous occasions over policies related to gender and immigration.

In his statement, he vowed to continue fighting on Trumps behalf, writing: 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.

Trump used terms like scam, rigged, disgraceful and very unfair to describe his trial, and many people agreed. The case was based on a very questionable interpretation of the law, with some legal experts believing a misdemeanor would be more appropriate and others insisting there was no crime at all. On top of that, the judge on the case, Juan Merchan, had a huge conflict of interest as his daughter represents Democrat politicians and political action committees as the president of the digital marketing agency Authentic Campaigns. Merchan has also made donations to the Democratic party.

Another concern that Trumps team has had from the start is that it would be impossible to put together an unbiased jury in New York, which voted against him by an overwhelming margin in 2020. This could form the foundation of an appeal, with Trump noting: They wouldnt give us a venue change. This was done by the Biden administration in order to remove and to hurt opponents.

He will be sentenced on July 11, four days before he was expected to receive a formal nomination as the Republican partys presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

TexasTribune.org
NYC hotel rates reach record highs as city fills available rooms with illegal immigrants

The cost of hotel rooms in New York City has increased by 8.5 percent after the local government turned hotels into shelters to provide temporary housing for so-called asylum seekers, forcing the availability of rooms to decrease and prices to go up.

In 2022, New York City signed a $980 million contract with HANYC, the Hotel Association, for the "Sanctuary Hotel Program," which pays hotels that agree to shelter migrants.

For instance, the Row NYC Hotel entered a $40 million deal to house migrants at $190 per night. Other hotels receive anywhere between $139 to $185 per night per room. To date, approximately 65,000 migrants are being accommodated in hotels as well as in tent dormitories and other shelters. (Related: NYC still provides FREE hotel rooms to ILLEGALS, despite Mayor Eric Adams claiming that the Big Apple is "out of room.")

According to CoStar, a commercial and residential real estate provider, the average rate of hotel rooms in the city has increased from $277.92 in 2022 to $301.61 in 2023. The city lost 16,532 hotel rooms to the shelter program, leaving only 121,677 rooms for travelers. This translates to 2,812 fewer rooms compared to pre-pandemic levels. In other words, the supply of available rooms for travelers decreased because NYC converted 135 out of 680 hotels into migrant shelters.

The decrease in room supply has coincided with a resurgence in tourism.

In 2023, NYC welcomed approximately 62.2 million visitors, the highest since the record 66.6 million in 2019. This surge in demand, coupled with the reduced room availability, has driven hotel rates to unprecedented levels. The average daily rate for a hotel stay in NYC climbed from $277.92 to $301.61 in 2023. Even during the first quarter of 2024, when prices typically decline, the average stay cost is $230.79 per night, a 6.7 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.

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.

Industry experts like Daniel H. Lesser, the co-founder of LW Hospitality Advisors, noted that the rising rates are a direct consequence of the reduced supply of hotel rooms.

"During peak periods, try getting a hotel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night in midtown Manhattan, and, if you can, you could end up paying dearly," said Lesser. "Its all supply-and-demand related, and the migrant rooms have reduced the amount of supply."

Disruption of short-term rentals also contributes to the increasing hotel costs

Aside from the impact of the migrant crisis on hotel availability, recent regulations targeting short-term rentals also play a crucial role to the rising prices.

For instance, in September 2023, NYC began enforcing Local Law 18, which seeks to curb the proliferation of short-term rentals like those listed on Airbnb. These short-term rentals, which previously accounted for over 10 percent of tourist accommodations, saw an 83 percent decline for stays under 30 days, dropping from 22,247 in August 2023 to just 3,705 by March 2024. The law has significantly disrupted the short-term rental market, with approximately 90 percent of remaining listings available only for longer stays.

The crackdown on short-term rentals, aggressively supported by the hotel industry and the hotel workers union, has driven up demand for hotel rooms. Analysts suggest this policy change has had a more substantial impact on hotel rates than the ongoing migrant crisis.

"It was expected," said Jamie Lane, a chief economist at AirDNA. "That is why the hotel lobby was pushing for this law to happen, so they could have higher rates and increase profitability of their properties."

Visit Migrants.news for more stories about the ongoing migrant crisis in America.

Watch this news report about Democratic New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler being heckled at Roosevelt Hotel.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Swanky Hotel Le Jolie in NYC converted into shelter for ILLEGALS.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams warns illegal immigrants will DESTROY the city.

Stop by and see for yourself! NYC Mayor Adams invites Biden to visit "migrant hotel" in Big Apple.

BREAKING POINT reached: NYC, other sanctuary cities tired of illegal immigrants influx, struggle with local resources.

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to spend another $2.4B on benefits for illegal immigrants.

Sources include:

ThePostMillenial.com

DNYUZ.com

Brighteon.com
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN TAKEDOWN: Over 4 million chickens to be slaughtered after bird flu detected at egg farm

Farmers must kill approximately 4.2 million chickens after bird flu was detected at a large egg farm in Sioux County, Iowa.

(Article by Danielle republished from 100PercentFedUp.com)

Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens. https://t.co/rHcEri37wG  WKBT News 8 (@news8news) May 28, 2024

More than 4 million chickens in Iowa will have to be killed after a case of the highly pathogenic bird flu was detected at a large egg farm, the state announced Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

The news follows reports of the slaughter of about 1.4 million chickens at an egg farm near Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens. https://t.co/rHcEri37wG  WKBT News 8 (@news8news) May 28, 2024

With the culling of millions of chickens, expect egg prices to soon skyrocket.

From the Associated Press:

Overall, 92.34 million birds have been killed since the outbreak began in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Although bird flu has become somewhat common among poultry, its spread to cattle has added to worries about the disease. In May, a second dairy farmworker was diagnosed with bird flu, and the virus was detected in both beef and milk. It has been confirmed on dairy cattle farms in nine states.

Health and agriculture officials have said the risk to the public remains low. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the meat from a single sickened dairy cow was not allowed to enter the nations food supply and beef remains safe to eat.

Workers exposed to infected animals are at a higher risk. The only three human cases confirmed in the United States included two dairy workers and one man working to slaughter infected birds on a poultry farm.

Nevertheless, the United States and Europe have considered vaccinating poultry and dairy workers that health officials claim are at-risk for bird flu.

This is so unbelievably stupid. The U.S. government is looking closely at the possibility of vaccinating farm workers and others for the bird flu. AKA pink eye. pic.twitter.com/GAqLNNjafj  Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) May 28, 2024

From the New York Post:

The United States and Europe are taking steps to acquire or manufacture H5N1 bird flu vaccines that could be used to protect at-risk poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians and lab technicians, government officials said, moves influenza experts say could curb the threat of a pandemic. U.S officials last week said they were moving bulk vaccine from CSL Seqirus (CSL.AX), opens new tab that closely matches the current virus into finished shots that could provide 4.8 million doses of vaccine. European health officials told Reuters they were in talks to acquire CSLs prepandemic vaccine. Canadian health officials said they have met with GSK (GSK.L), opens new tab, maker of Canadas seasonal flu shots, to discuss acquiring and manufacturing a prepandemic bird flu vaccine once its seasonal flu production capacity is freed up. Other countries, including the UK, are discussing how to proceed on prepandemic vaccines, scientists said. The actions follow the explosive spread of a new strain of bird flu that emerged in late 2020 and has caused unprecedented numbers of deaths among wild birds and domestic poultry and has begun infecting many mammal species.

Dr. Mary Talley Bowden noted the symptoms for the first two human bird flu cases in the United States amounted to just pink eye.

So far, just pink eye in 2 farmers. And if it turns into something more serious, no one will listen theyve destroyed all credibility. pic.twitter.com/sZXGPUNs0T  Mary Talley Bowden MD (@MdBreathe) May 24, 2024

Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com
Rigged court convicts Trump of ginned-up crime thats nothing more than a common non-disclosure arrangement

Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records with the intention to influence the 2016 election, marking the first time a former American president has been convicted of a felony.

He was found guilty on all 34 counts of criminal behavior that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged him with, alleging he tried to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election.

At the heart of the case is a claim that Trump ordered his former lawyer to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair they had. The trial was highly controversial from the start, with the judge on the case refusing to recuse himself even after it emerged that his daughter leads a firm that counts several high-profile Democrats as clients, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Speaking to Fox News, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said ahead of the verdict: If hes found guilty, theyll see that a man is being sentenced for a crime that no one can actually name.

It is true that the crime involved is a bit tenuous. If you look through the headlines  and you can get past the unabashedly gleeful tone most of the mainstream media is using to announce the news  youll find that Trumps case is often referred to as a hush money trial.

First, its important to note that hush money is just another way of describing a non-disclosure agreement. This is a legal document that is perfectly permissible in every state of the nation under most circumstances. Its not illegal to pay someone money in exchange for keeping an extramarital affair silent on the surface, as long as both parties agree, which they did in this case.

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Claiming this is what he did wrong is not just an oversimplification  its a mischaracterization. But who can blame them for trying to gloss over Trumps crime when its so circular and convoluted that even the prosecution has trouble at times making it all make sense?

Georgetown University professor and constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley wrote in the New York Post: Trumps lawyers are defending a former president who is charged under a state misdemeanor which died years ago under the statute of limitations.

Even liberal legal analysts admitted that they could not figure out what was being alleged in Braggs indictment.

He went on to add: Originally, Bragg referenced four possible crimes, though he is now claiming three: a tax violation or either a state or federal campaign financing violation. The last crime is particularly controversial because Bragg has no authority to enforce federal law and the Justice Department declined any criminal charge. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) did not even find grounds for a civil fine.

Turley pointed out that Judge Merchan ruled that the jury doesnt even have to agree on what the crime in question is. He added: This case should have been dismissed for lack of evidence or a cognizable crime.

Trump could still run for president

Many feel the point of the trial was so Democrats could describe Trump as a convicted felon in hopes of harming his reelection chances as Joe Biden continues to lose popularity. Its unlikely Trump will serve time behind bars, even though he faces up to 136 years, given his lack of criminal history and the nature of the crime.

Its more likely hell be given fines, community service or probation. His sentencing will take place on July 11, just four days before he is expected to receive a formal nomination as the Republican nominee for president at the Republican National Convention.

Trump has said that he will continue to fight and that the real verdict will be on November 5 when Americans go to the polls. He told reporters: This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

JonathanTurley.org
A group of people follow Thich Minh Tue during his pilgrimage in central Vietnam, May 2024. Photo by Minh Quan

A 47-year-old man who was retracing a pilgrimage done by ascetic practitioner Thich Minh Tue has died of cardiac arrest allegedly induced by strong heat.

While following Thich Minh Tues walk in Ai Tu Town of Trieu Phong District in Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam on Thursday noon, Son collapsed and was rushed to Trieu Phong District General Hospital in a cyanotic state.

He was then transferred to Quang Tri General Hospital and subsequently to Hue City Central Hospital of Hue City that borders Quang Tri in a deep coma caused by heatstroke.

Doctors in Hue attempted to resuscitate him upon arrival, but Son had already passed away due to prior cardiac arrest, they said.

"No family members have yet come to claim Son's body. Police of Quang Tri are still investigating the incident," said Nguyen Thanh Xuan, Deputy Director of Hue Central Hospital, said Friday.

On Thursday, a group of about 30 people followed Thich Minh Tue as he passed through Quang Tri on his own journey from north to south.

At the time Son collapsed, the weather in Quang Tri was extremely hot, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius, and the group was walking on the asphalt road, without wearing anything to cover their heads.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, in the most severe cases, heatstroke can lead to ventricular tachyarrhythmias and cardiac arrest.

Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Province, which borders Thua Thien - Hue, has requested that authorities proactively ensure security and order when Thich Minh Tue passes through the area, which is expected in early June.

The provincial police are responsible for preventing large gatherings that may obstruct traffic and complicate security and order.

Thich Minh Tue, 43, has never identified himself as a monk and never called for any followers.

He simply follows the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, practicing the ascetic path: wearing patched clothes, begging for food, eating one meal a day, not accepting monetary offerings, rejecting all conveniences...

In recent years, he has walked bare feet across the country several times to practice the ascetic path.

He was born Le Anh Tu in the central Ha Tinh Province before his family moved to Central Highlands' Gia Lai Province.

He was formerly a monk at a pagoda, where he took the Buddhist name Thich Minh Tue.

"'Minh' means bright, while 'Tue' means intelligence. The whole name means 'the shone way'," he told VnExpress last month, adding that when he left the pagoda, he kept his Buddhist name.

He said he is neither a Buddhist monk nor affiliated with any pagoda or institution under the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Solar farm expansion plans in UK under fire as farmers forced off their land

Some UK farmers are being pushed off of their land as the misguided quest for more solar power presses forward in Britain.

This is according to the former head of the UKs farming union, who called attention to the many drawbacks of large-scale solar farms in the country.

Minette Batters, who once served as the National Farmers Union president, recounted horrific examples of tenant farmers being kicked off their land so landowners can rake in more money via solar power initiatives. She warned that investors, including those from overseas and private equity firms, are buying up a significant proportion of Britains rural landscape.

Batters is calling on the countrys next government to draw up a new land strategy that protects traditional farming and acknowledges its economic value for the UK. The influx of new solar farms is coming at a time when arable and dairy farming are facing a bleak future.

We are a country up for sale. We are selling off land to people who don't pay their taxes here. It does have to change, she said.

Although she is unhappy with the way solar farms are taking over traditional farmland, she said she did have some sympathy for farmers who have been cashing in on these projects because it does provide them with a guaranteed income.

She said: You can understand at the moment, from a farmer's perspective... 1,200 a hectare (per year), index-linked, locked in for 20 years, what's not to like? For everybody else, there's a huge amount not to like. This is the trouble with a solar farm. There will be one beneficiary.

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Solar farms are taking over the UK

There are already 500 solar farms in the UK, with the biggest spanning 250 acres in Flintshire, North Wales. A new one that is currently being planned for three sites in Oxfordshire will cover nearly four square miles, or 2,471 acres, while a 2500-acre solar farm has been proposed near the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border.

Campaigners fighting a titanic Wiltshire County solar farm recently made some inroads by convincing local councilors to ask the government to ensure solar farms are distributed in a more even manner throughout the UK.

Developers are seeking to build solar panels across 2,000 acres of farmland in Wiltshire to power around 115,000 homes. However, many area residents are strongly opposed to the plan, and a petition attracted signatures from 17,000 objectors. Many are troubled by the fact that the county already has many more solar farms than other parts of the UK.

Former Planning Inspectorate CEO Sir Michael Pitt said: "We believe the development is the most damaging assault on the county's landscape in more than a lifetime. To call it a farm is an aberration. It is a vast industrial complex with battery storage, transformers and ugly solar cells some 4.5 metres high."

Some farmers being forced to give up their land for solar farms

One particularly disturbing effect of solar initiatives is the fact that farmers who lease their land from larger land owners are sometimes being forced to abandon their farms to make way for a solar farm.

Batters believes that one good solution would be for governments to promote installing solar panels on rooftops instead of on land.

The Conservatives know how divisive this (solar) is. You saw Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss saying we're going to stop putting solar on land and put it on rooftops.

"Farmers ought to be able to provide (electricity from) solar and wind turbines - solar on rooftops. I really hope Labour (implements this)... with their plans for GB Energy, she added.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

WiltsGlosStandard.co.uk
Hungarian official: Brussels could CONSCRIPT European youths as Ukraine death toll rises

A government official in Hungary has warned that Brussels could conscript youths across the European Union (EU) to fight in the frontlines of Ukraine , amid the rising death toll in the conflict with Russia.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto issued this warning after a meeting with fellow foreign ministers from the bloc. According to him, the high casualty rates among Ukrainian forces combined with Kyiv's difficulty to conscript its own population could see Brussels step in. If that instance happens, the EU would conscript youths  mostly in the geographical proximity of Ukraine  to fight against Russian troops.

"Ukrainian casualties are becoming more and more unbearable," Szijjarto told Hungarian media. "Ukrainian men are not being allowed out of Ukraine, and now they want to conscript European youth into the war."

"And obviously, as this escalation hits the neighborhood first, one can almost clearly hear the argument that the soldiers should be sent from the geographical proximity first. All this means [is] that they want to send Central European youth, including Hungarian youth, to the war with mandatory European conscription."

Szijjarto did not disclose which foreign ministers or EU member states are exploring the possibility of a European conscription effort. However, several countries have said they would consider sending their own troops to Ukraine if Moscow had a breakthrough on the Ukrainian front. These include France, whose President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly insinuated the need to send North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops to Ukraine, and the three Baltic states  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

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"A long-term goal of the left-liberal establishment in Brussels is the creation of an EU military force, including removing the decision-making process about defense from member states and centralizing it in Brussels. Under such a proposal, a potential conscription effort could arise that applies to all EU member states," Remix News wrote.

Hungary says NO to mandatory EU conscription

During his interview with Hungarian media, the foreign minister described an extremely intense atmosphere at the Council of Foreign Ministers in Brussels ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. According to Szijjarto, the mood turned sour when those present began to discuss the release of 6.5 billion ($7.03 billion) for Ukraine. He rejected the proposal for the reason that it would escalate the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but was chided by other countries for it.

"There was a big mess here. The German, Lithuanian, Irish, Polish [foreign ministers] and other colleagues fell against me in this matter, but this could not shake our position despite the shouting of Europe's pro-war politician," the foreign minister recounted. "They think that if they shout from many directions, then I will say 'That is good, it is fine.' However, they should already know us well enough to know this won't happen."

Szijjarto reiterated that he would be firmly opposed to any efforts to institute a European mandatory conscription. "Hands off Central Europeans, hands off Hungarian youth," he said. "We will not allow Hungarian youth to be involved in the war, because this is not our war."

Earlier, Szijjarto's colleague and Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen also pledged to offer a safe haven for Ukrainians dodging Kyiv's draconian military draft. During a May 6 interview with Hungarian broadcaster ATV, he remarked that Budapest "would not extradite refugees to Ukraine"  sparing young soldiers from the meat grinder of war against Russia. (Related: Hungary offers sanctuary for Ukrainians dodging Kyivs draconian military draft.)

"We do not investigate whether, according to the Ukrainians, the person is conscripted or not," said the deputy prime minister. "Based on basic humanity, we will not allow them to be sent to their deaths. Every refugee from Ukraine is completely safe with us and receives all the help."

Head over to WWIII.news for similar stories.

Watch this Russia Today report about Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic saying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban informed him of the EU's plan to enter the Russia-Ukraine war.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FORCED CONSCRIPTION: Ukrainian troops are KIDNAPPING ethnic Hungarians to be deployed to the front lines.

No escape from the meat grinder: Zelensky signs tyrannical mobilization bill that lets no man escape.

NATO tells Ukraine to bolster troop numbers through accelerated conscription.

Young male Ukrainians hide in their homes after fears of forced conscription.

Ukrainian general: NOBODY can sit out the draft, and ALL MUST FIGHT.

Sources include:

RMX.news

RT.com

Brighteon.com
Unveiling the CIAs clandestine strategy and motives for dominating social media platforms

Recent revelations from the Twitter Files indicate that the CIA led a significant effort to control social media content during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Article republished from YourNews.com)

An in-depth investigation by independent journalists Michael Shellenberger, Matt Taibbi, and Alex Gutentag has revealed that the CIA orchestrated a substantial operation to control social media content during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly targeting then-Twitter (now X). This revelation is part of the latest Twitter Files drop, showing the CIAs attempts to manage social media narratives from 2021 to 2022.

The report indicates that a member of the Board of Trustees at InQTel, the CIAs venture capital firm, collaborated with former intelligence community (IC) and CIA analysts to manipulate Twitters content. The goal was to maintain control over the COVID-19 narrative under the pretense of combating misinformation and so-called foreign propaganda.

You mean a financial newsblog published a number of stories about a significant bank failure? How dare they!!  Reason and analytics in Dallas (@DallasAnalytics) March 17, 2023

According to thousands of pages of Twitter Files and documents, the CIA aimed to micromanage content on Twitter. This involved a cohort of government-linked individuals and organizations taking extensive measures to control free speech, citing national security concerns.

Among the notable figures involved were:

A longtime IC contractor and senior official at the Department of Defense (DoD): Known for developing technologies to detect whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks leakers. Nina Jankowicz: The proposed head of the now-dissolved Disinformation Governance Board at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She assisted U.S. military and NATO operations in Europe. Former FBI General Counsel Jim Baker: Instrumental in the Russiagate hoax and, while Deputy General Counsel at Twitter, played a role in censoring the New York Post story about Hunter Biden.

Related reports have highlighted the CIAs partnerships with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other deep state entities to exert influence over mainstream media.

Additionally, domain host GoDaddy, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and PayPal were implicated in collaborating to de-platform and financially undermine individuals and organizations considered threats to the ICs global control and censorship operations. This coordination represents a significant escalation in using corporate cooperation for censorship under the guise of national security, as explained by Zero Hedge.

Google directly funding censorship orgs https://t.co/DNfWjUowYR  zerohedge (@zerohedge) April 9, 2024

Jankowicz, nicknamed Scary Poppins, continues to promote online speech restrictions, advocating for a cross-platform, public-private approach to regulating online discourse. She suggests that the U.S. should emulate European models like Germanys NetzDG law, which imposes heavy fines on social media companies failing to remove illegal content promptly.

Jankowicz has also had extensive involvement in advising the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and overseeing programs at the National Democratic Institute, focusing on regulating speech and free expression.

The investigation into Alethea Group, a firm employing former CIA and FBI analysts, reveals its role in targeting independent media, including Zero Hedge, for allegedly spreading panic during events like the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse. Alethea received significant financing from Google Ventures and has been involved in various efforts to control narratives around key events.

We can draw a straight line between the initial Stop the Steal narratives and organizing to what ended up happening on the 6th. Aletheas assessment of Twitter reflects the view of its CEO, Kaplan, that online misinformation leads to violence. On March 11, 2021, the same pic.twitter.com/h0UunuhUGX  Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 23, 2024

Former CIA analyst Cindy Otis, also linked to Alethea, praised notorious hacker Pieter Mudge Zatko, who was hired by Twitter to address misinformation. Zatko, who later became a whistleblower, revealed Twitters negligence in protecting user data and misleading the government.

CIA, In-Q-Tel, And Alethea

Aletheas deep ties to U.S. intelligence and its involvement in disinformation operations highlight the intricate web of efforts to control social media narratives. The revelations from the Twitter Files underscore the ongoing struggle between free speech and government-led censorship in the digital age.

Is this the same Alethea whose board member Ted Schlein "provides counsel to the US intelligence community" and serves on the Board of CIA's Venture Capital firm InQTel?https://t.co/JbmnsW3F9jhttps://t.co/DVUip7QEWs https://t.co/hW1qUH4IK1  zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 17, 2023

We have to trust the rules and the systems that are governing us. On February 21, 2022, at Colby College, Aletheas Kaplan again promotes an aggressive censorship vision, including punishments for people who spread misinformation, and says we have to trust election rules. pic.twitter.com/F3JaQNU5vG  Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 23, 2024

Read more at: YourNews.com
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Nicholas Galitzine tapped to portray He-Man in 'Masters of the Universe'

N

icholas Galitzine, renowned for his recent role in the Amazon MGM rom-com 'The Idea of You,' has been chosen to wield the Power Sword as He-Man in the upcoming live-action adaptation of 'Masters of the Universe.'

This announcement confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, comes alongside the confirmation that Travis Knight is set to helm the project, adding another layer of anticipation for fans of the iconic franchise.

Galitzine's portrayal of the iconic character Prince Adam, who transforms into the mighty He-Man to defend his homeland and Castle Grayskull, promises to inject new life into the beloved saga.

With his presence and acting prowess, Galitzine is poised to bring depth and dimension to the role, embodying the essence of the legendary hero.

Directed by Travis Knight and penned by Chris Butler, the film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2026, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.

This marks a significant milestone for Mattel's 'Masters of the Universe' brand, which first captivated audiences in 1982 through its line of action figures and subsequently as the cherished animated series 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.'

Galitzine's association with Amazon continues to flourish, following his notable performances in various projects such as 'Red, White, And Royal Blue' and the movie musical 'Cinderella.'

 Nicholas Galitzine tapped to portray He-Man in 'Masters of the Universe'

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Giancarlo Esposito joins 'Captain America: Brave New World' cast

E

mmy nominee Giancarlo Esposito will appear in 'Captain America: Brave New World', which is slated to release next year.

Esposito announced his casting in a Marvel project during a panel in Brazil earlier this month. There, he squashed fan speculation that he would play Professor X in the widely anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe version of 'X-Men', reports variety.com.

Theres something about being original. Weve seen different versions of Professor X, Esposito told the crowd.

Wouldnt you like to see me play a character in a Marvel movie who is original, new, and fresh? So, mark my words: This will happen sooner than you think.

Espositos role in 'Brave New World' is being kept under wraps, however, it is being reportedly described as villainous, as per variety.com.

Anthony Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, now the newly minted Captain America.

Directed by Julius Onah, the film also stars Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Rosa Salazar. It was originally slated for a July 26, 2024 release, but was pushed back to Valentines Day 2025 in a round of rescheduling after the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Esposito is popularly known for his performances in dramas like 'Breaking Bad' and its prequel series 'Better Call Saul', where his turn as Gus Fring earned him three Emmy nominations.

He earned two more Emmy nods for his work as the Darskaber-wielding antagonist Moff Gideon in the 'Star Wars' series 'The Mandalorian'. Hes also played nefarious former Vought CEO Stan Edgar in 'The Boys' and voiced Lex Luther in the 'Harley Quinn' series.

Talking about his upcoming projects, the actor will next be seen in 'MaXXXine' and Francis Ford Coppolas 'Megalopolis', which debuted earlier this month in Cannes.

 Giancarlo Esposito joins 'Captain America: Brave New World' cast

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PM Modi ends his 45-hour meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi ended his 45-hour meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari on Saturday.

Prime Minister Modi was in Kanniyakumari on a spiritual visit. He was meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'.

This coincides with the conclusion of polling for the final phase of Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday dismissed PM Modi's spiritual activity in Kanniyakumari as mere "photo shoots."

"Modi ji isn't doing any meditation, only photo shoots are happening. Once the photo shoot ends, they will come back," Yadav said.

PM Modi arrived at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Thursday.

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.

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 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.

The Prime Minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. 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.

 PM Modi ends his 45-hour meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari

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A team of researchers from the Institute of Oncology of the University of Oviedo (IUOPA), the Josep Carreras leukemia Research Institute, the University of Barcelona and the Centre for Biomedical Research in Cancer Network (CIBERONC) have demonstrated that some childhood leukemia originate during embryonic development, although they do not manifest after a few months after birth.

Acute myeloid leukemia is the second most common type of acute leukemia in childhood and can be diagnosed within a few months of life. The early onset of the disease had led to the suspicion that the tumor could have a prenatal origin. However, proving this theory has been challenging due to the lack of prenatal or birth samples.

The opportunity to study the origin of this leukemia arose from the case of a five-month-old baby diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at the Hospital Nino Jesus in Madrid." Pablo Menendez, ICREA professor at the University of Barcelona and the Josep Carreras Institute

'The parents, who had preserved the umbilical cord blood, opened a line of research that until now had not been possible to address,' adds the researcher.



Using precision medicine techniques, researchers analyzed the complete genome of the tumor. Unlike tumors in adults, where thousands of mutations are detected, only two chromosomal alterations were identified in this leukemia. 'Genome analysis allowed us to design a personalized diagnostic method to monitor the disease,' says Xose S. Puente, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Barcelona. Puente, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oviedo. 'But these data raise new questions, such as when the tumor arose and in what order these mutations have appeared,' he highlights. These questions are difficult to answer, since such research requires blood samples from the baby before the diagnosis, something that is impossible in the vast majority of cases. However, in this particular case, the existence of a frozen umbilical cord sample allowed researchers to separate different populations of blood cells at birth and to study whether any of the chromosomal alterations detected in the tumor were already present during foetal development.



The study revealed that a translocation between chromosome 7 and 12 was already present in some hematopoietic stem cells in the umbilical cord. In contrast, the other chromosomal alteration, a trisomy of chromosome 19, was not present in the foetus, but was found in all tumor cells, suggesting that it contributes to increasing the malignancy of the leukemic cells. 'These data are highly relevant for understanding the development of a devastating disease, and the existence of this umbilical cord sample was crucial to be able for conducting a study that had been impossible until now in acute myeloid leukemia', adds Talia Velasco, researcher at the Josep Carreras Institute and the University of Barcelona and co-leader of the study.



In addition to reconstructing the genomic alterations that the cells undergo to generate this leukemia, the study has also identified a molecular mechanism that had not been observed before in this type of leukemia and which causes the activation of a gene, called MNX1, which is frequently altered in this type of tumor. Knowledge of these alterations is essential for developing cell and animal models that allow us to understand the disease's evolution and develop new therapies for treating these pathologies.



The study has been led by Xose S. Puente, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oviedo-IUOPA, Talia Velasco and Pablo Menendez, from the Josep Carreras Institute and the University of Barcelona, with participation from researchers from four other institutions, including the Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, the Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria and the Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria La Princesa de Madrid.



This research has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of the parents and funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the European Research Council, the AECC Scientific Foundation, the Foundation Unoentrecienmil, the "La Caixa" Foundation, the Government of Catalonia, CIBERONC and the III Health Institute.
Residential segregation is an example of the long history of structural racism in the United States. Black Americans are more likely to live in low-quality neighborhoods, which contributes to disparities in health outcomes. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at how community stress affects the mental and emotional health of Black men and women in the U.S.

Community stress refers to the effects of living in disadvantaged areas. This includes objective aspects, such as buildings in disrepair and lower median income. There is also a subjective aspect -; do I feel safe and comfortable where I am living? We were interested in seeing how both aspects are related to mental and emotional health for Black Americans, and whether there are differences for men and women." August Jenkins, lead author, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois

Jenkins and her colleagues analyzed data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, a longitudinal study of health and aging that includes assessments of psychological and neighborhood factors. They drew on data from MIDUS' third wave, collected in 20132015, which included a sample of Black Americans from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The study measured objective neighborhood quality with the Area Deprivation Index, which includes rankings based on indicators related to education, employment, income, and housing quality. Perceived Neighborhood Disadvantage captured subjective aspects of community stress with self-reported measures on neighborhood safety, social cohesion, and physical environment.

Mental-emotional health was assessed via three measures: negative affect, positive affect, and psychological disorder. To assess affect, participants rated how frequently in the past 30 days they felt a series of different positive and negative emotions.

As expected, the researchers found that people who reported greater perceived community stress had higher levels of negative emotions and lower levels of positive emotions. In addition, Black women (but not men) had higher odds of psychological disorders. However, they found that greater objective community stress was related to lower levels of negative emotions and lower odds of experiencing clinical disorder, specifically for women.

Explaining the unexpected finding, Jenkins said, "Living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods may elicit greater investment in social connection and networks for Black women. This doesn't mean that disadvantage is good for Black women's mental health. But it could be creating conditions where you rely more on your social networks, and it's those social connections that bring about health benefits."

She noted that it's important to consider the geographical placement of the sample.

"Milwaukee has a very long history of high levels of racial residential segregation, and there is also a high prevalence of Black women being subject to housing eviction. They may be especially attuned to their residential surroundings and living in precarious spaces, which could be a necessary skill for their resilience. This may explain the associations between objective neighborhood characteristics and emotional wellbeing that we observe for Black women but not for Black men."

She also noted that perceived community stress was associated with psychological disorders for Black women, but not for men. However, the negative impacts of perceived community stress on Black men can be seen in terms of their emotionality.

"There's research indicating that depression and anxiety can show up more somatically for Black Americans than traditionally captured in clinical assessment. In this study, we wanted to include measures of positive and negative affect, because if we only look at clinical outcomes, we're not really capturing a full picture of the mental health and functioning for Black men and women," she said.

The research underscores the importance of a holistic perspective that considers the intersection of race and gender to better understand the complex associations between neighborhood quality and wellbeing, Jenkins noted.

"Our results indicate that investing in social connections and networks in your neighborhood might provide a sense of agency, but we should still recognize this is a structural issue. We can advocate for policy changes to invest in these communities and remediate disadvantages, as well as provide clinical interventions or prevention programs to help improve mental health outcomes for individuals," she concluded.

The paper, "Where I'm Livin' and How I'm Feelin': Associations among community stress, gender, and mental-emotional health among Black Americans," is published in Social Science & Medicine [doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116763]. Authors include August Jenkins, Agus Surachman, and Marina Armendariz.

This research used publicly available data from the MIDUS study, which is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network and National Institute on Aging Grants P01-AG020166, U19-AG051426, and R01 AG019239. Agus Surachman was supported by the NIH-funded Drexel FIRST program (U54CA267735). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
Transgender individuals often face unique challenges in aligning their physical bodies with their true gender identity. Among the various methods employed, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) stands as a vital means for transgender men to achieve physical changes in consonance with their gender identity. Navigating the complexities that come with gender transition, transgender individuals seek medical interventions to alleviate gender dysphoria and align their bodies with 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.
About three years ago, merely 5% of health insurance customers were opting for plans inclusive of Outpatient Department (OPD) benefits. This figure has surged to 20%, marking a 4X growth in the last three years, revealed Policybazaar in its latest data assessment.

This trend indicated an increasing preference for comprehensive coverage that extends beyond conventional inpatient services.

Also Read: No More Waiting! IRDAI Imposes 3-Hour Deadline On Health Insurance Claim Settlements

What Is OPD?

OPD stands for Outpatient Department. Its a crucial part of the healthcare system in India, providing medical services to patients who dont require hospitalisation. In simpler terms, its the section of a hospital where patients can receive consultations, diagnoses, and treatments without needing to stay overnight.

OPD services are not just limited to hospitals. They can also be availed at clinics, consultation rooms, and even virtually through telemedicine consultations.

The significance of OPDs in India lies in their role of making healthcare accessible and affordable for a large population. They provide a convenient and cost-effective way for people to get the medical attention they need without the burden of hospitalisation.

OPD coverage is also becoming increasingly important in health insurance plans in India. This coverage helps patients manage the costs of regular doctor visits, diagnostic tests, and medications, which can add up significantly over time.

Some health insurance plans in India now offer coverage for OPD expenses. This can include consultations, diagnostic tests, and medications received on an outpatient basis.

Key findings of Policybazaars assessment;

Out of those opting for OPD services, a significant 50% of them actively utilise OPD services included in their plans, showcasing the practical relevance and value of such coverage.

The 50% of customers who are not utilising the OPD services do so owing to reasons such as low awareness, less requirement and inertia towards preventive healthcare.

The primary driver behind selecting plans with OPD benefits is the accessibility to doctor consultations and diagnostic tests, cited by 80% of customers.

Among those choosing plans with OPD benefits, the gender distribution skews towards males, comprising 80% of this demographic.

The appeal of OPD benefits spans across various age groups, with the majority falling within the 31-45 age bracket (47%), followed by the 18-30 segment (34%).

Across different tiers, the adoption of OPD benefits remains substantial, with Tier 1 capturing the largest share (45%), followed by Tier 3 (35%) and Tier 2 (20%).

Certain cities exhibit a higher concentration of customers opting for plans with OPD benefits, with Vellore (12.3%), Tiruvallur (10.9%), and Mathura (10.2%) leading the trend.

Heres a detailed comparison of health insurance plans with OPD coverage in the market;

However, its important to note that OPD coverage is not included in all health insurance plans. If youre considering buying health insurance, be sure to check the plan details to see if OPD coverage is included and what limitations or exclusions might apply.
Petrol, Diesel Prices On June 1, 2024: Petrol and diesel prices for Saturday, June 1, 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 June 1, 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 June 1, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre.

Delhi Petrol Price Today

As of June 1, 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 June 1:

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.
There is an opportunity for the students appearing in JEE 2024 to experience the life of the IIT campus at IIT Madras. For this, IIT Madras is going to organise Demo Day on June 15 and 16.

As per reports, candidates can register on the website askiitm.com/demo. Candidates who cannot go to the campus of IIT Madras will also be able to participate in the online session on June 17th.

During the online session, the director of the institute, Professor V Kamakoti and other faculty and alumni will answer questions related to the academic and non-academic life of the IIT Madras campus. Students in and around Bengaluru and Hyderabad can also choose to participate in Satellite Demo Day events. The satellite demo day will be held on June 11 at the SD Auditorium, IISc, Bengaluru. On June 12, it will be held at T-Hub, Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the administrative department of IIT Madras has shared that this is an opportunity for candidates to get authentic information directly by interacting with current and former students and teachers. During this time, students can also seek clarification about the recent changes. For example, they can get information about B.Tech. Artificial Intelligence, started by IIT Madrass newest department, the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

According to Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, the Demo Day is part of the AskIITM initiative, designed and run by alumni and students. Aside from these events, applicants can ask questions regarding courses, instructors, campus life, placements and other topics at the website askiitm.com. A team of alumni student volunteers will answer these. Aspirants can also browse through existing answers.

Recently, IIT Madras administered the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2024 on May 26. The exam was administered in two shifts: morning and afternoon. The entrance test consisted of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2.

The duration of both exam papers was three hours. Paper 1 was scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and Paper 2 was held from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the JEE Advanced 2024 question paper has been divided into three sections: chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda has claimed that his party will cross 370 seats come June 4 and will be increasing its tally in key states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Nadda said the BJP will maintain its saturation and seat tally in Northern India. We will increase our tally in UP. In West Bengal, we will touch 30-plus seats this time. In Odisha, we will cross 18-plus seats and in Telangana, we will double our tally, the BJP President told CNN-News18, specifying where the gains will come from. He said that the NDA will cross 400 seats as aimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He also said the BJP will remain intact in terms of seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. We will maintain in Maharashtra and Bihar. In Andhra Pradesh, we will win at least 4-5 seats, and our alliance will be winning. In Tamil Nadu, we will open our account and our vote share will increase in a big way, the BJP President told CNN-News18 in an interview in Bilaspur.

Opposition is saying we will not cross 400 seats, that means they admit we are near 400. They have lost ground beneath their feet. BJP is dominating the agenda and the scenario, Nadda said. He said people know the country is in safe and right hands of Narendra Modi. A Congress voter may vote for Congress but in their minds and hearts also there is Modi, the BJP President said.

Nadda also said that Modi 3.0 government will see many new things and experiments. Our momentum and scale will be higher in third term, he said.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
The BJP is predicted to open its account in Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu with state party president K Annamalai likely to win the Coimbatore constituency for the saffron party, the News18 Mega Exit Poll said on Saturday.

The News18 Mega Exit Poll has predicted 1-3 seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu. The Congress may get 8-10 seats in the state but it is its INDIA bloc ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) that is tipped to do the heavy lifting for the alliance. The INDIA bloc could get between 36-39 seats in Tamil Nadu. The opposition AIAMDK could be in trouble with the News18 Exit Poll predicting 0-2 seats for the party.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai reacted to the Lok Sabha exit poll reports and said, For a state like Tamil Nadu, this is just a beginning, this is the step in the first direction. A state where you said BJP cant enter, a state till yesterday AIADMK and DMK were saying we are NOTA partytoday we have proven that our vote share is above 20%. On June 4, we will prove that we are going to open our seats and we are going to send MPs from Tamil Nadu on behalf of NDA and BJP from different corners of the statepeople of Tamil Nadu have said that they will stand with PM Modi

#WATCH | On Lok Sabha exit polls, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai says, For a state like Tamil Nadu, this is just a beginning, this is the step in the first direction. A state where you said BJP cant enter, a state till yesterday AIADMK and DMK were saying we are NOTA pic.twitter.com/viXnvabJpi ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2024

Often considered a fringe player in Tamil Nadus electoral arena dominated by the Dravidian heavyweights, a resurgent BJP in Tamil Nadu has seen its stock rising much beyond its expectations this time, thanks to an assertive and aggressive K Annamalai who is steering the party.

Much of the partys newfound confidence stems from Annamalais En Mann, En Makkal (My Land, My People) padayatra, a crucial political journey that made many heads turn towards the Tamil Nadu BJP and the former IPS officer. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the culmination of the nearly seven month-long yatra.

Political observers feel his vehement criticism of the ruling DMK on many public issues, his assertive and aggressive nature, and cordial approach to the people have endeared him to more people, especially the ones looking at an alternative to the DMK and AIADMK.

Coimbatore, the hub of western Tamil Nadu, was the most keenly watched constituency in the state and K Annamalai went all out in battling against Dravidian giants. He also faces challenge from the Tamil nationalist Naam Tamilar Katchi in the four-way contest with anti-DMK-Congress votes split into three.

Current MP PR Natarajan of the CPM faces anti-incumbency and accusations of disconnect with constituents. The DMKs decision to contest could consolidate anti-AIADMK and anti-BJP votes. However, BJP and AIADMK both have strong bases.

In his electoral parting shot, Annamalai asserted Dravidian politics is not needed anymore in Tamil Nadu and described himself as a son and younger brother of people.

Arguably, the 2024 LS polls is the only one in recent history in which the BJP set the tone for campaign discourse by mounting attacks rather than being in defence by coming up with disclosures on Katchatheevu issue besides vehemently taking up other matters.

Katchatheevu issue led to a slanging match between the saffron party, led by a fierce Annamalai and the DMK-Congress combine.

Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
Follow the live updating tables on this page for the 2024 Dirang election result in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election.

About

4. Dirang is an Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) constituency in Arunachal Pradesh. This constituency is located in the North East region of India and in the West region within Arunachal Pradesh. This seat includes the following districts of Arunachal Pradesh: West Kameng. Dirang Assembly seat can be classified as: and the reservation status of this seat is: Scheduled Tribe. 4. Dirang is on Friday, April 19, 2024. along with voting in Phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha general election

Number of Contestants

In the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, there were 2 candidates contesting from Dirang Assembly constituency. In 2019 the number of contestants for this seat was 1, while in 2014 there were 1 candidates, and the number was 2 in the 2009 polls.

Contesting Candidates 2024

1. Phurpa Tsering, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); 2. Yeshi Tsewang, National Peoples Party (NPP).

Demographic Profile

There were a total of 15,262 registered voters on the electoral rolls for the 2024 Assembly election, of which 7,578 were male, 7,684 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2019 Assembly elections, there were a total of 0 registered voters, of which 7,578 were male, 0 female and 0 of the third gender. In 2014 elections, there were a total of 13,515 registered voters in this constituency, of which 6,862 were male, 6,653 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2009 polls, the number of total electors was 13,760 which included 6,984 male, and 6,776 female.

The number of service voters in Assembly constituency was 0 in 2019, 105 in 2014 and 88 in 2009.

The electorate gender ration (number of female voters per 1000 male voters) in this constituency in 2024 was 1014, in 2019 it was #DIV/0!, 970 in 2014 and 970 in 2009.

Location

The geographic coordinates of Dirang Assembly constituency are: 272651.4N 921506.8E. Dirang shares its borders with four other Assembly constituencies. Other Arunachal Pradesh Assembly constituencies adjacent to Dirang are: Mukto, Bameng, Bomdila, Kalaktang. This constituency shares an inter-state border with: Bhutan.

Poll Dates

Dirang Assembly constituency went to the polls in Phase 1 of the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections on Friday, April 19, 2024. The counting of votes is on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In the 2019 state Assembly elections, this seat was scheduled to vote in Phase 1 on Thursday, April 11, 2019 and the results were to be declared on Thursday, May 23, 2019. However, because of only one contesting candidate in this constituency, voting was not necessary for this seat and the candidate was declared the unopposed winner.

In the 2014 polls, this constituencywas scheduled to vote in Phase 1 on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 and the results were to be declared on Friday, May 16, 2014. However, because of only one contesting candidate in this constituency, voting was not necessary for this seat and the candidate was declared an unopposed winner.

In 2009, Dirang voted in Phase 1 on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 and the results were declared on Tuesday, October 22, 2009.

Voter Turnout

According to data released by the Election Commission of India, in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the estimated voter turnout in Arunachal Pradesh constituency was 79.5%. In 2019, this seat registered a turnout of 0%, while it was 0% in 2013 and 85.2% in 2009. The estimated turnout in 2024 was +79.50% compared to the 2019 turnout.

Past Results

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Phurpa Tsering of BJP won this unopposed

In 2014, Phurpa Tsering of INC emerged victorious in this seat uncontested.

In the 2009 state Assembly elections, Phurpa Tsering of PPA won this seat beating Tsering Gyurme of INC by a margin of 1533 votes which was 13.1% of the total votes polled in the constituency. PPA had a vote share of 56.55% in the seat.

Winner Margin

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Phurpa Tsering of BJP won in this constituency uncontested. In 2014, Phurpa Tsering of INC was the winner in this seat uncontested. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Phurpa Tsering of PPA won this seat defeating Tsering Gyurme of INC by a margin of 1,533 votes which was 13.1% of the total votes polled for the seat.

Winner Voteshare

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Phurpa Tsering of BJP won uncontested in this seat. In 2014, Phurpa Tsering of INC won uncontested in this constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Phurpa Tsering of PPA got a vote share of 56.55% in Dirang.

Consituency Extent

According the latest delimitation documents for 4. Dirang Assembly seat, the extent of this constituency covers the following areas of Arunachal Pradesh: Dirang Circle..
The exit poll results for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are out, and surveys by several pollsters predict the return of the Narendra Modi government for the third consecutive term.

These surveys will provide early predictions for this years general election outcomes before the official results, which will be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, June 4.

Several political leaders have reacted to the pollsters predictions. While many BJP leaders welcomed the survey results, Congress dismissed them as inaccurate.

ALSO READ: Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: News18 Survey Predicts 300+ Seats For BJP, INDIA Bloc To Win 125-140

NDA Leaders Reaction To The Survey

This is in line with PMs abki baar 400 paar vision: Tejasvi Surya

Almost all exit polls are predicting a massive victory for the Narendra Modi-led BJP and the NDA. This is in line with the abki baar 400 paar vision of the PM. The last 10 years have been truly transformative for the country. Under the PMs leadership, the country has become more prosperous, we have lifted 25 crore people out of poverty and the country is more secure, BJP leader Tejasvi Surya stated.

BJP alone will win 370 seats: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The BJP, along with the NDA, will cross the 400-seat mark. The BJP alone will win 370 seats. The trust for PM Modi in the nation is unparallel, said former Madhya Pradesh CM and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

We are winning all 25 seats in Rajasthan: Bhajanlal Sharma

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said, The people of our country can see the rising stature of India in the world People have faith in the Prime Minister BJP is coming back with a huge majority We are winning all 25 seats in Rajasthan.

BJP will do a hattrick in Gujarat: Vijay Rupani

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, The slogan of 400 paar was our goal It was our confidence The Congress already knows so they boycotted the Exit Polls. They dont believe in the Exit polls and after the results, they will not believe in the EVM also The BJP will do a hattrick in Gujarat and win all 26 seats.

INDIA Bloc Leaders Take On The Survey

Exit polls are deeply unscientific: Shashi Tharoor

We are very happy to wait and see what the votes actually tell us. Exit polls are deeply unscientific and we all know this. Last year, the majority of exit polls got the results wrong in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Congress Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor commented.

Will shave off my head if Modi becomes PM for third time: Somnath Bharti

Three-time AAP MLA Somnath Bharti has challenged that he will shave off his hair if Modi becomes Prime Minister for a third time, asserting that all exit poll results will be proven wrong.

I will shave off my head if Mr Modi becomes PM for the third time. Mark my word!, Bharti wrote in a post on X.

He further added, All exit polls will be proven wrong on 4th June and Modi ji will not become prime minister for the third time. In Delhi, all seven seats will go to India ALLIANCE.

I will shave off my head if Mr Modi becomes PM for the third time.Mark my word! All exit polls will be proven wrong on 4th June and Modi ji will not become prime minister for the third time. In Delhi, all seven seats will go to India ALLIANCE. Fear of Mr Modi does not allow  Adv. Somnath Bharti:     ! (@attorneybharti) June 1, 2024

These are Narendra Modis exit polls: Supriya Shrinate

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate dismissed the exit poll surveys as Narendra Modis exit polls.

The exit poll from the public gives 295 seats to INDIA, and this number will only increase, Shrinate noted.

News channels trying to curry favour with those in power: Akhilesh Yadav

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav rejected the exit poll findings, reiterating that the INDIA alliance would win more than 295 seats. He claimed that news channels, by showing inflated numbers in exit polls, are trying to curry favour with those in power and put pressure on officials.

These are all psychological games: Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in a post on X wrote, The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA Janbandhan will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority. The outgoing Prime Minister can remain smug for three days in the meanwhile. These are all psychological games he is masterminding but the ACTUAL results will be very different.

Exit polls are based on pre-poll surveys: Harish Singh Rawat

Former Uttarakhand CM and senior Congress leader Harish Singh Rawat commented, As per our assessment, we, along with the TMC, will win around 300 seats and the INDIA alliance will form the government. I feel that the exit polls are based on pre-poll surveys conducted by the (media) organisations. There has been a huge change in the mindset of the public over the past 2.5 months and people want a change now.

It is a calculated conspiracy: Hannan Mollah

CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah remarked, Positive results are coming from different parts of the country against the Narendra Modi government. From today onwards, supporters of Modi will form a group and continue to campaign in the name of exit polls to dishearten the other camp. It is a calculated conspiracy.

INDIA alliance will surely win more than 295 seats: Champai Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren said, We have analysed the reports from every state (during the INDIA alliance meeting today). The INDIA alliance will surely win more than 295 seats and there is no doubt about that.

(With inputs from agencies)

Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
The INDIA bloc will win at least 295 Lok Sabha seats, said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the alliance leaders met at his residence in New Delhi to discuss the future plan of action as the General Election concluded on Saturday.

We will win at least 295 seats. This is peoples survey and based on that we are getting more that 290 seats, said Kharge at the press conference of the INDIA bloc.

Today we had a meeting for 2 and half hours we spoke on multiple issues and specially on elections. We spoke on the weakness of the alliance during the election and what lesson we learned were discussed. We also discussed on the preparation for counting day, he said. We have taken a decision that today BJP and their friends will discuss a lot on exit polls and will give a narrative. We want people to know the truth, he added.

The prominent Opposition leaders exuded confidence about a positive outcome on June 4 (result day).

As the meeting began, the Congress chief took to X saying, The leaders of INDIA parties are informally meeting today to take stock of the preparations leading up to the counting day. The fight is still not over, and the leaders and workers of all the parties are extremely alert. I thank each one of them for their esteemed presence. We have fought the polls with all our might and are confident of a positive outcome, as the people of India have supported us.

At the meeting, organised at Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharges residence, the INDIA bloc leaders discussed the oppositions preparations for the counting day on June 4. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Thursday, Kharge said the meeting was being held for their own sake to train people and to give them information.

The leaders of INDIA parties are informally meeting today to take stock of the preparations leading up to the counting day.The fight is still not over, and the leaders and workers of all the parties are extremely alert. I thank each one of them for their esteemed presence. pic.twitter.com/EjcpNAktlT  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 1, 2024

This is an informal meeting. In this, we will only discuss what kind of preparation we should have on the day of counting and how our people should be alert, whether it is about EVMs or the 17C form used Just for our own sake, we are holding this meeting to train our people and to give them information, he said.

Senior leaders of the Congress, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) were present during the discussion. TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already said they would not attend the meeting as there were elections in the state, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also skippped the meeting.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann attended the meeting, besides senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal. DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said party leader TR Baalu.

June 4th will mark the beginning of a new dawn for India. In todays meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, DMK will be represented by our party Treasurer and leader of DMKs Parliamentary Party, Thiru. T.R. Baalu avl, Stalin said in a post on X. Kharge had said this was an informal meeting where they would only discuss what kind of preparations they should have on the day of counting and how people should be alert, whether it is about the EVMs or the use of Form 17C.

The meeting is only for discussing the counting preparations and the Congress has already told its state units to be alert about Form 17C. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said she was likely to skip the meeting due to personal reasons. I may not go as my mom has undergone an eye surgery, she told PTI.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah attended the meet as he left Srinagar on Saturday morning. The seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections was held on Saturday, including in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 including Voter Turnout and Exit Polls. Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
The West Bengal police and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya engaged in a war of words on Saturday as sporadic incidents of violence marred the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls in nine Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Although the poll panel has claimed that voting has been peaceful so far, Malviya took to X and shared a video of clashes in Bhangar, within the Jadavpur constituency near Kolkata, between the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and CPI(M) supporters.

He said the democracy is up in flames in West Bengal and alleged that the state police was acting like henchmen of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Bombs have been hurled in Jadavpurs Bhangar, irate villagers in Joynagars Kultali have thrown an EVM and VVPAT machine in a pond because TMC goons wont let them voteBut the worse affected is Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjees nephew and heir apparent is contesting from. BJP workers are being intimidated, not allowed to sit in the booths, their polling documents Ana ched and destroyed, Malviya said.

WB Police is acting like Abhishek Banerjees henchmen. Even the Muslims have not been spared because a large number of them are voting for CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahman. TMCs secularism dies the moment Muslims start voting against it, he added.

This incident happened in the morning around 6am much before polling process Bengal. Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated. Polling in Bhangar started without any interruption and is going on peacefully. https://t.co/GMJRTdMc41 Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) June 1, 2024

Replying to Malviya, the Kolkata police said violence in Bhangar happened in the morning around 6 am, much before the polling process in Bengal.

Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated. Polling in Bhangar started without any interruption and is going on peacefully, the police said.

Malviya again attacked the Kolkata police for allegedly normalising violence in Bengal and asked the authorities to be ashamed of themselves for failing to secure the city.

So, Kolkata Polices argument is that it is normal and perfectly fine for bombs to be hurled in Bengal. Well done! You should be ashamed of yourself for failing to secure Kolkata. Just in case you have not figured out  your job is to secure people and not be doormat of ruling TMC, he said.

Violence In Bengal

TMC, ISF and BJP workers clashed in various parts of violence-prone Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour constituencies. The Election Commission said it had received 1,450 complaints until 11 am from different political parties alleging EVM malfunctions and agents being stopped from entering booths.

Clashes broke out between supporters of the TMC, ISF and the BJP in different pockets of the state as the parties clashed over stopping polling agents from entering booths.

A confrontation erupted in Bhangar within the Jadavpur constituency between backers of Trinamool Congress and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), with allegations of crude bombs being hurled from both sides. Police intervention ensued, triggering protests as both factions accused each other. To quell the situation, security personnel resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob, recovering several crude bombs.

Angry voters of Kultuli within the Joynagar constituency took drastic measures by hurling electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VV-PAT) machines into nearby waterbodies. Their actions were fueled by feelings of electoral misconduct, reflecting their frustration over perceived voting restrictions.

Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU , 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond, the office of CEO West Bengal posted on X.

Sector Police was a little behind. FIR has been lodged by Sector Officer and necessary action has been initiated. Poll process in all six booths under the Sector is running uninterrupted. Fresh EVM and papers have been provided to the Sector Officer, it further said.

TMC supporters have accused the ISF of orchestrating the violence to intimidate voters. Prompt action from local law enforcement led to lathi charges and the arrest of suspects in Polerhat area of Bhangar.

Another incident occurred where the vehicle of an ISF worker was vandalized in Baghajatin area. Accusations have been leveled against Trinamool Congress supporters for the alleged incident..

In Diamond Harbour, the pocket borough of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is also seeking re-election, witnessed clashes between TMC and BJP supporters as the saffron party candidate Abhijit Das alleged malpractices by the ruling party. The TMC, however, denied the allegations.

In Jadavpur areas Ganguly Bagan, CPI(M) workers were allegedly beaten by the TMC activists and their camp offices were ransacked. The TMC, however, denied the allegations and accused the Left party of intimidating the voters.

The state Congress unit wrote to CEO Aariz Aftab requesting him to take stern action against alleged irregularities and rigging that are taking place in various pockets.

In Bermajur area of Sandeshkhali, the BJP made allegations that TMC workers, accompanied by policemen, intimidated its polling agents by visiting their homes on Friday night.

Backed by video evidence, the party asserted that the women of Sandeshkhali had expressed their discontent against the TMC governments actions, portraying them as attempts to intimidate the populace ahead of the final phase of elections.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Arvind Kejriwal is a politician born on the foundation of fraud and deceit while Rahul Gandhi is working with anti-India forces, Bharatiya Janata President (BJP) JP Nadda has said in an interview with CNN-News18 in his hometown Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

In strong comments, Nadda said Kejriwal speaks lies with mischief and is emotionally misusing the support of people.

Kejriwal is a politician born on the foundation of fraud and deceit. Kejriwals credibility is in minus and he has been exposed. He is a liar of the first order, he is anti-people, he is not even loyal to his friends, and he does not respect women. He is a representative of the urban naxals, harming our institutions. He is taking his party to anarchy, as he is an anarchist. You will see what will happen with him in these polls in Delhi and Punjab, Nadda has told CNN-News18.

Kejriwal will be surrendering to return to jail on June 2.

Rahul Gandhi Works with Anti-Nationals

Nadda also slammed Rahul Gandhi, saying the latters tutors are disconnected from ground realities of India and are a defeated lot. His tutors are the leftists, urban leftists, the JNU club. They are outdated and, hence, he speaks such stuff. His campaign has not resonated because people have moved on; that used to work in the 60s, not in 2024. It is no longer a reality now, it is a delusion, JP Nadda told CNN-News18.

The BJP president also said that Rahul Gandhi was working with anti-national forces who raise slogans hailing Afzal Guru and the Tukde-Tukde gang. You (Rahul Gandhi) may be anti-national, but the countrys people are nationalists. Congress doesnt have the discipline of the BJP. Rahul Gandhi tore an ordinance; can it happen in BJP? No, it cannot, Nadda said.

Dynasty Politics

Nadda told CNN-News18 that the BJP is growing while the Congress is shrinking to a regional party because BJP does not believe in dynasty politics. I will pass baton to someone else, not my family member. Indias democracy does not want to be slave to dynasty politics. Congress was a national party but is now reduced to a regional party. Congress is just a re-launch party; the truth is Congress is shrinking, they had to ally with smaller parties who dominated them in seats, Nadda said.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Kerala is set to remain a stronghold of the United Democratic Front, led by the Congress, as the exit polls predicted a win for the alliance in the southern state with 15 to 18 seats. The BJP-led NDA, however, is likely to open its account with at least one seat for the saffron party in the southern state.

According to the News18 Mega Exit Poll survey, the Congress alone is predicted to win 12 to 15 seats, while the BJP may win one to three seats. This may be a significant development for the saffron party as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said the party will make a dent ruled by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which may end up with two to five seats.

Pollsters have predicted UDF dominance in Kerala, where sitting MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a candidate from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.

#LokSabhaElections2024: UDF likely to get 15-18 of 20 seats in #Kerala, LDF 2-5, NDA 1-3, according to mega #News18ExitPoll "NDA opening its account in Kerala will be a huge thing": @Zakka_Jacob "In both #TamilNadu and Kerala, I.N.D.I.A alliance is basically holding onto pic.twitter.com/UmngcjHdCT  News18 (@CNNnews18) June 1, 2024

In the island union territory of Lakshadweep, meanwhile, is also predicted to go the INDIA bloc. The election to Lakshadweeps sole seat in the Lok Sabha took place in the first phase of the elections on April 19, in which it recorded a voter turnout of 83.88 per cent. The constituency witnessed a fierce battle between sitting MP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Mohammed Faizal and Congress leader Hamdullah Sayeed. Yusuf TP of the NCP (Ajit Pawar) was also in the fray.

What are the stakes in Kerala?

A total of 20 Lok Sabha seats are up for grabs in Kerala, which voted in a single phase during the second round on April 26, recorded an average voter turnout of 71.27 per cent. The overall voter turnout has dropped from the 2019 general elections. This time, at least nine seats recorded a turnout below 70 per cent and none of the seats reported turnout above 80 per cent. Pathanamthitta (63.37 per cent) saw the lowest turnout in 2024 while Vadakara (78.41 per cent) reported the highest.

Out of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, eight had more than 80 per cent voter turnout in 2019. On the remaining 12 seats, the turnout was above 70 per cent. In 2019, the voter turnout in the state was 77.84 per cent. In 2019, Kannur saw highest turnout in the state at 83.28 per cent while the capital city Thiruvananthapuram saw 73.74 per cent turnout, lowest among the seats.

Kerala has consistently recorded the highest voter turnout. It has been a stronghold for the Congress, with the United Democratic Front led by the grand old party securing 19 out of 20 seats. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front won only one seat while the BJP-led NDA failed to win any.

The key candidates in the fray were Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor, K Muraleedharan and K Sudhakaran of the Congress; Elamaram Kareem, KK Shailaja, C Raveendranath and MV Jayarajan of the CPI(M); and K Surendran, Suresh Gopi, V Muraleedharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The constituencies to watch out for are Wayanad  where Rahul Gandhi will be taking on the CPIs Annie Raja and BJPs K Surendran  Kannur, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Attingal, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, and Malappuram.

Gandhi, who is the sitting MP from Wayanad, is the candidate from his constituency, underscoring Keralas strategic importance for the Congress. This time, Shashi Tharoor is facing a tough fight from union minister Rajeev Chandrashekar in Thiruvananthapuram. The BJP is hoping to make a dent on the back of high-profile candidates like the union minister, veteran politician AK Antonys son Anil Antony, who is contesting from Pathanamthitta, as well as actor Suresh Gopi.

Kerala has been one of the few states to effectively counter the Modi wave in two successive elections. The saffron party did not win any seat in the state in 2014 and 2019. But, looking at the exit poll results, it may change this time.

The UDF and the LDF have dominated Keralas Lok Sabha seats, with the latters vote share recording a significant drop in 2019. The Congress-led UDF, in fact, swept Kerala in the previous polls registering a historic landslide victory.

The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls will take place on June 4. Exit polls are numbers predicting the expected winners and the margin of their victory and are mostly released on the last day of the voting by different agencies based on their collected data. These predictions are made based on voter feedback that is collected by survey agencies after polling. Even though the predictions are not always correct and have earlier been under scrutiny, the idea behind the exit polls is to reflect public sentiment ahead of the announcement of the actual results.

How was the News18 Mega Exit Poll conducted?

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.

You can catch the live updates of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Exit Polls here on News18.com. To catch accurate predictions and timely information, keep an eye on our website. Stay tuned for more updates.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 including Voter Turnout and Exit Polls. Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
Follow the live updating tables on this page for the 2024 Lachen Mangan election result in the 2024 Sikkim Assembly election.

About

31. Lachen Mangan is an Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) constituency in Sikkim. This constituency is located in the North East region of India and in the North region within Sikkim. This seat includes the following districts of Sikkim: Mangan District. Lachen Mangan Assembly seat can be classified as: and the reservation status of this seat is: Bhutia-Lepcha. 31. Lachen Mangan is on Friday, April 19, 2024. along with voting in Phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha general election

Number of Contestants

In the 2024 Sikkim Assembly elections, there were 2 candidates contesting from Lachen Mangan Assembly constituency. In 2019 the number of contestants for this seat was 2, while in 2014 there were 3 candidates, and the number was 3 in the 2009 polls.

Contesting Candidates 2024

1. Hishey Lachungpa, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF); 2. Samdup Lepcha, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM).

Demographic Profile

There were a total of 8,319 registered voters on the electoral rolls for the 2024 Assembly election, of which 3,924 were male, 4,395 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2019 Assembly elections, there were a total of 7,867 registered voters, of which 3,924 were male, 4,051 female and 0 of the third gender. In 2014 elections, there were a total of 6,874 registered voters in this constituency, of which 3,311 were male, 3,563 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2009 polls, the number of total electors was 5,701 which included 2,766 male, and 2,935 female.

The number of service voters in Assembly constituency was 70 in 2019, 5 in 2014 and 2 in 2009.

The electorate gender ration (number of female voters per 1000 male voters) in this constituency in 2024 was 1120, in 2019 it was 1062, 1076 in 2014 and 1061 in 2009.

Location

The geographic coordinates of Lachen Mangan Assembly constituency are: 273437.2N 883808.2E. Lachen Mangan shares its borders with one other Assembly constituencies. Other Sikkim Assembly constituencies adjacent to Lachen Mangan are: Djongu. This constituency shares an inter-state border with: Nepal, China.

Poll Dates

Lachen Mangan Assembly constituency went to the polls in Phase 1 of the 2024 Sikkim Assembly elections on Friday, April 19, 2024. The counting of votes is on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In the 2019 state Assembly elections, this seat voted in Phase 1 on Thursday, April 11, 2019 and the results were declared on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

In the 2014 polls, this constituency voted in Phase 1 on Saturday, April 12, 2014 and the results were declared on Friday, May 16, 2014.

In 2009, Lachen Mangan voted in Phase 1 on Tuesday, April 30, 2009 and the results were declared on Tuesday, May 16, 2009.

Voter Turnout

According to data released by the Election Commission of India, in the 2024 Sikkim Assembly elections, the estimated voter turnout in Sikkim constituency was 80.44%. In 2019, this seat registered a turnout of 85.71%, while it was 85.39% in 2013 and 89.63% in 2009. The estimated turnout in 2024 was -5.27% compared to the 2019 turnout.

Past Results

In the 2019 Sikkim Assembly elections, Samdup Lepcha of SKM won in this seat defeating Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF by a margin of 584 votes which was 8.69% of the total votes cast for the seat. SKM had a vote share of 53.8% in 2019 in this seat.

In 2014, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF emerged victorious in this seat beating Samdup Lepcha of SKM by a margin of 557 votes which was 9.52% of the total votes polled in the constituency. SDF secured a vote share of 53.43% in the seat.

In the 2009 state Assembly elections, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF won this seat beating Anil Lachenpa of INC by a margin of 779 votes which was 15.27% of the total votes polled in the constituency. SDF had a vote share of 53.3% in the seat.

Winner Margin

In the 2019 Sikkim Assembly elections, Samdup Lepcha of SKM won in this constituency beating Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF by a margin of 584 votes which was 8.69% of the total votes cast. In 2014, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF was the winner in this seat beating Samdup Lepcha of SKM by a margin of 557 votes which was 9.52% of the total votes polled in the constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF won this seat defeating Anil Lachenpa of INC by a margin of 779 votes which was 15.27% of the total votes polled for the seat.

Winner Voteshare

In the 2019 Sikkim Assembly elections, Samdup Lepcha of SKM had a vote share of 53.8% in this seat. In 2014, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF secured a vote share of 53.43% in this constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha of SDF got a vote share of 53.3% in Lachen Mangan.

Consituency Extent

According the latest delimitation documents for 31. Lachen Mangan Assembly seat, the extent of this constituency covers the following areas of Sikkim: Revenue Blocks : Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Tung, Lachung and Lachen and Chungthang Forest Blocks in Chungthang Sub-Division; Naga-Namgor Singhik, Ringhim, Nampatam, Meyong, Singchit, Pakshep, Kazor, Sentam, Mangan(NTA) and Naga and Mangan Forest Blocks in Mangan Sub-Division.
ELKO  An appeal to reverse the murder conviction of Bryce Dickey for the death of 16-year-old Gabrielle Britney Ujlaky was denied by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Justices, including Chief Justice Elissa Cadish and Christina Pickering and Linda Marie Bell, affirmed Dickeys 2022 conviction by a jury of first-degree murder, sexual assault and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime in the 2020 homicide.

In the opinion released this week, Bell wrote that the justices disagree that any error present is reversible and affirm the district courts judgment of conviction.

The justices, in their Jan. 4 opinion, also concluded that these errors are harmless.

In the appeal, filed by Dickeys defense attorney, Public Defender Matthew Pennell, he argued several points were grounds to overturn the conviction.

Three of the reasons centered around testimony from Dickeys ex-girlfriend, who told the court that she had been choked by Dickey during their 18-month relationship and felt a little bit of pain when he put his hand on her throat. However, Dickey would remove his hand immediately after she asked him to do so.

She added one of the instances occurred during a candlelight vigil for Ujlaky.

In the appeal, Pennell contended the trial, presided over by Elko District Judge Mason Simons, erred in admitting evidence of other acts between Dickey and the ex-girlfriend, gave incorrect jury instructions regarding the admitted other acts testimony, and denied a mistrial when the ex-girlfriend violated the rule of exclusion, which requires witnesses not to sit in court during the testimony of other witnesses.

Defense counsel also said the court allowed deficient expert testimony and that insufficient evidence exists to support [Dickeys] conviction for sexual assault.

Cumulative errors warrant reversal, Pennell wrote.

The Nevada Supreme Court decided otherwise.

Citing NRS statutes 48.045 sections 2 and 3, the court ruled, We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting expert testimony about rigor mortis or by denying a motion for mistrial. Additionally, sufficient evidence supported the sexual assault conviction.

This was Dickeys second attempt to have the courts throw out the sexual assault charge in his case. In 2021, Dickeys defense counsel filed papers in Elko District Court and was heard by Judge Al Kacin to challenge the sufficiency of evidence for the charge presented during the preliminary hearing.

Pennell and co-defense counsel attorney Gary Woodbury argued there was insufficient evidence to support a probable cause finding that the sexual relations between he and Ms. Ujlaky were involved in her killing.

Initially, Elko County District Attorney Tyler Ingram sought the death penalty against Dickey but withdrew it weeks before the murder trial began after consulting with Ujlakys family.

Two years ago, Dickey, 22, was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, sexual assault and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of the crime in the death of the 16-year-old girl in 2020.

Dickey was found guilty after a two-week trial that saw evidence presented by Ingram, including testimony by Washoe County Crime Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Julie Schrader and law enforcement investigating the case.

Dickey did not testify on his behalf; he was not required to do so, as the burden of proof was on prosecutors.

The jury sentenced Dickey to 20 years to life in prison. Simons later added 50 years for a deadly-weapon enhancement.

Recalling a tragedy

Jim Ujlaky reported his daughter missing on March 8, 2020, when she didnt respond to his calls and messages. She was last seen by Dickey, who picked her up in Elko from her fathers band rehearsal, with the intent to take her to her home in South Fork.

The teens considered each other siblings. Ujlaky called Dickey her Big Brother, and Dickey referred to Ujlaky as Lil Sis to their friends.

Dickey told authorities she asked to be dropped off at the Spring Creek High School parking lot, where she got into a green F150 pickup driven by a tall man wearing a cowboy hat.

Friends searching for Ujlaky testified during the trial Dickey steered them away from the Burner Basin area after noticing their GPS location on a social media app, saying a green pickup had been spotted in Osino.

Her body was found off a road in the Burner Basin area wrapped in a tarp three days after her disappearance. She had suffered a stab wound in her neck and had also been strangled. Her clothing was also partially removed.

In the days following the discovery, Dickey posted tributes to Ujlaky on social media and attended a candlelight vigil and balloon launch memorial, where he comforted Ujlakys mother.

He was also questioned by law enforcement twice. Dickey said that he and Ujlaky did not have a sexual relationship but admitted they had sex the day she died.

Detectives noticed inconsistencies in his explanation of events. Surveillance video near Spring Creek High School also contradicted Dickeys statement about taking Ujlaky to the schools parking lot when his pickup was seen driving toward Burner Basin.

Dickeys DNA was found on a condom and tobacco spit near the crime scene. It was also found on Ujlakys neck and fingernails.

Ten days after Ujlaky went missing, Dickey was arrested by Elko County sheriffs detectives.

The Washoe County Crime Lab executed a search warrant on his home and recovered a pair of boots and sweatshirt, each with red-brown stains, and a knife placed inside one of the boots.

The crime and subsequent trial were widely reported. Last year, the case became the subject of a People Magazine Investigates television episode and included interviews with Ingram, Ujlakys family and local law enforcement.
News18 Mega Exit Poll Predicts Modi 3.0 Loading with 305-315 Lok Sabha Seats for BJP Narendra Modi will this month be sworn in as Indias Prime Minister for a historic third time, a News18 Mega Exit Poll indicated on Saturday, predicting between 305 and 315 Lok Sabha seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party and 355 to 370 overall for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the just-concluded elections, with the votes to be counted on June 4. According to the survey, the Congress may get only about 62-72 seats in the elections, while its INDIA bloc could end up with a tally of 125-140. READ More

Exit Polls 2024: 'Who Will Believe AAP Is Winning 0-2 Seats In Punjab,' Says Sanjay Singh On exit polls, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, This exit poll has been prepared in the BJP office Who will believe that BJP is getting a 34% vote share in Tamil Nadu? Who will believe that AAP is winning 0-2 seats in Punjab? The Janta ka exit poll based on the figures shared by INDIA alliance leaders in todays meeting says that we will win more than 295 seats. I am surprised that only 400 seats are to the BJP (in the exit polls). They could have given 700, which could have been possible from Akhand Bharat The BJP has done a huge hera pheri (foul play) and to hide that, such numbers are shown in the exit polls, he added

Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: NDA To Win Majority With 350+ Seats

Coimbatore Exit Polls 2024: Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai Predicted to Win The BJP is predicted is to open its account in Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu with state party president K Annamalai likely to win the Coimbatore constituency for the saffron party, the News18 Mega Exit Poll said on Saturday. READ MORE

Exit Polls 2024: From PMARQ To Jan Ki Baat, Pollsters Predict 350+ Seats For BJP-Led NDA The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections spanning more than six weeks ended on Saturday. It witnessed a direct fight between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-led INDIA bloc. While the results are due on June 4, most pollsters, including PMARQ, C-Voter, and Chanakya, have predicted a majority win for the NDA with over 350 seats, easily crossing the halfway mark of 272 seats. READ MORE

Jharkhand Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: NDA Likely To Win 9-12 Seats; INDIA Bloc Might Settle At 2-5 Seats

Odisha Exit Poll 2024: BJP Could Win Up To 15 Seats, Naveen Patnaiks BJD Tally May Sink To 8 A major chunk of the Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha could go to the BJP while Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) could hold on to 6-8 seats, the News18 Mega Exit Poll predicted on June 1. The predictions stated the BJP-led NDA could secure 13-15 Lok Sabha seats of the total 21 in the state.

News18 Mega Exit Poll 2024: BJP May Scale New Peak in Bengal The BJP-led NDA is projected to win at least 21, and up to 24, seats of the 42 in West Bengal. This will be a significant leap from the 18 it won last time. The states ruling Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is likely to shrink to as little as 18 seats from the 22 it won last time. The other two seats had gone to the Congress, but the party  fighting in alliance with the Left this time  is unlikely to open its account. READ MORE

Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Reacts On Exit Poll Results, Says 'INDIA Will Get Over...' Responding to the Exit Polls predictions, Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh took to X and wrote, The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA bloc will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority. The outgoing Prime Minister can remain smug for three days in the meanwhile. These are all psychological games he is masterminding but the ACTUAL results will be very different. The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA Janbandhan will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority. The outgoing Prime Minister can remain smug for three days in the meanwhile. These are all  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 1, 2024

Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: News18 Survey Predicts 350+ Seats For NDA, INDIA Bloc To Win 125-140 As per News18 Mega Exit Poll predictions, NDA will secure victory in Lok Sabha polls by winning 355 to 370, while the Opposition-led INDIA bloc will win 125 to 140 seats.

West Bengal Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE: Close Contest Between BJP & TMC Likely A close contest is likely to be witnessed in West Bengal Lok Sabha election 2024, predicted News18 Exit Poll prediction. While BJP is expected to win 21-24 seats in the state, Trinamool might secure victory over 18-21 seats.

Bihar Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: NDA Likely To Bag Majority Seats, INDIA To Get 6-9 Seats As per the News18 Exit Poll prediction, NDA will bag 31-34 seats in Bihar, while INDIA bloc might win six to nine seats.

Chhattisgarh Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: BJP To Win State With Full Majority

Delhi Exit Poll 2024: BJP May Retain Hold Over Capital, Heartbreak Likely for AAP-Congress The BJP could retain its hold over the Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, with the News18 Mega Exit Poll predicting 5-7 seats for the saffron party in the national capital. The Congress could end up with 0-2 seats while its INDIA bloc partner might not be able to open its account in the national capital where its in power at the state-level. The direct contest between the BJP and AAP-Congress alliance for the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi had witnessed a turnout of over 54% on May 25 in the midst of the scorching summer heat. READ MORE

Chhattisgarh Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: BJP Could Win Landslide Victory Out of the 11 seats, News18 Mega Exit Poll indicated that the BJP could win all seats in Chhattisgarh. Parties Seats (11) BJP 09-11 Congress 00-02 Others 00

Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: NDA Likely To Come Out As Winner In Haryana Lok Sabha Election NDA might win five to seven seats in Haryana, while INDIA is expected to register win on three to five seats.

Exit Poll 2024 LIVE: BJP's Win Predicted In Delhi News18 Mega Exit Poll on Saturday predicted BJPs win in Delhi. According to the predictions, the saffron party will win five to seven seats in the national capital. Parties Seats (07) BJP 05-07 INDIA 00-02 Others 00

Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE Updates: BJP Wins Clear majority In Uttarakhand BJP is expected to sweep Uttarakhand in Lok Sabha election 2024, predicted News18 Mega Exit Poll.

Punjab Exit Poll 2024 Results LIVE: Congress Likely To Win Majority; BJP As per the News18 Mega Exit Poll, Congress may get 8-10 seats in Punjab, while BJP will win 2-4 seats. AAP is expected to win one seat in the state. Parties Seat (13) BJP 02-04 Congress 8-10 AAP 0-1
Minutes after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday took a U-turn from the partys decision to stay away from the Exit Polls, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took a jibe at the party for changing their decision within 24 hours of the announcement. The BJP leader further attacked the Congress party for not sticking to their decision, stating that the party cannot make such a simple decision and wants to govern the country.

Malviyas jibe came after the Congress party reversed its decision to stay away from the Exit Polls at a meeting with allies of the INDIA bloc.

24 hours after making a complete fool of themselves, Congress withdraws its decision to boycott Exit Polls. A party that cant take such a simple decision wants to govern India? Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) June 1, 2024

24 hours after making a complete fool of themselves, Congress withdraws its decision to boycott Exit Polls. A party that cant take such a simple decision wants to govern India? Malviya tweeted.

Congresss media and publicity department head Pawan Khera on Saturday said INDIA bloc parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls.

After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA (bloc) parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening, he said in a post on X.

On Friday, Khera had said people 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 had said in a statement shared on X.

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 June 4 onwards, Khera had said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda had claimed on Friday that the Congresss decision to not participate in exit poll debates is the confirmation that the opposition party has conceded the Lok Sabha elections.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said in a statement that the Congress has been in a denial mode since he began playing a key role in its affairs.

(With PTI inputs)

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 including Voter Turnout and Exit Polls. Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
Follow the live updating tables on this page for the 2024 Lumla election result in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election.

About

1. Lumla is an Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) constituency in Arunachal Pradesh. This constituency is located in the North East region of India and in the West region within Arunachal Pradesh. This seat includes the following districts of Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang. Lumla Assembly seat can be classified as: and the reservation status of this seat is: Scheduled Tribe. 1. Lumla is on Friday, April 19, 2024. along with voting in Phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha general election

Number of Contestants

In the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, there were 2 candidates contesting from Lumla Assembly constituency. In 2019 the number of contestants for this seat was 2, while in 2014 there were 2 candidates, and the number was 1 in the 2009 polls.

Contesting Candidates 2024

1. Jampa Thirnly Kunkhap, Indian National Congress (INC); 2. Tsering Lhamu, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Demographic Profile

There were a total of 9,917 registered voters on the electoral rolls for the 2024 Assembly election, of which 4,819 were male, 5,098 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2019 Assembly elections, there were a total of 8,918 registered voters, of which 4,819 were male, 4,556 female and 0 of the third gender. In 2014 elections, there were a total of 8,177 registered voters in this constituency, of which 3,965 were male, 4,212 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2009 polls, the number of total electors was 8,022 which included 3,923 male, and 4,099 female.

The number of service voters in Assembly constituency was 33 in 2019, 7 in 2014 and 6 in 2009.

The electorate gender ration (number of female voters per 1000 male voters) in this constituency in 2024 was 1058, in 2019 it was 1044, 1062 in 2014 and 1045 in 2009.

Location

The geographic coordinates of Lumla Assembly constituency are: 273818.2N 914110.0E. Lumla shares its borders with two other Assembly constituencies. Other Arunachal Pradesh Assembly constituencies adjacent to Lumla are: Tawang, Mukto. This constituency shares an inter-state border with: Bhutan, China.

Poll Dates

Lumla Assembly constituency went to the polls in Phase 1 of the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections on Friday, April 19, 2024. The counting of votes is on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In the 2019 state Assembly elections, this seat voted in Phase 1 on Thursday, April 11, 2019 and the results were declared on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

In the 2014 polls, this constituency voted in Phase 1 on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 and the results were declared on Friday, May 16, 2014.

In 2009, Lumla was scheduled to vote in Phase 1 on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 and the results were to be declared on Tuesday, October 22, 2009. However, because of only one contesting candidate in this constituency, voting was not necessary for this seat and the candidate was declared an unopposed winner.

Voter Turnout

According to data released by the Election Commission of India, in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the estimated voter turnout in Arunachal Pradesh constituency was 84.2%. In 2019, this seat registered a turnout of 89.73%, while it was 87.55% in 2013 and 0% in 2009. The estimated turnout in 2024 was -5.53% compared to the 2019 turnout.

Past Results

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Jambey Tashi of BJP won in this seat defeating Jampa Thirnly Kunkhap of NPEP by a margin of 1288 votes which was 16.12% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 57.15% in 2019 in this seat.

In 2014, Jambey Tashi of INC emerged victorious in this seat beating Theg Tse Rinpoche of IND by a margin of 1499 votes which was 20.97% of the total votes polled in the constituency. INC secured a vote share of 59.52% in the seat.

In the 2009 state Assembly elections, Jambey Tashi of INC won this seat uncontested.

Winner Margin

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Jambey Tashi of BJP won in this constituency beating Jampa Thirnly Kunkhap of NPEP by a margin of 1,288 votes which was 16.12% of the total votes cast. In 2014, Jambey Tashi of INC was the winner in this seat beating Theg Tse Rinpoche of IND by a margin of 1,499 votes which was 20.97% of the total votes polled in the constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Jambey Tashi of INC won this seat uncontested.

Winner Voteshare

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Jambey Tashi of BJP had a vote share of 57.15% in this seat. In 2014, Jambey Tashi of INC secured a vote share of 59.52% in this constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Jambey Tashi of INC won uncontested in Lumla.

Consituency Extent

According the latest delimitation documents for 1. Lumla Assembly seat, the extent of this constituency covers the following areas of Arunachal Pradesh: (1) Lumla Circle Excluding Villages: Bongleng and Kharung; (2) Zemithang Circle; and (3) Villages: 1. Kudung, 2. Pamaghar, 3. Sakpret, and (4) Thongleng of Tawang Circle..
The BJP is predicted to win 23-26 Lok Sabha seats of the total 28 in Karnataka, which voted in two phases on April 26 and May 7, according to News18 Mega Exit Poll released on June 1 evening. The INDIA bloc, which comprises the ruling Congress in the state, could win 3-7 seats, the exit poll predicted.

The two major contesting alliances in Karnataka are the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). While the majority of the candidates from the NDA are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  25, a smaller portion of the candidates belong to the Janata Dal (Secular) party [JD(S)]  3. On the other hand, all of the 28 candidates representing the INDIA bloc are from the Indian National Congress (INC).

Stakes are high for the JDS after a disappointing performance in last years assembly elections, where it secured only 19 seats. The partys survival and political stature within Karnataka must succeed in these elections. To do so, JDS has allied with the BJP, hoping to capitalise on anti-Congress sentiments and attract a broader voter base.

The JDS contested in the second phase from Hassan, Mandya, and Kolar. In Mandya, former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy faced Venkataramane Gowda of the Congress. In Hassan, JDS leader Prajwal Revanna was pitted against Shreyas Patel Gowda of Congress.

Suspended JDS MP from Hassan Prajwal Revanna was arrested at Bengaluru Airport in alleged sexual cases. The SIT has also filed an application in the High Court questioning HD Revannas bail in the kidnapping case of a woman from KR Nagar, Mysore. The 33-year-old Prajwal, grandson of Deve Gowda and the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually abusing many women.

BJPs Tejasvi Surya is seeking another term from Bangalore South, while Yaduveer Wadiyar, royal scion, contested from Mysuru. Other big names in the fray include two former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Belagavi), Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagawant Khuba (Bidar).

As per the census held in Karnataka in 2011, the 28 seats represent the state population of about 6.11 crore citizens.

Key Candidates

 Bangalore Rural C N Manjunath (NDA) DK Suresh (INDIA)

 Bangalore North Shobha Karandlaje (NDA) Rajeev Gowda (INDA)

 Bangalore Central PC Mohan (NDA) Mansoor Ali Khan (INDIA)

 Bangalore South Tejasvi Surya (NDA) Soumya Reddy (INDIA)

 Belgaum Jagadish Shettar (BJP) Mrunal Ravindra Hebbalkar (INDIA)

 Mandya HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) Venkataramane Gowda (INDIA)

 Mysore Yaduveer Wadiyar (BJP) M Lakshman (INDIA)

 Hassan Prajwal Revanna (BJP) M Shreyas Patel (INDIA)

 Haveri Basavaraj Bommai (BJP) Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Math (INDIA)

Key Constituencies

Of the 14 constituencies in South Karnataka that went into polls, the Congress would win 10 seats, up from one in 2019, party president and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had claimed. He also claimed that the Congress would win another 10 seats out of 14 in North Karnataka. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashok claimed that the NDA would win 12 out of 14 seats based on the image of Narendra Modi and failure of the Congress government in Karnataka.

Bengaluru North: In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, D V Sadananda Gowda of BJP won in this seat defeating Krishna Byregowda of Congress by a margin of 1,47,518 votes which was 9.46% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 52.84% in 2019 in this seat.

Bangalore South: In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Tejasvi Surya of BJP won in this seat defeating B K Hariprasad of Congress by a margin of 3,31,192 votes which was 27.87% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 62.14% in 2019 in this seat.

Bangalore Rural: In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, DK Suresh of Congress won in this seat defeating Ashwathnarayangowda of BJP by a margin of 2,06,870 votes which was 12.75% of the total votes cast for the seat. The Congress had a vote share of 54.12% in 2019 in this seat.

Bellary: In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Y Devendrappa of BJP won in this seat defeating V S Ugrappa of Congress by a margin of 55,707 votes which was 4.56% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 50.44% in 2019 in this seat.

Haveri: In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Udasi SC of BJP won in this seat defeating DR Patil of Congress by a margin of 1,40,882 votes which was 11.12% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 53.92% in 2019 in this seat.

Belgaum: In the April 17, 2021 by-polls for Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency, Angadi Mangal Suresh of BJP won from this seat defeating Satish Laxmanarao Jarkiholi of Congress by a margin of 5,240 votes which was 0.51% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 43.07% in the bye-elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha general elections, Angadi Suresh Channabasappa of BJP won in this seat defeating Sadhunavar of Congress by a margin of 3,91,304 votes which was 32.47% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 63.12% in 2019 in this seat.

Mysore: In the 2019 Lok Sabha general elections, Prathap Simha of BJP won in this seat defeating CH Vijayashankar of Congress by a margin of 1,38,647 votes which was 10.52% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 52.27% in 2019 in this seat.

Hassan: In the 2019 Lok Sabha general elections, Prajwal Revanna of JDS won in this seat defeating Manju A of BJP by a margin of 1,41,324 votes which was 11.06% of the total votes cast for the seat. JDS had a vote share of 52.92% in 2019 in this seat.

How Karnataka Performed in 2014, 2019 Lok Sabha Elections?

In 2019, the BJP won 25 seats with a vote share of 51.2% in Karnataka  which was its best performance both in terms of number of seats and vote share  while the Congress, JD(S) and Independent won one seat each. The saffron party won 17 and 19 seats in the 2014 and 2009 general elections, respectively. In 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 18 seats while the Congress managed to win only eight and the JD (S) was victorious in two constituencies.

The BJP has never won southern Karnatakas Mandya Lok Sabha seat. The party came close to winning it in 2019, when an Independent that it supported, Sumalatha Ambareesh, defeated JDSs Nikhil Kumaraswamy, an actor and son of HD Kumaraswamy.

How Accurate Were Previous Exit Polls?

Exit polls precede the official vote count by the Election Commission (EC). The results for the 2024 Lok Sabha election will be announced on June 4. However, the exit polls will broadcast live on June 1 after 6.30 pm as the voting for the last phase will end at 6 pm.

An exit poll is conducted immediately after voting concludes in parliamentary or assembly elections. They predict how much vote will a party get in a constituency or the state, and may differ from the actual results announced by the EC.

THE METHODOLOGY

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.
Exit polls have predicted that the BJP in the two major farming states of Punjab and Haryana in north India, may retain its ground overall. What it might lose from Haryana is likely to be compensated from advances in Punjab.

According to the News18 Mega Exit Poll, at least two to four seats are projected for the BJP in Punjab, which has 13 seats. This means the BJP could double its tally from 2019. The Congress, which won eight last time, is likely to retain that number or even improve it to 10. The AAP, which is the ruling party in Punjab, maybe wiped off the Lok Sabha chart from the state. In the best case scenario, too, AAP may get only one seat here. In any case, even if the BJP gets two seats in Punjab  the lower end of the prediction  that means it has held fort.

In Haryana, the BJP won all 10 seats last time, but may even end up with half that number this time. While the lowest prediction says five, the party can go up to seven. The Congress tally is likely to revive at three and may hit five.

In Punjab this time, at least four prominent sides are in the fray, along with a couple of outliers who are making waves in their respective constituencies.

In 2019, the Congress, which was then in power in the state, won eight of the 13 seats, while the SAD and BJP, which were in an alliance, won two seats each. The AAP managed only one seat, Sangrur won by Bhagwant Mann. From being a lone ranger for AAP in Lok Sabha, he who went on to become CM with a humongous majority in the assembly in 2022. There was significant oscillation, evidently, from the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to the 2022 state polls. And there was even more volatility this time, which means results remain hard to predict.

A four-cornered battle this time, as againt a three-way fight in 2019, is because a long-standing alliance between Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP has since been severed by the SAD over the issues of farm policies. They fought the assembly polls in 2022, too, separately, and performed poorly.

On the other side, the states ruling AAP and main opposition Congress have been engaged in what many term a friendly fight. While in several other states the AAP and Congress are in a pact  and together in essence in the INDIA bloc too  they are the two biggest power centres and direct rivals currently in state politics, making an alliance impossible. However, analysts have said their choice of candidates has been strategic to not cut into each others votes.

For the AAP, Bhagwant Manns persona and state governments policies such as free units of electricity were two major campaign thrusts. But there is general dissatisfaction and despondency, both towards the state government and, rather more severely, towards the central government. The AAP is hoping that dissatisfaction with the Centre will help it sidestep its own weaknesses.

The Congress has focused on national issues mainly, focusing around PM Narendra Modis alleged missteps, particularly on farm policies and federalism, while its candidates have also pointed towards the Mann governments alleged failures at the state level. The party has top leaders in the fray to manage seat-wise optics as well, especially in Ludhiana, Sangrur and Jalandhar.

The Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal is hoping to get some solace from the results on two counts  one, that it still has electoral sway after two consecutive defeats in assembly polls; two, that the BJP as a partner is not necessary for it to perform well, particularly in urban seats.

The BJP, which has so far failed to make a dent beyond being a junior partner of the Akali Dal for many years, appears to have micro-managed the campaign, moving between local issues such as AAP governments performance; to state issues like the Kartarpur corridor having been opened; to its big-ticket national campaign pointers like Article 370 and Ram Mandir. For candidates, though, it is banking heavily on turncoats and party-hoppers, suggesting a lack of deep roots in rural areas in particular.

But such a shift of allegiances is not unique to the BJP. This is most visible in Jalandhar, where the candidates of BJP, AAP and the Akali Dal are all recent turncoats. In a confused despondency thus, two independent candidates with allegiance to radical or separatist beliefs appear to be emerging strong.

One of them is Amritpal Singh, who is currently in jail in Assams Dibrugarh. He is fighting from Khadoor Sahib, a constituency where religiosity and echoes of the militancy days are seen as factors. Another somewhat similar candidate is Faridkots Sarabjit Singh. He is the son of Beant Singh, who was hanged for his role in former PM Indira Gandhis 1984 assassination.

This strange and constantly churning mix of candidates, alliances and allegiances has again underlined a policy and leadership vacuum in the state. Many cited this vacuum as the reason for AAPs rise in Punjab, particularly the 2022 mega-win in the assembly elections. But, surprises are likely still, as the vacuum keeps throwing up options.

How was the News18 Mega Exit Poll conducted?

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.

You can catch the live updates of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Exit Polls here on News18.com. To catch accurate predictions and timely information, keep an eye on our website. Stay tuned for more updates.

Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to win 19-22 of the 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, according to News18 Mega Exit Poll. The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) could win five-eight seats, according to the survey.

The state voted in phase four. This year, the BJP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena contested the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Back in 2014, when TDP and BJP fought the polls together, Jana Sena was their outside ally.

ALSO READ | Exit Poll Results LIVE HERE

As per their seat-sharing formula for 2024, the BJP contested six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats, while the TDP fought fight 17 parliamentary and 144 state seats. Under the deal, Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena contested two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats.

Among the key candidates and battles are Rajampet (BJP candidate and former CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy vs YSRCPs PV Midhun Reddy), Kadapa (YSRCPs YS Avinash Reddy vs his cousin and Congresss YS Sharmila Reddy vs TDPs Chadipiralla Bhupesh Reddy), Araku (BJPs Kothapalli Geetha vs YSRCPs Chetti Tanuja Rani vs CPIMs Appala Narsa), Anakapalli (BJPs CM Ramesh vs YSRCPs Budi Mutyala Naidu and Congresss Vegi Venkatesh), Kakinada (Jana Senas Tangella Uday Srinivas vs YSRCPs Chalamalasetti Sunil vs Congresss MM Pallam Raju), Srikakulam (TDPs Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu vs YSRCPs Perada Tilak), Vizianagaram (TDPs Kalisetti Appala Naidu and YSRCPs Bellana Chandra Sekhar).

The YSR Congress had swept the 2019 elections with 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. It had received a staggering 49.9% (Assembly) and 49.1% (Lok Sabha) vote share.

The Telugu Desam Party got 39.2% (Assembly) and 39.6% (Lok Sabha) share. It won just 23 seats in the Assembly and three seats in the Lok Sabha. The Congress had managed to poll an aggregate of 3,68,878 votes across all the 175 Assembly constituencies, a mere 1.17% of the gross 3.13 crore-odd votes cast. It was worse than in 2014 when it managed 8,02,072 votes (2.77%).

THE METHODOLOGY

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.

Exit poll predictions are not foolproof given a large number of variable factors. The pollsters, however, had succeeded in gauging the trend in 2019 and 2014.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to win 68-71 seats in Uttar Pradesh, according to News18 Mega Exit Poll prediction. The BJP may win 64-67 seats, according to the poll survey.

The Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is likely to win nine-12 seats, according to the survey. Of these, the Congress may win three-six, the survey states.

ALSO READ | Exit Poll Results LIVE HERE

The state which sends 80 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha, voted in seven phases. Uttar Pradesh has also given India the maximum number of prime ministers. The states importance is not limited to its numerical strength in the Lok Sabha.

Among the key candidates in the 2024 polls are Narendra Modi (BJP, Varanasi), Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua (BJP, Azamgarh), Dimple Yadav (SP, Mainpuri), Akhilesh Yadav (SP, Kannauj), Rahul Gandhi (Congress, Raebareli), Arun Govil (BJP, Meerut), Hema Malini (BJP, Mathura), Rajnath Singh (BJP, Lucknow), Smriti Irani (BJP, Amethi).

Other notable candidates include Maneka Gandhi (BJP, Sultanpur), Ravi Kishan (BJP, Gorakhpur), Afzal Ansari (SP, Ghazipur), KL Sharma (Congress, Amethi), Dharmendra Yadav (SP, Azamgarh), Sakshi Maharaj (BJP, Unnao).

In the 2019 elections, proving all arithmetic of the SP-BSP mahagathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh wrong, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats, demolishing the alliance partners, which got 15 seats between them. The Congress won the lone Raebareli seat of Sonia Gandhi in the politically crucial state. Of the alliance partners, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was the biggest gainer with 10 seats. Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party (SP) won five seats and the smallest of the partners  Rashtriya Lok Dal  couldnt open its account in the polls. The Congresss biggest loss was in its bastion Amethi where then party president Rahul Gandhi was defeated by union minister Smriti Irani, who had lost the seat in 2014.

THE METHODOLOGY

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.

Exit poll predictions are not foolproof given a large number of variable factors. The pollsters, however, had succeeded in gauging the trend in 2019 and 2014.
Exit polls have projected a clear win for the United Democratic Front, led by the Congress, with 15 to 18 seats. The BJP-led NDA, however, is likely to open its account with at least one seat for the saffron party in the southern state.

According to the News18 Mega Exit Poll survey, Rahul Gandhi is likely to retain his Wayanad seat due to strong support from Muslim, Christian, and tribal communities. Despite BJP fielding its state president K Surendran, and a high-profile leader in CPIs Annie Raja, Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to face any major challenges.

The News18 Mega Exit Poll suggested that the Congress alone could win 12 to 15 seats, while the BJP may win one to three seats. This may be a significant development for the saffron party as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said the party will make a dent ruled by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which may end up with two to five seats.

Wayanad has been a Congress bastion since 2009. Rahul Gandhi, the current sitting MP of Wayanad, won the seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a vote margin of nearly 40 per cent. Gandhi got 64 per cent of the total votes polled. His closest rival, CPIs PP Suneer, received only 2,74,597 votes.

In the 2014 and 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, Congress leader MI Shanavas won the Wayanad seat. He had won the 2014 elections by a margin of 2.31 percent votes.

The Congress won the most, 15 Lok Sabha seats, in Kerala in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party, and Kerala Congress (M) won one seat each, while the Indian Union Muslim League won two. The state sends 20 members to the 543-member Lok Sabha.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 out of 20 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The UDF included the Indian Union Muslim League, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the Kerala Congress (M).

The Supreme Court, in August 2023, provided relief to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Modi surname case. Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on March 24, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his remarks on the Modi surname. The Gujarat High Court (HC) had in July dismissed his plea for relief

Key Issues in Kerala

Kerala faces several issues, including clashes between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the state government, particularly over political appointments and campus control.

There are other issues such as migration, demographic change, civic Issues and infrastructure. The state, rich in biodiversity, also faces human-wildlife conflicts, such as in places like Pathanamthitta and Idukki, during this election. Recent deaths led to strong public protests.
All the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala that went to polls under the second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 have seen a drop in voter turnout when compared to 2019. A similar, but little better, picture was witnessed in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat too, official data analysed by News18 shows.

As per the numbers from the Election Commission of India, in Tamil Nadu, voter turnout was higher on just four seats out of total 39 while in Gujarat, just one seat out of 25 saw higher voter turnout than the last time.

In terms of average voter turnout, these three states, where all the seats falling under it went to polls in a single phase, have reported a drop in voter turnout.

The other two bigger states  with more than 10 Lok Sabha seats and single phase polling  were Telanaga and Andhra Pradesh. Both the southern states have reported a jump in voter turnout when compared to 2019.

In terms of individual seats, all except one seat in Telangana has seen a higher voter turnout in this time and in Andhra Pradesh, 11 out 25 seats have reported higher voter turnout.

Haryana was another state that witnessed single-phase polling and has 10 Lok Sabha seats. Earlier this week, News18 had reported that all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana have seen a drop in voter turnout.

Punjab, with 13 Lok Sabha seats, is undergoing polling on Saturday, June 1.

The average voter turnout of Kerala (71.27 per cent), Tamil Nadu (69.72 per cent) and Gujarat (60.13 per cent) this time was lower than 2019.

Gujarat

In 2019, the average turnout on Gujarats 25 Lok Sabha seats was 64.51 per cent. The state has 26 Lok Sabha seats. Surat was not included in the comparison as this time, the seat elected its MP without polling.

The sole seat where the turnout has improved in the state was Banaskantha  from 65.02 per cent in 2019 to 69.62 per cent in 2024. Gujarats Bardoli  from 73.89 per cent to 64.81 per cent in 2024  has seen the steepest drop in voter turnout. In Dahod, Ahmedabad East, Navsari, Vadodara and Gandhinagar also the turnout has dropped by six to seven percentage points.

In 2019, on five seats, the voter turnout was below 60 per cent and four Lok Sabha seats had a turnout above 70 per cent. Amreli (55.96 per cent) reported lowest and Valsad (75.48 per cent) reported highest voter turnout.

This time also, the two seats have been at the top and bottom but the turnout range has dropped from 50.29 per cent and 72.71 per cent.

Further, in 2024, 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state had voter turnout below 60 per cent while Valsad remained the only seat with turnout above 70 per cent.

Tamil Nadu

In 2019, the voter turnout in the state was 72.46 per cent. Two Lok Sabha seats in Chennai  South (57.07 per cent) and Central (58.98 per cent)  were the only constituencies where the turnout was below 60 per cent. Dharampuri and Namakkal were the two seats, out of 39 constituencies where the turnout was above 80 per cent. On 25 seats, the voter turnout was between 70-80 per cent.

Chennai Central (53.96 per cent) and Chennai South (54.17 per cent) yet again were the two seats with less than 60 per cent voter turnout in 2024. Dharampuri (81.2 per cent) is the sole seat where the turnout has gone beyond 80 per cent. On 22 seats, the turnout was between 70-80 per cent.

Kerala

Out of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, eight had more than 80 per cent voter turnout in 2019. On the remaining 12 seats, the turnout was above 70 per cent. In 2019, the voter turnout in the state was 77.84 per cent.

In 2024, at least nine seats saw a turnout below 70 per cent and none of the seats reported turnout above 80 per cent.

Pathanamthitta (63.37 per cent) saw the lowest turnout in 2024 while Vadakara (78.41 per cent) reported the highest.

In 2019, Kannur saw highest turnout in the state at 83.28 per cent while the capital city Thiruvananthapuram saw 73.74 per cent turnout, lowest among the seats.

Telangana

In 2019, the average voter turnout in the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state was 62.77 per cent that improved to 65.67 per cent this time. Except Nalgonda, all seats in the state reported improved voter turnout. This time the seat saw 74.02 per cent voter turnout, from 74.14 per cent earlier.

Hyderabad (48.48 per cent) and Secunderabad (49.04 per cent) were the least performing seats in the state this time. In 2019 as well these seats saw less than 50 per cent turnout. But in 2024, the performance has improved from the last time.

In 2019, just five seats saw more than 70% voter turnout, this time the number of seats have doubled.

At 75.29 per cent, Khammam was the highest turnout seat in the state in 2019. This time Bhongir took that position with 76.78% turnout.

Andhra Pradesh

The average voter turnout in the state has improved from 80.38 per cent in 2019 to 80.66 per cent this time.

In 2019, Bapatla (86.47 per cent) was the seat with highest voter turnout while Visakhapatnam (67.78 per cent) was the lone seat with below 70 per cent turnout. A total of 14 out of 25 seats had over 80 per cent voter turnout.

In 2024, all the seats in the state reported turnout over 70 per cent. A total of 10 seats reported turnout between 70-80 per cent while the remaining 15 saw turnout above 80 per cent.

Visakhapatnam (71.11 per cent) was the seat with lowest turnout while Ongole (87.06 per cent) was the seat with the highest turnout. Ongole was the seat with second highest voter turnout in the country among the seats that have polled in the first six phases.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
A major chunk of the Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha could go to the BJP while Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) could hold on to 6-8 seats, the News18 Mega Exit Poll predicted on June 1. The poll said the BJP-led NDA could secure 13-15 Lok Sabha seats of the total 21 in the state.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand, which sends 14 MPs to Lok Sabha, could see the BJP bagging 9-12 seats while the INDIA bloc could lay hands on 2-5 seats. Jharkhand voted in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1, with close to 2.54 crore voters participating in the general election. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, the BJP bagged 11 out of 14 seats in the state.

Of the 21 Odisha Lok Sabha constituencies, five are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates and three for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was the frontrunner in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections winning 12 seats. While the BJP secured 8 seats, the Congress put up a dismal show settling for just one seat.

Former Union Ministers Srikant Jena and Pratap Sarangi, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajashree Mallick are involved in intense campaigning to win their respective seats.

The Balasore Lok Sabha seat saw a triangular contest with the Congresss Srikant Jena, the BJPs Pratap Sarangi and the BJDs Lekhashree Samantsinghar. The electoral fight in Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha is expected to be tough for the BJP.

Key Candidates and Constituencies

Balasore: The General category seat will see a triangular contest between BJPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi, BJDs Lekhashree Samantsinghar and Congress Srikant Kumar Jena. Samantsinghar, who served as the BJP Odisha unit vice-president, quit the party in April 2024 and joined the Naveen Patnaik-led party. In 2019, Sarangi had defeated Rabindra Kumar Jena by a margin of nearly 13,000 votes. While Rabindra Jena had emerged victorious in 2014, Srikant Jena won the seat in 2009 as a Congress candidate.

Bhadrak: The BJD first secured the Scheduled Caste reserved seat in 1998 and since then has continued its winning streak. Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi represented the seat a record eight times. The Naveen Patnaik-led party has fielded Manju Lata Mandal, who emerged victorious from the seat in 2019. While the Congress nominated Anant Prasad Sethi from Bhadrak, the BJP has once again fielded Avimanyu Sethi.

Jajpur: Another Scheduled Castes constituency is currently represented by BJDs Sarmistha Sethi. The BJD has dominated the seat since 1999 when it first secured it. Sethi defeated BJP leader Amiya Kanta Mallick by a margin of over 1 lakh votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election. The BJP is yet to taste success in Jajpur. Anadi Charan Das represented the seat five times, thrice (1971, 1980 & 1984) on Congress ticket and twice (1989 & 1991) as a Janata Dal candidate.

Kendrapara: Kendrapara comprises seven assembly segments  Salipur, Mahanga, Patkura, Kendrapara, Aul, Rajanagar and Mahakalapada. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, actor-turned-politician Anubhav Mohanty defeated BJP leader Baijayant Panda by a margin of over 1.81 lakh votes. BJD has fielded Anshuman Mohanty, a former MLA from Rajanagar, against BJPs Baijayant Panda. The Congress, which won the first election in Kendrapara in 1951, has nominated Sidharth Swarup Das.

What were the 2014, 2019 Results?

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, BJD had won 12 of the 21 seats, with a vote share of 42.08%. The BJP secured 8 seats, with a vote share of 38.4%. Congress could just hold on to 1 seat.

In the 2014 parliamentary election, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD won 20 seats while the BJP secured 1 seat.

In Odisha, the BJP and the BJD were initially exploring the idea of forming an alliance, but they have emerged as direct competitors. Experts speculated that a BJP-BJD coalition could have clinched victory in all 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, even against potential competition from the Congress.

THE METHODOLOGY

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.
Jordan M. Ellingson, 28, was arrested May 20, 2024, at 1050 Connolly Drive and charged with first-degree kidnapping, domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery. Bail: $300,000

Tessa R. Patchett, 32, was arrested May 20, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia by a prisoner. Bail: $25,000

Close Jordan M. Ellingson, 28, was arrested May 20, 2024, at 1050 Connolly Drive and charged with first-degree kidnapping, domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery. Bail: $300,000 Tessa R. Patchett, 32, was arrested May 20, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia by a prisoner. Bail: $25,000 Christina J. Shope, 35, was arrested May 20, 2024, at Errecart Boulevard and Bullion Road on a warrant charging failure to appear after bail on a felony crime, possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia by a prisoner, and possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams. Bail: $35,000 Vernon C. Evans, 61, was arrested May 21, 2024, at Last Chance Road and Clarkson Drive on two warrants charging fugitive from another state. Brant E. Henderson, 47, was arrested May 21, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with open or gross lewdness and NSP hold. Bail: $5,000 David A. Herrera, 24, was arrested May 21, 2024, at U.S. Highway 93, mile marker 72, and charged with possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams and using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Bail: $5,640 Conner J. Christensen, 29, was arrested May 22, 2024, at 1091 Cobre St. in Wells and charged with battery by strangulation. Bail: $50,000 Anthony P. Burnett, 56, was arrested May 23, 2024, at Fifth Street and Chris Avenue and charged with gross misdemeanor conspiracy to commit a crime. Bail: $2,500 Mindi S. Dixon, 51, was arrested May 23, 2024, at 2363 Fifth St. and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams and using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Bail: $10,640. Ashton R. Moses, 26, was arrested May 23, 2024, on a warrant charging failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $10,000 Joshua A. Warner, 26, was arrested May 24, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and grand larceny between $1,200 and $5,000. Bail: $1,000 Michael M. Ferguson, 31, was arrested May 25, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury. Bail: $100,000 Clinton G. Sandstrom, 40, was arrested May 25, 2024 at 5356 Herford Drive in Osino and charged with possessing, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and grand larceny of a motor vehicle. Bail: $2,000 Beaux M. Morgan, 41, was arrested May 26, 2024, at 2520 Mountain City Hwy. and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Bail: $200,000 Austin Nickeson, 27, was arrested May 27, 2024, at 4364 Nez Perce St. and charged with false imprisonment. Bail: $5,000 Gallery: Felony and gross misdemeanor arrests from May 20 to May 28 The charges listed do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Jordan M. Ellingson, 28, was arrested May 20, 2024, at 1050 Connolly Drive and charged with first-degree kidnapping, domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery. Bail: $300,000 Tessa R. Patchett, 32, was arrested May 20, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia by a prisoner. Bail: $25,000 Christina J. Shope, 35, was arrested May 20, 2024, at Errecart Boulevard and Bullion Road on a warrant charging failure to appear after bail on a felony crime, possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia by a prisoner, and possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams. Bail: $35,000 Vernon C. Evans, 61, was arrested May 21, 2024, at Last Chance Road and Clarkson Drive on two warrants charging fugitive from another state. Brant E. Henderson, 47, was arrested May 21, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with open or gross lewdness and NSP hold. Bail: $5,000 David A. Herrera, 24, was arrested May 21, 2024, at U.S. Highway 93, mile marker 72, and charged with possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams and using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Bail: $5,640 Conner J. Christensen, 29, was arrested May 22, 2024, at 1091 Cobre St. in Wells and charged with battery by strangulation. Bail: $50,000 Anthony P. Burnett, 56, was arrested May 23, 2024, at Fifth Street and Chris Avenue and charged with gross misdemeanor conspiracy to commit a crime. Bail: $2,500 Mindi S. Dixon, 51, was arrested May 23, 2024, at 2363 Fifth St. and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams and using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Bail: $10,640. Ashton R. Moses, 26, was arrested May 23, 2024, on a warrant charging failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $10,000 Joshua A. Warner, 26, was arrested May 24, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and grand larceny between $1,200 and $5,000. Bail: $1,000 Michael M. Ferguson, 31, was arrested May 25, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury. Bail: $100,000 Clinton G. Sandstrom, 40, was arrested May 25, 2024 at 5356 Herford Drive in Osino and charged with possessing, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and grand larceny of a motor vehicle. Bail: $2,000 Beaux M. Morgan, 41, was arrested May 26, 2024, at 2520 Mountain City Hwy. and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Bail: $200,000 Austin Nickeson, 27, was arrested May 27, 2024, at 4364 Nez Perce St. and charged with false imprisonment. Bail: $5,000

Christina J. Shope, 35, was arrested May 20, 2024, at Errecart Boulevard and Bullion Road on a warrant charging failure to appear after bail on a felony crime, possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia by a prisoner, and possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams. Bail: $35,000

Vernon C. Evans, 61, was arrested May 21, 2024, at Last Chance Road. and Clarkson Drive on two warrants charging fugitive from another state.

Brant E. Henderson, 47, was arrested May 21, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with open or gross lewdness and NSP hold. Bail: $5,000

David A. Herrera, 24, was arrested May 21, 2024, at U.S. Highway 93, mile marker 72, and charged with possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams and using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Bail: $5,640

Conner J. Christensen, 29, was arrested May 22, 2024, at 1091 Cobre St. in Wells and charged with battery by strangulation. Bail: $50,000

Anthony P. Burnett, 56, was arrested May 23, 2024, at Fifth Street and Chris Avenue and charged with gross misdemeanor conspiracy to commit a crime. Bail: $2,500

Mindi S. Dixon, 51, was arrested May 23, 2024, at 2363 Fifth St. and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance of less than 14 grams and using or possessing drug paraphernalia. Bail: $10,640.

Ashton R. Moses, 26, was arrested May 23, 2024, on a warrant charging failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $10,000

Joshua A. Warner, 26, was arrested May 24, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and grand larceny between $1,200 and $5,000. Bail: $1,000

Michael M. Ferguson, 31, was arrested May 25, 2024, at the Elko County Jail and charged with duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury. Bail: $100,000

Clinton G. Sandstrom, 40, was arrested May 25, 2024 at 5356 Herford Drive in Osino and charged with possessing, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and grand larceny of a motor vehicle. Bail: $2,000

Beaux M. Morgan, 41, was arrested May 26, 2024, at 2520 Mountain City Hwy. and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Bail: $200,000

Austin Nickeson, 27, was arrested May 27, 2024, at 4364 Nez Perce St. and charged with false imprisonment. Bail: $5,000
Amid polling in nine Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal during the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha Election on Saturday, reports of poll-related violence and tension surfaced from several pockets, including Sandeshkhali and Bhangar.

The violence reportedly started late Friday night and continued till the polling process began on Saturday. Sandeshkhali under Basirhat Lok Sabha and Bhangar under Jadavpur Lok Sabha were the epicentres of the tension.

In Sandeshkhali, tension started mounting late Friday night after a group of local women came out on the streets carrying bamboo sticks protesting against the alleged threats to their family members by local Trinamool Congress activists accompanied by the state police.

The women also alleged that the local goons who were behind such threats were close associates of now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who is currently behind bars.

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari and BJP Information Technology cell chief Amit Malviya shared the videos of the protesting women at Sandeshkhali.

Malviya said the West Bengal police, on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees instruction, police ran a midnight operation to intimidate voters of Sandeshkhali.

In a midnight operation, WB Police, on the instructions of Mamata Banerjee, is going door to door in Bermajur, which is in #Sandeshkhali, and intimidating BJP booth agents. Women are being threatened and abused. Their voter cards are being snatched and they are being told not to pic.twitter.com/bPSPed86VS Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) May 31, 2024

In a midnight operation, WB Police, on the instructions of Mamata Banerjee, is going door to door in Bermajur, which is in #Sandeshkhali, and intimidating BJP booth agents. Women are being threatened and abused. Their voter cards are being snatched and they are being told not to sit in the booths tomorrow. Power has been shut in the entire area. Local TMC goons are guiding the police. There is no woman cop accompanying them, as should have been the case, if this was a legitimate exercise. Mamata Banerjee will pay for her sins. But for now we are ensuring protection for our karyakartas, Malviya said in a post on X.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari also claimed police personnel and civic volunteers in plain clothes are roaming around in different areas of the island to threaten voters, especially women.

Mamata Banerjees last ditch desperate attempt to suppress Sandeshkhali before Election.Chappal wearing Police personnel & Civic Volunteers in plain clothes are roaming around in different areas of Sandeshkhali in order to intimidate and threaten Voters, especially women. pic.twitter.com/3SjeYfTMVT Suvendu Adhikari (Modi Ka Parivar) (@SuvenduWB) May 31, 2024

Mamata Banerjees last ditch desperate attempt to suppress Sandeshkhali before Election. Chappal wearing Police personnel & Civic Volunteers in plain clothes are roaming around in different areas of Sandeshkhali in order to intimidate and threaten Voters, especially women. However they were confronted by the brave Ladies of Sandeshkhali in the Booth nos 153 & 154; Bermojur 2 area of the Sandeshkhali Assembly Constituency. The Voters of the Basirhat Parliamentary Constituency will Vote tomorrow (technically today). Police is trying their level best to favour the ruling party, he posted in X.

However, the state police denied the allegations and said that the tension flared up after some local BJP supporters had beaten up a couple of civic volunteers at Sandeshkhali.

Similarly, tension broke out in front of a polling booth at Bhangar since the beginning of the polling process at 7 a.m. on Saturday following clashes between Trinamool Congress and All India Secular Front (AISF) activists.

A woman AISF activist received head injuries following the clashes. Earlier, the vehicle of the AISF candidate Nur Alam Khan was also vandalized allegedly by a group of Trinamool Congress activists.

BJP claimed that bombs were hurled in Bhangar, where villagers threw an EVM and VVPAT machine in a pond because TMC goons wont let them vote.

In Kultali, locals were forced to throw an EVM into a pond after relentless threats from TMC goons terrorized voters and booth agents families.TMC thugs sent white clothes and flowers to intimidate BJP booth agents. This is the state of democracy in WB under TMCs tyranny. pic.twitter.com/4vp4Axlg5R  BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) June 1, 2024

Democracy is up in flames in West Bengal. Bombs have been hurled in Jadavpurs Bhangar, irate villagers in Joynagars Kultali have thrown an EVM and VVPAT machine in a pond because TMC goons wont let them vote

But the worse affected is Diamond Harbour, where Mamata Banerjees nephew and heir apparent is contesting from. BJP workers are being intimidated, not allowed to sit in the booths, their polling documents Ana ched and destroyed WB Police is acting like Abhishek Banerjees henchmen. Even the Muslims have not been spared because a large number of them are voting for CPI(M) candidate Pratikur Rahman. TMCs secularism dies the moment Muslims start voting against it, Amit Malviya posted on X.

This incident happened in the morning around 6am much before polling process Bengal. Police and CAPF immediately intervened and have taken steps against miscreants. Legal action initiated. Polling in Bhangar started without any interruption and is going on peacefully. https://t.co/GMJRTdMc41 Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) June 1, 2024

The nine Lok Sabha constituencies where polls are being conducted on Saturday are Kolkata-Dakshin and Kolkata-Uttar in Kolkata, Jadavpur, Jaynagar, Mathurapur and Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas and Basirhat, Barasat, and Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas.

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.

Sandeshkhali had shot into the limelight on January 5 when and Enforcement Department team was attacked there when it had gone to raid the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam.

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.

(With IANS Inputs)

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
The INDIA bloc is predicted to sweep Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with a seat tally between 36-39 seats, according to the News18 Mega Exit Poll released on Saturday evening following the culmination of seven-phase voting in general elections.

The News18 Mega Exit Poll is predicting 1-3 seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance also predicted to fall in the same range. The Congress may get 8-10 seats in the state but it is its INDIA bloc ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) that is tipped to do the heavy lifting for the alliance. The INDIA bloc could get between 36-39 seats in Tamil Nadu. The opposition AIAMDK could be in trouble with the News18 Exit Poll predicting 0-2 seats for the party.

The neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry is also predicted to go the Congress way. The lone Puducherry Lok Sabha seat had recorded 77.86% polling. The fight here is between the BJPs A Namassivayam and Congress MP V Vaithilingam, who is seeking a successive term.

TAMIL NADU VOTER TURNOUT STATS

Tamil Nadu, one of the most-talked about states this election, witnessed a three-way race between the BJP-led NDA, the AIADMK and the INDIA bloc comprising the DMK, Congress and other parties.

The state recorded a voter turnout of 72.09% in the Lok Sabha polls held in a single phase on April 19. In 2019, the state had registered 72.44% polling.

While Kallakurichi in northern Tamil Nadu saw the highest voting percentage of 75.67%, Central Chennai recorded 67.35%, the lowest.

In Coimbatore, where BJP state president K Annamalai is facing a three-way challenge from DMKs Ganapathy Rajkumar, AIADMKs Singai G Ramachandran and Naam Tamilar Katchis (NTK) Kalamani Jaganathan, 71.17% voter turnout was recorded.

South Chennai, where BJPs Tamilisai Soundararajan is trying her luck saw 67.82% polling. DMKs Tamizachi Thangapandian and AIADMKs J Jayavardhan are her main rivals.

Dharmapuri recorded the second highest polling of 75.44%. NDA ally, PMKs Sowmiya Anbumani, DMKs A Mani and AIADMKs R Asokan are the main contenders here.

KEY CANDIDATES

Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP, South Chennai

Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP, Kanniyakumari

Karti Chidambaram, Congress, Sivaganga

S Jothimani, Congress, Karur

Kanimozhi, DMK, Thoothukudi

Dayanidhi Maran, DMK, Central Chennai

Singai G Ramachandran, AIADMK, Coimbatore

J Jayavardhan, AIADMK, South Chennai

O Panneerselvam, Independent, Ramanathapuram

TTV Dhinakaran, AMMK, Theni

TAMIL NADU ELECTION CAMPAIGNING RECAP

The contest was largely three-way with ruling DMK, AIADMK and BJP leading respective blocs. It was marked by fierce campaigns and acrimonious debates, and a never-seen-before kind of spirited fight put up by the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to gain a foothold in the Dravidian land in 2024.

Arguably, the 2024 LS polls is the only one in recent history in which the BJP set the tone for campaign discourse by mounting attacks rather than being in defence by coming up with disclosures on Katchatheevu issue besides vehemently taking up other matters.

Katchatheevu issue led to a slanging match between the saffron party, led by a fierce K Annamalai, and the DMK-Congress combine.

While the BJP alleged betrayal by the DMK-Congress, the Dravidian and grand old parties posed questions on Chinese incursions. PM Modis campaign also saw Katchatheevu issue getting prominence to a great degree and he sought to pin down the DMK-Congress saying fishermen now pay the price for their betrayal.

The PM also dwelt on the drug menace, following the arrest of expelled office-bearer of the DMK, Jaffer Sadiq, by the NCB and the threat to eradicate Sanatana Dharma. In effect, Modis campaign was exhaustive in Tamil Nadu and he addressed rallies in several constituencies, including Chennai, Coimbatore, Vellore and Tirunelveli.

A PM visiting Tamil Nadu nine times before a Lok Sabha election was undoubtedly a first in the states history. It demonstrated the BJPs resolve to break the electoral jinx it faces in the Dravidian land, almost on its own, with the support of only fewer allies, whose influence is confined to select regions.

Prime Minister Modi was in Kanniyakumari on May 30 again to meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial to mark the end of the BJPs Lok Sabha election campaign. Modis choice to meditate in Kanniyakumari also underscores the partys South India push.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi, the BJPs key ally has focused its energies in Dharmapuri, where Sowmiya Anbumani is in the fray.

DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, the star campaigner of his party, led the campaign on the themes of social justice, his regimes welfare measures and dangers the nation faced due to the BJP, which has wrecked fiscal federalism. A key focus of the DMKs campaign was on its battle to get funds from Centre including for flood relief.

Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of MK Stalin, crisscrossed the state, held roadshows and targeted the BJP on a slew of issues including the Madurai AIIMS being a non-starter. Stalin Junior, who hogged the limelight last year for his controversial Sanatana Dharma remark, travelled to almost 121 locations across 39 constituencies, cementing his position as second-in-command in the party.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was among the early birds on poll landscape and he addressed a rally of ally SDPI in January and said there is no need to project a PM face to seek votes.

The main opposition partys campaign was steered by Palaniswami, former CM and leader of opposition who took on the ruling DMK over every single issue that mattered, including alleged collapse of law and order and drug menace.

EXIT POLLS METHODOLOGY

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with inked finger per household. In case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for interview.

On-spot checks by senior field manager and executives, geo-tagging of interviews and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.

Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
Follow the live updating tables on this page for the 2024 Tawang election result in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election.

About

2. Tawang is an Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) constituency in Arunachal Pradesh. This constituency is located in the North East region of India and in the West region within Arunachal Pradesh. This seat includes the following districts of Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang. Tawang Assembly seat can be classified as: and the reservation status of this seat is: Scheduled Tribe. 2. Tawang is on Friday, April 19, 2024. along with voting in Phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha general election

Number of Contestants

In the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, there were 2 candidates contesting from Tawang Assembly constituency. In 2019 the number of contestants for this seat was 2, while in 2014 there were 2 candidates, and the number was 1 in the 2009 polls.

Contesting Candidates 2024

1. Tsering Dorjee, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); 2. Namgey Tsering, National Peoples Party (NPP).

Demographic Profile

There were a total of 10,649 registered voters on the electoral rolls for the 2024 Assembly election, of which 5,220 were male, 5,429 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2019 Assembly elections, there were a total of 9,970 registered voters, of which 5,220 were male, 4,968 female and 0 of the third gender. In 2014 elections, there were a total of 10,082 registered voters in this constituency, of which 5,139 were male, 4,943 female and 0 of the third gender. In the 2009 polls, the number of total electors was 9,812 which included 5,092 male, and 4,720 female.

The number of service voters in Assembly constituency was 108 in 2019, 62 in 2014 and 60 in 2009.

The electorate gender ration (number of female voters per 1000 male voters) in this constituency in 2024 was 1040, in 2019 it was 993, 962 in 2014 and 927 in 2009.

Location

The geographic coordinates of Tawang Assembly constituency are: 273952.6N 915151.5E. Tawang shares its borders with two other Assembly constituencies. Other Arunachal Pradesh Assembly constituencies adjacent to Tawang are: Lumla, Mukto. This constituency shares an inter-state border with: China.

Poll Dates

Tawang Assembly constituency went to the polls in Phase 1 of the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections on Friday, April 19, 2024. The counting of votes is on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In the 2019 state Assembly elections, this seat voted in Phase 1 on Thursday, April 11, 2019 and the results were declared on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

In the 2014 polls, this constituency voted in Phase 1 on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 and the results were declared on Friday, May 16, 2014.

In 2009, Tawang was scheduled to vote in Phase 1 on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 and the results were to be declared on Tuesday, October 22, 2009. However, because of only one contesting candidate in this constituency, voting was not necessary for this seat and the candidate was declared an unopposed winner.

Voter Turnout

According to data released by the Election Commission of India, in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the estimated voter turnout in Arunachal Pradesh constituency was 75%. In 2019, this seat registered a turnout of 77.13%, while it was 79.31% in 2013 and 0% in 2009. The estimated turnout in 2024 was -2.13% compared to the 2019 turnout.

Past Results

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Tsering Tashi of BJP won in this seat defeating Thupten Tempa of INC by a margin of 3592 votes which was 47.12% of the total votes cast for the seat. BJP had a vote share of 72.77% in 2019 in this seat.

In 2014, Tsering Tashi of IND emerged victorious in this seat beating Tsewang Dhondup of INC by a margin of 5054 votes which was 63.49% of the total votes polled in the constituency. IND secured a vote share of 80.67% in the seat.

In the 2009 state Assembly elections, Tsewang Dhondup of INC won this seat uncontested.

Winner Margin

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Tsering Tashi of BJP won in this constituency beating Thupten Tempa of INC by a margin of 3,592 votes which was 47.12% of the total votes cast. In 2014, Tsering Tashi of IND was the winner in this seat beating Tsewang Dhondup of INC by a margin of 5,054 votes which was 63.49% of the total votes polled in the constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Tsewang Dhondup of INC won this seat uncontested.

Winner Voteshare

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Tsering Tashi of BJP had a vote share of 72.77% in this seat. In 2014, Tsering Tashi of IND secured a vote share of 80.67% in this constituency. In the 2009 Assembly elections, Tsewang Dhondup of INC won uncontested in Tawang.

Consituency Extent

According the latest delimitation documents for 2. Tawang Assembly seat, the extent of this constituency covers the following areas of Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang Circle excluding Villages: 1. Kudung, 2. Pamaghar, 3. Sakpret, 4. Thongleng, 5. Shobrang, 6. Menteng, 7. Khamba, 8. Lumkhang, 9. Lhoudung, 10. Paigong, 11. Greling, 12. Khaigang (Khrig Gang), and 13. Rigyang..
Thirteen poll personnel deployed in this Uttar Pradesh district died following high fever and high blood pressure amid heatwave conditions in the region. Twenty-three others were admitted to a hospital in Mirzapur.

Three more people on election duty died and eight were taken ill of suspected heatstroke in Sonbhadra district, a senior official said on Friday.

Dr Raj Bahadur Kamal, the principal of Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College in Mirzapur, told PTI that seven home guard jawans, three sanitation workers, one clerk posted at the Chief Medical Officers office, one chakbandi adhikaari (consolidation officer), and one peon in the home guard team died. They were on poll duty.

The exact cause of the deaths is being ascertained, he said.

They had high-grade fever and high blood pressure when they were brought to the facility, he added.

However, Homeguards Commandant B K Singh said that of the seven deceased jawans, five were on poll duty, while two were on law and order duty.

Medical college principal Kamal said, Of the 13 casualties, four were brought dead. Of these four, two were home guard jawans. Of the seven home guard jawans who died, five succumbed after they were brought to the hospital in 20-25 minutes.

The deceased home guard jawans were in the 50-55 age group. As of now, 23 people have been admitted to the hospital, he said. Of these, one is a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) jawan, one from the fire services and one from the civil police, he said.

All of them came with high-grade temperature. Almost all of them had high blood pressure and high sugar levels. Most home guard jawans had co-morbid conditions. The cause of death will be known in the post-mortem report, Kamal added.

Dr Tarun Singh, Superintendent in Chief of Divisional Medical College, Mirzapur told PTI that 23 poll personnel including homeguards were admitted to the hospital. One patient has been referred to Varanasi for treatment.

The region has been witnessing unusually high temperatures over the past few days. Polling is scheduled to be held in Mirzapur on Saturday.

Superintendent of Police (Mirzapur) Abhinandan said in a video message on X, Lok Sabha elections are to be held on June 1 in Mirzapur district. Polling parties have been dispatched today. During this period, six home guards died tragically. Two of them are from Gonda district. One is from Prayagraj, one from Basti, one from Kaushambi and one from Mirzapur district.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, he said and added that their families were informed.

Meanwhile, Homeguards Commandant, Mirzapur, B K Singh was seen enquiring about the wellbeing of the admitted jawans and also comforting them.

Today, the movement of the polling parties was to be done from Polytechnic. Our jawans have come here after discharging their duties in the six phases of the (Lok Sabha) polls. They were tired. The heat is so intense that even if they drink water and move a few steps, their lips will become dry, he told PTI.

The jawans could not bear this heat. And all these incidents took place in a span of one hour to one-and-half hours. And by then our 6-7 jawans had died.

Of these, two were from Gonda, two from Prayagraj, one from Basti and two from Mirzapur district. The two home guard jawans from Mirzapur were on law and order (shaanti vyavasthaa) duty, and not on poll duty, Singh said.

Singh added that he himself gave ORS fluids to the jawans in the camp, but the heat was intense.

It has been continuing since April 19 (when the first phase of elections were held)this is the result of such a tiring journey, Singh said.

Reacting to the deaths of the poll personnel in Mirzapur, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded the government break its silence and provide relief to the families that have been ruined due to mismanagement.

He also demanded the government immediately announce a compensation of Rs 5 crore each for the victims families and provide the best treatment to all the other workers who have fallen ill due to the heat.

In Sonbhadra, the personnel were being dispatched for poll duty from the Polytechnic College in Robertsganj  Sonbhadras administrative headquarters  in the afternoon when 11 of them suddenly fell ill, said District Magistrate Chandra Vijay Singh.

They were immediately sent to the district hospital where Nityanand Pandey (50) and a 35-year-old poll duty personnel died.

According to the district information department (of Sonbhadra), a bus owner/driver Santosh Kumar (55) also died.

The deceased was taking a polling party to the Ghorawal assembly segment when his health suddenly deteriorated and he was sent to the district hospital for treatment, but his condition did not improve.

He was referred to a private hospital where he died during treatment.

Eight poll personnel are undergoing treatment at the district hospital where their condition is said to be serious, said Singh.

While the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, the district magistrate said the symptoms appeared to be that of heat stroke.

Singh said the exact cause of the deaths will be known after post-mortem.

Mirzapur and Sonbhadra Lok Sabha seats will vote in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state on June 1 (Saturday).

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 on Saturday concluded his 45-hour-long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial here and said he felt a divine energy.

On conclusion of his dhyana session, Modi, clad in white, visited the 133-ft statue of Thiruvalluvar, located next to the rock memorial and placed a huge garland there marking his tribute. He arrived at the statue complex by a ferry service and later reached the shore using the service.

BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a post on X said: On completing his meditation on the Vivekananda Rock Memorial PM @narendramodi writes: Visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, I feel a divine energy. Furthermore, the PM said: It is on this rock that Mother Parvati and Swami Vivekananda had meditated. Later, Eknath Ranade transformed this rock into a Shila Smarak that brought Swami Vivekanandas thoughts to life.

Swami Vivekananda, a leader of spiritual renaissance, has been my ideal, my energy, and the source of my spirituality. Years ago, after traveling across the entire country, when Swami Vivekananda meditated here, it was here that he envisioned a new direction for Indias revival.

It is my fortune that today, after so many years, as India embodies the values and ideals of Swami Vivekananda, I too have had the opportunity to meditate at this sacred place.

My meditation at this Shila Smarak is one of the unforgettable moments of my life. Sitting at the feet of Ma Bharati, I once again reaffirm my resolve that every moment of my life and every particle of my body will always be dedicated to the service of the nation.

With wishes for the progress of the nation and the welfare of its citizens, I offer my utmost reverence to Ma Bharati.

The Prime Minister left by a helicopter for Thiruvananthapuram and from there, he left for Delhi. On his arrival here on May 30, the PM prayed at the Bhagavathy Amman temple and later arrived at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

During his stay at the memorial, the PM did meditation and also performed Surya Arghya at the time of sunrise, a ritual associated with spiritual practice. Modi was clad in saffron while he was engaged in meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

The PMs visit to Kanyakumari to perform meditation evoked opposition from INDIA bloc constituents including Tamil Nadus ruling DMK. The opposition was to the broadcast of meditation in view of last phase of polling on June 1.

In view of the PMs stay, senior DMK leader and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan on May 31 alleged that tourists were not allowed in that area which had seriously affected the local businesses and we have pointed out that this is not good. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai on Saturday told reporters that those doing meditation do it peacefully without any hindrance and all alone. How can a person do Dhyana with 14 cameras in front of him? Is this meditation? This is dhyana eyeing electoral politics, the Congress leader alleged. He accused Modi of trying to sully Swami Vivekanandas reputation by acting against the spiritual leaders legacy and hence, condemnable.

At the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the PM embarked on his 45-hour long meditation on the evening of May 30 and completed it on Saturday. Kanyakumari is famous for its sunrise and sunset and the memorial is located on a tiny islet near the shoreline.

Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
An IndiGo flight, with 172 persons on board landed in full emergency conditions at Mumbai airport on Saturday after it received a bomb threat. Flight number 6E 5314 from Chennai to Mumbai, landed at around 8.45 am and is currently undergoing inspection.

After departing from Chennai at approximately 6:50 am, the flight was en route when it received a bomb alert asking the pilot to not land the plane in Mumbai, sources said.

Confirming the alleged bomb threat to its Chennai-Mumbai flight, IndiGo said in a statement, Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines.

IndiGo issues a press statement  IndiGo flight 6E 5314 operating from Chennai to Mumbai had received a bomb threat. Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines. All passengers have safely pic.twitter.com/sdgH9ZrgRx

All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft, which is currently undergoing inspection, it said.

Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area, it added.

This comes a day after a bomb threat targeting a Vistara flight was received at Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar airport on Friday, which turned out to be a hoax after a thorough check.

This is also the second such incident involving an IndiGo flight in the past week. On May 28, an IndiGo Varanasi flight from Delhi received an alleged bomb threat.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Lawrence Bishnois gang had intended to attack actor Salman Khan while he was at his farmhouse in Maharashtras Panvel, police sources said on Saturday. Automatic weapons, including AK-47, M-16 and AK-92, brought from Pakistan were to be used for the attack.

As per Navi Mumbai Police, the Bishnoi gang was preparing to kill the actor with the Turkey-made Zigana pistol, which was also used to kill Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

Sources said that Navi Mumbai police have arrested four people. Lawrence, his brother Anmol Bishnoi and Goldie Brar had hatched the conspiracy. Last month, Mumbai Police sources told CNN-News18 that one of the two arms suppliers in the firing case outside Salmans residence, Anuj Thapan, died by suicide in a lock-up. An accidental death report has been registered at Azad Maidan police station in south Mumbai.

The 23-year-old accused hanged himself inside the toilet of the lock-up using a bedsheet. He was rushed to the state-run GT Hospital, where he was declared dead during treatment. Thapan was arrested from Punjab along with Sonu Kumar Bishnoi for allegedly supplying weapons to shooters Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, who were already arrested, according to police.

According to sources, the police will also investigate why Thapan took such a drastic step. Meanwhile, two others, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, who allegedly fired the gunshots outside Salmans residence are also in police custody. They were arrested after they were caught on CCTV leaving the area on a motorcycle on the night the incident happened.

The accused in the firing case were known to be connected with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Soon after the incident, Lawrence Bishnois brother Anmol Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the attack in a Facebook post.

(with agency inputs)

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 including Voter Turnout and Exit Polls. Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed grief over the May 19 Pune Porsche crash and promised the guilty will not be spared, the father of IT professional Ashwini Koshta, who was killed in the incident, said here on Saturday.

An officer on special duty sent by the Maharashtra government to Jabalpur facilitated the talk over phone with CM Shinde, Ashwinis father Suresh Koshta told PTI.

Ashwini Koshta and Anish Awadhiya, both 24-year-old IT professionals hailing from Madhya Pradesh, died on May 19 after a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old drunk boy, hit their motorcycle in Kalyani Nagar in Pune.

The subsequent revelations of a massive cover-up to ensure the minor gets off the hook allegedly involving his kin as well as doctors from a state-run hospital in Maharashtras second largest city provoked national outrage.

CM Shinde expressed grief over the incident. He assured us of a thorough investigation in the case. He asserted the the culprits will not be spared. The Maharashtra CM told me he will monitor the case and review it daily, Suresh Koshta informed.

Expressing shock at the alleged involvement of the mother of the juvenile in the conspiracy to change the blood samples collected to test alcohol consumption, Suresh Koshta said he was extremely pained to see so many departments indulge in corrupt practices to cover up the matter.

It is unimaginable. No one can be trusted these days, rued Ashwinis distraught mother Mamta Koshta.

Suresh Koshta said he had sought the intervention of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to ensure the probe into the case in the neighbouring state is carried out in a fair and transparent manner.

On Saturday, the juveniles mother was arrested after the Pune polices probe confirmed that his blood samples were replaced with hers.

During the day, the Pune police spoke to the minor for about an hour in their presence of his mother in the observation home where he is lodged till June 5.

Pune police have so far arrested the minors father, grandfather, two doctors and a staffer of government-run Sassoon Hospital for alleged involvement in various aspects of the case, ranging from swapping of blood samples to confining and threatening a driver to take blame for the crash.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 including Voter Turnout and Exit Polls. Check detailed seat predictions based on Exit Poll Results 2024 LIVE . Get minute-by-minute updates on the exit polls from Andhra Pradesh.
Narendra Modi will this month be sworn in as Indias Prime Minister for a historic third time, a News18 Mega Exit Poll indicated on Saturday, predicting between 305 and 315 Lok Sabha seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party and 355 to 370 overall for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the just-concluded elections, with the votes to be counted on June 4.

According to the survey, the Congress may get only about 62-72 seats in the elections, while its INDIA bloc could end up with a tally of 125-140.

Parties outside the two alliances could net 42-52 seats.

North-South narrative collapse?

The exit poll indicates the BJP may largely maintain its dominance in bastions like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and the national capital.

It also predicts an improved performance by the NDA in the south and West Bengal. The BJP is even expected to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

What happened in 2019

In 2019, exit polls predicted an average of 306 seats for the NDA and 120 for the UPA. The actual results were significantly higher for the NDA, which won 352 seats (with the BJP alone securing 303), while the UPA won only 93 seats (with the Congress getting 52).

This time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of over 400 seats for the NDA, with the BJP aiming for more than 370 seats.

Exit poll methodology

The News18 Poll Hub survey covered all 518 seats in 21 major states, which account for 95% of Lok Sabha constituencies in the country. In each Lok Sabha constituency, 180 interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire, which was translated into 11 regional languages. For phases one to six, the interviews were conducted the day after, as it is known to yield more reliable responses, and the traditional exit poll  asking people coming out of the polling booth  was carried out for Phase 7.

A total sample size of 93,240 across 21 states was planned, but over 95,000 was achieved. In each Lok Sabha constituency, three Vidhan Sabha constituencies were covered, with 10 polling booths in each selected through random sampling. Around each polling station, trained investigators conducted 15 door-to-door interviews  one eligible respondent with an inked finger per household. In the case of the exit poll, near each polling station, 15 interviews were conducted of people coming out after casting their votes, with every fifth person stopped for an interview.

On-spot checks by senior field managers and executives, geo-tagging of interviews, and telephonic back-checks for 20% of the sample in each state were among the many steps taken to maintain quality.

Read The Latest Updates On Lok Sabha Election 2024 Here.
The 17-year-old Porsche driver, who crushed two motorbike riders to death in Punes Kalyani Nagar, has not answered any questions pertaining to the investigation, sources told News18.

Pune police spoke to the minor for about an hour at the observation home, where he has been sent till June 5, in his mothers presence.

Earlier in the day, the cops arrested his mother, Shivani Agarwal, after confirmation that that accuseds blood samples were replaced with hers. She is likely to be produced in a court during the day.

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Friday permitted the police to probe the teenager. Under the Juvenile Justice Act, the inquiry of a minor has to be conducted in the parents presence.

Two IT professionals were killed in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar in Pune after a Porsche allegedly being driven by the minor, who the police claim was drunk, rammed into their two-wheeler.

The minors father, realtor Vishal Agarwal, and grandfather Surendra Agarwal have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping the familys driver and putting pressure on him to take the blame.

A court on Friday remanded the teenagers father and grandfather in judicial custody for 14 days after their police custody ended.

(With inputs from PTI)

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Aditi Rao Hydaris portrayal of Bibbojaan in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has won the audiences heart. Upon the series premiere last month, the actress was showered with love and admiration like never before. And, it hasnt stopped yet. Recently, a fan created a portrait of the Heeramandi star, showcasing love for Aditi Rao Hydaris incredible role.

The handmade portrait featured Aditis character from the recently released web series. We can see the replica of Bibbojaan, dressed in her courtesan avatar and heavy traditional jewellery comprising mang tikka, nath, earrings and choker necklace. Seemingly, the fan put considerable effort into creating the beautiful artwork. Aditi, pleased to receive the sweetest present, shared the portrait on her Instagram handle. It was captioned, Bibbojaan In Heeramandi.

The star has caught the fans attention for other reasons as well. Her before and after photos are going viral once again on the internet. The pictures highlighting her transformation over the years have fans noting how she looks quite different from her early days. Besides, speculations about the actress going under the knife to achieve this look have also stirred the Internet.

Meanwhile, Aditi also created waves with her recent 77th Cannes Film Festival appearance. Making India proud yet again, she walked the red carpet as a brand ambassador for the French cosmetic label, LOreal Paris. If you arent living under a rock, you must be aware of her viral Gajagamini walk in Heeramandi. The Bollywood star paid homage to the iconic walk of her character on the French Riviera. Delighting her fans, she recreated the legendary walk on the Cannes street, reminiscent of Bibbojaans style and captioned the video, By popular demand.

After garnering love for her performance in Heeramandi, Aditi is set to weave magic through her upcoming film Gandhi Talks. The film will also feature superstar Vijay Sethupathi. Besides, she will also be a part of Kajri Babbars English film titled Lioness.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts daughter, Shiloh, has filed to change her name. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt has legally requested to drop Pitt from her surname, according to multiple international media reports. The teenager has made a request for a new legal name, i.e. Shiloh Jolie.

The documents were filed on Monday, May 27, which coincided with Shilohs 18th birthday. TMZ first reported the news. Jolie and Pitt share three biological children  including Shiloh and 15-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox  as well as three adopted children, sons Maddox, 22, and Pax, 20, and daughter Zahara, 19. As per TMZ, Shilohs request for the name change is yet to be granted.

The strained relationship between the once-celebrated Hollywood couple has evidently affected their kids, prompting them to take steps to distance themselves from their father. Most recently, 15-year-old Vivienne made headlines for reportedly dropping Pitt from her name. In the Playbill credits for The Outsiders, a Broadway play she assisted with earlier this year, her name appeared as Vivienne Jolie, according to reports from OK Magazine.

Despite these actions, there have also been reports that Brad Pitt is trying to maintain a good relationship with his children. According to a source in InTouch, Pitt has been meeting his kids regularly and making efforts to rebuild their relationship. However, the actions of his children, such as dropping his surname, suggest otherwise.

Vivienne is not the first to do so; her older sisters, Zahara and Shiloh, have also taken similar steps. Zahara introduced herself at a Spelman College sorority event without using Pitt as her surname, informed OK Magazine. Reportedly, Shilohs private Instagram account, as seen in a dance video tagged by choreographer Lil Kellaan Carter, shows her name as Shi Jolie.

Earlier this year, Angelina Jolie alleged, via lawyers in a new court filing, that Brad Pitt was abusive toward her prior to the 2016 plane incident. At trial, Jolie will prove through testimony, emails, photographs, and other evidence why Pitt was so concerned about his own misconduct that he blew up his own deal to purchase Jolies interest in Miraval because she refused to agree to his new, expansive NDA, the filing read.
Turns out Jennifer Lopez will not be getting loud after all. On The JLo newsletter subscribers received an email from Lopez on Friday, stating Representatives for Live Nation announced today that the Jennifer Lopez US Summer 2024 Tour THIS IS MELIVE is canceled.

Jennifer is taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends, the announcement stated. Lopez then offered a personal message to her fans.

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, Lopez wrote. 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

CNN confirmed the tours cancellation with a representative for Live Nation.

For those who purchased through Ticketmaster, tickets will automatically be refunded  there is nothing further fans need to do, the company shared in an email response to CNN, echoing what Lopez shared with her fans. For those who purchased via third-party resale sites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, etc.  please reach out to your point of purchase for more details.

The news comes amid recent reports Jennifer Lopez and her husband Ben Affleck have been living apart. CNN has reached out to representatives for both stars for comment.

The couple married in July 2022. Lopezs tour was scheduled to kickoff June 26 in Orlando.
Bollywood actor Govinda is considered a gem in the industry, a name familiar to any of the film lovers in the 90s and 2000s. The Partner actor recently ventured back to the world of politics after a long gap, by joining Shiv Sena. Even though he has been missing from the silver screen for a few years, the actor lives a luxurious life and is an owner of several properties. Know all the details here.

As per the reports, the actors current net worth stands at 18 million dollars or Rs 150 crore. A major portion of his earnings were amassed through his successful releases while he also earned well through good brand endorsements. The reports state further that his annual income is around Rs 12 crore and he earns around Rs 1 crore per month.

Govinda owns several luxurious properties in Mumbai, where he lives in his Bungalow named Jai Darshan, priced at Rs 16 crore. Apart from this, he has a property in Ruia Park in Juhu and the other in Mud Island. Reportedly, the Mud Island property was bought for Rs 1 crore, which is mainly used as a place for film shoots. And the Ruia Park bungalow is on a lease, through which the actor earns lakhs. He is also a big investor in several real estate properties.

The actor also owns a bungalow in Kolkata as well as 90,000 square feet of farming land in Lucknow. Reports state further that he has a farmhouse in Raigad, which is used as a holiday home.

Govinda last appeared in Rangeela Raja, released in 2019. Directed by Sikander Bharti, the actor played a double role in the film. The cast also included Mishika Chourasia, Anupama Agnihotri, Digangana Suryavanshi, Prem Chopra and others. It is produced by Pahlaj Nihalani under the banner of Chiragdeep International. The music in the film is composed by Ishwar Kumar. It was released on January 18, 2019.
Veteran actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Mithun Chakraborty cast his vote in the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. He was seen at a polling booth in West Bengals Belgachia. After casting his vote, he told ANI, I have done my duty. I will talk about films from tomorrow because I have to feed my family too.

Mithun Chakraborty has had an illustrious journey in the film industry since 1976 and has been the recipient of several prestigious honours, including the National Award, among others.

On April 22, the veteran actor was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award, the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan. After which, the superstar met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several photos of the duo recently went viral. This is also the first time they have met since Mithun was hospitalised.

Mithuns son, Mimoh Chakraborty, shared the photos and wrote, What an honour and privilege it is to be your son! You are my hero, dad! You are the greatest man I know, and you are so deserving of this award! Congrats on your Padma Bhushan Award! .

Have a look at the photos:

Earlier this year, Mithun suffered a stroke and was hospitalised for the treatment. Following his discharge, Mithun spoke with the media and revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned him once he was stable. Apart from checking up on him, he revealed PM Modi scolded him. The actor-turned-politician told PTI that PM Modi scolded him for not taking care of himself.

PTI reported that Mithun revealed he got a scolding for not taking care of his health. Besides that, Mithun also revealed that he was feeling better now. There is actually no problem; I am absolutely fine. I have to keep control of my food habits. Lets see; I may start working soon, maybe tomorrow, he said.

Mithun Chakraborty is one of the very few actors to receive a National Award for their first film. He won the award for his debut film, Mrigayaa, which was released in 1977. Mithuns 1982 film Disco Dancer had become almost a global phenomenon, doing extremely well across Asia, the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. Disco Dancer was also the second-highest-grossing film ever in the Soviet Union and the highest-grossing foreign film. The veteran actor is a very well-known figure in the erstwhile Soviet Union and Russia.
The Navi Mumbai police infiltrated the social media groups, including WhatsApp, of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang before arresting four of its members for allegedly plotting to attack actor Salman Khan, an official said on Saturday.

The action comes months after the police made arrests in connection with a firing outside the actors Bandra home in Mumbai.

Vivek Pansare, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone II (Panvel), told the media that Panvel police station senior inspector Nitin Thackeray got inputs in September-October last year about a conspiracy to harm the actor.

A few Navi Mumbai police officers and informers then infiltrated WhatsApp and other social media groups of the Bishnoi gang and began tracking the chatter on those platforms, he said.

The police said they learnt that the four arrested gang members had recced Salmans farmhouse in Panvel, the area around his home at Bandra in Mumbai and places he visited for film shooting.

There were even attempts to get weapons from abroad, he said.

After gathering inputs, cops in April registered a case against 17 persons, including Lawrence Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi, police said.

Accused Dhananjay Tapesingh, alias Ajay Kashyap (28) was arrested from Panvel on April 28. The same day, Gaurav Bhatia, alias Sandeep Bishnoi, was taken into custody from Gujarat, the official said.

While the third person Vaspi Khan, alias Waseem Chikna, was picked from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Rizwan Khan, alias Javed Khan, was arrested from Bangalore, he said.

They have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 120-B (Conspiracy) and 506 (criminal intimidation), the official said.

Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in the Sabarmati central prison in Gujarats Ahmedabad, while Anmol Bishnoi is believed to be in the US or Canada.

On April 14, two bike-borne men fired multiple rounds outside Khans home  Galaxy Apartments  in Mumbais Bandra. The shooters, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, were arrested from Gujarat.

Sonu Bishnoi and Anuj Thapan, who allegedly delivered weapons to the shooters, were nabbed later from Punjab. Thapan allegedly hanged himself in a police lock-up here on May 1. Mumbai police subsequently made more arrests in the case.
After her much needed break, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has resumed work. Amid The Bluff shoot, the actress recently dropped in a comfy mirror selfie flaunting her toned body. The pictures also gave a glimpse of her walk-in closet, as she posed donning smart Athleisure. Sharing the photo, the actress wrote, My Perfect Combo.

Have a look at the photo:

The actress will soon be seen in the highly anticipated film The Bluff. The actress recently gave a glimpse of the script reading session. The actress has begun work with good faith, as she wrote an Om  a sacred symbol, sound and mantra of the universe. Sharing the photo, she wrote, It Begins. Have a look at the photo:

Priyanka is currently in Australia, shooting for her upcoming film. She is all set to star alongside Karl Urban in The Bluff. The film will be streaming on Prime Video. The Bluff is being directed by Frank E. Flowers. He rose to fame after co-writing the hit film Bob Marley: One Love, which grossed over $120 million worldwide.

Coming back to The Bluff, the films plot is set in the 19th-century Caribbean and follows the story of a former female pirate. Chopra would be essaying the role of the pirate. In the film, the character then embarks on a journey to protect her family when the mysterious sins of her past catch up to her. The makers are planning to begin the films shoot in Australia. The film will be produced by AGBOs Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Michael Disco; Cinestar Pictures Cisely Saldana; and Mariel Saldana.

Priyanka Chopra is a global star. Not only does she enjoy unparalleled stardom in India, but in the USA as well. Apart from The Bluff, the actress has a couple of Hollywood projects in the works, including Head of State with John Cena and Citadel 2. The actress will also be making her comeback in Bollywood with the highly anticipated Jee Le Zara with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif.
Away from the frenetic pace and chaos of everyday life, superstar Rajinikanth has embarked on a spiritual journey in Kedarnath and Badrinath. He recently returned to India after his holiday in Dubai. Now, a photo of the actor from the Himalayas has gone viral. The superstar donned one of his brightest smiles, for the camera.

Speaking to ANI, Rajinikanth had earlier revealed that he was on his way to Kedarnath, Badrinath and another shrine. He was seen in a simple outfit while he was at the airport in Dehradun. He shared, Every year I used to get new experience that made me continue my spiritual journey again and again. I believe even this time, (I) will get new experiences.

He added, The whole world needs spirituality, as its important for every human being. Being spiritual means experiencing peace and tranquillity, and fundamentally, it involves believing in God.

Watch the video here:

Meanwhile, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth recently completed his schedule for Vettaiyan. A photo of the actor on his last day on the sets of the film surfaced online earlier this month. In the photo, the legendary Tamil star was seen posing with the crew of the film. The team presented the actor with a bouquet. Rajinikanth appeared to be in his look for the film. The actor sported ruffled hair and beard. On the last day of the shoot, the actor was seen wearing a grey shirt with a pair of pants.

Rajinikanth was seen flashing a big smile for the cameras. The photo was shared by the production house Lyca Productions. And it is a wrap for our Thalaivar! Superstar @rajinikanth completes filming his portion for Vettaiyan, the production house backing the film wrote.

Vettaiyan is being helmed by T J Gnanavel. It stars Rajinikanth as the protagonist, with an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Kishore, and Rohini. It is being produced by Subaskaran Allirajah under the banner of Lyca Productions. The music in the film is being given by Anirudh Ravichander, while S R Kathir is the cinematographer, and Philomin Raj is doing the editing.

Earlier this month, Rajinikanth and Amitabh were seen filming a few scenes together. Taking to his Instagram handle, Amitabh Bachchan shared photos of the two together and wrote, Am honoured and privileged to be with the Thala the Great Rajni again .. he hasnt changed at all .. the same simple humble down to earth friend despite his stratospheric greatness!!!

Earlier, Lycra Production house shared the photos on their X handle and wrote, The Titans of Indian Cinema! Superstar @rajinikanth and Shahenshah @SrBachchan grace the sets of Vettaiyan in Mumbai, with their unmatched charisma. In the photos, we can see Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth striking a pose in stylish black formals. They are even hugging and talking about something serious. As soon as the photos were shared, fans reacted. Many dropped heart emojis in the comment section.
Its been 15 years since Ankita Lokhande marked her acting debut with Pavitra Rishta. On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram handle to pen down a heartwarming note as she thanked everyone for the love she has received in these 15 years. Soon after, her husband, Vicky Jain also took to his Instagram to congratulate his wife.

Vicky took to his Instagram story and wrote, I remember Randeep Hooda once told me at the screening of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, You will be proud after watching your wifes performance! Cant agree more because Manku you have always made me proud. Today, indeed, is a very special day.

He added, Pavitra Rishta completes 15 years and it takes me back to your amazing roller-coaster journey. From me saying, Manku tu kar legi yaar, to actually seeing you to be there on the top, it fills my heart with immense joy. I am super proud of you. Keep on doing what your heart says and keep on rocking. Humari sabki Archana.

While Ankita used to play the role of Archana in Pavitra Rishta, the show also starred Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead. Earlier today, Ankita Lokhande dropped a video that featured several of her glimpses of Pavitra Rishta. It also featured glimpses of Ankitas performance in her other projects including the 2019 film, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. The video also included Ankitas clip Bigg Boss 17 in which she was seen talking about Pavitra Rishta.

In the caption of her video, Ankita penned down a long note as she also remembered Sushant Singh Rajput. The actress recalled how SSR used to help her on sets and added that she will always be thankful to him. Ankita and Sushant worked together in Pavitra Rishta. In the show, their chemistry as Archana and Manav respectively was widely loved by all. The two also dated for some time but later parted ways. Sushant was then found dead in his Mumbai apartment in June 2020.

Ankita concluded by saying that she is grateful to the television industry for making her what she is today. My first brush with fandom and stardom happened because of a television show, and I am always going to be thankful for that, she said.
Her critics may accuse Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of many shortcomings, but reckless overstatement is not one of them. So, when she alerts the world about a Western conspiracy to create a new Christian country out of Bangladesh and Myanmar, India has to take notice. And it has.

Speaking to her 14-party coalition in Dhaka this week, Hasina said a white man had offered to help her win the January 7 elections in Bangladesh easily if in return she allowed a foreign country to set up a military airbase in Bangladesh.

Without naming the nationality of the white man, she said the plan was to carve out an East Timor-like Christian nation from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The immediate speculation has been around America.

For many years, Washington is believed to have been eyeing St. Martins Island, a small island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Coxs Bazar-Teknaf peninsula in the southernmost part of Bangladesh.

In June 2023, a rumour spread in Dhaka that Washington was demanding St. Martins Island in return for supporting the ruling Awami League government. But US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US had no intention of taking control of St. Martins Island.

Also, the US Democratic Party establishment under Joe Biden has been long looking for a regime change in Bangladesh. Intel sources say while the US was initially punting on Nobel-winning economist and banker Muhammad Yunus  who is very close to the Clintons, Obamas, and Gates  it has now widened the net. Top US officials have been covertly in touch with senior politicians in Bangladesh from both the Awami League and the BNP, including saboteurs in Sheikh Hasinas own political and ministerial team.

The Indian government and intelligence agencies have been closely watching the developments and tracking Bangladeshi politicians who the West could use for a possible regime change.

The greater worry is any attempt to change the regions political map.

Although Hasina named just Myanmar and Bangladesh, the ongoing disturbance in Indias Manipur and the smell of a foreign hand there makes the spectre of a new Christian nation of particular concern for India.

Have the Western powers that Hasina referred to secretly joined hands with regional militant groups like the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)?

For many years, Christian missionaries and Western NGOs have been working in the border areas of Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar  Teknaf, Khagrachari and Rangamati in Bangladesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya in India, and the Arakan state in Myanmar. They have pumped in money and got a large number of Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists converted to Christianity in these areas.

In this light, the 2023 ethnic violence which erupted in Manipur between the Hindu-majority Meitei from the plains and the Christian-converted Kuki-Zo tribe from the surrounding hills is worrisome. Some sections of the Kuki population are deeply engaged in poppy cultivation and drug trafficking from Myanmar.

To add to this heady mess, intel sources talk about funding of Kukis by US globalist George Soros. They also talk about Erik Prince of US military arms firm Blackwater moving into Myanmar in 2018, sniffing at jade mines, gas, and opium.

The US government provides support to Myanmars resistance forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi against the China-backed military junta.

The US has been fancying the country that the Bangladesh PM was talking about. It will stretch from the Chittagong port in Bangladesh to Kyaukpyu in Myanmars Rakhine state. Interestingly, the Chinese oil pipeline to Yunnan starts from Kyaukpyu. Rakhine is the province from where the Rohingyas were displaced.

The Chinese have invested billions in developing the Sittwe Port in the same Rakhine province which the US apparently eyes as part of the Christian nation. India has recently gained access to operate the deepwater port.

The incoming Indian government after the June 4 results will have to deal with the lethal cross-currents in the east. How much self-interest India robustly defends or slyly cedes will depend on who comes to power.

Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign may be over, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again seized the headlines, this time by taking a bold and controversial stance against a section of Hindu monks. The timing and nature of her comments have stirred the political cauldron of the state, inviting a wave of reactions from various political parties and organisations. This move, unprecedented in her political journey, signals a shift towards a more overtly minority-centric approach, a strategy that comes with its own set of risks and implications.

The controversy erupted when Banerjee, addressing a rally in Hooghly district, vociferously criticised certain monks, accusing them of being politically influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Among those targeted were three highly respected religious organisations: the Ramakrishna Mission (RKM), the Bharat Sevashram Sangh (BSS), and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). These organisations are not only venerated in West Bengal but also have a significant following beyond the states borders.

The chief ministers comments were unexpected, even catching leaders within her own Trinamool Congress (TMC) off guard. With elections for over half of Bengals 42 Lok Sabha seats now concluded, her remarks had sparked speculation about the TMCs election strategy, which was initially thought to focus on non-religious issues to counter the BJPs efforts at religious polarisation.

Banerjees remarks have been interpreted as an attempt to consolidate her Muslim voter base by distancing herself from Hindu religious figures perceived to be aligned with the BJP. This strategy is viewed by critics as a manoeuvre to counter the BJPs Hindu nationalist narrative and prevent the saffron party from making inroads into West Bengals substantial Muslim electorate. Approximately 30 per cent of the states population is Muslim, making them a crucial demographic in the recent elections.

However, this tactic raises significant questions about the long-term implications for the social and political fabric of the state. While it remains to be seen how effective Banerjees strategy was in securing electoral gains in the 2024 elections, her apparent attempt to rally the Muslim vote at the expense of potentially alienating Hindu voters could exacerbate communal tensions and fracture the secular vote bank that has traditionally been the cornerstone of the TMCs support.

Critics argue that Banerjees remarks reflect a sense of desperation, a reaction to the BJPs growing influence in regions like Tamluk, where the Hindu vote is substantial. The timing of her comments, made just before elections in constituencies with a significant Muslim population, suggests a calculated attempt to prevent any division of the Muslim vote, particularly away from the Congress-CPIM alliance. Whether this approach paid off electorally remains to be seen, but it is not without risks. Alienating the Hindu majority, which constitutes the rest of the states demographic, could backfire, resulting in a loss of support from a crucial voter base.

The delicate balancing act between appealing to minority sentiments and not antagonising the majority is a tightrope that Banerjee must navigate carefully. Her political gambit underscores the increasing polarisation in Indian politics, where religion and identity are becoming central to electoral strategies. The focus on minority appeasement politics is a double-edged sword. While it may secure immediate electoral gains, it could also lead to a more divided society, with increased communal tensions and a fractured political landscape.

Furthermore, Banerjees targeting of Hindu monks, who are revered figures within the community, could be perceived as an attack on Hinduism itself rather than a critique of the alleged politicisation of religious institutions. This perception could alienate moderate Hindus, who might view her actions as an affront to their faith. It remains to be seen whether Banerjees political strategy, which required a delicate balancing act to avoid alienating potential supporters while consolidating her core base, will ultimately prove successful.

In response to the backlash, Mamata Banerjee clarified that her issue is not with Hindu spiritual-philanthropic organisations as a whole but with specific individuals within these groups. She singled out Kartik Maharaj, the secretary of the Bharat Sevashram Sanghas ashram in Murshidabads Aurangabad, accusing him of bias towards the BJP. This clarification, however, may not be enough to quell the discontent brewing among the broader Hindu community.

Banerjees strategy in the lead-up to the 2024 election may have been a response to the immediate threat posed by the BJP, but it also reflects a broader trend in Indian politics, where parties increasingly resort to identity politics to galvanise support. This trend, while effective in the short term, can have long-lasting repercussions on the social cohesion and political stability of the state.

The BJP, quick to capitalise on Banerjees remarks, accused her of playing divisive politics. BJP leaders argued that her comments were an attempt to deflect attention from the TMCs governance failures and shift the narrative towards communal issues. The BJPs response underscores the high stakes of the ongoing elections, where both parties are vying for dominance in a state that has historically been a bastion of secular politics.

Banerjee has built her political career on a platform of inclusive governance and development. Her recent actions, however, suggest a departure from this ethos as she seeks to secure her partys position in a highly polarised political environment. The challenge for Banerjee and the TMC going forward will be to navigate these treacherous waters without compromising the inclusive principles that have been the hallmark of their governance.

The broader implications of Banerjees strategy extend beyond the immediate electoral context. Her approach reflects the increasing importance of identity politics in Indian elections, where parties are willing to exploit religious and communal divisions to secure votes. This trend, while politically expedient, poses a significant threat to the secular fabric of the nation.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal are poised to be a litmus test for Mamata Banerjees leadership and the TMCs political strategy. The outcome will not only determine the political future of the state but also set a precedent for the role of identity politics in Indias democratic process.

In conclusion, Mamata Banerjees direct criticism of a section of Hindu monks was a bold and controversial move that underscored the high stakes of the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. Whether this strategy, seemingly aimed at consolidating the Muslim vote, will yield electoral dividends remains to be seen. Regardless of the outcome, however, it reflects the increasing polarisation in Indian politics and the growing importance of identity politics in electoral strategies. The challenge for Banerjee and the TMC, as they await the election results, will be to navigate these complexities without compromising the inclusive ethos that has defined their governance. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, and the election outcome will be a crucial determinant of both the states political future and the long-term impact of Banerjees strategic choices.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
It is remarkable how Western media, think tanks, foundations, civil society elements, and sections of the Indian diaspora have promoted an anti-Modi narrative in the lead-up to our national elections and have carried it through the weeks-long staggered polling.

Foreign Affairs magazine has published articles from the most vicious Modi/BJP baiters. The Guardian has excelled itself in highly political malign reporting on India. The Financial Times has, as usual, liberally sullied India to the point of raising doubts about whether it is engaged in politics or journalism. The New York Times has continued its relentless smear campaign, as has The Washington Post. The Economist believes it still has a moral responsibility to pronounce on Indias governance which must measure up to fictitious British imperial standards.

All the familiar strictures about the backsliding of democracy, persecution of minorities, curbs on the media, misuse of state institutions to target political opponents, and the loss of independence of the Election Commission have been repeated. Since the reality of the scale of Indias democratic election cannot be denied, phraseology has been found to belittle the importance of this biggest electoral exercise in human history by referring to Indias democracy as an electoral autocracy, one that is ostensibly fair in terms of process, but with the control of institutions and leveraging them against the Opposition by the government the actual result is an unequal playing field.

The effort has also been to paint India as a rising rogue state of sorts which has sought to assassinate Indian political dissidents abroad, such as Nijjar and Pannun. There is a total refusal to recognise their links with terrorist violence, gun running and drugs. Accusations of transnational repression have been made to place India in the category of countries like China that monitor the activities of their diasporas and seek to suppress the voice of anti-government elements abroad. All of a sudden, stories of Indian intelligence agents being expelled from Australia some years ago have found their way into the media. Interference by India in elections in Canada has been alleged to project a picture of Indias agencies involved in objectionable activities abroad.

A recent article in The Economist argues that the West is making it easy for Modi by not using technology and investment which India seeks to address its violation of democracy norms and the human rights of its population under the present government. The Economist has voiced what seems to be the concern of core Western establishments that they should learn from their mistakes in giving a pass to China on the Tiananmen Square massacre in the past in order to retain it on their side against the Soviets, and not give India a similar pass to induce it to remain on their side against China. That these establishments believe that the danger of Modi suppressing democracy in his third term is somehow comparable with what happened at Tiananmen shows how deep the undercurrents of animus against Modi are in Western circles.

Likewise, The Economist has judged that just as commercial interests dictated policy towards China, Western officials are today using the same arguments of commercial interests to ignore democratic backsliding in India. One way to stop individual governments from being penalised for their criticism as experienced with China is the view that Western governments should prevent this by coordinating common positions and making statements at the same time on Indias transgression of democratic norms.

Astonishingly, and this shows the vacuousness of geopolitical thinking in Western circles, the view is that a more authoritarian India would bolster Chinas efforts to legitimise its own form of government  especially in the Global South  and undermine the Western-led global order. Chinas credentials in the Global South are in fact today stronger than those of the democratic West, and this is true even in Islamic countries despite its egregious persecution of the Uighurs.

In another example of skewed geopolitical thinking, The Economist blames India for not helping to promote democracy in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Thankfully, it hasnt blamed India for not promoting democracy in Pakistan! The West, The Economist concludes, must show its consistent concerns to Modis government and the Indian public, which would explain the clearly orchestrated campaign against Modi and the BJP ever since he took power and the momentum it has gained with the prospect of Modi winning a third term.

Some salutary conclusions need to be drawn from all this. One, the Western rhetoric of India being the worlds largest democracy and India and the West sharing values should not be taken at face value. The establishments in the West, both conservative and progressive, have concerns about a rising India and what this might mean for a further power shift away from the West. An independent-minded India under a strong leadership with its own civilisational moorings is not what the West would prefer.

Two, India has been a victim of sanctions by the West for decades. The West is increasingly using sanctions as a tool of its foreign policy. India has recently been alerted about the consequences if it violates US sanctions on Iran, and while India has not been sanctioned on its relations with Russia, the requisite US legislation for imposing sanctions exists. The Economist article suggests technology and investment as sanction tools to pressure India to limit the unwelcome aspects of Indias independent approach to foreign affairs.

Three, there is close coordination between Western circles and Opposition elements in India to slam the state of democracy, besides raising the issue of authoritarianism and minority persecution. Raising the spectre of caste and class conflicts in the country is part of this strategy. This is intended to keep India divided and prevent any consolidation of widening Hindu support for the BJP.

Four, India must retain an independent foreign policy in its larger national interest. The view that India must choose sides, that being friends with all is not sustainable as policy, that India should move away from a declining Russia as a partner and choose the West as a partner of choice  especially in view of the growing Russia-China strategic ties  is being promoted by West-oriented circles in India. India should maintain a balance in its external ties, draw closer to the West to the extent required by national interest but not draw away from time-tested friends also in national interest.

Five, the question to be asked is when India does not interfere in the internal affairs of Western countries, does not lecture them on deficiencies in their democracies, does not give them homilies on minority and racial discrimination and the rise of fascism in their societies, and so on, why do they feel the compulsion to admonish us on perceived deficiencies in our society and governance? What is their obligation to do so when their own hands are unclean? India must take note of White supremacist thinking in the West that The Economist article reflects.

Kanwal Sibal is a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He was Indias Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Since the last state Assembly elections of 2021, the political scenario of West Bengal has changed. While the Left had no representation in the state assembly after 2021, it gained some ground in subsequent urban and rural body polls, despite alleged rigging by the ruling Trinamool Congress. This momentum energised the Left, particularly the Communist Party of India (Marxist) under the leadership of Mohammad Salim, heading into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party sought to further increase its vote share and potentially secure some seats too, breaking the TMC-BJP binary that has largely defined West Bengal politics in recent years.

With the conclusion of the 7th and final phase of polling today, all eyes are on the results to see if the Lefts efforts have translated into electoral success.

Battle in the TMC strongholds

In the final phase of voting, which concluded today, the fate of nine Lok Sabha constituencies hung in the balance. These seats, encompassing Barasat, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Jayanagar, Mathurapur, Dumdum, Jadavpur, Kolkata North, and Kolkata South, fall under the North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata district. All these seats of South Bengal were won by the TMC in the last Lok Sabha elections and two years later, the party won all the Assembly constituencies  barring Bhangar of Jadavpur  coming under these Lok Sabha seats.

This time, the Left, fighting along with the Congress, set its sights on winning a select number of seats, with three of those constituencies voting in the final phase. Although the Left is in alliance with the Congress, the latter doesnt have much presence on the ground in areas of South Bengal, barring a few pockets here and there. Thus, the onus fell largely on the Left to challenge the TMCs dominance in these areas, while simultaneously contending with the BJP.

The Kolkata South Constituency

This seat has been a stronghold of the TMC since the 1990s. Mamata Banerjee, first as a Congress representative, and later from her party, represented this seat from 1991 to 2011, when she had to vacate it to become the chief minister of the state. In the 2024 election, the TMC fielded its sitting MP, Mala Roy, while the BJP brought in its Raiganj MP, Debashree Chaudhuri, who served as Union Minister of State during Narendra Modis second term. The Left Front nominated Saira Shah Halim of the CPI(M) in this tough seat.

Although the contest was, on paper, a three-way race, the main battle was widely perceived to be between Mala Roy and Saira Halim. The Left saw potential in this seat, drawing on the 2022 Ballygunge Assembly by-election results. In that race, Saira, as the Lefts candidate, was able to push the BJP to a distant third place by polling 30 per cent  an increase of 24 per cent votes within a year. Over the past two years, Saira, the daughter-in-law of former CPI(M) leader and Speaker of the State Assembly Hashim Abdul Halim, has emerged as one of the partys credible new faces within the Kolkata region. Her strong communication skills also make her a prominent voice for the party in national TV debates.

In a telephonic conversation with this writer, Saira expressed confidence in securing victory in this TMC bastion. She based her optimism on what she perceived as widespread anti-incumbency against the ruling party, stemming from allegations of cow smuggling, the coal scam, and the teachers recruitment scam. These scandals would likely work in her favour, she believed. Additionally, she sensed anger toward the BJP due to its divisive politics. She believes that the people of Kolkata South are tired of voting for the same party and this time, they want change.

The issues Saira mentioned against the TMC resonated beyond her constituency, becoming a source of concern for the ruling party across the state. Interestingly, during the conversation, she also alleged that Mamata Banerjee was trying to polarise the electorate. Saira pointed to a statement by the chief minister where she said that if there is a discussion on her governments developmental work, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Quran and the Bible would end but not her story. This statement, which some interpreted as being disrespectful towards religious scriptures, drew criticism. Banerjee later clarified her remarks, asserting that she was talking only about her governments developmental story and held no disrespect for any religious texts.

Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Jadavpur stood out as the only constituency where the CPI(M) surpassed the 20 per cent mark, securing 21 per cent of the vote. Recognising the areas potential, the party nominated Srijan Bhattacharya for the 2024 contest, a young leader who rose through the ranks of student politics. The party threw its full weight behind Bhattacharyas campaign. The Left saw a probability as the BJP, despite nominating its intellectual face Anirban Ganguly, wasnt seen much on the ground.

Beyond this, the Left campaigned on a platform highlighting alleged corruption within the TMC. These factors offered a glimmer of hope for the Left, despite its poor performance in the 2021 Assembly elections. However, the Indian Secular Front, led by Naushad Siddiqui, loomed as a potential spoiler in Bhangar, poised to potentially draw away votes that might have otherwise gone to the Left.

Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat

Another seat where the Left hoped to make gains in this election was the Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency. The party fielded its senior leader, Sujan Chakraborty, against the sitting TMC MP, Saugata Roy. Here too, the Left banked on anti-incumbency against the TMC and also the poor campaign of the BJP. Chakrabortys nomination, bolstered by his clean image and reputation for addressing peoples concerns, injected a surge of energy into the Lefts campaign.

Dum Dum was one of the few Lok Sabha constituencies where the CPM polled in two digits. In two of the Assembly constituencies  Kamarhati and Dum Dum Uttar  falling under this constituency, the party performed decently in the last Assembly elections.

Other Lok Sabha constituencies

Diamond Harbour was considered one of the TMCs safest seats, with the partys second-in-command, Abhishek Banerjee, as the incumbent MP. The BJP, by nominating a lesser-known candidate, was widely seen as giving the TMC a free pass  a move some interpreted as a tacit understanding between the two parties. The CPI(M) fielded Pratikur Rehman, a young Muslim leader who also rose through the ranks of student politics. In this seat, which was projected as a model constituency by Abhishek loyalists, Muslims account for 38 per cent. Recognising the TMCs perceived strength in the constituency, the Left strategised that fielding a young Muslim candidate like Rehman might provide an opening to challenge Abhishek Banerjees hold on the seat.

In the Muslim-majority Basirhat constituency, which saw a three-way contest, the CPI(M) hoped to capitalise on the candidacy of Nirapada Sardar, a former Sandeshkhali MLA, to bolster its vote share. He was arrested by police during the Sandeshkhali agitation but later was released following the courts order.

This Lok Sabha election has been viewed as a crucial test for the Left, with its sights set firmly on the 2026 state Assembly polls. It faced a dual challenge from both the TMC and the BJP, the latter having risen in the state amid perceptions of Left weakness against the TMC. To counter this narrative, the Left strategically positioned its young woman leader, Minakshi Mukherjee, as the face of its 2024 campaign. It also fielded numerous young candidates, aiming to present itself as the only viable alternative to the TMC.

This final phase proved particularly significant, as the Left, largely relying on its own strength, challenged the TMC in some of its strongholds. While the ultimate impact remains to be seen, the New Left demonstrably made its presence felt in this election, disrupting the TMC-BJP binary that had defined many of the contests.

Sagarneel Sinha is a political commentator and tweets @SagarneelSinha. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Three Black men have sued American Airlines on allegations of racial discrimination, after they, and five other black passengers were deboarded from a plane due to body odour. The lawsuit follows a flight the men took on January 5 from Phoenix, Arizona, to New York. The lawsuit says that the three Black men did not know each other before the incident and were seated separately, quite far from each other on the flight. But before the flight took off, American Airlines representatives approached them one by one and asked them to deboard the plane for no apparent reason.

When the men sought for an explanation, they were told that a Caucasian flight attendant had complained about body odour from an unidentified passenger. Five other Black men were also asked to deboard, implying that the Airlines believed that only Black people were capable of having body odour. The lawsuit said, It was as if every Black man was being shown the door and was a clear case of racial discrimination.

The eight Black men were told that they would have to repurchase tickets and fly on a different flight.The men were eventually allowed to reboard the flight after an American representative told them that there were no longer any flights that evening to rebook them on. The flight was delayed by over an hour, according to a press statement.

The men felt humiliated and decided to file a federal lawsuit against the airlines for racial discrimination. Three of them filed a lawsuit and said they were mentally harassed and there was no evidence to prove that the body odour was coming from any of the Black men. Their lawyer Susan Huhta said that if American Airlines got a complaint that there is a man in the plane whose body smells bad, then this complaint should be investigated. The complaint was not investigated and the solution was deboarding Black passengers out of suspicion, which is wrong.
Going to cafes nowadays is not just about enjoying good food and drinks; its also about the aesthetics, unique experiences and creating memorable moments. Many establishments are finding creative ways to make customer experiences unforgettable. One such eatery that recently gained attention is Cafe Rista, operated by the Uttar Pradesh Police Department in Noida.

Located in Sector 108, Cafe Rista offers a unique experience by bridging the gap between the police forces and the public. This initiative is been spearheaded by IPS Preeti Yadav under the guidance of IPS Laxmi Singh and IPS Babloo Kumar. Interestingly, the cafe is located near the Family Dispute Resolution Clinic or the Counselling and Mediation Centre within the Police Commissionerate. It offers a welcoming atmosphere to everyone with affordable meals.

The pastel-hued cafe went viral after the video featuring it was posted on Instagram. In the clip, IPS Preeti Yadav elaborated on the cafes unique concept, showcasing its aesthetic appeal including a wall adorned with the frames of iconic police characters from the popular Bollywood movies. Yadav explained that the idea of these depictions came from the influence of Bollywoods portrayal of police work.

Usually, people are scared of police but I would just say were just humans in uniform, she concluded in the video.

The caption read, Counseling can be time-consuming and stressful. A pastel-hued cafe with quirky quotes and affordable, quality food provides a welcome relief. Police officers, often hesitant to dine publicly due to uniforms and irregular hours, now have a cozy cafe in their premises to enjoy with their families. This initiative supports their well-being under a welfarist policing approach.

Since hitting the web, the video has garnered significant attention, racking up over 4 lakh views. This heartwarming cafe also sparked a wave of admiration and praise in the comment section.

One user expressed, Great initiative by Noida Police, while another remarked, Maam well said you all are humans in uniform. Proud of you and your innovative ideas.

Excellent initiative Preeti. I hope you have a picture of Iftekaar Saahab, the ACP of Bollywood, said a viewer.

Wowww..! Excellent and commendable work. Such that it is remembered forever, someone else wrote.

Have you been to this cafe?
Travelling by aeroplane is the most convenient and fastest way to reach a faraway destination. Along with the documentation, passengers have to be aware of the rules of different nations as they travel. A passenger from Indonesia was travelling to Taiwan via Hong Kong. He faced a major issue as he was not aware of the rules of the nation. He was fined Rs 5 lakh for carrying a forbidden item. He was stopped as soon as the plane landed at the airport. According to a published media report , a passenger was stopped by the airport authority for carrying roasted pork and soy sauce. As soon as the passenger reached the Taipei airport, he was stopped by the authorities for luggage checking. A trained dog in the team of airport authorities sniffed out what was wrong. It made the guards alert. The security forces stopped him immediately, as they found that he was carrying roasted pork and soy sauce in his lunch box. The man did not know that pork and soy sauce were banned in Taiwan. These items are prohibited to carry in the country.

The man was stopped immediately by the customs officer. He took the passenger into custody for carrying such items. As per the law of the nation, the passenger was fined 48,430 Hong Kong dollars. It is about Rs 5 lakh in Indian currency. According to reports by the media, the man was not able to pay the fine. He was immediately sent to Hong Kong. The man was advised to pay the fine first when he comes back to Hong Kong in the near future. Without paying the fine, he will not be able to travel to the country.

After the amendment of the law in 2018, importing pork to Taiwan is a punishable offence. During that time, swine flu spread across the country as pork was imported from Africa. The fine for someone carrying pork in Taiwan is Rs 5 lakh. If someone is seen carrying for the second time after getting caught, a hefty amount of 1 million Taiwanese dollars is imposed. According to an official in Taiwans health agency, people can only be saved from this punishment if the item comes with the passenger by mistake.
The Airbus Beluga, one of the worlds strangest and largest airplanes, has its own airlines now, US-based broadcaster CNN said.

The Airbus Beluga, which shape resembles that of a beluga whale, is an oversized cargo plane and also a fan favourite among aviation enthusiasts. It has been in service for close to two decades and mainly transports aircraft parts between Airbus manufacturing facilities spread throughout Europe.

Benoit Lemonnier, head of Airbus Beluga Transport, told the broadcaster that a new version of the Beluga is replacing the original fleet and will power a freight airline called Airbus Beluga Transport.

There are very few options on the market for oversize items. Most often theres a need to partially dismantle a payload to make it fit in an aircraft  whereas in the Beluga, it will just fit, says Benoit Lemonnier, head of Airbus Beluga Transport was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

The Beluga was developed to transport large sections of Airbus aircraft from its factories in France, Germany, the UK, Spain and Turkey to the final assembly lines located in Toulouse and Hamburg. It is a very special design, because its actually a transformation of an A300-600 that had its entire head removed and then equipped with special fuselage shells, a bigger door and dedicated flight equipment, he further added.

The super transporter Airbus Beluga also landed at the Kolkata airport in November 2022, instantly becoming an exhibit for travellers flying in and out of the city due to its sheer size.

The whale-shaped plane, used to transport outsized cargo, arrived at Kolkata airport from Ahmedabad that year for refuelling and crew rest and departed the city for Thailand after the short stop.

The super transporter was earlier known as the Airbus Super Transporter but after its nickname Beluga  given due to its resemblance to the white Arctic whale  became popular Airbus decided to rename the aircraft Beluga ST, retaining the original part in the acronym.

It first flew in 1994 and entered service in 1995. Over the years, four more examples followed, with the last rolled out in late 2000.

Before the Beluga, Airbus used Super Guppies, modified 1950s Boeing Stratocruiser passenger planes previously used by NASA to ferry spacecraft parts. History is now repeating itself as the original Beluga is replaced by a more spacious and advanced model, the Beluga XL.

Longer and bigger than its predecessors, the Beluga XL can carry both wings of the Airbus A350, the companys latest long-haul aircraft that rivals the Boeing 787 and 777.
The British ambassador to Mexico Jon Benjamin was removed from his post earlier this year after he pointed an assault rifle at an embassy employee who was a local employee, according to a report by the Guardian. The removal came after the footage went viral on social media.

The British ambassador to Mexico is no longer in post after a video emerged online of him apparently pointing an assault rifle at an embassy employee in Mexico.The video shared on X, shows Jon Benjamin pointing the firearm at a person whose face has been blurred out.  pic.twitter.com/u5HAD7voo6  Sky News (@SkyNews) June 1, 2024

The Financial Times said in a report that the incident happened when Jon Benjamin was on an official trip to Durango and Sinaloa  two Mexican states where organised crime groups run freely. Seated inside a car, Benjamin is seen looking down the guns sights at a colleague, who is visibly uncomfortable with the conduct, as seen in the widely shared video.

The gun belonged to a member of the security personnel who was accompanying the diplomat. The errant security official was also sacked. The incident happened in April.

In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke, an anonymous account said in the post accompanying the video shared on X.

Benjamin, 61, is no longer listed as the ambassador on the UK government website, the Guardian said in its report.

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, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said in a statement to the Financial Times.

Benjamins career spanned for almost four decades and was posted in Chile, Turkey, Ghana, Indonesia and the US. He was designated the UK ambassador to Mexico in 2021.

For the past six years, Mexico has experienced over 30,000 homicides annually, one of the highest rates in Latin America, as organised crime groups battle for control over territories and businesses nationwide.

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.

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.

(with inputs from the Associated Press)
Former US President Donald Trump received a six-point bump in approval ratings after a jury found him guilty in the hush-money payment case, a snap poll, conducted in the hours after the verdict, by DailyMail.com showed.

The jury in Manhattan on Thursday found him guilty on 34 counts in the case where he is said to have falsified business records to hide a payment meant to silence porn star Stormy Daniels along with other charges.

BREAKING: New Daily Mail poll says Trump received a 6-point bump in approval after he was found guilty in New York City.According to the poll, 22% of people said they 'now have a more favorable' rating of Trump while 16% said they viewed him more negatively. "That six-point pic.twitter.com/cPlOlwtt4S  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 31, 2024

The poll by DailyMail.com showed that 22% respondents now have a more favourable rating of Donald Trump after the guilty verdict. Only 16% respondents held that they have a less favourable rating of Donald Trump after he was found guilty.

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, the DailyMail.com said in the accompanying report.

The website poll data was collected by JL Partners who used an online panel of 400 likely voters to assess the impact on the election.

Some who voted for US President Joe Biden in 2020 felt the trial was a waste of money while Trumps supporters used terms Trump uses  like political witch hunt and sham trial  to describe the trial. Trumps campaign team has also used terms like sham trial, rigged verdict, kangaroo court and other Soviet-style shenanigans to attack the verdict.

However, it should be noted that the verdict was handed down by a jury whose 12 members were selected by the defence i.e. Donald Trumps legal team, as well as the prosecution.

Trumps early reaction to the verdict also suggested he will wear his conviction like a crown, an Associated Press report said.

Trumps campaign team said that contributions flowed into the Trump campaign  more than $1 million for each for the 34 convictions.

A large number of Republicans have also said they were horrified by what the trial said about the man.

For a Republican like myself its all very embarrassing. Its like finding out your sister is a prostitute, said, a retired electrician in North Carolina  one of the battleground states  while speaking to the website.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll concluded on Friday, ten percent of Republican registered voters are less likely to vote for Donald Trump following his felony conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star.

The potential loss of a tenth of his partys voters is more significant for Trump than the stronger backing of more than a third of Republicans, since many of the latter would be likely to vote for him regardless of the conviction, Reuters said in the accompanying report.

Donald Trump showed signs of retribution against any Republican who dared to stand up for the trial.

Larry Hogan, who is widely seen as an anti-Trump Republican, the 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, shot back on X: You just ended your campaign.

Hes a lot of things, but I never personally thought of him as a liar. I guess this would change my perception of him. Out of all the other issues, this is still bad but its not enough to sway me to vote for Biden, Justin Gonzalez, a 21-year-old student and tutor in the border city of McAllen, Texas, said, adding he cares more about immigration enforcement than the icky business centred on the cover-up of payments to silence a porn actor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the Gaza offensive would not end until the elimination of Hamass capacity to govern and make war.

The prime minister authorised the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving (the return of hostages), 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, Netanyahus office said in a statement.

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. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 31, 2024

The exact outline proposed by Israel, including the conditional transition from stage to stage, allows Israel to maintain these principles, it added. 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. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,284 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

(With agency inputs)
Israeli forces hammered Rafah in southern Gaza with tanks and artillery Saturday, hours after US President Joe Biden said Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire.

Shortly after Bidens announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country would still pursue the war until it had reached all its aims.

He reiterated that position on Saturday, saying that Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Hamas, meanwhile, said it views positively the Israeli plan laid out by Biden.

In his first major address outlining a possible end to the nearly eight-month war, the US president said Israels three-stage offer would begin with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.

It would also see the release of a number of hostages in exchange for (the) release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel and the Palestinians would then negotiate for a lasting ceasefire  but the truce would continue so long as talks are ongoing, Biden said.

The US leader urged Hamas to accept the Israeli offer.

Its time for this war to end, for the day after to begin, he said.

Netanyahu offered safety net

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his counterparts from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday to press the deal.

UN chief Antonio Guterres strongly hopes the latest development will lead to an agreement by the parties for lasting peace, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the offer provides a glimpse of hope and a possible path out of the wars deadlock, while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen welcomed a balanced and realistic approach to end the bloodshed.

Saudi Arabia stressed its support for all efforts aimed at an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Indonesia, meanwhile, said it was ready to send significant peacekeeping forces and medical personnel to Gaza if a ceasefire is agreed.

But Netanyahu took issue with Bidens presentation of what was on the table, insisting on Friday the transition from one stage to the next was conditional and crafted to allow Israel to maintain its war aims.

The prime minister authorised the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving (the return of hostages), while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, Netanyahus office said.

The exact outline proposed by Israel, including the conditional transition from stage to stage, allows Israel to maintain these principles.

Israel has repeatedly vowed to destroy Hamas since the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the government cannot ignore Bidens important speech and should accept the proposed deal, vowing to back Netanyahu if his far-right coalition partners quit over it.

I remind Netanyahu that he has our safety net for a hostage deal, Lapid said Saturday on social media platform X.

Intense shelling

Israel sent tanks and troops into Rafah in early May, ignoring concerns over the safety of displaced Palestinian civilians sheltering in the city on the Egyptian border.

On Saturday, residents reported tank fire in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood in west Rafah, while witnesses in the east and centre of Rafah described intense shelling.

From the early hours of the night until this morning, the aerial and artillery bombardment has not stopped for a single moment, a resident from west Rafah told AFP on condition of anonymity.

There are a number of occupation (Israeli) snipers in high-rise buildings overseeing all areas of Tal al-Sultan making the situation very dangerous, the resident added.

There was also shelling and gunfire from the Israeli army in Gaza City, in the north of the territory, an AFP reporter said.

Before the Rafah offensive began, the United Nations said up to 1.4 million people were sheltering in the city.

Since then, one million have fled the area, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has said.

The Israeli seizure of the Rafah crossing has further slowed sporadic deliveries of aid for Gazas 2.4 million people and effectively shuttered the territorys main exit point.

Everything is ashes

Israel said last week that aid deliveries had been stepped up.

But Blinken acknowledged on Friday that the humanitarian situation was dire despite US efforts to bring in more assistance.

Egyptian state-linked Al-Qahera News said Cairo will host a meeting with Israeli and US officials on Sunday to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing.

The World Food Programme said daily life had become apocalyptic in parts of southern Gaza.

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack, 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.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,379 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

In northern Gaza, witnesses said that after carrying out a three-week operation in the town of Jabalia and its neighbouring refugee camp, troops had ordered residents of nearby Beit Hanun to evacuate ahead of an imminent assault.

The Israeli army said troops completed their mission in eastern Jabalia and began preparation for continued operations in the Gaza Strip.

Jabalia shopkeeper Belal al-Kahlot said there was nothing left of his store after the Israeli operation.

Everything is ashes, he told AFP.
Marie Scott who was a serving Wren and switchboard operator at the time of D-Day, holds up a photograph of herself in 1944, 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)
The mother of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old believed to have been killed in the summer of 2021 by her fiance, Brian Laundrie, showed up at CrimeCon this week, and Fox News describes an audience "shocked" at what she had to say. "I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you," Nichole Schmidt told a filled auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. "I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life."

One person Schmidt isn't giving absolution to, however: Laundrie's mom, Roberta Laundrie, whom Schmidt and other members of her family believe knew about Petito's murder and helped her son cover it up and flee from the law before he took his own life in Florida. "You do not deserve forgiveness," Schmidt said of Roberta Laundrie. "You deserve to be forgotten." Petito's mother called Roberta Laundrie "the mastermind that shattered your family and mine with your evil ways," adding, "I see no empathy in your eyes. No remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions."

Tara Petito, Gabby Petito's stepmom, also spoke at CrimeCon, and she wasn't quite as ready to forgive Brian Laundie. "Only someone with true evil in their heart would do such a thing," she said of the late Laundrie's behavior after Gabby Petito was killed, including going on a camping trip with his parents, sister, and her kids, per Fox. In February, both Petito's family and Brian Laundrie's family "reluctantly" reached a settlement over the Petito family's claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress on the part of the Laundries. The details of the deal were kept under wraps. (More Gabby Petito stories.)
Just days after Pope Francis apologized for a gay slur he's said to have used during a private bishops meeting, an allegation of another eyebrow-raising comment. The Guardian reports that the 87-year-old pontiff had another closed-door gathering in Rome on Thursday, this time with a group of young priests, and he's said to have warned them about "badmouthing" within their parishes and congregations. "Gossip is a woman's thing," Francis reportedly told the clergy members. "We wear the trousers, we have to say things."

The Independent notes that the alleged remarks were first reported by Silere Non Possum, a Catholic website often critical of the pope, followed by the mainstream Italian media. The director of the site, Marco Perfetti, claims to have audio of the comments, recorded by more than one person in the room with Francis. It's not the first time the pope has been accused of veering into sexist territory. The Spanish daily La Vanguardia recalls that, in 2013, in front of 800 nuns, Francis said that nuns should be "mothers and not old maids." The Vatican hasn't yet commented on the latest commotion. (More Pope Francis stories.)
The African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result 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% of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40% in Wednesday's election, well short of the majority it has held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela, the AP reports. The final results will not be declared by the Independent Electoral Commission until Sunday, but the ANC cannot pass 50%, and an era of coalition governmentalso a first for South Africais looming.

While opposition parties hailed the outcome as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remained the biggest party. However, the unprecedented slump in its support means it will now likely need to look for a coalition partner or partners to remain in the government and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. "The way to rescue South Africa is to break the ANC's majority and we have done that," said John Steenhuisen, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party. Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party, said the ANC's "entitlement of being the sole dominant party" was over.

The way forward could be complicated for Africa's most advanced economy, and there's no coalition yet. The three main opposition parties and many smaller ones were in the mix. Steenhuisen's Democratic Alliance pulled around 21% of the vote. The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led, was third with just over 14% in the first election it has contested. The Economic Freedom Fighters was fourth with just over 9%. More than 50 parties contested the election, per the AP. Electoral commission Chairman Mosotho Moepya called for calm and reason. "This is a moment we need to manage and manage well," he said.

(More South African elections stories.)
Luxon would also discuss navigating "the increasingly choppy geostrategic waters ahead" with Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, he said.

"The partnership between our two countries is broader than most New Zealanders are aware of, from our close security cooperation to our business links and - of course - our shared love of rugby," Luxon said.

On the trip to Fiji, Luxon's office said there would be a "significant trade and economic focus".

"Fiji is our biggest trading partner amongst Pacific islands countries and there is plenty of scope to leverage even more economic opportunities for Kiwi and Fijian businesses," the Prime Minister said.

Luxon was due to leave on Tuesday and return on Friday.
The British ambassador to Mexico has been removed from his post after he pointed an assault rifle at a local embassy employee in a car, according to media reports and a video of the incident circulating online.

The video, shared on social media platform X, shows the career diplomat Jon Benjamin pointing the weapon at a person whose face has been blurred.

"In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke," a post accompanying the video reads.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain and China have further fortified their bilateral relations yesterday by signing a spectrum of collaborative initiatives spanning crucial sectors such as health, economy, space science, and digitization.

These strategic pacts, signed during a momentous occasion, signify a robust commitment to mutual prosperity and advancement between the two nations.

Trade

Among the agreements was the establishment of a working group aimed at fostering investment and economic collaboration between the two nations.

This pact, signed by Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Minister of Finance and National Economy, and Wang Wentao, the Minister of Commerce of China. will explore avenues for enhancing economic, technical, and commercial ties.

Mumtalakat, CIC

Additionally, Shaikh Salman, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mumtalakat Company, joined hands with Peng Chun, Chairman and CEO of the China Investment Corporation, to explore potential investment opportunities between Mumtalakat Holding Company and CIC.

Health, Medical science

Another agreement focused on strengthening Bahrain-China relations in health, medical sciences, and healthcare. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Lei Haichao, the Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the National Health Commission of China.

were the signatories of this deal.

Industrial zones, eCommerce, Digital economy

Furthermore, Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, signed a memorandum of understanding with Jin Chuanglong, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, emphasising cooperation in industrial zones.

Subsequently, Fakhroo, along with Wang Wentao, the Minister of Commerce, entered into agreements to boost e-commerce and digital economy cooperation, aligning with the 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) and long-term goals until 2035.

Space

Efforts to enhance Bahrains outer space exploration ventures were solidified with a pact signed by Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Zhang Kejian, the Director of the China National Space Administration.

This collaboration also entails organising training programmes in space science, technology, and applications.

China Media Group, Peking University

Additionally, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah sealed agreements with Fu Hua, the President of Xinhua News Agency, Shen Haixiong, the President of China Media Group, and Gong Qihuang, the President of Peking University.

These agreements aim to bolster cooperation in news and information exchange and establish strategic collaboration between Bahrain Technical College (Bahrain Polytechnic) and Peking University across various fields and strengthen academic cooperation.
Thai Street Market brings the best to Bahrain

TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com Families and friends from across the Kingdom flocked to the Oasis Mall in Juffair over the weekend to enjoy the first day of the threeday Thai Street Market event hosted by the Thai Embassy. The market, which is open until Saturday, brings the best of Thailands 5Fs - Food, Fashion, Fighting, Film Festival, and Fun. Visitors were seen relishing authentic Thai cuisine and boba tea, as well as browsing stalls filled with makeup, accessories, scents, clothes, and skincare products.

A cultural performance is scheduled at 2 pm, 6 pm, and 7:30 pm daily, along with Muay Thai demonstrations. Other attractions include neck massages, fruit carving, arts and crafts activities, basic medical check-ups, and a photo booth. The Daily Tribune spoke to several stall owners who expressed their excitement about representing Thai goods and sharing their culture with the people of Bahrain.

I am having a stall of all skincare and hair products, such as face masks, hair oil, hair colouring, shampoos, and even perfumes, said Amnie. I am excited to sell all my products and let people in Bahrain know more about our culture, what we eat, and how we live.
DEAR ASKING ERIC: Youll be giving out advice in this new syndicated column. Whats your story?

Im sometimes asked what advice I would give my younger self; say, myself at 14.

I usually answer by joking that Id definitely advise my younger self not to lie to my friends about seeing the movie Se7en in 1995.

But I did lie.

Then one of my friends parents mentioned it to my parents. Thats when my parents, not wanting to be seen as the kind of people who would let their child see a gory R-rated film, ordered me to come clean.

In the carpool line at school.

I remember sliding open the door of our minivan and shouting to my friends, I didnt see Se7en! I dont know what happens! I got confused!

Oh, the horror.

Any more advice for young Eric? Plenty. That Se7en thing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Im now a writer in his 40s living on the East Coast and m married to a Presbyterian pastor and therapist. Ive written a dozen plays, many hours of television, and four books, including a YA novel and two best-selling comedic memoirs, Congratulations, the Best Is Over! and Here For It.

Ive lived a life. Im still living it.

In all my work, empathy is the foundational element. Why? Because the stories of our lives are empathy engines. When I talk about what happened to me in my life -- what I want, what Ive lost -- pathways open to the listener or reader, pathways that invite them to think about their own lives differently.

Even though Im separated from the advice-seekers, I see this space as a conversation. When you write in and share your story, youre not asking for a decree from on high, youre asking to be heard, understood, to feel that youre not alone. And when you read the stories of others, youre asking to be included in something mysterious, confounding, funny and very human.

Like a group of people at a dinner party, were all leaning in, forming our own opinions and figuring out what to do.

Heres whats happening on my side of the dinner party table: I consider marriage and family units as an ever-developing and changing ecosystem. I think a lot about work culture and the large and petty squabbles that bubble up. I have strong feelings about people caring for their pets. I love a wedding or party where food is abundant. Ill absolutely give you my honest take on the kitchen backsplash you picked out, and Im of the opinion that wallpaper is back in vogue. I wish everyone felt empowered to give voice to the big emotion, and to listen with intention and, when possible, love.

Now, lets get to a question not from my 14-year-old self:

DEAR ERIC: My friend (25) moved to a new state and started a job in a male-dominated field. She has a crush on her new coworker who is 40, getting divorced, and a parent.

A few months ago, they kissed and have since hooked up. They are very flirty with each other, but its all very secretive. Shes super stressed about anyone finding out about this because it wouldnt look great professionally and the relationship couldnt really work long term.

She knows she should set a boundary with him because its the healthiest thing to do, but she also wants to continue a physical relationship with him. What should I tell her to do?

 Co-Work and Play

DEAR CO-WORK AND PLAY: If your friend were the lead character in a Hallmark rom-com starring Vanessa Hudgens, Id say, Go for it! Life is full of sliding doors, et cetera. But what those movies never seem to linger on are all those messy consequences that pop up in work relationships, secret relationships, and extramarital relationships, like the negative impact they ultimately have on children and soon-to-be exes. And, honestly, thats for the best. No one wants to watch Vanessa Hudgens having a mediation meeting with human resources.

But your friend is not Vanessa Hudgens, and shes not in a rom-com. This is real life. And its possible that this will result in her getting a calendar invite from HR, especially if romance is against company policy. Your friend is in the building stage of her career and this fling poses a threat to her advancement, even if all goes well.

Tell her to knock it off before all the sneaky kisses and stolen glances become more solid, grounded feelings that are harder to shake.

If its meant to be, they can revisit it down the road when shes got a more solid footing at work, his divorce is finalized, and theres another Vanessa Hudgens movie out. Theres no need to rush head-long into career and emotional bedlam for a workplace crush.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
It seems like Dead & Company are heading back to the live stage.

After wrapping up their farewell tour in 2023, the band decided to perform live together once again at The Sphere in Las Vegas just a year later.

Dead & Company began their Las Vegas residency on May 16 and they are set to wrap up on Aug. 10.

The six added shows to Dead & Companys Las Vegas residency will take place on Aug. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10.

The band promises fans never-before-seen visual storytelling and a unique setlist for each weekends three performances.

Currently, tickets are available to the public to purchase on sites, such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, TicketCity, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster.

If you are struggling to secure tickets in the right price point or your preferred seating section on StubHub, you can find some tips and tricks here.

First-time Vivid Seats users can knock $20 off ticket orders over $200 with promo code NJ20 at checkout.

You can find a complete calendar of their Las Vegas residency show dates here.

Upcoming 2024 Las Vegas tours

Dead & Company are not the only artists with a Las Vegas residency this year.

Here is a list of upcoming tours that you wont want to miss: Bruno Mars, Adele, Shania Twain and Garth Brooks.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
NEW YORK  Jose Iglesias was very emotional when Triple-A Syracuse manager Dick Scott gave him the news that he was being called up to the big leagues Thursday night.

(Scott) just said, I got great news for you, Iglesias, who is in the starting lineup, batting eighth for the Mets against the Diamondbacks on Thursday at Citi Field, recalls. Yourre going to The Show.

It took Iglesias a while to respond to Scott. This isnt the first time hes heard those words. He heard them way back in 2011 when he first debuted in the big leagues for the Red Sox and several times since. But this time, it was different.

This one has a lot more meaning for me, Iglesias said about being called up. Its been more difficult in terms of individual challenges for me to come up this way. And I feel very proud of myself of the work Ive been doing, and the information Im getting from this great staff that we have. Its nothing but (a) blessing and I wont take it for granted.

BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

Iglesias hasnt played in a big league game since 2022 when he was with the Rockies. In 118 games with Colorado, the 5-foot-11 shortstop batted .292 with 33 extra-base hits, including 30 doubles and 47 RBI.

Before that, he had played 10 seasons across five organizations  Red Sox, Tigers, Reds, Orioles and Angels  batting .277 with a .700 OPS, placing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2013 and earning an All-Star nod in 2015 while with Detroit.

Scott spoke very highly of Iglesiass work ethic and defensive ability recently.

Anything hit at him, he catches  its an out, Scott told NJ Advance Media. He has magical hands. This guy is crazy good with his hands. Hes catching balls in between hops, weird hops, (and) short hops. Hes a magician out there.

Hes also showing good results with the bat in the minors. In 42 games in Triple-A, Iglesias batted .273 (45-or-165) with seven home runs, seven doubles and 29 RBIs.

Iglesias has been working on some other things that have impressed Syrcacuses manager.

He wants to know the metrics on things (and) hes trying to get better, Scott said. We have him on a bat speed program. He pays attention to his sprint speed, its faster than its been for the last three years. Hes run a couple of the fastest sprints that he has. Hes really hustling to try to find another year in the big leagues.

With the Mets, he affords them a legitimate backup infielder, something they havent had since designating Zack Short and Joey Wendle for assignment. With Syracuse, he played 20 games at second, 19 at short and two at third.

From 2011-2022, among shortstops with a minimum of 8,000 innings, Iglesias ranks fourth with 31 outs above average in MLB. By all accounts, even though hes 34 years old, he might have gotten better with the glove.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manny Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
Dave Larkin made a triumphant, improbable return to a popular Jersey Shore race on Saturday.

Five years after collapsing and nearly dying near the finish line of the Avon 5K Run/Walk, Larkin finished the 3.1-mile course in Avon by the Sea in just under 52 minutes.

Larkin and several participants were wearing Team Dave t-shirts featuring a lightning bolt, referencing the multiple, life-saving shocks administered by an automated external defibrillator to save his life. That was followed by quadruple heart bypass surgery.

The whole thing was just an experience of gratitude, Larkin, 65, said following his finish.

Larkin said he mostly walked but did some running while pushing a wheelchair occupied by Sharon Lopez McDonald, a longtime friend. They both attended Morristown High School in the 1970s and she said had planned to run her first 5K race to celebrate his recovery until breaking her ankle last week while on a cruise with her husband.

I was so happy to share it with him, she said.

Dave Larkin pushing Sharon Lopez McDonald, who recently broke her ankle, in a wheelchair during the Avon 5K Run/Walk in Avon by the Sea, New Jersey, on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media

Previously a resident of Avon by the Sea, Larkin moved two years ago to Eagle, Colorado, where he works as the chief building official for Eagle County. He decided to fly back to New Jersey to mark a milestone in his recovery, on the fifth anniversary of the 2019 race.

Larkin was among 1,347 finishers of the Avon 5K Run/Walk, which began at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on a course described by organizers as flat and scenic. His official time was 51 minutes and 59 seconds.

His Team Dave members included Dave Heisey, who was his roommate when both were attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Heisey, the longtime principal at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, said he ran the 2019 race with Larkin. It began as a special experience with his longtime friend.

It was a beautiful, sunny day. We were just excited being down at the Jersey Shore, Heisey said.

He was running ahead of Larkin when he saw first responders sprinting into action.

I said, I have a funny feeling thats Dave, Heisey said.

Larkin said that, in the days leading up to the 2019 race, he was having what he realized in retrospect were clear signs that something was wrong. He had been diagnosed six months earlier with arteriosclerosis, a vascular disease in which blood vessels carrying away from the heart are showing signs of damage.

I had heartburn for four days and I toughed it out, typical tough guy, and didnt recognize what was happening, Larkin said.

It turned out that the heartburn stemmed from his gallbladder rupturing, which was not discovered until he was taken to the hospital after collapsing, he said.

Larkin was feeling so poorly during the 2019 race that, at one point, he stepped off the course to have his blood pressure checked.

I said, OK, Ive just got to finish this race, he said.

Not long after, he collapsed.

Everything kind of turned gray. I saw the ground coming up, he said.

Larkin recounted waking up in an ambulance, being told what had happened and that, among other strokes of good fortune, three cardiac nurses had been nearby.

He fell to the ground and they were there, thank God. They saved his life more than once, Heisey said.

Avon 5K Run/Walk officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Dave Larkin getting reading for the Avon 5K Run/Walk in Avon by the Sea, New Jersey, on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media

Many spectators were cheering him on Saturday. Larkin lived in Avon by the Sea for about a quarter-century and was a volunteer firefighter and first aid squad member.

They all knew the story. They were making jokes, like, slow down old timer, he said.

Upon reaching the approximate location of his 2019 collapse, about 100 feet from the finish line, Larkin said he was unfazed and, if anything, picking up his pace.

We rallied at the end, he said.

Larkin said he was never an avid runner and the 2019 race in Avon by the Sea was his first in about two decades.

I was mostly a hiker, Larkin said.

These days, he keeps in shape via two-mile hikes from his home, about 700 feet uphill, wearing a 25-pound backpack, to the location where he catches the bus to work. He lives about a 15-minute drive from Vail and regularly skis.

He said he was sharing what happened to him in order to help others facing a similar health challenge.

If youre having indigestion for four days, maybe see a doctor before you do a 5k race, he said.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks events with editorial page editor Tom Moran.

Q. After Thursdays historic guilty verdict against Donald Trump, Democrats are praying that at least a small share of his supporters will abandon him. Will their prayers be answered? And could the verdict affect the tossup race in the 7th, where Rep. Tom Kean endorsed Trump for re-election one day before this verdict came down, and faces a challenge from Democrat Sue Altman?

Julie: Its hard to predict whether this verdict will have an effect on the election. Voters views on Trump are pretty baked in, and if having an adjudicated rapist back in the White House did not really move the needle, I dont know whether this particular criminal conviction will. Those of us who were horrified by Trumps behavior were never voting for him anyway. Meanwhile, he will probably be putting up friezes of him doing the Stations of the Cross at Mar-a-Lago in short order. As for Rep. Kean, I will leave it to Mike to explain the strategy of bending the knee to Trump on the same day the jury is out in his criminal trial.

New: @CongressmanKean, who represents a Biden-won district and who is in for a very competitive race this year, will support Donald Trump for president.https://t.co/dUGTnmExv8  Joey Fox (@joeymdfox) May 30, 2024

Mike: Politics is often about simple math, and that math matters most on the margins in close races. If 95% of Trumps supporters remain loyal, that sounds great. 95% is an A in any class. But that other 5%, who could walk away without making a peep, is where the trouble lies, not in New Jersey, but in Pennsylvania or Wisconsin. The math: If Trump has 50.1% of the vote in a state, and keeps 95% of his support, he drops to 47.6%. Thats the difference between winning and losing a state.

The Central Park 5 should take out an ad.  Al Cappuccino (@AlCappuccinoIT) May 30, 2024

Mike: Listen less to the loudest voices on both sides taking victory laps or airing grievances, but instead hear those quietly in the middle who could be moved. As for Kean, he will win. The district is much better for him than in the past. Sue Altman is far weaker than Tom Malinowski. She will only win if Biden hires Doc Brown, turns a DeLorean into a time machine, becomes a far different candidate, and wins NJ by 30 points.

No one, not even Presidents, are above the law. pic.twitter.com/hb07tuS6Sm  Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 31, 2024

Q. Rowdy crowds in Wildwood over Memorial Day weekend overwhelmed police and forced the closure of the boardwalk, while in Ocean City a 15-year-old boy was stabbed amid a series of fights. Police blamed reforms that were designed to keep more juveniles out of prison, and said harsher punishments are urgently needed. Gov. Phil Murphy, though, said most towns had no trouble and that the Shore did not have a chaotic weekend. Hows this going to play out?

Julie: Its something to keep an eye on. If it becomes a recurring problem, then law enforcement, Shore towns and the governor have a problem. Wildwood has been hosting a bunch of criminals this month, and not just this past weekend.

Mike: Crime is becoming a more pressing issue in voters minds. Like many issues, its less about statistics than how one you feel. Do you feel safe? When people hear about stabbings in Ocean City and a local State of Emergency in Wildwood, it makes them think twice about bringing their kids to the Ferris Wheel. Social media amplifies these incidents. I saw a few fights on the boardwalk in Wildwood and Seaside Heights as a kid, but those fights werent making the 11 oclock news. Now social media brings this news to your phone and may give someone a sense of foreboding that wouldnt have existed 30 years ago, even if the boardwalk is just as safe.

Following the chaotic weekend at the #JerseyShore, Senators Joe Pennacchio & Robert Singer are calling for legislative action on their bill:



"This dreadful activity will continue to happen until the legislative leaders in Trenton step up."



Learn more: https://t.co/MT6BLpmUmT pic.twitter.com/pFtLRSsuJL  New Jersey Senate Republicans (@NJSenateGOP) May 30, 2024

Q. In a feisty debate Wednesday night, Rep. Rob Menendez demanded that Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla release phone and text records to answer charges that he had corrupt dealings with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop while Bhalla charged that he endorsed Menendez in 2022 only because he was threatened by the Menendez machine and told that they would harm Hoboken if he didnt go along. Wow. Whats your final read on this race? With no county line this time, does Bhalla have a decent shot?

Julie: Mayor Bhalla has a very decent shot. Hes the mayor of a prominent town in the district, he has raised a ton of money, and Rob Menendez is a freshman congressman who no longer enjoys the protection of the line. Rep. Menendez is smart to try to muddy the waters on corruption, since Mayor Bhalla has been aggressive in trying to link him to his fathers troubles. Keep an eye on what Mayor Brian Stack is going to do in Union City. If he turns out his voters in droves for Menendez, which he has the ability to do unlike anyone else in the state, that would be very hard for Bhalla to overcome.

Mike: I have always thought Mayor Bhalla has a legitimate shot as a well-regarded mayor of an important town. Menendez is running a strong race, and being on offense on corruption is a smart tactic, as the #1 knock on him seems to be he shares his name with someone notably associated with corruption. Going on offense is smart. This is a tough Hudson County race. I dont pretend to know whats going to happen. And thats a great point on Sen. Stack. He could be the difference-maker here.

Q. Temperatures in New Delhi reached an unprecedented 126 degrees Wednesday, as global temperatures continue to break all records. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports massive failure of septic systems from Texas to Florida, where water levels have risen at least 6 inches since 2010. With Trump promising to reverse Bidens measures to combat climate change, the contrast on this issue couldnt be sharper. But how will it play in November?

Julie: Younger voters care tremendously about climate change  and rightly so, because this is the earth they will inherit. I hope they consider this when casting their votes this year.

Mike: An NPR poll out this week showed barely one-third of independent voters think climate is a top issue. The problem with this issue, as with so many, is the noise is dominated by the extremes. Its as if the choice is all coal on one side or lets switch to foot-powered Fred Flintstone cars on the other. The truth is there are pragmatic solutions to dramatically reducing emissions, but they require (gasp!) compromise. The left cant simply scream about climate and feel holier than thou without ever compromising. We need more renewables, but they alone cannot even meet current electricity demand, no less keep up with the dramatic increases needed in years ahead. We need more natural gas and more nuclear to keep replacing coal and fuel oil. And emissions will go down. But the left cant pretend we dont need natural gas to keep the lights on, keep hospitals and police stations operating, keep food safe, and keep people out of poverty.

Q. Former Gov. Chris Christie offered President Biden some advice for the June 27 debate with Donald Trump: Let Trump talk, because hell hang himself. I dont care how angry you get about how absolutely incorrect the stuff hes saying about your record is, about your family, about your personality, Christie said. Dont engage, because you will lose that fight. Is that good advice?

Julie: Its not bad advice but here is the problem with it: If Trump acts like a deranged, drunk uncle at Thanksgiving (which he has had a tendency to do at every previous debate) and Biden says nothing, Biden risks looking weak. Weakness is not a trait that Americans want from their presidents. Instead, Biden needs to come up with some stock catch phrases every time Trump goes off the reservation to remind voters that the country cannot be run by a deeply disturbed narcissist.

Mike: I think its good advice from Christie. He knows Trump well and knows how to get under his skin. Theres a reason Trump was afraid to debate Christie.

Q. After Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas declined to recuse themselves from cases related to Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin called on the Biden administration to force their hands by asking the other seven justices to exclude them on Constitutional grounds, and recusal statutes that apply to the judiciary. Is that idea going to fly? Should it?

Julie: I have seen nothing from this court to demonstrate the justices are engaged in anything with more alacrity than in a self-protection racket. Chief Justice Roberts has absolutely abdicated any leadership responsibility. Clarence Thomas wife was deeply engaged in the Stop the Steal nonsense, from which she earned money. I assume Justice Thomas shares a bank account with his wife. Justice Alitos wife flew not one, but two flags associated with January 6th outside the homes she shares with Justice Alito. The biggest issue here is that millions of Americans believe the Supreme Court has lost its way and too many people believe it has lost its legitimacy. Alito and Thomas look like they are more interested in trolling their adversaries than they are in preserving the courts reputation.

Sam Alito is an inveterate liar, sure. But hes also just bad at it. https://t.co/y8Ay49e0cp  Joe Patrice (@JosephPatrice) May 29, 2024

Mike: No, it is ludicrous to think the Court will voluntarily change its majority status because a partisan Democratic congressman from Maryland doesnt like the flags they fly at home.

Julie: Please dont make this a partisan issue. If Justice Sotomayor flew a Planned Parenthood flag outside her home, everyone would rightly be concerned, Democrat and Republican, because she rules on reproductive issues before the court. Why is this any different?

Mike: Because thats a flawed analogy. Alito didnt fly a flag for a litigant in front of the Court. Your point about Thomas and financial implications is a better one. My larger point is these justices are where they are on these issues. Their votes are not changing due to a flag or spouses employment. I do wish they would consider how all this looks though.

That flag represents New Apostolic Reformation dominionist christofascism. Please read this by @Dahlialithwick https://t.co/DtQ6MidaDo  Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) May 30, 2024

Q. Finally, the Canada goose slaughter at Teterboro Airport. Animal rights activists are planning a protest Saturday, claiming that the Port Authority used gas to kill 827 innocent geese during 2022 alone, in an attempt to ensure flight safety. What do you think about this heartless massacre?

Julie: I am not a waterfowl flight expert, but it strikes me that geese hurtling into a plane engine is not optimal for the people on the plane.

Mike: I wish the geese could have been moved humanely, but the Port Authoritys responsibility is to human safety first, geese later. I remember when a commercial jetliner landed on the Hudson River because birds knocked out all the engines. The Teterboro planes are smaller, with fewer engines. Decisions like this are not made lightly, but it is a safety-first issue.

NJ animal rights group to protest the gassing of geese at Teterboro Airport https://t.co/S8aIKlaGNZ  NorthJersey.com (@northjersey) May 29, 2024

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

A note to readers: Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global, has worked for Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush and is currently consulting Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy. We will disclose specific connections only when readers might otherwise be misled.
SAN FRANCISCO  Before Yankees manager Aaron Boone headed to his media responsibilities on day two of the 2022 Winter Meetings, he jumped in his San Diego hotel room shower.

When he was out of the bathroom, Boone heard a buzz and wondered what was going on.

He was numb hearing MLB Network insider and New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman had just hit send on a tweet that become infamous:

Arson Judge appears headed to Giants.

Whoa, whats going on? Boone thought to himself that day.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER:

RESTORING THE GLORY

Thinking he had the biggest scoop of the offseason, Heyman apparently typed fast and didnt check for errors.

Turns out the veteran reporter didnt just get Aaron Judges first name wrong.

Once an hour went off the clock after that tweet, Boone said Friday, its like, I dont think thats true.

It wasnt.

By the next morning, Judge agreed to re-sign with the Yankees when owner Hal Steinbrenner added a year and $40 million to his best offer to match the Giants at nine years and $360 million.

The deal was finalized after Steinbrenner pulled into a rest stop while vacationing in Italy and phoned Judge, who was in bed but awake at his parents home in Linden, Calif., at 3 a.m.

This all came up in Boones pre-game media session prior to the Yankee-Giants series opener because Judge is playing at Oracle Park for the first time this weekend.

Judge grew up 85 miles east of San Francisco loving the Giants, and of course, he flirted with going home during his winter of 22 free agency before returning to the Yankees for big money and a new title, team captain.

Looking back, Boone remembers feeling anxious waiting for Judge to make a final decision.

Honestly, it was an uneasy 24-to-30 hours for me  just the uncertainty and the unknown, Boone said.

After seven minutes, Heyman deleted his erroneous tweet and addressed the mistake with a new post:

Giants say they have not heard on Aaron Judge, My apologies for jumping the gun.

That was a relief, but Boone recalls the Yankees still werent hearing anything our way other than Judges agent Page Odle telling Brian Cashman that Heymans report was wrong.

Nervously waiting for a final decision, Boone called Judge that night. They hadnt talked for a while and Boone wanted to reach out to Judge and tell him one more time how much he means to him and the Yankees as a player and person.

That was several hours after (Heymans tweet), Boone said. That was that night  six, eight hours later probably. I just wanted to make sure I talked to him.

Whatever he was going to decide, I just wanted to make sure that I got a chance to weigh in and check in with him and see where he was and certainly express from my end how much I wanted him back.

Boone was still worried going to bed that night, but the next morning he woke up to the news that Judge was returning.

It was pretty early in the morning that he was back to us, Boone said. It was obviously a good wake-up call.

Im glad that ultimately we were able to work it out. Aaron, in my opinion, is where he should be.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
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LACHIN, Azerbaijan, June 1. Azerbaijan's Lachin district has held a ceremony for the foundation laying of a small hydroelectric power plant, Trend reports from the event's site.

The foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydroelectric power plant took place as part of the project to operate five small hydroelectric power plants in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar and Lachin districts.

Among the attendees were Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Lachin district Masim Mammadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC Ulvi Mansurov, Chairman of the Board of Demiroren Yatrm Holding Yldrm Demiroren, Head of Arges Enerji Team LLC Mehmet Fehmi Ozata, and representatives from specialized units of the Ministry of Economy.

It was highlighted that, under the guidance of President Ilham Aliyev, the liberated territories are undergoing successful transformation into alternative and eco-friendly energy zones. A modern power supply system is being established to enhance regional infrastructure. Hydropower plants play a vital role in supplying green electricity, capitalizing on the abundant hydropower potential of rivers in the liberated areas, thereby boosting project efficiency. Collaboration with private investors is crucial in this endeavor.

The project to rehabilitate and operate small hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) in Kalbajar and Lachin was underscored as yet another testament to the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood. This marks the first joint HPP project with private sector involvement in the liberated territories.

The commissioning of the Malibay station, the foundation of which was laid within the first phase of the project, will provide electricity to about 7,000 homes.

To note, last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yatrm Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Turkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement, according to which five small HPPs will be put into operation on the Hakari and Tartar rivers.

The total budget allocated for the project amounts to 25 million manat or $14.7 million. In its entirety, the project aims to commission five stations with a combined capacity of 13.8 MW by the year 2025. These stations are expected to have a service life of 30 years, and the project implementation will generate 25 new employment opportunities.

The project's first phase involves constructing the Malibay HPP on the Zabukh river in Lachin district, with a capacity of 5.1 MW. In the subsequent stage, the Galacha 2 HPP (3.4 MW), Minkend HPP (1.8 MW), and Galacha 1 HPP (1.1 MW) are planned for construction. The third phase includes the construction of the Tartar 1 (2.4 MW) small HPP on the Tartar river in Kalbajar district.

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LACHIN, Azerbaijan, June 1. The Merik and Aghbulag hydropower plants (HPPs) are expected to be commissioned until the end of this summer, special representative of Azerbaijan's President in the Lachin district Masim Mammadov told Trend.

"Aghbulag can be considered the most powerful among the hydropower plants in Lachin. Aghbulag-1 and Aghbulag-2 have a nominal capacity of nearly 14.2 MW and 14.8 MW respectively, while the capacity of the small Merik HPP is 3.5 MW. This is a good indicator for local rivers.

In the future, we plan to build new power plants in other settlements. Kalbajar also has significant potential. As you could see today, out of the five planned hydroelectric power stations, four are located in the Lachin district and only one in Kalbajar. However, we plan to build new power plants in Kalbajar as well, on the Tartar river: Chaykend and Gamishli," he added.

Today, a ceremony to lay the foundation of a small hydropower plant took place in Lachin.

The foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydropower plant took place as part of the project to operate five small hydroelectric power plants in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar and Lachin districts.

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Two former Royal Marines Commandos turned secondary school teachers from Barnstaple, have embarked on a poignant journey to Normandy to pay homage to the heroes of the past.

Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Al and Steve travelled to Normandy on the evening of Saturday, May 25 from Portsmouth, to complete a 32-kilometre run in their full kit to honour those who fought on D-Day.

The run started on the morning of Sunday, May 26.

The pair, whose service records span from 1989 to 2003 in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo, have long sought meaningful ways to honour their military heritage.

Together, they founded the Royal Marines Commando Shuffle, an annual 12-mile speed march event in Barnstaple, raising funds for the Royal Marines Charity and the Special Boat Service Association.

This year's event was particularly significant, as they decided to extend their tribute to the historic beaches of Normandy.

The idea was simple but profound: to take the Commando Shuffle to Sword, Juno, and Gold beaches, where British forces landed on June 6, 1944.

Al said: We wanted to take the Commando Shuffle to the beaches that the British secured on June 6th 1944; these beaches are Sword, Juno & Gold beach. So myself and Steve Rogers decided that running the 32 kilometres in our kit would be a great way to pay our respects.

Their trip began in the small village of Ouistreham, at the start of Sword Beach, where they were dropped off by Al's father, Bob, a former Royal Navy CWEM(R).

ABOVE: Left to right - Al Blanchard RM - Bob Blanchard RN - Stephen Rogers RM



The route took them across the arduous terrain of Sword and Juno beaches, and finally to the far end of Gold Beach in Arromanches-les-Bains.

True to the spirit of the Commando Shuffle, they wore their boots and daysacks throughout the march.

Despite the physical challenges, Al and Steve completed the distance.

Yet, for them, the experience was less about the achievement and more about the remembrance.

Al said: We were successful in completing the distance, however, it was not about that, it was more about remembering those who sacrificed their lives for ours; it was a very humbling experience.

Looking ahead, Al and Steve invite all serving or former Royal Marines to join this year's Royal Marines Commando Shuffle in Barnstaple on October 12.

Interested participants can contact Al at alblanchard@yahoo.com.

With 60 potential participants already showing interest, the event promises to be significant.

The pair have said donations to their worthy causes are greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/team/alblanchardroyalmarinescommandoshuffle
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgos accusations directed at Azerbaijan are entirely hypocritical, an article published by Paris-based La Gazette du Caucase online newspaper reads, Trend reports.

"On May 24th, Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, put forward a "proposal" urging France to boycott the upcoming COP29 in Baku. One might question whether this declaration will compromise the integrity of this edition of the international climate conference.

Besides the fact that a "proposal" from Paris holds no legal weight, few pay heed to Anne Hidalgo's opinions, particularly regarding environmental protection, given her reliance on "green-washing" as the cornerstone of her municipal initiatives.

Claiming to be acting in the name of the environment, she has transformed Paris according to her own ideas, closing off major roads to cars and replacing them with bicycle lanes that hardly anyone uses. This has left these areas empty, with shops closing down for good, leading to worse traffic jams, streets filled with garbage, and homeless people forced to take up space on the sidewalks, while rats run around," the article reads.

As the authors pointed out, Mayor Hidalgo has seized upon another cause: attacking Azerbaijan under the pretext of defending Armenia. She backs French Armenians who head different anti-Azerbaijan groups and are openly Islamophobic. "All of these individuals will likely be absent from COP29 anyway", the article concluded.
A few hours after winning a case that will forever define him, Alvin L. Bragg sent an email to his staff at the Manhattan district attorneys office.

He did not celebrate, or describe the case in detail. He did not mention former President Donald J. Trump at all. Instead, Mr. Bragg thanked the more than 500 prosecutors in his office who were not on the trial team for their patience and hard work.

I want to assure you that we will do everything in our power to restore normal operations as quickly as possible, he said.
The Florida sheriffs deputy who fatally shot a U.S. Air Force senior airman in the airmans home this month has been fired, the sheriffs office said on Friday, describing the deputys use of deadly force, which was captured on body camera, as not objectively reasonable.

The deputy, Eddie Duran, was responding to a physical disturbance call in Fort Walton Beach in the Florida Panhandle on May 3 when he killed Senior Airman Roger Fortson in his apartment. Sheriff Eric Aden of Okaloosa County said in a statement on Friday that his decision to fire Mr. Duran had come after an internal affairs investigation and a review of the body camera footage.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Sheriff Aden said, adding: Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.

The sheriffs comments were a stark departure from the language that his office used in the initial aftermath of the shooting. At that time, the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office said Mr. Duran had reacted in self-defense.
Declaring Hamas no longer capable of carrying out a major terrorist attack on Israel, President Biden said on Friday that it was time for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and endorsed a new plan he said Israel had offered to win the release of hostages and end the fighting.

Its time for this war to end, for the day after to begin, Mr. Biden said, speaking from the State Dining Room at the White House. He also gave a stark description of Hamass diminished capabilities after more than seven months of Israeli attacks, saying that at this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another Oct. 7.

This is truly a decisive moment, Mr. 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.

With that statement, Mr. Biden appeared to be revealing his true agenda: making public elements of the proposal in an effort to pressure both Hamas and Israel to break out of a monthslong deadlock that has resulted in the killing of thousands of Palestinians.

American officials have described Hamass leader, Yahya Sinwar, as interested only in his own survival and that of his family and inner circle, as they presumably operate from tunnels deep under southern Gaza. But officials have also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has little incentive to move to a real cease-fire, because of the widespread belief in Israel that as soon as the surviving hostages are returned, and a last cease-fire begins, he will most likely lose his fragile hold on power.

Mr. Bidens remarks came at a pivotal moment in his re-election campaign, a day after his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, was convicted of 34 felony charges. At the same time, he has been facing growing pressure at home over the bloodshed in Gaza, which has led to eruptions on college campuses and on the streets of American cities, and alienated many of his own supporters.
* 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.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Turkiye supports the genuine efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the peace process, Turkish Minister of National Defense Yashar Guler said on the sidelines of the multinational EFES-2024 exercise, Trend reports.

He emphasized that a comprehensive peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is essential for achieving lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus.

According to Guler, Turkiye supports the genuine efforts of both sides in the peace process.

"The President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan has highlighted the importance of seizing this historic opportunity for peace. I also welcome the recent statements by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who has shown the realistic approach needed for the future of Armenia and its people," the Turkish minister added.

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The Ohio General Assembly has passed a legislative fix that ensures President Biden will be on the states ballot in November, averting a crisis that had been brewing for weeks over what is typically a minor procedural issue.

The secretary of state in Ohio, a Republican, had said that he planned to exclude Mr. Biden from the ballot because the president would not be officially nominated by his party until after a state deadline for certifying presidential nominees. That had threatened the possibility that the president would not be on the ballot in all 50 states.

The General Assembly resolved the issue by passing a bill that pushes back the deadline to accommodate the date of the Democratic nominating convention. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, is expected to sign the bill over the weekend, pending a legal review, according to a spokesman.

The solution has been used before. Ohio passed temporary extensions to its certification deadline for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012 and for President Donald J. Trump in 2020. Other states that had similar deadline issues, including Alabama, have also passed legislative fixes with overwhelming bipartisan support, in 2024 and in other election cycles.
A day after U.S. officials said Ukraine could use American weapons in limited strikes inside Russia, a deepfake video of a U.S. spokesman discussing the policy appeared online.



The fabricated video, which is drawn from actual footage, shows the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, seeming to suggest that the Russian city of Belgorod, just 25 miles north of Ukraines border with Russia, was a legitimate target for such strikes.

The 49-second video clip, which has an authentic feel despite telltale clues of manipulation, illustrates the growing threat of disinformation and especially so-called deepfake videos powered by artificial intelligence.

U.S. officials said they had no information about the origins of the video. But they are particularly concerned about how Russia might employ such techniques to manipulate opinion around the war in Ukraine or even American political discourse.

Belgorod has essentially no civilians remaining, the video purports to show Mr. Miller saying at the State Department in response to a reporters question, which was also manufactured. Its practically full of military targets at this point, and we are seeing the same thing starting in the regions around there.
Federal prosecutors tried for a second time on Friday to ask the judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trumps classified documents case to bar him from making any statements that might endanger F.B.I. agents involved in the proceeding.

The move by the prosecutors came three days after the judge, Aileen M. Cannon, denied their initial request to keep Mr. Trump from attacking the agents on the procedural grounds that they had failed to properly inform Mr. Trumps lawyers about their intentions.

The dispute, which has unfolded in back-and-forth filings in Federal District Court in Fort Pierce, Fla., began about 10 days ago when Mr. Trump falsely claimed on social media that the F.B.I. had authorized agents to kill him during their August 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Florida, in which they discovered more than 100 classified documents.

Prosecutors have asserted that the former presidents remarks  including one in which he baselessly said agents were locked & loaded ready to take me out  were a grossly misleading misinterpretation of an F.B.I. operational plan for the search that was recently unsealed as part of a motion to suppress the fruits of the Mar-a-Lago search.
The sense of grievance erupted as powerfully as the verdict itself.

From the low hills of northwest Georgia to a veterans retreat in Alaska to suburban New Hampshire, the corners of conservative America resounded with anger over the New York jurys declaration that former President Donald J. Trump was guilty.

But their discontent was about more than the 34 felony counts that Mr. Trump was convicted on, which his supporters quickly dismissed as politically motivated.

They saw in the jurys finding a rejection of themselves, and the values they believed their nation should uphold. Broad swaths of liberal America may have found long-awaited justice in the trials outcome. But for many staunch Trump loyalists  people who for years have listened to and believed Mr. Trumps baseless claims that the system is rigged against him, and them  the verdict on Thursday threatened to shatter their faith in democracy itself.

We are at that crossroads. The democracy that we have known and cherished in this nation is now threatened, Franklin Graham, the evangelist, said in an interview from Alaska. Ive got 13 grandchildren. What kind of nation are we leaving them?
On TikTok, a collection of objects sits atop a stack of books: a string of pearls, a Diptyque candle, a Sylvanian Families rabbit figurine in a scallop-collared dress. A womans hand brushes them aside. She pages through the pile of books below. We see My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Also, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, a fat black bug on its cover. A question typed over the scene asks: What do you conclude about me?

The videos creator is 25-year-old Margarita Mouka  @aquariuscat444 on TikTok, where she frequently posts about Kafka, integrating his work, his likeness and his life story into her online persona of romantic intellectualism. When her account was publicized last year, alongside those of a handful of other young Kafka-heads, media outlets were not quite sure what to conclude about her.

Franz Kafka becomes an unlikely HEARTTHROB on TikTok  where Gen Zers are swooning over the Czech novelist nearly 100 YEARS after his death, ran a Daily Mail headline. The article surfaced fancam-style compilations that use Kafkas pictures as well as melodramatic readings of his letters. Baffled reactions followed in The Spectator and Literary Hub: Did they think he was  hot? Did they know he had a kind of body dysmorphia? Was Kafka the Harry Styles of the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

To Mouka, the appeal was obvious.

I felt like that bug, she said.

On BookTok, where a flashed book jacket conveys a glimmer of a users inner life, a classic text can leave a durable impression. It plays like a deep cut, reaching back through time to ground a TikTokers content in a more enduring human experience.
Sam Butcher, the soft-spoken artist whose doe-eyed, pastel-hued porcelain Precious Moments figurines ignited a global collecting frenzy and made him a wealthy man, and whose Christian faith spurred him to build his own version of the Sistine Chapel in Carthage, Mo., died on May 20 at his home there. He was 85.

His death was confirmed by his son Jon.

Mr. Butcher was the Michelangelo of Missouri, and his adorable snub-nosed Precious Moments characters were the Beanie Babies of porcelain, as The Wall Street Journal once put it. Their zealous collectors, who numbered in the hundreds of thousands, built rooms for their Precious Moments figurines, convened in regional clubs and made pilgrimages to Carthage, where they slept in the Precious Moments motel or the R.V. park, marveled at the Precious Moments Fountain of the Angels, dined in the Precious Moments food courts and wandered the 30-acre grounds. (Carthage also hosted Precious Moments weddings.)

For a time, the Precious Moments Care-a-Van  an 18-wheeler kitted out like a museum, filled with figurines and dioramas that told Mr. Butchers life story  toured the country. There were hundreds and hundreds of Precious Moments licensees, which made hats, keychains, watches, greeting cards, books and a childrens Bible. At the companys peak, in 1996 and 1997, Precious Moments global retail sales reached over $500 million each year, a stunning amount for a man who was once so poor that he struggled to buy groceries for his seven children.

Mr. Butcher, whose fans sought him out at the Precious Moments compound to autograph their figurines and posters (he always carried two pens to do so), was an unlikely-looking millionaire: a rumpled figure typically clad in bluejeans and a T-shirt, with paint in his bushy hair and a shy smile.
This is long from over, Donald J. Trump, the former president and current felon, declared on Thursday, moments after a Manhattan jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal.

Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is banking on the jury not having the final word on the case. He has already outlined a plan to appeal a verdict that on Friday he labeled a scam.

But even if the former  and possibly future  president could persuade voters to ignore his conviction, the appellate courts might not be so sympathetic. Several legal experts cast doubt on his chances of success, and noted that the case could take years to snake through the courts, all but ensuring he will still be a felon when voters head to the polls in November.
When Frank Pine searched Google for a link to a news article two months ago, he encountered paragraphs generated by artificial intelligence about the topic at the top of his results. To see what he wanted, he had to scroll past them.

That experience annoyed Mr. Pine, the executive editor of Media News Group and Tribune Publishing, which own 68 daily newspapers across the country. Now, those paragraphs scare him.

In May, Google announced that the A.I.-generated summaries, which compile content from news sites and blogs on the topic being searched, would be made available to everyone in the United States. And that change has Mr. Pine and many other publishing executives worried that the paragraphs pose a big danger to their brittle business model, by sharply reducing the amount of traffic to their sites from Google.

It potentially chokes off the original creators of the content, Mr. Pine said. The feature, AI Overviews, felt like another step toward generative A.I. replacing the publications that they have cannibalized, he added.
When Dinesh Nepal first arrived in the United States in 2010, he had never heard of the term Asian American.

He knew that he was of Asian descent. He grew up in a refugee camp in Nepal after his parents were expelled from Bhutan, a landlocked Himalayan nation. And after he moved to Pittsburgh and became a United States citizen, he began calling himself an American.

But it never occurred to him to put those two labels together, even after he and his wife opened a shop selling bubble tea  a Taiwanese specialty that is iconic for Asian Americans.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on awarding civil aviation staff, Trend reports.

The full text of the decree can be viewed at the link.
Through the middle of a high-stakes election being held during a mind-melting heat wave, a blizzard of confusing deepfakes blows across India. The variety seems endless: A.I.-powered mimicry, ventriloquy and deceptive editing effects. Some of it is crude, some jokey, some so obviously fake that it could never be expected to be seen as real.

The overall effect is confounding, adding to a social media landscape already inundated with misinformation. The volume of online detritus is far too great for any election commission to track, let alone debunk.

A diverse bunch of vigilante fact-checking outfits have sprung up to fill the breach. While the wheels of law grind slowly and unevenly, the job of tracking down deepfakes has been taken up by hundreds of government workers and private fact-checking groups based in India.

We have to be ready, said Surya Sen, a forestry officer in the state of Karnataka who has been reassigned during the election to manage a team of 70 people hunting down deceptive A.I.-generated content. Social media is a battleground this year. When Mr. Sens team finds content they believe is illegal, they tell social media platforms to take it down, publicize the deception or even ask for criminal charges to filed.
In the past month, millions of people have found themselves stumbling through the contorted and catchy syllables of a song about, of all things, a woman named Barbara and some rhubarb-loving barbarians who drink beer while getting their beards barbered. In German.

Or more rightly: Rhabarberbarbarabarbarbarenbartbarbierbier.

The hyper-compound words of the popular German tongue twister about Barbara, her bombastic rhubarb cake and her hirsute customers shot to inexplicable and extreme popularity this spring, a few months after a pair of comedic musical content creators from Berlin posted a rap version late last year. Their silly ditty has more than 47 million views on TikTok; for a brief moment on some online streaming charts, Barbara beat out Beyonce. Beyonce.

There is a prejudice that, first, Germans dont have any sense of humor, and second, they do not have fun, and third, their language sounds very aggressive, said Bodo Wartke, the raps lyricist who, along with Marti Fischer, the composer, created the viral Barbaras Rhubarb Bar tune. They spoke on a recent day in their Berlin studio as they giggled and tripped over their own stanzas  which exploit a feature of German grammar that crams nouns together into strings of syllables.
President Biden on Friday outlined a road map put forward by Israel that would begin with an immediate, temporary cease-fire and work toward a permanent end to the war and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Here are some of the details, as described by Mr. Biden, a senior U.S. administration official who briefed reporters after the president spoke and Israeli officials who have discussed the possible deal.

First Phase

Both sides would observe a six-week cease-fire. Israel would withdraw from major population centers in Gaza, and a number of hostages would be released, including women, the elderly and the wounded. The hostages would be exchanged for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Aid would begin flowing into Gaza, working up to some 600 trucks a day. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians would also be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza. Most Palestinians fled the north following Israels mass evacuation order before the ground invasion began.

During the first phase, Israel and Hamas would continue to negotiate to reach a permanent cease-fire. If the talks take more than six weeks, the first phase of the truce will continue until they reach a deal, Mr. Biden said.
A day after President Biden called on Israel and Hamas to reach a truce, declaring that it was time for this war to end, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday reiterated that Israel would not agree to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as long as Hamas still retains governing and military power.

In his statement, Mr. Netanyahu did not explicitly endorse or reject a proposed cease-fire plan that Mr. Biden had laid out in an unusually detailed address on Friday. Two Israeli officials confirmed that Mr. Bidens proposal matched an Israeli cease-fire proposal that had been greenlit by Israels war cabinet. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.

But the timing of Mr. Netanyahus remarks, coming first thing the next morning, seemed to put the brakes on Mr. Bidens hopes for a speedy resolution to the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, Mr. Netanyahus office said in the statement released on Saturday morning.
From the outskirts of his town in the West Bank, the mayor surveyed the rocky hills stretching toward the Dead Sea where Palestinians had long farmed and herded, and pointed out the new features of the landscape.

New guard posts manned by Israeli soldiers. New roads patrolled by Israeli settlers. And, most tellingly, a new metal gate blocking the towns sole road to those areas, installed and locked by the Israeli army to keep Palestinians out.

Anyone who goes to the gate, they either arrest him or kill him, said the mayor, Moussa al-Shaer, of the town of Tuqu.

On the other side of the gate, atop a bald hill in the distance, stood one of the areas new residents, Abeer Izraeli, a Jewish settler.
Pride Month is here, which means queer people and their allies will be taking to the streets for parades and protests and parades that look a lot like protests. There are dance parties, cultural events and unexpected gay histories to have fun with too.

But while boozy drag brunches and silent discos under the stars are fun and all, Pride can also happen onscreen and from the comfort of your couch. Tearful romances, family-friendly comedies, revelatory documentaries: Pride Month is a ripe time for discovering how the movies mirror queer lives as they were and still can be.

In these seven films, Pride comes out in all its messy, sexy, lovely glory.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

Stream it on Netflix.

Murder or suicide? Thats the heartbreaking question that fuels David Frances documentary about Marsha P. Johnson, the trailblazing transgender activist, performer and high-profile elder of the Stonewall uprising who was found dead in the Hudson River in 1992. Yet embedded among the investigative elements of the film is a treasure trove of archival footage of Johnson, described in a 2018 obituary in The New York Times as a fixture of street life in Greenwich Village. To watch Johnson resiliently parade down Christopher Street during Pride, her beaming smile accentuated by her signature glossy lip, is to see a revolution in heels.
Offaly hurling fans were left confused when they arrived to Nowlan Park in Kilkenny for the U20 All-Ireland Hurling final on Saturday evening.

Offaly take on Tipperary at 7.15pm on Saturday but Offaly fans already have their backs up over the flag being flown for the county in the stadium.

The traditional Offaly flag of green, white and gold is being flown upside down with the gold on top of the flag pole.

"They can't even get that right," one supporter joked on the terraces.

It was easy to notice for Offaly fans who far outnumber their rivals from Tipperary.

Whether it was a simple mistake or not, Offaly fans and players will be hoping all concerned will be given plenty of reason to get it right the next time if the Offaly flags are flying high at full-time this evening.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. According to the bilateral military cooperation plan signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic, a meeting was held between representatives of both countries at the Medical Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

At the meeting, the acting head of the Medical Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, Lieutenant Colonel Anar Ismailov, and the head of the Medical Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan, Colonel Amanbay Matisakov, exchanged views on the prospects for the development of cooperation in the field of military medicine, and also discussed other issues of mutual interest

Then the representative of Kyrgyzstan visited the Main Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Defense, the Central Military Clinic, the Central Dental Clinic, the Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, the Center for Forensic Medical Examination and Pathological Anatomy and got acquainted with the activities of doctors serving in the field of military medicine
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 1. The 7th meeting of the Scientific Council of the Turkic Academy has been held in Azerbaijan's Shusha, Trend reports.

President of the Turkic Academy, academician Shahin Mustafayev, highlighted the significance of convening the meeting in Shusha during his opening speech.

He emphasized that this meeting facilitates the exchange of views aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation and making relevant decisions.

Following Mustafayev's remarks, the Azerbaijani Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, expressed his satisfaction with the importance of such an event. Discussing the objectives of the Turkic Academy, Amrullayev elaborated on the collaborative efforts in the fields of science and education undertaken within the framework of cooperation with the Academy.

Subsequently, the meeting addressed the agenda topics.

A report on the activities of the Turkic Academy was presented during the meeting.

12:00

Azerbaijan's Shusha city hosts the 7th meeting of the Scientific Council of the Turkic Academy, Trend reports.

The event is also scheduled to include bilateral meetings between the delegations.

11:45

Azerbaijan's Shusha city hosted the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on June 1, Trend reports.

In his opening speech, Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, welcomed the guests and highlighted that the successes achieved by OTS in a short period are commendable.

Amrullayev stated that the Azerbaijani Ministry of Science and Education is happy to be involved in these significant procedures. Youth, he underlined, is the cornerstone of enduring and fruitful cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations. The minister added that in this sense, students from general education institutions can familiarize themselves with the common history, customs, and culture of the schools through the exchange program offered by OTS.

The Azerbaijani minister further stated that relations with OTS member nations are still strong both inside the organization's structure and through bilateral cooperation. He emphasized how other projects, including the schools constructed in Azerbaijan's liberated areas with the help of friendly nations, represent the camaraderie and fraternity among OTS member nations.

Concluding his speech, the minister discussed the OTS's goals for enhancing bilateral cooperation with its member and observer countries.

Moreover, other guests delivered speeches on strengthening cooperation in the fields of science and education.

Following the speeches, the meeting agenda was discussed.

09:40

Azerbaijan's Shusha city hosts the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the 7th meeting of the Scientific Council of the Turkic Academy, Trend reports.

Delegations from OTS member and observer countries, along with representatives from the Turkic Academy, participate in the meetings.

Additionally, delegations from OTS member countries are scheduled to hold bilateral meetings during the events.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Abandoned weapons and ammunition have been found in Azerbaijan's Khankendi, Khojaly, and Khojavand, the press service of the Interior Ministry told Trend.

It was reported that on May 2531, a cache of weapons and ammunition was found and seized in Khankendi city, including 41 automatic weapons of various brands, eight rifles, six pistols, 45 grenades, five shells, 60 incendiary grenades, 125 ammunition magazines, 16,323 cartridges of different calibers, 29 bayonet knives, and other ammunition, as well as four communication devices.

Additionally, two automatic rifles, 57 grenades, nine shells, 22 incendiary grenades, 56 ammunition magazines, and 9,560 cartridges of various calibers were discovered and confiscated in the Khojaly and Khojavand districts.

Investigative efforts on the case are ongoing.

Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan began operations in November 2020 to clean its lands of mines, booby traps, and other weaponry left behind by illegal Armenian forces.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 1. Azerbaijan's Shusha city hosted the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on June 1, Trend reports.

In his opening speech, Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, welcomed the guests and highlighted that the successes achieved by OTS in a short period are commendable.

Amrullayev mentioned that the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan is pleased to contribute to these important processes. He emphasized that youth form the foundation of sustainable and healthy cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries. The minister also noted that, in this regard, the exchange of students from general education institutions within the framework of OTS allows them to become familiar with the shared history, culture, and traditions of the schools.

The Azerbaijani minister further stated that, both within the framework of the organization and through bilateral cooperation, relations with OTS member countries continue to thrive. He highlighted that the schools built with the support of friendly countries in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation, as well as other initiatives, serve as symbols of friendship and brotherhood among OTS member countries.

Concluding his speech, the minister discussed the OTS's goals for enhancing bilateral cooperation with its member and observer countries.

Moreover, other guests delivered speeches on strengthening cooperation in the fields of science and education.

Following the speeches, the meeting agenda was discussed.

Will be updated

09:40

Azerbaijan's Shusha city hosts the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the 7th meeting of the Scientific Council of the Turkic Academy, Trend reports.

Delegations from OTS member and observer countries, along with representatives from the Turkic Academy, participate in the meetings.

Additionally, delegations from OTS member countries are scheduled to hold bilateral meetings during the events.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
"When Fascism came into power, most people were unprepared, both theoretically and practically. They were unable to believe that man could exhibit such propensities for evil, such lust for power, such disregard for the rights of the weak, or such yearning for submission. Only a few had been aware of the rumbling of the volcano preceding the outbreak.-- "Erich Fromm , Escape From Freedom

There are millions of well-informed, thoughtful voters in the United States. Just not enough of them.

Donald J. Trump, the presidential candidate with the highest poll numbers, is clearly mentally and psychologically unstable, and quite likely in the early stages of dementia. His authoritarian (i.e. fascist) plans for when he would regain power places our 248-year-old democracy at peril. He wants to be a dictator and his allies and millions of his supporters relish the idea.

Another Trump presidency would cause chaos in this country and the world, with frightening and catastrophic consequences. This prediction is not an exaggeration. Respected, award-winning historian Douglas Brinkley warns that a second Trump term could lead to "the end of our democracy, and the birth of a new kind of authoritarian presidential order."

This nightmare would occur because of a shameful and irrational denial by important people who should know better. America's establishment, its institutions, influential leaders in all fields, and the mainstream media are not taking Donald Trump seriously enough. We are in the midst of what should be referred to as America's Remarkable Election Denial.

Trump's disturbed mind, dictatorial ambitions, and racist history are mostly brushed aside and often laughed at. He is not shy to inform us of his right-wing extremist agenda, vengeful fantasies, and his authoritarian ambitions, but most people figure he can't be serious and surely could not be as dangerous as he appears to be. But his increasingly demented mental state and bizarre thinking are obvious and can't be disregarded.

This country's shortsightedness could lead to catastrophic consequences. Our Remarkable Election Denial is making it possible for him to win the November election and transform this country from an imperfect democracy to a fascist-style dictatorship led by an incompetent convicted felon with unmistakable signs of mental instability.

His increasing dementia should be obvious to anybody paying attention to his bizarre, hate-filled statements and speeches. For example, his recent rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, in which he mixed up the names of several important people and places, and inexplicably praised and compared migrants to the fictional cannibal killer Hannibal Lecter. Several weeks before that in Pennsylvania he stunned everyone with his bizarre depiction of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. "It was so much, and so interesting, and so vicious and horrible, and so beautiful in so many different ways-- it represented such a big portion of the success of this country."

At the Wildwood, New Jersey rally, he strangely started talking about a "very good" hot dog he had just eaten, then reminisced about conversations he had with the late Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti about food. He also twice confused "Jimmy Conners" with "Jimmy Carter."

We know Trump frequently messes up names and places, and often loses his train of thought. Earlier in the year he famously confused Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi several times when referring to the person in charge of security during the January 6 riots (neither woman was). A number of times he has said he ran against Barack Obama instead of Joe Biden.

His excuse: "Every time I do that, or I'll say our president, Barack Hussein Obama -- now, I do that because, you know, that makes a point. We understand that, right, because a lot of people say he's running the country. I don't personally think so."

Recently, several prominent mental health professionals have expressed concern about his deteriorating brain function. Dr. John Gartner, a former professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, has been vocal about his professional analysis of Trump, asserting a stark difference between the candidates: "Biden is aging. Trump is dementing."

Dr. Elisabeth Zoffmann, a forensic psychiatrist and an Associate Clinical Professor of Forensic and General Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, believes that Trump is displaying a range of behaviors that suggest cognitive challenges if not impairment. She concludes Trump appears to be suffering from Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (BvFTD), which drastically affects personality, behavior, and social interactions.

Another example: outside a New York court recently Trump told everyone: "We can't have an election in the middle of a political season. We just had Super Tuesday, and we had a Tuesday after Tuesday already." It is known that Trump's father, Fred, suffered from Alzheimer's, a disease that is known to have a genetic component.

There is no rational reason 77-year-old Donald Trump should hold the most powerful job in the world. If Trump were elected president again, our political system might never recover and our democracy would likely only be remembered in history books (with no guarantee of even that). To anybody seriously paying attention, the evidence is overwhelming and indisputable. Yet millions of American voters, again largely because of America's Remarkable Election Denial, don't fully understand.

In November, American voters, even if they don't realize it, will choose between fascism (Donald Trump) or our continuing imperfect democracy (Joe Biden). For 248 years America enjoyed and proudly defended our democratic system of government. And just about the whole country was on board. That is no longer the case.

Millions of mostly uninformed American voters have mindlessly decided this mentally deficient former reality TV star and world-class grifter, Donald Trump, is their savior. Having no experience outside of our democratic system, most Trump followers wouldn't know how to even recognize fascism.

Does fascism realistically apply to Trump's MAGA crusade? Fascism comes in different forms, and there is no "one-size-fits-all" meaning. But the Cambridge English Dictionary defines fascism as "A political system based on a very powerful leader, state control of official and economic life, and extreme pride in country and race, with no expression of political disagreement allowed."

The Council on Foreign Relations notes: "In many ways, fascist regimes are revolutionary in nature. They advocate for the overthrow of existing systems of government and the persecution of political enemies. However, such regimes are also highly conservative in their championing of traditional values. And although fascist leaders typically claim to support the everyman, in reality, their regimes often align with powerful business interests."

Trump and his MAGA followers don't want their movement labeled as fascism, and would deny that electing Donald Trump would lead to such a government. But it surely would.

Of course, re-electing Joe Biden would solve all our problems, right? Of course not. The President is too old, unpopular, and too attached to old solutions to save us from ourselves. He can only rescue us from much worse immediate outcomes. The real answer will have to come elsewhere, in the future, assuming we still have opportunities to make the necessary changes.

Some major European countries gave fascism a try in the 1930s and 1940s. The consequences were horrific. It took World War II to end it. Now we can see nationalism and authoritarianism on the rise across the globe, while democracy is losing ground.

For the first time in two decades, the world has more closed autocracies than liberal democracies. "28 percent of the world's population, 2.2 billion people, now live in closed autocracies compared to 13 percent, 1 billion people, who live in liberal democracies," according to last year's democracy report from the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem Institute) at Sweden's University of Gothenburg. Trump, his advisors, and allies are aiming to be part of that trend.

In summation, we are on the verge of electing a fascist government led by a mentally disturbed criminal with millions of angry followers. With America's Remarkable Election Denial, enabled by important leaders and influencers unwilling to speak the complete truth, we all could soon be living this national nightmare.

Then we would only have one last resort: The Supreme Court. Wait....never mind.
Candy flavoured traps to hook the next generation

SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS



Tobacco kills. Do not be duped.

(Image by CNS) Details DMCA



Young people are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in many countries, as the tobacco industry is specifically targeting youth, says The World Health Organization (WHO).

"History is repeating, as the tobacco industry tries to sell the same nicotine to our children in different packaging. These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap. How can they talk about 'harm reduction' when they are marketing these dangerous, highly addictive products to children?," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.

This year's theme for World No Tobacco Day - 'Protecting children from tobacco industry interference'- advocates for an end to the targeting of youth with harmful tobacco products. The tobacco industry markets fruit and candy flavoured tobacco and nicotine products like gadgets or toys in attractive packaging under the garb of less harmful novel products. In reality, these products are hooking young people across the world to a life time of dangerous addiction.

"Hooking the next generation", a new report jointly launched by WHO and STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, highlights how the tobacco industry designs products, implements marketing campaigns and influences policies to help addict the youth to tobacco. According to 2022 data, globally, an estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 years use some form of tobacco, and in many countries, the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents exceeds that of adults. 85% of 15-30-year-olds are exposed to e-cigarette advertising across multiple media platforms, and that higher rates of exposure were linked to higher rates of e-cigarette use.

In the WHO European Region 4 million 13-15 years old- 11.5% of boys and 10.1% of girls - are tobacco users. Electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among youth. An estimated 12.5% of adolescents in this used e-cigarettes in 2022 compared to 2% of adults. In some countries of the Region, the rates of e-cigarette use among school children are 2-3 times higher than the rates of cigarette smoking.

It is a well known fact that tobacco kills half of its users prematurely. In India nearly 3600 people die every day due to tobacco use. To find replacement consumers and generate a lifetime of profits, the tobacco industry is targeting the young generation.

India's Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019 found that the prevalence of tobacco among school going children aged between 13-15 years was 8.4%. The survey findings also show that even before celebrating their seventh birthday, 11.4% children start smoking cigarettes, 17.2% starting smoking bidis (hand rolled cheap cigarettes) and 24% start using smokeless tobacco products. India has taken comprehensive measures to reduce tobacco use including prohibition of e-cigarettes. WHO has supported the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in setting up an online platform to report violations related to the sale and advertisement of e-cigarettes.

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National Memorial Day Parade, 2023 by 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Public Domain Mark

(Image by 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)) Details DMCA



Money Making Military Will Praise War & Parade During America's Memorial Day of Solemn Mourning





U.S. Memorial Day, originally intended as a solemn day of mourning for families of dead veterans has long become an opportunity for jingoistic war celebration, deceiving politicians and recruiting officers to parade and glorify warfare as a means to entrap young volunteers for future wars.





Instead of solemn mourning, on Memorial Day, war promoting corporate media, having tricked so many Americans into fighting and dying in unjust, murderous wars based on lies, now hypes our loved ones' inglorious death as beautiful military service to

entice recruits for their continuing wars.





We need a memorial day to commemorate all victims of war, especially the civilians. That way people will become aware of the true effect of war and be more ready to oppose war when politicians call for it.

How many tens of thousands of conscience stricken veterans of US wars in small countries can forget faces of 'enemy' dead? - finding smiling photos of beautiful children and wives in the caps or pockets of their clothes? How many American veterans were ashamed to be murdering guys defending their country against our bombing and invasion. Remembering them with love officially on Memorial Day would shake up the war mongers and challenge lies past and present about our wars.





Let's not limit those Memorial Day moments of silent mourning solely for Americans, who 'gave' their lives in far away places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia just to name a few of the nations invaded by Americans.





To honor only US military dead is to glorify the military mindset. Not only that, but all

around the world via satellite TV, families still mourning their children's deaths or maiming, watch clips of Americans publicly honoring US military who fell attacking their countries.





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'Far Flung into the Outback Night'

(Image by A 'Cecil' I) Details DMCA



Sonnet: Me Aussie Blues

by John Kendall Hawkins

.



Far flung by Mad King George and never recovered,

chasing down foam packs of dirty little dingoes

far into the deep thickets of the outback night,

we drink to excess to celebrate our nothing.

It could have been worse: We could have been Yanks. Our king

did, with merry wisdom, make sure we were all white,

and though certainly crim'ly insane, not wingoes

who delight at their toast -- all vegemite-smothered.

.



I'm not here now to haruspicate old roses:

Beauty has flown, of that I'm assured; odor's not scent.

and milady, not what she once was, says, Get bent.

I have grown content with all me Aussie poses,

and argots -- none of us knows what the other meant:

serving up contradiction in smart ar*e doses.

.



Well, I lean me toward the setting sun of empire,

knowing Union Jack was just a pommy vampire.

.



#####

NOTE:

The poet doubts his own historical sense and hereby acknowledges what Gemini the Google ChatGPT tells him:

King George III who presided over the American colonies wasn't actually the one who initiated convict transportation to Australia. There's some confusion around the timeline and monarchs involved.

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

**Convict Transportation:** This policy began in the 1780s, after the American Revolution forced Britain to find a new penal colony.

**King George III:** While he did reign during this period, his mental health issues became prominent later, around the 1780s and 1800s.

So, the decision to transport convicts to Australia was made for practical reasons, not by a "mad king." Britain needed a new location to house convicts after losing the American colonies, a place previously used for penal transportation. Australia offered a remote location with potential for economic development through convict labor.

What would we do without AIs?
The UN Court addressing disputes between nations is the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where a case has been brought by South Africa against Israel in relation to the Gaza conflict and genocide. An interim ruling by the Court on May 24th ordered Israel to halt its Rafah (a southern Gaza city) offensive . So far Israel has not complied and the bombing (and killing) continues.



The other UN court involved with the Gaza problem is the International Criminal Court (ICC). There its Edinburgh-born British chief prosecutor , who is also King's Counsel, has requested arrest warrants for two Israeli and three Hamas leaders, who in the view of a panel of experts, have committed crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction.



An ICC three-judge panel is reviewing the request and if it is granted, any state of the 124 that are party to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, will be obliged to arrest the indicted individuals and surrender them to the ICC for trial. Under these circumstances travel for these principals would become almost impossible for fear of arrest. Small wonder that Bibi Netanyahu is afraid of the course of events despite the bluster.

The main objection of many critics is the equivalence implied in the chief prosecutor's request between duly elected leaders like Netanyahu and unelected Hamas officials and it is tied with the additional claim of Hamas being a terrorist organization.



Bibi Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant the Israeli Defense Minister are accused of the war crimes of starving civilians, willful killings of civilians through attacks directed at them, all of which are crimes under the Rome Statute that established the ICC. And these are not subject to any statute of limitations of a prescribed period of time.



In addition, the Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyah are charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes commencing October 7 when Hamas invaded Israel. The Hamas operatives under their orders who infiltrated on October 7, 2023 are accused of murder, rape and other sexual violence plus acts of torture and other cruel treatment of hostages during captivity.



While the pre-trial panel continues its review of the arrest warrants application, the chief prosecutor's office continues to be busy gathering more evidence. The latter can also mean there may be more indictments.

Should the arrest warrants be issued, they would remove a veil of impunity that elected leaders tend to assume shields them.



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(In 2003 I'd submitted this article to various publications. Most Israeli editors called it "Blasphemous". Only one publication, Ovi Magazine published it in 2003.)

Another opportunity lost, 2024 has shown us the tragedy of our choice at that time. But, what if this proposal had been chosen and tried. How else can the two survive in Peace, if not together, side by side? Is it too late"?

"Some time back, after I'd submitted this proposal to various publications, I'd come across an article that had highlighted a peace plan for the Middle East that was presented by Abe Hirschfield and Dr. Mohammed Mehdi that stated a similar cause. The day it was presented was September 11, 1974, a date that could have made history.



Now, thirty years later, that date 9-11 means more than it ever could have back then. Yet, on that day thirty years ago, was perhaps the most important event that might have prevented not only the airplane terrors but also the loss of many lives that were and still are being sacrificed for the sake of ill causes.





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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Libya has not recovered from the US-NATO attack in 2011, the so-called 'Arab Spring', which burnt throughout the Middle East and North Africa like a wildfire having been lit in Washington, DC under the US President Obama administration.

There is a ceasefire between the two sides headquartered in Tripoli and Benghazi, but a permanent peace with economic prosperity remains elusive. Russia and the US are both in Libya, but have very different goals and methods of operation.

On one side, there is a UN brokered Government of National Unity (GNU), and on the other side there is the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar.

The GNU are western supported, but the members of this group are followers of Radical Islam, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). This was the same political ideology used by Obama when he crafted the 'Arab Spring'. The MB are based across the US and Europe, and have an identical platform as ISIS or Al Qaeda. They believe that Islamic Law is the best governance system on earth.

US Senator Ted Cruz has authored legislation to outlaw the MB in the US, but has been unsuccessful while both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill have resisted, which demonstrates the level of power the MB exert in the US.E

gypt, Syria, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have all outlawed the MB.

Haftar's LNA is secular, and opposed to creating a political system in Libya based on Islam. This would seem to be the perfect partner for the US and Europe; however, it is the MB which has been supported and weaponized by the US, UK, and France during the Arab Spring, as the MB were used as 'boots on the ground'.

Libya has an abundance of energy resources, and yet the government and people are not benefitting. Foreign meddling in Libya was started by Obama and French President Sarkozy who used NATO airstrikes to overthrow the government and destroy vital infrastructure. Since then, Turkey, Egypt, and Russia have all stepped into Libya after the door was left ajar by the US-NATO attack.

America is still very much present in Libya, as they have oil and security interests there. However, Washington has never invested in Libyan economic recovery, and without a plan to rebuild and restore the country, the US is seen as just a greedy super-power looking for their own benefit.

During the American occupation of Libya, tons of gold in the central bank of Libya went missing, as well as the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton absconded with the Libyan government's weapons stockpiles, which were shipped from Benghazi to Turkey to be trucked across the border to Idlib, for the use by Al Qaeda terrorists as they attacked Syrian civilians and Syrian soldiers.

US has not paid Libya back for the theft of national resources while under occupation.

Now, many in Libya want foreign meddlers to go home, and an economic recovery which can support the rule of law and elections.

The dictator Gaddafi had ruled with an iron fist, but the country was united and prosperous. Syrian workers had been in Libya for decades, making a decent living wage, while working as doctors, teachers, and engineers. Libyans hired foreign workers to perform menial jobs, like trash collection and restaurant work. The Libyan citizens lived a lifestyle above and beyond that of most Middle Eastern citizens. They might not have had 'freedom and democracy' but they generally owned their own home and could afford to send their children to school.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former ousted leader, has expressed an interest in running for office, but the US is intent to deliver him to the International Criminal Court on charges against him stemming from the time of the 'Arab Spring".

When the terrorists began attacking civilians and government institutions in 2011 in Libya, Muamar Gaddafi correctly identified the terrorists as members of Al Qaeda, but the western media, instructed by their governments, spun the story as 'freedom fighters' and a 'grass-roots' uprising to oust the dictator Gaddafi.

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SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 1. Education at the Shusha real school is planned to be launched in September 2026, Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev said during the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Shusha city on June 1, Trend reports.

According to the minister, the Shusha real school is the largest historical monument in Shusha city, and restoration work is being carried out there.

Educational directions centered on art and culture are planned. This institution will offer higher and secondary specialized education simultaneously. This will be a corresponding branch of Karabakh University, he added.

Will be updated
The Uncanny, a neon-lit North Portland bar self-described as the love child of a speakeasy and a dive, was named one of Americas best new bars by Esquire magazine on Thursday.

The bar, from Lightning Bar Collectives Adam LeBeau, who also co-owns Victoria Bar just up the road, opened last year inside the converted North Mississippi Avenue house previously home to Psychic Bar (and before that, Muddys Coffeehouse). Named for The Uncanny X-Men comic books, the bar serves vegan fare from Portlands Grassfed pop-up and an eclectic cocktail menu filled with interesting spins on New Orleans classics, tropical standards and house staples.

According to Esquire, the bars location  a house atop a small hill with windows glowing neon red  gives it the feel of a nightly house party, only no house party has drinks this high-flying.

The classic riffs are out there, the magazine wrote. The Vieux Carre has coconut Scotch and tepache sherry. The Sazerac has Trakal, a Patagonian spirit, and chanterelle. Youll want to go on a cocktail adventure here.

The mens magazine recommends The Devil in Disguise, a cocktail with a cacophony of difficult flavors (sotol, fernet, blackstrap rum) that just works.

 Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
If youre based in the U.S. but just absolutely cant wait to see the current leg of Taylor Swifts 2024 Eras Tour, your best best (believe it or not) is to head to Europe! Taylor Swift began the European leg of her tour on May 9 in Paris, after taking 2 months off, and now the tickets are cheaper than ever to see her perform in venues across France, Sweden, Portugal and Spain.

Taylor Swift still has 42 concerts left on her European before returning to North America. If youre looking for the cheapest tickets, prices for Europe start at less than $100, whereas the cost to see her in the U.S. is still in the whopping thousands. For example, you could get tickets to see her in France this weekend for only $71 on Vivid Seats. You can also check out Stub Hub for additional dates convenient for you.

Are there any ticket discounts, coupon codes for Taylor Swift?

Through a special arrangement, if you are purchasing tickets for the first time through Vivid Seats, use our special discount promo code Oregon20 at checkout to save $20 on orders of $200 or more for the event you plan on attending.

What are the other Eras Tour dates coming up in the U.S. and abroad?

June 2 and 3 - Groupama Stadium - Lyon, France

June 7, 8, 9 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium - Edinburgh, UK

June 13, 14, 15 - Anfield Stadium - Liverpool, UK

June 18 - Principality Stadium - Cardiff, UK

June 21, 22, 23 - Wembley Stadium - London, UK

June 28, 29, 30 - Aviva Stadium - Dublin, Ireland

July 4, 5, 6 - Johan Cruijff Arena - Amsterdam, Netherlands

July 9 and 10 - Stadion Letzigrund Zurich - Zurich, Switzerland

July 13 and 14 - San Siro Stadium - Milan, Italy

July 17, 18, 19 - Veltins-Arena - Gelsenkirchen, Germany

July 23 and 24 - Volksparkstadion - Hamburg, Germany

July 27 and 28 - Olympiastadion - Munich, Germany

August 1, 2, 3 - PGE Narodowy - Warsaw, Poland

August 8, 9, 10 - Ernst-Happel-Stadion - Vienna, Austria

August 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 - Wembley Stadium - London, UK

Who will be opening for Taylor Swift on tour?

Taylor Swift will be joined by 2000s pop-alt-rock band Paramore opening for all European tour dates. the band rose to fame with their hit Misery Business and are fronted by singer Hayley Williams.

Whats the setlist for the Eras Tour?

Taylor Swifts new album The Tortured Poets Department was released while she was on break and the following are rumored to have made it into the new version of her 45-song setlist including songs from:

Lover, Fearless, Red, Speak Now, Reputation, Folklore, Evermore, 1989, The Tortured Poets Department, and Midnights.

What new songs will Swift be performing from the Tortured Poets Department album?

But Daddy I Love Him, So High School, Whos Afraid of Little Old Me?, Down Bad, Fortnight, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived and I Can Do It With A Broken Heart are said to be included from the new album.

Will Swifts boyfriend Travis Kelce make an appearance on tour?

Football player Kelce is rumored to be very supportive of Swifts tour and musical career, though it is not yet clear whether he is intending to make an appearance at any of the U.S. or European tour dates to support Swift.

Need somewhere to stay during your epic T-Swift adventure to Europe?

If youre ready to buy the cheapest Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets available and need a place to stay on your epic vacay, check out VRBO for stays for your whole family, or for the perfect girls trip.
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
Oregon housing officials have not taken any steps to recoup payments to a company that delivered modular housing for 2020 wildfire survivors that the state ultimately concluded was uninhabitable, despite promising last year to ensure accountability.

Our communities deserve better, Ryan Flynn, Oregons assistant director for disaster recovery, said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive last September. And we are going to do everything in our power to hold this contractor accountable.
Much like the tufted puffins that nest at Haystack Rock, our family keeps returning to Cannon Beach year after year.

The quaint coastal community has been the Portland areas go-to summer destination for more than a century. Obviously much has changed over time  the latest being a complete makeover of the Surfsand Resort, one of the Oregon coasts premier family resorts.

Formerly under the stewardship of the same family that owns Cannon Beachs Stephanie Inn, the 96-room Surfsand changed hands in July 2022. The new owners, Vesta Hospitality of Vancouver, Washington, have invested $12 million in room and other renovations, scheduled to be completed June 22.

Thats just in time for puffin viewing, which usually peaks in July, after eggs hatch.

When we visited in early May, workers were still sprucing up paint, and one wing of rooms had just reopened. The extensive renovations include modernizing the reception area, updates to the neighboring Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge, refreshed guestrooms and bedding, and local art in the rooms.

Some things havent changed: pets remain very welcome, the views from the Wayfarer over dinner (think fish and chips, and buttery clam chowder) or breakfast (slabs of cinnamon roll French toast) are incomparable, and the staff will still set up a fire on the beach so you can roast marshmallows for smores.

We sat there, well past sundown, warmed by the crackling flame and the remembrance of fires past on this familiar stretch of sand.

 Alex Pulaski
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. There is a constant demand for student visas from Azerbaijan to the US, Vice-consul of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan Dana Connelly told Trend on the sidelines of the EducationUSA graduate exhibition.

There's a consistent demand for visas across various categories, particularly for student visas. We've observed a steady rise in these numbers over recent years, and this pattern persists. We carefully assess all visa applications across different types, including visitor, tourist, student, and work visas. It's worth noting that we receive relatively fewer applications for work visas, she said.

The EducationUSA exhibition is a collaborative effort between the US Embassy in Baku and the American Council for International Education, designed for high school and university students keen on pursuing studies in the United States.

The exhibition showcases exchange programs offered by the US Embassy along with representatives from over 35 US universities. Additionally, staff from the Embassy's consular service provided participants with information regarding student visas.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
After a street crossing turns deadly, a family from Pomona, California, is now grappling with the loss of their 6-year-old child and dealing with severe injuries to their 19-year-old.

The collision occurred on Tuesday at approximately 8:00 p.m. at a busy intersection in the city, which is located about 30 miles east of Los Angeles.

California Street Crossing Turns Deadly

A devastating accident has left a community in mourning after a 6-year-old girl lost her life and her older sister was injured while crossing a street in Pomona, California.

According to the Pomona Police Department, they have confirmed that the officers arrived on the scene to find two female individuals.

A female adult and child were visibly seen lying on the ground of the roadway. Life-saving efforts were immediately given to the victims, however, despite the quick medical response, the young 6-year-old child succumbed to her injuries.

Her older sister, the adult victim, managed to survive the intensity of the crash, she was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment.

The driver involved in the tragic incident, a 19-year-old operating a silver Honda Accord, remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with authorities.

Video footage shows the driver undergoing a sobriety test, and initial investigations suggest that neither drugs nor alcohol played a role in the collision. However, police are examining whether distraction or speeding may have contributed to the accident.

Victims Identified and Community Reaction

Police authorities did not quickly name the victims affected in the car accident, but they were later identified as Guadalupe Alvarez Salgado, a 6-year-old elementary school student, and her 19-year-old sister, Mireya, who is currently in the intensive care unit due to injuries sustained in the crash.

The tragic event has profoundly affected the local community. Matthew Leal, a neighbor, expressed his sorrow and shock. "It shook me to my core," he said.

"Even though I didn't really talk to her, I kind of watched her grow up. I was here since she was born. I'm so sorry for their loss. We're always going to be there for them."

Residents have voiced concerns over the safety of the intersection where the accident occurred, citing frequent speeding as a major issue. "A lot of people do speed here," Leal added.

Supporting the Victims' Family

Furthermore, in response to the unexpected tragedy, the family of the children has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and medical bills they are acquiring.

As of the latest update, the campaign has raised just over $7,138 of its $15,000 goal, reflecting the community's desire to support the grieving family during this difficult time.

Aside from the support the family has been receiving, members of their community are now calling for a change due to numerous car accidents in the area. The community is calling for increased traffic safety measures in the area to prevent similar tragedies from happening to innocent lives.

Due to the severity of the incident, local residents in the area and officials are discussing potential solutions to improve the safety of the intersection, such as installing additional signage, speed bumps, or traffic lights.

The Pomona Police Department continues to investigate the accident, urging anyone with information or who witnessed the incident to come forward. The community remains hopeful that increased awareness and action will lead to safer streets and prevent future heartaches.
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a challenge to the state's abortion ban, answering to a lawsuit filed last year by females with serious gestation difficulties. The unanimous ruling by the nine Republican justices supported the ban.

Five females proposed the lawsuit in March 2023, claiming they have prohibited abortions despite life-threatening difficulties during their pregnancies. The case later included 20 women and two doctors.

The plaintiffs sought clarification on exceptions to the ban and more discretion for doctors to intervene during medical emergencies.

Texas Abortion Ban Challenged Over Medical Exeptions

Lead complainant Amanda Zurawski conveyed her disappointment with the ruling, declaring that the court's decision leaves pregnant Texans and their doctors without essential guidance.

Samantha Casiano, another plaintiff, who was compelled to carry a non-viable gestation to term, also conveyed her unhappiness.

Texas law bans all abortions except to save the mother's life, with severe penalties for doctors who oppose it. Critics argue the law lacks clear guidelines for exceptions.

The ruling did provide some clarification, allowing abortions for preterm premature rupture of membranes due to the risk of infection. However, it maintained that abortions are not allowed only based on diagnoses of serious fetal abnormalities.

The court declared that a woman's demise does not have to be immediate for an abortion to be executed due to life-threatening difficulties and that doctors' decisions can be reasonable even if not globally concerted.

For doctors violating the ban, the state must prove that no reasonable doctor would have found the patient eligible for an exception, according to Molly Duane, the plaintiffs' lead attorney from the Center for Reproductive Rights.

A previous district court ruling had issued a temporary injunction preventing Texas from enforcing the ban in cases of dangerous pregnancy complications, but the Texas Supreme Court overturned this.

Duane noted that the ruling significantly undermines the lawsuit's claims, and the team will reassess their legal strategy.

Read Also: Alabama Bill on IVF Protection Yet To Be Strengthened by Republicans After Court Ruling Halted Treatment in Conservative States

First Legal Challenge to the State's Abortion Ban

Zurawski v. Texas was the first legal challenge to the state's abortion bans specifically addressing women with complicated pregnancies.

Zurawski nearly died in 2022 after her abortion was delayed due to severe complications at 18 weeks. Following her recovery from sepsis, she and her husband sought to have a child via surrogacy.

Zurawski called the ruling "heartbreaking," expressing outrage on behalf of her fellow plaintiffs who were deemed "not sick enough." Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supported the ruling, emphasizing his commitment to upholding Texas laws and values.

Casiano testified last summer about her emotional trauma after being forced to carry a pregnancy with a severe fetal abnormality to term.

John Seago, president of the anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, argued that the law is clear and that confusion among doctors stems from inadequate implementation and education.

The Texas Supreme Court's ruling aligns with its December decision to vacate a lower court order blocking the state's abortion ban in Kate Cox's case.

Cox, whose fetus was diagnosed with trisomy 18, a life-threatening condition, eventually left the state to obtain an abortion.
These new articles went up yesterday on the Interpreter Foundation website. My apologies for being late in calling attention to them; the eight-hour time difference between Rome and home throws me off my routine in some ways:

The Seven Women Seeking the Bridegroom: Isaiah 4:1 as Transition Point in a Redemption Allegory, written by Jared T. Marcum

Abstract: Nephi laboriously copied many of the words of Isaiah in hopes that his readers would rejoice in Christ. While Isaiah 4:1 (2 Nephi 14:1) is generally not viewed as Messianic, there may be an allegorical interpretation that would place this verse among Isaiahs other Messianic writings. A pre-Nicene patristic writer, Victorinus of Poetovio, interpreted the seven women of Isaiah 4:1 as representing the seven churches of the Apocalypse and the one man as Christ. Victorinuss Christ-centered interpretation of Isaiah 4:1 has received very little attention in modern scholarship. This paper uses textual analysis to determine if a Christ-centered allegorical interpretation may be considered a strong reading of the verse and the surrounding text (Isaiah 34). The results of this analysis show that Isaiah 4:1 may symbolize Zions turning point in a doctrinally rich allegory of Zions sin, sorrow, repentance, and redemption through Jesus Christ.

Interpreting Interpreter: Seven Women Take Hold, written by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article The Seven Women Seeking the Bridegroom: Isaiah 4:1 as Transition Point in a Redemption Allegory by Jared T. Marcum in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Marcum explores a Messianic interpretation of Isaiah 4:1the prophecy that seven women shall take hold of one man. He concludes that the verse may mark a point of transition in an allegory of Zions path of sin, sorrow, and repentance as she takes hold of Christ, the one man, and is redeemed by his mercy and grace.

A standard claim of atheist polemicists is that Christian belief, or religious belief in general, grows out of ignorance, is out of touch with new developments in science and scholarship, or is simply out of date, and, therefore, should be tossed out. The argument, such as it is, is seldom overtly stated. More often, we are presented with a proposition that pretends to be either the obvious and undeniable conclusion of an unstated syllogism, or, simply, intuitively apparent to all Deep Thinkers. The well-publicized Jesus Seminar, for example, announces that the Christ of creed and dogma, who had been firmly in place in the Middle Ages, can no longer command the assent of those who have seen the heavens through Galileos telescope.[1] Why this should be so, and what Galileos primitive little telescope has to do with the central doctrines of Christianity, is never made clear, although the Seminar (in a rather obvious bout of self-congratulation) dedicates its book to the Italian astronomers memory. But one can hardly fail to be reminded, in this context, of an exchange in C. S. Lewiss early novel The Pilgrims Regressa novel that seems more prescient with each passing year. The conversation revolves around the Landlord, who, in Lewiss allegory, represents God:

But how do you know there is no Landlord? Christopher Columbus, Galileo, the earth is round, invention of printing, gunpowder!! exclaimed Mr. Enlightenment in such a loud voice that the pony shied. I beg your pardon, said John. Eh? said Mr. Enlightenment. I didnt quite understand, said John. Why, its plain as a pikestaff, said the other. Your people in Puritania believe in the Landlord because they have not had the benefits of a scientific training. For example, I dare say it would be news to you to hear that the earth was roundround as an orange, my lad! Well, I dont know that it would, said John, feeling a little disappointed. My father always said it was round. No, no, my dear boy, said Mr. Enlightenment, you must have misunderstood him. It is well known that everyone in Puritania thinks the earth flat. It is not likely that I should be mistaken on such a point. Indeed, it is out of the question.[2]

[1] Robert W. Funk, Roy W. Hoover, and the Jesus Seminar, The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1997), 2.

[2] C. S. Lewis, The Pilgrims Regress: An Allegorical Apology for Christianity, Reason, and Romanticism (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1992), 20-1.

We held the first of the three European FAIR conferences today. All of the presentations except one were quite good. Attendance was fairly sparse at first but it picked up later in the day. Happily, the speeches were not only live-streamed but recorded. They will be up on the FAIR website in a while. Probably, though, not for a month or two. One of the principal people who will put them up is over here with us right now, and shes pretty busy.

Here are a couple of shockers that Ive lately drawn from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

Someday, theisms reign of terror will end. Not yet, though.

Posted from Rome, Italy
Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading!

***

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.

***

Proposition 1: That faith does not suffice without works, and works are something meritorious for eternal life, [from divine foreordination] and Gods accepting grace.

[The Lord had regard for Abel and his gifts; for Cain and his gifts. He had no regard . . . And the Lord said to Cain:  If you do well, shall you not receive? But if ill, shall not your sins forthwith be present at the door? [Gen 4:4-5, 7].]

The Lord said to Abraham: I shall be your exceedingly great reward [Gen 15:1].

Behold, his reward is with him [Is 40:10].

There is a reward for your work, says the Lord [Jer 31:16].

Sow for yourselves in justice [Hos 10:12]

The wicked makes an unsteady work, but to him who sows justice there is a faithful reward [Prov 11:18]. Glorious is the fruit of good works [Wisd 3:15]. The just shall live for evermore; and their reward is with the Lord [Wisd 5:16]. God will render to the just the reward of their labors [Wisd 10:17]. You who fear the Lord, believe him, and your reward shall not be made void [Ecclus 2:8]. Whatever your hand is able to do, do it earnestly [Ecclus 9:10].

Mercy makes a place for every man, according to the merit of his works. . . [Ecclus 16:15].

I shall keep myself from my iniquity. And the Lord will reward me according to my justice [Ps 18:24f]. [Ps 18:24: Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.] . . .

The Lord will render to you for your work, and you will receive a full reward of the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come. . [Ruth 2:12].

Be comforted and let not your hands be weakened, that is, works, for there shall be a reward for your work [2 Chr 15:7].

He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life everlasting, that both he who sows, and he who reaps, may rejoice together [Jn 4:36].

Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven [Mt 5:12]. And again:

Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven [Lk 6:23]. If reward, therefore, and merit, to whom is reward owed? For these terms are to be interchangeably used in a relative sense, where one cannot be understood without the other.

Take heed that you do not do your justice before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven. Therefore when you do. . . etc. [Mt 6 : If].

Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven [Mt 7:21].

Whoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water, he shall not lose his reward [Mt 10:42].

Call the laborers and pay them their hire [Mt 20:8], and previously: I will give you what shall be just [Mt 20:4].

If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments [Mt 19:17]. I hungered and you gave me something to eat etc. [Mt 25:35].

Come, blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world [Mt 25:34].

And they who have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they who have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment [Jn 5:29].

You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you [Jn 15:14].

God will render to every man according to his works [Rom 2:6].

Glory and honor  to everyone who does  [Rom 2:10].

For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified [Rom 2:13].

Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor [1 Cor 3:8].

We must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he has done, whether it be good or evil [2 Cor 5:10].

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward . . . . [1 Cor 9:17].

 Abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord [1 Cor 15:58].

That which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, works for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory [2 Cor 4:17],

What things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap [Gal 6:8].

Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance [Col 3:23f].

That you may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing, being fruitful in every good work [Col 1:10].

To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain [Phil 1:21]. If gain, therefore merit.

With fear and trembling work out your salvation [Phil 2:12].

God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shown in his name, you who have ministered to the saints [Heb 6:10].

And do not forget doing good and sharing, for by such sacrifices Gods favor is obtained [Heb 13:16].

Look to yourselves, that you lose not the things which you have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. [2 Jn v. 8]

Little children, let no man deceive you. He who does justice is just, even as he is just [1 Jn 3:7].

Note here: works good of their own kind are acceptable to God and deserving of eternal life. This is to be understood concerning living works, that is, those that proceed from the beginning of a spiritual life, which is grace and love. Righteous men, being alive, do such works out of faith working through love [Gal 5:6]. But it is otherwise concerning dead works (because they do not proceed from grace and love) however good they may be of their own nature, such do the impious do, namely, fornicators, adulterers, and such like, works not of grace. (This contradiction according to the Apostles statement he implies to fall under merit.) But if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no mere grace [Rom 11:6]. . . .

[S]inners ought to be advised that without delay they carry out whatsoever their hand can do; they are not to turn aside or draw back from good works . . . and especially that they exercise works of piety . . . toward the true Catholic poor, according to the principle: Give to the merciful and do not support the sinner; benefit the humble and give not to the impious [Ecclus 12:5f]. Daniel so advised Nebuchadnezzar, saying: Therefore, 0 King, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with works of mercy to the poor . . . [Dan 4:24] [should be 4:27: Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your tranquillity.] . . .

Proposition 4: Faith is a work.

What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent [Jn 6:28f]. And again: If you are the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham [Jn 8:39], but the chief work of Abraham was faith: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him as justice [Gen 15:6]. Note that faith is reckoned among works.

Proposition 5: It is not enough to believe.

Going, therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching (not only to believe, but also) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you [Mt 28:19f].

It was not sufficient for the blind man that he spread clay upon his eyes, but he had to go to the bathing pool of Siloe [Jn 9:6].

Therefore, let us work good to all men, especially to those of the household of the faith [Gal 6:10].

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me on that day [2 Tim 4:7f].

For unto you it is given for Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him [Phil 1:29]. . . .

[Objection] The just man lives by faith [Rom 1:17]: therefore not by works.

[Reply] What Augustine says is an undisputed fact: this heresy (it is not new, but very ancient) has arisen from Pauls words badly understood. We admit that the just man lives by faith, because faith is the foundation of the spiritual edifice, for it is the substance of things hoped for. But what the heretic assumes from faith itself, lacerates and falsifies the text, because nowhere does it say that the just man lives by faith alone.

[Objection] He who believes in the Son of God is not condemned [1 Jn 5:10].

[Reply] To believe in God with the use of Scripture, includes cleaving to God through love, according to Augustine [In I Jn. Tr. 10]. The younger theologians call this formed faith. It is clear from St. Paul: In Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith that works by love [Gal 5:6]. Note: Paul does not say any faith whatsoever suffices, but that faith which works by love.

[Objection] Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him as righteousness [Gen 15:6]

[Reply] St. James answers: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see that faith cooperated with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? [James 2:21f]. Further on: Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? [James 2:24].

[see also my papers:

Justification: Not by Faith Alone, & Ongoing (Romans 4, James 2, and Abrahams Multiple Justifications) [10-15-11]

Abraham: Justified Twice by Works & Once by Faith [8-30-23]

Abraham and Ongoing Justification by Faith and Works [National Catholic Register, 9-19-23]

Abrahams Multiple Justifications by Works & Faith: Quick Summary of Biblical Proofs [Facebook, 10-4-23]

Abrahams Justification By Faith & Works (vs. Jordan Cooper) + Catholic Exegesis Regarding St. Pauls Specific Meaning of Works in Romans 4 [3-1-24] ]

[Objection] He who hears my words and believes him who sent me, has eternal life [Jn 5:24].

[Reply] Christ said: So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven [Mt 5:16]. And St. Peter in his canonical epistle urges the faithful in these words: Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God. . . etc. [1 Pt 2:12].

[Objection] Love is the fruit of faith. Therefore faith alone suffices.

[Reply] He assumes this falsely, because love is a fruit of the Spirit, not of faith, and similarly faith is a fruit of the Spirit. Paul says: But the fruit of the Spirit is, love, joy, peace, patience etc., faith, modesty [Gal 5:22f]. If I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing [1 Cor 13:2]. Through this Augustine, On the Trinity, 15:18, proves that faith does not necessarily have love attached to it.

[. . . faith working through love (Gal 5:6) might be thought to imply at the very least an equal importance of love and faith (rather than love originating from faith), if not loves superiority, as do several other passages: So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:13); your work of faith and labor of love (1 Thess 1:3); your faith and love (1 Thess 3:6); put on the breastplate of faith and love (1 Thess 5:8); the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1:14; cf. 2 Tim 1:13); your love and faith (Rev 2:19).]

[Objection] We are all become as one unclean, and all our justices as the rag of a menstruous woman [Is 64:6].

[Reply] Jerome answers: the prophet is speaking of the comparison of the righteousness of the law, and of the righteousness of the Gospel, for compared with the Gospel, legal purity is uncleanness. Augustine says [On the Perfection of Righteousness]: our righteousness compared with divine righteousness is not righteousness, just as Christ says: No one is good but God alone [Lk 18:19], because our goodness, compared to God, is not goodness.

*
Senyo Hosi, the Founder and Chairman of HFields, says the company has no plans to engage the government on providing any revenue assurance services in Ghanas downstream petroleum sector.



Rather, through its digital StockTrack system, the company intends to provide an end-to-end stock monitoring and risk management service, which would transform existing manual processes into automated ones.



That, Mr Hosi said this was to safeguard the supply assurance and transparency among sector players and help the sector regulator, National Petroleum Authority (NPA) achieve its mandate of ensuring a regular supply of petroleum products.



The value chain players include NPA, financiers, International Oil Traders (IOTs), Bulk Oil Importer Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECS), Refineries and local Petroleum Service Providers (PSPs).



The company has sent a proposal to NPA, awaiting all due processes to be completed, including Parliamentary approval, where necessary, before a contract would be signed, he said.



He said this during a media engagement in Accra on Monday, May 28, on the back of some media reports that the company would be engaging in revenue assurance services.



Mr Hosi explained that the StockTrack system would provide timely digitised data to all related sector players, help with inventory visibility, and authenticate processes while reducing the funding risk in the sector.



The system we have developed has nothing to do with revenue assurance its mainly designed for stock-risk management and supply assurance. It is not a duplication of any system in the world, he said.



It ensures transparency throughout the entire supply chain processes in the downstream sector, every player in the downstream sector can see and track in real-time everything that is going on because the system captures all movements of the cargoes that come into the country, he added.



Mr Hosi also stated that the system would provide NPA with pre-emptive capabilities to risk-manage fuel supply security vulnerabilities, have full visibility of happenings in the sector, and ensure petroleum supply sustainability.



For BIDECS, he said the system would make them have increased access to credit, clear accountability on laycan defaults, and be able to ringfence legacy transactions to facilitate trade.



The IoTs have been trying to reduce their risk because they do not have control. Giving them control will enable stay in a more efficient manner. IoTs are funding the sector, so anybody funding the sector will find this a lot more functional for their credit risk management, he said.



While admitting that the software could be the target of hackers, Mr Viraj Bhat, Chief Technology Officer of HFields, said the technology had been built to meet ISO 27001 standards.



It, therefore, has encryptions, two-factor authentications, blockchain integration capabilities, and redundancy systems, and would be subjected to a quarterly vulnerability assessment to its operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Source: Francis Ntow - Contributor









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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









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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Azerbaijan's economic organizations show a high activity revival, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Appraisers Vugar Oruj said at the meeting of the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States and the 3rd International Appraisers Forum in Baku on June 1, Trend reports.

According to him, state support in Azerbaijan has opened up new opportunities for association organizations.

The official also said that the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States is a structured body and operates within the framework of institutions regulating its activities in specific areas.

He pointed out that the activity of associative trade unions has been increased to ensure the coordinated activity of economic sectors.

"The Azerbaijan Society of Appraisers is one of the first associative organizations in our country and began its activities at the end of the last century, during a period when such organizations were still weak. The progressive changes occurring in this field have also impacted the activities of society. In recent years, significant changes have taken place in society's activities, with the strengthening of international relations being of particular importance," he added.

Oruj also mentioned that the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States has managed to unite appraisers working in Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

To note, the appraisal associations of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are collective members of the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States.

The Association of Appraisers of the Turkic States, which unites over 700 appraisal companies and thousands of appraisers, was founded on June 1, 2023, in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reiterated its position to scrap the post-college teacher licensure examination when it takes the reins of government in 2025.



It described the examination as an affront to the Colleges of Education. "In this light, the NDC will initiate processes towards the cancellation of the post-college teacher licensure examination," the flag bearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, stated.



He stated this in a lecture delivered on his behalf by his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, at the Presidential Policy lecture organised by the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) in Cape Coast on Tuesday.



The lecture is an initiative of the GRASAG national secretariat aimed at providing a platform for Ghana's presidential candidates in the 2024 general election to engage with the youth and facilitate meaningful discussions on key policy issues affecting young people.



Mr Mahama said the licensure examination did not serve as a determinant of professionalism, adding that the introduction of the six-hour "paper and pencil" licensure examinations was worrying, considering that it did not take a six-hour examination to determine the professionalism of the teachers.



He queried the essence of employing quality teachers at the colleges of education to train teachers, teach them and graduate teachers after various examinations and then subject them to a licensure examination.



Graduate Education



Mr Mahama indicated that the party attached great importance to graduate education, considering its relevance to addressing the developmental agenda of the country and even the African continent.



He said while university education was critical in developing critical knowledge for solving problems, graduate education and research findings had a critical impact on research, policy and development.



He said it was to support research education that the last NDC government introduced the bill for the national research fund to help lecturers and researchers access funding for quality research initiatives.



Satellite campuses



He said the next NDC government would continue with its high education facility expansion agenda by ensuring satellite campuses of existing universities were established in the newly created regions based on proximity and programme relevance.



Mr Mahama urged GRASAG to promote student academic support services and establish its own research support funds to promote research and innovation among its members.



Retooling



The President of GRASAG, Emmanuel Owusu, said the more than 100,000 members of GRASAG across the country and in the diaspora would want to see a restructuring and retooling of the operational structure of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat and GETFund to provide equitable scholarship and funding opportunities for all students.



He said GRASAG looked forward to a future where research was shaping the fortunes of state-owned enterprises, the judiciary, legislature and executive, adding that GRASAG was ready to work with the government to leverage the collective strengths to build a nation that was inclusive, progressive and resilient.



GRASAG later presented a document on a research on the 24 hour economy to Prof Opoku-Agyemang

Source: graphiconline









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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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Kwamena Duncan has slammed Richard Jakpa and the opposition National Democratic Congress over the controversial ambulance purchase trial involving the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.



Jakpa and Ato Forson have been accused before a High Court of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.



Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.



Jakpa, a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for supply of the 200 ambulances but subsequently 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million, however all were found not fit for purpose.



But the case has taken an interesting turn with Richard Jakpa, a third accused person, claiming the A-G approached him to help build a case against the Dr. Ato Forson, who was a former Deputy Finance Minister during the time of the ambulance procurement.



Jakpa had recorded the A-G's private telephone conversation with him regarding the case.



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.



Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, the former Central Minister, Kwamena Duncan described the audio recording as a breach of law as provided in the constitution that gives the Attorney-General and every Ghanaian the right to privacy.



"It is unlawful to record someone you are having a conversation with without informing the person. Therefore, whether meeting at the residence of the Supreme Court Justice or even on phone is an intrusion into the privacy of the other party. The law doesn't permit it," he told the host, Kwami Sefa Kayi.



To Kwamena Duncan, the recording is a ploy by Jakpa in collaboration with the National Democratic Congress to create doubts in the minds of Ghanaians about the A-G's suit.



"I'm sure this is all grand scheme which was carved out...Everything that is happening, it is for one effect, one single effect; to create doubt in the minds of the public," he stated.



Watch video below





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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Bernard Allotey Jacobs says Richard Jakpa's recording of his telephone conversation on the ambulance purchase trial involving him, Attorney-General Godfred Dame, and Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is an "entrapment".



The former NDC Central Regional Chairman, discussing the matter during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, noted that the audio recording was a scheme by Jakpa and his former political party, the National Democratic Congress, to trap the A-G in his words in an attempt to cause public disaffection for Mr. Godfred Dame.



"For me, what I would ask is is it a planned thing? Are they afraid of the outcome of the High Court judgment and for that reason Jakpa would have to use his cousin or his relative to entrap either the Supreme Court Judge or the A-G?", he said.



He added; "The Policeman will call what has happened an entrapment because the A-G or Kulendi was entrapped by Jakpa. And it is most unfortunate that the NDC is indulging itself in this."



Allotey Jacobs also slammed the NDC for holding a press conference and leveling accusations against the Attorney-General stating "NDC is muddying the waters for Ato Forson".







Jakpa and Ato Forson have been accused before a High Court of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.Jakpa, a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for supply of the 200 ambulances but subsequently 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million, however all were found not fit for purpose.But the case has taken an interesting turn with Richard Jakpa, a third accused person, claiming the A-G approached him to help build a case against the Dr. Ato Forson, who was a former Deputy Finance Minister during the time of the ambulance procurement.Jakpa had recorded the A-Gs private telephone conversation with him regarding the case.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.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has urged the people of the Volta Region to vote for the flagbearer of his party, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the 2024 general elections.



Ahiagbah stated that Dr Bawumia has several plans to develop the region, including establishing free zones in the border town of Aflao, in the Ketu South Constituency.



A Free Zone enclave in the Volta Region, he said, is a game-changer.



He wrote on his X platform that in relation to the tour of the Volta Region by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday, May 30, "Volta must support Bawumia and reject Mahama. Bawumia's leadership will boost economic activity, create more jobs, and increase regional export production."



He also stated that "Bawumia plans to establish Special Economic Zones or free zones in border towns, including Aflao in the Ketu South Constituency. A Free Zone enclave in the Volta Region is a game-changer, but NDC-Mahama has no such plans for the Volta Region.



"What is former President Mahama's vision or plan for the Volta Region? The development of the Volta Region will inform our votes in 2024 and not sentiment."



It is a known fact that the Volta Region has historically gravitated towards the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on issues of voting patterns.



Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, like all former leaders of the NPP, is looking to be the man to bring a significant change to the voting trends in the region.



















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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NPP parliamentary candidate for Adentan constituency, Akosua Manu has lauded the Electoral Commission for a successful limited registration exercise.



The Electoral Commission has ended its registration exercise aimed at registering eligible Ghanaians into the voters' register for them to exercise their voting right in the December 7 general elections.



The exercise which began on Tuesday, May 7 was met with controversies and criticisms but the Electoral Commission supervised the process till end.



Akosua Manu, popularly called Kozie, narrating a smooth process in her constituency applauded the Commissioners saying, "the EC was very responsive. During the process, concerning every complaint that was made, at least you would realize they will issue a statement or they will clarify issues all through the process. I believe this helped the process and if this continues, it gives me hope that everything will be fine in December".



"I think Madam Jean Mensa has performed very well despite the pressure," she added.



She gave these comments on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By MARIA SHERMAN, AP Music Writer

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. Two stops were planned in Pennsylvania. 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.

USA Today writes that Lopezs announcement comes amid speculation about the health of her marriage of nearly two years to actor Ben Affleck.
By GERALD IMRAY and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME, The Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  The African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result 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% of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40% in Wednesdays election, well short of the majority it had held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela. The final results are still to be formally declared by the independent electoral commission that ran the election, but the ANC cannot pass 50%.

At the start of the election, the commission said it would formally declare the results by Sunday, but that could come earlier.

While opposition parties have hailed the result as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remained the biggest party in some way. However, it will now likely need to look for a coalition partner or partners to remain in the government and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. Parliament elects the South African president after national elections.

The way to rescue South Africa is to break the ANCs majority and we have done that, said main opposition leader John Steenhuisen.

Observers look on as election results are displayed at the Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)AP

Results are displayed at the Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Midland, Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)AP

The way forward promises to be complicated for Africas most advanced economy, and theres no coalition on the table yet.

Steenhuisens Democratic Alliance party was on around 21% of the vote. The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led, was third with just over 14% of the vote in the first election it has contested. The Economic Freedom Fighters was in fourth with just over 9%.

More than 50 parties contested the election, many of them with tiny shares of the vote, but the DA and MK appear to be the most obvious for the ANC to approach, given how far it is from a majority. Which coalition the ANC pursues is the urgent focus now, given Parliament needs to sit and elect a president within 14 days of the final election results being officially declared. A flurry of negotiations are set to take place and they will likely be complicated.

Steenhuisen has said his centrist party is open to discussions. The MK Party said one of their conditions for any agreement was that Ramaphosa is removed as ANC leader and president. That underlined the fierce political battle between Zuma, who resigned as South African president under a cloud of corruption allegations in 2018, and Ramaphosa, who replaced him.

We are willing to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said.

MK and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called for parts of the economy to be nationalized. The Democratic Alliance is viewed as a business-friendly party and analysts say an ANC-DA coalition would be more welcomed by foreign investors, although there are questions over whether it is politically viable considering the DA has been the most critical opposition party for years.

An ANC-DA coalition would be a marriage of two drunk people in Las Vegas. It will never work, Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the smaller Patriotic Alliance party, told South African media.

Despite the uncertainty, South African opposition parties were hailing the new political picture as a much-needed change for the country of 62 million, which is Africas most developed but also one of the most unequal in the world.

People queue to cast their votes at a polling station during general elections, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)AP

South Africa has widespread poverty and extremely high levels of unemployment and the ANC has struggled to raise the standard of living for millions. The official unemployment rate is 32%, one of the highest in the world, and the poverty disproportionately affects Black people, who make up 80% of the population and have been the core of the ANCs support for years.

The ANC has also been blamed  and now punished by voters  for a failure in basic government services that impacts millions and leaves many without water, electricity or proper housing.

Nearly 28 million South Africans were registered to vote and turnout is expected to be around 60%, according to figures from the independent electoral commission.
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 1. The international children's creativity festival under the motto "Shusha  the pearl of culture of Turkic states" has taken place in Shusha city, Trend reports.

The festival was organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and attended by schoolchildren from Turkic states.

The event reflecting unity of Turkic nations featured a presentation of the native musical and dance cultures by nearly 250 schoolchildren from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, as well as Hungary.

The festival's participants included famous figures of culture and art and about 150 schoolchildren, including children of martyrs.

To note, the purpose of organizing this festival is to further strengthen the friendship between children from Turkic nations, create conditions for them to present the history and culture of their countries, and get acquainted with the mesmerizing beauty of Shusha.

14:07

The international children's creativity festival under the motto "Shusha  the pearl of culture of Turkic states" has begun in Shusha city, Trend reports.

The festival is organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and attended by schoolchildren from Turkic states.

The concert program will feature a presentation of the musical and dance cultures of Turkic nations by 209 participants from artistic groups of Turkic states to the audience.

The festival's spectators include famous figures of culture and art and about 250 schoolchildren, including children of martyrs.

Within the framework of the project, until June 2, festival guests will participate in excursions, get acquainted with the rich nature of Azerbaijan, historical and architectural monuments, and also observe the ongoing construction work in Shusha.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
EAST GREENWICH, R.I.  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.
Senate candidate David McCormick was invited for a meet and greet at The Farm at Eagle Ridge, Lancaster, Pa. this week. A few people attended.

He arrived by his tour bus at The Restless Oaks Restaurant in Lock Haven last weekend. Only about a dozen showed up there. The word about Mr. McCormicks residency, or lack thereof, seems to be getting out.

Lycoming County Republican Party Chair Don Peters says he does not care if McCormick has a Pa. drivers license. I sent Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-15, and Stephanie Borowicz, R-76, letters in April asking they require McCormick show them his drivers license to prove he is a Pennsylvania resident. I got no response.

As a Pa. Republican for 50 years, and after voters rejected Mehmet Oz in the last election for not being a resident, I would expect the Republican Party to learn from its recent loss. Obviously, it has not. Pa. voters want Pa. residents to represent them in Washington.

Pa. Republicans are also asking McCormick, in addition to providing a copy of his Pa. license, why his residence near Pittsburgh is in a corporation and not in his name, also proof he is not a true resident.

If you care about where our elected representatives reside, ask Dave for a copy of his Pa. drivers license if you see him.

Also, call State Reps. Bryan Cutler, R-100, and Lloyd Smuckers, R-11, and ask them why they support McCormick, who has not proved hes a Pa. resident? True Pa. Republicans are saying NO, to McCormick in the upcoming election.

Scott T. Knisely, Mill Hall, Pa.
By Aliya Schneider, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

BENSALEM, Pa.  Mike Domanico, co-owner of The Trump Store in Bensalem, is having a busy week.

Within hours of jurors in New York declaring former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony charges, Domanico had secured 50 Free Trump T-shirts in time for the upset customers he expected to pour in Friday.

That morning, he and his wife, Monica, who co-owns the store, prepared to open not only the store but also a mobile shop set up at Target World gun shop in Chalfont. Inside the main store, wedged into the Bensalem Plaza Shopping Center, the Domanicos had T-shirts and flags, tiny Trump shirts for children, pop-up greeting cards and even a locally made Trump gnome.

Between the two Bucks County outlets on Friday, there were four Free Trump shirts left by 3 p.m.

Domanico, 54, is expecting more political prisoner type of shirts to come in by Monday or Tuesday.

We expect to sell a lot of them because everybodys so mad, its crazy, he said.

There is no evidence that President Joe Biden orchestrated Trumps prosecution to help himself get elected. Biden spoke out against Republicans distrust of the verdict Friday.

Its irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict, Biden said, speaking at the White House. 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. Twelve people like you.

A shopper checks an "All aboard the Trump train" children's shirt for size at The Trump Store in the Bensalem Plaza on Friday, May 31, 2024, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS

Still, Domanico is convinced that the jurys guilty finding is a farce, and so are many of the customers visiting his Bucks County shops.

Lisa von Deylen, manager of the Bensalem store, said it had been busy all day. People get particularly motivated to shop when there are ridiculous things that happen to Trump, like the Mar-a-lago raid or when Trump was indicted, she said, noting that along with the Free Trump shirts, merch that said Never surrender and Wanted: Trump for President were racking up sales.

People get fed up, said von Deylen, who turns 58 Saturday. They get fired up and then they come out.

While supporters have felt emboldened by Trumps narrative that hes a victim of the justice system, 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 swing 18- to 34-year-old voters from Trump to Biden. But those polls were based on a theoretical event, and the hush money trial has done little to shift a tight race so far.

Customers trickled into the Bensalem store throughout Friday afternoon, bonding over their distaste for Biden and reacting together to Newsmax playing on a TV above the cashiers desk. Several customers said it was their first time at the store.

Does that mean were finally going to be able to lock Hillary up? von Deylen asked a customer.

Rachel Zoubroulis, 51, of Huntingdon Valley, came to the store for the first time on Friday to show her support for Trump after the verdict. Zoubroulis is a longtime Trump supporter, but the guilty verdict motivated her to donate to Trumps campaign for the first time. Zoubroulis, a homemaker, part-time student, and mother of six, said her 18-year-old son was going to register to vote as a Republican Friday.

While other supporters on Friday said they felt the verdict would strengthen Trumps chances in the election, Zoubroulis said she didnt know what to expect.

Were just in such uncertain times, she said. Black is white, you know, up is down. Its just all over the place. So I hope everybody sees this for what it is and it ends up being a very positive outcome for him. But at the end of the day, who knows?
A British businessman and a two-time WSOP bracelet winner went heads up for the title, and it was the former who stood alone in the end.

Daniel Willis defeated Michael Wang on Day 3 to take down Event #3: $500 Kickoff No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout, securing Willis a $175,578 winning prize and his first WSOP bracelet after he outlasted the final eight players. Wang collected $117,046 as the runner-up.

Coming off the first event I played and have a huge win, its a dream come true moment, Willis said with a smile.

Willis, who entered Day 3 as the chip leader, didnt falter at the final table and credits the momentum he gained late in Day 2.

In deep fields, thousands of players, you get these really crucial spots where you get your chips in and its a really critical hand to keep that momentum going, Willis said. And so many times when I played poker professionally 10-15 years ago before I started my music journey and business, I found that those crucial spots werent going my way really deep for very big prize money.

But in this tournament, it just went really, really well in those crucial spots, like (Thursday) when I was like fifth or sixth in chips, perhaps seventh, and someone shoved all in, another big stack re-raised all in, and then I got kings in the big blind, so I call. I was up against jacks, Q3 suited. The flop came 2, 4, 5, so I had to dodge an Ace, a Jack, a 6, and I did. Those are the key spots where I just kept gaining momentum.

Not only did Willis gain momentum, he sustained it throughout Day 3 while in good spots en route to winning the event.

The final table seemed to go really smoothly, Willis said. Someone shoved all in and I have kings; obviously an easy call. The same thing happened again and I had Aces, and it just kept going like that where I was in those dream scenarios, spots that a lot of poker players would just love to be in and would just appreciate that the luck is on your side.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1st Daniel Willis United Kingdom $175,578 2nd Michael Wang United States $117,056 3rd Shawn Smith United States $86,820 4th Steven Borella United States $,64,920 5th Yoshinori Funayama Japan $48,938 6th Daniel Sherer United States $37,194 7th John Marino United States $28,501 8th David Niedringhaus United States $22,022

While luck is a factor, there is arguably a level of skill required to navigate the minefield of not just players, but capable players.

Ryan Riess

The overall field boasted multiple WSOP bracelet winners, including Wang, Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu, Ryan Riess, Tamas Lendvai, Jason Wheeler, Joseph Altomonte, Qiang Xu, andMarco Johnson, among others.

Going through all the tough competition isnt lost on the WSOPs newest bracelet winner.

Im just really grateful for this amazing opportunity, Willis said. And how everything unfolded to be here and to be the winner.

With a major tournament win in his back pocket and a shiny WSOP gold bracelet on his wrist, Willis now looks forward to the future, which includes sticking around for a few more weeks in Las Vegas before he heads home.

Im definitely going to try and play the Mystery Bounty, probably take a day off and celebrate, he said. Ill probably play a few more events, and then I got to get back to work.

THREE-DAY SNAPSHOT

A new event for 2024, the $500 Kickoff No-Limit Hold'em Event secured a sizeable 3,485 total entries, building a prize pool of $1,442,960. There were plenty of notables in the field, including Joe Cada, Greg Raymer, Brad Owen, Shaun Deeb, Josh Arieh, and Jeremy Ausmus but were not successful in making the money.

Maria Ho

The bubble burst on Day 1 with Deeb losing out on the score. Maria Ho and Justin Saliba were sent to the rail shortly after making the money and didnt get to advance to Day 2.

Day 1 finished at the end of level 22 with 151 remaining players, including WSOP bracelet winner and 25K fantasy draft player Qiang Xu. Steven Borella was second in chips going into Day 2 with Gregory Snyder close behind in third.

Day 2 saw some big bust-outs with Xu eliminated in 37th place for $4,596, Ryan Riess (63rd - $2,679), Marco Johnson (47th - $3,805), Daniel Negreanu (16th - $8,541) and Jason Wheeler (14th - $8,541) before the final table was reached.

Play stopped when the field reached 8, with the final table redraw seeing Willis have 47 big blinds and the short stack David Niedringhaus with seven big blinds.

Day 3 resumed at 1 p.m. with the final table action being streamed by PokerGO on a two-hour delay, which saw Willis prevail as the event champion.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has tried again to get Trump to stop endangering the lives of law enforcement officers.

The Special Counsel wrote in a new motion related to the classified documents case:

The Government moves to modify defendant Donald J. Trumps conditions of release, to make clear that he may not make statements that pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

The Governments request is necessary because of several intentionally false and inflammatory statements recently made by Trump that distort the circumstances under which the Federal Bureau of Investigation planned and executed the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago. Those statements create a grossly misleading impression about the intentions and conduct of federal law enforcement agentsfalsely suggesting that they were complicit in a plot to assassinate himand expose those agents, some of whom will be witnesses at trial, to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment.

The Court has an independent obligation to protect the integrity of this judicial proceeding,



A condition of release that prohibits the defendant from making statements posing a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case is warranted and necessary here. Such a prohibition will also minimize further prejudice caused by the defendant directing false and inflammatory messages regarding the facts of this case to potential jurors who may be summoned by the Court for jury service in this matter.

Prosecutors argued that without medication of Trumps conditions of release, the ex-president could not tamper with witnesses and juries. Judge Aileen Cannon rejected Smiths first attempt at a gag order, so the Special Counsel is trying again.

It seems like Cannons constant protection of Trump from the bench will be appealed at some point. Special Counsel Smith appears to be attempting all reasonable remedies to protect witnesses and jurors.

If Trumps speech isnt limited, we all know what he is going to do. Trump has been relentless in his efforts to tamper with his cases.

Judge Aileen Cannon is letting him get away with it, but Jack Smith isnt stopping his efforts to protect witnesses, jurors, and law enforcement members.

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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]
Authorities in Scotland are being urged to open a criminal investigation into Donald Trump for his properties in Scotland.

The Scotsman reported:



Scotlands most senior law officer has been urged to heed long-standing calls to investigate the source of the funds underpinning Donald Trumps purchase of his flagship international resort after he became the first former US president to be convicted of a criminal offence.



Avaaz, the global activism organisation that led an unsuccessful petition at the Court of Session for a judicial review to force an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) against Trump in 2021, said the guilty verdicts further vindicated of its position. The body said it was unclear what more evidence was required by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC.

In March of this year, it was confirmed by people who worked on Trumps Scotland project that the ex-president defrauded Scotland by promising a billion of dollars in investment in exchange for environment regulation easements and other incentives, and then he delivered nothing.

People in Scotland have long wondered where Trump got the money for his Scottish purchases and whether he laundered money.

After the Manhattan jury convicted Trump, questions about his activities in Scotland have returned. New York is a good example of how difficult Trump can be to investigate and the rewards for the public that come from persistence in pursuit of a man who appears to be one of the worlds great fraudsters and a former president of the United States.

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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.

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A new Morning Consult poll found that 54% of voters agree with the jurys decision to convict Donald Trump.

Morning Consult provided their survey results to PoliticusUSA, and here are a few highlights:

-53% of registered voters have seen, read or heard a lot about the New York jurys decision to convict former President Donald Trump, on par with voters who said the same immediately following the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

 Over half (54%) of registered voters strongly or somewhat approve of the Jurys decision, while 34% disapprove.

 76% of Republican voters said the verdict made them less confident in the U.S. criminal justice system. Although 52% of voters believe the verdict was based on evidence that Trump committed a crime, 77% of Republican voters and 43% of independent voters believe the conviction was driven by motivation to damage his political career.

The Morning Consult Poll was an online survey, which is notoriously unreliable, but it did have a large sample size of 2,200 respondents.

Post Verdict Problems For Trump

Suppose these numbers are accurate that barely a majority of the country has heard a great deal about the trial and verdict. In that case, this is terrible news for Trump because Democrats and their aligned outside organizations have hundreds of millions to a billion dollars on hand to spread the word that Trump is a convicted felon.

The fact that a majority of Independents arent buying Trumps claims that the trial and verdict are politically motivated is potentially devastating for Trump because he has not united the Republican Party. Trump cant win the election with Independents, and if the majority of those voters think he is guilty, that is a huge problem for his campaign.

Trump still hasnt unified the Republican Party, as Morning Consult also found that 15% of Republicans want Trump to end his presidential campaign. The percentage of Republicans who dont support Trump has stubbornly remained at 15%-20%, and Donald Trump cant win without the Republican Party united behind him.

In what is going to be a very close election, there is no early sign that Trumps messaging on the verdict is getting through to anyone outside of his base in the GOP, but there is evidence that Democrats and their allies can use the verdict to make Trump unelectable.

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The life of people in Xizang has dramatically improved with convenient living conditions and better employment opportunities, said a group of international experts during a visit to Xizang.

The group consisting of academics and media professionals from various countries, including India, France, Sweden, and South Africa, recently visited Guojia New village in Shigatse city in the southwestern region of Xizang Autonomous Region in China in May.

During their tour of the village, they were welcomed by a local family.

Guojiaxin village, with a total of 408 households and 1,843 residents, is a relatively large relocation site for poverty alleviation in Shigatse city.

Most of the villagers in Guojia New Village used to live around 4,500 meters above sea level. With the implementation of the poverty alleviation relocation policy, the villagers now enjoy convenient living conditions at lower altitude and better ecological environment.

"I am thrilled to see such a dramatic transformation in the lives of people," said Alka Acharya, professor at the Centre for East Asian Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies. "It's overwhelming sensation when people open up their homes and their hearts to you and offer you their hospitality," Acharya added.

"It's very apparent that this relocation program has benefited them economically, without a doubt. I'm impressed by how organized the community building is," said Gustaf Lansner, project manager of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden.

The delegation also visited a local brewery and a dairy factory in Shigatse city.

"I've seen more of inclusion, more of assistance, empowerment, affirmative action in order to speed up the economic development and to improve the lives of ordinary people, which for me, as a human rights lawyer, that's the sort of thing that I would want to see," Lloyd Kuveya, assistant director of the Center for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. "Marginalized and vulnerable groups in society are not being left behind in terms of the development agenda," said Kuveya.

"I think it's a remarkable aspect of the development process that the state and the provincial-level governments are supporting the development of startups of industries to bring in the latest technology, and this can provide employment," said Acharya.

Despite significant improvement in the lives of the people in Xizang, internationally, another version of the Xizang story can still be heard with distorting facts and lies.

"When you have a large part of Western institutions that are choosing not to allow the reality to be perceived, when they deliberately misrepresent the reality, of course, we have a certain responsibility to bring the reality and the truth of the situation forward," said Stephen Brawer, chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden. "I'm an optimist that step by step, the world will begin to see the truth about Xizang. And the living standard of the people here in Xizang have dramatically improved," added Brawer.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Azerbaijan's agriculture needs the activity of appraisers, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Azad Jafarli said at the meeting of the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States and the 3rd International Appraisers Forum in Baku on June 1, Trend reports.

According to him, an assessment of current projects and efforts related to infrastructure in this sector is underway.

Jafarli pointed out that a green economy is being introduced in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, which is also important for expanding the activities of appraisers.

He added that a modern irrigation system has been installed on 119,000 hectares in Azerbaijan, and pivot and drip irrigation systems are used on 60,000 hectares.

To note, the appraisal associations of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are collective members of the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States.

The Association of Appraisers of the Turkic States, which unites over 700 appraisal companies and thousands of appraisers, was founded on June 1, 2023, in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Everyone talks about the weather, especially in the Lowcountry. Rain, wind, thunder and lightning, but also beautiful sunrises and gentle breezes are all part of life here. The Charleston Concert Band will take the listener through all the beauty and challenges of the weather in the Charlest Read more'In the Storm & Sunshine!'
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 1. A total of 258 pupils will study at secondary school No. 1 in Shusha according to preliminary forecasts, the school's director Sabina Gozalova told reporters, Trend reports.

She made the remark on the sidelines of the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Shusha on June 1.

The director said that based on these figures, the employment of about 24 teachers is planned.

According to her, the school will begin functioning in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The implementation of the first stage of the 'Great Return' [to Azerbaijan's liberated territories] program continues. The school will employ mainly family members of persons registered in the city of Shusha, as well as those working here at various enterprises.

Incentive training will be conducted for teachers. We are also thinking about organizing a summer school, added Gozalova.

To note, the 960-seat secondary school in Shusha, consists of three floors and five blocks, has 40 classrooms per 24 pupils each, library, reading room, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) center, classrooms for basic military training, music, medicine, and others.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. EducationUSA Alumni Fair has been organized in Azerbaijan for high school and university students, as well as their parents, interested in pursuing education in the US, Trend reports.

Speaking at the event opening ceremony, US Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan Hugo Guevara spotlighted the importance of choosing an educational program.

I thank the fair organizers. It's quite difficult for parents to choose a higher education institution for their children. Over 900 Azerbaijani students studied in the US in the 2022/2023 academic year. This is an increase of more than 25 percent from the previous years. At the exhibition you will get answers to all your questions in this area," he said.

Additionally, Jordan Troisi from the American Councils for International Education Azerbaijan pointed out that during the 2022-2023 academic year, 45 percent of Azerbaijani students in the US received education at the master's level, and the rest at the bachelor's level.

To note, the US Embassy in Baku, in collaboration with American Councils for International Education, has organized the EducationUSA Alumni Fair as an exceptional opportunity for high school and university students, as well as their parents, interested in pursuing education in the US.

The fair featured representatives from more than 35 US universities along with US Embassy exchange programs.

Additionally, the embassy consular staff shared information about student visas.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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~ XDC Network aims to onboard over 10,000 active developers within the first year by providing unmatched support and continually enhancing the tool based on the evolving needs of the XDC developer community.MUMBAI, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 1, 2024 / CodeRun.ai , a groundbreaking tool developed by the core team of XDC Network, an enterprise-friendly blockchain platform, is poised to transform the programming landscape by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. Launched with the vision of making coding accessible to individuals of all ages and skill levels, Coderun.ai empowers users to bring their ideas to life through innovative code-generation capabilities.Gone are the days when programming seemed daunting and inaccessible. Whether you're a second-grade student embarking on your coding journey or a seasoned individual looking to digitize your daily tasks, Coderun.ai caters to all demographics, ensuring anyone can find solutions to their coding challenges.Imagine a second-grade student asking, "Can you assist me in coding an interactive story game or creating a virtual pet experience?" Conversely, a 70-year-old seeks aid in coding a personal organizer proficient in managing daily personal and financial affairs - CodeRun.ai is the solution to all these challenges.Atul Khekade, Co-founder of XDC Network remarked, "CodeRun represents a massive revolution in artificial intelligence and programming. It empowers individuals to bring their ideas to fruition and also serves as a valuable tool for software developers, enhancing their productivity. Coderun.ai is now available for free to all users. However, it is important to note that the generated code is tailored to run on the XinFin XDC blockchain network. Coderun.ai remains an invaluable resource for individuals and businesses seeking to leverage the power of blockchain technology in their projects. Everyone is invited to test the coderun.ai now. In addition, CodeRun is integrated into the larger XDC ecosystem, encouraging adoption among current developers, expanding use cases, and collaborating with academic institutions to incorporate CodeRun into blockchain development curricula.About Coderun.ai's Maestro Atul Khekade has a background in technology and entrepreneurship, with a keen interest in blockchain technology, Artificial Intelligence, fintech, and the development of decentralized applications. With over 14 years of experience in the technology field, Atul has played a crucial role in conceptualizing and demonstrating the first permissioned Blockchain system for the consortium of Top Asian banks. He has also co-founded a Multi-Million Dollar Revenue company dedicated to the business of Airline Chartering. He is committed to developing alliances and investor management and aims to bridge the $5 trillion Government infrastructure gap using XDC Network's Blockchain applications.About XDC Network: XDC Network is a pioneering, carbon-neutral, and EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, renowned for its enterprise-grade capabilities for RWA, Tokenization, TradeFinance and DePIN applications. Leveraging a unique XinFin Delegated Proof of Stake (XDPoS) consensus mechanism, it achieves remarkable transaction speeds of 2 seconds and over 2000 TPS, with minimal gas fees (around $0.0001). Designed for interoperability and compliance with ISO 20022 financial messaging standards, the XDC Network excels in facilitating Trade Finance, Payment Processing, and Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization. Its robust, scalable, and efficient platform underscores a commitment to innovation, making it a preferred choice for businesses seeking advanced blockchain solutions. For more information visit: XinFin.org or XDC.org Media Contact: Nadar Suresh suresh@ xinfin.org XDC NetworkFor Media Queries, contact:Unnati Gala lunnati@ madchatter.inPalak Chopra |Palak@ madchatter.inMadchatter Brand SolutionsMumbai, IndiaSOURCE: XDC Network
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MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 /Epic Landscapes is on a mission to enhance Florida's natural beauty with their premier landscaping services. Florida's attraction draws in self-reliant, discriminating people who want to create their own paradise, and Epic Landscapes is leading the way in making fantasies come true. With more than ten years of expertise, this prestigious landscaping business, headed by the modest Jose Rock, has established a reputation for creating outdoor environments that are the epitome of style, comfort, and environmental responsibility.With a focus on designing stunning water features, lush lawns, cozy patios, and outstanding landscapes, Epic Landscapes has made a name for itself as the company to call when looking to improve the aesthetics of outdoor spaces in the Miami and Southern Florida region. Every project, from calm ponds that resemble natural springs to beautifully built paths that wind through lush foliage, is tackled with a dedication to bringing the client's vision to life while enhancing the wild beauty of Florda's breathtaking landscapes.In contrast to other businesses that use pre-made templates, Epic Landscapes approaches each job uniquely. They guarantee that every landscape reflects the individuality of its owner while pushing the limits of creativity and workmanship by collaborating directly with clients during the design phase. With unexpected ease and attention to detail, Epic Landscapes specializes in realizing client fantasies for everything from unique pools and waterfalls to carefully crafted living ponds.A commitment to environmental sustainability lies at the heart of Epic Landscapes' concept. The corporation places a high value on ecosystem health and biodiversity in all facets of its operations because of its profound appreciation for the natural world. Epic Landscapes aims to improve the local environment through the use of eco-friendly construction techniques and native plant integration. Because of their dedication to sustainability, every project they work on improves the long-term health and vitality of the surrounding ecosystem in addition to its aesthetic value.There is a growing need for habitable outdoor areas, and businesses such as Epic Landscapes are essential to maintaining Southern Florida's natural beauty. They not only create beautiful landscapes but also contribute to the long-term prosperity of the area by skillfully fusing luxury and sustainability.One project at a time, Epic Landscapes has been realizing fantasies for more than ten years. They are relentless in their pursuit of perfection and passionate about environmental stewardship, and they are setting new standards for Florida landscaping.Their outstanding designs and dedication to sustainability are just two aspects of their stellar reputation. Their unwavering commitment to client satisfaction and their ability to seamlessly integrate their skills with the client's vision are what distinguish them.Epic Landscapes guarantees open communication and collaboration at every stage of the process, from the first consultation to the last installation, making sure that each client's dreams are not only realized but surpassed while also caring for the environment.About Epic Landscapes:Located in Miami, Florida, Epic Landscapes is a top landscaping business that specializes in designing unique outdoor spaces that combine style and sustainability. With more than ten years of expertise, the business is dedicated to going above and beyond for customers while emphasizing environmental responsibility. Epic Landscapes offers unmatched creativity and workmanship on every project, from creative water features to lush tropical landscapes, guaranteeing a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable outdoor experience.Media Details:Website: https://epiclandscaped.com/Email:info@epiclandscapes.comPhone: 800-454-9272SOURCE: Epic Landscapes
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RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 1, 2024 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Fastly, Inc. ("Fastly") (NYSE:FSLY). The action charges Fastly with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Fastly's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Fastly's investors have suffered significant losses.If you suffered Fastly losses, you mayCLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/fastly-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fsly&mktm=r You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at info@ ktmc.com . The lead plaintiff deadline is July 23, 2024.CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HEREor go to: https://youtu.be/MVbQwTvArKo DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCTOn February 14, 2024, Fastly issued a press release providing full year ("FY") 2024 revenue guidance in a range of $580 million to $590 million. In that same press release, Fastly's CEO was quoted stating, "[t]his quarter demonstrated the progress we've made in operational and financial rigor resulting in strong gross margins and non-GAAP net income," and "[o]ur go-to-market, packaging and channel efforts through 2023 delivered an inflection in our customer acquisition as we closed out the year. This positions us well for 2024, driving our mission to make every user experience fast, safe, and engaging." On May 1, 2024, Fastly announced its Q1 2024 results. Despite Fastly's positive statements just weeks before about its performance and near-term business prospects, Fastly reported revenue of only $133.52 million, missing consensus estimates. Fastly also lowered its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $555 million to $565 million, significantly below its previously issued FY 2024 revenue guidance of $580 million to $590 million, and likewise below consensus estimates of $584.62 million for the same period.Then, on May 2, 2024, Bank of America downgraded Fastly stock from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating and cut its price target on the stock from $18 per share to a mere $8 per share. On this news, the price of Fastly shares declined by $4.14 per share, or approximately 32.02%, from $12.93 per share on May 1, 2024 to close at $8.79 on May 2, 2024.WHAT CAN I DO?Fastly investors may, no later than July 23, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of 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 Fastly investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Fastly, Kula v. Fastly, Inc., et al., Case No. 24-cv-03170, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/fastly-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fsly&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, LLPKessler 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. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP(484) 270-1453280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087 info@ ktmc.com May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
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Exclusive 30-count bottle to be available at over 2,900 stores across the United StatesSUNRISE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 1, 2024 / Fungies, a leading brand in the functional mushroom supplement industry, is thrilled to announce a significant expansion of its retail distribution. As part of its "Making Mushrooms Mainstream" mission, the innovative brand's popular line of functional mushroom gummies will now be available in over 2,900 Walmart stores across the United States. This milestone is celebrated by introducing an exclusive 30-count bottle of its popular gummies, priced at just $9.97.Fungies Mushroom Gummies Grab a bottle of delicious functional mushroom gummies by Fungies at your local Walmart.This expansion reflects the growing demand for functional mushroom products. It marks a milestone for Fungies as it continues to bring the benefits of functional mushrooms to a broader audience through convenient and delicious gummies, emphasizing a commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction. Each of Fungies' carefully formulated gummies is designed to address specific wellness needs, making the power of functional mushrooms accessible to everyone.Discover Fungies Full Range of Functional Mushroom Gummies:Fungies is proud to showcase its three functional mushroom gummy varieties now available at Walmart. Each gummy is gelatin-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan-friendly, and tastes like fruit snacks:1. Lion's Mane Mushroom Daily Brain Health Gummies: Perfect for those looking to support their brain power, Fungies Lion's Mane Mushroom Gummies are crafted to support cognitive function and mental clarity.2. Cordyceps Mushroom Daily Energy Gummies: Elevate your energy and help conquer fatigue with caffeine-free Fungies Cordyceps Mushroom Gummies. They're energy without the buzz in a delicious gummy.3. Reishi Mushroom Daily Relaxation Gummies: Experience the calming benefits of Reishi with Fungies. Each gummy is infused with Reishi mushroom to help promote relaxation, manage everyday stress, and support restful sleep.To celebrate this exciting expansion, Fungies is offering 50% off your next purchase of Fungies gummies at participating Walmart locations for a limited time. Fungies is excited to expand the availability of its gummies so that more people can explore the benefits of functional mushrooms in a delicious, convenient form.Click here to claim your discount at Walmart"For us, expanding into a major retailer like Walmart is more than just business growth-it's about advancing our mission," added Rob Kaufman, Co-Founder of Fungies. "Making Mushrooms Mainstream isn't just a vision; it's happening now, and it's thrilling to lead this wellness revolution." In less than three years since its launch, Fungies has achieved remarkable growth and is now available in over 12,000 retail doors nationwide, including major chains such as CVS, Meijer, Sam's Club, Walgreens, and Walmart. This rapid expansion underscores the brand's effectiveness, popularity, and ability to meet the wellness needs of a diverse range of consumers.For additional information about Fungies and its products, visit https://eatfungies.com About Fungies:Fungies is a pioneering brand dedicated to harnessing the natural power of functional mushrooms by offering a range of gummies that support overall health and well-being. With a focus on innovation, quality, and consumer health, Fungies continues to lead the market in providing accessible, effective, and enjoyable functional mushroom supplements.Contact InformationRob KaufmanCFG, Chief Fun Guyrob@ eatfungies.com 1-800-555-8895SOURCE: FungiesView the original press release on newswire.com
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("Arbor" or "the Company") (NYSE:ABR) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Arbor is the subject of a report issued by Viceroy Research November 17, 2023, titled, ""Arbor Realty Trust - Slumlord Millionaires." According to the report, "Arbor's high-risk multifamily bridge loans, which comprise substantially all of its asset book, are going bad fast The end is near." Viceroy Research then issued a follow up report on December 5, 2023, titled "Arbor - Jacksonville Case Study." In the second report, Viceroy Research claims that the Company's "entire loan book is distressed and underlying collateral is vastly overstated." Based on this news, shares of Arbor fell by more than 5% over the next two trading sessions.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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LaMar's Donuts Attempts a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Title for Largest Donation of Doughnuts in One Hour for National Donut DayDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Prepare for an exceptional celebration of National Donut Day on Friday, June 7, with LaMar's Donuts & Coffee. In keeping with tradition, every LaMar's Donuts store visitor will receive a complimentary Ray's Original Glazed Donut. Furthermore, LaMar's will elevate the festivities by organizing pop-up donut shops at several locations throughout Colorado, Missouri, and Kansas.However, the highlight of this year's celebration is LaMar's ambitious attempt to make history with the largest donation of doughnuts in one hour with GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS on June 7 at The Salvation Army Distribution Center.Whether you choose to celebrate in-store or at a popup location or virtually engage through social media, LaMar's Donuts guarantees an extraordinary National Donut Day experience.History, Partnerships, CelebrationsNational Donut Day is a celebration of the unifying power of our favorite breakfast pastry and has a surprising history stretching back more than seven decades.History of National Donut Day: In 1938, National Donut Day emerged as a fundraising initiative by The Salvation Army aimed at aiding those impacted by the Great Depression. Additionally, it served as a tribute to the brave "Lassies" of World War I who provided soldiers on the front lines in France with donuts. Since then, donuts have become a culinary symbol of togetherness, bringing people closer through shared enjoyment.Partnering With The Salvation Army: LaMar's Donuts has joined forces with The Salvation Army for the past 14 years, hosting an annual fundraising drive for National Donut Day. This year, LaMar's Donuts & Coffee is dedicated to upholding the tradition of National Donut Day by collaborating with The Salvation Army to distribute donuts within our communities and engage customers in the celebration at each location. At all LaMar's locations, Salvation Army Bell Ringers will be on-site in select locations, rallying support for those in need. LaMar's patrons can also make donations directly at https://salarmy.us/dd22im How We're Celebrating: Join us at any LaMar's Donuts & Coffee on Friday, June 7, for a free Ray's Original Glazed Donut."Our passion for donuts began with Ray LaMar in 1933 and has continued over the past 91 years as we've worked to craft the perfect donut," says Temi Osifodunrin, LaMar's Donuts Director of Marketing."Each year, we look forward to National Donut Day to celebrate our love for donuts and everything they bring to a community." Join us as we share donuts with people throughout our communities. To learn more, visit www.lamars.com and www.donutday.com Contact Information:Temi OsifodunrinDirector, Marketing & Advertisingmarketing@ lamars.com 303-771-9999 x. # 7001SOURCE: LaMar's Donuts & CoffeeView the original press release on newswire.com
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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 /Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:QPM)(FSE:YXEP)(OTCQB:CJCFF) ("QPM" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Placement"), for an amount of $185,000. The Placement consists of 3,700,000 units ("Hard Units") of the Corporation at a price of $0.05 per Hard Unit. Each Hard Unit issued is comprised of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant of the Corporation (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant gives the holder thereof the right to purchase one common share during the 36 months following the closing date of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.10."We thank our existing and new shareholders for supporting us to fund the further exploration of our lithium and gold projects in the James Bay region as well as the continued social acceptability initiatives at our rare earths project near Kipawa, Quebec. This financing is deliberately small to minimize dilution to our shareholders, while continuing exploration." commented Normand Champigny, CEO of QPM.The net proceeds from the sale of the Placement will be used for general corporate and working capital purposes and for exploration expenditures on the Corporation's projects located in the Province of Quebec.The Hard Units are subject to a four-month "hold period" commencing on the closing date pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities and, in Quebec, Regulation 45-102 respecting Resale of Securities, and the certificates or DRS advices representing such securities bear a legend to that effect. The Placement remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").In connection with the Offering, the Corporation paid in respect of certain subscriptions a finders'fee or commission of $ 1,750 in compliance with section 1.14 of Policy 4.1 as well as Policy 5.1 of the Exchange. In addition, the finders received 35,000 non-transferable compensation warrants, with each such warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.10 per common share of the Company for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Placement.Flow-through financingThe Corporation also announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,000,000 flow-through units ("FT Units") of the Corporation at a price of $0.088 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit issued is comprised of one flow-through share and one transferable common share purchase warrant of the Corporation (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant gives the holder thereof the right to purchase one common share during the 36 months following the closing date of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.10. The FT Units are issued in the context of a structured flow-through share arrangement.The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses (as such term is defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada) and its provincial equivalent) which, once renounced, will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditure" (as such term is defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025, and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024. For a Quebec resident subscriber who is an eligible individual under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Qualifying Expenditures will also constitute (i) expenses for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec), and (ii) expenses for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining expenses or oil and gas exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).QPM's updated investor presentation and website can be found on www.qpmcorp.com About Quebec Precious Metals CorporationQPM has a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. The Corporation focuses on advancing its Sakami gold project and its newly discovered, drill-ready Ninaaskuwin lithium showing on the Elmer East project. In addition, the Corporation holds a 68% interest in the Kipawa rare earths project located near Temiscaming, Quebec.For more information please contact:Normand ChampignyChief Executive OfficerTel.: 514 979-4746 nchampigny@ qpmcorp.ca 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.Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Statements with respect to final approval of the Exchange and the Corporation's expected work programs in 2024 are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Corporation. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, including but not limited to the risks that market conditions, commodity prices, or other circumstances can affect the Corporation, the ability of the Corporation to raise further financing, as well as other risks with respect to the Corporation described in the Corporation's public disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Corporation disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. A familiarization visit to the one of military units was organized for foreign countries military attaches accredited in Azerbaijan in accordance with the annual action plan approved by the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's statement.

First, flowers were laid in front of the bust of the National Leader of the Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev, erected in the military units territory, and the memory of the Great Leader was honored.

"Then 26 representatives of offices of the military attaches, representing 22 states, were given a briefing on the military units establishment and combat path.

The guests got acquainted with the personnels new military uniforms, daily food provision, living conditions, and some combat equipment available in the armament of the military unit.

During the visit, the guests visited the Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum and Museum, the Ganja State Philharmonic named after Fikret Amirov, the Shah Abbas Mosque, the Goygol National Park, as well as residential buildings destroyed in October 2020 during the Armenian armed forces missile attack on Ganja city.

The military attaches expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense for the visits high-level organization, as well as for the attention and hospitality shown," the statement said.

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 1, 2024 / 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 newaction@ pomlaw.com 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.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
To shore up revenue through the oil and gas sector, the federal government is set to commence exploration activities in selected locations across the country, with Ogun State earmarked as one of the potential oil-producing states.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made the disclosure on Friday while being received alongside other stakeholders in the industry at the governors office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Stakeholders who were on the visit with the minister included the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd, Osagie Okubor; the Chief Executive, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.

Mr Lokpobiri said Ogun State had always been part of the Dahomey Basin with a prospect of having a huge deposit of hydro-carbon.

Also, he noted that oil and gas remained the quickest way to Nigerias economic prosperity, adding that his team was in the state in continuation of the campaign for exploration activities.

He said the visit to Ogun State was also to demonstrate the seriousness and commitment of the Federal Government to shore up its revenue through the oil and gas sector.

We decided that we are going to resume exploration in the different basins; we decided to come to Ogun State to reassure the people that we have very high potential of discoveries here. Ogun has always been part of the Dahomey Basin and our presence underscores the seriousness the federal government attaches to the exploration activities that we want to carry out in Ogun State, the minister said.

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The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mr Kyari, while speaking, said Ogun State was blessed to be in the Dahomey Basin corridor with expected high deposits of oil.

He assured that the corporation was coming back in earnest to commence exploration activities and expressed the hope that oil would be found in commercial quantities.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, said the coming of the team to Ogun State was to further demonstrate the commitment of the Federal Government to grow the oil reserves and enhance federation revenue.

We all understand that Nigeria is very prolific in oil and gas, but then there is still a need to grow the reserves through exploration activities, he said.

Mr Komolafe said that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) made provision for the funding of the development of the Frontier Basins, adding that in line with the commitment and the aspirations of the government, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission was working in synergy with the NNPCL to leverage on the PIA to aggressively carry out oil exploration in the Dahomey Basin.

The Dahomey Basin stretches up to Delta, Edo, Ogun and Ondo States. We intend to, in the course of this exercise, cover all those states leveraging on the provision of Section 9, Subsection 4 of the PIA. This is a good opportunity for the people of Ogun State and it would be complementary to the reforms and transformation initiatives of the governor. We want to congratulate the governor and the people for being the beneficiaries of this initiative, Mr Komolafe said.

Responding, Mr Abiodun said Ogun State was part of the OPLs 302,303 306, 307, noting that the acreages presented unique opportunities for the qualification as a Frontier Exploration State as defined in the PIA section 9.

He observed that the history and studies over the years allowed any investment under the frontier exploration basin funding to not only realise the oil and gas potentials but also acquire data that would aid bitumen exploration and exploitation in Nigeria.

It is noteworthy that this is a region of the country that provides ease of access, low entry and operating costs, a safe and welcoming community and a very active state government support and participation.

Ogun State, therefore, presents some unique opportunities towards the realisation of the full intentions of the PIA section 9 on frontier exploration, as it will guarantee additional petroleum production and afford more supply to potential refineries in the area.

As a low-hanging result, this area also presents the opportunity for Bitumen extraction, thereby reducing import dependency and bringing with its savings in foreign exchange expenditure on this single line item, the governor said.

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Movie Title: Crossroads

Language: Yoruba and English

Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes

Release date: 2024

Streaming platform: Prime Video

Producer: Aisha Lawal

Director: Tope Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani

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Casts: Aisha Lawal, Lateef Adedimeji, Deyemi Okanlawon, Bimbo Manuel, Femi Adebayo, Adebayo Salami, Yvonne Jegede, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Yekini Ibrahim, Wumi Toriola, Obim Adebimpe Omooba, Boma Martins Akpore, Seyi Awolowo, Rotimi Salami, Damilare E Wilson, Temitope Iledo Topright, Mustapha Abidemi, Igbenabor Marylyn Odiwo, Martins Ogbebor.

Like they say, love happens in mysterious ways, and life is unpredictable. When we think we have it all figured out, fate keeps us on our toes.

Cross Roads portrays how unpredictable life can be; amid all the dramas, your dreams can still be achieved.

The movie by Aisha Lawal focuses on Eriola, a university student in the 1990s who gets entangled in a mess with a cultist, Oyekan. She eventually falls in love with Oyekan, picking a cultist over a responsible graduate who loves her.

Plot

The film begins with some students performing on stage. Eriola is seen on stage drumming and dancing with passion. While the performance was getting interesting, some cultists interrupted, causing fear among the students.

Eriola is a medical student but has an interest in theatre art. Her father, however, does not support this. He wants her to focus on medicine.

Her friends visit her at her fathers house and discuss the incident during the theatre performance. It is unknown to them that Eriolas father is listening to their conversation. Eriolas father cautions her and tells her there is no space for theatre in his house. He also instructed that she go to school from home and return at 7 p.m.

In the face of danger, Eriolas defiance emerges boldly when she and her friends encounter a cult gang on their way to class. While others approach the situation cautiously, she confronts them head-on, fearlessly standing her ground, even daring to slap the gangs leader.

Meanwhile, tensions escalate within the school as Oyekans squad attacks another cult group in class, drawing unwanted attention from the police. Caught in the crossfire, Eriola finds herself unwittingly entangled when Oyekan seeks refuge in her room during a police raid. Trapped by circumstance, she becomes an unwilling accomplice in the chaos, facing consequences she never could have foreseen.

Amid all these troubles, Eriola faces a heartbreaking betrayal from the one person she should be able to rely onher father. Despite impassioned pleas from her sister Pipeola and loyal friends, Eriola finds herself abandoned in her darkest hour. There is a glimpse of hope when Oladunmis father, whose daughter is Eriolas friend, visits her father after she returns from prison to plead on her behalf. But the fleeting moment of comfort shatters when her father callously casts her out into the night, exposing her to danger.

A twist of fate leaves Eriola with no option but to live with Oyekan, the cultist she once stood against and got in trouble for. Despite their rough beginnings, their bond deepens as Oyekan strives to build a better future. He works as a supervisor with a building material company and starts providing in-house services.

The squad Oyekan attacked in 1987 are after his life. Since they are unable to get him, they decide to kill someone dear to him. They trail Eriola to the house to kill her, but she is lucky to notice them, so she hides somewhere. Oyekan, after this incident, tells Eriola his childhood story and how he followed his fathers footsteps, which made him wayward.

Eriola is ashamed when Fela, her boyfriend who travelled abroad to study, visits her at Oyekans house. Fela is willing to fight for her love despite knowing she is pregnant for Oyekan. The two men struggle for her love.

Eriola gets kidnapped by some cultists because of Oyekan. Oyekan confronts Fela with a gun because he thinks Fela kidnapped his woman. Fela cries and begs him not to shoot that he is innocent. The two men team up to rescue Eriola. Years later, Eriola fulfils her dream of becoming a graduate, and her father apologises for his wrongs.

Character Analysis

Bimbo Manuel, Eriolas father, is portrayed as a disciplinarian, a characteristic seen in many parents in the 1990s. He refuses to drive his daughter to school, claiming it is his car and that she should study hard and get hers.

He arrests his staff for eating three eggs that were cracked and going bad from his poultry and calls it stealing. When his daughter gets arrested for being an accomplice to a cultist, he denies and abandons her. He seemed to value his chickens more than his daughters. Knowing those cracked eggs could go bad, he still punished his workers for taking them. We could liken his daughter Eriola to the broken eggs. Why didnt he forgive her when she was cracked and going bad? As soon as there was a crack, he left his daughter devoured by her actions.

Aisha Lawal plays the main character, Eriola. Her performance brings out the essence of the 19th-century plot. Eriolas fate changes when she helps Oyekan.

Deyemi Okanlawon, a fabulous actor, did not give a life to the character Oyekan, the leader of a cult group at the university. Okanlawon is a great actor, but in this movie, his acting is not convincing enough, as he is a cultist and a lover.

Adedimeji Lateef portrays Fela, the second guy who, in the movie, should be fighting for Eriolas love. The love between Fela and Eriola does not feel natural because they have no emotional connection.

Movie Analysis

This film, which should depict a rivalry between two men vying for Eriolas affection, must convey this central theme effectively.

Instead of a compelling competition for Eriolas love, the interactions between the men feel devoid of genuine emotion or action.

Surprisingly, the narrative focused more on parental figures from the 19th century who adhered to rigid disciplinary methods and were emotionally detached and strict in child-rearing. This is portrayed through Eriola, Pipe, her younger sister, and their father.

Certain scenes appear unjustifiable and fail to contribute meaningfully to the plot, such as Oyekans encounter with a random woman, which exposes her nudity without adding substance to the narrative. The scene shows the naked breast of a lady while being intimate with Oyekan, which is unnecessary to the plot development. It would have been acceptable if such intimacy had happened between Oyekan and Eriola.

The film lacks depth, resulting in a flat emotional resonance. Both romantic and action sequences suffer from poor performance and editing.

Additionally, despite the casts talents, their performances feel mismatched with their respective roles.

The film needed to deliver a captivating storyline or evoke genuine emotional responses. It neither succeeds as a compelling romance nor an engaging action film, leaving us disconnected from the narrative.

Its a brilliant movie that the filmmaker could have done better. Crossroads is now streaming on Prime Video.

Verdict

5/10

Check out the movie trailer here

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On 23 April, the US Institute of Peace (USIP) hosted a critical discussion with 10 northern Nigerian governors who are on the frontlines of addressing some of the countrys most pressing challenges. The conversation explored Nigerias prospects for peace, the roles of Nigerian citizens and leaders in managing tensions and violence, and the key issues for state governors. This dialogue took place in the wake of recent mass kidnappings that highlighted the ongoing insecurity in Nigerias north, exacerbated by violent extremism and organized crime.

Nigerias stability is crucial not only for its citizens but also for the broader peace and security of the region, particularly given its position as West Africas largest democracy and economy. The governors meeting aimed to strengthen state-level strategies for stabilisation, an initiative international partners are encouraged to support. During this visit, the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, had an exclusive interview with Pearl Matibe, White House Correspondent for PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Muftwang is a member of Nigerias largest opposition party, PDP, but he believes the countrys current president is not to blame for the insecurity facing Nigeria.

Below is a snippet of the interview, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity:

PT: Good afternoon, Honorable Caleb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau State in Nigeria. Thank you so much, and welcome to Washington.

Mutfwang: My pleasure. Thank you.

PT: I know you attended an event earlier this week on Tuesday, hosted by the United States Institute of Peace, focused on Advancing Stability in Northern Nigeria. This strategic conversation addressed many intertwined issues, especially security. As youre representing your state, could you tell us about the security situation in Plateau State?

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Mutfwang: Thank you. The situation in Plateau State is not too different from other states, though the context of our security challenges differs by zone. There has been significant insurgency and insecurity throughout Nigeria, which didnt start today. Under the immediate past regime, we experienced a complete failure of governance, exacerbating these issues. Today, we face a national calamity. Specifically, in Plateau, we deal with banditry that has evolved into terrorism. The farmers-herders conflict is minimal and insignificant here. The major issue is broad daylight criminality manifesting as banditry, leading to the displacement of communities. Currently, we have about 17,000 people in IDP camps. This situation is troubling, especially given Plateaus role as an agrarian state contributing significantly to the national food basket. Over 90 per cent of Nigerias Irish potatoes come from Plateau. It appears theres a pattern where the onset of the farming season sees increased criminal activity to disrupt farming. We are taking steps this season to forestall this by collaborating with security forces. We have received tremendous support from Mr President and are mobilizing all security assets to secure the land, people, and properties, ensuring our people return to their ancestral homes to farm.

PT: I appreciate that response. Its clear that youre trying to clarify misconceptions between banditry, crime, and extremist behaviour. Can you elaborate on what needs to happen for people to return to their homes safely?

Mutfwang: For people to return to their homes, we must ensure their safety. This involves securing settlements and providing sanitation infrastructure, good drinking water, and agricultural inputs. The most important guarantee is safety. We are working with security agencies to ensure these communities are secure so that people can return and resume their activities in peace. We hope to map out and implement these strategies soon.

PT: These are indeed crucial aspects. Listening to your presentation on Tuesday, you mentioned the root cause being a failure of governance. Can you expand on this and share your engagements in Washington this week? Do you feel confident you have gained something to take back home?

Mutfwang: Absolutely. This visit, particularly at the invitation of the USIP, has allowed us to interact with the State Department, Defense Department, and Department of Trade, laying the groundwork for future collaboration. Weve emphasized seeing Nigeria as an opportunity rather than a liability. The previous administrations abdication of responsibility led to a deterioration of values and expanded our fault lines. This President inherited a fractured nation. Interacting with US officials and the business community has given us hope for rebuilding. We need foreign investment to aid our production, especially in agriculture. Im returning home with a bag of ideas that, if followed up, could bear fruit for Nigerians and Plateau State in particular.

PT: Thank you so much, Governor Mutfwang. It was a pleasure speaking with you, and thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. That concludes our interview for today.

Pearl Matibe is a Washington, DC-based correspondent and media commentator with expertise in US foreign policy and international security. You may follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe

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Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, the Solicitor General of the Federation, says the Freedom of information Act (FoI) in Nigeria is still a work in progress.

Mrs Jeddy-Agba said this in Abuja on Friday at a ceremony marking the 13-year anniversary of the advocacy and implementation of the FoI Act in the country.

FoI Act was signed into law on 28 May 2011 by then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mrs Beatrice Jeddy-Agba was represented by Godwin Garba, Head, FoI Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this years anniversary is Evaluating the Role of Freedom of Information Act and its Implementation Towards Building Strong Institutions for Good Governance.

She noted that the implementation of the FoI Act 2011 in the past 13 years has been both challenging and work in progress.

The solicitor-general noted that the Act is a guide through which the public can access vital information or records from the government.

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The essence of the Act is to guarantee the right of access to information held by government institutions as well as to deepen governance and government reforms by addressing corruption and improving the credibility of the country.

It is to promote citizens participation in governance, enhance and develop the countrys democracy by ensuring openness, transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.

Nonetheless, the implementation of the FoI Act in the last thirteen years has come with a series of benefits and challenges.

Mrs Jessy-Agba said although the FoI unit has improved the level of awareness of FoI, there are still many challenges facing the implementation of the Act.

There is still lack of functioning record management system in public institutions, lack of political will on the part of leaders to ensure the prompt release of information or records and culture of secrecy in government as big challenges, she said.

She commended the courts on their prompt rulings on FoI matters which have deepened its implementation.

Also speaking, Shofola Osho, the Company Secretary and Legal Adviser of the Development Bank of Nigeria, in his goodwill message commended the FoI unit for pushing through despite all odds.

Mr Osho urged for more commitments from all stakeholders and called for a review of the Act for more participation in open governance and accountability.

Jubril Shittu, CEO Public and Private Development Centre, said that with good working relationships, the ministrys FoI unit has made significant progress.

In her own remarks, the Program Officer, Right to Know (R2K), Vicky Etim, noted that the annual FoI report has grown over the years but that experiences still needed to be shared on how challenges were overcame.

She advised that the Public Service handbook should be updated or reviewed to meet new laws and regulations that make it difficult to achieve more.

There were goodwill messages from the FoI standing Committee of National Assembly, Public Institutions, the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) as well as robust interactions by all the participants at the event.

NAN reports that the FoI Act was enacted on 28 May 2011.

The purpose and objectives of the FoI Act are to make public records and information more freely available and to provide for public access to public records and information.

Others are to protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy and to protect serving public officers from adverse consequences for disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation, among others.

(NAN)

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The Senate Committee on Nigerian Army has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of soldiers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

Chairman of the Committee, Abdulaziz Yaradua, made the call in a statement on Saturday.

Five soldiers were killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked troops attached to Operation UDO KA.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the gunmen, numbering about 15, attacked soldiers at about 8 a.m. at a military checkpoint in Obikabia Junction in Aba.

The gunmen were said to be enforcing a 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

Mr Yaradua, while reacting to the attack, condemned it and called for a proper investigation.

He urged relevant security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

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We urge a comprehensive investigation into this despicable attack to ensure that justice is served and those responsible are brought to account. It is imperative that the lifeline of these terrorists, the people, recognize the gravity of their actions and refrain from offering support to such destructive elements.

The Senate Committee on Army stands in solidarity with the armed forces and affirms our unwavering support for their efforts to protect our citizens and maintain peace in the region.

We call for a decisive and resolute response from the military to combat this act of terror, ensuring the group responsible faces overwhelming military pressure until their complete defeat.

In times like these, unity, resilience, and collective resolve are paramount. We must stand together against all forms of violence and insurgency that threaten the security and stability of our beloved nation, the committee chairman added.

Mr Yaradua sympathised with families of the slain soldiers and the Nigerian Army.

The Senate Committee on Army vehemently condemns the heinous and cowardly attack on the troops of Operation UDO KA at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Abia State on the 30th of May, 2024, during the Biafra Remembrance Day. The assault orchestrated by the IPOB/ESN terrorists, resulting in the tragic loss of 5 personnel of the armed forces, is an affront to the peace and security of our nation.

Our hearts go out to the families and colleagues of the fallen soldiers, whose sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten. Each soldier lost represents a significant loss to our nations defense and stability, he added.

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The Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, has appointed Ibrahim Usman as the new Controller of Corrections in charge of FCT Command.

The FCT Public Relations Officer (NCoS), Adamu Duza, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He said the new controller will take over from Francis John who has been redeployed to Kaduna State zonal headquarters.

Mr Ibrahim, according to the statement, was the former Controller of Corrections, in charge of Operations at the National Headquarters of the service even before he was appointed FCT Controller.

Controller Ibrahim was enlisted into the service in the year 1990, and has served in fourteen (14) custodial centres at leadership positions, in the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Upon his appointment as the FCT helmsman, Ibrahim was the Controller of Corrections, in charge of Operations at the National Headquarters of the service. Mr Duza said.

The redeployed officer, during the handover, said he believed Mr Ibrahim, will elevate the FCT command to its best level.

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Francis appreciated the FCT Command personnel for their support, and cooperation during his stay, recounting it as memorable.

He expressed his belief that the new controller will be able to elevate FCT Command to a greater height.

Read Full Statement below

Press Release

31st May, 2024

NCoS: FCT Gets New Controller

The Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, FICMC, MFR, Mni, has appointed Ibrahim Usman as the new Controller of Corrections incharge of FCT Command.

Ibrahim will take over as the FCT Command Controller replacing Francis John, who was recently redeployed to Kaduna State zonal headquarters.

Francis appreciated the FCT Command personnel for their support, and cooperation during his stay, recounting it as memorable.

He expressed his belief that the new controller will be able to elevate FCT Command to a greater height.

On his part, the substantive Controller complimented CC Francis John on his performance in the command and asked for the continued support, Urging them to stick to the ethics of the job at all times.

Controller Ibrahim was enlisted into the service in the year 1990, and has served in fourteen (14) custodial centres at leadership positions, in the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Upon his appointment as the FCT helmsman, Ibrahim was the Controller of Corrections, in charge of Operations at the National Headquarters of the service.

Signed

Adamu Samson Duza

Deputy Superintendent of Corrections

Public Relations Officer

Nigerian Correctional Service

FCT Command.

08077981830

asduza1@gmail.com

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has appealed to International Oil Companies (IOCs) to defray the $700 million debts they owe the commission.

The Managing Director of the commission, Samuel Ogbuku, made the appeal during a virtual media tour of the commissions projects in the Niger Delta region and sensitisation engagement with media executives across the country.

Mr Ogbuku, represented by the commissions Executive Director of Projects, Victor Antai, said the debt spanned more than 24 years.

He said that paying the debt would help the commission to tackle the enormous developmental challenges confronting the region.

A new NDDC

He said that the present NDDCs board and management were genuinely committed to changing the poor perception of the commission in the region.

We are presenting a new NDDC that is dedicated to implementing several interventions aimed at enhancing and transforming the lives of the Niger Delta people.

The completion and inauguration of previously abandoned legacy projects are a demonstration of our determination to build on the successes of past NDDC boards and correct their mistakes.

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However, for us to realise our objective of transforming the Niger Delta, we require the support of all stakeholders, including the IOCs, Mr Ogbuku said.

He also said that the NDDC board had adopted a triple T (Transiting from Transaction to Transformation) strategy to actualise its regional mandate.

We are very committed to ensuring that this time, NDDC truly makes a difference for the betterment of our people.

The recent inauguration of five mega projects in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo States is a testimony of the new passion with which the commission is delivering on its mandate, he further said.

Virtual tour of NDDC projects

Leading the media executives through a virtual tour of NDDC projects, Mr Antai, said that the commission constructed and rehabilitated 5,141.3 kilometres of roads across the region.

According to him, the commission has also built 42 bridges, 87 jetties and numerous hydraulic structures across the nine NDDC states.

NDDC has also installed 3,806.15 kilometres of distribution lines and 527 transformers; deployed 56,786 solar streetlights and constructed and rehabilitated 678 water schemes in communities in the region.

The commission has reclaimed 427.16 hectares of land for development; awarded 2,323 foreign postgraduate scholarships and constructed and rehabilitated 924 schools and 1,571 hostel rooms.

On healthcare, NDDC has built 142 health centres and hospitals, equipped six with modern facilities; while in Agriculture we built a rice mill in Elele, Rivers, among others, Mr Antai said.

He expressed the commissions intention to undertake big-ticket projects in the region.

He said that funding constraints have hindered the commission from embarking on bigger projects.

Some of the roads include the Borokiri-Okirika Road and three bridge projects that would connect Port Harcourt and Okirika Local Government Area in Rivers State, Mr Antai said.

He listed other projects to include the Ka-Ataba Bridge in Rivers, Akwa Ibom-Aba link road, Bayelsa Airport Road, linking East West Road, as well as shoreline protection in Sangana, Brass area of Bayelsa, among others.

He said that the commission was currently in talks with Julius Berger Plc to take over some of the road projects from another contractor.

He said that the commission embarked on a light up Niger Delta region and mangrove recovery programmes as part of the initiatives to mitigate the debilitating impact of climate change on the area.

(NAN)

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The management of the University of Abuja said on Friday that it is introducing a No Work, No Pay policy against any of the institutions workers not found at their duty post.

The threat is not unconnected to the ongoing industrial action by a faction of the institutions chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The universitys Vice-Chancellor, Abdul-Rasheed NaAllah, said the management has issued a circular mandating all academic staff members to resume their teaching duties or face the consequences of unpaid salaries.

Mr NaAllah, a professor, disclosed this on the institutions X page, and was confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES by university spokesperson, Habib Yakoob.

He said the management of the institution has taken steps to address all of the issues raised by the striking members of ASUU.

It is morally bankrupt for people to expect to be paid salaries for work they have not done, he said.

But ASUU said it has yet to hear from the university since a meeting that was held more than a week ago. He added that there was no resolution or agreements reached at the meeting.

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Strike

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the institutions chapter of ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on 2 May after accusing the university management of violating its establishment laws, including appointments and promotions of members of staff in the absence of a governing council.

The union also accused the university of shortchanging ASUU in the establishment of the UniAbuja Microfinance Bank, which he said the union had bought shares since 2017, stressing that the union is both a stakeholder and a shareholder in the project.

The unions chairperson, Sylvanus Ugoh, also condemned the advertorial for the position of a vice chancellor to replace Mr NaAllah insisting that recruiting a vice chancellor is the responsibility of the university governing council alone, which is currently non-existent.

Nigerian tertiary institutions including UniAbuja have operated without a governing council since last June when President Bola Tinubu dissolved them in a sweeping directive that affected all government parastatals.

ASUU National body recently issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government to reinstate councils whose tenures are yet to expire and reconstitute those whose tenures already lapsed. ASUU said the absence of councils has ushered in all manners of illegalities in the universities.

Issues resolved  UniAbuja

However, Mr NaAllah said the university has taken steps to resolve the issues in contention with the union.

He said the university management has agreed to delay the 2023/2024 promotion process until the governing council is in place, and is willing to accommodate the concerns of the staff.

Regarding the advertisement for the position of a vice-chancellor to succeed him, he said, the process has been put on hold until the council is inaugurated.

We agreed that since it was from the Minister of Education and it has also already closed, no further processing will be done until the Governing Council comes, and meanwhile, applicants who still bring their applications after the deadline would be so indicated but not turned away, he said.

Regarding representation in the institutions Microfinance Bank, he said the management of the institution has approved an ASUU representative on the board and has sent its representative to management for onward transmission to the board to incorporate such member on the board.

The vice-chancellor, however, noted that ongoing promotion exercises will be completed while new ones will be postponed until the governing council is established.

He added that the university has committed to holding all remaining deanship elections within two to three days of ASUU calling off the strike.

He also said the university has agreed to submit all recruited personnel to the council for ratification.

The federal government is in the process of inaugurating the new Council, all these matters are therefore in the process of final resolution since Council would immediately delve into each of these and take decisions for the university, he added.

He appealed to ASUU to suspend the strike and work together to resolve the issues.

I am ready to temporarily pull the register but with the expectation that all those calling me and some peace-loving ASUU members/UniAbuja Staff would join in making the ASUU see reason why it should call off its strike now, he added.

No resolutions reached ASUU

But Mr Ugoh, who leads the academic union in UniAbuja, said though the union met with the management of the university, they are yet to get back to them on their demands.

He added that there were no agreements or resolutions reached at the meeting.

The truth is, the union met with the management by way of interaction because we actually discussed our demands. In fact, religious leaders of the university were present in the meeting because they invited us, he said in a telephone conversation on Friday.

He added that the outcome was that the management should put the union demands into writing and communicate the resolution to them.

But today makes it the 9th day of the meeting and we have not heard anything from them. So everything they said is not true. Nothing was resolved in the meeting. We expected them to have communicated with us but we havent heard anything since then, he added.

Mr Ugoh also noted that he hasnt seen any circular issued by the university although I have seen one or two daily reports that a circular was released but Im not aware of any.

Speaking on the issue of signing in a register by the academic staff, he said it is only on record that the management will open a register to confirm their May salary.

He said, The register was announced yesterday and is meant for yesterday and today but it was later announced via an email that it has been shifted to 3rd of June.

He however questioned the power of the vice chancellor to stop the salaries of legitimately striking workers.

It seems ridiculous to me because you want to use a register that was introduced barely 2 days before the end of the month to confirm if workers worked or not in order to receive their salaries.

As far as I know, no member of the academic staff has received payment for the month of May, he added.

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The National Council on Skills (NCS) has unveiled new initiatives to tackle critical issues in Nigerias skill development sector.

The initiatives include the establishment of committee on coordination of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and States Programmes.

Announcing in a press statement on Friday from the the office of the Vice President Kashim Shettima, and signed by the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the initiatives are expected to drive significant advancements in Nigerias skills development sector and positioning the country to better meet the demands of the modern workforce and contribute to its economic growth.

Chaired by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, the newly formed committee will focus on identifying existing skill training programmes within MDAs and states, identifying dominant skills in the private sector, and developing strategies for the standardisation, recognition, and certification of these skills.

Proposed bill

The Council also proposed a draft bill for the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) aimed at developing the skills of the nations workforce and improving the quality of skilled workers.

Mr Nwokcha also announced that a separate committee, led by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has been tasked with reviewing this draft bill.

Addressing the 4th National Council on Skills meeting held on Friday at the Presidential Villa, the Vice President reiterated the importance of seizing opportunities, particularly in the digital space.

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He was quoted as saying: India is expected to earn $100 billion from outsourcing alone this year. We have a lot of unemployed graduates who can work comfortably from their homes and earn a minimum of $40,000 per annum. If we have one million Nigerian youths working in the digital space, we will earn more than what we generate from the sale of crude oil, and it will have a multiplier effect on our economy.

He urged the committees to work diligently as a team to address the challenges in the skills development sector, emphasising the need to focus on high-earning skills in the rapidly changing global landscape.

Minister speaks

Speaking earlier, Mr Mamman noted the importance of integrating skills into the entire education sector for Nigerias true transformation.

The whole idea is to bring skills into the entire education sector if Nigeria is to be truly transformative. The work of this council will be a major driver in accomplishing that.

The minister also highlighted the need for conducting skills surveys and labour market information to provide policymakers with reliable and timely data on job quality, skill gaps, and policy design for poverty reduction.

Mr Nwokcha added that NSQF aims to establish a system for the development, recognition, and enforcement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Skills Qualifications.

It seeks to harmonise the actions of all stakeholders within the Skills Development Eco-System for synergised efforts toward the countrys contemporary developmental agenda and encourage public-private partnerships for workplace training and learning.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Bashkortostan, a federal subject of Russia, aims to enhance collaboration with Azerbaijan in beekeeping, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of Bashkortostan, Ilshat Fazrakhmanov told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"We aim to broaden collaboration in beekeeping, including scientific research endeavors. Our region hosts an active autonomous non-profit organization named "Altyn Solok," recognized as a pedigree reproducer for Central Russian bee breeds. Notably, it houses a unique laboratory specializing in molecular genetic expertise. The Altyn Solok laboratory boasts Russia's largest honey bee DNA bank, regularly updated and expanded. This positions us well to engage in fruitful cooperation with our Azerbaijani counterparts in bee breeding. Additionally, we are keen on sharing our expertise in combating bee diseases and anticipate forging close ties in this regard in the near future," he said.

To note, the Azerbaijan-Bashkortostan business forum was held in Baku on April 24. During his speech at the forum, Fazrakhmanov noted that Bashkortostan hopes for long-term cooperation with entrepreneurs from Azerbaijan.

"We will extend an invitation to Azerbaijani businesses to collaborate with us, ensuring favorable conditions for mutually beneficial cooperation with entrepreneurs from the country," he said.
It is also ironic that the Apartheid Netanyahu regime in Israel, which is carrying out genocide in the Palestine, despite worldwide condemnation, is not designated terrorist. But a country like Cuba that carries out demonstrable humanitarian work, is not at war with anybody, has a hundred per cent literacy, perhaps the best health system in our universe and, ranks high on social indices, is routinely, and perhaps mindlessly, listed as a state sponsor of terrorism.

For United States of America (USA), the most powerful country in the universe, to place a country on the list of states sponsoring terrorism.

So, when on 15 May it placed Cuba in this category, it was bound to attract attention. However, the cat and mouse game between both countries began on 3 November, 1961, when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy signed The Cuban Project. Otherwise called Operation Mongoose, it was a project of the US authorising the use, by all means, including terrorism, for Cuban civilians to overthrow the Cuban government.

At inception, the Operation was jointly led by US Air Force General Edward Lansdale and William King Harvey of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The Kennedy administration had begun the invasion of Cuba by exiles, and backed by the American military, in what became known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion. There were other attacks, including hundreds of attempts to assassinate former Cuban President Fidel Castro Ruiz.

Terrorism is essentially the use of violence to further political goals. But the USA has a number of definitions, depending on various institutions like the CIA.

However, since we are concerned here with international relations, we can adopt the US State Department definition, which describes terrorism as: an activity that one, involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure; two, appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or, three, to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

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Now, Cuba does not involve itself in violent acts that are dangerous to humanity. Its acknowledged acts outside its borders are primarily two. The first is sending medical personnel in their tens of thousands to various countries, especially in Asia, Latin America and Africa, including Nigeria. One of its remarkable successes was in helping to contain Ebola in Africa.

But its most spectacular contribution to humanity was during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, it was perhaps the only country in the world that refused to shut its borders against other human beings. When in March 2020, the British cruise ship, MS Braemer with 682 passengers on board, was ravaged with COVID-19 and left to drift in the Caribbean, with no country allowing it to berth, Cuba brought in the ship.

While we in Africa were grateful to the Cubans, the USA and Great Britain saw the Cuban action as terrorism. So, the USA not only declared Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism, it also declared the liberation movements like the African National Congress (ANC) as a terrorist organisation.

It followed this up by sending 3,700 healthcare personnel around the world to combat the pandemic. This included missions to Italy, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Suriname, Jamaica, Haiti, Belize, Barbados, Martinique, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Here in Africa, Cuban doctors and nurses helped to combat COVID-19 in Angola, Togo, Cape Verde, South Africa, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and Kenya.

This internationalist intervention by Cuban doctors called The White Coat Army was so over whelming that in my 11 September, 2020 column titled Nobel Peace Prize: A Case for the White Coat Army, I joined the campaign that the Cuban internationalist medical teams, under the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade, be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The second intervention the Cubans had engaged in, was sending 55,000 troops over 9,000 kilometres to fight and conquer the seemingly invisible Apartheid South Africa military, that was invading various African countries and had colonised Namibia and South Africa. This led to the independence of these two colonies in Africa.

While we in Africa were grateful to the Cubans, the USA and Great Britain saw the Cuban action as terrorism. So, the USA not only declared Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism, it also declared the liberation movements like the African National Congress (ANC) as a terrorist organisation.

While South Africa became independent in 1994, it was not until 5 May, 2008 that the USA parliament voted on Removing the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organisation. Also, the USA removed liberation fighters like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Thambo from its list of terrorists.

Cuba was first designated a so-called sponsor of terrorism in 1982 for backing liberation movements like the ANC and SWAPO, and supporting revolutionary governments like the Sandinista in Nicaragua.

If anything, it is Cuba that has been the victim of USA terrorism. The USA Justice Department in its 1976 Office of Justice Programmes Report confirmed terrorist attacks against Cuba from the USA. It listed some of these as including airplane bombings, attacks on ships, assassinations and bombings of Cuba civilians.

On 14 April, 2015, the USA, under President Barack Obama, reviewed this classification of Cuba and admitted it was political and unhelpful. On that day, the White House declared that: While President Obama acknowledges that Cuba and the United States continue to have great differences, these differences do not pertain to Cuba supporting terrorism. So Cuba was removed from the list.

Events outside the control of Cuba and, having no relation to terrorism, led to the re-listing of Cuba. On 23 January, 2019, then American Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo issued a statement on the Recognition of Juan Guaido as Venezuelas Interim President. This was a failed coup by the USA to unseat Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. The Trump administration was livid that Cuba refused to recognise Guaido, so on 12 January, 2021, eight days before leaving office, President Donald Trump relisted Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism for its continued recognition of President Maduro.

It was expected that incoming President Joe Biden, who was vice president to Obama when Cuba was delisted, would reverse the Trump decision, more so as it had nothing to do with terrorism. However, the Biden administration has simply continued to relist Cuba.

In the analysis of the Cuban Government: It is nothing but a totally unilateral and unfounded list, whose sole purpose is to smear sovereign States and serve as a pretext for imposing coercive economic sanctions on them, as those ruthlessly imposed on Cuba.

If anything, it is Cuba that has been the victim of USA terrorism. The USA Justice Department in its 1976 Office of Justice Programmes Report confirmed terrorist attacks against Cuba from the USA. It listed some of these as including airplane bombings, attacks on ships, assassinations and bombings of Cuba civilians.

It is also ironic that the Apartheid Netanyahu regime in Israel, which is carrying out genocide in the Palestine, despite worldwide condemnation, is not designated terrorist. But a country like Cuba that carries out demonstrable humanitarian work, is not at war with anybody, has a hundred per cent literacy, perhaps the best health system in our universe and, ranks high on social indices, is routinely, and perhaps mindlessly, listed as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The big American cock has for over six decades attempted to devour tiny Cuba; but the latter is a needle which the cock might be unable to bite, chew or swallow.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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There are so many forex brokers competing for clients in Nigeria and its easy to get lost in the noise trying to choose a good one.

We have researched the best of them based on several factors and will reveal our findings in this topic. We considered safety first and HF Markets is the most transparent & customer focused.

List of Best Forex Brokers in Nigeria

1. HF Markets  Overall Best Forex Broker in Nigeria

2. IC Markets  Best Forex broker in Nigeria with TradingView

3. XM  Best forex broker for beginners with a $5 minimum deposit

4. Exness  Best Forex Broker in Nigeria with Naira Accounts

5. Tickmill  Best Forex broker in Nigeria for experienced traders

Is Online Forex Trading Legal in Nigeria?

There are no specific regulations established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for forex trading. What the SEC has regarding forex is a

This lack of specific regulations means the onus falls on Nigerian traders to conduct thorough research and select a broker that is reputable and regulated internationally. Look for brokers licensed by established bodies like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for added security.

How we selected our best forex brokers in Nigeria

Before any broker could make our list, they had to fulfil these conditions:

1. Global presence and stiff regulation:

A global presence is a valuable asset for forex brokers operating in Nigeria, where regulations are still developing because it builds trust with Nigerian traders. Also, compliance with established bodies like the FCA UK, or ASIC Australia; offers additional security.

Globally-present brokers often have a wider range of currencies, platforms, and educational resources to cater to diverse trading styles. Their larger pool of traders translates to increased liquidity in the markets, benefitting Nigerian traders with smoother trade execution.

2. Naira or USD base currency:

Naira or USD base currency accounts are crucial for forex brokers targeting Nigerian traders. This is because they minimize transaction costs. Deposits and withdrawals in Naira avoid conversion fees typically charged by banks or brokers when dealing with a different base currency.

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3. MetaTrader platforms:

MetaTrader platforms (MT4 and MT5) reign supreme in forex trading for several reasons. Their user-friendly interfaces make them easy to navigate for beginners and veterans alike.

They provide access to a variety of markets beyond forex (depending on the broker). Technical analysis is a breeze with their extensive toolkit of indicators and drawing tools. Furthermore, MT4 allows algorithmic traders to use their MQL4 programming language to create automated trading strategies.

4. Demo account:

Demo accounts are a forex traders best friend. They offer a risk-free zone to learn the ropes. This means experimenting with trading strategies and getting familiar with the complexities of the market without putting your hard-earned cash on the line.

Think of it as a practice arena. Demo accounts are also perfect for exploring different trading platforms offered by brokers, allowing you to find the one that best suits your style.

5. Customer support:

Customer support acts as a safety net, ensuring prompt solutions to technical glitches, account inquiries, or unexpected issues. Responsive and knowledgeable support minimizes frustration and keeps the trading experience smooth.

      Best forex broker in Nigeria Overall score Regulation Minimum Deposit Trading Fees Platforms HF Markets 4.7 FCA, CMA, FSCA, SVG N5,500 Medium MetaTrader 4 & 5, HFM App IC Markets 4.3 ASIC, FSA $200 Low MetaTrader 4 & 5, cTrader, TradingView XM 4.2 FSCA, CySEC, FSA $5 Low MetaTrader 4 & 5, XM App Exness 4.5 FCA, CMA, FSCA N15,000 Low MetaTrader 4 & 5, Exness Apps Tickmill 4 FCA, FSCA $150,000 Medium MetaTrader 4 & 5

HF Markets Best Forex Broker in Nigeria in every category

1. Regulation & global presence: HF Markets holds licenses from two well-respected regulatory bodies: FCA UK, & FSCA South Africa. It also holds a license from CMA Kenya.

2. Account types & base currency: HF Markets offers micro accounts that cater to beginners with lower minimum deposits. Standard accounts are the most popular with standard features. Cent accounts use the USD as the base currency for practicing with smaller trade sizes. There is the availability of NGN (Nigerian Naira) as a base currency for Nigerian traders.

3. Trading platforms: They provide the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and their own HFM Platform. MT4 and MT5 are known for their user-friendly interface, extensive technical analysis tools, and customizability. This makes them a great choice for both beginners and veterans.

4. Customer support: Personalized Account Manager, Local Pone Contact, Live Chat makes HF Markets support better than average.

5. Pros & cons:

 Pros  Cons Naira base currency for your trading accounts Trading Cryptocurrency contracts is deactivated in Nigeria Localized customer support designed for Nigeria Dual fee structure: Commission & Spreads are charged on every account type Low minimum deposit N5,500 Inactivity fees Allows naira deposits from several Nigerian banks Range of instruments covers various asset classes No overnight fees on transactions Focus on education with physical trading seminars held across Nigerian states

IC Markets  Best Forex Broker in Nigeria with TradingView

1. Regulation & global presence: IC Markets is primarily regulated by the well-respected ASIC (Australia), known for strong investor protection. However, Nigerian traders fall under their Seychelles FSA license, which might have less stringent regulations.

2. Account types & base currency: Their most popular Standard Account offers commission-free trading with slightly wider spreads. Raw Spread Account features tighter spreads but charges a commission per trade. It is ideal for cost-conscious experienced traders.

As for base currencies, IC Markets boasts a wide selection including major currencies like USD, EUR, and JPY, alongside regional options like AUD, SGD, NZD, and CHF.

3. Trading platforms: IC Markets offers the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4), the more advanced MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or the modern cTrader platform.

When you open a special cTrader raw Spread Account, you get access to TradingView charting platform. IC Markets has paid for the subscription to TradingView so you can access advanced charts and trade from these charts.

4. Customer support: they have multiple channels (phone, live chat, and email), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5. Pros & cons:

Certainly! Heres a concise table summarizing the pros and cons of trading with IC Markets:

 Pros  Cons Two Raw spread accounts on cTrader & MT4/5 which are suitable for scalpers No Naira base currency Education Expensive starting deposit Extensive collection of trading platforms Paid TradingView subscription for cTrader Raw Accounts No inactivity fees

XM  Best Forex Broker for Beginners

1. Regulation & global presence: XM is regulated by several regulatory bodies. In the EU, theyre regulated by the respected CySEC (Cyprus) with strong investor protection.

Australian clients benefit from ASICs oversight, known for similar protections. However, XM falls under the IFSC (Belize) regulations for clients outside these regions, which are generally considered less stringent

2. Account types & base currency: The XM Ultra-Low and Zero Accounts (USD, EUR, JPY only) target cost-conscious traders with ultra-thin spreads. However, they might have limitations on features. The XM Trading Account (Standard and Micro) is the most popular option and offers commission-free trading with slightly wider spreads. It comes with a wider range of base currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, and ZAR).

3. Trading platforms: XM offers both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms for traders. There is also an XM trading point mobile app with less sophistication but okay for beginners.

4. Customer support: XM offers email and phone call customer support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5. Pros & cons:

 Pros  Cons XM has been in the forex business for over 10 years and is well regulated No Naira base currency Low starting deposit Trading platforms offered show a dependence on MetaTrader. Theres no variety Account spreads start from 0.6 pips which is competitive. Deposit & withdrawal methods are not localized for Nigeria. You can deposit with your debit/credit card Copy trading Inactivity fees Deposit bonus is ongoing Low starting deposit Trading platforms offered show a dependence on MetaTrader. Theres no variety Account spreads start from 0.6 pips which is competitive. Deposit & withdrawal methods are not localized for Nigeria. You can deposit with your debit/credit card Copy trading Inactivity fees Deposit bonus is ongoing

Exness  Best Forex Broker in Nigeria with Naira Accounts

1. Regulation & global presence: Exness is regulated in Kenya, South Africa, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Mauritius, & Seychelles.

2. Account types & base currency: Exness offers various accounts (Standard, Raw Spread, Pro, &Zero) catering to different trading styles. They offer NGN and USD base currency options.

3. Trading platforms: Exness offers MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4 and Exness Terminal.

4. Customer support: Exness offers email support in 15 languages, available 24 hours a day, 7 days.

5. Pros and Cons:

 Pros  Cons Low starting deposit of $10 Limited trading instrument offering No Inactivity fees Customer support not localized for Nigeria Naira base currency Low spreads with all accounts Swap-free trading ensures no overnight fees on instruments that qualify Trading platforms on offer are diverse

Tickmill  Best Forex broker in Nigeria for Experienced Traders

1. Regulation & global presence: Tickmill is a forex broker with a strong regulatory presence worldwide. They hold licenses from well-respected authorities like the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), Seychelles and Labuan (Malaysia). This global reach allows them to cater to traders in numerous countries, offering a potentially secure trading environment due to their adherence to various regulations.

2. Account types & base currency: Tickmill offers Classic and Raw accounts. The Classic Account features wider spreads (from 1.6 pips) but no commissions which is ideal for cost-conscious traders.

The Raw Account caters to those seeking tighter spreads (from 0 pips) but comes with a $3 commission per trade. Both account types require a minimum deposit of $100 and offer high leverage up to 1:1000. Tickmill supports a variety of base currencies including EUR, GBP, USD, PLN, and CHF.

3. Trading platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and the Tickmill Mobile App which caters to on-the-go traders by offering essential features for managing their accounts and executing trades directly from their mobile devices.

4. Customer support: Their live chat offers quick and helpful responses typically within minutes, perfect for urgent inquiries. Phone support is another option for fast assistance, with wait times generally under a minute. While email is also available, its important to note that their support team operates only during weekdays from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM GMT.

5. Pros and Cons:

 Pros  Cons Tier-1 regulation and a solid reputation No Naira base currency Education High starting deposit Automated trading support with MT4 toolkit No inactivity fees $30 no deposit bonus Raw spreads Interest on unused funds in your Tickmill wallet

What is the Best time to trade forex in Nigeria?

The best time to trade forex in Nigeria is during the overlap of the London and New York sessions, which occur from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM WAT (West Africa Time). This period offers the highest liquidity and volatility: ideal for capitalizing on price movements.

Since the London and New York sessions are major players in the global forex market, their activity heavily influences trading opportunities in Nigeria.

When you trade at the right time, you will notice prices of instruments will be moving fast as opposed to when you trade during the wrong session and prices change slowly causing you to spend more time trading.

Who is the best forex broker in Nigeria?

HF Markets is the best forex broker in Nigeria. Exness is equally good and XM is good for beginners.

How much do I need to start forex trading in Nigeria?

The amount needed to start forex trading in Nigeria depends on the broker and the type of account. Generally, you can start with as little as $5. Some brokers like HF Markets & Exness offer micro or cent accounts, which allow you to trade with smaller amounts, making it accessible for beginners.

Which forex broker is best for beginners?

XM brokers provide user-friendly platforms, educational resources, demo accounts, and excellent customer support. They also offer low minimum deposit requirements, making it easier for new traders to start their trading journey.

Which forex broker has the lowest fees?

The forex brokers with the lowest fees are IC Markets and Exness. They offer tight spreads, low or no commissions on trades, and competitive swap rates.

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The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Ekaete Obot, has described late Justice Felicitas Ibanga as an upright, strict, incorruptible and erudite jurist worthy of emulation.

Mrs Obot said this in her tribute on Friday in Uyo, during a special Court session in honour of the late judge, who served the state judiciary from 2001 to 2024 when she passed on while in service.

She said the late Justice Ibanga was an asset to the judiciary, hardworking, steadfast and maintained a high standard in judicial proceedings brought before her.

For the passion and love for her job, she was appointed, deployed to and she successfully served in the Jigawa and later Zamfara State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto State.

Justice Ibanga returned, rested and resumed work in Okobo High Court before she took ill, Justice Obot said.

Justice Obot said the late judge exhibited a high sense of responsibility, good conduct and brilliance worthy of emulation throughout her career at the bar and bench.

Dedication to excellence

In his tribute, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, said the late Justice Ibanga was a remarkable professional, public servant and jurist who dedicated herself to excellence in all that she did.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Mr Udom said the late judge would be remembered for her brilliant presence, pronouncements and impact as a judge of Akwa Ibom State High Court, for nearly 10 years.

Augustine Udoh, chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Uyo branch, said the late Justice Ibanga left a void, adding that her intellect and expertise would be greatly missed.

Mr Udoh said the late justices exceptional judicial acumen, unwavering integrity and commitment to upholding justice and fairness were truly admirable.

He added that the late Justice Ibanga left indelible marks on the lives of numerous individuals and the NBA.

Joshua Ibanga, the husband of the late judge, described his late wife as a pillar of support that no one else could take her place as a virtuous woman. You were beautiful on the inside and you were beautiful on the outside.

Those sweet and painful memories we shared for over 30 years together, I will hold dear and cherish forever.

A vacuum very difficult to fill has been created in my life with your demise, especially when I thought you were recovering from the ailment, he said.

(NAN)

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The Police in Rivers State, south-south Nigeria, have arrested a suspect who abducted a pregnant woman and, alongside others, gang-raped her to death.

The police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the arrest to Punch newspaper, identified the suspect simply as Emeka.

Punch published the story on Friday. The newspaper did not, however, state when the police confirmed the suspects arrest.

The victim, Chigbewejim Steward, a five-month pregnant woman from the Abarikpo community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State reportedly had a disagreement with the suspect.

The suspect led a gang of men to the victims residence on 12 February 2023, broke into her house at midnight, abducted and then gang-raped her to death.

The suspect, after committing the crime, fled the community for fear of arrest but was eventually arrested 15 months after the incident.

The deceased husband, Lawyer Steward, confirmed the arrest to Punch newspaper in Port Harcourt, and appealed to the government to ensure that justice is given to his late wife.

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Mr Steward, a cleric, said Emeka masterminded the death of his wife following a quarrel they had which he said his wife called him a wicked man.

He told my wife that she would see wickedness that day.

That night around 1 a.m. on Sunday, those bad boys came to my house and broke the door and took my wife away.

My wife was five months pregnant. Emeka and his gang raped and strangled her to death. The police arrested him on Thursday. I have gone to the station to give my statement. I want the government to intervene so that justice will prevail.

Mr Steward said his wifes corpse was discovered around a fishing pond hours after her abduction, with multiple bruises and bleeding from her private parts.

The police in the state said the suspect will be transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for proper investigation and prosecution.

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A driver hit and killed a female pedestrian along the Awka-Onitsha Expressway in Anambra State on Friday night, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state.

Adeoye Irelewuyi, the commander of the FRSC in Anambra, told reporters on Saturday in Awka, that the driver fled the scene after the incident.

Mr Irelewuyi said that the likely cause of the accident was speeding.

He said that the crash involved an unidentified driver of a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with no registration number, en route to Upper Iweke, Onitsha.

According to eyewitness reports, the driver of the vehicle, who was on speed, rammed into a pedestrian female adult and zoomed off.

FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene and took the victim to Toronto Mortuary after the doctor confirmed her death, he said.

READ ALSO: Gov Uzodinma orders probe into fatal road accident in Imo

While condoling with the family of the dead, Mr Irelewuyi cautioned motorists on speeding, especially during the rainy season.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

He urged them to ensure they keep to specified speed limits.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, Anambra Command, has busted a kidnappers den in Anam forest, Anambra-West Local Government Area of the state.

John Metchie, the Deputy Commander-General, Technical Services, of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, disclosed this while briefing reporters on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Metchie said that the operation, which was carried out on Friday, was led by two top commanders, following an actionable intelligence.

He said that officers of the service traversed the deepest parts of the forest only to find an abandoned Toyota Sienna vehicle with weapons and other incriminating items inside it.

Also, he identified the recovered weapons as a pistol, one AK-47 rifle, and locally fabricated guns, including vehicle plate numbers, charms, and other incriminating items.

He said that the vehicle and items had been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further actions, adding that the hunters were still on the trail of the suspected kidnappers who abandoned the vehicle.

Mr Metchie described hunters as a critical link to the nations security, stressing the need for the Nigerian government to accord hunters due recognition in the security architecture.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service is a registered umbrella body of Hunters in Nigeria with the mandate to support the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to protect lives and property in ungoverned areas like forests and bushes.

The Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Government Security Service, to detect and prevent forest crime, has been passed by both Senate and House of Representatives and is currently awaiting the Presidents assent.

Our objectives are geared toward improving the quality and performance of men and officers of Hunter Council, currently engaged in the protection of various public safety and security services within communities.

We have been trained by the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency on managing security in the forest, he said.

He commended the officers and men of the Anambra command of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service for the successful operation.

(NAN)

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BEIJING, June 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily:

Had one never met "A Fu" in person but only heard his standard, fluent Beijing dialect as well as his knowledge of the capital, it would be hard to imagine that he is actually a UK citizen whose real name is Fraser Sampson.

A Fu, the hutong gentleman

Actually he, and all who know him, take him to be a native Beijinger because he moved to the city at the age of 3 in 2001 and lived in Qianliang Hutong, a place with traditional Beijing character. "I still remember the day when I first went to school here," he said, "having heard the pronunciation of my name, my teacher gave me my Chinese name, which means fortune and I have been known by that moniker since then." Now every time tourists visiting his home hutong encounter him, they will marvel at his Beijing dialect, until he explains to them that he is a local.

'A Fu' has been recording daily life in Beijing with a smartphone since September 2021, opening accounts on video-sharing platforms such as Douyin or the WeChat video channel where he calls himself "A Fu, the hutong gentleman".

Organized by the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and hosted by China Daily, the Fourth "100 Reasons to Love Beijing" short-video contest solicited entries from global participants in September 2023 wanting to share their love for the city and tell their stories about it. Sampson submitted his works and won the first prize, as announced at the award ceremony that was held at Beijing Library on May 23.

He was invited to the ceremony, where he delivered a speech. Having witnessed the growth and modernization of the hutongs and the growth of Beijing as a whole, he said he is delighted to record the stories of Beijing and its hutongs through short videos and is happy that these videos have been well-received by his audience. He said he was honored to have won the first prize, which he will take as encouragement for him to make more videos telling stories about Beijing and its hutongs.

SOURCE China Daily
The airline adds direct flights and enhances connectivity possibilities between Europe and North America.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Azores Airlines will launch a set of new direct flights starting in June, which include direct flights from North America to Porto and Funchal, from the Azores (Ponta Delgada) to the Algarve (Faro), and from the Azores (Ponta Delgada) to Italy (Milan). The brand-new operation kicks off on June 1st, with direct flights between Toronto and Funchal, followed by flights between New York and Porto, and between Ponta Delgada and Faro. On June 4, direct flights from Porto to Boston and from Boston to Funchal begin. The following day, the airline launches flights between Ponta Delgada and Milan and, on June 7, direct flights between Toronto and Porto. Among these inaugurations, the airline also highlights the reopening of connections between the Azores (Ponta Delgada) and London with two weekly flights.

These new operations are the culmination of a process to which the airline, national and regional entities linked to the tourism sector, promotion and travel agents, as well as local representatives have been strongly committed. As a result of this effort, demand indicators enable us to anticipate a summer that has the potential to surpass the demand recorded in 2023. Besides these new operations, the airline increased its regular flights by around 26% for the summer of 2024 (domestic and international) compared to last year's IATA summer season.

Graca Silva, Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication, stated that "The new bets are the result of concerted efforts with several agents and business partners. It provides more options for passengers who want to reach the Azores and more opportunities or those who wish to travel between Europe and North America. These investments will consolidate the sustained growth trajectory seen at the airline in recent years."

In addition to offering direct flights, the airline's operation includes the possibility of connectivity between destinations in North America and European destinations, either through a brief stopover in the Azores or through the possibility of enjoying the Azores

Stopover, a program that allows a longer stay, up to seven days, on an intermediate stopover, before arriving at the final destination. Azores Airlines is the airline that offers the most services to the Azores, connecting the archipelago to North America, Europe,

including Mainland Portugal and the Madeira Archipelago, as well as also Cape Verde.

According to the latest data collected by the Azores Tourism Observatory, the airline was the first choice of passengers who traveled to the Azores Archipelago in the high season of 2023 and was recently recognized as "Europe's Leading Airline to North America 2024". The Azores Airlines operation also combines with the offer of SATA Air Acores, which connects the nine islands of the Azores Archipelago.

ABOUT AZORES AIRLINES

Azores Airlines is an airline that belongs to the SATA Group and whose activity consists of regular air transport to and from the Azores Archipelago. It is an airline with over twenty-five years of experience in domestic and transatlantic flights. The airline is part of SATA Holding, which also includes SATA Air Acores, founded in 1941, and SATA Aerodromos, which manages four of the five airports in the Azores Archipelago. Azores Airlines operates a regular network of destinations between the Azores and North America, Europe and the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde. The airline operates with a fleet consisting of Airbus A32ceo, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo and Airbus A321 LR equipment. https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en.

SOURCE Azores Airlines
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Under a newly announced agreement, Discover the World has been chosen to represent South African Airways (SAA) in the strategically important markets of the Nordics (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark), France, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy effective April 1, 2024. Discover the World enjoys a long-term relationship with South African Airways, representing the carrier in the USA, Canada, UK, and Germany prior to adding these additional markets.

Aiden Walsh, Head of Airline Development at Discover the World noted "It is an honour to be selected to represent South African Airways in the Nordics, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. This is reflective of Discover the World's successful representation of SAA in the USA, Canada, UK, and Germany. We look forward to growing our relationship with South African Airways even further in the future."

SAA's Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Tebogo Tsimane said, "SAA is pleased to once again be able to accommodate our valued customers from North America. This partnership will allow DTW to sell passenger and cargo space on behalf of the airline. We look forward to welcoming customers to experience the warm South African hospitality that we are celebrated for."

"European markets are crucial for SAA as they play a significant role in SAA's international strategy and overall business recovery plan. SAA is carefully considering its route network to optimize connectivity. The European markets are vital for SAA due to their significant contribution to tourism and business travel, which are essential for SAA's operations and overall sustainability." Added Tsimane.

About South African Airways

With 90 years in the skies, South African Airways (SAA) is the proud carrier of the South African flag, linking domestic, regional, and international destinations. SAA flies from Johannesburg to Abidjan, Accra, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Harare, Lusaka, Lagos, Mauritius, Sao Paulo, Windhoek, Victoria Falls, and recently reintroduced a service to Perth, Australia.

Since first taking to the skies in 1934, SAA has grown to include a passenger airline, a cargo transport service, and related services provided through its wholly owned subsidiaries, SAA Technical (SAAT) and Air Chefs. SAAT delivers high-quality maintenance services, major airframe checks, engine overhauls, mechanical components, avionics, and line maintenance to SAA and third parties. Air Chefs provides in-flight, airline lounges and other catering services to the airline and third parties.

SAA prides itself on being "more than an airline" and a critical part of the South African story.

For more information on South African Airways please visit www.flysaa.com

SAA's Voyager Loyalty programme turns 30 years this year, please visit www.flysaa.com

About Discover the World

Discover the World is the most innovative global sales representation leader in the travel industry with a worldwide network of 85 offices in more than 60 countries and a portfolio of over 100 clients. With its sales, marketing, and business process outsourcing services, the work of Discover the World leads to tremendous growth for its clients and trade industry partners in every corner of the world.

For more information about Discover the World please visit www.discovertheworld.com.

Media Enquiries may be directed to:

South African Airways: Ms. Vimla Maistry: [email protected]

Discover the World: Mr. Aiden Walsh, Head of Airline Development: [email protected]

SOURCE Discover the World
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. The 4th International Forum of Turkic States Appraisers will be held next year, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Appraisers Vugar Oruj said at the 3rd Forum in Baku, Trend reports.

He noted that seven Turkic states were represented at the forum held in Baku. Russia, Belarus, and Georgia are participating as guest countries.

The chairman also provided information about the event's agenda and the issues discussed, highlighting the tasks and prospects facing the organization. A report was presented.

During the event, forum participants elected Vugar Oruj as the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Appraisers of Turkic States through a voting process.

To note, the appraisal associations of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are collective members of the Council of Appraisal Associations of Turkic States.

The Association of Appraisers of the Turkic States, which unites over 700 appraisal companies and thousands of appraisers, was founded on June 1, 2023, in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
NEW ORLEANS, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 1, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Globe Life Inc. f/k/a Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: GL), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between May 8, 2019 and April 10, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Long term holders of GL are also encouraged to contact the firm. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Get Help

Globe Life investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-gl/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Globe Life and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On April 11, 2024, investment research firm Fuzzy Panda reported that the Company and its subsidiaries had engaged in widespread insurance fraud by adding policies to existing users' accounts without consent, underwriting policies for dead and fictitious people, and also maintained a hostile workplace where sexual harassment, drug use, and sexual assault went unchecked.

On this news, the price of Globe Life's shares fell by $55.76 per share, or 53%, from a closing price of $104.93 per share on April 10, 2024, to a closing price of $49.17 per share on April 11, 2024.

The case is City of Miami General Employees' & Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust v. Globe Life Inc., et al, No. 24-cv-376.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (Hamamatsu City, Japan) is delighted to announce the completion of the acquisition of NKT Photonics A/S.

The Hamamatsu Photonics Group now possesses a very broad range of technologies in light sources, lasers, and detectors. The combination of NKT Photonics and Hamamatsu Photonics will help us to drive our technology to the next level, and accelerate our business growth in the semiconductor, quantum, and medical fields.

The acquisition enables us to combine Hamamatsu Photonics' detectors and cameras with NKT Photonics' lasers and fibers, offering customers unique system solutions.

"We are very pleased to welcome NKT Photonics to the Hamamatsu Photonics Group, where they will form the backbone of our laser division. By combining Hamamatsu's expertise within photodetectors with NKT Photonics' market-leading lasers and fibers, we will be able to provide unique system solutions to our core markets," says Tadashi Maruno, CEO of Hamamatsu Photonics.

One market of interest is the rapidly growing quantum computing area. Here NKT Photonics' Koheras lasers serve customers with trapped ion systems requiring high-power narrow linewidth lasers with extremely high wavelength stability and low noise. The same customers use Hamamatsu Photonics' high-sensitivity cameras and sensors to detect the quantum state of the qubits. Together we can provide comprehensive solutions for the quantum technology market, including lasers, detectors, and optical devices.

"At NKT Photonics, we are excited and honored to become part of Hamamatsu Photonics, one of the most respected global companies in our industry. We share common goals and a vision of providing the best solutions to our customers and innovators. Together, and with our complementary technology platforms, we will be stronger than ever," says Basil Garabet, CEO of NKT Photonics.

NKT Photonics will continue its operating structure and focus on providing superior products and solutions to its customers.

About the companies

Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. is a leading provider of cutting-edge photonics technology and products. With over 70 years of experience, the company delivers innovative solutions to customers across a wide range of industries, including medical, scientific research, industrial, and telecommunications. Hamamatsu Photonics offers a comprehensive range of products, such as imaging sensors, light sources, and optical systems designed to meet customers' unique needs.

www.hamamatsu.com

NKT Photonics: Established in Denmark by scientists and engineers, NKT Photonics is the leading supplier of high-performance fiber lasers and photonic crystal fibers. Our main markets are medical & life science, industrial, aerospace & defense, and quantum & nanotechnology. Our products include supercontinuum white light lasers, low-noise fiber lasers, ultrafast lasers, and a wide range of specialty fibers.

www.nktphotonics.com

For more information about the acquisition, please visit www.hamamatsu.com.

About Hamamatsu Corporation

Hamamatsu Corporation is the North American subsidiary of Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (Japan), a leading manufacturer of devices for the generation and measurement of infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. These devices include photodiodes, silicon photomultipliers, photomultiplier tubes, scientific light sources, infrared detectors, image sensors, spectrometers, and cameras. The parent company is dedicated to the advancement of photonics through extensive research. This corporate philosophy results in state-of-the-art products which are used throughout the world in scientific, industrial, and commercial applications.

Information furnished by Hamamatsu Corporation is believed to be reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed for possible inaccuracies or omissions. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Hamamatsu Corporation
Total sales up 12% in May; YTD total sales increase 2%

Best May for IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, Tucson HEV, Santa Fe HEV, Palisade and Santa Cruz

Hyundai May retail sales up 9% YOY; Volume led by Palisade, IONIQ 5 and Santa Fe HEV

May EV sales up 42% YOY

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America reported total May sales of 78,485 units, a 12% increase compared with May 2023. Hyundai set total sales records in May for IONIQ 5 (+82%), IONIQ 6 (+13%), Tucson HEV (+54%), Santa Fe HEV (+116%), Palisade (+45%) and Santa Cruz (+2%). This was the best all-time retail and total sales for IONIQ 5 and Santa Fe HEV. Hyundai's total EV sales were up 42% in May.

"We continue seeing great success in our eco-friendly line-up with an overall 50% increase YOY," said Randy Parker, CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Both EVs and Hybrids continue to gain popularity with Hyundai's newest HEV, the 2024 Santa Fe gaining 116% YOY and our award-winning IONIQ 5 family increasing 82%. We're proud to also announce Hyundai has America's Most Awarded EV Lineup in the industry."

May Total Sales Summary



May-24 May-23 % Chg 2024

YTD 2023

YTD % Chg Hyundai 78,485 70,001 +12 % 331,892 325,262 +2.0 %

May Product and Corporate Activities

Model Total Sales

Vehicles May-24 May-23 % Chg 2024

YTD 2023

YTD % Chg Elantra 13,311 15,605 -15 % 50,273 61,314 -18 % Ioniq 5 4,449 2,446 +82 % 14,973 10,505 +43 % Ioniq 6 1,099 971 +13 % 5,998 2,083 +188 % Kona 8,308 5,613 +48 % 39,635 31,664 +25 % Nexo 6 16 -63 % 70 97 -28 % Palisade 10,147 7,013 +45 % 44,544 33,574 +33 % Santa Cruz 3,603 3,526 +2 % 14,976 16,423 -9 % Santa Fe 10,997 10,039 +10 % 46,819 49,518 -5 % Sonata 6,700 4,321 +55 % 25,212 23,500 +7 % Tucson 17,371 18,038 -4 % 78,565 82,884 -5 % Venue 2,494 2,413 +3 % 10,827 13,664 -21 %

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit http://www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

Contact

Ira Gabriel

(657) 568-7471

[email protected]

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
SEATTLE, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as a simple card game between elementary school friends will culminate on June 3rd with four local students winning a national math game making competition worth $5,000.

Alex Wallace, Daniel and Elias Impert, and Ira Shamay will each be presented with their share of the prize on June 3rd at their school, Eckstein Middle School. Presenting their award is Jim Moran of Arlington, Virginia, CEO and Founder of Semper Smart Games, and sponsor of the scholarship.

"These kids made a great game," said Moran, who launched the two-year long competition that challenged students from around the country to make an original card game with the cards from Semper Smart's Game, Blobby's Pizzaa fractions-based game that also teaches principals of decimals and percentages and has a pizza-eating monster and restaurant theme.

Judged by a panel of educators and game makers, the Laurelhurst cohort of students developed a game variant called "Sell Those Pizzas," which took the top prize.

Introduced to the Blobby's Pizza game competition by Melissa Morrell, a volunteer math tutor at Laurelhurst Elementary, the students took the task of making a new game from the cards almost immediately after playing.

"The boys were immediately excited by the prospect of making up a new game. I followed their lead and used it as a teaching opportunity to learn about game development, including observing, silently, while another group played their game. It was fun to watch as they iterated on their rules until they got them to be just right," said Morrell.

The students will receive their scholarship checks on the morning of June 3rd at a ceremony at Eckstein Middle School. To attend the event please contact the Middle School: 206-252-5010.

Understanding that play is the mind's favorite way of learning, Semper Smart Games has a mission of creating uniquely fun and educational games that teach invaluable skills and knowledge. An award-winning game company based in Arlington, Virginia, Semper Smart Games creates games that you can play at home, in the classroom, or almost anywhere you can find a small playing surface. We are committed to giving today's families meaningful tactile gaming options that are not screen based.

Press contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Semper Smart Games
Famed Drag Performers and 263 Attendees Gathered on

Philadelphia's Iconic Independence Mall to Make History

PHILADELPHIA, June 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, today secured a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the "largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading." To kick off Pride Month, the Philadelphia Gay News hosted the event, sponsored by Visit Philadelphia, which brought together famed Philadelphia drag performers to read children's stories to a record-setting audience of 263 people. Taking place at the National Constitution Center, the country's leading place for constitutional education and debate, this achievement strengthens and reinforces Philadelphia's reputation as a welcoming destination for all.

A new record has been set in Philadelphia as 263 attendees and some of the city's most popular drag performers gathered at the National Constitution Center for the largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading.

Brittany Lynn, drag performer, LGBTQIA+ activist, literacy advocate and head of the award-winning Philly Drag Mafia, served as emcee for the event, featuring the following books and performers:

Hello, Philadelphia !, written and illustrated by Martha Day Zschock and read by Brittany Lynn

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

written and illustrated by and read by Publisher: Arcadia Publishing 'Twas the Night Before Pride, written by Joanna McClintick , illustrated by Juana Medina and read by Aurora

Publisher: Candlewick

written by , illustrated by Juana Medina and read by Aurora Publisher: Candlewick Elmer, written and illustrated by David Mckee and read by Icon Ebony Fierce

Publisher: HarperCollins

written and illustrated by and read by Icon Ebony Fierce Publisher: HarperCollins The Family Book, written and illustrated by Todd Parr and read by Athena Chanteuse Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

written and illustrated by and read by Athena Chanteuse Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows, written and illustrated by Jessika von Innerebner and read by Morgan Wells

Publisher: Dial Books

"Philadelphia is where our country was founded, where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed, and where some of the most significant LGBTQIA+ moments in U.S. history took place," said Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. "Creating history-making moments like we've done today, hosted on land synonymous with our country's fight for fundamental rights and freedom, serves as a powerful reminder of the resiliency, talent and culture that make up the fabric of our great American city."

"To start Pride Month with the world's largest drag story time in Philadelphia is extraordinarily fitting for the birthplace of freedom and modern democracy," said Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia. "Last summer, Visit Philadelphia hosted a small drag story time in front of Independence Hall that we filmed and used as part of a national TV spot, so it was only fitting for us to support a bigger, bolder, record-setting version this year. The event aligned perfectly with our In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union series that highlights Philadelphia as an inclusive and welcoming place for all  and that's exactly what Philadelphia Gay News demonstrated for the world today."

For more details on how visitors can celebrate Pride Month in Philadelphia all month long, go to https://bit.ly/VisitPhiladelphiaPrideMonth.

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS

The Philadelphia Gay News is the area's largest and oldest publication targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Started in 1976, PGN reaches, builds rapport with and listens to our readers and supporters  as well as our critics.

Media Contacts:

Eva Wasko

Allen & Gerritsen

610-762-5788

Dan Pettine

Allen & Gerritsen

481-941-1097

SOURCE Philadelphia Gay News
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., June 01, 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.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/882948/K1_Logo.jpg
PHILADELPHIA, June 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating N-able, Inc. (NYSE: NABL) on behalf of the company's shareholders.

The investigation seeks to determine whether N-able and/or the company's officers and directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with recent corporate actions.

N-able shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options at (484) 229  0750 or (888) 715  1740, or by email ([email protected]) or online at:

https://kaskelalaw.com/case/n-able/

Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

CONTACT:

KASKELA LAW LLC

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(888) 715  1740

(484) 229  0750

www.kaskelalaw.com

SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC
Miami is one of the US cities with the highest UV exposure, contributing to Florida's rate of melanoma cases each year. And while America is beginning to understand the need for SPF, research still reveals persistent gaps in sun care knowledge , from proper sunscreen application, to understanding different types of sunscreen, and unique needs for different skin types. To tackle this head-on, Sun Bum touched down in Miami with its largest beach hangout yet  engaging directly with the community to help bust widespread myths about sunscreen, reinforce the need for SPF, and continue on its mission to empower people to enjoy the sun safely.

The event, held on South Beach, seamlessly brought together fun, sun, education, and protection. Among the highlights was a 10-foot sun dial, inviting guests to interact and explore the 'Five S's of Sun Safety': sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, shade, and sleeves  a term coined by Sun Bum to demystify essential sun care practices and provide a memorable framework for staying fully protected from UV rays. Also present was a crew of Sun Bum's Sun Safety Ambassadors who not only distributed tons of free-flowing SPF, but also information, resources and tips on sun care and safety directly to the community throughout the day.

As part of the Just Use Sunscreen campaign, which launched ahead of Skin Cancer Awareness Month this year, Sun Bum has already rolled out several initiatives, including a partnership with the Skin Cancer Foundation to provide free skin exams to the public for a week in San Diego, and a series of local beach hangouts across the country offering free education and SPF. The brand also made a massive push to spread awareness and resources across social media channels, partnering with dermatology experts and local personalities to help amplify efforts and reach, and launched an extensive outreach program.

"During Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and now leading into summer, we've been able to give out tens of thousands of free samples of SPF. And knowing that the 2000 people who joined us today are now protected from the Florida sun's harmful rays is incredibly rewarding." Said Evan Slater, CMO at Sun Bum.

"Our goal has always been clear: to protect people from the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure, regardless of the brand they choose. Each year, we find new and engaging ways to educate and protect our community, since it's at the core of what we do. We're excited to continue our mission to provide SPF awareness and products to everyone who chooses to live and love in the sun."

The event brought together over 2000 Miami locals, with many eagerly gathering from the early morning while preparations unfolded. As Sun Bum continues to touch down on beaches across the country throughout the summer, those at home can tune into the brand's latest Spotify playlist , featuring all the music from the event, to soak up the vibes and get ready for their local stop.

To explore our range of sun protection products and learn how to stay safe under the sun, visit sunbum.com

LINK TO OFFICIAL EVENT ASSETS

About Sun Bum

Sun Bum is a lifestyle company that creates a wide range of premium sun care, hair care, lip care, and baby care products. Founded in 2010, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, the brand was created by a group of friends who wanted products for themselves and their families that reflected the essence, aesthetic, and socially conscious vibe of their small beach community. Sun Bum started in surf shops, where it still holds its roots, and was quickly discovered by chic boutiques and luxury hotels before becoming one of the fastest-growing brands at Target, Ulta Beauty, CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, and other leading retailers around the world.

While the company has gotten much bigger, they insist that they haven't changed. They still take surf breaks, listen to old albums, don't use focus groups, and try to catch the sunset every night. They make products the way they like them and hope you like them too. Learn more at sunbum.com.

SOURCE Sun Bum
BEIJING, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn about the Shaolin Temple:

Jason Castleton visited the Shaolin Temple, which is known as the birthplace of Chinese kung fu. The temple, located in Dengfeng, Henan Province, was founded in 495 and is also considered the ancestral monastery of Chan Buddhism. It is not only a popular tourist attraction, but also a World Heritage Site.

Guided by a friend who trains at the Shaolin Temple, Jason Castleton visited the place considered the birthplace of Chinese kung fu and a revered monastery of Chan Buddhism.

Jason meets his friend Jia, who has been studying kung fu at the Shaolin Temple. Jia gives Jason a tour of the temple and shows him what makes it so special.

During the tour, they come across a huge wok that was used for cooking in the past. Jia explains that it was once the smallest wok in the entire temple, as the larger ones were destroyed. He also tells the story of the Kinnara Bodhisattva statue, which represents a fire-stoking monk who saved the temple from a peasant rebel army. Next, Jia shows Jason the stone floors with holes that are believed to have been caused by the stomping of warrior monks during their training.

Jia says that about 90% of the monks in the temple are skilled in kung fu. He explains that kung fu is deeply ingrained in their daily lives, mentioning the rigorous training schedule for students like himself and the warrior monks. They have intense physical training every day. But they also attend academic classes on Buddhism and other subjects, as well as manual labor to help the older monks.

Jia expresses that coming to Shaolin and training in kung fu has not only improved him physically, but also mentally and spiritually. Jia demonstrates a special technique to Jason, who is amazed and asks to learn it. Jia suggests that Master Shi teach Jason instead.

Jason meets Master Shi, who emphasizes that kung fu is not about attacking, but about defending oneself with minimal harm. He explains that kung fu is rooted in Chan Buddhism and its culture, and stresses the importance of practicing Chan meditation for inner peace.

As Jason leaves the temple, he reflects on how his understanding has changed. He expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to experience Shaolin firsthand and briefly feels a sense of belonging to the temple.

Official: Tag along with Jason in Zhengzhou: Experiencing Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple

http://www.china.org.cn/travel/2024-05/29/content_117221165.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
GUANGZHOU, China, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from GDToday:

Organized by the Guangdong Government, the Government of the State of California, Chinese People's for Friendship with Foreign Countries and California China Climate Institute, the first US-China Bay to Bay Dialogue was held in Berkeley, California on May 29 (local time).

More than 200 representatives from both sides attended the Dialogue, including Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR Paul Chan and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Ao leong U.

Governor Wang Weizhong indicated that Guangdong had seized the opportunity of reform and opening up to become the leading economic province in China, with its GDP ranking first for 35 consecutive years. Guangdong will continue to expand high-level opening up by developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, stimulating the three driving forces of reform, opening up, and innovation. Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area are willing to work together with California and the San Francisco Bay Area to strengthen practical cooperation between the bay areas, achieving higher quality and higher levels of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Yang Wanming, President of Chinese People's for Friendship with Foreign Countries, stated that the GBA has accounted for 1/9 national GDP with less than 0.6% national territorial area. He believes that the Dialogue will enhance the collaboration between the two bay areas and realize win-win cooperation.

Zhang Jianmin, Consul General of China in San Francisco, indicated that both two bay areas are the important regions for economy and innovative development in their respective countries, serving as hubs to attract talents, technologies and capital. He emphasized that the cooperation between the two bay areas will inject positive energy to the relationship between China and America.

Gavin Newsome, Governor of State of California, expressed his gratitude to the representatives from the GBA. He believes that the Dialogue will become a platform for both two regions to exchange ideas and pragmatic measures, facilitating future cooperation.

It is reported that the two bay areas will strengthen the cooperation in developing techniques for clean energy and low carbon, especially since Guangdong and California had singed MoUs related to low carbon in 2013 and 2015 and singed another MoU concerning green development in October last year.

"The Greater Bay area is a fascinating part of China and the world," said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. "I think that there is a lot of attention to clean energy, and developing new solutions to climate problems, which is very similar to this area here in California."

She stressed that two regions could start cooperation in zero emission vehicles, land use management, offshore wind and more.

According to Xu Xiaoxia, Director-General of Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, Guangdong and California have reached an agreement in controlling emission of methane, including strengthening R&D in emission control, technical pathways and the establishment of rubust monitoring systems.

This year marks the 10th anniversary for the establishment of Sister Province (State) relationship between Guangdong and California, with 12 pairs of sister cities between the two regions.

"I'm looking to establish a friendship or sister city relationship between San Jose and Shenzhen, because we have so many parallels in the innovation economy," said Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose.

In his opinion, establishing sister city relationship can promote the connection of universities, companies and cultural organizations between the two regions.

Since both Shenzhen and San Jose are the places with developed innovation industries, Mayor Mahan suggested that both two cities can deepen the cooperation of artificial intelligence, by combining the advantages of both sides and reaching sustainability goals.

At the Dialogue, both regions have made 5 key announcements, including deepening the cooperation in the fields of green development, climate change, people-to-people exchange and trade and investment.

Rodney Fong, President & CEO at San Francisco Chamber of Commerce indicated that cooperation starts with people-to-people exchange. He hopes this event can guide the two regions to achieve common goals.

SOURCE GDToday
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Georgia ranks 141st out of 188 countries in terms of total national debt, said the International Monetary Fund, Trend reports.

Data from the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs shows that by the end of 2023, Georgia's government debt was 39.2 percent of GDP.

As of December 31, 2023, the government debt stood at 32.6 billion lari ($11.6 billion). In 2023, external debt rose by 1.407 billion lari ($504.3 million), while internal debt increased by 1.411 billion lari ($505.7 million). Overall, the debt grew by 2.8 billion lari in 2023, but thanks to economic growth, it remained at 39.2 percent of GDP.

Between 2013 and 2016, Georgia's government debt increased. It slightly decreased in 2017-2018 to 38.2 percent of GDP, but then rose to 40.0 percent in 2019. In 2020, the debt-to-GDP ratio jumped by nearly 20 percentage points due to the pandemic, reaching 59.6 percent. However, over the past three years, the situation has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Sudan has the highest national debt, followed by Japan and then Greece. The top ten also include the US, Argentina, Venezuela, Italy, and Singapore.
Vivacelle is advancing a robust pipeline of therapies for shock and trauma-induced conditions

Vivacelle's pipeline is led by VBI-S, a Phase 3-ready asset designated for the treatment of hypotension and hypovolemia in septic shock patients, and VBI-1, a Phase 2-ready candidate for hemorrhagic shock.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivacelle Bio, a late-stage biopharma company developing life-saving treatments for shock and trauma, today announced that Cuthbert Simpkins MD, FACS, President and Chief Innovation Officer, has been invited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to present data highlighting the company's late-stage clinical programs at the 2024 BIO International Convention taking place in San Diego, CA from June 3  6, 2024.

Details of Dr. Simpkins' presentations are as follows:

Presentation Title: Multiple Clinical Problems Solved Using Phospholipid Nanoparticles

Date/Time: June 3, 2024, 2:45pm PDT

Track/Location: Company Presentations - Theater 3

Date/Time: June 4, 2024, 11:30am PDT

Track/Location: NIH Booth

"After a year of significant clinical milestone achievements, including the remarkable 100% efficacy results from our VBI-S Phase 2 trial, and a groundbreaking study published in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine, we are excited to engage with potential pharmaceutical and commercial partners, as well as investors, at BIO to discuss our product portfolio and plans to soon initiate a multicenter Phase 3 study of VBI-S," commented Harven DeShield, PhD, JD, MSc, CEO of Vivacelle.

Vivacelle's pipeline is led by VBI-S, a Phase 3-ready product built on the company's pioneering and patented phospholipid nanoparticle technology, which leverages the redistribution of nitric oxide to elevate blood pressure in hypovolemic septic shock, a leading cause of death that impacts millions around the world. A recently completed Phase 2 trial of VBI-S demonstrated 100% efficacy, with the treatment resulting in elevated blood pressure in hypovolemic septic shock patients who are refractory to therapy.

"Dr. Simpkins' presentation at BIO, along with substantial scientific and clinical evidence generated over the past decade, will highlight the innovative and effective nature of our phospholipid nanoparticle technology platform, initially targeting hypovolemia resulting from septic shock. Nearly 2 million people in the US develop sepsis annually, a condition that current standard-of-care treatments fail to adequately address. Our extensive clinical data indicates that VBI-S is not only safe but also significantly improves blood pressure and reverses organ failurea critical factor in sepsis-related mortality. The promising and disruptive therapeutic impact of this product candidate for patients has been recognized by ongoing support from the US Department of Defense and the NIH. We are confident that our advancements and strategic market approach will be well received by the BIO community, paving the way for tangible next steps that will propel our mission forward," added Dr. DeShield.

Vivacelle Bio's Phase 2a clinical trial and ensuing multicenter Phase 3 study of VBI-S is funded by the Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC)  Naval Advanced Medical Development (NAMD) program via the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC).

About MTEC

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) is a 501(c)(3) biomedical technology consortium collaborating under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) that serves those who serve our nation. For more information about MTEC, visit mtec-sc.org .

The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.

About Vivacelle Bio

Vivacelle Bio is a late-stage biopharma company developing life-saving treatments for shock and trauma. The company's lead product, Phase 3-ready VBI-S, is built on its pioneering and patented phospholipid nanoparticle technology, which leverages the redistribution of nitric oxide to elevate blood pressure in hypovolemic septic shock, a leading cause of death that impacts millions around the world. A Phase 2 trial of VBI-S demonstrated 100% efficacy, with the treatment resulting in elevated blood pressure in hypovolemic septic shock patients who are refractory to therapy. In addition to venture capital, Vivacelle has garnered backing and financial support from the US Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. Vivacelle Bio is headquartered in Kansas City, MO. Learn more at https://www.vivacellebio.com.

Contact

Investor Relations

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.

Daniel Kontoh-Boateng

(862) 213-1398

[email protected]

Media Relations

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.

Casey McDonald

(646) 577-8520

[email protected]

SOURCE Vivacelle Bio
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Beirut, June 1 : A Hezbollah official was killed, and another member injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told the media.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said on Friday that an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle with two air-to-surface missiles in Yaroun, killing a local Hezbollah official, whose name is Sheikh Abbas Busi.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters attacked several Israeli sites, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lebanese military sources said they launched several drones and more than 100 surface-to-surface missiles toward the Israeli side, some of which were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome missiles.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 499 people on the Lebanese side, including 318 Hezbollah members and 92 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources.
New York, June 1 : Former US President Donald Trump has said that he will appeal his conviction on all counts in the hush money trial in New York City.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Trump Tower on 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 on Thursday found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a bid to hide hush money payment of $130,000 in 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump continued to attack the judge and stressed the trial was "rigged".

"As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair," he said.

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 for July 11, shortly before the Republican National Convention.

Trump and US President Joe Biden are expected to have their first debate on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia.
United Nations, June 1 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has 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 December 31, 2025, said his Spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres notes UNAMI's significant achievements since 2003, Xinhua news agency reported.

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, the Spokesman added.

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, Dujarric added.
Baghdad, June 1 : The Iraqi government has welcomed the UN Security Council resolution to end the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) by the end of 2025.

The government spokesman Basim al-Awadi said on Friday in a statement that the Iraqi government welcomes and appreciates the resolution, which was issued unanimously to end the UN mission on December 31, 2025.

According to the statement, the Iraqi government pledged to continue sustainable cooperation and partnership with the UN and its development programmes in Iraq, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Friday, the UN Security Council unanimously decided to extend UNAMI's mandate for a final 19-month period to December 31, 2025, after which the mission will cease all work and operations.

UNAMI is a political mission established by the Security Council in 2003 at the request of the Iraqi government in the wake of the invasion by a US-led coalition.

Its main mandate is to provide advice, support, and assistance to the government and people of Iraq in various fields.
Jerusalem, June 1 : Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has announced his rejection of a request by his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares to remove the restrictions on the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem.

A week ago, Israel announced that the consulate was banned from providing services to Palestinians from the West Bank following Spain's decision to recognise the State of Palestine, Xinhua news agency reported.

Explaining the rejection on social media platform X, Katz noted on Friday that "any contact between the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem and people in the Palestinian Authority constitutes a danger to Israel's national security and will be completely prohibited".

He warned that the Israeli side will "strictly enforce the guidelines and if there is a violation, additional measures will be taken up to the point of closing the consulate".

In a coordinated move, Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on May 22 their decision to recognise Palestine as a state as of May 28.

More than 140 countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, representing over two-thirds of the United Nations' membership.
Lucknow, June 1 : Polling has begun for the seventh and final phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh where 13 remaining seats in the eastern part of the state are going to polls.

In Varanasi, a traditional stronghold of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term.

He secured a resounding victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with 63 per cent of the total votes. This time, he faces Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai and Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Athar Jamal Lari.

Gorakhpur, another prestigious seat of Purvanchal, sees a clash between two Bhojpuri actors.

BJP candidate Ravindra Kishan Shukla, popularly known as Ravi Kishan Shukla, is vying to retain the seat for a second term. He is being challenged by INDIA bloc candidate Kajal Nishad, also a Bhojpuri actor.

In Mirzapur, Union Minister Anupriya Patel from Apna Dal (Secular) emerged victorious in the 2014 and 2019 polls but faces competition from Samajwadi Party's (SP) Rajendra Bind and BSP's Manish Tripathi this time.

BSP candidate Balkrishna Chauhan is posing a challenge to NDA candidate Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader Arvind Rajbhar, with SP's Rajeev Kumar Rai making the contest triangular.

In Ghazipur, the BJP has nominated Parasnath Rai, known to be close to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Afzal Ansari, the brother of the late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, is contesting on a SP ticket.

In 2019, Afzal Ansari defeated senior BJP leader Manoj Sinha by more than 1.19 lakh votes. Umesh Kumar Singh represents the BSP in this constituency.

In Maharajganj, BJP's Pankaj Choudhary competes against Virendra Chaudhary of the Congress, while the Ballia constituency witnesses Neeraj Sekhar of the BJP facing off against Sanatan Pandey of the SP.

Meanwhile, given the prevailing heat wave conditions in Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa has directed all the Divisional Commissioners and District Election Officers concerned to make necessary arrangements at all polling booths to protect polling personnel and voters from scorching heat in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the eastern part of the state that go to polls in the seventh and final phase on Saturday.

Paramedics and ASHA workers are being provided with adequate ORS and medical kits at every polling centre and polling station to protect the voters from the heat, he said.

"Paramedic personnel should also be deployed with the sector magistrate. Emergency ambulance service available in the respective districts should be kept active so that it can be easily sent to polling centres and polling booths during an emergency," he added.

Arrangements have been made to provide water to voters standing in queue, CEO Rinwa said.

The Chief Electoral Officer advised voters to reach polling stations before sunrise on the polling day.

Shops and general stores operating around the polling stations where bottled drinking water is available should not be closed, he said, adding that uninterrupted power supply and adequate lighting should be arranged at polling stations.
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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) will use Romania's experience in the exploration and drilling of geothermal wells, an informed source told Trend.

"Romania is among the five European countries with high potential for geothermal energy and is actively developing it. SOCAR specialists have been closely familiarized with the work on the discovery and use of geothermal sources in Romania itself, and Romanian experience will be useful for SOCAR's upcoming work in southern Azerbaijan as well," the source noted.

Romania has been working on 24 geothermal sites on its territory since 2023.

The Romanian Energy Minister visited Baku on April 1 with a large delegation, which held talks at SOCAR on a wide range of possible cooperation.

Director General of SOCAR AQS (SOCAR's drilling structure), Samir Mollayev, told Trend earlier that SOCAR AQS may drill geothermal wells in Azerbaijan for the first time - in the Kalbajar region and in Nakhchivan.

To note, Azerbaijan has many thermal springs, particularly in the mountains of the Lesser and Greater Caucasus, the Absheron Peninsula, Lankaran, Karabakh, and Nakhchivan, and their utilization is aligned with the Azerbaijani government's strategy to create a green economy.

SOCAR is actively implementing green projects and fulfilling its environmental obligations.

The World Bank is also interested in the development of Azerbaijan's geothermal potential and is preparing an analysis in this area.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Kolkata, June 1 : Polling is underway for the nine Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal in the seventh phase on Saturday amid reports of poll-related violence and tension surfacing from several pockets, including Sandeshkhali, Bhangar.

The violence started late Friday night and continued till the beginning of the polling process at 7 a.m.

Sandeshkhali under Basirhat Lok Sabha and Bhangar under Jadavpur Lok Sabha were the epicentres of the tension.

At Sandeshkhali, tension started mounting late Friday night as a group of local women came out on the streets carrying bamboo sticks protesting against the alleged threats to their family members by local Trinamool Congress activists accompanied by the state police. The women also alleged that the local goons who were behind such threats were close associates of now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who is currently behind bars.

However, the state police have denied the allegations and said that the tension flared up after some local BJP supporters had beaten up a couple of civic volunteers at Sandeshkhali.

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari and BJP Information Technology cell chief Amit Malviya shared the videos of the protesting women at Sandeshkhali. Launching scathing attacks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee they accused her of unleashing the party goons and state police in intimidating voters.

Similarly, tension broke out in front of a polling booth at Bhangar since the beginning of the polling process at 7 a.m. on Saturday following clashes between Trinamool Congress and All India Secular Front (AISF) activists. A woman AISF activist received head injuries following the clashes.

Earlier, the vehicle of the AISF candidate Nur Alam Khan was vandalized allegedly by a group of Trinamool Congress activists.

The nine Lok Sabha constituencies where polls are being conducted on Saturday are Kolkata-Dakshin and Kolkata-Uttar in Kolkata, Jadavpur, Jaynagar, Mathurapur and Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas and Basirhat, Barasat, and Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas.

The prominent candidates whose fate will be sealed on Saturday include Trinamool Congressa general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from Diamond Harbour, the face of the Sandeshkhali movement and the BJP candidate from Basirhat Rekha Patra and the CPI(M) central committee member Dr Sujan Chakraborty from Dum Dum.

Polls are underway under massive security arrangements with 1,020 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) already in the state, out of which 978 companies are being deployed on polling duty and the rest are being kept on reserve. A total of 1,960 quick response teams (QRTs) have already been deployed throughout the state to quickly address reports of tension.
Kolkata, June 1 : Acclaimed actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty was seen standing in line here to cast his vote in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Saturday.

Mithun cast his vote at a polling station in Belgachia in Kolkata district. The actor was seen wearing a black kurta paired with a black cap and sunglasses.

Earlier this year in February, Mithun, 73, was reportedly admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata after having symptoms of an Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident. However, he recovered soon and was discharged from the hospital.

Mithun, who is tagged as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema, made his acting debut with the art house drama 'Mrigayaa' in 1976. He gained major stardom in 1982 with 'Disco Dancer' after which he was seen in films such as 'Agneepath', 'Taqdeer', 'Baat Ban Jaye', 'Gunahon Ka Devta', 'Shatranj', 'Sautela', 'Billa No. 786' to name a few.

In Bollywood, he was last seen on the big screen in Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Kashmir Files'. The film is centred around the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir.

The National Award-winning actor, who has also been feted with a Padma Bhushan, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021, ahead of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election that year.
Los Angeles, June 1 : Emmy nominee Giancarlo Esposito will appear in 'Captain America: Brave New World', which is slated to release next year.

Esposito announced his casting in a Marvel project during a panel in Brazil earlier this month. There, he squashed fan speculation that he would play Professor X in the widely anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe version of 'X-Men', reports variety.com.

"There's something about being original. We've seen different versions of Professor X," Esposito told the crowd.

"Wouldn't you like to see me play a character in a Marvel movie who is original, new, and fresh? So, mark my words: This will happen sooner than you think."

Esposito's role in 'Brave New World' is being kept under wraps, however, it is being reportedly described as villainous, as per variety.com.

Anthony Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, now the newly minted Captain America.

Directed by Julius Onah, the film also stars Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Rosa Salazar. It was originally slated for a July 26, 2024 release, but was pushed back to Valentine's Day 2025 in a round of rescheduling after the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Esposito is popularly known for his performances in dramas like 'Breaking Bad' and its prequel series 'Better Call Saul', where his turn as Gus Fring earned him three Emmy nominations.

He earned two more Emmy nods for his work as the Darskaber-wielding antagonist Moff Gideon in the 'Star Wars' series 'The Mandalorian'. He's also played nefarious former Vought CEO Stan Edgar in 'The Boys' and voiced Lex Luther in the 'Harley Quinn' series.

Talking about his upcoming projects, the actor will next be seen in 'MaXXXine' and Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis', which debuted earlier this month in Cannes.
Tel Aviv, June 1 : The negotiators from Qatar and Egypt are pushing the Hamas political leadership to accept the ceasefire proposal mooted by Israel at the behest of the United States.

Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the head of Egyptian intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel met the Hamas political head, Ismail Haniyeh and pushed the militant group to accept the proposal of Israel for a ceasefire.

Sources in Israel's PMO told IANS that the meeting between the Qatar and Egyptian negotiators with Haniyeh was held on Friday night.

Israel has given a three-phase ceasefire proposal at the behest of the United States. It included the release of hostages inclusive of women, children, elderly and injured, and that Israel forces would withdraw from the densely populated regions of Gaza including Rafah. There is to be a six-week ceasefire as part of this during the first phase.

The released hostages would include American hostages. In exchange for this, Palestinians would return to their homes from all areas of Gaza including the northern region from where maximum exodus had taken place.

During the six weeks of ceasefire, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary agreements for phase two, which will be a permanent ceasefire.

Qatar and Egyptian negotiators are keen for the permanent ceasefire to happen.

In the second phase, all the hostages would be released and around 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israel jails would also be released.

The third phase would lead to the reconstruction plan for Gaza and the release of any remaining hostages.
Chandigarh, June 1 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, cast their votes on Saturday at a polling booth in the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency, and appealed to people to vote in large numbers.

After casting the vote, CM Mann told the media, "People of Punjab are aware and they vote in large numbers. We should use our right to vote. I appeal to Punjabis to come out of their homes and vote and choose good representatives who can work for you."

He said there was some issue with VVPAT (at the polling booth) and the officials replaced it.

His wife Gurpreet Kaur said, "I urge the women to come out and vote in large numbers. Our participation is essential in choosing a government that will work for our benefit."

The Sangrur seat was witnessing a tough contest among the AAP's Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Congress' Sukhpal Singh Khaira, BJP's Arvind Khanna, Shiromani Akali Dal Iqbal Singh Jhundan and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)'s Simranjit Singh Mann.

Sitting MP Simranjit Singh Mann, who first won this parliamentary seat in 1999, banked on rural electorates. He has mainly raised the issues concerning the Sikhs and supports the idea of Khalistan.

In 2019, Bhagwant Mann was the lone AAP MP in Parliament and he defeated the then Congress candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon by more than 1.1 lakh votes.

Later in 2022, the bypoll to the Sangrur seat was necessitated following the resignation of Bhagwant Mann, who won the Assembly election in February from the Dhuri constituency and became the Chief Minister.

Voting for all 13 parliamentary seats of Punjab is underway in the final phase of the general elections.
Chennai, June 1 : Tamil Nadu forest department has commenced a detailed probe after a six-member gang, including a tribal woman, was arrested in Coimbatore for trying to sell elephant tusks.

The forest department conducted a chase on Friday after a tip-off that a gang was moving to Mettupalayam from Coimbatore to sell ivory and was later intercepted near Veerapandi Park in Coimbatore.

However, after securing them it was found that the ivory was not with them.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu forest department told IANS that the six-member gang had concealed the tusks and they are being questioned to reveal the location. Tamil Nadu forest intelligence is also trying to recover the tusks.

Sarvesh Babu (41), the leader of the gang, hailing from Veerapandi street in Coimbatore has informed the forest officers that the ivory was given to him by a person named Ranbeer. He also said that they did not know from where the elephant tusks were procured. The accused told the forest department officials that they had thrown off the ivory at a park near Veerapandi on seeing the forest department officials.

However, forest department officials told IANS that even after a long search in the park, they could not find the tusks and that they suspected someone else would have taken them.

The Forest Department of Coimbatore forest range has already constituted a special investigation team to find out whether any elephant was killed recently in the forest range of Coimbatore.

The six arrested are Sarvesh Babu (41), Sangeetha (38) of Gudalur in Nilgiris district, Vignesh (31) of Edayaripalayam, Loganathan (39) of Vellalore, Arul Arockyam (41) and Balamurugan (48) from Nagamnickenpalayam.
Chandigarh, June 1 : Punjab, where voting is underway for 13 Lok Sabha seats, registered 9.64 per cent polling in the first two hours on Saturday.

Around 70,000 security personnel, including central forces, have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting at 24,451 polling stations in the state.

Simultaneously, the polling started for the lone parliamentary seat in Chandigarh, which is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. The voter turnout was 11.64 per cent till 9 a.m.

State Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, were among the early to cast their votes. They exercised their franchise at a polling booth in their hometown Sangrur and appealed to people to vote in large numbers.

After casting the vote, CM Mann told the media, "People of Punjab are aware and they vote in large numbers. We should use our right to vote. I appeal to Punjabis to come out of their homes and vote and choose good representatives who can work for you."

He said there was some issue with VVPAT (at the polling booth) and the officials replaced it.

His wife Gurpreet Kaur said, "I urge the women to come out and vote in large numbers. Our participation is essential in choosing a government that will work for our benefit."

The Sangrur seat was witnessing a tough contest among the AAP's Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Congress' Sukhpal Singh Khaira, BJP's Arvind Khanna, Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Iqbal Singh Jhundan and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)'s Simranjit Singh Mann, the outgoing MP.

In Amritsar, former diplomat and BJP candidate, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, cast his vote at a local polling booth. He's competing against Congress MP and candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla, AAP's Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and SAD's Anil Joshi.

A total of 2,14,61,741 voters including 1,12,86,727 men, 1,01,74,241 women, 773 transgenders, 1,58,718 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and 1,614 Non-Resident Indian voters, are entitled to cast their votes till 6 p.m. with vote counting scheduled on June 4.

There are 5,38,715 first-time voters in Punjab, while 189,855 voters are aged 85 and above.

Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said 5,694 polling stations have been declared critical.

The counting of votes would take place at 117 centres at 24 locations.

Punjab is all set for a four-cornered fight among AAP, the Congress, the Akali Dal and the BJP.

Among the prominent faces, BJP nominee and four-time MP Preneet Kaur is seeking re-election from the Patiala seat.

Three-time MP and SAD's Harsimrat Kaur Badal is trying her luck from Bathinda.

Political observers told IANS that AAP aims to repeat its 2022 assembly polls 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.

Punjab had recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 : For the second day in succession, Kerala Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan has denied the claims of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that a ritual involving animal sacrifice (black magic) took place in a temple to "bring trouble to the Congress government".

"By now, we have made a detailed probe on this. There has been no information about such a thing happening in the named temple or its neighbourhood. Our probe will continue but we are sure that this cannot happen as we have a law in place since 1968 on the ban of animal sacrifice. We are at a loss as to why he (Shivakumar) has raised such an allegation," said Radhakrishnan while speaking to the media on Saturday.

The agencies that have conducted the probe include Kerala Police Intelligence, the Devasom Boards and the local temple officials at a few places in Kannur, he said.

On Thursday, Shivakumar said that his political detractors are conducting a 'Shatru Bhairavi Yaga', a ritual involving animal sacrifice, in the Raja Rajeshwari temple in Kerala, to bring trouble to the Congress government in Karnataka.

He told the media in Bengaluru that he had the information that "21 red goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep and five pigs were being sacrificed for this black magic".

After drawing flak, the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister later said that he had not mentioned the name of any temple.

The ruling CPI(M) and its leadership slammed Shivakumar for airing such a baseless allegation.
Bengaluru, June 1 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is making every effort to recover the mobile phone allegedly used by arrested JD(S) MP and prime accused in the sex videos case, Prajwal Revanna, to record sexual acts and assaults on his victims.

The recovery of the mobile phone has become the primary focus of the investigation, as former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna is not cooperating with the Investigating Officers by providing information or answering questions, sources stated.

His voice samples will be collected and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to match the voice in the videos.

SIT sources said that the Hassan MP has remained tight-lipped throughout the interrogation.

On the second day of questioning, the officers were still unable to get any answers to their questions from Prajwal Revanna.

Throughout Friday, Prajwal Revanna maintained that he was not connected to the sex videos and that the investigators can conduct the probe however they want.

"Prajwal has been non-cooperative throughout the probe since his arrest. He is claiming that the scandal is a political conspiracy against him and that he will answer questions only after consulting his lawyer," sources said.

The SIT has learnt that Prajwal Revanna lodged a complaint on March 29, 2023 regarding a missing mobile phone through his Personal Assistant, Bharat Raj, in Hassan.

Sources indicate that the original device is with Prajwal Revanna's former driver, Karthik Gowda.

Sources said that Karthik Gowda is currently absconding in a foreign location and the SIT is making all efforts to track him down.

It is believed that Karthik Gowda was the first person to see the private videos and that he shared them with arrested BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda and some Congress leaders.

Karthik Gowda had earlier alleged that Prajwal Revanna's family had threatened him and forcefully took his property.

He also said that Prajwal Revanna's family kidnapped him and his pregnant wife to coerce him into signing property documents.

Later, using the police, his wife was assaulted, leading to her suffering a miscarriage, sources said.

The SIT is in contact with Karthik Gowda's family to gather more information.

The agency has collected the IMEI number of the cell phone and is attempting to track it down, sources stated.

Prajwal Revanna has been handed over to SIT custody until June 6 by a court.

The authorities are planning to take him to Hassan and Holenarasipur on Sunday.
Chennai, June 1 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, said on Saturday that the INDIA bloc was on the cusp of victory and that June 4 would witness a new dawn.

In a post on his X handle, the DMK President said that the aim of forming the Opposition bloc for the Lok Sabha elections was to put an end to the ten-year-old afascista rule of the BJP.

CM Stalin further said in his post that this aim seems to have been achieved and that the Opposition bloc had succeeded in rallying a formidable combination against the BJP.

He also alleged that through relentless campaigning the INDIA bloc revealed the false image created by the BJP.

CM Stalin also said that senior leader and DMK Treasurer, TR Baalu would attend the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi later on Saturday.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also called upon the DMK cadres to be vigilant during counting of votes on June 4.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK-led front had won 38 out of the 39 seats in the state.

This time too, the DMK is expected to win majority of the Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.
LACHIN, Azerbaijan, June 1. The small hydropower plant (HPP) in Azerbaijan's Lachin will boost the supply of clean energy to the region, Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov said during a ceremony for the foundation-laying of projects for the rehabilitation and operation of small hydropower plants in Lachin on June 1, Trend reports.

We are witnessing a successful example of attracting strategic investments in the regions infrastructure. This is another indicator of the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood. These projects will play an important role in providing the infrastructure for Kalbajar and Lachin and will help strengthen the supply of clean energy to the region.

The implementation of similar projects ahead of the implementation of COP29 in Azerbaijan clearly demonstrates our country's commitment to environmental protection and green growth," he added.

To note, today, a ceremony to lay the foundation of a small hydropower plant took place in Lachin.

The foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydroelectric power plant took place as part of the project to operate five small hydroelectric power plants in Azerbaijan's Kalbajar and Lachin districts.

Last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yatrm Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Turkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement, according to which five small HPPs will be commissioned on the Hakari and Tartar rivers.

The total cost of the project is 25 million manat. In total, five stations with a total capacity of 13.8 MW are planned to be commissioned in 2025. The service life of the stations is 30 years. The implementation of the project will create 25 new jobs.

The first stage of the project on the Zabukh river in the Lachin district envisages the building of the Malibay HPP with a capacity of 5.1 MW; the second stage - the Galacha-2 HPP (3.4 MW); Minkend - 1.8 MW; Galacha-1 - 1.1 MW; and the third stage involves the construction of a small HPP "Tartar 1" with a capacity of 2.4 MW on the Tartar river in the Kalbajar district.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Bhubaneswar, June 1 : A voting percentage of 22.64 was recorded in the first four hours of polling in Odisha's six Lok Sabha seats and 42 Assembly segments on Saturday where simultaneous elections are taking place.

Around one crore people are going to exercise their franchise in six parliamentary constituencies -- Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur -- and 42 Assembly segments under these constituencies.

As per the Election Commission of India, Balasore with 27.66 per cent voting has recorded maximum polling among the parliamentary constituencies.

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal said, "Polling is going on peacefully in 10,882 polling stations in the last phase of polling. The six parliamentary constituencies in this phase had recorded high voter turnout with 74.38 per cent in the 2019 general elections."

Dhal further stated that 6,279 (58 per cent) polling booths are under strict surveillance through live webcasting. He also informed the media that 79 ballot units, 106 control units and 233 VVPATs have been replaced so far after the EVM machines were found malfunctioning.

He urged voters to come out of their houses in large numbers and exercise their democratic rights.

The voters will decide the fate of several heavyweights from different political parties, including former Union Minister and BJP's Balasore MP candidate, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, the party's national vice president and candidate for Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat, Baijayant Panda, senior Congress leader Srikant Kumar Jena, ruling Biju Janata Dal leader Pratap Keshari Deb. in this phase.

As many as 460 candidates, including 66 for the parliamentary elections and 394 for the Assembly elections, are in the fray.

As many as 36,000 police personnel, including 126 companies of Central Armed Police Force, 86 platoons of Odisha Armed Police and 20,500 civil police personnel have been deployed for the final phase of polling. More than 72,000 polling personnel are engaged to ensure the smooth conduct of polling in the final phase.
Bengaluru, June 1 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar were granted bail by the Special MP/MLA court on Saturday in connection with a defamation case filed by BJP General Secretary Keshav Prasad.

The petition alleges that the Congress party engaged in propaganda by publishing full-page advertisements accusing the then BJP government of charging a 40 per cent commission, labelling it as a "40 per cent government." The Congress also created posters and advertisements displaying a rate card allegedly set by the then BJP government for various posts.

Speaking to reporters, CM Siddaramaiah stated that he presented himself in the court in connection with a private complaint.

"The case is civil in nature. I secured bail by presenting myself before the judge as a protector of the law and a law-abiding citizen. The case was also lodged against KPCC President Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi will also appear in court," CM Siddaramaiah stated.

"We have also sought a permanent injunction against further appearances in connection with the case," he added.

Reacting to the media in the court premises, Deputy CM Shivakumar stated that the Congress party had given advertisements based on statements by BJP leaders. This is being challenged in court. The BJP leaders claimed that Rs 2,500 crore was given for the CM's post and mentioned the amounts that needed to be paid for other plum posts. These statements have appeared in the media as news.

"We know how to face this type of case. We know what to do and how to do it," he stated.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 : After arresting two cabin crew members of Air India Express for allegedly smuggling gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intensified the probe suspecting role of more crew members in the crime.

The DRI arrested 26-year-old Surabhi Khatun, a native of Kolkata and a member of the cabin crew on the flight from Muscat, in the wee hours of Friday.

She was taken into custody after 960 grams of gold concealed in a compound form was found in her body.

The DRI had also picked up her senior colleague - Sohail, who hails from Kannur, and is suspected to be the key person in the smuggling of gold.

After getting some fresh leads, the DRI intensified the probe as it suspected the involvement of more cabin crew members in smuggling gold.

Details are awaited.
New Delhi, June 1 : Kia India on Saturday said it has registered the sale of 19,500 units in May, a growth of over 3.9 per cent (year-on-year) compared to 18,766 units in the corresponding month of the last year.

The automaker said it also dispatched 2,304 units from India to overseas markets in the month, taking the production figure of Kia to 21,804 units.

With this, the company surpassed the 2.5 lakh export milestone to over 100 countries, it said in a statement.

Seltos contributed the majority, with almost 60 per cent of exports from India accounted for by the model. Sonet and Carens followed Seltos with 34 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, of the overseas dispatches.

"With a robust network expansion strategy in place, we shall continue to grow in the rest of the year and cross 1 million domestic sales milestone soon," said Hardeep Singh Brar, SVP and Head Sales and Marketing at Kia India.

Launched in January 2024, the new Sonet emerged as the highest-selling model for Kia India in May, with 7,433 units, closely followed by Seltos and Carens with 6,736 and 5,316 units, respectively.

"So far in this year, we have been aggressive in introducing new competitive variants of our models, which has contributed significantly to our sales," said Brar.

The company has sold more than 9.8 lakh units in the domestic market, with Seltos contributing almost 50 per cent of the total.

Kia India commenced mass production in August 2019 and has an installed annual production capacity of 300,000 units.
New Delhi, June 1 : US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday highlighted the growing defence partnership with India while citing some of the achievements of Indo-Pacific nations working together.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin stated that "like-minded countries" across the region have deepened their ties and delivered "real-world results" for the people of the Indo-Pacific.

"With India, we've made historic progress on co-producing fighter-jet engines and armoured vehicles," said Austin as he mentioned defence agreements with countries like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Australia terming them not only "historic" but also "just the starting point".

Later, as he took on questions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Austin once again touched on the "significant momentum" in defence ties with regional partners, especially India - a "flywheel" that he said is going to pick up speed because it benefits all.

"I think a good example is the relationship that we enjoy with India right now is as good as or better than our relationship has ever been. It's really strong," said Austin.

"You know, several years ago, we set out with a notion to - gain approval for India to build jet engines for fighter aircraft in India. I served on the board of a company that makes jet engines for fighter aircraft and I know how difficult this was going to be. And we were hopeful but very sceptical that we could get this across the finish line. We did it. That's happening," added the US Defence Secretary.

Last year, during Austin's two-day visit to New Delhi, India and the US finalised a new roadmap for defence industrial cooperation between the two countries which will fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in several areas. This included air combat and land mobility systems; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions; and the undersea domain.

Washington had described the development as a "transformational moment" in the India-US defence partnership.

"To have the world's largest democracies with some of the most innovative workers and companies working more closely together on strategic technologies and how we can leverage them for security is a natural next step in this relationship," said a senior official at the Pentagon.

Asserting that India will be a critical strategic partner with the US in the coming decades, the officials are now engaged in co-producing and co-developing major systems together, something nobody would have thought of earlier.

"We now have working groups on everything ranging from cyberspace and critical technologies to maritime security, and India is leading in those forums together with the US and like-minded partners," the official said.
Mumbai, June 1 : Bhojpuri actor and politician Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known by his screen name Nirahua, exercised his civic responsibility by casting his vote in Ghazipur on Saturday during the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

He arrived at the polling station with his mother, Chandrajyoti Yadav.

After voting, the actor said: "The boy from this village has reached the largest Panchayat of India. One vote holds power in this democracy. I appeal to everyone to cast their vote; it's your right."

Dinesh joined politics by becoming a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lucknow in 2019.
Kyiv, June 1 : The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia fired 53 missiles and 47 Shahed drones at the country's critical infrastructure overnight.

According to the Air Force, 46 drones and 35 missiles were intercepted, reports Xinhua news agency.

The attack caused damage to energy infrastructure in five regions in Ukraine, according to the country's state-run energy company, Ukrenergo.

The company added that two thermal power plants of Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, were hit during the air strikes, damaging their equipment.

According to media reports, Russia has carried out six missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power generation and transmission infrastructure since March 22.

By the end of May, Russian attacks have destroyed more than 8 GW, or about 40 per cent of Ukraine's power generation capacity, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Mumbai, June 1 : Actor Pratik Gandhi, who is receiving widespread acclaim for his role in the recently released streaming movie 'Dedh Bigha Zameen', has shared his opinion on the prevalent social evils of dowry and land grabbing in the country, emphasising how dowry has evolved to fit into urban settings.

In 'Dedh Bigha Zameen', Pratik essays the role of a man who needs to sell his ancestral land to pay the dowry for his sister's wedding.

The actor told IANS: "There are certain issues, like dowry, that nobody is willing to talk about openly. People may think that dowry is an issue only in rural areas or small towns, but that's not the case. Only its name has changed, but we can still see it in big cities."

Pratik also spoke about the persistence of female infanticide in certain parts of the country, emphasizing the need for strict punishment.

The actor said: "We did a play highlighting the problem of female infanticide some 7-8 years ago. It was about the soul of a girl child who comes on stage and expresses her wish to be born in India, but nobody gives her the chance to be born. The play was on a very sensitive subject. All these issues damage our society, and they need to be dealt with strictly by the law."

"People who are victims of such evil practices, or who participate in them, have somewhere normalised them, thinking, 'aisa hi hota hai' (this is how it is). We need to tackle this problem first and make people aware that it is not normal. Just because they've been practiced for ages doesn't make them morally right."

'Dedh Bigha Zameen' is available to stream on JioCinema Premium.
Chandigarh, June 1 : Punjab, where voting is underway for 13 Lok Sabha seats, registered 37.80 per cent polling by 1 p.m., a spike from 9.64 per cent in the first two hours, while Chandigarh saw voter turnout of 40.14 per cent on Saturday.

At 41.17 per cent, Bathinda constituency recorded the highest voter turnout till now.

The state has about 2.2 crore electors and 5.04 lakh first-time voters.

Around 70,000 security personnel, including Central forces, have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting at 24,451 polling stations in the state.

Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, had a voter turnout of 40.14 per cent by 1 p.m., a rise from 11.64 per cent in the first two hours of the commencement of the polling.

INDIA bloc allies -- the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- are contesting separately in Punjab, while the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are contesting the Lok Sabha polls on their own for the first time since 1996.

State Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, were among the early to cast their votes. They exercised their franchise at a polling booth in their hometown Sangrur and appealed to people to vote in large numbers.

After casting the vote, CM Mann told the media, "People of Punjab are aware and they vote in large numbers. We should use our right to vote. I appeal to Punjabis to come out of their homes and vote and choose good representatives who can work for you." He said there was some issue with VVPAT (at the polling booth) and the officials replaced it.

His wife Gurpreet Kaur said, "I urge the women to come out and vote in large numbers. Our participation is essential in choosing a government that will work for our benefit."

The Sangrur seat was witnessing a tough contest among the AAP's Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Congress' Sukhpal Singh Khaira, BJP's Arvind Khanna, Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Iqbal Singh Jhundan and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)'s Simranjit Singh Mann, the outgoing MP.

In Amritsar, former diplomat and BJP candidate, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, cast his vote at a local polling booth. He's competing against Congress MP and candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla, AAP's Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and SAD's Anil Joshi.

A total of 2,14,61,741 voters, including 1,12,86,727 men, 1,01,74,241 women, 773 transgenders, 1,58,718 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and 1,614 Non-Resident Indian voters, are entitled to cast their votes till 6 p.m.

There are 5,38,715 first-time voters in Punjab, while 1,89,855 voters are aged 85 and above.

Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C. said 5,694 polling stations have been declared critical.

The counting of votes will take place at 117 centres at 24 locations on June 4.

Among the prominent faces, BJP nominee and four-time MP Preneet Kaur is seeking re-election from the Patiala seat.

Three-time MP and SAD's Harsimrat Kaur Badal is trying her luck from Bathinda.

Political observers told IANS that AAP aims to repeat its 2022 Assembly polls 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.

Punjab had recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
New Delhi, June 1 : The Delhi High Court has cautioned that if sadhus, gurus, and other religious figures are allowed to build shrines on the public land, it would lead to disastrous consequences and jeopardise larger public interest.

Justice Dharmesh Sharma said, "In our country, we might find thousands of sadhus, babas, fakirs, gurus in different parts of the landscape and if each one is allowed to build a shrine or samadhi sthal on a public land and thereby, continue to use it for personal gains by the vested interest groups, it would lead to disastrous consequences jeopardising larger public interest."

Justice Sharma made this observation while dismissing a petition filed by Mahant Naga Baba Bhola Giri, represented by his successor.

The plea sought a directive for the District Magistrate to demarcate land at Nigambodh Ghat, claiming possession prior to the 2006 deadline set by the Delhi Special Laws Act.

The court found the petition lacking in merit, noting that the District Magistrate had already rejected the request.

The rejection was based on the urbanisation status of the land and the unavailability of relevant revenue records.

Justice Sharma said that the petitioner was essentially a trespasser, stating, "Merely the fact that he had been a cultivator for 30 years or more did not bestow him with any legal right, title, or interest to continue to occupy the subject property."

Furthermore, the court noted the absence of any historical significance or public dedication of the site for worship or prayer to the revered deceased baba.

The court also dismissed the argument regarding the Religious Affairs Committee's pending consideration of the site's demolition, clarifying that it was a private shrine and not one devoted to the public.

Justice Sharma elaborated on the traditional expectations of Naga Sadhus, noting, "Naga sadhus are devotees of Lord Shiva and they are ordained to live a life of complete detachment from worldly affairs. Therefore, seeking property rights in their names does not conform with their beliefs and practices."
LACHIN, Azerbaijan, June 1. The Karabakh region is emerging as an alternative green energy zone, Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Anar Akhundov said during a foundation-laying ceremony for projects to restore and operate small hydroelectric power plants in Lachin, Trend reports.

"Today, the development of the territories liberated from occupation is paramount. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the 'Great Return' program to our liberated lands is being successfully implemented. The region is evolving into a hub of alternative green energy. Active cooperation with private investors is being fostered in this direction," he stated.

To note, on June 1, a foundation-laying ceremony for a small hydroelectric power plant was held in Lachin.

As part of the project to operate five small hydroelectric power plants in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts of Azerbaijan, the foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small HPP took place.

Last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yatrm Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Turkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement, according to which five small HPPs will be put into operation on the Hakari and Tartar rivers.

The total budget allocated for the project amounts to 25 million manat, or $14.7 million. In its entirety, the project aims to commission five stations with a combined capacity of 13.8 MW by the year 2025. These stations are expected to have a service life of 30 years, and the project implementation will generate 25 new employment opportunities.

The project's first phase involves constructing the Malibay HPP on the Zabukh river in Lachin district, with a capacity of 5.1 MW. In the subsequent stage, the Galacha 2 HPP (3.4 MW), Minkend HPP (1.8 MW), and Galacha 1 HPP (1.1 MW) are planned for construction. The third phase includes the construction of the Tartar 1 (2.4 MW) small HPP on the Tartar river in Kalbajar district.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Shimla, June 1 : Himachal Pradesh on Saturday recorded 48.63 per cent polling by 1 p.m. for four parliamentary seats, while for bypoll in six Assembly seats, the polling percentage was 43.10.

A total of 57.11 lakh voters will cast their votes till 6 p.m.

The prominent Lok Sabha candidates in the fray include Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister Anand Sharma, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

The voter turnout in the state during the parliamentary poll was 80.1 per cent in 2019, and Mandi recorded the highest polling at 82.3 per cent, followed by Kangra at 80.9 per cent and Hamirpur and Shimla (reserved) at 79.9 per cent.

BJP national President J. P. Nadda and his wife Mallika Nadda were the first voters to cast their votes in a polling station at their native place in the Bilaspur district.

"I was the first voter at this polling booth. I appeal to all voters to vote in large numbers for a self-reliant India," Nadda said after casting his vote.

Taking on X, Nadda wrote: "As the #LokSabha2024 election reaches its final phase, I appeal to all my brothers and sisters, especially the young voters, to exercise their democratic rights and actively participate in the electoral process."

"Your single vote has the strength to establish a government that gives direction to the dream of 'Viksit Bharat' and also prioritises national interest, development, as well as the well-being of all citizens, ensuring a brighter future and inclusive growth for every section of society."

"Step out and cast your vote to help make the festival of democracy a success," he urged.

Union Minister and BJP candidate from the Hamirpur seat, Anurag Thakur cast his vote along with two-time Chief Minister and his father Prem Kumar Dhumal and other family members at Hamirpur.

"Our vote is for the progress, prosperity, stability and continuity of the country, for a developed India," Thakur said. The Congress has fielded former legislator Satpal Singh Raizada from the Hamirpur seat.

After casting her vote at her native Bhambla village in Mandi district, Kangana Ranaut appealed: "Urge all voting in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections to come out and vote in massive numbers and become a part of our vibrant festival of democracy."

Donning traditional dress, Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Rahul Jain cast in Kaza town.

Likewise, people clad in traditional attire arrived to cast their votes at the world's highest polling station in Tashigang, located in the Spiti Valley at an altitude of 15,256 feet.

In the Churah subdivision of Chamba district, residents in the Makhan-Chachul area falling under the Sanval gram panchayat boycotted the Lok Sabha polls over their demand for proper road connectivity and electricity supply.

A total of 37 candidates are in the fray for the four Lok Sabha seats of Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur and Shimla (reserved), while 25 candidates are contesting the six by-elections in Dharamsala, Gagret, Kutlehar, Sujanpur, Barsar and Lahaul and Spiti constituencies.

The bypoll was necessitated as the seats fell vacant due disqualification of the legislators, all of the Congress, for defying the party whip while passing the state budget.

The BJP gave tickets to all six Congress rebels, who had supported the party in the Rajya Sabha polls. The rebel Congress leaders -- 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.
Chennai, June 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left the Vivekananda Rock Memorial after 45 hours of meditation at the Dhyana Mandap in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari.

Chennai, June 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left the Vivekananda Rock Memorial after 45 hours of meditation at the Dhyana Mandap in Tamil Naduas Kanyakumari.

PM Modi also paid floral tributes at the statue of Thiruvalluvar, a saint and Tamil cultural icon which is nearer to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

Heavy security has been put in place for PM Modi, and along with the Special Protection Group, the Coast Guard is also providing security to the Prime Minister.

PM Modi will travel from the helipad by a chopper to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport while two other choppers will accompany the Prime Minister to Thiruvananthapuram.

From Thiruvananthapuram to New Delhi, PM Modi will fly by a special aircraft at 4.10 pm and is expected to reach New Delhi by 7.30 pm.
Bengaluru, June 1 : After facing flak, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that he had only said that black magic rituals took place near a Kerala temple and not inside it.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "My statement has been misconstrued. I never said that the black magic ritual 'Shatru Bairavi Yagna' against me and the Chief Minister was performed in the Raja Rajeshwara temple in Kerala. I had mentioned the rituals took place in a private land near the temple."

He was replying to the statement by a Kerala Minister that animal sacrifice does not take place in Kerala temples.

"I have great respect for God's own country, its temples and the people. My statement has been misunderstood. I did not mean to hurt the sentiments of anyone. I had recently visited the Raja Rajeshwara temple and I am a devotee of the temple. I only referred to the temple to indicate the location of the black magic rituals," he said.

"I would not like to talk about who is behind the black magic rituals, I only shared the details that I received. The Kerala minister has said that an inquiry would be ordered into the incident and I welcome that decision," he said.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated on Thursday that political opponents were performing black magic through 'Aghoris' and 'tantriks' at a temple in Kerala against him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He had said that he had credible information that a yagna (special worship) was conducted by 'Aghoris' in an isolated place near the Raja Rajeshwara temple in Kerala.
New Delhi, June 1 : Years before swanky malls transformed the identity of Saket in the crowded southern fringe of the national capital, a restaurant named Pan Asian opened in what was then an ITC-managed hotel called the Marriott WelcomHotel.

Inspired by Singapore's iconic Mezza9 restaurant, Pan Asian, although Chinese-led, became instantly famous because of its Korean barbecue, which was then a novelty, and teppanyaki counter, and later for its live sushi corner presided over by a well-regarded Japanese master chef, Nariyoshi Nakamura.

Pan Asian was able to carve a niche for itself despite stiff internal competition from Dakshin, which, with its largely non-vegetarian, seafood-led menu, had completely changed the idli-dosa-vada view of South Indian fare that the average Dilliwallah nurtured for years.

As time passed, Pan Asian lost its mojo, and ITC, at Kohenur, its luxury hotel in Hyderabad, came up with an all-new contemporary Chinese restaurant concept inspired by Da Dong, the Beijing-based master of an avant garde re-interpretation of the ancient cuisine.

The new restaurant was called Yi Jing ('to change the classic'), centred mainly around the piquant offerings of the Sichuan and Hunan kitchens, and eventually it came to the Saket hotel, which has been known for quite some time as the Sheraton New Delhi.

The restaurant has unveiled a 2.0 version of its menu, whose main attractions are Dim Sum Chef Wang Peng's delicious pieces of edible art. The chef, incidentally, was a part of the original Yi Jing team at Kohenur and is at present visiting from his current address -- ITC Narmada, Ahmedabad. The mains, as they have been for some time, are from Chef Deepak Pujari's creative wok.

Yi Jing describes its menu as classical and creative -- and rightly so. We opened our dinner with Chicken Char Siu Dumplings shaped artfully like ducks (a pleasantly surprising change from the barbecued pork baos). The sheer beauty of the dumplings made them an elevating sensory experience, despite the rather stiff price tag.

The Cantonese-style sweet and tangy fried lotus stem and the crispy Sichuan prawns that were both 'kadak' and 'chatpata' -- two qualities that Delhiites love in the food they eat -- definitely set us in the mood for more.

As if these weren't enough to get us hooked, the crispy New Zealand lamb with dried chillies and peppers was an expression of the thought behind the new menu: it doesn't play around with the essence of Chinese cuisine, despite a presentation style you wouldn't normally expect at a Chinese restaurant.

Nor does it pass off the immensely popular Sino-Ludhianvi cuisine as Chinese 2.0.

The mains we had were high on taste, but without any drama in the presentation style. The Clay Pot Mapo Tofu did not tinker with a classic, nor did the lobster cooked in oyster sauce, which turned out to be an ode to the elegance of simplicity. Together with stir-fried jasmine rice that delicately balanced the soy and burnt garlic and wok-tossed vegetarian noodles loaded with peppers, the mains tasted doubly good.

Our meal was brought to a glorious end by a hazelnut praline chocolate rocher (that's French for 'rock') that arrived in a ball of candyfloss, which was removed by our friendly server with the help of a flaming dram of whisky. The chocolate ball was in flames as we dug into it, simultaneously spooning away the warm whisky to complete the treat.

A visit to Yi Jing may set you back financially, but you'll come back with the feeling that the evening was worth the investment. It is the kind of restaurant you'd go to for a celebratory evening or to impress a foreign client. In either case, you'll come back happier than ever.
Islamabad, June 1 : The Afghan Taliban has taken less than 24 hours to backtrack from its earlier commitment to help Pakistan apprehend the perpetrators behind the terror attack targeting a bus carrying Chinese engineers in Besham city.

"We have no connection to the terror attack in which five Chinese engineers were killed on March 26," Kabul has said.

Afghan Taliban has also turned down Islamabad's request for assistance in the ongoing investigation into the Besham attack.

"They (Pakistan) are trying to create a rift between Kabul and Beijing. The Besham episode has nothing to do with Afghanistan. It is Pakistan which should ensure its own security," said Afghan Taliban Spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid.

Mujahid said that targeting the Chinese nationals is Pakistan's matter and has nothing to do with Afghanistan.

"The report published by Pakistan is an attempt to create distrust between China and Afghanistan. We have repeatedly denied this. It is also illogical," he said.

Kabul's rejection comes within 24 hours of Pakistan stating that the Afghan administration is ready to assist and work with Islamabad to take the investigation forward.

Earlier, Pakistan's Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha had travelled to Kabul, carrying a message from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the Taliban administration.

Diplomatic sources confirmed that Agha had a detailed meeting with Interim Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Muhammad Nabi Omari as Pakistan shared evidence in reference to the Besham attack of Chinese engineers, maintaining that there are clear links between the Besham attack and the Afghanistan territory.

Pakistan's Foreign Office also issued a statement, highlighting that the Afghan side has agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and expressed its resolve to work with Pakistan to take the investigation forward and to its logical conclusion.

"The Afghan side reiterated its commitment to prevent the use of their soil for any terrorist activity against other countries, including Pakistan," the statement said.

Pakistan claims that the suspects involved in the Besham attack have been identified and the evidence has been shared with Kabul demanding the arrest of culprits.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Office, confirmed Kabul's commitment over the matter on Friday.

"We have been engaged with each other to ensure that the Afghan territory is not used to create trouble in Pakistan. The Afghan authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that Afghan territory will not be used against third countries including Pakistan," she said during the weekly press briefing.

Experts say that the Afghan Taliban cannot afford to concede Pakistan's claims and wants to maintain its relationship with China without the Islamabad connection.

"Afghanistan wants to keep its relation with China completely separate from its terms with Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban will never agree to Pakistan's claims. Even if they do agree partially, it would take them no time to backtrack from the commitment because they will never take action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that is part of their armour," said strategic expert Kamran Yousaf.
Agra, June 1 : Tourists flocking to Agra to catch a glimpse of the 17th-century monument of love, the Taj Mahal, and other historical wonders are facing a challenging ordeal as temperatures have been hovering between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius since the last few weeks.

The Golden Triangle tourism circuit, which includes Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, is currently reeling under a record-breaking heatwave.

Delhi, with an unprecedented temperature of 48-plus degrees Celsius, a few days ago, has seen dwindling numbers of visitors at historical sites like the Red Fort, India Gate, and Qutub Minar.

On the other hand, Rajasthan capital Jaipur, which has experienced a high of 51 degrees Celsius, saw declining footfalls in the past few weeks.

The city of monuments Agra, touching 50 degrees Celsius, has been reporting fewer tourists at the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.

On Saturday, Agra's markets were nearly deserted as tourists avoided the heat.

"Tourists now visit the Taj either in the early morning or after 4 p.m. Colourful umbrellas are a common sight, and sales of cold drinks and filtered water have surged," said a tourist guide.

Many tourists described the red sandstone pathways as "sizzlers" and lamented the 'dry' Yamuna river.

The river bed without water is not only an eye sore but has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria that defile the white marble surface of the monument.

Tourist guides have noted a significant drop in tourist numbers, both foreign and domestic.

"Water facilities are inadequate at the monuments. From the Royal Gate of the Taj Mahal to the main structure, it's a long, gruelling walk with no shade. Elderly tourists, especially, struggle," a guide said.

This year, we have seen a record number of tourists fainting in the Taj Mahal, he said.

Timely assistance by the security personnel, has saved many lives, as medical help was promptly provided, said another tourist guide, Ved Gautam.

Foreign tourists were seen pouring water on their heads and using colourful umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun.

"The heat is unbearable, and the red sandstones feel like they are spewing fire," said a local resident, Amit Kumar.

Social activist and senior advocate K.C. Jain has urged the Archaeological Survey of India authorities to provide umbrellas for rent along with entry tickets.

Domestic tourists, unlike their foreign counterparts, tend to rush through multiple monuments in the stifling heat.

The Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri are particularly challenging due to the long walks under the sun.

However, despite the blazing temperatures, the rich history and cultural heritage of these cities continue to draw visitors.
Prevented from 'speaking' on CM's daughter's case, Cong MLA says democracy is butchered in Kerala. Image Source: IANS News

Kochi, June 1 : Five weeks after a vigilance court here rejected a plea moved by first-time Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan seeking a court-monitored probe into the allegations of corruption against Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan, Kuzhalnadan filed a fresh application on the matter in the Kerala High Court on Saturday.

The high court will take up the petition on Monday.

Kuzhalnadan had approached the vigilance court seeking a probe by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department into the allegations that Veena Vijayanas IT firm got monthly gratification from a Kochi-based mining firm, Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Ltd ( CMRL), for mining sanctions.

After the vigilance court dismissed the plea last month, the CPI-M slammed the Congress legislator for targeting CM Vijayan and his family. Kuzhalnadan had said that he would decide on the next course of action after getting the detailed judegment.

Kuzhalandan has been alleging corruption in Veena Vijayanas now-closed IT firm Exalogic based out of Bengaluru, both inside and outside the Assembly, for nearly a year now.

He also came under duress when the revenue department after a complaint measured a resort that he co-owns in Idukki district. The department has now registered a case against him over excess land in a government property.

Incidentally, various agencies, including the ED, SFIO, and Income Tax Department, have recorded the statements of many people except Veena Vijayan in the case, which Kuzhalnadan highlighted last year based on an Income Tax Settlement Board statement which pointed out that the CM's daughter's firm received Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL.
Kolkata, June 1 : The pace of voting in nine Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal during the seventh and last phase of polling on Saturday declined substantially as violence intensified. However, it still remained higher than the national average.

Till 3 P.M., the average polling percentage in West Bengal was recorded at 58.46, compared to 45.07 per cent till 1 P.M. However, the figure was still higher than the national average of 49.68 per cent.

For the Baranagar Assembly constituency bypoll in North 24 Parganas, polling was recorded at 53.4 per cent.

Tension continued to mount at Sandeshkhali under Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency as the villagers began protesting against intimidation of voters.

As the state police tried to disperse the villagers, clashes broke out between the protestors and the cops.

Later the villagers assembled in front of the local police outpost and started protesting.

At Sandeshkhali, BJP supporters blocked roads protesting against attacks on them by ruling party activists.

As police tried to disperse them, the BJP candidate from Basirhat, Rekha Patra reached the spot and had a heated exchange of words with the police officers present there.

In Taki area, also under Basirhat Lok Sabha, reports of clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters surfaced.

The ruling party leadership at Taki accused the BJP supporters of ransacking a camp office of the Trinamool Congress.

Tension also flared up at Ashoknagar under the Barasat Lok Sabha as the BJP and Trinamool Congress activists started pelting stones and bricks towards each other.

In the clashes, some supporters of both parties were injured.

Of the nine Lok Sabha seats, the maximum polling percentage till 3 P.M. was reported from Basirhat at 66.67 and lowest at Kolkata Dakshin at 50.61.
Panaji, June 1 : The Goa Police on Saturday busted an international sex trafficking racket which targeted economically weaker women from Uganda, an official said.

Police have rescued two victims and arrested one trafficker.

"The arrested accused person has been identified as Jojo Nakintu, 31, Uganda National and an FIR under section 370 of the IPC and section 4,5,7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act has been registered against her," police said.

Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal said that economically weak and young single mothers from Uganda were brought to India under the pretext of providing jobs at restaurants and cafes in Goa.

"After being brought to India, the traffickers seize passports of the young women and... force them into prostitution using violence and imposing a debt of lakhs of rupees," police said.

"The racket, a close-knit group involving the trafficker Jojo Nakintu, largely operated online, leveraging escort websites to solicit clients as well as offline standing on the beach and roads at Arambol," they added.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi, the sex trafficking racket was busted with the help of an NGO, Arz.

"One of the victims contacted the embassy and through the assistance and support of the embassy, the Goa Police was able to reach out to the location of the victims. Mandrem Police Inspector and members of Arz NGO went in search and managed to rescue two victims and arrest one trafficker," Dalvi said.

The rescued women have been lodged in a protective home at Merces in North Goa.

Police are further investigating the case.
New Delhi, June 1 : Meta-owned WhatsApp on Saturday said it banned more than 71 lakh accounts in India in the month of April for violating the laws of the land.

Out of 7,182,000 banned WhatsApp accounts, 1,302,000 were proactively blocked, before any reports from users, the social media company said in a statement.

The popular mobile messaging platform, which has more than 550 million users in India, received 10,554 grievances from the country, and the records "actioned" were just six.

The account "Actioned" means complaints where WhatsApp took remedial action.

WhatsApp also received two orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee in the country and complied with both, according to its monthly compliance report as per the new Indian IT Rules 2021.

"We will continue with transparency to our work and include information about our efforts in future reports," said the company.

For March, the Meta-owned platform banned more than 79 lakh accounts in India.

The platform received a record 12,782 complaint reports in March, and the records "actioned" were 11.

The company employs a team of engineers, data scientists, analysts, researchers, and experts in law enforcement, online safety, and technology developments to oversee these efforts.

"We enable users to block contacts and to report problematic content and contacts to us from inside the app. We pay close attention to user feedback and engage with specialists in stemming misinformation, promoting cybersecurity, and preserving election integrity," said WhatsApp.
Azerbaijan's Lachin district recently hosted a foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydroelectric power plant, Azernews reports.

This ceremony marks the beginning of a project to establish five small hydroelectric power plants in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts of Azerbaijan.

Key attendees included Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov, President's Special Representative in Lachin district Masim Mammadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC Ulvi Mansurov, Chairman of Demiroren Yat?r?m Holding Y?ld?r?m Demiroren, Head of Arges Enerji Team LLC Mehmet Fehmi Ozata and representatives from the Ministry of Economy.

The initiative, guided by President Ilham Aliyev, aims to transform liberated territories into zones of alternative and eco-friendly energy. A modern power supply system is being established to enhance regional infrastructure. The new hydropower plants will leverage the region's abundant hydro resources to provide green electricity, improving project efficiency. Collaboration with private investors is a critical component of this endeavor.

The project, highlighting Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood is the first joint hydroelectric project involving the private sector in the liberated territories. Once operational, the Malibay station will supply electricity to approximately 7,000 homes.

Last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yat?r?m Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Turkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement to operate five small HPPs on the Hakari and Tartar rivers. The project's total budget is 25 million manat (approximately $14.7 million), aiming to commission five stations with a combined capacity of 13.8 MW by 2025. The stations are expected to operate for 30 years and create 25 new jobs.

The project's first phase involves constructing the Malibay HPP on the Zabukh river in Lachin district, with a capacity of 5.1 MW. Subsequent stages will include the construction of the Galacha 2 HPP (3.4 MW), Minkend HPP (1.8 MW), and Galacha 1 HPP (1.1 MW). The final phase will see the construction of the Tartar 1 small HPP (2.4 MW) on the Tartar river in Kalbajar district.
LACHIN, Azerbaijan, June 1. The small hydroelectric power plant in Lachin is a clear example of a net zero emissions policy, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Lachin district Masim Mammadov said during the foundation-laying ceremony of the small hydroelectric power plant, Trend reports.

"A net zero emissions zone has been declared in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, and the Malibay small hydroelectric power plant laid today in Lachin district exemplifies this policy. The potential for green energy in Lachin district is immense," he said.

He added that nine small hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of about 80 MW have already been commissioned in Lachin.

To note, last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yatrm Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Turkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement, according to which five small HPPs will be put into operation on the Hakari and Tartar rivers.

The total budget allocated for the project amounts to 25 million manat, or $14.7 million. In its entirety, the project aims to commission five stations with a combined capacity of 13.8 MW by the year 2025. These stations are expected to have a service life of 30 years, and the project implementation will generate 25 new employment opportunities.

The project's first phase involves constructing the Malibay HPP on the Zabukh river in Lachin district, with a capacity of 5.1 MW. In the subsequent stage, the Galacha 2 HPP (3.4 MW), Minkend HPP (1.8 MW), and Galacha 1 HPP (1.1 MW) are planned for construction. The third phase includes the construction of the Tartar 1 (2.4 MW) small HPP on the Tartar river in Kalbajar district.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Mumbai, June 1 : Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who has been receiving a lot of positive responses for his recently released film 'Bhaiyya Ji', has graciously accepted the Movified Best Actor Award for his performance in 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai'.

Incidentally, both 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' and 'Bhaiyya Ji' are directed by Apoorv Singh Karki.

Expressing gratitude, Manoj said: "Thank you Movified and thank you audience, and all the people who voted for me. Best Actor award for 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai', there are very few genuine awards going on in the market, but when you get a genuine one, your joy knows no bounds."

Amidst the glitz and glamour of the film industry, the actor humbly acknowledged the unsung heroes behind his success  his family. "And also, I am taking this award on behalf of my family. They play a crucial role because they take care of one front, so that I can go out and really immerse myself in work," he shared.

The actor also expressed his gratitude towards Apoorv Singh Karki, as he said, "Apoorv Singh Karki is such a young director, who was such a support when I was performing the role, Deepak Kingrani, who is the writer, and my co-actors."

Acquired in 2012 by Neekeeta Singh, Movified is a platform that provides in-depth coverage of international films and digital content.
New Delhi, June 1 : The INDIA bloc meeting of Opposition parties on Saturday, which looked more like a show of strength than a 'strategy meet' resulted in a major embarrassment for the Congress. The grand old party, within 24 hours, has made a U-turn and reversed its decision on Exit Poll debates.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera took to his X handle and announced the party's decision to now participate in Exit Poll debates.

He also termed it a chance to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on 'pre-fixed Exit Polls'.

"INDIA bloc parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed Exit Polls. After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA parties will participate in the Exit Poll debates on television this evening," Khera wrote.

On Friday, Khera himself announced the party's decision to not engage in 'diversionary debates' ahead of Exit Polls, drawing jeers from the BJP.

Such flip-flops by the Congress within 24 hours have given more ammunition to the BJP for more direct and targeted attacks.

The top BJP brass targeted Congress party over its decision to boycott Exit polls debate and described this as a tacit acceptance of defeat ahead of election results.

From Home Minister Amit Shah to BJP chief J.P. Nadda and other BJP leaders, all said that Congress pulling out of Exit Polls process showed that it had conceded defeat and was now trying to make someone a scapegoat for its poll debacle.

Astonishingly, Congress president Mallikajun Kharge also gave his own predictions ahead of the Exit Polls.

Addressing the mediapersons after INDIA bloc meet, Kharge said that the alliance was set to win at least 295 seats. This is set to draw sharp reactions from the BJP.

Before the INDIA bloc meeting, Kharge said that the meet was to see smooth conclusion of the process till counting, however, the underlying message was palpable i.e. to keep the flock of more than 20 parties together.

With most poll surveys projecting, off the record, an easy victory for the BJP, poll pundits do see infighting and rumblings breaking out in the mammoth alliance of parties, soon after the June 4 election results.
Mumbai, June 1 : Actor Sonu Sood, who is busy with the shooting patchwork of his upcoming film 'Fateh', welcomed veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah to the sets of the film.

On Saturday, Sonu took to his Instagram and extended a warm welcome to the senior actor with whom he has worked in 'Maximum'.

The pictures are from a script reading session with Naseeruddin Shah. Sonu wrote in the caption, "Welcome on board Naseer sir. Directing someone I have admired all my life was so special. You will be proud of FATEH sir."

Earlier, it was reported that the legendary actor will be seen playing a hacker in the upcoming cybercrime thriller. His role is pivotal to Sood's directorial debut as it will drive the film's narrative.

'Fateh', marks Sonu Sood's debut as a director. The film delves into the real-life instances of cybercrime. It also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and is slated to hit the theatres this year.
Ahmedabad, June 1 : Gujarat Congress on Saturday said that the "corrupt" policies of the Gujarat government continue to endanger the lives of the citizens and also demanded action against the officials responsible for the fire in Rajkot TRP Game Zone, in which 27 people were killed.

"Despite ruling Gujarat for 30 years, the BJP's corrupt policies continue to endanger citizens' lives. The repeated accidents are a direct result of the government's inaction and lack of a clear fire policy and regulation," Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

He also alleged negligence by the authorities following the TRP Game Zone fire incident and has also called for the resignation of the Urban Development officials. "Criminal negligence charges should be filed against senior officials," he said.

Doshi lashed out at the Gujarat government for its "repeated failure" to prevent such disasters, despite numerous fire incidents across the state.

He also accused the state government of "corruption" and "compromising" on the fire safety measures, leading to "superficial compliance" and multiple "irregularities" in fire safety approvals.

"Gujarat requires 394 fire stations to serve its population but we only have 183 stations. Gujarat needs 34,240 fire personnel but has only 1,447 operational staff, representing a mere 4.5 per cent requirement. Of the 1,467 necessary firefighting appliances, only 770 are available, with over 250 being non-functional," Doshi said.

He said that between 2018 and 2022, Gujarat experienced 3,176 deaths due to fire-related accidents.

"The last five years have seen 3,100 fire incidents, including 729 in 2021 and 2022, which claimed 737 lives," he said.

He said that major fire incidents in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot have resulted in significant casualties, yet the government's response has been inadequate.
Over 6 hours of sedentary time daily may double fibroid risk in women. Image Source: IANS News

New York, June 1 : Kids who are sedentary for more than six waking hours a day have a significantly increased risk of severe fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis by young adulthood, a new study warned on Saturday.

Fatty liver disease is a harmful fat buildup in the liver. When the condition is not due to alcohol consumption but linked to at least one of five components of metabolic syndrome, it is called metabolic-associated steatotic (fatty) liver disease (MASLD).

"We found that this relationship between sedentariness and liver damage is likely causal," said Professor Andrew Agbaje, of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland, at 'ENDO 2024', the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston in the US.

For the study published in the journal Nature's Gut and Liver, Agbaje analysed data from a long-term study of a large UK birth cohort.

At ages 17 and 24, study participants underwent a liver ultrasound scan to assess for fatty liver and evidence of liver scarring.

On average, children from the study spent 6 hours a day sitting or otherwise being sedentary, but this time increased to 9 hours daily by young adulthood.

For each half-hour of sedentary behaviour above 6 hours per day, children had 15 per cent higher odds of developing fatty liver disease before they were 25 years old.

Any increase of sedentary time above six hours a day resulted in a corresponding decrease in the time spent in light-intensity physical activity, therefore 3 hours less daily by young adulthood.

However, each additional half hour of light-intensity physical activity beyond 3 hours per day decreased the odds of severe fatty liver disease by 33 per cent.

"We believe that this alteration in sedentary time versus time for light-intensity physical activity sets the stage for disease initiation and progression," Agbaje said.
New Delhi, June 1 : The INDIA bloc leaders said in unison on Saturday that their alliance will get over 295 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the results of which are going to be declared on June 4.

Members of the alliance made the declaration after a meeting held at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Saturday afternoon, a few hours before the seventh and final phase of polling concluded.

"Our alliance is winning at least 295 seats. It will be more than that for sure. We have arrived at this figure after holding extensive consultations with all our partners. They have been briefed by people in their respective regions and this is a junta's survey," said Kharge.

AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the alliance is moving forward with full force to form the next government.

"After getting feedback from everywhere, including voters and leaders, it is certain that the INDIA bloc is getting 295-plus seats. The BJP-NDA will get around 235. So we, on our own, are moving ahead to make a solid and stable government," he said after the meeting.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav maintained that the BJP is staring at a massive defeat in Uttar Pradesh.

"BJP will lose on all seats in Uttar Pradesh," he stated while predicting the INDIA bloc's huge win in the state.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that no talk about any PM candidate was held during the meeting held at the Congress President's residence.

"INDIA bloc will get 295-plus seats. India is winning, and the people of the country are winning. We will decide on the PM later on. Their (BJP's) '400-paar' film flopped in the first phase itself," he said.

Several leaders, including former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, T. R. Baalu, Farooq Abdullah and D. Raja (CPI), also attended the meeting.
Panaji, June 1 : Speculation of a cabinet reshuffle to accommodate Congress turncoats, along with Legislative Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar is rife, after the latter said that he is ready to take any new responsibility the party gives to him.

In November 2023, Congress turncoat Aleixo Sequeira was sworn in as a minister after then PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral resigned to make way for him. Since then, speculation of a cabinet reshuffle to accommodate more Congress turncoats, former chief minister Digambar Kamat, MLA Michael Lobo and MLA Sankalp Amonkar, along with senior BJP leader Ramesh Tawadkar has been rife.

Though BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade had ruled out any more cabinet reshuffles in the BJP-led government after inducting Aleixo Sequeira, sources informed that it will take place after the counting of the Lok Sabha election votes on June 4.

Except Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, the BJP government has given key positions to six other defectors in various corporations. However, Sankalp Amonkar has not taken charge of his position as he was reportedly assured of cabinet berth before crossing to the BJP.

On September 14, 2022, Aleixo Sequeira along with former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai and Rudolf Fernandes had joined the BJP, reducing the Congress to three MLAs in the 40-member Assembly.

Since then, there was speculation that some of them will get cabinet berths, which Aleixo Sequeira has got.

A day ago, Ramesh Tawadkar said "I have always adhered to the party's decision. In the past whatever responsibilities the party has given me, I have accepted them. Now if the party feels that I am suitable for any new role, and if it is satisfied with my work and if society can benefit from it, then I am willing to take the new responsibility,"

Though Tawadkar has not confirmed that a reshuffle is going to happen, his supporters are in a celebratory mood.

According to sources, if Tawadkar is inducted into the cabinet then one of the Congress turncoats may be elected Speaker of the House. However as there are disqualification petitions pending before Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar against the Congress turncoats, the question arises whether a person having charges against him/her can hear the petition and give a ruling.

In this regard, a former Speaker of the Assembly, said on condition of anonymity "Till today there is no court stay against these defectors and hence anyone of them can be elected to the post of Speaker and as the BJP has 33 numbers in the 40-member House, he/she can easily get elected. Secondly, about hearing the petition it is his/her prerogative whether to hear it or not,"
New Delhi, June 1 : The News 24-Today's Chanakya exit poll on Saturday predicted a massive triumph for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand, forecasting a win for the party on all the five seats in the state.

The exit poll gave BJP 59 per cent vote share in the state, way ahead of Congress (32 per cent) and others (9 per cent).

Voting for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections concluded on Saturday and the results will be declared on June 4.

Last month, while speaking exclusively to the IANS, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had expressed full confidence that the BJP will emerge victorious on all five seats of the state and achieve the '400 paar' target under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Some people are saying that less polling will result in a smaller victory margin but I must say that BJP and PM Modi supporters have thronged the booths in large numbers and itas the INDIA bloc supporters who didn't turn up as expected. So, the margin of victory will be bigger," Dhami told IANS.

Uttarakhand remains close to PM Modi's heart and several projects, including Chardham road and Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line, have gone a long way in building a seamless road connectivity in the state.
Cairo, June 1 : Officials from Egypt, Israel and the US are scheduled to hold a meeting on Sunday in Cairo to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, Egyptian media reported.

Egypt affirmed to all parties its position of not reopening the Rafah crossing as long as its Palestinian side is under Israel's control, Al-Qahera News TV channel reported, citing a high-ranking security source.

The source said Egypt holds the Israeli side responsible for the closure of the crossing and the worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, highlighting Egypt's adherence to a complete Israeli withdrawal from the crossing.

The crossing has been closed since the Israeli army announced the imposition of its control over the Palestinian side on May 7.

Situated between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah crossing is the main gateway for transporting those injured and patients for treatment abroad and delivering humanitarian and relief assistance into the enclave.
New Delhi : BJP National President JP Nadda paints the party's 'Lotus' symbol during the launch of the 'Wall Writing' programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Image Source: IANS News

Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 : Exit polls on Saturday projected that the 'Lotus' will bloom in Kerala as the BJP can win between one to three parliamentary seats in the coastal state.

Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 (IANS) Exit polls on Saturday projected that the aLotusa will bloom in Kerala as the BJP can win between one to three parliamentary seats in the coastal state.

Times Now ETG survey showed the Trissur Lok Sabha candidate Suresh Gopi will win. The survey also projected one seat for the BJP, four for the ruling Left led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while the Congress-led UDF may win 14 to 15 seats.

India Today-Axis My India has projected that the BJP will win two to three seats and also said that Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar will upset three-time sitting Congress member Shashi Tharoor.

ABP-C-Voter has also projected one to three seats for the BJP while India TV-CNX has also projected the same.

The biggest shocker has come from the ABP C-Voter which has projected that the Vijayan-led Left will not win a single seat while the India Today-Axis My India has projected zero to one seat for the Left.

However, all the agencies have projected that the Congress-led UDF will win a minimum of 14 seats and can end up winning 19 seats.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha exit polls, none of the agencies projected the election outcome correctly. In fact, three agencies had projected that the BJP would open its account in the state.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and all the top Congress leaders during their campaign have said the BJP will finish in third place in all 20 constituencies of the state.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress-led UDF won 19 seats and secured a vote share of 47.48 per cent, CPI-M-led Left Front won one seat and got 36.29 per cent vote and the BJP managed a mere 15.64 per cent vote share.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 1. Over 46,000 cars were produced in Kazakhstan from January through April 2024, which is 8 percent more than the same period last year, said Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapaev during a government meeting, Trend reports.

"In the mechanical engineering industry, the growth was 22 percent. In particular, car production increased by 8.6 percent, more than 46,000 units were produced. In total, 160,000 cars are planned to be produced in 2024. In addition, as part of the development of the automotive component base in the small industrial zones of the cities of Kostanay and Almaty, projects are being developed for the production of seats with a capacity of 100,000 units, plastic parts - 150,000 units, and multimedia systems of 100,000 units," he said.

According to the minister, the railway engineering sector rose 2.5 times due to increased production of locomotives and railroad cars.

"The production of household appliances increased 3.8 times. In particular, a plant for the production of Xiaomi TVs was launched in Almaty. It is planned to assemble commercial refrigerators in Turkistan; negotiations are underway with the South Korean company Samsung Electronics and the Chinese company HKC. In the medium term, as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Mechanical Engineering until 2028, it is planned to double production volumes," Sharlapaev said.

Meanwhile, the volume of industrial production in Kazakhstan amounted to 46.4 trillion tenge (about $102.5 billion) from January through December 2023. Compared to 2022, production increased by 4.3 percent.

Thus, production volume in the mining and quarrying industry amounted to 21.7 trillion tenge (about $47.9 billion), which is 4.6 percent more than in 2022. In addition, production in this area accounted for 46.9 percent of total industrial production.

At the same time, production in the manufacturing industry increased by 4.1 percent compared to 2022 and amounted to 21.6 trillion tenge (about $47.7 billion). The manufacturing industry, in turn, covered 46.6 percent of total industrial production.
New Delhi, June 1 : The News 24-Today's Chanakya Exit Poll on Saturday predicted a clean sweep for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, saying that the party could emerge winner on all 29 seats in the state.

Except for Chhindwara, which has been former Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Congress' stronghold for decades, the BJP retained 28 seats in the 2019 elections.

Amid rumours of him joining the BJP, the veteran leader had managed to secure a ticket for his son Nakul Nath from the Chhindwara constituency.

According to the Exit Poll, the state saw a 60 per cent vote share in favour of the BJP and 32 per cent for Congress.

During their election rallies in the state, BJP leaders, including Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, accused former Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath of playing a major role in derailing the development of Madhya Pradesh.

At the same time, they hailed schemes like 'Ladli Behna Yojana' initiated by the BJP, asserting that they have transformed the lives of lakhs of people in the state.
Jaipur, June 1 : Exit Polls on Saturday projected the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) getting 18 to 24 seats in Rajasthan while the Congress can win two to seven seats.

The India News D-Dynamics projected a setback for the NDA on five to seven seats while they (NDA) could win around 20 seats.

Aaj Tak Exit Polls projected that the NDA could win 16 to 19 seats in Rajasthan, while the INDIA bloc could win five to seven and also projected that the other parties could win one to two seats.

India Today-Axis My India Exit Polls projected NDA gaining 51 per cent votes, while the INDIA bloc could get 41 per cent votes while also projecting that the NDA can get 16 to 19 seats while the INDIA bloc could win five to seven seats.

Republic Matrizes has predicted the NDA winning 22-24 seats while the INDIA bloc can win three seats.

The India TV-CNX has predicted 21 to 24 seats for the NDA and 2 to 4 seats for the INDIA bloc.

In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, NDA won all 25 seats in Rajasthan.
Going to CBI soon with proof of Mamata Banerjee's involvement in Saradha scam: Suvendu Adhikari. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, June 1 : The ABP-CVoter Exit Polls on Saturday projected a massive decline in both seat tally and vote share for the Trinamool Congress in the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal.

As per the Exit Polls, while the BJP is projected to gain the most from the decline in seat tally and vote share for the Trinamool, the Congress-Left Front alliance too is set to gain to a limited extent.

The BJP is projected to win 23-27 seats, up from the 18 it won in 2019, while the Trinamool is expected to end with 13-17 seats, down from 22 in 2019, according to the ABP CVoter Exit Polls.

The Exit Polls also projected 1-3 seats for the Congress-Left Front alliance. In 2019, when the two parties did not have an alliance, the Congress ended with two seats while the Left Front drew a blank.

As per the ABP-CVoter Exit Polls, the BJP is also projected to make gains in vote share, from 40.7 per cent in 2019 to 42.5 per cent this time.

On the other hand, the Trinamool's vote share is projected to drop to 41.5 per cent from the 43.3 per cent votes it managed in 2019.

The Congress-Left Fron alliance is expected to get 13.2 per cent votes this time, while others, including AISF, SUCI (Communist) and Independents, are projected to win 2.8 per cent votes.

Political observers cite two factors for the BJP's gains at the cost of Trinamool as projected by the Exit Polls.

First, a consolidation of Hindu votes in favour of the BJP against a division in minority votes between the Trinamool, Congress-Left Front, and AISF.

Second, a substantial chunk of floating voters who voted for Trinamool in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 Assembly elections have distanced themselves from the ruling party this time, mainly because of the multiple cases of corruption against its leaders.
Kolkata, June 1 : Besides ABP-CVoter, two other Exit Polls projected major gains for the BJP in West Bengal at the cost of Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha elections which concluded on on Saturday.

According to Republic Matrize Exit Polls, the BJP is expected to win 21-25 seats out of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. The Trinamool is expected to end with 16-20 seats, while 'others' are projected to win 0-1 seat.

In 2019, the Trinamool had won 22 seats in West Bengal, followed by the BJP with 18 seats while the COngress bagged the remaining two seats.

India TV-CNX Exit Polls have projected 22-26 seats for the BJP, 14-18 for the Trinamool, 1-2 seats for the Congress, while the CPI(M)-led Left Front is expected to draw a blank.

As reported earlier, the ABP CVoter Exit Polls projected the BJP to gain the most from the decline in seat tally and vote share for the Trinamool.

The BJP is projected to win 23-27 seats, up from the 18 it won in 2019, while the Trinamool is expected to end with 13-17 seats, down from 22 in 2019, according to the ABP CVoter Exit Polls.

Reacting to the findings, Locket Chatterjee, the sitting BJP MP who's seeking re-election from Hooghly, said, "I am saying with all certainty that BJP's results in West Bengal will be even better than what is being predicted in the Exit Polls. We will end up with a minimum of 30 seats in Bengal."
Shimla, June 1 : Himachal Pradesh on Saturday recorded about 68 per cent turnout for its four parliamentary seats, while for bypoll in six Assembly seats, the voting percentage was 69 per cent with no untoward incident reported during the polling in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Poll officials told IANS the polling percentage in the parliamentary polls may go beyond 70 per cent.

A total of 57.11 lakh voters cast their votes till 6 p.m.

Prominent candidates in the fray included Union Minister Anurag Thakur (Hamirpur), Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma (Kangra), and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut (BJP) against state Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress (Mandi).

Chief Electoral Officer Maneesh Garg thanked the voters for making the grand festival of democracy successful by ensuring their wholehearted participation. Polling picked up early in the morning, logging 31.92 per cent for the parliamentary elections by 11 a.m. and rising to 48.63 per cent at 1 p.m. It further picked up in the evening and by 5 p.m. it was 66.56 per cent. The highest 73.8 per cent voting was recorded in the Lahaul-Spiti district followed by 71.3 per cent in the Kullu district. The lowest (65 per cent each) was recorded in Chamba and Kangra districts.

He said the final figures would be released only after the return of all the polling parties and scrutiny of documents.

The Chief Electoral Officer said 41,924 voters above 85 years of age, persons with disabilities (PwD) and essential services voters cast their votes through postal ballot, apart from employees on election duty, which will add about one per cent to the overall voter turnout.

Apart from 92 and 128 in the tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, respectively, 152 polling stations were set up in remote Bharmour and Pangi areas of the Chamba district, all falling in the Mandi parliamentary seat.

A total of 7,992 polling stations were set up in the state for about 56.45 lakh voters, excluding the 66,390 service voters.

A total of 37 candidates were in the fray for parliamentary constituencies and 25 for the assembly bye-elections.

Dedication to democracy was visible at the world's highest polling station Tashigang, located at a height of 15,256 feet above sea level, in the Spiti Valley, as it recorded a poll percentage of 79 per cent for the general elections, a poll official said. Out of the 62 registered voters, 49 exercised their franchise, while the rest were outside the village. The polling booth falls in the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

Donning traditional dress, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rahul Jain welcomed voters at the Tashigang polling station.

In the 2022 Assembly polls and the 2019 general elections, this polling station recorded 100 per cent polling.

BJP President J.P. Nadda and his wife Mallika Nadda were the first voters to cast their votes in a polling station at their native place in the Bilaspur district. "I was the first voter at this polling booth. I appeal to all voters to vote in large numbers for a self-reliant India," Nadda said after casting his vote.

Union Minister Thakur cast his vote along with two-time Chief Minister and his father Prem Kumar Dhumal and other family members at Hamirpur. "Our vote is for the progress, prosperity, stability and continuity of the country, for a developed India," he said.

After casting her vote at her native Bhambla village in Mandi district, Kangana Ranaut appealed: "Urge all voting in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections to come out and vote in massive numbers and become a part of our vibrant festival of democracy."

The outcome of the Assembly bypolls, necessitated by the disqualification of the sitting Congress legislators, will decide the fate of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government.
Shimla, June 1 : Himachal Pradesh on Saturday recorded about 68 per cent turnout for its four parliamentary seats, while for bypoll in six Assembly seats, the voting percentage was 69 per cent with no untoward incident reported during the polling in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Poll officials told IANS that the turnout in the parliamentary polls may go beyond 70 per cent.

A total of 57.11 lakh voters cast their votes till 6 p.m.

Prominent candidates in the fray included Union Minister Anurag Thakur (Hamirpur), Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma (Kangra), and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut (BJP) against state Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress (Mandi).

Chief Electoral Officer Maneesh Garg thanked the voters for making the grand festival of democracy successful by ensuring their wholehearted participation. Polling picked up early in the morning, logging 31.92 per cent for the parliamentary elections by 11 a.m. and rising to 48.63 per cent at 1 p.m. It further picked up in the evening and by 5 p.m. it was 66.56 per cent. The highest 73.8 per cent voting was recorded in the Lahaul-Spiti district followed by 71.3 per cent in the Kullu district. The lowest (65 per cent each) was recorded in Chamba and Kangra districts.

He said the final figures would be released only after the return of all the polling parties and scrutiny of documents.

The Chief Electoral Officer said 41,924 voters above 85 years of age, persons with disabilities (PwD) and essential services voters cast their votes through postal ballot, apart from employees on election duty, which will add about one per cent to the overall voter turnout.

Apart from 92 and 128 in the tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, respectively, 152 polling stations were set up in remote Bharmour and Pangi areas of Chamba, all falling in the Mandi parliamentary seat.

A total of 7,992 polling stations were set up in the state for about 56.45 lakh voters, excluding the 66,390 service voters.

A total of 37 candidates were in the fray for parliamentary constituencies and 25 for the assembly bye-elections.

Dedication to democracy was visible at the world's highest polling station Tashigang, located at a height of 15,256 feet above sea level, in the Spiti Valley, as it recorded a poll percentage of 79 per cent for the general elections, a poll official said. Out of the 62 registered voters, 49 exercised their franchise, while the rest were outside the village. The polling booth falls in the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

Donning traditional dress, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rahul Jain welcomed voters at the Tashigang polling station.

In the 2022 Assembly polls and the 2019 general elections, this polling station recorded 100 per cent polling.

BJP President J.P. Nadda and his wife Mallika Nadda were the first to cast their votes in a polling station at their native place in the Bilaspur district. "I was the first voter at this polling booth. I appeal to all voters to vote in large numbers for a self-reliant India," Nadda said after casting his vote.

Union Minister Thakur cast his vote, along with father and two-time Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and other family members at Hamirpur. "Our vote is for the progress, prosperity, stability and continuity of the country, for a developed India," he said.

After casting her vote at her native Bhambla village in Mandi district, Kangana Ranaut appealed: "Urge all voting in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections to come out and vote in massive numbers and become a part of our vibrant festival of democracy."

The outcome of the Assembly bypolls, necessitated by the disqualification of the sitting Congress legislators, will decide the fate of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government.
Agartala, June 1 : Tripura Congress President Asish Kumar Saha said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will yield better dividends for the party in the Lok Sabha election results on June 4 as opposed to the projections made by different Exit Polls on Saturday.

Rejecting the Exit Poll predictions for the Lok Sabha elections, Saha has claimed that his party would perform better both in northeastern states and across the country.

He said that Rahul Gandhi began his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' from Manipur on January 14 highlighting five 'guarantees' (Nyay) and visited most of the northeastern states evoking a positive impact among the people.

"The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has also stirred the minds of the people across the country and accordingly the Congress would get a better outcome in the Lok Sabha polls," Saha told the media here.

The Tripura Congress President said that after the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge already said that the INDIA bloc would win more than 295 seats.

"Since the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the INDIA bloc has been getting very positive responses from the voters and after Saturday's last phase of polling, it is now certain that the INDIA bloc would form the government at the Centre after June 4," said Saha, who is also contesting in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat as INDIA bloc nominee against BJP candidate and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.

The Congress leader, who is also a member of the Congress Working Committee, claimed that his party would perform much better than the 2019 Parliamentary polls.

Tripura CPI-M leaders refused to make any comment on the Exit Poll predictions.
Belagavi : , June 1 (IANS) Union Minister and Lok Sabha candidate from Dharwad Parliamentary seat, Pralhad Joshi, said on Saturday that the BJP is going to achieve better results in the Lok Sabha polls than predicted by the Exit Polls.

Speaking to the media, Union Minister Joshi said that if the average of Exit Polls is taken, the BJP is projected to win between 350 to 370 seats.

He opined that this poll victory would help India become a developed nation.

Asked about the Congress giving tickets to the relatives of several Ministers in Karnataka, he said: "The Congress is a party run by families. In the BJP, many did not get any posts despite their fathers holding ministerial positions. In the BJP, if one works hard, they can rise in the party. However, the situation is different in the Congress, Samajwadi Party and RJD."

"The people have rejected family-run parties. They have witnessed the contributions of the BJP and the Congress contributions over 60 years. The Congress, which came to power in Karnataka after making several promises, has indulged in corruption worth Rs 187 crore," he added.

"No action is taken even against Ministers who have received funds in the form of cheques. The entire government (Congress) is involved in corruption cases. The suicide case related to the Tribal Corporation following the misappropriation of funds should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)," Union Minister Joshi said.

Opposition leader, R. Ashoka, reacting to the Exit Polls, said that he accepts the different Exit Poll predictions made for the NDA.

"I have confidence that the NDA will cross 400 seats this time. The state has given seats in double digits to the BJP for two decades. When it comes to the matter of the country, the people of the state will support the BJP," he added.
New Delhi, June 2 : Over 61 per cent turnout was recorded in the 57 seats across 8 states/UT that went to polls in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, bringing the mammoth electoral exercise to its close, the Election Commission said.

"Polling in seventh phase of General Elections recorded an approximate voter turnout of 61.63 per cent as of 11.45 p.m. The same shall continue to be updated by the field level officers as polling parties keep returning and will be available PC wise (along with respective AC segments) live at VTR App, as was the case in earlier phases," the poll panel said in a statement.

As per the EC, the maximum turnout in the final phase was recorded in West Bengal (9 seats) at 73.36 per cent and the lowest in Bihar at 51.92 per cent.

Odisha (6 seats) recorded 70.67 per cent, Jharkhand (3 seats) 70.66 per cent, Himachal Pradesh (4 seats) logged 69.67 per cent, the UT of Chandigarh 67.9 per cent in its sole seat, Punjab (13 seats) 58.33 per cent, and UP (13 seats) 55.89 per cent.

There were 908 candidates in the fray, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Varanasi) heading the list of prominent candidates.

Other top BJP candidates included Union Ministers Anurag Thakur in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur and Pratap Sarangi from Odisha's Balasore, former Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad from Patna Sahib and Preneet Kaur from Patiala, actress Kangana Ranaut in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, and ex-IFS officer and former envoy to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Amritsar).

Congress candidates included former Union Ministers Manish Tewari in Chandigarh and Anand Sharma from Himachal's Kangra, former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh in Mandi, Ajay Rai in Varanasi, former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi from Jalandhar, and state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring from Ludhiana.

Other significant candidates were West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, seeking to retain his Diamond Harbour seat, SAD leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal again in the fray from Bathinda, Samajwadi Party's Kajal Nishad from Gorakhpur, where the Bhojpuri actress took on industry star and sitting BJP MP Ravi Kishan, CPI-M's Sujan Chakraborty against sitting Trinamool MP Sougata Roy in Dum Dum and Saira Shah Halim against sitting Trinamool MP Mala Roy in Kolkata Dakshin, and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's eldest daughter Misa Bharti from Pataliputra.

In Odisha, 42 Assembly constituencies went to polls simultaneously with the Parliamentary Constituencies, while bypolls to 6 Assembly constituencies - whose outcome will determine the fate of the state's Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government - were also held in Himachal Pradesh.

"The Election Commission of India extended its deepest and most profound gratitude to voters, all the stakeholders including polling personnel, law enforcement agencies, security and paramilitary forces, volunteers, Indian Railways and Indian Air Force, amongst many who made this mammoth exercise a grand success."

"Stringent security measures were in place creating a conducive environment for voters to cast their vote without fear or intimidation, it said, adding that with meticulous advance planning and rigorous training of election officials, elections this time have seen a drastic reduction in the number of repolls demonstrating the robustness of the election process," the EC said in a statement after the polling.

Counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election is slated for June 4, along with counting for the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Assemblies. Vote counting for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Assembly polls will be held on Sunday while counting for their Lok Sabha seats will be held with the rest of the country.
Patna, June 2 : The BJP in Bihar on Saturday welcomed the Exit Polls projections, most of which indicated that the NDA would win the Lok Sabha elections with significant margins.

BJP OBC wing's national general secretary Nikhil Anand claimed that the NDA will win all seats in Bihar except one or two in the Seemanchal region.

He further claimed that the voters belonging to the Economically Weaker Section have backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also, women voters by and large were with PM Modi. Besides, the support of Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan also helped the NDA in the elections.

"Tactically, BJP was well ahead in countering the INDIA bloc on every issue they have raised in this election," Anand added.

Countering the claims of the BJP, RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said: "This is nothing but a well-planned ploy to apply pressure on the opposition parties. It is a ploy to create an atmosphere that NDA is winning easily in this election but I categorically refute these Exit Polls."

"They brought Exit Polls a few minutes after the polling for the last phase ended. How they could come to a conclusion without the voting being completed? What is the basis of such Exit Polls? They have no relevance," he said.

"We have conducted a survey on every booth, according to which, the INDIA bloc is going to form the government in the Centre. In Bihar, we are going to win more than 24 seats," Gagan added.

Another RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said: "These are Exit Polls and not the 'exact' polls. The NDA leaders can enjoy the Exit Polls for two days but when the exact polls (outcome of polls) will come, the INDIA bloc will have the last laugh. We will obtain more than 295 seats in Lok Sabha and are going to form the government in the Centre. There is no doubt about it."

Explaining the reason for his claims about winning 295 plus seats, Tiwari said that people are with the INDIA bloc as the NDA failed to fulfil its promises and also because of the promises made by the opposition bloc.
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Beirut, June 2 : Hezbollah has said that it had shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon.

The militant group said on Saturday in a statement that its fighters, "after careful monitoring and follow-up, ambushed a Hermes 900 drone that assaulted our people and villages, and they targeted it with appropriate weapons over Lebanese territory, where it was shot down."

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that a surface-to-air missile was fired from southern Lebanon and hit an Israeli drone, which was seen catching fire and landing south of the city of Nabatieh.

According to Hezbollah, it had previously shot down Israeli drones in February and April of this year, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.
Helsinki, June 2 : Icelanders went to polls to elect their new President, with former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir being neck and neck according to the latest poll.

A Gallup poll published on Friday gave Jakobsdottir 25.6 per cent of the vote and Tomasdottir 23.9 per cent while a poll by Icelandic market and research company MMR earlier in the week placed them equal at 24.1 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Iceland's presidential election that involves 12 candidates this time takes place in one round, so the candidate who gets the most votes will be elected.

In the larger municipalities of the country, polling stations will be open between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time. The final results are expected early Sunday.

Iceland's President has limited political powers, carrying out largely ceremonial duties, but has the power to veto legislation or call a referendum.
Seoul/Singapore, June 2 : The Defence Chiefs of South Korea and Japan have agreed to take measures to prevent the recurrence of a 2018 maritime spat over Japanese patrol aircraft, an incident considered a major hindrance to efforts to strengthen bilateral military cooperation.

Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, announced on Saturday the agreement following their talks held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Yonhap news agency reported.

The dispute flared up in December 2018, when a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft made an unusually low-altitude flyby over a South Korean warship.

Seoul decried the plane's approach as a "menacing" flight, while Tokyo has accused the South Korean vessel of having locked its fire-control radar on the plane.

The incident had remained a source of friction for years until Seoul and Tokyo's Defence Chiefs agreed to begin working-level talks on the issue in the annual security forum held in Singapore last year, in what marked the first defence ministerial talks between Seoul and Tokyo since November 2019.

The latest agreement is expected to help move forward defence ties between the two nations amid deepening trilateral security cooperation also involving Washington.

Under the agreement, both sides will seek to ensure the "smooth and safe" operations of their warships and aircraft on waters through fluent communications following the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.

Based on the international maritime agreement which aims to prevent unplanned encounters between naval vessels from escalating into collisions, Seoul and Tokyo will abide by safety distances and altitudes, and engage in active communications through relevant radio communication procedures.

"Both sides agreed on the importance of promoting mutual understanding through ensuring smooth communications," the Ministers said in a joint statement.

"Going forward, the South Korean Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force will carry out operations under the agreement in the event of their peacetime encounter at sea."

In efforts to activate defence dialogue and rebuild mutual trust, the countries also agreed to conduct regular vice defence ministerial talks and resume working-level policy meetings as well as high-level exchanges between their servicemen, according to the statement.

"Both Ministers concurred that South Korea-Japan security cooperation is the cornerstone of the South Korea-US-Japan security cooperation, which stands firm and is beneficial for the two countries that share core values and strategic interest," the Ministers said, adding such cooperation is "essential" in deterring North Korean threats, and realising a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Following Saturday's talks, Shin told reporters that South Korea has secured the safety of its naval vessels via the latest agreement and said both sides will work to restore the level of their exchanges to before the 2018 incident.

Shin said he will share the outcome of the meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during a trilateral meeting of the Defence Chiefs of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo set for Sunday.

"South Korea, the US and Japan will discuss areas where they can work together," the Minister said.

"It will make the trilateral cooperation more official and further expand it."

Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have been beefing up their security cooperation following the landmark trilateral summit between their leaders at Camp David in August last year.

Bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo have also thawed after South Korea announced a decision last year to address the thorny issue of compensating Korean victims of Japan's 1910-45 colonial-era forced labour through the so-called third-party reimbursement plan.
Ramallah, June 2 : A Palestinian child was killed by Israeli army gunfire in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho in the West Bank, Palestinian sources said.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that an Israeli force stormed the camp and fired at two people near the western cemetery in the camp.

Later, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported in a brief statement on Saturday that its crews received the body of a 15-year-old boy from the Israeli army at the southern checkpoint of the city and transported it to Jericho Governmental Hospital, Xinhua news agency reported.

The fate of the other injured person remains unknown. There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli army regarding the incident, but the Israeli military often said its raids in the West Bank were "counter-terrorism operations".

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and Jerusalem since last October.
Ramallah, June 2 : A Palestinian child was killed by Israeli army gunfire in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho in the West Bank, Palestinian sources said.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua on Saturday that an Israeli force stormed the camp and fired at two people near the western cemetery in the camp.

Later, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported in a brief statement on Saturday that its crews received the body of a 15-year-old boy from the Israeli army at the southern checkpoint of the city and transported it to Jericho Governmental Hospital, Xinhua news agency reported.

The fate of the other injured person remains unknown. There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli army regarding the incident, but the Israeli military often said its raids in the West Bank were "counter-terrorism operations".

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and Jerusalem since last October.
Tehran, June 2 : The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Sweden's acting charge d'affaires over his country's "baseless and biased" accusations against Tehran, the media reported.

During the meeting with the Swedish envoy on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry conveyed Tehran's protest against the controversial remarks made by a Swedish official in Stockholm, adding that the remarks had been made "based on disinformation and under Israel's influence," according to the official news agency IRNA.

Daniel Stenling, head of counterintelligence at the Swedish Security Service, accused on Thursday the Iranian government of "using criminal networks within Sweden" to target Israeli or Jewish interests in the Scandinavian country as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.
An estranged couple reunites on the hunt for a famed tiara, which they both intend to steal, in Ciesielskis 1920s-set The Winged Tiara (Thomas Nelson, Aug.).

Why the Valkyrie Tiara?

I was browsing around on social media, and I think another author had posted a picture of really cool looking tiarasand one that was incredible looking, even compared to the other ones. I read about the history and discovered that it once belonged to the Duchess of Roxburghe, who commissioned it for her marriage. It was fashioned off of the tiaras worn in Wagners Ride of the Valkyries which were very popular at the time, especially among society ladies. I just thought it would make a really, really cool storysomething kind of fun and maybe about two thieves who go after the tiara.

How did you land on the idea of married thieves?

I had never done anything like that before with the characters being married. Each time I write a book, I try to challenge myself by doing something completely different. I thought it would be fun to have these two people who were legally bound to each other and who were obviously interested in each other but were pretending that they couldnt stand each other. If they werent married, then they could just walk away, but I wanted them to stay together and be forced to work together while fighting their feelings.

How did you approach their backstories?

When youre creating characters, you have to give them problems to overcome. Those problems often stem from how they grew up and the things they grew up with or without. Jasper and Esme both had similar childhoods as kind-of orphans. But they dealt with this in different ways, with Esme deciding to walk away from their romance to avoid getting hurt again and Jasper being more open to finding the kind of love that he never had. I think that provides a really interesting complexity to their relationship because they both want love but theyre just going about it in all the wrong ways.

Why set this story in the wake of WWI?

Watching Downton Abbey got me thinking about the Great War, which Americans dont really talk about because we werent in it that long. I just fell in love with the period. It changed the entire landscape of society, which makes it really exciting to write about.

The tiara heist also takes Esme and Jasper on a whirlwind tour of Europe.

I love those old Indiana Jonestype adventure movies where characters hop around and you follow them on the map. I kind of had that in my head. So I hit up all these interesting places, many of which Ive been to myself and others I had fun exploring through the characters. It was a lot fun for me to go with them to castles, champagne caves, and chateaus.
Whos doing the real work of training AI, and who is most affected when it goes awry? In Code Dependent (Holt, June), Madhumita Murgia, artificial intelligence editor at the Financial Times, discusses the human cost of the increasingly ubiquitous technology.

What prompted your interest in tech?

In 2014, as a young editor at Wired UK, I was learning about how tech shapes society and how it shapes us as individuals. I got intrigued by cookies. We have these ads following us online: What do those data profiles look like? Whos collecting them? How accurate are they? This was pre-GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation, an E.U. privacy initiative], so I went down a rabbit hole of data brokers and ended up working with Eyeota. I found surprisingly accurate details, not just on what I buy or where I travel, but on my behavior and my personality. It was the first time it struck me how close these data sets can come to defining someones behaviors and predicting what they will do.

How does AI manifest in daily life?

Generative AI has changed everything. Where the tech falls down is in how its implemented. In Amsterdam, the mayors office ran an algorithm that generated the records of hundreds of kids, mostly boys, some of whom had committed crimes and some who were just brothers of at-risk kids. The intention was not to jail them, but to send in the apparatus of public serviceseducators, social workersto support families. But the way that it was implemented was to just send a letter, often to single mother families, which gave them the feeling of local government bursting into their homes, telling them theyre doing wrong and that their sons are likely to commit crimes in the future. The systems arent becoming more humantheyre probabilistic software. Theres no consciousness or cognition there.

Whos training these models?

The technology does not learn independently, and it needs humans, millions of them, to power it. One thing I wanted to do is draw back the curtain on how this tech is built. Theres a misconception that because its called artificial it has some sort of self-learned cognitive ability to train itself. The training is done by humans, largely in the Global South, who are drawing little boxes, editing text snippets, and labeling text for ChatGPT. Ultimately, are data laborers benefiting from being part of the AI supply chain? They dont know theyre part of a supply chain on the other end of which is a trillion-dollar company. The whole point of digital work is to lift everyone up, to economically empower people, and thats not the case here. Theyre employed, but theyre not seeing the upsides of the wealth-building. We need to figure out, as a society, what someone should be paid to do this job.

The books chapter titles strike an intimate toneyour body, your health, your freedom. What do you want readers to take away?

My hope is for people to say: I can have a voice; I can stand up for what kind of world this should be. Should we allow crime-predicting algorithms, or technology that targets who gets killed in war? What are the guardrails we should impose on these systems? How can we demand accountability? My hope for AI isnt that it creates a new, upgraded species without the messiness of humanity, but that it helps us ordinary, flawed humans live our best and happiest lives.

Return to main feature.
With the American Library Association Annual Conference just weeks away, ALA president Emily Drabinski will kick off the last month of her presidency with a Road to Annual tour, starting in early June with a visit to the Cranston Public Library in Rhode Island. Drabinski's tour will highlight the importance of federal support for libraries and the federal Right to Read Act, concluding in San Diego, the site of the ALA conference, which is set to run from June 27-July 2 at the San Diego Convention Center.

The tour will include stops at libraries in West Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, and Arizona on the way to San Diego. Updates on the tour will be available on ALAs social media channels and website.

Meanwhile, the ALA announced last week that author, comedian, and former Daily Show host Trevor Noah will deliver the conference's opening keynote. There's still time to register, here.

In Tennessee, Chalkbeat reports that two years after Tennessee lawmakers gave the states volunteer textbook commission broad new powers to decide which textbooks students can access, it is prepared to review its first case. The Commission has "the authority to rule on appeals of local decisions about individual books and gives the panel authority to ban them statewide," the report notes.

"Supporters of the laws say they are protecting children and older students from age-inappropriate, sexually explicit material and exploitation. But critics say the goal is censorshipand that the changes will violate First Amendment freedoms," the report adds. "Either way, the broadened definition puts a young adult novel at risk of being banned for even a single paragraph referencing sexual excitement. A childrens picture book such as the Caldecott Awardwinning classic No, David!, could be pulled because one page shows the naked backside of a mischievous boy running down a street."

The Florida Phoenix reports that updated training approved by the state board of education for public school librarians is provoking a backlash from parents, teachers, and free expression advocates, who call the new standards confusing and dangerous. "Despite backlash about the number of book challenges in the state, Floridas top education officials still want public school librarians to 'err on the side of caution' when it comes to vetting books for sexual conduct thats harmful to minors," the report found.

Courthouse News reports that the California assembly has passed Assembly Bill 1825, which would prohibit libraries in the state from discriminating against materials based on criteria like race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion. "Libraries would have to create a policy that, among other items, acknowledges the publics right to access materials that include a range of social, political and moral experiences," the report notes. "The bill passed 49 to 3. It now advances to the Senate."

 A childrens picture book such as the Caldecott Award-winning classic No, David!, could be pulled because one page shows the naked backside of a mischievous boy running down a street." 

The Alabama Political Reporter has an editorial from editor-in-chief Bill Britt that contrasts Minnesota (which recently signed a law aimed at stopping book bans in libraries) with what's going on in Alabama. "Alabama is charting a drastically different course. Attempts at book censorship in Alabama broke records in 2023, primarily targeting books with LGBTQ+ content," Britt writes. "Alabama lawmakers have gone so far as to try to enact laws that could jail librarians over their book collections."

NOLA.com has a good piece on the book banning climate in Louisiana. "The fact that so many books are being challenged, while librarians reputations are at stake, has discouraged some library workers from seeking out more diverse materials to suit their readers needs, especially in more conservative areas," write Sarah Ravits.

Also in Louisiana, the Louisiana Illuminator reports that the state Senate has passed a bill that would allow "parish library systems to hire directors who are not certified librarians" and "allow library board members to be dismissed without cause." The bill is "a response to some parish governing authorities who have sought to remove library board members who have been wary join conservative culture wars," the report adds, notably at St. Tammany Tammany Parish, where ousted board members "have sued the parish and the councilman who initiated their removal and worked with Hollis last year on the rejected bill."

We were off for Memorial Day, but Kelly Jensen's May 24 censorship mews roundup at Book Riot offers a look at where the ALA and library associations are under attack, and why. "This is fueled by misinformation peddled by the far right, who see the ALA as some kind of machine that encourages librarians to fill their shelves with 'pornography,' 'obscenity,' and 'inappropriate material,' as well as one that trains library workers how to undermine parents through diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives," writes Jensen.

In Ohio, Youngstown's WKBN 27 reports that HB 556, which would expose librarians and educators to criminal liability for making allegedly obscene materials available to minors, is advancing, despite criticism. Governor Mike DeWine appears lukewarm, telling reporters he "is unsure whether there is a need for HB 556," per the article. "The governor noted these issues are typically disputed at a local level."

In New York, TBR Newsmedia has an editorial celebrating the state's Suffolk Cooperative Library System as "a shining example of sustainability." After enrolling in the ALA's Sustainable Library Certification Program, Suffolk County libraries "reduced the cost of its electricity consumption by a whopping 76.8%" between 2016 and 2023, per the editorial, and has "calculated the reduction of its use of energy by 85.4% by changing to LED lighting, turning lights off automatically, regularly maintaining of the HVAC system, and improved insulation and auto-sleep settings on computers and copiers and the conversion to laptops, as well as the purchase of solar panels."

In eSchool News, Follett Content Solutions CEO Britten Follett writes about the need for school librarians to do fundraising. "Whether the funding comes from municipal tax dollars, state or federal allocations, grants, physical book fairs, eFairs, bake sales, DonorsChoose, corporate partnerships, or combination of them all, access to books changes livesand thats an investment each of us cant afford not to make," Follett concludes.

Finally this week, the Seattle Public Library says that its online services are being restored after a ransomware attack. A post on the library's website said that the attack occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 25, "just one day before we were prepared to take our systems offline to conduct planned maintenance on a server over Memorial Day weekend," and impacted "staff and public computers, our online catalog and loaning system, e-books and e-audiobooks, in-building Wi-Fi."

In addition, the Internet Archive was also targeted last week with a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) cyber-attack. A post on the IA blog reports that the IA's "collections are safe," though service access to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine was impacted. With the support from others and the hard work of staff we are hardening our defenses to provide more reliable access to our library, wrote IA founder Brewster Kahle.

The Week in Libraries is a weekly opinion and news column. News, tips, submissions, questions or comments are welcome, and can be submitted via email. Previous columns can be viewed here.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 1. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor) has lifted restrictions on certain enterprises in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, Rosselkhoznadzor has lifted temporary restrictions on four fish processing enterprises and three dairy processing enterprises in the country, allowing them to now supply their products to Russia.

The ban was lifted in accordance with the protocol of a meeting held on May 30, 2024, signed between the Director of the Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Food Industry of Kyrgyzstan, Ulugbek Kojobergenov, and the Head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Sergey Dankvert.

During the talks, both sides noted the significant potential for increasing trade turnover between the two countries. The head of Rosselkhoznadzor emphasized the need to improve efficiency in terms of product traceability, laboratory control, and other aspects.

The total number of enterprises in Kyrgyzstan that have the right to supply their products to Russia is now ten fish processing enterprises and seven dairy processing enterprises.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/01/2024



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couple Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson have begun celebrating Joey's 29th birthday with a romantic getaway to Portugal.Joey and Kelsey recently touched down in Porto, Portugal, and it appears they've been enjoying every minute together. Not only did they dine on the water, but they also had a wine tasting.Kelsey took to Instagram with a video clip of the couple's trip as well as funny photos of Joey throughout the last six months."HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most spectacular human!!! I'm so thankful you were born 29 years ago. You bring so much love and happiness to the world and me," Kelsey captioned her sweet post."I hope all your birthday wishes come true (even though all your dreams and wishes already came true when you got engaged to me ). I hope this will be the best year yet! You deserve it all and more."'s Season 28 winner added, "I love you so much. Cheers to my 29 & extra FINE man!"Joey commented on Kelsey's post, "Love you so much. Thank you for being the absolute best gift anyone could ask for."Kelsey also uploaded a photo of Joey via Instagram Stories and wrote, "We made it to Portugal! Happy birthday, love!"Joey, for his part, posted on his own Instagram account on Wednesday, May 29 that he had "the best time celebrating" with his fiancee overseas. They apparently attended a friend's wedding together.This past weekend, star had also thanked everyone for "the birthday love."Joey wrote, "It's safe to say that this past year has been the craziest of my life. It was met with surprises, difficulties, but most importantly blessings. I now have a beautiful fiancee. I have seen different parts of the world. I have faced challenges that have let me grow."Joey said as he goes into the next year of his life, he's looking towards "capturing more experiences" that he'll be "able to call blessings.""So I decided to make a bucket list of 30 things that I'd like to do before I turn 30," Joey shared. "I'll look to complete a lot of these tasks with Kelsey, Family, and Friends. I hope you all will enjoy following along."Kelsey and Joey got engaged on 's Season 28 finale, which aired on March 25, and they're planning to move to New York City together this summer, in July or August, once Kelsey's apartment lease in New Orleans is up.The lovebirds told Us Weekly earlier this year that they're really looking forward to taking their relationship to the next level."I think what I'm most excited about is the ability to be around each other so much," Joey shared with the magazine. "We finally will be able to just do small things together."It was apparently Kelsey's idea to take their love to the Big Apple for a fresh start."I don't know if it's all the early 2000s rom-coms that I've watched, but something about [New York] is so intriguing to me," Kelsey explained."I don't care if I hate it or love it; I just need to go experience it, and Joey's fully supporting that."Joey and Kelsey said they realize all of America is going to be watching them and keeping a close eye on their romance, but they're apparently not worried about that at all."I think that we know where we are at and we don't need reassurance from people that don't actually know us," Kelsey said.And Joey added, "We'll figure out how to navigate that day by day. It's something that we're trying not to focus on too much because we got so many other things that we're excited about that we do want to focus on."Joey and Kelsey have said in other post-show press that they want to have a long engagement , potentially three years, before tying the knot.The pair is therefore in no rush to start a family, even though they "definitely want kids" down the road."I think it would be wrong to jump into a marriage too quickly because we are learning and dating again, and we have so much to look forward to," Joey said on a late March episode of "The Viall Files" podcast.star acknowledged, "We definitely want to have the ability to enjoy our marriage."In terms of having children, Joey shared, "I don't know if it ever made it on the show, but Kelsey always wanted to adopt. That was something that she was really big on.""And she wants to probably have, like, 20 kids," he elaborated. "I would rather stay more in, like, the three range."Joey went on to reveal how he and Kelsey "already have the name of our first kid picked out" for the future."It's easy because it would be taking [Kelsey's] last name. Anderson is her last name, and so it will obviously be her maiden name," Joey said."We kind of love it most for a girl, calling her Andi. So Anderson Graziadei is the idea of the first kid."Joey concluded that he and Kelsey are certainly "talking about this stuff."During : After the Final Rose special that aired in March, Kelsey and Joey were gifted a trip back to Jasper, Canada, and Joey gushed of his fiancee, "I now have my 'forever,' and I'm the luckiest guy there could be... I don't know how I'm going to have a boring day of life with her by my side."Prior to Joey's stint, he had competed for Charity Lawson 's heart on ette's twentieth season.Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/01/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alums Kathy Swarts and Susan Noles have apparently taken Gerry Turner 's side in his divorce from Theresa Nist Susan and Kathy, who both competed for Gerry's heart on last year, appeared on SiriusXM's "The Jess Cagle Show," which is co-hosted by Jess Cagle and Julia Cunningham, and they certainly spoke their minds about Gerry and Theresa's three-month marriage."I've got to support this man a little bit. I feel like he got the wrong end of it," Susan said."Theresa decided not to move and not to quit her job. He got frustrated. Who can blame him? I mean, I would've never said I would move to that place, wherever that is, in the middle of nowhere."Gerry and Theresa got engaged on finale, which aired in November 2023, and then they wed on January 4 in a live televised special for ABC.However, the pair announced their breakup on April 12, and Gerry filed for divorce from his wife on that same day.When the pair spoke about their split with Juju Chang on ABC Nightline, Gerry and Theresa revealed they're divorcing because neither one of them was willing to relocate and move away from their children, grandchildren and families.Gerry has been living in a lake house in Indiana, while Theresa is still working a job in financial services in her home state of New Jersey."So we look at these situations and I think we just feel like it's best for the happiness of each of us to live apart," Gerry shared at the time.Kathy joked to Susan on the radio show, "We love cornfields. Don't lie. We love cornfields. No, here's the thing. Gerry made a huge, let me emphasize, huge mistake. He could have had Susan. He could have had me. Alright. Not really, but let's just go with it for a minute."Susan laughed and replied, "Do not do that while I'm taking a drink."Kathy continued to knock Indiana, saying, "Let's face it, Susan. You and I were not going to shuck corn in Indiana. We're not doing it... [ Nancy Hulkower ] lives outside of Washington, D.C. and she's like, 'Ladies, trust me. He doesn't live on a lake. He lives on a pond.'"Kathy joked, "Drag that lake!""Poor Gerry," Susan interjected. "We love you, Gerry. We do."And Kathy confirmed that's definitely the case."We love you, Gerry, and we're here for you," Kathy said. "We are friends until the end... Susan and I, I mean that's why we had so much fun."Kathy insisted that Gerry is "a nice guy," and Theresa is "a lovely lady," regardless of what had gone down between them in their marriage."You know, sh-t happens. Sorry," Kathy declared. "It does and we like them both, but yeah. You know, I'm sorry. You know someone a month or six weeks and these things happen."And even though Gerry and Theresa didn't work out as a couple, Susan firmly believes they had truly fallen in love."I think they got caught up in the moment," Susan said, referring to Gerry and Theresa's on-camera romance and navigating fame in the real world afterward as an engaged couple."We watched them fall in love. They bonded that first night, on that date. It was real."Kathy agreed that Gerry and Theresa most certainly "did fall in love," before she reminded Susan, "Did I not come up to [our] room that night... and I literally said, 'He's gonna end up with Theresa.' Did I not say that, Susan?"Susan obliged, "Yes, you did. Yes, you did."Kathy insisted Gerry and Theresa's connection was clear as day, right from the get-go."It was so obvious after their, you know, their initial meeting and then their first one-on-one. You could just feel it and since, people say, 'Oh, that never happens,'" Kathy shared."I'm here to tell you, I met my husband when I was, who is deceased now five years, but I met him when I was 18 at a fraternity party. I looked across the room and I said, 'I'm gonna marry that guy,' and I did, and we were married almost 46 years, so, love at first sight can happen."Also during their interview, Susan brushed off The Hollywood Reporter article that had been released right before finale and claimed Gerry was in a long-term relationship with a woman -- after his late wife Toni's death -- before filming the show.The article presented Gerry in a negative light, suggesting he had treated his ex, live-in girlfriend of several years poorly."Everybody's got a past. Give me a break," Susan noted.Former star Ben Higgins recently heard a rumor about Indiana playing a big part in Gerry and Theresa's breakup."There is a rumor that on Theresa's visit to Indiana, Gerry picked Theresa up at the airport. It's about two hours from where Gerry lives," Ben began on the May 5 episode of "The Ben and Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast."Ben continued, "So after he picks her up, they're both excited, but there had already been some issues in the relationship. There had been some grumblings and things happening... They're not seeing eye-to-eye in life."Ben said during Gerry and Theresa's drive from the airport to his lake house, the spouses had an eye-opening conversation."Most of that drive is through cornfields. Most of that drive is through agriculture and untouched land, in a lot of ways," Ben noted.Ben said the rumor is that Theresa had made a comment to Gerry that rubbed the Iowa native the wrong way."[Theresa said], 'Wow, look at all this beautiful untouched land. Think about what could be done if they developed it -- condos, office buildings, apartments. Think about the towns that could congregate in these open fields and think about the people that would be interested in moving here,'" Ben alleged."[She added], 'And look at that lake! There's a lake with only cornfields around it. Think about if they build up a resort where people could vacation to.'"'s Season 20 star went on to reveal, "And Gerry's comment back to her, again, a rumor, was, 'You don't take land from a farmer.' And that was the start of them realizing that they do not see the world the same way."Last month, Theresa took a jab at haters who have criticized the couple for throwing in the towel so quickly after enjoying a lavish televised wedding that cost ABC millions of dollars in January."For everyone else who is confused and angry and who does not understand, please try to find it in your heart to understand and to try a little kindness," Theresa wrote on Instagram."Not just for me but for the world and for everyone you encounter."Theresa called her relationship with Gerry "one of the most incredible experiences" of her life."[It was] something I never expected to happen at this point in my life and I truly thought it was going to last forever," she added. "It turns out, even at the age of 70, you don't know everything... Sometimes things don't go the way you planned."Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 1. Discussions on cooperation for the development of the civil aviation industry between Tajikistan and the Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia (TRACECA) program took place in Dushanbe, Trend reports.

According to the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of Tajikistan, these matters were addressed during a meeting between the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of TRACECA, Asset Assavbayev, and the Director of the Agency, Nazarzoda Habibullo.

During the meeting, Assavbayev briefed the Tajik side on TRACECA activities and its collaboration with Central Asian countries.

In turn, the head of the Civil Aviation Agency informed about industry plans and the expansion of flight geography.

The parties discussed the participation of Civil Aviation Agency specialists in seminars, conferences, and professional development courses aimed at enhancing their expertise.

The TRACECA program was established in 1993 based on the Brussels Declaration with the participation of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Moldova, Mongolia, and Ukraine later joined the program. In 2000, Turkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria joined, followed by Iran in 2009. In organizational terms, TRACECA functions as an intergovernmental commission.

TRACECA aims to foster the advancement of regional transport connectivity and ensure the effectiveness and reliability of Euro-Asian transport connections.
'It does not understand economics. The entire focus of this government is skewed.'

Photograph and all videos: Rajesh Karkera for Rediff.com IMAGE: Anshul Avijit Kushwaha, the Congress candidate from the Patna Saheb constituency.

Anshul Avijit Kushwaha, the Congress candidate from Patna Saheb and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar's son, refutes the charge of being an 'outsider' in Patna.

Locked in an uphill contest with sitting MP and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Anshul says he has run his campaign from his grandfather Babu Jagjivan Ram's house and draws strength from the long legacy of public service rendered by his family.

"My grandfather was defence minister in the 1971 War, he was agriculture minister during the Green Revolution and brought in sweeping changes as law minister; my mother brought several reforms as social justice minister -- this is where I get my energy from, how can it be a charge?" he says with emphasis.

IMAGE: Anshul Avijit at an election meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav at Khusrupur in Patna, May 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Trained as an economist, the Cambridge-educated electoral debutant launches a tirade against the Modi government's handling of the economy.

"Even before the pandemic, our GDP plummeted to 3.7% from 8% that we gave as a gift to the NDA. The GDP plummeted precipitously because of extreme mismanagement," he says a week before the latest GDP figures were released.

IMAGE: Anshul Avijit speaks at an election rally. Photograph: Kind courtesy Anshul Avijit/Twitter

"The government's entire economic model is flawed. 'Viksit Bharat', 'third largest economy' are all propaganda and slogans. The government's figures are fudged and false," he says in the concluding part of an interview.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'BJP Takes Electorate For Granted In Its Arrogance'

On being an 'Outsider' in Patna

On 'parivarvad' in the Congress party'

On his campaign experience

On the economic problems confronting India

But isn't India the fastest growing economy?

So does he doubt the government's figures?

The stock market loves Modi; is jittery if INDIA comes to power

Videos created and edited by Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda claimed on Friday that the Congress's decision to not participate in exit poll debates is the confirmation that the opposition party has conceded the Lok Sabha elections.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a rally during the Lok Sabha poll campaigning in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar. Photograph: ANI Photo

Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Shah said in a statement that the Congress has been in a "denial mode" since he began playing a key role in its affairs.

"The Congress ran the campaign through the polls that it is going to get a majority. But it has now realised the reality and knows that it faces a rout in the exit polls to be broadcast after the elections tomorrow," Shah said.

The Congress does not have the face to take questions from the media so it is debunking the entire exit poll exercise claiming that it has no meaning, he added.

Shah said Congress leaders should not be in denial and instead introspect, as he accused the party of casting aspersions on the Supreme Court and the Election Commission when judicial judgments and poll results do not favour it.

"The BJP has lost many polls but has never boycotted the media or exit polls," he said, expressing confidence that exit polls will indeed prove the ruling alliance is getting "400-paar".

Nadda said the Congress's decision to skip 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 electors not to "waste" their votes in the seventh and last phase of the polls on Saturday as he said the Congress usually opts out when it doesn't 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.

Nadda's swipe at the opposition party came after it announced its decision to not participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debate on news channels, saying it does not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRPs.

"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," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said in a statement.

Nadda retorted, "The Congress's decision is an unequivocal confirmation that the Congress has conceded the 2024 Lok Sabha elections."

What is more disconcerting, Nadda said, is the Congress' antipathy towards the largest democratic process in the world, which saw the participation of over 960 million aspirations.

"While Indians were electing their leader, who would lead them in the new world order, improve their lives, bring opportunities and prosperity, the Congress was working assiduously to undermine the very institutional process, on which rests our robust democracy's foundations," he claimed.

He said instead of focusing on winning the election, the opposition party repeatedly approached the Supreme Court, making outrageous demands, in order to "mutilate" the well-established electoral process.

"The Congress has no complaints about either the EVMs or the electoral process when it wins. Himachal and Telangana are recent examples. But whines endlessly when it expects a rout," he said.

Nadda added that not just the Congress but its extended ecosystem, which is "inimical" to India's interests, too comes together to create cacophony and makes all attempts to undermine people's faith in democratic institutions and process.

"They stop at nothing. They target the Supreme Court, Judges who do not deliver orders to their liking, attack journalists, who refuse to be their cheerleaders, tarnish the Election Commission of India and raise questions on integrity of data and process," he said.

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, Nadda said.

"Is it the Congress's arguments that there is a big conspiracy, which includes millions of voters, and all of it is aimed at ridiculing the Congress for the next few days when the actual result comes out on 4th of June?" he asked.

He 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, he added.
The exit polls on Saturday predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance winning most of the seats in Congress-ruled Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections and the Congress not putting up a good show.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a roadshow with Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai in support of party South Chennai candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Chennai on April 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The pollsters also predicted that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies are expected to win most of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Congress-led alliance will retain its dominance in Kerala with the BJP and its allies also slated to win a few seats in the two southern states.

The exit polls predicted the BJP-led NDA creating history by winning Lok Sabha seats in Kerala.

According to the Axis My India exit poll, the BJP-led NDA is expected to win 2-4 seats in Tamil Nadu.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, which has both DMK and Congress in it, is set to win 33-37 seats.

The exit poll predicted a marked rise in NDA's vote share in Tamil Nadu which is expected to go to 22 per cent. The INDIA bloc is predicted to get 46 per cent. Tamil Nadu sends 39 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

According to News18 exit poll, the NDA is expected to win 1-3 seats in Tamil Nadu while the INDIA bloc can win 36-39 seats in the state.

The three polls predicted a big lead for the NDA in Karnataka, while the INDIA bloc is likely to get 3-8 seats according to the exit polls.

The India Today-Axis My India poll predicted NDA getting 23-25 seats, INDIA bloc 3-5 seats and others failing to open its account in the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.

The India TV exit poll said that the NDA is poised to win 19-25 seats in Karnataka, while the INDIA bloc is to get 4-8 seats.

The exit poll done by News18 predicted that NDA will get 23-26 seats and INDIA bloc will get 3-7 seats in Karnataka.

The Congress came to power in Karnataka in 2023 but the exit polls predict the dismal performance of the ruling party in the state.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP almost swept the state by winning 25 out of 28 seats.

The Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular -- who were in coalition in the state government -- could only win one seat each.

This time the BJP and the JD-S are in coalition with the former fighting on 25 seats, while the latter is contesting on three seats.

In Kerala, the Axis My India exit poll predicted that the BJP-led NDA is to win 2-3 seats in Kerala. It said Congress-led United Democratic Front would win 17-18 seats and Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist, is expected to win 0-1 seat.

The exit polls has predicted 27 per cent vote share for NDA in Kerala, which will be the highest the party has ever got in the state.

Predicted vote share of the LDF and the UDF are 29 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.

The News18 exit poll predicted 1-3 seats for the NDA in Kerala. It said the UDF is expected to win 15-18 seats and LDF 2-5 seats.

The Times Now-ETG has predicted one seat for the BJP in Kerala. It said the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF are expected to win 14-15 and four seats respectively.

Kerala sends 20 seats to the lower house of Parliament.

The voting for the 543-member Lok Sabha was held across seven phases. Votes will be counted on June 4.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti on Saturday vowed to shave his head if Narendra Modi retained the prime minister's post while his party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) would form a 'strong and stable' government at the Centre.

IMAGE: AAP leader Somnath Bharti and others take part in the 'Walk For Kejriwal' walkathon, at C.R. Park in New Delhi on April 28, 2024.. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo

Exit polls on Saturday predicted that Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls.

In a post on X, Bharti who is the AAP candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, said all exit polls will be proven wrong on June 4 when results are announced.

'I will shave off my head if Mr Modi becomes PM for the third time. Mark my word! All exit polls will be proven wrong on 4th June and Modi ji will not become prime minister for the third time,' Bharti said.

'In Delhi, all seven seats will go to India ALLIANCE. Fear of Mr Modi does not allow exit polls to show him loose (lose). Hence we all need to wait for actual results scheduled to be delivered on June 4th. People have voted very heavily against BJP,' he said.

Following a meeting of the INDIA bloc leaders at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, Kejriwal said according to the feedback received from the people, the opposition alliance is going to win more than 295 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

'INDIA bloc is headed towards forming a strong and stable government,' he asserted.

The BJP will win 220 seats on its own while the NDA will end up getting 235 seats, he claimed.

Most exit polls for Delhi predicted the BJP to win five to seven Lok Sabha seats. The city has seven Lok Sabha constituencies held by the BJP since 2014.

While TV9 Bharatvarsha-Polstrat predicted a clean sweep for BJP, India TV-CNX and Axis My India - India Today suggested BJP winning six to seven seats, giving Congress' JP Agarwal an edge over BJP candidate Praveen Khandelwal in Chandni Chowk.

The AAP and Congress, INDIA bloc constituents, have contested four and three Lok Sabha seats in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva exuded confidence that the exit polls predicting BJP winning all seven seats in Delhi will hold true on June 4 -- when the results will be declared.

However, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh rejected the exit polls, saying they were 'sponsored' and called them 'Modi's exit poll'.

He said during the INDIA bloc meeting, a state-wise discussion based on feedback from different party leaders suggested that the alliance would secure 295 seats.

Singh said the INDIA bloc would form the government at the Centre, arguing that exit polls with a sample size of 20 to 25,000 in a country with a population of 144 crore do not make any significant difference.
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties on Saturday announced that they will participate in the exit poll debates on television on Saturday evening after the grouping's top leaders met and deliberated on the issue at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.

IMAGE: Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders attend the INDIA Bloc meeting at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Senior leaders of the Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Communist Party of India, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Saturday afternoon and held discussions, even as the last phase of polling was underway.

The development came a day after the Congress said it has decided not to participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on television channels.

The party does not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP, it had said.

Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said INDIA bloc parties met and decided to expose the Bharatiya Janata artyP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls.

'After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA (bloc) parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening,' he said in a post on X.

On Friday, Khera had said people 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 had said in a statement shared on X.

'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 June 4 onwards,' Khera had said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda had claimed on Friday that the Congress's decision to not participate in exit poll debates is the confirmation that the opposition party has conceded the Lok Sabha elections.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said in a statement that the Congress has been in a 'denial mode' since he began playing a key role in its affairs.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 1. EU Ambassador to Tajikistan Raimundas Karoblis visited the EU-funded Khatlon Energy Loss Reduction project in the country, implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Trend reports.

According to the EU delegation in Tajikistan, the project aims to improve the reliability, energy efficiency, and financial sustainability of the electricity networks in Bokhtar and Kulob cities.

The EU wishes for this project to achieve success similar to that in Sughd, where grid losses were reduced from 15 percent to 6 percent. As a result, a more efficient billing and metering system benefits the people of Tajikistan, the delegation posted on its page on X.

To note, the EU delegation in Tajikistan organized the second European Union-Tajikistan Sustainable Energy Days in the Khatlon region on May 2829, 2024. This year's event focused on promoting awareness of sustainable energy and mobility while engaging local communities, with a particular emphasis on the youth in the region.

Under the Khatlon Energy Loss Reduction Project, the EBRD provided a 20 million euro long-term sovereign-guaranteed loan to Tajikistan's Shabakahoi Taksimoti Bark OJSC. The project is co-financed with a 15 million euro grant from the European Union's Investment Fund for Central Asia (IFCA).
Nearly half of the MPs elected in the 2019 general elections in India were first-timers.

IMAGE: The 17th Lok Sabha in session, February 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV

India has a higher share of first-time parliamentarians than many of its peer countries.

After France (51.6 per cent) and South Africa (50.9 per cent), India ranks third in the sample of eight countries with 49.9 per cent of its MPs elected in the 2019 elections for the first time.

All other countries in the sample had a lower number of first-time parliamentarians than India.

Based on data from the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the sample includes emerging market peers from the BRICS group and the top seven economies of the world.

Data for countries like Russia and China is unavailable because of reasons that include differing forms of government.

Nearly half of total representatives elected in the 2019 general elections in India are first-timers.

The trend is not unique to 2019. The median share of first time winners in the Lok Sabha since 1967 has been about 53 per cent, according to an analysis of data from Ashoka University's Trivedi Centre for Political Data.

The peak was recorded at 69.7 per cent in the 1977 elections, held in the aftermath of the Emergency, which led to a non-Congress government at the Centre for the first time.

The lowest share was recorded in 1999 when 33.7 per cent elected MPs were new.

The elections marked the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party-led government that could last for the full term for the first time.

The first-time MPs have a novelty factor, people expect them to do well.

New faces are given tickets to neutralise anti-incumbency sentiments, said Amitabh Tiwari, political strategist and commentator.

Anti-incumbency is more visible to people in the digital age, said Pratik Jain, co-founder and director, Indian Political Action Committee.

Information on the wrongdoings or failures of incumbents can spread faster than before, he says.

When the government is changed, the number of first-time MPs is more as seen in 2014.

If (the government remains) unchanged, the share declines as seen in 2019, Tiwari says.

In 2019, the share of new MPs out of the total elected from a state was the highest in Andhra Pradesh at 76 per cent, followed by Tamil Nadu at 71.8 per cent.

The lowest share was in Karnataka (35.7 per cent) and Gujarat (38.5 per cent).

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra also had less than 40 per cent first-timers among those elected from the state.

Someone with anti-incumbency is given a ticket if there is no better option, and ultimately they win, Jain of I-PAC explains.

Lok Sabha elections, he says, are fought more on narratives and less on local issues.

It also depends on what the first-time MP has to offer to the people.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
With his three-week temporary bail for poll campaign ending, Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be back in Tihar Jail on Sunday as a court here put off till June 5 its order on his plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal arrives at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to attend the INDIA bloc meeting, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Sources in the AAP said on Saturday that on June 2 the chief minister is likely to visit Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at the Raj Ghat, the party office at the DDU Marg and a temple before heading to the Tihar Jail around 3 pm.

A day before his scheduled surrender, Kejriwal on Saturday held a meeting of the AAP's Political Affairs Committee at his residence before attending an Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's home.

Prominent AAP leaders including Cabinet minister Atishi, Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh, and MLA Durgesh Pathak attended the PAC meeting, with sources saying the chief minister emphasised the need to keep unity among the party leaders in his absence.

It was also emphasised that Kejriwal will remain chief minister, and his wife Sunita Kejriwal will continue to covey his messages to party leaders, volunteers and the people of Delhi, the sources said.

Kejriwal was released from the jail on May 10 on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. The polls ended on June 1.

Kejriwal said on Friday that he will leave around 3 pm on June 2 to surrender before the jail authorities.

The chief minister had earlier moved the Supreme Court seeking a seven-day extension of the interim bail granted by it in the money laundering case linked to alleged excise policy scam.

However, the SC registry on Wednesday refused an urgent listing of his plea in which he had pleaded he needed time to undergo medical tests as he was losing weight and was having high ketone level.

He then moved the special Central Bureau of Investigation-ED court seeking interim bail on medical grounds.

Hearing his plea on Saturday, the court of special judge Kaveri Baweja reserved for June 5 its order his application.

The court observed that the plea was for interim bail on medical grounds and not for the extension of the interim bail granted by the SC.

The Enforcement Directorate opposed his interim bail plea, arguing he campaigned throughout the elections, but 'now when he has to surrender, he suddenly claims to be ill'.

The case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

Kejriwal has asked people not to be sad if anything happens to him in jail.

He also asserted he was proud of going to jail to save the country from 'dictatorship', saying he did not know how long will he remain behind the bars this time.

He also appealed to the people of Delhi to pray for his elderly parents.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the chief minister should stop his 'illness drama' and go back to the jail if he has any respect for law.

It is regrettable to see Kejriwal campaigning after getting bail in a healthy condition and now claiming to be seriously ill and seeking bail on medical ground, he said.
Leaders of several Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties met on Saturday to take stock of the opposition's preparations leading up to the June 4 counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections, and claimed they will get more than 295 seats, enough for them to form the next government.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addresses the media with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders after the INDIA bloc meeting at his residence, in New Delhi on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Meanwhile, exit polls predicted a comfortable majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, with the ruling alliance projected to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sweep Karnataka.

Most of them predicted the ruling alliance to get more than 350 seats.

Addressing the media after two-and-a-half-hour confabulations at his residence, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the INDIA bloc has arrived at the 295-plus figure after feedback from people, which he termed 'people's survey'.

He said the leaders of the alliance dwelt on a host of issues, including the precautions to be taken on the counting day on Tuesday.

He said they have instructed their party workers to not leave the counting halls till all formalities are completed.

He said the opposition parties have sought time from the Election Commission on Sunday to raise their concerns and urge the poll body to address them soon.

The meeting began at Kharge's residence this afternoon as voting in the last phase of the seven-phase general elections were underway for 57 seats.

The voting ended at 6 PM. The counting of votes for all the phases will be held on June 4.

"The INDIA bloc will get more than 295 seats. We have arrived at this figure after speaking with all our leaders," Kharge told reporters.

"This is a survey of people. People have given this information to our leaders. The government surveys are there and their media friends also inflate figures and put it out. Therefore, we want to tell you about the reality."

Some opposition leaders said the BJP would be happy Saturday evening, when exit poll results are released, while they would be happy on June 4, when the official results will be declared.

Targeting the BJP, Kharge said, "They are trying to give a narrative through government exit polls and we want to tell the people the truth."

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the meeting.

The Samajwadi Party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Communist Party of India, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar were also represented at the meeting.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee had already said she would not attend the meeting as polling was to take place in some Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti did not attend the meeting due to personal reasons.

Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Anil Desai, Sitaram Yechury, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, Champai Soren, Kalpana Soren, T R Baalu, Farooq Abdullah, D Raja, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Jitendra Awhad and Mukesh Sahani attended the meeting.

Kharge said the leaders of INDIA parties met informally to take stock of the preparations leading up to the counting day.

The INDIA bloc parties have also given instructions to their workers about Form 17 C -- which contains the details of votes polled at booths, he said.

"The fight is still not over, and the leaders and workers of all the parties are extremely alert. I thank each one of them for their esteemed presence," he said.

'We have fought the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with all our might and are confident of a positive outcome, as the people of India have supported us,' he said in a post on X.

NCP-SP president Sharad Pawar said the meeting brought together leaders and dignitaries from various INDIA bloc parties, fostering a spirit of collaboration and unity.

Kejriwal said that based on feedback from everywhere 'we believe that the INDIA bloc will win more than 295 seats, while the BJP will get around 220 seats. The NDA, meanwhile, will get around 235 seats'.

Akhilesh Yadav said, "The INDIA bloc is going to form the government. He (PM) has gone to see the sea and he has his back towards the people, who are now against him."

Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Champai Soren said, "We (INDIA bloc) will do very well in Jharkhand and win more than 10 seats. The INDIA bloc is winning 295 seats."

"The people are winning, and INDIA will win. We have been saying that we will get 295-plus seats," said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Asked about who would be their PM candidate, he said, "We will decide about the rest together after June 4."

DMK leader T R Baalu said the DMK and Congress will together win all the 40 seats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

"There is no second opinion in this; it is a foregone conclusion by the public."

CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury said a common minimum programme will be chalked out once the numbers come and that will be the basis of the new government.

CPI leader D Raja said all INDIA bloc leaders discussed how to face the narrative of exit polls.

"The leaders have made it very clear, the INDIA bloc is very confident, very optimistic about its victory. The verdict of the people will be in favour of INDIA bloc and INDIA bloc will be far ahead of BJP and NDA," Raja said.

After the meeting, Congress' K C Venugopal said, "All of us are confident that INDIA will form a government with a thumping majority and June 4th will begin a new chapter of our democracy where the Constitution will be safeguarded."

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc parties also announced they will participate in exit poll debates this evening after the grouping's top leaders deliberated on the issue.

It came a day after the Congress said it won't participate in exit poll debates as it did not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday exuded confidence that people have voted in record numbers to re-elect the National Democratic Alliance government and said the 'opportunistic INDI Alliance' failed to strike a chord with the voters who rejected their 'regressive politics'.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditates at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, where Swami Vivekananda did meditation, in Kanniyakumari on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

As polling ended for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Modi said the people have seen his government's track record and the manner in which its work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden.

'India has voted! A heartfelt thank you to all those who exercised their franchise. Their active participation is the cornerstone of our democracy. Their commitment and dedication ensures that the democratic spirit thrives in our nation. I would also like to specially appreciate India's Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti. Their strong presence at the polls is a very encouraging sign,' Modi said in a series of posts on X.

The prime minister said he can say with confidence that the people of India have voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government.

'They have seen our track record and the manner in which our work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden,' Modi said.

At the same time, they have seen how the reforms in India have propelled the nation to being the fifth largest global economy, he added.

The prime minister said that every scheme of the government has reached the intended beneficiaries without any bias or leakage.

Lashing out at the opposition coalition, Modi said, 'The opportunistic INDI Alliance failed to strike a chord with the voters. They are casteist, communal and corrupt. This alliance, aimed to protect a handful of dynasties, failed to present a futuristic vision for the nation.'

'Through the campaign, they only enhanced their expertise on one thing- Modi bashing. Such regressive politics has been rejected by the people,' he added.

He also applauded each and every NDA worker across the length and breadth of India.

'I compliment them for meticulously explaining our development agenda to the people and motivating them to come out and vote. Our karyakartas are our greatest strength,' Modi said.

The prime minister also hailed the Election Commission for their 'exemplary efforts' in conducting the polls.

'I would like to commend the Election Commission for their exemplary efforts in ensuring a smooth and fair electoral process. Their dedication and meticulous planning have been crucial in upholding the integrity of our democracy, allowing citizens across the nation to vote with confidence and security,' Modi said.

'Our electoral process is something every believer in democratic values takes inspiration from,' he added.

Modi also thanked the security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the entire elections.

'Heartfelt gratitude to our outstanding security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the entire elections. Their efforts have ensured a safe and secure environment, enabling people to take part in the polling process with ease,' he said.

'Their service to the nation is deeply appreciated by each one of us,' Modi added.

In the seventh and final phase, polling was conducted in seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh for 57 constituencies, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Prime Minister Modi is seeking a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha.

The results of the elections will be announced on June 4.
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a snap general election, ahead of schedule, on July 4. Opinion polls predict that Sunak's Conservative party will suffer its worst defeat in many years.

Nevertheless, his wife Akshata Murty has plunged into the campaign, assisting her husband with a charm offensive.

This week, Akshata visited a Royal British Legion care home catering exclusively for ex-servicemen and women and their spouses in Ripon.

IMAGE: Akshata pours tea as she meets with residents at the Royal British Legion care home. All photographs: Ian Forsyth/Pool/Reuters

IMAGE: Akshata chats with residents, here and below.

IMAGE: Akshata takes part in a sing-along.

IMAGE: Akshata is presented with flowers during the visit.

IMAGE: Akshata meets with staff at the care home.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. The UAE and Turkmenistan are actively developing strong and mutually beneficial relations, a source in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

"The UAE believes that communication and dialogue strengthen and develop beneficial ties that serve its national interests, those of the region, and the world. The UAE and Turkmenistan are aggressively building strong and mutually beneficial connections, paving the path for a prosperous future for both nations," the source said.

The representative of the Ministry noted that over the past two years, bilateral trade has witnessed significant growth, with high-level officials from both countries engaging in regular visits, reflecting a commitment to strengthening ties.

"His Excellency Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan, visited the UAE in December 2023 to participate in COP28 at the invitation of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Furthermore, His Excellency Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, made visits to the UAE in February 2023 and January 2024," the source added.

It was stressed that these and other diplomatic exchanges underline the commitment to strengthening closer ties and cooperation between the two countries.

"The UAE has deep and distinctive connections with other nations, reflecting its principles of openness, partnering, creating bridges, solidifying peace, and serving the common interests of nations and peoples to achieve international peace and security. The country thinks conversation, cooperation, and bridge-building are needed to find innovative and enduring solutions to contemporary difficulties," the representative concluded.

Meanwhile, cooperation between the UAE and Turkmenistan is rapidly expanding in various sectors, including energy, transport infrastructure, tourism, and trade.

UAE companies invest in Turkmenistan's oil and gas production, bolstering both economies and deepening the potential collaboration.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1, 2024.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has reconfirmed Washingtons strong commitment to the Indo-Pacific, as well as to working with allies and partners in the face of growing rivalry with China.

Austin spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue annual security forum on Saturday, just a day after meeting with his Chinese counterpart to open lines of communication between the two world powers.

This was the secretarys third time to speak at the forum and likely his last as a U.S. presidential election in November may bring changes in defense diplomacy.

The Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theater of operations," Austin said, seeking to brush off concerns that other security challenges in Ukraine and Gaza may have shifted U.S. attention.

He stressed that Washington is deeply committed to the region, adding We are all in. And we're not going anywhere.

He went on to list a number of cooperation projects between the U.S and countries including Australia, Japan, India and the Philippines.

Austin said that the U.S. can be secure only if Asia is secure."

The defense secretarys speech shows that the dynamics of U.S. strategic partnerships may have changed because Washington has to balance different world regions, but not so much, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.

Other factors that may have contributed to the slight shift, in Vuvings opinion, are U.S. domestic politics and the responses of regional states and non-state actors to the weakening of the current international order.

The Pentagon chief, meanwhile, emphasized what he called the power of partnerships amid a new convergence in the region.

"This new convergence is about coming together, not splitting apart. It isn't about imposing one country's will, Austin said in an apparent dig at China, It isn't about bullying or coercion. It's about the free choices of sovereign states.

Beijing has been accused by some of its neighbors of acting aggressively in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

In his keynote speech on Friday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned assertive actions that aim to propagate excessive, baseless claims through force, intimidation and deception, believed to be committed by Beijing.

The Philippines has accused Chinese coast guard vessels of harassing and preventing Filipino fishermen and law enforcement agencies from operating in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

While not mentioning China, Austin said that the harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous and the peaceful resolution of disputes should be achieved through dialogue and not coercion or conflict.

"And certainly not through so-called punishment.

Just 10 days ago, the Chinese military held large-scale punishment drills around Taiwan after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the new president of the democratic island.

Strengthening partnerships

The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a $8-billion defense package to help Taipei counter Beijing, which considers Taiwan a Chinese province that should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

China reacted angrily, saying this sends the wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces and the military collusion between the U.S. and Taiwan would only push up tensions and the risk of conflict and confrontation in the Taiwan Strait.

China has long said Washington is trying to build a NATO-like alliance in the Asia-Pacific, an accusation that was brought up and denied on Saturday by the U.S. defense secretary.

Replying to a question by Chinese Senior Col. Yanzhong Cao about the U.S. alliance system in the region, Austin said that like-minded countries with similar values and a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific are working together to achieve that vision.

And we will continue to do those kinds of things going forward, he said.

The defense secretary, however, called for better communication with China, saying that dialogue is not a reward, it is a necessity, and that there's no substitute for open lines of communication to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with Chinese Minister of Defense Adm. Dong Jun in Singapore, May 31, 2024. (U.S. Department of Defense)





Austin and the Chinese minister of national defense, Adm. Dong Jun, held a one-hour meeting on Friday to discuss U.S.-China defense relations and other security issues. It was the first in-person meeting between the twos, marking a resumption of communication after then-defense minister Li Shangfu declined a meeting with Austin last year

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters afterwards that it showed the bilateral military relations were stabilizing.

The resumption of exchanges does not mean that differences and conflicts between the two countries have been resolved, warned a Taiwanese analyst.

China is still conducting military exercises around Taiwan and the U.S. continues joint exercises with the Philippines and other allies, said Shen Ming-Shih from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

He added that while both sides keep pursuing their own objectives, the best they can do is to have more dialogue and exercise restraint.

Edited by Mike Firn.
Police on the Thai holiday island of Phuket have charged more than 100 people, including 67 Russians, suspected of breaking business laws in a crackdown on the multi-million dollar property sector that has seen a surge in prices since Russians flocked in after their government's invasion of Ukraine.

The tourism ministry said 767,210 Russians arrived in Thailand in the first four months of the year, a 12.43% increase over last year when 1.61 million Russians visited.

Many of those Russians head to Phuket for its beaches and nightlife and police say nearly 60,000 Russians are living on the island on Thailand's Indian Ocean coast. Some parts of Phuket feel like a Black Sea resort with Russians soaking up the sun on the beach while nearby signboards in Cyrillic advertise Russian restaurants, bars and other businesses including real estate agencies and tour companies.

Tourists and Thais are pictured on Patong beach in Phuket, Nov. 18, 2023. (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP)





But thats a problem for some Thais, angry with what they see as Russians taking jobs and opportunities without proper work visas and business permits.

Police said that in response to complaints the government called for a crackdown, and they launched their raids last month on hundreds of companies and property realtors. Police said they had then compiled a list of 135 people, 67 of them Russian, and as many as 300 companies suspected of breaking the law.

"Phuket residents complained to the prime minister about a land and residential grab by foreigners causing hardship, so we ordered the operation, Police Lt. Gen. Jirapob Puridej, chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, told a press conference at the bureau's Bangkok headquarters on Friday.

None of the suspects had been detained but they had been summoned to appear in Bangkok to hear charges of breaking business laws, police said.

Police declined to identify most of the suspects, citing privacy protection. Radio Free Asia was not able to track down any of them for comment.

Tourists walk on Bangla Road in Patong, Phuket, Nov. 17, 2023. (Lillian Suwanrumpha /AFP)

Col. Krit Woratat, a senior officer at the Economic Crime Suppression Division, who organized the raids, told RFA that the investigation had revealed a Thai accountant in league with a Russian to set up joint ventures without legal requirements, and getting work permits through those bogus companies. Jobs in services sectors are almost exclusively reserved for Thais.

Thailands Foreign Business Act 1999 sets out jail of up to three years and a fine of 2 million baht (US$54,500) for those convicted of violations.

Property and business laws are restrictive in Thailand and any foreigner hoping to start a business or find a job usually has to go through a tortuous application process.

Foreigners can buy flats but can not own land. They can set up a joint venture with a Thai partner but are not allowed to hold more than a 49% stake.

In 2023, more than 1,600 Russian-linked companies were registered in Phuket compared with an average of 30 in each of the previous seven years, police said.

People walk at Kamala beach in Phuket, Dec. 27, 2022. (Reuters)

Scaring off investment?

According to the Real Estate Information Center, land prices in Phuket have risen up to 40% this year, much higher than the national average, and house and condominium sales to the tune of 31.5 billion baht (US$859 million) are expected.

Police seized deeds for land and condominiums worth 1.2 billion baht (US$33 million) in their raids, along with 318 million baht (US$8.7 million) in cash deposits and 108 work permits, which were being checked. Bank accounts suspected of being used to defraud Thai customers with investment scams were frozen, police said.

One disgruntled Phuket native, who asked that he be identified as Chai, welcomed the police action.

"It's as if they own the country," Chai said of Phuket's Russian visitors.

"They've bought up so much land, pushed up property prices, and some unruly Russians cause social disorder," said Chai, who owns a small retail business. "The government has to purge all illegal activities."

But some Thais are worried that the raids could scare off foreign investment.

Maetapong Upatising, president of the Phuket Real Estate Association, said Russians were the top investors in Phukets real estate this year, followed by Chinese and French, and the authorities should not ruin the investment sentiment.

Amid competition, land prices rise and so do shady businessmen, Maetapong told RFA. Actually, our association has called for a government investigation into fraud but it should not put off foreign investment.

Maetapong said some rich Russians had been investing at the top end of the market, buying luxury villas that range in price from around 25 million baht ($730,000) and up. The well-off can secure long-term resident visas that let them stay for years through an elite visas scheme, he said.

Before COVID-19, Thailand welcomed a record 40 million tourists, with Chinese accounting for more than a quarter. The sector has been recovering - there were more than 28 million visitors last year - but not as quickly as many would hope with Chinese tourists yet to flock back.

Since November, Thailand has included Russians tourists in a visa exemption scheme in a bid to boost arrivals. The scheme has been extended to July.

Edited by Mike Firn.
The move comes amid Chinas attempts to suppress Tibetan language and culture among children.

Tibetan children pose for a photo at the Lower Tibetan Childrens Villages school in Dharamsala, India, in an undated photo.

In a bid to help preserve Tibets language and culture, a nonprofit organization in northern India is transforming one of its facilities into a boarding school where children of Tibetans living overseas can go to live and study.

The Dharamsala, India-based school being created by the Tibetan Childrens Villages, or TCV, is accepting applications for the academic year starting Aug. 1 for children entering grades four to eight.

There are already several Tibetan boarding schools elsewhere in India, but this will be the first time one is being created for the children of overseas Tibetans.

The Lower Tibetan Childrens Villages school (TCV) is seen in Dharamsala, India, in an undated photo. (TCV)

The move comes as China intensifies its policies to suppress  or even eradicate  Tibetan and other ethnic languages and cultures and replace them with Mandarin and Han Chinese customs.

Chinese officials in Tibet and in Tibetan-populated areas in Chinas western provinces are using government-run boarding schools to assimilate Tibetan children culturally, religiously and linguistically, rights groups say.

Schools become battleground

Tibetan students are being forcibly removed from their homes and immersed in a Mandarin-language curriculum without an opportunity to learn the Tibetan language or culture.

Tibetan schools are the battleground for CCP ideology, said Kai Mueller, the Berlin-based executive director and head of U.N. advocacy at the International Campaign for Tibet, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

We have noted so many forms of indoctrination towards Tibetan children in school that it is quite astounding, he said.

The Lower TCV school in Dharamsala, India, is being renovated as a new residential school for Tibetan children from abroad. (TCV)

The types of indoctrination include poetry competitions on Chinese President Xi Jingping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics, field trips to Communist Party museums, and school visits by Chinese officials and members of the Chinese military who teach children about national unity, Mueller said.

The Chinese rulers are using ever new methods to try to transform young Tibetans into loyal Chinese, he said.

Their main starting point is language, he said.

In a two-pronged approach, Chinese officials work to dissuade children from learning their mother tongue by sending them to compulsory boarding schools and make Mandarin attractive to young Tibetans, Mueller said.

In this way, the Chinese leadership wants to destroy the youth's connection to traditional Tibetan culture and language, he said.

Students learn about tuberculosis at the Tibetan Childrens Villages lower school in Dharamsala, India, in an undated photo. (TCV)

Grassroots idea

For this reason, many Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet urged Tibetan Childrens Villages to set up a boarding school for children from overseas, TCV Director Sonam Sichoe told Radio Free Asia. The proposal was then approved by the networks board.

The schools main priority will be to teach Tibetan language skills and cultural traditions, while simultaneously receiving a modern education that is on par with the West, Sichoe said.

So far, about 15 students from the United States, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Germany have enrolled. Regardless of the numbers, the school will proceed as planned, he said.

In the dormitories, the children from overseas will be mixed with students from India so that they dont end up speaking only English, he added.

The Lower TCV school in Dharamsala, India, is being renovated as a new residential school for Tibetan children from abroad. (TCV)

Tuition, room and board cost US$350 per child per month, Sichoe said.

Because the children are expected to come from different countries, the main medium of teaching academic subjects will be in English to ensure ease of understanding and communication, he said.

Studio Nyandak Dharamsala, a design company whose local employees are all TCV alumni, is working with school administrators to renovate the campus. Changes include the installation of Western toilets, single beds instead of bunk beds, water heating facilities and solar panels.

Expanded network

Set up in 1960 as a nursery for Tibetan children, TCV was established after the Dalai Lama proposed a center to care for kids who had been orphaned or separated from their families while fleeing after Chinas annexation of Tibet in 1959.

Since then, the organization expanded its footprint across India to become a network of boarding schools caring for over 15,000 children.

The Dharamsala-based Lower TCV campus  now being renovated into a residential school for overseas children  came about in the 1980s after the main TCV school was inundated with children who had been smuggled out of Tibet by Tibetan parents during Chinas liberalization program of that period.

Earlier this year, Jetsun Pema, the younger sister of the Dalai Lama who led the school for many years, received the Pearl S. Buck award from Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia, in recognition of her service.

Students of the Tibetan Childrens Villages lower school perform a drum line in Dharamsala, India, in this undated photo. (TCV)

Parents reactions

Migmar Bhuti, a Tibetan in New York, welcomed the new boarding school, saying it would enable Tibetan children to more effectively learn and preserve the Tibetan language and culture at an early age. But she also expressed concern over whether math, English, science and the social sciences would be adequately taught.

Since the Lower TCV School is planning to only take in students from the fourth to eighth grades, I wonder if that will allow the children to catch up in their classes when they move back here from the ninth grade, or whether they will need to drop a grade, she told RFA Tibetan.

Given that academic and vacation schedules in the West differ from those in India, school officials are in discussions with parents about these concerns, said Choeying Dhondup, TCVs general-secretary.

The Lower TCV school in Dharamsala, India, is being renovated as a new residential school for Tibetan children from abroad. (TCV)

Kalsang Dorji, a father of two children and principal of a Sunday school for Tibetan children in Berkeley, California, said Tibetans there have wanted a dedicated residential school to teach their language and culture to youngsters.

Not only do they get to learn the Tibetan language and culture very early on, they also have the opportunity to engage with other Tibetan children, he said.

The success of the school will be determined by the quality of the faculty and enrollment numbers, he added.

In our community, there is a widespread desire to have a dedicated school like this for Tibetan children, which is why I deeply appreciate TCVs move to convert Lower TCV into a residential school for children from the West, Dorji said.

Additional reporting by Tenzin Lekmon and Yeshi Dawa for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan, and by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
After the Taliban's de facto government cut ties with a number of diplomatic missions operated abroad by diplomats loyal to the ousted Afghan republic, the British and Norwegian authorities have opted to shut down Afghan embassies on their soil.

Both Oslo and London say their decisions in no way represent official recognition of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan, which no country recognizes due to concerns over a woeful human rights record and other failures to live up to promises it made before seizing power in August 2021.

But experts say the embassy closures are likely to pave the way for more engagement with the Taliban, which controls all of Afghanistan's territory and has increased its hold on power.

Diplomats who served the former Afghan government were left in limbo when the Taliban took control, but remained open for business in some Western states and continued to assist Afghan citizens.

The window on their operations began to close when the Taliban announced in July that it was cutting ties with 14 such missions in Western countries and that it would not accept any consular documents they processed, a critical source of funding to keep them running.

Many of the consular services, such as verification of identity documents or police clearance, offered by the embassies do require a degree of cooperation from the country's government because diplomatic missions might not be able to access all government data.

This month, the British Foreign Office announced that it was shutting down the Afghan Embassy in London, explaining to RFE/RL on September 9 that the decision was made after the "dismissal of its staff by the Taliban."

Norway quickly followed suit, announcing that the Afghan Embassy in Oslo would be shut down on September 12.

Both the British and Norwegian governments have indicated that the move does not amount to a formal recognition of the Taliban's hard-line government. And the embassy buildings, which are Afghanistan's properties, will be eventually handed over to a "recognized" government of Afghanistan.

But Hameed Hakimi, an Afghanistan expert, says the decisions to shut the embassies can be taken as "reality setting in" that the Taliban is "unlikely to be replaced in the immediate future."

And for the Taliban, he says, it creates an opportunity to argue that its rule is being acknowledged, even without formal recognition.

"The Taliban can use this to their advantage in their pursuit of claiming legitimacy with the Afghans and internationally," said Hakimi, an associate fellow at London's Chatham House think tank.

More than a dozen countries, mostly Afghanistan's neighbors, already operate embassies in Kabul, and some have accredited Taliban diplomats. The Taliban government also partially controls diplomatic missions in some countries, and has established working relations with Afghan diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and the Afghan Consulate in Munich.

The missions operating in Western countries staffed by diplomats appointed by the previous government are the outlier.

Hakimi said that if all those missions are shut down, it "truly signifies the closure of the chapter of the Afghan Islamic Republic."

The Afghan Islamic Republic, as it was formally known, emerged soon after a U.S.-led military alliance toppled the Taliban government in November 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Nearly two decades later, the internationally recognized Afghan republic collapsed as the Taliban seized power in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Taliban, meanwhile, recreated its brutal emirate from the 1990s by imposing harsh bans and discriminatory laws that resulted in widespread human rights violations. Afghan women and girls are deprived of education and employment in most sectors and lack fundamental freedoms.

These Taliban policies have so far kept its government from being officially recognized. This absence of recognition has complicated engagement with the Taliban government on important issues, such as humanitarian aid, and made it difficult for the estimated 2 million Afghans living in Western countries to access consular services.

Graeme Smith, a senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, says Western governments might be acting on the UN special coordinator's recommendation to facilitate the processing of documentation for Afghans abroad.

In his report endorsed by the UN Security Council in December 2023, Feridun Sinirlioglu, the UN special coordinator for Afghanistan, called for better cooperation between the Taliban regime and the outside world to ensure that Afghans can obtain the paperwork they need to continue with their daily lives.

"Afghans have been suffering in limbo without clarity about where to go when they need identity papers or travel documents," Smith said, describing how Afghans who still do not have travel documents from another country suffer from the lack of consular services.

"The steps we are witnessing now may represent practical efforts by some governments" to remedy the situation, Smith said.

The challenge remains, he said, to ensure that efforts "aimed at pressuring the regime do not sabotage the lives and livelihoods of Afghans."

Many Western capitals are also grappling with the complex issue of what to do with Afghan asylum seekers whose applications were rejected.

Last month, Germany deported 28 Afghan men convicted of crimes in the country to Kabul, with Qatar playing an intermediary role in securing the Taliban's cooperation in accepting the returning Afghans.

Smith said that some countries "are discovering the usefulness" of having a consular presence "connected to the authorities in Kabul" if they need to arrange the return of Afghan migrants.

"But it's unclear if that motivated the recent closures," he said.

Both Britain and Norway have not said anything about whether they will allow the Taliban government to offer consular services in London and Oslo.

The fates of the Afghan Embassy in Berlin and consulate in Bonn are not clear, although the consulate in Munich is likely to remain open because it cooperates with the Taliban government on consular services.

In London, Afghanistan expert Hakimi said the closure could create an "opportunity for the Taliban to lobby with the Western countries" and allow its representatives to at least run counselor services.

These Afghan diplomatic missions can remain closed indefinitely, similar to what happened in the United States, where the Afghan Embassy and two consulates have been closed since March 2002. The Afghan Embassy in Canada offers remote consular services to Afghans living in the United States.

In Norway, Afghans have mixed feelings about their embassy's closure.

Sima Nouri, an Afghan woman living in Oslo, is worried over how her compatriots will now access consular services.

"There is a possibility that the process of forced deportation of Afghan refugees will begin," she told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "This process, however, must be stopped."

Mina Rafiq, another Afghan woman in Norway, prefers shutting the embassy down to cooperating with the Taliban.

"This might work to the advantage of Afghan asylum seekers," she said, "because the Norwegian government will now have to give them necessary documents."
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
Dozens came on May 31 to the memorial of Stalinist repressions, built on the site of a mass grave in the village of Zhanalyq, near the Kazakh city of Almaty. Mourners brought portraits of ancestors executed or disappeared under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's rule. Some made the case that political violence is not over yet. Speaking to RFE/RL, activist Rysbek Sarsenbai referred to people "shot dead indiscriminately" during unrest that swept Kazakhstan in 2022. The country marks May 31 as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression and Famine. At least 25,000 people were executed in Kazakhstan in 1937-38 alone. Also in the 1930s, famine triggered by farm collectivization killed at least 1.3 million Kazakhs.
The Roscommon Rose of Tralee selection night will take place in the Abbey Hotel Ballroom, Roscommon tonight, Saturday, June 1st.

Twelve Roses from across County Roscommon will be put through their paces with a series of interviews throughout this morning and evening. Their individual, group and stage interviews will be marked by three independent judges.

Hot Press Readers Poll Radio DJ (National) Winner 2024 and radio presenter Fergal D'Arcy will be the compere on the night.

Chairperson of the Roscommon Rose Centre and co-ordinator Yvonne Donohue said: "The excitement is just fantastic in the build-up to our Roscommon Rose of Tralee selection. There is a great buzz amongst our Roses and this year the competition is extremely strong. We wish all our Roses the very best of luck. We also wish the judges good luck. Each one of our fabulous Roses possess her own unique qualities and we know whichever Rose is selected, she will do us all proud in the International Rose of Tralee Festival 2024 and beyond.

Yvonne added that they were looking forward to a wonderful evening in the Abbey Hotel where we guarantee the atmosphere will be electric. Thank you to all the local businesses especially our main sponsors for 2024 the Roscommon Herald and to our Roses own sponsors, families, friends and communities who have been and continue to be so supportive throughout.

Special guest on the night will be the 2022 Roscommon Rose winner Bernie Ryan (Donnelly) who will share her Roscommon Rose experiences. There will be a raffle, "Guess the Winning Rose", Best Poster/Banner prize and Roscommon's Most Popular Escort. The grand finale will be the announcement of the Roscommon Rose of Tralee 2024. Music and dancing to follow and refreshments served.

Roscommon's newly selected Roscommon Rose will go forward to represent the county in Tralee for the duration of the International Rose of Tralee Festival in August. She will be on tour across Ireland with the other Roses and enjoy all the wonderful festivities and live televised final.

The Roscommon selection night is a ticket only event. Formalities will kick off at 7.30 p.m. with guests arriving from 6.30 p.m..
June 1, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Elena Enache, 01.06.2024, 20:00

GAZA  Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed and include the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, freeing all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, France Presse reports. The same news agency says that the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas qualified as positive the new Israeli roadmap for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages, revealed by US President Joe Biden. Biden announced on Friday that Israel has proposed a new global ceasefire agreement that also includes the release of all hostages. Israels proposal consists, the White House leader announced, in the withdrawal of all its forces from the Palestinian territory for six weeks, a full ceasefire and the release of all hostages. We remind you that on October 7, 2023, Hamas took over 250 hostages in southern Israel and killed approximately 1,200 people, triggering the war in Gaza.

BOOKS  The 17th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair continued in Bucharest on Saturday. This edition brings together 200 exhibitors and 150 publishing houses from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, which is the guest of honour this year. Over 1 million titles are featured. Readers are invited to take part in book launches, debates and other activities. A project co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, the Bookfest International Book Fair is organized by the Romanian Editors Association.

CELEBRATION  Numerous events were held for children on June 1st in Romania, on the occasion of the International Childrens Day. The Parliament hosted the 4th edition of the Childrens Senate. According to the organizers, the event was an opportunity to explain the little ones the role of Parliament, as well as their rights in society through various educational activities. The Chamber of Deputies also opened its doors for the young visitors. Museums from all over the country hosted workshops with free entry for children and numerous surprises.

PRAGUE  The head of Romanian diplomacy, Luminita Odobescu, pleaded, on Friday, at the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague, for the continuation of substantial support for Ukraine. Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Allies have provided approximately EUR 40 billion 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, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said at the end of the meeting. In Prague, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Friday that U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine using U.S. weapons to strike targets inside Russia that were attacking the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, after Kyiv sought authorization from Washington in recent weeks, Reuters reports.

TERMINAL  The largest grain transshipment terminal in Europe was inaugurated, on Friday, in Suceava county (northern Romania), on the border with Ukraine, in the presence of the Romanian and Ukrainian authorities. The new terminal was built in a public-private partnership and cost approximately 10 million euros, the financing being provided by the largest group of private railway companies with Romanian shareholders in Southeast Europe. Due to its large transshipment capacity, the terminal will become a strategic point for streamlining grain traffic from the border with Ukraine to the Port of Constanta.

RESTORATION  The restoration project of St. Michaels Church in Cluj-Napoca (north-western Romania) and that of a Saxon church in a village in Sibiu county (center) are among the winners of this years edition of the European Heritage Awards, awarded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. Saint Michaels Church went through an extensive restoration process between 2016 and 2022, and the project also included interior remodeling and modernization works. In turn, according to the Representative of the European Commission in Bucharest, the Saxon church, rehabilitated from the ground up, is considered a cultural landmark that symbolizes centuries of history and craftsmanship. The awards ceremony will take place on October 7 in Bucharest. (EE)
Among Honda discounts June 2024, it is City sedan that gets the most benefits of up to Rs. 88,000, followed by Amaze, City e:HEV and Elevate

With the launch of Elevate SUV, Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) has rejuvenated its product portfolio in the Asian subcontinent. Elevate has been a success and has elevated companys position in Indian market in both domestic sales and exports. To further boost sales, Honda has launched Summer Bonanza campaign with exclusive benefits.

Honda Discounts June 2024 Up To Rs 88k

Companys portfolio is now stronger than ever, with the all-important Elevate compact SUV launch in the past couple of years. Sales numbers have racked up with Elevate being among the volume generators for HCIL. Company is now pushing sales envelope further with Honda Summer Bonanza offer.

If youre wondering what Honda Summer Bonanza is, it is a month-long promotional offer that is applicable to all Honda cars including Amaze, City, Elevate and City e:HEV. The company is offering attractive benefits and assured gifts on purchase of their cars during this period.

Speaking of period, it spans across June 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2024. Offers are applicable across all Honda dealerships throughout India. Honda is trying to put up lucrative offers to attract buyers towards their dealerships and increase footfall and conversion rates.

Offers include an exclusive couples trip to Paris, France. Or one can opt to gain assured gifts worth Rs. 75,000. If that is not enough, Honda is throwing in surprise gifts on all test drives taken by buyers in this period as part of Honda Summer Bonanza campaign.

Which car gets the most benefits?

Honda is also claiming that these bonanza offers are applicable on top of the monthly offers available on their products. Where monthly offers are concerned, these are not as attractive as they used to be for the month of May 2024, which we covered last month.

For the month of June 2024, Honda City, the non-hybrid version, gets the highest benefits, up to Rs. 88,000. Honda Amaza, companys most affordable vehicle, gets second-best benefits of up to Rs. 76,000, followed by Honda City e:HEV, the Hybrid, at up to Rs. 65,000 and Honda Elevate at up to Rs. 55,000.

Statement from HCIL

Commenting on the special Honda Summer Bonanza, Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, This summer, Honda Cars India is thrilled to bring the Honda Summer Bonanza offering exclusive benefits on the purchase of Honda cars.

Through this campaign, we want our customers to drive home their favourite Honda vehicle, providing not only exceptional value but also the added benefit of these exciting offers. We encourage all our customers to take advantage of these attractive benefits and visit a dealership near them.
The new gen Maruti Suzuki Swift along with the upcoming DZire sedan are set to boost company sales significantly in the months ahead

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the No. 1 automaker in India has revealed their sales results for May 2024. Sales in domestic markets improved only marginally by 0.20% YoY to 1,44,002 units in the past month, from 1,43,708 units sold in May 2023. MoM sales however, performed better with a 4.39% growth over 1,37,952 units sold in April 2024.

Passenger Vehicle Sales May 2024

Across the passenger vehicle segment, Maruti Suzuki has experienced lower sales for the mini segment that comprises the Alto and S-Presso models. Sales dipped to 9,902 units in the past month from 212,236 units sold in May 2023 while on a YTD basis sales fell to 21,421 units from 26,346 units sold in the FY2023-24 period.

The compact segment among which are models such as the Baleno, Celerio, DZire, etc, sales also suffered a YoY and YTD setback to 68,206 units and 1,25,159 units in the May 2024 and FY 24-25 period respectively. This saw total Mini and Compact sales at 78,108 units with a YoY and YTD decline. Latest 4th generation Maruti Suzuki Swift has attracted the attention of buyers in the country with its increased safety equipment and the fact that it commands the best-in-segment fuel efficiency while it rivals the Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS and Tata Tiago.

Ciaz sales also suffered a setback down to 730 units last month from 992 units sold in the same month last year while YTD sales were down to 1,597 units. It was the companys utility vehicle segment that saw outstanding growth. Sales surged to 54,204 units in the past month, up from 46,243 units sold in May 2023 while YTD sales were well over the 1 lakh unit mark from 82,997 units sold in FY 2023-24 period.

Eeco van sales also fell to 10,960 units thus taking total PV sales to 1,44,002 units, a YoY growth over 1,43,708 units sold in May 2023 while YTD sales remained flat at 2,81,954 units. Exports dipped significantly by 34.41% to 17,367 units last month from 26,477 units shipped in April 2024 while sales to other OEMs (Toyota) increased by 109.38% to 10,490 units last month from 5,010 units sold in May 2023. Along with a total of 2,692 units of LCVs sold, the company has recorded total sales of 1,74,551 units in May 2024 a de-growth of 1.98% over 1,78,083 units sold in May 2023.

Maruti Suzuki Total Sales May 2024

With some highs and lows seen across the passenger vehicle segment, Maruti Suzuki also suffered a setback in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) space in which it has the Super Carry as its only model. Sales dipped to 2,692 units in the past month from 2,888 units sold in May 2023 while YTD sales improved to 5,188 units from 5,087 units.

Total domestic sales (PV+LCV) improved just marginally to 1,46,694 units in May 2024 from 1,46,596 units sold in the same month last year. The company also sells some of its cars to Toyota Kirloskar Motors, sales of which improved by 109.38% YoY to 10,490 units in May 2024 from 5,010 units sold in May 2023 while outstanding growth was also seen in terms of YTD sales thus taking total sales (PV+CV+OEM) to 1,57,184 units in the past month from 1,51,606 units sold in the same month last year.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 1. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree ordering the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the country to prepare the state budget for 2025, Trend reports.

According to the official source, the document recommends organizing work on the preparation of drafts of the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2025, the main directions of the socio-economic development of Turkmenistan, and the Investment Program of Turkmenistan and submitting them to the Cabinet of Ministers by November 1, 2024.

At the same time, the document prescribes that by June 5, 2024, calculation forms and methodological guidelines for the preparation of the above-mentioned projects should be sent to ministries, sectoral departments, municipalities of the region, and the cities of Ashgabat and Arkadag. It is also required to create a working group of specialists and organize its effective work for the preparation of the above-mentioned projects.

The key objectives for the coming year are: maintaining macroeconomic stability; further dynamic development of economic sectors; investing the bulk of investments in radical modernization of production; creating a favorable business environment; and improving the standard of living of the population.

Meanwhile, the execution of the revenue part of the state budget of Turkmenistan for the whole of last year amounted to 109.4 percent, and the expenditure part amounted to 99.8 percent.

The nation is actively implementing measures to attract foreign investments, with a specific focus on diversifying the economy and improving the overall business climate.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 1. The heads of the structural divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka held consultations in the format of a videoconference, during which they discussed the prospects for expanding cooperation, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, during the consultations, the parties discussed the current state of bilateral relations in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural, humanitarian, and agricultural spheres and also identified priorities for further bilateral cooperation.

In particular, they noted the potential for cooperation in the oil and gas and chemical industries, the transport and logistics sector, the textile industry, tourism, and education.

At the same time, the interlocutors discussed the prospects for exchanging visits at various levels and expanding ties between the parliaments of Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

The diplomats noted the importance of continuing inter-ministerial political consultations, enhancing economic ties by establishing close relations between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries, and holding business forums with the participation of the business circles of Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan is actively seeking to develop cooperation with various countries, focusing on expanding economic ties, strengthening political dialogue, participating in international projects, and attracting foreign investment to implement infrastructure and energy initiatives.
President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel, Azernews 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.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and KazMunayGas (KMG) maintain a strategic partnership in the energy sector, characterized by collaboration in various areas such as oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation.

This relationship extends to joint ventures, including the operation of pipelines and refineries, facilitating the efficient movement of resources between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Additionally, both entities engage in mutually beneficial agreements aimed at enhancing energy security and promoting economic development in the region.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 1. Indian investors are interested in developing cooperation with Turkmenistan, Trend reports.

According to an official source, this interest was expressed during a video meeting organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) between representatives of Indian business and the Indian Embassy in Ashgabat.

The purpose of the event was to discuss the possibility of expanding bilateral trade and investment between India and Turkmenistan.

Furthermore, the event was attended by more than 30 top managers, senior representatives of companies, and entrepreneurs from India, representing sectors such as mining, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, logistics, banking, and construction.

The Indian Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Madhumita Hazarika Bhagat, emphasized the attractiveness of the Turkmen market for Indian investors, adding that India has good experience in interacting with CIS countries due to their openness to cooperation in the fields of business and trade.

Meanwhile, in recent years, cooperation between entrepreneurs in Turkmenistan and India has significantly increased, which is reflected in the growing trade turnover and investment projects.

Both countries are actively developing economic ties, seeking to diversify their markets and strengthen bilateral relations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. A court in Moscow arrested 18 people on charges of involvement in a terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall in the Russia's Moscow region, the Basmanny court decision on the arrest of the suspects says, Trend reports.

According to the information, 20 people were charged in the criminal case, 18 of them were taken into custody, and two were given a preventive measure in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the place and proper behavior.

The resolution states that after the attack on Crocus City Hall, several criminal cases were opened under articles of a terrorist act, preparation for a terrorist attack, participation in the activities of a terrorist organization, illegal trafficking in weapons and explosives. Investigators also accuse the defendants of participating in the activities of the Vilayat Khorasan organization (part of the terrorist organization Islamic State).

On March 22, unknown persons opened fire from machine guns at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow. The incident occurred before the start of the concert of the Picnic group.
On the night of June 1, the Russian terrorists launched missiles at Zaporizhzhia. The target of the enemy attack was an energy infrastructure facility.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a result of the missile strike, destruction was recorded in the city. This was reported by the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov on Telegram.

According to him, in addition to energy infrastructure, civilian facilities in Zaporizhzhia were also damaged. In particular, more than 20 residential buildings and social institutions were damaged.

At the same time, the RMA head noted that there were no civilian casualties.

"At night, Russians massively attacked Zaporizhzhia. They hit one of the energy infrastructure facilities. There is destruction. More than 20 residential buildings and social institutions were also damaged. People were not injured," Fedorov said.

According to monitoring channels, Russian occupants attacked Zaporizhzhia with cruise and ballistic missiles at night.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a reminder, on the night of June 1, the terrorist state Russia launched Shahed-136 attack drones and missiles at Ukraine. Air defense systems were activated in Kyiv and Vinnytsia regions during the air raid alert. Enemy missiles were also spotted in Odesa, Poltava, and Dnipro regions, and a missile threat was later announced for the western regions.

Earlier, it was reported that a transformer substation in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv was destroyed by a missile attack on May 31. Some residents of the capital were left without electricity.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
When I think about short fiction, it's not just great collections that come to mind, but particular stories. I can summon titles that open again in my memory like fans: Grace Paley's "Wants," James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues," Colum McCann's "Fishing the Sloe-Black River," Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing," Jim Shepard's "Batting Against Castro," T.C. Boyle's "Beat," Yasunari Kawabata's "First Snow on Fuji," Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl." We don't memorize short stories like we do poems, but something tangible, recoverable, does linger from the stories that strike us most deeply.

May is Short Story Month, and while it doesn't get the press attention that Poetry Month does, many bookshops do create displays, including Wellesley Books, Wellesley, Mass.: "Don't let it slip by without trying one of these collections of gems. There are so many reasons to love the short story and there are just as many masters of the genre on our display."

Or they share their enthusiasm for the form on social media as Stories Like Me, Pittsburgh, Pa., did: "We'll keep this short: read more short stories! Need a recommendation for Short Story Month? We've got 'em!"

Or maybe a bookshop's owner, someone like author Emma Straub of Books Are Magic, Brooklyn, N.Y., pays tribute to an iconic short story writer: "I started reading Alice Munro because Lorrie Moore told me to, a good reason to do anything. A Canadian goddess with a voice like a laser beam. Funny, heart wrenching, and true. Thank god she left us with so much to read. We've got them waiting for you. Rest in peace, Alice Munro, and thank you."

When she was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in fiction, Munro, who died May 13, said, "I would really hope this would make people see the short story as an important art, not just something you played around with until you got a novel."

Alice Munro at the original Munro's Books

(photo courtesy Munro's Books)

Strangely enough, I found myself wondering this week what Alice's handselling technique for story collections might have been when she worked as a bookseller. In 1963, she and her then husband, Jim Munro, founded Munro's Books in Victoria, B.C. Legend has it that Alice began writing after she had read books in the shop and thought: "I can write better books than this." The reality is that she published her first story more than a decade before that. Still, there is this great photo of Alice behind the counter. I like to think she's trying to figure out how to handsell a story collection to that customer.

The Munros divorced in 1972, but Jim continued to run the bookshop until his retirement in 2014. He died in 2016. Earlier this month, Munro's Books marked Alice's passing with a tribute that said, in part: "Long before she went on to change the landscape of fiction at large, a young Alice was planting the seeds of literature here in Victoria. In 1951, she married Jim Munro, gaining the surname that would follow her into fame. Twelve years later, Munro's Books opened at its original location on Yates Street. A photo from that period shows a young clerk looking up from a cluttered front desk to chat with an elderly customer. Her smile is warm, her gaze alert despite the trifecta of childcare, writing, and store duties that flooded her daily life. She is Alice in her element: a writer among books....

"[T]he pleasures of bookselling found their way into Alice's fiction, too; one story even casts a neighborhood bookshop as 'what a cabin in the woods might be to somebody else--a refuge and a justification.' What greater gift than to see our 'cabin in the woods' thus described by the words of the writer who helped lay its groundwork?"

Despite the honors and attention bestowed upon her, Munro "never stopped championing the ordinary lives of girls and women--or the undersung form of the short story, whose depths she plumbed again and again to astonishing effect," the bookshop noted.

How long is a short story? This was one of the first questions I was asked when I led a discussion group on reading stories back in the 1990s. It was a good, honest question from a book lover. I wouldn't say I answered it ("long enough" might have worked), but the group's exploration yielded hints of how great--if not how long--a story could be. We began with resistance to the call of the story, but they were still willing to show up for the meetings and our subsequent readings and conversations may even have changed--or tempered--a few of their objections to the form.

I remember having success handselling Robert Olen Butler's collection A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, but I might have used some bookseller magic tricks (Pulitzer Prize winner, reads like a novel, etc.). The paperback edition did not even use the word stories on the cover beneath the title, which was a magic trick, too.

What did I read during Short Story Month this year? On vacation in North Carolina, I stopped by Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville and bought Table for Two by Amor Towles, which is labeled "fictions" rather than stories (but IYKYK). It's quite wonderful. I'm also loving Terese Svoboda's new collection, The Long Swim.

Whether you're a bookseller or a reader who loves short stories, however, convincing customers and friends to read a collection can be challenging. The standard response is: "I don't read short stories." The standard reasoning: "When I read a book, I want to be completely immersed in the plot and characters, and let them take me away. Stories end too soon." Here's what they don't want to hear: "You might be reading the wrong stories."

I love good short stories because I love good writing. Seems simple enough.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) has released its June application schedule for New Yorks entry-level civil service exams.

The open-competitive exams are an opportunity to start a career with New York state. These tests are open to anyone who meets the qualifications listed on the examination announcement.

The application period opened for just one exam this month: library assistant 1. The application is open until June 19.

According to the state, as a library assistant 1, you would engage in specialized library clerical activities in support of a library program, such as organizing and maintaining the library collection, helping library patrons locate information, maintaining online databases, acquiring library materials, processing library materials using an integrated library system (ILS), shelving and rebinding books, and scanning and digitizing books and other documents.

You may have responsibilities in one or more organizational units within the library, such as Reference, Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Special Collections, Periodicals, Acquisitions, Government Documents, Preservation, Digitization or Cataloging. You may be called upon to supervise library para-professionals, technical support staff, student workers, interns, or volunteers. If you are assigned to a Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) facility you may supervise incarcerated individual library clerks.

The annual salary for this career is $40,193.

Visit www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc to apply. Application fees are waived for this month.

According to the state, an application must be submitted online or postmarked by the last date to apply. An application will not be accepted after the application filing deadline has passed.

To be considered for an appointment, you must pass the written test.

If approved for a written test, you will receive an admission notice, which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

To learn more about working for the State of New York, visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
A New Jersey father accused of causing his 6-year-old sons death was convicted Friday of aggravated manslaughter, to the chagrin of a Staten Island-based attorney who represented him in the case.

Christopher Gregor, now 32, of Monroe Township, was found guilty by a jury on charges of aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child following a six-week long trial, NJ.com reported.

Outside the courthouse, high-profile defense lawyer Mario Gallucci told reporters his team was obviously disappointed with the outcome, but it was the first step in a very long battle.

Gallucci said he plans to appeal the decision, but not before thanking the jury for the hard work they did, and commending prosecutors for a very capable job.

Six-year-old Corey Micciolo died at Hackensack Meridien Health Southern Ocean Medical Center on April 2, 2021.

The prosecution presented the jury with surveillance video from an apartment fitness center they said showed Gregor forcing his 6-year-old son into an abusive treadmill workout that left the boy battered and ultimately deceased.

Corey Micciolo, family photos

Christopher Gregor must live the rest of his life with the knowledge that he, and he alone, was responsible for the death of his one and only son, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement.

It is right and just that he bears that cross. While nothing can bring this precious child back to his family, we hope that todays jury verdict offers some semblance of peace and closure for those who knew and loved Corey. At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished.

Coreys mother, Breanna Micciolo, filed a civil lawsuit against the Division of Child Protection and Permanency earlier this month, alleging that the agency failed to protect the child from the abuse, according NJ.com.

Gregor will be sentenced in Ocean County Superior Court on Aug. 2.

Gallucci told jurors in his opening arguments they were not going to like his client after viewing the horrific surveillance video, but that he doesnt care. Because the treadmill, he submitted, had nothing to do with the boys death which occurred 12 days later.

In this 2015 photo, Mario Gallucci answers questions from the press outside the Staten Island Courthouse in during the Pedro Abad case. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Third-Party-Submitted

An initial autopsy ruled the cause and manner of death undetermined, but a year later a second opinion from an expert witness for the prosecution deemed the boy died of blunt force trauma.

Gallucci also raised questions about the boys mother and whether she couldve had anything to do with the tragedy, citing a call from his client to child services prior to the boys death.

The case gained national media attention including an expose in Esquire Magazine and a live broadcast on Court TV.

With that attention came intense blowback, said Gallucci in a prior interview with the Advance/SILive.com.

Whats different about this case is the amount of vitriol from internet trolls, he said at the time.

When asked if there are moments he waivers on whether the job is worth putting his safety at risk, he said the more hate mail he gets, the more I know its worth taking the case.

My job is to defend the Constitution. People in our country fight wars so we can have this justice system.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health and mark your calendars for upcoming dates for free yoga on the beach, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

The congresswoman has announced the return of the popular yoga program, which was reinstated in 2023 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 limited run of the five sessions will take place on June 22 at 9 a.m., July 10 at 7 p.m., July 20 at 9 a.m., and Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., and Aug 15 at 9 a.m.

Im excited for the return of yoga on the beach and thank Karen Torrone and 5 Boro Power Yoga for partnering with me once again, said Rep. Malliotakis. Its relaxing, fun, and good for both physical and mental health.

The best part is that yoga is an exercise for people of all ages so I encourage both young and old to participate and enjoy our beautiful beachfront. Participants must bring a yoga mat or towel and arrive 15 minutes early to prepare.

The yoga sessions will take place in Midland Beach, behind Turtle Circle, near Father Capodanno and Jefferson Avenue. The yoga sessions will be led by Karen Torrone of 5 Boro Power Yoga.

The program initally began after Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to meet the needs of borough residents who were dealing with excessive stress.

This free event will give Staten Island residents an opportunity to focus on their health and wellness while enjoying the beautiful views on Midland Beach. The classes are open to all, including beginners and intermediate, and advanced practitioners of movement and meditation practices.

Courtesy Rep. Nicole MalliotakisCourtesy Rep. Nicole Malliotakis

BENEFITS OF YOGA

According to Harvard Health, the ancient practice of yoga not only provides a respite from the chaos of daily life, but also provides inner awareness. Participants are encouraged to focus attention on the present moment. Focus is placed on breath and strength of mind and body, not outward appearences.

Researchers have found that people who practiced yoga were more mindful eaters, becoming more aware of how their bodies were feeling, bringing improved awareness of each bite or sip, noting how food smells, tastes, and feels in your mouth.

Surveys have found that those who practiced yoga were more aware of their bodies than people who didnt practice yoga. They were also more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies and appearence in general, promoting positive body image and self-esteem.

Further, studies have found yoga to have a positive effect on cardiovascular risk factors, helping to lower blood pressure in people who have hypertension.
A cruise line has canceled more visits to its private resort due to violence in the country and a new U.S. travel alert.

Royal Caribbean first suspended stops at its private resort in Labadee, Haiti in March. The suspension will now last through at least fall, the cruise line confirmed to USA Today.

The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority, a spokesperson for the cruise line told USA Today. Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution we have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through September 2024.

Royal Caribbean will continue to monitor and reassess calls as needed, the spokesperson said.

Haiti is currently under a Level 4 Do Not Visit advisory, the highest warning from the U.S. State Department, due to gang violence and riots. According to the United Nations, more than 2,500 people were killed or injured as a result of gang violence in Haiti in the first quarter of the year. Earlier this month, Dave and Natalie Lloyd, missionaries from Missouri who were working with youth in the country, were attacked and fatally shot by gang members as they were leaving a church service.

In its latest alert, the State Department said the security situation is Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous and any travel there should be conducted at your own risk.

The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders or during any onward travel the alert said. You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti. Only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within Haiti if you believe it is safe for you to do so.

Among the risks cited were violent crimes, including kidnapping for ransom.
A Staten Island firefighter is being lauded for his heroic actions after he rushed into a blaze while off-duty and rescued a resident and four French bulldogs.

It was approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday when Staten Islander Joe Pendergast, 33, was making his way to work at Ladder 113 in Brooklyn when he first spotted billowing smoke coming out of an apartment building, according to the New York Post.

The FDNY received a report of the fire in the vicinity of Parkside Avenue and St. Pauls Place around 7:38 a.m. -- but by that time Pendergast had already acted.

Hearing that an individual remained inside the building, the off-duty firefighter, with no gear on hand, rushed into the apartment complex, according to the FDNY.

Within a living room in the building an e-bike was on fire, and a resident inside was attempting to extract his dogs from the second floor, a FDNY spokesperson said.

Pendergast urged the occupant to flee and in making their way to the front door a second e-bike exploded near the doorway, as detailed by the FDNY.

In an effort to contain the blaze, Pendergast shut the door, burning his arm in the process, the FDNY said.

E-bikes were on fire inside an apartment building in Brooklyn where an off-duty Staten Island firefighter rescued four dogs on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Courtesy of the FDNY)(Courtesy of the FDNY)

Four canines were rescued as a result of the firefighters valiant efforts.

The FDNY reports that 12 units consisting of 60 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and were able to bring the blaze under control around 8:27 a.m.

Two firefighters with minor injuries were taken to Kings County Hospital, according to the FDNY.

Four French bulldogs were rescued from a Brooklyn apartment building fire by an off-duty Staten Island firefighter on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Courtesy of the FDNY)(Courtesy of the FDNY)

The initial cause of the fire remains under investigation. However, an FDNY spokesperson says that hazmat was on scene assessing the e-bikes that were involved in the fire.
Recently appointed Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov boasted that Russian occupation forces allegedly captured almost 900 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2024. He made this statement against the backdrop of the Russian offensive in the north of Kharkiv region, during which the Russians managed to achieve some tactical success.

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However, Belousov significantly embellished the real achievements of the occupiers, "adding" at least about 130 square kilometers to the Ukrainian territory occupied this year. This was noted by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The analysts stated that the head of the Russian Defense Ministry on May 31 boasted that the invaders allegedly managed to occupy 880 square kilometers of Ukraine's territory in 2024. However, the ISW noted that Moscow's dreams in this regard differ significantly from reality.

"Despite the fact that in early May 2024, Russian troops achieved significant tactical success in the northern part of the Kharkiv region, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has greatly overestimated Russian offensives in Ukraine since the beginning of 2024," the analysts emphasized.

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Thus, the ISW found evidence of Russian occupation of "only about 752 square kilometers" since the beginning of the year, which is almost 130 square kilometers less than Belousov claimed.

If we take into account the "territorial achievements" of the invaders before the offensive in the north of Kharkiv region, the figures will be even more modest.

"Earlier, the ISW estimated that Russian troops seized about 516 square kilometers between January 1, 2024, and April 29, 2024," the analysts stated.

Earlier, the US National Security Council said that Russia's offensive in the Kharkiv region was a failure. They stated that Ukraine had effectively stopped the Russian invaders' offensive in the north of the region, and the invaders suffered significant losses.

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In addition, Russia's activity in the north of Kharkiv region led Washington to revise the restrictions on the use of American weapons. Thus, the United States has officially confirmed that its weapons can be used to strike the Russian Federation, in particular, military targets across the border from the Kharkiv region. We are talking about Russian bases, headquarters, and warehouses used to attack Ukraine.

However, this authorization does not apply to long-range ATACMS missiles: the White House's position on them has remained unchanged.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The documentary follows Clift from her adventurous childhood in Kiama on the NSW South Coast to her World War II career writing and editing an army magazine, then her scandalous relationship with George Johnston, a famous war correspondent who was more than a decade older and married with a child. It recounts their bohemian life together in an artistic community on the Greek island of Hydra, raising three children. Then, back in Australia, the success of Clifts trailblazing newspaper columns as Johnston triumphed with the semi-autobiographical novel My Brother Jack, and her shock suicide at 45. It shows Clift as a glamorous rebel  an unrecognised collaborator on My Brother Jack  who lived up to her declaration let us live with all our candles blazing. Marta Dusseldorp reads excerpts from Clifts wonderfully evocative writing that show her fierce intelligence, wit and spirited progressive views about such issues as the changing role of women, the importance of Indigenous recognition, and the folly of Australias involvement in the Vietnam War. Based on Nadia Wheatleys acclaimed 2001 biography The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift, the documentary adds to a growing body of creative work about her.

I instantly fell in love with Charmian and this wonderful, courageous heart that she had: director Rachel Lane. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone It includes English writer Polly Samsons 2020 Hydra-inspired novel A Theatre for Dreamers, about a young woman who goes to live in the artistic community that includes Clift, Johnson and a young Leonard Cohen on Hydra; the republication of Clifts travel books Mermaid Singing and Peel Me A Lotus in 2021; and the publication of Sneaky Little Revolutions, a selection of Clifts essays edited by Wheatley, in 2022. This year has seen the publication of Clifts unfinished novel The End of the Morning, also edited by Wheatley. Still to screen is the Norwegian-Canadian TV series So Long, Marianne, about Cohens romance with muse Marianne Ihlen in Hydra, with Anna Torv as Clift and Noah Taylor as Johnston. So why all the renewed interest in Clift? I dont think theres ever not been interest, the documentarys producer, Sue Milliken, says. Her work includes the 2001 miniseries My Brother Jack, which starred Claudia Karvan and Matt Day as the fictionalised versions of Clift and Johnston in the novel.

The ad in The Sydney Morning Herald that helped find backers for Rachel Lanes documentary Charmian Clift: Life Burns High. Adds Lane: Its always about Charmian. Its never about George. Even though he was hailed as having the writers career when they were alive, everybodys more interested in Charmian as a character. Milliken was a young script assistant on an ABC documentary about artist Sidney Nolan that Clift and Johnston, who were friends of his, worked on in 1968. I really liked them a lot, Milliken says. She was all the things that everybody says, charismatic, smart and warm, and he was utterly charming. Lane says that when she proposed the project, Milliken was immediately interested: Sue responded in about five minutes flat in an email. She said, I keep telling myself Im retired but how can I say no to such a project. 

Charmian Clift with George Johnston and Kalymnian woman Sevasti Taktikou in 1963. Credit: Fairfax Milliken thinks there is a tragic cast to Clifts story that contributes to the interest, especially when her suicide was followed by Johnstons death from tuberculosis a year later, then two of their children dying young, daughter Shane in 1974 and son Martin in 1990. The couples only surviving child, Jason Johnston, allowed the filmmakers access to the family archive of films and photographs but did not want to be interviewed. After getting the rights to the biography a decade ago, Lane tried to adapt it for a feature film but could never get it financed. Loading

Reading the biography, it just took me to this amazing place and I instantly fell in love with Charmian and this wonderful, courageous heart that she had, she says. I thought, wow, this woman was way ahead of her time. When they switched to making a documentary, it also proved to be surprisingly challenging to make. From a government or a finance point of view, were the only ones who could really see the value in the story, Milliken says. Lane has high hopes for the festival screening and later telecast on Foxtel. She says in the beginning of our film, I wanted to be a film star. I didnt think so much of being an actor, I wanted to be a film star,  Lane says. Heres your moment Charmian. Go shine. You get to be a film star.
A white woman at that whitest of pastimes  a writers festival  delivers that whitest of platitudes: Australia is a racist country. Lets face it, ABC political reporter Laura Tingle declared as part of a Sydney Writers Festival panel, we always have been, and its very depressing.

Her comments were made in response to political competition over who will cut immigration numbers the most, this round turbocharged by Opposition Leader Peter Duttons budget reply speech. In his speech, Dutton blamed unplanned migration for pressure on housing, roads and essential services and promised a drastic cut to immigration numbers. Tingle characterised his position as everything thats going wrong in this country is because of migrants.

Laura Tingle, chief political correspondent of the ABCs 7.30 current affairs television program. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In a lengthy follow-up statement contextualising her comments, Tingle reassured Australians that, while observing that we are a racist country, she wasnt saying every Australian is a racist. This would have been obvious to her audience. People who attend writers festivals would not consider themselves racist. People on writers festival panels are most surely not racist. So what makes us a racist country? Who exactly is racist in Australia? And against whom?

Its a question that we really dont examine enough. There is an authorial arrogance to writers festival anti-racism, in which whiteness is forever and always the protagonist. White people are the doers, other races the done unto. It is a strange and ironic erasure of multiethnic and multicultural Australia.
The number of people using vapes in NSW increased last year, but survey data suggests more than half are considering quitting in the next six months.

According to figures from the latest NSW Population Health Survey, published by the Ministry of Health on Friday, almost 19 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 identify as a current user of vapes, also known as e-cigarettes.

Self-reported vaping rates increased in every age group in the 2022-23 survey. However, among under-35s  who have the highest vaping rates  the increase in uptake was smaller than the previous year.

Federal and state governments are cracking down on vaping, amid concerns from health bodies that the devices have addicted a new generation to nicotine.
On the night of June 1, the terrorist state of Russia launched Shahed-136 attack drones and missiles against Ukraine. Air defense systems were activated in Kyiv and Vinnytsia regions during the air alert, enemy missiles were also spotted in Odesa, Poltava, and Dnipro regions, and a missile threat was announced for the western regions.

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Later, it became known that during the night attack, Russia had again targeted the Ukrainian energy system. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed that Russian troops had attacked power facilities in five regions.

This was reported in the Telegram of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration. They urged local residents to take shelter until the end of the day.

Later, the enemy launched Tu-95MS, and launches of Kalibr were also recorded.

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Explosions were heard in Zaporizhzhia around 3 am. Enemy missiles were spotted in the airspace of Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa regions, as well as on the border of Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions; in the northern part of Khmelnytskyi region.

The Ukrainian Air Force warned of an increased threat to the city of Stryi in Lviv region, as well as to Dnipro and Kremenchuk.

After the air alert was over, the head of the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Borzov, said that the falling wreckage of the downed drone had started a fire at a critical infrastructure facility. All relevant services are working at the scene.

According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties.

The head of the Kirovohrad regional administration, Andriy Raykovych, also announced the arrival. According to him, an energy infrastructure facility was hit. The consequences of the attack are being cleaned up by specialists, and there were no casualties.

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Attacks on power facilities were also confirmed in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. In the first case, destruction was recorded, and in the second, several fires broke out. In both regions, there were no casualties.

In Zaporizhzhia, the Dnipro hydroelectric power station was temporarily blocked after the night attack.

In Ivano-Frankivsk region, a massive fire broke out after a hit on an energy infrastructure facility. According to Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration, 101 firefighters and 33 pieces of equipment were engaged to eliminate the fire.

Minister Galushchenko also noted in the morning: "Russia has again targeted the Ukrainian energy sector. Energy facilities in five regions were hit: Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovs'k, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. The consequences of the strikes are being investigated, and power engineers are working to eliminate them.

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Meanwhile, DTEK reported serious damage to two thermal power plants after the night attack by Russia.

On the night of May 31, Ukrainian air defenders neutralized four Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones over a number of regions. And in the morning, they destroyed an enemy high-speed target flying toward Kyiv  an Iskander-K missile.

The aggressor also attacked Kharkiv with five S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. Terrorists hit an apartment building in the middle of the night, killing six people. The enemy again used the tactic of a double strike while medics, rescuers and law enforcement officers were already working at the scene.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 On May 31, Russians attacked Kyiv region with a kamikaze drone. Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed the Shahed, no hits to residential or critical infrastructure were recorded.

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 Also in Kyiv on May 31, a rocket attack destroyed a transformer substation in the Holosiivskyi district. This left some residents of the capital without electricity.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Reading Jacqueline Maleys piece (Immigration cuts only work if women have more babies, May 26), makes me think that Thomas Malthus was spot on. Todays economists conveniently ignore that we live on a planet with finite resources, which we use up faster with a growing economy, population and loss of materials, like plastics made of fossil fuels. The sooner all nations can agree that reducing our numbers is the only logical way for the survival of Homo sapiens, the better. War and hunger should not be part of the solution. Henry Schneebeli, Moree

Contentious: yes or no to more babies? Credit: AP

Unless youre strongly religiously inclined, more parents, particularly women, are not having more children for better standards of living, better lives, careers and so on. Smart thing is to change the direction of thinking about the population and find a better way of managing it rather than blaming the increasing population for all problems under the sun. This is not helping anyone but creating confusion and social unrest. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Nothing is ever as simple as some would make out. There are many causes for population pressures on essential services and the environment. Immigration is just one. Falling birth rates is another. And lets not focus on just one side of the equation. The supply of housing, doctors, transport, etc, needs to increase to match the demand. The focus on immigration alone indicates that finding a solution is not really the aim. Finding a scapegoat is. David Rush, Lawson

Equal laws
Sydneys rainy weather will most likely intensify on Sunday as a cloud band continues to move across Australia, bringing storms and cold temperatures for the first weekend of winter.

After an overcast but dry start to the day, rain hit Sydney in the late morning. More than 20 millimetres had been recorded at Observatory Hill by 2pm.

Wet weather at Circular Quay on Saturday afternoon. Credit: Anna Kucera

The rain forced Vivid to cancel the festivals Light Walk around Sydney Harbour as well as events at Tumbalong Park, The Goods Line and the Royal Botanic Gardens on Saturday night. The festival said other music, food and ideas events would continue as planned.

Helen Reid, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said the weather was expected to worsen on Saturday evening and through to Sunday, with blue skies forecast for Monday.
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 When Robert Farquharsons car was dragged from a dam near Winchelsea on the night his three sons drowned, police noticed something strange  the headlights, ignition and fan on the heater were all switched off. Farquharson is serving a 33-year sentence for the triple murder of his children but has always maintained his innocence. A number of scientists and experts, including the Australian Academy of Science, have now voiced concerns that the evidence against him might be unreliable. Police at the scene were suspicious of Farquharsons claim that he coughed after turning the car heater on and passed out before driving into the dam by accident. One of the key elements prompting that early suspicion was that the headlights, the ignition and the heater fan were all off. If he had the time and the presence of mind to switch these off, didnt he have the time and mental capacity to at least make an effort to rescue the boys? Senior Sergeant Jeffrey Smith, the acting head of the major collision investigation unit, wrote in a notebook, tendered at both of Farquharsons murder trials, that night: Not happy with this job; a number of troubling aspects such as lack of skid marks, instruments in off positions etc. At Farquharsons first trial in 2007, prosecutor Jeremy Rapke suggested it was incriminating evidence. When you and your family are drowning, you might think that the condition of the ignition switch and the headlights will be the last thing youd have on your mind, he said. In the retrial in 2010, prosecutor Andrew Tinney said, sarcastically: So what do you do [when you are floating in a dam]? Well, of course you turn off the ignition and you turn off the headlights, and with them the dashboard lights, because the last thing you would want out there in the middle of this dark dam is any light.

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The juries in both trials found Farquharson guilty. In the Court of Appeal after the second verdict, the judges said of the headlights and ignition that the jury were entitled to conclude that these were deliberate acts of the applicant, done at some point after the vehicle left the road. These facts were relevant to the critical issue of the applicants intent, the three judges found, vindicating prosecutors decision to present that evidence at the trial. Police quizzed Farquharson on these questions, but he said he could not give an explanation. I honestly dont remember. I dont know what happened, he said in his formal interview, conducted two days after the crash. About 18 months after Farquharson crashed his car into the dam, there were some remarkably similar features in another tragedy. Three SAS soldiers died when their car went into Port Phillip Bay, just off Swan Island, a military training base near Queenscliff in Victoria. The men were on a training course that was described in a subsequent military commission of inquiry as being for senior, experienced soldiers. On the Saturday night, five soldiers went in two hire cars to the pub for a drink. In the early hours of April 9, 2007, the five were returning to the base when the first car, containing three soldiers, missed a turn and drove off the road into the bay. The second car, following about 30 seconds behind, stopped, and the two SAS soldiers got out and waded and swam after their mates to try to help them escape the car. One of those two men told the inquiry the water was about two metres deep at the point where the car was found.

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Despite their efforts, which ultimately included breaking the cars back window with a large rock, the two SAS soldiers outside the car could not help their colleagues, and the three inside the car drowned. The commission of inquiry revealed that when police retrieved the car from the water, they found the gearstick was in the park position and the handbrake was on. The ignition key was broken off in the lock and the rest of the key ring was lying in the drivers footwell. The two key investigating officers who attended the SAS soldiers crash, from Victoria Polices major collision investigation unit  Senior Constable Glen Urquhart and Sergeant Brad Peters  had also investigated the Farquharson case. The tragic crash at Swan Island had one strange similarity with Robert Farquharsons case. Credit: Nine At the military commission, Urquhart was asked about the handbrake and gear selector. He said: I couldnt possibly hypothesise as to what was occurring, but from the time the vehicle was travelling to when it was recovered, an occupant within the vehicle has  either deliberately or inadvertently  put the handbrake on and put the gear in park. He was also asked why he thought the soldiers, from inside and outside the car, could not save the three who died. I just cant offer as an explanation as to why no one was able to escape the vehicle, he said. Peters said that opening the doors in a sunken car was a fairly arduous task that theyre trying to perform. Asked if there was any reason that the three senior SAS members might not have been able to get themselves or their mates to safety, he said: Im afraid Id have to say that in respect to that your guess is as good as mine.

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Urquhart told the military inquiry that the video test conducted by the homicide squad in Farquharsons case had shown that once a door was opened, the vehicle sank in about three seconds; it sank very, very quickly once the water came in. This issue of how long Farquharson had to get his children out of the car was an important one for police. The homicide squad investigator in Farquharsons case, Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy, told a documentary crew after Farquharson was ultimately convicted and sentenced that in the case of a car with closed doors: You had time where you could collect your thoughts. Collect the boys, work out a plan and say, Well, this is how were going to get out. He could have saved at least one of the boys. In the Swan Island case, the military commission of inquiry found that speed and alcohol consumption had been factors in the crash. The mens funerals were conducted with appropriate regimental and other military and DCO support. The soldiers families received compensation because their deaths were connected with the soldiers defence service. Nobody suggested they had committed a crime. The Swan Island incident happened on April 9, 2007, and the commission of inquiry reported in September 2008. The inability of the soldiers to survive, and the facts about the handbrake, gearstick and ignition key were not referred to in Farquharsons second trial, which took place in 2010.

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Psychologist and trauma specialist Rob Gordon said actions such as turning off headlights and the ignition were consistent with automatic behaviours that come into play during a traumatic situation. Loading I can think of a lot of automatic actions people undertook in bushfires and floods, he said. Scientist and lawyer Chris Brook, who has published a number of peer-reviewed articles on the intersection of science and the law, has written a book, Road to Damnation, questioning the evidence in the Farquharson case. He said the Swan Island incident was really a tragic illustration of the reality of the Farquharson situation. Clanchy and other investigators from the case declined interview requests for this story. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said in a statement that the organisation stands behind the rigorous investigation which led to the 2010 conviction of Robert Farquharson  we consider this matter finalised and will not be commenting further.

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Perth Airport has resolved a refuelling issue that had brought its operations to a standstill, forcing the cancellation of 59 flights and leaving thousands of travellers stranded across the globe.

The airport was plunged into chaos in the early hours of Saturday morning, with an airport spokesperson confirming it was experiencing a delivery issue with fuel supplies to aircraft.

Flights at Perth Airport have been cancelled amid refueling issues. Credit: Nine News Perth.

But refuelling operations recommenced just before midday after external experts managed to resolve the issue.

A spokesperson said staff would continue to monitor the situation closely, but the organisation would now turn its attention to clearing the backlog of outgoing and incoming flights affected.
On the ultra-wide streets of Glenwood, in Sydneys north-west, the Australian chapter of Singhs Social Motorcycle Club meets in the front lawns of the citys suburban sprawl.

But while other motorbike clubs ride up and down the Great Western Highway of a weekend, Singhs stays put. Due to helmet rules for cyclists and motorbike riders, the clubs turban-wearing Sikh members cannot legally ride on NSW roads.

When Sikhs fought in world wars when shots were fired, they wore turbans, said Mavleen Dhir, who co-founded the international clubs Australian chapter in 2021 to push for legal change.

Karan Shergill and Mavleen Dhir are members of the Australian chapter of Singhs Motorcycle Club. Credit: Rhett Wyman

It is not just a piece of cloth, it is our identity. We consider it as our crown.
Kim and Mike Buchanan, the Singapore-based expat who heads up the Australian investments of Singapores sovereign wealth fund Temasek, sold their Bellevue Hill designer digs on Thursday night after a six-month campaign and initial hopes of more than $30 million.

Alas, for locals keen to do their own valuation sums, Sothebys Michael Pallier has not disclosed the result, but it carried a $29 million guide this year and sold for $26.5 million according to some sources and $28.5 million according to others.

The architect Michael Robilliard-redesigned residence of Kim and Mike Buchanan has sold. Credit: Domain

The result is a jump in value of more than three times since it last traded in 2009 for $8 million, even with a complete redesign by architect Michael Robilliard and assuming the rebuild costs far exceeded what council records show was estimated at $650,000 in 2015. Hilarious.
Despite that, there were enough keen buyers in the market for a home in the current environment and the block ticked several boxes. It had all the right things, it was in an amazing location, on the high side of the street. This is a very strong result and I dont think its an indication of how our market is travelling overall at the moment. Eastwoods median house price rose 5.7 per cent to $2.42 million in the year to March 2024 on Domain data. In Canterbury, downsizers got a two-bedroom unit that sold to them for $1,097,000.

The home at 2/5 Rome Street had a price guide of $800,000 at the start of the campaign before it was revised to $850,000. Loading Six out of the 13 buyers, a mix of upsizers, downsizers and first timers with the bank of mum and dad, raised the price in mostly $10,000 increments. Adrian Williams Norman Tran said the unit drew interest from many priced out inner west buyers. Theres still a really tight apartment market in terms of stock. A lot of inner west buyers came through and were bidders. This apartment is very large  it would be impossible to find this in the inner west and at this price point, he said.

The home last sold for $686,000 in 2017, records show. The median unit price in Canterbury rose 6.3 per cent to $670,000 in the past year to March. In Bexley, a father-and-son duo bought a tired house at 576 Forest Road for $1.65 million. The three-bedroom, set on 571 square metres, had no guide at the start of the campaign then was set at $1.15 million after the first week.

A dozen buyers registered to bid on the home, which included a mix of first timers, upsizers and investors. Loading Bidding opened at $1 million and went up in $50,000 most of the sell-off. Ray White Rockdales Nicholas Economos said all interested buyers wanted to renovate the property in some way. [The successful buyers are] planning to renovate, then work it out from there, whether they want to live in it or rent out, he said, adding that the underbidder had hoped to flip it.

The median house price in Bexley rose 23.8 per cent to $1,497,500, records show. In Erskineville, a young couple from the inner west paid $2,185,000 for a three-bedroom townhouse. The pair outbid five other registered bidders, all young couples or families from the area too. The home at 8/18 Ethel Street had an original price guide of $1.8 million that was revised to $1.9 million.
Meanwhile, congressional leaders on Friday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver an address at the US Capitol. The invitation from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, has been in the works for some time though there is great concern, especially among the Democrats, about Israels pursuit of the war. No date for the speech was set. Harel Elias is kissed by his mother, Shlomit, on Friday after giving a eulogy at the funeral for his brother, Israeli Army Sargent Yonatan Elias, who was killed in bettle in the Gaza Strip. Credit: AP Biden acknowledged that keeping the Israeli proposal on track would be difficult, saying there were a number of details to negotiate to move from the first phase to the second. One roadblock to overcome during the first phase would involve the two sides agreeing on the ratio of hostages to prisoners to be released in phase two, according to a senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

Bidens remarks came as the Israeli military confirmed that its forces were now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. Biden called it a truly decisive moment. He added that Hamas said it wanted a ceasefire and that an Israeli-phased deal was an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. President Joe Biden at the White House. Credit: AP But even as Biden pressed for the war to end and for the day after to begin, Israeli officials have made clear they remain committed to a military defeat of Hamas. Biden is in the midst of a tough reelection battle and has faced backlash from some on the political left who want to see him put greater pressure on Netanyahus government to end the war.

Netanyahus office in a statement following Bidens speech said he authorised Israels hostage negotiating team to find a way to release the remaining hostages. Vowed to keep fighting: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: AP But the Israelis maintain the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, including the return of all our abductees and the elimination of Hamas military and governmental capabilities. The prime ministers office also called for the exact outline proposed by Israel to be followed. Matt Duss, executive vice president for the Centre for International Policy in Washington, said the Netanyahu reaction suggested the possibility of daylight between a proposal Israel would accept and what President Biden outlined. Hamas said in a statement it viewed the proposal presented by Biden positively and called on the Israelis to declare explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

Israel has faced growing international criticism for its strategy of systematic destruction in Gaza, at a huge cost in civilian lives. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Biden also addressed those in Israel who resist ending the war. Some members of Netanyahus far-right coalition have opposed any deal that falls short of eradicating Hamas and they have called for an enduring occupation of Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Ive urged leadership of Israel to stand behind this deal. He said Israel risked draining its resources and becoming further isolated internationally the longer the war goes on.

The people of Israel should know they can make this offer without any further risk to their security, Biden said. I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan. Biden made no mention of establishing Palestinian statehood, something that he has repeatedly said is key to achieving long-term peace in the region. The US administration has also been working to forge normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the regions two biggest powers. But the Saudis are opposed to any agreement that does not include concrete steps towards the creation of a Palestinian state. Loading Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas October 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more. Ceasefire talks ground to a halt at the beginning of the month after a major push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal, in hopes of averting a planned Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah.
New York: Donald Trumps lawyer was surprised at his clients calm demeanour as he listened to the verdict that made him the first former US president convicted of a crime. Todd Blanche was sitting to Trumps left in the Manhattan courtroom as the verdict was read by the jury foreman who repeated the word guilty 34 times.

I was shocked at how he took the verdict, Blanche said. He just stood there and just kind of took it, and I think had a lot of appropriate solemnness for the moment that made me very proud to be sitting next to him when it, when it was happening.

Blanche said he thought Trump was still handling himself well the day after the verdict, even as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee railed that the trial was unfair.

Former US president and convicted felon Donald Trump with his lawyer, Todd Blanche, after the verdict. Credit: Bloomberg

Hes not happy about it, but theres no defendant in the history of our justice system whos happy about a conviction the day after. 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, said Blanche, Trumps lead lawyer in the New York case and in his classified documents federal criminal case in Florida.
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

PHILIPSBURG:--- Airways Aviation Group, headquartered in Dubai UAE is considering establishing an academy in the Caribbean. The Group is a world leader in aviation education & training.

It is estimated that, annually, 300 professionals from the Caribbean region and Latin America will be trained at the Academy in this region. Worldwide, there is a shortage of pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals. An estimated pilot shortage of 11,000 in 2024 could increase to 60,000 globally by 2032 if mitigating actions are not taken. As for air traffic controllers, there is a shortage of roughly 4,000 in Europe and the USA alone.

Related to the establishment of an Academy is the prospect for developing new sustainable education tourism. After all, the participants of the training semesters and workshops need accommodations to stay overnight, transportation, groceries, etc. It is not season-dependent. It contributes to economic diversification.

An interesting example may be the Academys operations on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. Annually, 170 students attend who are visiting from various countries. Each student contributes about US$20,000 to the local economy. The Cyprus government has confirmed a US$3.5 million contribution to their economy in 2023. Assume what the 300-student potential for the Caribbean could mean.

Typically, pilots in the Caribbean are sent twice annually to recurrent safety abroad. This training may entail sending an entire flight department consisting of captains and first officers as well as civil aviation Inspectors to ensure relevance and completeness. Once classroom training is completed, the pilots are put to the test in a simulator to ensure that the crew is able to handle and rectify any potential issue.

The Airways Aviation Group will be looking for an appropriate airport location in the Caribbean from which their training aircraft will operate. Facilities, including classrooms and a room for a flight simulator, will be needed. For the traffic controllers' training, access to a control tower and possibly an air traffic control simulator would be necessary.

An international aviation academy on location may be an inspiration for young people. They may be encouraged to explore educational opportunities in the aviation industry, which can have a significant impact on their future careers and, subsequently, their income level. The volume of aviation professionals' recruitment by the industry is unprecedented. Therefore, after receiving their training, students have an abundance of employment and career choices available to them regionally and internationally.

Airways Aviation is the largest privately owned group of academies delivering professional aviation education and training. It has training facilities in Dubai UAE, Montpellier France, Bremen Germany, Sicily Italy, Istanbul Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Gold Coast Australia, Dakar Senegal, and Hyderabad India.

Airways Aviation has a fleet of more than 70 aircraft and 10 flight simulators. They have trained 9,000+ commercial airline pilots and 26,000+ Cabin, Ground, & Maintenance Graduates. Their training programs meet all international standards including certified EASA, CASA, ICAO, IATA and CAAC facilities deliver ATPLs, CPLs, Bachelor's Degrees, Diplomas, Certificate Courses and Training Programs at the most advanced levels. They match practical and theoretical techniques that are designed to accommodate the increasing global demand for Airline Pilots, Military Pilots, Cabin Crew, Ground Handlers, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and University-qualified Administrators and Managers.

--
On the night of June 1, Russian troops attacked two Ukrhydroenergo hydroelectric power plants. The shelling caused critical damage to the equipment.

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This was reported by the press service of Ukrhydroenergo. "Another extremely difficult night for the Ukrainian energy sector. The enemy fired at energy facilities in five regions of Ukraine, and two hydroelectric power plants were hit," the statement said.

There were also hits to the infrastructure near the stations, Ukrehydroenergo informed.

"Critical damage to equipment. Hydropower engineers are working to eliminate the consequences," the company said.

They also added that since the beginning of the great war, the Kakhovka HP P has been destroyed, and more than 110 missiles have been fired at all Ukrhydroenergo's HPPs and PSPs.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said that energy facilities in five regions were hit: Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kirovohrad and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. The consequences are being assessed, and power engineers are working on the cleanup, the minister said.

In particular, two DTEK thermal power plants were hit. Equipment was seriously damaged, the company said.

A power facility in Zaporizhzhia was also hit, and dozens of residential buildings were damaged. The patrol police reported that traffic at the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant was temporarily blocked.

In the Dnipropetrovs'k region, they also reported a hit, four people were injured.

The enemy hit Ivano-Frankivsk region with four missiles, there is damage to critical and civilian infrastructure, and a man was wounded.

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In the Lviv region, six Russian cruise missiles hit critical infrastructure at once. There is destruction, four people were injured.

As a reminder, on the night of June 1, the Russian army massively attacked Ukraine with Shaheds and missiles, while Poland was raising its aviation.

At first, the enemy launched kamikaze attack drones, and later it became known that missiles were launched from Tu-95MS and Kalibr aircraft, and a large-scale air alert was announced in Ukraine.

Air defense systems were activated in Kyiv and Vinnytsia regions, and Russian missiles were also spotted in Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro, and western regions.

On the afternoon of June 1, International Children's Day, Russia attacked a private house in Kharkiv region, injuring eight children.

After the night's massive attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the West to protect the skies over Ukraine. According to him, Moscow's main goal is to legitimize terror, to take advantage of the lack of air defense and the lack of resolve of its partners.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Russia labels wives of mobilised soldiers group 'foreign agent'



Moscow, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Russia on Friday labelled a women's organisation campaigning for the return of mobilised men from Ukraine and a former pro-peace presidential candidate "foreign agents".

Moscow uses the label, heavy in Soviet-era connotations, on Kremlin critics to silence dissent.

The justice ministry included the "Put Domoy" movement, which has organised women-led protests in Moscow to bring mobilised men back from Ukraine, in its list of "foreign agents".

Put Domoy has been made up of wives of Russian men mobilised to fight in Ukraine.

The justice ministry said it had worked to create a "negative image" of Russia and the Russian army and called for illegal protests.

It also labelled one of the movement's leaders, Maria Andreyeva, as a "foreign agent."

She had become the face of the grassroots movement, which became increasingly uncomfortable for the Kremlin.

"I do not agree with this," she told AFP of the label, adding: "I will protest this."

Russian authorities had previously appeared unwilling to target the movement in an apparent bid not to anger relatives and wives of soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

The women had earlier this year staged rare protests in central Moscow.

Moscow also included Yekaterina Duntsova, who had tried to run against President Vladimir Putin in a March presidential election, as a "foreign agent".

Duntsova, who had filed documents to register in the race as an independent candidate, had campaigned on a platform of ending the Ukraine offensive.

She was slapped with the "foreign agent" tag more than two months after the vote, which saw Putin cruise to a fifth term in office unchallenged by any meaningful opposition.

Duntsova told independent media SOTA -- also labelled a "foreign agent" Friday -- that the move was "expected" but that the timing was odd.

"It could have been done during the presidential campaign," she said.

Duntsova said she will not give up efforts to create a political party but that "it will become a bit harder with self-expression."

As a "foreign agent", she now cannot run for any office.

Russia also labelled the media project SOTA, one of the few independent media reporting from Russia, a "foreign agent".

It said the media had criticised the Ukraine offensive and that its employees included "foreign agents" living abroad.

Marina Litvinovich, a rights campaigner, was also included in the "foreign agent" list.

Russia has hugely cracked down on dissent since sending troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
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.

The Iraqi government welcomed the decision, saying it reflected progress and stability in the country since the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) was established in 2003 after the US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein.

But analysts say the mission has struggled to make an impact in areas such as impunity, and that its exit is part of a trend for host nations to reject UN missions.

The UNSC resolution adopted on Friday extended the mission's mandate until December 31, 2025 "after which UNAMI will cease all work and operations."

The mission has about 700 staff, with tasks including advising the government on political dialogue and reconciliation, as well as helping with elections and security sector reform.

An Iraqi government spokesman said the UNSC decision marked "the completion of the political building process initiated in 2003 after the fall of the dictatorial regime."

Earlier this month, in a letter to Security Council, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani said UNAMI had overcome "great and varied challenges" and that "the grounds for having a political mission in Iraq" no longer exist.

During the mission's previous renewal in May 2023, the Council asked the secretary-general to launch a 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, or politics -



Given that UN missions can only operate with the host nation's consent, Russia, China, Britain and France this month all voiced support for the change.

"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 Iraq's 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."

Mansour 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, including in Mali 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.

"The Council's default position was to keep UN missions in place indefinitely. Now the new default is to let them go quietly."
Austin says US 'can be secure only if Asia is'



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday the Asia-Pacific region remained a "priority" for Washington, saying the United States was secure "only if Asia is".

Lloyd made the remarks at a major security forum in Singapore, a day after he met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.

"The United States can be secure only if Asia is and that's why the United States has long maintained its presence in this region," Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue, which in recent years has become a barometer for US-China relations.

Despite the historic conflicts taking place in Europe and the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific "remained our priority theatre of operations", Austin said.

The United States is seeking to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the region, particularly with the Philippines, as it seeks to counter China's growing military might and influence.

As it deepens defence ties, it has also ramped up joint military exercises while regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea -- infuriating China's leaders.

Beijing views this as part of a decades-long US effort to contain it.

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".

Austin met with Dong on Friday for the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defence chiefs in 18 months, offering hopes for further military dialogue that could help prevent flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control.

Austin said the United States and China would resume military-to-military communications "in the coming months", while Beijing hailed the "stabilising" security relations between the countries.

But in his speech on Saturday, Austin appeared to take shots at China, saying there was a "new era of security in the Indo-Pacific" that was not "about imposing one country's will" or "bullying or coercion".

"This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart," Austin said. "It's about the free choices of sovereign states."

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washington's efforts in the region.

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.

Austin insisted Saturday that the US commitment to defend the Philippines under their mutual defence treaty remained "ironclad", as repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have stoked fears of a wider conflict.
Austin says 'new era of security' in Asia-Pacific



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hailed on Saturday a "new era of security" in the Asia-Pacific region, as Washington strengthens its network of alliances aimed at countering China's growing military might and influence.

From Japan to Australia, the United States has been deepening defence ties across the region, ramping up joint military exercises and regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea -- infuriating Beijing.

In the past three years, Austin said there had been a "new convergence around nearly all aspects of security" in the Asia-Pacific, where there was a shared understanding of "the power of partnership".

"This new convergence is producing a stronger, more resilient and more capable network of partnerships and that is defining a new era of security in the Indo-Pacific," Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

However, it was not "about imposing one country's will" or "bullying or coercion", Austin said, apparently taking shots at China, which has increased its saber-rattling over self-ruled Taiwan and grown more confident in pressing its claims in the South China Sea.

"This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart," Austin said. "It's about the free choices of sovereign states."

The Shangri-La Dialogue is a major security forum attended by defence officials from around the world and has become a barometer of US-China relations in recent years.

This year's edition 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".

Taiwan is one of the thorniest disputes in US-China relations.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Friday for the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defence chiefs in 18 months.

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

Friday's meeting offered hopes of further military dialogue that could help prevent flashpoint issus from spinning out of control.

Austin said the United States and China would resume military-to-military communications "in the coming months", while Beijing hailed the "stabilising" security relations between the countries.



- 'Priority' -



Underscoring the US commitment to the region, Austin said Saturday that the Asia-Pacific remained Washington's "priority theatre of operations", noting "the United States can be secure only if Asia is".

"We are all in and we're not going anywhere," Austin said.

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washington's efforts to build an arc of alliances across the region.

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.

Austin insisted Saturday that Washington's commitment to defend Manila under their mutual defence treaty remained "ironclad", as repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have stoked fears of a wider conflict.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday the "stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace".
Ukraine has effectively stopped the offensive of the Russian occupiers in the north of the Kharkiv region. The invaders' losses are very high.

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This was stated by US National Security Council spokesman Michael Carpenter in an interview with TSN. He called the Russian attempt to attack a failure.

"In fact, this is a failure of the Russian Federation because the number of Russian casualties reported from the northern front is very high, so the Russians did not achieve their goals. Ukraine has stopped Russia, and we hope that Ukraine will continue to exercise its right, which is clearly in line with the UN Charter: the right to defend itself," the US National Security Council representative said.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a reminder, ISW reported that Russian troops continue to prioritize efforts to engage and consolidate Ukrainian forces in the north of the Kharkiv region. They are redeploying their units to the north of the region from other parts of the front line, probably to launch a new phase of the offensive.

Analysts are convinced that the enemy will delay the implementation of this plan until it gathers enough forces, but even they will not be enough to surround or capture Kharkiv.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Austin praises 'new era of security' in Asia-Pacific



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hailed on Saturday a "new era of security" in the Asia-Pacific region, as Washington strengthens its network of alliances aimed at countering China's growing military might and influence.

From Japan to Australia, the United States has been deepening defence ties across the region, ramping up joint military exercises and regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea -- infuriating Beijing.

In the past three years, Austin said there had been a "new convergence around nearly all aspects of security" in the Asia-Pacific, where there was a shared understanding of "the power of partnership".

"This new convergence is producing a stronger, more resilient and more capable network of partnerships and that is defining a new era of security in the Indo-Pacific," Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

However, it was not "about imposing one country's will" or "bullying or coercion", Austin said, in an apparent shot at China, which has increased its sabre-rattling over self-ruled Taiwan and grown more confident in pressing its claims in the South China Sea.

"This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart," Austin said. "It's about the free choices of sovereign states."

Cao Yanzhong, a research fellow at China's Academy of Military Sciences, told reporters after Austin's speech that the United States' "extreme development of these alliances" left other countries with an "increased sense of insecurity".



- 'I will answer the phone' -



The Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security forum attended by defence officials from around the world, has become a barometer of US-China relations in recent years.

This year's edition 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".

Taiwan is one of the thorniest disputes in US-China relations.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Friday for the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defence chiefs in 18 months.

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

Friday's meeting offered hopes of further military dialogue that could help prevent flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.

Austin said the United States and China would resume military-to-military communications "in the coming months", while Beijing hailed the "stabilising" security relations between the countries.

"I told Minister Dong that if he calls me on an urgent matter, I will answer the phone," Austin said Saturday.

"And I certainly hope that he'll do the same."



- 'We are all in' -



Underscoring the US commitment to the region, Austin said Saturday that the Asia-Pacific remained Washington's "priority theatre of operations", noting "the United States can be secure only if Asia is".

"We are all in and we're not going anywhere," Austin said.

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washington's efforts to build an arc of alliances across the region.

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 has increased to nine the number of military bases open to US troops under a 2014 agreement, including two in the country's far north less than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Taiwan.

Austin insisted Saturday that Washington's commitment to defend Manila under their mutual defence treaty remained "ironclad", as repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have stoked fears of a wider conflict.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday that the "stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace".
Austin praises 'new era of security' in Asia-Pacific



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday hailed a "new era of security" in the Asia-Pacific region, as Washington strengthens its network of alliances aimed at countering China's growing military might and influence.

From Japan to Australia, the United States has been deepening defence ties across the region, ramping up joint military exercises and regularly deploying warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea -- infuriating Beijing.

Responding to Austin, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng accused the United States of seeking to build "an Asia-Pacific version of NATO", and described the superpower as the "greatest challenge to regional peace and stability".

In the past three years, Austin said there had been a "new convergence around nearly all aspects of security" in the Asia-Pacific, where there was a shared understanding of "the power of partnership".

"This new convergence is producing a stronger, more resilient and more capable network of partnerships and that is defining a new era of security in the Indo-Pacific," Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

However, it was not "about imposing one country's will" or "bullying or coercion", Austin said, in an apparent shot at China, which has increased its sabre-rattling over self-ruled Taiwan and grown more confident in pressing its claims in the South China Sea.

"This new convergence is about coming together and not splitting apart," Austin said. "It's about the free choices of sovereign states."



- 'I will answer the phone' -



The Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security forum attended by defence officials from around the world, has become a barometer of US-China relations in recent years.

This year's edition 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".

Taiwan is one of the thorniest disputes in US-China relations.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Friday for the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defence chiefs in 18 months.

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

Friday's meeting offered hopes of further military dialogue that could help prevent flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.

Austin said the United States and China would resume military-to-military communications "in the coming months", while Beijing hailed the "stabilising" security relations between the countries.

"I told Minister Dong that if he calls me on an urgent matter, I will answer the phone," Austin said Saturday.

"And I certainly hope that he'll do the same."



- 'We are all in' -



Underscoring the US commitment to the region, Austin said Saturday that the Asia-Pacific remained Washington's "priority theatre of operations", noting "the United States can be secure only if Asia is".

"We are all in and we're not going anywhere," Austin said.

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washington's efforts to build an arc of alliances across the region.

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 has increased to nine the number of military bases open to US troops under a 2014 agreement, including two in the country's far north less than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Taiwan.

Austin insisted Saturday that Washington's commitment to defend Manila under their mutual defence treaty remained "ironclad", as repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have stoked fears of a wider conflict.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday that the "stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace".
Indonesia ready to send peacekeepers, medical staff to Gaza



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



Muslim-majority Indonesia is ready to send "significant peacekeeping forces" as well as medical personnel to Gaza if Hamas accepts a new ceasefire proposal, President-elect Prabowo Subianto said Saturday.

US President Joe Biden announced the Israeli roadmap to permanent peace in Gaza on Friday, as Israeli troops pushed into central Rafah despite international objections to any assault on the southern city.

Prabowo, who will succeed President Joko Widodo in October after winning the February elections, welcomed the plan, describing it as "an important step" to ending the war.

If requested by the United Nations, Indonesia was prepared to send "significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire", Prabowo told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

"We are also prepared to immediately send medical personnel to operate field hospitals in Gaza with the consent and agreement of all sides."

Prabowo said Indonesia was ready to "evacuate, receive and to treat" up to 1,000 patients in its hospitals "in the immediate future".

"In the interests of all sides, we must do our best to achieve a real and lasting solution," he told the security forum attended by defence ministers from around the world.

Hamas said Friday it "considers positively" the Israeli plan.

Biden said the proposal would begin with a six-week complete ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza.

Hamas, which triggered the war with its October 7 attack on Israel, would in return release hostages.

The two sides would then negotiate a longer-term deal aimed at ending the war.
Zelensky to visit Singapore to address security forum: organisers to AFP



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Singapore to address a major security forum, the organisers told AFP on Saturday, as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.

Zelensky will speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said, telling AFP that Zelensky would appear in person.

There had been feverish speculation that Zelensky would make an appearance at this weekend's security forum attended by defence ministers from around the world, including the United States and China.

Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.

The Singapore announcement follows a US decision to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky has hailed as a "step forward".

US President Joe Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had resisted for fear it could drag NATO into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

Germany said Friday it too had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that there would be "serious consequences" if Western countries give approval to Ukraine.

Ukraine is struggling to hold back a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its largest territorial gains in 18 months.
Zelensky to address Singapore security forum in person: organisers to AFP



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Singapore to address a major security forum, the organisers told AFP on Saturday, as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.

Zelensky will speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said, telling AFP that Zelensky would appear in person.

There had been speculation that Zelensky would make an appearance at this weekend's security forum attended by defence ministers from around the world, including the United States and China.

Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.

The Singapore announcement follows a US decision to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky has hailed as a "step forward".

US President Joe Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban but had resisted for fear it could drag NATO into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

Germany said Friday it too had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that there would be "serious consequences" if Western countries gave approval to Ukraine.

Ukraine is struggling to hold back a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its largest territorial gains in 18 months.

With Russia's war against Ukraine in its third year, Ukrainian soldiers are exhausted and outgunned.

Many Kyiv allies remain uneasy about the prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked an uproar among NATO members when he refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine.

Zelensky has visited Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium in recent days as he seeks more weapons and aid for his struggling military, and to whip up support for a peace summit due to be held in Switzerland this month.

Sweden pledged on Wednesday military aid of 13.3 billion kronor ($1.25 billion) to Ukraine.

The Scandinavian country, which formally joined NATO in March, will donate a range of military supplies, including ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, and its entire fleet of PBV 302 armoured tracked personnel carriers.

Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine, in an overnight barrage targeting energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

Russia has launched hundreds of aerial attacks at Ukraine's power facilities throughout the war, causing significant damage and energy shortages as Ukraine's stretched air defences struggle to repel waves of drones and missiles.
Russian missiles and drones target Ukrainian energy sites



Kyiv, Ukraine, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight, in a barrage that targeted energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

Russia has launched dozens of aerial attacks at Ukraine's power facilities throughout the two-year war, causing significant damage and energy shortages as Ukraine's stretched air defences struggle to repel the waves of drones and missiles.

"The enemy launched 53 missiles of various types and 47 attack drones," the air force said, adding that it shot down 35 of the missiles and all but one of the drones.

Two thermal power plants were damaged in the attack, the DTEK operator said, without specifying where they were located.

"It was another extremely difficult night for the Ukrainian energy sector. The enemy struck two of our thermal power plants. The equipment was seriously damaged," the company said in a statement on Telegram.

It was the sixth major attack on DTEK thermal power plants since mid-March, it added.

Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said Russia had targeted sites in five regions -- Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhzhia -- stretching from near the eastern frontlines to Ukraine's west, which borders the EU.

The ministry warned that power restrictions were likely on Saturday evening as a result of the attacks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was trying to "exploit" a lack of "determination" among Ukraine's key Western backers and repeated his call for more air defence systems.

"Russia's main goal is to normalise terror, to exploit the lack of sufficient air defence and determination of Ukraine's partners," he said in a social media post.

"This is a test of humanity and determination for the free world. Either we pass this test together, or the world will plunge into even greater destabilisation and chaos," he added.

In a daily briefing, Russia's defence ministry said it had launched a "group strike with long-range... precision weapons against Ukrainian energy facilities that support the work of enterprises of the military-industrial complex."

It said the strikes were a "response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and transport facilities."

Ukraine has hit several Russian oil depots and refineries in drone strikes over recent months -- something Kyiv says is fair retribution for Moscow's own aerial attacks.
Zelensky arrives at Singapore security forum



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at a Singapore security forum on Saturday as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.

Zelensky got out of a white Audi sedan in front of the luxury hotel hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue and walked quickly into the lobby, which was crowded with defence officials from around the world, journalists and hotel guests.

After shaking hands with the organisers of the three-day event, Zelensky was applauded by onlookers and then escorted to an elevator.

Zelensky is set to speak at the security forum at 11:30 am (0330 GMT) on Sunday, according to event organisers the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The Ukrainian leader said in a post on social media platform X he will also "hold a number of meetings, particularly with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Singaporean investors".

Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.

His Singapore stop was announced shortly before his arrival at the hotel. It followed a US decision to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky hailed as a "step forward".

US President Joe Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease the curbs, but had resisted for fear doing so could drag NATO into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

Germany said Friday it too had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that there would be "serious consequences" if Western countries gave approval to Ukraine.



- 'Just peace' -



Ukraine is struggling to hold back a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its largest territorial gains in 18 months.

With Russia's war against Ukraine in its third year, Ukrainian soldiers are exhausted and outgunned.

Many of Kyiv's allies remain uneasy about the prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron sparked an uproar among NATO members in February when he refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine.

Zelensky has visited Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium in recent days as he seeks more weapons and aid for his struggling military, and to drum up support for a peace summit due to be held in Switzerland this month.

In his post on X on Saturday, Zelensky said the "Asia-Pacific voice" must be at the peace event, which was aimed at "restoring just peace for Ukraine and ensuring global food and nuclear security".

Sweden pledged 13.3 billion kronor ($1.25 billion) in military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday.

The Scandinavian country, which formally joined NATO in March, will donate a range of military supplies, including ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, and its entire fleet of PBV 302 armoured tracked personnel carriers.

Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine in an overnight barrage targeting energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

Russia has launched hundreds of aerial attacks at Ukraine's power facilities throughout the war, causing significant damage and energy shortages as Ukraine's stretched air defences struggle to repel waves of drones and missiles.
Zelensky arrives at Singapore security forum



Singapore, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at a Singapore security forum on Saturday as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.

Zelensky got out of a white Audi sedan in front of the luxury hotel hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue and walked quickly into the lobby, which was crowded with defence officials from around the world, journalists and hotel guests.

After shaking hands with the organisers of the three-day event, Zelensky was applauded by onlookers and then escorted to an elevator.

Zelensky is set to speak at the security forum at 11:30 am (0330 GMT) Sunday, according to event organisers the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is also attending and a US official travelling with him said Austin would meet Zelensky and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov on Sunday on the sidelines of the conference.

They would meet to "discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and to underscore US commitment to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression", said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Zelensky said in an earlier post on social media platform X he would also "hold a number of meetings, particularly with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Singaporean investors".

Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days appealing for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.

His Singapore stop was announced shortly before his arrival at the hotel. It followed a decision by Washington to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky hailed as a "step forward".

US President Joe Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease the curbs, but had resisted for fear doing so could drag the NATO alliance into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

Germany said Friday it too had given Ukraine permission to fire German-delivered weapons at targets in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that there would be "serious consequences" if Western countries gave approval to Ukraine.



- 'Just peace' -



Ukraine is struggling to hold back a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its largest territorial gains in 18 months.

With Russia's war against Ukraine in its third year, Ukrainian soldiers are exhausted and outgunned.

Many of Kyiv's allies remain uneasy about the prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron sparked an uproar among NATO members in February when he refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine.

Zelensky has visited Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium in recent days as he seeks more weapons and aid for his struggling military, and to drum up support for a peace summit due to be held in Switzerland this month.

In his X post Saturday, Zelensky said the "Asia-Pacific voice" must be at the peace event, which was aimed at "restoring just peace for Ukraine and ensuring global food and nuclear security".

Sweden pledged 13.3 billion kronor ($1.25 billion) in military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday.

The Scandinavian country, which formally joined NATO in March, will donate a range of military supplies, including ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, and its entire fleet of PBV 302 armoured tracked personnel carriers.

Russia fired a combined 100 missiles and drones at Ukraine in an overnight barrage targeting energy sites across the country, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

Russia has launched hundreds of aerial attacks at Ukraine's power facilities throughout the war, causing significant damage and energy shortages as Ukraine's stretched air defences struggle to repel waves of drones and missiles.
Hezbollah-linked Lebanon medics say Israeli strike wounds 16 children



Beirut, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2024



A Hezbollah-affiliated medical organisation said 16 children were wounded Saturday in an Israeli air strike on the south Lebanon town of Siddikine.

Aged between four and 14, the wounded children were taken for treatment in hospitals around the region, a source in the Islamic Health Committee told AFP.

Lebanon's state-run national News Agency said the strike on the town inland from the coastal city of Tyre was one of several conducted by Israel on Saturday. It reported seven people wounded.

The Israeli military said its fighter jets had struck "significant Hezbollah assets" in several areas of the south in response to rocket fire from the area launches aimed at northern Israel.

Hamas ally Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israel since the Palestinian group's October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered war in the Gaza Strip.

The nearly eight months of violence have left almost 450 people dead in Lebanon, mostly fighters but including at least 80 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, at least 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed, according to the army.

lk/kir/ami
The eight hundred and twenty-eighth day of the large-scale war that Russia is waging against Ukraine is passing. Since the beginning of the day, 81 combat engagements have taken place, and the enemy has shelled the positions of our troops and populated areas using artillery, mortars, small arms and armored vehicles, 2,300 times.

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The hottest spot remains the Pokrovsk sector, where the enemy keeps trying to find weaknesses in our defense. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a summary on May 31, 2024, as of 22:30.

Situation at the front

In the Kharkiv sector, two unsuccessful enemy attacks took place near Vovchansk and Lyptsi. The defense forces are actively repelling the Russian occupants' units.

The number of combat engagements in the Kupiansk sector increased to 12 since the beginning of the day. Ukrainian defense forces successfully repelled five enemy attacks in the vicinity of Synkivka, Berestove, Novoiehorivka and Makiivka. Ukrainian defenders continued to repel seven more attacks near Petropavlivka, Berestove and Novoiehorivka. The situation is tense but under control. According to preliminary data, the enemy has lost 64 occupants and one tank in this sector since the beginning of the day. Attempts by Russian occupants to advance in the areas of Terny, Dibrova and Torske were unsuccessful. Ukrainian troops are taking measures to strengthen the front line of defense.

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Eight combat engagements took place in the Siversk sector. The enemy was particularly active near Vyimka. Here they tried to interfere with the combat order of Ukrainian units in vain. The situation is tense but under control of the Ukrainian defense forces.

In the Kramatorsk sector, the aggressor tried to attack the Ukrainian defense forces in the areas of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Chasovyi Yar six times. All attempts were in vain. No losses of our positions were allowed.

In the Toretsk sector, Ukrainian troops repelled one attack near Kurdiumivka.

In the Pokrovsk sector, the largest number of combat engagements took place. The enemy continues to try to find weaknesses in our defense with the support of aviation and artillery, and is trying to break into the combat formations of Ukrainian units with continuous assault operations. Out of 27 combat engagements in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Progres, Sokol, Novoselivka Persha, Umanske, Nevelske and Netailove, 15 were successfully repelled by our defenders. 12 battles are still ongoing. The defense forces are taking measures to stabilize the situation and prevent the enemy from advancing. Preliminary losses of the aggressor in this area amounted to almost 200 occupants killed and wounded. Three tanks, two armored combat vehicles, an artillery system and a mortar were destroyed. At the same time, one tank, two armored combat vehicles, two cars and six artillery systems were damaged.

ADVERTISIMENT

Five combat engagements took place in the Kurakhove sector as of this time of day. The invaders are trying to advance near Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka and Kostiantynivka. Four enemy attacks were repelled. Fighting continues in the area of Krasnohorivka. No losses of positions or territories were reported.

In the Vremivsk sector, Russian invaders attacked our units near Staromaiorske three times. All assault actions of the Russian occupants failed. The defense forces control the situation. Four combat engagements took place in the Orikhiv sector. The Russian occupants failed to push our units back from Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Robotyne and Novoandriivka.

ADVERTISIMENT

In the Prydniprovsk sector, the occupants continue to try to drive the Defense Forces from their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Four combat engagements in the vicinity of Krynky ended without success for the enemy. The Ukrainian military continues to control the situation, and no losses of our positions have been reported.

Russian attacks

During the day, the Russian invaders launched six missiles, 47 air strikes, and 48 UAVs, including 531 kamikaze drones. The enemy also fired at the positions of our troops and populated areas using artillery, mortars, small arms and armored vehicles, more than 2,300 times.

AFU attacks



During the day, the missile forces and artillery of the defense forces hit two places of concentration of enemy personnel, one area of concentration of military equipment, two artillery systems, four control points and a fuel and lubricant base.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
China-Arab states cooperation accelerates building of community with shared future

Xinhua) 09:27, June 01, 2024

* 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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
By Elnur Enveroglu - Armenia before and now - Can protests result in Pashinyan's resignation? - Are the people ready to entrust the country to clerics? - And finally, is Pashinyan leaving or staying?

All these questions are concentrated on one point: which direction has Armenia been moving for three decades?

The defeat of Armenia actually started in the 1990s. For Armenia, which went down in history as an invader, this was a move towards defeat rather than victory. Levon Hakobi Ter-Petrosyan came to power in Armenia for the first time in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. His coming to power did not give Armenia anything other than what it gained by occupying Garabagh. During the rule of LTP, Armenia cut off diplomatic relations with Turkiye and both sides closed the borders and further to this, Yerevan got itself into hug of Moscow.

Armenia, which declared itself an independent state on September 21, 1991, until 2018, was governed by political figures who were closely connected to the official Kremlin and took instructions from it and settled with their theses. Owning Garabagh began to push Armenia further away from its political orientation. In 1998, the country passed into the hands of Robert Kocharyan, who was a member of the former Karabakh clan and was the prime minister and president of the so-called NK, who was later accused of corruption. Although Kocharyan is pro-Russian, his association with corruption gave Western forces a chance to step forward. However, as Yerevan was still under the influence of Moscow, it could not take advantage of this opportunity. It was Serzh Sargsyan's turn, the Kocharyan's prototype who filled the gap in power following his resignation. There was no difference between Sargsyan and Kocharyan. Both of them are known as the father of corruption in Armenia. The two political players who took control of everything from customs to the banking system gradually weakened the backbone of the country.

In 2018, through the velvet revolution, real conditions were created for the West to penetrate Armenia and put its own figure at the head of power. The Karabakh clan had become the most disreputable and worthless political group in the nation. Even before Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan came to power, a somewhat visionary section of the people knew that Garabagh would one day return to Azerbaijan. Articles about this were published in both Russian and Western publications. Armenia's potential opportunities to acquire territories that did not belong to it were non-existent. Creating the opportunity and conditions for Pashinyan to come to power was an opportunity for the Kocharyan and Sagsyan couple to avoid public outrages. The return of Garabagh to Azerbaijan by their hands was equivalent to taking the corrupt couple themselves to the gallows.

Pashinyan took on this difficult mission after coming to power following the Velvet Revolution. Although his views reflected the thoughts of ex-Armenian leaders before him, the realities in the region in favour of Azerbaijan did not allow him to pursue his policy. Pashinyan had to change the contours of both his domestic and foreign policy. For this, he had to sacrifice one of the parties - either Russia or the West.

Following the humiliating defeat in 2020, the Armenian authorities took a step that they had never ever durst to do in the history of Armenia. The deterioration of relations with Russia made Pashinyan somewhat lean towards the West. Because Pashinyan was the second person after LTP to start the Garabagh War with Azerbaijan, which caused him to learn a harder lesson.

Despite all this, the defeated, beaten, and humiliated prime minister did not lose his rating. The people re-elected him and supported his political stance.

Nevertheless, today the situation has completely changed. The ongoing protests in Yerevan insist that Pashinyan step down from power. However, it poses a question: why would Armenia want to resign the Prime Minister it elected three years ago?

In 2020, Nikol Pashinyan surrendered Garabagh to Azerbaijan through war. Four years later, he returned 4 villages belonging to Azerbaijan based on negotiations. The difference was simply an event that had never happened in the history of Armenia - that Armenia returned the occupied lands to Azerbaijan without arms, without war, and simply through negotiations. Everyone in Armenia knows very well that it is pointless to wage war with Azerbaijan, and they have a clearer idea of ??what the result will be. Pashinyan even reminded the Armenians about this in his address in Tavush, where he said, Otherwise, more difficult days may await Armenia.

Pashinyan's enmity with clerics

It was Pashinyan's conversation with the Tavush community and his position that made him a common target in front of the opposition and religious figures. Because the Armenian religious section is the only organisation that promotes war, which calls the people to arms, knowing what the fate will be.

In addition, Pashinyan is a pro-Western figure who is ruthless against corruption and the forces that obstruct power in the country. Many call him the first democratic prime minister of Armenia. Starting in 2019, the conflict between N. Pashinyan and the Armenian Catholicos II Karegin caused a rift between the clergy and the authorities. One of the behind-the-scenes points was that the Church was closer to the Garabagh clan and wanted to have hidden wealth to keep the Yerevan government under its influence. Pashinyan did not like the separatist leaders of the so-called NK, who are currently in prison in Baku, and he also hated church representatives. Although this was previously hidden, it began to be revealed later. Today, the voices coming from the streets of Yerevan and the crowd demanding Pashinyan's resignation are not those who once voted for him, but are just a game made by Kocharyan and Sargsyan, who are hiding behind the walls of the church.

The continuation of tensions and processes in the country in favour of Azerbaijan gives the opposition and religious figures reasons to provoke the people. But those who cannot think of the other side of this are unable to answer one question: what would Kocharyan do if he were in Pashinyan's place?

Today in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan's public sympathy is sincere, but there is zero hope for the former opposition leaders, who have gained a bad and disrespectful image. That is why the couple of Kocharyan and Sargsyan, who could not find the courage to come out to the people, hid behind an apolitical religious figure like Bagrat Galstanyan and raised the people against the government. Rather than the waves of protest against Pashinyan, this disgrace reflects their weakness and powerlessness in the foreground.

On the other hand, Baku is still observing the processes - until Armenia reaches the right conclusion and signs a peace agreement that promises stability and security to the region.
After a nighttime Russian air attack on June 1, traffic across the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant was temporarily blocked in Zaporizhzhia. The Patrol Police offered drivers alternative detour routes.

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They promised to inform about the resumption of traffic later. The details were posted on the Telegram channel of the Patrol Police of Zaporizhzhia region.

"Traffic aross the Dnipro HPP is temporarily blocked. The detour is carried out via the Arch Bridge on Khortytsia Island (Serhiy Tulenin Street - Sich Street - Tahanska Street). Also, through Novi Mosty and Khortytskyi district. Take this information into account when planning your route. Stay tuned for updates on the resumption of traffic," the statement said.

The Patrol Police did not specify the reasons for the traffic blocking. However, at night, Zaporizhzhia fought off a massive enemy air attack.

Thus, at 02:17, a missile threat was announced in the region, and at 03:05 the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov reported explosions in Zaporizhzhia.

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At 03:28, there was a threat of Shahed drones in the region, and at 03:33, another explosion occurred in the regional center.

In the morning, Fedorov reported that the invaders had attacked an energy infrastructure facility.

"At night, Russians massively attacked Zaporizhzhia. They hit one of the energy infrastructure facilities. There is destruction. More than 20 residential buildings and social institutions were also damaged. People were not injured. We will restore the buildings. We stand together and help the Defense Forces. We will definitely win," he wrote.

To recap, at night, Russia attacked Ukraine with both Shahed drones and missiles . Air defense systems were working in a number of regions.

This time, the enemy again tried to hit energy facilities - and sometimes successfully. On the morning of June 1, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia had attacked energy facilities in five regions of Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kropyvnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
After a large-scale Russian shelling, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again appealed to Western countries to protect Ukrainian skies. Thus, on the night of June 1, the occupiers fired more than 50 missiles of various types and about 50 Shahed drones at the south, center, and west of Ukraine.

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The President posted the relevant message on his social media. The President noted that Russia's main goal is to legitimize terror, to take advantage of the lack of air defense capabilities and the lack of determination of Ukraine's partners.

Civilians, infrastructure, and energy facilities were damaged during the enemy attack.

"I am grateful to our soldiers for the fact that most of them were destroyed, but there were also hits. All services are working on the ground to ensure recovery and assistance. Every victim will receive all the necessary assistance," Zelenskyy said.

The President emphasized that Russia, as a terrorist country, understands only the language of force. The only way to stop this terror and prevent its normalization is to make effective decisions in a timely manner.

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"Full protection of Ukrainian skies must become the norm so that the madmen in the Kremlin realize that their terror does not achieve its goals. Our partners know exactly what is needed for this. Additional Patriots and other modern air defense systems for Ukraine. Accelerating and expanding the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine. Providing our soldiers with all the necessary capabilities.

Only when Putin loses the ability to attack civilians and civilian infrastructure will he be forced to stop his terror. This is a test of humanity and determination for the free world. Either we will pass this test together, or the world will plunge into even greater destabilization and chaos," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Earlier it was reported that on the morning of June 1, the Russian terrorist army launched a massive missile attack on the territory of Lviv region. The aggressor attacked critical infrastructure facilities. Destruction was recorded at the site of the attack.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, on June 1, Children's Day, Russian troops attacked a private house in Balakliya, Kharkiv region. Eleven civilians were injured, including eight children.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
It is promising to be a busy summer in Normandy as tourists, veterans and Presidents flood in to mark one of the noblest of all military endeavours. But as ever in this part of France there are quiet corners to discover and contemplate the incredible achievements of the so called greatest generation who crossed the Channel that blustery June day in 1944, and drove Hitlers forces off the beaches of Normandy and all the way back to Berlin.
George Galloways Workers Party of Britain was launching its General Election campaign in Ms Rayners Ashton-under-Lyne seat.

Mr Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, was the partys only MP ahead of the dissolution of parliament after his defection from the Conservatives.

Nigel Farage, Reform UKs honorary president, was out campaigning in Ashfield with candidate Lee Anderson.

The Prime Minister is set for a blue wall reckoning in key battleground seats, Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said, as every day thousands of families are seeing their mortgage go up by eye-watering amounts.

The average homeowner will have to fork out 240 a month, or nearly 3,000 a year, more, according to Lib Dem analysis of House of Commons Library research.

His party issued a warning that an extra 100,000 households will be hit by a mortgage hike between now and polling day.

Sir Ed tweeted: This weekend I get to do the most joyful and important thing I do: being a Dad.

Meanwhile, after a week of attention-grabbing stunts, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey was taking the weekend off the campaign trail to care for his son.

Sir Keir launched the Labour battle bus alongside Ms Rayner, who then set off on a 5,000-mile journey to battleground seats.

A rethink of our employment support offer is long overdue  and joining up health, skills and work support is a common-sense priority for any party serious about building a healthier and more prosperous country, Rachel Statham, associate director at the think tank, said.

The Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the policy signals a major step towards a high-quality, public employment service.

This includes a new combined national jobs and careers service, local plans for work, health and skills support and a guarantee of opportunities for young people.

Sir Keir announced a number of proposed employment support and welfare benefits reforms aimed at increasing the employment rate from 75% to 80%.

The Tory leader said he is the only one thats actually got a plan to get people back to work as he dismissed Labours proposals.

Mr Sunak also insisted he is going right across the country when asked about his campaigns focus so far on seats that are being defended at the election by the Conservatives.

He said the methodology used to select the towns had been used multiple times before based on an objective set of criteria, including levelling-up needs, looking at economic opportunities, skills, health and life expectancy.

Asked about accusations that he is trying to buy votes there, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: These 30 towns come on top of the 70 towns that have been announced  thats 100 towns across our country that are going to receive 20 million each.

More than half of the towns  17  standing to benefit were represented by Tory MPs in the last parliament.

Some of the towns proposed to be added include Tamworth, Preston, Corby, Halifax, Bognor Regis, Newtown, Flint, Perth and Newry.

As part of the levelling-up scheme, the Conservatives pledged that local people, not those in Westminster, will decide how the money will be spent.

On his election trail, Mr Sunak batted off criticism that his pledge to give 30 towns 20 million was targeted mainly at Tory constituencies.

Despite Labours week being marred by the Diane Abbott saga, the poll showed Sir Keirs party on 45%  up four points since last weekend  while the Conservatives are down two percentage points on 25%.

Mr Sunak meanwhile was stung by a new Opinium poll giving Labour a 20-point lead over his party  the highest level Opinium has recorded since Liz Trusss troubled premiership.

But Ms Rayner dismissed claims she pushed her boss into the decision as rubbish.

He also accused Sir Keir of caving to his deputy Angela Rayner , after she first threw her weight behind Ms Abbotts candidacy.

In a speech in front of the Tories blue battle bus on Redcar Racecourse, the Prime Minister said It confirms what we know about him: its that he doesnt stick by anything he says.

While Sir Keir sought to move on from the matter, Mr Sunak attacked his Labour rival for changing his mind after having insisted the decision over Ms Abbotts candidacy was not up to him.

The Labour leader on Friday finally gave the veteran left-winger the green light to stand for his party in the election, after days of questions over her future and party infighting overshadowed his campaign.

Sir Keir refused to be drawn into talking about the Diane Abbott row, telling broadcasters in Uxbridge: I dealt with that issue yesterday.

The Labour leader launched his red campaign coach, emblazoned with the partys key slogan Change, in west London with a pledge to get people back to work.

Both leaders on Saturday unveiled their parties battle buses, which will travel across the country before polling day on July 4.

Sir Keir Starmer declined to answer questions about Diane Abbott , while Rishi Sunak denied claims he is buying votes with a promise of cash for towns as campaigning entered its second weekend.

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Mrs Robinson enjoyed a level of anonymity that the president and first lady openly envied, allowing her to come and go from the White House as often as she pleased on shopping trips around town, to the president's box at the Kennedy Centre and to Las Vegas or to visit her other grandchildren in Portland, Oregon. She gave a few media interviews but never to White House press.
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U.S. President Joe Biden said it was time to end the war between Hamas and Israel. He announced a new comprehensive ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages taken by terrorists.

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Biden made the announcement on May 31 in a speech at the White House, Sky News reports. The three-phase plan provides for the return of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip and the restoration of civilian areas of the enclave.

The first stage of the proposed agreement should be a six-week ceasefire, during which Israel and Hamas would agree on a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza. If the negotiations drag on, the ceasefire will last as long as it takes to reach an agreement, Biden added.

This first stage will also see the intensification of humanitarian aid  600 trucks will be allowed into Gaza daily.

In the second stage, Hamas will hand over all remaining hostages, and Israel will withdraw all its forces from the Gaza Strip.

The last, third stage, according to Biden, will concern a "major reconstruction plan" for Gaza.

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"Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voice and work to make it real. It's time for this war to end," the American leader said.

He also called on other Israeli officials to support the proposal, arguing that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another attack on Israelis, such as the one that took place on October 7, 2023.

"Israel has made its offer. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This agreement is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it," Biden summarized.

The Israeli government and the Hamas terrorist organization reacted to Biden's plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian group stated that it "positively assesses the content of the three-stage ceasefire proposal."

The statement of the Palestinian militants says that Hamas reaffirms its readiness to positively and constructively consider any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The terrorists also confirmed that they are allegedly ready to return prisoners to Israel.

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A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Hamas's position signals a change in attitude on the part of the group, which in recent months has accused the United States of supporting Israel and obstructing ceasefire attempts.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had authorized his negotiating team to present Biden's plan. At the same time, the head of the Israeli government insists that the war will not end until all its goals are achieved, including the return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas military forces.

In addition, the Israeli military said that its forces have ceased operations in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza after several days of intense fighting, and continue to be in the Rafah area of southern Gaza to target the last major Hamas stronghold.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Israel Defense Forces for the first time in 19 years took full control of the entire so-called Philadelphia Corridor, the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Meanwhile, the United States did not recognize Israel's operation in Rafah as a "major offensive." Therefore, the White House "has no policy changes to speak of" regarding military support for Israel.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Joe Palm, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regional director for Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, returned to St. Louis on May 20, 2024, to tour Paraquad and recognize its ongoing work to support seniors and people with disabilities.

I knew Max Starkloff, the founder of Paraquad, and I have always been proud to see the progress and amazing work happening here, Palm said.

Centers for Independent living have changed the landscape for people with disabilities. As an HHS regional director, I can elevate their needs and concerns to help them keep going.

President Biden appointed Palm HHS Region 7 director in May 2022. In addition, recently he was also appointed the Regional Director for HHS Region 2, which encompasses the states of New York and New Jersey and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, in addition to eight federally recognized tribes.

He previously served as chief of the Office of Minority Health at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and was a key advisor to the director on various health matters that affect minorities.

Palm supervised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant-funded opioid and homicide prevention program and advised and facilitated the creation of hundreds of mobile COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites across Missouri in uninsured and underserved communities.

Alison Barkoff, who leads the HHS Administration for Community Living and accompanied Palm on the tour, said agencies like Paraquad are essential in all communities.

I was so pleased to see firsthand the work Paraquad does to help people maintain their independence she said.

Centers for independent living, like Paraquad, provide a variety of services to support people with disabilities and older adults who want to live in their own homes and communities.

Without such supports people can end up  unnecessarily and at a greater cost  living in institutions such as nursing homes.

The Administration for Community Living provides funds that help support hundreds of centers of independent living nationwide. It oversees programs and funding that support older adults and people of all ages with disabilities to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities.

Also visiting Paraquad were ACL Regional Administrator Cynthia Brammeier, and Melanie Highland Director of Missouris Division of Senior and Disability Services, Missouri Department of Health.
At a Friday morning event at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Bush said Trump should not be able to be the [presidential] nominee for the Republican Party.

No one is above the law. At the end of the day, we all have to be responsible for our actions.

Bush joined Urban League President Michael P. McMillan in celebrating a $750,000 federal investment for renovations and capital improvements to the Urban League Plaza property, which is focused on supporting Black-owned small business enterprises.

The Urban League has been a pillar of strength and support for the St. Louis community, she said.

I am grateful to the entire Urban League family. They are out knocking on doors, out in the streets sweating [and] paving the way for brighter futures.

McMillan said Bush offered to assist the Urban League Plaza renovation when she saw it.

She said, I want to be here for you, said McMillan.

Trump sentencing

Trump will be sentenced on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention. He faces penalties from a fine to four years in prison on each count, although its expected he would be sentenced for the offenses concurrently, not consecutively.

The unanimous verdict by the New York jury marks the first time in American history that a former U.S. president has been found guilty of a crime, said Word In Black contributor Keith Boykin.

Despite Trumps claim that Black people will relate to his legal troubles, we remember how Trump failed to relate to the Black and brown teenagers in the Central Park 5 case that he tried to execute and never apologized after they were exonerated, he said.

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Chair Bobby Henry stated, the criminal justice system worked.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alluded to, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
Potential US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump may become "inadmissible" in almost 40 countries because of his criminal record. These countries apply strict immigration policies to people with criminal records.

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This was reported by News Week. The article cites data from the World Population Review, according to which such rules are in effect, in particular, in the G7 countries of Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

"These rules often result in the automatic denial of visas or entry permits to convicted felons, which could potentially affect Trump's ability to travel abroad," the journalists noted.

The list of countries that do not allow entry to convicted criminals: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Cuba, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Macau, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In addition, Trump may be banned from entering other countries. No all of them actively check criminal records at the border, but they will refuse entry if a convicted felon is found. These are, in particular, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, the United States, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Arab Emirates.

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As a reminder, on May 31, a jury in New York found former President Donald Trump guilty in the case of porn star Stormy Daniels. The US court found Trump guilty of all 34 counts, the main one being falsification of election financial documents.

It remains to be seen what Trump's punishment will be. The official verdict will be announced only on July 11.

His legal team has already announced plans to appeal the verdict. Despite these legal obstacles, Trump continues to campaign for the 2024 presidential election, which that could be complicated by potential travel restrictions imposed by various countries.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
STELLA, Mo.  A tear in the plastic liner of a Denali wastewater basin in McDonald County has raised concerns in Jefferson City and changed plans for emptying it and a similar basin in Newton County near Fairview.

Heather Peters, water pollution control branch chief at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said the liner tear was discovered several days ago but that the agency didnt fully understand the scope of the problem until last week.

When we were notified about it, we understood the tear was above the liquid level, Peters said.

However, regulators have since confirmed there was liquid under the liner and it was starting to float.

Peters said the basin affected is on property leased by Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions, which built the basin, located south of Stella in McDonald County.

We are working with Denali to address that issue, and were working through a couple of different options potentially on how to address that, Peters said. We are prioritizing that basin and having them continue to empty that basin and we also want to address how much liquid was under there, how much liquid, if any, has been released.

Denali uses the two lagoons in Southwest Missouri to store residual waste from dozens of meat and food processing and manufacturing plants across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. That material was being spread on fields as fertilizer, but many residents in the region had objected to the practice because of odors and concerns about its impact on water quality, property values and their health.

Abatement order

Denali was ordered by the DNR to discontinue land applying the material earlier this year and to empty its basins in the state.

Denali said in a written statement it emailed to The Joplin Globe on Thursday that it was during that process that the tear was discovered.

Since February, Denali has been working to remove the food processing residuals stored in the lagoon near Stella and to supply this resource to farmers in other states as a fertilizer, Denali said. In the course of this work, Denali discovered a tear in the lagoon liner and immediately reported the situation to the Department. Since that time, we have worked with the Department to assess whether there have been any impacts, and we continue to monitor the integrity of the lagoon.

Each stores about 14 million gallons of waste, which opponents have characterized as sludge.

Peters said these basins have different lining systems that have compacted clay at the bottom to keep material from seeping into the soil underneath and around the basin.

The basin in McDonald County had a lining system that included the compacted clay base but also required a plastic liner.

They had the permeability ratings for that and it was relatively impermeable; however, it didnt quite meet our standards, hence the plastic liner, Peters said. So it appears to be holding the liquid that was under the plastic lining, but we want to confirm that. We are looking at conducting some sampling outside the basin to determine whether we think anything is seeping through or has seeped through that basin.

Background

Peters said the fastest way to empty the basins would be to apply the material to land around the basins, but the DNR is not considering that option because Denali was ordered in November 2023 to stop its land application.

That order came after an incident in McDonald County in October 2023 where it had been overapplied during wet weather and had flowed into a tributary of the Elk River.

I know one of the concerns that came up was, Are you going to just let them empty it out and land apply it down there? Peters said. The answer to that is no. Weve taken a number of enforcement steps to prohibit land application immediately around that basin. Were not going to go backward on any of those steps and those efforts.

Denalis ability to operate the basins in Newton and McDonald counties as they were built also could be affected by whether Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signs legislation that passed the Missouri House and Senate that changes the rules for operating them.

The bills, co-sponsored by Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Noel, and Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, include rules for setbacks in areas with occupied homes and businesses, as well as other changes.

If the governors office signs House Bill 2134 and 1956, this basin cannot be used in the future as is anyway, Peters said. Obviously, we wouldnt allow it to be used as it is with the torn liner anyway.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on June 1, 2024. (Edgar Su/Reuters)

SINGAPORE  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to refocus attention on Chinas threat in the Asia-Pacific on Saturday, seeking to alleviate concerns that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have distracted from Americas security commitments in the region.

Just hours after Austin spoke at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy arrived in Singapore, where he will address delegates at the security forum on Sunday.

In a statement on the social media platform X, he said that he had come to gather support from the Asia-Pacific region for a peace summit planned for June 15-16 in Switzerland. He said he planned to hold several meetings, including with Singapores President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, Austin, and Singaporean investors.

Austin met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the conference on Friday in a bid to cool friction over issues ranging from Taiwan to Chinas military activity in the South China Sea.

There has been increasing concern that Washingtons focus on helping Ukraine counter Russias invasion and support for Israels war in Gaza, while trying to ensure that the conflict does not spread, has taken away attention from the Indo-Pacific.

Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theatre of operations, Austin said in his speech, which appeared aimed at underlining the administrations legacy in the region as President Joe Bidens first term in office nears its end.

Biden is running for re-election in November against former President Donald Trump.

Let me be clear: The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure, Austin said. Thats why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region.

Austin underscored the importance of alliances in the region.

And ... peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and not coercion or conflict. And certainly not through so-called punishment, Austin said, taking a shot at China.

In response, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng said the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy was intended to create division, provoke confrontation and undermine stability.

It only serves the selfish geopolitical interests of the U.S. and runs counter to the trend of history and the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and win-win cooperation, said Jing, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of Chinas Central Military Commission.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 1, 2024. (Edgar Su/REUTERS)

Some U.S. officials say Beijing has become more emboldened in recent years, recently launching what it described as punishment drills around Taiwan, sending heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks after Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwans president.

GAZA PROPOSAL

Indonesias president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, told the meeting that his nation was willing to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza to maintain a ceasefire, if needed.

He said U.S. President Joe Bidens three-phase proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction.

When needed and when requested by the U.N., we are prepared to contribute significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire as well as providing protection and security to all parties and to all sides, Prabowo said.

Prabowo, currently defence minister, takes over the presidency of the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation in October.

The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since Russias February, 2022 invasion, and the U.S. Congress appropriated $61 billion more last month. It has also continued to arm Israel, and the same bill provides $26 billion to in additional support for that country.

In another session, South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik declined to say whether his country would change its laws, which prohibit arms exports to nations in conflicts, to more directly provide aid to Ukraine.

In the last year, South Korea has transferred artillery ammunition to the United States and signed historically large arms deals with Poland; both of those countries provide security assistance to Ukraine.

About $8 billion in U.S. funding is set aside for countering China in the Indo-Pacific as part of the supplemental funding bill passed by lawmakers.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Friday denounced illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in the South China Sea, a disputed ocean territory that China has been flooding with coastguard ships in recent months.

The Philippines, a sprawling archipelago with strong historical ties to the United States and close geographical proximity to China, is at the centre of an intensifying power struggle between Washington and Beijing.

Austin said the harassment faced by the Philippines was dangerous and reiterated that the United States mutual defence treaty with Manila was iron clad. He said the aim was for tensions between Beijing and Manila not to spiral out of control.

America will continue to play a vital role in the Indo-Pacific, together with our friends across the region that we share and care so much about, Austin said.

Jing, the Chinese general, said these alliances contributed to instability in the region.

It is natural for neighbours to bicker sometimes, but we need to resolve disagreements through dialogue and consultation rather than inviting wolves into our house and playing with fire, he said.

Reporting by Idrees Ali, Fanny Potkin, Tom Westbrook, and Xinghui Kok; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Joe Brock, and Gerry Doyle
Chinas Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attends a briefing in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 1, 2023. (NIC BOTHMA/REUTERS)

BEIJING  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, Chinas 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 Beijings leadership of supporting Russias 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 Campbells 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 Chinas 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 Campbells comment.

The Biden administration has stepped up warnings about Chinas 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 Chinas support for Russias military.

Reporting by Ella Cao and Liz Lee; Editing by Timothy Heritage
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, May 31, 2024. (Edgar Su/REUTERS)

SINGAPORE  Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Friday denounced illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in the South China Sea, a disputed ocean territory that China has been flooding with coastguard ships in recent months.

Speaking at the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singapore, Marcos said that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors, without naming China.

Unfortunately, this vision remains for now a distant reality. 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 during the past year as Beijing presses its claims to shoals in waters that Manila says are well within its exclusive economic zone.

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 Philippine resupply and patrol missions. It has also deployed fishing boats that the Philippines and its allies consider militia.

After his speech, Marcos called security in the South China Sea, through which a huge volume of trade passes, a global issue. Later, a reporter asked Marcos whether China would be crossing a red line if one of its coast guard ships killed a Filipino with water cannons.

If a Filipino citizen was killed by a wilful act, that is very close to what we define as an act of war, Marcos replied. We would have crossed the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly.

The Philippines, a sprawling archipelago with strong historical ties to the United States and close geographical proximity to China, is at the centre of an intensifying power struggle between Washington and Beijing.

Earlier on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinas defence minister, Dong Jun, met in Singapore on the sidelines of Asias premier defence summit.

During the meeting with Dong, Austin underscored the importance of freedom of navigation under international law, especially in the South China Sea, according to a Pentagon statement released after the meeting.

Dong responded by telling Austin that the United States was stoking tensions through its military presence in the region, his spokesperson told reporters.

Marcos said tensions between the United States and China were destabilising for Southeast Asia, calling on Washington and Beijing to work harder to resolve disputes.

Their rivalry is constraining the strategic choices of regional states. Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints

and has created new security dilemmas, Marcos said.

The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner, he said.

Reporting by Joe Brock, Xinghui Kok and Mikhail Flores; Editing by Gerry Doyle
The prolific Chilean writer Isabel Allende returned to bookstores this week, with her first childrens book: Perla: The Mighty Dog. Its a story that was born from an everyday event. One day, Allende, 81, had gone out to walk with her little dog, who has the same name as the pet in her book. Perla approached a tree and started barking at a squirrel. Suddenly, a large dog broke off its leash and began to attack her.

Everyone ran to hold the [big] dog, but we couldnt get there in time. Perla turned around and faced him. Id never seen her like that: all her hair stood up, she was foaming at the mouth. She growled like a beast and the dog turned around and ran away. After that, people took videos and photos and Perla became a celebrity in the park, the author tells EL PAIS, smiling through a video call.

Her dog and a little neighbor  who visits her on Tuesdays and Thursdays  became the inspiration for the book. My agent had been telling me for a long time to write a story for little children, an illustrated story. I didnt have small children around, because my children and my grandchildren are already grown. But theres a neighbor who comes to see me on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Ive known her since she was born and now shes three-and-a-half-years-old. Her name is Camila and she enters the house shouting book, book, book! The only thing she wants is to read. First, we read a book and then, she has an ice cream. Those two days are sacred for her and, deep down, theyve become sacred for me, too. Everything came together there, Allende recalls.

The book  published with illustrations by Sandy Rodriguez  tells the story of Nico, a little boy whose family rescues a dog who will soon become his best friend. The boy is bullied at school, but he doesnt tell anyone about it. Allende reproduces the park scene in the story and Perlas attitude towards the dog that wants to attack her. The small dogs courage helps the boy confront his attackers. That gave me the idea that, oftentimes, if we face what we fear most, it turns out that its not so terrible, says the author of Island Beneath the Sea (2009) and Paula (1994), the story about the illness and death of her daughter.

In this interview with EL PAIS, Allende discusses her own childhood, wandering around the world with her diplomat parents. Their work caused her to constantly change schools and grow up as a shy, isolated girl. She also speaks about the things or situations that inspire her books, while also touching on current events. Allende worries about all the power that bullies have accumulated in the world. She fears, for instance, that Donald Trump will return to power in the United States, though shes also concerned about the conservative shift thats being registered in many countries.

People feel that theyre not represented in democracy and that democracy is as corrupt as anything else. Theyre looking for an authoritarian leader. Look what has happened in El Salvador, she says, in reference to President Nayib Bukele. I think it would be terrible for the United States  and for humanity  if Donald Trump were to be president again. I hope it doesnt happen, but there are many possibilities that it will happen, despite his scandals, says the acclaimed Chilean author, in an interview which she grants to EL PAIS from her home in the small seaside city of Sausalito, north of San Francisco.

Question. In your books, you explore human relationships. But, in this particular work, you focus on the relationship between a boy and his dog. Youve said in the past that you like dogs more than people...

Answer. Of course, because dogs are loyal, friendly, fun, and they dont talk back to you.

Q. Nico  the young protagonist of the book  suffers from bullying at school. You say in the book that bullies are cowards. Is the book a message against child abuse?

A. I dont like the idea of giving a message, but rather telling a story. And if the story teaches you something good, so much the better. I had the idea that, if we face what we fear most, it turns out that its not so terrible. I think that, first of all, parents and teachers have to be watching and trying to protect [children], but there also has to be an attitude on the part of the child to defend themselves.

Q. Oftentimes, children are silent. Do you think that a child who suffers from abuse can act like Nico did when reading this story?

A. A little abused child has so few defenses. I was never bullied at school, but I changed schools all the time, because my parents were diplomats. I spent my childhood changing schools, countries, friends. I always felt excluded: that feeling of not belonging, of not having a single friend. At recess, I would be hiding behind a book, pretending that I was reading so that it wouldnt be obvious how alone I was.

Q. How did you face that exclusion?

A. I could never face it, because when I started to make friends, I had to go somewhere else.

In life, Ive learned to take the initiative of friendship. But when I was young  and especially when I was a girl  I was extremely shy. I didnt dare take any initiative. If nobody invited me to [join them], I stayed in my corner with a book.

Q. Its strange, because youve said that one of your powers is to make people laugh.

A. You change a lot with age. Your circumstances change. I began to bring out my personality and feel at ease when we finally returned to Chile. I was 16-years-old then and I finally entered a school with the idea that I was going to stay in a country for good. At that time, I began to feel more confident about myself, but it was very difficult for me.

Q. Being uprooted hit you hard.

A. Of course it did. My parents werent even with me, because they were in Turkey. I went to live at my grandfathers house and everything was strange and nobody helped me. I couldnt go out anywhere, because my grandfather was super strict. He didnt have much of a social life, either. I was very feminist, full of ideas and very rebellious, but I behaved well, I got good grades and it wouldnt have occurred to me to jump out the window to escape, like my granddaughter did. She escaped from her room to the neighbors roof

Q. Maybe that kind of freedom helps children become more independent.

A. Sure. My son, Nicolas, was terrible. I still dont know all the evil things he did, but some are legendary.

Q. What kind of things did he do?

A. Im going to tell you about one incident. We lived in Caracas, in [the neighborhood of] Los Palos Grandes, where the buildings are next to each other. Nicolas would throw eggs with a slingshot at the building in front of us, with the idea of putting it through a window and having the egg fall inside an apartment. He never hit it and the egg fell against the wall of the building, in the summer heat of Caracas. The egg ran downwards and it turned into an omelette. Then, people would complain to me and I would say: But how? My son? Never! My son would never do something like that! I would call him and say, Nicolas, are you slinging eggs at the building across the street? And he would answer: Mom, why do you always suspect me? You make me feel bad, because you never trust me. He had never told me a lie straight up before. It was terrible, the things he did were crazy. But now hes a serious man, completely zen.

Q. What attitude did you have towards these pranks?

A. I trusted him blindly. I was so stupid, you know, a naive mother.

Q. What effect does literature have on Isabel Allende?

A. It takes me to another world. When I read a book, I immerse myself in a universe that someone else created and that I completely believe. I know its fiction, I know its a novel, but I dedicate myself to the mission. And thats what I try to do when I write: I try to create a world that Im immersed in, detail by detail. And while Im in that book, I have nothing else in my head, to the point that I cant relax, because I have the book inside me. I dream about the book, I wake up in the morning thinking about it, I get up at midnight because an idea occurs to me. I cant let go of it.

Q. At what point do you say, this could be a story for a book?

A. I think that there are these seeds that I have inside me, because everything catches my attention. People write to me, send me stories about their lives, or the lives of their grandparents. One thing after another is spun. Im very disciplined and I start all my books on January 8. But oftentimes, I dont know which of those seeds is going to germinate into a story. Sometimes, on January 8, I start something that I cant develop and I start another thing. And, suddenly, something catches on.

Q. How much influence do current events have on your work? In your previous novel you touched on a very heavy topic: family separation due to the immigration policies that were toughened under Donald Trump.

A. I dont try to write about current events  because things change very quickly  but rather about human tragedy, which is eternal. I have a foundation and we do work on the border: were aware of the detention centers for separated children, because there are 1,400 children in the United States who havent yet been able to be reunited with their families. [The U.S. authorities have] deported the parents, and not even to their countries of origin. They sent them back to Mexico and theyve never been able to reunite with their families.

Q. Are you worried that Trumps return to power will make this situation worse?

A. Of course. I think it would be terrible for the United States  and for humanity  if Donald Trump were to be president again. I hope it doesnt happen, but theres a good chance that it will happen, despite his scandals. The Republican Party supports him, so its very possible that hell be elected. And a massive deportation has already been announced.

Q. Why do you think such a high percentage of people in the U.S. favor Trump?

A. Because theres a shift to the right in many places and a return to authoritarianism, as if democracy had failed. People feel that theyre not represented in democracy and that democracy is as corrupt as [any other system]. Theyre looking for an authoritarian leader. Look what has happened in El Salvador [with President Bukele].

Q. Why is totalitarianism so attractive?

A. Because people want clear answers.

Q. Does literature help prevent people from becoming bullies when they grow up?

A. I dont think literature has that power. Literature gives us other things: it connects us with other people, it makes us understand that were not alone, that what happens to us doesnt only happen to us. I think thats the power of literature, the power of connection. It makes us part of humanity.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo speaks at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Britain, on Oct. 27, 2023. (Hannah McKay/REUTERS)

BERLIN  Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Friday that Washington and the European Union must deliver a message to China that its firms face a choice between doing business with U.S. 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 in a speech on a visit to Berlin.

Adeyemo said every country in the coalition that imposed sanctions over Russias invasion of Ukraine and every country in NATO must communicate to Beijing that it is unacceptable for China to abet Russias military-industrial base.

Lets make clear to Chinese companies that we are all prepared to use our sanctions and export controls to hold them accountable, he said.

President Joe Bidens administration has stepped up messaging about Chinas support for Russia and issued an executive order in December that threatened sanctions on financial institutions helping Moscow skirt Western sanctions.

Russia last year imported $5.2 billion worth of sensitive, dual-use goods - which can be used for both civil and military purposes - from China-based suppliers, Adeyemo said, marking an increase of more than 40%.

President Vladimir Putin has the capacity to prop up Russias war economy for years, he said.

No other country, despite what China would tell us, has the capacity to supply Russia with the quantity of machine tools, microelectronics, engine parts and other goods the Kremlin needs to build its weapons of choice, he said.

Beijing may not be sending tanks and missiles to Russia but the Kremlin cannot produce these weapons at scale or continue its war without assistance from companies and financial institutions in China.

Adeyemo warned that failing to convince China to stop selling dual-use goods to Russia poses a significant threat to Europes national security, adding that Putin was confident that he could challenge NATO.

Many of the goods from coalition countries still being found in Russian military equipment are largely being transhipped through China, he said.

Adeyemos warning comes after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell on Wednesday accused Chinas leadership of supporting Russias war in Ukraine and warned that Beijing could face further sanctions in response.

On Tuesday, White House Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics Daleep Singh said the U.S. and its partners were prepared to use sanctions and export controls to prevent China-Russia trade that threatens their security.

CASE FOR RUSSIAN ASSET SEIZURE

At a Q&A in Berlin, Adeyemo was asked about Raiffeisen Bank, which has come under heavy criticism as the largest Western lender still operating in Russia.

Without mentioning the Austrian bank by name, Adeyemo said the vast majority of banks were complying with the sanctions on Moscow and that, in the few cases where there were concerns, they were being addressed directly with the banks.

He also hoped that a leaders summit of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy industrialised nations in Italy next month would provide political direction on how best to use billions of dollars worth of frozen Russian assets.

We think there is a case for seizure. There are some who didnt think that that was the best way to go, he said, adding that countries were starting to make progress on which options to take.

And it will send a clear message to Russia that they cant outlast us, that ultimately, we are committed to economically supporting Ukraine both through our countries, but also using our ability to unlock the value of these frozen assets in some way to continue to support the Ukrainian people as well.

Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Matthias Williams and Christian Kraemer, editing by Thomas Seythal and Giles Elgood
David Yoho, 96, who served aboard an oil tanker in the Merchant Marine in the Pacific in World War II, smiles at well-wishers as he and other veterans arrive in Paris to attend ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)

PARIS - After a roaring sendoff from enthusiastic well-wishers, World War II veterans flew Saturday to Paris to pay homage to the thousands of fellow Americans who perished in the fight to liberate Europe from Nazism.

By serving your country you have liberated ours, Frances former ambassador to the U.S., Philippe Etienne, told the nearly 70 Greatest Generation veterans in a small but enthusiastic reception at Charles de Gaulle airport. The flame of remembrance must never be extinguished.

Cadets from the U.S. service academies as well as American Airlines employees and Americans living in the Paris area cheered and waved small American and French flags as the veterans, most in wheelchairs, appeared in the arrival hall.

Veteran Seymour Lipper, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the artillery, greets well-wishers as he arrives in Paris for D-Day commemorations. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)

The veterans, whose ages average slightly over 100, smiled and waved in return despite coming off a nine-hour flight from Dallas-Fort Worth airport. For the flight, the cabin of the American Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner was festooned with small American flags and red, white and blue decorations. Soon into the flight, a member of the support team advised the veterans escorts to have their prescription medicines close at hand and to make sure their veterans shift their weight to avoid clots which can threaten such elderly passengers.

The U.S. ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, greeted them with welcome back. French-born Florent Groberg, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Afghanistan in 2012, delivered remarks in French and English thanking the veterans.

A choir from Marymount International School in a Paris suburb sang national anthems of France and the United States.

Veteran Julian Hilts is greeted by well wishers in Paris. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)

On Sunday the group paid homage to American war dead during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Suresnes American Cemetery in Paris where 1,583 Americans are buried. Most of those buried there died in World War I.

An honor guard from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, fired a 21-gun salute.

The pilgrimage was organized by American Airlines and volunteer groups that support veterans.

Delta Airlines is also sponsoring another group of veterans attending the D-Day commemoration.

Veterans awaiting welcoming ceremony at Charles de Gaulle airport . (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)

Despite enthusiasm at Charles de Gaulle, the welcoming ceremony was smaller than the large crowd at Dallas-Fort Worth which saw them off.

Hundreds of travelers at the crowded airport cheered as volunteers wheeled the veterans down Departure Hall D just before they boarded the flight.

Travelers crowded around the 66 elderly men and two women, representing Rosie the Riveters who took defense industry jobs so men could go fight.

The crowd cheered, took Smartphone photos and approached the veterans to thank them for their service and sacrifice.
Firefighters arrive at the site of a school damaged by Russian missile strikes, outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2024. (Valentyn Ogirenko/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON/KYIV  President Joe Bidens decision to relax some restrictions on Ukraines 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 Russias cross-border Kharkiv offensive.

Since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Bidens 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 Bidens decision will reduce Kyivs 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

Bidens 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. Bidens administration had been finalizing the decision since then.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly called for Ukraines 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 Institutes Eurasia Program, said Russia had been exploiting Bidens prohibition on strikes inside Russian territory by using it as a safehaven to launch attacks in Kharkiv region.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, is just 19 miles 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 dont 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 dont 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 Bidens move was just a first step.

Its not a radical departure (in policy). But its 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, well continue to do what weve 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
Russian Iskander-M missile launchers are seen on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2024. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Russia unleashed the largest missile and drone attack in more than three weeks against Ukraines critical infrastructure, with air defense downing two-thirds of the missiles.

The total of 53 missiles of various types, including four Iskander ballistic missiles launched from Crimea, as well as 47 explosive-laden Shahed drones, targeted Ukraine overnight, Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on Telegram.

All but one of the drones were destroyed, yet 18 missiles were able to evade Ukraines air defense, he said without elaborating on damage.

Russian terrorists dont abandon their intentions to destroy the fuel and energy sector of the country, Oleshchuk said.

In a post on X, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the provision of additional Patriot and other modern air defense systems for Ukraine, as well as accelerating the delivery of F-16 fighter jets.

The Ukrainian leader will speak in Singapore on Sunday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major regional defense forum.

Among the targets under attack were energy facilities in the Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraines south, Ivano-Frankivsk in the west, Dnipropetrovsk and Kyrovohrad in the center, and the Ukraine-controlled part of the Donetsk region in the east, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said on Facebook.

Russian missiles struck areas near two hydroelectric power plants, causing critical damage to equipment, Ukrhydroenergo, the state-run electric production company, said on Telegram without naming the sites.

DTEK, Ukraines largest power producer, said the barrage seriously damaged the equipment of two of its thermal electric power plants, also without specifying their location.

It was the sixth massive attack targeting the companys power facilities over the past two and a half months, DTEK said on Telegram.

The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that the overnight attacks were made in response to Ukraines ongoing efforts to damage Russian energy and transportation facilities.

Besides energy facilities that support the operation of enterprises of the military-industrial complex, storage sites for Western weapons were hit, the ministry said.

A fire erupted at a critical infrastructure object in the Ivano-Frankivsk region after the strike, Ukraines State Emergency Service said on Telegram. Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed in a Telegram post that an energy facility in his region was attacked, without naming it. Separately, Fedorov said the passage of cars across the dam at the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant was temporarily suspended.

At least 19 people were injured in the overnight strikes. That includes 13 wounded, including eight children, when an Iskander-K missile hit a residential area in Balakliya, 40 miles southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraines National Police said on Telegram.

Russia resumed massive attacks on Ukraines power network last month, targeting energy facilities across the country.

President Vladimir Putins forces have also stepped up their assaults along the 746-mile front line as Kyivs Western allies  including U.S. and Germany  become more open to allow hitting some targets inside Russia.

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Dmitry Medvedev, Russias Deputy head of the Security Council, takes part in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 23, 2024. (Yekaterina Shtukina/SPUTNIK/Pool via REUTERS)

MOSCOW  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 Moscows conflict with the West could escalate into all-out war.

Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council and a former Russian president, said Moscows conflict with the West was developing according to the worst case scenario and that nobody today can rule out the conflicts 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 Kremlins 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 conflicts transition to its final stage, he said.

Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Swedish Minister of Defence Pal Jonson attend the Nordic Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, May 31, 2024. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/via REUTERS)

STOCKHOLM/KYIV  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded long-term security agreements with Sweden and Norway on Friday, a sign of Western commitment to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks further military support from the West in the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy visited Stockholm as Western nations discuss whether to let Kyiv use weapons provided by them to strike targets inside Russia, which began its full-scale invasion over two years ago is now attacking Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine.

He said Ukraines use of any Western weapon to strike Russian territory was now only a question of time.

The security deals with Sweden and Norway - as well as Iceland - bring to 15 the number of agreements Kyiv has signed with Western nations. The Nordics are all now NATO countries and have all been staunch supporters of Ukraine.

You can see that Russia is trying to expand the war ... Only together we can stop the madness from Moscow, Zelenskyy said.

In a joint statement, the Nordic leaders and the Ukrainian president said: We will jointly strive to increase Ukraines and our own production capacity to meet Ukraines needs for battle-decisive munitions.

Under the latest deal, Sweden will transfer two ASC 890 surveillance aircraft - seen as crucial for identifying incoming cruise missiles and drones and identifying targets in the air and at sea - as well as its entire stock of armoured tracked personnel carriers.

You are literally fighting not only for your own freedom but also for our freedom and our security, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

But Stockholm will not yet transfer Saab Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, as discussions continue over whether Kyiv should instead receive U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to be in step with the air capabilities of NATO allies.

Sweden joined the Western military alliance this year and does not have such jets.

Ukraine signed a 10-year security deal with Norway, which is in addition to its existing bilateral aid programme that provides $7 billion over five years in combined military and humanitarian aid.

Under the additional deal, Norway, a neighbour of Russia in the Arctic, will focus on maritime and air defence needs and would be open to the Norwegian defence industry localising production in Ukraine, seen as a way to speed up delivery of defence supplies.

Norway is home to Nammo, a top European producer of ammunition, as well as Kongsberg Gruppen, which produces the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) the Ukrainians have been using.

Ukraine also signed a long-term security agreement with Iceland on Friday. Denmark and Finland signed 10-year security agreements with Ukraine in February and April respectively.

Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko in Kyiv, Simon Johnson and Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, with Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen; Writing by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Louise Rasmussen, David Holmes and Timothy Heritage
Rubble fills a thoroughfare in Gaza on May 31, 2024, as people and animals try to navigate through the destruction. (Mahmoud Issa/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM  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 its 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.

Its 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 Netanyahus 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 Gazas 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, Ive 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 cant 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 Bidens 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
President Joseph R. Biden departed Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 24, 2022. During his first visit to Japan since being elected, he met with Japanese government officials in order to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance. (Jessica Avallone/Air Force)

Several world leaders urged Israel and Hamas to agree to a new cease-fire proposal announced by President Biden on Friday, which he said would lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops.

French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his support for the deal, posting on X in Hebrew on Saturday: The war in Gaza must stop. We support the proposal for a comprehensive agreement by the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also urged the warring parties to seize the opportunity to end the war. Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on social media that the proposal provides a glimpse of hope and a possible path out of the wars deadlock and said it is now up to Hamas to prove their commitment to ending the conflict.

As outlined by Biden, the three-stage plan, proposed by Israel, would begin with a six-week cease-fire and the release of women and child hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza and the surging of aid trucks into the territory.

Negotiations would start over the second phase for a permanent end to fighting and full Israeli withdrawal, along with the release of all remaining hostages, while phase three would focus on reconstruction and the establishment of a non-Hamas Palestinian government.

Both Israel and Hamas have signaled some openness to an agreement, even as uncertainty remains over whether a deal can be reached in practice, and in particular on achieving a permanent stop to the fighting.

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said the government was united in its desire to return the hostages as soon as possible and its proposal would also enable Israel to continue the war until all its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities.

But in a follow-up statement Saturday, the prime ministers office emphasized that Israel would not agree to a permanent ceasefire until its goals were achieved and Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, adding that any suggestions otherwise were a non-starter.

The shifting tone cast some doubt on whether Israel was committed to the proposal.

Netanyahu is trying to have his cake and eat it, Udi Sommer, a politics professor at Tel Aviv University, said of the conflicting statements. The U.S. decision to go public with Israels proposal has ramped up pressure on Netanyahu not to renege, he said.

It also comes as the prime minister navigates deepening divisions within his own governing coalition.

On the far-right, members such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have threatened to pull out of the government if a cease-fire deal is reached. Meanwhile, war cabinet member and centrist opposition leader, Benny Gantz, also said he will resign if Netanyahu doesnt decide on a comprehensive postwar plan - including a strategy to bring the hostages home - before June 8.

The earth is shaking under the legs of Netanyahu in terms of his coalition, Sommer said, adding that the unusual Saturday morning statement from the prime ministers office appeared to be addressing coalition politics by making assurances that Israel would push on until its aim of total victory.

Yaki Dayan, a former chief of staff in Israels Foreign Ministry and an expert on U.S.-Israeli relations, said Netanyahus statement Saturday was not a rejection of the cease-fire outline, but rather the prime ministers office saying that we havent abandoned the objective of this war.

This is fine-tuning for internal consumption, Dayan said, adding that questions remain over parts of the plan that Biden may have skimmed over. No doubt this is the essence of the offer, but the devil is in the details. Have we seen all the details?

Hamas said late Friday that it viewed Bidens speech positively. In a statement, the militant group said it was ready to deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent cease-fire, if Israel also declares its explicit commitment to the deal.

If agreed to, the proposal would facilitate a surge of humanitarian assistance, allow displaced Palestinians to return to their neighborhoods, and begin the reconstruction of Gaza, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller wrote on X.

This is a significant opportunity to move towards an end to war and civilian suffering in Gaza, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The sidewalk in front of the Row Hotel on Manhattans Eighth Avenue is crowded with New Yorkers and tourists gearing up to view the April 8 solar eclipse. Everyone clutches camaras and glasses, except Hedgie. She is on a street corner, nearly hidden by the crowds. Around her are several backpacks, suitcases, bags of clothes. The 30-year-old Ecuadorian is waiting for her husband to help her carry their belongings to the subway. Today they must leave the hotel, which for the last two months has served as their shelter.

The family of four  they have two children, four and eight years old, all of them undocumented  will now live in the Watson Hotel, which is also located in Manhattan, until June, at which point they will be displaced yet again and have to apply for housing in one of the shelters run by New York City for the thousands of migrants who have arrived since the spring of 2022. Over the six months they have been in the city, the family has had to move four times. Hedgie says that they are tired of going from here to there, and that they are considering going to another state: We dont want to be here anymore.

Like Hedgie, thousands of people housed in the more than 215 shelters administered by the city to deal with the nearly 200,000 migrants who have arrived in the Big Apple since 2022 have received eviction notices since last October, when the city began to restrict length of stay at the facilities. Since last week, the situation has worsened due to new restrictions that limit housing applications. Under the new regulations, which were announced in March, families with children like that of Hedgie must apply for shelter every 60 days. But couples without children and single people will only be eligible for stays of 30 days and then will have to leave the shelters, unless the city determines that they have extenuating circumstances and grants them an extension. Until now, these last two groups were limited to stays of 30 days, but they could re-apply every month.

Young Venezuelans sleep outside Hotel Watson in Manhattan, after been kicked out of their rooms, in January 2023. Andrew Lichtenstein (Getty Images)

With these new rules, the citys Democratic Mayor Eric Adams is aiming to force migrants to find housing on their own and reduce the number of people within the shelters. But immigration advocates say that the new regulations will only intensify the desperation that migrants are already feeling, forcing them to live in a constant state of worry and instability. Many will wind up sleeping on the street since most of them dont have a source of income and are not allowed to work due to their immigration status. They way things stand, they already cant cover the cost of rent in one of the countrys most expensive cities.

Kim Corona, spokesperson for the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), which is comprised of pro-migrant and refugee organizations, calls the new restrictions discriminatory. These limits are inhumane. No one should run the risk of winding up sleeping in the street, she says. Corona underlined the burden that the new restrictions will mean for families: Making families with children re-apply for housing once their 60 days are up is a continuous cycle that keeps people in short-term places without the long-term solutions they really need. It also affects children: having to move to another spot messes up their education and learning; its an interruption.

More than 70% of migrants who have passed through these facilities over the last two years are from Latin America. The majority come from Venezuela (41%), Ecuador (17%) and Colombia (9%), according to numbers provided by the city. Many of them emigrated from their countries bound for New York after having read on social media or heard from family members or friends that in the city there is a law called right to shelter that has been in place since the 1980s. This law, which does not exist in other large U.S. cities, guarantees a bed to anyone who asks for one in a network of shelters. For four decades, the right to shelter has been principally oriented towards the homeless population. That changed in spring of 2022, when thousands of migrants learned of its existence. In the spring of 2023, the number of migrants who lived in the shelters exceeded the number of homeless individuals.

A migrant woman leaves the Row Hotel accompanied by her daughter on December 12, 2023. Andres Kudacki (AP)

Initially, Adamss administration received the recently arrived migrants with open arms. When the governor of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, began to send buses filled with migrants to New York as part of a political maneuver to protest Joe Bidens immigration policy, Adams himself went to the terminal where the first buses arrived to welcome them. But the buses kept coming  Abbott has sent more than 37,100 migrants to New York since August 2022  and soon, the shelter network began to collapse. Though the city opened more facilities and beds, the overflow led Adamss administration to turn off supply: first he tried to restrict the right to shelter in 2023 and then he sought to suspend it entirely.

Workers build a huge tent to house migrants, in the Bronx, in September 2022. Julia Nikhinson (AP)

After months of negotiations between authorities and organizations who support the right to shelter, all parties arrived at an agreement last March to keep the law in place, with certain exceptions. Beginning May 22, the city would send out eviction notices every 60 days to families and every 30 days to single adults, who would not be allowed to re-apply for housing, unless they fit into one of several exemption categories (these include being able to prove that they will leave the city within 30 days or have signed a contract to move into their own apartment within the same time period). As of April, the last month for which the city has released figures, there were 65,000 migrants living in the shelters. Of them, 78% were families with children. The rest  nearly 15,000 people  could be evicted in the next few months.

Migrant children board a bus that takes them to school, in front of the Row Hotel, on December 12, 2023. Andres Kudacki (AP)

The only solution, says the NYICs Corona, is for the government to prioritize helping migrants to find permanent housing, instead of forcing them to move from one shelter to the next. To do that, organizations like NYIC have demanded that Mayor Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul (also a Democrat) widen city and state housing assistance programs for undocumented immigrants. One of these programs is CityFHEPS, which helps beneficiaries living in New York City to receive a monthly rent supplement. As of now, undocumented migrants are not eligible for its services.

According to a study carried out by NYIC and the organization Win, the largest provider of shelters and housing for houseless families and individuals in New York City, the Adams administration would save $2.9 billion a year if migrants could be moved to permanent housing instead of city shelters. The organizations estimate that if the city included migrants in the CityFHEPS program, it would pay $72 a night for a two-bedroom apartment for a family seeking asylum, compared to the $383 on average that is spent on housing a family for one night in a hotel that has been converted into a shelter. The report was published in August 2023, when there were 57,000 migrants living in city shelters, compared to the 65,000 that are currently housed by the system.

At Make the Road New York, the largest immigrant organization in the state, they agree that widening programs like CityFHEPS should be the priority. Yaritza Mendez, the groups co-director of organizing, says that the city has to do a better job and open more doors so that thousands of migrants can get out of the shelter system and access permanent housing. The new regulation does little more than exacerbate the crisis because people dont have anywhere to go, she says.

Eric Adams visits a high school that has been turned into a shelter in February 2023. Lev Radin (Getty Images)

Trapped in a vicious circle

EL PAIS visited several of the citys shelters, and though inside access was not permitted, testimony collected at the doors of the centers revealed that the people who live inside them feel trapped in a vicious circle from which it is difficult to leave. Though all interviewees communicated their gratitude for having a place to sleep every night, they feel that the city has no long-term plan to help them achieve stability and self-sufficiency. Make the Roads Mendez describes it as a chicken and egg situation. These people have not been able to find a permanent place to live and as a result, remain in the shelters because they havent been able to find a stable job due to their migratory status, she says.

This is the cycle in which Maryelys Garcia has found herself. The 35-year-old Venezuelan has been in the Big Apple for five months and is waiting for the resolution of her request for asylum, a process that can take between six months and several years. Asylum seekers can apply for a 180-day work permission, but the wait to receive a response can take months or more than a year. While Garcia waits for a response to her application, her only option is to continue to live in the citys shelters because during the journey to the United States, they stole everything from her and she doesnt have enough money to rent a room that costs more than $1,000 a month.

Migrants eat at the Randall's Island shelter in April. Andres Kudacki (AP)

For now, she lives in the Row Hotel in Manhattan, where she shares a bedroom and a bathroom with her friend and the friends daughter, who emigrated from Venezuela with her. The three were able to be designated as a family by the city, and thanks to this, they have been assigned 60-day lengths of stay. They received their last extension on May 20 and will continue at the Row until at least mid-July, when they will have to apply again.

In the streets surrounding the hotel, Garcia sells little things: food, secondhand cell phones, etc. She also puts in a few hours at a restaurant that allows her to work for money under the table. The small amount of money that she makes, she saves. Her dream is to be an entrepreneur: We didnt come looking for a handout, we want to work for what is ours. My dreams are big, but give me a chance, she says.

A migrant family receives food at the Stewart Hotel, April 2023. Lev Radin (Getty Images)

When it comes to living conditions within the Row Hotel, the Venezuelan says there are a lot of cockroaches and ants. She says that she has not seen rats or mice in her room, but shes sure they are there because the garbage builds up in the hallways. Aside from the filth, Garcia complains about the food: We give thanks because we are not hungry, but every day its the same thing. If you stay for three months here, youre going to eat the same thing for three months.

Miguel says that in the Stewart Hotel, which is also located in Manhattan, the situation is similar. The 36-year-old Venezuelan man prefers not to use his real name, because he fears hell be expelled from the shelter system. In the entryway of the Stewart, he whispers his complaints: There are a lot of chiripas [cockroaches]. Miguel has been in New York for a year, trying to file his petition for asylum and work permit. Together with his wife and children, who are eight and 12 years old, he has lived in three different shelters. Weve been living off the government for a long time now, and thats not why we came here. He says that when he receives his permission to work, they will leave New York.

In addition to hotels that have been turned into shelters, the city has also built camps to house migrants. One of them was constructed on the Floyd Bennet Field, in the southeast corner of Brooklyn. On land that previously housed an airport live nearly 2,000 people  500 families with children  in a small city formed by several gigantic tents. Within the tents, the space is divided into hundreds of modules where families sleep in cots. Bathrooms and showers are outside, in separated trailers.

The migrants who live here say that to file any application, they have to leave the camp at dawn, especially if they have to go to Manhattan. Floyd Bennet Field is located in a remote area of Brooklyn, almost completely surrounded by Jamaica Bay, near Rockaway Beach. The closest subway station is almost five-and-a-half miles away and it takes two hours to get to Manhattan on public transportation. This is the temporary home of Carlos, a 36-year-old Ecuadorian man who also doesnt dare to give his real name and who arrived with his wife and two daughters. Although he doesnt have permission to do so, he works at a mechanics garage in Queens and says it takes him two hours to get there, depending on traffic. He works for 12 hours a day, but says that between his familys expenses and the debt he has waiting for him back in his own country, he has not earned enough money to save, much less pay rent.

A sign placed by neighbors protests the presence of migrants in the district of Staten Island (New York), in September 2023. John Minchillo (AP)

Carlos and his family left the city of Quito last November. My wife had a hair and nails salon. One day they came and told us that we had to pay a monthly fee or they would kill us. We ignored them, but they came back. We ignored them again until one day they shot at our house, they even killed our cat. They have been at the Floyd Bennett Field for four months, and say that living there is not easy. They say the shared bathrooms are always dirty because people relieve themselves wherever and the food is terrible. Even so, they have no other option besides filing one application after another to live there, or in another shelter, until their asylum request is resolved.

When asked if they want to stay in New York or go to another state, Carlos replies: I dont know  Right now, we only want to leave here and have our own space.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Palestinians make their way as they inspect the damages after Israeli forces withdrew from a part of Jabalia refugee camp, following a raid, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 30, 2024. (Mahmoud Issa/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON  Joe Bidens support for Israel during its eight-month war in Gaza has spurred at least eight U.S. administration officials to quit, with some accusing the U.S. president of turning a blind eye to Israeli atrocities in the Palestinian enclave.

The Biden administration denies this, pointing to its criticism of civilian casualties in Gaza and its efforts to boost humanitarian aid to the enclave, where health officials say more than 36,000 have been killed in Israels assault.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage, according to Israeli figures.

These are the eight officials.

 Josh Paul, director of the State Departments bureau of political military affairs, left in October in the first publicly known resignation, citing what he described as Washingtons blind support for Israel.

 Harrison Mann, a U.S. Army major and Defense Intelligence Agency official, resigned in November over Gaza policy and went public with his reasons in May.

 Tariq Habash, a Palestinian American, quit as special assistant in the Education Departments office of planning in January. He said the Biden administration was turning a blind eye to atrocities in Gaza.

 Annelle Sheline resigned from the State Departments human rights bureau in late March, writing in a CNN article that she was unable to serve a government that enables such atrocities.

 Hala Rharrit, an Arabic language spokesperson for the State Department, quit in April in opposition to the United States Gaza policy, she wrote on her LinkedIn page.

 Lily Greenberg Call was the first Jewish political appointee to resign, having served as a special assistant to the chief of staff in the Interior Department. She wrote in the Guardian in May that she resigned because as a Jew I cannot endorse the Gaza catastrophe.

 Alexander Smith, a contractor for USAID, quit in late May, alleging censorship after the U.S. foreign aid agency canceled publication of his presentation on maternal and child mortality among Palestinians. The agency said it had not gone through proper review and approval.

 Stacy Gilbert, who served in the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, quit in late May. She said she resigned over an administration report to Congress that she said falsely stated Israel was not blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Rami Ayyub and Cynthia Osterman
Hundreds of friends, family and airmen gathered for Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortsons funeral service at Hurlburt Field, Fla., on May 20, 2024. Fortson was 23 years old when he was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office deputy on May 3, 2024, at his off-base apartment. (Alex Stephens/U.S. Air Force)

The Florida sheriffs deputy who fatally shot an Air Force senior airman at his off-base apartment has been fired after an internal investigation found the shooting was not objectively reasonable, the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office said.

The deputy, Eddie Duran, was fired Friday by Sheriff Eric Aden after a weekslong internal affairs probe of the May 3 shooting that killed Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old AC-130 gunship gunner from Atlanta. Duran, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, first joined the Okaloosa Sheriffs Office in 2019 and left in 2021 before returning in June 2023, according to police records.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Aden said in a statement after dismissing Duran. 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.

Fortsons death made headlines across the nation after the sheriffs office released footage from Durans body camera showing the deputy shooting Fortson, who was Black, at least five times within seconds of the airman answering his Fort Walton Beach apartment door with a firearm pointed at the ground. The airman has been honored by the Air Force since his death as a respected special operator and high achiever.

Duran has served in law enforcement in the military and as a civilian since about 2007, according to his police records.

He served in the Army from 2003 to 2014, including a 2008 deployment to Iraq as a military police officer, according to his records. He was honorably discharged and began his civilian law enforcement career in 2015 in Oklahoma.

In the 29-page internal affairs investigation released Friday, Capt. Roger Wagner of the Okaloosa Sheriffs professional standards office, found Fortsons actions did not merit the use of deadly force and Fortson had not made hostile, attacking movements toward Duran. The fired deputy said he believed he would be killed if he did not shoot first.

Duran was responding to a domestic disturbance call at the complex where Fortson lived at the time of the shooting. In an interview with Wagner detailed in the report, Duran said he knew he should quickly respond to the domestic disturbance because he believed the situation could become violent.

But Duran said he heard no signs of a disturbance when he was directed to Fortsons apartment door by a leasing office employee. The deputy knocked on the door two times, stepping away from the peep hole both times, before announcing he was with the sheriffs office and knocking a third time. Duran told Wagner that he believed he heard someone inside the apartment say, Something to the effect of, its the  police, before Fortson answered the door.

Duran shouted for Fortson to step back as the airman answered the door with his pistol at his side pointed down. The internal investigation found Duran began firing into Fortsons torso in less than two seconds, instructing Fortson to drop his gun only after he had been repeatedly shot.

Duran said he believed Fortson was acting aggressively when he took a small step forward as he opened the door and his weapon was held in a position with his elbow bent just enough that it could have been quickly fired at Duran.

When I saw his eyes, I saw aggression, Duran told Wagner. He added later, Based on everything that I had taken into account, I felt 100% that action was going to be my best course as opposed to reaction  I immediately felt that I was at a disadvantage considering he had his gun readily available for use, and mine was still holstered. So, at that point action was going to be better than reaction to prevent any kind of great bodily harm or death to myself.

A witness to the shooting, who was on a video call with Fortson before and during the incident, told Wagner that Fortson did not know who was at his door and did not hear the deputy announce he was law enforcement. The name of the witness  along with other witnesses interviewed in the investigation  was redacted in the report. Family members have said Fortson was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting.

Fortsons girlfriend told Wagner that there was no argument or disturbance between her or anyone else at Fortsons apartment before the shooting. She said the airman was playing video games and chatting with her when he heard the first two knocks, checked the peep hole, and did not see anyone outside his door.

She said the next knocks became aggressive, prompting Fortson to grab his gun from the bedroom because he didnt know who it was.

She said Fortson never mentioned police before he answered his door. She said he shouted, Who . is it, really loud, before opening the door.

Members of Fortsons family and their attorneys have claimed Duran was sent to the wrong apartment before the shooting. Wagners investigation, which included interviews of at least one other resident and apartment front officer workers, did not indicate Duran should have been sent to a different apartment.

A neighbor, who also serves in the Air Force but did not know Fortson, said she had previously heard several disturbances between a man and a woman from Fortsons apartment, and she had heard him yelling the day of the shooting. Fortsons girlfriend denied Fortson had been yelling, telling Wagner she had been on the phone with him for a while and no arguments had occurred.

Lawyers and others close to Fortson have called for the deputy  Duran  to be charged with murder for the airmans killing.

A criminal investigation into Fortsons shooting led by state law enforcement and the State Attorneys Office are ongoing, officials said Friday.
People hold signs in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10, 2019, during a vigil for victims of the March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crash that killed 157 people. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Families of the victims of the two deadly Boeing 737 Max crashes five years ago met Friday with the head of the fraud division at the U.S. Justice Department and urged further legal action against Boeing.

The meeting, held in person for some in Washington, D.C., and by video call for others, followed the departments ruling this month that Boeing had violated the terms of a 2021 deal with the federal prosecutors to avoid criminal charges stemming from the crashes.

Boeing has 30 days to appeal that ruling. The DOJ will announce its next course of action against the company at a court hearing July 7 in Texas.

The families have long been frustrated at the terms of that 2021 deal, which they see as letting Boeing off the hook for hiding engineering flaws that caused the crashes and killed 346 people.

On Friday, they told the DOJ lawyers they now want prosecutions of Boeing as a company and of individual executives, including then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg.

In a news conference outside the Justice Department afterward, Michael Stumo, who lost his daughter Samya in the crash in Ethiopia, said Muilenburg should get prison time.

Bob Clifford, one of the lead lawyers representing the families, said the Justice Department lawyers in the meeting listened but were tight-lipped about their intentions.

Mark Lindquist, a local lawyer who represents some victim family members and attended the meeting virtually from Seattle, said the DOJ seemed to indicate prosecutions of individuals are unlikely when they outlined obstacles to doing so, chiefly the five-year statute of limitations for most federal crimes.

Under the terms of the 2021 deal, called a deferred prosecution agreement, or DPA, Boeing admitted fraud and was fined $244 million. But Justice agreed to drop the criminal fraud charge provided Boeing boosted its compliance with safety standards and oversight during a three-year probationary period.

The fraud charge related narrowly to the conduct of two Boeing technical pilots accused of concealing from the Federal Aviation Administration and airlines the significance of a new flight control system on the Max during the jets certification. Flaws in that new flight control system led directly to the crashes that killed 346 people.

Subsequently, the chief technical pilot Mark Forkner was prosecuted but acquitted.

The DPA expired on Jan. 7, two days after the midair blowout of a door-sized fuselage panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max. The blistering public reaction to that incident led regulators to sharply tighten oversight of Boeing. That seems to have played into DOJs decision that Boeing had not complied with the terms of the DPA.

The families of the victims have derided the DPA since it was announced as a sweetheart deal that let Boeing away with a minimal fine. The wording of the agreement explicitly exonerated senior management, saying they had not facilitated the fraud.

With that agreement thrown out, Justice has several options.

Because Boeing waived the statute of limitations for the company in the 2021 agreement, the DOJ could move ahead and prosecute the company, either on the fraud charge or new charges.

At the news conference Friday, Chris Moore, who lost his daughter Danielle in the Ethiopian crash, said it wasnt just the narrow actions of the two technical pilots but the entire certification of the Maxs flawed flight control system that was fraudulent.

Thats the criminal act, Moore said. Theres so much information out there that the Department of Justice has; they can prosecute Boeing.

We need to have that day in court. We need to have the truth. We need to have transparency, he added. That is the only way that justice will prevail.

As evidence that Boeing had never come close to complying with the 2021 agreement, Stumo mentioned how management forced out whistleblowers who spoke up and cited the litany of recent quality lapses at Boeing, including the Alaska Airlines incident and the revelation in early May that mechanics in South Carolina had falsified manufacturing records on the 787.

Thats the Boeing culture, Stumo said. The Justice Department has a chance now to fix it, to prosecute Boeing, to go for a heavy sentence, to go for terms of probation that really, truly force Boeing to clean house.

If the DOJ does decide to prosecute, Boeing could avoid a trial by pleading guilty and taking whatever punishment a judge imposed.

That would thwart the hope of the families for a full public airing of all the missteps that led to the accidents, though a sentencing hearing would still allow a painful recounting of Boeings actions and their impact.

Another option for the DOJ is simply to extend the current DPA by a year or so, effectively putting Boeing on probation for a longer period.

What Lindquist said he considers most likely is for the DOJ instead to negotiate a new plea deal with Boeing that imposes stiffer penalties and conditions than were imposed in 2021.

He said the DOJ lawyers mentioned in Fridays meeting the possibility of one new condition they are considering: appointment of an independent monitor to oversee Boeings compliance with the conditions.

If they do a plea agreement with Boeing, which I think is a realistic possibility, it cannot be a repeat of the sweetheart deal in the first DPA, Lindquist said.

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Hunter Biden, center, son of President Joe Biden, and his lawyer Abbe Lowell, right, depart a House Oversight Committee meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 10, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON  Hunter Biden is set to become the first child of a sitting U.S. president tried for crimes, just days after the historic guilty verdict against Donald Trump  two events that may inject fresh uncertainty into the 2024 election.

Jury selection begins Monday in the first of two cases Hunter Biden has tried to avoid for years, both to stay out of prison and spare his father, President Joe Biden, political and personal turmoil as he runs for a second term most likely against Trump.

The trial in Wilmington, Delaware, on three federal gun violations is expected to plumb the depths of the younger Bidens drug use. During that period, prosecutors allege he lied about his substance abuse on a federal form to illegally purchase a firearm.

Special Counsel David Weiss has indicated he plans to raise painful events from the Biden familys past related to Hunters conduct and events that involve the president. Still, White House officials largely view the trial as a private matter for Bidens son tied to his personal behavior from years ago.

The president, who is expected to travel to France during part of the trial, will be monitoring it primarily as a concerned parent who has supported his sons recovery from addiction, according to a person familiar with his thinking.

There are no plans for the White House to publicly engage with the trial, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss how the president and his staff view the legal matter. But those plans could change, and the person did not rule out the possibility of the president reacting to developments in real time.

Plea possibility

While the possibility exists for a last-minute plea deal between the two sides, Hunter Bidens legal team is prepared to argue the charges are unconstitutional and violate the Second Amendment, as well as point out flaws in the governments evidence.

Dick Harpootlian, a Biden ally and former South Carolina prosecutor, said jurors in Bidens home state might wonder why prosecutors brought the criminal case against him now that hes shaken his drug addiction.

It only takes one for a hung jury, and I can definitely see one or more jurors questioning the propriety of bringing this case, said Harpootlian, who now serves as a state senator.

Bidens trial represents another highly politicized spectacle following the former President Trumps criminal trial in New York, which ended Thursday with his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an affair with a porn star during the 2016 race.

Hunter Biden also has been charged by Weiss in Los Angeles for nine federal tax violations and is scheduled to go on trial in that case in September.

The gun trial is expected to be short but dramatic, with prosecutors airing details about Hunter Bidens drug-laden years that include excerpts from a book he wrote about it, Beautiful Things: A Memoir.

His book is replete with admissions that establish he knew he was an addict and knew he was using crack cocaine throughout 2018, including in October 2018 when he purchased and possessed the gun, prosecutors wrote in a May 20 trial brief.

Fordham University law professor Cheryl Bader, an ex-assistant U.S. attorney who now runs the schools criminal law clinic, said Bidens chances of winning an acquittal are slim given his acknowledgment in his memoir.

Biden has been open about his struggles with alcohol and drugs but said he has remained sober since mid-2019.

Federal prosecutors only bring cases that they are confident they can win, and they are known for dotting their Is and crossing their Ts, Bader said.

Two of the gun counts carry maximum prison time of 10 years; another is punishable by as much as five years. However, judges rarely impose maximum sentences.

Bidens lawyers plan to challenge the governments charge that he bought the gun while a drug addict as constitutionally vague. They are set to argue that he wasnt using drugs when he bought the gun. They also plan to contend that the seller didnt comply with legal requirements in the gun sale and documentation.

Intoxication from too much alcohol or using drugs, legal or illegal, may make it too dangerous for people to drive a car, operate heavy machinery, or possess a firearm one day, but they may be perfectly sober enough to do all those things the next day, according to a May 23 trial brief by Bidens lawyers.

Weiss was nominated by Trump to serve as the U.S. attorney for Delaware and kept on by Biden. He was appointed as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023 to manage the cases against Hunter Biden.

Biden and Weiss had agreed to a plea deal last year to resolve both allegations, but the agreement fell apart under questioning by the federal judge overseeing the case. Bidens lawyers and supporters have argued that Weiss then bowed to political pressure by Trump and conservatives in bringing the charges.

The gun case is U.S. v. Biden, 23-cr-00061, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Wilmington).

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The three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow in Newbridge had a reserve price of just 150,000

A HOUSE owned by a key member of Irelands most prolific burglary gang has been sold off at auction for 246,000.

There were several bidders going for the semi-bungalow in Newbridge which Patrick Wall had bought for 166,500 in cash.

A close associate of infamous burglar Edward The Bullet Connors, Wall is suspected of carrying out dozens of burglaries all over Ireland.

The Criminal Assets Bureau put the house up for sale after Wall settled the case against him and his wife Tina last December.

The three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow in Newbridge had a reserve price of just 150,000 but at least four bidders quickly pushed up the price last week.

Wall and his wife Tina, who changed their names by deed poll to Connors, were being paid up to 1,400 rent for the property.

The Bullet, a cousin of slain mobster Fat Andy Connors, is one of the countrys most prolific burglars and house-breakers, amassing dozens of convictions over the years.

The bungalow in Newbridge

Known as the Pale Miley Gang they were the top targets of a garda effort to shut down the professional burglary gangs under Operation Fiacla launched ten years ago.

They were notorious for using high-speed cars to carry out raids and to outpace pursuing garda cars in reckless car chases.

Despite being arrested with The Bullet 28 times, Wall was only convicted of five break-ins during his criminal career.

But a Criminal Assets Bureau case last year revealed how Wall and the gang operated across the four provinces of Ireland and created terror in rural Ireland.

It was detailed how Wall has 39 criminal convictions including eight which resulted in him getting a prison sentence.

He was also the target of a massive garda operation involving the Air Support Unit in 2009 after a crime spree across Louth breaking into houses and ramming patrol cars to evade arrest.
A father of six who recklessly bought stolen razors when they were being sold door to door has been spared jail.

Gardai found the razors worth 135 in Troy Sprats house when they were carrying out an unrelated search, a court heard.

Judge Gerard Jones gave him a one-month suspended sentence.

Sprat (39), with an address at Primrose Grove, Darndale pleaded guilty to handling stolen property.

Dublin District Court heard gardai searched the accuseds home under warrant on the morning of August 6 last year and found Gillette razor blades with a total value of 135.

The property had shop security tags still attached and the accused had no proof of purchase.

The court heard Sprat had 66 previous convictions, the last of which was in 2016.

Gardai had gone to the address over something unrelated to the accused, his solicitor Matthew De Courcy said.

Sprat had bought the razors from an individual who was selling things door to door.

He accepted he was reckless in doing so, Mr De Courcy said.

Sprat had no drink or drugs issues, he said. The solicitor asked Judge Jones to take account of the fact that Sprat had no convictions in the last eight years.

The judge suspended the sentence for two years and set recognisances in the event of an appeal.
David Franiuc (21) and Simon Franiuc (20) had been drinking when words were exchanged with a man in the street and a fight broke out, a court heard.

David and Simon Franiuc pleaded guilty to the assault. Photo: Collins

Two men arrested for punching a stranger in an unprovoked attack in Dublin city centre have been told to pay compensation to the victim to avoid jail.

David Franiuc (21) and Simon Franiuc (20) had been drinking when words were exchanged with a man in the street and a fight broke out, a court heard.

Judge Gerard Jones told them to pay 1,000 each to the victim or they can consider packing their bags and heading to Mountjoy.

The accused, both from the same address at The Paddocks Square, Adamstown, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard gardai were on patrol on OConnell Street, Dublin, on November 5, 2023, when they saw the accused fighting with another man. They were punching this man and gardai stopped the fight and arrested the accused.

It was an unprovoked attack, a garda sergeant told the court.

The victim did not wish to make an impact statement and had made a full recovery.

The accused had consumed too much alcohol, words were exchanged with the victim and the incident went far beyond what it should have, defence barrister Donal Pattison said.

The Franiucs came to Ireland three years ago and were working as general operatives. They did not normally drink and very rarely go out, Mr Pattison said.

Adjourning the case to a date in July, Judge Jones said the accused could pack their bags the next day unless they come with the money.

He said he would treat the accused leniently if the compensation is paid.

Otherwise, they know where theyre going, the judge warned.

The Franiucs were remanded on continuing bail.
When political scientist Steven Levitsky began to analyze how democracies were destroyed, he never thought that the object of his study would end up being the United States. He specialized in competitive authoritarian regimes, especially in Latin America. Countries where there are elections but not a true democracy, like the Venezuela of Hugo Chavez or the Peru of Alberto Fujimori, where democracy did not die by a coup detat, with tanks in the streets, but was destroyed from within, by politicians who had won the elections. Suddenly, with Donald Trump and large sectors of the Republican Party, he found in his very own country the patterns of authoritarian populism that he had studied so closely.

His influential 2016 book How Democracies Die, written with Daniel Ziblatt, who like him is a professor of Political Science at Harvard University, warned of the risk to democracy posed by Trumps presidency. His thesis was confirmed with the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, the starting point of his new book, Tyranny of the Minority. In their new work, more focused on the United States, Levitsky and Ziblatt describe the ills afflicting the system, warn that the Republican Party has abandoned democracy, and propose reforms to improve the democratic system.

Levitsky grants the interview in his office at Harvard Universitys Center for Latin American Studies at the height of graduation season. The campus has returned to normal, albeit with reinforced security, after the anti-Israel protests. Levitsky, who is Jewish, defends the right of students to mobilize and censures police repression. In the interview, he points out that the U.S. is a sick democracy, whose future is at stake in the November presidential elections. Trump, he warns, has a more authoritarian discourse than Chavez, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

Question. Is U.S. democracy at stake in the November elections?

Answer. No doubt about it. I dont think the country is headed to Russian-style authoritarianism. The opposition forces, the democratic antibodies in the U.S. are too strong, at least in the medium term. It would rather be a period of crisis towards a hybrid regime, a competitive authoritarianism, in which there are abuses of power, there may be some level of repression or attacks against the media and against opponents and some violence. Trump has made it clear that he is willing to violate the basic rules of democracy and the Republican Party has shown that it is fully willing to support him in his authoritarianism.

Q. On the campaign trail, Trump has said that he is going to be a dictator for a day, he has spoken of political revenge and called migrants vermin that are poisoning the blood of Americans.

A. He has always shown authoritarian tendencies. I compare his vision of the state with that of some dictators from Central America and the Caribbean in the mid-20th century such as [Nicaraguas Anastasio] Somoza or [The Dominican Republics Rafael] Trujillo. He believes that each institution is there for his personal purposes, that the state is him. You should never elect someone with a discourse like that. What worries me most is what he could do with immigrants. He has talked about using the army and creating concentration camps.

Q. You argue that not even some dictators would dare say some of the things Trump has said.

A. Im trying to find a post-war candidate with messages as overtly authoritarian as his. He says that he is going to use the state to persecute his rivals, something that Chavez, Erdogan or Orban did not say. That he is going to try to shut down opposition media, that he is going to use the army to repress demonstrations... In the last 50 years, it is very rare for a candidate to be so openly authoritarian. But we are not taking it very seriously.

Q. Why not?

A. When he was elected, some of us said he was a danger, but Trump had not yet done anything and it was understandable that he was not taken very seriously. But since 2020 it is impossible to ignore his authoritarianism. Many conclude that the system worked and Trump got out of power, they think he cant really kill democracy. On the other hand, I think the democratic commitment of Americans is not as deep as we think. The proof is businesspeople. On January 7, 2021 they were saying they would never fund or support someone like Trump, but today they are giving him money, just in case he wins.

Q. In the 1960s, there was more political violence, but democracy was not in danger.

A. It was different. We went through a time of more violence, of more political terrorism than now, but the violence and extremist forces were outside the party system. The two parties were more or less in the political center. Today, violence, instead of being outside the party system, is within it. And the two parties are very polarized, which is more dangerous. I dont want to exaggerate, but it is similar to the violence that existed in Spain in the 1930s. It often had partisan, political and ideological purposes, and the extremists had allies within the system, in the government and the parties.

Q. U.S. President Joe Biden has made the defense of democracy one of the axes of his campaign.

A. If our leaders do not tell citizens that democracy is in danger, no one will believe that it is. But partisan identities are so strong that independent and swing voters are few and far between, and we dont know what kind of message works best. There is an anti-government mood, a discontent in the electorate, especially the part less willing to participate in politics. There seems to be nothing that can be done to change that. It is not just happening in the United States. The last 20 democratic presidential elections in Latin America have been won by the opposition. That is going to change in Mexico, but there is a very high level of discontent, also in Europe and Canada. Governments that have been in power for more than three years in Germany, France, the United Kingdom... are unpopular. Something is happening. I dont know if its the pandemic, the economic uncertainty, social media... Maybe a combination of the three, but people have an anti-government mood that is going to help Trump and I dont know what can be done to avoid it.

Q. What would a second Trump victory mean for democracy in the world?

A. The United States is ceasing to be a democratic model. A Trump victory will only accelerate that process. Also under Trump we would stop promoting democracy. The U.S. no longer promotes it as much as before, but with Biden it does, for example, in Brazil when [former Brazilian president Jair] Bolsonaro tried to organize a coup. I dont want to exaggerate its effect, but it is important that the United States defends democracy. We already saw with Trump, in cases like Honduras or El Salvador, that he doesnt care about anything, he is willing to tolerate and support authoritarian governments. For people like Orban, Daniel Ortega [in Nicaragua], [Nayib] Bukele [in El Salvador], the cost of stealing an election, of carrying out a coup or of staying in power in an authoritarian way is going to be less. That is very negative for world democracy.

Q. In your new book, you explain that the much-admired U.S. Constitution is actually now also part of the problem.

A. We have a very old Constitution, which has been very successful, with two centuries of stability and economic growth. But it is from the 18th century, from a pre-democratic era, when no one, no elite, in any country, believed in democracy. In 1787, the North American Constitution was very progressive, advanced and democratic compared to Europe. But in the 19th and 20th centuries, other countries reformed their political systems and democratized them. In the United States, it is very difficult to reform the Constitution for several reasons: we are practically married to it, we have an attachment thats turned it into something nearly biblical. It cant be touched because it was written by the founding fathers of the country. And given the difficulty of reforming it, we are increasingly behind compared to other countries. We still have countermajoritarian institutions that allow political minorities to veto policies supported by majorities or to rule over majorities. We were the most democratic democracy and today we have one of the most countermajoritarian democracies on the planet.

Q. It is what you call the tyranny of the minority. Why is it happening?

A. It is a set of factors. In the U.S., it is difficult to vote. In almost all democracies, the state wants people to vote. In many, it is mandatory. In others, voting is done on a Sunday or a holiday and the government takes measures to make it easy to do so. In many democracies you reach the age of 18 and are automatically registered to vote. In the United States, it is difficult to register, it is difficult to obtain information about how to vote, you vote on a weekday... The right to vote is not in the Constitution and throughout history we have had episodes of governments that make voting difficult.

But there are also institutions like the Electoral College or the Senate that allow a partisan minority to win elections and govern, which is undemocratic. Our system favors rural areas, with little population. The most obvious case is the Senate, where each state has two senators, regardless of its population. This was always unfair to urban areas, but it had no partisan effects because both parties had urban and rural wings. In the 21st century that changed: the Republican Party is the party of the rural sectors and the Democratic Party the urban one. So, the electoral system systematically favors the Republican Party, not because of them, but it favors them and allows a party to control the Senate with 46%-47% of the vote and to win the presidency, losing the popular vote  it has happened twice in the 21st century. That, by itself, is undemocratic, but we have the problem that the minority party is also an authoritarian party. The far-right vote in the U.S. is not greater than in other countries, its between 20% and 30%, but that 30% can govern if they manage to control the Republican Party, and thanks to the Senate and the Electoral College, govern the country.

Q. You propose reforms to improve the quality of democracy.

A. We propose 15 reforms, some are possible in the short term, and others are impossible. The least possible is the democratization of the Senate. We propose that the number of senators be proportional to the population in each state, but that requires consensus among the 50 states, which is impossible. Others, such as measures to make it easier to register and vote, are very feasible, since they do not require constitutional reform. The filibuster  the rule of a reinforced majority to pass laws in the Senate  could also change. Another reform that is feasible is ending the life terms of Supreme Court justices. I believe that reforms that clearly benefit a party will not be possible, but those that do not and are democratizing will.

Q. As an expert on Latin America, which of its democracies are of concern to you?

A. My concern in Latin America is the very high level of discontent. There is discontent in all the democracies of the world, but there it is through the roof for understandable reasons: the level of violence, the poor performance of the economy, social inequality and corruption. This always opens up the possibility of an outsider arriving. Bukele is the latest example, but there are many: Chavez, Fujimori, Correa, someone who promises to overthrow the hated political class and who does so. For a while, people applaud. That can happen in several countries, but I am optimistic about the largest ones in the region. Brazil, Mexico and Argentina have a lot of problems, but they have solid democratic institutions and pluralistic and diverse societies, with the capacity to resist authoritarianism.

Q. You are Jewish, but you have defended the right of students to protest against Israel. How do you view the situation?

A. It has been very difficult. Jews are very diverse and have all kinds of positions on Israel, war and campus protests. There are Jews protesting and Jews asking the police to repress the encampments. I think the level of antisemitism on campus, at Harvard, and in the U.S. in general has been greatly exaggerated. There is evidence that antisemitism has increased somewhat in the last 10 years, but especially among young right-wing people. Antisemitism should always worry us, but it is not that high.

What there is is growing opposition to Israel and its policies, especially among young people. It is a change that started before, but is accelerating with the war in Gaza. Many young people, including young Jews, believe that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide, that the government is not doing anything, and they feel angry. I do not believe that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide, but it is terrible. We should not be surprised that there are university protests.

The problem is that there is a very strong pro-Israel lobby, with a lot of influence in the media, with a lot of money, which includes donors to Harvard and other universities, which is afraid of protests. It sees growing opposition to Israel and has reacted poorly, calling everything antisemitism, which is false. And it has called those protesters pro-terrorism, violent, antisemitic and thus justified police repression. I am concerned to see a wave of police repression of peaceful protests. I was a university activist in the 1980s against apartheid in South Africa. We made identical encampments. The protests are fundamentally pacifist. That has motivated me to participate a little in defending not necessarily the protesters or their cause, but their right to protest. It seems to me that there is what we call here a Palestinian exception, in which pro-Palestinian movements have less space and rights than others. In a democratic society that is not acceptable.

Q. Many of these young people are very critical of Bidens support for Israel. The paradox is that if young voters dont support Biden, it will lead to a win for Trump, who supports Netanyahu much more strongly.

A. This already happened in 1968 with the election of Nixon. In Western democracies, the main axis is no longer really left-right, but what I would call ethnonationalist on the one hand, and cosmopolitan on the other. In Canada, France, Germany, the U.S., the United Kingdom, the cosmopolitan coalition is the majority. Urban, secular people, who travel more, who are more tolerant of diversity... That group is the majority, but very heterogeneous and easy to fragment. When it unites, it wins, as with Biden in 2020. When there is a fracture, it loses, because the nationalist coalition is more homogeneous and disciplined: everyone votes. The cosmopolitan coalition includes unions and entrepreneurs; in the U.S., it includes Jews and Arabs. On October 7 of last year [the date of the Hamas attack on Israel] my co-author, Daniel Ziblatt, told me: This is going to endanger the coalition. And he was right. Any issue that fragments the cosmopolitan coalition raises the possibility of an ethnonationalist triumph that could be a threat to democracy. So, Netanyahu is no longer just destroying Israel, he is destroying the United States and perhaps the world.

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David Gallagher (38) is accused of holding the young woman at syringe-point while demanding money, leaving her very shaken.

A man held an uncapped syringe in front of a restaurant workers face and threatened her before ripping the till drawer out and fleeing in a city centre robbery, it is alleged.

David Gallagher (38) is accused of holding the young woman at syringe-point while demanding money, leaving her very shaken.

His case was adjourned for preparation of a book of evidence when he was charged in Dublin District Court.

Mr Gallagher, with an address at a Dublin city centre hostel, is accused of the alleged offence on February 27.

It is alleged that the threat was carried out with the intention or where there is a likelihood of causing the woman to believe she may become infected with disease as a result.

He is also charged with damaging a cash drawer at the Eddie Rockets on Parnell Street in the same alleged incident.

The charges are under Section 6 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.

The prosecuting garda told Judge Gerard Jones he arrested the accused before the court sitting and he made no reply after caution. Mr Gallagher was handed copies of the charge sheets, the garda said.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case should be dealt with on indictment in the circuit court.

A book of evidence will be required before the accused is sent forward to that court.

Judge Jones asked the garda what was alleged to have happened in the incident.

The garda replied that the case involved a syringe attack robbery. It would be alleged the accused went to the restaurant on the day in question and produced an uncapped syringe.

According to the prosecution, he went behind the till area, dragged a female staff member there and demanded that she open the till.

It was alleged Mr Gallagher held the syringe in front of the womans face while he made these demands.

It would be the prosecutions case that the accused then ripped the entire till drawer out of its holdings and left the scene while carrying it in his hands.

Judge Jones asked how the alleged victim was after the incident. The staff member was very shaken but no contact was made with the syringe and she was not physically injured, the court heard.

The garda said three people present in the restaurant were affected by the incident.

Judge Jones remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court.

Mr Gallagher was not required to address the court and has not yet indicated how he intends to plead.
Jim Flynn was gunned down by an INLA gunman in Dublins North Strand in 1982.

Malachy Steenson speaks to anti immigration campaigners on the Bridge of Peace in Drogheda. Picture; Gerry Mooney

ANTI-IMMIGRANT election candidate Malachy Steenson was slammed by his former comrades in the Workers Party after he paid tribute to an official IRA assassin who was gunned down as part of a republican feud 42 years ago.

Steenson, who is running as an Independent in the local and European elections, laid a wreath at the spot where Jim Flynn was gunned down by an INLA gunman in Dublins North Strand in 1982.

The Crossmaglen native, who was director of operations of the Official IRA, was shot in the head, chest and abdomen as he left Cusacks Pub in Dublin on June 4, 1982.

The INLA later claimed responsibility for the killing, saying it was a revenge attack for the murder of INLA man Seamus Costello in North Strand five years earlier.

After careful investigation over a number of years, the INLA has established beyond doubt that Jim Flynn murdered Seamus Costello, they said.

Seamus Costello

Steenson, who has been linked to various republican groups over the years and has a conviction from the Special Criminal Court, paid tribute to Flynn this week by laying a wreath at the spot where he was killed.

He laid the wreath on Friday, even though the anniversary of Jim Flynns death is actually on Tuesday.

Were here today on the June bank holiday Friday on the 42nd anniversary of the assassination of Jim Flynn, director of operations of the IRA who was assassinated at this spot, he said.

Jim, like many others before and after him, laid down their lives for the people of Ireland. We are not being asked to lay down our lives, we are simply being asked to lend our vote to nationalist and independent candidates on June 7th.

Malachy Steenson leaves tribute to Jim Flynn

Steenson was a member of the Workers Party, which had links to Official IRA, but he was kicked out a number of years ago.

A Workers Party spokesperson said yesterday that Steenson had previously been told not to visit Flynns grave in Crossmaglen.

It is disgusting that Steenson would attempt to associate himself with the memory of Jim Flynn who died in conflict against the sectarian nationalism which he is spouting.

"Jim Flynn was a Marxist-Leninist and proud communist who had no time for narrow minded ethno-nationalism, said the source.

His surviving comrades in the Official IRA have been sickened by Steensons attempts to associate with his memory, including visits to his grave in Crossmaglen. These visits have ceased as Steenson has been informed he is not welcome.

The spokesperson said Steenson stands against the radical views of Jim Flynn.

For this reason, Steenson was expelled with dishonour from the Workers Party nearly 10 years ago by Jim Flynns closest comrade Sean Garland.

"The Workers Party will be contacting Steenson again to ask him to stop misusing the memory of a man who died for the cause of socialist-republicanism, not the views espoused by the political gadfly and Walter Mitty character that is Malachy Steenson.

"The voters of inner city Dublin beware, Steenson will espouse any cause to further himself in the limelight and financially.

Flynn was director of operations of the Official IRA at the time of his death and one of his close associates in the organisation was Steensons father Leo, who was originally from Belfast and was with Flynn when he was shot outside Cusacks pub but was uninjured.

Flynn had been based in Bristol in England in the mid-70s but was deported under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and was returned to Ireland where he was actively involved in Official IRA operations, including armed robberies.

He was a suspect in the murder of Irish INLA chief-of-staff Seamus Costello in North Strand in 1977.

Costello, from Wicklow, had been an IRA man dating back to the 1950s and stayed with the Official IRA after the split that established the Provisional IRA.

He was the Official IRAs director of operations but was later expelled from the organisation and went on to found the INLA and its political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, in 1974.

Flynn was arrested and questioned by gardai twice over Costellos murder but was never charged in relation to it.
"It's absolutely devastating that this tragic event will go unpunished."

A CORONER is to take over the police file into the death in the UK of Irish drug dealer and former Criminal Assets Bureau target Michael McDonagh.

It comes after a decision not to prosecute anyone over the Sligo natives death at a holiday resort in August 2022.

Seven people had been arrested by police in Sussex on suspicion of murder after reports McDonagh (53) died while being restrained.

His family greeted with anger the news that no-one is to face charges and vowed to continue their fight for justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service opted to drop the case February and the police file to be passed onto the coroner.

No date for the inquest has been set as yet.

His daughter Stephanie told BBC Radio Sussex at the time that getting justice for her father had kept their family going.

"The last 18 months were the worst we've ever, and possibly will ever, have to endure.

"It's absolutely devastating that this tragic event will go unpunished."

"We're going to continue to fight on dad's behalf. We're not going to let this go."

McDonagh left Ireland more than 20 years ago when he became a target of the Criminal Assets who considered him a major drug-dealer in the region.

He moved to Spain where he was then a suspect in an incident in which two English men were shot and injured in a bar fight.

In 2009 McDonagh was arrested in Amsterdam and extradited to the UK to face charges over a multi-million drug dealing operation.

Later that year he was jailed for seven years.

Michael McDonagh headed up the organised crime gang which delivered cannabis and other drugs throughout England along with UK national Darren Finch, according to the National Crime Agency.

The drugs were imported from Germany and the Netherlands hidden in lorry loads of legitimate goods.

A lorry driver would then take the drugs to one of two hubs from which the gang's criminal activity was coordinated, St Margaret's Farm in Dartford or Lested Lodge in Chart Sutton, Kent.

Gardai suspected he was also connected with a 500,000 cannabis haul in Tubbercurry in 2000 and owned properties in both Ireland and Spain.

The Criminal Assets Bureau successfully seized McDonaghs house in Co Sligo after proving that it was bought from the proceeds of crime.

Spanish police also linked him to a bar brawl in which two Englishmen were shot in the resort of Benalmadena.

The two men couldn't remember what their attacker looked like and were unable to give police a description.

McDonagh was buried in a gold casket in October 2022, two months after his death following a funeral at Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate Church in Mill Hill, London.

Around 200 people were in attendance including some who had travelled from Ireland.

Speaking after her fathers funeral service, Stephanie McDonagh said: Dad was loved by everyone, what happened to him shouldn't have happened.

He was there with his family and he should have had a nice time, and he should have come home and he didn't.
Evil Condra served 16 years sentence for vicious sex attack and false imprisonment

Rapist playwright Francis Condra is back on the streets following his release from Arbour Hill prison in Dublin on Thursday.

Our pictures show how staff at the prison allowed the driver of a 07 registered Hyundai to reverse in past the main gates to pick the predator up  allowing him to scurry into the vehicle through a rear door and avoid having his picture taken.

Sources say the pervert, who is officially homeless, is believed to have returned home to his native Drogheda.

The beast, who has grown his hair long, converted to Islam while serving his sentence.

Its understood he goes under the name Hasan Selim.

In April of 2006, Condra was jailed for 16 years for raping a woman after a drugs party in his flat.

His victim told how she met Condra in a local pub where she had gone to try and organise "a lunar event."

She and some others were invited back to Condra's flat where he produced "a tin of weed" and told them all "to help themselves".

"Everyone there was smoking cannabis," she said. The woman smoked some "joints" with the others and they drank Condra's "medieval mead".

Frances Condra

The victim's ordeal began when she was preparing to leave Condra's flat to go home at about 2am.

She was bending over to get her bag when Condra grabbed her and dragged her by the hair into his bedroom, thumped her, threw her on the bed, and said he was going to rape her.

He then started pulling off her clothes and she described how Condra then continually raped her, punched her on the face and called her a "whore" and a "bitch".

She said she was screaming and begging him to stop.

She said she tried to call the gardai on her mobile phone while Condra was out of the bedroom but he returned and grabbed the phone from her when she told him she was trying to call a taxi.

He told her she would "pay for that", said he would kill her, and went to the kitchen where he got a long-bladed knife which he held to her throat. He then cut her with it and she also cut her hand trying to push the knife away.

"Blood was flying everywhere," she said. Each time she asked him to stop, he hit her.

She claimed the attack continued until about 7am.

Garda Nigel McInaw said the woman appeared to have injuries and bruising consistent with an assault when she arrived at the station after 7.30am. She didn't seem to realise the extent of her injuries.

He called an ambulance to bring her to the Lourdes Hospital from where she was transferred to the Rotunda Rape Treatment Centre.

Condra originally pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape, false imprisonment, aggravated sexual assault, and assault causing harm to her but changed his plea on day-six of his 11-day trial to guilty of aggravated sexual assault and assault causing her harm.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the false imprisonment count and by an 11-1 majority on the rape charge.

Mr Justice Henry Abbott, certified Condra as a registered sex offender.

He said there were a series of rapes at the upper end of the scale with "a lot of savage violence and continuous threats of death" involved.

Condra therefore deserved "a sentence just short of the maximum". He imposed 16 years for rape, eight years for aggravated sexual assault, and three years each for assault causing harm and false imprisonment, all to run concurrently.

Condra was formerly a member of the Irish Army.

Det Gda Seamus Nolan told Condras sentencing hearing that in 22 years in the force he had never come across a sexual assault of such barbarity.

Garda McInaw said Condra developed a drink and drugs addiction during which he "fell into bad company" after leaving the army.

He burgled the home of Dundalk woman Margaret McDonnell (86) in November 1996.

He also participated in an armed robbery of the Readypenny Inn pub four months later during which a woman was kidnapped.

Det Nolan said Condra was jailed for these offences in 1998, getting six years.

While in Mountjoy Prison, he wrote and produced a play which was acclaimed.

The balance of his sentence was suspended in 2000 and he moved back to Drogheda where he became involved with the Droichead Arts Centre.

Defence counsel Anthony Sammon said Condra regretted what he had done.
The duo tried to high tail it out of New York on a flight on Wednesday

USA, Colorado, Denver, city view and Rocky Mountains from the east, dawn

Two Irishmen have been charged in the US for allegedly telling pensioners their roofs were infested withsquirrels or raccoons and then carrying out expensive but repairs.

Police in Colorado claim the Irish nationals - Dean Morgan and John McNamara  tricked elderly people into carrying out expensive repairs to their homes.

"Take a good look at them!, said the host of KDVR-TV Denver on Thursday after the pair were charged with four counts of theft and one count of racketeering.

USA, Colorado, Denver, city view and Rocky Mountains from the east, dawn

The charges stem from between April 17 and mid-May when Morgan and McNamara were reportedly involved in the organized and fraudulent roofing scam.

"Two people are facing multiple charges. Take a good look at them! Targeting older people.

"Denver DA say John Morgan and John McNamara allegedly lied to their victims that their roofs need immediate attention.

"If you think you were a victim you are asked to call (police), the news report concluded, as images of the pair were displayed on screen to millions of Americans.

According to the DA, the victims were told their roofs required urgent attention because they were infested with insects, squirrels or raccoons.

A spokesman for the DAs office said the duo are also wanted for similar crimes in California.

It is alleged that, between April 17th and mid-May of this year, Morgan and McNamara, both Irish nationals, were involved in an organized and fraudulent roofing scheme that targeted older Denver residents.

"The victims were falsely told that their roofs required urgent attention because they were infested with insects, squirrels or raccoons.

"Morgan and McNamara allegedly defrauded the homeowners of large sums of money and, in several cases, left their roofs damaged.

Morgan and McNamara were arrested in New York City shortly before they were scheduled to board a plane leaving the country.

"The arrests and subsequent charges were the result of a joint investigation by the DAs Economic Crimes Unit, the DAs Elder/At-Risk Unit and the Denver Police Department.

The groggy looking pair are also under investigation for similar crimes in California.

The DA said Morgan and McNamara were busted in New York City as they tried to high tail away on a flight.

The district attorneys office is looking for more people who may have been victims of the Irishmens alleged scam.
The recommendations are made as part of a report into the death of a 29-year-old remand prisoner

The States prison watchdog has called on the Irish Prison Service to consider the use of technology that allows the remote monitoring of the vital signs of prisoners to reduce the risk to inmates who smuggle drugs into prison in their bodies.

The Inspector of Prisons said prisoners suspected of having internally secreted drugs should also be subject to healthcare rather than security observation, including at night.

The recommendations are made as part of a report into the death of a 29-year-old remand prisoner who was discovered deceased in his cell in Limerick Prison on July 19, 2020.

The unidentified male had been placed on special supervision on committal to the prison because of suspicion of contraband which he later confirmed was accurate.

The IOP pointed out that there is currently no agreed protocol for dealing with prisoners who have concealed drugs internally.

The report highlighted how the prisoner, who had expressed a wish to detoxify while in jail, tested positive for benzodiazepines and opiates on his third day in the prison.

Six days later, a prison doctor recorded that he had concealed heroin in his rectum.

The report revealed that the deceased had been subject to four disciplinary hearings involving five separate incidents during his 18 days in custody inn Limerick Prison.

Each disciplinary matter related to either smuggling drugs into the prison or being found with drug paraphernalia in his cell.

On one occasion, he also smashed the TV in his cell on the floor after earlier having appeared in an intoxicated state.

The prisoners partner told the IOP that he had begun to take tablets which she believed had led him to suffer from depression, while she also felt he was under pressure to bring contraband into the prison.

The report showed the prisons medical staff had found the prisoner appeared to be under the influence of drugs in the three days prior to his death and was suffering hallucinations on the evening before he died.

Following his death, a package containing suspected drugs weighing 20g was found concealed in the toilet of his cell.

The IOP said the case highlighted the difficulties experienced by prison authorities in effectively monitoring inmates who may have been internally secreting drugs.

The watchdog said its recommendations emphasised the vital role that should be played by healthcare staff in monitoring such prisoners, particularly at night.

It also recommended that thorough searches of cell should be carried out without delay in the case of any prisoner suspected of concealing drugs as part of an IPS standing operating procedure.

The IOP said healthcare professionals should take the lead in decision-making in relation to the supervision and care of such prisoners.

The inspectorate noted that several recommendations had already been accepted by the IPS as they had also been contained in previous reports into deaths of prisoners in custody.

They included a call for the introduction of a new healthcare focused policy to respond to the threats and safety risks posed by prisoners who had internally secreted drugs which should also clarify the roles and responsibilities of various prison staff.

The IOP report observed that the prisoner had been checked 14 times between midnight and the discovery of his body at 7.22am on July 19, 2020.

It noted this was in excess of the number required under prison policy.

However, the IOP said there was no evidence that the prisoner had been checked by healthcare staff during this period.

One prison officer had recorded that he had not found it unusual that the prisoner had been observed lying on the floor just hours before his death was noticed as he had been in a similar position on several other nights.

In reply to the latest report, the IPS said work on a new healthcare standard operating procedures to cater for prisoners suspected of internally concealing contraband had already begun.

The IPS said it would include a risk assessment carried out by healthcare staff together with a treatment plan which would include the healthcare monitoring of such prisoners and eliciting a response from them overnight.

The prison authorities confirmed that a sub-group of officials was also examining the possibility for remote monitoring of a prisoners vital signs.

In relation to general efforts to physically prevent contraband from entering prisons, the IPS said security reviews on all closed prisons had been conducted over the past 24 months which had resulted in further recommendations.

The IPS pointed out that its engagement with gardai had resulted in 75 arrests over a recent 13-month period at the Wheatfield and Cloverhill prison complex.

It said prison staff continue to carry out random and intelligence-led searches to detect and deter contraband, while it is also examining equipment suitable for use in a prison environment including anti-drone technology.
She begged him to stop, banging on the windows to try to get attention of other drivers and covering the windows in blood

A woman allegedly kidnapped and assaulted by her ex banged on car windows and smeared blood on them trying to get the attention of other drivers, a court heard today.

Ballymena Magistrates Court also heard that when the complainant did manage to escape, she hid behind hedges and then sought refuge in a lorry depot as James Martin Mulholland drove up and down the road looking for her.

Standing in the dock of the court 52-year-old Mulholland, from the Loughbeg Road in Toomebridge, confirmed that he understood the seven charges against him including kidnap, causing actual bodily harm, assault, criminal damage, dangerous driving and breaching a restraining order, all alleged to have been committed on 28 May this year as well as a domestic abuse offence alleged to have been committed between 15-18 May.

Det. Const. Brown gave evidence that he believed he could connect Mulholland to each of the charges and confirmed that police were objecting to bail amid concerns that he would commit further offences or interfere with the alleged victim.

Reading from the police summary of the case, District Judge Peter Magill told the court how police were contacted yesterday about an alleged incident on Tuesday past where Mulholland and his ex ended up having an argument inside and outside the Thatch Bar.

Mulholland promised to take her home but she refused to get into the car and began to walk down the road but he followed her, allegedly mounting the kerb and as soon as she got in he punched her to the face and thumped her head on the gearstick and the window.

He put his hand over her mouth, she feared for her life, he proceeded to rain down blows on the back of her head, punched her to the eye, he continued to scream at her, she retaliated, bit his hand, punched him twice to the facehe said youre a psycho bitch, he took her phone from her, said the judge.

He told the court that all of this was going on while Mulholland was still driving the car which was swerving all over the M2.

The alleged victim realised Mulholland intended to take her to his house and fearing for her life she begged him to stop, banging on the windows to try to get attention of other drivers and covering the windows in blood.

When Mulholland stopped outside his house and got out of the car to open the gate she saw her chance to escape so she jumped out of the car and ran down the rural country road.

He shouted at her to come in and have a coffee and get cleaned up. She told him to f*** off, ran down the road and hid behind a hedge, said Judge Magill adding that while Mulholland allegedly went looking for her he couldnt find her.

The complainant found sanctuary in a nearby lorry depot and they hid her as Mulholland was travelling the road looking for her before a Good Samaritan at the depot took her to a bus station and paid for her journey home.

During police interviews Mulholland claimed that he loved her, really wants to help her and he wants to marry her.

Remanding Mulholland into custody, the judge adjourned the case to 18 June.
Nathan Paul, of Glenshane Road, Castledawson, was handed a two-and-a-half year prison sentence, suspended for three years.

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 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 Derry 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.

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.
Reports suggest the Saltburn actor is in negotiations to join an adaptation of author Don Winslows novella Crime 101

Barry Keoghan has been lined up to star in his next movie alongside Hollywood big-hitters Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, it has emerged.

Reports suggest the Saltburn actor is in negotiations to join an adaptation of author Don Winslows novella Crime 101.

The film has been written and will be directed by Bart Layton, who worked with the Dubliner on the 2018 film, American Animals.

While plot details are yet to be revealed, Winslow's original story sees Detective Lou Lubesnick investigating a string of jewel heists across the Pacific Coast that are linked with the Colombian cartels.

"Detective Lou Lubesnick has other ideas, and he zeroes in on one perp, a thief looking for a final score, Deadline reports.

Mark Ruffalo and Barry Keoghan

Marvel duo Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo were confirmed to be leading the project earlier this month, after Pedro Pascal dropped out due to scheduling.

Keoghan's latest film, the Andrea Arnold-directed Bird, recently received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it earned a seven-minute standing ovation at the Grand Lumiere Theatre.

Barry paid tribute to his late mum on the Friday of the festival when he wore a silver bracelet with her name, Debbie, engraved onto it.

The 31-year-olds mother died over 19 years ago from a heroin overdose.

He and his brother then spent time in 13 foster homes before being taken in by his grandmother and aunt.

Barry previously opened up about the loss of his mother, telling GQ Magazine: My mother, always. Shes many years passed now, but I always think about her anyway.

Its always just in and around achievements that its really prominent cause youd like to celebrate that with her you know?.

The film, which also stars Franz Rogowski, Nykiya Adams and Jason Buda, follows a 12-year-old (Adams) who lives with her brother (Buda) and single dad (Keoghan) in a squat in North Kent.

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter

Barry, who is dating Sabrina Carpenter, is a father himself, sharing his almost two-year-old son with his ex, Alyson Sandro.

Following the films premiere at Cannes, first reviewers praised Barrys performance.

Film journalist Alex Billington tweeted: Finally, finally, finally, a director actually pushes Barry Keoghan to give a performance unlike everything hes done before. This is what great filmmakers can do with real talent!! Such a relief.

Barry also recently explained why he left the cast of Gladiator 2 after reports claimed that the Irishman had chosen to commit to his latest movie Bird instead.

"I am a massive fan of Gladiator and a massive fan of that cast. It's a shame you can't do both. But that happens in this game. You can't do both. It always happens. Shooting in two different countries as well makes it really difficult," he told IndieWire.

White Lotus star Fred Hechinger has replaced Keoghan in the role of Emperor Geta in Gladiator 2. Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen will also feature in the film.
The New Zealand Bird Atlas project has finished, after running for five years from 2019 - 2024.

The community involved in the project which ended at midnight Friday, May 31, observed 309 species of bird over the five-year period.

The top three most common species were pahirini/chaffinch (2,896 squares), manu pango/blackbird (2,870 squares), and tauhou/silvereye (2,868 squares).

The fourth most ubiquitous species was riroriro/grey warbler (2,845 squares) confirming its status as one of the most widely distributed endemic bird species of NZ.

This is one of the largest community science projects in New Zealand coordinated by Wildlife Management International Limited on behalf of Birds New Zealand.

Kakapo. Photo: Jake Osborne.

Over 441,000 checklists and 145,000 hours worth of effort have gone into the project from volunteer birders across the country to help gather as many observations as possible and upload them via the community science platform, eBird.

The key aim for every participant was to try and detect/observe all the possible species within grid squares that covered the entire country," says Atlas Coordination Team Leader Dan Burgin.

"Over 3,232 grid squares, each 10 x 10km, were established to help guide surveyors efforts."

Otago Atlasers in Naseby, October 2022. Photo: Craig McKenzie.

The project has finished with over 97.3 per cent of those (3,145) having received bird observational data.

The communitys efforts have been bolstered by data also being uploaded by the Department of Conservation, several regional councils, Environment Canterbury, Environment Southland and many more organisations.

Additionally, Toi Toi Wines provided funding for six Atlas expeditions to target under-surveyed areas and increase coverage.

The project envisaged collecting up to date information on bird species in Aotearoa to help inform conservation decision making in the future, and ultimately trying to prevent more species from coming as close to extinction as species like kakapo," says Dan.

"That aim was met with the amount of coverage and the numbers of checklists submitted."

Dan notes that an important output from this new Atlas project will be the ability to compare bird distribution between the past two Atlas project datasets, enabling us to describe nationwide changes in bird distribution over a large timescale.

A strong partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology allowed this Atlas scheme to be the first in its history to be a digital-first project.

With eBird offering real-time data entry and outputs, the Atlas community were able to enter observations directly through the eBird app, as well as follow along with results throughout the project, either through the main page or the Atlas Effort Map.

This was a far cry from the paper-based days of previous Birds New Zealand Atlas projects!

"This was a project that was dependent on a community united by a shared passion, and the Atlas Coordination team have been blown away by how the community have come together to meet the aims of the project," says Dan.

"Over 145,000 effort hours went into the project, which equates to over 6,000 days worth and nearly $3.5 million dollars if paid out at living wage."

Weka Gallirallus australis. Photo: Christopher Tuffley/Macaulay Library/eBird.

It is worth noting that this doesnt take into account the large amount of time and effort spent planning and travelling to Atlas across the country to fill in each of the grid squares with data, nor does it take into account the extra costs associated with travelling.

To add to that, the community has navigated a global pandemic, with national lockdowns, and the rising costs of living over the projects lifespan, but have still amassed an impressive and nationally significant dataset.

More of the results will be presented by the Atlas team at the annual Birds New Zealand conference in Nelson over Kings Birthday weekend, as well as in an e-Book the Atlas Coordination team plan to publish next year.

"Quite simply, the Atlas community have achieved an incredible feat, helping amass a vast amount of valuable bird observation data across the country," says Birds New Zealand president Bruce McKinlay.

"This will have lasting and positive impacts on bird research and conservation in Aotearoa and continues the impressive legacy of these Birds New Zealand Atlas projects."
By Eduardo Martinez, KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2024 - 10:47 | Feature, All, World

On an early spring morning in a suburban Tokyo park, Hanin Siam stands proudly in her thobe, the blooming cherry blossoms around her in stark contrast with the rich red embroidery of the traditional garment from her native Palestine.

Siam moved to Japan with her family when she was seven years old amid a period of intense conflict in her birthplace of Gaza.

"I didn't know it wasn't normal until I left," she said, recalling how surprised she was to encounter "a world not filled with troops, random airstrikes, the sound of drones" or checkpoints.

For Siam, now 27, the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation is nothing new.

But after the world turned its attention to Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack last year, Siam gave up much of her ordinary life to dedicate herself to protesting for Palestinian liberation and participating in cultural events to educate others about her people and their history.

The thobe, she says, is traditionally worn on celebratory occasions. "They are cross-stitched by hand, which takes a lot of time," she said, adding that a thobe's patterns vary and are representative of what region in Palestine the wearer is from.

In 1948, some 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homeland to make way for the creation of Israel. The event became known as the Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic.

Many Palestinians say the Nakba never ended, referring to the numerous conflicts that have broken out with Israel over the decades, including the 2000-2005 second intifada, or Palestinian uprising, which Siam experienced as a child.

"I've personally lived through the horror of war," Siam said, "Although what we're seeing now...is on a completely different scale."

Over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in response to Hamas' cross-border attacks, which killed over 1,200 in Israel and saw around 250 taken hostage.

Human rights groups have criticized Israel's military campaign for the huge number of civilian casualties it has inflicted, despite its government saying it is only targeting Hamas in Gaza.

In February, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to ensure its forces do not commit acts that could amount to genocide in Gaza, which it said was "plausible" given current events.

Then, last week, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its assault on the southern Gazan district of Rafah. On Sunday alone, however, an Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp in a designated safe zone in Rafah, killing 45 Palestinians and drawing international condemnation as images spread online of the dead and the burning campsite.

In Tokyo, Siam and others have worked tirelessly to bring attention to what can be done to help Palestinians despite being thousands of kilometers away, such as collecting donations for Gazan families and putting pressure on Japanese firms to cut ties with Israel.

In February, Japanese trading giant Itochu Corp. said it was ending an agreement with Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, citing the ICJ order.

But Siam believes public pressure, including an online petition submitted to Itochu with 25,000 signatures demanding it sever its ties with Elbit, also contributed to the decision.

"That was a great win for us," she said. "You need wins to keep that spirit with people, (it shows) we do actually have power."

Weam Numan's voice is one of the loudest at recent protests. A PhD student and game designer in Tokyo, Numan says her grandfather was expelled during the Nakba from his home in Zeita, now in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He fled to a refugee camp in Jordan, the country of her birth.

Numan, 28, was wary of speaking to Kyodo News, saying she had negative experiences with media asking her to "cry on camera," while also rejecting the notion that Palestinians should play the "perfect victim."

"This conflation that a victim has to be perfect, that they forfeit all their rights for justice" if they react to injustice "doesn't make sense to me," she said.

Numan said she found it exhausting when Palestinians are referred to as activists. "We're not activists," she said, "It's just our home."

Amid growing support for the plight of Palestine around the world, some critics have labeled such movements antisemitic.

U.S. President Joe Biden said there had been a "ferocious surge" in antisemitism in the United States and around the world following Hamas' attacks during a speech in remembrance of the Holocaust earlier this month.

Jewish groups in the United States and other countries have also noted spikes in reported antisemetic incidents.

Organizers in Tokyo, however, have been explicit in stating their struggle is not against Judaism, but state violence.

Prior to a protest commemorating the anniversary of the Nakba on May 15, they advised a highly diverse crowd of supporters that no discrimination would be tolerated, including on the basis of ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Jews also count themselves among the supporters of the movement in Japan. Hannah Breslau, 28, is one of them.

Breslau, who is half-Japanese and half-Jewish American, said it "took years" of study to understand the Palestinian struggle, and what really led to a decision to reject Zionism, or the belief that supports the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, was anti-Zionist writing by Jewish scholars.

Tatiana, 26, who declined to give her surname, is half-Japanese and half-Palestinian. She led a recent protest march through Tokyo's busy Shibuya district, and while her family is able to travel to the Palestinian territories due to having Japanese passports, she said they refuse to go unless it is to a "liberated Palestine."

Tatiana said the protests get various responses from the public. "Sometimes you get positive reactions," she said, while sometimes people "give us dirty looks, as if we're inconveniencing them for asking (Israel) to stop killing our people."

"But If we don't do anything about it, then nothing changes," she said. "I hope the marches make people stop for a second, pay attention, and see why we're doing this."

Related coverage:

Palestinians rally in Tokyo to mark 76 years of displacement

Death toll in Gaza tops 30,000 as Israel-Hamas war continues
What just happened? The Affordable Connectivity Program has helped millions of low-income families in the US receive internet service at reduced prices since 2022. However, Congress only funded the program once, and the funding expired this month despite pleas from President Biden and the FCC for additional support. Affected customers should research subsidies and other options still available in their area.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended on Saturday after Congress failed to renew funding. Over 20 million low-income Americans had depended on the program to lower their internet bills for two and a half years.

The program offered participants internet service discounts of up to $30 per month (or $75 in tribal areas) and enjoyed bipartisan support. Some participating ISPs either lowered their basic service tiers to $30 a month or increased the speeds of existing affordable plans. The ultimate aim was to make internet access available for no more than $30 a month at 100Mbps, which the FCC recently defined as the minimum classification of broadband.

However, Republican members of Congress later criticized the program, claiming many participating households already had internet service. The FCC disputed these claims, stating in a recent letter that 77 percent of the 23 million households receiving ACP funds would need to either reduce or cut service after losing assistance.

In May 2024, the final month of funding, the credit was reduced to $14 per month. The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, introduced in January with bipartisan support, aims to provide additional funding for the ACP but would not support the program permanently.

According to the FCC, ending the ACP could increase the financial strain on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This $42 billion effort is a component of the Biden administration's infrastructure initiative aimed at making internet service more accessible, particularly in rural areas.

The White House noted that some ISPs covering 10 million eligible households are maintaining low-cost offers voluntarily through the end of 2024. The telecoms providing discounts to eligible new and existing subscribers are:

Other ISPs offering affordable options or subsidies include Xfinity, Human-I-T, and NetZero. Additionally, some households qualify for Lifeline, a permanently funded federal program providing a $9.25 monthly credit.
In today's digital age, it's easy to feel disconnected from the world around us. With our inboxes overflowing and social media feeds bursting with content, it's refreshing to receive something tangible. Physical mail and postcards offer a real connection that people can touch, remember, and appreciate. This is especially valuable for businesses looking to make a bigger impact on prospects and customers alike.

But let's face it, creating and sending physical mail can be a hassle. From crafting the design to deciphering the USPS's rules for marketing mail and bulk postage, it can quickly become a time-consuming task. Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue. With a Direct Mail API, you can sit back and relax while everything from design to delivery is taken care of. No more manual mail merges or trips to the post office. It's never been easier to send high-quality physical mail without breaking a sweat. Keep reading for more tips on how a direct mail API can take your revenue to the next level.

An Introduction to Direct Mail API

You're probably thinking, "What does a direct mail API do?" And more importantly, "Will it even matter for the growth of my business?" As entrepreneurs, we owe it to ourselves and our businesses to ask these questions when a new marketing strategy promises a significant return on investment (ROI).

When we talk about direct mail, we mean sending physical mail directly to people's homes. This could be a letter, a flyer, a postcard, or something else, depending on what your business needs. Numerous studies show that direct mail boasts the best response rate and ROI of all lead generation techniques, thanks to its ability to cut through digital noise.

Meanwhile, a direct mail API (aka Application Programming Interface) is similar to a digital assistant that helps businesses send physical mail directly to people's homes or offices through a computer program.

For example, let's say you're a salesperson who works for a software company and wishes to mail a postcard to everyone who requests a quote or demo and is assigned to you in your company's CRM. Instead of manually printing and mailing each postcard, you can automate a direct mail API to print and mail each postcard for you. You can connect this API with your company's CRM or website. So, every time a new lead is assigned to you, the system automatically communicates with the API to handle everything.

Other popular direct mail API options include:

Automatically mailing a postcard to every new lead or customer

Triggering happy birthday or happy anniversary mailers when the date arrives

Automate subscription reminder cards before a subscription expires

Send follow-up mailers whenever a shopping cart is abandoned

Mail lead-nurturing letters if an account goes two weeks without closing

And many, many more opportunities!

The options are limitless with a direct mail API. While it can be utilized to reach new customers, it can also reactivate old customers as well. When emails aren't doing the job, a simple card can go a long way to placing your business on top of your mind.

PCM Integrations: The Future of Direct Mail API

It can be complicated to choose the best direct mail API on the market, so we've done some research for you.

One excellent direct mail API service is PCM Integrations, a PostcardMania company. (PostcardMania has been around since 1998! That's a lot of print and mail experience.) PCM Integrations' Direct API Mail service is an efficient solution for businesses looking to simplify their direct mail marketing campaigns. It's designed for businesses that want to boost their bottom lines with results-driven templates that have been road-tested for success. PostcardMania, with a fleet of 6 commercial printing presses and a dedicated manufacturing team with over 100 years of combined experience, is a rarity among API and other triggered direct mail tech companies that rarely print in-house.

Fortunately, PCM Integrations offers their Direct Mail API for free, making it easy for anyone to use. The brand ensures no signup, integration, or tech fees. The only cost you have to bear is the postcards you choose to print and mail.

You can easily reach PCM Integrations through their website, and their US-based customer support team ensures timely assistance to guarantee customer satisfaction and a seamless user experience.

What Makes PCM Integrations Stand Out?

Exceptional In-House Development Team

PCM Integrations is a company that offers custom integrations tailored to the unique needs of businesses. They have an in-house development team that ensures strict quality control standards throughout the direct mail process. By conducting all operations within their 75,000-square-foot facility in Clearwater, Florida, they guarantee a premium Print and Mail API service and eliminate the risks associated with outsourcing. This consistent quality enhances the effectiveness of direct mail campaigns.

What sets PCM Integrations apart is their commitment to meticulous quality control standards. They use thick card stock and high-quality printing for their direct mail campaigns. Unlike other providers who may outsource printing to cheaper alternatives, PCM Integrations maintains control over the entire process to ensure strict standards, high-quality materials, and laser-crisp print quality.

Unique Design Services

PCM Integrations makes it easy to craft a mailer design that generates real results. Whether you want to use your own team or let the experts at PCM Integrations do the work, they've got you covered. This makes it super easy for your business to utilize Direct Mail API Designs that are meant to catch people's attention. All design templates are based on results and campaigns used by over 100,000 clients to mail over 2.3 billion postcards.

Using the latest design technology to personalize each mail piece to the recipient (a specialty of PCM Integrations') can increase engagement and response rates. (See the above image to get an idea of design elements that can be customized on each piece - it's as easy as adding a dynamic name field to an email.) Personal touches like this can further boost your response. In fact, 84% of recipients are more likely to open or pay attention to customized mail pieces (InfoTrends, 2015). Studies have shown that response rates with customized names and colors can spike up by 135%. It can even go up to 500% when personalized data from a database is used (Romano & Broudy, 2010).

Advanced Features and Zapier Integration

PCM Integrations offers a range of advanced features to automate direct mail campaigns and maximize effectiveness. This includes pre-scheduling, quick turnaround times, mail tracking, and easy order cancellation. Additionally, their variable data printing options enable personalized mail pieces tailored to individual recipients, enhancing engagement and response rates.

Integration with Zapier further enhances automation capabilities, allowing businesses to send targeted mail pieces based on specific triggers within their CRM or software. This integration simplifies direct mail marketing by automating the process of welcoming new leads, contacts, or scheduled appointments. It's available across more than 230 CRMs, making it accessible to businesses who want to use direct mail automation to their advantage.

How Does PCM Integrations Work?

With PCM Integrations, users can automate the process of creating, sending, and tracking direct mail campaigns by integrating directly with PCM Integrations' platform through an Application Programming Interface (API). The brand's Print and Mail API provides a convenient, automated way to execute personalized and targeted marketing campaigns at scale by sending postcards, letters, or other direct mail formats.

Using PCM Integrations' automation tools can be a game-changer for your direct mail campaigns. Marketers who use AI and automation tools are 95% more likely to see great results in their marketing strategy. Plus, automation can help you track your ROI more easily. A study by The State of Direct Mail found that 50% of automated direct mail users were confident in determining their returns.

Here's a step-by-step process on how to use PCM Integrations:

Step 1: Create Your PCM Integrations Account

The first step is to sign up for a PCM Integrations account. This free account gives you access to the direct mail API and integration platform, which allows you to connect your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system or software to automate your direct mail campaigns. Users setting up a connection through Zapier or Salesforce will also need a PCM Integrations account to get started.

Step 2: Design Your Mail Piece

You can either create your own design from scratch or edit an existing template to suit your needs. PCM Integrations boasts its own design editor, which allows you to design your own mail piece from the ground up. You can also choose from over 100 ready-to-use, results-based design templates. These templates serve as starting points for your direct mail campaigns, providing pre-designed layouts you can customize with your branding, messaging, and imagery.

Step 3: Use the Sandbox for Testing

Place your first sandbox order by following the API docs provided by PCM Integrations. This allows you to validate that your integration is working correctly and that your postcards are being generated accurately. You can run various tests to ensure that the personalized postcards meet your expectations and that the automation process functions smoothly.

Note: If steps 2 and 3 above seem a little daunting, PCM Integrations has you covered - they'll handle this for you until you're happy with everything for a small setup fee.

Step 4: Go Live When Ready

Once you're satisfied with the results from your sandbox order, you can transition to the production environment and start sending out your automated direct mail campaigns. With the confidence that your integration is set up correctly and your postcards are generated accurately, you can launch your campaigns with peace of mind.

Is PCM Integrations Right for You?

PCM Integrations is a company that offers a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to automate, personalize, and optimize their direct mail campaigns. With a proven track record of reliability as a partner, PCM Integrations offers unique design services, personalization, and advanced features like variable data printing and Zapier integration to drive higher engagement and response rates.

The brand's commitment to quality and local operations provides a comprehensive solution to maximize ROI and customer engagement. If you are looking for a reliable partner to optimize your direct mail campaigns, PCM Integrations is the right choice for your business.

Sign up for free now and experience flawless Direct Mail API with PCM Integrations.

(USA Home Listings Video Case Study from PCM Integrations on Vimeo)
AI-powered search company You.com is taking AI search a step further. The company's users can now reportedly create AI assistants built for their specific needs using the same technology from Llama 3, Claude 3 Opus, or GPT-4o.

With "Custom Assistants," users can design an AI assistant that can respond to inquiries for a particular purpose. Because users won't have to prompt the AI with a lengthy preamble of detailed instructions, this should save consumers time.

Users no longer need to prompt an AI assistant with speaker-related parameters to focus on the users' use case, for example, if they train it to be an expert on audio equipment.

Users of Custom Assistants can select from GPT-4o, Llama 3, or Claude 3 Opus. These large language models, or LLMs, underpin Claude from Anthropic, ChatGPT, and Meta AI. Large-scale text data sets are used to train LLMs or AI systems capable of understanding human language intricacies and generating creative responses to queries.

On You.com, users can click More and then Add New to utilize Custom Assistants. Users can then provide a name for the Custom Assistant, specify its behavior, and select the preferred LLM.





AI Overviews of Google

You.com's latest move comes after Google unveiled its AI Overviews feature, which creates AI-generated search results for users and summarizes content from various websites for a more convenient search experience.

This functionality sounds fantastic, but Google's AI integration has encountered minor issues. It sometimes shows erroneous data. For example, Google's AI Overviews suggested drinking two quarts of pee as a rapid way to pass kidney stones.

Google previously said that AI Overviews make people use search more, and many were satisfied with the results they received. However, this does not seem to be the case. Based on reports, there have been many requests in the Google support forum regarding turning off the function.

According to discussions on Google forums, users have reportedly considered the function unnecessary and often misleading. Google released AI Overviews as an optional Search Labs experiment before recently spreading them to American users, irrespective of their desire.

Unfortunately, there is no way to disable it now, and Google has quickly closed support threads for multiple people who have inquired about how to do so.

OpenAI Search

OpenAI is also developing an AI-powered search engine. According to reports, OpenAI's search tool will complement its well-known ChatGPT and enable the AI chatbot to extract citations and raw Web content.

Using the company's cutting-edge AI models, ChatGPT will produce responses to text cues that mimic human responses. Industry observers have long used ChatGPT as a stand-in for getting internet data, even though it hasn't always been able to provide accurate and up-to-date web data.
Google has responded to the uproar caused by the weird responses from its AI Overviews feature, including the suggestion to put glue on pizza.

Liz Reid, Head of Google Search, addressed these issues in a recent blog post, outlining steps taken to enhance the feature's accuracy and reliability.

Google Responds to AI Overviews' Weird and Inaccurate Responses

Reid acknowledged instances where the search engine returned odd, inaccurate, or unhelpful AI-generated responses following the rollout of Google's AI Overviews feature to users across the United States.

While defending Google's commitment to providing accurate information, Reid clarified that some responses circulating on social media, such as claims regarding the safety of leaving dogs in cars, were fabricated.

Reid also confirmed that AI Overviews suggested using glue to get cheese to stick to pizza, drawing from content found on a forum. She noted that while forums often offer authentic, firsthand information, they can also present less-than-helpful advice.

Google has acknowledged that despite its efforts, some AI Overview responses have been odd, inaccurate, or unhelpful. These instances have highlighted specific areas that need improvement, particularly in interpreting nonsensical queries and satirical content.

In the query "How many rocks should I eat?" AI Overviews says, citing UC Berkeley geologists, "You should eat at least one small rock per day," which originated from an article by satirical site The Onion in 2021.

Before its viral spread, Reid said that "practically no one asked Google that question," indicating a "data void" or "information gap" on the topic. In this case, the satirical content on this topic republished on a geological software provider's website generated the AI Overviews response linked to one of the only websites that discussed the question.

In some cases, AI Overviews responses have misinterpreted language on web pages, resulting in inaccurate information being presented to users. Google addressed these issues through algorithmic improvements and established processes to remove responses that violate content policies.

How Google is Improving AI Overviews

To enhance the accuracy and reliability of AI Overviews, Google has implemented a series of technical improvements. These include better detection mechanisms for nonsensical queries, limitations on including satire and humor content, and restrictions on user-generated content that could offer misleading advice.

Furthermore, restrictions have been added for queries in instances when the AI feature is not proving to be helpful to users. In addition to these enhancements, Google said it has maintained vigilance in monitoring feedback and external reports and has taken action in the rare instances where AI Overviews violate content policies.

This includes overviews containing potentially harmful, obscene, or violative information. Google identified a content policy violation in less than one out of every seven million unique queries on which AI Overviews appeared.

"At the scale of the web, with billions of queries coming in every day, there are bound to be some oddities and errors," Reid wrote in the blog post. "We've learned a lot over the past 25 years about how to build and maintain a high-quality search experience, including how to learn from these errors to make Search better for everyone."




KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2024 - 11:15 | All, Japan

A spoon that enhances the taste of saltiness through electric stimulation was launched by Kirin Holdings Co. in Japan in May, aimed at people struggling to cut their salt intake.

The "Electric Salt Spoon" works by passing a weak electric current through the tip of the device. Users can select their preferred intensity out of four levels, the Japanese beverage group said.

Priced at 19,800 yen ($126), the spoon was commercialized after the company said in 2022 that it had developed a chopsticks-like device to alter taste perceptions using an electric current.

The chopsticks were developed jointly with Homei Miyashita, a professor at Meiji University who won the Ig Nobel Nutrition prize last year with another Japanese scientist.

The company started accepting orders for the spoon at its official online store from May 20, with 200 units available. Kirin has also been developing taste-altering bowls.

Excessive salt consumption has become an important health issue in Japan, with daily salt intake by a person aged 20 or over standing at 10 grams per day, much higher than 5 grams recommended by the World Health Organization, according to the health ministry.

But people who try to limit their salt intake often complain that food becomes tasteless, according to a survey conducted by Kirin in 2021.

"Through this device, we aim to realize a society in which people can improve their lifestyle in a delicious way," the company said.

Related coverage:

FEATURE: NanoTerasu accelerator looking to be game changer for Japan tech

Gadgets, toys for visually impaired gaining traction in Japan

"Flying car" makes Tokyo debut at international tech event
Europol announced the arrest of four individuals on Thursday and the disruption of over 100 servers in what it described as the largest operation against botnets deploying ransomware.

'Operation Endgame' of Europol Targeting Botnets Deploying Ransomware Leads to Arrest of 4

According to AFP, the "Operation Endgame," led by France, Germany, and the Netherlands, aimed to counter cyber threats ahead of the Paris Olympics. Conducted from May 27 to 29, the operation resulted in four arrests - one in Armenia and three in Ukraine - and included searches in the Netherlands and Portugal.

Targeted servers were also located in countries like Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Switzerland, the UK, the US, and Ukraine. Europol also identified eight additional suspects who are now on Europe's Most Wanted list.

One of the arrested persons reportedly gained at least 69 million euros in cryptocurrency by renting out criminal infrastructure to expand ransomware footprint.

Europol called this the largest operation against botnets, essential for spreading ransomware. Botnets are networks of computers containing malware and controlled remotely by hackers.

The authorities mainly targeted malware "droppers" that insert malicious software into systems. These include IcedID, SystemBC, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee, and Trickbot.

The Trickbot was reportedly used to attack US hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also worth noting that droppers help cybercriminals bypass security measures to launch malware such as viruses, ransomware, and spyware.

According to Eurojust, the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, malware is typically downloaded via emails with infected links or attachments in Word or PDF formats. Eurojust noted that the operation has only started, with more arrests to come in the future.

Weakening Cybercriminals Before the 2024 Olympics

Nicolas Guidoux, head of the French police's cybercrime unit, emphasized the operation's role in weakening cybercriminal infrastructure and limiting resources ahead of the Olympic Games, which is anticipated to be a target for cyberattacks.

Operation Endgame received support from Denmark, Britain, the US, Armenia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, and Ukraine, with the investigation starting in 2022.

German cybercrime prosecutor Benjamin Krause noted that health, education, and public administration sectors were victimized by hackers who encrypted files or entire systems, demanding ransom to unlock them.

French investigators were the ones who discovered the administrators of SystemBC, which enabled anonymous communication between infected systems and command servers, and Pikabot, a Trojan horse known for deploying ransomware and stealing data.

French police also arrested a suspect in Ukraine with local authorization. However, the total victim count will be known after analyzing dismantled servers. According to AFP, experts ultimately believe that the international operation yielded positive results as it destabilized a notoriously difficult criminal ecosystem.

Related Article : Ukrainian REvil Hacker Gets 13 Years in US Prison for His Role in $700M Ransomware Scheme




A secret project from TikTok was recently leaked. It focuses on developing a "US copy" of the ByteDance Chinese company's original algorithm for its app. The algorithm clone is a way to appease US lawmakers amidst this looming TikTok ban in the country, one that could change its course and avoid getting rid of social media.

This new effort suggests that ByteDance and TikTok have no plans to divest the platform to an American company to avoid the ban.

TikTok App's Algorithm Has a 'US Copy' to Share in the Future

A report from Phone Arena (via Reuters) presents a new development on TikTok's looming US ban. The platform is ushering in a secret plan to share a 'US copy' of the app's algorithm in the future. It was reported that TikTok had cloned the original used to create the app in China, effectively separating the US operations from the original.

With this code, TikTok would undergo a complex process of removing any ties to its Chinese operations and users, one that would sever its ties from its roots. However, this is considered a complex and monumental task for TikTok, especially with its tightly-knit code.

It is expected that TikTok's secret project will take a year to complete before the successful splitting of its Chinese and US code.

Read Also : TikTok Moves to Stop State-Affiliated Media Accounts From Influencing Other Countries

Will the TikTok Algorithm Help Avoid US Ban?

It is unknown what the US lawmakers will do once they get ahold of this code, especially as it does not necessarily mean that TikTok will go on sale or divest with ByteDance despite sharing it. Additionally, since it is now a law, it can hold legal action against TikTok for not selling the platform, with the only thing keeping it from moving forward being the lawsuit set for September.

TikTok's US Ban: Still a Go?

The Foreign Adversary Law will soon take effect, making ByteDance and TikTok face tough decisions in the future, but that does not mean they will not go out without a fight. In various instances, TikTok has already filed a lawsuit against the United States, going against the country's Justice Department and the law that will have them banned "unconstitutionally."

Experts expect that TikTok will call this law a First Amendment violation, claiming that the US Constitution's clause for free speech will be the main basis of this case.

However, this does not stop the law from going forth with TikTok's ban here in the US, especially as it is the top platform in the crosshairs because of security concerns.

While the US believes that TikTok shares millions of American users' data on the platform with China, the platform says this is untrue and has been separate since then. However, TikTok has massive plans and secrets up its sleeve, one of which could help improve its chances against the ban, including the US copy of its algorithm for continued operations in the country.
Meta is refocusing its efforts on attracting young adults to the platform, prioritizing content recommendations over traditional friend-based posts.

The company aims to cater to the preferences of younger users as it acknowledged the need to evolve in response to competition, notably from TikTok.

Strategic Shift of Meta Towards Young Adults

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, once again emphasized the importance of young adults in shaping the social media platform's future trajectory.

The strategic move is part of Facebook's ongoing transformation, prioritizing content recommendations over traditional friend-based posts. Despite Facebook's long-standing reputation as a platform for users of all ages, Meta recognizes the need to enhance its appeal among young adults.

Tom Alison, who leads the Facebook app for Meta, emphasized this shift, saying that the service is now placing a greater emphasis on catering to the preferences of young adults.

He underscored that while Facebook remains accessible to everyone, significant changes have been made to align with the expectations of the next generation of social media users.

This renewed focus on young adults is not new for Meta executives, who have been actively vying for this demographic's attention for years, particularly in response to the rising competition from TikTok.

Meta Adapting to TikTok-Like Discovery Feed

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg articulated his vision nearly three years ago, expressing his desire to position young adults as the guiding force behind Facebook's evolution.

Both Zuckerberg and Alison have reiterated the company's commitment to transitioning the Facebook app towards a discovery-centric feed, diverging from its traditional reliance on users' social connections.

The transition is currently in progress. Alison noted that the company's AI enhancements have already enhanced recommendations for Reels and the feed and that "advanced recommendation technology will drive more features" in the coming year.

He also mentioned an increase in private sharing among users, particularly in video content, although there is no update on the previously rumored reintroduction of messaging into the main app.

Interestingly, Alison's message does not touch upon the "metaverse," which Zuckerberg previously envisioned as a key aspect of the company's future. Instead, he emphasized the importance of embracing new AI-powered product features and attracting younger users.

This shift is consistent with Meta and Zuckerberg's recent efforts to reposition some of the company's metaverse aspirations as advancements in AI technology. However, the extent to which Meta will succeed in appealing to young adults remains uncertain.

Despite Alison's claim of "five quarters of healthy growth in young adult app usage in the US and Canada," with 40 million young adult daily active users, this figure represents a relatively small portion of the 205 million daily US Facebook users reported by the company in February, the last time it disclosed user numbers for the app.
Poland continues to be targeted by Russian propagandists with disinformation campaigns aimed at messing with the country's political discourse. Polish authorities have recently attributed a fake news report that appeared on Poland's national news agency PAP to Russian origins.

The false narrative, which claimed Poland intended to mobilize 200,000 men for military service, has raised concerns about manipulating public perception and spreading misinformation.

Poland Investigates the Fake News

Polish officials believed this was the work of Russia-sponsored hackers designed to meddle with the upcoming European Parliament election. The fabricated report claimed that Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk wanted to deploy these hundreds of thousands of men to Ukraine starting July 1.

The Associated Press reported that Digital Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski told private broadcaster Polsat News that the incident bore the hallmarks of a cyberattack orchestrated by Russia.

In a post on X, Tusk noted it was another "very dangerous hacker attack" that illustrated Russia's destabilization strategy ahead of the European elections. Russian authorities have yet to respond to the allegations.

The "urgent" report appeared on PAP on Friday at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT). Eight minutes later, the news agency removed the report and said in a statement that it did not originate from them. However, the fake news surfaced on the wire again, prompting another removal.

Security authorities said that their specialists were actively investigating to trace the origin of the hack and were concurrently implementing measures to safeguard PAP's systems against future attempts to disseminate fabricated news.

Read Also : EU Launches Investigation Into Meta Over Election Disinformation

Poland's Battle Against Hybrid Warfare Amid Rising Tensions

According to government sources, Poland is currently under attack in a hybrid warfare campaign orchestrated by the intelligence agencies of Russia and Belarus.

Polish officials alleged that tactics employed in this campaign involve strategies such as orchestrating the movement of migrants towards the border from Belarus, instances of sabotage including attempted arson, incidents of spying, and cyberattacks targeting state administrative institutions.

Gawkowski noted that Poland's critical infrastructure faces constant threats from various incidents and cyber assaults. The upcoming European Parliament election in Poland is scheduled for June 9.

Poland supports Ukraine's path towards European integration for several key reasons. A self-reliant and robust Ukraine that maintains friendly relations with Poland is a crucial element in Poland's Eastern European strategy. It acts as a significant counterbalance to the influence and ambitions of the Russian Federation in the region.

The strong political ties and outpouring support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland have led to additional assistance. According to DW, Poland played a crucial role in rearming Ukraine's ground forces during the early days of the war, which is deemed vital for Ukraine's defense.
A woman who received a kidney from a gene-edited pig is back on dialysis just 47 days after the surgery as doctors had to remove the gradually failing organ.

According to NYU Langone Health, Lisa Pisano, the second person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant, is stable after the kidney was removed earlier this week. Doctors implanted a mechanical pump to keep her heart pumping and the pig kidney in April when her heart and kidneys were failing.

She was the first person to receive a transplanted organ and a heart pump together. Initial signs showed Pisano recuperating. However, transplant leader Dr. Robert Montgomery acknowledged the "unique challenges" in managing both the heart pump and kidney.

Her blood pressure reportedly dropped too low many times, decreasing blood flow to the kidney. In a statement released on Friday, Montgomery said that her kidney function worsened to the point that physicians could no longer justify her immune-suppressing drugs.

He noted that a recent kidney biopsy indicated no rejection, the main worry in experimental animal-to-human transplants, but they detected "significant injury" from limited blood supply. NYU said it will further study the removed kidney to learn more about how it reacted in a living individual.

Doctors Praised the Woman Involved in Xenotransplantation For Her Bravery

Montgomery noted that Pisano's heart problems prevented a traditional kidney transplant and that she did not qualify for the heart pump while on dialysis.

But he commended the patient's courage and strength amid the challenges that inspired them to pursue the "hope and promise of xenotransplantation," or the transfer of organs from one species to another.

"We are hoping to get Lisa back home to her family soon," the doctor said.

Lisa Pisano was the second person to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig, and NYU Langone Health announced that she is stable after an operation to remove the organ earlier this week. https://t.co/B4EOML0H2o  KFOX14 News (@KFOX14) May 31, 2024

In April, Pisano told the Associated Press that she decided to try the pig kidney transplant even though she knew it might not work. Many of the 100,000 patients on the US transplant waiting list need kidneys, and thousands have already died while waiting.

Some biotech businesses genetically engineer pigs to make their organs more human-like and immune-friendly to address the shortage of donated organs. Formal organ studies are expected to begin next year. NYU and other researchers placed pig kidneys and hearts in brain-dead corpses, with promising outcomes.

In May, Massachusetts General Hospital announced that the first genetically modified pig kidney transplant recipient, Richard Slayman, died two months after his groundbreaking xenotransplantation.

Doctors said the pig kidney transplant has nothing to do with the death of the 62-year-old man from Weymouth, who suffered from Type 2 hypertension and diabetes for years that affected his kidney.

Slayman's family noted that the pig kidney transplant gave hundreds of transplant patients hope and will continue to inspire them.

Read Also: New Lung Cancer Drug Halts Disease Progression Longer Than Ever Before

Update on the Patient Who Received Pig Liver Transplant in China

In a separate update, the 71-year-old man in China who received a genetically engineered pig liver transplant is "doing very well" two weeks after the procedure. Sun Beicheng, the surgeon at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, who performed the surgery, made the announcement.

Experts are enthusiastic about the transplant's success despite its lack of widespread disclosure. "It is very exciting news," said Indiana University School of Medicine transplant specialist Burcin Ekser, according to Nature.

This transplant has helped researchers determine the viability of xenotransplantation. The xenotransplantation of livers has surged this year. Last January, a US team put a genetically modified pig liver outside the body of a dead person.

In March, Kefeng Dou, a transplant surgeon at Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University in Xi'an, and his colleagues transplanted a genome-edited pig liver into a clinically dead patient for 10 days with no signs of rejection.

Last month, another Chinese team implanted a pig kidney and liver into a clinically deceased patient.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2024 - 19:38 | World, All

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Saturday of China's coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region while underscoring the need for dialogue to avoid conflict.

"The harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous, plain and simple," he said in a speech at the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

"We all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains free and open," he added, apparently referencing a series of aggressive Chinese moves against Philippine ships.

But he also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue between militaries, saying, "There's no substitute for open lines of communication to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations."

"The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure. That's why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region," he said.

Austin on Friday met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the gathering, expressing concern about China's "provocative" military activities near Taiwan. It was the first in-person talks between the two countries' defense chiefs since November 2022.

The United States has been enhancing security cooperation with its regional allies.

Austin said in the speech that such alliances and partnerships are the "greatest global strategic advantage" for the United States, pointing to joint development and production in their defense industries, including the project with Japan to develop a new missile capable of intercepting hypersonic weapons.

China criticized the U.S. strategy articulated by Austin as "political rhetoric that sounds good but does no good," saying it builds "exclusive clubs with a Cold War mentality and a zero-sum mindset in the name of advancing regional cooperation."

Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, said the United States' true motive is to converge small alliances into a larger group, effectively creating an Asia-Pacific version of NATO and maintaining U.S. hegemony.

The U.S. strategy is meant "to create division, provoke confrontation and undermine stability," Jing said. "It only serves the selfish geopolitical interests" of Washington, he added.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said in his speech to the gathering later in the day that Tokyo will "fulfill a bigger responsibility" by working with like-minded countries to "deter unilateral changes of the status quo by force and create a desirable security environment" as well as aid countries under armed threat.

Kihara dismissed the view that boosting such alliances will heighten tensions in the region. He called for further cooperation to address mounting challenges, including North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"The fate of the international order depends upon our choices. That is why Japan chooses the rule of law over the rule of force, solidarity over division and cooperation over coercion," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, the organizer of the Singapore conference, said Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the meeting and deliver a speech on Sunday.

Zelenskyy will likely seek support for his peace-building initiative, "Peace Formula," which will be discussed at the first "Summit on Peace in Ukraine" slated for June 15 and 16 in Switzerland. He will also explore a bilateral meeting with Austin.

Related coverage:

U.N. Security Council split over North Korea failed satellite launch

Austin airs concern over China's "provocative" activity near Taiwan

U.S., Chinese defense chiefs to hold 1st in-person talks since 2022
Southern African countries home to the largest elephant population in the world fear a rise in animal deaths in the coming months as food and water sources dwindle following a severe drought, Azernews reports citing Reuters.

The region experienced an extended hot, dry spell during its 2023/24 rainy season, attributed to El Nino, a weather phenomenon marked by the warming of the waters in the eastern Pacific, leading to hotter weather across the world. El Nino has worsened the impact of climate change, scientists say.

The drought has affected water and food supplies for humans, livestock and wildlife. Zimbabwe lost 160 elephants in its premier Hwange National Park in the year to January 2024, according to the country's wildlife authority.

Botswana lost 300 elephants to drought last year, according to its environment ministry. Others like Zambia have also confirmed deaths of elephants in its national parks, with Minister of Environment Rodney Sikumba describing the drought as "devastating".

The five countries making up the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) conservation area - Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola and Namibia, home to a combined 227,000 elephants - are meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss sustainable wildlife management.

"The drought has had an adverse effect and you would notice that most of the watering holes in parks around KAZA are drying up," Sikumba told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.

"In the absence of water and food, you will see carcasses dotted around the parks."

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) said it had received $3 million from the country's disaster fund to boost water supply in national parks, but its director general Fulton Mangwanya said this was not enough to save wildlife.

"We have over 150 solar powered boreholes. However, it will not stop the elephants from dying when the drought hits hard. We are ready for the drought, but some situations cannot be avoided," Mangwanya said.

Delegates said climate change has worsened human-wildlife conflict as elephants encroach on human habitat in search of food and water. Last year Zimbabwe lost 50 people to elephant attacks.

Philip Kuvawoga, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) director for landscape conservation, said wildlife faced a bigger risk of food shortage due to the drought and heightened fire risk.

"Fire management is important so we retain and sustain food available for wildlife," he said.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2024 - 17:56 | All, Japan

Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa has decided to cancel his planned private space trip to orbit the Moon, as the mission's feasibility became unclear, according to a website on Saturday.

While he had initially tried to realize the circumlunar flight with other crew members, including American DJ Steve Aoki, by the end of last year as part of the "dearMoon" project, the plan "became unfeasible," a statement on the website showed.

"Without clear schedule certainty in the near-term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project," the statement posted on the dearMoon website said.

The statement also said, "Maezawa and the dearMoon crew members will continue to challenge themselves in their respective fields," but it did not mention whether or when the team would again aim to carry out the mission.

Maezawa, who became the first Japanese civilian to travel to the International Space Station in 2022, and other dearMoon crew members had planned to ride on a spaceship being developed by private U.S. firm SpaceX.

Related coverage:

Japan billionaire Maezawa says K-pop star, 7 others to join Moon trip
KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2024 - 08:42 | All, World, Japan

The U.N. Security Council remained split Friday over a recent failed bid by North Korea to launch a spy satellite in an urgent meeting convened at the request of countries such as the United States, Japan and South Korea.

The United States and its Asian security allies criticized Pyongyang for attempting to launch a satellite-carrying rocket in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, while Russia and China defended the act.

Robert Wood, deputy U.S. ambassador to the world body, told the session that Washington "condemns in the strongest possible terms" North Korea's attempt on Monday to put a satellite into Earth's orbit with a rocket using ballistic missile technology.

The U.S. envoy also repeated a call on Moscow and Beijing, other influential council members that have veto rights, to cooperate so the panel can adopt a measure against North Korea.

Anna Evstigneeva, deputy Russian ambassador, defended the launch, saying North Korea "is forced to take action to strengthen its national defense capacity" due to military drills by the United States and its allies near the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean ambassador Kim Song complained in his remarks at the session that the Security Council is "repeating anachronistic and shameful practice of taking issue with the launch of the satellite, which belonged to legitimate and universal rights of sovereign state."

Related coverage:

Japan, U.S. launch talks on infrastructure development cooperation

Austin airs concern over China's "provocative" activity near Taiwan

FOCUS: Asia security may be at risk if Japan-South Korea ties sour again
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.
Loading Medicare claims for labiaplasty and vulvoplasty more than doubled from 707 in 2002-03 to 1584 in 2013-14. This was despite there being no increase in genital abnormalities. A crackdown in 2014 means that Medicare can only be claimed now if the procedure is to repair female genital mutilation or correct an abnormality. However, those who want genital cosmetic surgery can pay to have it done in the private sector, which does not require reporting of statistics. Female genital cosmetic surgery can be performed by anyone with a medical degree, and no formal training is required.

Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis, author of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners guidelines on female genital cosmetic surgery, says while the number of procedures is not recorded in Australia, she has no doubt they are increasing. The incidence has not declined, its continued to steadily climb from the American stats and what you find online and in the chats, Simonis says. Young women are often concerned about how they look in bikinis or leisurewear. Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis. Credit: Chris Hopkins There is a phrase that is used to describe what fleshy genital appearance looks like through clothing, and its camel toe. And there are all sorts of derogatory comments around that, Simonis says.

Forty to 50 per cent are dissatisfied with their bodies anyhow. So all you have to pick on is a particularly sensitive private area and focus the attention on that, and that becomes quite a significant concern for young people. What young women choosing to have labiaplasties often dont realise, Simonis says, is that genital tissue shrinks as women go through menopause. Removing that tissue can have significant implications for sexual function and pleasure down the track. In 2015, Simonis was the lead author of a national study of 443 GPs. The research found 54 per cent of GPs had seen patients requesting female genital cosmetic surgery. Of these, a third had received requests for labiaplasties from girls under 18.

This did not even enter a lot of womens minds as a mainstream cosmetic surgical issue and then all of a sudden, Brazilian waxing became really popular, and I think thats really what uncovered what a lot of women didnt know about themselves, Simonis says. Many GPs at the time of the study felt their knowledge was inadequate to deal with requests for female genital cosmetic surgery. Simonis was commissioned to write guidelines for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, which recommend GPs educate patients about genital diversity, consider mental health and relationship abuse issues, and refer patients for a gynaecological assessment. Loading The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists warns there is no evidence that cosmetic vaginal procedures are effective, enhance sexual function or improve self-image.

It says the risks of potential complications such as scarring, permanent disfigurement and altered sexual sensations should be discussed in detail with women seeking such treatments. In October 2016, the Medical Board of Australia advised that girls under 18 receive mandatory counselling and a three-month cooling-off period if they were seeking cosmetic vaginal procedures. But Simonis believes this does not go far enough. She says Australia should match the UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists position that surgery be avoided under the age of 18. Theres just so much misinformation around the diversity of genital anatomy, and no ones being taught about this. A Victorian Education Department spokesman says department resources support schools to provide students with sexuality education that includes realistic and age-appropriate diagrams of genitalia.

But Sharp says while the correct terms for female genitalia and the role of genitals in reproduction are often taught, young people concerned about how their genitals look are unlikely to have their concerns assuaged. I think if its taught in a body-image education program, then it has context for celebrating diversity rather than focusing solely on reproduction, Sharp says. She and her team at Monash University have developed an age-appropriate video to help promote a positive genital body image. The video does not include any explicit images. It uses artistic representations of vulvas  such as cupcakes  and medical illustrations to show the diversity of genital appearance. Cupcakes are used to illustrate the diversity of female genitalia in Associate Professor Gemma Sharps educational video on genital self-image. Credit: Elisabeth Palatiello

No two vulvas look alike, the video says. Even though there is a great variety in how we can look down there, theres usually only one type of genital appearance we see online, in social media, and even in our biology textbooks. Its smooth, hairless and symmetrical and the labia minora are completely hidden. The funny thing is, this appearance is not common at all. Dr Justine OHara, a plastic surgeon who performs up to five labiaplasties a week, says for women whose labia cause pinching and infections and restrict their activities, the procedure has the potential to change the quality of their life. However, she refuses to carry out labiaplasties on women who have normal genitalia but seek a Barbie anatomy, telling them the risk of surgery and potential for complications outweigh any benefits. My great concern is that if you shorten the labia, women are more likely to tear when they have babies and this is very difficult to repair, OHara says. She says young women often have an unrealistic idea of what female genitalia should look like due to exposure to pornography.

She refers them to the Labia Library, a photo gallery of unaltered photos of womens genitalia developed by Womens Health Victoria, to show them the diversity of what is normal. Ive had mothers bring young patients to appointments who are very anxious and I reassure them they are completely normal and nothing needs to be done, OHara says. University of Melbourne researcher Emma Barnard conducted a pilot study aimed at understanding why a growing number of young girls, some as young as 11, were seeking cosmetic surgery on their genitals. The study followed a spike in girls and young women referred to the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne because of concerns about how their labia looked  even though the hospital does not carry out cosmetic surgery. Barnard interviewed 11 females who sought consultation with a health professional when aged 13-19, five of whom went on to have labiaplasty surgery.

Unanimously, the participants recounted that when they sought consultation for genital appearance concerns and female genital cosmetic surgery, they did not know that a range of normal genital appearance existed, Barnard wrote in an article published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2023. Kate* was 16 when she worried her labia didnt look normal. We didnt know if [genital abnormality] was a thing because you know, my mum was different [to me]. Isabelle*, who was 17 when she sought help from a medical professional, said her boyfriend started remarking on her physical appearance: One day, there was a comment of hamburger flaps and it was something that his friends were saying as well. [Genital appearance concern] was still weighing heavily on my mind, so I started reading and researching and I started to see labiaplasties come up in general. Barnard asked participants if they had learned anything about genital diversity at school. A few participants did say I got sex education about reproduction and contraception and STIs but none of them, as far as I can recall, had any education around what genitals should look like, what is considered normal, that sort of thing.

Associate Professor Gemma Sharp with some of the resources she uses to demonstrate the diversity of female genitalia. Credit: Jason South In 2020, Sharp showed the vulva video to 343 girls aged 16-18, as part of a study published in the journal, Body Image. The video improved girls genital anatomy knowledge, and there was a small increase in satisfaction with their own genital appearance. There was also a small decrease in the likelihood of them considering labiaplasty in the future. The study participants suggested younger girls could benefit from watching the video and that it be taught to all genders. A study of 125 parents  published in Body Journal this month  examined whether they would consent to their 13- to 15-year-old sons and daughters participating in genital body image education.
New prescribing powers for NSW pharmacists allowing them to treat women who present with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) have come into effect today.

Bypassing the need for a GP appointment, women aged 18 to 65 can pay for a private consultation with a pharmacist trained specifically to deal with UTIs, to be prescribed antibiotics.

In a 12-month clinical trial led by the University of Newcastle, 1000 participating pharmacies provided 17,000 consultations.

The trial results have yet to be released, raising concerns among GPs that the prescribing powers have been implemented prematurely, risking misdiagnosis and ineffective use of antibiotics.
The Elsternwick bowling club will close after 125 years after members accepted a controversial $15 million offer from Glen Eira City Council.

The vote came just six months after the club rejected the sale to the council  which was shrouded in secrecy at the time  when a large minority of members raised concerns about the process and future of the venue.

The historic Elsternwick Club. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Members of the Elsternwick Club, in Melbournes south-east, voted on the sale at the annual general meeting on Sunday.

Glen Eira City Council CEO Rebecca McKenzie said the council was delighted the Elsternwick Club board and members decided to offer their club site on Sandham Street, Elsternwick, for sale to the council.
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.
Australias oldest progressive school will sell a section of its Kew primary school campus ahead of controversial changes to state payroll taxes which could cost the small school hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Preshil, an independent prep to year 12 coeducational school is $4.25 million in the red and facing a payroll tax bill of about $300,000 a year from July 1. The sale is expected to recoup up to $2.4 million.

Preshil may also sell and lease back part of the Blackhall Kalimna secondary school campus. Credit: Penny Stephens

In an online meeting with members of the school community on Monday, the school board and new principal Aaron MacKinnon said a change to the state government payroll tax was a factor in the 94-year-old schools decision to sell The Pines, a section of its Arlington primary school campus on Barkers Road.

It has a financial impact for us as a small school, a Preshil spokesperson said.
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages has dealt with high-profile issues in recent years, particularly during the pandemic, when its offices were closed, it took months for officials to issue certificates and urgent emails went unanswered. Loading Asked if the agency was to be privatised, a government spokesperson instead described the preferred model as a joint venture partnership. Victorias births, deaths and marriages service will not be privatised, but we are looking at how we can continue to improve the quality of government services. The government still insists the partial privatisation of some VicRoads services was not privatisation, but a joint venture partnership.

Just seven months ago, the government was predicting it would be in deficit by about $1 billion by June 2025. That expected financial hole more than doubled to $2.2 billion in the May 7 state budget. The budget papers forecast Victorias net debt to rise to $187.8 billion by June 2028. In simple terms, the May budget leaves Victorian taxpayers with a $25 million daily interest bill. Labors primary vote has also plummeted below 30 per cent since Jacinta Allan became premier, according to an exclusive survey published by this masthead last month. The survey found two-thirds of voters wanted the government to do more to reduce debt. But additional partial privatisation in the name of budget repair would not come without risks. The Coalition will use any proposed agreement with industry to slam the governments management of debt and government agencies.

Coalition finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson said it was clear Labor was desperate for cash. Loading Under Labor, hospitals are running out of cash, emergency payments are required to cover our interest bill and despite new taxes, service cuts and project cancellations, debt continues to climb. Greens treasury spokesman Sam Hibbins said industry partnerships were Labors way of privatisation by stealth. Whats next? he asked. Labor will also be in power in Victoria for a decade come December, the timeframe Pallas has told industry he wants the agency deal signed.

Researcher Charlie Joyce, from the independent but progressive think tank the Australia Institute, said he suspected further privatisation was politically dangerous in Victoria. Daniel Andrews campaigned in 2022 against privatisation, Joyce said. He promised to bring back the State Electricity Commission. A further re-embrace of privatisation would lead to a loss in trust in the Allan government which, I think, frankly, is already fraying. Joyce said while Victorias debt levels were an important consideration, his research on privatisation showed even partial privatisation was often short-term gain for long-term pain. For something like Births, Deaths and Marriages, this is a government service that handles very sensitive information. A private owner that cuts costs on security  cybersecurity in particular  could quite quickly run into trouble. It would [also] be a colossal mistake to take a step that may reduce the quality of public services and increase the cost.

Birth, death, marriage or change-of-name certificates start from $54.40 in Victoria, but registrations and commemorative certificates are more expensive. There were 72,932 registered births in Victoria last year, 29,826 marriages and 45,345 deaths. The total administered income from identity and worker screening transactions in Victoria for the six months to June 30 last year was $33.83 million, according to the Department of Government Services most recent publicly available annual report. Loading The same report states that the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages failed to meet its timeliness target in the 2022-23 financial year. It took the agency, on average, 10.9 days to process compliant applications for birth, death and marriage certificates in the 12 months to June last year. Its target for the period was less than 10 days.

The price of general-issue licence plates, black motorbike plates and slimline black custom licence plates all increased by $15 on January. Driver licensing and registration arent the only services partly privatised since Victorian Labor came to power in December 2014. The Port of Melbourne was leased to a private consortium for 50 years under a $9.7 billion deal in 2016 and the Victorian Land Titles Office was partly privatised in 2018 for more than $2 billion. Last years housing statement also revealed Melbournes public high-rise towers will be handed over to private developers in the coming years as part of a mixed model. When VicRoads was partly privatised in 2022, Pallas refused to label the development privatisation.

This is not privatisation in anybodys language, the treasurer said at the time. Were always looking to see how we can drive better services, better performance, but we will never divest the ownership of assets. The partial privatisation of VicRoads was also pitched as injecting $7.9 billion into Victorias coffers. Under the VicRoads deal, the state maintains ownership of the service, the Victorian Ombudsman preserves its oversight and there were extensive talks with the Australian Services Union to ensure workers kept their jobs. However, a consortium comprising Aware Super, Australian Retirement Trust and Macquarie Asset Management was allowed to run the agencys licensing and registration for the next 40 years.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 2, 2024 - 00:01 | World, All, Japan

Japanese and South Korean defense ministers agreed Saturday to implement measures to prevent radar lock-on incidents with bilateral relations recently improving, although the two sides remain at odds over an occurrence Tokyo alleges happened in 2018 but Seoul denies.

A joint statement issued after their meeting in Singapore also showed the two defense ministers affirmed that the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean military will resume full-fledged high-level exchanges.

Their defense exchanges have been nearly suspended amid a lingering row over Tokyo's allegation that a South Korean destroyer locked its fire-control radar on an SDF patrol plane in Japan's exclusive economic zone in December 2018.

The latest statement avoided confirming whether the incident occurred, with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara telling reporters after the talks, "We have not changed our position (on the radar issue), and gaps remain between the two sides."

But Kihara, who became the defense minister in September 2023, emphasized the importance of the agreement on lock-ons, saying, "If a similar incident happens again, (the damage) would be irreparable."

Kihara, meanwhile, told his South Korean counterpart Shin Won Sik at the outset of the meeting that Tokyo and Seoul must try to boost real-time information sharing about North Korea's ballistic missile launches in cooperation with the United States.

The alleged incident occurred at a time when Tokyo-Seoul ties had sunk to their lowest point in decades under then South Korean President Moon Jae In, known for his anti-Japan position, due mainly to wartime labor compensation, trade and territorial disputes.

Seoul has denied the allegation, arguing that the Japanese plane flew menacingly at a low altitude near the warship, which was searching for a drifting North Korean fishing boat in the Sea of Japan. The confrontation further exacerbated relations between Japan and South Korea.

While South Korea announced a solution to a wartime labor dispute in March last year, the radar row has remained unresolved even after bilateral ties began to recover following the inauguration of Moon's successor, the pro-Japan Yoon Suk Yeol, in May 2022.

According to the joint statement, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean navy have drawn up a document on preventive steps to ensure their safety when encountering each other at sea.

Saturday's meeting took place as the two governments explore ways to normalize their defense exchanges, acknowledging the need for collaboration to address nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, which has been strengthening its military ties with China.

Japan and South Korea have also been bolstering trilateral defense cooperation with their common ally, the United States, to grapple with regional security challenges, including China's military buildup in the nearby waters. Shin took office in October 2023.

The first bilateral talks between the defense ministers of the East Asian neighbors in about one year took place on the sidelines of the three-day Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, being held from Friday in the Southeast Asian city-state.

When Japanese and South Korean defense ministers held talks in Singapore in June last year, they agreed to speed up discussions on preventing a recurrence of similar incidents involving their forces' use of radar.

Japan, the United States and South Korea also plan to hold a trilateral defense ministerial meeting on Sunday on the sidelines of the major security conference, a source close to the matter said.

Related coverage:

Japan conveys concern to China over military activity
Singapore: Australias Defence Minister Richard Marles has used a face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, to raise concerns directly about the dangerous tactics used by Peoples Liberation Army in recent confrontations with the Australian navy.

Marles met Dong for a 45-minute discussion on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit on Saturday, marking the first face-to-face talks between the pair since the admiral was appointed Chinas defence minister in December.

Australias Defence Minister Richard Marles (centre) with Chinas Defence Minister Dong Jun, (right) at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Credit: Bloomberg

Describing the talks as frank, Marles declined to go into detail of the substance of the discussions but confirmed that he raised the recent incidents between the PLA forces and the Australian navy.

It was a good meeting. We certainly set out our different positions, but it is positive that there is dialogue, Marles told this masthead at the summit.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2024 - 18:54 | World, All, Japan

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara conveyed Tokyo's "serious concern" about Beijing's increased military activity near Japan during talks with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Saturday, while both agreed to maintain bilateral dialogue, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

In their first meeting held on the sidelines of the annual Asia Security Summit in Singapore, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Kihara said there are "many security concerns" for the two Asian nations, such as a territorial row in the East China Sea and increased joint military activities by Beijing and Russia around Japan.

Kihara also expressed Japan's wariness over rising tensions in the South China Sea and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, calling for "frank discussions" between the two countries.

Dong said the Asian neighbors must strive to implement concrete policies and actions to realize a political consensus that they are "cooperative partners" and "do not regard each other as a threat."

The two ministers agreed that Tokyo and Beijing will continue to properly operate a bilateral defense hotline, which was launched in early 2023, with the aim of building mutual trust and avoiding contingencies at sea and in the air.

The talks came after China conducted a two-day military drill around Taiwan last week following the May 20 inauguration of the island's new president, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist.

Tensions have been rising in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been engaged in territorial rows with neighboring countries. Philippine and Chinese vessels often confront each other in disputed waters.

In the East China Sea, Japan has witnessed repeated intrusions by Chinese ships into waters around the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China claims and calls Diaoyu.

Kihara also strongly condemned North Korea, which has been accelerating its missile activities, according to the Japanese ministry, in a gesture to seek support from Beijing, Pyongyang's biggest economic benefactor, in addressing the issue.

North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday but failed to put it into orbit due to engine problems experienced by the rocket carrying it.

It was the first meeting between the two Asian nations' defense chiefs since June last year. Kihara assumed his ministerial post in September, while Dong did so in December.

Related coverage:

Japan, U.S. launch talks on infrastructure development cooperation

Japan PM, new U.S. command chief vow to achieve regional stability

Japanese PM Kishida, Chinese party diplomat agree on dialogue's value
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses a ceremony marking the launch of a monthlong campaign to improve workplace safety in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on Friday stressed the need for sustained efforts to improve public security knowledge and strengthen the public's defense against workplace safety risks.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing a ceremony marking the launch of a monthlong campaign to improve workplace safety.

Zhang called on all localities, government departments and organizations to ensure the strict implementation of relevant regulations, spread knowledge and skills related to security, lay a solid foundation to support safe workplaces, and improve the public's security awareness, understanding and response capabilities.

Work should be done to identify safety hazards such as blocked fire escapes and the closure of emergency exits, tackle potential safety hazards associated with such areas as gas and e-bikes, and prevent mountain torrents, geological disasters and waterlogging, among other hidden risks, Zhang said. 
Accused in Railway employee, minor sons brutal murder case surrenders





Staff Reporter

The accused of dual murder of Railway employee and his son finally surrendered after 77 days before Civil Line police. Police had already apprehended the minor daughter of deceased from Haridwar three days back. The arrested has been identified as Mukul Kumar Singh (21), son of Rajpal Singh, resident of Millennium Colony in Civil Line and minor girl. Police have produced the accused Mukul Singh before the court and obtained 7 days remand for further investigation into the case. On March 15, 2024, Rajkumar Vishwakarma, railway employee and his son Tanishq Vishwakarma (8), resident of Millennium Colony in Civil Line, were brutally killed at their residence under a conspiracy by Mukul Singh with the help of his minor daughter.

During questioning, minor girl, who was arrested by Uttarakhand police in Haridwar, disclosed that she along with Mukul Singh had planned to kill her father for lodging police complaint against Mukul while they also killed her 8-year-old brother for shouting. After the surrender of minor girl, Mukul reached Jabalpur and surrendered himself before Civil Line police. Superintendent of Police, Aditya Pratap Singh (IPS) disclosed this while addressing a press conference, on Friday. He informed that after fleeing from Jabalpur, the accused went to Katni, Indore, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Shilong (Meghalaya), Jhansi, Agra, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Haridwar and other cities.

Accused tried to enter Nepal but failed due to absence of documents. During the period, they spent most of their time at railway stations and bus stands and travelled in trains without ticket. After being financially exhausted, they started taking meals at bhandara and Gurudwara. SP Singh informed that photos of minor girl and accused Mukul were circulated throughout the country but they always tried to dodge the police in different states. On May 27, accused reached Haridwar where a policeman stopped them and took them at Womens District Hospital for further inquiry. Meanwhile, Mukul dodged the police and managed to escape from the spot. Receiving the information, Jabalpur police reached Haridwar and took custody of minor girl and brought her in Jabalpur.
DENIAL MODE !





EVEN as the country is gearing up for the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections and subsequent counting of votes on June 4, 2024, political circles are agog with talks of possible retaliation by the Opposition camp -- by way of creating ruckus over credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) -- if Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi wins again leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Enough indications of such possibilities are rising from the Opposition camp. Reports from different sources make us suspect that the Opposition camp may be in a mood to reject the electoral outcome in favour of the Modi regime. If this is really going to happen, then we must say that the Opposition will behave in keeping with its culture of denial of reality -- which it has been doing since 2014 when Mr. Narendra Modi emerged first as Prime Minister. Of course, such an approach is not going to help the Opposition in any manner. Yet, despite having seen the outcome, the Opposition did not learn any lesson in the past ten years. All along, it continued denying the reality of Mr. Narendra Modis success as Prime Minister and his tremendous connect with the common people across barriers. Now also, reports have us believe that the Opposition appears to be in a mood to continue doing what it has been doing for the past ten years -- to no avail. In the past ten years, all the Opposition has done is to refuse to cooperate with the Government.

In Parliament, its approach was to block the proceedings somehow -- opposing every move the Government made, opposing every legislation the Government moved, doubting every process the Government undertook as per rules, regulations and procedures. It also tried to tell the world that the Modi Government was tampering with the Constitution, trying to deny the minorities their citizenship, trying to divide the society vertically for political gains. It did not mind maligning Indias image abroad by making absolutely outlandish claims and statements that sought to portray the Prime Minister as a villain of democracy. Now that possibilities are very strong that Mr. Narendra Modi will win the elections and earn a clear mandate, the Opposition is reportedly proposing to question the integrity of the electronic voting machines -- and possibly approach the Supreme Court seeking justice. None of those efforts will succeed -- which even a street urchin would tell. Yet, the obstinate Opposition does not seem ready to learn its lessons. There is a process in place. There is a system in place.

These are working to keep democracy safe and sound. Yet, cornered by increasing popularity of Mr. Narendra Modi, the Opposition wants to deny the integrity of the institutional system that has worked all these years to keep safe and sound, which is very unfortunate. The misfortune is not just for the Opposition but also for the system and the common people. For, when the Opposition behaves in such an obstinate manner for years on end, that gets weakened is the country, the nation in the ultimate analysis. Unfortunately, the Opposition does not realise the damage it is causing to the Indian nation as a whole. So steeped it is in what should be described as Fools Paradise that it sees no reality and acknowledges no virtue of the robust system of Indian democracy. The Opposition also does not realise that it is silently moving away from the common people and is getting reduced to a negligible minority in elected Houses at almost all levels. It does in some pockets in the country in good strength. But those who understand the silent nuances of democracy know that in its own strongholds, too, the Opposition is on a decline.
SP chairs meeting of SHOs, officers investigating 11 cases against pvt schools





Staff Reporter

Superintendent of Police, Aditya Pratap Singh (IPS) chaired a meeting of SHOs and other Gazetted officers of 9 police stations investigating the 11 cases against different private schools. During the meeting, SP, AP Singh sought information from SHOs of Omti, Belbagh, Sanjeevani Nagar, Gwarighat, Gora Bazar, Madhotal, Tilwara, Barela and Bhedaghat police stations about progress in investigations in 11 cases of forgery and conspiracy in illegal fee hike and commission in sale of books and stationary from book shops. He gave necessary direction to the SHOs for further investigation into the case for presenting strong charge sheet before the court.

It may be noted that 9 police stations have registered FIR against 11 private schools and book sellers and publishers and arrested total 21 accused under Sections 420, 409, 468, 471 and 120 B of IPC. Police have obtained the remand of total 16 accused for further investigations. During the meeting, Additional SP (City), Sonakshi Saxena (IPS) and Additional SP (Crime), Summer Verma were present.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Tunisian President Kais Saied 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 Kais Saied in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.

The announcement came as Xi held talks with Saied, who is on a state visit to China.

Noting that China and Tunisia are good friends and brothers, Xi said that over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Tunisia have always respected and supported each other, and treated each other as equals despite international vicissitudes, writing a vivid chapter of developing countries standing together through thick and thin.

Consolidating and developing China-Tunisia relations conforms to the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two peoples, Xi noted, adding that China is willing to work with Tunisia to continue the traditional friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level.

"Today, we announced the establishment of China-Tunisia strategic partnership, which will open up an even brighter future for our relations," he said.

China supports Tunisia in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, independently advancing the reform process, and keeping its future firmly in its own hands, Xi said.

China is ready to enhance synergy of development strategies with Tunisia, deepen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction and new energy, foster new growth engines for cooperation in medical and health care, green development, water resources, agriculture and other fields, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries to achieve more results, Xi said, welcoming more high-quality Tunisian products into the Chinese market.

China is willing to continue to send high-caliber medical teams to Tunisia, deepen cooperation with Tunisia in education and tourism, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, he added.

Xi urged the two sides to work with countries in the Global South to strengthen solidarity and coordination, practice true multilateralism, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and achieve common development.

China is ready to work with Tunisia to build well the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, inject new impetus into the development of China-Arab relations, and jointly build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he said.

Saied said he is pleased to pay a historic visit to China on the occasion of marking the 60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

Tunisia enjoys profound friendship and fruitful cooperation with China, and the country expects more support from China for its national development and closer cooperation in health, transportation, green development and education to raise bilateral relations to a new level, he said.

Tunisia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and staunchly supports China's efforts in achieving national reunification and safeguarding its core interests, Saied said.

He said Tunisia and Arab countries appreciate China's commitment to fairness and justice in international affairs. Every country has the right to independently choose a development path suiting its own national conditions. Tunisia is willing to work with China to uphold the common values of humanity, strengthen unity and coordination, oppose hegemonism and bloc confrontation, and create a more equal and beautiful world, so that people of all countries can enjoy real human rights and freedom, live in harmony, and share peace, security and prosperity.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi stressed that China's position is highly consistent with that of Arab countries, and China is ready to work with Tunisia and other Arab countries to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question based on the two-State solution.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including green and low-carbon development and investment.

The two sides also issued a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership.

Prior to the talks, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Saied and his wife. A welcome banquet was also held for the guests around noon. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Tunisian President Kais Saied and his wife prior to the talks between Xi and Saied in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Kais Saied at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 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. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Tunisian President Kais Saied in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Kais Saied at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tunisian President Kais Saied witness the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including green and low-carbon development and investment after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Kais Saied at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Tunisian President Kais Saied 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 Kais Saied in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Tunisian President Kais Saied 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 Kais Saied in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Tunisian President Kais Saied 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 Kais Saied in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan hold a welcome ceremony for Tunisian President Kais Saied and his wife at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Saied in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Kais Saied at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 people died of heatstroke in different parts of India, particularly eastern, central and northern areas, over the past few days, as an intense heat wave swept across most parts of the South Asian country, said local media reports and government officials on Friday.

Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized after they collapsed due to heatstroke.

Most of the deaths, around 25, took place in the eastern state of Bihar alone. Besides similar deaths were reported from Delhi, the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the central state of Madhya Pradesh, the eastern states of Odisha and Jharkhand, and the western state of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan's Minister of Disaster Management and Relief Kirodi Lal Meena confirmed five human deaths due to heatstroke in his state. Media reports suggested that at least a dozen people had died in the state amid unbearable weather conditions.

Over the past few days, the mercury soared to as high as nearly 53 degrees Celsius, particularly in parts of Delhi and Rajasthan. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this was around eight to 10 degrees Celsius above normal in the country during this part of the year.

"Prevailing heat wave conditions over northwest, central and east India are likely to abate gradually during the next two to three days," said the IMD in a press release issued during the day.

Private news agency ANI reported that six security personnel on election duty died due to excessive heat in Mirzapur area of Uttar Pradesh. The last and final phase of ongoing General Elections in the country is scheduled to take place on Saturday. An adequate number of security personnel were deployed at places where polling was scheduled to take pace.

The report quoted the principal of a medical college R.B. Lal as saying, "A total of 23 security personnel have come to us. Six security personnel have lost their lives, two others are in serious condition. The deceased had a high-grade fever."

Similarly, some security personnel collapsed due to heatstroke in the state of Bihar too.

More than 10 people have died from heatstroke in the eastern state of Odisha over the past two days. A media report by "Outlook" quoted a local hospital official as saying that the body-temperatures were around 103-104 Fahrenheit, which was very high considering the prevailing weather conditions.

"This could be the possible reason behind the deaths. The history could not be studied as they arrive dead," she reportedly said. 
CAIRO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Officials from Egypt, Israel and the United States are scheduled to hold a meeting on Sunday in Cairo to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel reported.

Egypt affirmed to all parties its position of not reopening the Rafah crossing as long as its Palestinian side is under Israel's control, said the report, citing a high-ranking security source.

The source said Egypt holds the Israeli side responsible for the closure of the crossing and the worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, highlighting Egypt's adherence to a complete Israeli withdrawal from the crossing.

The crossing has been closed since the Israeli army announced the imposition of its control over the Palestinian side on May 7.

Situated between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah crossing is the main gateway for transporting those injured and patients for treatment abroad and delivering humanitarian and relief assistance into the enclave.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, which has led to the death of more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza, after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. 
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, visits a rural school in Mabian Yi Autonomous County of Leshan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. Li made an investigation and research tour in southwest China's Sichuan Province that began on Wednesday and concluded on Saturday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

CHENGDU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, China's anti-graft chief, has emphasized the need to carry out Party discipline education with high standards and strict requirements.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), made the remarks during an investigation and research tour in southwest China's Sichuan Province that began on Wednesday and concluded on Saturday.

He urged discipline inspection and supervision agencies nationwide to implement the arrangements made at the CCDI's third plenary session and push forward the high-quality development of related work.

While engaging in in-depth exchanges with ethnic minority communities in a village in Leshan City, Li stressed the need for efforts to address misconduct and corruption occurring on the doorsteps of the people, and the need for tightening Party discipline regarding the public.

He also visited an aviation company, an underground utility tunnel, the municipal public security bureau and a police station in Chengdu, the provincial capital.

He urged strengthened political oversight and anti-corruption efforts focusing on the country's most fundamental interests to facilitate high-quality economic and social development.

Discipline inspection and supervision agencies should play an exemplary role in conducting Party discipline education, which is a key task for this year's Party-building work, Li said when addressing a symposium during his tour.

He also stressed the need to integrate Party discipline education with efforts to rectify pointless formalities, with the aim of reducing burdens at the primary level. 

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, addresses a symposium on Party discipline education, in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 31, 2024. Li made an investigation and research tour in southwest China's Sichuan Province that began on Wednesday and concluded on Saturday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
AR seizes arms, ammunition

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IMPHAL, Jun 1 : Assam Rifles seized a large cache of arms and ammunition from Kangpokpi and Noney, today.

From H Champai village in Kangpokpi district, one 7.62mm AK 56, one 9mm carbine, two 9mm pistols (country made), one 4mm pistol (made in India) and two IEDs were seized along with a large quantity of live ammunition.

The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles along with Saikul police personnel.

The seized arms and ammunition have been handed over to Saikul police station.

Meanwhile, Tamenglong Battalion of Assam Rifles recovered some carbine machine guns, pistols, explosive materials and ammunition from Tamlok village in Noney, today.
Fire broke out at a police station near the Kashmiri Gate metro station here in the wee hours of Saturday. Luckily, no harm was caused to anybody in the incident.

According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), after receiving a call at 12:44 am regarding the fire at the police station, eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was in files, racks, almirah in 15 rooms of the police station and 18 rooms of the DCP, an official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said, adding the blaze was also in the wastage and domestic articles in the vacant space adjacent to the police station.

He said the blaze was doused at 2:05 am. However, no causality or injury was reported in the incident.

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The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official added.

The latest fire incident came days after a fire broke out at the Eye Mantra Hospital in Paschim Vihar.

Last week, six infants died in a devastating blaze that engulfed Baby Care New Born Hospital in the Vivek Vihar area of East Delhi.

Prior to this incident, a male body was recovered from the debris of a building gutted in fire in the early morning hours on 20th May. In yet another incident reported on the same day, a fire broke out at another garment showroom on Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh.

In the recent past, multiple fire incidents have been reported from across the national capital, including one at the CR building in ITO, where an office superintendent lost his life while the charred body of a labourer was recovered from a paper godown in East Delhis Shakarpur after a fire broke out.
Vedanta Limited has launched Sangam: Jeevan, Prakruti Aur Sanskriti Ka Ek Milan, an initiative that aims to support rural farmers through development of climate-resilient livelihoods, the company said in a press release on Saturday.

Vedanta Limited is Indias premier producer of smelter-grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium.

Integrating sustainable agricultural practices, technological interventions, and natural resource management, Project Sangam is being rolled out across more than 40 villages and is set to benefit over 500 families, the company said.

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Kalahandi is primarily an agrarian region with limited livelihood opportunities. It also witnesses low levels of rainfall, except during the monsoons.

In response, Project Sangam has been designed as a comprehensive roadmap of efforts to augment the socio-economic development of the region by integrating natural resources management and long-term livelihood opportunities, the company said in a statement.

Commenting on the significance of the project, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO  Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd, said: Creating sustainable livelihood avenues for underserved communities is an endeavour towards the wider socio-economic elevation of the region. By developing an ecosystem that facilitates the creation of sustainable livelihoods, Project Sangam will contribute significantly towards our communities becoming self-sufficient and empowered.

Among these interventions is the establishment of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs)  a federation of small farmers who aggregate their produce to avail the benefits of economies of scale, it added.

Additionally, community members will be imparted skill development and capacity-building training in sustainable and profitable non-farm-based activities like pottery.

The company further highlighted that some of the women farmers have already taken up entrepreneurial pursuits like beekeeping, which have the potential to generate a viable income with nominal investment requirements.

To ensure consistent production and yield maximization, various agricultural management practices will also be deployed, such as trellises for supporting crops, NADEP method of composting, and soil testing mechanisms, Vedanta Limited said.

They offer multiple cost-effective advantages such as enriching the soil and ensuring systematic cropping for abundant yields. Further revealing the plans, the company said several water-based assets will also be developed under Project Sangam to augment groundwater retention and ensure water availability.

It will include the construction of surplus weirs and ponds, revival of canals, enabling crop diversification and animal husbandry activities. The revival of water sources will provide irrigation to over 60 per cent of cultivable areas in the region.
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.

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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.

Lets 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 Ayushmanns debut collaboration with Karan Johar.
BEIRUT, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah announced on Saturday that it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon.

The party said in a statement that its fighters, "after careful monitoring and follow-up, ambushed a Hermes 900 drone that assaulted our people and villages, and they targeted it with appropriate weapons over Lebanese territory, where it was shot down."

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that a surface-to-air missile was fired from southern Lebanon and hit an Israeli drone, which was seen catching fire and landing south of the city of Nabatieh.

According to Hezbollah, it had previously shot down Israeli drones in February and April of this year.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
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.

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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 Malaikas 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.
Priyanka Chaturvedi is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. She is the deputy leader and spokesperson of Shiv Sena (UBT). She is also a columnist and was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2020 on the Shiv Sena (undivided) ticket. Before joining the Shiv Sena, Chaturvedi was the Congress national spokesperson, member of the Indian National Congress and convenor of the partys media cell.

She has also participated in ISBs 10,000 Women programme, a scholarship programme by Goldman Sachs for women entrepreneurs. Chaturvedi contributes opinion columns in various newspapers and online websites. In an interaction with The Statesman, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP talks about her entry into politics, opposition INDIA bloc and prospects of Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Lok Sabha election. Excerpts:

Q. How did you join politics?

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A: I never thought of being in the political space but circumstances led me there. There were two things. I come from Mumbai. My family continues to be in Mumbai. I was 21- years-old when I got married. I had two lovely children. I was working and I quit my job after my son was born. However, what changed the course for me were the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. I thought of reaching out to those families for rehabilitation which had lost their loved ones in the attacks. I used to run a blog and all women bloggers got together and helped those few families who were not economically empowered for one year. Another thing was that the Congress party came up with the Youth Congress idea. At the same time, we saw social media opening up and it was the biggest platform for me to communicate with the leadership. I became part of the youth Congress. I did learn a lot in the initial years. I always reached on time during political rallies of the Congress.

Q. You were one of the young leaders of the Congress with a bright future in the party. But you left a national party and joined a regional outfit like Shiv Sena (UBT). Why?

A: I was unhappy at the reinstatement of some Congress workers who had misbehaved with me. In the middle of the 2019 general election, those who were suspended from the Congress party were reinstated without letting me know and that disturbed me. As I was fighting for the cause of women, I could not remain silent so I took a call and then I resigned. After I resigned from the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray asked me to work with their party (then it was undivided) in Maharashtra. I had tremendous respect for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. As a girl growing up in a big city like Mumbai, there was a good law and order situation in the city.

Q. The Shiv Sena has split and the Uddhav Thackeray group faces a formidable challenge from the Eknath Shinde group. Your comment?

A: The Shiv Senas split came into limelight as it was sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was sponsored by the BJP to reach their end goal which was to come to power in Maharashtra through whichever means possible. Every time the word collapse is used for the Shiv Sena, it regroups itself with more motivated intent and works harder to prove such splits, the ones who went away, wrong. Let me tell you about Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, it was Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray who gave Shinde power in the organisation. Shinde got opportunities when Uddhav ji took charge of the party. I dont think Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray went wrong. The Uddhav Thackeray government handled the coronavirus situation well in Maharashtra. Uddhav jis principle is to see no unhappy face in Maharashtra and in the country.

Q. Maharashtra, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the secondlargest contributor to the Lower House of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. Known for its political diversity and significant electoral influence, Maharashtra plays a crucial role in shaping national politics. How many seats is your party expecting to win out of the 21 it is contesting under the Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) seatsharing deal?

A: The ground sentiment in Maharashtra for MVA is very positive and negative for the BJP. In Maharashtra, our party is very confident of a good show in the Lok Sabha election because when our party split, Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray went to the entire state. There was a huge amount of feeling that Uddhav ji did well for the state during the pandemic and was backstabbed. W h e n h i s ( Ud d h a v ) ow n p a r t y split, he rebuilt his party.

Q. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term based on the performance of his government during its two terms. Dont you think the BJP has a clear edge over the oppositions INDIA bloc?

A: On the performance of the opposition INDIA bloc in the Lok Sabha polls, I will say that we will do exceedly well. Those who believe Mr Modi will cross above 400 seats in Lok Sabha will get the shock of their life. I wont be surprised that the Opposition INDIA alliance forms the government. It is unfortunate that in the NDA which is an alliance of 38 parties, none of those 38 parties can aspire, hope or believe that their party leader can also become a prime minister one day.

Q. Do you endorse the view that the Modi government has been misusing investigating agencies against its opponents?

A: 100 per centit uses investigative agencies against its opponents for political purposes.
The body of one of the three labourers was recovered nearly a week after they were trapped in an illegal rat-hole mine in Ledos Tikok area.

The rescue operation, led by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), has been intensified in an effort to locate the remaining two missing labourers.

The three miners have been trapped since May 26 following a landslide in the Patkai hills located in Assams Tinsukia district. Among those trapped are Dawa Cherpa from Bhojpur in Nepal and two workers from Meghalaya, identified as John and Fenaal.

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After rescue officials reported the incident, the administration is actively conducting rescue operations with the assistance of multiple agencies. The incident brings to the fore a recurring tragedy in the North East, where unscientific and illegal mining practices resulted in the death of several workers over the years.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in the region in 2014 in view of the hazardous nature of the terrain. However, local organisations allege that despite the ban, illegal coal extraction continues in various parts of the region, putting the lives of mine labourers at significant risk.

The neighbouring state of Meghalaya has also seen numerous instances of labourers getting trapped and dying in rat-hole mines. Recently, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma advocated the resumption of coal mining in a scientific manner. He suggested that coal mining in the state might resume following a proper scientific process, especially after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

This incident underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of mining regulations and the implementation of safer, more scientific mining practices to prevent further loss of life.
BRS supremo K Chandrashekhar Rao has declined the invitation sent by chief minister A Revanth Reddy to participate in the decennial celebrations of the Telangana Formation Day on Sunday, citing the policies and politics of Congress government which he described as against the interest of the people of the state in a 22 page long letter.

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi will also not travel to Telangana to participate in the function due to health reasons.

The chief minister had sent a personal letter to Rao, more popularly known as KCR inviting him to join the celebrations tomorrow at the Parade Ground at Secunderabad.

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Accusing the chief minister of never uttering the slogan of Jai Telangana in his long letter KCR blamed the Congress for destroying five generations of Telangana by merging the State of Hyderabad into Andhra Pradesh against the wishes of the people.

He accused the national party of never expressing remorse over the atrocities faced by the people.

The Congress is insulting the movement and the sacrifice of the martyrs by its arrogant attitude that statehood was bestowed upon the people from above, said KCR pointing at the claims by Congress that it was a blessing from Sonia Gandhi, the then party president. He said BRS will not participate in the official function though the party organised a candle march today evening to mark the occasion.

The BRS also pointed out that the Gun Park which contains the Martyrs Memorial has been fenced with iron grills ahead of the Telangana Formation Day. In a sarcastic note BRS working president KT Ram Rao wrote on X, In order to remember the Emergency days of Indirammas regime the Martyrs Memorial has been fenced with iron grill.

While the BRS regime had tried to usurp the credit for formation of Telangana attributing it to KCR, the Congress has been trying to erase the legacy by changing the emblem and the statue of Telangana Talli (mother).

This is nothing but cheap politics by the parties.. There are far more issues of concern such as corruption, electricity, education and agriculture that should be looked into instead of such non issues, said M Padmanabha Reddy, president of civil society organisation, Forum of Good Governance. Reddy who had participated in the protests in 1956 when the state was merged said the government should instead concentrate on taking care of the martyrs families.

The chief minister Revanth Reddy will commence the celebrations tomorrow by paying homage to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park in the morning before proceeding to the Parade Ground to unfurl the national flag. After receiving the guard of honour from police he will address the gathering and release the official state anthem. In the evening, a carnival will be held at Tank Bund showcasing the states art and culture with stalls and performances by artists before culminating with a fireworks display.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Chhattisgarh government spearheaded a groundbreaking event titled Chintan Shivir to revitalise governance and development strategies. Held from May 31 to June 1, 2024, at the esteemed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, this summit witnessed a convergence of eminent experts from across the nation to deliberate on the states progress trajectory.

The primary objective of Chintan Shivir was to impart essential management insights to Chhattisgarhs ministers, fostering collaboration, innovation, and foresight in governance. This landmark event, conceptualised by IIM-Raipur in partnership with the state government, marked a significant departure from traditional governance paradigms, aiming to bridge the gap between policy formulation and effective implementation.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, alongside his cabinet colleagues, actively engaged in stimulating discussions with subject matter experts, exchanging ideas on good governance, and charting out a comprehensive roadmap for the states development. The event served as a platform for intellectual discourse, focusing on the strategic blueprint for realising the vision of Viksit Chhattisgarh (Developed Chhattisgarh), in alignment with the broader national aspiration of Developed India by 2047.

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Distinguished speakers such as NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam and former NITI Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant offered invaluable insights into socio-economic development, sustainable mineral exploitation, tourism potential, and brand enhancement opportunities for Chhattisgarh. Their contributions underscored the immense potential of the state in bolstering the nations economy while preserving its natural wealth.

The essence of Chintan Shivir lay in its dual focus: addressing the specific needs and aspirations of Chhattisgarh while leveraging the expertise of national stalwarts to shape innovative governance strategies. This collaborative endeavour sets a precedent for inclusive and participatory governance, laying the groundwork for accelerated socio-economic progress in the region.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was joined by a cadre of his cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma who graced the event with their presence, underscoring the collective commitment to driving positive change in Chhattisgarh.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday expressed its gratitude to the entire election machinery including security forces for their dedication and commitment in providing a smooth, peaceful and festive environment to voters across the country.

In a statement after the voting for the seventh and final phase in 18th Lok Sabha elections concluded on Saturday evening, the ECI said: India has made history today. Starting on the 19th of April with commencement of voting in Phase 1 and spread over 7 phases, polling for the General Election concluded today.

Stating that Indian elections have again done the magic, it said, The great Indian voters, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, socio-economic and educational background have done it once again. The Commission, with all sincerity, wishes to place on record its thanks and appreciation to all voters. Through their emphatic participation, the voters have risen to the trust reposed by the founders of the Indian constitution, when they handed over the power of suffrage to the ordinary Indian.

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The poll panel said the massive participation in the democratic exercise reaffirms the democratic ethos and spirit of India.

The Commission also thanked all political parties and candidates which it said are a critical pivot of the Indian elections.

The collective efforts of voters, political parties, candidates, election personnel and security forces during polling have strengthened Indian democracy, deserving great respect and appreciation. We, the people, have kept the wheels of democracy spinning, thanks to collective efforts, it said.

In the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections, voting for 57 constituencies spread across eight States and Union Territories (UTs) was held on Saturday.

The results will be declared on 4th June.
Himachal Pradesh witnessed a 68 per cent voter turnout in parliamentary and 69 per cent for assembly by-elections on Saturday.

The voting this time has been low as compared to the previous in 2019 Lok Sabha elections when it was 72.42 per cent, an all-time high for the state.

The electoral battle in the state is predominantly between two major political parties, Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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The BJP, which had won all four seats in 2019, is eyeing a third consecutive victory.

All four parliamentary constituencies Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, and Shimla, recorded low voting as compared to the last LS elections.

The voter turnout in the Hamirpur LS seat was 66.57 per cent against 72.83 per cent in 2019, Kangra 65.25 per cent against the previous 70.73 per cent.

The most watched parliamentary constituency Mandi has an interesting electoral battle between BJP candidate Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut and Congress candidate and Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh, son of former six-time Congress chief minister Virbhadra Singh and the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Pratibha Singh.

The Mandi seat recorded around 69.78 per cent voting while in the last elections, the voting percentage here was 73.6 per cent. The Shimla LS seat saw 68.10 per cent voting as against 72.68 per cent in 2019 elections.

The bye-elections were held simultaneously in six Assembly constituencies (AC).

The voter turnout in Dharamshala AC was 66.27 per cent, 50 per cent in Barsar, 73.72 per cent in Lahaul-Spiti, 68.28 per cent in Gagret, 63 per cent in Sujanpur, and 71.76 per cent in Kutlehar.

Chief Election Officer Manish Garg noted that the people of Himachal participated in the voting process with enthusiasm. He said a successful voting in the state has been possible only due to the continuous efforts of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Himachal Election Department and the participation of the people.

He said according to the information received so far in the state headquarters, about 68 per cent voting was recorded in four parliamentary constituencies and about 69 per cent in six assembly by-elections till 5.30 pm.

As per the information received till 5.30 pm, the highest voting of 73.8 per cent was recorded in the Lahaul-Spiti district, 71.45 per cent in the Kinnaur district, 71.3 per cent in the Kullu district, while the lowest voting of 65 per cent each was recorded in the Chamba and Kangra districts, said Garg.

He said the final figures of voting percentage would be released only after the return of all the polling parties and scrutiny of documents.

Voting in the state was peaceful, for which proper arrangements were made by the Election Department, he said, adding that even in far-flung areas, people reached to vote with full zeal and enthusiasm. Apart from 92 in tribal the district of Lahaul-Spiti and 128 in Kinnaur, a total of 152 polling stations were set up in tribal areas of the Chamba district Bharmour and Pangi.

The chief electoral officer informed that in view of the message of environmental protection and increasing green cover, a total of 44 green polling stations were set up in different parts of the state.

A total of 7,992 polling stations were set up in the state for about 56.45 lakh voters of the state, excluding service-eligible voters that were 66,390, he informed.

He informed that 37 candidates were in the fray for parliamentary constituencies and 25 for assembly by-elections, out of which 3 were women candidates for parliamentary constituencies and one for assembly by-elections. A maximum of 12 candidates contested from Hamirpur and a minimum of five candidates contested from the Shimla parliamentary constituency.
While polling for the seventh and the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections is on Saturday, Lok Janshakti Party President Chirag Paswan visited the Ram Temple here to have a darshan of Ram Lalla and pray at Hanumangarhi temple.

Later, the LJP president called himself Hanuman of PM Narendra Modi.

After the darshan and worship, Chirag Paswan told reporters that he felt fortunate enough to have the darshan of Ram Lalla. He had a wish to come to Ayodhya on the day Ram Lalla was consecrated, but could not do so due to some unforeseen reason. Today, his wish has been fulfilled.

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The country is passing through a crucial time but we will achieve the target of crossing the 400-seat mark in the Lok Sabha elections very easily, he asserted.

The LJP chief further said, The people of the country have full faith in PM Narendra Modi. He has influenced every household through his welfare schemes for the poor.

Slamming the Opposition on the occasion, he alleged it does not believe in Sanatan.

On the prime ministers meditation in Kanyakumari, he said it is troubling the Opposition. By undertaking the meditation, Modi has shocked those who were planning to end Sanatan.

Describing himself as Modis Hanuman, he said, We have unwavering faith in Prime Minister Modi. The relationship between me and the prime minister is unbreakable and beautiful, the dignity of which has always been maintained by the prime minister, he added.

Chirag was accompanied by his mother, sister and brother-in-law.

The LJP president is contesting from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, the traditional seat of his father late Ramvilas Paswan.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to surrender to the Tihar jail authorities on Sunday as his 21-day interim bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam granted by the Supreme Court has expired on Saturday.

A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenors plea for an extension of the bail on medical grounds. The concerned judge reserved the verdict on the bail plea for June 5.

On the last day of his interim bail, Kejriwal attended the INDIA blocs meeting held at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges residence, towards the end of the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

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Earlier, the AAP said Kejriwal needs to undergo certain medical tests as prescribed by his doctor which include a PET-CT scan as he runs the risk of a serious disease and that he lost around seven kg of weight during his incarceration.

The Delhi chief minister had also filed an application before the apex court requesting an extension of his interim bail by seven days so that he could get the medical examinations done. However, the court registry on Wednesday refused to list for an urgent hearing of his application, noting that the plea is not maintainable.

Refusing to list Kejriwals plea for an urgent hearing, the top court registry had said, Since the chief minister was given liberty to move to the trial court for regular bail, the plea is not maintainable.

On Friday, in an emotional appeal to the people of Delhi, Kejriwal said he was proud to go to jail in the fight against dictatorship, and urged everyone to take care of his old parents and pray for their health and well-being, while he is behind the bars, as he added that it was not known till when he will remain in jail for now.

He also told the people not to worry as the works of the city wont be hampered but will be carried out smoothly in his absence.

During the bail period of 21 days, Kejriwal took part in election campaign in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, etc. He also remained in a controversy arising from alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal by his close aide Bibhav Kumar, who is currently in judicial custody.

It was said Kejriwal was present in the CM house complex when the alleged misconduct with Maliwal took place inside the drawing room of the premises. The BJP hit out at the AAP chief questioning his claim to protect the women of the city as he was not able to protect his own partys MP inside his house.

The AAP alleged that the incident was part of the saffron partys conspiracy against the party and its chief to not let him take part in election campaigning.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED from his official residence in connection with a money laundering case. He was granted interim bail by the apex court which ends on Saturday.
The Special Branch of the Kerala Police has rejected the claim of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Sivakumars claim that a ritual called 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 Special Branch in a report submitted to the state police chief has stated that there is no evidence of animal sacrifice performance as claimed by Sivakuamar. The Special Branch has given the report after conducting a thorough investigation that included inspections of temples and residences of several priests in Kannur district.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday claimed that Shatru Bhairavi Yaga ritual 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.

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D K Sivakumar alleged that 52 animals were sacrificed in the Yaga held near Rajarajeswara temple in Kerala.

Meanwhile, the authorities of Sri Rajarajeshwara temple, a revered Shiva shrine in Taliparamba, Kannur, have refuted Shivakumars claims. They said that Rajarajeswara temple at Taliparamba is not a temple where animal sacrifice is performed.

Animal sacrifice pujas have not taken place in the temple premises either, they said. Rajarajeswara temple Devaswom Board member TT Madhavan expressed his unhappiness for dragging the temple into a controversy.

In this connection, Sivakumar has clarified that he did not say that animal sacrifice took place at Rajarajeswara temple but that the ritual involving animal sacrifice took place near Rajarajeswara temple and that he was a devotee who had visited the Rajarajeswara temple many times.

Kerala Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan has again responded to the claim of animal sacrifice of Karnataka Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The Minister said that the allegation of Sivakumar regarding the animal sacrifice at Rajarajeshwara temple has been investigated and found that nothing of that sort has happened.

Akeeramon Kalidasan Bhattathiripad, president of the Yogakshema Sabha, a welfare association for the Namboothiri community, rejected the claim of Sivakumar. 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 M V Govindan said that DK Sivakumar has made a statement mocking the cultural life of Kerala.

The Rajarajeshwara temple at Taliparamba is an important Hindu temple in the country. Any kind of black magic or rituals involving sacrifices are not held at this temple, Govindan said.

Higher Education Minister R Bindu has termed Shivakumars allegations as absurd, adding that such rituals could never occur in Kerala.
KIEV, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia fired 53 missiles and 47 Shahed drones at Ukraine's critical infrastructure overnight Saturday, said the Ukrainian Air Force.

It added that 46 drones and 35 missiles were intercepted.

The attack caused damage to energy infrastructure in five regions in Ukraine, according to the country's state-run energy company Ukrenergo.

The company said two thermal power plants of Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK were hit during the air strikes, and their equipment was damaged.

According to media reports, Russia has carried out six missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power generation and transmission infrastructure since March 22.

By the end of May, Russian attacks have destroyed more than 8 GW, or about 40 percent of Ukraine's power generation capacity, according to Ukrainian authorities. 
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise keeping in mind the Constitution, future of farmers, youth, workers, women, dalits, tribals and backward classes, as the voting for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls gets underway.

In a post on X, the Congress chief wrote, My dear countrymen, today is the last phase of voting to save the Constitution and democracy. INDIA is confronting the dictatorial forces with all its might. The fight is now in the final stages. The public stood firmly with us in every phase. After six stages, people want to see us win. They wants to see the guarantees of the Congress party fulfilled.

Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said this festival of democracy will be considered successful only when the democratic forces defeat the dictatorial forces.

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Today, when you press the EVM button on 57 seats in 8 states and union territories, think of the Constitution, think about the future of our farmers, youth, workers, women, dalits, tribals and backward classes. You have to decide. Remember, if there is a Constitution, our basic fundamental rights will remain, he said.

Welcoming the first time voters, Kharge said, My young friends who are going to vote for the first time have a big responsibility on their shoulders. I welcome them.

He also urged everyone to vote in large numbers.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also took to X and wrote, Today is the seventh and final phase of voting and from the trends so far it is clear that INDIAs government is going to be formed in the country.I am proud that even in the scorching heat, you (people ) all came out to vote to protect democracy and the Constitution.

Even today, come out in large numbers and strike a final blow with your vote against this government which has become a symbol of arrogance and tyranny. The sun of 4th June is going to bring a new dawn in the country, he said.

Voting for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 constituencies spread across eight States and Union Territories (UTs) started at 7 am on Saturday.
The seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Saturday recorded an overall voter turnout of 26.03 per cent till 11 am as voting is currently underway on 57 constituencies spread over seven states and a Union Territory.

With 31.9 per cent, Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest voter turnout in the first four hours, while the lowest has been recorded in Odisha with 22.64 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India data.

Below is the voter turnout till 11 am

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Bihar (8/40)- 24.3 per cent

Chandigarh  25 per cent

Himachal Pradesh  31.9 per cent

Jharkhand- 29.6 per cent

Odisha  22.6 per cent

Punjab  23.9 per cent

Uttar Pradesh  28 per cent

West Bengal  28.1 per cent

The polling for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 is underway in 57 constituencies, including the high profile Varanasi seat from where BJP leader and incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting the polls.

The 57 parliamentary constituencies where polling is being held are spread over eight states and Union territories. As many as 904 candidates, including PM Modi, actor-politician Ravi Kishan, Kangana Ranaut, and Congress leader Manish Tewari are in the fray.

The states and the Union Territories where polling is being held today included, Uttar Pradesh (13 seats) Himachal Pradesh (all four) Odisha (6 seats), Punjab (all 13 seats), West Bengal (9 seats), Chandigarh (UT), Bihar (8 seats), Jharkhand (3 seats).

Todays voting will mark the conclusion of the worlds largest elections held in seven phases. The first phase of Lok Sabha elections had began on April 19.

The counting of votes will take place on June 4 and the results are most likely to be announced on the same day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, concluded his 45-hour meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari coinciding with the conclusion of polling for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The prime minister left the Vivekananda Rock Memorial after the meditation at the Dhyan Mandapam.

After the conclusion of his meditation, the prime minister penned a message in Hindi in the visitors book at the Memorial in which he wrote that he experienced a divine and extraordinary energy upon visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and every moment of his life would be dedicated to the service of India.

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Calling Swami Vivekananda his inspiration, the prime minister wrote: It is my good fortune that today, after so many years, as Swami Vivekanandas values and ideals are shaping the India of his dreams, I have also been given the opportunity to practice at this sacred place.

He said this practice at the memorial was one of the most incredible moments of his life.

Sitting at the feet of Maa Bharti, today I once again reiterate my resolve that every moment of my life and every particle of my body will be dedicated to the service of the nation. With a prayer for the nations progress and the welfare of its people, I bow countless times to Mother India, Modi wrote in his message.

At this memorial (Vivekananda Rock Memorial), Goddess Parvati and Swami Vivekananda undertook their penance. Later, Eknath Ranade brought Swami Vivekanandas ideas to life by establishing this place as a memorial, the prime minister pointed out.

Before leaving Kanyakumari, he paid floral tributes at the statue of Thiruvalluvar, the saint and Tamil cultural icon nearer the Vivekananda memorial.

Heavy security was put in place for the prime minister at the memorial by the Special Protection Group and the Coast Guard.

During the spiritual visit to Kanyakumari, Modi meditated at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about Bharat Mata.

The prime ministers 45-hour meditation, at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, had commenced on May 30 evening after his arrival in Kanyakumari on Thursday.

Mythology has it that Goddess Parvati meditated on one foot at the same place waiting for Lord Shiva. It is the southernmost tip of India. Whats more significant about the place is here Indias Eastern and Western coastlines meet.

It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea.

PM Modi arrived in Kanyakumari on Thursday after finishing a high-voltage campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

On reaching Kanyakumari, he first offered special prayers at Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple on the seashore in the district before praying at the statue of Thiruvalluvar, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maa Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has exuded confidence that the Modi government will be re-elected with an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

He remarked that the people are strongly supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision for a Viksit (developed) and Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat.

Addressing reporters after casting his vote in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections here on Saturday morning, the Chief Minister said, The final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, is taking place today across 57 seats in 8 states. This includes 13 seats in Eastern Uttar Pradesh: Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Bansgaon, Salempur, Ballia, Ghosi, Robertsganj, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, and Mirzapur, where voting is also being conducted today.

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He mentioned that over the past two and a half months, various political parties have presented their issues to the people to fulfil the aspirations of the general public. They have presented the work and achievements of their governments.

To elect the new government in the country, people have done a comparative analysis of the performances of the previous governments and the Modi govt in the last 10 years.

Considering the support received across the nation, it can be said that when the results will come on June 4, those individuals, parties, and governments that have worked towards a self-reliant and developed India, preserving heritage while fostering development, showing compassion for the poor, and ensuring a bright future for the youth, will receive full support, CM Yogi added.

Yogi said that over the past 10 years, everyone has witnessed a changing India, and in the last 7 years, they have seen a new Uttar Pradesh under the double-engine government.

Under PM Modis leadership, the work was done for the youth, farmers, businessmen, women, and every section of society with a spirit of security, respect, and development.

CM Yogi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the voters for their enthusiasm despite the soaring mercury reaching around 50 degrees at this time. Despite this, the enthusiasm of the people to vote in order to strengthen democracy has not diminished, he stated.

The CM urged people to rise above caste and religion and vote to realize the vision of a Viksit (developed) and Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat.

He said, To make the country the worlds third-largest economy in the next three years and to bring prosperity to the lives of all citizens, the peoples blessings are with PM Modi and the BJP.

Yogi further mentioned that under PM Modis leadership, the government has undertaken unprecedented work for the safety, respect, and self-reliance of women. Initiatives like the Shakti Vandana Act, Beti Bachao  Beti Padhao, and Matru Vandana Yojana have given a new direction to womens empowerment.

CM Yogi told young voters that they should actively participate in the campaign to advance the new India, which is equipped with excellent infrastructure and earning respect worldwide.

He also cautioned young voters against parties and individuals trying to mislead them. Our future is bright with the goal of a self-reliant and developed India, and the youth should cast their votes with this goal in mind, he remarked.

Yogi said, PM Modi has recognized only four castes: youth, poor, women, and farmers and has their complete support.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave a sharp response to the statements made by opposition leaders regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modis spiritual-nationalist pursuits. In response to the questions asked, he said that PM Modis spiritual devotion is a complete national devotion, as he serves Mother India tirelessly, without fatigue, without pause.

However, those who indulge in corruption, immorality, and misconduct cannot understand the importance of spiritual devotion. To understand spiritual devotion, one needs a mindset like that of India and Indians. There should be a sentiment of dedication to Indias eternal values and ideals, he added.

In response to a question about the review meeting of the parties in the I.N.D.I. alliance, CM Yogi Adityanath remarked that it is good that the leaders of the parties of the opposition will sit together before June 4 because, as many parties as there are in this alliance, there will be as many disputes after June 4. They will all then blame each other, and insult each other.

Responding to questions raised by SP workers during the controversy over the arrangement of EVM protection before the vote count, he said, Those who did not find candidates for 80 seats in the state are bound to blame someone or the other. These people have become tired of blaming EVMs. Now, by accusing the Election Commission, they are undermining the atmosphere of democracy.

He said that the Election Commission is conducting the election process with complete impartiality, transparency, and honesty. Wherever there were some complaints, the Commission took prompt action. However, the SP has no faith in democracy. They have always insulted the Constitution made by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Democracy sounds ridiculous coming from the mouths of those who give space to mafias and terrorists. For SP, it can only be said, As you sow, so shall you reap, Yogi stated.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, adhering to the mantra of Pehle Matdaan, Fir Jalpaan exercised his voting right at booth number 249 of Gorakhnath Primary School (Girls) on Saturday, the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. He arrived at the booth early in the morning at seven oclock and became one of the first voters at his booth. After casting his vote, he interacted with the media and then proceeded to Gorakhnath Temple.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police, probing into the illegal organ harvesting from people including Malayalis, has arrested the main mastermind behind the human trafficking for international organ trade from Hyderabad.

The SIT arrested the organ trade ringleader Ballamkonda Ramaprasad, also known as Prathapan from Hyderabad. Aluva Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena said on Saturday in a press conference here that the investigation team from Kerala reached Hyderabad and recorded the arrest of the accused Ramaprasad.

Sabith Nassar, the prime accused, who was arrested earlier in the case, provided crucial information about him to the police team. Acting on this, the SIT swiftly moved to Hyderabad and made the arrest. He was brought to Aluva for questioning and is currently in the custody of the Aluva Police.

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Ramaprasads method involved finding people online and persuading them to become organ donors. He revealed that there is only one victim from Kerala, while most of the victims are from Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu. The police have also discovered his connection to an Iranian group.

Sabith Nasser confessed to authorities that the majority of organ traffickers originated from Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Since 2019, a group led by Sabith has been trafficking individuals from different parts of the country to Iran for organ trade.

It was found that the prime accused, Sabith Nassar, initially established contact with the organ trafficking gang in Hyderabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday continued his meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari.

A fresh video shows PM Modi offering water to the sun early morning and chanting mantras.

He is seen walking barefoot on the temple premises and looking at the vast serene sea.

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He later sits for meditation in one of the halls before Swami Vivekananda statute.

PM Modi arrived in Kanyakumari on Thursday after finishing a high-voltage campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

On reaching Kanyakumari he first offered special prayers at Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple on the seashore in the district and then prayed before the statue of Thiruvalluvar, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maa Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.

PM Modis 45-hour-long meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial which began on May 30 evening is scheduled to end on Saturday.
As Himachal Pradesh votes in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections today, a potent issue has emerged among its youth: resentment against the Agniveer scheme. The Agniveer scheme, introduced as a short-term defence recruitment model, offers a fouryear tenure with only 25 per cent of recruits retained for regular service. This initiative, aimed at modernising the military and offering quick employment, has instead sparked dissatisfaction among aspiring young soldiers in the region. For many youth in Himachal Pradesh, joining the armed forces transcends mere employment; it is a tradition, a legacy passed down through generations. Villages like Kandbari in Palampur are emblematic of this culture, where young men, driven by both patriotic fervour and the need for stable employment, prepare rigorously for military recruitment.

However, the Agniveer schemes brief tenure and uncertain prospects have left many feeling betrayed. The schemes critics argue that a four-year service period is insufficient. They advocate for a minimum tenure of 10 years, which they believe would provide more stability and better align with the traditional commitment associated with military service. The limited duration of service, coupled with the competitive retention rate, creates a precarious future for many who had hoped for a long-term career in the armed forces. Furthermore, assurances of post-service employment opportunities in local police or paramilitary forces have done little to assuage concerns.

Past recruitment issues in Himachal Pradesh, including irregular hiring processes and the infamous constable recruitment paper leak of 2022, cast doubt on the reliability of these promises. The financial compensation of Rs 22 lakh, while seemingly substantial, is also deemed inadequate in todays economic climate, where the cost of building a house in a village can exceed this sum. This discontent has significant political ramifications. The Congress has seized upon the Agniveer issue, promising to abolish the scheme if elected. Their campaign, spearheaded by leaders like Mr Rahul Gandhi, frames the scheme as a betrayal of soldiers, reducing them to temporary labourers rather than long-serving defenders of the nation.

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This narrative may have resonated with many voters, particularly in districts like Hamirpur, Kangra, and Mandi, which have a strong tradition of military service. On the other hand, the BJP defends the Agniveer scheme as a progressive step, emphasising the added benefits and employment relaxations it purportedly offers. Union Minister Amit Shah and retired military officials argue that the scheme ensures that Agniveers will not struggle for post-service employment, citing potential roles in security companies and relaxed criteria for police and paramilitary recruitment. As ballots are cast, the youths dissatisfaction with the Agniveer scheme highlights a broader issue: the pressing need for stable and meaningful employment in Himachal Pradesh. The traditional allure of military service, once seen as a dependable career path, is now fraught with uncertainty. This shift not only impacts individual aspirations but also poses a challenge to the socio-economic fabric of the region.
The single phase election for Punjabs 13 Lok Sabha seats on June 1 promises to be a watershed moment in the states political landscape. The stakes are high, particularly for the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the two main players expected to dominate the contest. Both parties are part of the INDIA bloc nationally, and their performance in Punjab will have significant implications not just for the state but for national political dynamics as well. The political battleground in Punjab is distinctly shaped by its divisions: Malwa, Majha, and Doaba.

The Malwa region, in particular, holds considerable sway due to its sheer size and political weight. It encompasses eight parliamentary seats, including key constituencies such as Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Patiala. Historically, control over Malwa has often translated into broader electoral success in the state, as evidenced by AAPs sweeping victory in the 2022 assembly polls where it secured 66 out of 69 seats in this region. The Congress, which emerged victorious in eight out of 13 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, faces a formidable challenge from AAP.

The AAPs campaign is spearheaded by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who are leveraging their governance credentials and appeal among the youth and urban voters. The partys recent win in the Jalandhar byelection underscores its growing influence. On the other hand, the BJP, although historically less dominant in Punjab, has strategically fielded strong candidates such as former ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu in Amritsar and Preneet Kaur in Patiala. The BJPs ability to make inroads in constituencies like Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur in 2019 demonstrates its potential to disrupt the Congress-AAP dichotomy. The inclusion of high-profile turncoats from Congress and AAP in its line-up adds another layer of intrigue to the electoral battle. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), once a dominant force in Punjab politics, is also in the fray, though its influence has waned in recent years.

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The partys performance will largely depend on its ability to mobilise its traditional vote bank and leverage issues pertinent to the Sikh community, particularly in the Majha region, home to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Punjabs electoral dynamics are further complicated by the sociopolitical context. The Malwa belt, the epicentre of the farmers agitation against the Union governments farm laws in 2020-21, remains a politically charged region. The outcome in this belt could serve as a barometer for the prevailing sentiments among the agrarian communities. Additionally, the Doaba regions significant Scheduled Caste population, the highest in the country, makes it a critical area for all parties to secure. The Punjab elections are poised to be a fiercely contested affair with far-reaching implications. As the campaign heats up, all eyes will be on how Punjabs vibrant democracy navigates this pivotal moment.
Irans Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned new sanctions imposed by the EU on several Iranian officials and entities.

He made the remarks in a statement by his Ministry after the EU on Friday imposed sanctions on six individuals and three entities of Iran for their alleged role in the transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine or the transfer of UAVs or missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, or for being involved in Irans UAV program.

Kanaani said the EU, instead of focusing on the Israeli war crimes in Gaza and punishing Israel for them, had included in its list of sanctions some Iranian officials and entities that had been pioneers and effective in the fight against terrorism and ensuring sustainable security in the West Asia region.

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He regretted that the EU had once again resorted to the outdated and ineffective tool of sanctions against Iran while turning a blind eye to the field realities in West Asia, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kanaani emphasised that Iran would continue its principled policies, especially in ensuring regional and international peace and security, and reserve the right to respond to such a destructive approach by the EU.

In a press statement on its website, the Council of the EU announced on Friday new sanctions on Iranian armed forces Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and one of its commanders, Kavan Electronics Behrad LLC, an Iran-based company which the bloc accused of being involved in procuring and selling components for the manufacturing of UAVs, its CEO and chairman of the board of directors, and the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The bloc has also imposed sanctions on Irans Defence Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, an IRGC commander, and Afshin Khaji Fard, head of Irans Aviation Industries Organisation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has announced his rejection of a request by his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares to remove the restrictions on the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem.

A week ago, Israel announced that the consulate was banned from providing services to Palestinians from the West Bank following Spains decision to recognise the State of Palestine, Xinhua news agency reported.

Explaining the rejection on social media platform X, Katz noted on Friday that any contact between the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem and people in the Palestinian Authority constitutes a danger to Israels national security and will be completely prohibited.

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He warned that the Israeli side will strictly enforce the guidelines and if there is a violation, additional measures will be taken up to the point of closing the consulate.

In a coordinated move, Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on May 22 their decision to recognise Palestine as a state as of May 28.

More than 140 countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, representing over two-thirds of the United Nations membership.
"We hope that Gwadar will become an internationally acclaimed world-class port city, which will have tremendous opportunities for its people." A Pakistani senior official applauded the development of Gwadar Port under the CPEC. #GLOBALink
Lyu Linyou (R) checks the growth of plants with a staff member at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

In 2004, 24-year-old Lyu Linyou joined the former provincial institute of sandy land utilization, which is now the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, after graduation. Initially, Lyu specialized in grass science and had no clear idea about sand control. He learned from senior colleagues and local farmers in Zhangwu County, accumulating experience and gradually becoming determined to apply his knowledge to sand control.

Located on the southern edge of the Horqin sandy land, Zhangwu was once plagued by sand and dust storms. Historically, 96 percent of Zhangwu County's total area was desertified land.

For the ecological management of desertified grasslands, Lyu introduced and tested over 400 varieties of grass and herb plants, ultimately selecting more than 50 suitable varieties. He also led his team in developing complementary technologies, contributing to the industrial development and practical demonstration of sandy land ecological restoration.

Lyu earned a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Lyu Linyou checks the growth of alfalfa in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024.(Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Lyu Linyou checks the growth of plants at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 30, 2024 shows the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province.(Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Lyu Linyou checks soil nutrient at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Lyu Linyou checks the growth of herbs at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Lyu Linyou (L) checks the growth of plants at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Lyu Linyou (R) communicates with a staff member at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024.(Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Lyu Linyou arranges soil samples of sandy land at the Zhanggutai base of the sand control and utilization research institute of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Zhangwu County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
The Global Day of Parents is observed by the United Nations on June 1 each year to honour parents and recognize their dedication to children worldwide. Parenting is crucial as it can provide kids with a sense of security, instil values, and equip them with the tools we need to navigate the world.



Global Day of Parents 2024 Theme: The Promise of Playful Parenting

Throughout June, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and its partners will champion expert advice and support for parents, covering a wide array of topics from the scientific benefits of play to engaging family activities. Recognizing the growing prevalence of online play, they will also offer parents comprehensive guides and detailed explanations to ensure that their childrens online experiences are safe and positive.

Global Day of Parents: History

Studies show that trauma and emotional wounds sustained during childhood significantly hinder a childs development and outlook on life, posing a barrier to achieving the U.N.s Sustainable Development Goals. During the 1980s, the United Nations began to focus on family-related issues, recognizing how the emotional and well-being of children significantly impacts broader spheres of development. On December 9, 1989, the General Assembly passed a resolution declaring 1994 as the International Year of the Family. Subsequently, in 1993, another resolution established May 15 as the International Day of Families.

On September 17, 2012, the United Nations with resolution A/RES/66/292 designated June 1 as Global Day of Parents. This observance recognizes that the family unit is integral to the social, emotional, and physical development of children, serving as the foundation for creating responsible and productive citizens.

ALSO READ | Global Day of Parents 2024: Theme, history, significance and other facts to know on June 1

Significance

Global Day of Parents acknowledges parental roles, highlighting that parents are the first teachers and primary caregivers of their children. This day emphasizes their selfless contributions and sacrifices they make to ensure the well-being and development of their children. Secondly, it promotes family unity. The observance fosters a greater understanding of the importance of family cohesion. Strong family bonds are crucial for providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive.

Thirdly, the day encourages supportive policies. By bringing attention to the challenges parents face, such as balancing work and family responsibilities, the observance advocates for policies that supports parents. This includes parental leave, affordable childcare, and flexible working arrangements. Finally, it raises awareness about various issues parents encounter, including economic pressures, health concerns, and educational challenges. Highlighting these issues can lead to more community support and government action.

The Global Day of Parents is a poignant reminder of the pivotal role that parents play in shaping the future. By honouring their dedication and addressing the challenges they face, we can create a more supportive and nurturing environment for families.
June marks the annual celebration of Pride month, a time to commemorate the spectrum of identities, history, and achievements, of the LGBTQ+ community comprising gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and other marginalised communities with the rainbow as their symbol representing the panoply of identities.



Under the umbrella of LGBTQ+, there exists a vast array of individuals with unique stories and perspectives. Despite the vibrant parades and colourful flags, Pride Month is an exemplary time to celebrate a community which is frequently marginalized in society and their ongoing fight for equality.

What is Pride Month and why is it celebrated? Let's delve deeper into the history, significance, and relevance of Pride Month.

The pivotal event responsible for the origin of Pride Month and the explicit celebration of the LGBTQ+ community traces back to the Stonewall riots in United States. On June 28, 1969, a chain of spontaneous, violent outrage took place against the police by the members of the gay community owing to the raid of Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York City. The outburst was a result of the deep-rooted hatred and brutality that the gay community were subjected to by the police for ages. The pioneers of this event were Storme Delarverie, Sylvia Rivera (known as the mother of all gay people), and Marsha P. Johnson (known as the Mayor of Greenwich Village), but a large community of marginalised people including drag queens and trans women also actively took part in the riot.

The event ignited the sparks of resistance in various parts of the country and a year later the first Pride marches were held in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco demanding equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. Stonewall Riot is considered the single most prominent event that paved the way for the gay liberation movement and the modern-day battle for gay and lesbian rights not only in the United States but across the globe.

Over the decades, pride celebrations have evolved. The members and allies of the community flamboyantly and vibrantly presenting themselves in the parades on the streets has been a hallmark in the celebration of pride month. The celebrations are now global happening all through June, though it is not confined to a time of the year, being an ally and supporting LGBTQ+ rights goes beyond June, spreading awareness, advocating change, and fostering a sense of belonging within the LGBTQ+ community.
Telangana, the youngest Indian state, is celebrating a decade of its formation. It was on June 2, 2014 that Telangana gained official statehood through the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, after decades of struggles and agitations. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has extended an invitation to Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, to participate in the commemorative events on Sunday. Here is a quick peek into the history, significance, and intriguing details surrounding the 29th Indian state.

History



The history of Telanganas formation dates back to 1948 when the Hyderabad state was integrated with the Union of India by ending the Nizams rule. The Telangana region was under the jurisdiction of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the largest princely state during the British period. Consequently, both Telugu and Urdu were spoken by the people in the state of Hyderabad. However, the state did not progress evenly with neighbouring Andhra region, ruled by the British, in terms of education, health care, and agriculture. The Andhra region, which was a part of the erstwhile Madras Presidency, prospered under British rule.



After Indias Independence, the Nizam opted to maintain the independent status of Hyderabad state. However, people were in favour of joining the Indian Union. During Operation Polo, the newly established Indian government deployed armed troops to convince the determined Nizam to join the Indian Union. Ultimately, on September 17, 1948, the Hyderabad state became part of India.



In 1953, with the passing of the Andhra State Act, the Telugu-speaking areas carved out of the erstwhile state of Madras were put together to form Andhra State, the first linguistic state to be formed in post-independent India. The same year, the central government formed a States Reorganisation Commission to redraw the state borders. In the following years, the Andhra state leaders approached the Centre, demanding that the Andhra state be merged with the Telangana region since the separation from the Madras presidency had left them with neither a ready-made capital city nor any resources.



In 1955, the State Reorganisation Commission submitted its report, which, while acknowledging the sentiment for a unified Telugu state, also recognized the apprehension of the educationally backward population of Telangana and suggested that a separate Telangana state be formed. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India, under the banner of Andhra Mahasabha, led the Visalandhra Movement, advocating for a greater Andhra that encompassed all the Telugu-speaking areas of Andhra State and Hyderabad State.



Due to the collective endeavours of the politicians, the Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad state were merged with Andhra state under the State Reorganisation Act.

Thus, a unified Telugu-speaking state of Andhra Pradesh was formed on November 1, 1956. However, Since 1969, murmurs of protest have been raised in the Telangana region, which in the following years snowballed into the Telangana statehood movement.

The violent agitations, combined with the Jai Telangana movement for a separate state, continued until the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill was passed in 2014, bifurcating the state into two and recognizing Telangana as an independent state on June 2.



Interesting facts



Hyderabad, known as the City of Pearls," is the capital of Telangana. Known for its mesmerising waterfalls and forts, the most famous being the Golconda Fort, Telangana is situated on the rugged Deccan Plateau. The state thrives on the waters of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Owing to its unique history under the reign of the Kakatiya Dynasty, Delhi Sultanate, Bahmani Sultanate, and the Nizams of Hyderabad, Telangana produces art forms distinct from Andhra culture like Perini Sivatandavam, Chindu Bhagavatham, Qawwali, and Mushairas.



The booming IT industry in the capital has significantly contributed to the economic development of the state. Telangana also boasts a vibrant tourism sector with tourist attractions like Charminar, Ramoji Film City, Medak Fort, Warangal, and numerous others.



Significance



Telanganas separation from Andhra Pradesh stands as a landmark victory in the fight for self-determination. Telanganas unique cultural identity, shaped by a different historical path under the Nizam, had been overshadowed by Andhra's dominant influence. Influenced by Urdu and Persian, people in Telangana spoke a distinct Telugu dialect known as Telangana yaasa. The separation allowed Telangana to revive its distinct dialect, traditions, and way of life. The separation marked the culmination of a decades-long struggle among the people of Telangana.



Telangana, historically underrepresented, gained its own voice. The new state meant more control over its resources, development plans, and decision-making processes. The autonomy empowered the people and politicians to address their specific needs and aspirations. The 1956 merger of Telangana with Andhra Pradesh was seen by many as disregarding the wishes of the Telangana people. The separation corrected the historical injustice and allowed Telangana to chart its own course.



In essence, the separation of Telangana was not just a geographical division but a recognition of the regions distinct identity and a chance to right the historical wrong. It empowered the Telangana people to take charge of their futures and celebrate their unique identity.
Votes were cast for all 13 constituencies in Punjab on Saturday in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. By 6 pm, as per election commission figures, the border state recorded a 56 per cent voter turn out. The lone seat of Chandigarh also went to polls.

Punjab broadly witnessed an unprecedented four-cornered contest this time with the INDIA bloc membersthe Congress and the Aam Aadmi Partycontesting separately and traditional partners the Bharatiya Janta Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal choosing to go solo. BJP and SAD had been contesting general elections together since 1996. Besides these four main players, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Bahujan Samaj Party have also fielded their candidates.

The Congress which bagged eight out of 13 seats in 2019 is trying to capitalize on the anti-incumbency against the AAP, their main rival in Punjab, and farmers angst against the BJP in the agrarian state.

We honestly stand with the farmers. It was only after I filed a petition on the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh that the AAP government lodged an FIR, said Partap Bajwa, a senior Congress leader from the state. The grand old party has also promised a legal MSP, which was at the heart of the farmers protest, if voted to power.

The farmers protests in 2021 and 2024 are likely to cast their shadows on the result on June 4. The BJP has been at the receiving end of the farmers anger since the start of the campaigning in Punjab. The farmers had even opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modis rallies in Patiala about a week ago.

The AAP, which rose to power in Punjab by winning 92 out of 117 assembly seats to form the government in 2022, is the prime factor that has changed the contours of political calculations in the state. The AAP is trying to woo voters through their freebie (free electricity) plank, although situation on the ground suggests that people are not happy with the party for not fulfilling their promises.

There are high stakes for the SAD, especially the Badal family in this election. The partys political clout has been diminishing in the state with party scion Prakash Singh loosing to AAPs Gurmeet Singh Khudian from his traditional Lambi seat in 2022 assembly polls. His daughter-in-law and three time MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal is now contesting against AAPs Gurmeet Singh Khudian, BJPs Parampal Kaur, former IAS officer, Congresss Jeet Sindhu and gangster-turned-politician Lakh Sidhana of SAD (Amritsar).

Other prominent candidates in the fray include four-time MP Preneet Kaur, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, three-time MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Ravneet Singh Bittu. While Preneet Kaur is seeking re-election from the Patiala parliamentary constituency, Channi and BJP nominee Sushil Kumar Rinku, who left the AAP just weeks before elections, are in the fray from Jalandhar reserved constituency. Former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa of the Congress and BJP candidate Dinesh Babbu are fighting from Gurdaspur. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring is pitted against former party colleague and now rival, BJPs Bittu, in Ludhiana.

Pro-separatist candidates, who remained on the margins, are also finding space in this election especially in the aftermath of the farmers protest. Some attribute this to the absence of leadership of the likes of Prakash Singh Badal and Amrinder Singh in Punjab. Irrespective of whether we are in alliance or not, I believe that a strong SAD is a must to keep peace in Punjab. SAD is the political wing of the Panth. Minority sentiments are easy to exploit. So there has to be a strong leader who is powerful and convincing enough to address the concerns, said Sunil Jakhar, BJPs Punjab president.

These concerns stem from the fact that radical candidates are contesting with considerable backing from seats across Punjab. Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Assams Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Ac,t is fighting from Khadoor Sahib as an independent. From Sangrur, another radical leader and sitting MP, Simranjit Singh Mann, who heads the SAD (Amritsar), is another controversial candidate.

Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins of Indira Gandhi, is also in the fray from Faridkot.

Polling in Punjab, which has an electorate of around 2.14 crore, began at 7 am. Till 6 pm, 55.65 percent voting had been done in sweltering heat.
With most of the exit polls predicting a landslide victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, the Congress on Saturday claimed that the actual results would be very different. The opposition party even alleged that the exit polls had been orchestrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA Janbandhan will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

"The outgoing prime minister can remain smug for three days in the meanwhile. These are all psychological games he is masterminding but the actual results will be very different," he said on X.

Most of the exit polls predicted that Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority. Some of the pollsters even claimed that the NDA will win more than 350 seats.

Earlier, the INDIA bloc leaders met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges residence to discuss the preparations for the counting day.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Kharge said the INDIA alliance was poised to get more than 295 seats.

INDIA will get 295-plus seats, not less than that. This is our assessment. All the leaders today discussed this before we arrived at this figure. This is people's survey. This is not a 'sarkari' survey where figures are manipulated and their friends in the media hype things up, he said.
The final phase of voting in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal was largely peaceful, except for a few incidents of sporadic violence. The state, with 69.89% voting, registered the highest turnout across the country till 5 pm.

Amid the ongoing Sandeshkhali controversy that has captured national attention, Basirhat emerged as a focal point. The North 24 Parganas constituency recorded an impressive voter turnout of 76.57 per cent, the highest among the nine constituencies in the state that went to the polls on Saturday.

Mathurapur, Joynagar and Diamond Harbour followed it with 74.13 per cent , 73.44 per cent and 72.87 per cent respectively. Barasat with 71.8 per cent voting and Jadavpur with 70.41 per cent were next in the line.

Dum Dum saw voting of 67.6 per cent, while Kolkata Uttar and Kolkata Dakshin constituencies registered the lowest voter turnouts at 59.23 per cent and 60.88 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers repeatedly clashed with each other in Sandeshkhali, resulting in injury of two TMC cadre and one BJP worker. The police resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control.

At some places, women blocked roads to protest against alleged police atrocities. In retaliation, police fired teargas shells, injuring a woman and some BJP workers. One TMC worker was allegedly lynched by BJP supporters in Sandeshkhalis Sarbareia.

In Jadavpurs Bhangar, Trinamool and Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters hurled crude bombs at each other. At Kultuli in Joynagar, angry voters threw EVMs and VV-PAT machines into ponds.

However, the larger picture on the last polling day was peaceful, as it has been the case in West Bengal throughout the seven-phase 18th Lok Sabha election. A big reason for that has been the large and gradual increase in deployment of central armed police forces (CAPF) in each phase. As many as 967 CAPF companies were deployed in the seventh phase, up from 919 companies in the sixth leg.

In the final two phases of the West Bengal elections, the focus shifted to communal issues. However, Kolkata, known for its communal harmony, remained steadfast in its identity. Representatives from all faiths voted peacefully in the city. From nuns affiliated with the Missionaries of Charity to ISKCON monks, everyone participated in the festival of democracy.

Being the cultural capital of the country, art and culture people draw a large attention in Kolkata. Many film and TV celebrities and artistes were seen exercising their right to vote.
Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc will participate in television debates on exit polls of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday evening, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said.

The decision came after a meeting of the top opposition leaders at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

"After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA (bloc) parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening," Khera said on X.

He added that the INDIA bloc parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls.

Khera had earlier said the Congress party would skip the media debates on exit polls as it did not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP.

"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 had said in a statement on Friday.

The BJP had taken a swipe at the Congress decision, saying decision to not participate in exit poll debates is the confirmation that the opposition party has conceded defeat.

"The Congress ran the campaign through the polls that it is going to get a majority. But it has now realised the reality and knows that it faces a rout in the exit polls to be broadcast after the elections tomorrow," Home Minister Amit Shah said.

Shah said Congress leaders should not be in denial and instead introspect, as he accused the party of casting aspersions on the Supreme Court and the Election Commission when judicial judgments and poll results do not favour it.
A Chennai to Mumbai IndiGo flight is being inspected as per protocol after it received a bomb threat, the civil aviation major said on Saturday morning.



All 172 passengers of IndiGo flight 6E 5314 were safely disembarked after landing at the Mumbai airport. Soon, it was isolated for security procedures, the statement said.

It was the pilot of the aircraft that alerted the Mumbai ATC of the bomb threat.

"Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines. All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection. Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area," news agency ANI quoted the IndiGo release as saying.

The flight landed at Mumbai airport around 8.45 am and the passengers were taken to safety using the step ladder, a source reportedly told news agency PTI.

This is the second such incident involving an IndiGo flight in the past week. On May 28, an IndiGo Varanasi flight from Delhi had received an alleged bomb threat.
Students compete during the Myanmar Tournament of the World Robot Contest 2024 at the National Theater in Yangon, Myanmar, June 1, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

by Kyaw Zin Tun

YANGON, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Young innovators from across Myanmar gathered to showcase their robotic skills at the nation's inaugural World Robot Contest held at the National Theater in Yangon on Saturday.

Among them was Hazel Shin Hmuu Tin, a 10-year-old enthusiast, who expressed her excitement, saying, "I like robots. I feel excited participating in the contest. We use the M6 RCU. It is small and very fast."

"This is my third time participating in robotic contests. When I grow older, I want to establish a software company," she added.

Speaking about the future of robotics, Hazel said, "Humans age, but robots don't. Therefore, people can employ robots."

"Writing programs is challenging for me. We have to work as a team," Hazel added.

Kaung Sint Thu, 10, shared his joy, saying, "I'm very happy participating in the contest with my friends. I gained experience for future contests."

"I compete in the contest with my friend. We use the M6 RCU. The experience obtained from this contest will be beneficial for the next international contest," he explained.

"This is my second time participating in robot contests. The first one was in Thailand where I won the champion prize," he noted.

Regarding the use of robots in daily life, Kaung Sint Thu said, "Robots can help people in places like hospitals. I want to invent things with coding and build robots in the future."

Than Zin Theint, 11, said, "I'm competing here with my elder brother. I'm very excited participating in the contest. This is my second time in a robot contest."

"Robots are very interesting. They are operated by programming. I not only gained experience but also had a lot of fun here," she said.

"I want to operate a restaurant with robots when I grow older. Robots are very useful. They can do work for people," she said.

Zwe Thiha Htun, 10, expressed his feelings, saying, "This is my first time participating in a robot contest. I feel excited and nervous."

"Robots can help us deliver mail, put things into boxes and wrap them," he said.

"When I grow up, I want to be a chef or an IT administrator. By participating in the contest, I gained experience. If there is another contest, I will keep coding and participate," he added.

Min Thukha, 11, shared his aspirations, saying, "I'm participating here because I want to test my brain and IQ. This is my first time."

"With knowledge and technology, we can make the world a better place. I want to be a math teacher in the future," he said.

Min Thukha said that holding the contest will inspire others to learn robotics and coding.

Nyi Nyi Zaw Htun, the WRC event organizer, said that over 200 students in more than 70 teams from different parts of Myanmar competed in the robotic contest held at the National Theater in Yangon on Saturday.

"We organized the contest in accordance with the rules set by WRC. Participating students will gain the benefits of teamwork, engineering knowledge and more," he said. 

A student competes during the Myanmar Tournament of the World Robot Contest 2024 at the National Theater in Yangon, Myanmar, June 1, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A student competes during the Myanmar Tournament of the World Robot Contest 2024 at the National Theater in Yangon, Myanmar, June 1, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Students compete during the Myanmar Tournament of the World Robot Contest 2024 at the National Theater in Yangon, Myanmar, June 1, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Students compete during the Myanmar Tournament of the World Robot Contest 2024 at the National Theater in Yangon, Myanmar, June 1, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is contesting from the Varanasi parliamentary constituency in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls, urged people to turn out at polling stations in large numbers and cast their vote.



Polling is underway in 57 Lok Sabha seats, including in all constituencies of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh besides a few in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.



Taking to X, the prime minister urged people to make our democracy more vibrant and participative.



Today is the final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As 57 seats across 8 states and UTs go to the polls, calling upon the voters to turnout in large numbers and vote. I hope young and women voters exercise their franchise in record numbers. Together, lets make our democracy more vibrant and participative, the prime minister wrote.



Modi, who began his 45-hour-long meditation at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial here on Thursday evening, will end the spiritual exercise on Saturday morning.






With the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections concluding, pollsters have released exit poll data. Most of the exit poll results predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led NDA. Check poll of exit polls HERE. For state-wise exit polls, click HERE.

An average of nine exit polls predicts the NDA will win 362 seats, INDIA bloc 145 and 28 for Others. ABP News-C Voter, India News-D-Dynamics, Times Now-ETG, Jan Ki Baat, Dainik Bhaskar, Republic Bharat-Matrize, Republic TV-P MARQ, India TV-CNX and India Today-My Axis India have come out with their exit poll numbers so far.

ABP News-C Voter: NDA: 353-383; INDIA: 152-182; Others: 4-12

India News-D-Dynamics: NDA-371; INDIA: 125; Others: 47

Times Now-ETG: NDA: 358; INDIA:152; Others: 33

Jan Ki Baat: NDA: 362-392; INDIA: 141-161; Others: 10-20

Dainik Bhaskar: NDA: 285-350; INDIA: 145-201; Others: 33-49

Republic Bharat-Matrize: NDA: 353-368; INDIA: 118-133; Others: 43-48

Republic TV-P MARQ: NDA: 359; INDIA: 154; Others: 30

India TV-CNX: NDA: 371-401; INDIA: 109-139; Others: 28-38

India Today-My Axis India: NDA: 361-401; INDIA: 131-166; Others: 8-20

The assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also went to polls simultaneosly. While the counting for the assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim was slated for June 2, the votes cast for Lok Sabha polls and the remaining Assemblies will be counted on June 4. The Congress on Saturday made a U-turn and said that its representatives will join television debates on exit polls. The decision was made after a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders in the evening.

Exit Polls 2024 Highlights: Here are all updates you need to know:
The north Bengal city of Siliguri has been facing an acute water crisis since Wednesday after Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Gautam Deb declared that the water supplied from its treatment facility was not safe for consumption.



Siliguri, at the foothills of Darjeeling and Sikkim, is the gateway to Indias Northeastern parts. It gets its water from the Teesta-Mahananda canal. The Teesta barrage at Gajaldoba is undergoing repair works after being damaged by the floods in October last year.



As a result, Mahanandas water was being distributed across Siliguri by the corporation. However, a recent report revealed that the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) in Mahanandas water was higher than what is suitable for drinking.



This led to Mayor Gautam Dev announcing, Water will be supplied regularly. But because of high BOD, it is prohibited from drinking till June 2. (SMC) will give one lakh water pouches and drinking water will be supplied water tankers twice a day.



However, these efforts have failed to satisfy the parched population of Siliguri. Those who can afford are buying packaged drinking water at inflated prices. Others are caught up in commotion and even fighting to secure drinking water from corporation tankers.



26 tankers are being used to supply water. Given that there are 47 wards under the jurisdiction of SMC, the people of two wards are dependent on one tanker. This leads to the assimilation of huge crowds every time a tanker arrives. To mitigate the situation, the civic body is distributing coupons.



Siliguri-based environmental activist Soumitra Ghosh, however, said the water crisis was in the making for a long time. Deforestation in the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim and urbanisation in downhill polluted the rivers and reduced groundwater capacity in Siliguri and surrounding areas.



Earlier, a majority of the households had wells. They were not dependent on supplied water from the corporation. But with urbanisation, open areas have been filled with concrete structures. It has reduced the soils water retention capacity, increasing peoples reliance on corporations water supply, Ghosh told THE WEEK.



He continued, The corporation doesnt have adequate rain-water harvesting capacity. It depends on the river water. But due to deforestation uphills, caused by increased tourism activities, siltation has increased in rivers such as Teesta and Mahananda. The situation is worsened if theres a disaster like the one happened in October last year.



The water crisis has led to a huge political uproar in Siliguri with the opposition demanding the resignation of the mayor. The CPI(M) took out a protest march against the civic board. Hundreds of party workers demonstrated in front of the entrance of the municipal corporation office.



Meanwhile, BJP leader and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh informed that he would file a PIL to ensure that people responsible for the crisis get punished. He also alleged that not only the current TMC-ruled civic board but former CPI(M) Mayory Ashok Bhattacharya was also responsible.
Ever since the events of May 9, 2023, when a fascist reign of terror was unleashed by the Pakistan establishment (which is a euphemism for its army) I have been closely watching on social media and elsewhere the fast-moving developments in Pakistan. With great concern.

About 14,000 people, including women and children, have been arrested on trumped up charges, brutally beaten, and incarcerated in jail, where they are still languishing in horrible inhuman conditions for over an year. The Pakistani media has been largely silenced, and also most of the judiciary, which unfortunately has as its head the shameless Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, one of the most disgraceful and servile toadies the world has seen since the 'hanging judge' Judge Jeffreys.

However, even in these dark times, there are some courageous judges like Justice Athar Minallah of the Pakistan Supreme Court, and the courageous six judges of the Islamabad High Court who wrote an explosive letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and members of Pakistan's Supreme Judicial Council complaining of interference in their functioning by the state intelligence agencies. They stand as beacons of hope and have become my heroes.

ALSO READ | OPINION: Shameless Chief Justice of Pakistan

Several courageous lawyers of Pakistan have also become my heroes, like Aitzaz Ahsan, Sardar Latif Khosa, Barrister Gohar Khan, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, Mohd Shoaib Shaheen and Naeem Haider Panjutha. They are fighting bravely for democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan.

One lady lawyer, Rabia Bajwa, has especially drawn my admiration. I have seen many of her speeches, and she reminds me of my friend the late Asma Jahangir whom I met many times in Delhi when I was a Supreme Court judge there. Like Asma, Rabia is totally fearless, and is a real tigress.

When the great revolutionary writer Thomas Paine was jailed and tried for treason in England in 1792 for writing his famous pamphlet 'The Rights of Man' in defence of the French Revolution, the great advocate Thomas Erskine (1750-1823) was briefed to defend him. Erskine was at that time the attorney general for the Prince of Wales and he was warned that if he accepts the brief, he would be dismissed from office. Undeterred, Erskine accepted the brief and was dismissed from office.

ALSO READ | OPINION: Pakistani generals destroying themselves

However, his immortal words in this connection stand out as a shining light even today:

"From the moment that any advocate can be permitted to say that he will or will not stand between the Crown and the subject arraigned in court where he daily sits to practise, from that moment the liberties of England are at an end. If the advocate refuses to defend from what he may think of the charge or of the defence, he assumes the character of the judge; nay he assumes it before the hour of the judgment; and in proportion to his rank and reputation puts the heavy influence of perhaps a mistaken opinion into the scale against the accused in whose favour the benevolent principles of English law make all assumptions, and which commands the very judge to be his counsel."

Indian and Pakistani lawyers have followed this great tradition of defending their clients and fighting for the rule of law, often even at grave personal risk.

The revolutionaries in Bengal during British rule were defended by our lawyers, the Indian communists were defended in the Meerut conspiracy case, Razakars of Hyderabad were defended by our lawyers, Sheikh Abdullah and his co-accused were defended by them, and so were some of the alleged assassins of Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. In recent times, Dr Binayak Sen has been defended. The great Urdu poet Faez was defended in the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case, and Z.A. Bhutto was defended in the Kasuri murder case.

ALSO READ | OPINION: The truth about the Pakistan military

No Indian or Pakistani lawyer of repute has ever shirked responsibility on the ground that it will make him unpopular or that it is personally dangerous for him to do so. It was in this great tradition that the eminent Bombay High Court lawyer Bhulabhai Desai defended the accused in the INA trials in the Red Fort in Delhi (November 1945-May 1946).

As long as fearless, valiant, intrepid, undaunted lawyers like Rabia Bajwa are around, the spirit of liberty can never die out in Pakistan.

Long live Rabia Bajwa!

Justice Markandey Katju retired from the Supreme Court in 2011.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.


With the one-and-half-month-long Lok Sabha elections ending on Saturday, all eyes are now on the exit poll results. Besides Lok Sabha, the exit polls on the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will also be released once the voting ends.

Where to check live updates on exit polls?

If you are wondering where to check updates for the exit polls live tonight, we have got you covered. You can go to our LIVE blog by clicking HERE.

When will the exit poll data will be available?

According to the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, television channels and news outlets will be able to run exit poll data and its results after 6:30 pm.

The Congress on Friday said it has decided not to participate in any debates on Lok Sabha exit polls on the television channels, pointing out that the party does not want to indulge 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," Congress spoksperson and media department chairperson Pawan Khera said posted on X. "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."

On the other hand, BJP president J.P. Nadda on Friday claimed the Congress' decision amounts to an "unequivocal confirmation" that it has conceded the elections. "Their hypocrisy is not lost on anyone. Let no one in Phase 7 waste their vote on them," he said.

Stakeholders in the country's equity markets will also be closely watching the exit poll data. The exit poll results is likely to have an impact on the market sentiments on Monday, a day ahead of the vote counting.
A Florida sheriff's deputy, who fatally shot a Black US Air Force airman at his home, was fired from his job on Saturday. Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired Deputy Eddie Duran saying that his life was never in danger and he should not have fired his weapon.

Senior Airman Roger Fortson was shot by the officer on May 3 after responding to a domestic violence call and being directed to Fortson's apartment. The deputy had fired multiple times after Fortson, 23, opened the door. The body camera footage shows that Fortson was holding his legal gun, pointing at the ground, in his right hand.

An internal investigation was conducted over the incident which concluded that Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, the former deputy's use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable.

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 Fortson's actions. He did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual, added Aden.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still investigating the case.

According to the internal affairs report, Duran told investigators that when Fortson opened the door, he had seen aggression in the boy's eyes. He said he fired as he thought he was going to get shot.

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, representing Fortson's family, said 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.

Duran is a law enforcement veteran. He began his career as a military police officer in the Army. In 2015, he was hired by an Oklahoma police department and later he joined the Okaloosa County sheriff's office in July 2019.

An apartment complex manager called the sheriff's office at 4:24 pm, telling the officials about frequent arguments coming from the apartment complex. Duran arrived three minutes after the call and met the manager in the parking lot. She had directed the officers to Fortson's fourth-floor apartment.

Reportedly, Fortson was on a video call with his girlfriend when the officers arrived at his door. Fortson's girlfriend told investigators that the airman asked who was there but did not get a response. She said Fortson told her that he was not going to answer the door as no one comes to his apartment. She said neither of them heard the deputy yell that he was with the sheriff's office.

After the third knock, she said Fortson told her, I'm gonna go grab my gun because I don't know who that is.

When Fortson opened the door holding his gun, Duran said Step back, and then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backwards onto the floor. Though he was rushed to the hospital, he could not be saved.

(With PTI inputs)
Serial killer, Robert Willie Pickton (74), who fed his female victims to pigs, has died after being assaulted in prison. Pickton was one of Canada's notorious serial killers and he was charged with the murders of 26 women.

In a statement on Friday, the Correctional Service of Canada said that Pickton died in hospital following the injuries he suffered in the May 19 assault involving another inmate. He was an inmate of Port-Cartier Institution in the province of Quebec.

A 51-year-old inmate was in custody for the assault on Pickton, said a police spokesman in May.

Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007. He went on a crime spree in the 1990s and early 2000s near Vancouver. Several women in the area were reported missing which paved the way for a years-long investigation leading to Pickton's farm in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam.

DNA of 33 women were found on Pickton's farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Reportedly, Pickton had told an undercover police official that he had killed 49 women. It was also alleged that the Vancouver police were not taking the missings seriously as most of them were sex workers or drug users.

During the trial, witnesses' accounts of Pickton's crimes shocked the entire courtroom. The prosecution witness had revealed how Pickton strangled his victims and fed their remains to his pigs.

"It's karma," said Cynthia Cardinal, sister of Georgina Papin murdered by Pickton. She said was "overwhelmed" with happiness when she received a text message regarding the attack.

An investigation into the Pickton attack was launched by Canada's correctional service. 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, the statement said.

(With PTI inputs)
As suspected, the African National Congress (ANC) party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result. This is a major blow to the ANC party, which enjoyed the parliamentary majority for about 30 years.

With nearly 99 per cent of votes counted, ANC had received just over 40 per cent in the election on Wednesday. However, the final results are still to be formally declared by the electoral commission.

With the country reeling under deep poverty, unemployment and inequality, the opposition parties hailed the historic breakthrough. ANC will now have to form a coalition with smaller opposition parties to form the government and reelect Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. Busy negotiations have already started among parties to form the government.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance received around 21%. The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, who was once part of ANC, came third with just over 14% of the vote in the first election it has contested.

With the Parliament required to elect a president within 14 days of the final election results, all eyes are on the ANC as to which parties they might approach to co-govern.

The MK Party had made it clear that they were willing to negotiate with the ANC but not with Ramaphosa at the helm. We are willing to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said.

With the low percentage, ANC will need to approach more than two opposition parties to form the government.

MK and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called for parts of the economy to be nationalised. The centrist Democratic Alliance is viewed as a business-friendly party and analysts say an ANC-DA coalition would be more welcomed by foreign investors.


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JERUSALEM, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday his rejection of a request by his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares to remove the restrictions on the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem.

A week ago, Israel announced that the consulate was banned from providing services to Palestinians from the West Bank following Spain's decision to recognize the State of Palestine.

Explaining the rejection on social media platform X, Katz noted that "any contact between the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem and people in the Palestinian Authority constitutes a danger to Israel's national security and will be completely prohibited."

Katz warned that the Israeli side will "strictly enforce the guidelines and if there is a violation, additional measures will be taken up to the point of closing the consulate."

In a coordinated move, Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on May 22 their decision to recognize Palestine as a state as of May 28. More than 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, representing over two-thirds of the United Nations' membership. 
A frame crane handles containers at the load-transfer yard of the Horgos Port in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

URUMQI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- With the continuous advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, Horgos, a border city located in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has developed closer ties with the world, with the launch of the China-Europe freight trains injecting new vitality into this inland port city.

Since the flag-off of the first China-Europe freight train at Horgos station in 2016, over 36,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains have passed through Horgos Port.

The annual number of these trains has surged from fewer than 400 in 2016 to over 7,000 in 2022. In 2023, 7,762 trains passed through Horgos, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.8 percent.

Ye Mengting, a staff member at Xinjiang Zhonglian Haitong International Freight Forwarders Co., Ltd., has been busy lately, handling customs clearance procedures.

"Almost every weekday, I go to the Horgos railway port to handle customs clearance for goods traveling via China-Europe freight trains," Ye said. Her job involves checking various details on the international consignment notes, which include information about the consignor and consignee, the name and quantity of the goods, the transport route and the costs.

Each container corresponds to an international consignment note, ensuring the goods are properly managed and tracked during transportation, she added. Ye's company handles about 200 consignment notes daily.

Ye has been working in this role for more than two years and has seen a significant improvement in the efficiency of handling customs clearance.

"With improved customs clearance and streamlined procedures, such as paperless clearance and online operations, we can complete the process in just one to two hours," she said. Previously, she could only handle the paperwork for up to two trains a day, but now she can complete the procedures for about four trains every day.

Yu Rong, deputy director of the safety production command center at Horgos Station, China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd., highlighted the dramatic increase in train traffic.

Initially, the port handled only two trains per day, carrying a few hundred tonnes of mainly clothing and footwear. Now, it handles over 20 trains every day, transporting more than 10,000 tonnes of goods, with over 200 different types of products, Yu said, adding that the destinations of the trains have also expanded to 18 countries.

"Over the years, the China-Europe freight trains have steadily advanced, mirroring the rapid development of this burgeoning port," he said.

"Handling more China-Europe freight trains at our station not only means increased cargo checks but also translates to higher earnings," said Yelrik Duysanbe proudly, a grassroots worker at the station.

Adilya Saidullaev, hailing from Kazakhstan, echoed similar sentiments as she recounted how she has benefited from the China-Europe freight trains.

Having ventured into business in Horgos back in 2016, her company has witnessed remarkable growth over the ensuing years. This success has enabled her to establish multiple duty-free shops and banks at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, the first cross-border cooperation zone established between China and other countries.

The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), established in November 2023, is the first in China's northwestern border regions and the country's newest. Covering approximately 180 square km, the pilot FTZ encompasses areas of Kashgar prefecture, Urumqi and Horgos. The China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center is now a crucial part of the pilot FTZ's operations in Horgos.

"Our products are seamlessly transported through the China-Europe freight trains, a service that is more cost-effective than air and road transportation. This has significantly bolstered our business operations at the cooperation center," Saidullaev said.

Thanks to the cooperation center, many Chinese visitors can purchase products here without traveling to Kazakhstan, she added.

Yang Jiayi has been working in international freight forwarding in Horgos for nine years, specializing in the export of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in recent years. This year, his company's NEV export business has seen a significant increase compared to last year. So far, his company has provided freight forwarding services for over 9,000 NEVs, which are transported to Central Asian and European countries via the China-Europe freight trains.

"As a local, I have witnessed the rapid development of the China-Europe freight trains in Horgos firsthand," Yang said.

"Over the years, I have seen the establishment of the station and its expansion. The local government has also continued to revise its investment policies, attracting talent from diverse locations and boosting local employment," Yang said, adding that such moves have not only facilitated local development but also accelerated his career growth. 

Staff members work inside the production safety command center at Horgos Station, China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd., in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

A visitor shops at a duty-free shop in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)
Teacher Li Ping (C) and teacher Zhang Yu (R) communicate with a teacher of the new music class at the Zhongben Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. Li Ping and Zhang Yu, music teachers of the Renmin Town Central Primary School, set up a music class in the school in April 2019. They adapted popular songs for children, teaching them during lunch breaks and club activities.

Li Ping also released the clips of the children's chorus on short video platforms, which have gained over 30 million likes.

With the increasing popularity, the music class has got its own classroom in the school, equipped with guitar, ukulele, bass, African drum and other musical instruments. They also produced an original song of their own.

This May, Li Ping and Zhang Yu started a new project, aiming to found musical classes of its kind in more schools. Under this project, a new music class has been founded in Zhongben Town Central Primary School, welcoming over 20 students.

"We will move forward and spread the confidence, optimism and happiness with music to more children in the countryside," said Li. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Teacher Li Ping (L) and teacher Zhang Yu teach children in the music class at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Teacher Li Ping (1st R) records chorus videos at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Teacher Li Ping (L, back) and teacher Zhang Yu (C, back) watch the children go back to their classrooms after practicing chorus at the Zhongben Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding He)

Children practice chorus at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding He)

Children practice chorus at the Zhongben Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Children play the drum set at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Children practice chorus at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Teacher Li Ping (2nd R) and teacher Zhang Yu (2nd L) give instructions during band rehearsal at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Teacher Li Ping (1st R) teaches children in the music class at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Teacher Li Ping (R) talks with teacher Zhang Yu at the Renmin Town Central Primary School in Anda City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)
Spring cleaning comes with danger in Kansas City . . .



For the second time this week a local trimmer was caught in a perilous & pendulous situation.

Here are deets on the rescue . . .



"The Kansas City Fire Department stated that its rescue division responded to the 9800 block of 81st Terrace in Raytown just after 10:15 am.



"Officials reported that a tree trimmer had lost his rope system and was unable to get himself down from about 65 feet in the air."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Today we notice that author, biz lady & actress hottie EmRata confirms she's the very best celeb in the world as we take a quick peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Cowtown GOP Follows Leader

Kansas City-area Republican leaders stand by Trump after guilty verdicts Leaders of Kansas City area Republican central committees said they will continue to support former President Donald Trump despite guilty verdicts in his trail related to a hush-money payment.

Kansas City Tech Cash Exchange

KC Futures DAO aims to launch Kansas City's first blockchain-driven innovation magnet As the US races to catch up to Europe, Asia and the developing world on crypto, blockchain, and Web3 tech, can the careful creation of talent-attracting digital hubs help close the distance?

Harsh Times Money Lines

'Your paycheck doesn't go as far': Kansas Citians give their own definition of inflation The most recent consumer price index report is expected soon and a slight increase is expected, along with other economic indicators.

Urban Core Creativity Debuts

New art center opening this weekend in 18th and Vine Jazz District A new art center in the 18th and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City is celebrating its grand opening this weekend.

Golden Ghetto History Postscript

Overland Park Man Recalls Surprise Joyride with Patty Hearst Tom Matthews was about to graduate from high school. Then Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army abducted him. The Overland Park man recalls a joyride.

Model Mum Remains Newsworthy

Emily Ratajkowski models skimpy bikini walks through NYC Emily Ratajkowski showed off her beach style in the middle of New York City Friday. The 32-year-old modeled another of her Inamorata bikinis in a social media pictorial.

Prez Shares Ceasefire Plan

Biden announces Israel has offered a three-part proposal to end the war in Gaza President Joe Biden announced that Israel has proposed a plan that would lead to a permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, and the release of all hostages.

Actually, We Notice MAGA More Confident Than Angry

Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after verdict 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.

The Only Perspective That Matters

Ivanka Trump breaks silence after guilty verdict 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...

European War Routine

Russia and Ukraine exchange POWs for the first time in three months Ukraine and Russia have exchanged prisoners of war, each sending back 75 POWs in the first such swap in the past three months.

Voting Changes Africa

Nelson Mandela's party has been dealt a seismic election blow. Where does it leave South Africa? | CNN South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party looks set to lose its majority for the first time in 30 years with results in from 90% of polling stations, marking the biggest political shift since the end of apartheid.

Death Culture Challenges Democracy

Mexico's drug cartels and gangs appear to be playing a wider role in Sunday's elections than before COTIJA, Mexico (AP) - Mexico's drug cartels and gangs appear to be playing a wider role in Sunday's elections that will determine the presidency, nine governorships and about 19,000 mayorships and other local posts. The country's powerful drug cartels have long staged targeted assassinations of mayoral and other local candidates who threaten their control.

Serving The Dotte

When coffee comes with a side of community in KCK For a brief time, Kinship Coffee's future hung in the balance. Its owner discovered that "coffee and community" was no mere slogan.

Soggy Weekend Ahead . . .

Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are likely throughout the day Today is a First Alert Weather Impact Day

AURORA  To Be Alright is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Sorry, I'm not going to court for this one so we'll have to rely on the memory of our most loyal readers.

Also, we actually talked to this lady and she's very nice, smart, capable and deserves way better than what is offered at 12th & Oak.

More importantly . . .



This might be the reason that I need to get cracking on another facet of this blog BECAUSE our blog community knows there's way more to this story that WILL have an impact on the Mayor's political future.

For now . . .

Here's the official story from a Pulitzer Prize winner that tells voters ABSOLUTELY NOTHING . . .



"Friday is Morgan Saids last day as chief of staff to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, and as the rare communications professional who while never saying a disloyal word about her boss has also never lied to me, Im sorry to see her go . . .



"She intentionally hasnt lined anything else up, other than planning to stay with Lucas in some as yet undefined advisory capacity. Because her immediate goal is to take the summer off, visiting every single public pool in Kansas City and also taking a real vacation, to Italy."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
JAKARTA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. embassy in Jakarta on Saturday to protest Israeli operations on the Rafah refugee camp.

The demonstrators began assembling early in the morning, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Zionist slogans.

There were also calls for a boycott of brands that support Israel.

A total of 1,120 police officers were deployed to maintain security during the rally.

Similar rallies also took place in other Indonesian cities, including Medan and Lampung. On the same day, Indonesian President Joko Widodo voiced criticism during a working visit to Sumatra. 
Aftermath report and update . . .

Our quick and respectful takeaway . . .

Most of the social media troll comments seemed to blame the victims instead of recognizing their bravery for doing humanitarian work in one of the places where it's needed most.

Here's this week an important note . . .



Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, the father of Natalie and father-in-law of Davy, shared that their remains landed safely at the Kansas City International Airport and will be transported to Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Remains of Missouri legislator's relatives killed in Haiti gang attack return to U.S. The remains of Davy and Natalie Lloyd, the relatives of a Missouri lawmaker who were killed in a gang attack in the Haitian-capital Port-Au-Prince, have returned to the United States.

Related:

Hundreds mourn gang killings of a Haitian mission director and a young American couple Hundreds of people in Haiti are mourning the death of Judes Montis. The mission director was killed by gang members who also fatally shot a U.S. couple that worked with him.

Developing . . .
June 2024 starts with a spate of gunfire overnight that leaves two dead.

Last year at this date on the calendar there were already 76 homicides.

However, we notice an uptick in deadly local violence as KCMO moves into Summer.

Here are two separate reports along with news story follow-up . . .



Homicide 600 block of E 110th Ter



This evening just before 11:30PM, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of E 110th Ter on a reported sounds of shots. The call was updated to a shooting while in route to the scene.



When officers arrived, they were summoned to a nearby residence where an adult male was located in the front yard unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital. The victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.



The preliminary investigation revealed the incident occurred over an argument.



Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to begin gathering evidence and collecting witness statements.



There is not currently anyone in custody. This is being investigated as a homicide and is ongoing at this time.



If anyone was in or around the area at this time and saw or heard anything they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS there is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

##################





Homicide 50th and Prospect Ave



This evening just after 4AM, officers were dispatched to 50th and Prospect Ave on a reported EMS call for a party down in the street.



When officers arrived, they observed an adult male laying in the street unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Responding officers immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS responded and confirmed the party deceased.



The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently unknown and no one is in custody.



Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to begin gathering evidence and collecting witness statements.



This is being investigated as a homicide and is ongoing at this time.



If anyone was in or around the area at this time and saw or heard anything they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS there is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

##############



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KCPD investigating homicide after man is shot in front yard over dispute A Friday night shots-fired call ended as a homicide after an argument turned to gunfire, the Kansas City Police Department reported.

1 dead after shooting in Kansas City Friday night Kansas City Police Department investigating shooting that killed one man after fight on E 110th Terrace, Holmes Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri

Early morning homicide leaves one dead in Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating its second homicide in 5 hours on Saturday morning

Man found dead in street in KC Saturday morning: KCPD Kansas City Police Department investigating shooting the killed man in the street near a party on Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri

KCPD responds to 2 overnight homicides in Kansas City, Missouri The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating two homicides from overnight Friday night into Saturday morning.

Developing . . .


As far as festivals go, Lleida's Aplec del Caragol in Spain is a total shellebration! You won't find a sleepy gathering here, just the sizzling sounds of snails hitting the grill and the cheerful clinks of beer glasses.

Who thought you could party this hard with a plate of gastropods? In Lleida, when May rolls around, the city turns into the ultimate snail-eating hotspot, attracting over 200,000 people eager to indulge in this unique delicacy.

Here, it's all about the vibe. Walk through the festival grounds and you'll be swept up in a wave of laughter, music, and the rich aromas of garlic and herbs.

From giant paellas filled with these curious little critters to lively snail races that could rival the slowest of slow-motion replays, there's an infectious energy that makes everyone feel like a local.

The Heart of the Festival

In Lleida, snails are more than just food. They are a reason to celebrate. The city is famous for Aplec del Caragol, a festival that fills the streets with excitement and tradition. Attendees flock from all corners to be part of this lively event.

The streets transform into a lively scene with music blaring from every corner, and everyone is in a festive mood. It is here in Lleida where you can witness the camaraderie and spirit of a community brought together by their love for snails.

Snail Dishes Like You've Never Seen Before

If you think you know how snails taste, think again. The festival offers a range of dishes that show snails in ways you might never have imagined.

From snails a la gormanda, cooked in a spicy sauce, to the more traditional a la llauna, where snails are grilled to perfection, there is something for every palate.

Chefs and locals take pride in preparing these dishes, adding a personal touch that speaks to the culinary heritage of Lleida. It is a taste adventure that challenges your palate and introduces you to new flavors.

Cultural Activities

Lleida does not hold back when it comes to showing its culture. Apart from the eating, the festival is packed with activities that highlight Catalan traditions.

You can watch or participate in building human towers, known as castellers. The traditional Catalan dance, the Sardana, is another highlight, bringing people together in circles, hand in hand, moving to the music in a display of unity and joy.

These cultural expressions are vital to the festival, giving visitors a deep dive into the local way of life.

Nighttime Is When the Magic Happens

As the sun sets, Lleida takes on a new persona. The festival lights up, and the penyas become the heart of the nightlife. Music fills the air, from traditional Catalan songs to the latest pop hits, and the party goes on until the early hours.

It is during these nighttime festivities that you can really feel the pulse of the festival. People of all ages come together, dancing, laughing, and sharing stories, creating memories that last a lifetime.
HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The month of June unfolded with an exhilarating journey for a team of Hong Kong students, who just got off from C919's maiden cross-border commercial charter flight and was ready to experience first-hand the eastern Chinese mainland metropolis of Shanghai.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, a C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on a round-trip service and returned on the same day.

A ceremony was held at the Hong Kong International Airport to mark the flight before its return flight departure and around two hours later, C919 landed in Shanghai and received a ceremonial water salute on its arrival.

In mid-December 2023, China's homegrown large jetliner C919 made its first visit to Hong Kong with ARJ21, another domestic aircraft for a static display at the Hong Kong International Airport. The C919 also performed a fly-past over the scenic Victoria Harbor.

"The ceremony is iconic!" Eric Chan, Chief Secretary for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, thumbed up to C919's two flights to Hong Kong, respectively in December last year and this one on Saturday, saying that they helped deepened Hong Kong youth's understanding of the development of national aviation and enhanced their sense of identity and national pride.

"Today, the C919 carries Hong Kong youth to Shanghai to experience mainland working life and learn about national conditions and national development. I believe this experience will be unforgettable and rewarding for all students," Chan said.

A sophomore surnamed Yu at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said that she is looking forward to experiencing the construction and development of Shanghai and truly understanding the history and future of the motherland through visits to Shanghai's tourist attractions and enterprises.

The trip to Shanghai on a C919, China's homegrown large passenger plane, allowed her to feel more deeply the leap in China's aviation sector as well as its growing sci-tech strength.

The Hong Kong interns are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. Shanghai has arranged a variety of weekend events, including visiting such meaningful spots as the East China Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Base, Yangshan Deep Water Port, the Grand Halls, the WorldSkills Museum, to broaden their horizons.

There will also be a highly-anticipated mentor program, in which 50 representatives of entrepreneurs from Shanghai and Hong Kong will offer hands-on skills and guidance to the students.

Since C919's successful first commercial passenger flight on May 28, 2023, six aircraft have been delivered to China Eastern Airlines, the jetliner's first customer. The C919 fleet is expected to reach 10 by the end of 2024.

The C919 is a large passenger aircraft designed, manufactured and certified by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China in strict accordance with international airworthiness standards, carrying 158 to 192 passengers, with a range of 4,075 to 5,555 km, capable of performing medium-range route tasks.

At present, the C919 has more than 1,000 global orders. 
With Australias recently announced contribution, the Ukraine Energy Support Fund has exceeded EUR 494 million.

The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The total amount of grant contributions from partners (transferred to the Fund and declared) has increased to more than EUR 494 million, the report states.

In recent weeks, grant contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund have also been declared by the United Kingdom, Austria and Sweden.

A reminder that Australia decided to transfer $20 million in support of Ukraines energy system instead of direct coal supplies, which had previously been requested by the Ukrainian government. Another $11 million will be sent to Ukraine as additional humanitarian funding.
MOGADISHU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A joint airstrike carried out by the Somali and U.S. forces killed three Islamic State (IS)-Somalia fighters in the latest airstrike in northeastern Somalia on Friday evening.

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which oversees American troops on the African continent, said the airstrike occurred in a remote area in the vicinity of Dhaardaar, about 81 km southeast of Bosaso.

"An initial assessment of the strike is that three IS militants were killed, with no civilian casualties," Africom said in a statement issued on Saturday.

Africom noted that alongside its partners, it continues to take action to prevent this terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks that disproportionately harm civilians.

It said Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa, adding that AFRICOM's forces will continue training, advising and equipping partner forces to degrade the IS.

The so-called IS wing in Somalia has its main base in the Puntland region, northeastern Somalia, and has occasionally clashed with Puntland forces and al-Shabab militants. 
NEW DELHI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The nearly two-and-a-half-month voting process was scheduled to end in India on Saturday, with people still voting at the seventh and last phase.

The voting will reportedly end at 6:00 p.m. local time.

The political party, or alliance of political parties, which wins the majority of the parliamentary election, gets the chance to form the next government.

The counting of votes was scheduled to take place on June 4 and final results are expected to be officially announced by the election commission later, or on the following day. 
In a dramatic turn of events, police arrested 12 pro-Palestinian protesters at Wayne State University on Thursday. The police action, which involved the dismantling of a protest encampment that had been set up since May 23, has stirred controversy and led to a transition to remote learning for the university's students.

Protest Origins and University Response

The encampment at Wayne State University was initiated by pro-Palestinian protesters who aimed to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians and to advocate for their rights. The encampment, which began on May 23, quickly grew in size and visibility, becoming a focal point for activists and students alike. Protesters erected tents and banners, creating a makeshift community within the university grounds.

Despite the peaceful intentions of the protesters, university officials expressed growing concerns over the encampment's impact on campus operations and safety. On Tuesday, Wayne State University officials announced a shift to remote learning, citing "legal, health and safety, and operational challenges" posed by the encampment. This decision was met with mixed reactions from the university community, with some supporting the administration's stance and others criticizing it as an overreach.

Matt Lockwood, a spokesperson for the university, stressed the importance of maintaining safety and accessibility for all students. He explained that dismantling the encampment was essential for this purpose and highlighted that the protesters had received several warnings prior to the police intervention.

READ MORE : New College Of Florida President Richard Corcoran Threatens To Withhold Degrees Of Protesting Students

The Raid and Aftermath

The police raid on Thursday was swift and decisive. Officers moved in early in the morning, dismantling tents and removing protesters who refused to leave voluntarily. According to eyewitnesses, the scene was tense, with officers clashing with some protesters who resisted the eviction. Ultimately, 12 individuals were arrested during the operation.

Among those arrested was Nazimia Abdrabah, a 19-year-old student, whose arrest has sparked particular outrage.

Family members and supporters allege that during the arrest, police forcibly removed Abdrabah's hijab, an act that has been condemned as a violation of her religious rights. U.S. House Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat representing Detroit and the only Palestinian American lawmaker on Capitol Hill, was present during the raid and voiced her strong disapproval.

"You took her Islamic headscarf off," Tlaib said, according to The Detroit Free Press. "Do you care anything about them?" Tlaib's presence and statements have drawn further attention to the incident, amplifying calls for accountability and justice.

Following the raid, protesters who were not arrested continued to demonstrate, marching around the campus and voicing their demands for the university to respect their right to peaceful protest. The university has yet to provide a detailed response to these allegations and the broader concerns raised by the protesters.

Community Reaction and Broader Implications

The raid and subsequent arrests at Wayne State University have ignited a broader debate about the right to protest and the role of university administrations in handling such situations. Many students and faculty members have expressed solidarity with the protesters, arguing that the university's actions were heavy-handed and unnecessary.

A student, speaking anonymously, expressed that protesting is a basic right and believed the university should have addressed the protesters' concerns through less extreme measures. Faculty members have also shared their worries, with some advocating for an independent investigation into both the police actions and the university's management of the situation.

The incident at Wayne State University is part of a larger trend of increased activism on college campuses across the United States. Since police first stormed the Columbia University encampment on April 18, more than 2,900 individuals have been detained in various protests nationwide. This wave of activism reflects a growing willingness among students to engage in direct action to advocate for social and political causes.

As the situation continues to develop, it remains to be seen how Wayne State University will navigate the challenges posed by the protest and the community's response. The university's decision to transition to remote learning "until further notice" has added another layer of complexity, affecting thousands of students and faculty members.

In the coming days, university officials, protesters, and community leaders will need to find a way to address the underlying issues that led to the protest while ensuring that the rights and safety of all individuals on campus are respected. The events at Wayne State University serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between maintaining order and respecting the right to dissent in a democratic society.
In a significant shift from prior expectations, the presidents of Yale University and the University of Michigan will not be appearing before a full congressional committee for a public hearing.

Instead, Peter Salovey of Yale and Santa Ono of Michigan will be questioned in private transcribed interviews by the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee's counsel and staff. This change has sparked discussions about the transparency and seriousness of addressing antisemitism allegations on these campuses.

Format Change and Committee's Intentions

The decision to conduct private interviews, as revealed in letters sent by committee chairwoman Virginia Foxx, contrasts sharply with the treatment of other university presidents who faced public hearings in the past six months. Foxx's letters outlined that the presidents would be questioned on June 20 and August 9, respectively. The committee's investigation focuses on alleged patterns of antisemitism at Yale and Michigan and the universities' perceived failure to protect Jewish students.

In these private sessions, the questioning will alternate between majority and minority committee staff, each having hour-long rounds. This method aims to ensure a thorough examination while possibly avoiding the media spectacle of public hearings. Foxx emphasized that these interviews are crucial to understanding and addressing the campuses' issues.

"The Committee has identified patterns of antisemitism on Yale's and Michigan's campuses and a general failure by these universities to protect Jewish students that must be addressed," Foxx stated in the press release. By opting for transcribed interviews, the committee aims to delve deeply into the universities' responses without the distractions of a public forum.

READ MORE : Lawmakers Target College Presidents Who Negotiate Peaceful Ends To Protests

Investigation's Broader Context

The investigation into antisemitism at Yale and Michigan is part of a broader scrutiny of higher education institutions' handling of discrimination and harassment cases. In recent months, several university presidents, including those from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, have faced intense public hearings. Some of these sessions resulted in significant fallout, including resignations after controversial remarks made during the hearings.

The press release did not specify why the format was changed for Salovey and Ono's questioning. However, it can be speculated that the committee aims to avoid the intense public backlash and media frenzy that followed previous hearings. This shift could also indicate a strategic move to focus on gathering detailed, actionable information without the pressure of public opinion swaying the proceedings.

The committee's actions reflect growing concerns about antisemitism on college campuses nationwide. Reports of antisemitic incidents have been rising, prompting federal and state investigations and calls for stronger protective measures for Jewish students. The outcomes of these investigations could lead to significant policy changes and reforms in university administrations.

Reactions and Implications

Reactions to the decision to hold private interviews have been mixed. Advocates for transparency argue that public hearings are essential for accountability and public trust. They believe that the private format might shield the university presidents from direct public scrutiny and diminish the impact of the investigation.

On the other hand, supporters of the private sessions contend that this format allows for more focused and uninterrupted questioning. They argue that it can lead to more substantive responses and a clearer understanding of the issues at hand. The alternating questioning method ensures that both majority and minority committee members have equal opportunities to probe the university leaders' actions and policies.

This investigation's outcome could have far-reaching implications for how universities across the country handle allegations of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. If significant failures are found at Yale and Michigan, it might prompt other institutions to reevaluate their policies and practices proactively. Moreover, it could lead to legislative actions aimed at strengthening protections for minority students on college campuses.

The private questioning of Yale's Peter Salovey and Michigan's Santa Ono marks a critical moment in the ongoing efforts to address antisemitism in higher education. While the format change has sparked debate, the investigation underscores the importance of holding educational institutions accountable for creating safe and inclusive environments for all students. As the committee moves forward with its investigation, the higher education community will be watching closely, anticipating potential changes that could shape the future of campus culture and policies nationwide.
With dreams of purchasing her first home, Alexandra Pimentel, a 32-year-old nonprofit worker in Seattle, meticulously monitored her credit report. Everything seemed normal until April last year, when she noticed a significant discrepancy. Her student loan balance, which should have been $45,000, was listed twice, effectively doubling her debt on paper.

Pimentel's situation stemmed from an error during the transfer of her loan from her old servicer, Nelnet, to her current servicer, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA). This mistake resulted in her loan appearing twice on her credit report, a problem that didn't resolve itself after several months. Despite her proactive efforts to address the issue, including filing disputes with credit agencies and complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the duplicate record persisted, significantly impacting her credit score.

The Broader Impact

Pimentel's experience is far from isolated. At least 1.4 million duplicate student loan records have appeared on credit reports, according to sources familiar with the issue. This widespread problem affects many borrowers who may be unaware that their credit scores are being unfairly penalized. A lower credit score can lead to higher costs for car loans, mortgages, and other financial products, making this glitch a significant barrier for affected individuals.

The root of the problem lies in a 2021 change in how student loan servicers report transferred loans to credit reporting agencies like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Previously, the servicer transferring the loan would close the associated credit tradeline, and the receiving servicer would open a new one. However, this procedure occasionally hindered borrowers' ability to challenge their previous repayment records. To address this, the Education Department mandated that the receiving servicer submit a file indicating the debt transfer and retain the borrower's prior repayment history. Unfortunately, this file often fails to process correctly, leading to duplicate records on credit reports.

READ MORE : Lawmakers, Advocates Demand Biden And Education Department To Fire MOHELA Over Student Loan Debacle

Efforts to Resolve the Issue

The Education Department has acknowledged the problem and is working on a permanent solution, but the process is slow. In the meantime, borrowers like Pimentel are left to navigate a confusing and often unresponsive system. When Pimentel initially contacted the credit reporting agency Experian, she was told that the servicers were reporting the loan accurately and nothing could be done. Similar frustrations were echoed by Weston Loehr, a doctor in Virginia, who discovered a duplicate $600,000 student loan balance on his credit report.

Loehr's attempts to resolve the issue through Experian were initially unsuccessful, leading him to file a complaint with the CFPB. After months of persistence, his duplicate record was finally removed. Loehr's experience highlights the significant time and effort required to correct these errors - a luxury not all borrowers can afford.

In response to the growing number of complaints, the Education Department has provided guidance to student loan servicers, instructing them to delete or close duplicate records when borrowers raise the issue. However, this workaround often results in the loss of borrowers' prior repayment histories, which can further complicate their financial situations.

Moving Forward

The Consumer Data Industry Association, representing credit agencies, has acknowledged the problem and is working with student loan servicers to address it. The association advises borrowers to monitor their credit reports regularly and report any inaccuracies.

Despite these efforts, the process remains cumbersome and slow. For borrowers like Pimentel and Loehr, the experience has been frustrating and disheartening. Pimentel, who had to put her home search on hold due to her damaged credit score, finally saw some relief when her credit score improved by 34 points after the error was corrected. However, the emotional and financial toll of the experience has left a lasting impact.

The glitch in the student loan transfer process underscores the importance of accurate and efficient credit reporting. As the Education Department and credit agencies work towards a permanent solution, borrowers must remain vigilant in monitoring their credit reports and advocating for their financial well-being. For many, like Pimentel, the journey to homeownership and financial stability has been significantly delayed, highlighting the need for swift and effective resolution of such systemic issues.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jun, 2024) Federal Minister Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal visited Chengdu city in Sichuan, China and had a comprehensive tour of the Chengdu High Tech Development Zone (CDHT).

According to press release issued by Planning Commission here Saturday, the minister also met with Chengdu based entrepreneurs, and businessmen, interested in becoming part of Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and members of the Pakistani diaspora.

During Ministers tour of CDHT, he was briefed by Chengdu Municipal leaders, and zonal officials, on the High Tech Development Zone's history, development profile, special policies to attract both domestic and foreign investment, and pillar industries.

The CDHT, established in 1988, is one of the first national high-tech zones in China. In 2023, the CDHT realized a zonal GDP of over US$ 43 billion. Covering an area of 237 sqkm, the zone includes a financial district, biotechnology city, and a science and technology park, employing more than 750,000 people, and registering over 4300 enterprises.

The minister thanked the local officials for their briefing and invited them to participate in Pakistans development, especially vis-a-vis CPEC Phase-II, and to develop technology parks in Pakistan, sharing their valuable experiences and expertise.

The minister also invited relevant experts to visit Pakistan, and engage with authorities and businesses, so that meaningful cooperation could take place. This was greeted positively by both the Municipal leaders and zonal officials.

During interaction with Chengdu entrepreneurs and businessmen, on invitation by the Minister, the businessmen shared their suggestions on how the Pakistani government could further facilitate them in expanding their operations in Pakistan, bring more investment into the country, hire more Pakistanis, and increase foreign exchange earnings.

In the Ministers exchange with the Pakistani diaspora, those present shared their achievements and desire to return to Pakistan, and contribute positively, the statement added.
A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines arrives at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

SHANGHAI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it is expected to carry more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

On Tuesday, the sixth C919 jetliner delivered worldwide joined the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Tuesday, indicating the acceleration of commercial operation of China's homegrown large passenger aircraft.

This came one year after the first commercial flight of C919 was made. With its self-developed trunk jetliner, China aims to secure a share of the global civil aviation market, which is currently dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

As of Monday, the five C919 jetliners of China Eastern Airlines had completed more than 2,100 flights, accumulating 6,000-plus flight hours and transporting nearly 300,000 passengers in the first-year commercial operation. 

A C919 jetliner carrying more than 100 Hong Kong young talents receives a ceremonial water salute on its arrival at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

Hong Kong students queue to get on a C919 jetliner bound for Shanghai at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

A C919 jetliner carrying more than 100 Hong Kong young talents receives a ceremonial water salute on its arrival at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

Hong Kong students get off the C919 jetliner at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

Hong Kong students pose for photo before boarding a C919 jetliner bound for Shanghai at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

People pose for a group photo in front of a C919 jetliner after its arrival at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

A C919 jetliner carrying more than 100 Hong Kong young talents arrive at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

Hong Kong students get off the C919 jetliner at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. A C919 jetliner of the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Saturday kicked off its first overseas commercial chartered flight, providing a round-trip service between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Flying from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to the Hong Kong International Airport Saturday morning, it carried more than 100 Hong Kong young talents on its return trip on the same day.

The Hong Kong young talents are reported to be in Shanghai for internship, visits and exchange activities. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
(@FahadShabbir)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jun, 2024) Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazir Tarar has expressed his aspiration for judges from minority communities to join Pakistan's higher judiciary.

Speaking at the Justice A.R. Cornelius Conference held at a local hotel on Saturday, he emphasized the importance of religious freedom and minority rights in Pakistan. The event was organized by the Bright Future Society and Implementation Minority Rights Forum Pakistan.

He highlighted that Pakistan's Constitution guarantees complete religious freedom, aligning with Islamic teachings on the rights of minorities. He lamented the decline in religious tolerance post-Afghan war but reiterated Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's vision of a united, tolerant society. He mentioned ongoing efforts to establish a Minority Rights Commission and proposed reserving quotas for minority law officers and legal advisors.

He praised retired Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani for his landmark decisions benefiting minorities, and lauded Justice Cornelius for his legacy of equal justice.

Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah echoed Tarar's sentiments, noting the Constitution's protection of minority rights and advocating for the appointment of minority judges to the higher judiciary.

Speakers at the conference, including senior judges and legal experts, paid tribute to Justice Cornelius and discussed the constitutional protections for minorities. They highlighted Justice Cornelius' impactful career and the 2014 Supreme Court guidelines under Justice Jillani aimed at safeguarding minority rights.

The conference concluded with the distribution of certificates to distinguished guests, attended by prominent figures including Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwar, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and retired Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, among others.
(@Abdulla99267510)

Pakistan and the UK authorities decide that Pakistani officers will be trained by the National Crime Agency regarding cybercrimes and counter-narcotics.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-June 1st, 2024) Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said Pakistan will welcome UKs support to tackle the challenge of cybercrimes.

He made the remarks during his meetings with Director General of the National Crime Agency James Babbage and Director General National Security of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Jonathan Allen in London.

On the occasion, the Interior Minister was briefed about the functioning of British institutions and close cooperation was agreed upon. It was decided that Pakistani officers will be trained by the National Crime Agency regarding cybercrimes and counter-narcotics.

The Interior Minister emphasized the need for greater collaboration between the two countries in the fight against drugs.

Mohsin Naqvi pointed out that Pakistani nation and forces have made unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism. He said there is a need to adopt a common strategy to deal with the menace.

The Interior Minister also visited Cabinet Office National Situation Center in London. He expressed deep interest in the working of the center, noting that the importance of such a center in a crisis like situation cannot be denied.

The Interior Minister said the establishment of a National Situation Center will be reviewed in Pakistan as well. He said they will also benefit from the experience and expertise of the United Kingdom in this regard. He said this partnership will not only secure our present but also the future.
Cape Canaveral, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jun, 2024) Troubled aerospace giant Boeing will try once more to fly its first crew to the International Space Station aboard a Starliner spaceship on Saturday, after the last attempt was scrubbed hours before liftoff.

Following checks by engineering teams, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are "go" for launch atop a United Launch Alliance rocket at 12:25 pm (1625 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday. Weather is so far highly favorable.

"We are excited for launch, and we have every confidence in this mission," astronaut Mike Fincke, the backup crew member for the mission, told reporters in a press conference.

The US space agency is looking to certify Boeing as a second commercial operator to ferry crew to the orbital outpost -- something Elon Musk's SpaceX has already been doing since 2020.

Both companies received multi-billion-dollar contracts in 2014 to develop their gumdrop-shaped and autonomously piloted crew capsules, following the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 that left the US temporarily reliant on Russian rockets for rides.

Boeing, with its 100-year history, was heavily favored over its then-upstart competitor, but its program has faced years of delays and safety scares that mirror the myriad problems afflicting its commercial airline division.

Wilmore and Williams were strapped in and ready to blast off on May 6 when a faulty rocket valve forced ground teams to call off that launch.
Jabalia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jun, 2024) Mohammed Al-Najjar, a 33-year-old Gazan, said Saturday he was "shocked" and feeling "lost" as he returned home, only to find much of Jabalia refugee camp in ruins after an Israeli offensive

"All the houses have been reduced to rubble," Najjar told AFP in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip.

"You are lost, you do not know where exactly your house is in the middle of this massive destruction."

Israeli forces carried out a massive bombardment campaign in Jabalia in recent weeks, part of a fierce ground offensive in northern Gaza.

"I was shocked by the extent of the destruction in the latest aggression on Jabalia camp," said Najjar.

In recent days, AFP correspondents have seen scores of Palestinians streaming into the area, trying to find their homes and salvage whatever belongings are left.

Men, women and children were walking through streets where their houses once stood, now full of grey concrete slabs.

Charred furniture, beds and mangled iron doors littered almost every street in the camp, an area once bustling with activity and home to more than 100,000 people, according to UN figures from before the war.

Many families carried their belongings on donkey carts, while others walked with beds and mattresses on their heads.

"We have no other place other than our homes," said Suad Abu Salah, 47, who has also returned after having fled the area earlier on in the war, now nearing its eighth month.

But "Jabalia has been wiped off the map," she said.
(UroToday.com) The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL was host to a kidney and bladder rapid oral abstract session. Dr. Jae-Lyun Lee presented the results of a multicenter phase II trial of modified FOLFIRINOX for the first-line treatment of advanced urachal cancer (ULTMA; KCSG GU20-03).

Urachal cancer is a rare malignancy accounting for <1% of bladder cancers. This is an aggressive disease with the overall survival for recurrent or metastatic disease currently less than two years.1,2 It remains a poorly understood disease, with a paucity of prospective clinical trials to inform treatment decision-making, particularly in the advanced setting, with no established standard of care available.

Current chemotherapy options are based on extrapolative evidence from other disease sites. Systemic regimens for urothelial carcinoma, including gemcitabine/cisplatin or MVAC, may be considered based on anatomical vicinity principles. Given the similar histopathology and genomic mutational profile of colorectal cancer to urachal cancer, 5-FU, S1, capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, have been considered for urachal cancer. Based on evidence from case report/series and systematic reviews, it appears that colorectal cancer chemotherapy regimens may be more beneficial for urachal cancer, compared to regimens for urothelial cancer.1,3

The modified FOLFIRINOX regimen consists of the combination of 5-FU/LV, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan which have synergistic mechanisms of action, do not overlap in major side effects, and all have the potential to be effective in urachal cancer. This regimen has proved to be a significant advancement in the management of pancreatic cancer. To reduce serious adverse events, a modified FOLFIRINOX regimen, which reduced the dose of irinotecan and excluded 5-FU bolus infusion, was used in this study.

This study included patients meeting the following inclusion criteria:

Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of bladder/urachal remnant that is clinically consistent with urachal cancer. Origin in the anterior wall or dome of the bladder Predominant invasion of muscularis or deeper tissues No obvious origin from the overlying urothelium (relative normal-looking urothelial mucosa) No primary adenocarcinoma elsewhere

Patients with locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic disease not amenable to surgery, radiotherapy, or combined modality therapy with curative intent

Measurable disease according to RECIST v1.1

ECOG performance status 01

Adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function

The modified FOLFIRINOX was administered as follows:

Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m 2 over two hours, Irinotecan 150 mg/m2 over 1.5 hours, Leucovorin 400 mg/m 2 over two hours, and 5-FU 2,400 mg/m 2 over 46 hours)

over two hours, Irinotecan 150 mg/m2 over 1.5 hours, Leucovorin 400 mg/m over two hours, and 5-FU 2,400 mg/m over 46 hours) Prophylactic pegteograstim 6 mg subcutaneously on day 3

Prophylactic antibiotics mandatory for the first two cycles (levofloaxcin750 mg orally daily from days 4 to 7)

Antiemetics, per investigators discretion

Repeated every two weeks up to 12 cycles (or until progression or unacceptable toxicities). Study drugs can be administered after 12 cycles to the subjects deriving a benefit from the study medication.

The primary study outcome was overall response rate. The secondary outcomes included:

Progression-free survival

Overall survival

Incidence of febrile neutropenia

Genomic aberrations (targeted next generation sequencing)

The study outcome measures included responses evaluation every six weeks for the first 24 weeks, then every 9 weeks between weeks 25 and 48, and every 12 weeks thereafter.

Between April 2021 and November 2023, 21 patients were enrolled from five cancer centers. The baseline patient characteristics are summarized below. The median patient age was 50 years. 62% of patients had de novo metastatic disease. 76% had undergone prior surgery. 10% had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy. The most common sites of metastases were the lungs (48%), lymph nodes (38%), and the peritoneum (33%).

A complete response was observed in 2 (9.5%) patients, with an additional 11 (52.4%) experiencing a partial response. The remaining 38.1% of patents had stable disease, and none had progressive disease. The overall response rate was 61.9% (95% CI: 41.1  82.7%).

At a median follow-up of 23.3 months, 15 patients experienced disease progression and the median PFS was 9.3 months (95% CI: 6.7 11.9). After a median follow-up of 24.7 months, 10 patients died, and the median overall survival was 19.7 months (95% CI: 14.3  25.1).

At the time of last analysis, 19 patients had discontinued treatment, with only two patients remaining on therapy. As of May 2024, a total of 241 cycles had been administered, with a median of 12 cycles per patient. Dose reductions occurred in seven patients (33.3%) and 45 cycles (18.7%). A dose delay was experienced by five patients (23.8%), and 9/220 cycles (4.1%).

The adverse events are summarized below. There was one grade 3 neutropenic event; however, none of the patients experienced febrile neutropenia. The most common grade 1-2 adverse events were peripheral neuropathy, nausea/abdominal pain, ALT elevation, thrombocytopenia, and fatigue. The most common grade 3 event was anemia (9.5%). There was no grade 4 adverse events.

Dr. Lee concluded that:

The ULTIMA study, the first prospective study in advanced urachal cancer, showed that a modified FOLFIRINOX showed an encouraging objective response rate (62%) and progression-free survival (9.3 months).

This regimen is well tolerated with no febrile neutropenic events using prophylactic long-acting G-CSF

Modified FOLFIRINOX should be considered for the 1st line treatment of advanced urachal cancer

Presented by: Jae-Lyun Lee, MD, PhD, Professor, Asan Medical Center and University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc  Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, Fri, May 31  Tues, June 4, 2024.



References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL between May 31st and June 4th, 2024 was host to a kidney and bladder rapid oral abstract session. Dr. Jeremy Blanc presented the survival analysis of the AURA trial evaluating avelumab as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.



Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is the standard of care approach for patients with clinically localized (cT2-4aN0M0) muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. However, it is estimated that nearly half of such patients are unfit for cisplatin-based chemotherapy with no alternative systemic therapy currently approved in the neoadjuvant setting. Neoadjuvant studies investigating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity and survival outcomes:

ICI single agent : pCR= 2946%, >85% overall survival at three years 1-3

ICI plus chemotherapy : pCR= 3343%, >81% overall survival at three years4-5

AURA is a multi-center, non-comparative randomized phase II trial investigating neoadjuvant avelumab alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder planned for a radical cystectomy + pelvic lymphadenectomy were randomized by cisplatin eligibility to neoadjuvant therapy as follows:

Cisplatin-eligible (Cohort 1): Gemcitabine/cisplatin + avelumab Dose-dense MVAC + avelumab

Cisplatin-ineligible + avelumab: Paclitaxel/gemcitabine + avelumab Avelumab monotherapy



The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving a complete pathologic response (i.e., ypT0/TisN0). Secondary endpoints include:

Proportion of patients achieving <ypT2N0

Safety (CTCAE v4)

Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival at 12 and 36 months



In the cisplatin-eligible cohort of patients, a pathologic complete response was observed in 22/38 (58%) patients in the ddMVAC + avelumab arm and 19/35 (54%) patients in the gemcitabine/cisplatin + avelumab arm. The 12-month EFS rates were 92% in the ddMVAC + avelumab arm, compared to 84% for gemcitabine/cisplatin + avelumab. The preliminary 36-month EFS rates were 79% and 62%, respectively. For overall survival, the 12 months rates were slightly higher in favor of ddMVAC + avelumab (95% versus 92%) and considerably higher at 36 months in favor of ddMVAC + avelumab (85% versus 64%).

Patients with a pathologic complete response experienced significantly better overall survival outcomes, confirming the prognostic significance of this pathologic endpoint.

In the cisplatin-ineligible cohort, a pathologic complete response was observed in 4/28 (14%) and 9/27 (33%) patients in the paclitaxel/gemcitabine + avelumab and avelumab monotherapy arms, respectively. The event-free and overall survival rates were similar between the two arms:

Dr. Blanc concluded as follows:

Cisplatin-eligible cohort : High event-free and overall survival rates are achieved at 12 months and 36 months in patients treated with neoadjuvant avelumab in combination with cisplatin-based chemotherapies, especially in patients treated with ddMVAC + avelumab.

Cisplatin-ineligible cohort : Lower survival outcomes are achieved at 12 months, with no additional benefit from addition of avelumab to paclitaxel/gemcitabine. Longer follow-up is needed for a 36-month survival analysis.

Achieving a complete pathologic response is correlated with better survival outcomes for each treatment arm.

Further investigation through phase III trials is essential to validate these findings including biomarker identification for optimizing muscle-invasive bladder cancer care and patient selection.

Presented By: Jeremy Blanc, MD, Institut Jules Bordet, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc  Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 31st  June 4th, 2024

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL between May 31st and June 4th, 2024 was host to a kidney and bladder rapid oral abstract session. Dr. Zhigong Wei presented the results of a single open-labeled, phase II trial evaluating the combination of camrelizumab plus apatinib for patients with previously treated, advanced adrenocortical carcinoma.



Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and associated with poor prognoses. Currently, chemotherapy plus mitotane remains the standard of care 1st line therapy; however, responses remain poor with an objective response rate of 23% and a median progression-free survival of 5 months.1 Therapeutic options are further limited for patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma who have failed 1st line therapy. The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in the 2nd line setting is also poor with response rates of 10 to 14%.

The objective of this study was to assess the activity and safety of camrelizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, plus apatinib, a VEGFR2-targeted small molecular TKI, as combination therapy in patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma who have failed one or more lines of therapy. The study design and key eligibility criteria are summarized below. Patients in this trial received camrelizumab 200 mg intravenously every three weeks plus apatinib 250 mg orally once daily until disease progression. The primary study endpoint was objective response rate, defined as a partial or complete response. The secondary/exploratory endpoints included:

Progression-free survival

Overall survival

Safety

PD-L1 expression

Immune microenvironment

Genetic alterations

Gut microbial diversity



This trial included 21 patients who were allocated to and received the intervention. Of these 21, 13 discontinued the intervention, most commonly due to disease progression, and eight patients had either finished intervention (n=1) or remains on treatment at data cutoff (n=1).



From an efficacy standpoint, the objective response rate was 52% in the patient cohort (all partial responses). Stable disease was observed in an additional 43%. There was one patient with progressive disease as best response.

The median progression-free survival was 12.6 months, and the median overall survival was 20.9 months. The corresponding 1-year rates were 57.1% and 74.5%, respectively.

From a safety standpoint, the most common grade 34 treatment-related adverse events were hepatic enzymes (ALT/AST) elevations (24%) and lymphopenia (19%).

Correlative analysis demonstrated that none of CD4+, CD8+, nor CD56+ tumor cell levels was related to treatment response.

Higher CD8+ T cell percentage at baseline was associated with an improved likelihood of response to combination therapy. Peripheral blood CD4+/8+ T cell abundance was associated with treatment response.

Only two patients (10%) were PD-L1 positive with a CPS of 21; one experienced stable disease and the other had a partial response. No specific somatic alteration was correlated with the observed response.

Notable limitations to this study include a small sample size and the absence of a control arm. The absence of post-treatment tumor tissue limited the ability to correlate treatment response with changes in the tumor microenvironment.

Dr. Wei concluded as follows:

Camrelizumab and apatinib combination therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma patients with disease progression following 1 line of therapy is associated with an objective response rate of 52%, which is higher than what has been historically reported in this setting.

Peripheral blood CD4+/8+ T cell abundance was associated with treatment response.

The potential of camrelizumab plus apatinib deserves further evaluation in this setting.

Presented by: Zhigong Wei, MD, Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc  Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 31st  June 4th, 2024

Fassnacht M, Terzolo M, Allolio B, et al. Combination Chemotherapy in Advanced Adrenocortical Carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2012;366: 2189-97.

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, IL was host to a diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) state-of-the-art session. Dr. Yu-Wei Chen discussed:

The current evidence supporting sequencing strategies in metastatic RCC

Management of treatment-related medication and financial toxicities

Early integration of palliative care in kidney cancer care

The treatment paradigm for metastatic RCC has significantly evolved over the last three decades, transitioning from the cytokine era (1992  2005) to the targeted therapy ear (2005  2016) to the immunotherapy era, with the first immunotherapy combination approved by the FDA in April 2018 (ipilimumab + nivolumab).

What are the goals of  2nd line therapy in metastatic RCC? While initial lines of therapy have a curative intent, later lines of therapy have the goals of:

Disease control

Improving life expectancy

Improving quality of life

Symptom control

This is in contrast to earlier lines of therapy which have the goals of potential chemoprevention and cure with durable remissions.

While there are numerous options emerging for the treatment of RCC patients in later line settings, the use of subsequent lines of therapy in metastatic RCC remains underwhelming in the real-world setting. As summarized in the slide below, the use of 2nd line therapies ranges between 35% and 59%, while the use of third line therapies ranges between 6% and 24%.1-3

What are the potential 2nd line treatment strategies for metastatic RCC patients? These strategies are strongly contingent upon the initial treatment received in the 1st line setting (summarized in the figure below). The underlying principle here is that patients receive an alternative agent(s) with a different mechanism of action that minimizes the odds of cross resistance.

Currently, the evidence for specific 2nd line treatment strategies remains weak. This is evidenced by the NCCN recommendations for the treatment of patients with relapsed or stage IV kidney cancer. There are currently no preferred regimens for patients who are either immune-oncology (IO) therapy-naive or who have received prior IO therapy. The other recommended regimens by the NCCN are strongly influenced by prior therapy received.

There have been numerous trials that have evaluated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the pre-IO era treatment refractory setting. AXIS was a phase 3 trial that randomized 723 patients with metastatic clear cell RCC that progressed despite first-line therapy containing sunitinib, bevacizumab plus interferon-alfa, temsirolimus, or cytokines to either axitinib or sorafenib.4 METEOR was a phase 3 trial that similarly randomized such patients to either cabozantinib or everolimus.5 In 2015, Motzer et al. published the results of a phase II trial that compared the combination of lenvatinib + everolimus to single agent everolimus in patients who had received VEGF TKIs in the 1st line setting.6 Overall, the median overall survival for these patients was approximately two years. However, median progression-free survival and overall response rates appeared to strongly favor the combination of lenvatinib + everolimus (14.6 months and 43%, respectively), compared to the other options evaluated in this setting.

One of the most studied agents in the post-IO setting is cabozantinib. As summarized in the table below, this agent has been evaluated in this setting in four trials: BREAKPOINT, CaboPoint, CANTANA, and CONTACT-03. Overall, the objective response rates with cabozantinib ranged between 25% and 41%.7,8

Other agents to be evaluated in the post-IO setting include axitinib (NCT02579811)9 and tivozanib (TIVO-3).10 The ORR with axitinib was 45%, whereas tivozanib fared worse with ORRs of 818%.

The CheckMate 025 trial is a phase 3 trial that included patients with advanced clear cell RCC previously treated with 12 antiangiogenic regimens. Eight hundred twenty-one patients were randomized to nivolumab versus everolimus until progression or unacceptable toxicity. At a median follow-up of 72 months, nivolumab was associated with a superior overall survival benefit compared to everolimus (median, 25.8 versus 19.7 months; HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.620.85). Median PFS and ORRs both also strongly favored nivolumab.11

What about IO in the post-IO setting? Overall, trials evaluating IO in the post-IO setting have generally demonstrated limited responses, as summarized in the table below.

What about IO + TKI combination in the post-IO setting? The combination of pembrolizumab + lenvatinib was evaluated in the KEYNOTE-146 trial and fared better compared to the IO agents in this setting with an ORR of 56% and a median duration of response of 12.5 months.12 Cabozantinib +/- atezolizumab was associated with an ORR of 41%, median PFS of ~10.7 months, and a median OS of >2 years.8 The ongoing TiNivo-2 trial is evaluating tivozanib +/- nivolumab in clear cell RCC patients with disease progression following IO therapy.

Another agent to be evaluated in this setting is belzutifan. The Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) pathway is central to the pathophysiology of clear cell RCC and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. Belzutifan is a first-in-class oral HIF-2a inhibitor that block heterodimerization with HIF-1B and downstream oncogenic pathways. Belzutifan (Welireg) is approved in the United States for certain VHL disease associated RCC, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and central nervous system hemangioblastomas. Presented at ESMO 2023 by Dr. Laurence Albiges, LITESPARK-005 (NCT04195750) is an open label, randomized phase III study of patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic ccRCC with evidence of disease progression after 13 lines of prior systemic therapy, including 1 anti-PD-(L)1 agent and 1 VEGFR-TKI. Patients in this study underwent 1:1 randomization to:

Belzutifan 120 mg orally once daily (n=374)

Everolimus 10 mg orally once daily (n=372)

At the landmark 18 months analysis, 22.5% of patients remained free of progression with belzutifan, compared to 9% with everolimus (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63  0.88).

To date, no overall survival benefits have been observed for belzutifan, compared to everolimus, in this study. While there is a signal for OS benefit (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.73 - 1.07, p=0.099), with 18 months OS rates of 55.2% and 50.6% for belzutifan and everolimus, respectively, to date this has not met statistical significance.

An ORR was observed in 22.7% of belzutifan patients, compared to 3.5% for everolimus. A complete response was observed in 3.5% of belzutifan patients, compared to none with everolimus.



Another emerging paradigm is the treatment of advanced clear cell RCC patients with disease progression following adjuvant pembrolizumab therapy, with KEYNOTE-564 demonstrating an overall survival benefit for pembrolizumab in this setting (48 months: 91.2% versus 86%; HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.440.87, p=0.005).13

The optimal treatment strategy for these patients will depend on the pattern/timing of recurrence:

Oligometastatic May consider metastasis-directed therapy with metastasectomy or stereotactic body radiotherapy versus active surveillance in select cases

Polymetastatic recurrence Approach varies depending on timing of recurrence: Refractory: During and in the first 3 months after Early recurrence: 312 months after Late recurrence: 12 months after



Given the limited evidence to inform post-adjuvant therapy sequencing strategies, it is currently recommended that such patients be considered for clinical trials, where available.

What are some strategies to help more patient while limiting medical/financial toxicities? Early recognition and management of toxicities is critical. These toxicities are class-specific (i.e., IO, TKI, mTOR inhibitor) and need to be identified in a timely fashion.

There are several strategies to recognize and address financial toxicity. This involves:

Implementing financial toxicity screening: NCCN Distress Thermometer Practical concerns: work. Housing, finances, insurances, transportation CO mprehensive S core for financial T oxicity ( COST ) 11-item PROM 17.5 point (cutoff for financial toxicity)

Providing financial navigation Health insurance optimization Social support for housing, transportation and other health-related social needs Co-payment assistance programs



Ongoing clinical trials investigating financial navigation programs, include:

SWOG CREDT (NCI04960787)

CAFE study (NCI05018000)

Addressing Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity in Rural Oncology Care Settings (NCI04931251)

Involving the palliative care team is critical to addressing multiple domains of cancer care.

This is supported by strong evidence demonstrating that involvement of the palliative care in oncologic care improves both quality of life and overall survival.14

Unfortunately, it appears that palliative care remains underutilized in the real-world care of genitourinary malignancies. A retrospective cohort study from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of stage IV prostate/kidney/bladder cancer patients (n=76,016) demonstrated that palliative therapy was involved in only 20% of kidney cancer cases.15

There are a number of barriers to integration of palliative care in this setting, including structural, provider level, and patient/family-related:

Dr. Chen concluded his presentation as follows:

The current evidence supports VEGF-TKIs and belzutifan after disease progression with prior IO agents.

IO rechallenging in general does not offer clinical benefit and is associated with increased toxicities.

Optimal treatment sequencing after adjuvant pembrolizumab in resected high-risk RCC requires future prospective studies.

Early integration of palliative care improves overall survival and quality of life in cancer care.

Presented by: Yu-Wei Chen, MD, MS, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc  Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, Fri, May 31  Tues, June 4, 2024.



References:
DHAKA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Saturday launched a countrywide campaign to distribute Vitamin A-plus capsules to around 22 million children between six months and five years old.

A total of 240,000 volunteers and 40,000 health workers have been deployed to 120,000 permanent and makeshift centers across the country for the campaign.

Parents were seen taking their kids to the centers in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country since Saturday morning to get Vitamin A-plus capsules.

Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said earlier that such a campaign contributed to the government's efforts in reducing night blindness and the risk of child deaths from diseases such as measles and diarrhoea.

Bangladesh conducts the campaign twice a year. 
The largest dam removal project in U.S. history was completed Wednesday, marking a major victory for tribes in the region who fought for decades to free hundreds of miles of the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border.

Through protests, testimony and lawsuits, local tribes showcased the environmental devastation due to the four towering hydroelectric dams, especially to salmon, which are culturally and spiritually significant to tribes in the region. The dams cut salmon off from their historic habitat and caused them to die in alarming numbers because of bad water-quality conditions.

Without the tribes' work "to point out the damage that these dams were doing, not only to the environment, but to the social and cultural fabric of these tribal nations, there would be no dam removal," said Mark Bransom, chief executive of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit entity created to oversee the project.

Power company PacifiCorp built the dams to generate electricity between 1918 and 1962. But the structures halted the natural flow of the waterway that was once known as the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast. They disrupted the life cycle of the region's salmon, which spend most of their life in the Pacific Ocean but return to the chilly mountain streams to lay eggs.

At the same time, the dams produced only a small fraction of PacifiCorp's energy at full capacity  enough to power about 70,000 homes. They also didn't provide irrigation, drinking water or flood control, according to Klamath River Renewal Corporation.

Since breaching the dams, salmon regained access to their habitat, water temperature decreased and its quality improved, said Michael Belchik, senior water policy analyst for the Yurok Tribe.

But tribal advocates and activists see their work as far from finished, with some already refocusing their efforts on revegetation and other restoration work on the Klamath River and the surrounding land.

Here's a look at just a few of the many tribal members at the center of this struggle for dam removal:

'I really felt an urgency'

When Karuk tribal member Molli Myers took her first major step into the fight for Klamath dam removal, she was six months pregnant, had a toddler in tow and was in a foreign country for the first time. It was 2004 and she had organized a group of about 25 tribal members to fly to Scotland for the annual general stockholders meeting for Scottish Power, PacifiCorp's parent company at the time.

For hours, they protested outside with signs, sang and played drums. They cooked fish on Calton Hill over a fire of scotch barrels and gave it out to locals as they explained why they were there.

"I really felt an urgency because I was having babies," said Myers, who was born and raised in the middle Klamath in a traditional fishing family. "And so for me I was internalizing the responsibility to take care of their future."

The initial trigger for her to act came two years before that when she saw some of the tens of thousands of salmon die in the river from a bacterial outbreak caused by low water and warm temperatures.

"Looking back on it now I wonder where would we be if that hadn't happened," said Myers, 41. "Looking back on it now I can say, 'Was this our creator's call to action?' "

She spent the next two decades protesting and flooding state and federal meetings with tribal testimony, including waiting with other tribal members at the doors of a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting at 4 a.m. in 2007 to ask Warren Buffett what he was going to do about the dams. PacifiCorp was at that point part of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. conglomerate.

Today, those same children with her in Scotland are 21 and 19, and with the dams gone Myers said she sees the hope they and her other three children have about the future.

"They can do whatever needs to get done because they saw it happen, they lived it, so now there's no impossible for them," she said.

'His vision became reality'

For Yurok elder Jacqueline Winter, her feelings on the newly free-flowing river are more complicated. The 89-year-old's son, Troy Fletcher, was the tribe's point person for dam removal for two decades, testifying in front of the U.S. Congress and presenting to state and federal regulatory committees.

But his true power came through his ability to bring people with radically conflicting viewpoints  from farmers to commercial fishers to tribal members  together. Winter said that came from his belief that everyone living along the river are relatives and deserve to be heard.

"We're all family. None of us can be left hurting and all of us have to give a little," she said was his message.

But at 53, the former executive director for the Yurok Tribe died unexpectedly from a heart attack, nearly a decade before that vision of a free-flowing river would finally be realized. Winter said when she saw the dams breached last month, it felt like his spirit was there through those he touched and she could finally let him go.

"His vision became reality and I think he never doubted it," she said. "He never doubted it. And those who worked closely with him never doubted it."

'Protect those fish'

Former Klamath Tribes Chairman Jeff Mitchell's work since the 1970s for dam removal came out of the belief that the salmon are their relatives.

"They were gifted to us by our creator and given to us to preserve and to protect and also to help give us life," said Mitchell, chair of the tribe's Culture and Heritage Committee. "As such, the creator also instructed us to make sure that we do everything in our power to protect those fish."

The Klamath River's headwaters lie on the tribe's homelands in Oregon, and members once depended on salmon for 25% of their food. But for more than a century their waters have not held any salmon, he said.

Mitchell and other tribal members' fight to bring them back has cycled through several forms. There were the years of protesting, even gathering carcasses of fish after the 2002 fish kill and leaving them on the doorsteps of federal office buildings. There were his days of walking the halls of the state Legislature in Salem, Oregon, meeting with lawmakers about the millions in funding needed to make dam removal happen.

Today, he said he feels like they achieved the impossible, but there's still more work to do.

"I'm happy that the dams are gone and we have passage," he said. "But now I'm thinking about what are those fish coming home to. And that's really the focus now, is how do we get the parties to start taking restoration actions and making that the top priority in all of this?"
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to refocus attention on China's threat in the Asia-Pacific region on Saturday, seeking to alleviate concerns that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have distracted from America's security commitments in the region.

Austin, who was speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on Friday in a bid to cool friction over issues such as Taiwan and China's military activity in the South China Sea.

There has been increasing concern that Washington's focus on helping Ukraine counter Russia's invasion and support for Israel's war in Gaza, while trying to ensure that the conflict does not spread, has taken away attention from the Indo-Pacific.

"Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theater of operations," Austin said in his speech, which appeared aimed at underlining the administration's legacy in the region as President Joe Biden's first term in office nears its end. Biden is running for reelection in November against former President Donald Trump.

"Let me be clear: The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure," Austin said. "Thats why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region." Austin underscored the importance of alliances in the region.

"And ... peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and not coercion or conflict. And certainly not through so-called punishment," Austin said, taking a shot at China. The speech took aim at Beijing's actions in the region, including the South China Sea, without naming China for the most part.

In response, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng said the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy was intended "to create division, provoke confrontation and undermine stability."

"It only serves the selfish geopolitical interests of the U.S. and runs counter to the trend of history and the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and win-win cooperation," said Jing, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission.

Some U.S. officials say Beijing has become more emboldened in recent years, recently launching what it described as "punishment" drills around Taiwan, sending heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks after Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwan's president.

About $8 billion in U.S. funding is set aside for countering China in the Indo-Pacific as part of a supplemental funding bill passed by lawmakers.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday denounced illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in the South China Sea, a disputed ocean territory that China has been flooding with coast guard ships in recent months.

The Philippines, a sprawling archipelago with strong historical ties to the United States and close geographical proximity to China, is at the center of an intensifying power struggle between Washington and Beijing.

Austin said the harassment faced by the Philippines was dangerous and reiterated that the United States' mutual defense treaty with Manila was iron clad. He said the aim was for tensions between Beijing and Manila not to spiral out of control.

"America will continue to play a vital role in the Indo-Pacific, together with our friends across the region that we share and care so much about," Austin said.

Jing, the Chinese general, said these alliances contribute to instability in the region.

"It is natural for neighbors to bicker sometimes, but we need to resolve disagreements through dialogue and consultation rather than inviting wolves into our house and playing with fire," he said.
The conviction of former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment ahead of the 2016 election quickly became one of the hottest topics on Chinese social media.

Trumps conviction became the most searched topic on Chinese social media platform Weibo and search engine Baidu on Friday morning in China. On short-video platform Douyin, TikTok's China-based sister application, it also landed among the five most searched topics.

While views varied, many Chinese netizens posted they hope the verdict by a New York jury, which found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts, will cause unrest in the U.S. between the former presidents supporters and opponents.

Although as president, Trump took a series of punitive measures against China in areas such as technology and trade, some Chinese netizens felt that his conviction was unfair and repeated unfounded claims by his supporters that the verdict was political persecution from U.S. President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.

"The Democrats' tactics are really low," one Weibo user under the name Little Rabbit and Evil Cake commented on the news.

Other netizens stood by the guilty verdict, declaring Trump's conviction his own doing.

"If you do too much evil, you will be killed by yourself," one user under the name Gray Wolf with White Fur wrote on Weibo.

But many Chinese netizens were less interested in the verdict than the unrest they hoped it would cause in the U.S.

"Trump supporters quickly mobilize and occupy Congress," said one Weibo user in a call for a repeat of the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters trying to stop the 2020 election from being certified.

Those who stormed the Capitol were repeating Trump's claim, without evidence, that Biden cheated in the election.

A Chinese nationalist commentator named Lu Kewen insulted Trumps supporters in a post that hoped they resort to violence.

"Put Trump in jail and wait for the fuming rednecks to draw their guns," he wrote.

His was not the only call for violence in the U.S. that as of Friday morning had not been removed from Chinese social media, despite the ability of Beijings Great Firewall internet censors to quickly delete posts by Chinas own critics and domestic calls for unrest.

"Fast forward to the new Civil War. I want to see rivers of blood!" another user under the name Wearing Red Clothes wrote.

But there were also more analytical comments from Chinese netizens.

Chinese economist Hong Hao posted on his Weibo that Trump's trial is not conducive to the stability of American society.

"The biggest issue in the United States right now is not allowing a criminal to run for president. Rather, politicizing the judicial process in these Trump cases has shaken the foundation of the rule of law in the United States," he said.

During the 2016 election, Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump in 2006. Such payments are not illegal and are called hush money.

Trump was found guilty of falsifying company business records to conceal the reimbursement paid to Cohen. Trump denies the encounter with Daniels or that anything illegal occurred.

Trump on Thursday railed against the jurys verdict and said, without presenting any evidence, that the trial was rigged.

"We have a judge who's highly conflicted. He happens to be corrupt. It's the worst confliction that anybody's seen. Nobody has ever seen anything like it," he said.

A spokesperson for the White House Counsel's Office responded, saying only, "We respect the rule of law."

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Despite the conviction, Trump is expected to be the Republican presidential nominee for the election on November 5.

Trump on Friday said he would appeal the conviction and repeated unfounded claims that the trial was rigged.

Biden on Friday said the verdict showed "the American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed" and said it is "reckless, is dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this (trial) was rigged just because they dont like the verdict."

When asked at a regular Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing Friday if Trumps conviction would prevent him from visiting China, if reelected in November, or present any other difficulties for China-American relations, spokesperson Mao Ning declined to comment, calling it a U.S. domestic affair.
President Joe Biden reveals details of a three-phase ceasefire plan in Gaza he said was proposed by Israel as its military pushed deeper into central Rafah. Will international pressure and last weeks ruling by the World Court have influence on ending what has become a humanitarian catastrophe? Amanda Ghahremani, criminal law attorney and research fellow at the Human Rights Center at the University of California Berkeley weighs in. Former President Donald Trump remains defiant after being found guilty of 34 felony charges. Criminal defense attorney Jack Rice describes the historic nature of the verdict. Environmental extremes reach new levels as the world struggles to cope with the impacts of climate change. A look at how the Doomsday Seed Vault is helping protect the worlds food supply deep in a frozen cave in Norway.
Around 400 million European Union citizens go to the polls next month to elect members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, in one of the biggest global democratic events.

Far-right parties are seeking to gain more power amid a rise in the cost of living and farmers' discontent, while the wars in Gaza and Ukraine are on the minds of voters.

One of the biggest questions is whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will remain in charge as the most visible face of the EU.

Here is a look at the upcoming election and the biggest issues at stake:

When is the vote?

EU elections are held every five years across the 27-member bloc. This year marks the 10th parliamentary election since the first polls in 1979, and the first after Brexit.

The vote takes place from June 6-9. First results can only be revealed on the evening of June 9, once polling stations have closed in all member states.

How does voting work?

The elections start on a Thursday in the Netherlands and finish on a Sunday, when most countries hold their election. The voting is done by direct universal suffrage in a single ballot.

The number of members elected in each country depends on the size of the population. It ranges from six for Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus to 96 for Germany. In 2019, Europeans elected 751 lawmakers. Following the United Kingdom's departure from the EU in 2020, the number of MEPs fell to 705. Some of the 73 seats previously held by British MEPs had been redistributed to other member states.

After the election, the European Parliament will have 15 additional members, bringing the total to 720. Twelve countries will get extra MEPs.

Elections are contested by national political parties, but once they are elected, most of the lawmakers then join transnational political groups.

Who is voting?

People under 18 are allowed to vote in some countries. In Belgium, a law adopted in 2022 lowered the minimum voting age to 16. Germany, Malta and Austria are also permitting 16-year-olds to vote. In Greece, the youngest voting age is 17. In all other member states, it's 18.

A minimum age is also required to stand for election  from 18 in most countries to 25 in Italy and Greece.

What about turnout?

European Union elections usually don't bring a huge turnout, but there was a clear upturn in public interest in the 2019 election. At 50.7%, the turnout was eight points higher than in 2014 after steadily falling since 1979, when it reached 62%.

In April, the latest edition of the European Parliament's Eurobarometer highlighted a surge of interest in the upcoming election. Around 71% of Europeans said they are likely to cast a ballot.

What are the main issues?

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is at the forefront of citizens' minds, with defense and security seen as key campaign issues. At national level, the EU's defense and security was mentioned first in nine countries.

The economy, jobs, poverty and social exclusion, public health, climate change and the future of Europe are also featuring prominently as issues.

What do EU lawmakers do?

The European Parliament is the only EU institution to be elected by European citizens. It's a real counterpower to the powerful EU's executive arm, the European Commission.

The parliament doesn't have the initiative of proposing legislation. But its powers are getting bigger. It is now competent on a wide range of topics, voting on laws relating to climate, banking rules, agriculture, fisheries, security or justice. The legislature also votes on the EU budget, which is crucial to the implementation of European policies, including, for instance, the aid delivered to Ukraine.

Lawmakers are also a key element of the check and balances system since they need to approve the nomination of all EU commissioners, who are the equivalent of ministers. And it can also force the whole commission to resign with a vote by a two-third majority.

What's the current makeup of the parliament?

With 176 seats out of 705 as of the end of the last plenary session in April, the center-right European People's Party is the largest political group in the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen belongs to the EPP and hopes to remain at the helm of the EU's executive arm after the election.

The second-largest group is the S&D, the political group of the center-left Party of European Socialists, which currently holds 139 seats. The liberal and pro-European Renew group holds 102 seats ahead of an alliance made up of green and regionalist political parties that holds 72 seats.

Far right looks to make gains

Two groups with far-right parties, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID), could be headed to becoming the third- and fourth-largest political groups at the European Parliament. The two groups have many divergences and it's unclear to what extent they could team up and affect the EU's agenda, especially the EU's efforts to support Ukraine against Russia in the war.

The EPP and S&D are expected to remain stable. Liberals and greens could both take a hit after they made big gains at the previous election.

What happens after the election?

Once the weight of each political force is determined, MEPs will elect their president at the first plenary session, from July 16-19. Then, most likely in September after weeks of negotiations, they will nominate the president of the European Commission, following a proposal made by the member states.

In 2019, von der Leyen won a narrow majority (383 votes in favor, 327 against, 22 abstentions) to become the first woman to head the institution. Parliamentarians will also hear from the European commissioners before approving them in a single vote.

Von der Leyen has good chances to be appointed for another team, but she needs to secure the support of enough leaders. She has also antagonized many lawmakers by suggesting she could work with the hard right depending on the outcome of the elections.
While Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni adopts a reassuring Western-allied foreign policy, cultural wars at home are preserving her far-right credentials heading into a European parliamentary election, where her neo-fascist-rooted Brothers of Italy party is projected to secure significant gains  and a possible coalition role.

In less than two years leading the EUs third-largest economy, Meloni has emerged as the most powerful right-wing leader in Europe, a position emphasized in a fiery speech in May to a Vox rally in Spain that included French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Hungarian President Viktor Orban and pro-Trump Republicans.

Still, her pro-Ukraine and Israel policies have proven reassuring to centrist American and European allies as Italy prepares to host U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders of the Group of Seven most-industrialized nations in late June.

The European elections June 6-9 could begin to tip Melonis balancing act.

I think there are two Melonis, and the Meloni that is getting more attention is the pragmatic, pro-Ukrainian Meloni," said Wolfango Piccoli of the London-based Teneo consultancy. There is another Meloni, back in Italy, where she is pursuing a clear right-wing agenda on a variety of issues from migration to social-cultural values. The European elections could be a bit of a moment of truth. She has never been forced to take a clear ideological stand.

After campaigning on an anti-EU platform, Meloni has adjusted her rhetoric as Europe pours more than $228 billion in pandemic recovery funds into Italy.

As premier, Meloni has a potential political ally in EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has not ruled out inclusion of Melonis party in a grand coalition, if needed.

Melonis Brothers of Italy party is forecast to grow from six seats to at least 20 seats when Italians vote June 8-9, with Meloni personalizing the polls by asking voters to write her name, Giorgia, besides checking the party symbol.

Even as her popularity grows, Italian opposition leaders, activists and journalists are sounding an alarm over the spread of far-right policies that are curbing LGBTQ+ and womens rights while creating what some see as a climate of xenophobia and intimidation.

Senator-for-life Liliana Segre, a nonagenarian Holocaust survivor, told the news agency ANSA that she is really very worried about the European election outcome.

So far in her term, Meloni has delegated most of the cultural social politics to her ministers, giving her a degree of separation on many hot-button issues.

Migration is the exception, as she champions her so-called Mattei Plan to fund projects in African countries along migrant routes in exchange for better controls, while pressing ahead with plans to run asylum reception centers in Albania  winning consensus from von der Leyen, a development she ballyhoos on the campaign trail.

Here we make history. ... This is a referendum," Meloni told a final election rally in Rome's Piazza del Popolo on Saturday.

When it comes to Meloni and the potential impact on EU politics after the European election, [the victory] depends on the numbers and the chemistry that emerge, said Simone Tagliapietra, an analyst at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. He noted that the kind of social-cultural policies that her government has been most keen to tackle in Italy fall largely under national, not EU, competencies.

Melonis government barred city administrations from legally registering a nonbiological parent in same-sex couples, effectively limiting their parental rights, and made access to abortion more difficult by allowing anti-abortion activists to enter abortion clinics, which activists say creates an intimidating environment. Her government also has come out against gender theory and is pushing a law through parliament that would ban surrogacy motherhood.

Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano is unapologetically vanquishing foreigners and left-leaning appointees from running landmark museums, institutions and opera houses, exhibiting a desire to command the cultural debate in a way that hasnt been seen in previous ideological shifts between the left and the right. The late Silvio Berlusconi, a three-time conservative premier, never so much as blinked at Italys cultural institutions.

Under Meloni, the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has downgraded Italy five notches in its annual press freedom index, putting it in the problematic category alongside Poland and Hungary. In one recent episode, journalists at RAI state television accused the new government-installed leadership of censoring a planned Liberation Day monologue denouncing fascism.

More recently, the editor of the Turin daily La Stampa, Massimo Giannini, said four police agents woke him at his hotel room at 4 a.m. to deliver a defamation complaint for comments critical of the Meloni government made on a television talk show the evening before. Giannini told private TV La7 that such treatment is usually reserved for drug traffickers, not journalists.

The new Made in Italy Ministry has engaged in grandstanding tactics, like recently impounding dozens of Fiat Topolino microcars emblazoned with the emblem of the Italian flag despite being made in Morocco.

Such operations serve a dual purpose, Piccoli said, distracting from Italys ongoing structural issues and stagnant economy, while appealing to Brothers of Italy stalwarts.

The beauty of all this in my view is that we are almost halfway through her term, and none of the structural issues in Italy have been addressed," he said, including addressing the right-wing issue of the demographic collapse or reforming pensions.

You just wonder whether they just go for the easier stuff, which helps to mobilize public opinion, rather than addressing the structural problem of this country, including the lack of economic growth.

Some analysts say that Meloni's pragmatic streak brings into question the degree to which she personally believes in the far-right social and cultural agenda.

Political analyst Roberto DAlimonte notes that the growing popularity of the Brothers of Italy is taking on board fickle voters who dont necessarily have the same ideology, which could give Meloni room to loosen the far-right orthodoxy if she increases her mandate in the next Italian parliamentary vote.

She is a shrewd politician," said D'Alimonte, of Rome's LUISS university. "If she wins the next election, we might see a Meloni who tries to change that, becoming more conservative even on cultural matters, rather than far-right.
At Ain Shams University (ASU) in Egypt's capital Cairo, tech students are proud of their outstanding hands-on experience thanks to a workshop in the name of Lu Ban, a craftsman in ancient China. #GLOBALink
Relatives of the passengers who died in two jetliner crashes pushed federal officials Friday to prosecute Boeing on criminal charges related to the accidents no later than this fall but said they got no commitment from the Justice Department.

The Justice Department determined two weeks ago that Boeing violated terms of a settlement that let the company avoid prosecution for deceiving regulators who approved the Boeing 737 Max. Prosecutors have said they will announce by July 7 whether the company will face sanctions.

Boeing agreed in 2021 to pay $2.5 billion  mostly compensation to airlines  to avoid prosecution on a fraud charge. Relatives of some of the 346 people who died in the 2018 and 2019 crashes have tried ever since to scuttle the settlement.

It appeared that the fraud case would be dismissed permanently. But in January, a door plug blew off a Max during an Alaska Airlines flight, leading to new investigations of Boeing.

"They claimed the Max is completely safe, it's the most-scrutinized plane ever, even as the doors blow off on the Alaska Air (Max), and they can't blame the pilots anymore," said Michael Stumo, whose daughter, Samya, died in the second crash.

The Justice Department declined to comment Friday but has said that Boeing violated terms of the 2021 settlement by failing to make promised changes to detect and prevent violations of federal anti-fraud laws.

Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed instances of potential fraud. In early May, Boeing disclosed that workers at a South Carolina plant falsified inspection reports on some 787 Dreamliner jets.

"We believe that we have honored the terms of the agreement and look forward to the opportunity to respond to the Justice Department on this issue," a Boeing spokesperson said. They added that the company is acting "with the utmost transparency" to answer the department's questions, including those surrounding the Alaska Airlines incident.
A high-ranking general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards has died after an illness, Iran's state TV reported Saturday.

General Vajihollah Moradi was one of the commanders of the Guards foreign wing, state TV said. He was also a comrade of General Qassem Soleimani, who was slain in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in 2020.

State TV said funeral preparations were underway and a funeral ceremony will be held in the northern city of Babolsar on Sunday.

Iran occasionally holds funerals for its soldiers fallen in Syria, although officials say Iranian forces are there only as advisers. This event highlights the continuous involvement of Iranian forces in the war-torn country.

In April, Iranian forces pulled out of bases in Damascus and southern Syria, moving away from the border with the Golan Heights  after suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran's embassy in Damascus just weeks earlier. That strike killed an Iranian military commander and marked a major escalation in Israel's war with its regional adversaries.

Iran is Syrian President Bashar Assad's main regional supporter in the Arab nations lengthy civil war. Hundreds of Iranian forces have been killed in the war in Syria.
Iranian authorities have arrested 35 people in a raid on a "satanist network gathering" in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, local media reported Saturday.

The raid took place after police had "identified the location" of the gathering, which featured "signs and symbols of satanism, alcohol and drugs," ISNA news agency said.

Raids on so-called "satanist" gatherings are not uncommon in the deeply conservative country, often targeting parties or concerts with alcohol consumption, which is largely banned in Iran.

A total of "31 men and four women at the venue" were taken into custody and referred to judicial authorities, ISNA said, quoting Ruhollah Yaarizadeh, police chief in Khuzestan's Dezful city.

Early last month, Iranian police arrested more than 260 people, including three Europeans, west of the capital, Tehran, over similar charges.

The report said those suspects were arrested in Shahryar County for spreading the culture of satanism and nudity. It did not elaborate.

A 2007 raid on an unauthorized rock concert near Tehran saw some 230 people arrested.

Authorities in the Shiite Muslim-dominated country have in the past branded rock and heavy metal music concerts as "satanist" gatherings.
Lab-grown meat is not currently available in any U.S. grocery stores or restaurants. If some lawmakers have their way, it never will be.

Earlier this month, Florida and Alabama banned the sale of cultivated meat and seafood, which is grown from animal cells. In Iowa, the governor signed a bill prohibiting schools from buying lab-grown meat. Federal lawmakers are also looking to restrict it.

It's unclear how far these efforts will go. Some cultivated meat companies say they're considering legal action, and some states  like Tennessee  shelved proposed bans after lawmakers argued they would restrict consumers' choices.

Still, it's a deflating end to a year that started with great optimism for the cultivated meat industry.

The U.S. approved the sale of lab-grown meat for the first time in June 2023, allowing two California startups, Good Meat and Upside Foods, to sell cultivated chicken. Two high-end U.S. restaurants briefly added the products to their menus. Some cultivated meat companies began expanding production. One of Good Meat's products went on sale at a grocery in Singapore.

But before long, politicians were pumping the brakes. Lawmakers in seven states introduced legislation that would ban cultivated meat, according to Kim Tyrrell, an associate director with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In the U.S. Senate, Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana and Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota introduced a bill in January to prohibit the use of lab-grown meat in school lunch programs.

The backlash isn't confined to the U.S. Italy banned the sale of lab-grown meat late last year. French lawmakers have also introduced a bill to ban it.

The pushback is happening even though lab-grown meat and seafood are far from reaching the market in a meaningful way because they're so expensive to make. Cultivated products are grown in steel tanks using cells from a living animal, a fertilized egg or a storage bank. The cells are fed with special blends of water, sugar, fats and vitamins. Once they've grown, they're formed into cutlets, nuggets and other shapes.

Companies have been heavily focused on scaling production to bring down costs and on winning government approval to sell their products. Now, they're also trying to figure out how to respond to the state bans. Upside Foods launched a Change.org petition, inviting supporters to "tell politicians to stop policing your plate."

"It's a shame they are closing the door before we even get out of the gate," said Tom Rossmeissl, the head of global marketing for Good Meat. The company is considering its legal options, he said.

Backers of the bans say they want to protect farmers and consumers. Cultivated meat has been around for only about a decade, they say, and they're concerned about its safety.

"Alabamians want to know what they are eating, and we have no idea what is in this stuff or how it will affect us," Republican state Senator Jack Williams, the sponsor of Alabama's bill, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. "Meat comes from livestock raised by hardworking farmers and ranchers, not from a petri dish grown by scientists."

But those within the cultivated meat industry say their products must meet rigorous government safety tests before going on sale. Their nascent industry isn't trying to replace meat, they say, but figure out ways to feed the world's growing need for protein.

Rossmeissl said the U.S. is currently leading the effort to develop cultivated meat and seafood, with 45 companies in the space, but that could change. In January, for example, an Israeli company received preliminary approval to sell the world's first steaks made from cultivated beef. China is also investing heavily in lab-grown meat.

"It should be startling and concerning to Americans that we're throwing up barriers to something that could be really important to our economy and food security," he said.

State Senator Jay Collins, a Republican who sponsored the Florida bill, noted that the legislation doesn't ban research, just the manufacturing and sale of lab-grown meat. Collins said safety was his primary motivator, but he also wants to protect Florida agriculture.

"Let's not be in a rush to replace something," he said. "It's a billion-dollar industry. We feed a ton of people across the country with our cattle, beef, pork, poultry and fish industries."

Rossmeissl thinks the meat industry is trying to avoid what happened to the dairy industry after the introduction of plant-based alternatives like oat milk. Plant-based milk made up 15% of U.S. milk sales last year; that's up from around 6% a decade ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Good Food Institute, an advocacy group for plant-based and cultivated products.

Meat producers did back the bans in Florida and Alabama. The leaders of those states' cattlemen's associations  which are advocacy groups for ranchers  stood next to both governors as they signed the bans into law.

But the picture is more complicated at the national level, where the meat industry doesn't support bans on cultivated products. Some meat producers, like JBS Foods, are working on developing cultivated meat of their own.

"We do not support the route of banning these outright," Sigrid Johannes, the director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said. "We're not afraid of competing with these products in the marketplace."

The Meat Institute  which represents JBS, Tyson and other big meat companies  sent a letter to Alabama lawmakers warning them that the state's ban was likely unconstitutional since federal law regulates meat processing and interstate commerce.

The founders of Wildtype, a San Francisco-based company that makes cultivated salmon, traveled to Florida and Alabama to testify against the bills but weren't able to sway the outcome. They hope someone will challenge the bans in court but say it's not realistic for their tiny company to take on that battle.

"We are David and on the other side of the aisle there is a gigantic Goliath," Wildtype co-founder Arye Elfenbein said.
Mexicans will vote Sunday in historic elections weighing gender, democracy and populism, as they chart the country's path forward in voting shadowed by cartel violence.

With two women leading the contest, Mexico will likely elect its first female president  a major step in a country long marked by its "macho" culture. The election will also be the biggest in the country's history. More than 20,000 congressional and local positions are up for grabs, according to the National Electoral Institute.

The number of contested posts has fed bloodshed during the campaigns, as criminal groups have used local elections as an opportunity to exert power. A toxic slate of cartels and gangs have battled for turf and more than 20 people seeking political office have been killed just this year.

Also at play is the political legacy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Mexico's often tumultuous relationship with the United States.

Who are the candidates in Mexico's presidential election?

Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, has maintained a comfortable double-digit lead in polls for months. She promises to be a continuation of populist leader Lopez Obrador and is backed by his ruling Morena party. Trained as a scientist, Sheinbaum has had to walk a fine line to carve out her own image while highlighting her connection to Lopez Obrador, though she lacks the charisma that attracted many to her political ally.

Xochitl Galvez, an opposition senator and tech entrepreneur, represents a coalition of parties that have had little historically to unite them other than their recent opposition to Lopez Obrador. Galvez is a fierce critic of the outgoing president who doesn't shy away from verbal sparring, but who hasn't appeared to ignite much fervor for her Strength and Heart for Mexico coalition.

The third candidate is little-known Jorge Alvarez Maynez, a former federal congressman from the Citizen Movement party. He has focused on trying to scoop up the young vote, but has not gotten much traction.

What has President Lopez Obrador meant for this election?

Elected in 2018, Lopez Obrador tapped into large swathes of the population like the working-class and poor, rural voters who had long felt forgotten by the political system. He made combatting corruption his top priority. Despite not being on the ballot, much of Sunday's election has revolved around him.

Though he remains highly popular, Lopez Obrador has shown himself to be intolerant of criticism and oversight. And his critics say his moves to attack the judiciary, slash funding to Mexico's electoral agency and expand the military's responsibilities in civilian life have eroded Mexican democracy. The opposition has responded with large protests.

Lopez Obrador is considered Sheinbaum's mentor and if she is elected, it would cement his legacy and show that his Morena party can survive beyond his presidency.

When are Mexico's elections and how does voting work?

Parties selected their candidates well before the official start of campaigning for the presidential, congressional and municipal elections. On June 2, millions of voters will cast for their new leaders in a single round of voting. The winner of the highly anticipated presidential election will serve a six-year term.

While most eyes are on the presidential race, Mexicans will also vote for 128 senators, 500 congressional representatives and for nearly 20,000 local government positions.

Why has the campaign cycle been so violent?

Under Lopez Obrador's "hugs not bullets" policy, which emphasizes addressing the societal root causes of violence, analysts say cartels and other criminal groups have expanded their control. Homicide rates have remained stubbornly high despite promises by Lopez Obrador to ease the violence. Lopez Obrador has in many cases refused to confront criminal groups, and activists say his government has tried to reduce the official count of Mexico's forcibly disappeared in the lead up to the election.

Cartels and other criminal groups see elections  particularly local elections  as an opportunity to make power grabs. They've warred for turf and at least 145 people tied to politics have been slain by organized crime this year, according to tracking by the human rights organization Data Civica.

Violence has been particularly severe in states where criminal groups are fighting for territory like Chiapas and Guerrero in the south, and Michoacan in central Mexico.

Mexico's first woman president

Electing a female president would be a huge step in a country with soaring levels of gender-based violence and deep gender disparities.

Mexico still has a famously intense "machismo," or culture of male chauvinism, that has created large economic and social disparities in society. In its most extreme form, the misogyny is expressed in high rates of femicides, and things like acid attacks against women.

Yet a historic number of women in the socially conservative country are taking up leadership and political roles.

That's in part due to a decades-long push by authorities for greater representation in politics, including laws that require political parties to have half of their congressional candidates be women. Since 2018, Mexico's Congress has had a 50-50 gender split, and the number of female governors has shot up.

Both frontrunner Sheinbaum and Galvez have promised to address high rates of gender-based violence and gender disparities if they win.
Narendra Modi swept to power a decade ago on promises to transform India's economy, and it would be hard to argue he hasn't made strides. As he seeks a third term as prime minister, the country's economic growth is the envy of the world, its stock markets are booming, and new buildings and highways are popping up everywhere.

There are cracks in the facade, though, that his political challengers hope to benefit from, including high unemployment, persistent poverty and the sense that only a small portion of India's 1.4 billion people has been able to cash in on the good fortune.

"You have a booming economy for people higher up on the socioeconomic ladder, but people lower down are really struggling," said Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party have remained popular since he was first elected prime minister in 2014 on a strident Hindu-first platform and pledges to succeed where past governments had failed by finally transforming the economy from rural to industrial.

He promised to clamp down on deeply rooted corruption and to leverage the country's manpower advantage to turn it into a manufacturing powerhouse. While campaigning this spring  the six-week-long election concludes Saturday  Modi has vowed to make India's economy the world's third-largest, trailing only those of the U.S. and China. Votes will be counted Tuesday.

Modi has had successes. The economy is growing by 7% and more than 500 million Indians have opened bank accounts during his tenure  a big step toward formalizing an economy where many jobs are still off the books and untaxed. His administration has also poured billions of dollars into the country's creaky infrastructure to lure investment, and notably streamlined its vast welfare program, which serves around 60% of the population and which his party is leveraging to try to win over poor and disillusioned voters.

Despite these advances, though, Modi's economic policies have failed to generate employment that moves people from low-paying, precarious work to secure, salaried jobs. With inequality, joblessness and underemployment soaring, they've become central themes of the election.

Even as India's millionaires multiply, nearly 90% of its working-age population earns less than the country's average annual income of around $2,770, according to a World Inequality Lab study. The top 1% own more than 40% of the country's wealth, while the bottom 50% own just above 6%, the study found.

To stem economic discontent, Modi and the BJP are hoping to win over poor and disgruntled voters with more than $400 billion in welfare subsidies and cash transfers.

At the heart of their welfare agenda is a free ration program, which serves 800 million people. It existed under the previous government and is a right under India's National Food Security Act. But it was greatly expanded during the pandemic to provide grain for free, instead of just cheap, and then extended for another five years beginning in January.

Through roughly 300 programs, hundreds of millions have received household goods ranging from cooking gas cylinders to free toilets. Millions of homes have been built for the poor, who now have greater access to piped water, Wi-Fi and electricity. And the government has ramped up cash transfers to farmers and other key voting blocs.

When Rajesh Prajapati lost his job at a chemical factory in Prayagraj, a city in India's largest state, Uttar Pradesh, his family of five survived on government grain.

"For almost a year, the free ration was our only solace," he said, adding that it was the reason they voted for Modi again.

Indian parties have always used welfare to win elections. But experts say the BJP has done it better.

Benefits such as subsidies, pensions and loans are now delivered through cash transfers directly to bank accounts linked to each individual's biometric identity card, which the government says has helped eliminate leakages and corruption by cutting out intermediaries.

These large-scale handouts provide relief, but some say they are only a temporary fix and a sign of rising economic distress. To reduce inequality, they should be accompanied by investment in health and education, which have stagnated in recent years, said Ashoka Mody, an economist at Princeton University.

Subsidies are helpful, "but they do not create the ability of people to put themselves on a trajectory where they and their children can look forward to a better future," he said.

Tuntun Sada, a farmworker from Samastipur, a city in the eastern state of Bihar, said the 18 kilograms of free grain that helps feed his family of six each month has only marginally improved their lives. He still earns less than $100 a month after working the fields of wealthier landowners.

"People like us don't get very much," Sada said. "Modi should walk the talk. If we don't earn enough, how will we raise our children?"

The free rations don't last through the month, piped water has yet to reach his community and there are no nearby schools for his four kids to attend. What he really needs, he said, is a better job.

Modi's opposition, led by the Congress party, are betting on the jobs crisis to dent the BJP's chances of securing a majority. Before the election, a survey by the Center for Study of Developing Societies found that more than 60% of voters were worried about unemployment and believed finding a job had become tougher. Only 12% felt like economic opportunities had increased.

Official government data, which many economists question, shows the unemployment rate declining. But a recent report from the International Labor Organization found that youth unemployment in India is higher than the global average, that more than 40% of Indians still work in agriculture, and that 90% of workers are in informal employment.

The liberalizing of India's economy in the 1990s laid the foundation for the remarkable growth since, with millions escaping poverty and spawning a middle class. But it has also allowed for the growing disparity between rich and poor, economists say.

Rahul Gandhi, the main face of the opposition, has sought to tap into the growing resentment felt by the country's many have-nots by promising to take on the issue of wealth distribution if his alliance gains power.

Modi, who says his government has lifted 250 million Indians out of poverty, is unapologetic. In a TV interview this month, he said wealth distribution is a gradual process and dismissed criticism of the growing inequality by asking, "Should everyone be poor?"

Both the BJP and the Congress party say they will create more employment through various sectors including construction, manufacturing and government jobs. Experts say this is crucial for reducing economic disparities, but it's also hard to do.

Mass unemployment and underemployment have always been intractable problems in India, so parties inevitably fall back on the promises of handouts, said Mody, the Princeton economist. Case in point: The Congress party has pledged to double people's free rations if voted into power.

"It's completely the wrong focus what we need is job creation," Mody said. "And there is no one today who has an idea of how to solve that problem."
On a tiny island off Panamas Caribbean coast, about 300 families are packing their belongings in preparation for a dramatic change. Generations of Gunas who have grown up on Gardi Sugdub in a life dedicated to the sea and tourism will trade that next week for the mainlands solid ground.

They go voluntarily  sort of.

The Gunas of Gardi Sugdub are the first of 63 communities along Panamas Caribbean and Pacific coasts that government officials and scientists expect to be forced to relocate by rising sea levels in the coming decades.

On a recent day, the islands Indigenous residents rowed or sputtered off with outboard motors to fish. Children, some in uniforms and others in the colorful local textiles called molas, chattered as they hustled through the warren of narrow dirt streets on their way to school.

Were a little sad, because were going to leave behind the homes weve known all our lives, the relationship with the sea, where we fish, where we bathe and where the tourists come, but the sea is sinking the island little by little, said Nadin Morales, 24, who prepared to move with her mother, uncle and boyfriend.

An official with Panamas Ministry of Housing said that some people have decided to stay on the island until it's no longer safe, without revealing a specific number.

Authorities wont force them to leave, the official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue.

Gardi Sugdub is one of about 50 populated islands in the archipelago of the Guna Yala territory. It is only about 366 meters (1,200 feet) long and 137 meters (450 feet) wide. From above, its roughly a prickly oval surrounded by dozens of short docks where residents tie up their boats.

Every year, especially when the strong winds whip up the sea in November and December, water fills the streets and enters the homes. Climate change isn't only leading to a rise in sea levels, but it's also warming oceans and thereby powering stronger storms.

The Gunas have tried to reinforce the islands edge with rocks, pilings and coral, but seawater keeps coming.

Lately, Ive seen that climate change has had a major impact, Morales said. Now the tide comes to a level it didnt before, and the heat is unbearable.

The Gunas autonomous government decided two decades ago that they needed to think about leaving the island, but at that time it was because the island was getting too crowded. The effects of climate change accelerated that thinking, said Evelio Lopez, a 61-year-old teacher on the island.

He plans to move with relatives to the new site on the mainland that the government developed at a cost of $12 million. The concrete houses sit on a grid of paved streets carved out of the lush tropical jungle just over 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the port, where an eight-minute boat ride carries them to Gardi Sugdub.

Leaving the island is "a great challenge, because more than 200 years of our culture is from the sea, so leaving this island means a lot of things, Lopez said. Leaving the sea, the economic activities that we have there on the island, and now were going to be on solid ground, in the forest. Were going to see what the result is in the long run.

Steven Paton, director of the Smithsonian Institutions physical monitoring program in Panama, said that the upcoming move is a direct consequence of climate change through the increase in sea level.

The islands on average are only a half-meter above sea level, and as that level rises, sooner or later the Gunas are going to have to abandon all of the islands, almost surely by the end of the century or earlier, he said.

All of the world's coasts are being affected by this at different speeds, Paton said.

Residents of a small coastal community in Mexico moved inland last year after storms continued to take away their homes. Governments are being forced to take action, from the Italian lagoon city of Venice to the coastal communities of New Zealand.

A recent study by Panamas Environmental Ministrys Climate Change directorate, with support from universities in Panama and Spain, estimated that by 2050, Panama would lose about 2.01% of its coastal territory to increases in sea levels.

Panama estimates that it will cost about $1.2 billion to relocate the 38,000 or so inhabitants who will face rising sea levels in the short- and medium-term, said Ligia Castro, climate change director for the Environmental Ministry.

On Gardi Sugdub, women who make the elaborately embroidered molas worn by Guna women hang them outside their homes when finished, trying to catch the eye of visiting tourists.

The island and others along the coast have benefitted for years from year-round tourism.

Braucilio de la Ossa, the deputy secretary of Carti, the port facing Gardi Sugdub, said that he planned to move with his wife, daughter, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Some of his wifes relatives will stay on the island.

He said the biggest challenge for those moving would be the lifestyle change of moving from the sea inland, even though the distance is relatively small.

Now that they will be in the forest, their way of living will be different, he said.
The Taliban government Friday dismissed the findings of a Pakistan probe that attributed a recent fatal attack against Chinese workers in the country to militants operating from Afghanistan.



Zabihullah Mujahid, the Talibans chief spokesman, told an Afghan television station that his country had nothing to do with the March 26 attack on Chinese nationals in northwestern Pakistan, insisting it was an internal issue for the neighboring country to address.



The report published by Pakistan is an attempt to damage the trust between Afghanistan and China. We have repeatedly denied this report as illogical, Mujahid told TOLO TV in his audio remarks.



The response came a day after a Pakistani delegation visited Kabul on Thursday and shared with Taliban counterparts the results of Islamabads investigation into the killings of five Chinese nationals, along with their local driver, in a suicide car bombing. The victims were working on a China-funded hydropower project in northwestern Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a weekly news conference in Islamabad on Friday that its delegation also had requested assistance from Afghan authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on Chinese workers based on the "concrete evidence" Pakistan had shared with them.

"The Afghan side has committed to prevent the use of their soil for any terrorist activity, and they have agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and to work with Pakistan to take the investigation to its logical conclusion, Mumtaz Baloch said.



Pakistani military and civilian officials maintain that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a globally designated terrorist group also known as the Pakistani Taliban, orchestrated the attack on Chinese personnel from Afghan sanctuaries.



The militant group 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 they have since intensified cross-border attacks with greater operational freedom.

The Taliban have consistently denied that foreign extremist groups have a presence in Afghanistan and are using their territory to threaten outside countries. Critics, however, have questioned those claims.

This month, a U.S. government quarterly report to Congress noted that the ruling Taliban continued to allow senior al-Qaida leaders, the TTP, and other insurgent groups to operate in Afghanistan.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said Friday that the situation in Afghanistan "remains the main source of instability" in the region.

"Numerous radical groups have gained a foothold there, stepping up attempts to promote their ideas in the neighboring countries," the Russian state-run Tass news agency quoted him as telling a regional defense ministers meeting in Kazakhstan.

"The risk of gangs and terrorism spilling outside the country is growing," Belousov said. He stressed the need for "constant monitoring and prompt measures" to ensure regional stability.

A United Nations report published earlier this year said the Taliban continued to be sympathetic to the TTP and supplied it with weapons and equipment, and some Taliban members reportedly joined the TTP in conducting cross-border raids against Pakistan.

The Taliban government has not been formally recognized by the international community.

China has steadily improved relations with Afghanistan, though, since the fundamentalist Taliban regained power in Kabul in August 2021. Beijing was the first to appoint a new ambassador to Kabul and the first to officially accept a Taliban ambassador.
Thailand's government appears set to complete a deal for a Chinese-built diesel-electric attack submarine  a one-off purchase first negotiated under its previous military government  but experts say at this point, motivation for the deal may more political than military.

Under Thailands previous government led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha, the original deal to purchase three submarines was made in 2017.

But only one of the submarine deals materialized and faced many snags along the way. It was projected to cost Thailand about 13.5 billion baht  or $367 million  for Chinas construction of the S26T Yuan-class submarine and was put on hold amid the outbreak of COVID-19.

Hesitant to resume the deal, Thailands Defense Ministry under a new civilian-led government in October 2023 said it would no longer acquire the submarine because of Beijings inability to integrate a German-made diesel engine, a result of EU sanctions on China.

Benjamin Zawacki, author of Thailand: Shifting Ground Between the U.S and Rising China, said the events unfolded during a time of political uncertainty in Thailand.

"There were legitimate concerns about the engines. But the timing of that controversy coincided with a lot of controversy about the then-military government, whether or not it should be spending so much money in the midst of COVID-19 and the midst of post-COVID-19 economic recovery," he told VOA. "It was trying to realize this submarine deal didn't place it in a very good light politically."

With Prime Minister Srettha Thavisins September 2023 rise to power, the submarine deal looked dead in the water  until Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsangs May 21 announcement that Thailands Royal Navy had dropped demands for the German hardware, opting instead from Chinese-made CHD620 diesel engine, bringing the submarine deal back to life.

Not all about defense

Chinese tourism is key to Thailands tourist economy. China was Thailands largest trading partner in 2023, when it exchanged an estimated $135 billion in revenue.

Following the 2014 military coup, the U.S., which had worked closely with Thailand in the past, quickly denounced the seizure of power, withdrawing millions in military aid to Bangkok.

Since then, Bangkok and Beijing have tightened security ties. Thailand purchased more arms equipment in terms of value from China than the U.S. between 2016 and 2022, according to a report published in the Lowy Institute.

But Zawacki says questions remain about the necessity of a Thai attack submarine.

"Thailand doesn't need it, and China doesn't need Thailand to have it," he told VOA. "Speaking purely from a security standpoint, it doesn't make a great deal of sense for either China or Thailand, especially given the political controversy it's caused."

But, Zawacki added, the deal is "emblematic of the [Sino-Thai] military-to-military relationship" that has evolved since the 2014 coup. He also believes Beijing has persisted in finalizing the deal, which has since been modified to accommodate trade requirements on Thai military hardware procurement announced under Sretthas new government.

"It's been brought back I think primarily because it's important to the Chinese," Zawacki said. "I'm sure they were persistent. It's a deal they want to get done for their own reasons."

Greg Raymond, a senior lecturer at the Strategic & Defence Studies Center at Australia National University, echoes that opinion, saying it seems like Chinese pressure pushed the deal over the line.

"I don't think [this is] what the current Srettha government was looking for," he said, adding that Sretthas administration in October 2023 briefly discussed the possibility of converting the deal into a procurement of Chinese-made naval frigates.

"They were looking for that trade to frigates or some other alternative, [but] they wanted to stand their ground," he said of the new administration.

"They've been rolled," he added, alluding to China pushing through the deal. "I think that's pretty significant that whatever pressure or leverage the Chinese have applied has been successful."

VOA has contacted governments of Thailand and China seeking comment on the submarine deal.

Beijings push for greater power in Southeast Asia, including the submarine deal with Thailand and docking its warships in Cambodia, wont go down well in Washington, Raymond added.

"This ... is something which I'm not sure the Thais have thought through in terms of how that's going to be read by the U.S.," he said. "I think it's an increasingly tenuous posture of hoping to somehow achieve a balance and equidistance between China and the U.S."

Zawacki says Washingtons main concern will be about where the Chinese-made submarine will dock.

"Will it be at Satthip Heap [Thailand Naval Base in Chonburi] which is where U.S. assets are also docked? And would that pose a potential [for] espionage and information gathering? In terms of the proximity of having Chinese or Chinese-built vessel and U.S. vessels in the same in the same port, that's been their primary concern."

Unveiling the newly modified deal to acquire the submarine last week, Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang asked opposition leaders to wait until further details of the transaction were locked in place before asking questions about it.

According to the Bangkok Post, Sutin also said he could not share precisely when the finalized deal would be ready for review by Cabinet officials, adding that a trade component of the deal was still being negotiated.
Tin Oo, one of the closest associates of Myanmars ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi as well as a co-founder of her National League for Democracy party, died Saturday. He was 97.

Tin Oo died at Yangon General Hospital, said Moh Khan, a charity worker, citing a member of his family. Charity workers in Myanmar handle funeral arrangements.

Moh Khan said Tin Oo had been hospitalized at Yangon General Hospital on Wednesday due to difficulty urinating and other health problems, including weakness. His cause of death was not immediately announced.

Tin Oo was respected by many of his party's members for his outspokenness and courage as he shared many of Suu Kyis travails.

In 1988, Tin Oo helped found the National League for Democracy with Suu Kyi after a failed revolt against military rule. He became vice chairman, then chairman of the new party.

But when the military cracked down the following year, he was put under house arrest, as was Suu Kyi. Like her, he spent 14 of the next 21 years under house arrest or in prison before he was released ahead of the 2010 general election. The party had won a 1990 election, but the results were annulled by the ruling military, which launched a crackdown on its opponents.

In 2003, in one of the intermittent periods when he and Suu Kyi were at liberty before their 2010 release, they had the harrowing experience of being ambushed on a country road in upper Myanmar by a mob widely believed to have been assembled by an element of the military. The incident occurred as the party leaders were making a political tour and attracting large crowds of supporters.

The two leaders managed an escape, although dozens in their entourage were apparently killed in the attack, details of which remain murky. Despite being the targets, Suu Kyi and Tin Oo were detained in prison and then house arrest again after the incident.

When the party was allowed to fully resume political activities, Tin Oo served as its senior leader and patron. He was often seen in public rallies, and he helped campaign with Suu Kyi for the 2015 election, which the party won by a landslide.

He endured with dignity the various house arrest and prison terms and detentions imposed on him, Moe Thuzar, senior fellow and coordinator of the Myanmar Studies Program at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said in an email interview.

His sense of loyalty  to principles, to persons who he believed could uphold and continue the pursuit of this principles  was also evident in his unswerving support for the party he co-founded.

Because the constitution enacted under military rule contained a clause effectively barring Suu Kyi from becoming president on the grounds that she was married to a foreigner  British academic Michael Aris  there had been speculation that Tin Oo might take the position.

He declared he wasn't interested, saying Suu Kyi should have the job.

I never want to be president. I want to help her as much as I can, he told journalists. Htin Kyaw, a politician and scholar, ended up as president, while Suu Kyi took the newly created post of state counselor, the equivalent of prime minister with overall authority over government.

Suu Kyis government was ousted by the army in 2021 after winning a second term in the 2020 election. Suu Kyi was arrested and tried on a series of charges that were widely seen as trumped up for political reasons to keep her locked up. Tin Oo was not arrested and was allowed instead to stay quietly at his Yangon home.

Tin Oos background was unusual for a senior politician opposed to army rule, as he joined the National League for Democracy after a high-profile military career.

He had been Myanmar's fourth commander-in-chief of the armed forces between 1974 and 1976 under the government of the late dictator General Ne Win. A year after his retirement, he was imprisoned for allegedly withholding information about a failed coup against Ne Win but was released in 1980 under an amnesty. Some scholars believe he was purged because his popularity threatened Ne Win's grip on power.

Tin Oo displayed no inclination to reconcile with the military in which he once served, although it made several overtures.

Nearly a year after the 2021 army takeover, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, paid a visit to Tin Oo at his home in Yangon and inquired about his health.

In June last year, a Buddhist monk with close links to the army visited and suggested to him that Suu Kyi should retire from politics and get involved in working for peace. The army's seizure of power spurred widespread armed resistance, which has since reached the intensity of a civil war.

A week after the monk's visit, Tin Oo's family hung a sign on their property's front fence declaring No Visitors Allowed."
BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A research team from China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University has developed a six-legged guide robot for visually impaired people that is expected to address the country's shortage of real guide dogs.

"We believe our robot will function as a 'pair of eyes' for visually impaired people," said Professor Gao Feng from the School of Mechanical Engineering in a press release on the university's official website on Thursday.

According to the China Association of Persons with Visual Disabilities, there are about 17.31 million visually impaired people in China. However, due to high breeding costs and long training periods, there are reportedly only over 400 guide dogs in service nationwide, which means only one guide dog is available for every 40,000 visually impaired individuals in China.

As a strong backup for the real guide dogs, the guide robot can accurately recognize the speech of blind people and respond in less than one second, walking at a maximum speed of three meters per second while maintaining a stable walking state with little noise, according to the press release.

The robot has visual environmental perception capabilities, allowing it to autonomously navigate to its destination, dynamically avoid obstacles, and recognize traffic lights.

Moreover, with the support of the internet, it can also serve as a home companion and an emergency responder for blind people, it said.

"The primary task of our robot is to establish effective communication with blind individuals to enable the robot to understand the user's intentions while maintaining coordinated movements," said Gao.

To achieve these goals, the robot adopts a multisensory perception system of "seeing, hearing, asking and touching." It combines natural language comprehension and speech recognition with force-feedback canes to enable the users to control the robot.

This robot also uses advanced machine learning algorithms, enabling it to automatically avoid static and dynamic obstacles with a high degree of stability and safety.

In addition, it is equipped with multiple sensors such as laser radar to improve the accuracy of perception in complex environments. This means it can walk smoothly on different types of terrain and guide the blind both indoors and outdoors with no need of internet, making it easier to use, more stable, and more reliable for blind individuals.

The guide robot is currently undergoing field testing. Throughout the research and development process, visually impaired individuals have been involved in offline demonstrations and tests, according to Gao.

"We have already received orders for 20 units and believe that it will soon be ready for the market," he said. 
Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat.

By the end of April, Ugandan authorities had vaccinated 12.2 million of the 14 million people targeted, said Dr. Michael Baganizi, an official in charge of immunization at the health ministry.

Uganda will now require everyone traveling to and from the country to have a yellow fever vaccination card as an international health regulation, Baganizi said.

Ugandan authorities hope the requirement will compel more people to get the yellow fever shot amid a general atmosphere of vaccine hesitancy that worries health care providers in the East African nation.

The single-dose vaccine has been offered free of charge to Ugandans between the ages of 1 and 60. Vaccination centers in the capital, Kampala, and elsewhere included schools, universities, hospitals and local government units.

Before this, Ugandans usually paid to get the yellow fever shot at private clinics, for the equivalent of $27.

Uganda, with 45 million people, is one of 27 countries on the African continent classified as at high risk for yellow fever outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths globally each year from the disease.

Uganda's most recent outbreak was reported earlier this year in the central districts of Buikwe and Buvuma.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The majority of infections are asymptomatic. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite and nausea or vomiting, according to the WHO.

Uganda's vaccination initiative is part of a global strategy launched in 2017 by the WHO and partners such as the U.N. children's agency to eliminate yellow fever by 2026. The goal is to protect almost 1 billion people in Africa and the Americas.

A midterm evaluation of that strategy, whose results were published last year, found that 185 million people in high-risk African countries had been vaccinated by August 2022.

In Uganda, most people get the yellow fever shot when they are traveling to countries such as South Africa that demand proof of vaccination on arrival.

James Odite, a nurse working at a private hospital which has been designated as a vaccination center in a suburb of the capital, Kampala, told the AP that hundreds of doses remained unused after the yellow fever vaccination campaign closed. They will be used in a future mass campaign.

Among the issues raised by vaccine-hesitant people was the question of whether "the government wants to give them expired vaccines," Odite said.

Baganizi, the immunization official, said Uganda's government has invested in community "sensitization" sessions during which officials tell people that vaccines save lives.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday to end the U.N. political mission in Iraq.

The mission was established in 2003 following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Its task was to coordinate post-conflict humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, and to help restore a representative government in the country.

The Iraqi government asked the council in a May 8 letter to wrap up the mission by the end of 2025, and that's what the resolution does: It extends the mandate of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq, known as UNAMI, for a final 19 months until Dec. 31, 2025, when all its work will cease.

The U.S.-sponsored resolution asks Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to prepare "a transition and liquidation plan" in consultation with the Iraqi government by December 31, 2024, so UNAMI can start transferring its tasks and withdrawing staff and assets.

The council said it supports Iraq's continuing stabilization efforts, including its ongoing fight against the Islamic State group and al-Qaida extremists and their affiliates.

In 2014, the Islamic State group declared a caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria and attracted tens of thousands of supporters from around the world. The extremists were defeated by a U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, but its sleeper cells remain in both countries.

The council's action came as Iraq is also seeking to wind down the military coalition formed to fight IS. The roughly 2,500 U.S. troops are scattered around the country, largely in military installations in Baghdad and in the north. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has contended that the Iraqi security forces are capable of dealing with the remaining IS cells in the country and the coalition's presence is no longer needed.

The resolution adopted Friday to close the UNAMI mission expresses support for Iraq's reform efforts aimed at fighting corruption, respecting and protecting human rights, delivering essential services to its people, creating jobs and diversifying the economy.

It asks the secretary-general to streamline UNAMI's tasks ahead of the mission's closure to focus on providing advice, support and technical assistance to the government to strengthen preparations for free elections, including for the federal Parliament and for the Parliament in the Kurdistan region.

It also authorizes UNAMI to facilitate progress toward finally resolving outstanding issues between Iraq and Kuwait, stemming from Saddam's invasion of its smaller neighbor in August 1990.

In addition, the resolution says UNAMI should help with the return of internally displaced Iraqis and those in Syria, with providing health care and other services, and with economic development. And it also authorizes the mission to "promote accountability and the protection of human rights, and judicial and legal reform."

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood welcomed the resolution's unanimous adoption and plans for an orderly wind down of UNAMI.

"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," he told the council.
The United States and allies South Korea and Japan clashed with China and Russia Friday over North Koreas latest satellite and ballistic missile launches and threats to use nuclear weapons that have escalated tensions in northeast Asia.

The scene was an emergency open meeting of the U.N. Security Council called after North Koreas failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on May 27 and other launches using ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. sanctions.

Since the beginning of 2022, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea  the Norths official name  has launched over 100 missiles using this banned technology as it has advanced its nuclear weapons program. In response, the U.S. and its allies have carried out an increasing number of military exercises.

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari briefed the council meeting saying sovereign states have the right to benefit from peaceful space activities  but the DPRK is expressly prohibited from conducting launches using ballistic missile technology and its continuing violations undermine global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation treaties.

"We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula," Khiari said. "There is a need for practical measures to reduce tensions, reverse the dangerous dynamic, and create space to explore diplomatic avenues."

North Koreas U.N. Ambassador Kim Song insisted that its satellite launches  and it had a successful one last November  are "the legitimate and universal right of a sovereign state" under international law and the Outer Space Treaty. He stressed that reconnaissance satellites are not only needed to strengthen its self-defense capabilities but to defend its sovereignty.

Kim told the Security Council that the "massive deployment of strategic assets and aggressive war exercises" by the United States on the Korean Peninsula and in the region have broken all records and destroyed the military balance.

This has turned the Korean Peninsula "into the most fragile zone in the world, fraught with the danger of outbreak of war," he said, claiming that joint military exercises since the beginning of the year are "a U.S.-led nuclear war rehearsal."

The DPRK ambassador said the Security Council shouldnt waste time debating the legitimate rights of a sovereign state, but should direct its attention to putting an immediate end to the killing of civilians in Gaza, "which continues unabated under U.S. patronage."

South Koreas U.N. Ambassador Joonkook Hwang said it should be his country  not the DPRK  that should claim the right to self-defense.

He said the DPRKs nuclear policy and its rhetoric "are getting increasing aggressive and hostile, and Pyongyang no longer views its nuclear arsenal as just a deterrent against the United States, "but instead as a means to attack my country."

He quoted DPRK leader Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo-jong, saying two weeks ago that the only purpose of their tactical nuclear weapons "is to teach a lesson to Seoul."

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood urged the Security Council to condemn the DPRKs launches and hold it accountable for violating U.N. sanctions.

"But two council members, China and Russia, continuously block the Security Council from speaking against the DPRKs behavior with one voice and makes us all less safe," he said.

Wood also accused the DPRK of unlawfully transferring dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine, "prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people."

He rejected as "groundless" and disingenuous" claims by the DPRK and its supporters on the council that its missile launches are a response to U.S.-led military exercises.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva countered that "one of the key catalysts for the growing tensions in the region has been and remains the build-up of military activity by the U.S. and its allies."

U.S.-led military drills against the DPRK and numerous other hostile acts with a threatening military component "are provoking countermeasures from North Korea, which is forced to take action to strengthen its national defense capacity," she said.

Evstogneeva claimed "the unstable situation around the Korean Peninsula is of benefit to Washington, which continues to confidently and deliberately pursue the path of confrontation instead of dialogue."

She also dismissed claims that Russia is engaging in illegal military and technical cooperation with the DPRK as "absolutely unfounded."

Chinas U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong called the situation on the Korean Peninsula "highly tense, with antagonism and confrontation escalating," and called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions or rhetoric that might increase tension.

He warned that a planned large-scale joint military exercise on the peninsula in August "practicing a scenario involving a nuclear war" will only increase tensions.

U.S. envoy Wood retorted that "the United States is in no way a threat to the DPRK," stressing that the U.S. offer to reach out "an open hand" and hold talks with the DPRK without preconditions over the past few years "has been met with a clenched fist."
The United States, Japan and South Korea strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters and strongly condemned North Korea's recent launches using ballistic missile technology.

This joint statement followed a meeting of senior officials in historic Little Washington, Virginia, on Friday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell hosted 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 three allies recognized the importance of opposing unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

There is no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, and we call for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, the joint statement said.

On Friday, the three countries, along with several others, voiced their "resolute opposition" to the continued transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia and vowed to impose costs on those involved in the unlawful transfer of arms for use in attacking Ukraine.

Last week, the three countries announced unilateral sanctions against Russian ships and North Korean personnel to counter their illicit transactions.

The State Departments second-highest-ranking diplomat told reporters he thought China, which still maintains close ties with North Korea, also has concerns.

"I think they, too, have some anxieties about the steps North Korea has taken with respect to providing dangerous military equipment to Russia," Campbell said during a joint news conference at his farmhouse.

The trilateral dialogue, a key deliverable from the historic 2023 Camp David summit involving the leaders of the three countries, reaffirmed cooperation on economic security, critical and emerging technologies, and maritime security.

When asked if the leaders of the three countries would meet on the margins of the NATO summit in Washington July 9-11, Campbell said that convening a second leaders summit was "among the highest priorities" for the remainder of this year.

The high-level talks unfolded against the backdrop of North Koreas provocations, Russias war on Ukraine, the imperative of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and the need to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

We have more shared interests, and we have more shared agendas. So, if we work together, we can produce more relevant and efficient result[s], Japans Okano said.

The latest trilateral talks followed North Korea's launch of suspected ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea on Thursday, 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 dropped balloons containing feces and garbage on South Korea's busy streets and public areas.

These actions will only solidify our resolve to strengthen security cooperation, said South Korea's Kim.

"All of us know North Korea continues to violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and threatened the region with its nuclear and missile program, he added.



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, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a briefing 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.

The high-level talks also took place amid other regional and global challenges, including recent large-scale military drills by China following the inauguration of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Friday's talks followed the recent revival of a high-level dialogue among China, Japan and South Korea after almost five years. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended a summit Monday in Seoul.

We welcome renewed diplomacy between China, Japan and South Korea, Campbell told VOA after receiving a deep and sincere debrief from his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

We welcome the steps towards increasing dialogue and discussion on the critical matters of Northeast Asia, he added.

Former U.S. intelligence officials and analysts said the alliance among Washington, Tokyo and Seoul was 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, Campbell met with South Koreas Kim for a bilateral discussion.

The previous day, Campbell 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.

The next trilateral vice foreign minister-level dialogue will be held in Seoul in the second half of this year.
Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

Immigration conversations start at the table at this Washington restaurant

A Washington restaurant advocates for immigrant-related issues, including comprehensive immigration reform. VOAs immigration reporter Aline Barros has more.

Chinatown: Past, Present, and Future

For the past year and a half, a surge of undocumented migrants from China has trekked through harsh and dangerous terrain in South and Central America to enter the United States through its southern border with Mexico.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures, some 37,000 Chinese nationals were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023  10 times the number from the previous year. Many of these migrants settle in Chinese enclaves and Chinatowns in the United States from Los Angeles to New York City. They are just the most recent wave of migrants from China throughout history. For hundreds of years, waves of people have left China and established new lives around the globe. Their reasons for leaving are varied, from political to economic, from within and outside the country.

Biden is said to be finalizing plans for migrant limits

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. President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order as early as Tuesday, according to four people familiar with the matter. The Associated Press reports.

VOA Photo of the day:

Immigration around the world

UN refugee chief: 114 million have fled homes because nations fail to tackle causes of conflict

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. The Associated Press reports.

UNHCR: 'Act now' or Sahel crisis will be 'problem for the world'

Action must be taken immediately to address the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel or other countries will be drawn in and it will "become a problem for the world," a UNHCR official warned Wednesday. The volatile situations in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso risk overflowing into neighboring countries, the U.N. refugee agency's director for west and central Africa, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, told Agence France-Presse in an interview in Brussels. Reported by the Agence France-Presse.

News Brief

 The U.S. Justice Department announced more efforts to dismantle human smuggling operations and increase accountability for those who violate our immigration laws.
Less than a day after U.S. President Joe Biden granted Ukraine authorization to strike inside Russia with American weaponry, Michael Carpenter, senior director for Europe at the National Security Council, spoke with VOA's Iuliia Iarmolenko to discuss details of the new policy and explain what prompted the presidents reversal of a longstanding ban.

Carpenter, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, emphasized that U.S. policies barring Ukraine from using American-provided ATACMS, or long-range missiles, and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia have not changed.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

VOA: Could you provide details about this shift in policy? What is allowed and what are the limitations?

MICHAEL CARPENTER, SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE AT NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: This is in the context of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region against Ukraine. Russians were striking targets in Ukraine from just across the border. And at that point, the Ukrainians came to us with a request to use U.S.-provided weapons to be able to hit back at the Russian weapons that were targeting Ukrainian villages and Ukrainian people and their homes. And so the president directed his national security team to look into this and directed them to change the guidance and to allow for the employment of U.S. provided weapons to be able to strike back. That guidance has now gone into effect.

VOA: Does it apply only to the Kharkiv region?

CARPENTER: This applies to counter-fire capabilities that are deployed just across the border. It does not apply to ATACMS or long-range strikes. This is meant to enable Ukrainians to defend themselves against what would otherwise be a Russian sanctuary across the border.

VOA: But in the Sumy region, would it be possible to do so there?

CARPENTER: As I said, this applies to enable Ukrainians to defend themselves. Yes, across the border for Russian attacks that are coming across, where otherwise Russians would enjoy a relative sanctuary on their side of the border.

VOA: What is the hope of the administration on how this policy shift might influence Ukraine's position on the battlefield?

CARPENTER: Well, we have all long wanted to give Ukraine the capabilities that it needs defensively to push back on this aggressive onslaught on their territory. And we will continue to do that.

VOA: Do you expect, though, that this change in policy might influence the situation on a battlefield, such that Ukraine might have an upper hand in coming months?

CARPENTER: We endeavor to give Ukraine the capabilities over time to enable Ukraine to be able to defend its sovereignty against this aggression. And, yes, the types of weapons systems and the capabilities that we have provided, yes those have changed over time. The battlefield has changed over time. And we have reacted to what Russia has done. Don't forget that Russia has also benefited from its partners. Principally Iran and North Korea. And we have therefore stepped up the contributions that we have made together with our allies and partners. And we continue to do so.

VOA: A couple weeks ago, Defense Secretary Austin said the United States is talking to allies in Europe about trying to get at least one more Patriot air-defense battery in place. Should we expect another battery directly from the United States as well?

CARPENTER: We are looking very carefully at what we could contribute to Ukraine's air defense needs, which are very acute at this point in time. We're talking with allies and partners. We're talking around the world with various countries that we engage in. And I don't have any announcements to make today, but I can assure you that this is an ongoing process where we are doing everything possible to unlock air defense capabilities for Ukraine.

VOA: I'd like to talk about the upcoming July NATO summit in Washington. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week said that well see very strong deliverables for Ukraine at the summit. Is there a consensus among allies about what those deliverables might look like? And should Ukraine expect the invitation to start accession talks?

CARPENTER: Secretary Blinken is in Prague right now to talk about the nature of the deliverable for Ukraine, the nature of the support that will be provided in the aftermath of the Washington summit. We think it's going to be very robust. This will be essentially a bridge to [NATO] membership, so that when Ukraine does in the future receive an invitation  now, there is no consensus for an invitation now, at the Washington summit  but when conditions permit and when there is that consensus and Ukraine does gain entry to the NATO alliance, we want to make sure that Ukraine is fully capable on day one of being able to deter and defend and also is fully interoperable with NATO and is able to essentially participate in all the benefits but also undertake the responsibilities of being a member of the alliance from day one. So, we're looking out to build out those capabilities and that support through this package of measures that is currently under discussion among NATO allies in Prague as we speak right now.

VOA: President Biden is meeting today with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the White House. What role does President Biden hope Belgium can play in using Russian frozen assets to Ukraine's benefit?

CARPENTER: Belgium is a great NATO ally. They're a member of the EU. They've had the presidency of the European Union. They play a very important role. And President Biden, as he does with every single European leader, will underscore our partnership in support of Ukraine. Now, Belgium plays a particular role in terms of Russian sovereign assets, and we will be discussing how we can use the proceeds from those immobilized Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine.

VOA: It appears President Biden is likely to skip the Ukraine peace summit that's going to be happening in Switzerland. Is it a sign that the administration doesnt believe that this summit can produce some important results?

CARPENTER: So, first of all, I don't have an announcement for you today on who will participate for the United States. We will have senior-level participation there, no doubt. ... But we will look to use the opportunity of this Swiss peace summit to underscore support for Ukraine, for its sovereignty, for its territorial integrity, for the principles of the U.N. Charter. And as wide a participation as possible that will underscore worldwide support for Ukraine and its effort to defend itself.
At the site of a bloody battlefield that marked the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, Singaram Soosaimuthu fishes every day with his son, casting nets and reeling them in.

It is a skill he has known for much of his life  and one that he had to relearn after a devastating injury. The former Tamil fighter lost both legs in 2009 as the nation's generation-long civil war drew to a close and the Tamils retreated in defeat.

Making something of himself despite his injuries brought Soosaimuthu success  an achievement in which he finds profound meaning. He sees his fellow ethnic Tamils in the same light: To regain their voice, they must thrive.

But defeat  bloody, protracted and decisive  has brought Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community to a point of despair.

Some parents have given up hope of ever learning the fate of the thousands of missing children. Parts of the Tamil lands are decimated, with poor infrastructure and fewer economic opportunities. Survivors have lived under surveillance for years, and many now feel that members of the rising generation have grown too fearful and apathetic toward speaking up for their rights.

"There is a clear agenda underway to degenerate a defeated community," says Selvin Ireneus, a social activist based in Jaffna, the Tamils' northern cultural heartland.

The government, he says, doesn't want today's Tamils to be politically evolved. After fighting ended, he asserts, narcotics and other vices have been systematically introduced into the region. "They only want them to eat, drink and enjoy and not have a political ideology," Ireneus said. "This has happened with all defeated communities in the world."

The island nation of 20 million is overwhelmingly ethnically Sinhalese, with the Tamil community making up about 11% of the population. The separatist civil war broke out in 1983 after years of failed attempts to share power within a unified country, with Tamil fighters  known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or simply the Tamil Tigers  eventually creating a de facto independent homeland in the country's north.

The group was crushed in a 2009 government offensive. The war killed at least 100,000 on both sides, and left many more missing.

Though not all Tamils were part of or supported the Tamil Tiger rebel group, their defeat has effectively become a political defeat to the community. They have lost their bargaining power.

"What is remaining now is a very small community, and they don't have the courage ... to show dissent," says K.T. Ganeshalingam, head of political science at the University of Jaffna.

Sri Lanka's government had promised the United Nations and countries like India and the United States that they would share power with the Tamil-majority areas to resolve the causes that led to the civil war. However, successive governments have not followed up.

Fifteen years on, some in Tamil areas are still in denial that the armed campaign has been defeated and that the rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was seen as invincible, has been killed. Sections of the expatriate Tamils in Europe have been claiming that Prabhakaran would return soon to take on the campaign to the next stage, including a woman who claims to be his daughter and is said to be collecting donations in his name.

Prabhakaran's nephew in Denmark, Karthic Manoharan, says the time has come to put a stop to the rumors and state, emphatically, that the leader is dead.

"We don't have any doubt regarding (his death) because he loved his country so much. And he's not a coward to run from the country and live in another country, in a different country to save himself, his wife and his daughter," Manoharan says.

Such beliefs are more than simply inaccurate, says Ganeshalingam; they're genuinely harmful to any possible future that the Tamil people are trying to chart. He wonders: "If I have not grasped the fact that I am defeated, how can I rise from that?"

Discussing the Tamil Tigers' defeat, their past mistakes and even Prabhakaran's death is discouraged in Tamil society, especially in the diaspora. Ganeshalingam says such attitudes have created a stagnation in Tamil politics.

Political leaders are divided and are in disarray. A political alliance that the Tamil Tigers formed is fragmented with many leaders breaking away to form their own parties. Civil activists are now working to unify them and strengthen their bargaining position ahead of the presidential election later this year.

In the villages of Mullaitivu district, where the final battle between government forces and the Tamil Tigers unfolded, many men are addicted to narcotics and alcohol, forcing women to be the family's main breadwinners, says Yogeswari Dharmabaskaran, a social worker in the Udaiyarkattu area of Mullaitivu district. School dropouts soar in the villages, she says, as boys find easy money through selling narcotics, illegal tree-felling and the mining of river sand.

In Jaffna, local politician Thiyagaraja Nirosh says family elders discourage young people from discussing political rights. Because of that, it is difficult to find younger candidates to run in local elections.

"There is fear that talking politics is dangerous. Many family elders do not encourage talking politics," Nirosh says "The reason is that there has been no justice for the past killings. They see no guarantee that such incidents won't recur."

Thayalan Kalaipriya, a former rebel, wonders about the future often. She says her many losses have made her deeply desire unity among all Sri Lankans; at the same time, she says it is painful to realize their efforts to win political rights have been wasted.

Former rebels often do not receive adequate support and at times ex-fighters, like those who conscripted children at the height of the war, are treated with resentment, although she says some respect their commitment and sacrifice.

She finds solace by working with her young children, educating them and helping to give them a good life in a land she hopes is free of civil war and the sad echoes it has caused.

"We teach our children about what happened," she says, "but never to seek revenge."
A court run by Yemen's Houthi rebels Saturday sentenced 44 people to death, including a businessman working with aid groups, on spying charges, a defense lawyer said.

The 44 were among 49 people who were detained by the Iran-backed rebels and accused of collaborating with the enemy, a reference to the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war with the Houthis since 2015, lawyer Abdel-Majeed Sabra said. Four were given prison sentences, Sabra said.

Sixteen were sentenced to death in absentia, while 28 were brought before the Specialized Criminal Court in the capital, Sanaa, Sabra said.

Among those sentenced to death was Adnan al-Harazi, CEO of Prodigy Systems, a Sanaa-based company that developed systems to help humanitarian groups register and verify the distribution of aid to those in need in the war-stricken country.

The Houthis detained al-Harazi in March last year after throwing stones at his company. Saturdays court ruling included the seizure of al-Harazis property, Sabra said.

Sabra accused the Houthis of torturing the suspects physically and psychologically, adding that they disappeared into solitary confinement for nine months.

He said the defense team withdrew at the beginning of the trial after the judges refused to allow them to obtain a copy of the case documents, describing the trial as unfair.

A spokesperson for the Houthis didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thousands have been imprisoned by the Houthis during Yemens civil war. An AP investigation found some detainees were scorched with acid, forced to hang from their wrists for weeks at a time or were beaten with batons.

Courts in Sanaa and other Houthi-held areas in Yemen used to give harsh sentences to those accused of collaborating with the Saudi-led coalition. In September 2021, the rebels executed nine people who were convicted of involvement in the killing of a senior Houthi official, Saleh al-Samad, in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition in April 2018.

Yemen was plunged into a devastating conflict when the Houthis descended from their northern stronghold in 2014, seizing Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and forcing the government into exile.

A Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized government. The conflict has turned in recent years into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The war has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters.
By Nyasha Chingono

LIVINGSTONE, Zambia (Reuters) - Southern African countries home to the largest elephant population in the world fear a rise in animal deaths in the coming months as food and water sources dwindle following a severe drought.

The region experienced an extended hot, dry spell during its 2023/24 rainy season, attributed to El Nino, a weather phenomenon marked by the warming of the waters in the eastern Pacific, leading to hotter weather across the world. El Nino has worsened the impact of climate change, scientists say.

The drought has affected water and food supplies for humans, livestock and wildlife.

Zimbabwe lost 160 elephants in its premier Hwange National Park in the year to January 2024, according to the country's wildlife authority.

Botswana lost 300 elephants to drought last year, according to its environment ministry.

Others like Zambia have also confirmed deaths of elephants in its national parks, with Minister of Environment Rodney Sikumba describing the drought as "devastating."

The five countries making up the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) conservation area - Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola and Namibia, home to a combined 227,000 elephants - are meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss sustainable wildlife management.

"The drought has had an adverse effect and you would notice that most of the watering holes in parks around KAZA are drying up," Sikumba told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.

"In the absence of water and food, you will see carcasses dotted around the parks."

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) said it had received $3 million from the country's disaster fund to boost water supply in national parks, but its director general Fulton Mangwanya said this was not enough to save wildlife.

"We have over 150 solar powered boreholes. However, it will not stop the elephants from dying when the drought hits hard. We are ready for the drought, but some situations cannot be avoided," Mangwanya said.

Delegates said climate change has worsened human-wildlife conflict as elephants encroach on human habitat in search of food and water. Last year Zimbabwe lost 50 people to elephant attacks.

Philip Kuvawoga, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) director for landscape conservation, said wildlife faced a bigger risk of food shortage due to the drought and heightened fire risk.

"Fire management is important so we retain and sustain food available for wildlife," he said.

(Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Nelson Banya and Mark Potter)
By Kathy Short

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA 

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.
BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have launched a campaign to intensify the crackdown on copyright infringement that could potentially jeopardize the rights and interests of teenagers.

The campaign was jointly initiated by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and several other departments.

It specifically targets illegal activities such as pirating, unauthorized sales and online dissemination of textbooks, picture books, cartoons, and exam materials that involve copyright infringement or piracy.

The campaign will strengthen inspections and investigations in the publishing market, printing companies, as well as bookstores and printing shops near campuses.

It will step up the monitoring and regulation of e-commerce platforms for potential dissemination and sales of pirated educational materials.

Moreover, a wide range of activities will be organized on school campuses to foster a heightened awareness of copyright protection among students. 
Photo: Greg Endries/HBO

When Were Here launched its fourth season earlier this spring, it was a bit of a rebirth. Original hosts Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka, and Shangela had been shown the door (for good reason, in the third queens case), and the HBO series had undergone a creative retooling. Gone were the weekly trips to different cities, themed host costumes, and quick-and-teary featured story lines. Instead, the new season focused on just two small towns  Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma  that had dealt with hotheaded community problems following recent Pride celebrations featuring drag queens.

While Jaida Essence Hall joined hosts Sasha Velour and Priyanka for the three episodes in Tennessee, Latrice Royale stepped into that slot for the religiously charged visit to Oklahoma, bringing not just her chunky yet funky essence but also a youth spent in church alongside her mother, a minister, in Compton, California. Royale was ostensibly recruited to the Were Here team to guide her charge, a local farmer named Randy, but she was also there to bring her rich well of life experiences to a town where thousands of people signed a petition to protest a public drag show at a Pride event the year prior, effectively pushing queens out of the public eye. Latrice has spent years in the drag trenches, and her backstory  a stint in prison, a charming marriage, and her current life in Florida  leads you to believe she cares about whats happening in Bartlesville and that she can relate: When she tells a poster-waving anti-gay protester in Oklahoma that shes open to having a conversation with him, you believe it, and when she pushes back at a Black Republican spokeswomans preposterous notion that queens are exposing themselves to children, you want to scream, Yes, that! (Do you know how many pairs of tights drag queens wear? Bras, girdles, corsets  Theres nothing to expose but cotton-and-polyester blend.)

Latrice says she always thought shed be a great fit for the show because Ive gone through some things, and she knew her name was in the conversation during the recasting process. I didnt get the initial call, she explains, but she heard back later that they wanted to see if I was still interested, because they had an idea for something they wanted to do.

Did they tell you what the gist of the Oklahoma visit might be, or why they wanted you specifically?

I think they knew it would be faith based, because religion and church are a big part of the political climate in Oklahoma, and everyone knows that I have a strong faith, but Im not religious because I left the church. So I do have some views, but they also said they were just missing my voice.

You were clearly very affected in the episode in which you went to the church service. It seemed like you were blown back a little when sitting in the meeting with the forward-thinking religious leaders. Did this visit make you reevaluate where you stand in terms of organized religion?

It definitely gave me more hope for people who are still struggling with their faith, but for me that ship has sailed. I will never return to the church. Never ever. Thats just not for me. Ill still hold on to my faith, though, because I feel like thats a personal relationship.

It was so refreshing and heartwarming to see these clergymen really sticking their necks out. It is a high-risk job theyre doing, and taking on that responsibility is really brave.

Going to St. Jeromes was a moment that I didnt expect to have to deal with. I had a moment before where I was like, Im not doing this. I didnt tell production, I didnt tell the girls, but I was struggling internally with those voices that said, Youre an abomination, youre going to hell for coming up here in drag. Those words were coming up and I just had to shut them down and say, Lets do this, because I know what my purpose is. I had to put on my big-girl panties. But when I went in there, the feeling of welcome and acceptance and love was so overwhelming that I was moved to tears. To hear all these affirming words from the pastor letting us know were loved and that drag is our ministry  which is exactly what I say, that drag is my calling  to get that confirmation was just next level.

What about doing the actual drag show in the church? Was there an extra level of panic, like, what are we doing?

Whats funny is that I realized I take God with me everywhere, including the club. So if I can take it to the club, why cant I just take it where it belongs? And so I selected the perfect song, This Joy, which is a classic gospel song but done up (by Junior Vasquez), and brought it back to the church to rock it out.

It felt like a full-circle moment for me to be able to do that and feel comfortable. I felt like it was going to be a powerful moment and the people who were watching were going to feel some type of way, in a good way.

How did you put together your number with Randy? Why Havent I Heard From You was a reference to him trying to find a venue for the show in Bartlesville, right?

Randy is a beautiful person, but he was also doing something very powerful and strong, even if he didnt realize his own strength in what he was doing. I was like, Youre leading the charge in your community, where OkEq dropped the ball; youre picking up their weight and carrying it. Its a form of activism, and you need to know and embrace that.

And so, when we were trying to come up with the number that was going to really showcase his story, which was him saying Where are you? Why am I here by myself?, that Reba song just made sense. It really got everyone going, too.

Photo: Greg Endries/HBO

Speaking of Bartlesville: There has always been a fish-out-of-water element in Were Here, but this season felt a little more dangerous in some sense. Like when you all read the Facebook comment that said, Three well-placed bullets would solve this whole business. What was that experience like? Im sure the production had security for you, but can you ever really feel safe?

Theres always an element of danger, but, you know, you can be anywhere and it can be your time. I was never afraid of going into a battleground, and Im not afraid of walking with purpose. Im from Compton, baby. Im from the hood. That dont scare me. Ive been to prison. Its going to take a lot more than idle threats to scare me and deter me.

But people are unpredictable, too. Whos to say they couldnt take the security out first? You never know. But the work and the job and the mission must go forward, and I am going to continue.

The big-sign people that we see on the show are such a disease  theyll show up anywhere and theres usually only a couple of them, but theyre really loud and they always seem to have a kid with them. I loved your approach to the protester, which was to say, If you want to talk, we can talk. Why did you try to engage rather than ignore him?

To prove a point. I knew what he was there to do, but I wanted him to prove to the rest of the world that he was ignorant and did not want to have a conversation, or rather that he was not capable of having a conversation. Im a strong believer in giving a person rope to hang themselves.

The more he talked, it was not so much about us being gay, either. You realized hes a male chauvinist, a womanizer, an abuser, he has no respect for women. The way he talked about his wife, I was like, That speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. Like, your views are archaic, and we dont need to even go any further because we already know what you would do. If you could have it be caveman days, you would. Youd be dragging your woman by the hair.

Speaking of wrong-minded people: Theres a beat in the show when Randy tells you that OkEq regrets not supporting the show and not being there for that meet and greet. These episodes were filmed a while ago. Have you heard anything more about whats going on now, whether from Randy or from other sources? Were coming up on Pride month.

I have not heard anything as far as progress. I am curious to check, but no, it doesnt seem like theyve done any follow-up. I think its still been quiet. I think in Bartlesville now, the people are more energized than the organization is. But I need to check in and see whats up.

In the local article that ran before the meet and greet, it pointedly said that the three of you would be wearing appropriate outfits so that anyone could come. Was that something you had to discuss or agree on?

It wasnt a concession so much as it was being mindful about where we are and what were doing. We dressed for the occasion. Thats what drag is. Duh. If youre gonna go daytime in the park, you dress appropriately, understanding that there are going to be all ages there, that we dont want anything exposed. We definitely dont want to give them the ammunition to say we were inappropriate or doing any of the horrible things that they claim we are doing, like sexualizing children. Sexualizing drag, period! To me, thats what theyre doing. Thats what the adults are doing. Kids think we are princesses. They just think were glittery, sparkly things and beautiful people, and they are excited about it. Theres nothing sexual about that. Gender has nothing to do with it. Its fun, just like watching cartoons.

In the first Oklahoma episode, you have a conversation with this ridiculous Black Republican leader named Charity who  is very good at her job. Lets put it that way.

Yes, shes good at her job. She gets paid for bullshit, though. Listening to her give this misinformation and spread these rumors, and shes never even been to a drag show or knows what it is, it was like, girl, what experience are you speaking from? What facts do you have to back this up? Where did any of that happen? Because its not on the news. Wheres the headline?

The allegations these people are spreading would cause people to lose their livelihoods. These are serious allegations, and theyre just throwing them out willy-nilly, saying queens are pedophiles and all these horrible things. Were not answering to this nonsense. And, in fact, were going to make people understand that these claims are unfounded and you are not trustworthy. We have the facts, we have the receipts, and you are liars.

Your drag child was Randy, but did you get to interact with any of the other participants? Did anyones story really affect you?

We got to meet the other drag children and their support systems. Theyre an intricate part of the journey. Its important to have a support system that loves you unconditionally, that gives you that safe space and that reassurance that youre going to be okay, that they got your back. Especially in a scary place like Oklahoma, where its not easy to be gay, trans, or nonbinary.

I strongly believe that wherever you pay the cost to be the boss, you should be able to act like you want to act. But thats just not the case everywhere. Everybody cant get out. And thats the other thing that I realized: For me, it was desperate times, desperate measures, and sometimes you have to jump just to fly. I left. I hit it. But should people even have to leave? There are people who cant leave, but also isnt it a bit like fuck that, you shouldnt have to leave the place you love? If everyone leaves those small towns to move to better, more accepting places, then theres no more Randy and Kevin, no more people living with their husbands showing the kids  and the adults  that all the horrible stuff they think or that theyve heard isnt true.

I mean, I live in Florida. Im in a place where I could sell my house in a heartbeat, but why would I when I love it? I love Florida beaches! I love where I live, so were gonna fight and youre gonna change. Were gonna march right up to Ron DeSantiss door, like we did with our drag queen march, and were going to let you know that were not going anywhere, youre not banning us, and youre not making it illegal. For me, being able to stay in Florida is more important because thats the only way were going to normalize and stabilize our system. For them, its out of sight, out of mind. And Im not trying to shove it down your throat, but youre not gonna dismiss me, either. We do exist, and we are here.

Its the shows name for a reason.

Thats the whole point! Were everywhere. Were your brothers, your gardener, your kindergarten teacher, your post office worker  were everywhere. Cant we just connect on a human level, or even not connect on a human level but just exist? Im not coming over to your job in protest. Im not trying to make you get fired. Im not trying to infringe upon your life.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses his supporters during a demonstration in Budapest, Hungary, June 1, 2024. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire and the need for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to prevent the armed conflict from spreading. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire and the need for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to prevent the armed conflict from spreading.

Orban made the remarks when addressing his supporters in a demonstration one week ahead of the European Parliament elections scheduled for June 6-9 and Hungarian local elections for June 9.

"If we want to prevent the war from catching up with us, we must nip it in the bud now. This war cannot be won with weapons. There is no solution to this war on the battlefield, only death and destruction," he said.

He also underscored the importance of the upcoming elections, which he described as a crucial moment for forming a European peace coalition.

"In a week, we will receive reinforcements from every country in Europe, and we can create a European peace coalition in Brussels," he said to the tens of thousands of participants of a peace march that started from the iconic Chain Bridge in Budapest Saturday. 

People participate in a demonstration in Budapest, Hungary, June 1, 2024. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire and the need for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to prevent the armed conflict from spreading. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses his supporters during a demonstration in Budapest, Hungary, June 1, 2024. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire and the need for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to prevent the armed conflict from spreading. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
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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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.
TEHRAN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday summoned Sweden's acting charge d'affaires over his country's "baseless and biased" accusations against Tehran, the official news agency IRNA reported.

During the meeting with the Swedish envoy, the Iranian foreign ministry conveyed Tehran's protest against the controversial remarks made by a Swedish official in Stockholm, adding that the remarks had been made "based on disinformation and under Israel's influence," according to the IRNA.

Daniel Stenling, head of counterintelligence at the Swedish Security Service, accused on Thursday the Iranian government of "using criminal networks within Sweden" to target Israeli or Jewish interests in the Scandinavian country. 
Senator Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fail European election candidate for the Midlands North-West, has called for the European Union to take a leading role in protecting children online.

"With Ireland hosting the European headquarters of major tech companies like X (formerly Twitter) and Google, it is imperative that these corporations adhere to our social standards," Senator Chambers stated. "If a social media giant like X wants to benefit from our attractive business environment, it must respect our values and the well-being of our people."

Senator Chambers emphasised the need for a united European approach to address the challenges posed by social media.

"Technology has the potential to improve our lives, but the rising rates of anxiety and depression among young people coincide with increased smartphone use. EU member states must act together to tackle this public health threat," she said.

Fianna Fail leader, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has been vocal about the impact of social media on children, describing it as "the public health threat of our time."

On his podcast 'In Conversation with', Martin expressed concerns that X is not interested in resolving issues related to online hate and safety.

"It's clear to me that X isn't going to be interested in sorting any of this out. Their model is heading in one direction," he said.

During a meeting with Minister for Education Norma Foley in February, social media giants refused requests for greater age verification controls, and phone network companies did not support calls to prevent primary school children from owning smartphones. Notably, X did not attend the meeting.

Senator Chambers supports the establishment of Coimisiun na Mean, Irelands new regulator for broadcasters and online media, which will have the authority to issue fines of up to 20 million or 10% of turnover for non-compliance with guidelines.

"We need robust regulatory frameworks to hold these companies accountable and ensure they prioritise the safety of young users," she said.

Senator Chambers reiterated the importance of EU leadership in this fight.

"The European Union must lead the fight to protect our children online, ensuring consistent and effective regulations across all member states," she emphasised.
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands, June 1 (Xinhua) -- In the field of energy transition, the opportunities for cooperation between China and Europe far outweigh competitive challenges, said Li Bin, founder of the leading Chinese electric automaker NIO, in a recent interview here with Xinhua.

Chinese companies have gained better opportunities in the industrial transformation of new energy vehicles, not due to subsidies, but because of China's vast market scale, mature supply chain system, cutting-edge technology, and rich talent pool, he said. "We believe that good products and good services should be available to users worldwide."

Li emphasized that if Europe and China join forces, it would greatly benefit the global energy transition, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.

"Europe excels in research and development, and material technologies," Li said. "On the other hand, China has a significant advantage in supply chain system and manufacturing cost efficiency."

"This is a case of complementary strengths," he said.

Industries related to sustainable development should not be used as political bargaining chips, he said, adding that addressing climate change is a common task for the global community.

The anti-subsidy investigation against Chinese electric vehicles launched by the European Union last October is a political decision and does not conform to industrial facts, Li said.

"The more open the market, the safer and more cooperative it becomes, leading to greater opportunities. Tariffs will eventually harm local companies and consumers," the founder noted.

NIO entered the European market in 2022, and has since introduced six models. Now it has seven NIO Houses and 43 power swap stations across the continent. 
For a town of its size, Foxford has a remarkable record of representation in the chamber of Mayo County Council.

Since the council was established in 1899, Foxford has never failed to elect a locally-based councillor. It is an unbroken record that spans 25 elections in three different centuries, and it is all the more impressive when one considers that the neighbouring towns of Swinford and Kiltimagh have both been without a resident councillor at different stages in the past five years.

Similar-sized towns in West Mayo like Louisburgh and Newport also haven't had a resident councillor during the past decade. In the case of Newport, it's 15 years since Frank Chambers stood down and he has never been replaced; in fact, the town doesn't even have a candidate in this year's local elections. Louisburgh lost its seat in 2014 and failed to regain it in 2019 despite two local candidates polling a combined 1,729 first preferences.

The first Foxford man to be elected to Mayo County Council was Daniel Morrin, who owned a draper's shop a few doors up from the old courthouse on Upper Main Street. Morrin was aged 37 when he won the inaugural council election in 1899 in the Mountfalcon Electoral Area, of which Foxford was the principal town. He was returned in the elections of 1902, 1905, 1908, 1911 and 1914. All those elections were held under British rule.

The election of 1917 was postponed due to Britain's involvement in World War I, and by the time the next local elections were held in 1920, the political climate had changed completely in Ireland. Sinn Fein swept to power in uncontested polls that saw the party nominate councillors in each area. The man chosen to represent Foxford was John Judge, a building contractor who was active in the Irish independence movement.

Judge and the rest of his council colleagues spent their first year in office on the run, especially after October 1920 when an urban councillor in Galway City, Micheal Breathnach, was murdered by a British killing squad and his body dumped in the River Corrib. By early 1921, the majority of the 31 Mayo councillors were either in prison or on the run. Judge managed to evade capture by rarely sleeping at his home in Irishtown. When summer came, he slept in trees, sometimes near the railway station so he could keep an eye on British troop movements.

Judge resigned his seat in early 1922 once independence had been achieved. He went on to own a dancehall in Irishtown (on the site where Reape's workshop is now located) and fell out with the parish priest over the noise from the venue. The parish priest ordered him to shut it down but Judge refused, even after the Bishop of Achonry was contacted. There should be a statue in Foxford to Judge - the man who refused to bow to either the British Empire or the Bishop!

Judge was replaced on Mayo County Council by William Doherty, from Currinara, who had a distinguished record of military service from the War of Independence. He took the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War and, like Judge, spent much of his time on the run while serving as a councillor. Today, the Doherty family are renowned for their outstanding contribution to Irish traditional music. William's sister, Maggie, who died as a result of an atrocity committed during the Civil War, was fittingly commemorated last year in a fascinating and very moving RTE radio documentary.

Foxford also had a resident Sinn Fein TD in the early 1920s. Derry native Dr Frank Ferran, who was the local dispensary doctor, was elected to the second Dail Eireann in May 1921 for the constituency of Sligo-Mayo East. He was re-elected as an anti-Treaty TD in 1922 and died while a political prisoner in the Curragh Camp in June 1923, aged 46.

On Monday next, June 3, at 3pm, a wreath will be laid at the old dispensary building in memory of Dr Ferran. Two of his grandnieces will be in attendance.

William Doherty held the council seat until 1925 when JJ Johnston was elected for Cumann na nGaedheal in the first local elections since independence. By now, Foxford was part of the larger Swinford Electoral District. Johnston owned a big retail business and was one of the founding members of the Foxford Brass Band.

The next election in 1928 saw Johnston replaced by Dr Mickie Hardy, representing the recently established Fianna Fail. Dr Hardy was a very popular local GP who was re-elected in 1934 and held the seat for another eight years.

The local elections of 1942 saw the legendary Tommie O'Hara, from Coolegrane, succeed Dr Hardy as Foxford's representative on the council. O'Hara served continuously until 1974 and was also elected to Dail Eireann for Clann na Talmhan in 1951 and 1954 and for Fine Gael in 1965 and 1969. He was re-elected to the council in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1967.

Following O'Hara's retirement in 1974, party colleague Sean McEvoy, from Toomore, was elected in the local elections of that year and retained the seat in 1979, 1985 and 1991, serving a term as chairman of the council in 1992-'93, before bowing out in 1999.

The election of 1991 saw a second Foxford man, Fianna Fail's Jimmy Maloney, also from Toomore, take a seat, which he held until 2014 when Fine Gael's Neil Cruise succeeded him. Jimmy also served a term as council chairman in 2001-'02 and was re-elected in 1999 (when he topped the poll), 2004 and 2009.

Political heavyweights Cllr Neil Cruise and Michael Ring TD test out the equipment at the opening of Moy Davitts GAA Club's new gym.

Neil Cruise retained the Foxford seat five years ago and increased his vote - despite changes in the electoral boundaries that saw him lose Knockmore. He will face another big challenge this time around to maintain Foxford's proud 125-year unbroken record on Mayo County Council, especially as Swinford and Kiltimagh are seeking to regain and retain their respective council seats in the four-seat Swinford Electoral Area, which stretches from Foxford to the Roscommon border.

* Don't miss Tuesday's Western People for extensive coverage of the upcoming Local and European Elections.
Belmullet local election candidate, Pat Chambers, has expressed his disappointment in the recent treatment of farmers over the ACRES Scheme, parcel scoring, and Non-Productive Investment (NPI) applications.

Famers within the ACRES scheme were promised up to 10,500 each year across a five-year period but received nothing across the first year.

Pat Chambers has been campaigning for the ACRES payments to be issued for a number of months now, saying: Farmers are working day and night and are completely in the dark about when the balance of payments will arrive.

In regard to the land scoring and the NPI approvals, we are hearing nothing. The NPI applications were closed last December, but it may be late summer before the approvals will be issued. Us farmers cannot be left in the dark about things that concern us.

Cashflow pressures are mounting on hill farms after the tough spring, with input costs rising, and with all of this going on the outside, we are facing unprecedented stress levels about the future of our farms.

I call on the people in charge to make sure effective solutions are put in place, to ensure that this process is sped up.

Chambers urges everyone to go out and vote on June 7th, saying: We need more representation for farmers on Mayo County Council. Someone who will represent the hard-working farmers from across the county, who in recent years, have been forgotten about. I hope that person can be me.
ADEN, Yemen, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking Yemeni military intelligence official and four of his companions were injured Saturday in an assassination attempt on him in the country's southwestern province of Taiz, a security source told Xinhua.

The source said on condition of anonymity that "unknown assailants targeted the convoy of Brigadier Abdo Qasim Buhairi, director of the military intelligence division in Taiz, with an explosive device as it passed through a road in al-Misrakh district of Taiz," giving no further details on the health condition of the official and his bodyguards.

Pro-government military and security services in Taiz have launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators.

The incident highlighted the fragile security situation in Yemen, where military and pro-government officials remain at risk amidst the ongoing conflict and power struggle in the war-ravaged Arab country.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed internationally-recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. 
JERUSALEM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday that he accepted the invitation to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in Washington.

In a statement, the Israeli prime minister said he plans to speak to both Houses of Congress and "present the truth" about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Israeli prime minister was invited on Friday in a letter signed by the leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that Netanyahu's speech in Washington is expected to take place within the next eight weeks.

Meanwhile, the channel also reported that Israel and Egypt have agreed on reopening the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to transfer humanitarian aid to the Strip.

The television reported that Israel has told Egypt that it is ready to withdraw the military forces from the crossing and station them in a more distant location under "operational considerations." 
MANILA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' foreign investments yielded net outflows of 312 million U.S. dollars in April, the Philippine central bank said Friday night.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the foreign investment transactions in April, higher than the 236 million dollars net outflows recorded in March, resulted from the 1.2 billion dollars in gross outflows and 914 million dollars in gross inflows for the month.

In the first four months this year, transactions for foreign investments registered with the BSP yielded net inflows of 65 million dollars, a turnaround compared to the 680 million dollars net outflows recorded for the same period in 2023, the BSP said.

The 914 million dollars foreign investments in April are 35.1 percent lower than the 1.4 billion dollars recorded in March, the central bank added. Investments mostly came from the United States, Britain, Singapore, Luxembourg, and China's Hong Kong, with a combined share of 87.9 percent.

The 1.2 billion dollars gross outflows for the month were 25.4 percent lower than the gross outflows recorded in March. The U.S. remains the top destination of outflows, receiving 527 million dollars, or 43 percent of total outward remittances. 
KATHMANDU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines restarted suspended flights between Guangzhou and Kathmandu on Saturday, with a view to eventually operating both morning and night flights.

Addressing the welcome ceremony held at the airport in Kathmandu for CZ6067 carrying 73 passengers onboard, Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang voiced his hope for continued China Southern Airlines' flights to Kathmandu.

The Nepali government and people always welcome tourists and flights from China, the minister said.

Xie Yu, counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, voiced his hope that the flights shall contribute more to China-Nepal cooperation in the economy, trade and tourism.

CZ6068 took off for Guangzhou with 105 passengers aboard about one hour later.

Two night flights each day between the two cities have been operational, according to the operator.

CZ6067 and CZ6068 are operated on A319NEO every Saturday and Tuesday until July 15, and shall be extended to daily flights from July 16. 
Yao Wen, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, presents an award to a contestant during the 23rd Chinese Bridge - Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students in Dhaka, Bangladesh on May 31, 2024. Talk shows in Chinese, lion dances and classical Chinese dances have been staged, with nine contestants from three Confucius Institutes (Classroom) in Bangladesh vying for the crown in the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" competition.

At the event, the college students delivered speeches in Chinese and showed their talents in appreciation and love for Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Sun Nan)

DHAKA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Talk shows in Chinese, lion dances and classical Chinese dances have been staged, with nine contestants from three Confucius Institutes (Classroom) in Bangladesh vying for the crown in the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" competition.

At the event, the college students delivered speeches in Chinese and showed their talents in appreciation and love for Chinese language and culture.

Bushra Mubassera Mahmud from the Confucius Institute at North South University won the prize and will represent Bangladesh to participate in the final in China.

"I'm very happy and excited, but also nervous because I'm going to China for the final. I will continue to work hard to win a better place for Bangladesh," Bushra told Xinhua after the competition.

Talking about Chinese language, Bushra said "I'm not just learning Chinese, I also want to explore as much as I can about Chinese."

"In terms of career planning, I want to be a Chinese language teacher, and I want to share what I have seen and experienced with my future students," she added.

Once a contestant in "Chinese Bridge" competition in 2008, Jannatun Naher, now assistant professor of the Department of Chinese in the Institute of Modern Languages at the University of Dhaka, told Xinhua that she felt very happy and proud when seeing her students participate in the competition.

"I am very happy to see the students expressing their interest in Chinese culture in fluent Chinese," Jannatun said, adding "In the future, I hope more Bangladeshi students will learn Chinese and become a bridge for exchanges between China and Bangladesh in various fields."

Shah E Alam, vice-chancellor of Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, said in his welcome speech that over the years, a number of talented Chinese learners have emerged from the competition in Bangladesh. Most of them are now active in various aspects of Bangladesh-China exchanges and have become a bridge for Bangladesh-China exchanges.

"It is hoped that the 'Chinese Bridge' (competition) will continue to be a bridge of friendship, communication and cooperation between Bangladesh and China, and that more young Bangladeshi students who are interested in China and willing to learn more about China will join the teams of learning Chinese," said Alam.

For his part, Yao Wen, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, said that the "Chinese Bridge" competition is not only a language skills competition, but also a platform for cultural exchanges between China and Bangladesh.

Yao encouraged Bangladeshi students to learn Chinese well, learn more about China, strive to be envoys of China-Bangladesh friendship and contribute to the development of China-Bangladesh relations. 
PARIS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Standard & Poor's (S&P) on Friday cut its long-term sovereign credit ratings on France to "AA-" from "AA" over the increasing budget deficit, making it the second of the three major world rating agencies to do so.

"The downgrade reflects our projection that, contrary to our previous expectations, France's general government debt as a share of GDP will increase as a result of larger-than-expected budget deficits over 2023-2027," S&P said in a statement.

"The stable outlook on France reflects our expectations that real economic growth will accelerate and support the government's budgetary consolidation, albeit not enough to bring down its already elevated general government debt-to-GDP ratio," it said.

The American credit rating agency projected that general government debt will reach 112.1 percent of GDP in 2027, up from 109.0 percent in 2023, adding that France's general government debt-to-GDP ratio has become the third highest in the euro area after Greece and Italy.

Noting that France had a higher-than-planned budget deficit in 2023, reaching 5.5 percent of GDP, S&P said that France's track record of budgetary consolidation over the past decades has been weak as it has not reported a primary budget surplus since 2001.

French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire reiterated that the French government will consolidate public finance.

"Our strategy remains the same: reindustrialize, achieve full employment and maintain our trajectory to return below the 3 percent deficit in 2027," he said in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper.

Fitch had already cut its rating on France to "AA-" in April 2023 while Moody's kept it at "Aa2." 
Man Utds Transfer Frenzy: Aiming for Branthwaite and Silva

Manchester United is gearing up for a transformative summer transfer window, with reports suggesting they are prepared to submit a crazy offer for Evertons Jarrad Branthwaite. This move signals their intent to bolster their defensive line significantly under the new era of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. With major changes expected both on and off the pitch, the Red Devils are also eyeing Benficas highly-rated Antonio Silva.

Branthwaites Impressive Rise at Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite, the 21-year-old defender, has been a standout performer for Everton this season. Under the guidance of Sean Dyche, Branthwaite has played a crucial role in ensuring Evertons Premier League survival, contributing to their fourth-best defensive record in the league. His consistent performances have earned him a spot in the England squad for the upcoming Euros, enhancing his market value.

As TEAMTalk reports, Manchester United are preparing a crazy offer for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite but he wont be the only new centre-back they sign this summer, per reports. This statement underscores the clubs aggressive pursuit of top defensive talent. Despite suggestions that Everton might accept as little as 40 million due to financial issues, TEAMTalk clarifies, these claims are well wide of the mark. Instead, Everton is expected to demand over 80 million for Branthwaite, reflecting their belief in his potential and market value.

Ratcliffes Vision for Man Utds Defence

With the departure of Raphael Varane and uncertainties surrounding Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof, and Harry Maguire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to secure multiple high-caliber defenders. Branthwaite is reportedly his top target, with the club preparing an offer that could exceed 80 million. Evertons firm stance suggests they are looking to maximise financial returns from any potential sale, which is crucial given their current financial situation.

Pursuit of Antonio Silva

In addition to Branthwaite, Manchester United has set their sights on Benficas Antonio Silva. The 20-year-old Portuguese international is seen as one of the best young defenders in the world. Silva has a release clause of approximately 85 million, which Benfica insists must be met in full. Fresh reports from Portugal suggest that it is more likely that Man Utd will sign Silva over rival suitors Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, states TEAMTalk, highlighting the competitive nature of securing his signature.

Silvas track record is impressive, with over 90 appearances for Benfica and nine caps for Portugal. His acquisition would not only strengthen Uniteds defence but also signal the clubs ambition to compete at the highest levels domestically and in Europe.

Financial Implications and Strategy

The potential combined outlay of 165 million for Branthwaite and Silva indicates a significant financial commitment. However, Manchester United will need to balance their books, likely necessitating player sales to fund these acquisitions. This strategic approach reflects Ratcliffes vision of building a robust squad capable of challenging for top honours.
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]



(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
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The conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his trial in New York is a significant event in an election year dominated by an unprecedented and intensifying political crisis and factional warfare within the ruling class.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. [AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson]

On Friday, President Joe Biden spoke from the White House on the case. The conviction, Biden declared, reaffirmed the American principle that no one is above the law and upheld our justice system, which has endured for nearly 250 years as the cornerstone of America.

The New York Times wrote in an editorial that the greatest good to come out of this sordid case is the proof that the rule of law binds everyone, even former presidents.

What a fraud! Trump has not been convicted for his serious, fundamental crimes against the American peopleabove all, his attempt to overthrow the Constitution and the results of the 2020 election in a fascistic coup. The conviction, rather, relates to the falsification of business records to cover up a tawdry sex scandal in the run-up to the 2016 election.

As for Bidens attempt to posture as a defender of the rule of law, the present occupant of the White House has repudiated international legal conventions on human rights and denounced tribunals such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in order to defend Israels genocide in Gaza.

Among sections of the population there may be hope that Trumps conviction will bring some measure of accountability for the crimes of the fascist former president. But there are no simple solutions to the deep-rooted and terminal crisis of American democracy.

It is not clear what impact the conviction will have on Trumps personal fate, though the former president responded by going on the offensive. In a fascistic rant Friday, Trump denounced the trial as rigged and called the judge overseeing the case the devil.

Virtually the entire Republican Party leadership rallied to Trumps support and denounced the verdict as a weaponization of the legal system. From so-called moderates such as Senators Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins to fascists like Christian nationalist House Speaker Mike Johnson and QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republicans lined up to condemn the trial.

There are already indications that Republicans will take retaliatory actions against the Democrats, including attempting to keep Biden off of the ballot in states they control.

The election is unfolding under conditions of a staggering global and domestic crisis, overseen by two rival factions of a corporate and financial oligarchy that is careening toward world war and dictatorship.

The Democrats have sought to sideline Trump not because of his crimes against democracy, but because significant sections of the ruling class do not consider him to be a reliable steward of US imperialist foreign policy.

The next five months before November will unfold under conditions of an escalating war in Ukraine against Russia, bringing the world closer than ever to a nuclear holocaust. This has been the central priority of the Biden administration, which has worked to forge an alliance with the same Republican Party leaders now lining up behind Trump.

The very day of the Trump verdict, the White House announced it was ending its ban on Kievs use of US weapons to attack Russian territory, a massive escalation that will lead to all-out war.

The escalation of global war requires ever more violent attacks on democratic rights at home. Biden is spearheading a nationwide police rampage against peaceful campus protests opposing his support for the Israeli genocide.

On the morning of the Trump verdict, police tore down a protest encampment at Wayne State University in Detroit and arrested 12 students. On Friday morning, police attacked an encampment at the University of California Santa Cruz, arresting 80.

The present political situation in the United States is the culmination of a protracted crisis of democratic forms of government in the United States.

It is almost exactly 50 years since the resignation of Richard Nixon as a result of the crisis triggered by his reelection campaigns break-in at the Watergate Hotel headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Then, naked criminality in the White House prompted Congress to prepare Nixons impeachment to force his removal from office. The Supreme Court backed its efforts by ordering Nixon to release recordings of his discussions with his co-conspirators.

Far from resolving the problem, Nixons resignation set the stage for a series of political crisesfrom the impeachment of Bill Clinton over a consensual sexual relationship, to the theft of the 2000 election by means of a right-wing bloc on the Supreme Court, to the attempted coup of January 6.

The fundamental cause is the growth of international and national contradictions of American capitalism that have no progressive solution within the existing economic, social and political frameworkin particular, the turn by US imperialism to war as a means of offsetting the global decline in its economic position, which has led to 30 years of uninterrupted wars of aggression and conquest, culminating today in the initial stages of a new world war.

This has been accompanied by a colossal growth of social inequality, an unprecedented concentration of wealth at the very top, and de facto rule by a corporate-financial oligarchy. In its New Year statement, the US Socialist Equality Party documented levels of social inequality that are incompatible with democratic forms of rule. We wrote:

The United States is home to the highest concentration of billionaires in the world, whose collective wealth, according to Americans for Tax Fairness, rose to $5.2 trillion in November 2023, the highest amount ever recorded. As of the third quarter of 2023, the top 10 percent of the US population owned two-thirds of total wealth, while the bottom half owned only 2.6 percent.

This oligarchy exercises effective dictatorial rule. In a country of 333 million people, the entire political system is dominated by two reactionary partiesone increasingly fascistic, the other focused on one question above all, the escalation of war.

Much will transpire over the five months remaining until the November election. It is possible that neither Trump nor Biden will end up as the candidates of the two corporate-controlled parties. But one thing is certain: the entire political establishment will continue its lurch to the right.

For the working class, the central issue is to intervene into this crisis with its own program and policies. Not a single problem confronting workers can be resolved without a frontal assault on the wealth and privileges of the capitalist oligarchy. A crisis such as that engulfing the United States and the entire world cannot be resolved by tinkering around the edges. What is required is a complete reorganization of social, economic and political life.

This requires a program against war and oligarchy, and for equality, peace and genuine democracythat is, a socialist program for the overthrow of capitalism, the root cause of the crisis.
Alabama executed Jamie Ray Mills by lethal injection Thursday in the states first execution since the gruesome nitrogen asphyxiation death of Kenneth Smith in January.

Mills, 50, was convicted and sentenced to death in 2007 for the 2004 beating deaths of Floyd Hill, 87, and Vera Hill, 72. The US Supreme Court denied a last-minute appeal Thursday to spare Mills life, with no recorded dissents.

This undated photo released by the Alabama Department of Corrections shows Jamie Mills. [AP Photo/Alabama Department of Corrections]

The execution proceeded despite questions about the reliability of the states key witness and material evidence, the troubled nature of Mills childhood and life circumstances, a nonunanimous vote of the jury for a death sentence and the thoroughly undemocratic character of Alabamas death penalty system.

The execution took place in the death chamber of the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, and was observed by four media members and five other witnesses. The Montgomery Advertiser reported that as the drapes of the observation room were opened at 6:07 p.m., Mills was seen strapped to gurney with an IV in each arm.

Mills has consistently maintained his innocence. His final words were, I love my family. I love my brother and sister. I couldnt ask for anything more  I love yall. Carry on. He gave his family the thumbs up sign several times.

As the three-drug protocol was administered, he appeared to lose consciousness. When a guard performed a consciousness check, he still appeared to be breathing, taking shallow breaths. Several of the witnesses sobbed. Mills appeared to take his last breath at 6:16 p.m. and the drapes to the observation room were drawn several minutes later. Prison officials pronounced him dead at 6:26 p.m.

Alabama's lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo. [AP Photo/Dave Martin]

In 2005, three people were arrested and charged with the Hills murderJamie Mills, his wife JoAnn Mills and Benjie Howe, a known local drug dealer. In two different statements, JoAnn Mills told police that she suspected Howe had planted the alleged murder weapons in the Mills unlocked car. It was only after police threatened JoAnns children and claimed, falsely, that DNA on the weapons matched Jamies that she gave a third statement implicating him.

Prosecutors said that the Mills went to the Hills home on June 24, 2004, with the intention of robbing the couple to fuel their methamphetamine habit. Jamie Mills was convicted of double murder largely on the testimony of his wife, who was spared the death penalty and received a life sentence for her involvement in the crime in exchange for her testimony against him.

While prosecutors claimed that no such deal was in place, JoAnn Mills trial attorney wrote in an affidavit in February of this year that before the 2007 trial he had met with the district attorney, who agreed to let her plead guilty to a lesser charge if she testified against her husband.

The Equal Justice Initiative, representing Jamie Mills, said after his execution that prosecutors lied, deceived and misrepresented the reliability of the evidence against Jamie Mills for 17 years. They said that Mills was the latest example of a person who was needlessly killed by Alabama officials, who

comfortably tolerate state deception, violation of the law, and breach of fundamental constitutional rights in an effort to carry out a death sentence they claim upholds the rule of law. 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.

Like many death row inmates, Mills suffered a dysfunctional childhood. His parents were addicted to methamphetamines and used drugs when he was a young child, and Mills first used methamphetamines when he was a teenager. The prosecution took none of these circumstances into consideration when arguing for a death sentence.

Alabama is one of only two states that does not require a unanimous jury to sentence an individual to death, only requiring 10 of 12 to agree. In Mills case, the jury voted 11-1 to recommend a death sentence and the judge accepted their recommendation. A Democratic state legislator has introduced a bill that would require unanimous jury votes to impose the death penalty.

There is no statewide public defenders office in Alabama and no capital defender office to represent indigent defendants at trial or on direct appeal. Lawyers from the private bar are appointed to represent poor defendants. Until 1999, these attorneys were paid only $40 per hour for in-court work and $20 per hour for out-of-court work, with out-of-court compensation capped at $1,000. Nearly half of the 165 inmates currently on death row in Alabama were convicted under this compensation cap.

Despite the legal travesty that passes for Alabamas death penalty system, Republican governor Kay Ivey, in a statement issued after the execution declared, Jamie Mills has paid the price for his heinous crimes and that he was undoubtedly guilty.

The Alabama governor has set the dates for two more executions this year: Keith Edmund Gavin on July 18, by lethal injection, and Alan Eugene Miller on September 26, by nitrogen hypoxia. This will be Millers second trip to the death chamber. On September 22, 2022, prison officials abandoned efforts to execute him by lethal injection after the execution team failed to successfully access his veins.

On July 28, 2022, Alabama death row victim Joe Nathan James suffered torturous treatment for at least three-and-a-half hours as prison executioners jabbed him and attempted a cutdown, a deep cut to access a vein, before he was finally killed by lethal injection.

Mills execution came four months after Alabama became the first US state carry out a death sentence by nitrogen hypoxia, or asphyxiation. The state had already attempted once to kill the condemned man, Kenneth Eugene Smith, in November 2002, but had called off the lethal injection after a brutal, nearly four-hour attempt to insert the IV lines failed.

On January 25 at the same prison, Smith was strapped to a gurney cruciform, wearing a full face mask with a plastic tube running out of it connected to nitrogen gas outside the room.

The Advertiser reported that as the nitrogen gas began to flow, Smith writhed and convulsed on the gurney:

He took deep breaths, his body shaking violently with his eyes rolling in the back of his head.  Smith clenched his fists, his legs shook under the tightly tucked-in white sheet that covered him from his neck down. He seemed to be gasping for air. The gurney shook several times during this time.

Other witnesses described that Smith grabbed violently at the restraints, and popped up on the gurney over and over, shaking it.
On Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific, the World Socialist Web Site, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality are holding an online meeting to mobilize support among workers for the student protests against the Gaza genocide.

Register for the event by clicking here. All are invited to attend this crucial meeting.

Last weeks crackdowns at University of California Santa Cruz and at Wayne State University in Detroit pose more sharply than ever the need for the working class to emerge as the center of the fight against war. These attacks are a warning that the White House and both pro-war parties will not back down in the slightest to popular opposition.

The decision to send police to these campuses underscores the role of the UAW bureaucracy, which backs Genocide Joe Biden. There is enormous potential support among autoworkers, who hate war and are also fighting against mass layoffs which the UAW is helping to enforce. But a fight connecting opposition to layoffs with the fight against genocide requires a rank-and-file rebellion against the pro-corporate union apparatus.

The working class, which creates societys wealth, must intervene to force an end to the genocide and the attack on free speech, including through industrial action to halt the shipment of supplies and weapons to Israel. Workers in Detroit, the center of the US auto industry, must join forces with academic workers in the United Auto Workers on strike against the police attacks on campuses across the University of California system.

Join this meeting to hear from workers across the auto industry and others in different industries discuss the strategy for this fight. We urge all our readers, and especially auto workers and academic workers, to register for this meeting. Share this announcement widely with your coworkers and on social media.
About 3,000 nurses at three hospitals in New Jersey could soon begin a strike for safe staffing. Contracts expired Friday for 1,500 nurses at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, 800 nurses at Englewood Health in Englewood and 750 nurses at Palisades Medical Center (part of Hackensack Meridian Health) in North Bergen. As of this writing, Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), the union to which the nurses belong, has not given the hospitals 10 days notice that a strike will begin.

University Hospital, Camden Division, ambulances and emergency trucks rush to the emergency room at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. [AP Photo/Mel Evans]

The nurses main demand is that safe nurse-to-patient ratios be included in their new contracts. More than 90 percent of the nurses at each hospital voted to authorize the strike, which signifies the magnitude of the problem and the workers determination to fight.

The developments in New Jersey continue a series of near-unanimous strike votes among US healthcare workers. Inadequate staffing, a long-standing problem that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been the main factor motivating workers struggles. Understaffing increases nurses workloads, heightens the risk of medical errors, reduces the quality of patient care and contributes to overwork and burnout.

Recent years have seen a wave of early retirements among nurses, as well as an increase in nurses leaving the profession entirely. In New Jersey, nearly one-third of nurses have left bedside care in the past several years, according to HPAE. At least seven of 10 currently employed nurses are considering retirement. Only about half of New Jerseys 147,000 licensed nurses are working, according to the union.

The contracts at Cooper University Health Care, Englewood Health and Palisades Medical Center are the first healthcare worker contracts to expire in New Jersey since last years strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick. Debbie White, president of HPAE, said at a recent news conference that the agreement with RWJUH would serve as a model during the current negotiations. This statement is a clear warning that HPAE plans to betray the 3,000 nurses who are poised to strike.

For more than four months, the RWJUH nurses fought bravely for safe staffing and enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios. Finally, the United Steelworkers (USW) presented them with an agreement that established ratios but allowed the hospital to maintain understaffing of 18.5 percent without being penalized. It placed the onus on the already overburdened nurses to fill out safe staffing forms when understaffing exceeded the allowed level. If these criteria were met, then the contract provided for nurses to receive only two or three hours additional pay, even if the understaffed shift was 12 or 16 hours long. Under increasing financial pressure, and believing that the USW would not negotiate better terms, the RWJUH nurses ratified the inadequate agreement. This was not the contract that we wanted, one of them told the World Socialist Web Site.

Imposing a similar defeat on the 3,000 nurses who are ready to strike would be consistent with HPAEs record of betrayals. In 2020, White prevented a strike of about 1,200 workers at Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune. The union also kept these workers divided from those at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, who were also without a contract. Both facilities are owned by Hackensack Meridian Health. HPAEs opposition to a united fight enabled the company to impose its demands at nurses expense. One result is that in 2022, most nurses at JSUMC reported that they wouldnt feel safe being treated at their workplace.

Instead of waging united struggles, HPAE encourages its members to appeal to Democratic politicians. Like the USW, HPAE is advocating for state legislation that would mandate staffing ratios. It has held rallies in Trenton, New Jerseys capital, to demand passage of this reform. But such legislation has been introduced in New Jerseys Senate each year for the past 20 years, only to die in committee. In California, Oregon and Massachusetts, where safe staffing laws have been passed, healthcare systems flout them with impunity.

HPAE knows very well that nurses pleas will fall on deaf ears. But because of its intimate relationship with the Democratic Party, it encourages illusions that the latter will respond to workers needs. The Democrats priority is not providing workplace reforms, but continuing the genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza and the proxy war with Russia that is being fought in Ukraine. As the worlds oldest capitalist party and a trusted agent of Wall Street, the Democratic Party is a party of imperialist war, which is paid for by attacks on the working class at home.

The HPAEs affiliation with the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, which is the healthcare division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), makes its integration into the Democratic Party unmistakable. Like President Joe Biden and other Democrats, AFT President Randi Weingarten has smeared students protesting the genocide as antisemitic. But Weingarten had no qualms about traveling to Ukraine in 2022 and shaking hands with genuine antisemites such as Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv and an open admirer of Stepan Bandera, who collaborated with the Nazis during World War II. The Democrats rely heavily on Weingarten to suppress opposition within the working class and promote nationalism and war.

Whites recent comments and the history of the HPAE make clear that the union is preparing to betray the 3,000 nurses at Cooper University Health Care, Englewood Health and Palisades Medical Center. They also reveal that these nurses face not only a workplace struggle, but also, and more fundamentally, a political struggle. To wage a determined and effective fight for safe staffing, the nurses will need to establish their political and organizational independence. This will require them to organize rank-and-file committees that they, not the HPAE leadership, control democratically. These committees must also be independent of both capitalist parties.

Rank-and-file committees will enable the nurses to elaborate a winning strategy to fight for their demands. The nurses power will be strengthened if they appeal to other healthcare workers, and workers in other industries, for support. A strike at the three New Jersey hospitals must become part of a campaign to remove the profit motive from healthcare and to establish a socialist system that provides the highest quality healthcare to all as a basic right.
Sign calling for a general strike on the picket line at University of California Santa Cruz, May 20, 2024

On Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p,m. Pacific, the WSWS is holding an online public meeting, From Wayne State to University of Californiaindustrial workers must oppose protest crackdowns. Register for the meeting here.

Early Friday morning, riot police launched a brutal crackdown on a student protest encampment at University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC). The operation continued into daylight, and approximately 30 people were arrested.

The provocative character of the raid at UCSC was underscored by the fact that the administration justified it on the bogus grounds that protesters were obstructing normal operations, even though the campus had switched to remote learning.

The decision to send riot cops to UCSC is meant to send a message to academic workers that neither the campus administration nor the White House and the two pro-war parties will yield in the slightest to popular pressure.

Academic workers at UC Santa Cruz have been on strike for nearly two weeks against the UC systems brutal repression of student protests. Originally, it was the only campus called out on strike by United Auto Workers Local 4811, although UCLA and UC Davis have been on strike since the start of the week.

Also on Friday, President Biden claimed once again to be pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. But this was another fraud meant for public consumption. In reality, US imperialism is a direct party to the genocide through its supply of limitless weapons without restriction to Israel.

The real policy of the White House is to continue and deepen the genocide. It is also escalating the proxy war against Russia by authorizing Ukraines use of long range missiles to strike targets in Russian territory, a step which the Kremlin has warned could lead to nuclear war.

The militarized response to protests is only growing. At UCSC, at least one student was photographed in handcuffs with a bag placed over his head, recalling the infamous photos of the US militarys abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and countless other incidents during the war on terror.

Police place a hood over an arrested protester at University of California, Santa Cruz, May 31, 2024.

The attack at UCSC also came only a day after a similar early-morning raid at Wayne State University in Detroit.

The attack also exposes the United Auto Workers unions attempts to isolate and limit the academic workers strike. The bureaucracy originally tried to limit the strike to only UCSC, violating a clear mandate for a strike by all 48,000 members across all 10 UC campuses. The union was eventually forced to expand the strike to UCLA and UC Davis only once it became clear that academic workers at these schools were prepared to walk with or without the UAWs approval.

On Friday afternoon, Local 4811 announced strikes at UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego to begin next Monday, with UC Irvine scheduled to strike on Wednesday. Once again, the bureaucracy is getting out in front of rank-and-file anger, making a show of organizing strike actions which would have taken place anyway.

Earlier this week, a group of academic workers at UCSB issued a statement on Instagram that they would carry out a wildcat strike. As an autonomous collective of graduate workers, we reject the UAWs strategy of a standup strike with an end date, the statement declared. The group said it was taking matters into our own hands regardless of what union leadership decides to do.

With the addition of these three campuses, the strike would expand from 15,000 to 31,000 people and six out of 10 campuses, including all but two of the schools that are not yet in summer break. Of those two, only UC Riverside has a large student body, with around 27,000 students.

Joseph Kishore, US presidential candidate of the Socialist Equality Party, issued a statement on the crackdown.

Kishore said:

Both the Democrats and the Republicans are directing the massive crackdown on basic democratic rights, including the arrest of more than 3,000 people, mainly students. And the entire political establishment stands guilty of aiding and abetting the underlying crime, the genocide in Gaza.

He added:

All academic workers should be on strike! The attack at UCSC is the response of the ruling class to the courageous stand taken by workers. Workers must respond through a full mobilization of their collective power. And it is necessary to break the isolation of the academic workers by taking this fight into the working class as a whole. The SEP campaign urges auto workers to form rank-and-file defense committees, independent of the apparatus, linking up with other sections of the working class to prepare actions against the war and in defense of the right to free speech. It is the working class which has the power to defend democratic rights and oppose the genocide.

The fact that the latest attacks have taken place at UCSC, where the UAW claims to be leading a standup strike, and in Detroit, the center of the auto industry, underscores the role of the UAW bureaucracy. It makes clear that the UAW, which claims its limited standup strike tactic is a tactical masterstroke aimed at keeping the administration off guard, is deliberately sabotaging the struggle.

The attack at Wayne State occurred only a few minutes drive from the UAWs national headquarters, the misnamed Solidarity House.

Incredibly, Local 4811 still has not acknowledged Fridays police raid on its social media accounts as of this writing. UAW President Shawn Fain has also said nothing about the strike at all, and there is no mention of it on the UAW website.

The UAW is also concealing knowledge of the strike from autoworkers, who would broadly support it and seek to tie the movement against war with their own fight against mass layoffs, which are being imposed through a UAW sellout contract.

Autoworkers are learning about it primarily through the efforts of the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. Earlier this week, officials from UAW Local 600 called security on Autoworker Newsletter campaigners seeking to publicize the strike among factory workers at Fords Dearborn Truck plant.

The fact that the UAW has been forced to expand the strike is a sign that the grip of the union bureaucracy over the situation is weakening.

But its hold is by no means broken. That will only happen once academic workers take full control of the struggle through rank-and-file committees, expanding the strike to all 10 campuses. There is no doubt that over the weekend the UAW will try to reach a deal to shut down the protests, which it is isolating to allow cops to invade the universities and to prevent the strikes and protests from impacting the genocide itself.

On Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific, the WSWS is holding an online public meeting, From Wayne State to University of Californiaindustrial workers must oppose protest crackdowns. Register for the meeting here.
On Wednesday, US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito officially rejected calls to recuse himself from cases related to Donald Trump and the January 6, 2021 insurrection. He did so in two letters, one to Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the other to 52 Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Following reports in the New York Times on May 16 and May 22 revealing that symbols of support for Donald Trumps Stop the Steal campaignan upside-down American flag and an Appeal to Heaven flagwere flown at two Alito residences, some Democrats in Congress began calling on Alito to recuse himself.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. and his wife Martha-Ann Alito pay their respects at the casket of Reverend Billy Graham at the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington D.C. on February 28, 2018. [AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais]

The 52 House Democrats sent their letter to Justice Alito on May 21 and Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island sent their letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on May 23. The senators requested a meeting to discuss the recusal of Alito.

The Times reports contained multiple photographs and numerous eye-witness accounts that the flags were flown at the Alito homes in Alexandria, Virginia and Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The upside-down flag was flown after January 6, 2021 and before the January 20, 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden as president. The Appeal to Heaven flag was flown between July and September 2023.

In his letters to Congress, Justice Alito acknowledged that the calls for recusal were in relation to two pending cases before the Supreme Court, Trump v. United States and Fischer v. United States, along with certain other cases that might come before the Court. He also acknowledged that the recusal calls were based on complaints that two incidents involving the flying of flags created an appearance of impropriety that requires my recusal.

Alito then cited the applicable section of the Supreme Court Code of Conduct regarding disqualification. The relevant passage states that a justice should disqualify himself or herself if the judges 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 did not deny the flying of the flags on his property. Instead, he made a circular argument that the flag incidents do not meet the conditions for recusal set out in the Code of Conduct, and I therefore have an obligation to sit because a Supreme Court justice is presumed impartial and has an obligation to sit unless disqualified.

In reality, Alito, along with Justice Clarence Thomas, is a known supporter and conspirator with Donald Trump and the Republican congressional leadership in their attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power to Joe Biden.

As reported by the World Socialist Web Site in June of 2022, Alito had held back on making a decision on an unconstitutional emergency application filed by Trump coup lawyer Sidney Powell on January 5, 2021. The delay in ruling on the applicationwhich argued that the next days official Electoral College vote count by a joint session of Congress had to be halted because Trumps fake electors had been unconstitutionally blocked from the procedurewas deliberately carried out by Alito to see if it could be used to back the fascist insurrection.



In his letters, Alito gave lengthy accounts of how his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was entirely to blame for the flag-flying incidents.

In an exercise in subterfuge, Alito wrote, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of the flag. He then went on to claim that he was unaware of the upside-down flag and, after it was brought to his attention, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused.

Alito further wrote absurdly that he and his wife own our home in Virginia jointly, and that Martha-Ann has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly.

He also claimed that he was not aware of the connection of the Appeal to Heaven flag with Trumps Stop the Steal movement and assumed it was a patriotic and religious message.

On Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts also replied to Senators Durbin and Whitehouse and backed Alitos position against recusing himself in the pending and upcoming cases. Roberts also refused to meet with the senators, writing, Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

It is clear that the letters from the Democrats calling on Alito to recuse himself are so much window dressing under conditions of the takeover of the Supreme Court by blatantly corrupt political reactionaries. That Alito and Roberts have said there will be no recusal is seen by the Democrats and the Biden White House as a convenient means of continuing their coverup of the full extent of the conspiracy to overthrow the US Constitution.

As recently reported by Politico:

Top Democrats have no plans to investigate reports that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flew an upside-down American flag outside his home after the 2020 election. And Joe Biden has no desire to even talk about it.

Now, with the conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts in the New York hush money trial, the Democrats are doubling down on their efforts to prop up the two-party system and the discredited institutions of American democracy such as the Supreme Court.
Following the stock selections of famous investors can be a great way to find future winners. These investors generally have excellent track records of beating the market's average returns, and because some of these professionals oversee billions of dollars in assets for their clients, they conduct exhaustive research before investing in a company.

Three Motley Fool contributors were asked to identify three high-octane stocks that they favor and that billionaire investors have been buying recently. Their picks: Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), Coupang (NYSE: CPNG), and Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG).

A fallen growth stock that could spring back to life

John Ballard (Alibaba): Alibaba shares are trading well off their peak today. Economic headwinds from COVID-related issues weighed on consumer spending in China last year, which significantly impacted Alibaba's revenues, and the stock's moves reflected that. But this once fast-growing e-commerce and cloud computing leader could be turning a corner.

One billionaire investor who has acquired a sizable stake in the company is Appaloosa Management's David Tepper, who has an estimated net worth of $20 billion, according to Forbes. Tepper is a highly successful hedge fund manager, and his firm more than doubled its stake in Alibaba to $814 million during the first quarter.

While Alibaba doesn't look like a high-octane stock right now, the opportunity it has to expand internationally through its AliExpress cross-border retail business, in addition to meeting the rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) services through Alibaba Cloud, could see the company's revenue growth improve in the coming years.

Alibaba's revenue jumped 7% year over year in the March-ending quarter, driven by its market-leading Taobao and Tmall online retail businesses. It also reported strong demand for AI services in Alibaba Cloud. These results show the worst is likely behind the company now. Management noted in the last earnings report that the improved shopping experiences in Taobao and Tmall should help the retail group return to healthy growth in its fiscal 2025 (which will end in March 2025).

With the shares trading at a cheap forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.4, the stock could double in value if it moves closer to the market's average P/E of 21.

This e-commerce company is making all the right moves

Jeremy Bowman (Coupang): E-commerce presents one of the biggest growth opportunities in global business, and one of the more intriguing ways to get exposure to it is through Coupang, South Korea's leading e-commerce operator.

Story continues

Coupang is growing rapidly, expanding its profit margins, and borrowing liberally from the playbook that made Amazon into the titan it is today. It's expanding into new businesses like food delivery and video streaming, and it recently acquired Farfetch, the luxury online fashion marketplace. It's also investing in AI technology to help run its warehouses with robots.

In Coupang's most recent quarter, revenue jumped 28% on a currency-neutral basis to $7.1 billion, and its gross profit soared 36% to $1.9 billion, thanks in part to its recent price hike on its Prime-like Rocket Wow membership service.

Not surprisingly, the stock has caught the attention of some billionaire investors. Stanley Druckenmiller, the mastermind behind Duquesne Capital Management, the hedge fund that delivered average annual returns of roughly 30% for nearly 30 years, counts Coupang as the second-largest holding in his family office, behind Microsoft.

Druckenmiler hasn't explained why he likes Coupang, but the stock's combination of growth potential at a reasonable valuation is intriguing. The shares sport a P/E of 33.

Some other billionaires who bought Coupang in the first quarter include Marc Stad, whose Dragoneer Investment Group fund purchased nearly 2 million shares, and Israel Englander of Millennium Management, who bought nearly 1 million shares.

Given the past success of e-commerce companies like Amazon and MercadoLibre, and Coupang's own growth potential, improving profitability, and reasonable valuation, it wouldn't be surprising to see more billionaire investors buy Coupang stock in the coming quarters.

A perennial winner that could still make millionaires

Jennifer Saibil (Chipotle Mexican Grill): Chipotle has probably minted a few millionaires over its years on the stock market, and it has been a mainstay in billionaire Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital equity portfolio.

In the first quarter, Ackman actually sold some shares, but it might have been to rebalance the portfolio. Pershing Square only owns eight stocks, and even after the sale, Chipotle stock is up from 18% of the total to 20%.

While Ackman sold, other billionaire investors were buying in. Ken Griffin of Citadel Investors, for example, bought 135,356 shares in the first quarter. Chipotle stock is up 35% this year, and it's been a reliable gainer for most of its time as a public company.

Investors love Chipotle, and for good reason. It regularly reports double-digit percentage increases in revenue, driven by strong comparable sales growth. Earnings per share (EPS) consistently grow. That trend was on display in Q1, with a 14% year-over-year increase in sales and a 7% boost in comparable sales. EPS rose from $10.50 to $13.01.

Plus, there's another reason Chipotle stock has been off to the races this year. In March, management announced a 50-for-1 stock split that will take place in June. Stock splits usually indicate that a company's management team is confident about its future, and even though they don't do anything to alter the value of the underlying business, investors love them. Chipotle shares have been trading above $1,000 for a while, so this split was probably overdue.

This fast-casual chain is an all-weather winner with plenty more growth ahead. Retail investors should join the billionaires in adding Chipotle shares to their portfolios.

Should you invest $1,000 in Alibaba Group right now?

Before you buy stock in Alibaba Group, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Alibaba Group wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $677,040!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2024

Jennifer Saibil has positions in MercadoLibre. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Chipotle Mexican Grill and MercadoLibre. John Ballard has positions in MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill, Coupang, MercadoLibre, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 High-Octane Stocks That Billionaires Are Buying was originally published by The Motley Fool
What's the top priority for income investors? That's an easy question. The answer is income -- preferably reliable and growing income.

Dividend stocks provide one of the best ways to generate income. Once you find great stocks with reliable and growing dividends, you're set to rake in money through the years. While there are many good alternatives for income investors, some stocks especially stand out. Here are three magnificent dividend stocks to buy and hold forever.

1. Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) has been a favorite for income investors for decades. It's one of the biggest healthcare companies in the world with huge pharmaceutical and medtech businesses.

Only a handful of companies can boast more impressive dividend track records than Johnson & Johnson. The healthcare giant has increased its dividend for 62 consecutive years, ranking it among the top Dividend Kings. J&J offers an attractive forward-dividend yield of more than 3.4%.

Johnson & Johnson has demonstrated remarkable resilience. The company, founded in 1886, has weathered economic recessions, wars, and global pandemics. Today, it generates annual revenue of nearly $90 billion and has a cash stockpile of over $26 billion.

To remain successful, Johnson & Johnson must continually roll out new products. That shouldn't be a problem. The company leads the industry in research and development spending. J&J also regularly bolsters its lineup through acquisitions, with recent examples including deals to acquire privately held biotech Proteologix and medical device maker Shockwave Medical.

2. Target

Target (NYSE: TGT) has been in business since 1902. It's now one of the largest discount retailers with nearly 2,000 stores across the U.S. Target also has a growing e-commerce business.

Like Johnson & Johnson, Target is a Dividend King. The company has increased its dividend for 52 consecutive years -- every year since it began trading publicly in 1967. It could soon extend that streak to 53 years. Target's forward-dividend yield stands at nearly 3%.

Investors should be able to count on Target's dividend for a long time to come. The company's business model of selling a wide variety of products at discounted prices is unlikely to be disrupted.

Target continues to find new ways to increase sales. For example, its Roundel advertising business is now the fastest-growing part of the company. The Target Circle loyalty program, one of the largest customer-loyalty programs in the U.S. with over 100 million members, helps retain customers and boost spending.

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3. Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is the newbie on the list. The telecommunications provider was created in 2000 by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. However, those two companies had long histories. Verizon now offers data, voice, and video services around the world.

The company has increased its dividend for 17 consecutive years. Although that's not as impressive of a record as J&J's and Target's, Verizon has the longest streak of dividend hikes in the U.S. telecommunications industry. Income investors should especially like its ultra-high forward-dividend yield of over 6.7%.

Verizon needs to generate strong free cash flow to keep the dividends flowing and growing. There's good news on that front: The telecom giant reported free cash flow of $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2024, up from $2.3 billion in the prior-year period.

Don't expect Verizon to deliver jaw-dropping growth. However, the company's wireless business is strong. Most importantly, Verizon should be able to give income investors the reliable and growing income they want.

Should you invest $1,000 in Johnson & Johnson right now?

Before you buy stock in Johnson & Johnson, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Johnson & Johnson wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $677,040!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2024

Keith Speights has positions in Target and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Magnificent Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool
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)

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.
Bill Geneczko / Flickr.com

The Pacific Northwest stretches across Oregon, Washington, the Canadian province of British Columbia and  perhaps  areas like Idaho and northern California, depending on who you ask. But regardless of the unofficial boundaries, the Pacific Northwest contains some of the most stunning landscapes in the world, and the summer is a great time to soak up the natural beauty.

Check Out: 3 Places To Travel That Are Like Hawaii but Way Cheaper

Read Next: Barbara Corcoran: Heres Why I Never Fly First Class



While parts of the Pacific Northwest, like Seattle, are known for being expensive, you can still take affordable vacations in the area. In particular, if youre taking a road trip, you can make stops that cost little to nothing, such as if youre simply viewing natural landmarks or hiking.

1. Visit the Most Underrated National Park

If you want to visit a national park this summer, consider making your way to the North Cascades National Park in Washington, near the Canadian border. Its usually a little over two hours from Seattle and under three hours from Vancouver, and its full of beautiful glaciers, lakes, mountains, and more.

As a kid, David Ciccarelli, founder and CEO of Lake.com, has fond memories of a family road trip from the East Coast to the West Coast, where they reached Sacramento and then headed to the coast for a trip northbound into the Pacific Northwest. That included visiting Mount Saint Helens in southern Washington to see the destruction of the 1980 volcano eruption, as well as going through the North Cascades.



The entire trip took about three weeks as we camped along the way, and it was the time I first learned about national parks, he said.



While trips like this are timeless to some extent, the glaciers in the North Cascades are retreating as the planet warms, so you might want to visit sooner rather than later.

2. Camp at Diablo Lake

You dont have to take such a long road trip if youre short on time, but either way, camping is a good way to save money while traveling on overnight trips. A great spot to do so is along Diablo Lake, part of the broader North Cascades National Park Complex. For example, you can book a campsite at the Colonial Creek campground for $24 per night this summer.



Driving to Diablo Lake from Seattle along State Route 20, also called the North Cascades Highway, is a scenic route recommended by Wendy Diep, co-founder and CEO of Lets Jetty, a group travel planning app, though be prepared to lose cell service, she said.



When you reach your destination, there are a ton of hiking trails out there from hard to easy, and of course, the beautiful lake, added Diep.

If you want to get in the lake though, be prepared for chilly water, even in summer. Diep recommended bringing a paddle board so you dont have to submerge yourself.

3. Island Escape from Seattle

For those looking for a short road trip if your starting point is the Seattle area, Diep also recommends Whidbey Island. Getting there can still take a few hours, as you either have to take a ferry or drive in from the north via a bridge, turning it into a roughly 125-mile trip from Seattle.



My friends and I did a weekend there. We stopped at Greenbank Farm for food on the way; it had great to-go food along with a great selection of cheeses and bread. For what youre getting, its definitely worth it, said Diep.



For accommodations, Diep stayed at an Airbnb that had beautiful seaside views.



Because we traveled as a group and the place was a bit on the smaller side, it was really cheap per person, she said. But I like that when traveling in groups sometimes; you get a more intimate feel with your close friends.

What I loved about the trip was we were able to visit different areas on Whidbey Island; theres wine, food, and art  sometimes all in one place  at prices that are much more affordable than Seattle itself, she added.



Winery visits are a must, she added. My favorite was Spoiled Dog; it was just so cuteand the customer service just made you feel at home.

4. Explore a Mix of Nature and City Life in Oregon

Another great Pacific Northwest road trip is to get a taste of both urban and remote life throughout Oregon.

Suzie Palma, co-founder, chief product and growth officer of Lets Jetty, recommended taking a trip from Cannon Beach in northwest Oregon to Crater Lake National Park in south-central Oregon.



Along the way, she suggests stopping in Portland then looping around to hit Bend on the way back. Its one of my favorite road trips in the Pacific Northwest because you experience a variety of beautiful landscapes from the beach to the mountains, while still getting the unique city vibes, culture, food, and craft beer that Oregon has to offer  all in one trip.



Its the perfect road trip for outdoor enthusiasts/adventurers, photographers, and for anyone who enjoys great views and chill vibes, she added.



While the city stops can be more expensive, those can be balanced by the nature ones.



To keep it affordable, Id opt for camping at Cannon Beach and Crater Lake, then sharing a hotel or home rental in Portland and Bend. This lets you shower and freshen up in between, she said.



Some of Palmas top recommendations as part of this road trip include hiking Mt. Scott, which is Crater Lakes highest point. Also, she urges visitors to not miss out on viewing the night sky at Crater Lake  a free yet incredible experience.



Other recommendations include hiking or rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park near Bend, as well as going on a brewery tour in Bend, a city known for great beer.

Learn More: 7 Vacation Destinations To Avoid on a Retirement Budget

Theres bound to be one youll love, said Palma. Its really hard to pick a favorite but Crux stood out, not only for their beer but for their vibe with great food trucks, music, and a lawn to spread out.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Best Frugal Road Trips in the Pacific Northwest in 2024
Ridin Hearts Festival Is All Set To Return For Its Second Year In November

The highly-anticipated country music festival of Australia Ridin Hearts Festival has announced its return. This years festival will land in Sydney on Saturday, November 2, and then in Melbourne on Sunday, November 3. However, the venues and lineup are yet to be revealed by the organisers.

Ridin Hearts Festival was launched in 2023, Ridin Hearts quickly became a country music fan favourite. Last years festival featured a colossal line-up of country music greats, topped by US superstar headliner Bailey Zimmerman along with other big American artists including Danielle Bradbery, Sam Barber, Matt Schuster, Alana Springsteen and VAVO, as well as local talents such as Zac & George, Seaforth, and Sara Berki.

Sara Berki  Live At Ridin Hearts Festival 2023

Ridin Hearts Festival was a smash hit with fans, industry, and artists alike. Top-class international and local artists contributed to 12 hours of day-long partying that rolled on into the night. There were epic market stalls, an array of delicious food and drink on offer, a silent disco, a giant cornhole game, and even a Brixton hat branding station to add to that country music feel.

Jolenes Diamond Club, ticket holders were treated to some exclusive benefits, which included a private bar, comfortable seating, phone charging facilities, premium toilets, and powder stations so festival-goers could look the best.

Chilli FM said on The Ridin Hearts Festival return, An incredible new country festival right in the heart of Melbourne and Sydney!

Ridin Hearts Festival caters to devoted country music fans and newcomers, showcasing the genres diverse and captivating sound. Country musics popularity is soaring in Australia, one of the worlds largest country music markets.

The full lineup and venue details are coming soon! Stay tuned with Music Feeds for further updates and the latest music news.

Further Reading

Listen Out & Listen In Festivals Announce 2024 Dates, New 16+ Age Policy

Dental Plan Release New Single Cant Get What You Want From Upcoming Debut Album

Melbournes Arabella and The Heist Unleash Fierce Femme-Punk Anthem, Electric

The post Ridin Hearts Festival Is All Set To Return For Its Second Year In November appeared first on Music Feeds.
In somber news that had delayed closure for those closest to him, professional whitewater kayaker Bren Orton was found in Lake Maggiore, Switzerland two weeks after hed gone missing. Orton  an influential video producer who ran the YouTube channel Senders  disappeared May 16 on the Melezza River in the Ticino Region of Switzerland. His kayak sponsor, Pyranha, which also posted about his disappearance, posted again after Ortons body was found.

It is with immense sadness that we announce that our friend and ambassador Bren Orton is no longer with us, the brand wrote. It has been reported that Brens body was recovered yesterday in Lago Maggiore, Italy, following a tragic accident on the nearby River MelezzaThe outpouring of love and support from the paddling community since Bren went missing has been extraordinary. This support has been a profound source of strength for all of us, especially for his family and close friends.

Orton had been paddling with other expert whitewater kayakers in the region before the accident, including Italy. According to reports, he and a group were on the Melezza with substantial water flow in the river. Orton was stuck in a hole or large river hydraulic. He disappeared.

Intense searches followed by both the local authorities and the paddling community. The Ticino Region in southern Switzerland is rich in steep, Class V creeks. The Melezza eventually empties into Lake Maggiore, not far from the Italian border. A local boater apparently found the British kayakers body.

Shortly before 1:00 p.m. (1100 GMT) in Locarno, the lifeless body of the man who disappeared on May 16 while kayaking in the Melezza was found in the waters of Lake Maggiore, read a statement from the Ticino Police. The alarm was triggered by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately notified the emergency services.

Orton was a gifted whitewater kayaker with an extensive freestyle background that had helped shape his career in the Class V (aka extreme) kayaking realm. Kayakers at the highest level of the sport mourned his loss this month.

Thirteen years, 17 countries, and not a single second together was time wasted, wrote Dane Jackson, arguably the worlds best all-around kayaker. I look back on some of the best times of my life and so little of it I didnt have you with me. As long as we were together, it didnt matter where or what we were doing, it was going to be the best time.You were the best on and off the water, your creativity and motivation inspired me and so many others, and will continue to do so. I am grateful for the joy you brought to my life, and everyone else around you. Your laugh continues to echo in my head, and it will forever. Our time together started simply as competitors, but it ends as brothers. I will miss you so much, now and forever. Love you buddy.

Ortons infectious personality and all-around talent as both an athlete and producer stood out in his tributes. You can see more of his work, here.

The post Body of Professional Kayaker Bren Orton Found in Switzerland first appeared on The Inertia.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso Animal Services Department, in collaboration with the El Paso County Animal Welfare Department and Petco Love, will host the second annual drive-thru pet wellness clinic of the year on Sunday, June 2.

The drive-thru clinic will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. June 2 at 1300 Joe Battle Blvd., according to a news release sent by the City.

The City says this free vaccine and microchip clinic aims to enhance pet health and safety as we approach the warmer months when rising temperatures increase the spread of disease.

The services are crucial for promoting overall pet population health and increasing the likelihood of lost pets returning home safely, especially as we approach the Fourth of July holidaya peak time for pets to go missing, read the news release.

The clinic operates on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to the first 500 pets.

Participants are reminded to keep their pets inside their vehicles throughout the drive-thru clinic. Dogs must be securely leashed, and cats should be placed in a suitable carrier, according to the City.

The City says that at the clinic, all pets will be microchipped, dogs will receive a parvo/distemper vaccination, and cats will receive a feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccination.

In addition, pets aged six weeks or older are eligible for vaccines, and no other pet vaccinations will be available, according to the City.

For more information about this event and to stay updated on future initiatives, visit www.ElPasoAnimalServices.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 KTSM 9 News.
TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Free Summer meals for children and teenagers are being offered at eight Tulare County Library Branches.

The meals will be available for children and teens ages 1 to 18. Officials say the meals can be found in the following Tulare County Library branches:

Visalia

Lunches Tuesday to Friday, beginning June 11 through July 26 from noon to 2 p.m. The branch is at 200 W. Oak Avenue with entrances on Encina and Locust Streets. Their phone number is 559-713-2703.

Lindsay

Lunches Tuesday to Friday, beginning June 11 through July 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Lindsay Branch is at 157 N. Mirage Street in Lindsay. Their phone number is 559-562-3021.

Strathmore

Supper Tuesdays and Wednesdays, beginning June 11 through July 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Strathmore Branch is at 19646 Rd 230 in Strathmore. Their phone number is 559-568-1087.

Tipton

Supper Thursdays and Fridays, beginning June 13 through July 26 from 3 pm. to 5 p.m. The Tipton Branch is at 301 East. Woods in Tipton. Their phone number is 559-752-4236.

Pixley

Supper Tuesday to Friday, beginning June 11 through July 26 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Pixley Branch is at 927 S Center St, B in Pixley. Their phone number is 559-757-1010.

Earlimart

Supper Tuesday to Friday, beginning June 11 through July 26 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Earlimart Branch is at 780 E Washington Ave. in Earlimart. Their phone number is 661-849-2525.

Alpaugh

Supper Tuesdays and Wednesdays, beginning June 11 through July 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Alpaugh Branch is at 3816 Ave 54 in Alpaugh. Their phone number is 559-949-8355.

Dinuba

The library in Dinuba is closed, but subject to reopening according to officials. Lunches are from Tuesday to Friday from noon to 2:00 pm. The Dinuba Branch is at 150 S I Street in Dinuba.

Officials say the Summer Food Service Program is a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administered in California by the California Department of Education. Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library, supported with funds from the State of California.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Holmes Educational State Forest in Hendersonville has reopened after has completed renovations on its forestry center, which took about a year.

The forestry center, also known as the Treehouse, is located at the trailhead of the Talking Tree Trail. The updated space includes exhibits and a space for educational programs to take place indoors.

North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Kirsten McDonald said these renovations were needed at the center.

Before the renovation of the forestry center, Holmes Educational State Forest did not have an enclosed place for teaching classes, McDonald said. In addition, the exhibits were out of date and did not support the programs that the forest provides to the public at no cost.

The total cost for the renovations was $40,000. According to McDonald, half of this funding came from the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority and the other half came form the North Carolina Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

This image shows what the Holmes Educational State Forest treehouse looked like before renovations.

The Holmes Educational state forest treehouse now has updated educational panels after renovations.

The Henderson County TDA is funded by a 5% occupancy tax on Henderson County accommodations. The North Carolina Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a nonprofit that works to advance sustainability through forest-focuses collaboration, according to a news release.

In the news release, Holmes Educational State Forest Supervisor Susan Fay said she is incredibly grateful for the organizations for providing financial support.

Through their generous support, we will further our mission to teach visitors of all ages that the forest is a complex ecosystem that can be managed to enhance the quality of life for all, Fay said.

The renovations involved the installation of the new exhibits along with a digital display, windows and doors, exterior siding, interior paneling, gutters and painting. In addition, the trails leading to the center were improved and some trees that were deemed hazardous were removed. A set of stadium seats were also purchased for the center.

This image shows what the Holmes Educational State Forest looks like after renovations.

McDonald said educational state forests are specialized forests that also work like all other state forests in that they are tasked with being stewards for the land and resources located on it.

In addition, educational state forests provide the citizens of North Carolina with a living outdoor classroom where visitors of all ages can learn about the local natural forest environment, McDonald said. This second part of their mission is best seen through the numerous programs that the educational state forests provide to area school groups as well as to member of the general population.

The Holmes Educational State Forest is home to more than five miles of pedestrian only trails that also offers picnic areas, grills and free educational programs led by rangers.

Want to go?

Holmes Educational Forest is closed on Mondays. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The forest is located at 1299 Crab Creek Road in Hendersonville. For more information, visit the forest's website at ncesf.org/hAbout.html.

More: 'Summer Camp,' with over 1,000 Western NC extras, hits theaters May 31: Will WNC camps benefit?

Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Holmes Educational State Forest forestry center reopens
Hot temperatures, cool happenings: The latest in food and dining around Oklahoma City

Summer is really heating up and openings are happening fast for both local and national chains across the metro.

Alongside those openings, some other notable happenings are going down in food and dining, as well. From chefs making moves to new menu items, special features and pop ups you can experience, here's a look at some of the latest food news from across the city.

The third location of Edmond-based Eddie's has landed in the Chisholm Creek development.

Eddie's opens third location

American restaurant Eddie's opened a third location at 13230 Pawnee Drive, Suite 115 in the Chisholm Creek development recently.

The new spot joins the restaurant's Edmond location at 2828 E. 2nd St., and its spot near Nichols Hills at 6728 N Olie Ave. Owner Ed Wren III is also behind Hott Wings at the Railyard in Downtown Edmond and The Lounge Craft Kitchen & Cocktails at 3601 E 2 Street in Edmond.

Tamale King to host regular pop-up at Cellar Cafe

Tuesdays at The Cellar Cafe, 2915 N Classen Blvd., Felix Cornejo is popping up with tamales and other items for lunch. His first week, he brought loaded nachos. Next, he served up a crunchy taco plate featuring a salsa verde chicken. He plans to make it a weekly takeover so check his Instagram @tamalekingokc to keep up to date on the offerings.

The House that Kurt built: The recipe for Chef Fleischfresser's legacy in shaping OKC's dining scene

Chef Caleb Stangroom prepares orders during a Tiger Style pop-up at GHST in Oklahoma City on Jan. 31.

Chef Caleb Stangroom saying goodbye to Bradford House

Chef Caleb Stangroom announced via his personal Instagram that he has cooked his last dish at The Bradford House, where he has served as executive chef for more than two years. While Stangroom has not yet announced his next steps, it seems he has no plans to leave the kitchen based on his post.

"This will be the final dish that I have created here at @bradfordhouseokc for a menu. However, it is far from my final dish. Im lucky to be blessed with doing what I love," Stangroom wrote on Instagram.

I will keep you updated with what comes next for Stangroom as I know more.

Not Your Average Joe celebrates five years, 100s affected

OKC's community based coffeeshop-for-good Not Your Average Joe celebrated five years of inclusion and workplace excellence Wednesday. The shop, which employs people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities, and now boasts six locations, held a party to celebrate.

The organization has employed more than 150 students and adults with disabilities in its six coffee shops and has plans for additional locations in Moore and Edmond, among other places.

With hopes to expand the Midtown location's patio area and add more seating, and a desire to send some of their employees with special needs to a special coffee training program at the Academy de Baristas in Puerto Rico, five years and hundreds of lives touched is just the beginning for NYAJ.

A third location of Dave's Hot Chicken has opened in OKC in the Chisholm Creek development.

Dave's Hot Chicken opens Chisholm Creek location

The third Oklahoma City Dave's Hot Chicken location opened Thursday at 13220 Pawnee Dr in Chisholm Creek. The location comes to the city courtesy of The Social Order, the Oklahoma City-based restaurant group behind The Jones Assembly, Spark and the regions Fuzzys Taco Shops.

A new Andy's Frozen Custard location is set to open June 5 in Norman.

Andy's Frozen Custard opening in Norman

Opening day of the newest metro area Andy's at 1131 Rambling Oaks Drive in Norman will be June 5 with a community celebration on the patio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including a chance to win Andys for a year from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The event will also include a special local treat, exclusive to the new store, revealed and available on opening day. Guests who sign up on the loyalty app before the opening can also get a free, small, one-topping concrete during the opening.

The exterior of the new Panda Express location in Mustang, the first to feature the new design.

Panda Express opens new Mustang location

Panda Express opened the doors to a new location in Mustang at 1151 E State Hwy 152 on Wednesday. The store is the first to feature a new design the company says is "inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and traditions with modern motifs that tells the unique story of Panda Express."

Western Sodas are one of the newest beverage options to hit the menu at The Big Biscuit.

The Big Biscuit launches 'Western soda' collection

To keep pace with demands for more alcohol-free beverage options, breakfast and lunch chain The Big Biscuit is launching a new collection of drink options in addition to their flavored iced coffees. The menu will feature Western sodas, plus lemonades, teas, Palmers, juices, and even cold brew topped with a vanilla cold foam. Guests will be able to sip on strawberry lemonade with fresh fruit puree, peach or raspberry Palmers, raspberry iced tea and more with their meals.

For locations, go to https://bigbiscuit.com/locations/.

The Western sodas include a selection of predetermined fountain drinks spiked with coconut cream and lime, as well as a build your own option. Flavors include:

The Stallion - Dr Pepper, coconut cream, and lime.

Cowboy Colada - Starry, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and lime.

Dolly - a pink drink made with Starry, strawberry puree, coconut cream, and lime.

Desert Sun - Mountain Dew, strawberry puree, coconut cream, and lime.

Orange Creamsicle - Orange Crush, coconut cream, and lime.

The newly opened Carvers on 19 in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

Tulsa's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino announces restaurant rebrand

The former McGill's restaurant on the 19th floor of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is now Carvers on 19. The restaurant retains the same menu including steaks, the chilled seafood tower and the wine selection, but embraces a renovated interior inspired by the art deco history of Tulsa.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop launches 'Everyday Value Combo'

Chicago-based sandwich shop chain Potbelly is offering up new ways for diners to save money amidst rising prices with a first-of-its-kind Everyday Value Combo deal.

The deal includes the choice of original turkey, ham or chicken sandwich with a cookie, chips, fountain drink or water for just $8.99.

Oklahomans can find shops at 13012 N. Pennsylvania Ave and 780 SW 19th St. in Moore.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC food news: Openings, updates, rebrands and events
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Chevron's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

50% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Recent sales by insiders

A look at the shareholders of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 67% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Chevron, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for Chevron

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Chevron?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

Chevron already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Chevron's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Chevron. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 8.7%. With 7.0% and 6.7% of the shares outstanding respectively, BlackRock, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders.

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Story continues

Insider Ownership Of Chevron

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. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our information suggests that Chevron Corporation insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$126m worth of shares (at current prices). In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 26% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Chevron. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 6.7% of Chevron stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Chevron that you should be aware of.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A Lexington home decor store is one of the best in the South, Southern Living says

A Lexington boutique that began in a vacant garage during the coronavirus pandemic was recently recognized by Southern Living for its uniquely curated home decor.

Now located on National Avenue, Syers Browning contains a mixture of individualized modern and antique decor and dinnerware.

The variety of distinctive items found at the store undoubtedly led to Southern Livings decision to name the boutique as one of the top 30 home decor stores in their recent Best of the South issue published April 5. The article stated the selected stores represent cant-miss destinations for unique items to make your house a beautiful home.

In the article, Southern Living highlighted Janice Leake, one of the founders of Syers Browning, for the way she interacts with customers.

Customer service at Syers Browning goes beyond nice gift wrap and friendly, knowledgeable employees, the article states. Janice wants to get to know you and show you exactly how to style that French wall basket you just got.

Leake said Thursday her stores feature in Southern Living was a full-circle moment for her since she always received a copy of Southern Living from her mother for Christmas.

Southern Living has been near and dear to my heart all my life, Leake said.

If youre looking to shop for your home, Syers Browning is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 949 National Ave., Suite 175. They can be contacted at 859-407-1700 and can be found on Instagram and Facebook.

Other nearby stores featured by Southern Living include Jayne Thompson Antiques in Harrodsburg, and Reed Smythe & Company and Heirloom Artifacts in Nashville.

Jayne Thompson Antiques, founded in 1990, specializes in antique furniture and home items and offers design, restoration and custom building services. It features inventory in shows around the country and is open by appointment only.

The Southern Living article states buyers seek out the store for their unmatched expertise, breadth of inventory, fierce commitment to quality, and excellent service.

Lori Finke, who co-runs Jayne Thompson Antiques with her husband, said she appreciated Southern Living didnt only feature fast furniture and stores in urban areas.

I really like that theyre focusing on quality antiques, Finke said.

Jayne Thompson Antiques is located at 847 Kennedy Bridge Road in Harrodsburg and can be found on Instagram and Facebook.

Southern Livings best home decor stores in the South

Here are excerpts of what Southern Living had to say about each of the other home decor stores named as the best in the South (in no particular order):

Theres a dreamy, otherworldly quality, The Paris Market in Savannah, Georgia

Your one-stop destination for furniture and interior design, Cobblestone & Vine in Little Rock, Arkansas

[For the] array of signature artisan-made goods, the goal is supporting other cultures as opposed to historical preservation, Polished Coconut in Miami, Florida

A riot of bold colors and textures, The Shade Shop in Charlottesville, Virginia

With gorgeous vignettes every way you turn, inspiration is never far away, Blue Print in Austin and Dallas, Texas

Theres always something new to discover in the ever-changing inventory, Hunt in Jackson, Mississippi

[A] contemporary spin on classic elements, Biscuit Home in Houston, Texas

Each piece is chosen and displayed with care, Domain in Catonsville, Maryland

Inventory is heavy on vintage furnishings but spans a broad range of styles, price points, and regions, Union Camp Collective in Raleigh, North Carolina

Vignettes lean toward sophisticated silhouettes and classic forms, SummerHouse in Ridgeland, Mississippi

Obvious appreciation for the outdoors can also be seen, The Bower Decor Market in Triadelphia, West Virginia

This place has it all, Elizabeth Stuart in Pleasant, South Carolina





A carefully selected inventory that includes exclusive goods, Dixon Rye in Atlanta, Georgia





Evidence of her [the owners] expertise and passion is everywhere, MoModerne in St. Louis, Missouri

One of Nashvilles most beautiful boutiques, Reed Smythe & Company in Nashville, Tennessee

Its hard to leave either of their shops without finding a new obsession, Manse in Alexandria, Virginia

As much a gift to the local area as it is a business endeavor, 80 Acre Market in Gilmer, Texas





A handsome studio and shop, Wentworth in Charleston, South Carolina

At Kurtz Collection, great interiors begin with the right floor coverings, Kurtz Collection in Wilmington, Delaware and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania





[Full of] objects thatll add personality or a touch of humor to your space, TA Lorton in Tulsa, Oklahoma

A trip here is unforgettable, Eclectic Home in New Orleans, Louisiana

Traditional antiques [...] mingle with funky custom items, Casa Gusto in West Palm Beach, Florida





Their well-edited inventory reflects that open-door ethos and encompasses everything, ALKMY in Birmingham, Alabama

The shops dreamy atmosphere makes it an easy spot to lose track of time, Heirloom Artifacts in Nashville, Tennessee.

Plenty of charm to spare, Pillar & Post in Washington, D.C.

No matter what style youre looking for, youre likely to find it, Cotswold Marketplace in Charlotte, North Carolina

A wonderland of striking settings, Design Supply in Birmingham, Alabama

For those who love home furnishings with long histories and fascinating backgrounds, this place truly is paradise, The Paradise Antiques in Middleburg, Virginia

Do you have a question about Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
Justin Metcalf, middle, stands with Panther, West Virginia residents Ernest "Little Man" Blankenship and Eric Blankenship after Metcalf and members of his Mars Hill church delivered a grist mill to the West Virginia community.

MARS HILL - A Mars Hill man has made fans the world over in producing videos of him working on mills at his home along Metcalf Creek Loop Road. Now, Justin Metcalf has won the hearts of hundreds of Southern Appalachian residents after he and his church delivered food to rural families in West Virginia.

On May 18, Metcalf led members of his California Creek Baptist Church to a remote area outside of Panther, West Virginia, where residents were dealing with a food desert situation in which the nearest store carrying food was roughly a 90-minute drive.

"It's kind of below Wells, West Virginia. It's back in the mountains, right in the corner between Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia," Metcalf said. "The coal mines went out, and everybody that could move out did, and everybody is just left there, and they don't have anything to eat and nowhere to work."

When Metcalf heard members of his church at California Creek Baptist Church were headed to West Virginia for a mission trip, he knew that the trip would align perfectly with his calling: to aid Appalachian communities by bringing back healthy foods and restore the sense of community that community grain mills provided.

Metcalf is building another grist mill, which he helped deliver to the West Virginia residents, and from there he plans to teach the residents how to make their own food.

The mill is part of Metcalf's Grain Mills for Communities project.

"I'm going to haul a ton of corn up there so they can grind corn meal and maybe some grits," Metcalf said prior to his trip. "The first week I went up there, when I decided to build this grist mill, was in late January."

And now that he's back in the shop full-time, he's as energized as ever, he said, as he's purchased a three-phase motor to operate one of his other mills.

"I'm excited. This is the first time I've done anything with an electric motor, and I can set the speed exactly where it needs to be. It's just really efficient," Metcalf said.

Metcalf also works to help other millers restore their mills, and has even met with other millers throughout the country, including some in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.

As for his source for acquiring crops to mill, Metcalf found a man named Sammy Phillips who was in Boonville in Yadkin County. At the time of their meeting, Metcalf said Phillips was 95 years old and still leading him up and down staircases throughout a three-story milling operation.

When he started his YouTube page in 2021-22, where he uploads videos talking about grain mills, he heard from residents across the globe praising him for teaching them about mills and the history of community mills.

"In the olden days, every community had a grain mill," Metcalf said. "People couldn't travel long distances, they couldn't run to town to the grocery store to get products like that. If they lived in town, they might have been able to get them, but most likely there was still a grain mill in town.

"When things got centralized and commercialized, grain mills faded out because commercial products that were ground in a big commercial operation somewhere, they took over that. It was easier just to go by the store and buy a sack of flour or corn mill. That's what started the decline of community grain mills."

Mars Hill resident Justin Metcalf readies his grist mill prior to showing The News-Record & Sentinel reporter Johnny Casey an instructional video on how to operate the mill.

As a result, some of the healthiest ingredients of the foods were removed from the product to keep the goods on the shelves longer. So, there's a health advantage to using grain mills too, Metcalf reminds his viewers.

"Like on wheat, they took out just the endosperm, the biggest part of the wheat," Metcalf said. "All the bran, all the other stuff where the good nutrition and fiber is at, they took that away and separated it out. So, when you get back to a community grain mill, you get back to eating whole grains. That's what's best for us: fresh stone-milled whole grains.

"I've had many people say to me, 'Justin, why don't you just go to the store and buy a loaf of bread?' But that's because they've never tasted what a loaf of bread tastes like when it's made with a fresh-milled grain. This commercial food has kind of gotten folks off the track of knowing what good food is. If you know what good food is, it's well worth the time and effort to obtain that food."

Metcalf has more than 16,000 followers on his YouTube page, Appalachia's Metcalf Mills.

"It's going to make a bigger difference in their lives than I ever thought it would for anybody," Metcalf said of the Panther mill. "Some of them still have dirt floors and no plumbing in their house."

According to Metcalf, the region was stricken with flooding a few years back, and the local water source is now contaminated by coal from the mines.

"Their water up there, the sulfur from the water has contaminated their water. The average lifespan is just 54," Metcalf said, adding that he and the church group brought a water filtering system to the West Virginia town May 18 as well.

According to healthdata.org, men in West Virginia's McDowell County, where Panther is, live an average of 63.5 years, well below the national average of 76.5. Women in McDowell County live an average of 71.5 years; the national average is 81.2.

But the grist mill for the West Virginia residents is just the first of many in his Grain Mills for Communities project, Metcalf said.

"When I started that project, I had no idea what a blessing and what it would mean to a community," he said. "I had hopes and dreams, but I am amazed at how it is going."

Mars Hill resident Justin Metcalf is pictured here in his Mars Hill shop with his daughter, Charlotte.

The family tradition

Building and using mills was a family tradition among the Metcalf men.

"When I was growing up, Daddy would tell me stories about going to the mill on Saturday with my Grandpa and his brother Elmer, who ran a little community grist mill and would grind people's corn on Saturdays," Metcalf said.

"Dad was just a littl boy, maybe 8 years old, and they'd be grinding and he said he'd stick his hand under that spout and that corn mill would be coming out of there, and he said it'd be warm from warming up and coming out of them stones.

"He said he'd eat it right out of his hand, and talked about how good it was, and he just got me interested in it, and that just got in my thinking."

Now, years later, after caring for his ailing parents before they died last year, Metcalf is back to his calling.

"I was trying to get everything set up, and then my parents got sick, and I just couldn't do it," Metcalf said. "I had to be at the house. I'd come down here and try to work, and a little while Dad would call needing something, and I finally just said, 'I can't do both. I'm going to have to just stay here and take care of both of them, and that's what I'd done.'"

Justin Metcalf stands beside the grist mill he delivered to a community in Panther, West Virginia in May.

The importance of community

The connection among people is a big motivation for Metcalf in his project, as the mills tend to band a community together in an age of distractions and disconnect, he said.

Metcalf first met with the West Virginia residents in January, and immediately returned home to work on the grist mill for the Panther community.

There may have been a component of "as fate would have it" to the story of Metcalf meeting with the Panther residents.

On the day prior to the January trip, one of Metcalf's friends at California Creek suggested he accompany the team on the trek to West Virginia, as Metcalf had just broken up with his girlfriend the day before.

"If that hadn't have happened, I wouldn't have went on that trip," Metcalf said. "We've got to go on. Hard things happen to us, and we just have to persevere."

Metcalf is no stranger to grief, which is partly what fuels him to give back to others and to celebrate loved ones and friends.

"When my parents passed away, that's the hardest thing I've ever been through," he said. "I lost my older brother in 2008 of a heart attack. He was 19 when I was born, so he's like a second dad to me, with my dad being sick. Me and him were really close. He died of a heart attack on my mother's birthday."

Metcalf's hand-built grist mill could potentially feed more than 600 people in the remote West Virginia area, as the device grinds corn into corn meal and wheat to be prepared for healthy food.

"If we take a ton of corn up there, that'll allow each family about 5 pounds of corn meal a week to eat on," Metcalf said. "I'm trying to figure out how to make it sustainable."

While visiting West Virginia, Metcalf met with two residents named Ernest "Little Man" Blankenship and Eric Blankenship. "Little Man" is a lifelong resident of the area, and donated his old library to be used for the grain mill to feed the community.

Metcalf said he plans to train both to be millers and mill grain for their community, and the impact was felt right away.

"Eric was the happiest I have ever seen him the day we delivered the grain mill," Metcalf said.

In a lot of ways, the feeling is reciprocal, as the West Virginia community is helping bring more joy back to Metcalf, too.

"After my parents had just passed away, I got really down and out, kind of depressed, and I couldn't do everything I was needing to do," Metcalf said. "I was trying to keep work going and raise my two daughters. But, I couldn't do this. It wasn't time, until I went into that school in West Virginia.

"If I was going to build these grist mills just to sell, with all these people supporting and helping, that didn't feel right to me. I wanted to give back somehow. When I went into that school in West Virginia, I knew this is how I'm going to give back. These people need this."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Mars Hill's Metcalf delivering food, hope to Appalachian communities
Heaven Hill Distillery's Mellow Corn is a curious whiskey. Most budget bourbons are bought without much thought, as people are either short on cash or want something to throw in with a mixer. Mellow Corn is a little different as it has become a much-loved whiskey that enjoys somewhat of a cult status. It possesses a unique charm with its unpretentious bottle and smooth profile. In a world where premium bourbons get the lion's share of attention, there is something comforting in there being so much love for a budget brand.

With this being a corn whiskey, it is undeniably sweet but with a lovely vanilla and oak influence. Due to this, it's much more impressive than many other budget options. As you can guess, this isn't a whiskey with immersive depth, but there is elegance in its simplicity. Thankfully, we were lucky enough for Heaven Hill to send us a bottle to try. Along with trying out this bottle, I'll use my wealth of personal experience to take you on a journey of what makes this brand special and if it's worth giving a try. Let's see why so many people love this cheap whiskey.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

History Of Mellow Corn Whiskey

Mellow Corn laid on side - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

The history of Mellow Corn whiskey is one of tradition and revival. It originated in the heart of Kentucky and was created by the Medley Distilling Company in 1945. As with many old distilleries, Medley went through several changes of ownership over the years. It started off being sold to Renfield Importers in 1959, then to investor Abraham Schecter in 1978, and then to Glenmore Distillery in 1988. United Distillers bought Glenmore in 1991 but closed it only a year later. Family descendant Charles Medley took the distillery back into family hands in 1995, but by that time, the Mellow Corn brand had already been sold to Heaven Hill in 1993.

We can't find much information specifically about the brand during this time, which speaks to how Mellow Corn has always sat quietly in the background. Despite facing periods of obscurity when it could have easily been left behind, it has persevered to the point where it's now become popular with people who like to find these hidden gems. It's this history -- or lack of it -- that helps with the charm of Mellow Corn. It's almost a glimpse into the past when mass production and marketing gimmicks weren't as widespread as they are today. It remains an unassuming drink and a great survivor of the ever-changing world of whiskey.

What Is Straight Corn Whiskey?

Mellow Corn bottle resting on glass - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

While similar, there are a few differences between bourbon and corn whiskey. Whereas bourbon needs to be made from at least 51% corn, that's dialed up to 80% with straight corn whiskey. As with bourbon, the rest of the mash bill will usually be made up of malted barley and either rye or wheat. The higher corn content will give the drink a much higher level of sweetness than most other bourbons. While the mash bills are usually different, the most defining characteristic that separates corn whiskey from bourbon is the aging process.

Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels, whereas corn whiskey doesn't have to be barreled at all. If it is aged, then it must be done in either uncharred or previously used barrels. You may have noticed that Mellow Corn is "straight corn whiskey." To have the designation of "straight" on there, the whiskey needs to be aged for at least two years. This also applies to straight bourbon. Due to this, it's important to know what you are buying when it comes to corn whiskey. Mellow Corn is aged for at least four years, but others may not have any aging, giving them hugely different tasting profiles. If you want an aged corn whiskey, then make sure it at least has that "straight" designation on the bottle.

What Does Mellow Corn Taste Like?

Mellow Corn and full glass - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

Now we come to the all-important question of the taste. The pale color suggests it doesn't go past its minimum aging of four years, and the nose is unsurprisingly light. It does offer a nice level of corn sweetness, and it certainly doesn't burn your nostrils the way cheap whiskeys can. I did get a hint of oak and pear to give it some depth. As with the nose, the palate doesn't show any of the harshness you can find with budget spirits. It's a simple but pleasant taste, supported by a nice mouthfeel that allows it to sit in your mouth. Up front, you get the heavy corn influence with a slight nuttiness and oak.

With cheap whiskey, where harshness can really bite is on the finish. The extended aging means that doesn't happen here either, making it immediately impressive. With many whiskeys you get a flood of warmth on the finish. Instead, Mellow Corn ends with a nice mixture of corn and caramel. Is it a great whiskey? No, but Mellow Corn never pretends to be. Instead, it's a good whiskey that belies its cheap price tag and can easily be sipped neat. I previously ranked this as the worst whiskey from Heaven Hill, but that was always a reflection of the strength of the distillery and not a slight against Mellow Corn. If you've never tried aged corn whiskey before, you must try this.

How Is Mellow Corn Bourbon Made?

Mellow Corn bottle laid on grass - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

As we mentioned, as a corn whiskey, Mellow Corn needs to use at least 80% corn in the mash bill (as for what a mash bill means, it's essentially the recipe for the mix of grains used to make the bourbon or whiskey). This expression meets that 80% threshold exactly, with the rest being 12% malted barley and 8% rye. That helps to give you the intense sweetness of corn but also allows it to have a little more depth. As with many great whiskey-makers, Heaven Hill uses a portion of the previous distillate when creating its whiskey in order to have a consistency of flavor. It then uses a yeast strain that comes from an old family recipe for fermentation. Finally, the spirit can then be distilled in its 70-foot-tall column stills before being aged in its huge Kentucky rickhouses.

You may also have seen on the bottle that Mellow Corn has the designation of "bottled-in-bond." This is a reference to a set of rules introduced in 1897 that were designed to ensure the quality of whiskey in a world where counterfeiting and cutting whiskey was rife. To meet these rules, the spirit must be aged for at least four years, be made by a single distiller, and be bottled at 100 proof. It's that extended aging that helps to make Mellow Corn excellent value, as it's much older than the vast majority of other budget whiskeys.

How To Drink Mellow Corn Whiskey

Mellow Corn in a glass - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

Most budget bourbons are only good for mixing with other drinks. Mellow Corn certainly excels in that respect but it's also a whiskey that can easily be drunk neat. If you enjoy the taste of corn, then you'll appreciate its raw flavor. It's even worth giving it a proper tasting with a snifter glass to experience its aroma before you sample its taste. If you're expecting the burn or harsh aftertaste that often comes with cheaper whiskeys, you won't find that here. It's smooth and mellow, allowing you to enjoy it from nose to finish. While it stands tall as a sipping spirit, it's fantastic for mixing, too.

Mellow Corn is loved by many bartenders as it offers a great base for cocktails. It can work particularly well in classic drinks such as an old fashioned or a whiskey sour. It will give your drinks a beautiful sweetness without it dominating the palate, allowing the other flavors to shine. Along with Coke, it also works well with other mixers such as ginger ale, ginger beer, club soda, or any lemon-based drink. As you can see, Mellow Corn is a wonderfully versatile whiskey. It makes it a great liquor for your home bar as it can be used for a wide variety of drinks.

Is Mellow Corn Expensive?

Mellow Corn with a glass - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

It's fair to say this is an emphatic no. Mellow Corn is famous for being a budget bourbon that will never be burning a hole in your pocket. It has got a little more expensive in recent years, but it still remains highly affordable. Average costs lay around the $19 mark, but you can often find it for cheaper than that. Just because a whiskey is cheap, that doesn't always mean it offers value for the money. There are a few whiskeys out there that I wouldn't buy even if they were one dollar. As you've most likely worked out by now, this particular drink offers you excellent value for the money when you compare it to its rivals.

It's not the cheapest whiskey out there, but even if you're low on cash, it's worth spending a few more dollars to get something much nicer and see what the fuss is all about. That also applies to those who are overseas and may need to pay a little more due to import costs. There are, of course, much better whiskeys out there for those willing to pay a little extra, but Mellow Corn has a price-to-quality ratio that is hard to beat.

Mellow Corn Vs Balcones Baby Blue

Bottle of Balcones Baby Blue - balconesdistilling / Instagram

Finding an adequate corn whiskey to compare with Mellow Corn was tough. Many corn whiskeys are unaged white whiskeys that, while worth trying at least once, can't compete with the taste and depth you get from Mellow Corn. Most other aged corn whiskeys are much more expensive than Mellow Corn, which showcases how unique this spirit is. One of the best corn whiskeys out there is Balcones Baby Blue. At an average cost of around $39, it is comfortably pricier, but is that extra cost worth it?

Balcones Baby Blue is a Texan whiskey that is made from roasted blue corn that helps to give it both a rich and complex flavor profile. You'll get a buttery sweetness on the palate and that is joined by roasted nuts and dark fruit. It helps to give it a depth that is not usually found with corn whiskey. It's more of a craft whiskey that is ideal for those looking for an artisanal experience. It does beat Mellow Corn on a straight taste comparison, but the difference isn't vast. We'd say that if you've never tried corn whiskey before, Mellow Corn would be a great first step. If you enjoy it, then a bottle of Balcones Baby Blue could well be for you.

Mellow Corn Vs Evan Willams

Bottle of Evan Williams - EvanWilliamsUSA / X

We've seen how Mellow Corn stacks up against another corn whiskey, but how does it compare against another budget bourbon from Heaven Hill? I feel both of these whiskeys share similarities in the fact that they are quite basic spirits but also have tremendous value for money. Evan Williams also has a high level of corn in the mash bill at 78%, with malted barley and rye at 12% and 10%, respectively. However, with it being bourbon, Evan Willams was aged in new charred oak barrels compared to Mellow Corn being aged in an old bourbon barrel.

Even with those subtle changes, Evan Williams gives you more of a classical bourbon tasting experience. You get a more pronounced caramel flavor with the charred barrels giving it a notable oak influence. In this sense, it offers a bit more depth than Mellow Corn, but deciding which one is better will come down to personal preference. They are very similar in price, so it comes down to whether you'd prefer the beautiful sweetness of Mellow Corn or the extra warmth of Evan Williams. Both deserve a place as great budget whiskeys, and with their low price tags, you may as well get them both and find out for yourself.

The Old-School Label Has Never Changed

Mellow Corn label close up - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

With the likes of McDonald's, Starbucks, or Apple, there are countless examples of brands modernizing old logos and labels. It makes sense as you want to bring your brand into the 21st century and keep up with your competitors. One brand that has resisted the urge for this trend is Mellow Corn, but that's not through laziness. It helps with the sense of charm the whiskey has, as its traditional label is a nod back to American whiskey heritage. It's easy to see why some wouldn't like the label with its bright yellow background and bold vintage lettering with green and red. As someone who is colorblind, it can be a little challenging on the eyes!

But the reputation of Mellow Corn has grown due to its authenticity and it receiving a new label just wouldn't feel right. In an ever-changing world, there is some comfort in something staying true to its original self. No doubt, a modern designer would remove the image of the corn and barrel, change the color scheme, and simplify the bottle. If they did, it just wouldn't feel like Mellow Corn. It's also a good case study of how not every brand needs to modernize in order to keep up with demands. It seems like the old-style label has helped the popularity of Mellow Corn instead of hindering it.

It Was Bought By Heaven Hill As An Afterthought

Mellow Corn stood upright - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

Major acquisitions can be incredibly complicated deals. With so many different legal aspects to consider and huge sums of money involved, they can take a lot of time and energy to complete. I mentioned above about how the Mellow Corn brand was bought by Heaven Hill in 1993, but it was thrown into the deal at the last minute. The deal with United Distillers involved several different brands, including Cabin Still, J. W. Dant, and Rittenhouse, among many others. At the time, Mellow Corn had little to no brand value. So much so that United Distillers didn't care whether Heaven Hill wanted it or not.

The story goes that Heaven Hill president Max Shapira asked, "You want us to take this, too?" and United Distillers were happy to throw it into the deal. Whether they regret it or not, who knows, as it's not as if Heaven Hill poured in massive resources to reignite the brand. They were happy to let Mellow Corn be a lesser-known brand. A distillery having a cheap whiskey they don't promote is nothing new. However, over time, the popularity of Mellow Corn has risen in spite of its lack of promotion. It's this story of rising against the odds that helps to give Mellow Corn so much charm.

Despite A Lack Of Marketing, Mellow Corn Is Beloved

Mellow Corn bottle on grass - Kenny Jarvis/Tasting Table

Budget bourbons generally don't have much brand appeal. They aren't marketed much by distillers and many people almost mindlessly pick them up from the bottom shelf with the aim of using them with mixers or cocktails. Mellow Corn is a little different as it not only has a cult status among many whiskey lovers but it's beloved by bartenders, too. The reason for this isn't crystal clear, but there are a few important factors. One of the key reasons is the cost-to-quality ratio that we mentioned before. The bourbon is highly accessible for those looking for a cheap whiskey that won't burn their throat.

But there are other factors at play too, as Mellow Corn is far from the only decent cheap whiskey in the world. Mellow Corn has a straightforward, unpretentious nature. Instead of using fancy packaging and heavy marketing, its growth has largely been down to word of mouth. Its sweet and mellow profile appeals to not only seasoned whiskey drinkers but also those who may not like more robust whiskeys. For bartenders, its simplicity makes it a reliable and versatile ingredient for making both classic and inventive cocktails. Its flavor can beautifully blend with other liquids without dominating the flavor. For anyone who wants value without compromising on quality, Mellow Corn has become the go-to bottle for many.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Renovations to the Headliners Club, which were prioritized in a survey of its more than 900 members, will allow for more a la carte dining opportunities, an updated bar area (known as the Press Box and shown in this rendering) and enhancements to the overall decor.

The Headliners Club  the private club atop Procore Tower in downtown Austin  is in line for an $8 million makeover.

Construction to renovate the facilities of the members-only club is due to begin in January and take about eight months.

With its prime location on the 21st floor of what was once known as Chase Tower on West Sixth Street between Colorado and Lavaca streets, the esteemed Headliners Club has expansive views of the city in every direction. Frequented by Austin's movers and shakers, from former presidents and other politicians to civic leaders, lawyers, lobbyists, journalists, educators and developers, the club has seen many deals discussed, many milestones celebrated, and many special events, programs and ceremonies conducted.

More: You might not know his name, but this Austin icon just turned 90

The club was chartered in 1954 and opened in 1955. It moved into its current location at 221 W. Sixth St. in the 1970s. It recently renewed its lease in Procore Tower for another 30 years.

The tower has undergone multiple changes of ownership and minor design updates through the decades. Its name was changed to Procore Tower last year. Procore, which provides construction management software, leases eight floors in the building.

"This is an exciting time to honor The Headliners Club by providing wonderful facilities that are more useful today and elegant in the spirit of what we have always enjoyed, Brian Greig, chairman of the club, said in a news release Over the past 70 years, weve worked to keep our facilities reflective of our deep traditions as a place where people who make the headlines and write the headlines gather.

More: Bye-bye Chase Tower, hello Procore Tower

Award-winning Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is designing the renovations. White Construction is the general contractor.

The club's more than 900 members were surveyed about priorities for the upgrades. In response, the renovations will allow for more a la carte dining opportunities, an updated bar area known as the Press Box and enhancements to the overall decor.

The club features views of the city in every direction from Procor Tower on West Sixth Street.

"The design celebrates The Headliners Clubs strong legacy while providing an improved space for members to gather and cultivate lifelong connections," the release stated. "A mix of elegant spaces will provide a variety of opportunities for members to gather, whether thats for a casual drink, or a large event celebrating a major milestone."

Plans are in place to minimize disruption to the club's members during the renovations. The club plans to operate temporarily on the 20th floor until the renovations are complete in September 2025.

Before moving to its current location, the club operated from facilities in the historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin and later atop the Westgate Building near the Capitol.

The club's $8 million makeover is set to begin in January and take about eight months.

The Headliners Club was conceived by Charles E. Green, the longtime executive editor of the Austin American-Statesman, "as a comfortable environment for those who make the headlines and those who write the headlines," according to its website.

The club's walls and corridors are lined with historic photos and newspaper front pages featuring some of the biggest headlines through the decades, including President Franklin Roosevelt's death and President John Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. The club's art collection, as well as newspaper clippings and other artifacts, will be incorporated into the renovated rooms.

The walls and corridors of the club are lined with historical photos and newspaper front pages featuring some of the biggest headlines through the decades, including President Franklin Roosevelt's death and President John Kennedy's assassination in Dallas.

The club's members promote excellence in Texas journalism through their support of the Headliners Foundation, a nonprofit that awards annual prizes for achievements to Texas print and broadcast journalists, as well as undergraduate scholarships at various Texas universities.

More: Chase Tower in downtown Austin to hit market

Prominent Headliners Club members have included former U.S. Presidents Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush; former Texas Govs. Rick Perry and Ann Richards; acclaimed journalists Dan Rather and Lawrence Wright; and Steven Weinberg, the late Nobel laureate physicist.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: $8 million makeover on tap for Austin's private Headliners Club
As More Black Women in the US Ditch Chemical Hair Straighteners, Sales are on the Rise in Africa  But There's Hope

Throughout history, Black women have had a complicated love affair with chemical hair straighteners. We looked forward to leaving the salon every two to three months with a silky straight head of hair (even if our scalps burn like hell in the process).

However, that love waned as we learned that the perm had the potential to do more harm than good: According to a 2022 study of women ages 35-74 from the National Institutes of Health, women who used chemical straightening products more than four times per year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who did not.

As information about the dangers of hair chemicals spreads, more women are opting for natural styling methods. There are also pending lawsuits against LOreal, Revlon and other heavy hitters in the beauty industry, claiming a failure to warn customers about the potential dangers associated with their products.



But as American women eschew the chemicals, theyre on the rise in some African countries: Sales of chemical hair relaxers have dropped nearly ten percent in the United States between 2017 and 2022, according to Euromonitor, but three of the top five countries for sales growth of chemical relaxers between 2017 and 2022 (Tunisia, Kenya and Cameroon) are located in Africa.

People still use hair relaxers as much as they did in the past, Joseph Kiemo of Kiemo Hair and Beauty Studio in Nairobi told The Examination.



But there is hope that information on the dangers of relaxers will reach more African women. According to Cape Town, South Africa-based Leshme de Bruyn, owner of natural hair care line Miss L - Embrace My Roots, more younger African women are considering natural hair styles.

Younger people are saying, This is the hair Ive been born with, and Im going to embrace it, she told The Examination.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
This is the most stressful airport in the US, according to a new report

While travel can be fun and rewarding, it can also be stressful. Sometimes, the stress starts before you even begin your trip: at the airport.

With crowds and frequent flight delays, airports have become a particular source of agitation for travelers. Hitting traffic on the way to the airport or in the parking garage can kick-start your frustration, and seemingly endless security lines add another layer of stress to the travel experience.

But not all airports are created equal when it comes to smooth traveling.

StressFreeCarRental.com recently released the 2024 USA Stressful Airport Index, ranking the most stressful airports in the U.S. from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Pay less to fly: New strategies for finding cheap airfares now

To determine the rankings, the car rental platform analyzed five stress-inducing factors at the 15 most popular domestic airports: passenger numbers from 2022, cost for a week of parking, the number of destinations served, airport passenger ratings from Flightradar24, and distance to the city center.

A stressful experience at the airport could make or break your vacation, so weve crunched the data to find which destinations travelers should steer clear of if they want a peaceful airport experience, John Charnock, CEO of StressFreeCarRental.com, said in a statement.

If youre headed to one of the most stressful airports, Charnock recommends people leave (themselves) plenty of time to check in and go through security before your flight. Where possible, try to check in online to save yourself time.

Its also worth arranging transport to the airport to avoid having to pay a staggering parking fee. Parking at Chicago OHare International Airport for just one week could set you back around $280, so you may want to look at taxi fares or ask a friend or family member to drop you off.

Read below to learn more about the most stressful U.S. airports.

15. Phoenix International Airport

Travelers walk through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on Nov.18, 2023.

Serving 44.3 million passengers annually and flying to 145 destinations, Phoenix International Airport ranked as the least stressful airport on the 2024 USA Stressful Airport Index with a score of 16. The airport has a high satisfaction rating of 83% on Flightradar24, with passenger reviews stating that its small yet efficient and clean. PHX also has affordable parking, about $72 for a week, compared with $376 a week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

14. San Francisco International Airport

Airline passengers prepare to enter a security checkpoint at San Francisco International Airport on April 19, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SFO sees 20.4 million passengers a year who can fly to 142 destinations. The airport scored 24 on the index because of its proximity to the city center and high satisfaction rating on Flightradar24. The airport has expensive parking rates, however, about $175 for a week.

13. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH)

About 20 million passengers a year pass through the terminals at IAH to fly to 184 destinations, and thankfully, the airport is one of the least stressful on the USA Stressful Airport Index. The sprawling 10,000-acre airport has an 80% satisfaction rating on Flightradar24. Those driving to the airport can feel good that it has the cheapest weekly parking cost on the index.

12. Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina

The new Concourse A expansion at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is home to Interconnected, a giant digital artwork made up of three hi-definition LED media walls measuring over 2,000 square feet.

Only a little more than 7 miles from the center of Charlotte and with an affordable parking cost of $93.99 for a week, CLT ranked low in stress with a score of 33. On Flightradar24, passengers said the airport is easy to navigate. More than 21 million passengers use the airport to travel to 187 destinations, such as San Juan, Puerto Rico; Rome; and Tulum, Mexico.

11. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Travelers faced long lines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport TSA checkpoints as travel ticked up around spring break.

Serving the Seattle area, SEA is conveniently located about 12 miles from the city center and reachable by a 20-minute car ride or the Link light rail. The airport also has a high Flightradar24 satisfaction rating of 82%. Unfortunately, the airport's parking is expensive, clocking in at $376 for a week  the highest of the index. It also has the least number of destinations of the 15 domestic airports analyzed in the index.

10. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas

Planes land and take off from Harry Reid International Airport on October 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Those flying to and from Sin City at LAS can rest assured that the airport scored 36 on the 2024 USA Stressful Airport Index. Out of the index, LAS is the closest airport to the city center, making for a quick 10-minute ride to and from the Strip. LAS also has a satisfaction rating of 82% on Flightradar24. Unfortunately, it is pricey to park your car there  a week costs about $250.

9. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

As the busiest airport in the country, with 45.4 million passengers each year flying to 187 destinations, ATL can be a hectic place. However, with one of the highest Flightradar24 scores for consumer satisfaction  passengers noted how many amenities and options there are  ATL earned the ranking of the ninth-most stressful airport on the index.

8. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey

Travelers head to the parking garage at Terminal C at Newark Liberty Airport in Newark, NJ on Tuesday Nov. 21, 2023. Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel days in the United States.

With the lowest Flightradar24 rating of 71%, EWR earned the spot for the eighth-most stressful airport in the U.S. Passenger reviews noted that while renovations have helped improve the airport, its Wi-Fi, TSA and food options were lacking. The airport also serves New York City, so it can be a trek to get to.

7. Orlando International Airport in Florida

Disney World and Universal Studios travelers are most likely flying in or out of MCO, which earned a score of 43 on the USA Stressful Airport Index. The airport, which sees 24.4 million passengers annually, is 14 miles from the city center, or a 20-minute drive. It also has a satisfaction rating of 82% on Flightradar24 and is pricey for parking.

6. Miami International Airport

Holiday season travelers walk through a terminal at Miami International Airport on Dec. 24, 2020 in Miami, Fla.

With 23.7 million passengers flying to 192 destinations, MIA ranked sixth for the most stressful airport. The Florida airport earned one of the lower satisfaction scores on Flightradar24 of 78%; passengers said Wi-Fi, TSA and lounges were inadequate. The airport is about a 30-minute drive from Miamis South Beach, and if youre driving, expect to pay about $175 a week to park.

5. Los Angeles International Airport

LAX is notoriously difficult to get to for travelers.

One of the busier airports on the index, with 32.3 million passengers in 2022, LAX scored 47 on the 2024 USA Stressful Airport Index. The fifth-most stressful airport in the U.S. flies to 189 destinations, but while thats convenient for travelers, its also tricky to get to, especially given Los Angeles notorious traffic. The airport also has one of the lowest Flightradar24 satisfaction ratings for its immigration and customs and its food options, tied with New Yorks JFK.

4. Denver International Airport

Travelers head toward their gates after passing through a TSA security checkpoint during a winter storm at Denver International Airport on February 22, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

As the largest airport in the U.S., DEN also ranks as the third-busiest and fourth-most stressful, with 33.7 million passengers passing through its terminals in 2022. The volume makes sense because the airport flies to 219 destinations, but it adds to the airports stress level. Thankfully, parking at DEN is cheap, about $54 a week. Travelers can drive 45 minutes to Denvers city center or take the airport rail to Denver Union Station in 37 minutes.

3. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

Checkpoint savvy DFW has multiple security checkpoints in each terminal and 15 checkpoints overall. Real-time security checkpoint wait time information is available online, via terminal screens and on the DFW mobile app.

The second-busiest and second-largest airport in the U.S., DFW saw 33.7 million passengers in 2022 and flies to 258 destinations, which adds to the stress of the traveler experience. On Flightradar24, however, the airport has a rating of 84%. Passengers say its easy to get to and easy to pass through TSA, although the airport is crowded. There are also many lounges and food options to choose from.

2. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York

Flying to 193 destinations and serving 26.9 million passengers in 2022, JFK ranked second on the stress index for its expensive parking and difficulty to access. The airports Flightradar24 rating is one of the lowest on the index because of poor Wi-Fi, TSA and immigration and customs experience.

1. Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Travelers check in for their flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on Dec. 22, 2023, before the upcoming Christmas holiday. US airlines are gearing up for record traffic this holiday season, having beefed up staffing to avoid a repeat of last Christmas's operational meltdown. Authorities expect more than 267,000 flights between Dec. 20 and 26, with a peak of nearly 49,000 on Dec. 22, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

ORD scored the top spot on the USA Stressful Airport Index. The airport, which served 33.1 million passengers in 2022 and flies to 249 destinations, stresses travelers out with its expensive parking of $281 for a week and its distance from the city center. Its about an hourlong drive or 45-minute train ride to the airport from downtown Chicago.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New report ranks the 10 most stressful airports in the US
With over 500 stores, Whole Foods Market is the largest natural and organic food supermarket chain in America. Since its founding in 1980, Whole Foods has become the best store for organic shopping. Its name has become synonymous with natural foods and high-quality products, drawing health-conscious consumers nationwide. While Whole Foods has expanded across most of the United States, there are still six states without a store: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. Despite Amazon's acquisition in 2017 and the opening of more than 60 new stores, these states remain without a location.

California leads the country with 95 Whole Foods locations, accounting for just under 20% of total stores. Florida and Texas follow, each with around 35 stores. In terms of cities, New York City and Chicago boast the highest number of locations. Whole Foods also has an international presence, with expansions into Canada and the United Kingdom. However, despite this extensive growth, there have been no announced plans to open new locations in those six states. This has left many residents in those areas wondering if and when they will get their own Whole Foods Market.

Read more: 23 Whole Foods Baked Goods, Ranked

Why These States Don't Have A Whole Foods

People entering Whole Foods next to Watermelon - Ablokhin/Getty Images

Whole Foods has clearly laid out its guidelines for retail locations, which typically include a population of at least 200,000 and specific demographics, such as a significant population of college-educated people. Alaska's distance from the contiguous U.S., low population density, and low percentage of college-educated adults may affect the chain's decision to expand there, though Anchorage's mayor told the Anchorage Daily News that he envisions one coming to the city. Similarly, the Dakotas and West Virginia have lower population density and/or a low number of college-educated adults, potentially making them less appealing for retail stores. Delaware almost had a Whole Foods in the early 2010s, but a planned location in Northern Wilmington was rejected, leading the chain to open a store instead just over the Pennsylvania border. Vermont's lack of Whole Foods may be due to community resistance and local competition.

While these factors collectively explain the absence of Whole Foods in these six states, it's clear that the chain's criteria for new locations play a significant role. Despite this, the growing demand for organic food leaves the door open for future expansion. Until then, residents of the states may need to cross borders, find another grocery chain for organic shopping, or rely on alternatives like Sprouts or local co-ops to meet their organic and natural food needs.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Orange County Public Schools is offering free meals for students this summer.

There is no need to sign up or have forms to receive a meal at no charge.

All students and children who are 18 years old and younger are eligible.

This initiative is because of the Summer BreakSpot program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Read: Florida sees major growth in home school voucher program

OCPS wants to help children stay healthy even when they are not in school.

Every meal will have fresh fruits and vegetables, a main dish and milk.

Six libraries, Chickasaw, Fairview Shores, Hiawassee, North Orange, South Creek, and South Trail, will also offer free meals.

Read: 9 Family Connection joins summer food drive to help feed local children

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Pride merch 2024: Shop these locally-owned OKC businesses for LGBTQ+ flags, apparel

As Pride Month begins, it's time to get all your rainbow apparel and LGBTQ+ merchandise ready for all the Pride events this year in Oklahoma City.

Luckily, these small businesses in the city offer Pride gear.

Common Dear

Common Dear is a queer-owned and operated small business that offers Pride merch all year.

Located at 3 NW 9th Street, Common Dear is a small business that offers Pride merch all year. The shop is queer-owned and operated.

From accessories and apparel to home goods, paper goods and much more, people in Oklahoma City can walk up the rainbow stairs for all the Pride merch they desire.

Common Dear is a queer-owned and operated small business that offers Pride merch all year.

The owners of Common Dear also own Johnny and June, a fun, eclectic gift shop located at 12 NW 9th Street.

DNA Galleries

Folks in Oklahoma City looking to support queer artists during Pride Month can visit DNA Galleries in the Plaza District at 1709 NW 16th St.

The locally-owned business frequently features art from queer artists across Oklahoma as well as LGBTQ+-related enamel pins and stickers.

Folk.Life

Folk.Life is a small business in the Plaza District that offers Pride-themed goods.

Folk.Life is a small business in the Plaza District that offers handmade clothing, gifts and other items.

The shop always features Pride-related goods, like rainbow beaded jewelry, festive ornaments and garlands and other gifts.

Folk.Life is a small business in the Plaza District that offers Pride-themed goods.

The business is located at 1745 D NW 16th St.

Craig's Emporium

Craig's Emporium is a small business in Oklahoma City that offers a variety of Pride and LGBTQ+ merchandise.

Craig's Emporium is inside a massive rainbow building, so it's no surprise the business holds tons of Pride merchandise.

Craig's Emporium is a small business in Oklahoma City that offers a variety of Pride and LGBTQ+ merchandise.

At 1209 NW 23rd St, folks in Oklahoma City can find dozens of Pride flags along with LGBTQ+-themed coffee mugs, apparel, books and much more.

The Floating Bookshop

Looking for a good book during Pride Month? The Floating Bookshop downtown offers LGBTQ+ fiction and nonfiction literary works.

The store is located at Sailor and the Dock, a local market venue at 617 W Sheridan Ave.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Pride 2024 merch: Locally owned shops with LGBTQ+ flags, apparel
In the 18 months since Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched ChatGPT, Chinese tech firms large and small have rallied around a singular goal - besting the San Francisco-based start-up with their own Chinese-language chatbots.

The results have been mixed, with some tech giants claiming to have better results than GPT-4, OpenAI's most advanced model, with Chinese queries. But with a deluge of more than 200 Chinese large language models (LLMs) - the tech powering these chatbots - from a slew of companies all jostling for market share, China's AI firms can claim at least one other clear, albeit less boastworthy, advantage over their US counterparts: price.

In recent weeks, TikTok owner ByteDance, internet search giant Baidu, e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group Holding and social media behemoth Tencent Holdings have all drastically slashed prices on their LLM services, with some offering a variety of services for free. One premium offering from ByteDance's Doubao Pro costs as low as 0.0008 yuan (0.011 US cents) per 1,000-token prompt, 99.8 per cent less than what OpenAI charges for GPT-4 access.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"It's like the bad money is driving out good money," said You Yang, a computer science professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The price war indicates a lack of competitiveness based on the merits of the models themselves, according to You, making them incapable of attracting customers at previous market prices.

In the US, tech giants like Google owner Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta Platforms, Amazon.com and Microsoft have also been competing in AI by following the "blitzscaling" playbook that has become commonplace in Silicon Valley: acquiring users as quickly as possible, at the expense of revenue, to corner a market.

Yet even while enjoying the "walled garden" behind the Great Firewall that censors foreign internet services, Chinese firms face limits from Washington's export restrictions on advanced chips from Nvidia, whose graphics processing units have become central to AI model development. They also have less corporate spending power than their peers in the liquidity-rich US market.

"The price reduction [for Chinese AI services] mainly aims to attract more clients and is more like a branding practice," Xu Li, CEO and co-founder of Hong Kong-listed AI company SenseTime, told the South China Morning Post in an interview this week.

Story continues

ByteDance launched the opening salvo of the price war in mid-May when it unveiled the pricing of its Doubao AI enterprise services that aggressively undercut its domestic rivals.

Under this pricing, 1 yuan could buy 1.25 million input tokens. By comparison, it would cost around US$37.50, or 272 yuan, to buy 1.25 million GPT-4 tokens.

In AI, a token is a fundamental unit of data that is processed by algorithms. For Chinese LLMs, a token typically equates to between 1 and 1.8 Chinese characters.

Other Chinese tech heavyweights were quick to respond.

Alibaba, owner of the Post, was the first to react, dropping the price of its Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen) service by as much as 97 per cent, from 0.02 yuan per 1,000-token prompt to 0.0005 yuan, or 0.0003 yuan cheaper than ByteDance.

Several companies including Baidu, Tencent and iFlytek, an AI specialist known for its audio recognition technology, followed with even more drastic price cuts, some offering access to their less powerful LLMs for free.

Wang Sheng, an investor with Beijing-based InnoAngel Fund, said this kind of "vicious" price competition is hurting local AI start-ups.

"When it comes to developing LLMs, Big Tech companies are not necessarily better than start-ups," Wang said. "But their practice of subsidisation to grab a bigger market share is detrimental to these firms."

Alain Le Couedic, senior partner at AI investment house Artificial Intelligence Quartermaster (AIQ), suggested that the price competition will pay off for some over time.

"The race for dominance in the market is a sign that many players see attractive opportunities down the road, even if this requires some pain in the short- to mid-term," he said.

LLMs are energy intensive, making them expensive to run, so the marginal cost of adding a new user is likely higher than for other online services. This makes blitzscaling more complicated for AI services. A race to make LLMs more efficient could eventually change this math, though.

"People are pursuing these improvements in efficiency ... because it pays to do so," Bill MacCartney, chief technology officer at the venture capital firm SignalFire and a computer science professor at Stanford University, told the Post at the UBS Asian Investment Conference this week. "It costs a growing amount of money to operate these models, and people have a powerful economic incentive to find ways to make it cheaper."

MacCartney noted that resources are pouring into finding efficiency gains across multiple levels: "There's improvements at the silicon level, there's improvements in model architecture, there's improvements in that kind of software that we layer above the models."

"It's not far-fetched to imagine that we'll see over a three-year horizon ... maybe a 10x improvement in inference efficiency broadly across AI," he said.

Bill MacCartney (right), chief technology officer at the venture capital firm SignalFire and computer science professor at Stanford University, discusses generative artificial intelligence at the UBS Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong on May 29, 2024. Photo: Handout alt=Bill MacCartney (right), chief technology officer at the venture capital firm SignalFire and computer science professor at Stanford University, discusses generative artificial intelligence at the UBS Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong on May 29, 2024. Photo: Handout>

Some companies have said improved efficiencies in training and running models are the main reason for their price reductions. OpenAI credited new efficiencies for the reason behind the much lower pricing on its GPT-4o model launched in May.

Robin Li Yanhong, founder and CEO of Baidu, said in April that the efficiency of training its flagship Ernie LLM improved 5.1 times within a year. The model's inferencing performance increased 105 times, reducing inferencing costs by 99 per cent.

ByteDance also said it cut prices because it is confident in being able to reduce its costs through technical improvements.

Wherever profits stand, tech companies have been quick to attribute rising revenues to the AI boom.

Alibaba Cloud said its 3 per cent growth in the March quarter was buttressed in part by AI-related income that accelerated growth. Baidu Cloud reported 12 per cent revenue growth in the same quarter, with generative AI and foundation model services accounting for 6.9 per cent of total AI cloud revenue.

US tech giants Google and Microsoft have likewise reported robust demand for their cloud-based LLM services. In its third-quarter results, revenue at Microsoft's intelligent cloud unit grew 21 per cent from a year earlier. Google, meanwhile, saw first-quarter revenue expand 28 per cent year on year.

"We have witnessed Microsoft's market capitalisation soar, and everyone is eager to capitalise on this opportunity," said Ivan Lam, an analyst at market consultancy Counterpoint Research. "The Chinese market is particularly keen to establish quick links between [AI] applications and business [uses] in order to foster further advancements in its LLMs."

Alibaba declined to provide data on the growth in usage of its LLMs after its recent price cut, but the company said that the number of calls to its Qwen application programming interface (API) from a top Chinese recruiting firm spiked 100-fold within a week.

At least for users of these LLMs like that recruiting firm, the current economics of AI services appear to be paying off.

Zhao Chong, founder and CEO of AI-powered graphic design service iSheji, was upbeat about cheaper LLMs in an interview with the Chinese news portal Sohu.com published on May 24.

"For start-ups like us building applications, [the price war] is a good thing," Zhao told Sohu. "LLM costs used to account for between 5 and 10 per cent of our total costs, now it could be 1 per cent, boosting our profit margins."

These consumer-facing service providers have in turn been reducing the prices of their own offerings, with many available for free.

Meanwhile, start-ups that are in a position to do so are trying to sit out the price war. Beijing-based Baichuan and 01.AI - a company established by Lee Kai-fu, a Taiwanese computer scientist who previously headed Google China - have dismissed the idea of cutting prices.

You, the NUS computer scientist, noted the benefits of low prices for app developers, but he cautioned that these applications might not perform well if built on subpar foundation models.

Despite this, the price war has emerged because companies have limited options. Competing on price is always easier than endless improvement to model capabilities, according to Yan Lijie, founder and CEO of Shanghai-based MiniMax, one of China's four "AI Tigers".

"[Reaching] the upper limit of a technology is less certain and requires more exploration," Yan said in a fireside chat published by Chinese technology news site Geekpark on May 23. "Whereas there is always a way to cut price."

Counterpoint's Lam said that price competition may be inevitable for companies looking to maintain dominance in AI services as the market becomes increasingly crowded.

Some of China's tech giants would appear to have an edge when it comes to compute resources and money to burn. AIQ's Le Couedic said it is too early to predict a potential winner of an AI price war, as the industry is still not mature. Business models and technical edge will both be key factors in determining the dominant players, he added.

"At the end of the day ... companies with the best services and best technologies will win," Le Couedic said.

Additional reporting by Matt Haldane.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
MILLCREEK, Utah (KTVX)  Using recipes from ancient Egyptian papyrus and a masters degree in Middle Eastern studies, a Utah man brewed a beer based on recipes nearly 3,000 years old.

Dylan McDonnell, a self-described avid beer brewer, recently used yeast from ancient pottery to recreate what he called an authentic ancient Egyptian beer recipe.



Brewing such a drink allowed him to taste history and become connected to that era, he said.

Utah snow leopard expecting her first cub at Hogle Zoo

He derived the recipe for his beer from the Ebers Papyrus, a text of medicinal herbal knowledge dating back to around 1550 BC.

What I did was I took every recipe that mentioned beer  and took the top eight ingredients from that recipe and used them to make the beer, McDonnell said.

Among the ingredients he needed were purple Egyptian barley, emmer wheat, Egyptian balsam fruit, Israeli golden raisins, and frankincense.

The yeast used in brewing beer was also ancient. A group of scientists in Israel were able to extract the yeast from a jar that dates back to the 9th Century BC.

Since January, McDonnell has spent hours each day crafting his beer.

Its cool, he said. Three thousand years ago, there was some guy in Egypt that was likely putting the same ingredients into a pot and boiling it with the hope of making the same thing.

As for the taste, its tangy, with a hint of citrus. Its like a sour, but no hop flavor whatsoever.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Where can Manatee County kids and families find free food this summer? Heres a list

With children out of school for summer break, anti-hunger organizations are working to provide healthy, balanced meals throughout Manatee County.

It is a hard time for parents who count on free school meals to feed their children, advocates say.

Going to the grocery store is so much more expensive now, said Maribeth Phillips, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Were seeing a huge increase in need from families that cant afford food. Theyre one episode away from a complete disaster financially.

In Manatee County, 49,370 people, or 12.2%, were food insecure in 2022, according to the most recent data from Feeding Americas Map the Meal Gap. The average cost of a meal was $4.50 that same year, the data shows.

Heres where children and families can find free meals in Manatee County:

Manatee County Schools

Manatee County Schools will partner with Summer BreakSpot to give free meals to children 18 and younger at 60 locations across the county.

The school district will serve about 24,000 meals a week at summer camps, parks, community centers, churches and more. Children need to eat all meals on-site.

You can find the nearest Summer BreakSpot location by calling 211, texting food to 304-304 or visiting SummerBreakSpot.org.

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee

Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and The Food Bank of Manatee will give families two days worth of meals.

The anti-hunger organization will serve about 1,500 meals a week at parks and churches. Families can expect free breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

The Food4Families distributions will take place every Friday at the following locations:

11 a.m. to Noon at Manatee Mobile Home Park, 2204 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton

Noon to 1 p.m. at Turner Chapel, 317 11th St. W., Palmetto

1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Pride Park, 6032 Ninth St. E., Bradenton

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park, 501 17th St. E., Palmetto

You can find more information on the Meals on Wheels Plus website.

Feeding Tampa Bay

Starting Sat., June 8, Feeding Tampa Bay will give families a weeks worth of groceries.

Families can pick up groceries twice a month on Saturdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Church of Christ, 204 Martin Luther King Ave. E., Bradenton.

You can view the calendar for the grocery distributions on the Feeding Tampa Bay website.
A writer did everything from BASE jumping to scuba-diving with women over 50. She learned 3 things about healthy aging.

Writer Caroline Paul went on outdoor adventures, such as scuba diving, with women over 50.

She learned why outdoor activities are great for healthy aging.

Adventuring in nature can ease stress, trigger awe, and challenge the mind and body.

When you see people skateboarding, they are usually young and male. So, imagine the surprise of rangers at Yosemite National Park when they realized the person zooming toward them on an electric skateboard was a 61-year-old woman.

The skateboarder, Caroline Paul, was on her way to meet Shawn Brokemond, who was about to jump off El Capitan, a 3,000-foot high rock face in Yosemite. This BASE-jumping 54-year-old was among the 10 women aged between 54 and 93 who Paul met to research her book "Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking  How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age."

By doing everything from scuba diving with an octogenarian to walking on the wing of a plane with a 71-year-old, Paul saw that age needn't be a barrier to living fully. The women's hobbies were a source of vitality because they encompassed multiple different aspects of a healthy lifestyle: being active, being in nature, and often socializing with others.

Some of the women had been adventuring their whole lives, while it took others a little longer  but all of them were active, healthy, and happy.

The women "upended their own expectations of what they could do" and "changed their mindset about their own aging, and therefore they saved their own lives, in my opinion," Paul said.

At a time when aging is a buzzy topic and gyms are selling $40,000 longevity memberships, Paul's book provides an interesting contrast to the idea that we must spend in order to live long, healthy lives.

"No matter what your financial situation, you can get outside," she said.

"If you have an optimistic view of your own aging  if you see it as a time of exhilaration exploration  you actually are happier, healthier, and you live 7.5 years longer," Paul added, citing a 2002 study.

A more recent 2022 study found that people who had the most positive ideas about aging  meaning they rejected negative stereotypes about it, had a strong sense of purpose, and continued to socialize and learn  had a 43% lower risk of dying from any cause in the four years the study covered.

Paul shared three things she learned about healthy aging while researching her book.

Being in nature has a range of health benefits

82-year-old Louise Wholey, who Paul interviewed for her book, scuba diving. Caroline Paul/ Bloomsbury Publishing

Getting out of an urban setting and into nature can be really beneficial for the brain, Paul said: "On a physiological, biological, and emotional level, being outside is vital."

Research suggests that as little as a one-hour walk in nature can lessen stress, and a 2021 review of studies found links between being exposed to nature and improvements in cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep.

"You don't have to wing walk, you don't have to scuba dive. You simply find an activity outdoors that activates your own exploration and physical vitality, and you're on an adventure," she said.

The uncertainty of nature challenges the mind and body

"The beautiful thing about nature is how uncertain it is  the wind might kick up, a hill might get a little steeper  and all that is challenging your body. Not in a crazy way, it's just all these tiny uncertainties that are happening," Paul said.

Studies have also linked the challenge and newness of different environments to better cognitive function in older people.

In addition to nature's unpredictability, learning new skills when taking up a new sport or hobby is inherently novel.

Heidi Tissenbaum, molecular, cell, and cancer biology professor at the University of Massachusetts, previously told BI that learning new things makes new connections in our brains, which keeps them healthy for longer.

Feeling awe can ease stress

"Awe is the feeling you get in the presence of something bigger than you, something mysterious," Paul said. "Traditionally, it's something that we associate with religious experiences, but nature is a surefire awe trigger  looking at the night sky, a big tall sequoia, or the Grand Canyon, for example."

Research has linked experiencing awe on a daily basis to greater feelings of well-being, especially in times of stress. And one 2022 study suggested that people who did "awe walks"  15-minute walks where they tried to feel awe  felt more joy and smiled more.

You can turn any walk into an "awe walk" by paying attention to your surroundings when visiting a new place, focusing on your senses, and zooming in on small details or out to the vastness of humanity, Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, told the New Yorker.

Read the original article on Business Insider
1 motorcyclist dead, another injured after hitting a truck, SC highway patrol says

One motorcyclist has died and another was injured in a crash on a Midlands highway, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The motorcyclists on 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycles were driving south on U.S. Highway 321 on Friday around 1:30 p.m., Master Trooper Michael Ridgeway said, about 2 miles north of Winnsboro in Fairfield County. A 2016 Dodge pickup truck was attempting to enter Highway 321 from S.C. Highway 269 when the motorcyclists hit it.

Both motorcyclists were transported by EMS to a Richland County emergency room.

One motorcyclist died at the hospital from their injuries. The Fairfield County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the victim.

The status of the other motorcyclist was not known as of mid-afternoon Saturday.

The driver of the Dodge truck was uninjured.

Through Saturday, 357 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. At least 50 fatalities have involved motorcycles.

Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.
10-Year-Old Girl Only Survivor in Apparent Murder-Suicide That Killed Her Mom

After she was shot in the stomach, the child mustered enough strength to call her grandmother for help, authorities said

Facebook A 10-year-old girl is the sole survivor in a Texas shooting that officials are calling a murder-suicide

A 10-year-old girl is critically injured after her mothers boyfriend allegedly shot her in what officials are calling a murder-suicide.

The shooting occurred at an apartment complex in Spring, Texas, around 5 p.m. local time on May 30, according to a media briefing from the Harris County Texas Sheriff's Office.

A 39-year-old male, a 33-year-old female and a 10-year-old girl were involved in the incident, the sheriffs office said.

The identities of the individuals have not yet been released, but, according to authorities, the adult male was the boyfriend of the adult female, and the child was her daughter, local outlet ABC 13 reported.

Facebook The medical helicopter that transported the 10-year-old girl to a nearby hospital following the apparent murder-suicide on May 30

All three had sustained gunshot wounds, according to a post from Harris County Texas Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

The child was shot in the abdomen, and shortly after mustered the strength to call her grandmother for help, who them called 911, ABC 13 reported.

Upon arrival, officers found the boyfriend deceased and the mother unresponsive, the sheriffs office said. The mom received medical attention, but died at the scene.

The child was found in critical condition and was airlifted in a Life Flight helicopter to a nearby hospital, footage shared by the Spring Fire Department shows.

She entered surgery immediately. Authorities said she is expected to survive, according to ABC 13.

She is currently in her grandmothers custody, the outlet added.

The Harris County Texas Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

After a preliminary investigation, the May 30 incident appeared to be the result of a disturbance between the adult male and female, Sergeant Greg Pinkins told reporters. He added that the 10-year-old appeared to have been struck in the crossfire from the shooting.

Based on initial info, Sheriff Gonzalez echoed on X, it appears to be a murder-suicide attempt.

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.

Police said the moms boyfriend is the current suspect, and only one firearm, which was recovered from the scene, was used.

Authorities also said investigators will look into whether previous incidents have occurred at the apartment unit, where both the mom and boyfriend were on the lease.

No other individuals were injured in the shooting, authorities said.



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Read the original article on People.
17-year-old boy most likely drowned while swimming in Potomac River

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) said a 17-year-old boy may have drowned while swimming in the Potomac River Friday.

NRP officers responded to a report at around 2:30 p.m. of a swimmer who went missing in the Potomac River in the Four Locks area. The teenager and an 18-year-old boy were trying to swim across the river from West Virginia to Maryland when they began to struggle.

MCFRS wants to remind people not to go swimming in Potomac River as they deal with water rescues

A nearby boater was able to help the 18-year-old boy but the 17-year-old boy went under the water and did not come back up.

NRP divers found his body around 5 p.m. and it was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.

Washington County Fire and EMS, Maryland State Police, National Park Service, West Virginia Natural Resources Police, Multiple West Virginia Fire & Rescue Units and the Carroll County Dive Team helped to search for the teenager.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Aurora Police Department told FOX31 that two people were arrested after a series of events that started with an armed robbery Friday afternoon.

The initial call came in at 2:45 p.m. reporting an armed robbery at a Walmart located at 5650 S. Chambers Road. When officers responded they saw the suspect vehicle nearby, and a pursuit began.

2 bystanders hit by gunfire outside Aurora convenience store

Police said the vehicle pursuit ended in a crash with another vehicle at 40th Avenue and Tower Road. No one was injured in that crash, but according to the police department, the suspects did not stop there.

At that point, police said the suspects immediately attempted to carjack a different vehicle, but officers stopped them.

The suspects then took off on foot, but both were arrested near the scene of the crash. Police said the weapon from the armed robbery was recovered.

The Aurora Police Department is now hoping to speak with the victims in the attempted carjacking of a red sedan for investigative purposes. APD is encouraging the attempted carjacking victims to reach out to police.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  A woman and a teenage boy, both bystanders, were hit by gunfire early Friday outside of an Aurora convenience store, and police said they are still looking for suspects in the shooting.

It happened just before 2 a.m. at a 7-Eleven store at 15296 E. Hampden Avenue. FOX31 learned at the scene that the victims were an employee of the store and her teenage son.

The investigation shows two suspects started a confrontation that began inside the store and moved outside, the Aurora Police Department said in a release. The confrontation escalated and there was an exchange of gunfire. An adult woman and a juvenile male were hit.

Police told FOX31 that the two people shot were not involved with the suspects. Investigators did not release further information about who is suspected of the crime.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

The boys injuries were life-threatening, but his condition was stable as of Friday afternoon, according to police. The woman was seriously hurt but is expected to recover.

FOX31 has a crew headed to the scene and is working to learn more information about what happened. 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 FOX31 Denver.
Two people are dead, including a police officer, after a shooting in southern Arizona early Saturday morning.

Five people were also injured, including another officer, during the incident.

The shooting took place around 2 a.m. local time when officers were dispatched to a disturbance at a home, according to the Gila River Police Departments Facebook page. The incident happened in the Gila River Indian Community, an Indigenous reservation located 35 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Multiple gunshots were fired amid the disturbance, which police say involved a large crowd.

Among those struck by gunfire were two Gila River police officers and four other individuals, police said.

Officer Joshua Briese and another individual, who has not yet been publicly identified, died due to their injuries.

The other officer remains in serious but stable condition at the hospital. The three other individuals injured are also being treated at hospitals, police said.

Officer Briese was still on field training and had only been with the department for less than a year.

Our hearts and prayers are with these police officers, their families, and everyone impacted by this tragic incident, the police department said.

The department is working with the FBI to continue investigating the incident.

The Gila River Indian Community has a population of 14,000, including members of the Pima and Maricopa tribes.

CNNs Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.

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The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is officially underway.

If you haven't already started building  or restocking  your hurricane kit, now is a perfect time.

Florida's disaster preparedness sales tax holiday also started today, and you can avoid sales tax on specific supplies for the next 14 days.

 Tropics watch, May 30: NHC tracking 4 tropical waves

A second 14-day sales tax holiday will start in August, just in time for the peak of hurricane season.

Forecasters have been warning for months the 2024 season will be hyperactive, with what could be more than double the average number of storms.

When is the Florida hurricane tax free supplies holiday in 2024?

There are two, two-week sales tax holidays in 2024 to help residents prepare for disasters.

The 2024 holidays are:

June 1-June 14

Aug. 24-Sept. 6

Generators, portable or standby? Looking to buy a generator? From types to cost, here are 7 things you should know

Building your hurricane kit: What emergency supplies are tax free?

Florida's disaster preparedness sales tax holiday will happen twice in 2024, with the first two-week period starting June 1.

Eligible items included in the tax-free holiday include:

A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.

A tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.

An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.

A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.

A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.

A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.

A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.

A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.

A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.

A portable self-powered radio, two-way radio, or weather-band radio with a sales price of $50 or less.

A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.

A portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas) with a sales price of $40 or less, including: flashlights, lanterns and candles.

Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption, even if electrical cords are included in the purchase.

Reusable ice (ice packs) with a sales price of $20 or less.

 Full list of items exempt from sales tax

Save money on pet supplies during sales tax holiday

Supplies needed for the evacuation of household pets are included in the disaster preparedness sales tax holiday. Necessary supplies means the noncommercial purchase of:

Bags of dry cat or dog food weighing 50 or fewer pounds and with a sales price of $100 or less per bag.

Portable kennels or pet carriers with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

Over-the-counter pet medications with a sales price of $100 or less.

Pet beds with a sales price of $40 or less per item.

Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds and with a sales price of $25 or less per item.

Leashes, collars, and muzzles with a sales price of $20 or less per item.

Pet pads with a sales price of $20 or less per box or package.

Manual can openers with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

Collapsible or travel-sized food bowls or water bowls with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

Cat litter pans with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

Pet waste disposal bags with a sales price of $15 or less per package.

Hamster or rabbit substrate with a sales price of $15 or less per package.

Cans or pouches of wet dog food or cat food with a sales price of $10 or less per can or pouch or the equivalent if sold in a box or case.

Is there a limit on the number of items that can be purchased during the sales tax holiday?

No. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased tax exempt.

Are disaster supplies purchased online tax free?

Yes. Items purchased by mail order, catalog, or online are exempt when the order is accepted by the company during the sales tax holiday for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the tax holiday.

2024 is expected to be extremely active hurricane season

Every prediction issued for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has agreed: this season will be very active. Most forecasts call for more than double the average number of storms.

The National Hurricane Center released its season predictions Thursday, May 23. The agency is predicting 17-25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes.

How many could hit Florida? Colorado State University forecasters looked at hurricane tracks from 1880 to 2020 and predicted there's a 96% chance Florida could be impacted by a named storm in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Save money tax free hurricane supplies as 2024 hurricane season starts
Amazon is shutting down a warehouse in Tukwila and the closure will affect hundreds of employees.

The Washington State Employment Security Departments Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) showed Friday 172 employees will be impacted by an upcoming closure. The department reports the layoff start date as Aug. 1.

In a statement sent to KIRO Newsradio Friday afternoon, Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson confirmed the Tukwila warehouse will be closing while also emphasizing that despite the companys decision to shutter the facility, existing employees will have the opportunity to move to other locations.

Were always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees, customers, partners, and drivers, Stephenson said. As part of that effort, we may close older sites, enhance existing facilities, or open new sites, and we weigh a variety of factors when deciding where to develop future sites or maintain a presence. In this case, employees at our Tukwila facility are being offered opportunities to transfer to other facilities nearby, or support if they choose not to stay with Amazon.

Amazon also confirmed that is working with employees to accommodate their scheduling preferences during this process.

The company also stated it will fulfilling customer orders from its existing sites.

As Geekwire noted in its coverage, Amazon employs 75,000 people in the Seattle region, many of them corporate and tech workers. The online retail giants workforce has reached 1.52 million people around the world with a headcount rise of 4% year-over-year, as of March 31.

On a call with reporters in April following the companys first quarter earnings release, Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said the year-over-year growth in headcount was mainly driven by its warehouse-related operations, Geekwire stated.

Recent Amazon layoffs

Amazon laid off 27,000 corporate workers in the first half of 2023 in various areas of the company. However, warehouse jobs werent affected in those cuts of workers. The companys workforce doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic in the midst of a hiring surge across almost the entire tech sector, The Associated Press explained. Other tech companies announced tens of thousands of job cuts last year as well.

At the beginning of this year, Twitch, which also is owned by Amazon, said it had plans to cut more than 500 jobs in a bid to save on costs. The video streaming platforms CEO Dan Clancy said in an email to employees that even with cost cuts and growing efficiency, the platform is still meaningfully larger than it needs to be given the size of our business.

Story continues

Amazon-owned online audiobook and podcast service Audible also stated at the beginning this year it had plans to conduct layoffs, about 5% of its workforce. In a memo sent to employees, Audible CEO Bob Carrigan said that the company is in good shape, but faces an increasingly challenging landscape. In addition, Amazons Prime Video and MGM Studios unit, is trimming hundreds of employees as it cuts back in areas that are not delivering.

Contributing: The Associated Press

mynorthwest.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. (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 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Michigan Advance.
BUCHANAN COUNTY, Va. (WJHL)  A 27-year-old coal miner was killed after being struck by falling rocks while working Friday afternoon, according to the Virginia Department of Energy.

Virginia Energy said the accident happened at Buchanan Mine 1 at 4:20 p.m. in an active mining section. Virginia Coal Mine Safety Investigators released an update Saturday morning, stating the coal miner died after being struck by loose rock that fell seven feet from the mine roof.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and the entire coal mining community, said Director Glenn Davis. Virginia coal miners and their safety remain a priority for this agency.

This was such tragic news to receive, said Director of Coal Programs Randy Moore. As we begin our investigation into the details behind this young mans death, we hope that our coal workers will remember to always be aware and take the extra steps to remain safe on the job.

According to Virginia Energys Saturday update, the victim was employed as an evening shift roof bolter. Roof bolts are used to secure and support the roof of the mine where coal has been removed, the update states.

The evening crew had just arrived at the active mining section when the roof fall took place, the update said. That section remains closed while the investigation continues. The mine reportedly has multiple active sections where coal is being removed.

The incident remains under investigation, according to Virginia Energy.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
3 months after Texas largest wildfire, Panhandle residents are preparing for the next one

LUBBOCK  Spring rains have revived much of the green grass covering stretches of plains in the Texas Panhandle  the same land that, just three months ago, was black from fire and ash after wildfires burned more than 1 million acres across the region.

The land is slowly healing from its scars. And yet, the devastation still haunts those who call the Panhandle home.

The lands recover faster than the people, said Janet Guthrie, a Canadian resident who raises cattle in Hemphill County.

Guthrie is one case of survivors guilt that echoes through the northern Panhandle as residents in the rural region continue to rebuild their lives after several fires raged in late February and early March. Her pasture burned, along with part of her yard, while many of her neighbors lost more, she said.

Chairman Rep. Ken King questions a panel member at Day Two of the Panhandle Wildfires Investigative Committee Hearings in Pampa in April.

Dale Jenkins, owner of Littlerobe Angus Ranch, far right, recounts his story to the House committee investigating the Panhandle wildfires on April 3 in Pampa.

In total, two people were killed, as well as more than 10,000 cattle. Scores of homes, ranches and other personal property were destroyed. The losses may exceed $1 billion, a figure that includes $123 million in agricultural losses and $35 million worth of lost homes in Hemphill County.

As summer nears, the mentality among residents is largely one of self-mitigation  keeping the grass mowed, running the sprinklers, watching for overgrown weeds.

The preventive measures are in lieu of action by state government. Official measures are still in the works between lawmakers, state offices, and the companies that put their equipment in vulnerable, isolated areas of Texas.

A solution to the deadly wildfires  and the collective fear among residents  cant come soon enough. The next legislative session begins in late January, when the Panhandle is nearing wildfire season, a time when warm temperatures, strong winds and a dry climate can turn an idle spark into a roaring fire.

Burned terrain from the aftermath of the Smokehouse Creek wildfire is seen from the Canadian Bridge on March 5, 2024.

A state House investigative committee determined the causes of the five fires were either unmaintained power lines coming in contact with dry, grassy land or old, neglected oilfield sites. The committee called for more monitoring of oil and gas operators and utility services, who are entrusted to maintain and inspect the miles of lines strung throughout the northern tip of the state.

State Rep. Ken King, a Canadian Republican who led the committee, said on-site operators have a responsibility to maintain those properties and are failing to do so. He said lawmakers are working with several state agencies, including the Railroad Commission and State Fire Marshal, to remedy what they can do before the legislative session next January.

It is on the state to enforce the law, King said. What we cant fix, thats where the bills will be drafted from.

Data shows that climate change is driving wildfires to be more intense and longer wildfire seasons in the Panhandle. Five of the largest wildfires in Texas history collectively burned nearly 2.6 million acres since 2006, according to data from Texas A&M Forest Service. This includes this years Smokehouse Creek fire, which grew into the largest in state history. With the region becoming more vulnerable to wildfires and the legislative session being months away, Panhandle residents find themselves doing what they can do to stave off the danger.

A power line near Canadian still burns from the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hemphill County in this February file photo.

The Arrington Ranch and the aftermath of the Smokehouse Creek fire near Canadian is seen in February in Hemphill County.

Burned terrain and the old Canadian Bridge from the aftermath of the Smokehouse Creek wildfire is seen in the distance in Hemphill County in March.

The morning the fires started, Guthries husband turned on the sprinklers to water their lawn.

The winds were picking up. He hoped the wet ground would keep the fire at bay.

By the end of the day, their pasture and part of their yard burned, except for a corner that was hit by the sprinklers. One of the horses they couldnt rein in chose that spot as sanctuary from the flames.

We thought we would have lost him, the barn, the house, Guthrie said. By the efforts of firefighters and the grace of preventive measures, we did not.

Guthrie concedes it doesnt always work  homes with well-maintained lawns were completely lost.

For the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority, similar action stopped the fires from reaching the water supply for thousands in the region. Flames were creeping up on the headquarters near Lake Meredith, forcing an evacuation.

The fire stopped short of the building. Drew Satterwhite, general manager for the water authority, credits preventive measures and other on-site resources for halting the fire from reaching the headquarters and saving critical infrastructure, such as electric wiring to pump water and power control room operations.

New growth blends with burned plants in Fritch as Mother Nature heals herself two months after the wildfires raged through the Texas Panhandle.

Flowers grow among burned building remains in Fritch on Saturday, May 4, two months after the wildfires raged through the Texas Panhandle.

Charred tree trunks stand in a field of grass as Mother Nature heals herself two months after wildfires burned through Stinnett, Texas.

Weve got to do what we can to keep the vegetation at a minimum around all our key sites, Satterwhite said.

The water supplier has high-capacity water wells in a 50-square mile well field in Roberts County, nearly 80 miles northeast of Amarillo. Approximately 500,000 acres burned in the county. Satterwhite said the authority has 795 power poles in the field, and they routinely cut weeds around the poles and check them.

The water authority's headquarters were spared, but other critical water infrastructure was damaged by the wildfires. According to the committees report, hundreds of water wells were destroyed or rendered unusable.

Andy Holloway, AgriLife Extension Service agent for Hemphill County, said the fires melted electric wiring and control panels near water well sites, affecting pumps and power sources for some wells. Holloway said it has to be repaired by an electrician when they can.

Its a big job, Holloway said. When theres a lot of them to do, it takes a lot of supplies, time, and people.

John Julian with Canadian Water Well was busy for weeks after the fires because of damanged water wells at homes and ranches. His company has seen wells that were a total loss, which costs about $30,000 to redo. But, theyve seen more wells that can be repaired, which can be as little as $3,000 and as much as $9,000, depending on the needs.

Some people have repaired their wells. Others are waiting. After all, they have no livestock to give the water to.

Julian has also lost equipment in wildfires and had damaged wells. It made him wonder what could be done differently to prevent the destruction from happening again.

If I would have done a better job at keeping the weeds and grasses trimmed down around my meter poles and wells, I would have lost less equipment, Julian said. But its out of sight, out of mind.

Even as relief funds continue to trickle in for victims of the wildfires, recovery looks different for everyone.

Some ranchers found new land to lease for their cattle, even if they arent getting more just yet. Displaced families purchased homes on the market in Canadian. Others are rebuilding their homes altogether, while some residents have relocated.

The memories of wildfires engulfing their homes and communities are far from distant for residents, but they are trying to move forward. Roberts County Judge Mitchell Locke said the summers heat isnt a concern for most people in the region. Rain has kept fires to a minimum during this time of year.

And yet Locke knows it can be an issue at a moments notice, again.

It depends on the weather moving forward, Locke said. Fire season in Texas is always four weeks away, no matter what time of year it is.

"Three months after the Texas largest wildfire, Panhandle residents are preparing for the next one" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 3 months after wildfire, Texas Panhandle residents prepare for next
Protesters gather at a rally to mark the 35th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing's Tiananmen Square near the Shinjuku station in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

June 1 (UPI) -- With the anniversary looming, relatives of those killed in what is commonly referred to as the Tiananmen Square massacre in China have written a letter to Chinese leader Xi Jinping calling for accountability.

"We will never forget the lives that were lost to those brutal bullets or crushed by tanks on June 4, 35 years ago," reads the letter, authored by the group Tiananmen Mothers.

The group of bereaved relatives writes a similar letter annually, calling for official government accountability, as well as transparency surrounding the actual death toll and compensation families of the victims.

It also encourages others to write to Chinese officials, calling out human rights violations and campaigns for the "immediate and unconditional release of those still imprisoned in connection with the 1989 protests."

Beginning on the evening of June 3, 1989, Chinese military troops and tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square to quell unrest after weeks of negotiations failed to end pro-democracy protests at the Beijing landmark.

With the anniversary looming, relatives of those killed in what is commonly referred to as the Tiananmen Square massacre in China, have written a letter to Chinese leader Xi Jinping calling for accountability (protest in Tokyo, Japan pictured). Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

With martial law declared, the military clashed with some 50,000 protestors through the following day, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Figures related to the death toll vary from several hundred to several thousand.

China's ruling Communist Party took steps to control the flow of news out of Beijing and has scrubbed the incident from the official record. Discussing the massacre is forbidden in China and links to websites with information about it are blocked by the country's Great Firewall.

Protesters pray during a rally to mark the 35th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

"Those who disappeared, whose relatives couldn't even find their bodies to wipe away the blood and bid them a final farewell," reads the letter by Tiananmen Mothers, which is specifically addressed to Xi.

"It is too cruel that this happened along a 10-kilometer stretch of Chang'an Boulevard in Beijing in peacetime."

A group of bereaved relatives, Tiananmen Mothers, writes a similar letter annually, calling for official government accountability, as well as transparency surrounding the actual death toll and compensation families of the victims. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

Over the years, the group's letters have not gotten official replies.

This year's letter was published Friday.

The group also campaigns for the immediate and unconditional release of those still imprisoned in connection with the 1989 protests. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
Four suspects were arrested in connection with violent smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across Southern California.

The group is believed to be a part of an organized theft crime ring that stole over $1.5 million worth of jewelry, according to the California Attorney Generals Office.

The suspects were identified as:

Rodney Allen Flynt, Sr., 31

Michael Anthony Jones, Jr., 32

Christopher Shawn Pate, 27

Ryan Keith Pate, 31

The thefts occurred from April 4, 2023, through May 8, 2024, and targeted high-end jewelry stores across Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Kern counties.

The retailers targeted include Kay Jewelers, Zales, Marc Jacobs, Princess Jewelers, Banter By Piercing Pagoda, JCPenney and Karrada Jewelry.

The suspects would typically run into shopping malls and ransack the jewelry shops in violent smash-and-grab style thefts, authorities said. The heists took place both during operating hours and sometimes after the stores were closed.

Southern California woman arrested again for attempting to kidnap children at park

In total, the quartet escaped with jewelry and merchandise worth around $1,542,706, according to court documents.

Thirty criminal counts were charged against the group including organized retail theft, grand theft, conspiracy, second-degree robbery, second-degree commercial burglary and vandalism.

Organized retail crime has a profound impact on our community and the broader region, said Carlsbad Police Lieutenant Shaun Lawton. These crimes not only affect the financial health of local businesses but also result in increased prices for consumers and reduced tax revenues that support public services.

Organized retail crime has been plaguing our state for far too long, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. It harms businesses, retailers, and consumers  and puts the public at risk. I thank our local law enforcement partners for their work in apprehending the suspects in this case. The California Department of Justice and its partners will continue fighting to keep our communities, businesses, and consumers safe from retail theft and other crimes.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the California Department of Justice Organized Retail Crime Task Force, Bakersfield Police, Riverside County Sheriffs Office, San Diego Police, Carlsbad Police, Escondido Police, El Cajon Police, National City Police and Chula Vista Police.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
5 takeaways from first lady Jill Biden's visit to Festa Italiana, no mention of Trump

First lady Jill Biden poses for a picture with some festivalgoers at Festa Italiana in Milwaukee on Friday.

Festa Italiana launched its annual festival on Friday with the first lady of the United States Jill Biden, who's also the first Italian American first lady.

Biden spoke at the Aurora Pavilion at Henry Maier Festival Park to a mostly friendly crowd of several hundred supporters.

More: In divided Wisconsin, mixed reactions to Trump guilty verdict

Its her second visit since March as the Biden administration continues to pepper Wisconsin with surrogates ahead of a tight presidential race.

President Joe Biden is in a contentious reelection campaign against Republican political rival and former president Donald Trump.

According to a recent national survey from Marquette Law School from May 23, Trump has a slim lead, 51% to Joe Biden's 49%, among likely voters in a two-candidate matchup.

Festa Italiana continues through Sunday.

First lady Jill Biden, center, and Mayor Cavalier Johnson, right, waves to festivalgoers at Festa Italiana in Milwaukee on Friday.

Here are some takeaways from Biden's visit:

First lady does not mention Trump

In a historic court ruling on Thursday, a jury in New York City unanimously found Trump to be guilty on 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. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

Jill Biden did not mention the case or the verdict.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Pre-speech cannoli

Its nearly impossible to attend Festa Italiana and not try some of the food. About 30 minutes before her speech, Biden made an unplanned stop to get a Sicilian cannoli from a Peter Sciortino Bakery stand at the entrance of the stage.

Biden got 24 cannoli  12 regular and 12 chocolate.

Flanked by Secret Service on all sides she even took selfies with a few festivalgoers.

Thank God, we live in a democracy

Five times during her 15-minute speech, pro-Palestine protesters interrupted her, shouting from the bleachers.

After the first protester was gently escorted out by law enforcement, Biden responded by saying, I must say, even though its (the protests) a little disturbing, thank God, we live in a democracy.

A pro-Palestine protester interrupts first lady Jill Biden speaking at Festa Italiana on Friday in Milwaukee.

During other interruptions, audience members got up and stood in front of the protesters blocking their view of Biden. Others chanted, Four more years.

On the final interruption, a man was standing on the bleachers about 20 rows back, shouting and pointing at her, and Biden said we only get things accomplished when we talk.

Biden's Italian upbringing

Biden talked about her memories of her Italian grandparents making their own pasta and fresh sauce.

I am so proud to be Italian American and to celebrate our heritage together, Biden said. One of my favorite memories from childhood is the warm smell of Italian bread toast  that used to always wake me up at my grandparents' house.

First lady Jill Biden speaks to festivalgoers at Festa Italiana on Friday in Milwaukee.

She even mentioned how on necessary occasions, her grandmother would curse at her grandfather in Italian.

Visit to Ellis Island links to immigration today

Biden talked about a recent visit to Ellis Island to walk on that little piece of land where my great-grandparents first stepped onto the United States.

As I walked into the same great hall they did, with this soaring arch ceiling , Biden said. It was hard not to imagine how our ancestors must have felt, chasing the hope of this countrys unlimited promise.

Biden said she saw the records and signatures of her great-grandparents and said they brought with them values of kindness, generosity and loyalty.

Our ancestors values belong in each of us  they breathe  they beat inside of us, Biden said.  In every business owner who welcomes customers in with the warmth of home.

She did not mention her husband much, but did say how she sees him trying create the America that her grandparents and great-grandparents wanted when they arrived.

President Biden is working to build on what this community has accomplished and help us and all communities keep reaching for that bright future our ancestors were searching for, Biden said. Thats why hes growing our economy  so families can carve out a good life.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 5 takeaways from first lady Jill Biden's visit to Festa Italiana
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the identity of a woman killed in a crash on the evening of Saturday, May 25 in the Briargate area.

According to CSPD, officers originally responded around 9 p.m. to a two-car crash at the intersection of Briargate Parkway and Chapel Hills Drive. Both drivers were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, CSPD said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fatal crash at Briargate and Chapel Hills

The investigation revealed that a car was heading eastbound on Briargate Parkway and approaching Chapel Hills Drive when a second car, heading westbound, turned left onto Chapel Hills, colliding with the oncoming car.

The driver of the second car, identified as 53-year-old Maroufeh Kazemi, was taken to the hospital where she was declared dead.

CSPD said the investigation is ongoing, however, speed is considered a factor in the crash. This was the 20th fatal crash in Colorado Springs in 2024. At the same time in 2023, there had been 19 fatalities.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  President Joe Biden recently announced more than one million PACT Act related claims have now been granted.

The President signed the PACT Act in 2022 to help connect veterans with burn pit exposure to resources. Since then, more than 880,000 veterans have had their burn pit related claims approved.

The president blames his son beaus death from brain cancer in 2015 on his exposure to the pits when he deployed to Iraq in 2008.

My son, Beau, was one of those veterans, so, this is personal to me and my family and to his family and his children and so many of yours, said President Biden.

Staff from the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Hampton VA Medical Center hosted their fifth PACT Act Townhall in Chesapeake Saturday morning.

We simply attract over 100 people each time that we have these types of events. So people are very thankful to know the information, said Taquisa Simmons Ph.D., Executive Director VA Hampton Health Care.

Retired Navy Master Chief Marsha Burmeister is one of those people. Burmeister was exposed to burn pits in Kuwait and Afghanistan.

I have had friends who have already passed and then have friends that are currently passing because of that exposure and the more we can educate people and get them the assistance and the proper screenings to make sure that were helping vets, said Burmeister.

The 30-year Navy veteran is grateful for the screenings and the information.

Coming in today, I found out that my husband is also eligible because his ship was in those areas. We didnt know because of him not being boots on ground and being on the ship, said Burmeister.

The information provided at the townhall is key for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.

As soon as were able to inform and educate them on those services, the sooner they can get treatment, said Simmons.

The next townhall is on Aug. 3 in Hampton.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
6-Week-Old Boy Dies After Being Attacked By Family Dog in Crib, Family Says

"You just think it would never happen to you. But it can happen to anyone, with any dog breed, no matter how long you've had the dog," the mother said

GoFundMe Ezra Mansoor

A Tennessee mother and father are mourning the loss of their newborn son after their family dog attacked the child while he was sleeping.

Mark Mansoor and Chloe Mansoor of Knoxville, Tenn., spoke to local media outlets this week to share their story about baby Ezra, and to warn others about the risks associated with leaving children alone with pets.

"You just think it would never happen to you. But it can happen to anyone, with any dog breed, no matter how long you've had the dog," Chloe told WBIR.

The family had two dogs in the home, but say it was their husky that attacked without warning as the infant slept in his crib. The first-time parents had the canine for eight years and said it had not shown previous signs of aggression.

GoFundMe Ezra Mansoor

Related: Newborn Baby Killed by Stray Dog Family Took In and Fed: 'They Just Saw an Animal in Need'

"Ezra meant everything. There's really no words, other than just absolutely everything."

The 6-week-old boy was pronounced dead on Thursday, May 30.

"I didn't realize until this happened, just how supported we are and just how many people he had that loved him already," she said. "Ezra was just asleep in his crib  not crying or anything. And she just attacked out of nowhere."

getty Husky dog -- stock image

Chloe continued, "All the sleepless nights and the dirty diapers  looking back, I would take a million sleepless nights and dirty diapers and all the fussiness, you would take it all back in a second and never take any moment or second for granted."

The family said Ezras organs would be donated.

getty Baby in hospital -- stock image

"Being his mom was the biggest honor and the best thing I've ever done," Chloe said, per ABC 7.

Referring to the attack as unprovoked, she warned that it could be any dog at any time  no matter what the history is.

The grieving mother added that she cherished every moment with her baby boy, and urged others to do the same.

Related: 1-Year-Old Boy Killed By Family Dog at Connecticut Home: 'An Unexpected Tragedy'

"Really don't take anything for granted, even if it's a moment, you're annoyed in the moment or frustrated in. All of those little moments are still so amazing," she said.

She also asked for prayers during their difficult time.

"Pray for all the family, really. Everyone loved him so much. I know everyone's grieving right now. We're grieving right now, and it's going to be a lifelong process trying to work through this.

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 familys husky has since been removed from the home and placed in a local animal shelter.

"Young-Williams Animal Center is holding an adult dog following an incident in which an infant was reported to have been injured in Knoxville on May 24, 2024. The dog is under a 10-day bite quarantine as required by state law, the organization said in a statement.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Did you know that until recently, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) stock was still off of its 2021 highs? Amazon stock last hit a high in July of 2021, almost three years ago. Even though Amazon stock gained 81% last year, it still came into 2024 nearly 20% below its peak.

It finally topped that in April. Can it keep going?

Wait, Amazon stock is down?

Amazon stock sank in the in the previous bear market, and it's been climbing again since bottoming out last year. It surpassed its previous record in April of this year and hit a new high last week.

AMZN Chart

Now that Amazon stock is trading at its highest levels ever, is it the time to buy?

Is AI the biggest tailwind Amazon has ever seen?

Amazon stock has hit record highs many times in the past, and has gone on to surpass them by leaps and bounds. Had an investor sold at past highs, they'd have missed out on incredible gains. The new high doesn't mean the ascent is over -- it means investors have strong confidence in Amazon's potential right now.

The biggest driver of that confidence is Amazon's is artificial intelligence (AI). Amazon is investing heavily in its AI technology to support Amazon Web Services (AWS) and e-commerce providers. It's been using AI for decades, but since the launch of ChatGPT and the resultant interest in generative AI, Amazon has unveiled its own high-level solutions. It offers various tiers for every kind of user, from the technology for developers to create their own large language models (LLM) to solutions for non-techies to input their info and create complete web pages, full marketing campaigns, and more. And of course, Amazon uses AI in its own operations. It can pinpoint shoppers' preferences based on search history and more, offering side-by-side comparisons to help customers make decisions and convert higher sales. It also uses AI in its advertising business, where it offers advertisers perhaps the ideal platform to capture customers where they're already looking to spend money.

The potential for what AI can do for Amazon's business is substantial, creating a huge, untapped well of business for Amazon.

There's everything else

Amazon is a leader in several areas, beginning with its core e-commerce business. Amazon's lead is so massive, with nearly 40% of total U.S. e-commerce, that it wouldn't be possible for any competitor to come close in the near future. It also continues to get better as it gets bigger. As it makes faster deliveries, more customers rely on it for more purchases, padding its already-wide moat.

AWS is the largest cloud computing company in the world, with 31% of the market, and it consistently adds new, high-profile customers to the platform as well as expanded deals with current customers. Amazon recently opened a new $10 billion AWS facility in Mississippi and has started investing another $10 billion in Mexico and Saudi Arabia, and it still feels it's just scratching the surface of the opportunity.

It's a major player in streaming, complete with its own major film studio. It acquired MGM Studios in 2021. It's working on developing a healthcare business, and it has several smaller segments that add to the total.

A new high, and more to come

Amazon has a market cap of $1.9 trillion, but investors aren't worried about it growing even bigger. 62 out of 65 Wall Street analysts rate it a buy right now, with the other three rating it a hold. The average Wall Street consensus price target is for Amazon stock to gain 21% over the next 12 to 18 months, with a high of 94%.

Amazon stock may have reached a new high, but expect even more of that going forward.

Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now?

Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Amazon wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jennifer Saibil has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Amazon Stock Finally Hit a Record High After 3 Years. Can It Keep Going Up? was originally published by The Motley Fool
60-unit housing development proposed for town of Marshall. When is the public hearing?

A 60-unit Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible housing project is proposed for the area behind the Marshall Ingles.

MARSHALL - As more and more locals are getting priced out of Asheville, housing in Madison County is at a premium, but a new project could bring close to 60 units to the town of Marshall.

On June 17, when the Marshall Town Board meets for its monthly meeting, the board will host a public hearing for an annexation and a rezoning request from applicant from Cynthia Wilson Brigman and Daniel Van Brigman, of Newland.

According to an application submitted April 10 to the town by Daniel Brigman and Patrick Bradshaw, vice president of engineering firm Civil Design Concepts, the applicants are requesting a rezoning to Residential 2 (R2), as the property is currently zoned Residential Agricultural (RA).

The request for an annexation is required in North Carolina General Statutes as part of its Chapter 160 updates.

"For purposes of this section, an area shall be deemed "contiguous" if, at the time the petition is submitted, such area either abuts directly on the municipal boundary or is separated from the municipal boundary by the width of a street or street right-of-way, a creek or river, or the right-of-way of a railroad or other public service corporation," reads General Statutes 160A-31, Annexation by petition.

The project, Residences at Holly Ridge, is proposed for 21 acres in a gated community located behind the Marshall Ingles on U.S. 25-70, near Madison High School.

According to the application, the project proposes five structures in four phases.

In the first phase, one 12-unit structure will be built, with plans to construct four more units with 12 units each throughout the course of the next three to five years.

Additionally, four of the 12 units within each structure will be designed and constructed to accommodate Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines.

A 60-unit Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible housing project is proposed for the area behind the Marshall Ingles.

According to the application, the applicant's intent of the development is to create a "mountain side" development reflecting the "mountain" architecture  wood, stone and heavy timber.

"Aligned with the vision of Marshall, this project will be completed in a tranquil, beautiful setting overlooking the mountains of Marshall and Madison County while providing essential housing for generations to come," the Brigmans and Bradshaw said in the application.

"This project will provide convenient access to shopping, recreation and historic Downtown Marshall. The wooded setting will provide residents access to hiking and biking."

The application also alludes to the town's Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and said the "development will preserve existing scenic and natural resources while maintaining the mountain heritage and historic character of Marshall and Madison County."

Potentially making reference to the county's monthslong deliberations on its ridge top development, the application made sure to clarify that once completed, the five structures will be "at a significant distance from each other, preserving the mountain viewshed and mountain ridge."

More: Group plans to scrap 50-ft setback Madison ridge top group plans to scrap 50-foot setback, but subdivisions 'main offender'

More: Mars Hill rejects Givens Estates Mars Hill rejects Givens Estates' rezoning request, citing water capability concerns

More: Redmon Road campground nixed Marshall board rejects Marshall Mountains Campground proposed for Redmon Road

Kaitland Finkle is a Land of Sky regional planner who serves as the town of Marshall's zoning administrator.

Finkle said the two-part public hearing is a curious one, as the project doesn't have any road frontage.

"Their legal access is through the Ingles parking lot, which I think is interesting," said Finkle.

Finkle cautioned that she suspects the town may not have the infrastructural capabilities to accommodate the project.

"Right now, it's all going to depend on water capacity," Finkle said. "Unfortunately, I don't think the town has enough capacity to support it, but it's a really cool project."

In January, the town of Mars Hill rejected an application from Givens Estates for a rezoning, citing water and sewer capabilities.

Mars Hill Town Manager said while the town was supportive of the project in general, newer developments had put a strain on the town's water and sewer.

According to Bennett, from 2019 to 2022, with the addition of a 100-unit subdivision in 2019 and an additional 58-unit subdivision in 2022, the town saw a 36% increase in water production, from 52 million gallons to 75 million gallons.

Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for three years. He earned a first-place award in beat news reporting in the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 60-unit housing development proposed for town of Marshall
All aboard the train to nowhere cutting through pristine Mexican jungle for votes

The crashing blows from the giant piledriver reverberate above the jungle canopy, scaring away jaguars, spider monkeys, and other wildlife.

Beneath the forest floor, in a partially submerged cavern  part of the extensive but fragile system of aquifers on which the arid Yucatan peninsula relies for water  the noise is muffled but now comes from directly overhead.

Rust from the huge concrete and iron pillars forced into the ground leaches into the water, turning it from a pure crystalline to dark brown, hiding the once-white sand beneath.

The damage this train is doing to this extremely delicate ecosystem is incalculable, says biologist Roberto Rojas. Theyre destroying everything that makes this zone unique, a tourist magnet.

Mr Rojas is referring to the Maya Train, the flagship infrastructure project of Mexicos outgoing president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, universally known by his initials AMLO.

Running some 1,000 miles through southern Mexicos Maya Forest, Latin Americas second-largest jungle after the Amazon, the 20 billion train will, AMLO promises, create one million jobs and drive development in some of the poorest regions of the country.

It will do so, in part, by connecting the crowded beaches and throbbing nightclubs of Cancun and the surrounding Riviera Maya  the jewel in the crown of Mexicos tourism industry  with Palenque, a breathtaking Maya ruin in the jungles of troubled Chiapas, home of the Zapatista rebellion.

The hope is that the train will make it easier for the roughly 30 million foreigners who visit the Mexican Caribbean each year to travel into the underdeveloped Maya heartland, spending much-needed tourism dollars there.

But critics say the train has ridden roughshod over not just the environment but also the law and the very rural communities the left-wing populist claims to be empowering. Officially managed by the army, it is emblematic, they say, of the presidents authoritarianism and mendacity, as well as his militarisation of the country  even while tiptoeing around the growing power of the trigger-happy drug cartels.

With only cursory environmental impact studies and flouting dozens of injunctions, the railway passes through nature reserves and indigenous land. AMLO initially promised that not a single tree would be cut down. Yet CONAFOR, the official forestry agency, now calculates 10 million have been felled.

That is ecocide, environmentalists claim, in a region famous for both its forests and cave system, whose cenotes or turquoise sink pools are central to Maya mythology and a significant tourist attraction.

The impact has included cenotes filled with cement and the driving of 17,000 pillars into the porous limestone subsoil, too weak to bear the weight of the train on its own.

iologist and environmental activist Roberto Rojo stands next to metal columns inside a cave supporting Mexico's controversial Tren Maya - James Breeden for The Telegraph

AMLO has claimed the pillars have a special paint to prevent pollution  a paint missing from those witnessed by The Telegraph.

Perhaps the only thing AMLO and his opponents agree on is that the train will form a major part of his legacy, a legacy that must also include his push to dismantle Mexicos internationally respected electoral agency and his frequent disdain for the victims of the drug war.

When the US Department of State recently published its annual human rights review of Mexico, detailing once again the torture and extrajudicial executions carried out by security forces, AMLO responded haughtily. Instead of engaging with the allegations, he warned Washington not to meddle with Mexican sovereignty.

Although AMLO is not running  Mexican presidents get a single six-year term  this Sundays presidential election will be a referendum on his government.

His protege, Claudia Sheinbaum, is running 20 points clear of her nearest rival. That makes her an apparent certainty to become the first woman leader of a society notorious for its machismo, visceral sexism whose effects range from stark pay disparities to soaring levels of femicide.

The 61-year-old PhD engineer and former mayor of Mexico City is widely viewed as well qualified. But she is also seen as lacking charisma and owing her huge lead to Mexicans desire for AMLOs lavish social spending to continue.

Presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum flashes a hand-heart sign during her closing campaign rally in Mexico City on Wednesday - AP/Eduardo Verdugo

In a country where 40 per cent of the population of 128 million live below the poverty line, the president has introduced cash transfers to some 25 million people, buying popularity and helping persuade many  despite the statistics  that he has transformed Mexico into a less violent and more affluent society.

One of them is Demetrio Maldonado, 66, an indigenous farmer now cut off from his five-acre plot in the village of Uh May by the Maya Train.

He is bitter about the inadequate 20,000 Pesos (950) compensation paid by the government over his loss of access to the land where he grows hardwood trees as a long-term investment and corn and other subsistence crops.

But he is also an AMLO supporter, thanks to the 6,250 Pesos (300) he now receives each month under the Sowing Life programme aimed at reducing rural poverty.

Hes the first president whos actually done something for us. The others, all we got from them was breadcrumbs, says Mr Maldonado in his ramshackle home as lorries supplying the train construction rumble by.

That exasperates Maya activists like Angel Sulub, who object to even the trains name as well as the development model, already manifested in nearby Cancun, it represents.

The city was built from scratch on barely inhabited beaches after technocrats chose them in the 1970s as the perfect spot for a mass tourism resort. Since then, Cancun has filled government coffers with foreign currency  in a country where public funds are routinely pilfered  but marginalises locals.

AMLO speaks on the day of the inauguration of the first phase of the touristic Maya Train, at the San Francisco station, in Campeche, Mexico December 15, 2023 - REUTERS/JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ

Cartel Maya leaders also complain that the railway has sparked a rush of land speculation. Among others, the cartels, keen to launder proceeds through real estate, are now causing yet more deforestation as they build hotels and vacation apartments  and unleash a wave of bloodshed.

Mr Sulub says he personally knows 20 people murdered or disappeared from this once relatively peaceful zone during 2023 and 2024. Their remains have often been found bound and gagged, with signs of torture.

Yet when Maya communities have complained about the train, they have had army posts installed in their villages.

AMLO has constructed this narrative about how hes helping indigenous communities but the truth is exactly the opposite, says Mr Sulub. Hes abandoned us. Its so cynical.

The president has responded to criticism of the Maya Train as he usually does  by shooting the messenger. When Mr Rojo called on AMLO to stop destroying the forest, the president called him a pseudo-environmentalist and traitor.

Its a smear, says Mr Rojo, who studies the Yucatans cave system. Its how AMLO operates, belittling his critics instead of listening to them. Anyone who questions him is from the right.

He is in good company. Not just has AMLO denigrated journalists, judges and some of Mexicos most prominent public intellectuals, he has even accused parents protesting shortages of cancer medicines for their children of being hired.

Dr Sheinbaums low-key style is the antithesis of AMLOs personality cult. That may be, in part, because, with such a big lead, she is running a cautious campaign. But it could signal a more democratic approach.

Shes more moderate, more thoughtful. She deals well with tough questions and can engage respectfully, says Raul Diego Rivera Hernandez, a professor at Pennsylvanias Villanova University.

But, if elected on Sunday, whatever course Dr Sheinbaum takes, it will be too late to reverse the impacts on this stunning ecosystem that enchants visitors from around the world.

Whether he acknowledges it or not, trampling a large swathe of the Maya Forest will unavoidably be part of AMLOs complicated legacy.

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.
BOSTON  In the weeklong back-and-forth debate around the proposed $57.99 billion Senate budget, fully 400 of the proposed 1,100 amendments filed by legislators were approved. Many have statewide implications, others are based on local concerns.

It's not a win  yet. The budget process now takes the spending plans crafted by legislators in each branch; the Senate and the House merge them. There's no guarantee that the amendments, however favorably adopted by one branch or the other, will make the final document. The Legislature's spending plan must be voted on and delivered to the governor before the end of the formal session July 31. However, the governor has 10 days to look through the legislative budget and cross out items.

If we wait too long and submit the budget too close to the end of the session, we may not have time to override her vetoes, said Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury.

Amendments for ed would affect schools statewide

A win on the statewide scorecard would be an increase in state per-pupil funding. In her budget, the governor proposed $30; the House in its budget proposed $104, which the Senate initially matched. However an amendment filed by Sen. John Cronin, D-Lunenburg, raised the proposal to $110 per pupil.

It was adopted in a bipartisan, unanimous vote, Cronin said, explaining that the increased funding would favor about two-thirds of Massachusetts public school districts, those deemed minimum aid communities.

Also on the statewide scorecard is another Cronin amendment he proposed as chair of the Gateway Cities Caucus  one that would expand the number of slots available for youngsters pursuing vocational education.

The amendment was to construct and professionally staff and scale some 3,000 to 5,000 square feet of auxiliary classrooms at comprehensive high schools, Cronin said, listing Doherty Memorial, Fitchburg and Gardner high schools. Comprehensive high schools offer both academic and vocational classes.

These would serve students going straight from a vocational program into the workforce, Cronin said.

Controversy swirls around the current vocational education system in Massachusetts and school admissions policies. High demand, coupled with a lack of capacity and an admissions policy that favors high academic achievers and students with minimum absences and disciplinary issues, has shut out youngsters who might most benefit from attending a vocational school.

The Vocational Education Justice Coalition, a coalition of education, civil rights and union groups represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights and the Center of Law and Education, filed a civil rights complaint against the state in February 2023 with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights on behalf of four students from Chelsea and Gardner.

Cronin and fellow legislators filed measures to change admissions to a blind lottery. Legislators argue the lottery system would ensure all applicants have equal access and opportunity to land a placement.

A Pioneer Institute study released earlier this month concluded the best way to address the lack of capacity was to expand the system to accommodate the demand. More than 50,000 youngsters are enrolled in a vocational program; the waiting list for a spot can be 6,000 to 11,000 students long.

A recent proposal to reconstruct the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill would have cost $440 million, Cronin said, and it would not have increased overall capacity. His proposal would create new capacity and create new pathways for students.

The costs are low, the returns high, these new classrooms would create new economic opportunities for students, Cronin said. The senator believes the investment is imperative: We need a workforce that can help us meet our housing and climate challenges.

Proposal to revisit Chapter 70 funding

Moore filed an amendment for a proposed study of Chapter 70 funding that would revisit the way the state funds schools.

Some suburban districts feel they are not receiving proportionate funding, that bigger municipalities, the ones with more English-language learners, more students with IEPs (individual education plans), with more disciplinary issues, communities where incomes are not as high receive the lions share of state aid, Moore said.

The amendment filed by Sen. Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, if it remains in the budget, would increase funding for all nine of Massachusetts YWCAs; budget cuts had reduced their funding to below $1 million. Kennedys amendment added the missing $350,0000 back into the budget, restoring funds to $1 million.

An amendment filed by Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Webster, and adopted unanimously would direct $200,000 into a pilot program to ease the transition for veterans between military service and life as a civilian. The program, designed in conjunction with the Army National Guard Massachusetts, would offer mentors and guides with lived experience anonymously to service members facing mental health challenges.

Service members face challenges as they leave deployment and return to the United States and try to reintegrate, to find their place in American society, Fattman said. The anonymity would protect the veterans from losing rank or benefits and shield them from the stigma of negotiating their way through a mental health crisis.

The senators all supported an amendment that would create a special fund to reimburse homeowners in Central Massachusetts who want to test the foundations of their homes for pyrrhotite, a naturally occurring mineral that degrades when exposed to air and water. The mineral has been found in ore deposits and quarries in Connecticut and Central Massachusetts and had been mined and used in aggregate for making cement.

Testing for pyrrhotite is expensive, Fattman said. The $50,000 fund would reimburse homeowners for the cost of the test. He hopes to include an amendment in the governors $4 billion housing bond bill that would create a special fund to help homeowners mitigate the damage to their foundations. Mitigation includes raising the structure, digging out the contaminated cement and pouring a new foundation, a project that can cost up to $200,000.

The extent of the problem is unknown because the degradation is slow and can remain hidden for decades. But once the cement starts to crumble, it can rapidly turn to dust. Legislators in Connecticut have created a special remediation fund; Central Massachusetts legislators hope to emulate the states southern neighbor.

Child care, food insecurity, climate change

Local issues loomed large for the legislators. Kennedy focused on important child care and food security issues. The freshman senator offered an amendment to study the network of child care providers formed by family, friends and neighbors, the providers who fill in the gaps between day care, school and other caregivers.

We need to include these providers in the states early childhood education network, Kennedy said.

Also on the senators radar: the states Child Protection Program at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Kennedy filed an amendment that would invest $250,000 in the program, which funds two doctors who assess children for signs of child abuse and neglect during medical interventions.

Other amendments filed with support from colleagues would bring funding to Worcester programs, including $75,000 to address transitional planning and $100,000 for the Regional Environmental Council to expand the mobile farmers market and bring fresh produce to all city neighborhoods.

Proposed also is $50,000 for the Latin American Business Organization and $50,000 for the Latino Education Institute to support after-school programs. Three programs would garner $50,000 each: Greater Healthy Worcester, Together for Kids and Worcester Literacy Partnership to support the citys summer reading program.

Kennedy included cultural concerns in her amendments, such as funding for the citys Juneteenth celebration, Caribbean Festival and the Casita Dia de los Muertos.

It is important for me to invest in the rich cultural diversity of the city, Kennedy said. Cronin also secured investment for the arts with $750,000 for NewVue to rehabilitate a former elementary school into artist housing.

Hyperlocal amendments supported by both Fattman and Moore include $75,000 to eradicate weeds and invasive species from Webster Lake. Moore additionally filed an amendment that would provide $250,000 to the EcoTarium in Worcester to address deferred maintenance issues and $50,000 for the CENTRO food pantry to address food insecurity in the city.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children Project in Worcester, with the highest caseload in Massachusetts, could get $26,000 if the amendment is retained in the reconciliation process. Environmental programs include $50,000 for tree planting in the city and another $50,000 for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Worcester Green Corps program.

Cronin also filed hyperlocal amendments: $1 million for Fitchburg including $250,000 to rehabilitate residential and commercial downtown vacancies. The remaining $750,000 would be earmarked for the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Amendments in Senate budget could benefit Worcester County communities
Air Force Pilot Who Had Been Ordered to Prevent 9/11 Hijacked Plane from Reaching Washington, D.C., Retires

"If those heroes on [hijacked flight] 93 ... hadn't taken action ... it would have been a very different outcome for me and my family," U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville said

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David J. Fenner

A military pilot who was ordered to prevent one of the planes that had been hijacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, from hitting its targets has retired.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville told ABC News that one of his most notable missions happened during the terrorist attacks over two decades ago.

He had been an F-16 fighter pilot and was ordered at the time, alongside fellow F-16 pilot Heather Penney, to locate and prevent United Airlines Flight 93 from hitting its target in Washington, D.C.

"My challenge was, how do we take down this very unique threat, a civilian airliner ... full of people, full of civilian people?" Sasseville recalled to the outlet.

Related: Pilot Remembered as 'Outstanding Individual' After He Died in Georgia Neighborhood Plane Crash

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David J. Fenner U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc H. Sasseville poses for official photo at the Air National Guard Readiness center, Joint Base Andrews, Md., August 11, 2020. Official photo produced by Air National Guard public affairs office.

Explaining that his and Penneys jets had not been equipped with missiles when they took off from Joint Base Andrews near Washington D.C., it prompted them to form a plan of possibly ramming the hijacked plane with their own planes in order to redirect it, which would have been a suicide mission, Sasseville explained to ABC News.

"The training kicked in," he added. "I felt like I was on autopilot."

Despite having a wife and two young children, then aged five and three, at home, Penney said that Sasseville "didn't ask anyone else to lead that mission," adding, "He wouldn't ask anyone else to give what he was unwilling to give."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The pair ultimately did not have to run the maneuver, as the passengers on Flight 93 fought to regain control of the flight from hijackers. The plane eventually crashed in an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone onboard.

"If those heroes on 93  and by the way, those are the real heroes  if they hadn't taken action, and they hadn't done what needed to be done, it would have been a very different outcome for me and my family," Sasseville told ABC News.

Related: Pilot Seemingly Unbuckled Seatbelt Before Falling from Experimental Plane and Hitting Tail, Causing Fatal Crash

Sasseville further detailed that when he and Penney returned to the base, they were given another mission  escorting Air Force One with then-President George W. Bush on board, as he returned to Washington, D.C. to deal with the aftermath of the attacks.

Sasseville stated that the "event and everything that's happened since had been a motivating imperative that prompted him to look forward and be prepared for future challenges."

He eventually became a three-star general and the number-two officer in the National Guard, per ABC News.

After 40 years of military service, Sasseville took his final flight on an F-16 on May 15 out of Joint Base Andrews.

On May 29, he celebrated the honor with his wife and their three children. "It has been a tremendous honor and a privilege to serve, and a truly rare opportunity for me and my family to make a difference," Sasseville said during his speech, per ABC News. "Now, you have the watch. Thank you all."



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Read the original article on People.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 35 of the 53 missiles and 46 of the 47 attack drones launched by Russia overnight on June 1, the Air Force said.

Russia launched a massive attack against multiple regions with Shahed-type drones and both ballistic and cruise missiles, damaging energy infrastructure.

Overall, Moscow's troops reportedly attacked Ukraine with 35 Kh-101/555 cruise missiles launched from Tu-95 bomber planes over the Caspian Sea, as well as four Iskander-M ballistic missiles and one Iskander-K cruise missile from occupied Crimea.

Russian forces also launched 10 Kalibr cruise missiles from the northeastern Black Sea, three Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missiles from occupied territories in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and 47 Shahed-type drones from the Russian town of Primorsko-Akhtarsk, the Air Force said.

Ukraine's air defenses managed to down 30 Kh-101/555 missiles, four Kalibr missiles, one Iskander-K missile, and 46 drones, according to the report.

Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed that energy infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts came under fire by Russian forces. Restoration and emergency workers are currently on scene and are determining the extent of the damage.

This comes last the latest Russian aerial strike targeting Ukraine's energy grid, which came under heavy onslaught during the spring.

Read also: Updated: Russia launches large-scale missile attack on Ukraine, damaging energy infrastructure

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(KRON)  Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced the sentencing of Keith Kenard Asberry Jr., a 39-year-old man, to 75 years to life plus 36 years the maximum sentence allowed under the law for his charges of kidnapping, rape, burglary and assault. The DA made the announcement on Friday.

Hayward juvenile stabbing suspect arrested with cache of guns

In 2008, Asberry approached a teenager who was getting into her car on Alston Way near Berkeley High School. Evidence showed Asberry used a gun to force the minor to drive to a dead-end street where a sexual assault occurred. After the assault, Asberry Jr. forced the victim to use her ATM card to withdraw $200 from her bank account, prosecutors said.

In 2015, Asberry walked into the home of the victim, who had just finished unloading her car from a shopping trip. Prosecutors said a short, violent struggle ensued as the victim fought off Asberry, prompting him to run out of the door.

The jury found Asberry guilty of the following felonies:

Kidnapping to commit sex crime with true findings of an allegation of use of a firearm

Kidnapping to commit robbery with true findings of an allegation of use of a firearm

Forcible penetration with findings of allegations of use of a firearm

Aggravated kidnapping, tying and binding, forcible oral copulation with true findings of allegations of use of a firearm

Aggravated kidnapping, tying and binding, forcible rape with true findings of allegations of use of a firearm

First-degree burglary with a true allegation of a person being present and misdemeanor assault

Todays sentencing is a testament to our commitment to seeking justice for victims of sexual violence, said DA Price. Keith Asberrys actions were vile, and this sentence reflects the severity of the crime and its impact on the victim. I commend the work of the prosecutorial team, the inspector assigned to the case, and the victim-witness advocates for the services and support provided to the victims.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  The Alexandria Police Department said a person was shot Friday night.

The shooting took place in the 3800 block of Russell Road. There, officers found someone who was shot.

Arlington declares old Key Bridge Marriott public nuisance; county securing

They were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information was asked to call (703) 746-4443.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Alleged DUI driver ended up underwater in canal after fleeing police near Prosser

An allegedly intoxicated speeder landed himself under water after trying to escape from police on Interstate 82.

The driver, Nicholas A. Corley, 31, was heading east going about 90 mph around 1:30 p.m. on Friday when he approached a construction zone about 2 miles outside of Prosser, Washington State Patrol Trooper Sarah Clasen told the Tri-City Herald.

A trooper saw Corley speeding in the construction zone and pulled out behind him to stop him. He allegedly didnt stop, but did lose control and ended up in the Chandler Canal.

Corley was able to escape from the car while emergency crews made their way down to the area to check on him, Clasen said.

They were able to find him down the river. She said he appeared to be intoxicated.

Columbia Basin Dive Rescue was asked to help with attaching towing cables to the vehicle to pull it out.

He was arrested on suspicion on eluding police, DUI and driving on a suspended license.
MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A man has been arrested for his alleged connection with a criminal street gang in Merced, the Merced Police Department said.

Merceds GB rapper among 41 arrested in operation, deputies say

Police say an officer from the Gang Violence Suppression Unit observed Craig Turner, an alleged known gang member, on Friday in the 1100 block of Loughborough Drive. Turner was wanted on a felony warrant.

Upon spotting Turner, officers the suspect attempted to flee on foot. During the pursuit, Turner discarded a firearm in the 1000 block of Loughborough Drive. After a brief chase, Turner was apprehended without further incident.

The Merced Police Department says Turner is legally prohibited from possessing firearms for being a gang member. He was arrested on his outstanding felony warrant as well as for weapon charges. He was subsequently transported and booked into the Merced County Jail.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Jesus Lopez at 209-388-7742 or by email at lopezje@cityofmerced.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 YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Shareholders might have noticed that American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO) filed its first-quarter result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 5.1% to US$21.97 in the past week. It looks like a credible result overall - although revenues of US$1.1b were what the analysts expected, American Eagle Outfitters surprised by delivering a (statutory) profit of US$0.34 per share, an impressive 20% above what was forecast. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for American Eagle Outfitters

Following last week's earnings report, American Eagle Outfitters' eleven analysts are forecasting 2025 revenues to be US$5.41b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to leap 58% to US$1.77. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$5.43b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$1.72 in 2025. The analysts seems to have become more bullish on the business, judging by their new earnings per share estimates.

There's been no major changes to the consensus price target of US$25.64, suggesting that the improved earnings per share outlook is not enough to have a long-term positive impact on the stock's valuation. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on American Eagle Outfitters, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$35.00 and the most bearish at US$18.00 per share. Note the wide gap in analyst price targets? This implies to us that there is a fairly broad range of possible scenarios for the underlying business.

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that American Eagle Outfitters' revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2025 expected to display 2.1% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 6.4% over the past five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 4.9% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that American Eagle Outfitters is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards American Eagle Outfitters following these results. Fortunately, the analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Although our data does suggest that American Eagle Outfitters' revenue is expected to perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$25.64, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for American Eagle Outfitters going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here..

That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with American Eagle Outfitters , and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

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.
In 2014, we wrote an article titled The Blind Alley of J Street and Liberal American Zionism. At the time, Benjamin Netanyahu was in his sixth continuous year as Israels prime minister, while Barack Obama was well into his second term. And J Street, an emerging organization of Jews aligned with the Democratic administration, had momentum as the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.

From the outset, ever since its founding in 2007, J Street has implicitly offered itself as a liberal alternative to the hardline American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which was established more than four decades earlier. An avowed purpose of J Street has been to seek a humane resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while maintaining fervent allegiance to Israel as the Jewish state.

In the 10 years since our article, J Street  at pains to reconcile the contradictions between its pro-Israel bond and the increasing Israeli brutality toward Palestinians  has remained committed to the basic goal (or mirage) of a Jewish and democratic state. The war on Gaza since October has heightened those contradictions, thrusting into clearer view Israels actual creation-and-expansion story, illuminating the violent repression and expulsion of Palestinian people.

A significant number of American Jews are now willing to challenge the Zionist project while pointing out that it is inherently fated to suppress the human rights of non-Jews in Palestine. Speaking at a protest near Sen. Chuck Schumers home in Brooklyn, Naomi Klein said: We dont need or want the false idol of Zionism. We want freedom from the project that commits genocide in our name.

Standard claims about democratic Israel have fallen into notable disrepute on U.S. college campuses, with both Jewish and non-Jewish students this spring protesting against the manifest torture and slaughter of Gazas population. Rumblings were audible a decade ago, when the Jewish student group Hillel was roiled with a dispute over whether its national leadership could ban Hillel chapters on college campuses from hosting strong critics of Israeli policies. That dispute, we wrote at the time, emerged from a long history of pressure on American Jews to accept Zionism and a Jewish state as integral to Judaism. Back then, some Jewish students  pushing to widen the bounds of acceptable discourse  were challenging powerful legacies of conformity.

This year, in mid-February, J Street issued a statement addressed to President Biden that urged him to propose recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state as a solution leading to acceptance of Israel by Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. This is a rough equivalent of fiddling with the roof of a structure built on a grievously cracked foundation: the forced exile of non-Jews from much of Palestine  what is now Israel  and the refusal of their right of return, while maintaining a right of return (including to the occupied West Bank) for whoever can claim Jewish identity.

Whether Jewish or not, many Americans have come to question the arrogant absurdity of enabling an American in Brooklyn to claim Palestine while denying any such claim by ethnically cleansed Palestinians. In concordance with other Zionist groups, J Street presupposes that Palestinians should settle for areas designated by the Israeli colonizers (who must not be called colonizers), while they reserve a right of return only for themselves and their coreligionists.

J Street offers weak tea with its proposal for a conflict-ending agreement in which Israel also ultimately recognizes Palestinian statehood. Under such a scenario, Palestinians as a group would dedicate themselves to cooperation, non-resistance and  in effect, given the one-sided requirement of demilitarization  acceptance of Zionist rights to control Palestine.

J Streets idea of a fix is that the U.S. government will initiate a plan for specific steps Palestinians must take to revitalize and reinvent their government with new leadership committed to addressing corruption, demilitarization, renouncing terror and violence, and reaffirming recognition of Israel. The plan includes specific steps Israel must take to ease occupation and improve daily life on the West Bank, crack down on settler violence and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. And Biden would offer American recognition of Palestinian statehood, reaffirmation of the Arab Peace Initiative and security guarantees for all parties, commitments to supporting international law  and finally, a UN Security Council Resolution affirming global and unanimous support for the vision, the process and the parameters for negotiation leading to a final status agreement and admission of Palestine as a full member state in the United Nations.

The J Street comprehensive diplomatic initiative proposal is remarkable for what it does not do. The proposals failure to acknowledge Israels taking of East Jerusalem and West Bank lands for Jewish settlement (even increasing since its war on Gaza began) dodges realities of a Palestine that is riven with settlements of Israeli citizens  a strategy since 1967 to fragment Palestinian populations into de facto Israeli versions of Bantustans.

The number of Israelis who have settled in East Jerusalem and occupied West Bank has increased by 35%  to 700,000  since our article 10 years ago, making it that much harder to realistically imagine a two-state solution. There is nothing in J Streets new bold vision that conceives of Israel ceding land it has taken in order to Judaize increasing portions of Palestine.

Liberal American Zionists and U.S. administrations have sometimes objected to the latest illegal and immoral facts on the ground imposed by Israel, only to later accept them as immutable facts that could not possibly be rolled back. And so, as the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights recently reported, a drastic acceleration in settlement building is exacerbating long-standing patterns of oppression, violence and discrimination against Palestinians.

The U.N. human rights official, Volker Turk, reported that the policies of the current Israeli Government appear aligned, to an unprecedented extent, with the goals of the Israeli settler movement to expand long-term control over the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and to steadily integrate this occupied territory into the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, J Streets proposal for a demilitarized Palestinian state matches Netanyahus plan for Israel to retain security control of all of Palestine to the Jordan River.

Israeli scholar David Shulman, in the midst of this latest crisis, writes: The wave of anti-Israel feeling that is engulfing large numbers of people in the Western world has emerged not merely from the Gaza war, with its unbearable civilian casualties and now mass starvation. What that wave reflects, more profoundly, is the justified disgust with the ongoing occupation, its seemingly eternal and ever more brutal continuation, and the policies of massive theft and apartheid that are its very essence.

The crux of our commentary 10 years ago holds even more terribly true today, after another decade of systemic, often-lethal cruelty toward Palestinian people: J Street continues its attempt to create a humane lobby group for Israel, without questioning the manifestly unjust  and thus perpetually unstable  settlement and expulsion project that created Israel in the first place and has sustained it ever since. In essence, while presenting itself as a caring alternative to Netanyahu-brand extremism, liberal Zionisms yearning for peace assumes perpetuation of basic Israeli transgressions and gains over the last 75 years, while calling for acceptance and submission from a defeated and colonized people.

Ten years ago, we wrote of American Jews acquiescence to Jewish nationalism: During the 1950s and later decades, the solution for avoiding an ugly rift was a kind of preventive surgery. Universalist, prophetic Judaism became a phantom limb of American Jewry, after an amputation in service of the ideology of an ethnic state in the Middle East. Pressures for conformity became overwhelming among American Jews, whose success had been predicated on the American ideal of equal rights regardless of ethnic group origin.

Long story short, the dream of humanistic Zionism is collapsing, but  like other entrenched Jewish groups and a declining number of American Jews  J Street is desperate to keep the fantasy on life support. The nostrum of a two-state solution for the small tormented land of Palestine is more and more flimsy, but organizations like J Street and a large majority of elected Democrats refuse to concede that it has been made nonsensical by Israels ever-expanding settlements and escalating Jewish nationalism comfortable with inflicting genocide on Palestinian people.

We were touched, reading through successive J Street statements after the surprise and devastating Oct. 7 raid on Gaza envelope Israeli settlements, causing 1,200 deaths and 240 kidnapped. Their first responses were expressions of solidarity with stunned Israelis, beginning with J Street Stands with Israelis Facing Hamas Terror Onslaught. Anguish was evident as J Street statements changed their tone, when Israel escalated assaults on Palestinian civilians. Alarmed at the Israeli militarys blockade and devastation of Gaza, and also at intensifying paramilitary settler raids on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, J Street pleaded repeatedly that the U.S. restrain Israel  to rescue J Street's dream image of a humane and well-meaning Jewish state.

Unfortunately, these words that we wrote in 2014 have remained accurate, with steadily horrific consequences: Every conceptual lane of J Street equates being pro-Israel with maintaining the doctrine of a state where Jews are more equal than others. Looking to the past, that approach requires treating the historic Zionist conquest as somewhere between necessary and immaculate. Looking at the present and the future, that approach sees forthright opposition to the preeminence of Jewish rights as extreme or otherwise beyond the pale. And not pro-Israel.

J Streets current self-definition begins: J Street organizes pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans to promote U.S. policies that embody our deeply held Jewish and democratic values and that help secure the State of Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people.

In an unpublished autobiography, former Zionist Baltimore Rabbi Morris S. Lazaron wrote of political Zionisms nationalist philosophy expressed in this country under the guise of promoting Jewishness, Jewish unity, Jewish education. And he summed up: Finally I came to the conclusion that the Zionists were using Jewish need only to exploit their political goals. Every sacred feeling of the Jew, every instinct of humanity, every deep-rooted anxiety for family, every cherished memory became an instrument to be used for the promotion of the Zionist cause.

Jews are going to have to make a painful reappraisal of the project that imposes a Jewish state in Palestine. Understanding our willful blindness and self-deception that facilitate the abuse of the non-Jews of Palestine will mean giving up the evasive palliative of pseudo-humanistic posturing from groups like J Street. The essential fight against antisemitism cannot mean ongoing degradation and suppression of another people. After 75-plus years of violently taking, while piously talking of a desire for peace, the disconnect between that ostensible peace-seeking and the assertion of Zionist control of the land will need to be resolved.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

No matter how much it might be paved with good intentions, J Street serves as a well-trafficked avenue for liberal American Zionism that continues to support the subjugation of Palestinian people, with steady patterns of deadly violence. J Street has rigorously lobbied for the U.S. aid that provides Israel with the weaponry to inflict mass casualties.

Since we launched J Street 15 years ago, weve supported every dollar of every U.S. security package to Israel, J Streets longtime president Jeremy Ben-Ami wrote in a May 9 email to supporters. As usual in lockstep with the Democratic White House, Ben-Ami went on to reassure supporters: The decision to hold back certain weapons shipments is one the President doesnt take lightly. And neither do we.

J Streets support for continuing huge quantities of military aid to Israel belies the organizations humane pose. U.S. aid to Israel must not be a blank check, Ben-Ami wrote. The Israeli government should be held to the same standards of all aid recipients, including requirements to uphold international law and facilitate humanitarian aid. But those words appeared in the same email pointing out that J Street has always supported every dollar of U.S. military aid. Given that Israel has been flagrantly violating international law for decades  and had lethally blocked humanitarian aid in Gaza for more than six months by the time Congress approved $17 billion in new military aid in late April  J Streets blanket support for military aid to Israel epitomizes the extreme disjunctions in the organizations doubletalk.

Voices on the extreme left are slamming the President for failing to do enough and enabling a genocide, even if one might think they would consider this a step in the right direction, Ben-Ami wrote  the implication being that its unreasonably extreme to demand an end to U.S. policies enabling genocide.

In 2024, pro-Israel, pro-peace is an oxymoron, with denial stretched to a breaking point. Israel is now what it is now, not a gaslit fantasy that backers of groups like J Street want to believe. To whistle past the graveyard of a humanistic Zionist dream requires holding onto the illusion that the problem is centered around Netanyahu and his even-farther-right government allies. But a country cannot be meaningfully separated from its society.

Israel has hardened, and the signs of it are in plain view, foreign correspondent Megan Stack wrote recently in an extraordinary New York Times opinion piece. Dehumanizing language and promises of annihilation from military and political leaders. Polls that found wide support for the policies that have wreaked devastation and starvation in Gaza. Selfies of Israeli soldiers preening proudly in bomb-crushed Palestinian neighborhoods. A crackdown on even mild forms of dissent among Israelis.

The social fabric is anything but a fringe in control of the prime ministers office and war cabinet. As Stack explained:

Israels slaughter in Gaza, the creeping famine, the wholesale destruction of neighborhoods  this, polling suggests, is the war the Israeli public wanted. A January survey found that 94 percent of Jewish Israelis said the force being used against Gaza was appropriate or even insufficient. In February, a poll found that most Jewish Israelis opposed food and medicine getting into Gaza. It was not Mr. Netanyahu alone but also his war cabinet members (including Benny Gantz, often invoked as the moderate alternative to Mr. Netanyahu) who unanimously rejected a Hamas deal to free Israeli hostages and, instead, began an assault on the city of Rafah, overflowing with displaced civilians.

Meanwhile, Stack added, If U.S. officials understand the state of Israeli politics, it doesnt show. Biden administration officials keep talking about a Palestinian state. But the land earmarked for a state has been steadily covered in illegal Israeli settlements, and Israel itself has seldom stood so unabashedly opposed to Palestinian sovereignty.

Likewise, if J Street officials understand the state of Israeli politics, it doesnt show. The organizations officials also keep talking about a Palestinian state. But in reality, the two-state solution has become only a talking-point solution for liberal American Zionists, elected Democrats and assorted pundits who keep trying to dodge what Israel has actually become.

Last week a founder of Human Rights Watch, Aryeh Neier, wrote: I am now persuaded that Israel is engaged in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It is a horrific truth that J Streets leaders keep evading.

In 2024, the meaning of pro-Israel, pro-peace is macabre: J Street refuses to call for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel while that country continues to use American weapons and ammunition for mass murder and genocide.
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.

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. (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 Kansas Reflector.
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 Michigan Advance.
Elon Musk. Beata Zawrzel/Getty Images

Institutional Shareholder Services recommends Tesla shareholders vote against Musk's huge pay deal.

It comes after Glass Lewis, another proxy advisor, made the same recommendation.

Investors will vote on the $56 billion package at Tesla's annual meeting on June 13.

Influential proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that Tesla shareholders vote against Elon Musk's proposed $56 billion pay package.

The ISS said in a report that the Tesla CEO's share options deal, initially outlined in 2018, was "outsized from the start," Bloomberg reported.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Some investors may find the board's argument compelling, that it would be unfair for Musk not to receive the award," the report continued.

"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," it added.

It comes after Glass Lewis, another leading proxy advisory firm, also urged Tesla investors to vote against the deal.

Glass Lewis said the deal was of "excessive size" and "dilutive" and raised concerns over Musk's many "time-consuming projects"  particularly the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"Mr. Musk's slate of extraordinarily time-consuming projects unrelated to the Company was well-documented before the 2018 grant and only expanded with his high-profile purchase of the company now known as X," Glass Lewis said in its report.

Tesla was quick to respond to the report in a letter to shareholders titled "What Glass Lewis Got Wrong About Tesla."

The letter, published on Wednesday, said that the proxy advisor had relied on "speculation and hypotheticals," used "faulty logic," and omitted "key considerations."

ISS gave "cautionary support" for a proposal to reincorporate Tesla in Texas, but it noted that the board's process toward the move left "something to be desired," per Bloomberg.

Story continues

On the other hand, Glass Lewis urged shareholders to reject the proposed move, saying it offered them "uncertain benefits and additional risk.

Musk has previously hit out at the power of proxy advisors

A Tesla showroom and service center in Amsterdam. John Thys/AFP via Getty Images

Proxy advisors help shareholders decide how to vote at shareholder meetings, and they can have "significant influence" over investors' voting decisions, according to a report published by the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance.

Musk has previously hit out at the amount of influence such firms have.

"Far too much power is concentrated in the hands of 'shareholder services' companies like ISS and Glass Lewis because so much of the market is passive/index funds, which outsource shareholder voting decisions to them," he wrote in a post on X in January 2023.

"ISS and Glass Lewis effectively control the stock market," he added.

Investors will vote on his pay package at Tesla's annual meeting on June 13.

Musk, who also runs SpaceX, Neuralink, and the Boring Company, has previously warned that he would develop future products outside of Tesla if his bid to increase his stake in the EV maker were blocked.

Musk's controversial compensation package was initially approved by 73% of investors in 2018, but a Delaware judge struck it down in January over concerns about its size and the board's independence.

Tesla's board has since been working to persuade investors to support the deal.

If the board can prove investors still support it, it could help in an appeal of the decision to void it.

However, a loss would be a major blow to the board and could raise questions about Musk's leadership.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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

An apartment has been searched in the German state of Hesse following a knife attack at an event in the city of Mannheim that left a police officer critically injured, according to the state criminal police office (LKA).

The search on Friday evening was linked to investigations related to Mannheim, an LKA spokesman said on Saturday. Media reports suggesting it was the apartment of the suspected perpetrator were not initially confirmed.

The attack occurred on Friday morning during an event hosted by the anti-Islam Pax Europa movement. Several people were injured, including the policeman.

The perpetrator also reportedly underwent surgery after sustaining gunshot wounds during his apprehension and is currently not fit for questioning.

The motive for the attack remains unclear. Several media reports said the suspect is a 25-year-old from Herat, Afghanistan, who lives in southern Hesse.

Forensics officers inspect 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

Thomas Strobl, Baden-Wuerttemberg's Minister of the Interior, makes a press statement at 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

Candles, flowers and a piece of paper with the inscription "Against Terror" stand at the scene of the crime on the market square. The perpetrator had attacked participants at an anti-Islamic rally on Mannheim's market square on 31 May and injured six people, including a police officer. Uwe Anspach/dpa
An appeals court Friday sided with the Florida Department of Transportation and a contractor in a public-records lawsuit stemming from controversial state-funded flights of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts.

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A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld a ruling last year by Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey that dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, an open-government group.

The appellate panel, made up of Judges Joseph Lewis, M. Kemmerly Thomas and Adam Tanenbaum, did not explain its decision.

Read: Marion County dean arrested, accused of sexual offenses against students

The non-profit center contended in the lawsuit that the Department of Transportation and the contractor, Vertol Systems Company, Inc., violated the states public-records law by not fully providing requested documents about the September 2022 flights of 49 migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard.

The flights, engineered by Gov. Ron DeSantis administration, have drawn national scrutiny. In two rulings, Dempsey concluded that the center did not prove the department and Vertol withheld documents.

Read: He took him away: Robber at large after shooting convenience store clerk to death in Leesburg

The burden is on the plaintiff to prove they made a specific request for public records, that Vertol received the request, the requested public records exist and Vertol refused to provide them in a timely manner, Dempsey wrote in one of the decisions.

While plaintiff meets the first and second prongs of the test, there is no evidence that the public records exist or that Vertol refused to produce public records in a timely manner.

Read: Man, woman found dead in Umatilla home in apparent murder-suicide

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In Norse tradition, ship burials were used to honor the dead and give them a permanent resting place underwater. A discovery on the Norwegian island of Leka suggests that these rituals date back farther than previously thought.

Archaeologists working for the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage found possible ship fragments while investigating the area around the Herlaugshaugen burial mound, named for the ninth-century Viking king Herlaug who, according to legend, had himself and 11 of his companions buried alive rather than be killed by an opposing leader. They dug trenches at the site and dug up wood fragments and iron planking rivets that were believed to once have been part of a ship and eventually part of a ship burial. Using radiocarbon dating of the wood, they determined that the burial took place around 700 C.E., making it the earliest known example of a ship burial in Scandinavia.

"We know very little about what these large mounds contain because hardly any of them have been investigated," archaeologist Geir Grnnesby said of the effort, per The New York Times.

The researchers dug three shallow trenches at the site and unearthed wood fragments and iron planking rivets that were thought to have once been part of a ship. Although the vessel had largely rotted away, radiocarbon dating of the wood around some of the rivets and the two charcoal layers high up in the mound indicated that the burial had occurred around 700 A.D., making it the earliest known example of a ship burial in Scandinavia.

"You don't build a ship of this size without having a reason for doing so. It tells us that people from this area were skilled seafarersthey could build big shipsmuch earlier than we previously thought," Grnnesby said, per Newsweek. "This dating is really exciting because it pushes the whole tradition of ship burials quite far back in time."

The boat's apparent ties to the Merovingian Period raise more questions about the tradition of ship burials in the North Atlantic. Interestingly, Grnnesby noted that the burial sites at Namdalen in Norway and Vendel and Valsgarde in Sweden are similar to the burial site at Sutton Hoo in England, considered to be the oldest massive ship burial.

"Should the ship in Herlaugshaugen burial mound be seen in connection with the burial mounds in Namdalen, Vendel, Valsgarde and Sutton Hoo, or is it a different phenomenon?" he asked. "This is a very exciting question, and something we want to explore further."
An Arizona police officer was fatally shot, and another one was wounded early Saturday morning after responding to a disturbance call at the Gila River Indian Community, the police officials said in a statement.

Gila River Police Department officers arrived at a home in the community around 2:00 a.m. local time after receiving an emergency call. A large crowd was gathered, and as the police officers worked to address the disturbance, gunshots were fired, police said. Six people were shot in the melee, including the two police officers, and all were taken to local area hospitals by emergency services. One of the community members died from their injuries, police said and the other three are at the hospital. No identities have been released.

Gila River Police Officer Joshua Briese was fatally shot and killed during a disturbance call at Gila River Indian Community. He was on the police force for less than a year and was in-field training. / Credit: Gila River Police Force

One of the police officers died at the hospital. Police identified the fallen officer as Officer Joshua Briese. He had been with the Gila River Police Department for less than a year and was still in field training, the statement said.

FBI Phoenix and Gila River Police Department will conduct a joint investigation of the shooting.

"We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues," the FBI Phoenix said.

The other police officer remains in serious, but stable condition. The identity of the police officer wasn't released.

"Our hearts and prayers are with these police officers, their families, and everyone impacted by this tragic incident," Gila River police said.

Biden rebukes Trump's response to New York conviction

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The 21st Tour de Rock took place Saturday morning in central Arkansas, hosted by the CARTI.

The annual bicycle race started in North Little Rock with options for 25, 50, 62 or even 100-mile routes.

Bike shops boomed early in the pandemic. Its been a bumpy ride for most ever since

Proceeds from the event will go to CARTIs Patient Assistance Program, which provides comprehensive support services to reduce barriers to treatment.

Community events like Tour de Rock are really important in raising money for that and helping our patients get better access to care, and for better ease of care. CARTI Radiation Oncology Medical Director Matt Hardee said.

Around 700 people participated in this mornings event.

Trek Bicycle in Little Rock holds grand reopening after March 31 tornado destroyed original location

Since its beginning, the Tour de Rock has raised more than $2 million in support of CARTIs mission.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
Tallying up travel cash for one of the largest payouts of back pay ever. Thats the word coming from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. The agency revealed on Thursday that Boeing will pay out a record sum of cash to settle a pay dispute that was investigated by the agency.

Boeing employees travel around the country and around the world, and many of those workers are based in Washington state, where the bulk of Boeings manufacturing base is located. The state of Washington says one group of employees was not being paid properly concerning travel, and theyve received millions in back pay.

The state L&I says Boeing will pay about $11.5 million in unpaid wages to nearly 500 workers after the agency investigated pay complaints related to the company. The agency said Boeing signed an agreement to dole out the cash.

L&I says it received complaints in November from workers who were performing aircraft maintenance overseas for Boeing that sparked a larger investigation into travel pay and Washington states policies on travel pay as it related to Boeing. State law says companies must pay workers for time spent on mandatory travel and on job related activities while on a required trip.

The employers also owe overtime and sick leave accrual based on those hours. The key thing under state law is all travel time related to work is considered work time. L&I found Boeing had not paid or accounted for overtime and paid sick leave for some times during mandated work trips.

Bryan Templeton, the Employment Standards Program Manager for WA L&I, said their investigation revealed that Boeing wasnt following certain state regulations when it came to travel pay.

While they (Boeing employees) are on that flight flying to the location that they have to go work at, thats work time because theyre not free to leave another big issue that was present in this case was when the workers -- when the mechanics were directed to report to the hotel lobby in the country they were working on at 6 a.m., and they would stay in that lobby and wait for transportation however long that takes, again, theyre not free to leave. That was a period of time they were not being paid for they should have been, said Templeton.

L&I said Boeing agreed to pay workers and prevent future issues.

As Washington has clarified the states travel pay policies in the past several years, we also aligned our pay practices to reflect those requirements. We also went a step further and provided back pay for eligible employees in 2021, and more recently provided back pay earlier this year for another group of employees that did not originally record all of their travel time. We are pleased the state has agreed to close an audit into Boeing pay practices, a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement sent to us Friday morning.

Story continues

The payout covers pay from October 2019 to August 2023 and represents the largest amount of back pay returned to workers in the history of Washington.

Templeton admitted that its not clear if other companies are also not following state regulations on travel pay, but he hoped if people suspect that travel pay is not being paid, that employees would seek out help from L&I.

The simplest way to remember the rule is if youre not free to leave, you should be paid, said Templeton.
Arkansas State Police, Rockport police investigating after two bodies found in Hot Spring County home

HOT SPRING COUNTY, Ark.  Arkansas State Police are investigating the deaths of a man and woman they said occurred in Hot Spring County earlier this week.

ASP officials said Rockport Police Department officers responded to a possible homicide at a home in 2600 block of Sand Road shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

When the officers arrived, they said they found the bodies of 53-year-old Shelby Montgomery and 31-year-old Alana Holmes.

Investigators did not state if the bodies had any visible signs of injury or other trauma.

ASPs Criminal Investigation Division and the RPD are currently investigating the deaths.

Authorities said the two bodies have been transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsies and to determine a cause of death.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Five senior figures in Russia's defense establishment have been arrested on corruption charges.

A former UK defense attache in Moscow described corruption as a "cancer" within Russia's MOD.

The arrests follow the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defense minister.

It began with Timur Ivanov, Russia's then-deputy defense minister, who was arrested after being accused of taking bribes "on a particularly large scale."

Then came Lt. Gen. Yuri Kuznetsov, head of the defense ministry's personnel directorate. He was arrested after more than 100 million rubles (over $1 million), gold coins, and other valuables were seized from his residences.

That was followed by the arrests of the ex-commander of the 58th Guards Combined Arms Army, Ivan Popov, and later Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin and defense ministry official Vladimir Verteletsky.

The wave of arrests came as part of a push to stamp out corruption in Russia's defense ministry, which, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, "is deeply rooted."

Vadim Shamarin. Russian Defence Ministry

John Foreman, a former British defense attache in Moscow, described corruption as a "cancer" within Russia's MOD, adding that the arrests and ministry reshuffle suggest that things aren't going to plan for Russia.

"You don't remove your defense minister and replace all your generals if everything is going well," Foreman told Business Insider.

Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at University College London and senior research associate at the UK-based think tank the Royal United Services Institute, told BI he believed the clear-out was connected with the change in defense minister.

"Putin has been very disinclined to reshuffle the top tier of his security agencies in the middle of a war," Galeotti said.

But his inauguration for a fifth presidential term "provided a moment where he really felt he had to move Shoigu on," he added.

"If they're bringing in Belousov with a mandate to get absolute control of the defense ministry's finances, to cut down on waste and embezzlement, then now is the time to tackle the whole problem," he continued.

Russian troops during a drill in 2015. SERGEY VENYAVSKY/AFP via Getty Images

In a 2022 report, experts told the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project that corruption was so rife among Russian forces that it could ultimately save Ukraine.

Following the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, a former Russian foreign minister also claimed that widespread corruption was among the reasons for the Russian military's poor performance in the early days of the conflict.

Andrey Kozyrev, who served as the foreign minister under President Boris Yeltsin in in 1990s, wrote on X: "The Kremlin spent the last 20 years trying to modernize its military. Much of that budget was stolen and spent on mega-yachts in Cyprus. But as a military advisor you cannot report that to the President. So they reported lies to him instead."

Belousov's appointment is, therefore, an attempt by Putin to gain control of these high levels of corruption that Shoigu and, until now, Putin himself have allowed to occur, Foreman told BI.

"Putin has tolerated Shoigu building his empire, taking money from the defense budget, installing his corrupt cronies in return for loyalty," he said.

Putin now needed someone who would bring "more bang for the buck," he added.

Echoes of Wagner criticisms

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former leader of the mercenary Wagner Group who was killed in a plane crash in August last year, had previously hit out at Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of the General Staff, accusing them of incompetence and corruption.

"Shoigu! Gerasimov! Where the fuck are the munitions?!" he shouted in one video, blaming the officials for some of the losses suffered by his Wagner Group.

Prigozhin is losing it.

"Shoigu! Gerasimov! Where the f*$k are the munitions!"

He directly calls them "b*tches."

Makes you wonder what 'coup' Wind of Change is referring to that FSB resources have been redirected to prevent. pic.twitter.com/tyjpjDUWQK  Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) May 4, 2023

While Putin stood with Shoigu at the time, it was likely his "nail in the coffin as defense minister," Foreman said.

"The drip of accusations of corruption, the blatant nature of it at a time when Putin was demanding more and more sacrifice for the cause of the war, was not good," he said.

For a while, it meant that Shoigu was safer than ever because "Putin couldn't seem to be giving into Prigozhin's demands," Galeotti said. There needed to be "time for the dust to settle."

But Prigozhin "was actually telling the truth about some of these things. And for an authoritarian regime that depends on information control, nothing is more dangerous than the truth," he added.

Russia's top general could be next on Putin's list

Valery Gerasimov, Russia's top general, has been found wanting in his role as Russia's Chief of the General Staff, defense experts say.

"He's 68, unpopular and incompetent and there's a new defense minister: he has lost his cover," Foreman said, adding that there are also "credible alternatives."

Both Galeotti and Foreman said they would be surprised if Gerasimov remained in place by the end of the year.

Valery Gerasimov. Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

Witn Shoigu gone, the speed and frequency of arrests in the defense ministry can now pick up.

Last week a Kremlin source told The Moscow Times that "the FSB is mopping up Shoigu's team. It's to be expected. This kind of operation can only be carried out with approval at the very top."

"Criminal cases have been piled up. But while Shoigu was a minister and had enormous influence, investigators were not allowed to pursue them," a second government official told The Moscow Times.

The UK MOD has also said that it "is likely that there will be further arrests," while one acting Russian government official told The Moscow Times that the moves could become part of the "largest purges" in modern Russian history.

Galeotti said that any such further arrests would likely aim at sending senior military figures a clear message: "You could be next."

But a solution to the problem would require a complete upheaval of the whole defense structure, and "that's not going to happen," Galeotti said. "It is an attempt to redefine the acceptable levels of corruption."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Arson attack on synagogue is latest in a string of anti-Semitic incidents that have rocked Canada

A door at the Schara Tzedeck synagogue in Vancouver was left blackened after the arson attack - Canadian Press/Shutterstock

An arsonist set fire to the entrance of a synagogue in Vancouver in the third anti-Semitic attack in Canada in a matter of days.

The attack came against a backdrop of increasing anti-Semitism in the country, which has around 390,000 Jews, the fourth largest community in the world.

In the latest incident, petrol was poured through the doors of the Schara Tzedeck synagogue last week, causing minor damage. The blaze was swiftly extinguished by worshippers.

The attack was condemned by Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister.

A synagogue in Vancouver was attacked last night in another disgusting act of anti-Semitism, he said. We cannot let this hate or these acts of violence stand. This is not the Canada we want to be.

This fire was intentionally set at a place of worship for the Jewish community, police Constable Tania Visintin said.

While we collect evidence to identify the person responsible, were also working closely with faith leaders and community members to ensure everyones safety.

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, said: 'We cannot let this hate or these acts of violence stand. This is not the Canada we want to be' - Canadian Press/Shutterstock

Security around Jewish institutions has been stepped up after bullets were fired at Jewish schools in Toronto and Montreal during the previous week.

Anti-Semitic attacks intensified in the aftermath of the outbreak of the war in Gaza which erupted on October 7 when nearly 1,200 civilians were killed by Hamas.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 36,000 people, mainly civilians, have been killed by Israels defence forces.

In November last year, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the entrance of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal.

Last month the Annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents from Bnai Brith Canada was released showing that the number of attacks hit a new high last year.

In all there were 5,791 incidents, averaging 16 a day. This more than doubled the total the previous year. Of these 77 were described as violent.

Hate crimes

In Toronto, police said that anti-Semitic attacks accounted for 53 per cent of reported hate crimes since October 7.

Anti-Semitism is not only a blight on Jewish people, said Richard Robertson, Bnai Brith Canadas director of research and advocacy.

We urge people to think seriously about what this spike in anti-Semitic incidents says about the direction in which our society is heading.

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.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on Friday explained why the guilty verdict in Donald Trumps New York hush money trial shouldnt be lightly dismissed.

You had 12 jurors who, from all appearances, really devoted themselves to seeking the truth in this case, and all 12 of them unanimously said on 34 counts, Donald Trump is guilty, Hutchinson said on NewsNation after the former president was convicted on dozens of charges amid his 2024 White House run.

I dont think that should be lightly dismissed.

Hutchinson, a former presidential candidate and frequent Trump critic, said that the judges jury instructions could be challenged and the conviction could be reversed on appeal, but noted that people still shouldnt diminish the verdict after weeks of testimony.

Thats the major point, he said.

This is a serious moment for the United States of America. No one should be gleeful about a conviction of a former president, and Republicans should be very concerned that we have a presumptive nominee that has now been convicted of serious felony charges.

In November, the former Arkansas governor was brutally booed by a Florida GOP crowd when he said there was a significant likelihood that Trump could be convicted in 2024.

It might not make any difference to you, but it will make a difference for our chances to attract independent voters in November, Hutchinson said while attending the Florida Republican Partys Freedom Summit.

It will make a difference for those down-ticket races for Congress and Senate. And it will weaken the GOP for decades to come.

Related...
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) urged others in the Republican Party to take the recent conviction of former President Trump in his New York hush money case seriously, and to think about what it could mean for the upcoming election.

You had 12 jurors who, from all appearances, really devoted themselves to seeking the truth in this case, and all 12 of them unanimously said on 34 counts, Donald Trump is guilty. I dont think that should be lightly dismissed, Hutchinson said Friday on NewsNation Now.

You can challenge the judges jury instructions, it could obviously be reversed on appeal, but dont diminish what the jury found after hearing weeks of testimony. And thats the major point, he added. This is a serious moment for the United States of America. No one should be gleeful about a conviction of a former president.

His advice comes after Trump became the first former president to be convicted on felony charges Thursday. He faced 34 charges of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the early days of the 2016 election to buy her silence over an alleged past affair, which he denies.

The former president gave remarks on Friday from the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, where he slammed Judge Juan Merchan over the verdict and blasted the trial as a scam and rigged.

Hutchinson said Republicans should be very concerned with how they address the conviction.

Republicans should be very concerned that we have a presumptive nominee that has now been convicted of serious felony charges. And so thats the message that I thinks important, he said Friday. We ought to be careful about how we address this.

The former governor, who suspended his own long-shot bid for the White House in January, acknowledged that when the case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, he didnt agree with it.

Im a former prosecutor. I know how to evaluate cases. This seemed to be a stretch at the beginning. But as the prosecution put forth their case, obviously, they met the technical requirements of the law. And they presented a case that the jury understood, Hutchinson said.

So yes, I was skeptical about it. I didnt think it should have been brought, but it was, he added.

Trumps allies in the party and those fighting for a potential vice presidential spot have for weeks echoed the former presidents criticisms of the case, with several contenders even appearing at the courthouse. Following Thursdays conviction, they unleashed attacks on the judge, the district attorney and the legal system.

Hutchinson pushed back on those efforts to rally around Trump, claiming he wouldnt want to be in that position. He added that while the conviction could energize Trumps base, he didnt think the former president would get additional votes as a result.

No Republicans want to cross swords with Donald Trump. And so, if he says something crazy, everybodys trying to back it up or at least not disagree with it, Hutchinson said. Thats not how you function in a party or thats not how you win elections, most importantly.

So we got to be more straightforward. America is going to figure this out as they always do, he added.

The former president wont face sentencing in the case until July 11, a date that comes just four days before he is set to officially become the GOP presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention. A conviction does not bar him from running for office.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas has indicted an Atchison man on multiple charges connected to sex trafficking multiple victims, including children.

According to court documents, Elijah Z. Haley, 21, was indicted on two counts of sex

trafficking of a child, two counts of sex trafficking accomplished by force, fraud, or coercion, two

counts of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two counts of

transportation for illegal sexual activity.

Haley made his initial court appearance on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

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The FBI, Kansas Highway Patrol, Atchison police and the Boone County, Missouri Sheriffs Office investigated the case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
The Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee approved a new rule at a Thursday meeting that will let older cars be used by taxi and rideshare drivers when picking up travelers at the airport.

A previous rule barred any cars older than seven years from being used to pick people up from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

The transportation committees vote to allow older vehicles, increasing the age limit to 10-year-old cars, rather than seven, was approved in a 4-to-1 vote.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

TRENDING STORIES:

The next step to make the rule fully in effect will be a vote at a full council meeting.

Drivers said the old rule was a problem because they cant all afford to replace their vehicles as often as every seven years. This proposed change, if it passes the full council, will give them more time to upgrade vehicles, while providing more options to drivers and passengers.

The proposed ordinance cites the financial difficulties, created by the seven-year age restriction, as an undue burden on the taxicab industry.

The citys legislation said only 630 of the 1,600 cabs currently approved to work at the Atlanta Airport could meet the previous seven-year age limit.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
SINGAPORE  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gave a legacy speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier security conference, defending the administrations approach to the region in a world consumed by war in Europe and the Middle East.

His message was twofold.

First, the Pentagon under his tenure labeled China its pace setter and the U.S. has indeed kept pace. Austin has visited the Indo-Pacific 10 times as secretary and treated the region as a team sport.

In the last three years, the U.S. has expanded its number of security partners, deepened existing agreements and encouraged them to work more closely together. The leaders of Japan, India, South Korea and the Philippines have all visited Washington for defense-heavy summits. And Austin has visited Shangri-La every year in his tenure, except for a break in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Second, Austin argued these teams here to stay. The buzzphrase in his speech was a new convergence, or that theres a closer set of partners in the region for Washington because they have a closer set of interests. These small groups working together in the region, Austin argued, are replacing the old hub and spoke model in which the U.S. stood at the center of a surrounding set of partners.

His argument is in part an effort reassure countries in the region concerned that the structure is brittle, and could crack if former President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The progress that weve made together is going to last, not just for the next year, but for the next decade and beyond, Austin said.

Its also a message to Beijing, whose government chafes at the perception that other countries in the region are teaming up to contain it.

Austin cast himself as a figure of stability in contrast to the top Chinese official in attendance. Adm. Dong Jun is Chinas third minister of national defense in three years, and a separate minister refused to meet with Austin during the conference last year. The choice reflected poorly on Beijing in a region concerned with peace, especially in the two superpowers relationship.

Austin and Dong met on the sidelines of the conference  the first time the two countries top defense officials spoke in person in almost 18 months.

The U.S. and China both give speeches each year at the conference and paint the other as the cause of instability. Austin did so by referencing Chinas aggression in the South China Sea and its recent exercises around Taiwan, an island Beijing considers a rogue breakaway province. China launched what it called a set of punishment drills after an inauguration speech by Taiwans new president, seen as more pro-independence than his predecessor by many in Beijing.

Austin reiterated the value of the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue  and not coercion or conflict  and certainly not through so-called punishment.

The speech notwithstanding, Austin entered this years conference facing crises around the world.

Ukraine is defending a fresh Russian advance on Kharkiv, which sits close to the border and where Ukrainian forces made their most stunning advances of the war in 2022.

And Israeli officials continue to say the war in Gaza may continue for at least another six months, testing the limits of Americas ability to respond to such a protracted crisis and also Washingtons patience in a war where the U.S. has said too many civilians are dying.

Austin referenced both conflicts in his speech but described them as secondary to the Pentagons focus on the Indo-Pacific. Given the election later this year, this could be his last visit to the conference as secretary. If thats the case, said senior defense officials briefing reporters before the trip, he would leave the region stronger than it was when he started.

All of these relationships are at a high watermark, the official said, and his leadership fingerprint is all over those.
Austin police looking for suspect involved in liquor store robbery

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department is asking for help identifying a suspect involved in a liquor store robbery.

Police said the robbery happened May 3 between 3:40 and 4 p.m. at the King Liquor store on Burnet Road. The suspect entered the store and shoplifted an alcoholic beverage.

Police said the suspect assaulted a store employee when leaving the store after being confronted.

The Austin Police Department is looking for a suspect involved in a robbery that happened May 3. (Photo courtesy APD)

Police described the suspect as a 5-foot-10-inch tall Black man between ages 30 and 40. Police said he had light facial hair in a goatee style. He was last seen wearing a blue or black hat, a Lake Travis ISD hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black sunglasses and black shoes with white soles.

People with information can contact APDs robbery tipline at 512-974-5092 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
View of a logo with the word "Boeing" on a hall at the Boeing distribution center. Technical problems currently dogging the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing threaten to burden the entire aviation industry, according to its main rival Airbus. Georg Wendt/dpa

Technical problems currently dogging the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing threaten to burden the entire aviation industry, according to its main rival Airbus.

"Boeing's problems could cause more people to question how safe aviation actually is," Christian Scherer, head of civil aircraft manufacturing at the European company, said in an interview with German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche published on Saturday.

This casts "a shadow over the entire industry," he added.

According to Scherer, it is now more difficult to certify new aircraft. "There is greater pressure from all observers, including regulatory authorities."

Scherer rejected the assumption that Airbus was benefiting from the difficulties faced by its biggest competitor. He said that prices for aircraft were rising because the demand is greater than supply.

In an incident earlier this year, an almost new Boeing 737-9 MAX operated by Alaska Airlines lost a door plug during ascent, leading to a gaping hole in the fuselage. Since the incident, Boeing has been under increased pressure to improve quality controls.

In crashes of two 737 MAX aircraft in October 2018 and March 2019, 346 people lost their lives. Investigations found that one cause of the accidents was the aircraft's software.
Australian grandma, 70, slapped in NYC subway by serial attacker sprung from jail weeks earlier for same crime

composite image: difabio right; lower left difabio with cops in subway upper left suspect surrounded by police

A 70-year-old Australian woman visiting her daughter in the Big Apple was randomly assaulted by an unhinged stranger who was sprung weeks earlier for doing the same thing, The Post has learned.

Grandmother Ann Difabio entered the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Subway Station last Thursday afternoon only to be backhanded by a 25-year-old man police later identified as Ryan Smalls, according to Difabio and police.

It was her first trip to Gotham in a decade and she was 24 days into her month-long visit.

Ann Difabio was attacked in the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Subway Station. Helayne Seidman

As I was going down the stairs I took one step, said Difabio, who lives in Adelaide, Australia. I saw him coming up but he looked completely normal. The next thing you know, it was whack. My head turned all the way around. I could feel all my teeth had shifted.

Difabio was on an uptown jaunt with her daughter when they encountered Smalls. He was screaming profanities. With his hand he did a gun motion. He said, you bitch, Im going to kill you.'

Difabio got lucky  unlike in the case of a lot of other random attacks  because she wasnt seriously injured and cops nabbed Smalls.

He was lighting up a joint in their face while they were arresting him, said Difabios daughter, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution.

Smalls pleaded not guilty to felony assault charges for injuring a victim 65 or older, assault with intent to cause physical injury and menacing, court documents indicate.

Difabio said she was backhanded across the face. Courtesy of Ann Difabio

Ryan Smalls smoked a joint as he was arrested. Courtesy of Ann Difabio

He is expected back in court June 17.

Smalls was also arrested May 1 inside the subway station at East 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue. He pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault. The judge granted the district attorneys request for supervised release. Smalls next court date in that case is June 20.

Difabio is grateful to the cops who caught the man who hit her. Courtesy of Ann Difabio

As for Difabio returning to New York City, she said shes not going to come back for a while.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  AutismOklahoma held its largest annual autism fundraising event and largest collective autism voice in Oklahoma, PieceWalk, on Saturday morning at Scissortail Park.

The fundraiser is celebrating its 16th year and has become an opportunity to show support for loved ones with autism and to help raise money for the non-profit organization which funds 85 free or low-cost programs by serving 4,500 Oklahomans yearly.

LOCAL NEWS: Oklahoma Autism Center receives grant, flooded with toys

PieceWalk is the perfect representation of our programming because its engaging, accommodating and impactful, said Community Impact Director Stacey Weddington. Families get to connect and have a fun morning together.

This years theme was The Beatles: Come Together. The event held a group walk around the park and included food trucks, music, characters in costumes, a hands-on Kidz Zone, a resource fair that featured autism-friendly vendors, and Toto Trot for dogs.

Teams participating were encouraged to raise funds and receive unique incentives for hitting particular goals.

The nonprofit has raised nearly $164,000 towards its goal of $200,000 which are critical funds for AutismOklahomas service towards one in 36 Oklahoma families that live with autism.

We can offer our camps, art and film experiences and socializing opportunities to thousands of participants for low or no cost thanks to generous Oklahomans, said Weddington.

The event was held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

To learn more about AutismOklahoma, click here. For those who were not able to attend the event and would still like to donate, visit piecewalk.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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Its going to be an interesting Alumni Weekend at Columbia University, where pro-Palestine student protestors have once again reestablished an encampment on the schools lawn.

This comes after the NYPD cleared out the protest encampment at the start of May, which made headlines as images of young people being arrested on campus hit the airwaves and sparked a wave of police intervention at university protests across the nation. Students first took up residence on the university grounds with around 50 tents in April, to protest the schools financial interests in the Hamas War.

After 112 people were arrested and the tents were subsequently removed from the campus lawn, the school remained quiet but still canceled university-wide commencement in lieu of smaller individualized ceremonies.

Now, just in time for Columbia Reunion 2024, which lasts from Thursday through Saturday, protesting students have set up new tents and declared the schools South Lawn as a Liberated Zone for the third time.

New encampment happening now at Columbia University: pic.twitter.com/Mz4zWyK0vw  Najib |  (@Jib821) May 31, 2024

This encampment follows the revelation that Columbia University has been colluding with the billionaire lobby, acting on behalf of foreign governments to brutalize, mass arrest, and siege our campus with the NYPD, a statement from the X page of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine reads.

Video that has emerged from the new encampments early setup shows a sign that states, Were back, bitches.

BREAKING NEWS: WE ARE BACK! A group of Palestinian students supported by @Columbiabds have established a new encampment amidst Columbia Colleges alumni reunion #Revolt4Rafah pic.twitter.com/tmOSjxS77Z  Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (@ColumbiaSJP) May 31, 2024

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Members of the LGBTQ community and allies take part in the Bangkok Pride Parade in Thailand on June 1, 2024. Thailand looks set to become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Credit - Lauren DeCiccaGetty Images

Thousands of people flocked to the streets of Thailands capital Bangkok on Saturday to mark Pride Month, the first to be celebrated with a sense that legal marriage equality for same-sex couples in the country is near, as lawmakers inch closer toward the expected passage of a bill that would codify marriage as between two individuals rather than a man and a woman.

The parade, with the theme Celebration of Love covered some 1.5 km of roads in the citys commercial district. The Governor of Bangkok, multinational companies, and advocacy groups were among those to participate, though the rally sprung to life from concerts on trucks, strutting drag queens, and the occasional band of drummers. Some marchers carried a poster of a marriage certificate that read, This marriage certificate shows that all genders can marry. Others hoisted a giant rainbow flag while coursing through Bangkoks busy roads.

Bangkok resident and parade attendee Karin Chai, 47, said this years event feels more serious than its previous iterations. We have been cooperating with the Bangkok community, Karin says. The government sector realized that the LGBT community is also one of the communities that we should be understanding.

Naruemit Pridewho has organized the celebrations since 2022earlier told TIME that the focus of the event was on the passage of marriage equality, as the movement in Thailand has been ongoing for more than a decade.

People carry a large rainbow-colored flag as they take part in the LGBTQ+ parade to mark the Pride Month celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 1, 2024. Anusak LaowilasGetty Images

Waddao Ann Chumaporn, president and founder of Naruemit Pride, said in a press release shared ahead of the event that this year is important for the LGBTQ+ community specifically because of the bills looming passage. Naruemit Pride therefore organized the Bangkok Pride Festival 2024 as an event to celebrate this success too, and as a countdown to the official implementation of the equal marriage law, she said.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin led the march, wearing a rainbow-colored shirt. He was joined by Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Srettha is the first Thai premier to join the Bangkok Pride Parade. Since taking office in August 2023, Srettha has made marriage equality a priority issue for the administration to resolve.

Thailand will continue to support gender diversity after successfully passing the marriage equality bill, Srettha said at the start of the parade. We are looking forward to pushing for gender recognition and sex worker laws.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin participates in the opening ceremony of Bangkok Pride 2024. Matt HuntGetty Images

A 23-year-old investment banker, who wished to identify as Maew Chol, said she is excited about the expected passage of the marriage equality bill. Now itll officially state that Thailand, Thai people, and Thai legality support true love, Maew tells TIME.

The Bangkok Pride parade was held months after the lower house of Thailands parliament overwhelmingly voted to amend the countrys Civil and Commercial Code and effectively allow same-sex marriage. The Senate is currently deliberating on the amending bill, and if they approve it, the bill will be sent over to the King for royal endorsement.

Though the new session of parliament was expected to open in July, advocacy group Fortify Rights announced earlier this week that the Senate is set to hold an ad-hoc session on June 18 to vote on the bill.

If passed, Thailand will be the third country in Asiaand the first among Southeast Asian nationswith marriage equality, following Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal in 2023. The law will recognize marriage registrations of same-sex partners aged 18 and up, as well as their rights to inheritance, tax allowances, and child adoption.

Despite its reputation as a vibrant Asian hub for the LGBT community, Thailand still lacks many legal protections for people of varying sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. The countrys parliament in March rejected a draft law on gender recognition, which would have allowed transgender and non-binary Thais to change their legal gender markers.

But Maew believes the marriage equality bills passage is a significant change in Thailand: We are moving forward. Thats a huge step.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) slammed Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the group of bipartisan congressional leaders who invited the embattled leader to address a joint-session of Congress, in a statement released by the senator on Saturday.

It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invitedby leaders of both partiesto address a joint meeting of the United States Congress, Sanders opened the letter. I certainly will not attend.

Sanders lambasted the decision, referring to Netanyahu as a war criminal responsible for clear and outrageous violations of international law. Sanders similarly supported the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other top Israeli and Hamas officials.

The senator qualified that he supported Israels right to defend itself following the October 7 attack, but not Israeli violations of international law.

It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited  by leaders from both parties  to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress.



Netanyahu is a war criminal. I certainly will not attend. pic.twitter.com/0tQgVGv3qa  Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 1, 2024

Israel does not have the right to kill more than 34,000 civilians and wound over 80,000, Sanders added.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to address Congress within the coming weeks or after the August recess.

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The best grilled cheese in California might just be in Sacramento. They do it right

Related story lead image

About the Writer

Brianna Taylor covers affordability on The Bees service journalism team.

Powdered sugar, mango habanero sauce and blood orange olive oil.

These are just a few of the ingredients that make up Shift Coffee Houses award-winning (and unconventional) grilled cheese sandwiches.

The shop on Del Paso Blvd. in Old North Sacramento is a top California destination for the gooey American staple. The sandwich has been reinvented to appeal to foodies like Owen Smith, who asked me to try it as part of my reader-driven $25 budget series.

I dont know what the trick is ... but they do it right, Owen told me last week over the phone. In 2021, the longtime Sacramento resident discovered Shift Coffee House.

Best grilled cheese sammies anywhere, he said.

In January 2020, the coffee shop was named Californias best grilled cheese destination in an Eat This, Not That! article titled The Best Grilled Cheese In Every State.

Dont be fooled by the name of this cafe! Eat This, Not That! freelance writer Rebecca Strong wrote. While it definitely has an impressive java menu, plenty of locals flock here just for the grilled cheese.

Enough talk. Lets see what the hype is about.

Look inside Shift Coffee House in Sacramento

In this series, service journalism reporter Brianna Taylor discovers Sacramento through one of your favorite affordable activities every month  all on a $25 budget.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Location: 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento

Shift Coffee House is a car lovers haven.

Automobile memorabilia decorate the walls, from vintage license plates to framed black and white photographs of car parts.

Glue Song by Filipino songwriter Beabadoobee set the laid-back tone at the coffee shop on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in May.

The man and mind behind the operation is Mike Hollis, an auto enthusiast.

After building and restoring automobiles for most of his life, Mike said his body begged him to pick up a new trade. In 2018, he opened a coffee shop centered around his love for caffeine, cars and grilled cheese.

Grilled cheese is something I had every day for lunch, he told me last week in a phone interview.

Id use my leftovers and build a sandwich and it would always be something kind of crazy.

Mike Hollis, owner of Shift Coffee House, holds the Bay Area Brisket , signature grilled cheese sandwiches, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Hollis, a car enthusiast, decorated his coffee shop with automotive and racing memorabilia.

Mike assembled sandwiches with whatever he could find in the refrigerator from the night before, from pork chops and onions to macaroni and cheese, and chicken.

The grilled cheese process at Shift Coffee House is a lot more sophisticated.

Sandwiches are made to order at the front of the house using bread from Truckee Sourdough Company, a Truckee-based artisan bread business. Then, cheesy creations are grilled using a flattop panini machine.

Quirky combinations include the $12 Cali Cruiser, made with grilled chicken and chips, and the $11 Kitchen Sink, with cinnamon sugar and berry jam.

The $11 French Connection grilled cheese sandwich from at Shift Coffee House, ready to serve on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, features mozzarella eggs, bacon, maple syrup, cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar on French bread.

How I spent my $25 budget

Employee Allison Wilford greeted me from behind the grilled cheese bar before suggesting a few sandwiches for me to try.

I told Owen I would indulge in a sweet creation like the $11.44 PBB&J, made with medium cheddar and mozzarella, peanut butter, berry jam and bacon.

But the $11 Bay Area Brisket spoke to me.

The Bay Area brisket grilled cheese sandwich is served with tomato soup at the Shift Coffee House on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in North Sacramento. Owner Mike Hollis said his inspiration for the restaurant came from his love of making grilled cheese sandwiches with his dinner leftovers.

Two slices of sourdough bread are forced to withstand the combined weight of smoked brisket, smokey cheddar and mozzarella.

I also ordered a $2 cup of tomato soup and a $3.25 unsweetened iced hibiscus tea to help wash it all down. My total was $21.20 (after tip).

It took about 10 minutes for my order to be called. In the meantime, I settled at an open table and checked my emails.

Once my food was placed in front of me I took no time to try the soup. Then I moved on to the tea, which was light and refreshing.

The sandwich took me by surprise. Heavy in my hands, the cross-section featured a perfect melody of melted cheeses and brisket.

Cheesy. Savory. Flavorful.

After about 30 minutes of lunching and surfing the internet, I wrapped my leftovers and packed my bag.

I Wanna Be Yours by 2000s rock band Arctic Monkeys played while I dumped my trash near the shop entrance.

A framed photo of Mikes Australian shepherd Tagg, who passed away at 14 in 2022, sits above the dirty-dish bin. He was a customer favorite.

The community here is amazing ... weve been improving our environment on the daily, Mike said.

After a quick wave to Allison and her co-worker Nicole, I headed out the door.

Allison Wilford, of Shift Coffee House in North Sacramento, makes an iced coffee on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Is Shift Coffee House affordable?

I got a sandwich, soup and a drink for $21.20

Shift Coffee House currently has 20 sandwiches, ranging from an $8 Classic to a couple of $13 sandwiches made with eggs and cheese.

The $13 Del Paso Del Sol includes two types of cheddar, carnitas, eggs, avocado and salsa.

A grilled cheese sandwich called Del Paso del Sol is prepared at Shift Coffee House on Wednesday. The $13 sandwich includes carnitas, eggs, avocado and smokey cheddar cheese.

The $10 options include Road Runner, Youre Cheesy Honey, Pigs in a Blanket and Thats My Jam. Two creations are made with blood orange olive oil.

The coffee comes from Sacramento-based Naked Coffee, a coffee-roasting business with three locations in the area.

Cold coffees and lemonade are ready serve at Shift Coffee on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The restaurant gets its beans from Sacramento-based Naked Coffee.

The drink list includes a couple of lattes, cold brew, espresso, flat white and cappuccino. Hot chocolate, tea and lemonade, apple and orange juice, and soda are also available.

Thank you for the suggestion, Owen!

Hours: Shift Coffee House is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Tuesday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
In a White House address, President Joe Biden on Friday said Israel's offensive in Gaza had degraded Hamas to the point that it could no longer carry out another sweeping terror attack on Israel and declared it was time to set a course for enduring peace by reaching a cease-fire deal.

"It's time for this war to end, for the day after to begin," Biden said, before outlining the contours of a three-phase plan he said was a "comprehensive new proposal" crafted by Israel.

But later in the same speech, Biden seemed to acknowledge that even though Israel had authored the plan, its leadership's commitment to its terms was not a forgone conclusion.

"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. "Well, I've urged the nation of Israel to stand behind this deal despite whatever pressure comes."

PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a wreath-laying ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day for the six million Jews killed in World War II, at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on May 6, 2024. (Amir Cohen/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli hostage Noa Argamani heard in new audio

The president also called on Hamas to accept the proposal.

"Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it," he said. "Hamas needs to take the deal."

MORE: Pressure builds on Biden after Israeli strike kills dozens of civilians in Rafah

Sensitive diplomatic negotiations typically unfold in secrecy, but administration officials say the president was motivated to update Americans about U.S. efforts to end the conflict, which has evolved into a significant political liability for Biden as he seeks reelection.

MORE: Gaza cease-fire talks at 'critical stage,' US says, after Hamas claims it accepted proposal

After Biden's speech, Hamas reacted positively, issuing a statement saying the group remained ready to "deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, full 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."

But Hamas has not yet issued a direct reaction to the latest proposal itself, which was transmitted to the group on Thursday.

Throughout months of stop-and-start talks, some U.S. officials have grown increasingly skeptical that Hamas would agree to any agreement that allows for all living hostages to go free without ensuring the group can retain its hold over Gaza -- a situation both the Biden administration and Israel say is untenable.

Earlier in the week, Hamas also announced to mediators attempting to broker a cease-fire deal that it would not even return to the negotiating table until Israel completely halted its military campaign.

PHOTO: An Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) operates, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, May 29, 2024. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)

MORE: Killing of 5-year-old girl in Gaza sparks international condemnation as war continues

Biden said the first phase of the proposal he announced Friday would last for six weeks and include a "complete cease-fire;" the 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, in exchange, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

In the second phase, he noted that if "Hamas lives up to its commitments," the temporary cease-fire would become a "cessation of hostilities permanently," quoting from the Israeli proposal.

Senior Biden administration officials have acknowledged that a deal is not on the immediate horizon, but some have expressed optimism that the new proposal could spark new momentum.

"What's on the table now is very close to the deal Hamas said they would take," one official said.

But throughout the negotiations, Hamas has repeatedly proven to be unreliable -- shifting its demands and often backtracking right when all parties seemed to be on the cusp of a deal, according to sources familiar with the matter.

"The president's fundamental failing is treating Hamas and Hezbollah as legitimate political actors instead of the brutal Iran-backed terrorist organizations that they are," said Richard Goldberg, former Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction for the White House National Security Council and a senior adviser at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden announces a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza while delivering remarks at the White House in Washington, DC, May 31, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Earlier in May, Hamas rejected a similar proposal that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top officials in the Biden administration cast as a best and final offer, citing concerns that it didn't go far enough to ensure a lasting end to the conflict.

Biden admitted the parameters of the current offer are also undefined, saying there are a "number of details" that would need to be negotiated after the first phase of the deal was implemented.

And despite their status as close allies, even the U.S. and Israel have also struggled to reach a common vision for the future of Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains staunch in his opposition to a Palestinian state and adamant that Israel must retain security control of the Gaza strip after the war.

ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Michelle Stoddart and Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.

Biden-backed Israel-Hamas cease-fire proposal faces strong headwinds: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Same as last year, the Biden administration is recognizing the month of June as Pride Month, releasing an official proclamation from the White House, focusing on safety and equality for the LGBTQI+ community that spans beyond the United States.

"During Pride Month, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community," the proclamation reads. "We reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion. We recommit ourselves to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and around the world."

Pride is a celebration of the generations of LGBTQI+ people who have fought bravely to live openly and authentically.



Happy Pride, everyone! pic.twitter.com/ymwKomsJln  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 1, 2024

Elsewhere in the statement, "advancing equality for the LGBTQI+ community" is listed as being a top priority for Biden, who writes:

"I was proud to have ended the ban on transgender Americans serving in the United States military. I signed historic Executive Orders strengthening civil rights protections for housing, employment, health care, education, and the justice system. We are also combating the dangerous and cruel practice of so-called conversion therapy and implementing a national strategy to end the HIV epidemic in this country. We ended the disgraceful practice of banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood. We are doing this work here at home and around the globe, where LGBTQI+ community members are fighting for recognition of their fundamental human rights and seeking to live full lives, free from hate-fueled violence and discrimination."

As The Washington Blade highlights, this proclamation comes on the heels of a new guide detailing federal resources, which a White House official said will cover a number of key areas, including physical security, online safety, and targeted violence prevention for the community.
The board of BT Group plc (LON:BT.A) has announced that the dividend on 11th of September will be increased to 0.0569, which will be 5.6% higher than last year's payment of 0.0539 which covered the same period. This will take the annual payment to 6.1% of the stock price, which is above what most companies in the industry pay.

See our latest analysis for BT Group

BT Group's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Before making this announcement, BT Group's was paying out quite a large proportion of earnings and 79% of free cash flows. This indicates that the company is more focused on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business, but it is still in a reasonable range to continue with.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 56.9%. Assuming the dividend continues along the course it has been charting recently, our estimates show the payout ratio being 55% which brings it into quite a comfortable range.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The annual payment during the last 10 years was 0.095 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was 0.08. Doing the maths, this is a decline of about 1.7% per year. Declining dividends isn't generally what we look for as they can indicate that the company is running into some challenges.

The Dividend Has Limited Growth Potential

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. BT Group's EPS has fallen by approximately 17% per year during the past five years. Such rapid declines definitely have the potential to constrain dividend payments if the trend continues into the future. Over the next year, however, earnings are actually predicted to rise, but we would still be cautious until a track record of earnings growth can be built.

The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable

Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. The track record isn't great, and the payments are a bit high to be considered sustainable. We don't think BT Group is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 4 warning signs for BT Group that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
US President Joe Biden has unveiled a new proposal put forward by 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," the US president 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 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 proposal - which had been forged with the help of US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators - has 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. It had been endorsed by Israel and sent to Hamas on Thursday evening, he said. 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. The latest plan would allow Israel to pursue its stated objectives, the premier's office said without referring to Biden.

Hamas, leading diplomats welcome proposal

In a statement on Friday evening, Hamas said it viewed the plan for a truce agreement laid out by Biden "positively."

"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," the group said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was hopeful the new plan "will lead to an agreement by the parties for lasting peace," according to a spokesman.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also welcomed the proposal, saying the plan provides "a glimmer of hope" nearly eight months into the Gaza war.

"We fully support the mediation efforts of the USA, Qatar and Egypt. It is now up to Hamas to prove their commitment to ending the conflict," Germany's top diplomat added.

In a post on X, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Hamas to accept the 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."

US President Joe Biden attends the 48th G7 Summit. Biden has unveiled a new proposal put forward by Israel to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. Biden 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. Peter Kneffel/dpa

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
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 Michigan Advance.
A group of Republican congressmen released a letter on May 31 criticizing U.S. President Joe Biden's reluctance to fully lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons against Russian territory.

The White House has confirmed that it lifted the ban on the use of some U.S. weapons by Ukraine against Russian territory near Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. However, Ukraine is still banned form using long-range ATACMS missiles against Russian territory.

"By leaking to the press that the policy reversal only applies to certain U.S.-provided weapons in a limited area within Russia, the (Biden) administration has telegraphed to Russia exactly how to effectively adapt to this change in policy, thereby decreasing the military effectiveness of the decision," the letter said.

"To win this war of self-defense against Russia's aggression, Ukraine must be allowed to use U.S.-provided weapons against any legitimate military targets in Russia, not just along the border near Kharkiv."

The letter, which was signed by Michael McCaul, Mike Turner, and Mike Rodgers, said that the "decision should have been made before Russia's recent offensive in Kharkiv, not after."

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.

Amid growing calls from Western leaders to allow Ukraine to use foreign-supplied arms to hit targets in Russia, there have been reports in recent days that the U.S. has changed its policy.

The Wall Street Journal reported on May 31 that the U.S. had allowed Ukraine to use HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, GMLRS rockets, and artillery against Russian territory.

Serhii Nykyforov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Presidential Office, said on May 31 that the U.S. had given Ukraine permission to use American-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia located near the border with Kharkiv Oblast, but still prohibited the use of ATACMS and other long-range weapons.

Later in the day, Michael Carpenter, senior director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, said that the U.S. would allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russia across the border from both Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts with American-supplied weapons. He also said that the ban on ATACMS is still in effect.

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.
Don Bolles waits to testify before the House Crime Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 1972. The committee was investigating alleged gangland interests in organized sports and horse racing.

Don Bolles waits to testify before the House Crime Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 1972. The committee was investigating alleged gangland interests in organized sports and horse racing.

A bill allowing a memorial to Don Bolles, the Arizona Republic reporter killed by a car bomb that went off under his car on June 2, 1976, be placed on the mall at the Arizona state Capitol has again legislatively died in the state Senate.

Although the bill enjoyed wide and bipartisan support in the Arizona House of Representatives, it never received as much as a committee hearing when it was sent to the Senate.

The bill was assigned to the Senate Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Jake Hoffman. It was never heard.

Hoffman, of Queen Creek, was one among a group of Republicans indicted on state charges for sending fraudulent documents to Congress in a bid to overturn then-President Donald Trumps loss in the 2020 election.

The bill suffered the same fate in 2023. It sailed through the state House only to be bottled up in the state Senate without a hearing. Hoffman also held up the bill last year.

Hoffman didnt explain his reasoning last session. On May 22, on his way into the state Senate floor session, Hoffman offered only this when asked why he didn't give the Bolles bill a hearing: "Lots of important business."

The proposed bill would have allowed space on the Wesley Bolin Plaza, the mall near the Capitol that hosts memorials to several causes and entities. Passage through the legislature would be the statutorily mandated first step to designing and creating the monument. Per state law, no taxpayer monies would be spent on it. All the money would be raised privately.

Don Bolles was familiar with the Arizona Senate

It is perhaps fitting that a bill honoring Bolles would be stalled in the state Senate.

Bolless final morning as a reporter was spent covering a state Senate session. He left the Capitol in frustration that day, complaining to someone who stopped by the press room about the ineffectiveness of the body.

He then went to the Hotel Clarendon to meet a source who had lured him there as part of the bombing plot. After Bolles parked and walked to the lobby, someone placed a remote-controlled bomb under his Datsun. It was detonated after Bolles returned to his car and backed out of the parking lot.

Bolles died in the hospital 11 days later, after doctors amputated two legs and one arm in an effort to stave off infections. He was able to verify with police investigators details of his meetings, setting them on track to secure arrests of three men charged with involvement in the bombing.

The bill to honor Bolles was originally the idea of a reporter, Hank Stephenson, who covers the goings-on at the Capitol for the Arizona Agenda, a newsletter distributed through Substack.

Stephenson originally thought it could be an immersive journalism project: He would work on lobbying the bill and do a story on the backroom deals cut to ensure its passage.

But, Stephenson said, he was told during the 2023 session that it would be best if he kept his involvement with the bill quiet, especially because of his publications critical coverage of Hoffman.

People strongly suggested that if we stopped writing mean things about Hoffman, maybe he would consider taking this bill up, Stephenson said in a May interview with the Republic. Stephenson didnt heed that advice.

This session, Stephenson said, he was not involved with lobbying for the bill at all, saying the bill took on a life of its own.

Bill gained momentum in House but met familiar roadblock

The bill attracted more support in the Arizona House this session than it had during the go-round in 2023.

That included the yes vote of a Republican who, during the floor vote, called himself a seemingly unlikely supporter.

Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, said Bolles was a newsman who stood in contrast to the current hacks that we have in the liberal media.

The memorial, Kolodin said, would allow modern-day reporters to see what it actually means to do real reporting, to take real risk, to uncover things that go against the powerful  instead of just spouting the (Democratic National Committee) narrative and pretending that is objective journalism.

Kolodin, an attorney, filed unsuccessful legal challenges related to the 2020 election. He agreed to a public admonishment by the State Bar and admitted to filing frivolous lawsuits.

The bill passed the House on Feb. 6. It did so with six fewer no votes than when it passed during the 2023 session.

It was assigned to the Senate Government Committee on Feb. 19, 2024, but was never given a hearing.

Stephenson said the reason the bill stalled was simple: Hoffman. As a committee chair, House rules dictate that he set the agenda for the committee.

It comes down to one man, he said, one obstinate committee chairman.

There are workarounds. The House rules say two-thirds of committee members could have petitioned to place the bill on an agenda. And there still is the option of someone introducing what's known as a "strike everything" amendment. That would substitute the language of an existing bill with the language of the Bolles bill.

But Stephenson said no lawmaker appears willing to use their political weight to get around him on this issue.

Who is Arizona Sen. Jake Hoffman?

Hoffmans career has kept current political and investigative reporters busy.

Hoffman was one of the Republicans who gathered at state party headquarters and falsely proclaimed themselves on a document to be Arizonas chosen representatives to the Electoral College, casting votes for former President Donald Trump.

It was a gambit, prosecutors said, that would allow Vice President Mike Pence to toss the certified results and officially put the outcome of the 2020 election in question.

Even as the indictment against him loomed, his party nominated Hoffman to be its national committeeman at the 2024 Republican National Convention. The party selected as its national committeewoman a lawmaker who had been expelled from the House.

Hoffman has repeatedly refused to answer Republic reporters questions about how he came to sign the false attestation on a document. He told one reporter to ask the state Republican Party about how he learned where to sign the false document. He ducked another Republic reporter by dashing into a staircase.

Hoffman, a former spokesperson for the influential conservative organization Turning Point USA, faced scrutiny in 2016 for employing teenagers to post misinformation on social media websites. He was banned from the website then known as Twitter.

At the Capitol, Hoffman started the Arizona Freedom Caucus, a group of lawmakers he said would vote in lockstep to preserve conservative causes. Hoffman, in announcing the group, said its membership would be secret.

An adage at the Capitol says that no bill is actually dead until the Legislature adjourns for the year. There is a chance, Stephenson said, that it could be revived in the late days of the session, as lawmakers haggle over the state budget.

If not, he said, he joked he may try a different type of journalism experiment next session: offer to pay lawmakers for their votes as part of a sting operation.

If this stops being a legitimate attempt, he said, were going to have to take it to its logical extreme and start bribing people.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bill to allow memorial for slain journalist Don Bolles stalls again
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Billboards have been placed around the Tampa area to celebrate Bruhat Soma, a Tampa student, winning the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The billboards play off of the spelling bee, crossing out two incorrect spellings of congratulations, leaving only the correct spelling.

Courtesy: OUTFRONT Media

The billboards were sponsored by an anonymous person.

Soma spelled 29 words correctly in the tiebreaker, beating Faizan Zaki by nine, to win the title on Thursday night. He receives a trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.

The 12-year-old seventh-grader had won three consecutive bees before arriving at a convention center outside Washington for the most prestigious spelling competition in the English language.

Soma attends Turner/Bartels K-8 School in Hillsborough County.

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 WFLA.
This image shows the May 1, 1989, full-page newspaper ad that Donald Trump famously took out in the New York Daily News calling for the execution of five Black and Latino youths, also known as the Central Park five, wrongly convicted in a vicious attack on a white female jogger. The case roiled racial tensions locally and many point to it as evidence of a criminal justice system prejudiced against defendants of color. (New York Daily News via AP)

NEW YORK (AP)  As Donald Trump lambasted the guilty verdict of his hush money trial this week, he stood inside a Manhattan courthouse that was the site of one of the most notorious examples of injustice in recent New York history. And he had a part in that.

It's the same courthouse where five Black and Latino youths were wrongly convicted 34 years ago in the beating and rape of a white female jogger. The former president famously took out a newspaper ad in New York City in the aftermath of the 1989 attack calling for the execution of the accused in a case that roiled racial tensions locally and that many point to as evidence of a criminal justice system prejudiced against defendants of color.

But on Friday, a day after making history as the first U.S. president convicted of felony crimes in a court of law, Trump blasted that same criminal justice system as corrupt and rigged against him.

This is a scam, he said of the case brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office led by Alvin Bragg, the first Black person in the role, and overseen by Judge Juan Merchan, who is of Colombian descent.

This is a rigged trial. It shouldnt have been in that venue. We shouldnt have had that judge, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Friday from Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Some Black Americans found irony in Trump railing against the injustice of his own conviction, in a courthouse where five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongly convicted in a case Trump supported so vociferously. The Central Park Five case was Trump's first foray into tough-on-crime politics that preluded his full-throated populist political persona. To many, Trump employed dog whistles as well as overtly racist rhetoric in both chapters of his public life.

But lately, in his outreach to Black and Hispanic communities, Trump has adopted the language of criminal justice reform advocates. He claims Black Americans and Latinos can relate to him because prosecutors are out to get him like they have been out to get many men and boys in their communities.

Donald Trumps conviction is going to be a problem for him with many Black people because, guess what, many Black people do not like people who violate our criminal laws, said Maya Wiley, a New York civil rights attorney and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Black people are disproportionately the victims of crime. Its not that they just side with people whove been convicted of a crime.

Wiley, who ran unsuccessfully for New York City mayor in 2021, said the citys Black and Hispanic residents also remember Trumps comments about the Central Park jogger case.

They havent forgotten the fact that Donald Trump took out a full-page ad suggesting the death penalty for the Central Park Five, who have been exonerated and were the victims of an abusive system, Wiley said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, an advocate for the five exonerated men, called Trumps conviction a symbolic measure of justice for them.

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 just after the verdict was read.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. Donald Trump is the criminal, and those five men are exonerated, he said.

Salaam, who won a seat on the New York City Council last year, said he didnt take pleasure in the former presidents guilty verdict even though Donald Trump wanted me executed even when it was proven that I was innocent.

Salaam and the other young men had their convictions vacated in 2002 after evidence linked another person to the crime. Trump in 2019 refused to apologize to the exonerated men.

We should be proud that today the system worked," Salaam wrote Thursday on the social media platform X. "But we should be somber that we Americans have an ex-President who has been found guilty on 34 separate felony charges.

We have to do better than this. Because we are better than this, he wrote.

Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project Action Fund civil rights group, said Trump hasn't been subject to the type of unfair treatment in the criminal justice system that Black and Hispanic communities know too well.

He didnt have a violent arrest by police, he didnt stay a night in Rikers Island because he couldnt afford bail, he didnt even go to jail. He could pay a battery of lawyers to represent him and he can pay for an appeal," Dianis said.

Racial justice advocates are also using the historic moment to remind the public that Trump and his associates attempted to overturn the will of voters by challenging the 2020 presidential election results in heavily Black and Latino districts. The hush money trial was just one part of a broader narrative around electoral justice, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, who called the verdict against Trump 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 after the verdict was heard Thursday.

Johnson, who leads the nations oldest civil rights organization, said Trump's criminal conviction ought to disqualify him from 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, he said.

Sharpton cautioned against gloating over the verdict.

Instead, celebrate by casting votes for leaders who will protect democracy  not who want to kill it.

___

Brown reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Blue 2 Fire remains at 7,457 acres with 14 percent containment on Saturday, June 1, according to a press release sent by the New Mexico State Forestry Division.

As of Friday, May 31, the fire was reported to be at 7,457 acres with 5 percent containment.

Blue 2 Fire grows slightly, 5% contained

The Forestry Division said that Fridays moderate weather assisted firefighters in completing additional containment.

The southern end of Soldier Mountain gained more containment line as mop-up work continued in the area by fire crews on the ground. Additional containment line was achieved on the fire perimeter west of Granite Knob, according to the Forestry Division.

Smoke production has decreased due to minimal fire activity, according to the Forestry Division.

The Forestry Division said thunderstorms predicted outside of the fire perimeter will produce downflow winds that could move some light smoke into surrounding areas. You can view an interactive smoke map here.

Lincoln National Forest issued an emergency area closure for the fire and a temporary flight restriction is in place over the area, according to the Forestry Division.

Evacuation levels remain unchanged. Evacuation shelters are expected to stay open over the weekend.

Effort is continually being made by fire crews to ensure that the fire perimeter is safe before repopulation of the surrounding communities, read the press release.

In addition, there are a total of 802 personnel at the site with 17 crews, 32 engineers, eight helicopters, three bulldozers and 12 water tenders.

The fire was caused by lightning on Thursday, May 16 and is located in the White Mountain Wilderness area, which is 8 miles north of Ruidoso, according to the Forestry Division.

For the latest information on evacuations, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi established a safety zone around the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway on Wednesday afternoon after being notified of a natural gas leak from an underwater pipe that happened that day.

The seal of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi. The multi-mission unit oversees Ports and Waterways Security in South Texas.

Coast Guard station vessels went out to investigate the area around 2:30 p.m. after a mariner reported seeing large bubbles rising out of the water indicating an air or gas leak, said Chief Billy Rogers of the Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Waterways Management Division.

A natural gas leak was reported to the Coast Guard Command Center, he said.

Though the cause of the leak is not known, members of the Incident Management Division coordinated a sector response, and a Marine Safety Information Bulletin addressed by the captain of the port was published on social media, shared on the Coast Guard's Home Port website, and sent through email and VHF radio broadcasts, alerting commercial and mariner industry partners to avoid the area within the safety zone until further notice.

GPS coordinates were provided for the area encompassing the zone to enable recreational boating, commercial barges and ships to find it on their electronic mapping systems aboard their vessels, said Roksolana Matlashewski, public affairs duty officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi.

The safety zone is near mile marker 546, about 0.5 nautical miles south of Corpus Christi Bay Day Beacon 61 in the southern region of Corpus Christi Bay, according to the announcement.

The Coast Guard establishes safety zones to protect personnel, vessels and the marine environment from a possible hazard to navigation and possible gas leak from an underwater pipe.

Vessels were prohibited until further notice from transiting the zone without getting permission from the Coast Guard.

A dive crew that was scheduled to repair the leak on Friday had to postpone the repair due to high winds, Rogers said. If the weather permits, the crew will go out on Saturday.

"Once the dive company notifies us of their findings, we'll have an idea of what they plan to do," he said. "We're happy to hear that it isn't bubbling anymore. We're monitoring and keeping an eye on it."

The safety zone will exist until the incident is resolved, after which an update will be posted on U.S. Coast Guard channels letting people know it is no longer in effect. The Coast Guard will also broadcast the update for vessel radios, Matlashewski said.

Corpus Christi Bay, a saltwater estuary and natural harbor on the Texas coast, plays host to a variety of boating, fishing and water sport recreation. The bay is home to three different shipping channels -- the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, the Inner Harbor Channel and the La Quinta Ship Channel -- and is located near major U.S. oil and gas production sites.

Cheniere currently operates three Liquefied Natural Gas production trains at the facility that are designed to produce about 5 million metric tons of LNG annually. The company's liquefaction facility is located in Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio County. Cheniere is working on a project to expand the LNG facility on the La Quinta Ship Channel, located about 15 nautical miles from the Texas Gulf Coast, to produce and export more LNG.

Commercial barges typically take a westerly route through Corpus Christi Bay and would not enter the area that lies within the safety zone, Rogers said.

Steven Gordon of the Freedom Boat Club of the Coastal Bend Texas, which buys and maintains a fleet of boats that customers can rent to participate in cruising, fishing and watersports, said that the location of the incident prompting the safety zone was far enough into the bay that recreational boaters would still have route options.

Concerned parties with urgent concerns can contact the Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center at 1-800-874-2143, or for non-urgent questions and concerns, email CCWaterways@uscg.mil.  Lt. Cmdr. A. Garofalo, Coast Guard by direction of the Captain of the Port.

More: Nueces County emergency crews investigate possible gas leak; shelter in place lifted

More: Opinion: Biden LNG pause stifles Texas ability to deliver energy around the world

More: A protest over an LNG company's operations is scheduled for Saturday. Here are the details

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Boaters alerted to gas leak in Corpus Christi Bay Wednesday
British extreme kayaker Bren Orton died after getting trapped by currents under rapids in Switzerland

The body of a British man who went missing while kayaking in Switzerland has been found, local police have said.

Bren Orton, 29, disappeared on May 16 after rapids sucked him underwater in the Melezza River in the Ticino region.

The authorities carried out searches for the adventurerer before a body was found in Lake Maggiore.

Shortly before 1pm in Locarno, the body of the man who disappeared on May 16 while kayaking in the Melees was found in the waters of Lake Maggiore, a spokesman for the Swiss police said.

The alarm was triggered by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately notified the emergency services.

Bren's sponsor Pryanha told of their 'immense sadness' at the loss

Mr Ortons disappearance was initially revealed by his sponsor, Pryanha, the British high-performance kayak maker.

He was believed to have been dragged out of his kayak after becoming trapped in a recirculating feature and did not resurface.

It was last week reported that a team of 15 kayakers travelled to Switzerland to join the search.

Every few years we seem to lose a friend to our sport. Each loss is tough, and this one cuts deep, James Reeves, a former world kayaking champion, wrote on social media in tribute.

Bren Orton was an incredible human. From his teenage years, his warm smile and friendly nature shone as brightly as his kayaking skills  I was privileged to briefly mentor Bren in his early years, and then watched in awe as he rose to became one of the greatest whitewater kayakers ever.

Bren set a world record in 2018 after plunging 128ft down Big Banana Falls in Mexico

Mr Orton was a special media influencer who set a world record in 2018 after plunging 128ft down Big Banana Falls in Mexico.

Pryanha told the BBC: It is with immense sadness that we announce that our friend and ambassador Bren Orton is no longer with us.

The Warrington-based kayaker travelled the world, filming his exploits for social media and often expressing love for his sport.

In a 2020 interview, he described kayaking as a sport that challenges you on so many levels, provides access to some of the nicest people on the planet and takes a kid from Warrington to Africa in pursuit of the best rapids.

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.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been all the rage since early last year, with many of the biggest companies in technology staking their claim. For example, a number of the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks have been extremely forthcoming about their plans to profit from the windfall resulting from the rapid adoption of AI, and several of these same stocks have generated market-beating returns this year.

One member of the collective that's been curiously left out of the conversation is Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). The iPhone maker has historically kept its plans and product upgrades close to the vest, including its intentions regarding the deployment of generative AI. This, combined with lackluster iPhone sales, has plagued Apple's share price, which is essentially flat in 2024.

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is scheduled to kick off on June 10, and speculation is rampant that the company will finally lay out its generative AI strategy. That, in turn, could light a fire under Apple's stagnant share price and set the stage for future gains.

With the stage set, should investors buy Apple stock before its highly anticipated event? Let's examine the available evidence.

Image source: Getty Images.

Has the time come?

Apple hasn't had much to say about the topic of generative AI, at least until recently. After remaining largely silent on the topic for nearly a year, CEO Tim Cook has finally begun to shed some light on Apple's aspirations. Earlier this year, Cook said of the company's AI plans, "We continue to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort, and we're excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year." When pressed for additional details, Cook responded, "Our M.O. [modus operandi], if you will, has always been to do work and then talk about work."

Cook opened up a little more during Apple's second-quarter earnings call. "We continue to feel very bullish about our opportunity in generative AI. We are making significant investments, and we're looking forward to sharing some very exciting things with our customers soon." Cook went on to highlight the company's "seamless" integration of hardware, software, services, and processors while never taking its eye off user privacy.

Historically speaking, Apple has announced some of its most groundbreaking product releases and updates during WWDC, so it stands to reason the company would reveal its generative AI objectives at the event.

A "once in a decade" event?

Wall Street is buzzing about Apple's annual conference, which would mark the perfect venue to introduce developers to the company's AI functionality. This would give them time to create signature generative AI-powered apps before the release of the next iPhone.

Story continues

Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan suggests that the release of AI-enabled phones could spark a multiyear upgrade cycle that's a "once in a decade type of event." He goes on to suggest that with more than 2.2 billion active devices, Apple could drive generative AI into the mainstream. These AI-fueled devices could vastly improve photography, health monitoring, security, and even battery life.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is even more bullish, raising his price target on Apple stock to $275 while maintaining an outperform (buy) rating on the shares. That represents 45% upside compared to Tuesday's closing price. Ives posits that an "AI-driven iPhone 16 supercycle [is] now on the horizon." The analyst goes on to say that generative AI will represent "ample monetization opportunities" for Cook and company. Ives also revealed that recent channel checks suggest the beginning of a long-awaited rebound in iPhone sales in China, one of Apple's biggest markets. Tepid sales in the region have weighed on the stock in recent quarters.

It's also worth noting that of the 38 analysts who offered an opinion on Apple stock in May, 84% rated it a buy or strong buy, and not a single one recommended selling. Since Wall Street rarely agrees on anything, it's noteworthy when there's such a solid consensus.

Should you buy Apple stock now or wait until after WWDC?

For day traders looking to make a quick buck, hopping into and out of stocks around major events in order to catch the rally before selling, Apple might not be the stock for you. Truth be told, we don't know exactly what Apple will announce at WWDC. Furthermore, even if the company does jump feet-first into generative AI, that doesn't mean its efforts will yield immediate results.

However, for investors with an outlook of years rather than weeks or months, there's plenty to like about Apple. The company has a long track record of defying detractors while continuing to build an empire. Market historians will note that Apple has rarely been first to market with anything but frequently releases industry-leading products that stand the test of time. At the same time, services is Apple's fastest-growing segment, driven by its 2.2 billion active devices.

If I were to hazard a guess, I'm inclined to believe that Apple stock will perform much better in the second half of 2024 than the first half and will be a market-beating investment over the next five years. That said, if the company's WWDC announcement disappoints, it could be a rough ride over the short term.

Finally, there's the matter of Apple's valuation. At 29 times trailing-12-month earnings, the stock is only slightly more expensive than the multiple of 27 for the S&P 500. Furthermore, over the past five years, Apple stock has soared 327% (as of this writing), more than three times the 88% gains produced by the broad index. This helps illustrate why Apple is deserving of a premium.

For investors looking beyond June, I believe Apple's long track record of success speaks volumes about the company and its future prospects. That's why investors should simply buy Apple for the long runway ahead.

Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?

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Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Danny Vena has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Bank of America. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Should You Buy Apple Stock Before June 10? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Former President Donald Trump's mug shot.

By James E. Garcia

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.

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.

 Don't forget to add author

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.

James E. Garcia is a Phoenix-based journalist, playwright and communications consultant. As a journalist, he has worked as a reporter, columnist, editor and foreign correspondent. He was the first Latino Affairs correspondent for KJZZ, and the first Latino editor of a major progressive news weekly in the U.S., The San Antonio Current. James has taught creative and non-fiction writing, ethnic studies, theater, literature and Latino politics at ASU. The founder and producing artistic director of New Carpa Theater Co., James is the author of more than 30 plays, including the upcoming The Two Souls of Cesar Chavez.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Bon appetit, Trumps zombies appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
A Boonsboro High School student was not allowed to participate at her graduation ceremony Tuesday night because of concerns surrounding her makeup, leaving the 18-year-old and her family "heartbroken" on the big day.

Nixx Cabrera-Guy is an aspiring piercer and tattoo artist and is the first person on her father's side of the family to receive her high school diploma. She said she was told by the Boonsboro High principal, Michael Kuhaneck, that she had to remove her makeup or she could not sit with her fellow students or walk on stage during the ceremony.

"He was like, 'You aren't allowed to walk, you aren't allowed to sit. It's either you take it off or you go,'" Cabrera-Guy recalls.

Cabrera-Guy and her family left the ceremony after she was told she could not participate.

Nixx Cabrera-Guy, 18, of Boonsboro, arrives outside Boonsboro High's cafeteria before commencement on Tuesday. Cabrera-Guy, who plans to be a tattoo artist and piercer, said this is how she "normally" does her makeup for school events or going out. "This is an important day to me, so I should do something that feels important to me," she said.

Cabrera-Guy said she is a "very creative" person known in school for her expressive makeup looks. She said this look was much more toned down than some of her other looks she has worn to school events, where she paints intricate details on top of the white makeup base. At graduation, Cabrera-Guy put on only eyeliner and lipstick over the white base.

Its a part of my identity, it's part of like how the school knew me and how I knew myself and had never been an issue before, Cabrera-Guy said. I would rather walk the stage as someone who is genuinely me than someone who they are trying to hide.

District says it did not have sufficient notice to study 'symbolism behind makeup'

Cabrera-Guy said she was told by Kuhaneck that her makeup needed prior approval for it to be worn at graduation. However, she said she wore similar makeup in school, including dances, spirit weeks and on typical school days.

Kuhaneck did not respond to a phone call before publication, but in a statement to The Herald-Mail, Washington County Public Schools and Boonsboro High said Cabrera-Guy was not allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony due to concerns surrounding the "symbolism of the makeup."

The student was asked to remove the makeup because the school did not have sufficient notice to explore the symbolism behind the makeup, read the statement. There were concerns about cultural considerations and disruptions to the graduation celebration.

Cabrera-Guy said she was not aware that she needed prior approval for the makeup. An email sent to Boonsboro High graduates stated students were required to wear an undecorated cap and gown over business casual attire, not jeans or sneakers, and shoes they could walk in.

The Washington County Public School dress code does not include any information or guidelines on makeup specifically, but states both permanent and temporary "body art" that breaks administrative regulations or disrupts the "educational setting" must be fully covered, even at district sponsored and school-sanctioned events. The student handbook does not mention approval of makeup or body art.

Donald Trump guilty verdict: Harris, Van Hollen, Cardin, Hogan share thoughts on case

How can we help? Washington County's economic progress is leaving some of us behind

'I will never get that moment back'

Cabrera-Guy said she and her family were heartbroken that she could not walk. Her dad and his family, who are from Guatemala, were especially devastated.

"[My dad] was really trying to see me walk the stage, as well as all of my family from Guatemala and all around the U.S.," Cabrera-Guy said. "And the school was aware of that too, but they still ripped that whole chance away from me."

Cabrera-Guy said she received good grades and was involved in the school culture, planning spirit weeks and helping out on different Boonsboro High committees.

I will never get that moment back, which really sucked because the school knew how important this was to me and my family, Cabrera-Guy said. The career path I'm going down does not have another graduation ceremony, so I'm never going to get the chance to walk a stage again or celebrate my graduation with a class or my friends while my family watches.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland senior told to leave high school graduation due to makeup
BOYNE CITY  Boyne City High School celebrates its graduation this Sunday, with the Class of 2024 becoming alumni.

The Class of 2024's top students are valedictorian Brianna Ager and salutatorian Lucille Uy.

Ager, graduating with a 4.11 GPA, is the top graduate.

Throughout high school, Ager participated in basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, Rambler Connect, National Honor Society, the BCHS leadership group and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also served as a Class Officer, Student Council president, freshman mentor and DECA president.

Brianna Ager

The daughter of Todd and Trisha Ager, she is headed to the University of Michigan to study biology on a pre-med track.

I highly encourage you to continuously live in the moment," Ager said in a press release. "Your reaction to the present is all you can control in life, so dont spend time worrying about the past or future.

Lucille Uy

Second in the class with a 4.096 GPA is Uy, the daughter of Ferdinand and Mary Uy.

Throughout high school, Uy participated in SAFE, was a freshman mentor, softball team captain and a class representative.

After high school, Uy will continue with the Early College program at North Central Michigan College to earn an associate's in science before transferring somewhere else to purse a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

In addition to the valedictorian and salutatorian, Boyne City High School will be celebrating its other honors students, who are all graduating with a GPA higher than a 4.0.

Eliana Michael, daughter of Daryl Michael, Jennifer Michael-Sikora and Keith Sikora, 4.083 GPA

Sawyer Cadarette, daughter of Brent and Katie Cadarette, 4.064 GPA

Camille Eads, daughter of Matthew and Jennifer Eads, 4.020 GPA

Richard Willian Dart V, son of Richard and Ellen Dart, 4.014 GPA

Boyne City High School's graduation is set for 4 p.m. on June 2.

 Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City High School celebrates top students ahead of graduation
EGMONT KEY, Fla. (WFLA)  A shocking video caught a Bradenton man landing a helicopter in the middle of a closed shorebird nesting site at Egmont Key State Park.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was alerted of the incident, which happened on May 12, when a helicopter landed on the south tip of Egmont Key.

Were about to go into the ocean: Passengers on Florida-bound flight told to prepare for possible water landing

A witness told officials they saw a female passenger get out of the chopper and take a few photos, before hopping back on the helicopter and taking off.

The pilot of the chopper, identified by the FWC as 53-year-old Ernesto Cordero, took off from Albert Whitted Airport in Pinellas County, flying along Fort Desoto and Egmont Key, before landing in Punta Gorda, according to a flight log on FlightAware.

The video shows Cordero landing the small helicopter on the beach, causing several protected shorebird species, including black skimmers and sandwich terns, to flee their nests.

Florida city among the top move-out cities, company says

When asked about his reasoning for landing on Egmont Key, Cordero told FWC officials he could smell fuel and believed he had a fuel leak. However, he never declared any emergency with air traffic control, according to the report.

Cordero was cited for landing an aircraft in a state park and entering a closed area, along with threatening federally designated endangered and threatened species.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  For the first time in two years, Cabarrus County has diversity on the bench. The Hon. Juanita Boger-Allen was sworn in as a district court judge Friday afternoon.

Census data shows Cabarrus County is about 60% white, 20% Black, 12% Hispanic and the rest Asian or mixed race, but up until now all judges serving Cabarrus County were white.

Convicted sex offender killed during officer-involved shooting in Cabarrus County: Sheriff

I think the bench should represent the community. So, unless we have a 100% of one particular race, then there should be diversity, Boger-Allen said following her ceremony.

She is the first and only Black judge in Cabarrus County.

Governor (Roy) Cooper appointed me; I know others wanted the position, Boger-Allen said. He recognized my experience, education, ability and my work, and so Im honored for that. That doesnt happen every day in Cabarrus County.

In a joyous ceremony with children singing in front of family, friends and elected officials, the community celebrated history.

It is so important that our courts be diverse by age, race, gender, professional background, our system works best or judicial system when we have people who have the shared lived experience of the people who come into the court seeking justice, N.C. Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs said. But also, that we have diversity and difference of perspectives applied to the questions before us.

Cabarrus County children sang at the swearing-in ceremony for Judge Juanita Boger-Allen Friday, May 31.

Boger-Allen previously served as a district judge from 2019 to 2022 when she lost re-election after controversy.

There were folks saying, Hey, we really like you and your work ethic and the things you do on the bench. So, if you change your party affiliation, were not going to run any one against you, said Mackenzie Reedybacon, chair of Cabarrus County Democratic Party. Judge Boger-Allen has integrity and fought to the bitter end. She did not switch on us.

Boger-Allen took her oath with her mother and daughter by her side with her hand on the Bible promising to be fair and impartial. As a native of Concords Logan community, Boger-Allen wants to serve as a reminder that justice delayed doesnt mean justice denied.

Trump says he wanted to testify in hush money trial

I didnt stop believing, I didnt stop working for my community, Boger-Allen said. So, it lets people know that just because things may look a certain way doesnt mean it has to end that way. So, it was just very important to say Im back, Im back, Im back.

Boger-Allen is starting a four-year term on the bench. Shes replacing Steve Grossman who retired after reaching states age limit for judges.

Although Boger-Allen is the only Black judge in the county, she hopes she isnt the last.

Im going to continue to ride for Cabarrus County and hope to bring other people with me. I dont want to continue to be the only Black [judge] I do not. We need representation, she said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Residents of the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn are outraged over a harm-reduction group that gives out drug paraphernalia on the street  leading to what they say is a weekly invasion of a dozen or so heroin and crack users, some of whom use in plain sight.

The group  funded with millions of dollars from the city and cash from George Soross foundation  hands out free needles, crack pipes and even devices to cook heroin, every Wednesday at the top of the entrance to the ClintonWashington Avenue subway station on the C line.

Theyre shooting up, Stephanie Cole, who lives next to the subway, told The Post.

Hector Barbarosa and Nate Taylor make sure that their clients obtain what they need. But some residents who live on the block are not happy to see them. J.C. Rice

She said she sees people use the free pipes handed out by Vocal-NY organizers to smoke crack or whatever. Ive walked over broken crack pipes on our stoop and all kinds of garbage that gets left there. Two weeks ago, I was sweeping up broken glass from the pipes.

Cole, 44, who works in social media and marketing, and others who live on Washington Avenue near Fulton Street say they are fed up with the open-air drug scene created by the actions of Vocal-NY.

They pull a lot of people into the neighborhood who use drugs, Cole said. Theres a cumulative effect where the needle exchange makes this into a hangout.

Nate Taylor, a peer educator with Vocal-NY, was at the May 22 paraphernalia handout in Clinton Hill and claimed that the group  which, according to its website, runs syringe-exchange programs in Downtown Brooklyn, East New York, Crown Heights, Coney Island and Brighton Beach  ran into trouble with a needle giveaway in Sunset Park when someone fired a gun there and cops warned them off.

[Someone] shot off a couple shots and  we couldnt work there no more, Taylor alleged to The Post. Now, though, we can go back there and have a ball. I go every Monday.

At the Clinton Hill handout, an East New York woman who gave her name only as Nikita said she regularly drops by on Wednesdays to pick up new crack pipes  which she called indulgence stems.

Asked if she planned to use the pipe right away, after receiving the pipe Nikita told The Post: Its early in the morning. So Ill go further down the block.

Nate Taylor and Hector Barbosa promote harm-reduction by providing drug users with fresh drug paraphernalia. J.C. Rice

Miguel from the Bronx showed up to retrieve a clean needle on the street but said he didnt want to use at home in front of his family. Instead, he said, he had plans to use at a nearby pizza joint.

I do it in the bathroom  in the pizzeria, Miguel told The Post.. They dont know what we do there.

At Barcklays Pizza and Pasta on Fulton Street, diagonally across from where the needles are handed out, a counter worker said of the addicts: We dont like them. They buy one piece of pizza and sit for two or three hours  But no bathroom. I tell them it is out of service.

Others, Nikita said, slip into the Clinton-Washington subway station to use. We got to worry about the police pulling up on us, Nikita said. All the people down there, complaining.

Needles and glass pipes are given out by representatives of Vocal-NY at the Clinton-Washington subway entrance weekly. J.C. Rice

The Post has reached out to the NYPD for this story.

Another resident of the block, who did not want her name used for privacy reasons, told The Post that she has seen needles and syringes littering the ground near her home.

Alyssa Aguilera, co-executive director of Vocal-NY, told The Post that, In addition to passing out supplies, our outreach team also does its best to clean up outreach sites.

Neighbors told The Post they are especially frustrated because the area is family-oriented.

Hector Barbarosa (right) works with Vocal-NY, which has received millions of dollars from the City Council. J.C. Rice

Nate Taylor makes sure that all of his paraphernalia-requesting clients are properly registered. J.C. Rice

There are so many kids in and out of the area, Cole said. There are two schools, one-and-a-half blocks in either direction.

Adding that she has sympathy for the addicts, Cole added, I have a problem with them doing it in a residential neighborhood and near schools. You want clean needles? Great. But dont shoot up on my stoop.

A three-bedroom apartment in Coles building is currently listed on StreetEasy for $4,500.

A methadone program is around the corner  a lot of the users are over here and we try to provide them the service, Vocal-NYs Taylor said.

As for where clients do drugs once they receive supplies, he added, They do their dirt  anywhere  once we give [the kit] to them, thats on them.

A drug user named Domingo, who comes for the syringes, seemed to feel some sympathy for the locals.

Hector Barbarosa with one of the drug kits he distributes. J.C. Rice

Its a great neighborhood, but, honestly, the people here, I know they dont like us around here, he told The Post. I understand. I think if I never used drugs, I probably would have felt the same way.

According to its website, Vocal-NY is a grassroots membership organization that builds power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness in order to create healthy and just communities.

The 510(c)3 tax-exempt organization received $3.5 million from the City Council to fund its ongoing expenses between 2014 and 2024, and at least $1.6 million in city contracts.

Some of that money was allocated despite Queens Councilman Robert Holden demanding an end to their funding when a convicted sex offender affiliated with Vocal-NY launched an anti-Asian racist rant while testifying to the City Council in 2021.

Some residents of Washington Avenue near the Clinton-Washington subway stop say they are tired of addicts doing drugs in plain sight on their street. J.C. Rice

In 2022, $2.95 million was allocated to help the group buy its headquarters at Douglass Street and Third Avenue in Brooklyn, with the line items sponsored by Antonio Reynoso, now the Brooklyn Borough President.

Reynosos office did not return requests for comment.

George Soros Open Society Foundations allocated Vocal-NY $800,000 between 2020 and 2022, while the Ford Foundation donated $600,000 between 2018 and 2022.

Additional reporting by Matthew Sedacca
(NEXSTAR)  At the Normandy American Cemetery in France, the brothers who inspired the movie Saving Private Ryan rest alongside soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Im sorry to tell you that Private Ryan did not exist, but the story is based on the true story of the Niland brothers, historian Anthony Folquier said.

Preston, Robert, Frederick Fritz and Edward Niland all fought in World War II. Robert and Preston were both killed in the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Although his family received a letter stating that he had been killed in action, Edward Niland survived after being held as a prisoner of war in the Pacific Theater. His family would not find this out until after the war ended.

The basis of the movie pulls from the truthful account of the effort to locate Fritz Niland and prevent the family from presumably losing all Niland brothers in the war. When Fritz went to join the 82nd Airborne Division nine days after the invasion, they informed him of his brothers deaths and sent Fritz home.

Edward had one wish when his son, Pete, traveled to Normandy years later.

And the only thing my father asked me to do was put some flowers on his brothers grave sites, Pete Niland said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Brownsville man was taken into custody Thursday after a high-speed chase across three West Tennessee counties that ended in a manhunt in Covington.

The Covington Police Department said the pursuit started in Haywood County, where deputies tried to stop a speeding Chevy Cruze on Highway 19.

They say the driver of the Chevy Cruze purposely rammed his vehicle into a Haywood County cruiser, then continued into Lauderdale County, and on to Tipton County.

Covington Police were notified by dispatchers at 6 p.m. Officers say they saw the Chevy turn onto Tatlock Avenue.

The driver got out and ran into a wooded area behind Walmart. A passenger stayed inside the vehicle and followed officers commands, police said.

Armed suspect wrecks car, hides in ditch downtown: MPD

Officers with Covington, Tipton County and Haywood County set up a perimeter to look for the driver. Covington Police deployed a drone and a K-9 officer.

Tyler Hudson, 23, of Brownsville was spotted laying under a tree around 6:30. Police say he resisted arrest when they found him, injuring a Covington officer. He was taken to the Haywood County Jail.

Hudson is charged by the Haywood County Sheriffs Office with aggravated assault, speeding, felony evading, and kidnapping. He will later be taken to Covington where he will be charged with with vandalism, assault on a first responder, and resisting arrest; and to Tipton County, where he will be charged with felony evading.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
You are here: Business

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said Friday that it had decided to fine property developer Evergrande Real Estate Group 4.175 billion yuan (587 million U.S. dollars) for financial fraud and other misconduct.

Evergrande Real Estate Group inflated business revenues and profits in 2019 and 2020 during its issuance of corporate bonds, the CSRC said.

The commission also found that Evergrande released false information in its annual reports and failed to disclose required information.

Xu Jiayin, then chairman and actual controller of the property company, was fined 47 million yuan and will be prohibited from entering the securities market for life.
The time has come: Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) long-awaited first-quarter report rounded out an exciting earnings season for artificial intelligence (AI) investors.

Indeed, revenue is soaring thanks to surging demand for Nvidia's H100, A100, and new Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs). Even better? The company's pricing power is helping Nvidia achieve consistent margin expansion and profitability.

Nvidia is currently riding a once-in-a-generation growth wave. There's so much information packed into their earnings report, it's easy to become distracted by the latest record the company posted.

While the financial performance is undoubtedly impressive, there was one part of the earnings report that really caught my eye: Nvidia announced a 10-for-1 stock split.

According to the earnings release, investors owning shares of Nvidia as of market close on June 6 will be eligible for split-adjusted shares.

Let's break down how stock splits work, and explore why scooping up shares of Nvidia now could be a good idea.

How do stock splits work?

Stock splits are a form of financial engineering. When a company splits its stock, two important things happen.

First, the number of outstanding shares increases by the ratio proposed in the split. Second, since the number of outstanding shares rises, the stock price subsequently drops by the same ratio.

If Nvidia's 10-for-1 split were to go into effect today, anyone owning Nvidia stock would receive nine additional shares for every one share that they own. But at the same time, your average cost per share would be reduced by a factor of 10.

Since the share count and the stock price change by the same ratio, the market cap for Nvidia theoretically remains unchanged.

However, this is seldom the case. Let's take a look at Nvidia's stock-split history.

Image source: Getty Images.

Has Nvidia split its stock before?

Nvidia has completed five stock splits since going public. The last time Nvidia split its stock was July 20, 2021.

The chart below illustrates movements in Nvidia stock 30 days after completing its 4-for-1 split in July 2021.

NVDA Chart

The last time Nvidia split its stock, investors enjoyed nearly a 12% return in just one month following the split. By the end of December 2021, Nvidia stock had rallied an eye-popping 58% from the day it split in July.

Is now a good time to buy Nvidia stock?

Generally speaking, trading activity increases when a company conducts a stock split. The reason is because even though the split does not inherently change the valuation of the company, shares are perceived as less expensive.

Story continues

In other words, since a split forces the stock price to go down, many investors think the stock is on sale and that they are taking advantage of a cheaper price. This is not the case, and it's all psychological.

Now, with Nvidia stock trading over $1,000 per share, it's likely that many retail investors view the stock as expensive. But keep in mind, even though the post-split price for Nvidia stock would be roughly $100, the charts above point out that stock-split stocks can experience outsize momentum. This means prices can rise sharply in a short period of time, and investors are actually buying shares at a higher valuation compared to pre-split levels.

Since Nvidia's last split in July 2021, shares have rallied more than 450%. This abnormally high return has catapulted Nvidia to the world's third most valuable business -- only behind Microsoft and Apple.

This is where valuation analysis becomes important. Right now, Nvidia stock trades at a price-to-free-cash-flow multiple of 66. This might seem high, even for a growth stock. However, this is actually materially lower than Nvidia's average over the last three and five years.

Moreover, Nvidia's closest rival, Advanced Micro Devices, trades at a price-to-free-cash-flow ratio of 230x. Considering AMD isn't growing anywhere near commensurate rates to that of Nvidia, I'd say that Nvidia stock looks more attractive.

While Nvidia stock might appear pricey, the analyses above illustrate that the company is actually trading at a more normalized level compared to its biggest competitor. Moreover, given the historical trends from Nvidia's last stock split, I'm fairly confident that the stock could witness some newfound attention following the split.

For these reasons, I'd encourage investors to consider scooping up shares in Nvidia stock before June 6. While it may be tempting to flip shares for a quick profit following the split, the return over the last few years speaks for itself.

Investors should employ a long-term time horizon and allow the day traders to enter and exit around the time of the split. The longer-term themes showcase that buying shares before a split and holding them for several years is the superior strategy.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $671,728!*

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Adam Spatacco has positions in Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Should You Buy Nvidia Stock Before June 6? was originally published by The Motley Fool
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was arrested and charged Friday following multiple alleged incidents of indecent exposure, according to the Buffalo Police Department.

26-year-old Orlando Martinez was identified as a suspect in two alleged incidents on May 28. Officers say they responded to a call of indecent exposure around 5 p.m. on the 500 block of W Delavan Ave., then another call of the same nature around 6 p.m. on the 900 block of Elmwood Ave.

Martinez has been charged with two counts of public lewdness.

Northwest district detectives say similar claims occurred in the area on the same day. The investigation is ongoing.

Latest Local News

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Region 6 bull trout coordinator, Wade Fredenberg, teamed with noted Geographic photographer Joel Sartore in 2009 to capture underwater and aquarium-staged shots of bull trout in British Columbias Wigwam River drainage, the headwaters of the Kootenai River, known as the crown jewel of bull trout spawning areas. (Photo by Joel Sartore | National Geographic and Wade Fredenberg | USFWS, via Flickr, CC-BY-SA 2.0).

Bull trout spawning sites in the Swan Lake basin hit their lowest count in 42 years in 2023, according to data from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

In a news release this week, FWP announced it wants to cut down on lake trout in Swan Lake to help bull trout and kokanee salmon populations.

Once home to a large, stable bull trout population and popular kokanee fishery, Swan Lake has seen significant declines in abundance of both species while lake trout numbers have increased considerably, FWP said.

As such, FWP is seeking public comment on a gillnetting plan in Swan Lake. Already, conservation advocates are lauding the renewed attention to the lake in the Swan Valley.

***

Bull trout were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1998, FWP said.

Their decline in Swan Lake is mainly due to lake trout, which FWP described as highly effective predators. They increase competition for food and also prey on juvenile bull trout.

According to FWP, lake trout were either illegally introduced to Swan Lake or they potentially migrated through a fish ladder that has since been closed.

Lake trout were discovered in Swan Lake in 1998, and since then, bull trout have shown considerable decline, according to FWPs draft environmental assessment.

A count of bull trout spawning sites, or redds, in Swan Lake tributaries dropped to 135 from more than 700 in 2008 and more than 800 in 1998, according to the draft EA. It said redd counts provide the best metric for examining trends in adult bull trout numbers over time.

Arlene Montgomery, with Friends of the Wild Swan, said FWP previously used gillnets to remove lake trout but stopped that work a number of years ago.

I have been urging them for several years to get back to doing this again because were going to lose bull trout in the Swan. It might already be too late. I hope not, Montgomery said.

She said she has not reviewed the plan in depth, but she believes FWP learned a lot about the best ways to use gillnets in the past  for example, so as not to also catch bull trout.

Regardless, she said something needs to be done to suppress lake trout, which also have infested Holland Lake and Lindbergh Lake.

Theyre through the whole system, and its really a travesty, she said of the Swan Valley.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved FWPs proposal in February.

FWP said lake trout suppression efforts have benefited native fish conservation in other lakes, including Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming and Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.

All lake trout netted during the project would be killed, and those that are salvageable and of suitable size for consumption would be donated to food banks or other organizations, FWP said.

Review FWP plan, comment

FWP outlined the proposed plan with a draft environmental assessment that is available to review online at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.

The deadline to comment is June 28 at 5 p.m.

FWP is hosting two public information meetings to discuss the proposed project. The first meeting is June 4 at 6 p.m. at the FWP office in Kalispell, 490 N. Meridian. The second meeting is June 11 at 6 p.m. at the Swan Lake Chamber and Community Club, 22778 Montana Highway 83.

Comments can be submitted via email to fisheries biologist Leo Rosenthal at lrosenthal@mt.gov or regional fisheries manager Mike Hensler at mhensler@mt.gov, or via mail to Swan Lake EA, 490 N. Meridian, Kalispell, MT 59901.

The post Bull trout in significant decline in Swan Lake, FWP proposes plan appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Speaker of the House Charles McCall stands at his desk for the last time on Thursday during the last week of the legislative session at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City.

The second session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature came to an end Thursday afternoon, just one day before it was required to do so by the Oklahoma Constitution.

This year's session was a bumpy ride.

Heavy with Republican infighting and power struggles between the governor's office and the Legislature, the 2024 legislative session became a capstone to a yearlong debate over income tax cuts and only a handful of significant policy issues  all framed against an upcoming presidential election this fall.

Still, even with the controversy, lawmakers developed and passed a $12.47 billion budget that included a 4.5% tax cut on the sale of groceries, earmarked $1.5 billion in new funding for Oklahoma's common education system, and added $25 million additional funding into the school funding formula.

The budget also included $240 million for new engineering and science facilities at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, spent $27.6 million to address the student waitlist for CareerTech and put $350 million in a new Oklahoma Capital Assets Maintenance and Protection Fund to cover deferred maintenance at state properties, state parks and public colleges and universities.

Friday, Gov. Kevin Stitt described the session as "productive." The governor said he was pleased lawmakers cut the grocery sales tax and continued efforts on criminal justice reform, but he criticized the Oklahoma Senate for not confirming all of his executive nominations.

More: On final day of session, House passes bill to limit Ryan Walters' education spending

Speaker of the House Charles McCall speaks to the press Thursday during the last week of the legislative session at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City.

"My job is to nominate the very best Oklahomans," Stitt said. "It's hard to find the right people. The Senate's job is to confirm those, advise and confirm I think is what it says. As long as they don't have criminal backgrounds and generally are moving in the right direction. That's the job is to make sure they are good Oklahomans and meet all the qualifications. It's not to pick on an individual."

Outgoing Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat said his goal with the 2024 session was to leave the state a better place than when he came into office.

As we conclude another legislative session, it is a time of reflection and looking forward, Treat said. I am confident that I am exiting my term on a high note and leaving my position as pro tem in a mindset of peace and gratitude. I have always wanted to leave my service with the Senate and state in a better place than when I came into office."

What's next? Gov. Kevin Stitt has hundreds of bills to sign or veto over the next two weeks

State lawmakers sent more than 430 bills to the governor this session. Stitt has roughly 15 days to sign, veto or allow the budget bills to go into effect.

Senate Education Committee Chairman, Sen. Adam Pugh said he, too, was pleased lawmakers finished their work  effectively "landing the plane."

"It was a little bumpy and maybe some passengers got hurt because of a little bit of turbulence at times," he said. "But I'll say this, every morning when I walk in I remind myself that tension is a feature of our system. It's meant to be hard to get stuff done."

Pugh said he was glad that lawmakers made another investment in education. He pointed to the graduation pathways legislation and major revisions to the reading sufficiency act as examples of legislation passed this year that would improve the state.

Sens. Kay Floyd and Julia Kirt, left, visit with Reps. Cyndi Munson and Trish Ranson on Feb. 27 at the signing ceremony for the grocery tax cut bill in the Blue Room at the Oklahoma Capitol.

Democrats, however, called the session a missed opportunity.

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt said Democrats wanted to see public education, "funded for success."

"We did not see that with this budget," Kirt said. "This budget includes half as much in new public money as private voucher money, and we have to focus on what really matters to kids in our school districts across the state."

Kirt said Oklahoma families were "working too hard and see too little in results."

"That's why we're up here is to support Oklahoma families," she said. "We're all exhausted. We know there is a reason for that, because Oklahoma families are exhausted. We have to keep working to do better for the people of Oklahoma."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma legislative 2024 ends with hundreds of bills to be signed
A shopping trend playing out in other parts of the country has landed in the North State.

Some call it bin shopping. Customers, hunting for deals, scour bins of overstocked or clearance merchandise once on the shelves of retail giants like Target.

The catch is the price changes each day. So, does the customer buy it that day or take a chance that the item will be there the next day when the price is lower?

Bargain Bins in Anderson and Falling Prices in Redding recently opened.

In the case of Falling Prices, which is in the former Cresons Mattress space in Village Plaza on Athens Avenue, the store is open Tuesday-Saturday. Its closed Sunday and Monday as new inventory comes in and employees ready the items for the next week.

Falling Prices is a Sacramento-based chain with 18 locations in California.

Opening day at Falling Prices in Redding. The store opened May 7, 2024, on Athens Avenue.

Richard Cawood, who owns the Redding location with Tracy Wheeler, said they sold an estimated 15,000 items in the stores first week of business in early May.

Every week, boxes of unsold items  food, home goods, paper products, small appliances, office supplies, small furniture, books  from Target and Amazon are shipped to Falling Prices. Workers spend two days going through the boxes and sorting items, Cawood said.

"We have not idea what it is," Cawood said when the boxes arrive.

On Tuesday, all items are $6. The price drops to $4 on Wednesday, $1 on Friday and 25 cents on Saturday.

At Bargain Bins in the Shasta Gateway Center in Anderson, all items are $12 on Thursday. The price drops to $8 on Friday, $4 on Saturday, $2 on Sunday and two items for $1 on Monday.

Falling Prices opened in May. Bargain Bins opened last summer.

Cawood calls the business concept reverse logistics.

Instead of selling it forward, theyre (Target and Amazon) selling it backwards to us, he said.

Holding up a can of black beans one recent weekday morning, Cawood said, This might not be the best buy today at $6, but at 25 cents it becomes a bargain.

Cawood opened the auction house BidRL.com in Redding on Airport Road in 2018. BidRL holds daily online auctions that start at $1. He moved the auction house to Athens Avenue and now operates the online auction house and Falling Prices under the same roof.

Cawood said they sort the items they get from Target and Amazon by value. Higher value items go to the BidRL side of the business. A recent item on the auction site was an ASUS laptop.

He said what sets BidRL apart from eBay is that they are local.

Customers can come in and look at items if they wish, Cawood said.

Cinders Pizza opens second location

About a year of work came to fruition recently when Cinders Pizza opened in Anderson, the independently owned restaurants second location.

Cinders Pizza in downtown Redding.

The restaurant is at 2820 Freeman Street in the same area as Burrito Bandito.

And like its Redding location, Cinders shares the building with Taste & See Creamery.

Cinders and Taste & See Creamery co-owner Daniel Lee said construction took longer than expected but they are happy to be open.

I just think it makes sense. Anderson is like a sister city to Redding, Lee said. Anderson is right next to Redding, though it has its own identity and community and we wanted to be part of it.

Taste & See Creamery opened next to Cinders Pizza in Market Square in downtown Redding in 2017. Lee and his business partner Jake Hornaday bought the pizza parlor not long after the ice cream shop opened downtown.

Taste & See Creamery also has a location on north Hilltop Drive in the Chuck E. Cheeses shopping center, known as Hilltop Landing.

Former Barnes & Noble/OfficeMax building sells. Who bought it?

An online auction to sell the former Barnes & Noble/OfficeMax building in Redding drew a lot of interest.

The building sold in May to a Northern California ownership group with a winning bid of just over $3 million, according to Tiffeny Cook of Tranzon Asset Strategies, the Irvine-based company that did the auction.

The former Barnes & Noble/OfficeMax building on Churn Creek Road in May 2024.

We had a dozen registered bidders. There was a lot of interest. We started the bidding at $1.375 million so it went up pretty good, Cook said.

Escrow is expected to close the first week of July.

Northstate Commercial Partners had been marketing the building for lease before the former owners turned to Tranzon to sell the property via auction.

We had two letters of intent (to lease) on the table  at the time they decided to pivot toward the auction, which I found a little frustrating, but what are you going to do, Ken Miller of Northstate Commercial Partners told me.

Miller said one lease would have been for a local thrift store while the other would be major headlines for the community and would be very exciting, and I am trying to get the parties back to the table.

Stay tuned.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Falling Prices opens first bin shopping store in Redding
Canada's Minister of National Defence Blair takes part in public hearings for an independent commission probing alleged foreign interference in Canadian elections in Ottawa

By Fanny Potkin

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Canada warned China against meddling in its elections during a rare meeting of the countries' defence chiefs, its defence minister said on Saturday.

"I raised the concern of foreign interference in all the manifestations that it might take, including interference in our institutions, including our elections, but also actions of collusion against the Chinese diaspora in Canada, our citizens," Defence Minister Bill Blair told Reuters, referring to his conversation with Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.

Canada's domestic spy agency said in April that China had interfered in the last two elections as part of an official probe into election meddling. Beijing has denied the allegations.

Last year, Ottawa said a Conservative legislator with family in Hong Kong had been the target of an online disinformation operation. The government expelled a senior Chinese diplomat after an intelligence report accused him of trying to target the legislator.

Blair said he had also expressed concern about Chinese military action around Taiwan since the island's January presidential election during his meeting with Jun, held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singapore.

The minister said Canada would increase its presence in Asia and was engaging with India to "address issues of disagreement".

Diplomatic relations soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year said Canada was "actively pursuing credible allegations" that Indian agents were potentially linked to the June 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.

Canada charged three Indian nationals for the killing last month.

"There can't be any toleration for the territorial murder of Canadian citizens on Canadian soil," Blair said. "But I think (the charges) has created the circumstances where we can begin to address issues of disagreement and some of the concerns that India has also expressed to us."

(Reporting by Fanny Potkin; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
"It is a difficult day for anyone who lost someone they loved because of his cruelty and heinous crimes, Canadas Premier David Eby said

Getty

Robert Pickton  a serial killer who launched one of the largest murder investigations in Canada  has died. He was 74.

The Correctional Service Canada (CSC) announced on Friday, May 31, that Pickton, who was convicted of killing six women and feeding their bodies to pigs on his farm, was assaulted by another inmate at Port-Cartier Institution on May 19. He later died at the hospital from injuries sustained.

The CSC said Pickton had been serving an indeterminate sentence at the prison, which began on Dec. 11, 2007, after he was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder.

The agency added that it is conducting an investigation and they will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault."

The CSC also said that it has contacted Picktons family and registered victims" and they are mindful that his case had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims and their families."

Related: What Profilers Know About the Long Island Serial Killer: 'He Hates Women'

At least 65 women disappeared from the British Colombia province between 1978 and 2001, before Pickertons arrest, according to CNN.

The bodies of 33 women  many of whom were indigenous  were found on Pickertons pig farm in the nearby city of Port Coquitlam, per the outlet. He later confessed to killing 49 women to an undercover policeman from his jail cell.

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.

Following the news of Picktons death, British Colombias Premier David Eby released a statement stating that his thoughts went to the families of the victims.

For some, the death of this notorious serial killer may bring closure and for others it will reopen old wounds. It is a difficult day for anyone who lost someone they loved because of his cruelty and heinous crimes, Eby said.

Related: Inside the Dramatic Rescue of Woman Locked in Container and 'Chained Like a Dog' by Serial Killer

Robert Pickton preyed on the most vulnerable people in our society. These women were cast aside as less than equal, and less than worthy because of who they were, he continued. We are committed to recognizing the dignity of every person to avoid something like this happening ever again.

Good riddance, Eby concluded his statement.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Three challengers are going up against Democratic incumbent Gerald Byers in New Mexicos Primary for district attorney in the Third Judicial District.

Along with Byers, voters will see Fernando Macias, Ramona Martinez and Shaharazad Booth on the ballot.

The winner of this election will go up against Michael Caine in New Mexicos general election in November. Caine is running unopposed in the Republican Primary.

KTSM spoke with all five district attorney candidates to ask their platforms and why they believe they are the best choice for the role of DA.

What is your platform and why are you running for district attorney?

Fernando Macias:

The reason to run for district attorney is to address the issues of crime in the community and to try to figure the the methods of improving the criminal justice system as it works in Dona Ana County.

Ramona Martinez:

First of all, Im a native New Mexican. I have been serving New Mexicans for almost 20 years. I was taught the values of community, hard work and integrity. And those values have led me throughout my life. That is the reason why I am running for district attorney. I believe that these values are shared within our community and right now they are not being reflected. And I have been practicing in Dona Ana County as a criminal defense attorney and representing victims of crime for the last 10 years. Im in the courtrooms every single day. Im on the front lines of what has been happening to victims of crimes and those who are and those that are accused.

Shaharazad Booth:

I was a prosecutor, a deputy district attorney, and now Im a private defense attorney here in Las Cruces. And so having worked on both sides of the aisle, I have seen kind of how the District Attorneys Office, the dysfunction in that office, is bled into the community here in Las Cruces and all of Dona Ana County, which makes up all of the Third Judicial District. And because of that, Ive noticed kind of this sentiment in the area, that restorative justice and these more compassionate versions of justice might not be the right answer. And frankly, thats just not the tone I want to have happen for southern New Mexico and Dona Ana County. I have a 7-year-old who attends Las Cruces Public Schools, and Ive been in the community now for almost 20 years.

Gerald Byers:

Its to continue the work that we had begun. As you know, my account, my first administration started in the middle of Coronavirus and that significantly affected things. But we learned from that and we instituted some new procedures, such as getting software that would bring us into the 21st century. Were the only District Attorneys Office in the state that has that. And also weve initiated some new border prosecution initiatives associating ourselves with the Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.

Michael Caine:

First, I am a Republican. I have 24 years of experience as an attorney. I moved here in 2000, with my wife. My wifes from El Paso. I met her when I was out there in the Army at Fort Bliss back in 1989. My daughter lives here. Shes a schoolteacher with the Las Cruces Public Schools. I have two grandkids. And actually, next week, my sister is moving from North Carolina to come live with us here. So our family have put down roots here. Weve invested ourselves in this community. I have seen a marked increase in the dysfunctionality. I want to use the right word for the DAs office. I think that a lot of people are recognizing and I think thats why you have the incumbent and three other people challenging him in only a Democrat Primary side. The things that I bring to this are competence. Ive done somewhere between 150 and 200 jury trials. I havent really kept track. I dont think people that do it really keep track. But as near as I can calculate, somewhere in the ballpark of 150 to 200 full jury trials. I am a farmer, a former Army officer. I was a captain when I got out of the Army.

What sets you apart from your opponents?

Fernando Macias:

The vast management and administrative experience that I have. I certainly have served as a district court judge, including three years as the chief judge of the Third Judicial District. I presided over 10,000 cases. I would say that 80% of them were adult felony criminal cases. I have a long history of holding positions of extensive management and administrative requirements. I recently completed six years as the county manager, where I oversaw the work of hundreds of employees and multiple millions of dollars in terms of the budget. I think one of the things that had been lacking from the District Attorneys Office is not the knowledge in terms of how to prosecute an individual case. What has been lacking is the ability to manage the prosecution of 3,000 cases a year. I believe that my strengths in terms of having served in all three branches of government as a state senator, as a district court judge, as a administrator of many government programs, I believe that that clearly sets me apart from the other candidates in the race.

Ramona Martinez:

Part of my work has been advocating for community rights, being a voice for the voiceless in the places where its needed most, and also making sure that people who are marginalized, their voices are being heard. Again, my legal career has been dedicated to serving indigent clients. I understand as a business owner what businesses are facing. And in the area of Las Cruces, however, my rural roots also help me connect with those people outside of Las Cruces, because I understand that Las Cruces problems are not everyones problems. We have a very diverse community, and my diverse background enables me to be able to connect and understand on a community level the importance of the District Attorneys Office and the power it holds over peoples lives and how it can actually effectively change peoples lives for the better.

Shaharazad Booth:

One of the biggest things is my experience on both sides. So having been a deputy district attorney, having managed some prosecutors in my time, but also on the defense side from having spoken with defendants, really worked with them and seen how theyve ended up, where theyve ended up and why theyve gone the route that they have. Gives me a unique perspective to not only have the compassion for the people who come in contact with our criminal justice system, but also the knowledge and know how to affect change, how to prosecute these cases and to understand how to work with victims with the same level of compassion and care that I had whenever I was a deputy district attorney. During that time, I built my focus around victim-based crimes. So I was the Domestic Violence Prosecutor of the Year. I was also the Community Hero award winner for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence. So given that unique focus, I feel like none of the rest of the candidates come in with not only the experience to manage the District Attorneys Office, but also the experience on the defense side as well.

Gerald Byers:

Experience. Im the only candidate in this race for district attorney who has ever been a district attorney. Ive also been prosecuting for 26 years, 27 come this July, and Ive been and done an accounting for 11 years and been district attorney for three. One of the other opponents has never prosecuted a single case at all, and the other is their experiences that a decade plus, all in the system has significantly changed. Plus, Ive been significantly involved in prosecution, bringing forward cases that resulted in major changes to New Mexico law, such as Marissas Law based on the prosecution I did of Dominic Akers for murder in Albuquerque in 2004.

Michael Caine:

I just want people to know that I am a very viable candidate. This is going to be a very important election for this county that I want people to know that they have a choice in November. We are doing very well in our internal polling. We are doing very well at the forum and were being very, Im being very well received. Im not an establishment kind of guy. I dont go hang out at parties with the judges and the movers and shakers. And I dont care about those people. All of my friends are blue collar for the most part. So I dont have any problem with walking in and rolling up our sleeves and trying to fix that problem. I had a very good modeling of what the DAs office should look like under Ms.. Martinez back when I worked there. I made very good notes. I have a lot of the contacts that I had even back then, and I believe I can reinvigorate that office and put it back into good working order.

What issues do you believe the DAs office is facing?

Fernando Macias:

Well, the biggest issue is to properly prosecute all of the cases that need to be pursued. Unfortunately, the office has a history of having to dismiss many cases that should be filed and should be pursued. So the goal for anyone who becomes the district attorney is to really ensure that there arent dismissals of cases that were pursuing. All of the cases that are necessary, that we have the resources, the number of prosecutors, the budget, everything that is necessary in order to effectively prosecute the number of cases that should be prosecuted on a yearly basis.

Ramona Martinez:

Right now, theres a shortage of staffing. I have throughout my campaign trail have pointed it out, pointed this out from the very beginning. I have given numbers and comparison so that people understand the lack of attorneys that we have in this office. So we are the second largest county in New Mexico. And in comparison, if you look at Albuquerque, that is we have about 60 felony attorneys in Santa Fe. So the biggest issue any of us are going to face is recruitment and retention, which I do have a plan to address head-on with regards to recruiting at the law school, which is just up the road. I also want to you add an undergrad as well. So actively recruiting and that means being present, going to the law schools yourself as a candidate, as a D.A., and also going to the other law schools, creating clerkship programs.

Shaharazad Booth:

Staffing has been a common thing that has been brought up. But its that lack of staffing that leads people to believe that the DAs office is not doing anything. Frankly, they dont have the manpower to do what they need to do. So when I was deciding to run, I reached out to experienced prosecutors who still live in this community, but theyve decided to commute out to other areas because they dont want to work for this office. Their experience, career prosecutors, six of them have given me a commitment to come back if I win that office. And so having that ability to not only they won a change with experienced prosecutors ready to take that seat, not only to come in with that, but to come in with the energy and the experience to recruit and to lobby Santa Fe in order to get more positions to build this office up.

Gerald Byers:

Improvement of New Mexicos laws and how that is applied in the courts. As you can see, the New Mexico Supreme Court recently reversed itself by issuing an order that required courts to take a look at anybody who was in court on conditions of release. And they are arrested on a new felony that is directly opposite than the court ruling that came out concerning bail reform. I think that our court system is learning from that process, and I believe that our voice has been a significant part of that. And one of the other things is that, as I mentioned before, this border prosecution initiative started from the funding that we received from Senator Martin Heinrichs office to enhance safety, public safety and border security. And that is exactly what weve been doing. There are two cases already that have been charged based upon this new initiative. Thats one of the things. And the other is finalizing the implementation of our prosecutor by Karpel software, which has facilitated our ability to receive discovery electronically instead of the old paper and file method. And it has really sped things up. And so as we move forward, of course, the issues of more funding for our positions and to grow the size of the office. Because the truth be known, it does need to grow. It does need to be increased.

Michael Caine:

Well, the first of all, there should be 30 to 35 district attorneys in that office. Thats what fully staffed looks like. And thats what I was there from 2000 to 2004. I dont think we ever went below 30. The office was divisionalized. We had violent crimes, white collar crimes, drug crimes, DWI, domestic violence. Each of these were segregated property crimes. These were segregated off. And certain attorneys just did those while they were working on those. We had a very good system of templating files. Ive had it happen to me several times that I would give you an example. I was doing the drug crimes and one of the ADAs wouldnt be there one day and they would hand me the phone, say, Here, take this to trial tomorrow. Youre like at trial. But you knew when you opened it up with the documentation, it was in the file that it was ready to go. You knew what each witness wants, what each piece of evidence was, and basically you just had to follow the script. But thats the level of preparation that you need right now. With them being so short staffed, there are three criminal district judges over here in Las Cruces. The way hes got it now is theres two attorneys set for each courtroom instead of it being individualized. So anything that comes through those two attorneys are stuck with, which means that a lot of times theyre stuck with trials that are six deep in front of one judge. So this is one of the reasons theyre faltering so badly.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Laax, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, was attacked by Houthis in response to the war in Gaza

A cargo ship that was struck by five missiles launched by Yemens Houthis was carrying grain destined for Iran, the groups main backers, it has emerged.

The Laax, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, was attacked on Tuesday during an hours-long assault.

Images released by the French navy appeared to show damage at the waterline of the vessel, as well as on its deck.

The attack was part of the Iran-backed rebel groups campaign to disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea corridor in response to the war in Gaza.

Yemenis in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa show solidarity with the people of Gaza - MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images

The strike on the Laax came amid reports from the Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), that Tehran had supplied the Houthis with new, sea-launched ballistic missiles.

Now, the missile has become a weapon capable of presenting serious challenges to the interests of the United States and its main ally in the region, the Zionist regime, Tasnim reported.

Iran has denied that it arms the Yemeni rebel group, but its advanced weaponry is understood to be supplied by the IRGC.

The Houthis used drones and missiles in the attack on the Laax, according to the French navys statement.

It was not clear if the newly supplied Ghadr missiles were part of the barrage.

The Laax appeared to suffer damage at the waterline of the vessel, as well as on its deck

The Laax was listed last Thursday as travelling to Bandar Khomeini, Iran, the Associated Press reported.

After the attack, the final destination was listed as Fujairah, a port in the United Arab Emirates.

French naval forces based in the UAE agreed that the cargo ship was probably bound for Iran.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killing three sailors, seizing one vessel and sinking another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Britain and the US earlier this week struck targets in Yemen associated with the groups surge in attacks.

American officials said British fighter jets and US ships hit underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control hubs and a Houthi vessel in the strikes on Thursday.

Houthis TV channel Al-Masirah news said at least two people were killed and 10 others injured in one of the strikes on a radio building in the port city of Hodeida.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A Carrollton man charged with the murder of his infant son in 2021 pleaded guilty on Friday, according to the Carrollton Police Department.

Caleb Blake Brown was 17 years old when he was charged with the infants murder, according to a press release posted to the departments account on X. The cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Brown was sentenced to 25 years in state prison, per the terms of his plea agreement.

The child, Emerson Ziesmer, was born in July 2021. Brown and the boys mother, who was also 17 years old at the time, took the 3-week-old baby to the emergency room at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano on Aug. 9 of that year after the mother noticed he had grown pale and saw bruising on his abdomen, the press release states.

The child was then transferred by helicopter to Childrens Medical Center of Dallas, where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that the child had suffered multiple displaced ribs and a lacerated liver.

The subsequent investigation discovered evidence that Brown had been angry at the boys mother for keeping the baby and was concerned about his responsibility to pay child support.

Brown told police in September 2021 that he repeatedly threw the child into the air, causing him to hit the ceiling fan, and squeezed him when he came down while he was alone with the baby on the afternoon of Aug. 9.

Brown was arrested on Sept. 28, 2021, and charged with his murder. He is currently incarcerated at the Denton County jail.

The Carrollton Police Department would like to thank all the members of the investigative team and the prosecutors of the Denton County District Attorneys Office for their handling of this tough investigation, the press release stated. Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Emerson as they are still healing from their loss.
This article was originally published in CalMatters.

Nathan Reyes lives with his family five minutes from Cal State Los Angeles, where hes paying close to nothing to earn a bachelors degree that typically lands graduates a salary of $62,000 within five years of completing college.

Hes one of hundreds of thousands of California low-income students who attend colleges that, because theyre affordable enough, cost the equivalent of a few months of a typical salary that students earn within a few years of graduation.

A new report today compares Californias colleges by analyzing how long it would take low- and moderate-income students to recoup the money they spent to earn a college credential. It shows that many community colleges, Cal States and University of California campuses  all public campuses  have better returns on investment than most nonprofit private colleges and for-profit institutions.

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Reyes only expenses are car upkeep, gas, a few books and helping his family with some housing costs. The third-year student didnt need to take out loans.

I feel very lucky, Reyes, a communications major, said. In high school, I was always stressing about, Oh, man, Im gonna have a whole bunch of debt racked up after college. And now that Im in my third year, I dont have to worry about any of that.

Reyes, whos 20 years old, receives state grants to cover all his tuition and federal aid for other academic and living expenses. He also works for a state volunteer program that pays students a stipend.

Report calculates time it takes to recoup cost of degree

The report was commissioned by College Futures Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes college completion. The report merges several concepts into one number:

The net price of a college degree after all financial aid is calculated

The typical earnings 10 years after a student first enrolls in a school

How much higher those wages are compared to what young adults earn with just a high school diploma.

It defines low- and moderate-income households as those earning below $75,000 annually.

The data, all from the federal government, show that the time it takes to recoup the net costs of earning a degree at Cal State San Bernardino is less than three months. Thats because low-income students there incur about $5,000 in out-of-pocket expenses if they finish in four years. Within a few years they earn about $53,000 a year  double what young adults with only a high school diploma make.

Story continues

At Cal State Los Angeles, the time to recoup the net costs of earning a bachelors is also less than three months of a typical post-college annual salary.

This is really a first-of-its kind look, said the reports author, Michael Itzkowitz, who headed the federal governments first consumer tool for comparing college costs under the Obama administration. The approach is a mathematical way of demonstrating which colleges confer economic value to students beyond what a high school diploma would.

I feel very lucky, Reyes, a communications major, said. In high school, I was always stressing about, Oh, man, Im gonna have a whole bunch of debt racked up after college NATHAN REYES, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT CAL STATE LA

A CalMatters analysis of Iztkowitzs data found that the average time needed for a student to recoup their net costs is about two years at public institutions and a little over three years at nonprofit private colleges in California.

Some of those private campuses are as affordable as a Cal State, UC or community college after factoring in financial aid. Stanford University costs low-income students nothing. However, only 4% of students who apply are admitted, while all but three Cal States admit more than 70% of the students who apply. Most undergraduates in California attend a public institution.

Pitzer, Pomona and the University of Southern California and several other highly selective nonprofit private colleges cost students less than a years worth of the typical salary theyll earn within a few years of completing their degree.

Return on investment varies by college

While some for-profit colleges have strong returns on investment, most do not.

It takes nearly 13 years for students attending this often-scrutinized segment of higher education to recoup their costs, Itzkowitzs calculations show. Californias Department of Justice has sued several for-profit colleges, accusing them of deceitful practices, and won large financial judgments and settlements.

And that doesnt even account for the 22 for-profit institutions that show no return on investment, meaning students from those schools earned no more than what a young adult with just a high school diploma makes. In the report, 24 campuses in total, or 8% of all California colleges, showed no return on investment, including two small nonprofit private colleges.

There are for-profit institutions that can offer an affordable education and good employment outcomes and theyre recognized within the data, Itzkowitz said. But what we also see is that there are a disproportionate amount that show more worrisome outcomes for students in comparison to other sectors.

Most California for-profit colleges, however, predominantly issue certificates, which are shorter-term credentials that dont regularly lead to the economic gains associated with bachelors degrees.

At 79% of California institutions in the report, low and moderate-income students typically recoup their costs in five years or less. For nearly a third of campuses, it was less than a year.

For many students, the ultimate costs of a degree will be higher than the data published today. Thats because they need more than two years to earn an associate degree or beyond four years to earn a bachelors, assuming they graduate at all. The longer they chase a degree, the less time they spend in the workforce earning the higher salaries that come with a college credential. Also, the federal net price data has limits: It only calculates what full-time freshmen pay. Students attending part time will experience different annual costs.

But the basic trend remains the same: State and federal financial aid at public campuses plus typical salaries that far exceed the wages for those with a high school diploma make college worth the investment.

Itzkowitz plans to produce a follow-up report that measures the return on investment by major. His organization, the HEA Group, produced an analysis of typical wages by major last year. Some majors lead to higher wages than others, which can skew school-wide results.

The data in todays report show variation within public universities, too, even in the same city. UCLAs net price-to-earnings ratio is about seven months and its students tend to earn more than those from Cal State LA after graduating. But the typical cost of a degree after four years for low-income students is roughly $31,000  far higher than the $5,500 at Cal State LA, which is 20 miles away.

I wanted to go to UCLA, but it was too expensive for me, Reyes said. I did get accepted.

Like he did at Cal State LA, he would have probably qualified for the Cal Grant, which waives tuition at public universities. But the distance from home would have forced him to either live in a UCLA dorm or commute about two hours daily between home and the crosstown campus. Housing, not tuition, is usually the largest expense for students at public universities. Borrowing money was out of the question for him.

So was a long drive to UCLA. If I ended up missing a class or something, Id beat myself up over it, he said.

This story was originally published at CalMatters
CCSD releases nearly 2K pages of documents on officer confrontation with Durango High School student

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Clark County School District announced nearly 2,000 pages of emails and documents Friday related to a confrontation that was recorded between an officer and a student from Durango High School last year. The officer involved was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

The incident, which was caught on camera in February 2023, made waves across the country and sparked the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada (ACLU) to sue for body camera footage, which was made public in January of this year.

Judge orders CCSD to pay ACLU $36K in attorney fees

Durango High School student and police confrontation in Feb. 2023 (CCSDPD)

There was no firearm on any of our clients, ACLU Executive Director Athar Haseebullah said in January after the footage was made public. This was a BS justification to stop and accost children.

ACLU responds to bodycam release, accuses Clark County School District of cover-up

In the batch of documents released Friday, one statement referenced two calls before the incident in question, citing instances of teenagers pointing or pulling guns, causing officers to be on high alert.

A photo was also included of unknown teenagers making what appear to be volatile hand gestures.

Police reports and video released of campus officer kneeling on teen near Las Vegas high school

Another photo of what appeared to be CCSD Police included several police officer emojis with guns pointed at them.

In a subsequent document, police service employees said they do not recognize the account associated with the photo as a Durango High School student.

According to court documents, the involved officer, Lieutenant Jason Elfberg, was not disciplined, but emails shed some light on an internal investigation.

Several showed correspondence with an outside agency on a use of force review.

Video of Durango High School incident released

This all came two months after a judge ordered CCSD to pay the ACLU $36,000 in attorney fees. Access to CCSD internal investigation interviews and case files was also prohibited.

Also in the documents, several copies of what appear to be presentations of use of force policies were included.

All the emails included in Fridays documents spanned from right after the February 2023 incident to a couple of months later.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A ceasefire is a trap: Forcing Ukraine to compromise with Russia would weaken US, Zelensky warns Trump

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned former U.S. President Donald Trump against forcing Ukraine into a ceasefire with Russia in an interview with the Guardian, saying it would be a trap.

Trump has said he could end Russias war within 24 hours if elected president, without specifying the steps for reaching a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

The presumptive Republican nominee has also said he thinks both Moscow and Kyiv want to save face, they want a way out, claiming that Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territories would be okay being part of Russia, the Washington Post reported in April, citing an unnamed person who has discussed the matter with Trump.

When (Putin) gains strength, he might issue an ultimatum  to recognize all occupied territories, to stay out of NATO, to forget about European integration, Zelensky said in clip from the Guardian interview published by his office on June 1.

And there will be many such conditions, depending on how strong he is at that moment. Therefore, a ceasefire is a trap.

Zelensky said he doesn't believe Trump would want to be remembered as the "loser" to Russia in the war.

He asked the Guardian reporters to imagine a scenario where Trump, as president, decided to end the war at Ukraine's expense.

Somehow, in dialogue, he might get confirmation from Putin that this is the end, that this is it. Ukrainians will not accept this, but he might then say: 'Well, thats it, I am giving you no support, no weapons, no finances.' He might negotiate with some partners, and they might also stop, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to a ceasefire that recognizes the current front lines on the battlefield but will fight on if Ukraine and its allies do not agree, Reuters reported on May 24, citing undisclosed Russian sources.

Except for unsuccessful talks during the early spring of 2022, there have been no direct peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky has repeatedly said Kyiv would not cede territories in exchange for peace.

Trump said in May that he would not commit to providing Ukraine with defense assistance if he won the 2024 election.

Of course, Ukraine, without weapons, barehanded, cannot fight against a multi-million-strong army. Lets imagine that, said Zelensky.

Trump has privately said he could end Russias war by pressuring Ukraine to cede Crimea and Donbas to Moscow, the Washington Post reported on April 7, citing sources.

Zelensky believes such an approach would green light further attacks, reducing to zero the U.S.s global influence.

That would be the end of any ceasefire, the beginning of exactly what everyone is so afraid to talk about out loud, the real World War III, said Zelensky.

Read also: Its not a pretty picture: What a second Trump presidency could mean for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Central Coast has a long history with space travel. Check out these 9 memorable moments

Astronauts have long been ambassadors for the space program.

It takes a team of smart people and a big budget to fly a rocket into space. But funding has been subject to the whims of congress.

From the beginning, astronauts have been the public face of the program and the ones putting their lives on the line for their missions.

Critics of spaceflight see a finite world and have other programs they would like to see the money allocated for or not spent at all. But the space program has changed the way we all live. Smaller and faster computers are just one example.

The original Apollo Guidance Computer had a tiny 74 KB of ROM memory and 4 KB of RAM  about the power of a contemporary pocket calculator. Automobiles today have more computing power onboard than Apollo did.

Cub Scouts from Pack 42 wear astronaut and alien costumes during the 33rd annual Harvest Festival parade in Arroyo Grande on Oct. 12, 1970.

When I was growing up, astronauts were among the last heroes in an era of disillusion and anti-heros.

On Earth we had war, poverty, discrimination and scandal. In space we could imagine a place that was not tainted by human foibles.

Since then, we have found that some astronauts can be flawed, or lost to tragic circumstances.

But astronauts also carry our best impulses and at its best, the space program is an exploration of our largest human aspirations: to explore the edges of what is known.

Here are a few notable moments when space has intersected with the Central Coast.

Dec. 16, 1958

The first missile launch from what-was-then Vandenberg Air Force Base was a Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile. The base was created from the former U.S. Army garrison Camp Cooke, first established in August 1940.

Shown here left to right are models of the Atlas-Agena Atlas Able, Atlas D-ICBM, Atlas-Mercury and Atlas Centaur. The base announced an open house in an article published Sept. 27, 1960.

March 24, 1962

President John F. Kennedy visits Vandenberg Air Force Base to see a rocket launch.

In September that year, he would give a speech at Rice University announcing, We choose to go to the moon.

The United States had lagged far behind the Soviet Union in achieving space milestones, and learning from the civilian program would also overlap into military applications. And the path goes both ways: Many astronauts started their aviation careers as military pilots.

From the left President John F. Kennedy, secretary of defense Robert McNamara and General Thomas Powers watch an Atlas rocket takes flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base on March 23, 1962.

May 18, 1968

John Glenn, a World War II and Korean War pilot campaigned for Robert F. Kennedy Sr. during La Fiesta.

Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth during the February 1962 Friendship 7 mission. He would later fly on the Space Shuttle STS-95 mission in October 1998.

He is the oldest person to venture into space and the only Mercury and Space Shuttle astronaut. In between trips into space, he was a U.S. senator.

John Glenn visited San Luis Obispo on May 18, 1968 during La Fiesta. He is seen here with La Fiesta El Presidente Edward Davin (in hat). He spoke from the side of the Old Mission to a crowd on Monterey Street as Robert F. Kennedy, Sr. ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

October 10, 1970

Astronaut Walter Cunningham was grand marshal for the Harvest Festival in Arroyo Grande. He was the pilot for Apollo 7 in October 1968, a test flight for systems used to land on the moon and the first effective television transmission of crew activities. Kids dressed up as astronauts in the parade.

Walter Cunningham, a real NASA astronaut pilot of Apollo VII two years earlier, during the 33rd annual Harvest festival parade in Arroyo Grande on Oct. 12, 1970.

June 9, 1989

Cal Poly graduate Robert Hoot Gibson made several trips to San Luis Obispo County and while in space was often photographed with Cal Poly memorabilia in the background.

The 1969 aeronautical engineering graduate brought a Poly pennant that had been carried into space on the shuttle Atlantis as a gift to then-Cal Poly President Warren Baker.

Cal Poly President Warren Baker, left, holds a framed memorabilia from alumni astronaut Robert Hoot Gibson on June 9, 1989.

The Vietnam veteran pilot had flown over 100 airplanes and five space shuttle missions.

He flew aboard Challenger, Columbia, Atlantis (twice) and Endeavour. He would also be on the commission that investigated the Challenger explosion that killed the crew of seven.

Cal Poly graduate Robert Hoot Gibson is a U.S. Navy veteran and flew five space shuttle missions as an astronaut. He made several trips to San Luis Obispo County and while in space was often photographed with Cal Poly memorabilia in the background.

April 6, 2001

Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon and perhaps the best nickname of any astronaut  his real name being Edwin Eugene Aldrin  visited both Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande high schools speaking to their Endeavour academies.

Handout photo for students at Arroyo Grande High School during a visit April 6, 2021. It documents when Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the moon in July 1969.

He told Arroyo Grande students that the most moving moment on the trip was when the lunar lander engine shut off and they were on the surface of the moon. He said walking on the moon was significant, but like any pilot he liked to fly.

The big deal was landing that sucker on the moon, he said.

Brittney Clark, 16, demonstrates one of the experiments sophomore science students work with at Arroyo Grande High School on April 6, 2001. This demonstrates the effect of wind on a sphere. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin has seen the earth from this point of view from a seat in Apollo 11 on its way to the first moon landing.

April 18, 2022

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Vandenberg Space Force Base to speak about the dangers of space junk accumulating in orbit and the end to anti-satellite missile tests.

During her visit to Vandenberg Space Force Base, April 18, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris called for an end to anti-satellite missile testing (ASAT) and said the United States will commit to not performing these types of tests.

Dec., 13, 2022

Paso Robles and Cal Poly team up to apply to license a spaceport at the site of the Paso Robles airport.

May 29, 2024

Victor Glover, Jr. has made four space walks and several visits to Cal Poly where he graduated from the engineering program in 1999.

He was a US. Navy test and combat pilot before joining NASA. He has more than 3,500 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft.

He will be the pilot and one of four astronauts on the first mission to the moon in more than 50 years in 2025.

Cal Poly graduate and NASA astronaut Victor Glover visited campus May 29, 2024. He talks to engineering students from left Cole Bushur, Nicholas Toal and Andrew Whitacre. Andrew Sugamele points out details on the electric powered, autonomous flight aircraft they built.
Idaho doomsday author Chad Daybell received the death penalty at his sentencing on Saturday, bringing a stunning end to a five-year trial over the murders of his first wife and two of his second wifes children.

The jury has made a finding that it would be appropriate to impose the death penalty, Judge Steven Boyce said in the Saturday afternoon sentencing hearing.

Daybell appeared emotionless in court as the decision was handed down.

The court is directed that the defendant would be sentenced to death on those counts, Boyce continued. He added that additional sentencing would be handed down Saturday afternoon for additional, lesser counts Daybell was convicted of, including insurance fraud.

Chad Daybell Introduced Family to Lori Vallow a Day After Wifes Funeral, Son-In-Law Says

Daybell, 55, was on Thursday convicted on all charges, which included first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, grand theft, and insurance fraud. Prosecutors argued that Daybell, an apocalypse fanatic, had conspired with his second wife Lori Vallow to murder Vallows two children, 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan in September 2019. Their remains were found in the couples backyard in June 2020.

A month after slaying the children, prosecutors alleged, Daybell and Vallow conspired to kill Daybells first wife, Tammy Daybell, who was asphyxiated in her Idaho home. Daybell and Vallow married two weeks later.

Doomsday Dad Chad Daybells Kids Take Stand in Murder Trial

Vallow was sentenced last year to life in prison in connection with the case.

Witnesses testified that Daybell and Vallows extreme religious beliefs led them to murder anyone they deemed darkincluding Vallows own children.

If someones dark and theyre an earthly obstaclethe body has to die. Knowing that, Lori still brought her children to Idaho, closer to Chad Daybell, Fremont County prosecutor Lindsay Blake told the jury during closing arguments. Chad labeled her children dark. Their bodies were buried on his property, hidden from those looking for them. With them gone, he could be with Lori. Her time was completely free for him.

How the Malignant Faith of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell Went Mainstream

They had money, power, sex, and no obstacles and, specifically, no earthly relatives, no encumbrances, Blake said. However, they left a wake of destruction and tears for those that had trusted them.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Chad Daybell after the jury's verdict in his murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. - Credit: AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool

Chad Daybell was sentenced to death Saturday, two days after an Idaho jury found him guilty in the 2019 murders of his former wife Tammy Daybell and two children of his current wife, Lori Vallow Daybell.

On Thursday, Daybell was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges  including insurance fraud and grand theft  in connection to the 2019 killings. The jury began weighing Daybells punishment on Friday, and after about eight hours of deliberation, recommended the death penalty.

More from Rolling Stone

Judge Steven Boyce formally imposed the sentence of death Saturday, saying it was appropriate under the law, CNN reports.

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 Vallow 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; 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 Loris two children, seven-year-old son JJ Vallow and 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan.

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.

Two dead children buried in the defendant Chad Daybells backyard, prosecutor Rob Wood said in the opening statement of Daybells murder trial. 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.

In 2023, Lori Vallow was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of her two children and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Best of Rolling Stone
Chad Daybell Sentenced to Death for Murdering Lori Vallows 2 Kids and His First Wife

Daybell was convicted of murdering Joshua "J.J." Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell on May 30, among other charges

John Roark/Post Register/Pool/AP

Chad Daybell has been sentenced to death for murdering 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and his first wife, 49-year-old Tammy Daybell.

On Thursday, May 30, Chad was found guilty of six counts in connection with their deaths and two counts of insurance fraud.

The Ada County courts in Idaho revealed on Saturday, June 1, that a verdict had been reached by its sequestered jury, per CNN, before Judge Steven Boyce imposed the sentence following a recess.

ABC News reported that Chad did not show emotion when Boyce read the jury's verdict.

J.J. and Tylee were the children of Chad's second wife, Lori Vallow. Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in July 2023 for murdering her children and conspiracy to commit murder in Tammy's death.

Unlike Chad, she did not face the death penalty.



Related: Chad Daybell Found Guilty of Murdering Lori Vallows 2 Kids and His 1st Wife Tammy Daybell

John Roark/Post Register/Pool/AP Chad Daybell listens during his preliminary hearing in St. Anthony, Idaho, on August 3, 2020.

The jury in the murder trial took two days to come to their decision following the conviction.

CNN reported that the jury deliberated Chad's fate for 6 hours on Friday, before breaking for the night. They later deliberated again on Saturday morning, until the court made its announcement.

In a statement shared Saturday by the Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation, the Douglas family thanked "law enforcement, the prosecution, the media" and those who "watched and listened to the trial and prayed for us."

From left: Lori Vallow, JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan, Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell

After stating that they were "grateful for the relationships we have created through this horrible time and the support and love we were able to give each other," the family added that it was time to "start to heal from the terrible losses we have suffered."

"We will miss Tammy every single day of our lives but we have some comfort knowing we will see her again," the statement continued.

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.

Chad was a doomsday author when he met Vallow in 2018. In September of 2019, J.J. and Tylee disappeared. The following month, on October 19, Tammy died at the home she shared with Chad.

Two weeks later on November 5, Lori and Chad married in Hawaii while J.J.'s grandparents reported the children missing.

Before wrapping this week, Chad's capital murder trial lasted nearly two months with testimony from witnesses, including Chad's two adult children, Emma Murray and Garth Daybell. (Chad was married to Tammy for nearly 30 years and had five children with her.)



Related: Detective Describes Lori Vallow Daybell's Reaction to Husband's Killing: 'Unemotional' and 'Nonchalant'

Nearly nine months after J.J. and Tylee disappeared on June 9, 2020, their badly decomposed remains were found buried on Chad's Idaho property. Tylee had been dismembered and burned; J.J. was wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape.

During Vallow's 2022 trial, a forensic pathologist revealed during testimony that J.J. was asphyxiated with a plastic bag and duct tape over his mouth, East Idaho News, KTVB reporter Alexandra Duggan and Fox 10 reported at the time.

Related: Forensic Pathologist Reveals How Lori Vallow Daybell's Son J.J. Was Killed, Daughter's Cause of Death Unknown

Rexburg Police Department (2) Joshua Vallow, Tylee Ryan

Tylee's cause of death was undetermined due to how badly her remains were burned, the outlets reported.

Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake also revealed during Lori's trial that Tammy's cause of death was asphyxiation. It was initially ruled accidental.

John Roark/AP/Shutterstock; Lori Vallow, left, and Tammy Daybell

J.J.'s grandfather Larry Woodcock spoke after Chad's conviction during a press conference shared by KSL. "It's a sad day," he said. "J.J. would have been 12 years old, guys. For what?"

He also shared thoughts about Tylee and Tammy, before adding: "J.J., Papa loves you. J.J., I miss you."



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Read the original article on People.
An Idaho jury sentenced Chad Daybell, the man who was convicted this week for the 2019 murders of his first wife and second wife's two children, to death.

Daybell did not show any emotion when the judge read the jury's verdict. It took two days for the jury to come to their decision.

PHOTO: Chad Daybell, right, stands with defense lawyer John Prior after the jury's verdict in his murder trial is read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on May 30, 2024. (Kyle Green/AP)

Lindsey Blake, the Fremont County, Idaho prosecutor, told reporters she was hopeful the verdict would allow the victims' families and friends a chance to heal.

MORE: Family members give emotional victim impact statements in Chad Daybell triple-murder trial

"We are pleased with the outcome and justice has been served for the victims in this case," she said at a news conference later Saturday.

The jury found Daybell guilty on all counts Thursday in what prosecutors said was a plot to pursue "money, power and sex."

Daybell, 55, was charged with murder and conspiracy in the deaths of the two children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, 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 determined to be asphyxiation, according to investigators.

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 his new girlfriend Lori Vallow could be together "unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles."

Daybell and Vallow were married in Hawaii two weeks after the killings, according to prosecutors.

Daybell's guilty verdict came more than a year after Vallow was also convicted of murdering her two youngest children. She was sentenced to life in prison after a judge granted the defense's motion to dismiss the death penalty in her case.

Vallow faces charges over the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed by her brother in 2019.

Chad 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.

Before the jury began their deliberations over the sentencing Friday, 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."

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: 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 May 30, 2024. (Kyle Green/AP)

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.

MORE: Doomsday author Chad Daybell found guilty in triple-murder case

"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."

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."

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)

Chad 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.

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 and Samara Said contributed to this report.

Chad Daybell sentenced to death in triple murder of family originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BOISE, Idaho (ABC4)  After roughly seven weeks of testimony, Chad Daybell has been sentenced to death in the gripping triple murder trial that found him guilty in the deaths of his two stepchildren and former wife.

An Ada County court jury on Thursday deemed Daybell, 55, guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and insurance fraud in the 2019 deaths of Tammy Daybell, 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow, and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan.

Jury hears tearful victim impact statements at Chad Daybells sentencing

Prosecutors pushed for the death penalty  and the same jurors who found Daybell guilty were tasked with deciding if his crimes meet the states legal threshold for capital punishment. After deliberation, the court announced the death penalty sentencing Saturday morning.



Under Idaho law, there are eleven circumstances the jury must take into account when determing if the death penalty is warranted. One of them is if the murder was especially heinous, cruel or manifesting exceptional depravity. Another is if the defendant exhibited utter disrgard for human life during the murder or the circumstances surrounding it.



The jury must find at least one of the circumstances exists beyond a reasonable doubt.



The bizarre and complex case began in September 2019, when extended family members reported the JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan missing and law enforcement officials launched a search that spanned several states. The subsequent investigation took several unexpected turns.

Chad Daybell and Vallow 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 teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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.

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.

A complete timeline for the Daybell, Vallow murders

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.

Prior said that Vallow Daybell was only motivated by money and that she was conspiring with Cox to kill Daybell, who was lined up to be her next victim.

Last year, Vallow Daybell was convicted of murdering her two children and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosectutors didnt seek the death penalty in her case.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
California woman fined $88K after her kids took clams from the beach. Here's how to profit from seafood legally

The next time your kids want to collect seashells at the beach, make sure they are gathering actual seashells. Otherwise, that fun little family excursion could prove costly, as one Fresno, California, woman found out.

Charlotte Russ took her family to Pismo Beach at the end of 2023. Her kids mistook a bunch of clams  which are subject to regulations  for seashells.

My kids [thought] they were collecting seashells, but they were actually collecting clams; 72 to be exact, she told ABC 30.

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Russ received a ticket on the spot, but the real shocker came later when she was notified of the exact amount of the fine  $88,993.

It made me really sad and depressed, and it kind of ruined our trip, she said.

Fine reduced

Lt. Matthew Gil of the Department of Fish and Wildlife explained to ABC 30 the reasoning behind clam regulations.

We have to let [the clams] get to four-and-a-half inches so they can spawn, he explained, adding that the hope is that the clams can have offspring every year.

To avoid fines, it's important to know what is permissible to collect at any given beach and what is not.

Fortunately, Russ did not have to pay the full $88,993 fine. After she explained the clam mix-up to a San Luis Obispo County judge, her fine was reduced to $500.

Still, Russ remarked that it was definitely an expensive trip to Pismo.

Read more: Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market  and are betting on these assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds

Reeling in the profits?

Russ experience at Pismo Beach highlights the importance of understanding regulations when dealing with seafood.

However, the seafood industry can also offer intriguing opportunities for investors. Research from McKinsey & Company indicated that global demand for seafood is rapidly increasing, with supply struggling to keep up  especially for the more popular species, such as salmon.

Investors looking for exposure to the industry can start by researching publicly traded companies that are involved in seafood production, processing and distribution.

Story continues

When investing in seafood, its important to understand the difference between wild fisheries and aquaculture (fish farming), as these segments have distinct market dynamics and regulatory considerations.

Different types of seafood also have varying market demands and profitability. For instance, salmon is highly popular and often farmed. Companies like Mowi ASA and Leroy Seafood Group are notable players in the segment. Meanwhile, shrimp is a major global commodity with significant farming operations, particularly in Asia.

Its important to note that many seafood companies are not based in the U.S., nor are they listed on U.S. stock exchanges, so investors may need a specialized broker to get a piece of the action.

By diversifying their portfolio across different segments and geographical locations, investors can mitigate risks and capitalize on the growth potential of the global seafood industry.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Charlottes biking community took to the streets Friday night for one of the biggest rides of the year.

It was for the second anniversary of the Critical Mass bike ride. The aim is to raise awareness of the urgent need for enhanced bike lanes and infrastructure across the city.

Riders gathered around 6:45 p.m. on Friday at First Ward Park and rode through several neighborhoods in the Queen City.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  A woman accused of attacking an 11-year-old girl on the citys West Side back in September has been charged.

According to Chicago police, 35-year-old Alexis Davila has been charged with aggravated battery to a child causing great bodily harm.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

The charge stems from an alleged attack, in the 1900 block of South Spaulding Avenue, that left an 11-year-old girl with serious injuries.

WGN-TV had previously covered the alleged attack and detailed the moments leading up to it.

35-year-old Alexis Davila has been charged with aggravated battery to a child causing great bodily harm in connection with an attack on an 11-year-old girl on the West Side.

According to family members of 11-year-old Trinity Washington, the little girl was outside her North Lawndale home with her puppy when she was hit in the face with a bottle and punched in the nose.

Washington suffered injuries that were so severe, that she later required emergency plastic surgery.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Authorities eventually located Davila in the 2600 block of West 71st Street where she was taken into custody on Wednesday.

Davila appeared in court on Friday for a detention hearing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 statistics are alarming enough.

According to recent studies, the average cost of infant care in Texas is over $9,000 yearly, nearly 15 percent of the median family income in Texas. Add to that, there is a shortage of childcare workers, driven by low wages and challenging working conditions, which mean high turnover rates, reducing the availability of care.

Mayor Cole Stanley talked about the wealth of human resources in Amarillo and how he represented the voice of many people. He said if we didnt pay attention to these voices, the result could be more jobs with less workers.

In 2023, 24 of 26 counties in the Texas Panhandle were considered "childcare deserts," according to Karelee Clay, senior vice president of the Amarillo Area Foundation. This means that there is a significant mismatch between the demand for childcare and the available supply, making it difficult if not impossible for many families to find adequate childcare services.

Fortunately, a group of leaders concerned with these issues met at the Amarillo Area Foundation Wednesday morning to discuss ways to overcome the problems at The Childcare Advantage: Boosting Business through Employee Support gathering.

The event addressed not only the need for affordable childcare, but also the importance of childcare affecting work places that face fewer employees and lower retention rates resulting in turnover and lack of staff, which leads to inferior service.

The event included some well-known visitors, including Peter Holt, owner of the San Antonio Spurs; Wendy Uptain, Executive Director of Early Matters Texas; and Jeanette Ward, CEO of Texas Mutual. They addressed the current crisis in the childcare industry and how it is impacting local business, as well as possible ways to tackle solutions. Their forum was followed by information provided by Sadie Funk of Best Place for Working Parents and then a panel discussion on "Balancing Acts: Childcares Role in Shaping Business Success."

Peter Holt, Sam Antonio Spurs owner, tells about his interest in early educational options and how the workplace can help with the problem of childcare expenses.

Funk's presentation was followed by a panel discussion including Rich Gagnon, city of Amarillo; William Ware, of Amarillo National Bank; and Joe Straus, former Texas House Speaker, facilitated by Skylar Gallop, Raise Your Hand Texas. Following that, lunch was served with a discussion on "Future Workforce Focus on Youth Perspective on Work, Purpose and What Matters Most."

Clay detailed the budget of an Amarillo couple as an example: David and Mary, who had a monthly income of $5,583. Their rent was $1,100, taxes $479, medical $720, food $600, utilities $402, transportation $944, and discretionary $1,320. David was a truck driver who made $22 an hour, and Mary was an early child educator who made around $12 an hour. Neither one had insurance with the job so they went on the exchange so medical costs included premiums as well as deductibles. Transportation is challenging in our area so that was in their budget, but they still maintained some discretionary funds. Mary was pregnant and when they had a baby, their childcare was $833 a month, which left little discretionary funding. They really wanted a second child, and when they did, it cost $1,666 for childcare, which then blew their budget. Childcare was only $500 less than rent because they couldnt afford a two-bedroom home.

Peter Holt, owner of the San Antonio Spurs (right), Jeanette Ward, CEO of Texas Mutual (left) and Wendy Uptain, executive director of Early Matters Texas (middle), were among guest speakers Wednesday at the Amarillo Area Foundation for The Childcare Advantage: Boosting Business through Employee Support.

There are a lot of children in need of childcare in Amarillo. Were all used to saving for college education for children, but you dont think about saving for childcare for your children when youre 10, she said. But thats about what youd have to do. Its about $10,000 a year to pay for childcare for one year per child in Amarillo. Clay went on to say that the price of a degree at West Texas A&M University is listed on their website at $38,045, so that it is less expensive to send your child to college than to day care based on figures shown. She detailed the average pay of those working in childcare who are making around $11 per hour in contrast with an office manager which can make $17 an hour to a person who starts at Buc-ee's Travel Stop, with no educational requirements, who can make $20 an hour with many benefits including 401K matched income and possibility of much higher pay as a manager. During Covid, there were subsidies for childcare, but those have ended.

According to information included in the event, it has been evident that when employees cannot secure reliable childcare, they face increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and higher stress levels, which in turn affect their performance at work. A presentation showed that most families are dual-working households, and only 27 percent have the father as the sole breadwinner. Over 72 percent of all women and 93 percent of all men with children under 18 were in the labor force in 2019. There are 60 percent of non-working parents who say that childcare is a top reason they are not participating in the workforce. Then, 73 percent of highly credentialed women who leave the workforce say they would have stayed if they had access to flexibility. Statistics also show that 83 percent of millennials would leave one job for another with stronger family policies and support. Replacing an employee costs a business six to nine months of that employees salary on average, showing the need for employers to attract and retain top talent.

"One in four individuals currently in childcare are not likely to be there next year," she said. Many of the unemployed would like to go to work, but cant due to the high cost of childcare, according to statistics provided.

Holt, well-known for his ownership of the Spurs, said he became involved when he saw the large gaps between the talent pipeline systems. He said he began to see a need for career pathways and more options for early education. The best learning opportunities began at the age of 4, before education started for most children. Holt said he had served as an assistant teacher early in his career but found that teaching wasnt for him.

Teachers are saints, and Im no saint, he said. Holt mentioned high school internships, career pathways and options for early education, which are few in number. He said he was fortunate enough to be able to afford those options for his four children, but the cost was still shocking.

Holt partnered with a Child Care Center in San Antonio near where headquarters were located for the Spurs. They donated a small amount of money to help to the center quality for funding in a quality rated system such as TRS. He said they also donated some land for a very successful program called Pre-K for S.A., which offered free day care for 4-year-olds. They had a big waiting list, and the center needed repairs. The new building will shorten the waiting list which serves both businesses and citizens. Holt stressed that part of the companys philosophical idea was that people need peace, harmony and fulfillment in their lives and home to lead to a better fulfillment, and having a safe childcare place can be essential in the process. He encouraged people to ask their state representatives and those in positions of power to become involved in the process. He also added that localized improvement could happen without legislation as well.

Ward, CEO of Texas Mutual, said she was born in Odessa and considered herself a West Texan. Ward said she had a child at age 17, put herself through college and took a job at Texas Mutual as a receptionist. She worked her way up in the company until she became CEO in March of last year. She learned of the term "childcare desert" when she was at an economic development event in Austin, where a councilman did a talk about what was preventing people from entering the workforce. He found that over 1,000 children were on a waiting list for childcare. Thats when she became an evangelist for Early Matters. Around eight years ago, the company lost around 15 adjustors, due mostly to not having a childcare site, so she advocated for such a site to be built at her business location. Though she faced a lot of pushback, she realized that employees appreciated being able to see their kids. The high-quality childcare area below market rates became so popular that they asked her for more space, and she agreed, if they would become qualified for rising star quality certification and get to take kids that are getting subsidized care, which turned out to be successful.

Ward also mentioned that she had put herself through college at University of Texas for $1,200 a semester and childcare was affordable, but at the costs of tuition and childcare now, she couldnt do that without help. Thats when it became her passion for Early Cares.

Uptain also spoke on the importance and success of early education opportunities.

Funk, national director for The Best Place for Kids / The Best Place for Working Parents, followed with information on the organization and on what people can do now to help.

After the meeting, Clay said that she was very pleased with the outcome of the event. She said it was more of an educational session to bring information about the workplace to the forefront and get business owners and leaders involved. Several business owners and leaders stepped up and are willing to be part of the change needed to help Amarillos workplaces, as well as addressing families of children in need of childcare and those people interested in working in the childcare area.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo foundation addresses crisis of dwindling child care resources
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, a regional security forum, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. -/YNA/dpa

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday stressed the need to maintain dialogue with China and its neighbours, to prevent current tensions in the region from spiralling out of control.

"Every conversation is not going to be a happy conversation. But it is important that we continue to talk to each other," Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore.

However, despite the obvious differences of opinion, the secretary saw no immediate danger of escalation.

"You've also heard me say a number of times that, you know, war or a fight with China is neither imminent, in my view, or unavoidable," Austin said in his speech.

At the same time, he noted the importance of the United States supporting the interests of its allies and partners in the region.

Regarding the ongoing sparring between the Philippines and China, Austin also underscored the role of increased dialogue.

"There are a number of things that can happen at sea or in the air, we recognize that," he said. "But our goal is to make sure that we don't allow things to spiral out of control unnecessarily."

The defence chiefs of both superpowers, the US and China, held direct talks in Singapore the previous day. The meeting between Austin and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun also addressed issues relating to Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Austin expressed concerns about the activities of the Chinese military around Taiwan, according to the US Department of Defense. He also spoke about China's role in supporting Russia's defence industry.

At the conference in Singapore, which started on Friday and runs until Sunday, hundreds of ministers, military leaders and experts from around the globe are discussing the world's current trouble spots and threats.

Topics such as artificial intelligence, cyberdefence and future types of warfare are also on the agenda.
Cicada? More like ci-nada. Why some city dwellers are calling cicada invasion Y2Cicada

Kris Rey was anticipating a cicada invasion. News story after news story seemed to promise a summer teeming with the insect.

But weeks in, Rey hasnt seen a single cicada in Lincoln Square. She jokingly called the phenomenon, the Great Cicada Scandal of 2024. Or, she mused, Y2Cicada.

Its a lot of hype for a disastrous event that never happened at all, Rey said with a laugh. Y2K was the biggest example of that in my memory.

And Rey isnt alone. Sightings of periodical cicadas are few and far between in much of the city. But its a much different story for those in Far Southwest Side neighborhoods such as Beverly, as well as the suburbs where the insects sound is inescapable.

This year marks a rare double emergence, with the cycles of the 17-year and 13-year cicadas aligning for the first time in 221 years. The last overlap of Brood XIX, four species that appear every 13 years in the Southeast, and Brood XIII, three species that appear every 17 years in northern Illinois, was in 1803.

In Lisle, cicadas blanketed Tim Wanglers front yard. His walkway was littered with shells, and nearly every leaf was crawling with the insect. He didnt mind.

It doesnt bother me at all, Wangler said. It gives me that nostalgic feeling of summer. It reminds me of being a kid.

The Tribune has photographed Wangler during the past two cicada emergencies in Illinois, beginning in 1990 when he was 8 years old. He now has three children of his own.

We just have cicadas everywhere, he said. You cant walk without stepping on them.

Why arent there lots of cicadas in the city?

Cicadas are typically forest dwellers who like to eat the roots of trees, according to Kacie Athey, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Its not that cicadas inherently cant survive in the city  a 100-year-old tree could be a good home, for example  but development has made ideal conditions quite rare, she said.

So much of cities have been changed or paved over  trees have been taken out, suburbs have been built, and those areas wouldnt be places that the cicadas would be able to survive, Athey said.

The bugs tend to congregate in areas with older trees and undisturbed soil, she said. They also really like places where there are vestiges of forests left. In Cook County, theres a decent chance of spotting them at the forest preserves, she said.

But, if you havent seen cicadas at a specific location, youre probably not going to, Athey said.

The northern Illinois brood definitely comes out later than the great southern brood, just because of its temperature, she said. But by now, not to say theres not still ones coming out of the ground, but any given location, if you havent started to see some activity, youre probably not.

To better understand the frequency of cicada sightings, Athey recommends checking out Cicada Safari, an app created by Gene Kritsky at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. Anyone can submit photographs of periodical cicadas to the app. Once an expert verifies the picture, its posted to a live map.

In the Chicago area, the app Friday afternoon showed thousands of confirmed sightings in the west and southwest suburbs, including Oak Park, Downers Grove and Palos Hills. Thousands more were in north suburbs, such as Highland Park and Glenview.

Glimpses of cicadas were more sparse within city limits, the app showed. While there were a couple hundred sightings in Beverly and (unsurprisingly) about 100 near the LaBagh Woods on the Northwest Side, many neighborhoods had no more than a dozen.

Ellen Houze, a 66-year-old Beverly resident, was working outside her home Friday afternoon, while cicadas loudly buzzed. Their sound can reach decibels comparable to a jet engine or lawn mower. She started hearing the buzzing about a week ago.

A retired teacher, Houze said shes only seen one cicada in her yard, but in central Beverly, there are more. Some neighbors have protective netting wrapped around trees, she said.

You get used to it. Its not that bad, so its sort of fun, Houze said of the sound. I was here for the other one (emergence) that happened 17 years ago and it wasnt a big deal.

Yet on a recent sunny morning in the West Loop, a park was devoid of the insects. Trees and foliage dotted the landscape, and only the dull hum of city noise cut through the air. Chicagoans at the park said they hadnt spotted a single cicada in the neighborhood.

Kevin Sievers watched his 2-year-old son climb on the playground. He wasnt surprised that there werent cicadas in a densely populated, urban area.

Every 17 years, they make a huge deal of it, but in the city, I just dont think they ever come out, Sievers said. Its just not their natural environment.

He watched his son amble across the grass.

He hasnt seen a cicada, and he doesnt know what it is, Sievers said. He probably wont for a while.
After two months of postponing its decision, the Bastrop City Council denied a zoning change request on Tuesday, ending the widely unpopular plans to build a mixed-use development called Bastrop Gateway on the hill behind Buc-ees.

Place Designers, the Gateways developer, applied to rezone the 31 acres between Texas 71 and Texas 21 this year. The city hosted a community meeting with the developer on April 2 to allow residents to share their initial concerns.

In the months since initially presenting its plan to the City Council on April 9, the developer has made numerous revisions, responding to residents questions and concerns about the project, most notably regarding how it would like to rezone and use the land.

We are asking for less than 60% of what we were asking in the initial design, said Steven Biegel, the projects architect. Weve had a number of sessions with the neighbors on the property, and the developers have taken everything said very seriously.

Originally, the developer proposed rezoning all of the land to become P5 Core, the citys densest land-use zone, allowing for mixed commercial and residential space. The developers latest proposal on Tuesday asked for a mix of P5 Core and P2 Rural, with the P2 zones closest to the single-family homes in the Lost Pines neighborhood. Throughout the process, the developer asked for exceptions to what the city code allows in each zoning category.

What were really saying (about the P2 zoning) is that it's really a P4, Council Member Cynthia Meyer asked of city staff after they explained the exceptions the developer requested.

Per the city code, developers can build up to two stories and have up to 40% of the ground cover not absorbing runoff. The Bastrop Gateway developer requested to build three-story buildings with up to 70% of the ground cover not absorbing runoff.

Theres a lack of trust (about) whats actually going to happen if and when its changed to P5, Council Member Cheryl Lee said, using the Pearl River development on the west side of town as an example. In terms of the multiple meetings weve had, even today, theres confusion as to what exactly were approving.

Biegel said the developer couldnt answer many of the questions the City Council and residents had about the proposed development and its impact on the citys infrastructure until the council approved the zoning and the appropriate impact studies could occur.

City Manager Sylvia Carrillo laid out the process that would have taken place if the City Council had approved the zoning change. She said if the council approved the change, it would have the opportunity to stop the development at many points.

Many residents continued to express opposition to the development, citing reasons such as its impact on wildlife, the potential burden on the citys infrastructure and location.

Those trees are actually quite important to Bastrop, resident Pablo Serna said of the forest on the proposed development site. Back to the history of the founding of Bastrop, the Spanish explorers wrote about the trees  the Camino Real was right through there.  We understand development is coming, but we need to look at development thats not this impacting on the environment.

After the public hearing concluded, council members started to share their concerns about the development.

This proposal touched a nerve, Council Member Kerry Fossler said. Its only the location. I dont have a problem with the density.  I dont think a win-win is possible in this location. I think we can pioneer (a development like this) somewhere else.

Ultimately, the council voted to deny the rezoning request in a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Kevin Plunkett dissenting. After Meyer made the motion to deny the request, but before the council voted, Biegel said the developer would retract its rezoning application if the City Council didnt table the item a fourth time.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: City Council denies zoning change to Bastrop Gateway development
Photo by Aleksander George/Getty Images.

Marylands attorney general and local prosecutors will be able to sue gunmakers and sellers who knowingly harm the public or create a public nuisance under a new state law, one of the more than 130 that take effect Saturday.

But dont expect Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) to immediately appear at a courthouse.

The bill goes into effect June 1. Youre not going to see us in court on Monday morning, Brown said in an interview Thursday.

Just like all the other authorities I have  when we see harm done to the public, its our responsibility to investigate and bring whatever appropriate enforcement actions there are, he said. This is [an] additional tool that we have to hold firearm industry participants accountable for their conduct.

Opponents say they are almost certain to challenge the law if it is enforced.

Mark Pennak, president of the gun rights group Maryland Shall Issue, continues to maintain that the law is unconstitutionally vague and that it intrudes on Second Amendment rights. He also said the law will impose a financial burden on small businesses that will have to defend themselves just for doing business.

In meantime, Pennak said he is hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case this fall that could affect the Maryland law.

That case, Mexico vs. Smith & Wesson Brands Inc., involves a suit by the Mexican government against Smith & Wesson, other U.S gun manufacturers and a gun distributor that Mexico claims have helped facilitate illegal gun trafficking into that country.

Related Stories

If Smith & Wesson wins, Pennak said, the ruling would likely deem Marylands gun industry act unconstitutional.

This is a big deal, Pennak said. It has huge consequences on a major industry in the United States. It has huge consequences on the Second Amendment rights in the United States. If you put the dealers and manufacturers out of business, you will limit or curtail the ability of people to acquire firearms.

But Prince Georges County States Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) defended the law, which she compared to restrictions on businesses such as liquor stores that incorporate measures to ensure alcohol isnt sold to minors.

I think thats what the bill would require. Not that [it] blames manufacturers for all the crimes that have occurred, Braveboy said Wednesday. Its really about making sure that your industry is offering with some efficacy that you are ensuring that minimum standards are in place so that you can ensure that you are not selling to individuals who would not qualify to own a weapon.

The Gun Industry Accountability Act will allow the attorney general, county attorneys and the solicitor in Baltimore City to file civil suits against members of the firearm industry that knowingly create public harm.

Industry members, which include gun sellers as well as manufacturers, will soon be required to implement reasonable controls on the sale, manufacture, distribution, importation, marketing, possession and use of firearms and related products.

Reasonable controls are defined as policies to prevent the sale and distribution of a product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person whom the business has reasonable cause to believe intends to use the firearm-related product to commit a crime or to cause harm.

Maryland joins several other states, including California, Delaware and New York, that enacted similar legislation.

Other bills taking effect this weekend include:

Part of the Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act, which creates a task force to make recommendations on minimum security standards at courthouses around the state. The bills, Senate Bill 575/House Bill 664, are named after the late Washington County judge who was shot and killed in October in front of his home following a divorce proceeding. The killer had started a search for Wilkinsons address three months earlier.

The Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce, also known as the GAPS Act. The law, which grew out of House Bill 597/Senate Bill 470, were part of Gov. Wes Moore (D)s legislative agenda this year. It would reform the states existing apprenticeship programs to encourage more people to serve in law enforcement. Under the one-year program, a police department or correctional services office could get up to a $5,000 grant for candidates who enroll in the agencys apprenticeship program.

A bill to prohibit local governments from imposing stringent zoning restrictions on cannabis businesses. House Bill 805 prohibits cannabis dispensaries from locating within a half-mile of another dispensary. The law also prevents local governments from imposing zoning or property use restrictions on cannabis businesses that are more strict than those governing retailers under the states alcohol and cannabis laws; and it grants the right to protest or appeal a license renewal if it is signed by at least 10 people, all of whom must live or work within 1,000 feet of the licensed cannabis business.

House Bill 1524, the latest effort to save horse racing in Maryland. The law includes $400 million for the demolition and rebuilding of Pimlico Race Course. It establishes the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, which will take over track operations from the Stronach Group, as well as new efforts to revitalize the Park Heights neighborhood near the track.

An increase in fines and points for street racing or exhibition driving near crowds of people  which includes squealing tires, engine racing or driving with a passenger outside the car. Violators of House Bill 601/Senate Bill 442 would face up to 12 points on their licenses for such driving that involves an injury. The law would also make the ban on exhibition driving on public roads statewide.

 Maryland Matters reporter Bryan P. Sears contributed to this report.

The post Civil liability for gun industry among state laws going into effect June 1 appeared first on Maryland Matters.
El Dorado High School graduates prepare to begin commencement ceremonies on May 31, 2024, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. 533 students received their High School Diplomas.

Four years ago, Jason Moulton-Hadnot's high school career  like most of El Paso's Class of 2024  got off to a strange start.

"There was no school. It was online," said Mouton-Hadnot, giving off his own fearless, cool vibe.

"Fresh out of eighth grade. And just, you know what I mean?"

The El Dorado High School senior remembered struggling to find his way in the "COVID year", but Moulton-Hadnot's milestone journey ended on a big stage, under bright lights and with a Texas high school diploma to call his own.

El Dorado High School graduates celebrate commencement ceremonies on May 31, 2024, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. 533 students received their High School Diplomas.

It's graduation day for thousands of Borderland seniors. There are commencement ceremonies planned for the next two weeks for El Paso-area school districts.

More: Thousands of students set to graduate in El Paso County: List of commencement ceremonies

Alexandra Longoria, the valedictorian of her class of 500-plus students, was stressing a little about delivering a closing speech to graduates, but she paused to recognize what makes her peers special and contemplate the future.

Valedictorian for El Dorado High School, Alexandra Longoria, enjoys a laugh as her classmates get ready to begin commencement ceremonies on May 31, 2024, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. 533 students received their High School Diplomas.

"Our generation has a lot of hard workers," Longoria said. "We've grown a lot of mentally strong people and (we are) emotionally intelligent. We know how to look out for each another and also get things done."

"I'm feeling a little nervous, but I'm really excited."

The seniors were surrounded by proud parents, other family members and close friends in what felt like an ecstatic community celebration compared to the fearful isolation of battling a deadly global pandemic.

Senior Dylan Fish called high school a "crazy journey," but he received a lot of support from public school administrators.

"It's been a rough road, but I do feel like most of our class is in touch with life," he said.

El Dorado High School graduates, from left, Dylan Fish and Devin Rubio greet each other as they prepare to begin commencement ceremonies on May 31, 2024, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. 533 students received their High School Diplomas.

Moulton-Hadnot stressed the joy of being together with his classmates on graduation day Friday, May 31, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso.

"Honestly, I just want to say it is going to be a good day today," he said. "I just want to enjoy my time with everybody. Have a good day. Be with my friends. Make good memories. Make sure it last."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso seniors prepare to shine on graduation day with family, friends
The Cleveland Museum of Art is set to return a 2,200-year-old statue to Libya

A statue of a bearded man striding forward was crafted from black basalt over 2,000 years ago during the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Now, its finally set to return to Libya, where it was looted during British occupation in World War II, according to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The museum, which has held the piece since 1991, announced the planned return in a Wednesday news release.

Based on new information provided by the Department of Antiquities and research undertaken at the CMA, the museum voluntarily recognizes the statue as the property of Libya, the news release read.

Mohamed Faraj Mohamed, head of Libyas Department of Antiquities, said in the news release the department appreciated the willingness of the Cleveland Museum of Art to work with the department in accomplishing the transfer of this important work.

We look forward to continued cooperation with the museum, he said.

The statue stands almost two feet tall and was formed from basalt, a hard volcanic rock formed from lava, according to the museums website. The bearded man is dressed in contemporary fashion of the time: Hes wearing a T-shirt, wraparound skirt, and shawl.

The figure was discovered in a large storage jar during 1937-1938 excavations of the Columned Palace at Ptolemais in Cyrenaica, now part of eastern Libya, according to a statement shared with CNN by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The statue then ended up at the Ptolemais Museum in Libya, which was destroyed during the British occupation of the area. A 1950 publication by an Italian scholar noted the sculpture was was likely lost in 1941.

By 1960, the piece had made its way to Lucerne, Switzerland. The statue spent the decades between 1966 and 1991 in the private collection of New York art collectors Lawrence and Barbara Fleischman and was donated to the museum in 1991.

Given the rarity of the sculpture type  carved of stone, with precise replicas very unlikely  and the extremely close resemblance between the sculpture given to the CMA in 1991 and the sculpture described and illustrated in 1950, together with the wartime events that took place in Libya, the CMA has concluded that the sculpture rightfully belongs to Libya, the museum told CNN.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
It's been a mediocre week for Columbus McKinnon Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCO) shareholders, with the stock dropping 13% to US$39.10 in the week since its latest full-year results. Revenues were in line with forecasts, at US$1.0b, although statutory earnings per share came in 12% below what the analysts expected, at US$1.61 per share. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

See our latest analysis for Columbus McKinnon

Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for Columbus McKinnon from three analysts is for revenues of US$1.04b in 2025. If met, it would imply a modest 2.1% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to bounce 44% to US$2.33. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$1.06b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$2.22 in 2025. The analysts seems to have become more bullish on the business, judging by their new earnings per share estimates.

There's been no major changes to the consensus price target of US$49.25, suggesting that the improved earnings per share outlook is not enough to have a long-term positive impact on the stock's valuation. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. The most optimistic Columbus McKinnon analyst has a price target of US$50.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$48.00. Even so, with a relatively close grouping of estimates, it looks like the analysts are quite confident in their valuations, suggesting Columbus McKinnon is an easy business to forecast or the the analysts are all using similar assumptions.

Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. We would highlight that Columbus McKinnon's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 2.1% annualised growth rate until the end of 2025 being well below the historical 5.2% p.a. growth over the last five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 3.7% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Columbus McKinnon is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around Columbus McKinnon's earnings potential next year. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$49.25, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have forecasts for Columbus McKinnon going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Columbus McKinnon that you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Climbing Mount Everest can be deadly. Some Sherpa guides say the grueling work isn't worth it anymore.

The majority of guides who lead tourists up Mount Everest are Sherpas, an ethnic group.

Some Sherpa guides predict that soon, no one from their community will work on the mountain anymore.

They said the risks outweigh the rewards  even if a Sherpa can earn up to $10,000 per expedition.

The following story is based on Business Insider's short film about Sherpas, an ethnic group known for their mountaineering prowess on Mount Everest. The film, "Why Some Sherpas Say There Won't Be Any Guides on Everest in 10 Years," was directed by Prakhar Deep Jain and produced by BI's video team.

It's so treacherous to summit Mount Everest that human remains are a common sight on its frigid mountainside.

Among the frozen bodies are many ethnic Sherpas  an Indigenous people who make up the majority of Everest climbing guides.

Their job is to do everything possible to help mountaineers  who, from 2025, will pay up to $15,000 just for a permit to climb the world's tallest mountain  reach the summit safely. Duties include carrying heavy packs with supplies and assisting people through the most perilous sections of the mountain, such as the infamous Khumbu Icefall.

Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary were the first to successfully summit Mount Everest in 1953. AP Photo

No day on Everest is a walk in the park, which is precisely why some Sherpas think the era of their people dominating the mountain as climbing guides is coming to an end.

Phurba Wangchhu Sherpa, a 48-year-old guide who has summited Everest more than a dozen times, said: "There will not be any Sherpas left in the mountain in 10 years." (Most Sherpas, including those interviewed for this film, have the last name Sherpa.)

Here's why.

Even if your body is built for Everest, you're still at the mercy of the mountain

Climbing Everest once and living to tell the tale is a feat  doing it more than once is why Sherpas are such a crucial asset on an expedition, according to climber Sam Rashid.

"When you're at high altitude, and they tell you 'It's OK, it's going to be OK,' said Rashid, who trained for over a year for his first attempt to summit Everest in 2023. "It's very reassuring that they've summited so many times."

If anyone is built to climb Everest, it's Sherpas.

In 2017, academics at the University of Cambridge published research indicating that over thousands of years, Sherpas have genetically evolved to use oxygen more efficiently and preserve muscle energy compared to people who live at lower altitudes.

Their bodies, down to a cellular level, are fine-tuned for the mountains. "There's certainly something really remarkable about their ability," Andrew Murray, who worked on the Cambridge study, told NPR.

Climbing Mount Everest can be deadly, no matter who you are. Prakhar Deep Jain/Business Insider

Remarkable as they may be, Sherpas aren't immune to Everest's many dangers, which include unexpected avalanches, hidden crevasses, and falling ice and rock.

The Himalayan Database reports over 330 people have died on the mountain since the early 1900s. One hundred and seven of the dead are Sherpas.

"A lot of amazing Sherpas lose their lives here every year," said Phurba Wangchhu, the guide who has summited over a dozen times. "Many of my own friends have lost their lives."

Reflecting on an incident in 2023 where three Sherpas died after getting buried in an icefall, former climbing guide Dawa Geljen Sherpa said: "They would have children to feed and dreams for their family, but everything got shattered in that moment."

Sherpas on Everest face a lot of risks with increasingly little reward

One of the draws of a career in mountain guiding, especially on Everest, is money.

Mountain guides certified by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association earn between $4,000 and $10,000 per climb, depending on their experience level, tips from climbers, and bonuses if a summit is successful.

For climbers like Rashid, it's worth every penny.

"It would be an insult, I think, if we would come and pay hardly anything and summit the mountain," he said.

Mount Everest climbers cross a ladder in the Khumbu Icefall. Westend61/Getty Images

But because the optimal window to climb Everest occurs between March and May, guides can typically only count on one expedition  which typically takes two months  a year, meaning they have to supplement their incomes with other odd jobs, such as farming and teaching.

Even though mountaineers pay as much as $100,000 for an Everest expedition, guides see only a small percentage. Tour agencies keep most of the money.

Making the job even more financially questionable is that most guides pay for their own climbing equipment, which can cost up to $7,000. Some of it must also be replaced every couple of years.

For guides like Phurba Wangchhu, the financial burden is becoming too heavy.

"The income made from climbing mountains is not enough for us," he said.

Everest tourism is booming, but some Sherpas are looking for jobs elsewhere

In May 2023, the government of Nepal issued a record-breaking 478 climbing permits  which was also the most deadly climbing season on Everest so far.

In April, a representative of Nepal's Department of Tourism told local outlet The Kathmandu Post that the department expects to issue over 400 climbing permits before the end of 2024.

But even as demand to climb Everest remains robust, many Sherpas are weighing alternative sources of income, including jobs in Nepal's growing economy that don't require putting their lives on the line for a paycheck.

Nepal's job economy has undergone major shifts in the 21st century. Rully Anwar/Getty Images

In 2020, the World Bank issued a diagnostic report on Nepal's job economy, noting that 4 million jobs had been added since 2010.

The country has seen a noticeable shift in employment trends over the last decade, with people moving away from traditionally rural farm work to wage-earning jobs in areas like construction, transportation, and manufacturing in cities.

But things were different when Phurba Wangchhu grew up.

"I was born in a rural region," he said. "We had no other options left than to work in the mountaineering sector to make a living."

He is glad to see there are more options for the next generation beyond working as guides.

"I wouldn't involve my children in this work," he said.

Mountaineers line up during their ascent to summit Mount Everest in Nepal. LAKPA SHERPA/AFP via Getty Images

Dawa Geljen, the former guide, suspects that younger members of the workforce "wouldn't want to climb Everest" anyway.

The allure of the mountain, however, remains. Shusant Nachhiring Rai, 19, still dreams of conquering Everest as a climbing guide. He works as a porter, a job that involves carrying luggage, food, and supplies to and from Everest's base camp, which many do before becoming fully-fledged mountain guides.

"I'm working as a porter to make my body stronger," he said. "I wish to make a name for myself. I am preparing to be a climber, and I am confident that I will be one in the future."

Nonetheless, the world is changing, and Sherpas are changing with it  leaving the fate of mountaineering on Everest hanging in the balance.

Watch the full video here:

Read the original article on Business Insider
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  On the night of April 1, 2023, motorcyclist Bryan Clark, heading west on Panama Lane, slowed for a red light at Ashe Road.

The pickup barreling down the road behind him didnt.

Documents detail sex trafficking of Bakersfield teen

Swerving through lanes at speeds of 101 mph, the truck slammed into the motorcycle, sending Clark flying in one direction, the bike in another, prosecutor Kacie Barrier said.

The impact ripped Clarks right leg off below the knee. Only a hastily applied tourniquet saved him from bleeding out.

The pickup shot into opposing lanes then careened into a fire hydrant  sending water soaring  before hitting a building and finally coming to a halt.

As fast as the truck was going, speed wasnt the main factor behind the crash, Barrier said.

The primary cause was the impairment of its driver, Jacob Lee Bookout, whose blood-alcohol content was 0.12%, she said during closing arguments in Bookouts trial Friday. THC and hydrocodone were also found in his system.

Bookouts public defender, Thomas J. Pope, argued the deck was stacked against his client from the start due to Clarks employment: he was a BNSF Railway officer at the time of the crash, and previously served in the Arvin Police Department.

Once investigators realized a fellow officer had been injured, it changed how they viewed the evidence, Pope said.

Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage

And because of that, right off the bat, the investigation in this case was slanted, Pope told the jury.

Closing arguments ended at about 1:45 p.m. The jury began deliberating immediately afterward, and will return Monday morning.

Bookout is charged with four felonies: DUI causing injury, DUI of 0.08% with injury, driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs causing injury and reckless driving.

He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting officers stemming from his refusal to allow his blood to be drawn despite police obtaining a warrant. He struggled and kicked until Kern Medical staff were eventually able to get a needle in him, Barrier said.

Clark had multiple surgeries and survived.

In addition to severing his leg, the crash detached two fingers and part of a third one from Clarks left hand. The rest of the injured finger was later removed through surgery. He spent weeks in rehabilitation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  U.S. Coast Guard crews on Friday pulled a 35-year-old man out of the water after he drifted from his vessel while diving 75 miles out from Myrtle Beach.

It was a miracle that our rescue swimmer spotted him while we were on the last leg of our sector search, Coast Guard Lt. Jeff Davis of Air Station Savannah said in a news release. The divers yellow surface marker helped us spot him despite rough seas and strong winds, which limited visibility.

A Coast Guard command center in Miami received notification from an emergency beacon around 1:50 p.m., activated by the dive boat crewmembers when a person aboard didnt resurface.

Officials launched a large search that included air and surface crews. The diver was hoisted into a helicopter and transported to the Cape Fear Regional Jetport where EMS units were waiting.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Cohen after hush money verdict: I will never be a punching bag to Donald Trump or anyone

Former President Trumps ex-fixer Michael Cohen took a swing at Trump Friday, after his former boss was convicted in the criminal hush money case.

I want peace, Cohen said Friday to host Nicolle Wallace on MSNBCs Deadline: White House. You cant have peace when Donald Trump is around, because one of the things he talks about in many of his books, its a common theme, if you hit him, and thats in his mind that hes being hit, he needs to strike back at you 10 times harder.

He needs to hurt you 10 times harder, the former attorney continued. And, so long as the two of us exist on this planet at the same time, he will constantly seek to hurt me and I will never be a punching bag to Donald Trump or anyone.

Trump became the first former president to be a convicted felon Thursday, after a New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a payment made to an adult film star in the early days of the 2016 election to hide an alleged past affair, which he denied.

The former president railed against the trial and Judge Juan Merchan shortly after the verdict was read, calling it rigged and disgraceful.

Cohen was largely considered a star witness in the trial and has major centrality in the case. The counts Trump faced were related to reimbursements to Cohen, who paid porn actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about the alleged affair, which she claimed happened in the early 2000s.

When asked by Wallace how he was doing, Cohen replied: Hanging in there.

I had the pleasure of watching the press conference today, was wondering whether or not that gag order was still actually in place, because, once again, Donald just violated  he doesnt care about the law, he doesnt care about anything, other than venting, like a petulant child, Cohen said, seemingly referencing a Friday post-conviction press conference from Trump.

The former president was placed under an expanded gag order, which was upheld after an appeal, barring him from making public statements about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff or the judges family. Merchan has already fined Trump over $9,000 over his social media posts and campaign attacks that he ruled violated the terms of the order.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
College Graduate Surprised at Commencement by Mom Who Had Been Deployed: 'My Heart Dropped'

Malik Heard graduated from the University of West Georgia earlier this month with his mom's support

University of West Georgia/ Instagram Malik Heard receiving his diploma, Malik Heard hugging his mother.

One college graduate got quite the surprise at his commencement ceremony.

Malik Heard was walking across the stage at the University of West Georgia in early May when his mother, Sgt. Eva Roby  who had been deployed in Kosovo  made a surprise appearance.

In footage from the ceremony, Heard can be seen shaking hands with members of the college faculty onstage, before a voice over a loudspeaker announced that a "special guest has shown up all the way from Kosovo."

After taking a second to connect the dots, Heard looked around the auditorium, before walking off-stage to meet his mom amid cheers from others also in attendance at the celebratory event.

The pair then spent time hugging and rocking each other back and forth as Heard's mom rubbed his back.

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.

Related: Quintuplets Make History as They Graduate from the Same College: A Gigantic Moment

Speaking with WSB-TV, Heard said he realized his mom was able to make it to celebrate his milestone moment when he heard the name of the Southeast European country where she had been stationed.

Kosovo, Kosovo, thats what caught my attention. I was listening to what he was saying, but then I heard Kosovo and I knew thats where she was deployed. I was like, 'Hold on,'  he told the outlet.

I looked to the right again, and I saw her come around the corner and thats when my heart dropped," Heard added.

Roby told WSB-TV that she was unsure if she would be able to make it to her son's college graduation given that it was during what she described as a "pretty popular time" for leave requests.

But, as soon as she learned that she would be able to make it to celebrate her son, Roby said she contacted the University of West Georgia and they "were excited" to help her plan her surprise reunion.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
It is appalling, unprecedented and dangerous that New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran is threatening to withhold degrees to students after theyve already graduated. This cruel and unusual threat seems to be Corcorans response to being embarrassed when a prominent New College donor gave a commencement speech that wasnt well received by students  or even capable of being heard by the audience due to the colleges own massive audio problems at the event.

The Herald-Tribune reported that some New College students booed the speaker, billionaire TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, during a technical difficulty-filled speech cut off early" by Corcoran. While this description is accurate, understanding how this came to be requires context.

William Rosenberg

More: New College of Florida graduation: Boos for Joe Ricketts, cheers for student president

The schools administration put itself in this position through a combination of hubris and incompetence.

Corcoran and the New College of Florida Board of Trustees have spent the past 16 months bullying students, faculty and alumni. Using the term "bullying" might seem hyperbolic until you consider the administration's numerous actions and statements that have created  and continue to intensify  a divisive environment. Individually, these injustices dont seem so bad, but collectively they add up to an atmosphere of contempt.

Joe Ricketts, the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade, was the commencement speaker at New College of Floridia's May 17, 2024 graduation ceremony. Ricketts' speech was marred by technical difficulties and boos from some students, and the businessman eventually cut his talk short.

More: New College's ceremony was a joyful event. But then juvenile 'rebels' took away the joy.

Since their arrival on campus in early 2023, New College's leaders have repeatedly marginalized returning students and belittled their work  all while simultaneously falling over themselves to take credit for the accomplishments of those students.

In fact, New College's leaders actively courted Ricketts to become the sponsor of an online degree program that could be viewed as diluting New Colleges reputation as Floridas Honors College. This degree program was imposed without any review by New College's faculty members, who overwhelmingly voted against its implementation. In reality, the hasty adoption of unvetted pet programs poses a real risk to the future value of a New College diploma.

In addition, the administration has:

Destroyed student artwork.

Weaponized the school's Code of Conduct by threatening returning students with expulsion for the crime of vocal dissent.

Denied tenure to qualified faculty  and did so seemingly to serve as a warning to others.

Treated returning students as second-class citizens in terms of housing, scholarships and student activities.

Acted in an openly combative manner toward students whose gender and sexual identities do not conform to its ideal.

Continued to recruit large numbers of incoming students despite knowing it has neither the academic nor structural capacity to handle them.

Asked the Board of Governors to reduce its four-year graduation metric from 67% to 50%

Adopted an antagonistic approach toward existing academic staff  so much so that at least 40% of the faculty has left the school (which, ironically, made it difficult for the recently graduated students to finish their degrees).

New graduates pictured during New College of Florida's controversial May 17, 2024, graduation ceremony on the grounds of College Hall.

More: New College of Florida's students are being treated like political pawns. Again.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the administration has been filling senior leadership positions with unqualified Tallahassee insiders and yes-men (and their spouses). The negative effect of this exodus of qualified staff was on display during the ceremony when the audience was seated facing directly into the sun, the sound system was barely functional and those on stage struggled to hand out diplomas.

New College President Richard Corcoran

More: New College gave Richard Corcoran a $200,000 bonus. Here's how he can prove he deserves it.

Given its past behavior, hostile posture and penchant for political theater, it is no surprise that the New College of Florida administration, humiliated by its inability to organize a graduation ceremony or to suppress public dissent, is seeking to directly target students  and has issued an unprecedented and dangerous threat to withhold the degrees that students have already earned.

The members of the Novo Collegian Alliance urge New College's current leaders to reflect on their responsibility for good governance and duty of care for all students  whether aligned with their ideological vision or not  and to not pursue this disproportionate, cruel and unusual response.

William Rosenberg is president of the Novo Collegian Alliance and a 1980 graduate of New College of Florida.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College's inept leaders are using students as scapegoats
Colorado residents livid over rancid odor from pet food factory thats ruining their lives: Like someone barfed... then baked it

Residents of a Denver neighborhood have brought a class action lawsuit against a nearby Nestle-Purina pet food factory over a rancid smell thats ruining their lives (9 News / YouTube)

The rancid smell from a Colorado pet food factory is ruining the lives of people living nearby, who say the gag-inducing odor is so bad they cant even have their windows open.

Residents within a mile radius of the Nestle-Purina Petcare Co plant in Denvers Elyria-Swansea neighborhood say the noxious smell is like someone barfed in your back yard and then baked it in the sun.

They claim that, for two years, they have suffered pounding headaches and watering eyes caused by the nauseating stench, prompting a class action lawsuit against the company that they allege negligently and knowingly failed to design, operate and maintain the factory.

Two residents filed a complaint against the company, which owns and operates the pet food factory in an area where more than 2,000 people live. They claim the facility produces an overwhelming highly odiferous smell that leaves those living within a mile radius of it struggling.

[You] cant plan an outside event cant have windows open. You would rather be too hot inside than have the smell come in, Robert Fields, one of the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit filed on Tuesday.

Mr Fields comments are echoed by at least 50 other residents who have joined the lawsuit and described the scent in detail.

Residents in a Colorado neighborhood have filed a class-action lawsuit against Nestle-Purina because their Denver factory omits a noxious odor (9News / YouTube)

Purina is well-known for its range of dry and wet foods for pets (Purina)

I would describe the smell as rancid, Robert Boughner and Kelly MacNeil, two putative class members, said to lawyers representing the plaintiffs. Its like someone barfed in your back yard and then it baked in the sun and then you put a fan on the smell to keep it circulating.

The group alleges that Nestle-Purina negligently and knowingly failed to design, operate and maintain the factory  thus causing the rancid smell.

They are seeking compensatory damages and an injunction on state and federal regulations.

Its like someone barfed in your back yard and then it baked in the sun and then you put a fan on the smell to keep it circulating.

Class action members from the Nestle-Purina lawsuit

Mr Fields and his co-plaintiff, Loren Oritz, say that members of the community have been complaining about the smell to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDHE) for at least two years.

In one complaint from August 2022, a person said, Purina is releasing something so toxic that its making our eyes water over a mile away

A few months later, in January 2023 another complainant said the smell is so strong it makes you gag at least once a week.

When CDHE employees investigated the factory in 2021 they noted the odor was very strong. During a follow-up visit, a nasal ranger indicated the smell exceedance the states regulation of the 8:1.

The Nestle-Purina pet food producing factory in Denver, Colorado (9 News / YouTube)

Employees noted that plasma units were overdue for routine maintenance but because of pandemic restrictions, the Canadian company that would normally tend to them could not reach it.

After alerting Nestle-Purina of the odors, the company agreed to comply with odor emissions through a 2022 proposed plan. But residents continued lodging complaints.

A spokesperson for Purina said they cannot comment on specifics of pending litigation but that, Purina is a proud member of the Denver community, and weve operated our York Street factory since 1930. Throughout this time, we have remained committed to being the best neighbor we can be, and that wont change.
Columbia students set up new anti-Israel encampment on campus during alumni weekend: Were back bitches

Protesters set up another encampment on Columbia University's campus on Friday evening.

Students at Columbia University set up a new anti-Israel encampment on campus Friday night as the school hosts alumni weekend.

The defiant demonstrators  members of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine  set up camp on the Manhattan campus south lawns alongside a giant white party tent already in place for the alumni event festivities that end Saturday.

Were back bitches, declared one sign the protesters put up, video from the New York Times shows.

A new encampment was set up during Columbias alumni weekend. Azmat Khan, /X

Another banner redesignated the area  for the third time  a Liberated Zone.

Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine confirmed the latest encampment at the Ivy League school in a Friday night social media post.

They are once again demanding that the school divest from Israel-associated companies, amid the Jewish states ongoing retaliatory military offensive in Gaza.

This is the third encampment after NYPD dismantled the first two. Azmat Khan, /X

Shortly after the encampment was erected, Columbia security guards moved in and began removing some of the tents, according to the student newspaper, The Columbia Spectator.

The protesters, about two dozen or so, then began sitting in other tents so they could not be removed and chanted shame at the security personnel, the paper reported.

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, a university spokesperson said in a statement.

Columbias alumni weekend kicked off on Thursday. Campus events conclude Saturday night and the weekend comes to a close with a Sunday morning mass at the Church of Notre Dame.

The spring semester for Columbia College, the universitys liberal arts undergraduate school, concluded on May 10. The activists seem undeterred by their low numbers.

Columbia University thinks that just because its the summer, they dont have as many classes, they dont have as many students,  that were tired, that were scared, that were not going to be on their campus because they have a few ID checks. Theyre wrong, an organizer said, according to the Columbia Spectator.

The Morningside Heights campus remains open only to Columbia University ID holders, according to the paper.

On April 30, NYPD officers swarmed Columbias campus and cleared out the encampment as well as the universitys Hamilton Hall, which had been taken over by rogue rioters. More than 100 people were arrested  many of them not affiliated with the university.

A little over a week earlier, another 100 protesters were hauled away by police as they dismantled the first campus encampment  but demonstrators returned the following day.

Elsewhere in the Big Apple on Friday, hundreds of anti-Israel protesters stormed the Brooklyn Museum, flying a banner from the top of the building and damaging artwork in the process. Several people were seen being taken into custody.

Earlier in the day hundreds of New York City high school students walked out of school and staged a pro-Palestinian protest outside of the Department of Education headquarters t the Tweed Courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
Columbus man offered to sell undercover agents Glock switches, prosecutor says

View a previous report on Glock switches in Columbus in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a 23-year-old Columbus man on Friday for dealing meth, and undercover agents reported that he offered to sell other products as well.

Jerrell E. Harrison, also known as T and Chubbs was arrested last September and pleaded guilty in December to two counts of distributing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parkers office. As a result of his sentencing, Harrison will spend 10 years in federal prison.

Man accused in deadly robbery at Columbus AutoZone rejects plea deal

Court documents showed that Harrison sold hundreds of grams of meth to undercover agents in January and February of 2023. In recordings, Harrison discussed owning more than 20 firearms with undercover agents and offered to sell them.

Calling it the best price in the city, he also offered to sell the agents fentanyl for $1,000 an ounce, Parker said. Harrison advertised having Glock switches as well, which convert handguns from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
composite image: upper left, a grieving firefighter hugs another at a funeral, lower left kansfield in uniform speaks into a microphone at a podium with the fdny logo on the wall behind her; Right, kavanagh in a white top and brown jacket speaks into a microphone at a podium

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh has named a pastor with no clinical experience to run the FDNYs counseling services for firefighters and medics struggling with mental-health problems  an appointment that will require the department to hire another licensed supervisor at taxpayer expense to plug the gap.

Kavanagh tapped Ann Kansfield, the FDNYs first female and openly gay chaplain, as chief of the departments Counseling Services Unit, which runs a staff of psychologists and therapists who conduct screening, assessment and treatment of job candidates and ailing first-responders.

Kansfield, 48, whom Kavanagh has called her spiritual muse  served as one of nine FDNY chaplains, last year collecting $39,809 in salary and overtime.

Kansfield will serve as chief of the Counseling Services Unit. Stephen Yang

As CSU director, her salary will jump to $159,650, officials said.

An FDNY officer blasted Kansfields appointment as another example of a friend of Kavanagh receiving a high-paying job at the expense of the citizens of New York, saying it will further erode morale in the rank-and-file.

Kavanagh defended her decision.

As our first responders face an unprecedented mental health crisis, they deserve strong managers with a proven track record of dedication to the FDNY and the mental health of all our members, Kavanagh said in a statement to The Post.

Reverend Kansfield has spent nearly a decade doing just that for the FDNY, and was clearly the best candidate for the role. Her experience, skill and compassion will pay huge dividends for the FDNY.

Unlike her predecessors, Kansfield is not licensed as a psychologist or therapist  a legally required qualification to supervise clinicians.

Kansfield will perform administrative duties and manage the unit, while several licensed underlings  including an additional clinical director to be hired  will oversee the treatment.

She will also do outreach to encourage troubled first-responders to seek help, said FDNY spokesman Jim Long.

Commissioner Laura Kavanagh defended her decision to promote Kansfield, despite her not being licensed as a psychologist or therapist. Matthew McDermott

Fire Lt. Andrew Kane, a licensed social worker, will be Kansields deputy, Long said.

As interim director, Kanes last salary was $118,056, but he collected $217,676 with overtime and other compensation.

In addition, the FDNY plans to hire a new co-clinical director to serve with Shveta Mittal, an administrative psychologist making $145,000 a year.

That position has yet to be posted, Long said.

Critics suggest that Kansfields friendship with Kavanagh, more than her qualifications, helped her land the job.

Having someone with technical expertise and experience far outweighs what the typical political appointee can bring to the table, said Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science and public management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

We want qualified leadership in those roles, agreed George Contreras, a veteran NYC paramedic and John Jay adjunct professor of public health and emergency management.

But he added, Im sure its not the first time that things like that happen in City Hall.

Kansfield quit her job as a stockbroker who worked for several companies, including one in the World Trade Center, a day before 9/11, she said in an FDNY podcast.

Afterwards, she decided to change course.

She obtained a masters degree in divinity at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 2004, and has since served as the pastor of the Greenpoint Reformed Church in Brooklyn.

Under ex-fire commissioner Daniel Nigro, she joined the FDNY as a chaplain in 2015, calling it my dream job.

During this time, I have had the opportunity to build trust and goodwill and I hope the members already know how much I love and care for them, Kansfield said in a city press release. Im excited to build on that trust and play a more direct role in ensuring our members have access to mental health care.

Kavanagh said the chaplain is uniquely qualified to serve as CSU director, after nine years of helping members and families in their time of need.

An FDNY firefighter grieves at the funeral of a fellow member a week after the Sept. 11 attacks. Freelance

The commissioner also said the chaplain started, owned and operated a family therapy practice.

However, the release doesnt explain that Kansfields wife, Jennifer Aull, is the founder and director of North Brooklyn Marriage & Family Therapy, which doesnt mention Kansfield on its website.

Kansfield did administrative work for her wifes practice, Long said.

She starts the new job on June 6.
There is a new face at Saylor Wealth Strategies in both the Newcomerstown and Coshocton locations.Shelby Byland recently joined the team. She has more than two years of experience in the financial services industry and a bachelor's degree in finance from Marietta College. Byland is coming back to the community she loves after working for Northwestern Mutual in Columbus.

Shelby Byland

I am from Coshocton, Ohio, where I attended River View Local Schools. After spending a year in Columbus, I gained a deeper appreciation for the unique atmosphere and the genuine warmth of the people in our community," she said. "What drew me back was a sentiment shared by (Superintendent Church) Rinkes during my high school graduation. He emphasized the importance of giving back to the community that nurtured us as we pursued higher education and acquired valuable skills."Byland was studying environmental science at Marietta when during a summer banking job she found she has a natural aptitude for numbers. It was during an internship at Northwestern Mutual that she discovered financial planning.We are thrilled to welcome Shelby to our team, said Art Saylor, owner of Saylor Wealth Strategies. "She possesses the expertise and dedication necessary to support our clients and help them achieve their financial goals. Shelbys knowledge and leadership abilities will be invaluable as we continue to expand our services and uphold our commitment to excellence.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: River View graduate returns to the area and joins local company
Company proposes controversial use of cyanide in community after decades of mining: 'It's a question of, do we trust them?'

Piles of waste left over from decades of mining surround the town of Leadville, Colorado. Now, the Denver Post reports that a local company wants to use cyanide to extract gold and silver from those piles.

CJK Milling, the company behind the project, says that afterward the land will be returned to its natural state. As one activist explained, "It's a question of, do we trust them? It's an honor system  "

What's happening?

Mining waste has been a fact of life in Leadville since the first gold rush in 1860. While there hasn't been an active mine in the region since 1999, residents have long lived with abandoned piles of ore.

CJK Milling owns more than one million tons of that waste. The company wants to extract any leftover silver or gold from it. The problem? It proposes to transport it by truck to a nearby milling facility where the extraction process uses approximately 600 pounds of toxic cyanide every day.

The company claims that the process is safe and the cyanide cannot get out of the facility. Residents are concerned about cyanide in their local landscape, especially in the nearby Arkansas River. There are also concerns about increased truck traffic in town.

Why is mining cleanup important?

When the Gold Rush spread across the American West, the population there was very small. Now, much of that land is inhabited, and even more people visit those areas every year.

Both piles of mining waste and their cleanup affect the lives of all who enjoy these areas. While there are benefits to returning the land to its natural state, using potentially toxic chemicals to do that may have more drawbacks than benefits.

Cyanide is a naturally occurring substance, but using it to extract gold from low-grade ore has the potential to contaminate drinking water. Cyanide spills associated with projects like this one have previously caused cyanide poisoning in plants and animals and has the potential to do so in humans, too.

What's being done about mining cleanup with cyanide?

In Leadville, the Concerned Citizens for Lake County have filed opposing comments with the department that needs to approve permits for the project. One group member noted, "We're not opposed to responsible industrial development, but this is not responsible."

Government organizations have also realized the importance of mine cleanup. The Bureau of Land Management has developed the Abandoned Mines Land Program to assess and restore lands affected by mining that it controls.

Concerned individuals can learn about mining in their area and get involved with local conservation groups. They can also consider any purchases they make that contain precious metals (like electronics) and find out how clean the sourcing process is for them.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A group called Compass Coffee United said on the X platform Friday that workers at Compass Coffee stores were unionizing.

The post included a graphic explaining the reasons for the effort, saying, in part: Our hard work and commitment to service and quality coffee has made Compass the successful company it is today, yet we are treated as expendable.

Starbucks and Workers United, long at odds, say theyll restart labor talks

The post on the X account, which had 57 followers as of 6 p.m., encouraged people to leave reviews to support staff members and a union, follow the group on social media platforms, and to avoid using or adding funds to the companys app.

Two Marines founded D.C.-based Compass Coffee in 2014. As of May 31, the companys website listed 17 locations in the District and Virginia.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Conservation adviser for the crown estate staunchly advocates for King Charles' protection of ancient trees in Britain: 'Our single biggest obligation is the care of our ancient trees'

Ted Green, 89, has spent his life championing Britain's ancient forests. As a conservation adviser for the crown estate at Windsor, he's on a mission to protect the U.K.'s unique trove of old-growth trees and the biodiversity they support.

Green's passion for trees started early. Childhood illnesses kept him out of school, so from age 6, he roamed the woods of Windsor Great Park, developing an encyclopedic knowledge of the trees and wildlife.

As an adult, Green worked for decades as a technician at a nearby field station, assisting scientists from many disciplines. When budget cuts led to his redundancy, he became an adviser to the crown estate at Windsor, where he remains today.

The problem Green is working to solve is the lack of protection and appreciation for Britain's ancient trees. The U.K. has a wealth of old-growth trees, with England alone having over 3,400 oaks more than 400 years old  more than the rest of Europe combined.

Yet Green told The Guardian that there are "benches beside the River Thames that have more protection than our ancient trees."

Green is taking action by advocating for better legal protections, like a national listing system for ancient trees with funding for enforcement. He also advises landowners on how to manage their old trees.

Preserving ancient trees benefits people and the planet in myriad ways. A single old oak can support over 2,000 species of animals, plants, and fungi. Their expansive canopies provide cooling shade, and their deep roots prevent erosion and flooding.

Green pointed out that large, open-grown trees sequester far more carbon over their long life spans than commercial timber plantations, as Penn State Extension also explained. He called Britain's ancient trees "living heritage" and argued that they deserve the same reverence as historic buildings.

Some of Green's most impactful work has been at Windsor Great Park, which has one of the world's largest concentrations of ancient oaks. There, he has worked with King Charles to propagate and plant saplings grown from the oldest trees, preserving their unique genetics for future generations.

As Green said: "Conserving the genes of these ancient trees is absolutely priceless."

Green's ideas have also been pivotal in the rewilding movement. His advice helped convince the owners of Knepp Estate to return their land to nature, an effort that has since become a poster child for the benefits of rewilding.

At 89, Green shows no signs of slowing down his crusade for Britain's ancient trees. He recently self-published a memoir, Treetime, full of his deep knowledge and thought-provoking ideas from a lifetime among the trees.

As Green writes in Treetime: "For me, the trees are trying to tell us things... If we want to look at the health of Europe, we only have to look at the health of the trees.

"Our single biggest obligation is the care of our ancient trees."

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
County looks to clear the way for a new freight rail terminal near New Carlisle

This is where the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad hopes to have a rail terminal east of New Carlisle. It would wrap around the Alkegen plant (formerly Unifrax), which fills the southeast corner

More than 10 years after buying the land, a regional company is taking steps toward one day building a freight rail terminal just east of New Carlisle.

It would seize on the current growth of industry in western St. Joseph County, where it would ship materials in and out along the South Shore line. The tracks mostly head west.

Local officials say the freight trains would alleviate growth in truck traffic.

But before it could market and land customers  to build the terminal  a representative for the owner said that it needs some clearances from the county.

Illinois Indiana Development Co. operates the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad, which is separate from the more familiar South Shore passenger line. The company is asking the county to rezone four of its seven parcels of land from agricultural to industrial use. The other three are already zoned industrial.

The company had bought the land between 2011 and 2012.

Prior investments (2019) in area: County to pay for more Indiana Enterprise Center development services

This is just north of the Cleveland-Cliffs cold-rolled steel plant, which once was known as I/N Tek and I/N Kote, and its Norfolk Southern railyard.

The 120-acre site runs north from the South Shore tracks to U.S. 20 and is bordered to the east by Smilax Road and the Alkegen plant (formerly Unifrax), which makes technology for lithium-ion batteries.

The company also seeks the countys approval for a special use to establish a rail switching yard. The use fits with the restrictions of the overlay district for the Indiana Enterprise Center, in which it sits, county planner Shawn Klein told the Area Plan Commission.

On May 21, the countys Area Plan Commission voted 7-0 to give favorable recommendations to both the rezoning and the special use. On May 28, the county councils Land Use Planning Committee also voted to give both matters a favorable recommendation  passing them on to the full council for a final vote on June 11.

Close access to rail lines is considered one of the assets of the IEC, where Amazon Web Services and General Motors/Samsung SDI are building.

Trucks would have access to the rail terminal via U.S. 20 and Smilax Road, Klein said.

Some who came to the APC meeting questioned whether the rail terminal could grow into a much larger, more disruptive intermodal operation with lots of truck traffic.

That wont be possible, countered George Lepeniotis, with the local firm Krieg Devault, which represents the rail company. He said that the overhead electrical lines of the South Shore dont allow enough room for train cars with containers, which he said are typical of larger railroad lines.

The company agrees to plant a buffer of evergreens or other thick vegetation along those roads and other adjoining properties, Klein said.

2016 look at the area's potential: St. Joseph County's last boom area

Most of the activity, he added, would be toward the southern end of the property, closer to the rail lines than to U.S. 20.

The idea of a train terminal brought up questions about increased truck traffic, too. When asked if the county plans to improve Smilax, Bill Schalliol, the countys executive director of economic development, said that there have been conversations about it  including possibly upgrading it from asphalt to concrete  but the county is looking at other factors for now.

Lepeniotis said the company hasnt yet secured any customers whod use the rail yard. In fact, he said, its very hard to market the rail yard to potential customers without the industrial zoning.

With the rail terminal, he said, This is how the South Shore can survive.

South Bend Tribune reporter Joseph Dits can be reached at 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Shore line terminal to serve freight of New Carlisle industry
Peter and Mika Fenn have been happily married for 27 years and have 2 daughters.

They lived in Japan and Australia, and can all speak fluent Japanese.

The couple prioritizes having fun together and fostering a deep connection with their kids.

"Introducingmy parents," starts Sharnie Fenn's Instagram reel, which has since amassed over 48 million views. It's a simple montage of a family having fun together, but that's precisely what makes it so eye-grabbing: her parents are goofy and affectionate in ways that feel rare.

"When I was growing up in high school, I would hear my friends say, 'Oh, I have to do family dinner on Friday,'" she told Business Insider. "But for me, and I think for my sister as well, hanging out with Mom and Dad, it just was very natural. We just liked spending time with them."

Peter Fenn, her father, told Business Insider he met his wife, Mika, when she was living in the Gold Coast, Australia on a Working Holiday visa  one that allowed her to temporarily move there from Japan. They were introduced through a mutual friend.

"I'm a little bit kind of quiet and reserved as opposed to Mika, where she's a little bit more outgoing," Fenn told Business Insider. "That's what attracted me to her  she's what I'm not."

Sharnie Fenn

Their first dates involved exploring the Gold Coast's beaches and rivers, which were all new to Mika.

After a year, when her visa expired, Fenn followed Mika back to Japan, learning Japanese while he lived there. The couple married about eight to nine months later and had two daughters, who they raised in Japan and Australia.

Peter and Mika Fenn shared their best bilingual relationship tips with Business Insider, and Sharnie provided insight into how her parents' happy marriage influenced her.

Invest in language classes

The Fenn family. Sharnie Fenn

Peter Fenn said moving to Japan when he was younger made it easier to learn the language.

"Just jumping off the deep end, you're sort of forced to pick it up," he said.

"You put a lot of work in there, Dad," Sharnie added. "I saw all the textbooks that you used to have, so he's very humble, but I think he studied very hard."

Both of their daughters were born in Japan, where the family lived for five years before moving to the Gold Coast. "When we came back to Australia, it was a priority for us to send them to a Japanese tutoring school, just to keep that bond with their grandmother and grandfather," Peter Fenn said.

Mika, whose interview with BI was translated from Japanese by Sharnie, added that she "loves that Dad has so much love for her family and for Japan."

Beyond keeping the family close, all four family members being fluent in Japanese has an extra perk: "It's awesome when we go to shops, because we can talk about people," Peter Fenn said.

Prioritize tight-knit family connection

Peter Fenn said that he's an only child and his family is spread out in Australia, so they don't see each other often. It was a contrast to Mika's family, who he considered "tight-knit"  something he wanted for his own immediate family.

"It was important for me to hang out and do things together," he said. "So for my wife and I, that was a priority." In Sharnie's videos, the family is frequently seen traveling, going to restaurants, and spending time at home together.

In addition to having fun as a family, Mika Fenn said that "respecting boundaries, being transparent, being open, and communicating" were all important qualities of a healthy marriage and family dynamic, which her husband echoed.

Sharnie Fenn

"It's important within a family to be open," he said. "It took us a while. It doesn't happen immediately  you have boyfriends and different things that pop up and you've just got to be able to talk about things."

Keep things lighthearted

Sharnie Fenn, who now lives in Japan, said she visits her parents about once a year, spending a lot of time with them when she does.

Part of what makes their time enjoyable is that they're always out and about on weekends, she said. Most recently, Peter and Mika Fenn attended an outdoor blues festival, where they "sat on the grass and felt really old looking at all the young people dancing," Peter Fenn said.

"Just being with him all the time is really fun," Mika Fenn said.

When asked about the secret to keeping things light in their marriage, Peter Fenn said it happens naturally.

Sharnie Fenn

"I'm not going to try and pretend that I know everything or I have any profound advice," he said. "Every morning I wake up, I'm surprised my wife's still with me. I just try and make her laugh and make her life easy, because I know I'm a handful."

Sharnie Fenn said her parents' marriage positively influenced her expectations of romantic relationships.

"I often looked to my parents' relationship for guidance, though it took me a very long time to be able to replicate it or to find the kind of real love and respect they have for each other," she said. "I'd be lucky to recreate even half of what they have together."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The juvenile justice system in North Carolina is receiving significant attention around rising crime rates, a lack of available detention beds, and Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) staffing problems. The offending youth often return to our communities ill-equipped for successful re-entry due in part to a lack of sufficient occupational, educational, and therapeutic programming. Public and private leaders in the juvenile justice system want nothing more than to have these youth succeed, reduce juvenile crime, and contribute to our communities.

We must acknowledge we have a crisis in the system created to rehabilitate and heal children and youth. Lets be clear: many of these youth have had challenges most of their lives. Many are born into poverty. Many lack the parental support to navigate our complex world. Also, kids, who are still in their developmental stages, sometimes make bad choices. The most dedicated and caring parents sometimes find that when given additional freedoms, their child sometimes does not handle it as well as hoped.

Regardless of how a child might enter the system, we must be honest and acknowledge that our system does not always work the way it should. It was designed to respond to kids who make mistakes and provide them with rehabilitative and therapeutic interventions. However, the system often fails to recognize the inherent potential for children to change.

Across the state, the DJJDP system has been woefully understaffed. Overall, there is a 31 percent vacancy rate in staff who address the needs of youth when they come into court. When youth are held in custody, there is a 45 percent vacancy rate among staff who provide day-to-day supervision and support. These positions are underfunded, making it extremely difficult to attract and retain staff.

Several state prevention and support services provide youth diversion programs that keep kids out of the court system. However, those dollars do not go far enough, and efforts to increase funding for these programs have been slow. What is important here is that these programs produce incredibly good outcomes and cost far less than serving youth in the juvenile court system. Our community should prioritize programs that are proven effective in prevention rather than more costly programs after the problem has become significant.

North Carolinas lawmakers are creating the next state budget. In discussions with child advocates and stakeholders, we have found that funding proposals being considered for this years state budget only partially fulfill DJJDP priorities. Without significant investment, we will continue to see the crisis in our juvenile justice system.

DJJDP has three top legislative priorities for this years budget cycle:

1. To fund the S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) campaign, which takes a public health approach to reducing the availability of unsecured firearms.

2. To increase funding for community-based prevention and early intervention programs. This funding, in part, also provides remediation services to return capacity to youth to stand trial.

3. Focus on staff recruitment/retention/compensation to strengthen staffing across all programs.

Without adequate funding, the problems will continue. North Carolinians must demand that we properly fund our system. If we do not, we can expect more tragic stories. We need to adequately serve youth when we have their attention, so they do not become burdens to the adult systems. They will be over-represented in adult prisons, mental health facilities, and adult social service systems, costing taxpayers millions of additional dollars.

A society (or community) can be best judged by how it treats its most vulnerable populations. This applies to all our children and youth. We must do better. Our legislators must act NOW or pay the price later.

Contact your state legislators and tell them they must fund the DJJDPs priorities.

Frank Crawford is the former executive director of Youth Homes Inc.. He wrote this op-ed on behalf of members of The Childrens Alliance of Mecklenburg County.
Early on Tuesday June 6 1944, an armada crossed the English Channel to deposit an army consisting almost entirely of Britons, Americans and Canadians on five beaches on the Normandy coast. By that time, an airborne force of paratroopers had landed in German-occupied territory, aiming to draw the fire of those who would try to slaughter the armies coming up the beaches. According to figures in Churchills D-Day, by Lord Dannatt and Allen Packwood (), one of several books published to mark the anniversary of the invasion, on D-Day itself over 5,000 ships had landed 133,000 Allied troops, supported by 14,674 air sorties and immense naval gunfire.

Among the 20,000 airborne troops, according to Dannatt and Packwood, casualties were small; but of the initial ground force, which eventually swelled to nearly a million and a half men, there were just under 11,000 Allied casualties, including around 3,800 killed, of which slightly over 1,000 were British. On that first day, the Americans suffered a disproportionate number of dead, thanks to the carnage on Omaha Beach, from which the surrounding cliffs provided little means of advance.

The first notable D-Day chronicle was Cornelius Ryans The Longest Day, published in 1959. (It was made into a film memorable for a truly preposterous turn by John Wayne as a wounded American commander.) The shelves of military historians, and those with an amateur interest in the question, now creak with 65 years worth of books about the invasion of Normandy. Many have made contributions to our knowledge, thanks to the greater availability of state archives and private collections, and in detailing such an operation as the invasion, greater and more formidable in its execution than anything the world had seen, there are plenty of angles to be had. How interesting they are, and how keen the reading publics appetite remains for another round of D-Day books, is another matter.

Dannatt and Packwoods book is well judged and well resourced, and one of the better of the latest crop. Dannatt is a former Chief of the General Staff, and brings a soldiers expertise to the technical digressions in the narrative; Packwood is director of the archive at Churchill College, Cambridge, which includes the wartime prime ministers papers. He is well aware of the distinction between the familiar and the less familiar. The book is candid in dealing with Churchills comparative impotence in the build-up to D-Day: his realisation not just that he was a junior partner in the Western alliance with Roosevelt, but that his military commanders were increasingly calling the shots. Concerned about how to get equipment across the Channel, he was angered when he heard decisions had been taken by Montgomery without consulting him. It brought home Churchills lack of absolute power.

From the familiar material comes the old story about Churchills absurd determination to join the armada, and the equal determination of George VI to go, too. Each thought it impossible the other could go; Tommy Lascelles, the Kings private secretary, was horrified, wondering aloud who would advise the 18-year-old Princess Elizabeth, who would have become Queen, on whom to appoint prime minister if both the King and Churchill were killed. (In the event, both visited several days after the successful invasion.) Churchills petulance and the sometimes impossible demands he made on his court are also familiar. But for new readers, the book will be a superb primer  and one of impeccable historical accuracy  on the events around D-Day.

The scene at the northern French coast early that morning - Alamy

D-Day was mainly a seaborne operation, and that underplayed story is well told in Nick Hewitts Normandy: The Sailors Story (). Commendably, he denies that his book is yet another about D-Day, but about the Battle of Seine Bay from mid-1943 to late 1944, which established something approaching Allied naval superiority off the Normandy coast, and made the landings possible. For a year before D-Day, the armada had to be put together, with many ships having to be brought across the Atlantic.

Hewitts technical knowledge is exemplary. But as he also points out, after nearly five years of war it was harder to get sailors than vessels. Many of the former were transferred from duties ashore, their jobs filled by Wrens. The demands were varied. There was a shortage of officers. At this point, ludicrously, Hewitt writes, the Service sent them to the Royal Naval College at Greenwich for a short course on Wardroom etiquette, known disparagingly as the knife and fork course. Once they were there, a commander came in and said: You have become officers. We are now going to teach you how to be gentlemen.

Hewitt gives a superb account of the disastrous invasion rehearsal by the Americans in Lyme Bay, off the Dorset coast, in late April 1944. The rehearsals Royal Navy escort was reduced by a destroyers being holed in a collision, and with its replacement never having caught up. Just after midnight on April 28, a flotilla of E-boats on a routine patrol from Cherbourg slipped past the escort and hit one of the American ships. One of the survivors, quoted by Hewitt, recalled that all hell broke loose those out in the open were in total panic and many were falling to the deck hit by what seemed to be incoming fire it felt like an earthquake. Two other American vessels were hit within minutes: a total of 749 were killed and another 200 wounded. As Hewitt writes, on the eve of D-Day, the Kriegsmarine remained far more of a threat to the Allied invaders than had been realised.

British troops disembark at Arromanches during the invasion - Alamy

There are excellent details, and maps, of the vast flotilla assembled in the Solent in early June, and accounts of how the crossing was made after a 24-hour delay for bad weather. It was a real filthy night, one of the sailors Hewitt quotes recalled. Choppy seas, squally showers, really overcast when we got back to Plymouth, Id been at sea on duty for 30 hours without a break. They called it the Longest Day. It was for me. Minesweepers had cleared a channel in and out of the landing beaches, enabling the transport ships to get in, unload their cargoes, and get out again.

Hewitt stresses the sheer size of the operation. Although deception techniques such as Operation Mincemeat, when a corpse was washed up on a Spanish beach with bogus plans for the invasion, had convinced the Germans that the invasion would take place in the Pas-de-Calais, and although Rommel was convinced the weather was too bad for an attempt in early June, the fact that it was carried out with as little loss of life and materiel as it was appears nothing short of miraculous.

Also highly original is Christian Wolmars The Liberation Line (); though it is not, strictly speaking, a book about D-Day. Wolmar, a respected transport historian, tells the story of British and American engineers imported into liberated France to rebuild the railways essential to the progress of the invasion and the recovery of the country. Those who endure modern railways will wonder at the fact that a new line from Avranches to Le Mans  a distance of 135 miles  was knocked up in just 75 hours in August 1944.

Winston Churchill arrives in Normandy a few weeks after D-Day - Getty

The mechanics of D-Day required years of scientific development; the stories of some of these are told in Rachel Lances Chamber Divers (). Lance looks at the importance of underwater reconnaissance to operation, obvious since the catastrophe of the Dieppe raid in 1942. D-Day is usually thought to be entirely about men: but Lances book highlights the role female scientists played. One, Elizabeth Jermyn, was paid the same as a secretary and fractured her spine in an experiment  another reminder that in both world wars, victory came only because of the contribution of women.

But it was men who went to Normandy and landed on the beaches. First-person accounts of these astonishingly brave warriors are told in two books, and are vital testimony for those who wish to understand the stark reality of running up a beach with the Wehrmacht trying to kill you. D-Day: The Unheard Tapes (), by Geraint Jones, uses interviews collected in an oral-history project by British and American scholars; a new BBC documentary adapts some of them for the screen. D-Day: The Oral History (), by Garrett M Graff, is more comprehensive, running accounts from a larger and wider range of witnesses on both sides.

One understands the heroism well when one reads this account of Lord Lovats brigade, reproduced in Graffs book: They stride forward with shoulders hunched like boxers ready for in-fighting. Shells explode among them. Their leader falls, but they shoulder him upright and surge on. Never can any nation have given birth to finer men than these. For such good reasons, 80 years later their legend lives on.

To order any of these books, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

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Dam at Dnipro power plant closed to traffic in Zaporizhzhia

The dam at the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in Zaporizhzhia has been closed to traffic on the morning of Saturday 1 June.

Source: Zaporizhzhia Oblast Patrol Police on Telegram; Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The alternative route goes over the Zaporizhzhia Arch Bridge on Khortytsia island. Also, through Novi Mosty and the Khortytskyi district."

Details: Fedorov claims that the Russians launched a huge attack on Zaporizhzhia during the night. They targeted one of the energy infrastructure facilities, causing damage. Over twenty residential buildings and social institutions have been affected.

No one was injured.

Background:

On the night of 31 May - 1 June, six Tu-95MS strategic bombers took off in Russia. They carried out missile launch manoeuvres around 03:00. At 04.29, the missiles went to Zakarpattia Oblast (Transcarpathia), in Ukraines western regions. The air-raid lasted until 05:30.

Serhii Borzov, Head of Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration, stated that a fire had broken out at a key infrastructure facility in Vinnytsia Oblast on Saturday night, caused by the falling wreckage of a downed Russian drone.

According to Ukraines Ministry of Energy, the Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Crooks are targeting people with the Navy Federal Credit Union app on their phone and theyre conning victims out of thousands of dollars.



Antoni Garza was walking to the Planet Fitness on Laskin Road when a car drove up with three men inside. At first, they were polite, asking where the nearest Navy Federal? Then the mood changed.



At that point, I was right there, they cornered me kind of in between my car and their car, Garza said.



They told him to open his Navy Federal app on his phone and thats when they put the heat on.



The man who was talking to me was talking extremely fast, Garza said. Im sure its a tactic. You know, my heart was racing a million miles an hour. At that point they were demanding my phone and it was either my life or my phone at that point.



In under five minutes, they applied for a loan using fraudulent employer and salary information. Navy Federal approved the loan in under a minute, no questions asked. Now, Garza is out more than $7,000.



In my eyes, theyre enabling this by making it so easy. You dont have to type in the right information to get a loan, Garza said.



He called Navy Federal, but they said they couldnt help Garza get his money back because 



Because I gave them my phone, he said.



Thanks to police, he can share the type of car and license plate of the crooks, hoping theyll be caught.



Since November of 2023, weve received about 23 reports of this type of scam, Portsmouth Police Department PIO Elexcia Washington said.



Those 23 reports total more than $110,000 in damages to victims in Portsmouth alone. Garza said police told him there are 200 pending cases between Virginia and Florida.

His mom shared the information on social media and has heard numerous people tell her it happened to someone they know  all had the Navy Federal app on their phone. And sometimes, the tactic would vary.



Someone would ask someone to transfer money and then they would have an issue, Washington said. And so, the scammer would then say, Oh, let me see your phone. And in that little bit of time they have your phone, theyre able to copy your account information and sometimes, even apply for a loan on your phone.



That loan is deposited into your account, and the scammer transfers it to theirsand youre on the hook for the money. In a statement, Navy Federal said:

Navy Federal makes safeguarding our members privacy and security a top priority. We have many security controls in place to protect our members from fraud and hackers, including multifactor authentication, state-of-the-art fraud prevention systems, and biometric sign in. All are backed by our 24/7 Member Services line at 1-888-842-6328, our network of over 350 branches worldwide for in-person support and employees who work behind the scenes to keep our members safe. If a member is a victim of fraud, they can contact us any time.  Timothy Day, Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Experiences, Navy Federal Credit Union.

Story continues

Meanwhile, Garza has this warning.



I dont want to say dont trust anybody, but you really cant, Garza said.



Police say Garza did the right thing in complying with the crooks. But they advised to always be aware of your surroundings and, if you can help it, dont hand your phone over to anyone.

Garza said he files a fraud claim with Navy Federal every day, but every day its denied.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Dan Osborn, an Omaha industrial mechanic, announces his nonpartisan bid for U.S. Senate in Nebraska. He is challenging U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  Two weeks after spurning a likely endorsement from the Nebraska Democratic Party, nonpartisan Senate candidate Dan Osborn has not yet drawn a party-backed write-in candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

And he could avoid one altogether.

Leaders in Nebraskas second-largest political party recently met and discussed whether to embrace state party Chair Jane Kleebs May 15 push for a party-approved write-in candidate.

Discussions continue, attendees told the Examiner.

Kleeb said the party still could recruit a write-in candidate. She said Democrats still want Osborn to agree to endorse President Joe Biden and caucus with the Democrats if elected.

That is not asking too much, she said.

Hasnt decided in presidential contest

Douglas County Democratic Party Chair CJ King echoed Kleeb in saying he would prefer that Osborn side with Democrats, regardless of whether he wants a formal endorsement from the party.

I hope he wins and caucuses with the Democrats, King said. Id love to see him endorse President Biden.

Osborn, a former Omaha-area labor leader at Kelloggs, has said that he doesnt know which party he will caucus with and that he hasnt decided on who he will back in the presidential race. He has said he doesnt want to alienate Republican supporters, including some who support former President Donald Trump.

Im a true independent who will never be beholden to any political party or politician, and thats why Ive been clear that Im not taking their endorsements, Osborn said. Im focused on defeating do-nothing Deb Fischer.

Osborn may have to take sides

Kleeb and Senate observers have said Osborn will have to take sides in order to join Senate committees, where much of the day-to-day work in Congress gets done. Osborn said earlier this month he might have more influence in a tightly divided Senate by being open.

After the primary, Osborn announced he would not seek or accept endorsements from political parties  after spending months courting the state Democrats and persuading them to try keeping other candidates out of the Fischer race.

Osborn supporters also helped Kerry Eddy win the Legal Marijuana NOW Partys Senate primary, even as Eddy posted plans to drop out and shift her supporters toward Osborn. And Osborn briefly sought the backing of other third parties, including the Libertarian Party.

Fischers campaign declined to comment for this story. Before the May primary, Fischer, a former teacher, state senator and school board member in Valentine, Neb., described Osborn as a Democrat in sheeps clothing.

The post Dan Osborn might not face Democratic Senate write-in candidate appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
On June 1, 1973, Prime Minister George Papadopoulos abolished the Greek monarchy and proclaimed Greece a republic with himself as president. Constantine II, the last king of Greece pictured in 1987, died in January 2023. File Photo by Allan Warren/Wikimedia

On this date in history:

In 1880, the first public pay telephone began operation in New Haven, Conn.

In 1958, Charles de Gaulle became prime minister of France with emergency powers amid the collapse of the Fourth Republic. He was elected president of France at the end of the year amid the rise of the Fifth Republic.

In 1962, Israel hanged Adolf Eichmann for his part in the killing of 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany in World War II.

In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court banned prayers and Bible teaching in public schools on the constitutional grounds of separation of church and state.

On June 1, 1997, teacher Jonathan Levin, the son of Time Warner's then-chairman, Gerald Levin, pictured, was tortured and killed by a former student. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI

File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI

In 1968, Helen Keller, a world-renowned author and lecturer despite being blind and deaf from infancy, died in Westport, Conn., at the age of 87.

On June 1, 2001, Nepalese Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev massacred nine members of his family before shooting himself in the head. He died three days later. File Photo by Nabin K. Sapkota/Wikimedia

In 1973, Prime Minister George Papadopoulos abolished the Greek monarchy and proclaimed Greece a republic with himself as president. Constantine II, the last king of Greece, died in January 2023.

In 1980, the Cable News Network -- CNN -- TV's first all-news service, went on the air.

This photo released by the Brazilian Air Force on June 9, 2009, shows the Brazilian Navy removing debris from Air France Flight AF447 out of the Atlantic Ocean. Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantis ocean en route to Paris from Rio de Janeiro, killing all 228 people on board on June 1, 2009. File Photo courtesy Brazilian Air Force/UPI

In 1993, President Jorge Serrano Elias of Guatemala was ousted by the military.

In 1997, Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X's widow, sustained injuries when her 12-year-old grandson, Malcolm Shabazz, set fire to her apartment. She died nearly a month later.

Smoke billows over Universal Walk as a fire rages out of control on the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., 12 miles from downtown on Los Angeles on June 1, 2008. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

File Photo by Roger Celestin/UPI

In 1997, teacher Jonathan Levin, the son of Time Warner's then-chairman, Gerald Levin, was tortured and killed by a former student who knew him to be wealthy and was seeking money. The student, Corey Arthur, was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. His alleged accomplice, Montoun Hart, was acquitted despite a signed, 11-page confession.

On this day in 1980, the Cable News Network -- CNN -- TV's first all-news service, went on the air. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI

In 2001, Nepalese Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev massacred nine members of his family, including his parents, King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya; his siblings, Prince Nirajan and Princess Shruti; and aunts and uncles Prince Dhirendra, Princess Shanti, Princess Sharada, Kumar Khadga and Princess Jayanti. Dipendra also shot himself in the head, but initially survived, and served as king for four days before dying.

In 2008, a fire at Universal Studios Hollywood burned two city blocks and destroyed iconic movie sets, including those from When Harry Met Sally, The Sting and Back to the Future.

Blind and deaf author Helen Keller, who died on this day in 1968, runs her fingers over the face of President Dwight Eisenhower during a visit to the White House in 1953. File Photo by Charles Corte/UPI

In 2009, Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 people on board.

In 2015, the Eastern Star, a passenger ship traveling along the Yangtze River from the eastern city of Nanjing, flipped during a violent storm, killing approximately 400 people.

In 2020, law enforcement officers cleared protesters from Lafayette Square near the White House using tear gas and other tactics to allow President Donald Trump to walk to St. John's Episcopal Church to pose for a photo while holding a Bible. The photo op came amid protests against the police killing of George Floyd which caused damage to the church.

In 2021, Adm. Linda Fagan took over for retiring Adm. Karl L. Schultz, becoming the first female commandant in the U.S. Coast Guard.

File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Rocky Mountain Field Division is urging parents to discuss the dangers of fentanyl as children head out for the summer.

According to the DEA, fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat to face the U.S. Nationwide, the agency has seized millions of pills. The Rocky Mountain division is on pace to have a record-setting year.

It is an unfortunate reality that seizures of fake fentanyl pills across our Division  Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana  continue at unprecedented levels, said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky. Fentanyl poisonings are the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45 years of age. We need parents, grandparents, teachers, siblings, friends, and neighbors to join us in having the discussion on the deadly dangers of this poison being peddled by the cartels in our country.

The division said so far in the 2024 fiscal year that runs from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, the division had seized nearly 1.8 million fentanyl pills. With last years record of 2.61 million, the agency says it will almost certainly be broken.

The DEA has resources for parents to inform themselves about the dangers of fentanyl before having the talk.

Lab testing done by the DEA has shown seven out of 10 fentanyl pills contain a potential lethal dose, as little as two milligrams, the equivalent of a few granules of sugar, can be fatal.

As we head into the summer and kids are out of school, lets not fail to continue to educate our family and friends on the dangers of fentanyl. The more we talk about fentanyl, the better, Olesky said. At DEA, were fighting these cartels and the fentanyl crisis every day  now we need the rest of the country to join us in that fight. It is true that one pill can kill, but its also true that one conversation can save.

For more information, click the link above or visit www.dea.gov/onepill.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Chad Daybell has been sentenced to death.

The decision to sentence the 55-year-old Rexburg man to the harshest punishment for the murders of his then-wife and two of his new wifes children came after a nearly two-month trial that saw evidence from over 70 witnesses, many of whom were also called during his wifes and co-conspirator Lori Vallow Daybells criminal trial. The 50-year-old mother was convicted on similar charges in May 2023 and sentenced to life in prison.

While the jurors deliberated, family, friends, journalists and spectators flanked the fourth-floor hallway of the Ada County Courthouse waiting Saturday. Once a decision was reached, the dozens of observers filled up the courtroom to hear the sentence in the penalty phase of the trial.

The jury has made a finding that it would be appropriate to impose the death penalty, 7th District Judge Boyce said in court. The court is directed that the defendant would be sentenced to death on those counts.

Chad Daybell is seated for his sentencing hearing Saturday at the Ada County Courthouse.

The Daybells, who had a monthslong affair before getting married on a Hawaii beach, were initially expected to be tried together in a double capital murder trial. Their cases were ultimately severed because of new DNA evidence and, just before Lori Vallow Daybells trial, the judge removed the death penalty as an option after prosecutors filed voluminous amounts of evidence past deadlines  causing concerns about the defenses ability to prepare for trial.

The 12-person jury in Chad Daybells case deliberated for roughly six hours over two days, finding the murders were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity, according to the verdict form read in court by the clerk. The jury found that Chad Daybell exhibited utter disregard for human life and has a propensity to commit murder, which could threaten society.

The jurors also found that Chad Daybell committed the murders for remuneration.

Less than 48 hours earlier, at around 2 p.m. Thursday, those same jurors convicted the 55-year-old father on all eight felony charges he faced, including first-degree murder in the deaths of his then-wife Tammy Daybell and Vallow Daybells two youngest children: 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. He also was convicted on three counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of insurance fraud for increasing Tammy Daybells life insurance coverage.

To all those who held Tylee, JJ and Tammy in their hearts, we hope these verdicts bring a measure of healing and closure, Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood said, and may the memory of the Tylee, JJ and Tammy continue to be a blessing to all who knew and loved them.

JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan

Lost a brother but gained an entire family

In August 2019, Vallow Daybell moved from Arizona to Rexburg, just months after her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed. In the months that followed, her children went missing and Tammy Daybell died in her home.

Tammy Daybells death wasnt initially investigated as suspicious, but her body was exhumed two months later. Utahs chief medical examiner performed an autopsy and ruled her death a homicide.

Tammy Daybell

Following a lengthy investigation, the Rexburg Police Department discovered the bodies of JJ and Tylee in June 2020. Tylees burned and dismembered remains and JJs bound body were buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybells property in Eastern Idaho.

Authorities have said they believe Vallow Daybells brother Alex Cox  who acted as her protector  also killed or conspired to kill Tylee, JJ and Tammy Daybell. He died from natural causes in December 2019.

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chad Daybell believed he received personal revelations from God that told him certain people  including Vallow Daybells children and Tammy Daybell  were possessed by dark spirits and would need to be cast out, or killed, according to witness testimony.

The couple also believed that the world would end in July 2020 and that theyd lead a group of 144,000 people who the Book of Revelation in the Bible said would be saved during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The prosecution accused the Daybells of using religion as a tool to manipulate others, including Cox, saying in the indictment that they espoused religious beliefs for the purpose of justifying or encouraging the homicides.

This case has been about speaking for and seeking justice for the lives of three wonderful humans whose lives were cut way too short by the selfish desires of the defendant and his co-defendant Lori Vallow (Daybell), Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake said. We are pleased with the outcome and that justice has been served for the victims in this case.

Several of the children and Tammy Daybells family members gathered outside the Ada County Courthouse along with prosecutors, and dozens of law enforcement members, on Saturday.

The hardest part of I think about all of this is that our family has lost a brother, but in the process of it, weve almost gained an entire family, Tammy Daybells brother-in-law, Jason Gwilliam, told reporters, referencing Tylee and JJs family members.

Larry Woodcock, grandfather of JJ Vallow, gives his reaction after the guilty verdict of Chad Daybell Thursday. What Chad and Lori cant take from us is our memories, JJs grandfather Larry Woodcock told reporters. They cant take that. They cant destroy it. They cant erase it. Our memories are what we have.

Chad Daybell chose not to present witnesses during sentencing

Following Thursdays guilty verdict, the court began the penalty phase of the case, where the jurors decided whether to sentence Chad Daybell to death. While this phase of the sentencing couldve taken anywhere from a day to a few weeks, in an extraordinarily uncommon move, it lasted only three hours.

Typically, a defendant facing the death penalty would bring in a mitigation specialist whod perform an exhaustive investigation into their life, looking for any information that might humanize them or help their case  such as any mental health concerns or generational trauma. Theyd also present evidence from experts, along with testimony from family and friends.

This is, literally, the lifesaving evidence, Death Penalty Information Center Executive Director Robin Maher told the Idaho Statesman in an interview.

Chad Daybell chose not to present any mitigating factors, evidence or witnesses as to why he shouldnt receive the death penalty.

Chad Daybell receives the death penalty in his sentencing hearing following two days of deliberation by a 12-person jury at the Ada County Courthouse, June 1, 2024. Daybell was convicted of killing 3 people.

Just before the jurors were brought into the courtroom, Judge Boyce repeatedly asked Daybell whether he was certain he wanted to proceed without presenting any evidence  adding that it doesnt have to excuse the crimes and inspires sympathy, compassion or mercy.

Mr. Daybell, the purpose of these rights is to potentially present evidence to the jury that could result in them finding that the death penalty should not be imposed in your case. Do you understand that? Boyce asked.

I do, Daybell responded.

Im also advised then that you do not intend to  despite the preparation of mitigation from your attorney  you dont intend to present that evidence at this hearing. Is that your choice? Boyce asked.

That is my choice, Daybell said.

Following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to reallow the death penalty, the court ruled in a 1978 case that defendants in capital cases are entitled to individualized sentencing determinations and that mitigating factors should be considered.

Its not for the worst crimes, its only for the worst persons, Maher said about capital punishment.

In Daybells case, the jurors were asked to decide whether he should be sentenced to death without any of that lifesaving evidence that is so fundamental to their decision, Maher said. She added that some courts have decided that mitigation evidence should be presented despite a defendants opposition, because of how important that information can be.

Both Maher and University of Idaho Associate Professor of Law Samuel Newton told the Statesman that capital cases can be overturned when insufficient mitigation factors were presented, but thats typically when the defense attorney doesnt present any or enough evidence, not when a client opts out.

He is choosing not to present any evidence that would save his life, Maher said.

Daybell will now join seven men awaiting death at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution south of Boise. Robin Row  the only woman on Idahos death row  is in custody at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center.

The last person to be sentenced to death in Idaho was 36-year-old Jonathan Daniel Renfro for the murder of Coeur dAlene Police Sgt. Greg Moore. He was sentenced in 2017 and is still on death row.

Its a weird feeling, Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow Daybells eldest son and only surviving child, told reporters.

You never wish harm on anybody regardless of what theyve done to you, but at the end of the day, its good that he cant hurt anybody else  and thats what matters.

Colby Ryan, son of Lori Vallow Daybell, speaks outside of the Ada County Courthouse after the sentencing of Chad Daybell.
The death toll of a Russian missile attack against Kharkiv's Novobavarskyi district overnight on May 31 has again risen, with nine people reported as being killed, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on June 1.

After an update earlier in the day in which Syniehubov said that seven had been killed, the death toll was again revised after two more bodies were found.

The number of people killed in the strike included four men and three women. Search operations are ongoing, as two more women may be trapped under the rubble, Syniehubov said. It is unclear if the two bodies that were found were the two women that Syniehubov referred to earlier.

Russian missiles struck three locations in the city overnight on May 31  a five-story residential building, a sewing workshop, and a local shop.

The governor said shortly after the attack that a subsequent strike on the same location within the city was a 'double-tap' attack - wherein Russian forces wait for first responders and law enforcement to arrive before hitting the same place again to inflict greater damage.

At least one emergency medical worker was injured as a result of the attack.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, which had a population of 1.4 million in 2021, with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, destroying energy infrastructure and killing civilians.

Read also: Updated: Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv kill 6, injure 25

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Republican allies of former President Trump are taking to the airwaves to boost his attacks on the justice system and condemn those who say people should respect the justice system that delivered his guilty verdict in the New York hush money trial.

The GOP has long billed itself as the law and order party, one that has promoted the justice system and urged the need to respect the rule of law.

But as Trump blasted the verdict as the result of a rigged, disgraceful trial, his allies in Congress likewise railed against it.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the case a weaponization of our justice system, while possible vice presidential contender Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said it was a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our justice system.

Other Republicans who have broken with Trump criticized their party for betraying what they see as its fundamentals.

Watching my party  the party of law and order  absolutely turn their guns against the jury, against the judge, against the system. And its not just like crazy people. Its people like Marco Rubio and [Sen.] Lindsey Graham [S.C.]. This party has lost all ability to think for itself, Adam Kinzinger, a former representative from Illinois who served on the Jan. 6 committee, said during an appearance on CNN Friday morning.

New York District Attorney Alvin Braggs team successfully convinced the jury in New York to unanimously convict the former president on every single one of the 34 charges it brought.

The 12 jurors spent relatively little time weighing the charges, returning a swift decision that found Trump had violated the law by falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

A panel of citizens, of American citizens that were picked by both the prosecutor and the defense  heard the evidence and called him guilty, Kinzinger said.

Trump allies verbally attacking the decision have signaled theyll go further.

Rubio and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who is also considered a vice presidential contender, signed onto a letter with six other lawmakers pledging to refuse to confirm any new judicial nominees, blaming the White House for making a mockery of the rule of law. They also said they would vote against any swift consideration of Democratic legislation not related to public safety.

To Democrats and a small handful of Republicans, the system worked as intended with the Trump verdict in New York.

The jury system is an essential democratic practice and institution because its a microcosm of the people, and what you get is common sense people who are willing to take in all of the facts on all of the sides, people who are willing to participate in this justice system that includes the presumption of innocence, that includes the right of the defendant either to testify or not testify  as Donald Trump chose to do  and were willing to apply the law to the facts. To me, it was a beautiful thing to watch, said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who served on the Jan. 6 committee.

GOP lawmakers have been laying the groundwork to discredit the case since before charges were even filed, with House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) demanding to hear from Bragg before Trump was indicted.

Some Republicans have zeroed in on comments Bragg made while running for office noting his experience investigating the Trump Foundation, but the district attorney never committed to prosecuting Trump, instead saying he would follow the facts in reviewing work done by his predecessor.

Others have similarly focused on small donations made by the judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, including $15 to the 2020 Biden campaign. The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct dismissed an ethics complaint related to the donations, and a separate judicial ethics panel said he would not need to recuse himself over the matter.

Many comments made in the wake of the verdict mirror those some Republicans have been making for months and come after allies similarly bashed the case from the courthouse steps while the trial was taking place.

These MAGA acolytes also came to New York to wage information warfare and discredit the judge and the democratic justice system that dared to try and hold their idol accountable for his crimes, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an authoritarianism expert at New York University, wrote Thursday.

Republicans have been on a larger crusade to delegitimize democratic institutions, turning the public against the courts, judges, the press, and politicians who uphold the rule of law, truth, and accountability.

With attacks seeming inevitable, John Bolton, Trumps spurned national security adviser, warned of the danger of undermining the system.

Its dangerous to question the integrity of our entire legal system, he said on social platform X before the verdict was even announced.

Our enemies in Moscow and Beijing believe that anything that undercuts Americas general faith in the Constitution weakens America. A lost faith in our Judicial Branch is a win for our enemies.

The few Republicans who urged respecting the verdict were quickly hammered by others in the party.

Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, former Maryland governor and Senate hopeful Larry Hogan (R) wrote on X before the verdict was read.

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.

Trump adviser Chris LaCivita immediately responded, You just ended your campaign.

Kinzinger said two years ago, such a statement would have been the response of any Republican in office or running for office on any court case. He also noted tanking Hogans campaign could cost Republicans the Senate.

College Republicans made a similar plea as Hogan for accepting the verdict.

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, the organization wrote on X.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla), who previously called the verdict the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, slammed the group for having a horrendously bad take.

The verdict should be condemned as a stain on our nation and our justice system, he said in response.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said little of the trial in a statement on X, noting Trumps right to appeal, but she was one of the few sitting lawmakers to degenerate Trump and the way his legal drama has overshadowed the campaign.

A Republican nominee without this baggage would have a clear path to victory, she wrote Friday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Defense Ministry: Ukraine destroys record number of Russian artillery systems in May

Ukrainian forces destroyed 1,160 Russian artillery systems in May, a record month since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Defense Ministry said on June 1.

According to a graph posted by the ministry on X, the previous highest number of destroyed Russian artillery pieces  976  was recorded in March.

It's another record. 1,160 Russian artillery systems were destroyed in May. It's the biggest number of artillery losses in two years of the war, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the Ukrainian forces continue to transform Russian weapons into scrap metal.

Russia has lost a total of 13,184 artillery systems since the beginning of the all-out war, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on June 1.

Ukraine has also managed to destroy important Russian military hardware in recent months.

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.

Read also: Inside the Swedish ammunition plant at the forefront of Europes push to ramp up shell production

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ashley Herrmann has filed paperwork to run for Florida House District 49. The district covers much of southern Polk County.

As of Friday, a Democrat has entered each of Polk Countys five legislative elections.

Ashley Herrmann filed a statement of candidacy Wednesday to run for office in Florida House District 49, which covers much of southern Polk County.

Herrmann, 34, listed a post office box in Thonotosassa, in Hillsborough County, on the statement submitted to the Florida Division of Elections. Asked if she lives in the district, Herrmann replied by email, Not yet, but my father does, and I'd love to take up residence should I be elected.

Under Florida election law, a member of the Legislature must reside in their district upon taking office.

Herrmann described herself as a fifth-generation Floridian. She said she holds an associate degree from Hillsborough Community College, a bachelors in economics from the University of South Florida and a masters in global sustainability with a concentration in sustainable business from USF.

Florida voter rolls A conservative activist challenged 10,000 names. Only 1 was in Polk

Herrmann said she is the mother of a 3-year-old girl and is early in her pregnancy with another child.

She joins three Republicans already in the race for the open seat: Jennifer Kincart Jonsson and Heather McArthur of Lakeland and Shawn McDonough of Mulberry. Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade, opted not to seek a fourth term and is running for Polk County Supervisor of Elections.

I'm running because I care a lot about my state and Central Florida, Herrmann said by email. I care a lot about reproductive rights as a woman and a mother. My daughter and 'child to be' will live here. My husband, a Marine, is from here. I'm looking forward to running a competitive race.

Each of the other four legislative races with districts including Polk County  one in the Senate and three in the House  has a single Democratic candidate. The qualifying period for legislative races is June 10-14.

The two Florida Senate and four Florida House seats representing parts of Polk County are all occupied by Republicans.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: First Democrat enters race for open seat in Florida House-49
Dave Ramsey crushes 27-year-old Atlanta man's ice business dream  why some opportunities may really be a trap

Most Americans would agree that your 20s should be a time of new experiences, growth and discovering your career path.

And while it can be the perfect time to take risks and big swings, leaping without a safety net goes beyond just risky  thats reckless territory. At least, thats what personal finance celebrity Dave Ramsey recently cautioned 27-year-old Michael.

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Michael, from Atlanta, Georgia, finds himself at a crossroads and he called into Ramseys show to get some advice. He can either continue working for someone else or dive into small business ownership by purchasing an ice business.

But as Ramsey tells him, he needs to make sure his financial foundation is solid before he can think about building a business  heres what Michael (and other young Americans in his position) needs to do before he can even think about taking that big step.

Small businesses are work

Michael told Ramsey he was looking for advice on how best to secure the funds to buy out the owner of an ice business he currently works for. But as he explained, the owner has indicated his desire to sell the company within the next two years, which includes a building with existing tenants, for an asking price of $1 million. that hes looking to take out a $1 million loan to buy a small business.

Michaels interested in taking over the business but needs the capital to buy it himself.

The hosts were skeptical about Michaels devotion to the ice business, but he told them hes happy he was exposed to it so young because he sees great opportunity in the field.

Hes also not technically in a bad place financially  Michael and his wife have worked diligently toward clearing their debts and improving their overall financial standing. But hes also a 27-year-old still living in his parent's house with no meaningful assets, and so Ramsey doesnt think hes prepared to make this step. He went on to talk some sense into Michael, with co-host John Delony backing him up, cautioning Michael this wasnt an opportunity, rather a trap.

No bank's going to loan you this, Ramsey bluntly stated. You dont have the assets, you dont have the income  youre not bankable. Buying and running a small business will take the bone marrow out of you. It'll drain you, it'll squeeze you like yesterday's dish rag, man."

Story continues

Ramseys overall take is that being financially stable and debt-free before deciding to buy and own a small business is absolutely crucial. This is the same advice hed give to his own son.

I would say you need a better, stronger personal financial foundation before you start talking about buying and running a small business, remarked Ramsey. You got a car payment and you live with your momma. Youre not ready to do it.

Read more: Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market  and are betting on these assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds

Prioritize financial stability

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that there are 33.2 million small businesses in the U.S. Combined, these small businesses account for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses as of 2023 (this is a pretty impressive metric!)

At the same time, roughly half (an astonishing 49%) of U.S. adults admit they wouldnt be able to cover a $1,000 emergency in cash as of 2023.

One way to fund the purchase of a small business is through an SBA (Small Business Association) loan. They usually range from $500 to $5.5 million. However, they do come with some downsides and risks:

Borrowers are usually required to make a down payment

Borrowers with low credit scores usually wont qualify

Putting up collateral could be required

Theres typically a slow approval process

You may be personally liable if the business defaults

If youre looking to join the tens of millions of Americans whove made the jump into entrepreneurship, be sure that youre not among the 49% who cant afford an emergency expense. Personal financial stability should be of paramount importance before taking on any business venture.

What to read next

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) went on a baffling X rant on Saturday, in which he called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to pardon Donald Trump for the good of the country just two days after the former president became a convicted felon on 34 counts of falsified business records.

In his bizarre initial post, the Minnesota rep gave a laundry list of Trumps crimes and then immediately called for leniency from the New York governor.

Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim, Phillips wrote scathingly.

Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim.@GovKathyHochul should pardon him for the good of the country.  Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) June 1, 2024

@GovKathyHochul should pardon him for the good of the country.

The congressman, who dropped out of the Democratic primary back in March, dispelled any hopes of sarcasm with a follow-up post minutes later, apparently clapping back at those who disagreed.

You think pardoning is stupid? Phillips wrote. Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid. (Election charges are entirely different.)

Prosecutors had argued in the hush money case that Trumps attempts to conceal his affair with Stormy Daniels could have influenced the outcome of the 2016 election. But Trumps other three criminal trialstwo regarding attempts to overthrow the 2020 election and one regarding his handling of classified documentsare seen as much more serious offenses. None of these other cases have a trial date set, meaning its extremely unlikely theyll reach a verdict before the November election.

Whats Next After Trumps Criminal Conviction? A Huge Test for Judge Juan Merchan

In his X rant, Phillips insisted that a Trump conviction only fueled MAGAs fire, with potentially disastrous results for the election.

Its energizing his base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost, he wrote.

You think pardoning is stupid?



Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid. (Election charges are entirely different.)



Its energizing his base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost.  Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) June 1, 2024

Trumps campaign announced on Friday that it had raised nearly $53 million in the hours after the verdict and has readily attacked the trial as rigged, a false claim Trump repeated in his Friday press conference.

Its unclear why Phillips decided that now was the appropriate time to re-enter the political fray, since hes kept a low profile since dropping out of the presidential race in March. And Hochul, for her part, is unlikely to heed his advice anyway.

I cannot image a world where she would consider doing this, a person close to the governor told the New York Post.

This makes no sense.

Dean Phillips Pleads With Audience to Pay Attention to Him at Democratic Fundraiser

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

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Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips sparked controversy this weekend after the Democrat called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to pardon Donald Trump, just days after the former president was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Phillips, a 2024 presidential candidate before he dropped out of the race in March, first took to X Friday night with a post that can only be described as bizarre.

He began by appearing to denigrate Trump, calling him a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, and an instigator of insurrection.

But in a surprising twist, he concluded, @GovKathyHochul should pardon him for the good of the country.

Although many initially assumed he was being sarcastic, Phillips doubled down on his stance Saturday morning.

You think pardoning is stupid? he wrote in response to the criticism. Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid.

Phillips argued that the prosecution of Trump will likely result in an electoral boost for the Republican nominee, and has already energized his supporters.

Trump has maintained the trial was rigged and that it was a politically motivated witch hunt. In a news conference on Friday, he also claimed his campaign raised a record $39 million in about a 10-hour period following Thursdays guilty verdict.

President Joe Biden responded to Trumps words, calling it reckless  dangerous (and) irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

For now, it seems unlikely that Gov. Hochul will take any such steps in pardoning Trump.
DeSantis says Trump can still vote in Florida despite felony conviction

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says hell make sure Donald Trump can vote in his home state this November despite his felony convictions.

DeSantis said Friday that he disputes the assessment of some experts who say that Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts would make him ineligible to cast a ballot in the state.

But, in any case, the Florida governor said he would ensure the state clemency board cleared the way for his former rival for the Republican presidential nomination to vote back home.

Given the absurd nature of the New York prosecution of Trump, this would be an easy case to qualify for restoration of rights per the Florida Clemency Board, which I chair, he said on X.

Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes on Thursday for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. A 12-person jury delivered a unanimous verdict, ending the six-week trial.

Hes scheduled to be sentenced July 11 and is expected to appeal.

Trump was convicted in New York but lives in Florida, one of the Republican-led states that has made it harder for people convicted of serious crimes to vote.

Florida voters approved a state constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to felons in 2018 but the Republican-controlled Legislature undercut the measure with a complex set of requirements that convicted felons first pay all fines, fees and court costs. New York has allowed people with felony convictions to vote upon release from incarceration since 2021.

DeSantis, in his social media post, said Florida doesnt remove peoples voting rights if they havent been stripped in the state where they were convicted of a crime.

The bottom line is that Donald Trumps vote this November will be one of millions that demonstrate Florida is now a solid Republican state, he said.

Some voting rights experts have agreed with DeSantis' assertion that Florida honors other states' rules when it comes to people with out-of-state convictions. But a nonprofit group that represents felons seeking to restore their voting rights disputes that interpretation of the law. That group, the Florida Justice Center, noted that the relevant Florida statute and state constitutional provision do not make "any such statement or distinction regarding out-of-state convictions."
Students at Dine College leave the Ned Hatathlie Center at the schools 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.

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.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Dine College, ASU collaborate on Navajo Law Program appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
The Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) is in a critical condition following the Russian attack on the night of 31 May1 June. Officials are considering whether it is safe to open the dam to traffic.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, the Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Ukraines national 24/7 newscast

Quote from Fedorov: "The Dnipro HPP is currently in a critical condition. It cant produce electricity. Traffic [across the River Dnipro] is completely suspended, so the local residents movements are restricted. Two [other] bridges can be used to cross the river; traffic is moving both ways on both. This is how it will remain throughout the weekend."

Details: Fedorov said that the local authorities will consult experts "so that if we resume traffic through the Dnipro HPP, it will be safe for vehicles that will be allowed to travel across".

"I hope that we will be able to give local residents a clear answer regarding the logistics around the Dnipro HPP in Zaporizhzhia in the next couple of days," he added.

Fedorov also said that on Friday, 31 May, Russian forces attacked populated areas in Zaporizhzhia Oblast over 500 times, setting a new record.

Background:

Russian forces attacked energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts on the night of 31 May1 June.

The dam at the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in Zaporizhzhia was closed to traffic on the morning of 1 June.

Local authorities made a decision to keep the Dnipro HPP dam closed to traffic throughout the weekend, 12 June, after inspecting the damage caused by the Russian attacks.

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Dog ready for adoption after being shot in Parlier, suspect arrested, deputies say

Dog ready for adoption after being shot in Parlier, suspect arrested, deputies say

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A dog is available for adoption after a man tied it up in a backyard and shot it in Parlier, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office announced.

Deputies say they responded to a home on the 15000 block of E. Floral Ave. in Parlier on March 22 regarding a report of animal abuse. The owner of the property reported someone tied a dog up to a fence on his property and shot it with a 9mm handgun.

Sheriffs Officials say the dog was found severely injured. The homeowner had a security camera on his property that captured the entire animal abuse, which was later turned over to detectives. Officers with the Fresno Humane Animal Services (FHAS) transported the dog, which underwent successful surgery.

Detectives say the suspect in this case was identified as 48-year-old Joe Ontiveros of Fresno, who was already in custody at the Fresno County Jail due to Parlier Police arresting him in April for unrelated firearms charges. Once detectives established evidence against Ontiveros, additional charges of animal abuse were added to his record.

Since then, the dog has now made a full recovery and is available for adoption. Those interested in adopting can contact FHAS by visiting its facility at 1510 West Dan Ronquillo Drive in Fresno or email them at info@fresnohumane.org.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect is encouraged to contact the Sheriffs Office at 559-600-3111.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) pushed back against the release of audio recordings of President Bidens interview with special counsel Robert Hur, citing concerns that deep fakes could emerge.

DOJ argued, in a Friday night filing, that if the audio were released, it could end up being altered and passed off as an authentic recording which would be shared widely.

The passage of time and advancements in audio, artificial intelligence, and deep fake technologies only amplify concerns about malicious manipulation of audio files, according to the filing, first obtained by Politico.

To be sure, other raw material to create a deepfake of President Bidens voice is already available, but release of the audio recording presents unique risks: if it were public knowledge that the audio recording has been released, it becomes easier for malicious actors to pass off an altered file as the true recording, the administration added in the 49-page filing.

DOJ officials also said the release of the audio would harm substantial privacy interests.

Their argument comes after Biden invoked executive privilege earlier this month to prevent House Republicans from obtaining the recordings of his interview with Hur, who oversaw the investigation into classified documents found in Bidens private residence and former vice presidential office. A transcript of the interview was released to GOP House members before Hurs public testimony in March.

The Biden administrations concerns about AI-generated deep fakes, comes as officials, experts and observers have cautioned about the dangers they could inflict on the upcoming election. In the filing, DOJ noted that no new information would be uncovered through the recordings, since the transcript is already out, and further pressed that releasing the tapes would hamper future probes.

House Republicans and other outside groups that support the GOPs effort to obtain the audio argue that it would aid them in their impeachment inquiry against Biden.

While Hurs 388-page report on Biden found that the then-vice president willfully retained the documents after leaving the White House, he stopped short of bringing charges against the president. Instead, he described Biden as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.

The House Judiciary and Oversight committees passed resolutions to censure Attorney General Merrick Garland last month. Still, Republicans are unsure if they have enough votes to hold him in contempt due to their razor-thin majority in the lower chamber.

Bradley Weinsheimer, associate deputy attorney general at the department, filed an affidavit, stating that malicious actors could spread a deep fake version of the recording if the tape is released publicly. Weinsheimer also claimed that those actors could insert or remove words from Bidens responses to Hur, twisting the meaning of the presidents remarks.

The pushback also comes less than 6 months after a digitally altered message created to sound like Biden urged voters in New Hampshire to skip out on voting in the primary. The political consultant who took responsibility for the call was indicted last week.

The Hill has reached out to DOJ for comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Governor now has the final decision on whether to ban the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) from spending taxpayer dollars on media interviews, publications, and other public promotional purposes.

Last year, News 4 reported OSDE paid Texas-based video production company Precision Outreach $22.5K in taxpayer dollars to produce 30 minutes of videos for the department.

One of those videos included a public awareness campaign with clips of people speaking at events for national education and teachers groups, while ominous music played in the background. It also featured clips of interviews State Superintendent Ryan Walters gave to national media outlets in which he criticizes teachers unions.

OKLAHOMA POLITICS: Bull in a China shop: OK House Democrats file formal requests for bipartisan committee, investigative audit of OSDE

As of Friday afternoon, that public awareness campaign only has 3,841 views on YouTube.

That $22.5K contract ran from May 22, 2023 through May 21, 2024.

Another purchase order obtained by News 4 shows the Oklahoma State Department of Education entered into a new $50K contract with Precision Outreach to create social media videos for OSDE between March 6 and June 30, 2024.

After June 30, Precision Outreach and OSDE can renew the contract for three optional 12-month periods.

Additionally, further records provided to KFOR show OSDE entered into a separate contract with Washington D.C.-based PR firm Vought Strategies which is also up for renewal at the end of June.

Senate Bill 1122 states in Section 16, No funds appropriated to the State Department of Education in Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1125 of the 2nd Session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature or under the control of the State Department of Education shall be encumbered or expended for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes.

The Senate first passed the proposal 37-4 on Tuesday, sending it over to the House of Representatives.

I will not stop. Youre seeing the same efforts against President Trump right now. The left wants to silence their opposition, State Superintendent Ryan Walters said in a X (formerly known as Twitter) video Friday afternoon.

The legislative intent was really clear: Dont use it for political purposes, stated Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-OKC).

In a legal opinion from OSDE to House Republicans this week, it stated, The proposed law imposes an extreme limitation on encumbrances and expenditures by the OSDE for public relations or other public promotional services. It does not appear that such a limitation is, or has been, imposed on any other state agency.

The legal opinion goes on to explain SB 1122 lacks a definitive definition of public relations and other public promotional services.

OSDE General Counsel, Michael Beason wrote in the legal opinion if SB 1122 passes and later signed into law, it would negatively impact the promotion of the below programs:

School choice

Sooner Start

Teacher recruitment

Teacher signing bonuses

School safety programs

Maternity leave

Teacher empowerment programs

Teacher of the Year awards and programs

Awareity is a crucial reporting service for schools, students and parents to inform OSDE of behavior or circumstances that may warrant investigation and administrative action. The OSDE receives approximately 800 to 1000 reports annually but cannot promote the program. Promotion of the program is integral because many school employees, parents and students are still unaware of the existence of Awareity.

All training conferences OSDE provides will be questionable and in potential jeopardy, such as mental health resources, crisis response resources, child nutrition, Workforce Planning.

Disaster recovery which makes school districts aware of options available to them after a disaster.

If given its plain meaning the proposed law may also result in the necessity to take down the OSDE website which promotes OSDE programs and services.

SB 1122 will result in unnecessary, unmanageable ambiguity that will severely hamper, if not render ineffective, many OSDE programs and initiatives and prohibit OSDE from adequately providing services. OSDE General Counsel, Michael Beason

OKLAHOMA POLITICS: Outlandish, bombastic: OK lawmakers pass ban on OSDE public relations spending

While Pro Tem Treat had not read the legal opinion from OSDE regarding SB 1122 as of Thursday afternoon, he said, I think the impact of its being overblown right now by the State Department. I think [Ryan Walters] may be getting some bad counsel inside the entity.

SB 1122 passed the House 57-35. An emergency clause, if signed into law by Gov. Stitt, would put this proposal into effect July 1.

During Governor Kevin Stitts media availability Friday morning, he was asked what his thoughts were on the proposal.

[If] someone uses resources for self-promotion, thats wrong, stated Gov. Stitt. If youve got a communications team in your shop, in your state agency, why do we hire [public relations] firms?

In 2019, the Governor signed an executive order barring state agencies from spending taxpayer dollars on outside lobbyists.

News 4 asked his office whether OSDEs contracts with Vought Strategies or Precision Outreach would violate the executive order, but havent received a response yet.

According to the Oklahoman, state agencies have spent more than $99 million on outside public relations and marketing firms between 2019 and 2022.

However, records reportedly show each of those firms are based in Oklahoma whereas the two companies OSDE have contracted are based in two separate states.

I dont like it. I also dont like picking on one executive agency, one Department of Education. If theres a rule thats good for one agency, maybe lets have an across the board for all state agencies, said Gov. Stitt.

The Governor stated his office is still reviewing the proposal and has not made a decision as of Friday morning.

If the Governor vetoes Section 16 of SB 1122, lawmakers would not be able to override his decision this year as legislative session concluded Thursday night.

I hope the governor gives me an opportunity to at least sit down and talk to him. This is about good government, said Representative Mark McBride (R-Moore).

The radical LGBTQ+ groups have been targeting me and recently they found their champion in Mark McBride who agreed to partner with them to try to censor me and weaponize legislation against my agency. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, R

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Dont stand by as gun violence rips through our neighborhoods | Letters to the editor

We need better gun legislation

I am writing today with a heavy heart since our neighborhood in West Richland was struck by tragedy barely four weeks ago. A former police officer shot his ex-wife in front of a group of children at William Wiley Elementary School in a mindless act of violence after class.

As a mother myself, I can only begin to imagine. the fear and heartache of the children and families affected by this tragedy. Sadly, my daughters freedom is taken away from her in the blink of an eye.

We cannot stand by as gun violence rips through our neighborhoods and takes the lives of defenseless people. We must take decisive action to ensure that such tragedies dont happen in the future.

To end gun violence in our communities and schools, I beg our legislators and local authorities to prioritize passing comprehensive gun control legislation.

Our responsibility as a community is to ensure the safety and well-being of our children and families. Could it be time for us to band together as parents and residents to demand substantive change in response to the plague of gun violence in our neighborhood?

Meseret Yemane Gebremichael, West Richland

Lets create park for Rattlesnake

I commend the folks who have worked to establish the Badger Mountain-Candy Mountain trail system. While the views are great, they are not even close to the view from Rattlesnake.

I urge this newspaper to push for a county park st the summit. It is nuts to prevent the public from enjoying this view. I realize there are political problems to be solved but lets do it.

Ralph Curran, Richland

Report more on Project 2025

Its imperative that the media report on Project 2025, a blueprint-like document for the next Republican administration (mentioning Trump 300 times) because it is suggesting something akin to a monarchy. It calls for the federal government, including the FBI and Department of Justice, to submit to the presidents priorities.

Legality should not thwart the administrations agenda. It even states that the president and his team can assess constitutionality. It dismisses the powers of Congress and judiciary. These statements show that the president would be the main and almost only branch of the government, not accountable to other branches.

Further, it eliminates the separation of church and state. Christ-ordained civil magistrates would have authority over the public. Judiciary decisions would be based on their religious/ideological beliefs. Government agencies would be remade or closed, based on religious/ideological grounds. The document states that we should do what we ought, but the authors decide what we ought to do.

The authors are also dismissive of scientific expertise  managers dont need scientific backgrounds. The GOP agenda for scientific research dictates the findings that the research should yield. That is totally against the scientific method.

Republicans want a king-like president; a religious-based, anti-science government. I dont.

More is coming later.

Joyce Scherpelz, Richland

Potholes on 26th need repairing

I have called the city of Kennewick and filled out their on line form many times asking for the car-eating potholes in the area of 26th and Union be repaired. They they have been an issue for years and are only getting bigger.

When I called the city again last week, I was told that it is a private street and it is up to the local businesses that are on it to repair it, that the city cannot repair it.

So if this is true, Subway, Dutch Bros, Costa Vida, Cenergy, the (nearby) motel and all others, please fix these streets.

Susan Bailey, Kennewick

Lets hear what omnivores think

Several weeks back an opinion article was submitted criticizing hunting bears. The author attempts to lure readers into thinking that bear hunters are all rich trophy hunters. The majority of the hunters that I know consume the meat.

The author is an executive of the Humane Society, which is anti-hunting. This week (we) heard from PETA telling us that eating meat is killing us. She then goes on to promote the vegan lifestyle. Life without steak, ribs, chicken and fish would be dull.

It would be nice if the Tri-City Herald would use opinions from both sides of the aisle. How about an opinion from a well-known omnivore?

David L. Thompson, Kennewick
Donald Trump is a licensed gun owner  heres what will happen to his firearms after his felony conviction

composite image: upper left gun sitting on a case with three bullets next to it; lower left trump in a dark suit with white shirt and red tie poses for a photo; right trump in dark suit white shirt and blue tie looking downward

Licensed gun owner Donald Trump will have to turn over all of his firearms in the coming weeks now that he has been found guilty of felonies in the Manhattan hush money case.

Under New York state and federal law, convicted felons are banned from possessing any type of firearm, and the former president must have his weapons legally passed off to another person or surrendered to authorities by his July 11 sentencing, criminal defense attorney Peter Tilem said.

There is no grace period, Tilem told The Post. You are federally prohibited once you are convicted.

Donald Trump will have to turn over all of his firearms now that he has been convicted on felony criminal charges. AP

Trump could potentially pack heat once again in New York by applying for a certificate of relief from civil disabilities as early as his sentencing, which would restore his ability to own and carry a gun, according to criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman.

The former president also would be allowed to legally possess a firearm again if an appeals court ends up overturning his convictions.

Convicted felons whove had their gun rights revoked can surrender their weapons at the local police precinct, experts said. Lichtman, however, predicted Trump likely will just transfer ownership of his guns to one of his sons through a federally licensed gun dealer, which costs less than $50, and wait out the appeals process.

Trump has publicly discussed his gun ownership, including in a 2012 interview with The Washington Times where he acknowledged he had a concealed-carry permit for a Heckler & Koch HK45 and a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson.

Trump told The Washington Times in 2012 that his gun collection included a Heckler & Koch HK45. Ckindel

Trump is likely to transfer his weapons ownership to a family member, experts said. Getty Images

In 2016, when discussing a spate of deadly terror attacks in Paris, the 45th president reportedly told a French magazine that he is always strapped.

I always carry a weapon on me, he said. If Id been at the Bataclan [concert hall] or one of those bars, I would have opened fire.

The former president has made defending gun rights a critical issue in his 2024 campaign, garnering the National Rifle Associations endorsement in May.

On Thursday, a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to $130,000 hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels to sway the 2016 presidential election.
By Lisa Barrington and Rajesh Kumar Singh

DUBAI (Reuters) -Delta Air Lines is running its largest ever transatlantic schedule this year as it sees healthy travel demand, especially on international routes, senior executives said on Saturday.

Delta, one of the largest U.S. airlines, has forecast record high second-quarter revenue thanks to buoyant demand for spring and summer travel.

"Summer's progressing strongly and demand is quite healthy," CEO Ed Bastian told reporters.

"Demand is growing faster internationally than it is domestically, and Delta is very well positioned to take advantage of that with its partners," Bastian added.

Delta says consumers are spending on experiences with travel a top priority after the pandemic.

Demand is particularly strong for premium travel, benefiting carriers like Delta.

We have seen continued strength through the spring to early summer ... our international business is quite strong," Delta President Glen Hauenstein told reporters.

Rival American Airlines, however, said this week there was still excess seat capacity in the domestic market, resulting in discounting pressure.

U.S. carriers have plans to further moderate capacity in the second half of the year, which airline executives say will underpin the industry's pricing power.

BOEING

Delta operates a large mixed fleet including planes from Airbus and Boeing, which is engulfed in a quality and corporate crisis.

Bastian said Delta is "encouraged" by steps Boeing is taking with management changes and other adjustments at the company.

"I'm confident we will see improvement," Bastian said, adding Delta was still committed to its order for Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets.

Delta currently does not fly any version of the Boeing MAX but has MAX 10s on order for delivery next year. The MAX 10 - the largest version of Boeing's best-selling narrowbody jet - is still awaiting certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

A January mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 flight has placed a question mark over the certification.

Rival United Airlines has asked Boeing to stop producing MAX 10 for it and has converted a portion of its order to the MAX 9.

Bastian said Delta has no plans "at this point" to swap the MAX 10 for another model, adding he hopes the changes being made at Boeing will allow it to make progress on building the MAX 10.

"We are scheduled to receive them next year, I don't anticipate seeing them for quite some time," he said.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Rajesh Kumar Singh; editing by Mark Potter and Jason Neely)
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, history was made as Donald Trump became the first President to be convicted of a crime.

The former President of the United States was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a 2016 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

Days after Donald Trump was found guilty in the hush-money trial, the former President is set to attend UFC 302 on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Counts

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The jury, consisting of seven men and six women from New York, reached a verdict after only two days of deliberation. They found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts.

"We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess," Trump told the press moments after the guilty verdict was read. "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."

This verdict is a historical moment, as Trump is now the first President in history to be convicted of a crime.

President Donald Trump To Attend UFC 302 As Convicted Criminal

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Two days after Donald Trump was found guilty and became a convicted criminal, the former President is set to attend UFC 302, one of the year's most anticipated events.

UFC 302's card will feature 12 matches and it will be headlined by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who is fighting for the title against fourth-ranked Dustin The Diamond Poirier.

Trump, who has been friends with UFC President Dana White for 20 years, is expected to attend -- more than likely cage side, meaning he will get broadcast time. Ive been friends with this guy for 20 years, and when he shows up to the fights The guy is a fight fan. Hes been a fight fan, White said of Trump in February.

If he shows up, it will be his first public appearance since he spoke at a press conference at Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan on Friday.

The main card of UFC 302 begins at 10 p.m. ET and will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Donald Trump Slams Jury For Guilty Verdict

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Moments after the guilty verdict was read, former President Donald Trump addressed the media, claiming, "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 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."

"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!" he added.

Donald Trump Will Appeal Felony Conviction

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During his press conference on Friday, 77-year-old Donald Trump vowed to appeal his conviction based on many things he considered unfair.

Were going to be appealing this scam, Trump said before calling New York Justice Juan Merchan a tyrant.

Trump's sentencing has been scheduled for July 11, 2024.

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, retired New York Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus said at the press conference.

Donald Trump Jr. Breaks Silence

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After his guilty verdict, Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., broke his silence.

"Obviously [it's] just a sad day for America," Trump Jr. said moments after the news broke. "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."

"The Democrats have succeeded in their years-long quest to turn our country into an absolute cr-p hole," he later added. "They've done that. They've been trying for a long time. There's literally no other way about it at this point."
A single word uttered 34 times in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday afternoon changed American history.

Guilty.

That was the outcome delivered from a 12-person New York jury that found former President Donald Trump culpable on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to commit or conceal another crime. The criminal case centered around allegations that he attempted to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to an adult film actress so that it wouldn't hurt his prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump is now the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. Hes also the first person convicted of a felony who is on track to become a major party presidential nominee. Experts told USA TODAY the event is a triumph for the rule of law  for now  regardless of whether it affects the outcome of the next election.

Its hardly the first time Trump has made history. He was the first president without government or military experience, the first president to refuse to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and the first president impeached twice. This latest first will forever mark his legacy.

While political scientists and historians were divided over whether the verdict would influence the 2024 presidential election in any measurable way, they did agree on one immutable fact  the verdict will rewrite history books.

The biggest takeaway?

In a nation ruled by laws, not men, no one is above the rule of law, said Jennifer Mercieca, a professor at Texas A&M University. Not even a president.

No moment like this

Other former U.S. presidents have been enmeshed in high-profile legal problems, litigation and congressional investigation stemming from a political scandal. Trump's New York hush money case has drawn comparisons to the Watergate scandal that ended Richard Nixons presidency and then-President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998 during his second term in office.

But Susan Liebell, a political science professor at Saint Josephs University in Philadelphia, said those events aren't equivalent to Trumps 34 felony convictions because Nixon and Clinton weren't convicted of a crime. And Liebell said shes deeply suspicious of anyone who says they know what impact the New York verdict will have on American politics based on those prior examples.

No American president has ever been convicted in a criminal proceeding, Liebell said. There are no historical precedents.

Unlike Trump, Nixon never faced trial. He was pre-emptively pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, before he could be criminally prosecuted for his role in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent coverup. Nixon resigned from office two years into his second term in 1974 as momentum grew in Congress for his impeachment, and the Republican president never again ran for public office.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 9, 1974 The 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon, he bids farewell to the White House staff. At left is his son-in-law David Eisenhower (US President Dwight Eisenhower's grandson) who is married to his daughter Julie, hidden behind the President. - The break-in 50 years ago by Republican operatives at a Washington office led to the historical resignation of US president Richard Nixon -- but arguably it reverberated more deeply around the world with the coining of a single term: Watergate.Ever since the Potomac riverside building lent its name to one of Washington's greatest political crimes, -gate has become the signifier of choice for scandals worldwide -- a fact not lost on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, nearly undone just this year by his own Partygate. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 4 ORIG FILE ID: AFP_32CK89Q.jpg

Trump, meanwhile, has only served one term in the White House and is now the presumptive GOP nominee for president  and he has shown no plans of ending his latest bid for president as a result of Thursdays verdict. Trump remained defiant and unremorseful throughout the trial, saying he "didnt do anything wrong."

Jeffrey Engel, director of presidential history projects at Southern Methodist University, argued that while Nixon is not typically whom historians turn to for examples of exalted presidential behavior, the former president knew the job, and the country, was bigger than himself.

To date, Donald Trump does not, Engel said.

Engel and Shannon OBrien, a professor and self-described "presidency nerd" at the University of Texas at Austin, also pushed back on comparisons to Clintons 1998 House impeachment for lying to investigators and obstruction of justice tied to a sexual affair with intern Monica Lewinsky.

While Trump and Clintons cases both involved sexual issues, OBrien said that's about where the close comparisons end.

The Senate acquitted Clinton after his House impeachment, and the Justice Department didn't pursue federal criminal penalties against the Democrat due to a policy dating to Nixon's time that sitting presidents cannot be charged with crimes while in office. Clinton also reached an agreement with the Justice Department on his final full day in the White House to avoid post-presidential prosecution on a related matter in exchange for paying a fine, a 5-year suspension of his law license and a public admission of unprofessional conduct.

By comparison, Trump was found guilty on Thursday on 34 state felony counts by a 12-person jury. He also still faces criminal charges in three other jurisdictions  two federal cases and a state case in Georgia  tied to allegations he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election that he lost and kept classified materials in his possession after leaving the White House and then obstructing the investigation into the matter. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

A look at Bill Clinton's impeachment trial in 1998 vs. Donald Trump's in 2020

President Clinton's career as an elected official ended after his two terms in the White House. However, Engel suggested that the Democratic president's scandals undercut then-Vice President Al Gores 2000 White House campaign that concluded with a razor-thin loss to George W. Bush.

If Trump loses, we will say that the lesson of Clinton, and then of all presidents, is that there are places the electorate wont go to support a candidate, Engel said. Right now, the line is at felony conviction. That line may well move by November.

A constitutional victory

Historians USA TODAY spoke with described the verdict in Trumps trial as a win for some of the most heralded legal principles in the country, chief among those being the phrase equal justice under the law" that is inscribed at the top of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Engel argued that the men who wrote the Constitution would be pleased that the political system they designed did not buckle. Instead, as intended, he argued, a former commander-in-chief received the same treatment in the justice system as any other American citizen.

A New York grand jury last year found that there was sufficient evidence to bring a case against Trump for the hush money payments. After listening to that evidence in a Manhattan courtroom over the past six weeks, the 12-person jury of Trumps peers found the ex-president guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

He was not convicted by President Biden or his political enemies but unanimously and quickly by a jury of 12 ordinary Americans, said Allan Lichtman, a professor of history at American University.

Engel and Lichtman, however, expressed concern that Trumps response to the verdict could erode trust in U.S. institutions that allowed for the former presidents trial to take place.

They will say New Yorkers are too biased to be fair; that a jury can be persuaded by a reckless prosecutor or a manic judge; that the entire trial was political, Engel said of Trump and his allies.

Indeed, minutes after the jury read out its decision, Trump described his New York verdict as a disgrace and vowed to fight his felony convictions. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., similarly framed the case as a weaponization of our justice system by Democrats to prevent Trump from retaking the presidency.

OBrien argued that Trump and his supporters were making unfounded allegations of bias from the New York courts because accepting its legitimacy would harm their side's political prospects.

He cannot respect a system that holds him accountable, OBrien said. He has to tear it down because he is out of other options.

This combination of pictures created on May 15, 2024 shows President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump

Trump also will be making a bid to get his conviction overturned on an appeal, something he and his lawyers have said they plan to do by claiming that the judge in the case acted unfairly and that there were flaws in the testimony of key witnesses, including former Trump Organization lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Some legal experts who have long been on Trump's side in the wider political debate have suggested that there could be validity to such an appeal.

Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University Law School, argued in a recent op-ed in The Hill that Trump's trial is "a target-rich environment for an appeal, with multiple layers of reversible error."

Turley, who testified in Trump's two impeachment trials, questioned the validity of the judge's instructions to the jury before their deliberations.

"The court largely used standard instructions in a case that was anything but standard. However, the instruction also allowed for doubt as to what the jury would ultimately find," Turley said.

Merchan told jurors that they needed to unanimously find that Trump engaged in a criminal conspiracy to falsify business records with intent to commit another crime. But the jurors did not need to agree on what the other crime was. They could choose from three other crimes the prosecution laid out, including violation of federal election laws, violation of tax laws or falsification of other business records.

An uncertain future

Shortly after the trial's conclusion on Thursday, Trump argued that the real verdict on his innocence will come on Election Day.

The latest RealClearPolitics Average of national polls shows Trump and President Joe Biden stuck in a dead heat, with Trump holding a marginal lead.

The experts responding to USA TODAY said they were split over how Trumps felony conviction will affect his chances of victory. They noted that Trumps campaign is expected to use the verdict to drum up support and fundraising among his base. Whats more unknown, however, is the way it will influence swing voters.

We have no idea how voters will react, Liebell said. The question is how it affects independent voters and Republicans who may agree with conservative policies but have concerns about corruption and integrity.

She pointed to an Ipsos poll from April that found roughly 40% of Republicans and two-thirds of independents considered the hush money charges to be serious. Of those who said they would vote for Trump if the election was held at that moment, 13% said they wouldnt vote for him if he was convicted of a felony by a jury. An additional 25% said they wouldnt support him if he was serving a prison sentence at the time of the election.

Given the tight margins in the presidential race, Lichtman suggested that a small defection of moderate voters away from Trump could be enough to hamper the Republican's chances of victory.

Litchman has correctly forecast the winner of most presidential elections since 1984, with the exception of the race in 2000. While he hasnt made a final prediction this year, he said a lot would have to go wrong for Biden to lose reelection.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Trump's criminal conviction is already rewriting American history
A jury in Idaho on Saturday recommended the death penalty against Chad Daybell, who was found guilty earlier in the week of killing his first wife and his second wife's two children, Joshua "J.J." Vallow (L) and Tylee Ryan. File Photo courtesy of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

June 1 (UPI) -- A jury in Idaho on Saturday recommended the death penalty against Chad Daybell, who was found guilty earlier in the week of killing his first wife and his second wife's two children.

"All mitigating circumstances are not sufficiently compelling to make imposition of the death penalty unjust" the court clerk read aloud Saturday in the courtroom, in relation to each of the aggravating circumstances against Daybell.

The jury notified the court around 10:45 a.m. MDT Saturday that it had reached a verdict.

Judge Steve Boyce accepted the jury's "long and complicated" verdict, which found the "defendant exhibited reckless disregard for human life."

Boyce formally imposed the death penalty, accepting the jury's recommendation after a short recess.

Daybell was convicted Thursday on eight felony counts, including the first-degree murders of his then-wife Tammy Daybell and his second wife Lori Vallow's two children, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, in a so-called "doomsday plot."

Vallow was convicted last year and sentenced last July to life in prison without parole for her role in the killings. She also faces an August trial in Arizona where she is charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Charles Vallow and one count of first-degree premeditated murder for allegedly plotting to kill her niece's ex-husband.

The verdict came after seven weeks of highly-publicized testimony, during which prosecutors pointed to a plot to pursue "money, power and sex" as motive.

Daybell, 55, is an author of books about the apocalypse and promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the triple-murder and claimed that all three were possessed and "marked" for death, according to prosecutors.
Met Police officers rushed to close off the scene while traffic was disrupted

A double-decker bus has crashed into a bridge near Paddington Station, causing traffic chaos.

Images from the scene of the crash show the front of the bus crumpled against the steel frame of a bridge close to the transport hub in central London.

Met Police officers rushed to close off the scene while traffic was disrupted on the approach to Paddington.

The incident took place on Bishops Bridge Road near Paddington, and it is understood that the area the bus was attempting to enter is a taxi rank serving the station.

The bridge into which the bus crashed bears a warning stating that the structure is 12ft high, while the standard London double-decker bus is around 14ft high.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The city of Downey, Calif.  a suburb of Los Angeles  has banned the display of Pride flags and many others on city property, apparently at the urging of an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group. But Los Angeles County and California officials are clapping back, along with some city leaders.

The City Council voted 3-2 in mid-May to allow only the U.S. flag, state flag, city flag, and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag to be flown on city property, including City Hall, as reported by L.A. TV station KTLA and other outlets. Supporters characterized this as a neutral flag policy. Mayor Mario Trujillo and Councilmember Horacio Ortiz were the dissenting votes. Both are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Previously, Downey allowed commemorative flags for certain historic events or causes to be flown on city property if approved by the council, but that will no longer be the case. The city first flew the Pride flag three years ago, KTLA reports.

The move to ban the Pride flag came at the behest of a few people affiliated with MassResistance, a Massachusetts-based anti-LGBTQ+ group that has a California chapter, Trujillo said. When the city first flew the Pride flag, it drew immediate opposition from Downey MassResistance members.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a progressive watchdog organization, has classified MassResistance as a hate group. MassResistance continually links homosexuality to pedophilia, violence and disease and links trans women to sexual predators, according to SPLC.

Their two goals are basically anti-immigration and anti-Pride flag, lets just be clear, Trujillo, Downeys first out gay mayor, said at the meeting shortly before the vote was taken, KTLA reports. And its unfortunate that it was brought about through this hate group who hides behind religion. These are the same families and parents who are prone to kicking out their child who comes out to them. It strikes me as hypocritical when you come here and quote the Bible to try and eradicate the flag.

Councilmember Claudia Frometa denied that limiting the flags to be flown was a direct attack to the LGBTQ community. But state and county officials are condemning the restrictions.

As someone who has always believed in the importance of inclusion and representation, its disheartening to see the Downey City Council adopt a neutral flag policy, former Downey Councilmember and now California Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco told the Los Angeles Blade. When I served as mayor pro tem, we took a step forward in recognizing and celebrating the diversity of our community by flying the Pride flag. While I respect differing opinions, I believe that embracing diversity strengthens our community and fosters a sense of belonging for all residents. I remain committed to promoting equality and acceptance in Downey and elsewhere.

It just doesnt make any sense for the leaders of a community that has been supportive of their LGBTQ+ constituents in the past to now adopt what appears to be a mean-spirited measure, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang told the Blade. At a time when we need to come together as a society more than ever, this can only serve to create division and discord where there was none.

L.A. County will continue to fly the Pride flag at its properties, including those in Downey. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Downey, will join Trujillo, Prang, and others in hosting a flag-raising ceremony Monday at 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles County Office of Education in Downey.

There will be pride in Downey this June, Hahn said in a press release. Despite the recent vote by the Downey City Council, I want our LGBTQ+ Downey residents to know they belong and that they are not only accepted but celebrated.

We may have lost this battle, but we will win the war for fairness, equality and acceptance for all, Trujillo said in the release. This vote was a setback, but I appreciate Supervisor Hahn for her support of the LGBTQ+ community and for making sure the Pride flag will rise in Downey in 2024.
Early-morning fire damages Atwater home, displaces family of five, according to officials

An early morning fire damages a home and displaced a family of five in Atwater on Friday, according to a Merced County Fire official.

Fire crew from the Atwater Fire and Merced County Fire departments responded to a structure fire in the 1300 block of Third Street in Atwater at 4:12 a.m., according to Merced County Fire battalion chief Brian White.

The father woke up to a sound and realized there was heavy smoke and fire coming from the living room, White said. He tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. He was able to maneuver through the home and get his family out and nobody was hurt or injured.

There were five fire trucks and engines from the two fire units on scene to combat the blaze.

According to White, the crews had a tough time fighting the fire because the home was built in 1914 and the older construction material helped to trap the heat inside.

Due to the fire damage the home was unlivable for the two adults and three children. They lost a lot of personal belongings and furniture in the fire, according to White.

The Red Cross is assisting the family.

The fire was contained just after 7 a.m.

White stressed the importance of home owners making sure they have working smoke detectors, especially with an early-morning fire like this one. White also emphasized the importance of families having an evacuation plan, especially families with children.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Louisiana Legislature has ditched a proposal that would have ended the consumable hemp products industry in the state. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

A proposal to do away with edible hemp products in Louisiana has fizzled in the Legislature, sparing an industry that has blossomed since bungled legislation legalized it two years ago.

On the House floor Friday, members attempted to find a happy medium on Senate Bill 237 by Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, which would have led to the demise of some 2,000 hemp-related businesses that have taken root in Louisiana since 2022.

Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie, offered compromise amendments to the Pressly bill that would have required all intoxicating ingredients be taken out of hemp products. Prevailing arguments were made in support of jobs and companies the hemp industry has spawned in Louisiana.

I know there are a lot of you in this room who smoke weed, who ingest weed, Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, said in opposition to Schegels amendments. If you dont vote against this, I think youre being a huge hypocrite.

The amendments failed, 39-60, and Presslys bill foundered without being brought up for a House vote.

Later Friday on the Senate side, members approved House Bill 952 by Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, which would place several restrictions on the types of consumable products that can contain hemp and the amount per serving of THC, the same psychoactive compound found in marijuana that gets users high.

Intoxicating hemp-infused beverages would no longer be served at bars and restaurants, and hemp gummies and other snacks would be limited to 5 mg of THC per serving size, down from 8 mg.

Hemp products have become readily available in Louisiana, but Senate amendments to Millers bill would prohibit their sale at convenience stores and gas stations. They would still be available at truck stops, however.

The Senate approved the updated bill in a 37-1 vote. The House still needs to OK senators changes to Millers proposal, but Pressly doesnt intend to revive his bill before the legislative session ends at 6 p.m. Monday.

Calls for stricter regulation of hemp products came from the medical marijuana and alcoholic beverage sectors, which view the fledgling field as a competitor.

State lawmakers unwittingly approved a bill in 2022 to allow the manufacturing and sale of hemp-derived products. The author of the bill, then-House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-French Settlement, had incorrectly assured legislators there wouldnt be enough THC in hemp gummies, drinks and other edibles to get anyone high.

Gaps in the legislation permitted makers of hemp edibles to cram multiple servings into their products in order to pack more of a THC punch inside each container or package.

The hemp industry has also put its scientific expertise to use to make its products more desirable. Manufacturers have found a way to convert cannabidiol (CBD), a separate chemical found in hemp that doesnt produce a high, into a THC extract using simple chemistry. They then concentrate it into drinks, gummies and other edibles.







The post Edible hemp industry spared in Louisiana, though lawmakers add restrictions appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  Edmond Water Resources wants to inform residents who use home kidney dialysis machines they could have to change their operation method in a potential water purchase with the City of Oklahoma City.

Edmonds water supply has two primary sources and a secondary source. The primary sources are surface water that comes from Arcadia Lake and well water from the Garber-Wellington aquifer. The secondary source comes from Oklahoma City, which is treated water that is occasionally used during the summer months.

LOCAL NEWS: Edmond commits millions to fund art park project

The City of Edmond Water Resources officials want to keep residents up to date of the possible water purchase since some home dialysis machines could require an adjustment with the different disinfection system that is used by Oklahoma City.

Fish aquariums with filters could require a different procedure of operation due to the chloramine disinfection process. Fish owners are advised to contact a local pet store for instructions.

Edmond uses chlorine or free chlorine for disinfection while Oklahoma City uses chloramines. Both disinfecting processes meet all state standards are accepted industry-wide.

Water Resources Department personnel are contacting hospitals and other medical facilities in order to advise them of the possible Oklahoma City water purchase. They are also contacting residents who are known to use home kidney dialysis.

Any Edmond residents who have a medical condition that could warrant a notification in advance of a change are encouraged to contact the Water Resources Department.

To report a medical condition, call 405-216-7811 from Monday through Thursday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Law enforcement is sworn to protect the community, and an Orange County Sheriffs Office liaison team helps reach a diverse population.

Deputy First Class Thomas Lin is one of the contacts in OCSOs Asian American and Pacific Islander program.

To his knowledge, this is the only AAPI-specific liaison team in Central Florida.

The task force started in 2022 to have a connection to the Asian community in the area. They are trained to work with investigators on AAPI-related crimes and provide insight into cultural or translational barriers.

Read: Sheriffs program aims to strengthen Orange Countys Asian community

Were trying to work as a team and resolve any concerns, Lin said.

As May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lin said society has come a long way in recognizing Asian heritage, including having a dedicated group in the sheriffs office.

Lin said Orange County Sheriff John Mina and the staff have gladly welcomed their new ideas.

Were here to help educate, empower and engage the community, Lin said. And Ill say its been a success.

Read: Orlando immigration attorney advocates for Asian American representation

The awareness that the group exists spreads across the county through the events they attend.

The AAPI liaisons receive requests to share what they do and give people the information they need.

Through their networking, the group has contacts in senators offices, with various mayors and other community organizations.

And its not just about connecting with citizensthe team also wants to be a resource for other law enforcement agencies.

Read: Im here to connect: Liaison to the Asian community shares experience working for Orange County

They hope that later down the road, they will spark employment and volunteer opportunities in the AAPI community.

Sergeant Canh Bui is also an AAPI liaison. He said its been a great experience giving back, and his tight-knit family also spreads the word about how they are a resource for people.

For my family being able to see me out there, like hey, you know, my son is part of the AAPI liaison group, (for) Vietnamese culture, Bui said. And being able to just give them that extra hey its OK to report crimes, you know, my son is part of that group and he can help you out or he can answer some of your questions, its been really good.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Education, housing and health care come out on top in lawmakers revised fiscal 2025 budget

Copies of the proposed fiscal 2025 Rhode Island budget await distribution at the State House on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Good news for transit riders, Medicaid providers and public school students, all of whom stand to benefit from the revised fiscal 2025 budget given first passage by a panel of House lawmakers Friday night.

The $13.9 billion spending plan unveiled late Friday falls just shy of the $14 billion high water mark that characterized fiscal 2024s approved spending plan, but is $271 million more than what Gov. Dan McKee proposed in January.

The updated spending plan includes enough money to stave off service cuts at the financially struggling Rhode Island Public Transit Authority while offering Medicaid providers long-awaited reimbursement rate hikes in a single year, rather than the three-year incremental uptick McKee proposed. Meanwhile, a nearly $33.8 million boost in state aid for K-12 schools, above what McKee called for, will offset a steep drop in federal funding, along with more dollars for multilingual learners.

Through this budget, we are emphasizing education at every level and supporting children, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Shekarchi stressed the changes as the result of a truly collaborative process including lawmakers in both chambers as well as Gov. Dan McKee.

However, lawmakers have axed several components of Gov. Dan McKees original, $13.7 billion spending proposal, including $60 million in bonds to help pay for a new, dedicated state archives and a proposed rewrite of state income taxes for banks intended to stop Citizens Bank from shifting its investments, and employee base, outside the state.

It has been a difficult budget because we feel the pain of Rhode Islanders, Shekarchi said, speaking to reporters Friday night. We tried to do the most good for the people that need it most.

The House Committee on Finances 13-1 vote Friday sends the updated spending proposal to the full House of Representatives for consideration on June 7, with Rep. George Nardone, a Coventry Republican, casting the sole vote in opposition. Lawmakers must approve a final spending plan before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

At far left, Larry Berman, communications director for the Office of the House Speaker, points to a reporter during the proposed fiscal 2025 budget briefing on Friday, May 31, 2024, at the State House. Left to right are House Fiscal Advisor Sharon Reynolds Ferland, House Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Top priorities: Housing and Washington Bridge

Acknowledging the skyrocketing cost to demolish and replace the I-195 Washington Bridge, the spending plan includes $80 million to cover the states share of the estimated $400 million cost. This includes repurposing unspent pandemic aid, as McKee suggested, but replaces the governors proposal to borrow against future gas tax revenue by instead allotting $40 million in long-term capital spending for the cost.

Combating the housing crisis, a top priority for Shekarchi, takes an even bigger role in the revised spending plan, with a historic $120 million bond to stimulate housing production, including authorization for a state public housing developer. This is $20 million more than the borrowing amount requested by Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor and included in McKees budget.

We need to increase production, production, more production at every single level, Shekarchi said.

Medicaid reimbursements, new health care initiatives

The updated budget also adds $40 million in state funding to the proposed increase in fee-for-service rates for Medicaid providers who work in behavioral health, community care and with infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. The increase allows the state to meet the $100.3 million cost to offer rate hikes in a single year, as recommended by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner.

Meanwhile, the understaffed Department of Children, Youth and Families will see a $21 million funding boost to cover workforce expansion, foster care and congregate services, among others.

A new $1 million restricted receipts account, to be managed by the treasurer, will help residents pay off medical debt, one of the proposals in a 25-bill health package put forth by the Rhode Island Senate. A separate bill funding a scholarship program for doctoral and nursing students who stay and work in the state was also added to the updated spending plan.

Help for RIPTAs fiscal cliff, green economy bond

Amid outcries over service cuts to the embattled transit system, lawmakers allotted an extra $5 million to RIPTA  still $3 million shy of closing the agencys funding deficit but enough to stave off any reduction in bus route locations or schedules, Shekarchi said.

Also heeding advocates calls to preserve and protect forest and farmland, a $53 million green economy bond now includes $13 million for the cause, while money to help rebuild the Newport Cliff Walk was trimmed from $8 million to $3 million to account for a newly awarded federal grant.

House Fiscal Advisor Sharon Reynolds Ferland is shown. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Retirees

Retired state workers and teachers clamoring to reinstate the compounded cost-of-living adjustments that ended under a series of pension reforms enacted in 2012 still wont get exactly what they asked for. Rather than reinstatement and retroactively applying COLAs  an estimated $169 million cost according to a legislative review that ended earlier this year the revised budget includes new COLAs effective July 1 for retirees who stopped working before the pension reforms took effect.

These people are the oldest, the people who have been retired the longest, Shekarchi said. They didnt have the opportunity work longer into the system.

For other retirees, the budget preserves McKees proposal to raise the minimum income that retired workers from any job can earn without being taxed  from $20,000 to $50,000 (or double for joint filers).

Higher ed bonds

Two separate bond proposals supporting a Biomedical Sciences Building for the University of Rhode Island, and a separate Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College were increased above McKees recommendation to reflect full funding requested by each school: $87.5 million and $73 million, respectively.

A fifth borrowing proposal, borrowing $10 million for three specific arts projects as well as grant money administered by the state arts council, was also added to the lawmakers version of the budget.

New state archives is out

No longer in the borrowing list: a $60 million bond that would have covered a portion of the $100 million price tag for a new state archives, a top priority for Secretary of State Gregg Amore.

Shekarchi cited lack of details on where the archive would go or a funding partner to cover the rest of the cost as reason why the revised budget does not include any borrowing for the project.

No tax rewrite for Citizens

The need for more information and time is also why Shekarchi said a proposed tax rewrite intended to benefit Citizens Bank was nixed from the updated spending plan.

I dont want to be the speaker who loses Citizens Bank, Shekarchi said in a statement Friday. I will roll up my sleeves and get to work with them over the summer so we can prefile legislation that can be vetted early in the year, but right now, we dont have enough information to know whether this plan is the right move for our state.

Rory Sheehan, a spokesperson for the bank, issued an emailed response Friday.

We are disappointed that Budget Amendment 19 was not included in the State Budget, Sheehan said. This decision will make it difficult for the state to compete on a level playing field with Massachusetts and other states and is not in the best interest of Rhode Islanders. We urge the Rhode Island General Assembly to address the issue before the end of the session. We are committed to working diligently to achieve a positive outcome.

No sales tax cut

McKees budget proposal offered a wishlist of extra spending items if state revenue beat expectations, including trimming the state sales tax. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio has also pushed for reducing the state sales tax to remain competitive with neighboring states.

Shekarchis response to a prospective sales tax cut?

Absolutely not, he said Friday.

The revised budget maintains the existing 7% sales tax while striking McKees proposal to cut the corporate minimum tax. However, McKees proposed 25-cent tax increase on cigarette packs survived, as did a slightly different version of the governors recommendation to tax vaping products.

Unlike years past, McKee and Ruggerio did not attend a press briefing on the budget held Friday night at the State House. Each indicated general support for the revised spending plan in prepared statements.

I am pleased that the budget will invest in many Senate priorities, particularly in the areas of health care, child care, education and providing some needed relief to retirees, Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, said.

The Speaker and I are aligned in our priorities of improving the education, housing, and health of all Rhode Islanders, and this budget makes key investments in all those areas, McKee said. Like the Speaker, I too appreciate the collaborative spirit in which this budget was shaped.

The post Education, housing and health care come out on top in lawmakers revised fiscal 2025 budget appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
By Nelson Renteria

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele took office on Saturday for a second term pledging to cure the "illnesses" of the Central American country by prescribing his medicine to fix the economy, following his successful treatment to cure the "cancer of the gangs" during his first five years in office.

The 42-year-old former nightclub manager was reelected in a landslide victory with more than 80% of the vote in February, following a court decision that paved the way for his re-election even though the country's constitution prohibits it.

"Salvadorean society is still sick but it no longer has cancer," Bukele told the crowd from the balcony of the National Palace in the capital San Salvador. The cancer referred to criminal gangs that once made the country one of the world's deadliest to live in, but have been brought under control through mass arrests during his leadership.

"Now that we have fixed the most urgent thing, which was security, we are going to focus on the important problems, starting with the economy," said the president who faces fresh challenges to rejuvenate a stagnant economy and tackle poverty. Bukele added that his "prescription is working."

Saturday's swearing in ceremony took place amid security concerns after police said they had thwarted a bomb threat.

Seven people were arrested for plotting to detonate explosives at locations across the country, police said on Thursday, adding that the suspects were part of the so-called Salvadoran Insurrection Brigade.

Among the attendees at the ceremony was Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei and Donald Trump Jr, the son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who arrived in El Salvador on Friday. His father earlier this week became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.

Bukele, who is of Palestinian descent, won re-election in February after garnering massive popularity in his first term for transforming security in the country of 6.3 million people that was once one of the world's most dangerous.

Authorities under his watch have suspended civil liberties to arrest more than 80,000 Salvadorans without charge which has drawn criticism from human rights groups but won him a devoted following domestically and across the region for bringing safety to the streets.

With safer neighborhoods, public concern has now turned to the economy which will likely be Bukele's biggest challenge in his second term. More than a quarter of Salvadorans live in poverty and unemployment is on the rise.

The president's highly publicized plans for Bitcoin City, a tax-free crypto haven powered by geothermal energy from a volcano, have failed to gain momentum and private investment has tumbled. El Salvador's public debt meanwhile has skyrocketed on Bukele's watch to more than $30 billion, or 84% of the country's gross domestic product.

Economists said the government faced a difficult balancing act to reduce national debt without cutting much-needed social benefits to the country's poorest. "They could end up generating a critical situation for women and households in rural areas," economist Julia Evelyn Martinez based in San Salvador said.

(Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Writing by Lucinda Elliott; editing by Diane Craft and Richard Chang)
Nayib Bukele (L), re-elected President of El Salvador and First Lady Gabriela de Bukele stand on the balcony of the presidential palace, during Bukele's inauguration for a second term in office, in San Salvador. Bukele was sworn in for his second consecutive term as president of El Salvador. Juan Carlos/dpa

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has been sworn in for a second five-year term of office.

Bukele took the oath of office in the capital San Salvador on Saturday, with guests such as Spain's King Felipe VI and Argentinian President Javier Milei in attendance.

"We have finally conquered fear and are a truly free country," said the 42-year-old in a speech on the balcony of the National Palace afterwards.

Bukele won the presidential election on February 4 with just under 83% of the vote. In simultaneous parliamentary elections, his Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) party won 54 of the 60 seats.

His successful but controversial crackdown on criminal gangs that had terrorized the Central American country for decades was seen as key to his electoral success. As crime fell, Bukele's popularity soared.

But critics warn of an increasingly authoritarian turn taken by the former mayor of San Salvador, who has been president since 2019.

They point to undemocratic policies, such as the restriction of civil rights, arbitrary arrests and the erosion of the separation of powers.

Bukele often makes fun of his critics and at times has described himself as the "World's Coolest Dictator" in his profile on X.

The people of El Salvador, the smallest Central American country, have been living under a state of emergency for almost two years. A number of basic rights such as freedom of assembly are restricted.

More than 75,000 suspected gang members have since been arrested, most only on suspicion and without access to lawyers. Videos of thousands of tattooed gangsters being herded into a new high-security prison wearing only white underpants went viral.

El Salvador's constitution actually prohibits the re-election of the president for consecutive terms. However, constitutional judges loyal to the government approved Bukele's candidacy for a second five-year term.

In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to introduce the digital currency Bitcoin as legal tender.

Nayib Bukele (L), re-elected President of El Salvador, his daughter Layla Bukele and First Lady Gabriela de Bukele stand on the balcony of the presidential palace, during Bukele's inauguration for a second term in office, in San Salvador. Bukele was sworn in for his second consecutive term as president of El Salvador. Juan Carlos/dpa

Javier Milei (C), President of Argentina, arrives to attend at the inauguration of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador. Bukele was sworn in for his second consecutive term as president of El Salvador. Juan Carlos/dpa
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  A recent surge in complaints about Orbeez guns has prompted the Elmira Police Department to warn residents against using them on strangers or property.

The Elmira Police Department says that it has recently received a lot of complaints about people using Orbeez guns, or gel blasters, within the City of Elmira. Complaints have been about people firing the blasters at pedestrians from moving vehicles, at residences, at parked cars, and back and forth at each other. The gel beads, commonly called Orbeez after a popular brand of water/gel beads, used in these blasters have reportedly damaged vehicles and property.

Police are telling the public that Orbeez guns are only allowed to be used by individuals on their own private property and can only be used against consenting people. Firing them within the City of Elmira is prohibited. According to the Elmira Police Department, gel shooters fall under an ordinance that prohibits throwing or using something to cast stones, bullets, or other missiles on or at a street or public place. Additionally, using these weapons against others could be considered second-degree harassment under New York State law.

Gel-pellet challenge could lead to injuries or criminal charges, police departments warn

Violating the city ordinance could result in fines and up to 15 days in jail for those aged 16 and older. Children under the age of 16 may be detained and handed over to their parents before receiving age-appropriate penalties. Second-degree harassment is a violation and carries the same penalties as violating the ordinance.

The Elmira Police Department is warning residents that it will be taking a zero-tolerance stance when it comes to the improper use of gel bead guns. The department will confiscate any gel blasters that are being used in a way that could cause injuries or property damage. Parents are urged to make sure their children arent taking their gel blasters outside the home and using them in a way that violates city ordinances or state 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Two workers at the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center, a lockup for juveniles in Dothan, were arrested after police claim they abused children at the center.

On Friday, May 31, 54-year-old Christopher White and 49-year-old Bernard March were arrested and charged with one count of wilful abuse of a child.

Dothan Police told WDHN the charges stemmed from an incident in the 2700 block of Horace Shepard Avenue, an address that matches the Diversion Center.

It is not known if White and March are still employed with the SADC.

March and White were released from the Houston County Jail almost two hours after being booked. Each was released on $15,000 bonds.

Additional information on the charges was not immediately available.

WDHN could not reach someone who could speak for the SADC about the arrests.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
CHICAGO  The Englewood Peace Fest returns Saturday afternoon to honor of victims of gun violence and their families with the theme of Black-on-Black Love.

Peace Campus director of Imagine Englewood If Heavy Crownz joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share more about this years block party and its theme Black-on-Black Love, battling the perception of Black-on-Black crime.

Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Eric Trump, adult son of now-convicted former President Trump, highlighted his fathers campaign fundraising numbers in the immediate aftermath of the conviction.

Whats really amazing, go back to 2016 for a second, the largest fundraising haul in history to that point, we did in one day, you know, $16 million, Trump told Fox Newss Jesse Watters.

And as of a couple of minutes ago, we just announced $52.8 million in 24 hours and were probably another five, six million dollars above that, based on the fact that that was exactly 24 hours from the indictment time, which was about 5:30 [p.m.], Trump continued.

Trumps father, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, was found guilty on all 34 felony charges against him for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to conceal an alleged affair with porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

The decision came Thursday after the jury turned around a verdict quicker than expected. Former President Trump said shortly after the decision was handed down that the real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people, referring to Election Day. His legal team said they are considering all options to appeal the conviction.

On Friday morning, the Trump campaign said it brought in roughly $35 million after the verdict. By Friday evening, the former president posted online that the number was now $52.8 million.

Eric Trump criticized the case on Jesse Watters Primetime, Friday, where he said they shut down all of lower Manhattan for literally six weeks with he largest NYPD presence youve ever seen.

You saw thousands and thousands of cops, blocks and blocks literally barricaded around that courthouse for $130,000 of personal money, Eric Trump said. Give me a break. No one believes it.

Eric Trump continued, arguing that the country is furious and thats why his fathers campaign is seeing millions in small-dollar donations pouring in.

This country has never seen a fundraising haul like that. People are behind my father in ways that Ive never  I cant even tell you the love thats out there right now, Eric Trump said. Just watch his poll numbers, I guarantee this propels him to victory.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Estonia adopts law enabling it to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine

Alar Karis, President of Estonia, has signed into law the bill which enables Estonia to use Russian assets frozen under sanctions to compensate Ukraine for damage caused by the war; the bill was passed by the Estonian parliament in mid-May.

Source: ERR, Estonias public broadcaster

Details: Karis said that under the new law, only the property of those "whose connection with the commission or facilitation of an unlawful act is established and sufficiently proven" can be confiscated and used to compensate for damages.

"So the fact that someones assets have been frozen under international sanctions is not a sufficient reason to seize those assets," Karis said.

The Estonian president added that the law should be interpreted as saying that those who took an active part in Russias military aggression or violated the rules and customs of war will have their property confiscated.

Karis acknowledged that the confiscation of property in connection with participation in military aggression may raise legal issues.

"Regardless of what one may think of the solution chosen by Estonia, there is no doubt that we must find effective ways to guarantee the right of victims of aggression to receive compensation from those responsible for causing damage," Karis said.

The law, which was passed by 65 members of the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament) on 15 May, allows the property of people and businesses that contributed to Russia's illegal activities to be frozen under sanctions as an advance payment for the damage that Russia must compensate Ukraine for.

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Estonian PM: We don't have plan B in case of Ukraine's defeat

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has called on Western states to strengthen military support for Ukraine, given that if Russia wins, her own country, Estonia, will become the next target of aggression.

Source: Kaja Kallas in an interview with BBC; European Pravda

Kallas noted that the Estonian government allocates more than 1% of its GDP to support Ukraine.

Quote: "If every Nato country did this, Ukraine would win," Kaja Kallas said.

The Estonian PM was asked if the country had a "plan B" in case Ukraine lost the current war and the Russian invasion was ultimately successful.

Quote: "We have no Plan B for a Russian victory, because then we would stop focussing on Plan A," Kallas said, referring to helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion.

Quote: "We should not give in to pessimism. Victory in Ukraine is not just about territory. If Ukraine joins Nato, even without some territory, then thats a victory because it will be placed under the Nato umbrella," Kallas said.

The Estonian PM stressed that Russia is waging a hybrid war against the West and "wants to sow fear in our societies."

Background:

Earlier, Kaja Kallas said there is enough support for Ukraine from the free world, but fear hinders it.

Kallas also believes that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is seeking to use the threat of mass migration to divide and weaken Europe in its support for Ukraine.

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The European Council adopted new sanctions on May 31 targeting six individual and three entities from Iran who are involved in the transfer of drones to support Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

The sanctions also target those involved with the transfer of drones and missiles to "armed groups" in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

According to a news release from the European Council, among those targeted in the sanctions are Iran's Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the entity in charge of making operational decisions on the deployment of drones.

Since the beginning of the all-out war, Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones and assisted with building a drone factory in Tatarstan, which was hit by Ukrainian forces in early April.

The new sanctions come as the EU leaders agreed on April 17 to implement new restrictions against Iran after its recent missile and drone attack on Israel. The participants of the summit also expressed their full support for Ukraine, condemning Russia's recent attacks against Ukraine's civilians and civilian and critical infrastructure, including in the energy sector.

In February, Reuters also reported on Iran sending "a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles" to Russia to fuel the ongoing war.

The targets of the sanctions will subject to an asset freeze as well as a travel ban to the European Union. The sanctions also prohibit the "provision of funds or economic resources" to those newly listed.

Read also: Ukraine to receive 1st tranche of frozen Russian assets revenue this summer, EU official says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is working at the Nevada Governors Mansion in Carson City while serving his 3-to-10-year prison sentence, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Ruggs, 25, was sentenced on Aug. 9, 2023, after pleading guilty to driving drunk at 156 mph and crashing into a car killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. The crash happened in November 2021. Prosecutors had said Ruggs blood-alcohol level was 0.16, which is twice the legal limit.

Ruggs is serving his sentence at Stewart Conservation Camp in northern Nevada, a facility which houses minimum custody and community trusty inmates. Ruggs is classified as a community trusty, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. In that job, community trustees work for government offices making $2.50 an hour.

Community trusty inmates represent a limited potential to misbehave and represent a low risk to escape while assigned to employment within the community, according to the department. They are assigned to jobs in buildings and grounds work, parks and recreation, and the Governors Mansion which includes cleaning, groundwork and help with events.

Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs appears in court Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Las Vegas. Ruggs plead guilty to driving his car drunk before causing a fiery crash that killed a woman. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Approximately four inmates are assigned to the Governors Mansion, according to the department.

The Nevada Department of Corrections independently assigns offenders to trusty status as they are statutorily eligible. The Office of the Governor and the Governors Mansion are not involved in trusty work assignments, according to Elizabeth Ray, spokeswoman for Lombardo.

Ruggs began serving his sentence at the High Desert State Prison northwest of Las Vegas, records showed. The prison, the largest in the department, is a 45-minute drive northwest of Las Vegas. He was later transferred to Stewart Conservation Camp last September.

Ruggs, who was initially charged with DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence, accepted a plea deal last May.

Ruggs is up for parole in August 2026. He is eligible for credit for time served as part of his work program, the spokesperson said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Ex-MMA fighter seen in wild-eyed mug shot admits to stabbing man in Atlantic City hotel room before fleeing in victims clothes

A former MMA fighter admitted to stabbing another man to death in an Atlantic City hotel room two years ago before leaving the gruesome scene in the victims clothing.

Andrew Osborne, 35, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in connection with the Sept. 23, 2022, killing of Brian A. Wilkinson, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office announced.

Osborne told authorities Thursday that he stabbed Wilkinson, 47, in the head and neck in the latters room at the Ocean Casino Resort.

He then left the scene wearing Wilkinsons shoes and pants, NJ Advance Media reported, citing court documents.

Andrew Osborne, 35, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in August. Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office

Wilkinsons door was opened from the inside around 6:57 a.m. the day of the killing, and the deadbolt was deployed to prevent it from closing, authorities added.

Surveillance footage showed Osborne in an elevator nearby around 7:09 a.m. He was then seen exiting on Wilkinsons floor.

The door to Wilkinsons room closed around 7:11 a.m., and did not open again until 7:30 a.m., NJ Advance Media explained.

Osborne, of Philadelphia, was then seen returning to the elevator carrying a black plastic bag. He opened the door to his room, which was on a different floor, around 7:35 a.m.

Less than 25 minutes later, Osborne and his wife  who has not been named publicly  were seen on security cameras in the hotel parking garage.

Brian Wilkinson was stabbed in the head and neck. Legacy.com

Wilkinsons body was found later that day, around 1:30 p.m.

The couple fled back to Philadelphia, where Osborne was arrested while leaving his home three days later, NJ Advance Media said.

Osborne was a professional mixed martial arts fighter between January 2012 and October 2013, KYW Radio reported. His record was one win and two losses.

Osborne will be sentenced on Aug. 22 before Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr., officials said.

He faces up to 25 years in state prison.
Ex-official says Sen. Menendez told him to stop interfering with friends Egypt deal

Authorities allege Sen. Bob Menendez, right, used his influence to help friend Wael Hana obtain an exclusive deal to export halal-certified meat to Egypt. (Courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York)

A former U.S. Department of Agriculture official said hell never forget the words he heard from Sen. Bob Menendez in May 2019.

At the time, federal officials were probing why Egypt was cutting ties with a group of U.S. companies tasked with certifying that halal meat exported to Egypt was prepared according to Islamic law and choosing to work with just one company instead, IS EG Halal.

Ted McKinney, the agriculture official, testified during Menendezs corruption trial Friday that Menendez was curt during their brief phone conversation and told him, Stop interfering with my constituents.

Prosecutor Eli Mark asked McKinney what message he believed Menendez was sending to him.

Stop. Stop interfering, said McKinney.

McKinneys two-and-a-half-hour testimony capped off the third week of Menendezs corruption trial, and it was the first time jurors heard from a witness who offered direct testimony about the kind of arm-twisting prosecutors say Menendez performed to aid his friends.

Menendez and his wife, Nadine, are accused of accepting gold bars, gym equipment, a luxury car, and more in exchange for the senator, a Democrat, using his political power to intervene in military aid, international negotiations, criminal prosecutions, and more.

Their co-defendants are real estate developer Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, head of IS EG Halal. They all maintain their innocence. A fifth defendant, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify for the prosecution.

Prosecutors allege Hana bribed Menendez so Hana could secure the export deal with Egypt. To get Egypt on board, authorities allege, Menendez agreed to release millions in military aid to Egypt and reveal sensitive information about staffing at the American embassy in Cairo.

McKinney explained in detail how he learned that Egypt decided to work with Hanas company exclusively.

About a month prior to the call from Menendez, he received an email explaining that Egypt would use IS EG Halal beginning May 1, 2019, severing relationships with several American-based companies.

McKinney said it was unusual for certifiers to be dropped so quickly, and he was concerned that leaving just one halal certifier would lead to delays and complications, especially since the company had not certified halal meat previously.

Within days of this very, very unusual news, McKinney alerted federal officials and emailed the Egyptian ambassador asking for a way to stop this rapid and sudden change, stressing that a monopoly would raise prices for Egyptian consumers and potentially cause America to lose its hold on the beef liver market in Egypt.

He said he never heard back from Egyptian officials.

He was ghosted again eight days later, he said, when he sent a letter to his counterpart in Egypt, stressing that he was deeply concerned about one company winning the right to export halal beef.

We used these words because the issue was getting serious, McKinney said.

Interactions between senators and McKinney were typically limited to lawmakers wanting something in their district to be on federal officials radar, McKinney said. But in late May 2019, McKinneys chief of staff told him to expect a call from Menendez in about an hour, he said.

On that short call, Menendez told McKinney at least twice to stop interfering with my constituents, McKinney testified. McKinney noted the senator didnt say please and interrupted him while McKinney tried to explain why he wanted to urge Egypt to reinstate more certifiers.

I recall he said something along the lines of, Lets not bother with that, McKinney said.

He noted he was aware Menendez was chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Menendez stepped down as chair after his September indictment.)

This was an influential person and an influential call, McKinney testified.

McKinney did stop interfering, he said, but only once he heard about the FBI investigation into Menendez.

I put the word out  to please stand down, he said. It was in the hands of the FBI at this point.

Menendez attorney Adam Fee, during his cross-examination of McKinney, offered a different and more banal explanation for why Egypt was looking to work with a different halal certifier.

Fee noted that Egyptian officials had expressed concerns that non-halal meat was mixed with halal meat before it was shipped from America to other countries.

Was the Egyptian government able to reject a halal certifier as inadequate? Fee asked.

They have that right, McKinney said.

McKinney will take the stand again Monday when he will face more questioning from Fee and the lawyers for Daibes and Hana.

The post Ex-official says Sen. Menendez told him to stop interfering with friends Egypt deal appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Jamie Ray Mills will be executed by the State of Alabama on Thursday, May 30 in connection with the murders of an elderly couple in June 2004.

An Alabama man was executed Thursday for the 2004 murders of an elderly couple who were beaten to death and robbed of $140 and some medication.

Jamie Ray Mills, 50, died by lethal injection at 6:26 p.m., becoming the second inmate executed in the state and the sixth in the country this year. At least another 10 executions and counting are set for the rest of 2024, including two more in Alabama.

Marty Roney, a reporter with the Montgomery Advertiser  part of the USA TODAY Network  was among the witnesses to Mills' execution and said that it went off according to the state's plan. There appeared to be no problem or issues with the lethal injection administration, he said.

Mills, who always maintained his innocence, was executed for the deaths of Floyd and Vera Hill, an elderly couple fatally bludgeoned in June 2004 at their home in Guin, about 80 miles northwest of Montgomery.

For the past 20 years our family has been seeking justice, according to a statement from the Hill family read at a news conference following the execution. Justice has been served."

Here's what to know about the execution, Mills' last meal and last words, the case and the victims.

Jamie Mills' last meal, last words before death

Jamie Mills met with his two brothers, sister, a sister-in-law and a spiritual advisor before his execution on Thursday. Some of the family members and Mills' attorney were among those who witnessed the execution.

Mills' last meal was an assortment of seafood, including three large shrimp, two catfish filets, three oysters, three onion rings and one stuffed crab, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.

Mills, who was strapped to a gurney and could see his witnesses through a large window, used his last words to tell his family how much he loved them, according to Roney.

"I love my family. I love my brother and sister. I couldnt ask for anything more," Mills said. "I love yall. Carry on."

He prayed with his spiritual advisor for the last time, winked at him, and then faced his witnesses again and gave the thumbs-up sign. He threw a thumbs-up to his family members several times before he lost consciousness as the execution drugs made their way through his system.

A consciousness check was conducted by a guard at 6:14 p.m., seven minutes after the execution began, where he was touched and pinched to see if he was still breathing. By then, he was taking "very shallow breaths," Roney said.

"Several of Mills witnesses sobbed during the execution," Roney said. He appeared to take his final breath at 6:16 p.m. but wasn't declared dead until 6:26 p.m.

Capital punishment 'has never been more deserved,' attorney general says

Mills' assigned punishment, death by lethal injection, has "never been more deserved," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement.

"The depth of violence experienced by Mr. and Mrs. Hill at the hands of this murderer cannot be understated," he said. "Mills used a machete, tire tool, and ball-peen hammer to mercilessly end the lives of two people. His actions were cold and calculated."

Marshall called the Hills' murders "heinous" and that Mills left the elderly couple to die as part of a "senseless robbery-murder."

"I extend my deepest sympathy to the Hill family as they have endured the unimaginable for nearly 20 years as they awaited justice to finally be served," Marshall said.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall speaks at a news conference on Sept. 15, 2023.

Alabama governor says Jamie Mills was 'undoubtedly guilty'

Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement after the execution that "Jamie Mills has paid the price for his heinous crimes" and that he was "undoubtedly guilty."

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," Ivey said. I pray for the victims and their loved ones.

Jamie Mills asked for 'basic protections' for death row inmates

The Equal Justice Initiative, the law firm representing Mills, said in a statement after the execution that their client asked federal courts to "provide some basic protections" for him, including limiting the amount of time he had to spend on the execution gurney and to allow his layers to be present.

"Courts rejected these requests, allowing Alabamas unapologetic state officials to once again start a process of killing a human being with uncertainty about what level of torture and cruelty will take place," the attorneys said.

Mills, they said, is just the latest example of an person who was "needlessly killed" by Alabama officials, who "comfortably tolerate state deception, violation of the law, and breach of fundamental constitutional rights in an effort to carry out a death sentence they claim upholds the rule of law."

"There will come a day when governments recognize the perverse injustice of this process and the wrongfulness of this punishment," they continued. "It will be a day that is too late for Jamie Mills, which makes his death tragically regrettable and mournfully unjust."

The beating deaths of Floyd and Vera Hill

Married for 55 years, Floyd and Vera Hill were devoted to each other, with the sprightly 87-year-old Floyd acting as caretaker for 72-year-old Vera, who was diabetic and in poor health.

When Jamie Ray Mills and his wife JoAnn came knocking on June 24, 2004, asking to use their phone, the couple kindly obliged, only to be viciously attacked a short time later, court records show.

Jamie Mills ambushed Floyd Hill in the shed, attacking him with a ball peen hammer, a tire tool and a machete, court records say. The women, who were walking toward the home, heard a loud noise, and turned back.

Jamie Mills then attacked Vera, hitting her in the back of the head with the hammer, striking her repeatedly until she crumpled to the ground, court records say.

Floyd Hill died instantly, while Vera Hill clung to life for a few more months, dying from complications brought on by the attack.

The Mills were intercepted by law enforcement the following day as they were getting ready to leave their home in a car carrying the items stolen from the Hills and the suspected murder weapons.

Prosecutors said the Mills had spent the night before the murders high and smoking meth, and that the couple were looking for a way to get more money for drugs, deciding to rob the Hills because they were known to have cash stashed at home.

What happened at trial?

Mills' trial attorney, John Wiley, argued to jurors that Mills didn't deserve the death penalty for a number of reasons: Mills was on drugs and couldn't have known what he was doing, he was under extreme stress from things that "were stacking up against him," and he had two then-teenage sons who could learn from their father how not to go down the wrong path, Wiley argued

Additionally, Wiley told jurors that it would be morally wrong for them to recommend the death penalty.

"A recommendation of a death sentence for Jamie Mills is you killing another man, and it's wrong and its immoral and its barbaric and you shouldnt do it and youre going to be held accountable for it if you do," he told them.

Since his conviction, Mills has filed numerous unsuccessful appeals both at the state and federal level, alleging that he had nothing to do with the Hills' deaths and arguing that the key witness against him  his own wife  was lying on the stand.

Jack Bostick, the district attorney who argued for the death penalty against Mills, told jurors that there was no doubt about Mills' guilt, and that the crime went far beyond the bounds of something like a shooting death.

"This was up close, this was savage, this was personal  to take a ballpeen hammer, a rusty machete, a rusty lug wrench and repeatedly cut and beat on two human beings  its not a random act of violence," he said. "It's deliberate, It's beyond brutal, beyond savage ... It's almost beyond imagination that anyone could be that cruel to another human being, to have that done to them."

He added: "The Hills didn't have a chance."

Contributing: Marty Rony and Amanda Lee Myers

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jamie Ray Mills executed by lethal injection in Alabama
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Teens need to think twice before getting behind the wheel during the busy summer driving season, according to the West Texas Driving Academy and the Texas Department of Transportation, El Paso District.

Summer is when drinking-and-driving numbers rise, according to both organizations.

According to the Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth the three deadliest months of the year are June, July, and August.

Aolani Fierro, a driving instructor with West Texas Driving Academy, said when teens take driver education courses that them better navigate a potential life-or-death situation.

Its an investment, but it is something that could save your grandchild, your son, your daughter, because even you driving to the mailbox, you could get into a car accident. And even just a student knowing and learning how to stop correctly at a stop sign could save them, Fierro said.

Fierro said teens who are aged 15 and 16 enroll in these courses and can greatly benefit from them.

So we have this statistic where a student gets a license and theres a big percentage that two months after they get a license, a lot of the students get into a car accident unexperienced, Fierro said.

Jennifer Wright, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation in El Paso, told KTSM that drivers need to think before getting behind the wheel.

A sober driver is not the person whos had the least to drink. Its the person whos had nothing at all to drink, Wright said.

Fierro said teens can get carried away with the excitement of being a new driver.

The inexperience that theyre so excited of being in high school, having a new group of friends, trying to fit in peer pressure, that they start mixing alcohol and making bad decisions when theyre under the influence, Fierro said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A drone photo shows a cargo ship docking at Qingdao Port in east China's Shandong Province, March 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

The value of China's international trade in goods and services exceeded 4.11 trillion yuan in total in April 2024, increasing by 13 percent year on year, official data showed on Friday.



In U.S. dollar terms, export and import values of the country's international trade in goods and services amounted to 297.4 billion U.S. dollars and 281.6 billion U.S. dollars, respectively, with a surplus of 15.9 billion U.S. dollars, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said.

The export value of goods reached 1.9 trillion yuan while the import value totaled 1.62 trillion yuan, resulting in a surplus of 281.5 billion yuan.

The export value of services trade amounted to 205.9 billion yuan and services trade import value stood at 374.7 billion yuan, producing a deficit of 168.8 billion yuan.

Tourism was the biggest contributor to services trade, with its trade value amounting to 179.9 billion yuan, followed by transport services and other commercial services, according to the administration.
Xavier Rolet has called for a major overhaul including an end to 'punitive regulations' - REUTERS/Mike Blake

The former chief executive of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has urged the next government to save the UKs struggling equities market as he warned of a bleak future for the City without additional support.

Xavier Rolet, who ran the LSE for almost a decade, warned that hopes of a stock market liquidity revival are likely to be disappointed unless there is a major overhaul by policymakers.

He said: US equity markets are more or less ten times more liquid than UK and Europe combined.

Its not an issue of confidence, or tweaking this or that rule, or having a sovereign fund conveniently on hand to inject one-off liquidity as desired or twisting the arm of index companies to increase the weight of domestic issuers.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has vowed to set up a British sovereign wealth fund if Labour wins power as part of plans to help unlock billions of pounds in private investment.

But Mr Rolet argued that Londons shrinking stock market requires a major overhaul which should include removing punitive regulations such as so-called Solvency II rules, which dictate how much cash insurers hold on their balance sheets and where they can invest.

He said: A stock markets valuation depends on the type of companies it attracts. You simply cannot consistently attract high growth businesses without deep and liquid equity markets  simple maths.

Goldman Sachs said earlier this year that excluding takeovers, the size of UK public equities had shrunk by a net 30bn in the year to April, the fastest pace on record and equivalent to about 1.2pc of the entire market.

Coutts, the private bank owned by NatWest, last month pulled nearly 2bn out of the London market to instead invest abroad in a decision which marked the latest hammer blow to the exchange.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, is hoping to revive the City with a package of measures called the Edinburgh Reforms, which aim to remove onerous listing restrictions on companies. Meanwhile, Labour has promised that reinvigorating capital markets would be one of its key policy priorities, vowing to make changes which could include further reforms of Solvency II rules.

The UK has also fallen behind its European peers after a resurgence of new listings on the Continent, with Venice-headquartered trainer brand Golden Goose last week unveiling plans to float on the Euronext market in Milan in a deal that could value it at more than 3bn (2.6bn).

A top BNP Paribas banker said earlier this year that he does not expect there to be any big London IPOs until 2025. China controlled fast-fashion giant Shein has turned its attention towards a London listing following tensions over a flotation in New York.

Story continues

Rupert Soames, president of business lobby group the CBI, said listed businesses and investors want London to regain its position as the leading equity market in Europe.

He said: That means attracting new money, more capital raising by companies, pragmatic and proportionate regulation, and recognition of the importance of active fund managers.

Panmure Gordons chief economist Simon French has said reduced investment in UK stocks had created a self-reinforcing doom loop that left them significantly undervalued.

Cheap UK stock prices have triggered a spate of foreign buyers and private equity firms queuing up to buy companies listed on the London market.

Dozens of small British companies have been acquired at a significant premium in recent months, including Hotel Chocolat which was snapped up by confectionery giant Mars for 534m, a 170pc premium to its market capitalisation.

Such is the fear gripping the City over the issue, that top fund managers have been urging boardrooms to be wary of accepting lowball bids.

Edinburgh-based fund manager Aberforth Partners, one of the largest investors in small UK quoted companies, recently sent a letter to dozens of chairmen warning against accepting underpriced deals, according to City sources.

The influential funds group, which invests in nearly 80 listed companies including well-known names such as Foxtons, Card Factory and DSF Furniture, is said to be alarmed over the number of boardrooms agreeing to cheap deals.

Aberforth recently highlighted its M&A concerns in an update on its engagement activity, warning there was a risk UK companies could be sold at levels far below their intrinsic value due the low valuations.

The group last year voted against the 500m takeover of car dealer Lookers by foreign rival Alpha Auto, calling the bid highly opportunistic in a sign of its concerns. The deal was eventually completed despite Aberforths opposition.

Aberforths letter mirrors a similar dispatch it sent to boardrooms during the Covid warning companies against dividend cuts.

The group declined to comment.

The pace of recent takeovers combined with the lack of new floats means the FTSE All Shares Index could cease to exist by 2028, according to Peel Hunt.

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.
Extent of rolling blackouts on 1 June may vary due to Russian attack on Ukraine

Rolling blackouts are expected across Ukraine from 18:00 to 23:00 on 1 June, but their extent may vary due to the Russian attack on Ukraine's power grid on the night of 31 May-1 June.

Source: press service of Ukraine's Energy Ministry

Details: It is noted that Russian forces have launched the sixth large-scale missile and drone strike on energy facilities since March this year. Energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts have been attacked.

"Rolling blackouts for household and industrial consumers are expected to be applied in all oblasts from 18:00 to 23:00 today. At the same time, the extent of restrictions may vary due to the attack on the power grid overnight," the statement said.

The ministry added that electricity imports are expected to reach 26,946 MWh for the current 24 hours. No exports are expected.

Background:

Six cruise missiles hit three critical infrastructure facilities in Lviv Oblast during a large-scale Russian attack on the night of 31 May-1 June.

On the same night, the Russians targeted energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts.

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Claim:

In 1979, Elvita Adams survived a jump from the Empire State Building in New York City.

Rating:

Rating: Mixture

What's True:

In 1979, Elvita Adams, 29, jumped from the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building and survived. However ...

What's False:

She didn't fall all the way to the ground. A gust of wind broke her fall, and she landed about 20 feet down on the 3-foot-wide ledge of the floor directly below.

What's Undetermined:

Snopes was unable to trace the origins of a black-and-white photo commonly shared on social media claiming to depict Adams after the fall. Our newsroom was also unable to confirm other details surrounding the event, such as Adams' supposed motivations or what came of her in the decades following.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, suicide or substance use crisis or emotional distress, reach out 24/7 to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) by dialing or texting 988 or using chat services at suicidepreventionlifeline.org to connect to a trained crisis counselor.

For decades, the miraculous survival story of Elvita Adams has saturated corners of the internet. Social media posts (here, here, here and here, for example) claim that Adams, 29, survived after jumping from the 102-story Empire State Building in New York City in 1979.

In reality, Adams jumped from the observation deck on the 86th floor but landed on a 3-foot-wide ledge 20 feet down (one floor) after a wind gust broke her fall. In other words, she did not fall 86 floors to the street. She reportedly suffered a fractured pelvis and was taken to Bellevue Hospital.

But Snopes could not trace the origins of the black-and-white image commonly shared in posts or confirm whether the above photo genuinely depicted Adams after the fall. We contacted The Empire State Building and will update this article if we hear back.

The incident was outlined in a Dec. 3, 1979, article in The New York Times titled, "Woman Survives Fall At the Empire State." It read:

A 29yearold woman apparently jumped from the 86thfloor observation deck of the Empire State Building last night, but survived when she landed on a threefoot ledge about 20 feet below, the police said. She was admitted to Bellevue Hospital with a fractured pelvis. Authorities at the 102story building on West 34th Street theorized that strong wind gusts  and no small amount of luck  saved the life of Elvita Adams, of 975 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. George Reice, night supervisor at the observatory, said that a guard heard calls for help at about 8:15 last night and found Miss Adams lying on the 85thfloor ledge of the building. A spokesman for the building said that ordinarily four guards patrol the 86thfloor observation deck, which is surrounded by an eightfoot, ironspiked fence. But, the police said, no one saw Miss Adams jump. The police said they were considering the incident an attempted suicide.

Snopes also searched through the online database New York State Historic Newspapers, which archives newspaper issues dating back to the 18th century. We found the scan below of an Associated Press article titled, "Wind thwarts suicide attempt."

(Courtesy of Adirondack Daily Enterprise/NYS Historic Newspapers)

Adams is also mentioned in the 1996 book, Skyscrapers: A Social History of the Very Tall Building in America:

Interestingly enough, the Empire State's fence, a seven-foot wire mesh affair with incurving steel spikes, did not completely deter would-be suicides. Some people have managed to get over it and have successfully plummeted to their deaths. Others have gotten over and still been frustrated. On the cold and windy night of December 2, 1979, Elvita Adams got over the fence and jumped, but a strong gust of wind blew her right back to the building at the eighty-fifth floor. She landed on a ledge fracturing her hip, but was shortly hauled to safety.

The 1980 book The Empire State Building Book, by Jonathan Goldman, also included a photograph of an article published by the New York Post on Dec. 3, 1979, titled, "Gust of wind saves woman who leaped from 86th floor of Empire State Building." On page 60, the report read, in part:

Officials said today it was miraculous that a woman who jumped last night from the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building survived  [She] landed on the ledge directly below Her only injury was a fractured pelvis, according to Bellevue Hospital. She was discovered at 8:20 p.m., when a security guard Frank Clark heard a woman moaning in pain. He looked out of an 85th floor office window and saw Miss Adams lying on the concrete ledge.

After just over a year of construction, the 102-story Empire State Building opened its doors to the public in 1931, making it the world's tallest building at the time, according to the building's website. At its top floor, the Empire State Building reaches a height of 1,250 feet but stretches to 1,454 feet when including the 1950 addition of an antenna.

Sources:

Douglas, George H. Skyscrapers: A Social History of the Very Tall Building in America. McFarland, 2004.

Goldman, Jonathan. The Empire State Building Book. New York : St. Martin's Press, 1980. Internet Archive, http://archive.org/details/empirestatebuild00gold.

History | Empire State Building. https://www.esbnyc.com/about/history. Accessed 28 May 2024.

Leer, Miranda. Elvita Adams Miraculously Survived Jumping Off the Empire State Building. 22 Dec. 2022, https://www.historydefined.net/elvita-adams/.

TikTok - Make Your Day. https://www.tiktok.com/@mrbetyoudidntknow/video/7285878589176761633. Accessed 28 May 2024.

"Woman Survives Fall At the Empire State." The New York Times, 3 Dec. 1979. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/03/archives/woman-survives-fall-at-the-empire-state.html.
RICHMOND, Va. (WFXR)  Fallen Botetourt County Department of Fire & EMS Captain Helen Gracey Humbert was honored at the Virginia Fallen Firefighter and EMS Memorial in Richmond on Saturday, June 1.

The fire department highlights Captain Humberts faithful service to the community, serving throughout the Roanoke Valley for over three decades. She started her career alongside her father at the Cave Spring Rescue Squad in 1988, then joined Roanoke Emergency Medical Services in 1993 as an EMT. In 1995 when Roanoke Fire-Ems was created, Captain Humnber became a firefighter-EMT and earned her paramedic certification.

In 2009, she joined the Botetourt County Department of Fire & EMS as a full-time firefighter and paramedic, eventually achieving the rank of Captain.

Pulaski County remembers firefighter who passed after battle with cancer

The department says Captain Humbert meant far more to the community than what her title represented. She was a beloved friend to many and embodied the qualities of what being a good person should strive to be. Her empathy and compassion were displayed daily in her actions to help others, and even while fighting breast cancer, she would find ways to brighten others days.

Even with all her success in serving the local community, the department states Captain Humbert would say her greatest accomplishment was being a loving mom, partner, and family member.

For more than 20 years, the Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service honored firefighters and EMS personnel who have died in the line of duty or have been recognized by the Virginia Line of Duty Act. The event is held annually on the first Saturday in June.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(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.

Allergies can make you miserable. Heres how to track pollen levels near you

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 PIX11.
A new law aims to strengthen reporting requirements for technology companies to combat online predators seeking to exploit children. One dad told CBS News that he hopes the law will save children like his son, who died by suicide after becoming ensnared in a "sextortion" scheme when he was 17 years old.

John Demay said that what started as a seemingly innocuous encounter on Instagram quickly turned deadly for his teenage son Jordan. Demay said that his son was solicited by a man, posing as a woman, who asked him to send compromising photos. Jordan did so, and then the scammer ordered him to pay up  threatening to release the images otherwise.

"Ultimately it was about money at that point. and I believe they started off around a thousand dollars," Demay said. "They were building collages with his picture and making him believe they were sending it out."

"He told them he was going to kill himself, and the perpetrator said 'Good, you better do it fast or we're going to make you do it,'" Demay continued. "And then at 3:45, Jordan shot himself in his bedroom."

John Demay's son Jordan. / Credit: CBS Saturday Morning

Jordan's family was distraught, and the horror only compounded when they realized what he had been going through. Demay said they had "no idea what happened" on social media.

"You know, there was no signs. There was no depression, there was nothing," Demay said.

The "Report Act," signed into law by President Joe Biden last month, is meant to help kids like Jordan. The law requires social media companies to report crimes involving child sex trafficking, grooming or enticement to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's cyber tip line. The law also increases penalties for those who fail to flag such content.

Last year, the Center received more than 36 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation to its cyber tipline.

The legislation was sponsored by Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn. The internet has been "the Wild West," Blackburn said, especially for children and other vulnerable users.

"You cannot sell alcohol to children. You can't sell them a pornographic magazine. You can't take them to a strip show," Blackburn said. "If you did, law enforcement would come in and they would padlock your business, they would haul you down to the police station, they would book you and you would be fined. But there's been nothing in the virtual space."

The law is the first to be enacted since a blockbuster Senate hearing earlier in 2024. The hearing focused on online child exploitation. At the time, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg issued a rare apology to families who were in the crowd. Demay was one of those watching. The new law, he believes, is the first step towards creating a safer internet.

"We have to do something. We have to be comfortable with baby steps if that's what it's going to take but I do find some peace in that," Demay said.

Ossoff said that he takes online exploitation seriously, and plans to do more to make cyberspace safer for vulnerable users.

"Look, I've got a two year old baby girl at home and it is every parent's worst nightmare," Ossoff said. "We've got to improve the safety. We have to hold the tech companies accountable to make them safe for children."

How Secret Service would protect Trump if sent to prison

Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in "hush money" trial

Biden rebukes Trump's response to New York conviction
Fellow NYC subway vigilante says Daniel Penny should be convicted for Jordan Neely killing

Fellow NYC subway vigilante says Daniel Penny should be convicted for Jordan Neely killing

There is no solidarity among subway vigilantes.

Jordan Williams, a former FedEx worker who made national headlines after killing a man who attacked his girlfriend in a brawl on a Brooklyn J train, said he feels no empathy for fellow subway killer Daniel Penny, a former US Marine, and hopes hes convicted.

Hes a former Marine or whatever, thats cool, you served the country. But just because you serve the country, that doesnt mean you get to come back into the country and attack random people in the country for no reason, Williams, 21, told The Post by phone this week from his home in Hollis, Queens.

Jordan Williams said he hopes fellow subway vigilante Daniel Penny is convicted. Gregory P. Mango

Williams faced manslaughter charges after killing Devictor Ouedraogo on June 13, 2023, but unlike Penny, the charges were later dropped  with video of the brawl showing the unhinged Ouedraogo proving to be decisive.

A month earlier, Penny made national headlines after killing homeless man Jordan Neely on a Manhattan F train.

Dramatic video of the encounter showed Penny holding Neely, whod been menacing passengers, in a chokehold.

He faces manslaughter charges in a trial set to begin in October.

Neely had a long history of mental illness and had been arrested dozens of times before.

Williams said the two cases as completely different.

Jordan Neely  He didnt touch anybody. You know what I mean? He didnt do anything, as far as reported, Williams said. [Penny] attacked a man for no reason. But you got people sitting over there, wanting him to get released.

Former Daniel Marine Daniel Penny is facing manslaughter charges over the death of Jordan Neely.

Williams said racism and discrimination had impacted his case  and noted that a GoFundMe set up for Penny raised millions of dollars, while a fundraiser launched on his behalf had raised only about $120,000.

Nearly a year after Williams left the public eye, his brush with the law still follows him.

While hes living happily with his girlfriend and has welcomed a new son, also named Jordan, Willams has struggled to find work.

A $15,000 settlement from FedEx is long gone and Williams, who now avoids riding the subway, said hes been surviving off donations.

Jordan Williams was charged with manslaughter before the case was ultimately dropped.

I want to get a job and I want to provide for my family  Im not being picky, especially when I havent had a job in almost a year now, he said. Im willing to do any hours, go anywhere, anytime.
First lady Jill Biden encouraged more than 80 graduates of the Erie County Community College to ignore people who tell them they "can't" and pursue their dreams anyway, while also advocating for one of President Joe Biden's key educational initiatives  two years of free community college  during a commencement address Saturday in the bellwether county.

Biden, 72, addressed approximately 600 people as the keynote speaker for the college's second graduating class, fulfilling a commitment she made nearly four years ago to monitor the development of the new college.

Jill Biden, left, first lady of the United States, hands Jacinto Gochoco his associate degree of applied business during the Erie County Community College commencement ceremony Saturday in Millcreek Township. Gochoco, 44, later said it was a surprise and honor to be handed his degree from the first lady.

2020: Jill Biden talks community college education with virtual Erie audience

Biden, a community college professor, recalled being "crushed" by a high school guidance counselor who told her she shouldn't go to college because it would be a waste of her time.

She spent 15 years not only getting her undergraduate degree, but also earning two master's degrees and a doctorate while raising three children, working full-time and attending school at night.

"And at 55, I walked across my last graduation stage," she said. "I really wanted to call that damn guidance counselor to tell him I just got my doctorate."

Biden said local officials who set out to establish the college, despite years of hurdles, summoned the same resolve she and members of the college's second graduating class had shown. "When people told you that this city is too small or it will be too hard to start a new school, you fought for one anyway, because Erie doesnt do 'cant,'" Biden said. "And four years ago, with the pandemic raging, before classes had started or students had enrolled, I joined leaders here  some of whom are with us today  to talk about the promise ahead.

"I told you that community colleges change lives," Biden continued. "And graduates, you have made that promise real, one paper, one project, one credit  one job offer  at a time. A few years ago, this community took a leap. And, graduates, you rose to the challenge. You stepped onto this campus for the first time  and look at what youve accomplished."

Biden, who has more than 30 years of teaching experience, has been a professor at Northern Virginia Community College since 2009 and has continued to teach English and writing during her husband's presidency.

"I teach at a community college for the same reason students go to community colleges," she said. "Theyre flexible and meet people where they are. And, as my husband, President Biden, says, they provide the 'best career training in America.'

The Pennsylvania Board of Education created the Erie County Community College in June 2020 after years of failed attempts by local officials, who believed the school was critical to reviving a depressed manufacturing base. It was the first community college to be established under the state system in more than 25 years.

Jill Biden spoke with Erie leaders that fall in a virtual roundtable, outlining her husband's key educational initiatives, including a plan to provide two years of tuition-free community college education to all students. Biden, however, has not met that goal as he's faced opposition from Republicans, including a GOP-controlled House.

First ladyJill Biden, center, is flanked by Erie County Community College Board of Trustees Chairperson Cheryl Rush Dix, left, and Chris Gray, founding president, as the school's commencement ceremony begins Saturday in Millcreek Township.

In March, the president again proposed free community college tuition as part of his $7.3 trillion fiscal 2025 budget.

Jill Biden echoed her husband's policy goal during Saturday's commencement speech: "Community colleges should be free," she said. "This community knows that. From shipyards to steel mills to healthcare centers, there are jobs here that need workers with the training to fill them."

Campaigns take jabs

While proud family members hooted and hollered as Biden helped award 55 associate degrees and 29 certificates, their raucousness was about the only thing resembling a political rally. With the exception of her plug for free community college, the first lady's speech was void of politics.

Following the event, however, the Pennsylvania for Biden campaign spokesman Jack Doyle issued a statement to the USA TODAY Network.

Since day one, President Biden and first lady Dr. Biden have fought to make a quality education accessible to all Pennsylvanians, including by strengthening community colleges, ensuring teachers are paid what theyre worth, and lowering costs for families by relieving student debt, Doyle said.

Doyle said former President Donald Trump would make "massive cuts" to public education and pass a tax cut for wealthy Americans that would require teachers to pay higher taxes than billionaires.

In response, a Republican National Committee spokesperson said Biden has "abysmal" poll numbers with 18-to-34-year-olds in Pennsylvania.

"Its no wonder why the Biden campaign is gaslighting voters in Bidens home state," RNC spokeswoman Rachel Lee said in a statement. "Between soaring prices, a war on American energy, and crippling crime, Pennsylvania voters see through dishonest Joe Bidens desperate lies and will resoundingly support President Trump this November."

Auditor general also plugs community college education

Jill Biden wasn't the only one from the political arena to tout a community college education Saturday.

Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor, a Republican, also addressed graduates, telling them about the adversity he had to overcome on his way to becoming the first person of color to win election to a statewide executive office.

He wouldn't be where he's at today, he said, without the advice of a community college academic advisor.

DeFoor, who was elected in 2020 and is running for a second term this fall, said his parents demanded that he attend college after graduation. But unlike his siblings, who never earned less than a B growing up, DeFoor didn't have the grades to be accepted at a four-year institution. And he continued to struggle academically during his first year at Harrisburg Area Community College.

His academic adviser, a retired police officer, gave him a "tongue lashing" that brought DeFoor to tears, he said.

"As quickly as he broke me down, he built me up," the 62-year-old DeFoor said. "He said to me, 'I believe you can succeed here. I believe you can succeed anywhere, but you first have to believe in yourself and put in the work.'"

'Minds are made up': Pennsylvania's independent, GOP voters weigh in on Trump verdict

Third visit to Erie County

Saturday was Jill Biden's second trip to Erie County since becoming first lady and her third appearance since the start of the 2020 presidential campaign. On March 3, 2021, she spoke alongside Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at Fort LeBoeuf Middle School in Waterford. She also campaigned in the city of Erie at East Middle School on Nov. 2, 2020, on the eve of the election.

Erie County is among a handful of counties in battleground states that several national political pundits say could decide the election.

She touted her and her husband's Pennsylvania roots Saturday. Jill Biden is from the Philadelphia suburbs of Willow Grove. Joe Biden was born in Scranton.

"We even have a family member  our cat Willow  from a farm not far from here," the first lady said, referring to a farm in Lawrence County. "So, it means so much to come to my home state and be a part of a moment like this one."

After twice supporting President Barack Obama, voters in the northwestern Pennsylvania county backed Trump by a margin of fewer than 2,000 votes in 2016, only to flip and back Biden by fewer than 1,500 votes four years later.

Trump spoke in Erie this past July. President Biden was last here in October 2020.

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com or on X at @ETNRink.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Jill Biden talks adversity, free community college at PA graduation
Dave Hodges is the founder and pastor of the Church of Ambrosia, which considers magic mushrooms a sacrament. Hodges says the effects of psilocybin are profoundly spiritual because they allow people to connect to their soul. (Courtesy of Sherry Tesler)

Dave Hodges is the founder and pastor of the Church of Ambrosia, which considers magic mushrooms a sacrament. Hodges says the effects of psilocybin are profoundly spiritual because they allow people to connect to their soul. (Courtesy of Sherry Tesler)

Wade Trammell recalls the time he and his fellow firefighters responded to a highway crash in which a beer truck rammed into a pole, propelling the trucks engine through the cab and into the drivers abdomen.

The guy was up there screaming and squirming. Then the cab caught on fire, Trammell says. I couldnt move him. He burned to death right there in my arms.

Memories of that gruesome death and other traumatic incidents he had witnessed as a firefighter in Mountain View, California, didnt seem to bother Trammell for the first seven years after he retired in 2015. But then he started crying a lot, drinking heavily and losing sleep. At first, he didnt understand why, but he would later come to suspect that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

After therapy failed to improve his mental well-being, he heard about the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs to help first responders with PTSD.

Last July, Trammell went on a retreat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, organized by The S.I.R.E.N. Project, a nonprofit that advocates the use of psychedelics and other alternative medicines to help first responders. He took psilocybin mushrooms and, the next day, another psychedelic derived from the toxic secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad. The experience, he says, produced an existential shift in the way he thinks of the terrible things he saw as a firefighter.

All that trauma and all that crap I saw and dealt with, its all very temporary and everything goes back into the universe as energy, Trammell says.

Abundant research has shown that psychedelics have the potential to produce lasting relief from depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and other mental health conditions. Many universities around the United States have programs researching psychedelics. But experts warn that these powerful drugs are not for everybody, especially those with a history of psychosis or cardiovascular problems.

Most psychedelic drugs are prohibited under federal law, but California may soon join a growing number of local and state governments allowing their use.

Senate Bill 1012, which is working its way through the California Legislature, would allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin; mescaline; MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy; and dimethyltryptamine, the active ingredient in ayahuasca, a plant-based psychoactive tea. The drugs could be purchased and ingested in approved locations under the supervision of facilitators, who would undergo training and be licensed by a new state board. The facilitators would need a professional health credential to qualify.

The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, Assembly member Marie Waldron, R-San Diego, and several other lawmakers, follows last years unsuccessful effort to decriminalize certain psychedelics for personal use. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, vetoed that bill, though he extolled psychedelics as an exciting frontier and asked for new legislation with regulated treatment guidelines.

Wiener says the new bill was drafted with Newsoms request in mind. It is supported by some veterans and first responder groups and opposed by numerous law enforcement agencies.

One potential roadblock is the states budget deficit, which is pegged at between $38 billion and $73 billion. Newsom and legislative leaders may choose not to launch a new initiative when they are cutting existing programs. That is something well certainly grapple with, Wiener says.

The legislation, which is making its way through committees, would require the new board to begin accepting facilitator license applications in April 2026. The system would look somewhat like the one in Oregon, which allows the use of psilocybin mushrooms under the guidance of state-licensed facilitators at psilocybin service centers. And like Oregon, California would not allow for the personal use or possession of psychedelics; the drugs would have to be purchased and consumed at the authorized locations.

Colorado, following the passage of a ballot initiative in 2022, is creating a system of regulated healing centers, where people will be able to legally consume psilocybin mushrooms and some other psychedelics under the supervision of licensed facilitators. Colorados law allows for the personal use and possession of a handful of psychedelics.

In California, the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, and Arcata have effectively decriminalized many psychedelics, as have other cities around the United States, including Ann Arbor, Michigan; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Detroit; Minneapolis; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

Psychedelics such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, and peyote have been used for thousands of years by Indigenous populations in Latin America and the current-day United States. And some non-Indigenous groups use these substances in a spiritual way.

The Church of Ambrosia, with locations in San Francisco and Oakland, considers psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, a sacrament. Mushrooms affect the border between this world and the next, and allow people to connect to their soul, says Dave Hodges, founder and pastor of the church.

Hodges was behind an unsuccessful attempt to get an initiative on the California ballot this year that would have decriminalized the possession and use of mushrooms. He hopes it will qualify for the 2026 ballot.

The pending California legislation is rooted in studies showing psychedelics can be powerful agents in mental health treatment.

Charles Grob, a psychiatry professor at the University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine who has researched psychedelics for nearly 40 years, led a study that found synthetic psilocybin could help reduce end-of-life anxiety in patients with advanced-stage cancer.

Grob says that MDMA is good for couples counseling because it facilitates communication and puts people in touch with their feelings. And he conducted research in Brazil that showed ayahuasca used in a religious context helped people overcome alcoholism.

But Grob warns that the unsupervised use of psychedelics can be dangerous and says people should undergo mental and medical health screenings before ingesting them. There are cases of people going off the rails. Its a small minority, but it can happen and when it does happen it can be very frightening, Grob says.

Ken Finn, past president of the American Board of Pain Medicine, says psychedelics have a number of side effects, including elevated blood pressure, high heart rate, and vomiting, and that they can trigger persistent psychosis in a small minority of users. Legal drugs also pose risks, he says, but we have much better guardrails on things like prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. He also worries about product contamination and says manufacturers would need to be tightly regulated.

Another potential problem is health equity. Since insurance would not cover these sessions, at least initially, they would likely attract people with disposable income. A supervised psilocybin journey in Oregon, for example, can cost more than $2,500.

Many people who have experienced psychedelics corroborate the research results. Ben Kramer, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan and now works as a psilocybin facilitator in Beaverton, Oregon, says a high-dose mushroom session altered his worldview.

I relived the first time I was ever shot at in Afghanistan, he says. I was there. I had this overwhelming love and compassion for the guy who was shooting at me, who was fighting for what he believed in, just like I was.

Another characteristic of psychedelic therapy is that just a few sessions can potentially produce lasting results.

Trammell, the retired firefighter, hasnt taken psychedelics since that retreat in Mexico 10 months ago. I just felt like I kind of got what I needed, he says. Ive been fine ever since.

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 First responders, veterans hail benefits of psychedelic drugs as California debates legalization appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Swimming in Circles

Last month, China sent four small zebrafish as stowaways to its Tiangong space station.

And so far, according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency, the striped catch is thriving in the microgravity environment of its celestial space aquarium. That's despite the astronauts on board the station observing the fish "showing directional behavior anomalies, such as inverted swimming and rotary movement."

In a video released by the China National Space Administration, the fish are swimming in all sorts of different directions inside a glass cube, seemingly struggling to tell which way is up.

They even went through rigorous tests before getting their astronaut wings.

"Meanwhile, like astronauts, zebrafish need to pass through rounds of selection to become 'aquastronauts,'" Chinese Academy of Sciences hydrobiology researcher Wang Gaohong told Xinhua.

But their struggles serve an important purpose. Scientists are hoping to study the impact of microgravity on vertebrae such as zebrafish by focusing on their behavior, growth, and development by analyzing water samples and fish eggs during the experiment.

The data could shed further light on how space and cosmic radiation can impact much larger vertebrae like humans, which could have important implications for our future efforts to venture further into space.

Spaced Out

This is not the first time humans have had to entertain fish in space. In 1973, NASA launched two mummichog fish into space, alongside a container of 50 fish eggs, according to a 2016 Scientific America article, making them the first fish in space.

Upon arriving at the NASA Skylab space station, the fish "swam in elongated loops as though they were the spinning hands of a Salvador-Dali created clock," the article reads. "Without gravity the fish didnt know which way was up."

Eventually, the fish oriented their backs to the lights inside the Skylab, using light as a way to direct themselves. And the hatchlings that came on board as eggs also used light to orient themselves.

But despite what looked to be a successful introduction to the cosmos, fish  like humans  suffer from bone density loss as the Japanese discovered when they sent zebrafish and medaka, a type of fish often found swimming in rice fields in Asia, to the International Space Station in 2012.

In other words, further studying the behavior of fish in a near-weightless environment could prove invaluable to our understanding of the effects of space travel on human health.

More on fish: Scientists Suggest Farming Fish on the Moon
When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. And while active stock picking involves risks (and requires diversification) it can also provide excess returns. To wit, the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare share price has climbed 89% in five years, easily topping the market decline of 5.2% (ignoring dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 26%, including dividends.

The past week has proven to be lucrative for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare investors, so let's see if fundamentals drove the company's five-year performance.

Check out our latest analysis for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's earnings per share are down 9.1% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years.

Essentially, it doesn't seem likely that investors are focused on EPS. Because earnings per share don't seem to match up with the share price, we'll take a look at other metrics instead.

The modest 1.4% dividend yield is unlikely to be propping up the share price. On the other hand, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's revenue is growing nicely, at a compound rate of 6.8% over the last five years. It's quite possible that management are prioritizing revenue growth over EPS growth at the moment.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's TSR for the last 5 years was 105%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Fisher & Paykel Healthcare shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 26% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 15% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare .

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of undervalued small caps that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on New Zealander exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Fire destroyed an apartment building in Franklin County overnight.

Firefighters were called to Liberty and Second Streets in Chambersburg just after 1 a.m. for a reported structure fire.

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Breaking News

Crews arrived to find heavy fire in the first floor of an apartment building at 282 South Second Street.

Firefighters from Chambersburg and surrounding communities made quick work of the blaze.

No occupants of the building were injured, though one firefighter had minor injuries.

The American Red Cross is assisting 26 displaced residents.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Florence Police Department (FPD), is issuing a warning to the public about the use of toy guns in the community.

The warning by officers is regarding replica firearms also known as Orbreeze or Splatter guns.

FPD issued the following statement regarding the replica guns:

Parents should be aware that these replica guns can easily be confused with a real firearm, potentially causing a dangerous situation. These orbeeze guns can also create contentious situations where an individual is held responsible when non-willing participants are struck with an orbeeze pellet or property is damaged. We have been notified that some participants are freezing the orbeeze pellets which could potentially cause bodily injury. Florence Police Department

Two arrested at Florence store after DTF finds large amount of controlled substances

Officers with FPD want to remind the public of the city ordinance 16-9 regarding replica guns:

Sec. 16-9.  Use of air rifles, slingshots, etc.

No person shall shoot an airgun or slingshot, nor discharge gravel, marbles, shot or anything of like kind, out of a gravel shooter, blow-gun, rubber sling or implement or device of like character, in any of the parks, streets, alleys or avenues of the city or along, over or across the premises of another without having obtained such other persons consent. (Code 1953,  15-41; Code 1991,  16-37).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
The Florida deputy who fatally shot Black Air Force member Roger Fortson in Fortsons own home last month has been removed from his post, the Okaloosa County Sheriff announced Thursday.

Eddie Duran, 39, was terminated after an internal investigation found the use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and therefore violated agency policy when Duran entered Fortsons home and shot him on May 3.

In the release, Okaloosa sheriff Eric Aden called Fortsons killing a tragic incident that shouldve never happened.

Black Airmans Family Slam Cops Who Shot Him in His Own Home

The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortsons actions, Aden said. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.

Fortson, 23, was slain when Duran mistakenly entered his apartment after responding to a call of disturbance that came from a different unit. At the time, Fortson was on the phone with his girlfriend when Duran knocked on his door. When Fortson opened up, Duran saw that he had a gun and proceeded to shoot him six times, although Fortson did not resist him in any way and did not point the gun in Durans direction, according to the police announcement.

Duran was not facing any charges at the time of his firing. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues to investigate Fortsons death.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, holds a photo of her son during a news conference on 9 May 2024, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, holds a photo of her son during a news conference on 9 May 2024, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

A Florida sheriffs deputy who fatally shot a Black US air force airman in the military members own home has been fired from his job, officials said on Friday.

The Okaloosa county sheriffs office said it dismissed the deputy, Eddie Duran, after investigators found that his use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and therefore violated agency policy in the killing of senior airman Roger Fortson on 3 May 2024.

Fortson, 23, was at his off-base home in Fort Walton Beach when Duran was sent to a disturbance at Fortsons apartment complex.

Dispatch records put the location of the reported disturbance in apartment 1401. An employee of the apartment complex also told Duran that the disturbance was in apartment 1401 while claiming that there had been recent unreported disturbances at or around the same apartment, Okaloosa sheriffs officials claimed.

Related: Florida ex-cop with patterns of abuse and bias joins DeSantiss state guard

When Duran arrived at the unit in question, he listened for any noises indicative of a disturbance inside. Duran didnt hear any, knocked without announcing himself as a sheriffs deputy and kept listening, authorities said.

Duran said that he heard words to the effect of its the fucking police. Duran knocked loudly twice more and said sheriffs office each time, according to the agencys statement.

Fortson opened the door, with a gun in his right hand. But the sheriffs office said the gun was pointed at the ground sufficiently enough for the former deputy to clearly see the rear face of the rear sight, meaning it was not held in a way that constituted an immediate deadly threat.

Duran confirmed that Fortson did not physically resist him in any way. And investigators determined that Fortson did not point the gun in Durans direction.

Body camera footage revealed that Duran shot Fortson multiple times two seconds after he opened the door, according to the Associated Press.

Duran claimed to investigators that he perceived aggression in Fortsons eyes and told them: Im standing there thinking, Im about to get shot, Im about to die. Yet Fortsons gun was pointed directly at the ground  not at Duran, the AP reported.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, the Okaloosa county 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.

Duran was not facing criminal charges at the time of his firing. But the Florida department of law enforcement is continuing to investigate Fortsons death, the AP said.

The civil rights attorney representing Fortsons family, Ben Crump, said Durans firing was a step forward. But it was not full justice for Roger and his family, Crump added.

The actions of this deputy were not just negligent  they were criminal, Crump said. As weve stated from the beginning, and as echoed today by Sheriff Aden, Roger was an exceptional airman who did absolutely nothing to warrant being gunned down in his own home.

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.

In prior comments, Crump relayed Fortsons girlfriends account of the deadly shooting. While on the FaceTime call, she said, Fortson asked who was knocking, but there was no answer, according to the AP.

Several moments later, there was a louder knock. Fortson looked through the peephole and didnt see anybody, Crump told reporters of her account.

Fortson, worried, went to retrieve his legally owned gun. After Fortson was shot, he was on the floor, saying I cant breathe, Crump recounted.

The woman stated that Fortson had not been making a disturbance on their call and thought that deputies had gone to the wrong address, Crump said, according to the AP.
A Florida deputy has been terminated following the conclusion of an administrative investigation into the death of U.S. Airman Roger Fortson last month. On Friday (May 31), Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired Deputy Eddie Duran for unjustified use of his firearm in the May 3 tragedy.

Duran was dispatched to a Fort Walton Beach apartment complex, where a possible domestic disturbance was reported. According to a building employee, a female resident claimed she overheard loud arguing that seemed to be escalating. The deputy was directed to unit 1401, where Forston lived alone with his dog. The 23-year-old was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend when Duran knocked on his door.

The time-marked report explicitly states that Duran 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**king police.

Body camera footage revealed that when the active-duty senior airman opened the door, he had a gun pointed at the ground in his right hand. Duran saw the weapon and within seconds fired multiple shots, striking the young man three times as he fell onto his right side. He never once raised his weapon. Soon after, the Atlanta native was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

In a released statement, Sheriff Aden said that Mr. Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, the former deputys use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable. He further stated, "This tragic incident should have never occurred, and that 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.

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the victims family, 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. As weve stated from the beginning, and as echoed today by Sheriff Aden, Roger was an exceptional airman who did absolutely nothing to warrant being gunned down in his own home.

Crump noted that he anticipates charges are forthcoming as footage from the incident is 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.

Fortson was remembered as intelligent, humble and a man of integrity by those who attended his funeral service on May 17 at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Rev. Al Sharpton and Crump delivered remarks at the service. A criminal investigation into Durans actions with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is ongoing.
The Florida deputy who killed Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. Air Force airman, has been fired from his position at the Okaloosa County Sherriffs Office on Friday.

Deputy Eddie Duran shot Fortson, 23, six times on May 3. Body camera footage of the shooting shows the deputy shooting Fortson multiple times within seconds of the active-duty airman opening his apartment door.

The sheriffs office opened an administrative internal affairs investigation into the death and determined Durans use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and therefore violated agency policy.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Okaloosa County 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.

The investigation is separate from the active criminal investigation that is ongoing with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the sheriffs office said in a release.

Fortson was holding his legally owned firearm at the time. Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney representing Fortsons family, said the airman grabbed the gun after being unable to identify who was at the door.

Duran was responding to a call of a domestic disturbance, but family members say he went to the wrong apartment. Fortson was alone in his home.

The sheriffs office noted that its deputies are authorized to use the amount of force that is objectively reasonable to perform their duties. Deadly force can only be used when the officer reasonably believes the action is in defense of human life, the release noted.

Police said Duran met with an apartment complex employee who identified Unit 1401 as the location of the disturbance. Duran approached the apartment and listened for any noise of disturbance. Hearing none, he knocked without announcing. Duran said he heard something to the effect of its the fing police.

Duran knocked twice more and said Sherriffs Office both times. When Fortson opened the door, the firearm was pointed at the ground.

The former deputy confirmed Mr. Fortson did not physically resist him in any way, and the investigation concluded that Mr. Fortson did not point the gun in the former deputys direction, the police said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The National Museum of China, which houses the richest collection of Chinese cultural relics, has long been a top attraction for domestic and overseas tourists.

But, to the detriment of foreign visitors, they must pre-book by choosing a time slot and registering their information through the museum's Chinese-language "mini-programme" - an application that functions within the WeChat super app.

This and other similar systems were developed during the Covid-19 pandemic when there were no international tourists in China. The museum's English website provides a link for bookings, but it is now defunct.

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Other popular tourist attractions, such as the Shaanxi History Museum in China's ancient imperial capital, have similar issues. While its website advises visitors to book their visit through either WeChat or a link to an online ticketing system, the latter leads nowhere.

China's technological revolution has made life for its own population more convenient than ever before, but that added ease may now be inadvertently skewed towards the domestic population - to the potential disadvantage of foreign tourists - and those issues are showing up in museums.

Most major attractions in China require visitors to make advance appointments through mini-programmes, which means visitors must have a WeChat account and a grasp of how it works, as well as basic Chinese language proficiency, to plan their trip.

As tourism rebounds, global hub Shanghai has taken the lead to better accommodate foreign visitors. While the Shanghai Museum requires online reservations via the super app - with passports and foreign permanent resident identity cards accepted as valid papers - the booking pages on the mini-programme are also available in English.

The neighbouring Museum of Art Pudong offers a semi-bilingual mini-programme that non-Chinese users could navigate with a little guessing. Recently, it has cancelled the prior booking requirement. Similarly, visitors can purchase tickets in person at the Power Station of Art, another landmark building in Huangpu, while its WeChat interface remains Chinese-only.

Many existing prerequisites could be "discouraging" and prove "a significant barrier" for those on a short stay, said William Figueroa, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, who visited Beijing recently.

Story continues

While he was able to tour Tiananmen Square and the Palace Museum, where a select range of Iranian and Saudi Arabian artefacts were on show, Figueroa could not visit the campus at Peking University, where in-demand time slots are released seven days in advance.

"Since [advance booking] is a new regulation, many travellers attempt to make the trip unaware and end up leaving disappointed," said Figueroa, who did not know he had to snap up tickets to his alma mater the week before visiting. "While WeChat is very convenient if you manage to set it up, it is notoriously difficult for foreigners for a variety of reasons."

Furthermore, in this highly digitised realm, text messages are the primary login and sign-up mechanism for websites, services, Wi-fi and mobile applications - most of which only work with Chinese phone numbers. For locals, everything is just an authentication code away, while for foreigners it is more difficult.

To get a phone number in China, users must visit a telecoms retail store with valid identification documents, and foreigners must bring their Chinese visa.

However, Figueroa said there were workarounds for most issues, and the Chinese public was largely "aware and sympathetic to the problems foreigners face" in the country. On his trip, he relied on the kindness of locals and the flexibility staff members gave him.

"For at least one site where I was not able to get a booking in time, I simply made an online booking for a later date, went in person early in the morning, and explained my situation - they were happy to move up my reservation," Figueroa said.

Visitors to China's most popular cultural institutions, such as Shaanxi History Museum in Xian, pictured, are often asked to pre-book a visiting time through a Chinese app - a barrier for many non-Chinese tourists. Photo: Xinhua alt=Visitors to China's most popular cultural institutions, such as Shaanxi History Museum in Xian, pictured, are often asked to pre-book a visiting time through a Chinese app - a barrier for many non-Chinese tourists. Photo: Xinhua>

He said it was understandable that China's tourism industry was prioritising domestic travellers while foreign tourism was yet to rebound to pre-Covid levels.

According to Hong Kong legislator Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong, there are unjustified narratives about China curbing international visitors, when the reality was that its digital infrastructure had not yet caught up to the return of international tourism in the post-pandemic era.

"It's definitely foolish to think that China does not want foreign visitors - that's just nonsense. No country in the world does not want visitors, but when [mechanisms] are not as friendly, and comparisons are drawn with other places, I can see why people feel frustrated."

Ho suggested that tourists give museums feedback following their visit and identify areas for improvement, such as the bilingual capabilities of staff. He noted that translators were often present at large exhibitions.

In addition to daily guided tours, the Shanghai Museum provides audio devices in Chinese, English, French, Japanese, German, Korean, Spanish and Italian that provide a guide to the museum's permanent collections.

Figueroa said while new exhibits at the Forbidden City had "enough English [information] to be comprehensible to a visitor", they were often limited to the beginning and end of a display while the in-depth English descriptions of individual objects was lacking.

"I was even discouraged from visiting the new Museum of the Chinese Communist Party by the staff because, as they put it, everything in there is mostly written in Chinese and will not be very interesting to a foreigner," Figueroa added.

Sharing Figueroa's concerns, Zoon Ahmed Khan, a Beijing-based researcher at the Centre for China and Globalisation, said many key destinations lacked staff and tour guides who could communicate in English, even though the quality of displays and bilingual signs at museums had improved under Beijing's direction.

"Language barriers exist everywhere, but a visible desire to address it matters more, especially given fierce regional competition for tourists," said Khan, adding that if left unaddressed, China's soft power potential could be curtailed.

"For China, international tourism above all is an opportunity to promote its culture, history, economic progress, as well as the Chinese society's dynamism and hospitality, and showcase its reality against prejudiced media coverage, particularly from the West."

Museums are not the only sites with barriers to entry by foreigners. Other conveniences enjoyed by Chinese nationals in top-tier cities may also be unfriendly to non-residents. Since most tickets must be bought with a Chinese identity card, ticket scanners have been largely replaced with smart card readers. Locals need only their ID to move around, but for foreigners there is a manual process.

Khan further argued that overseas visitors unaccustomed to providing a range of personal information for basic activities may be turned off from visiting.

"The custom of gathering detailed information on travellers, which expanded during the pandemic, is likely to trigger discomfort to an extent, especially among Westerners whose standards of privacy protection are different," said Khan, adding that these perceptions were contrary to Beijing's objective of promoting China as a relaxing and welcoming destination.

Similarly, while the digitisation of payment methods allowed China to increase the quality, safety standards and accessibility of its services, it could also appear "daunting" to visitors who did not have the time to familiarise themselves with the Chinese way, according to Khan.

"China's cashless society, while offering advantages for local users, serves equally as a barrier for newcomers. When cash and other international alternatives aren't accepted by vendors, hotels, restaurants or taxis alike, a short-term traveller will naturally feel frustrated," she said.

However, China's top-tier infrastructure and visa-free arrangements with its counterparts remained attractive, Khan added. Addressing the on-the-ground barriers for tourists would deliver geopolitical benefits that "go beyond economic gain".

Tings Chak, the Beijing-based art director at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, said making domestic tourists a priority allowed hundreds of millions of Chinese to travel across the country and enjoy activities such as museum-hopping for the first time.

"This is coupled with the government's post-Covid dual circulation policy, to stimulate domestic consumption rather than relying primarily on exports to foreign markets to drive economic growth, and that includes promoting domestic tourism," Chak said.

Chak, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver, said international tourists must be catered to because of their potential to become "informal cultural ambassadors" at home.

"Living in this 'new cold war' moment, with increasing disinformation targeting China, it's important that the negative experiences that tourists may have in China - often for the lack of appropriate or accessible infrastructure - aren't inadvertently contributing to the anti-China sentiment and climate," she said.

Chak said that making a positive impression on tourists had "effects that extend beyond the individual", and authorities should ensure visitors were aware of the ways in which their experiences were being improved.

"The government has some recognition of the barriers that deter people from wanting to come and travel in China. For example, there have been a series of policies regarding visas, including waivers, visa-free transit and eased extension and renewal processes," Chak said.

Hong Kong's New People's Party, which Ho belongs to, has also received complaints from locals about the widening technological gap between the city and the mainland, which runs on cashless payments and an identity verification system that often requires a local phone number and/or locally issued documents.

Ho said mainland authorities were "working really, really hard" to address the concerns of travellers from Hong Kong and overseas.

"China values the experience of foreign visitors, because they know that the perception of a country often comes from individuals' experience during the time they spend within it, whether it's for leisure or for work," Ho said. "They do want to make sure every visitor has a pleasant experience in China."

Ho said most avid travellers would be able and willing to adapt to China's system, as they do in other places with unique lifestyles and practices.

"A lot of people were satisfied with their overall experience in China - [in situations] where a cashless system wasn't as friendly to foreigners, manual service was provided."

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
A demonstration in solidarity with Gaza outside the Red Cross headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, organised by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - WAEL HAMZEH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The Foreign Office has been accused of a multimillion-pound cover-up after refusing to reveal how taxpayer funds are being spent on Palestinian projects.

The row centres on the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which received 4.6 million from the UK Government for Palestinian programmes in 2022.

A freedom of information request from NGO Monitor, an Israel-based research institute, asking the Foreign Office for a breakdown of how money is distributed was denied, despite lawyers arguing it was in the public interest amid concern over the danger of inadvertently funding groups with links to terrorism.

The NRC has worked with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), a Palestinian labour organisation, two members of which were arrested for their involvement in a bombing in 2019 that killed Rina Shnerb, a 17-year-old Israeli girl. The investigation is ongoing.

The Dutch government ceased funding the UAWC in 2022 after an investigation revealed some union members were also in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is designated as a terrorist organisation in the EU, UK and other countries.

Israel has also banned the UAWC for its links to terrorism.

The NRC removed its online list of affiliated organisations in Palestine in 2019.

Pro-Israel campaigners claim the NRC may have continued to work with the UAWC and have called on the charity and the Foreign Office to disclose the full accounts and reveal its beneficiaries.

The NRC receives a total of 33.3 million for projects around the world from the British Government.

Jonathan Turner, from UK Lawyers for Israel, warned that the Foreign Office is concealing the recipients of large sums of British taxpayers money by failing to disclose how the cash is being distributed by the NRC. He said: The Foreign Office claims that revealing the recipients would cause friction in its relationship with the intermediary, which I think is completely bogus and certainly doesnt justify the cover-up.

He added: Governments and organisations such as the Norwegian Refugee Council should welcome scrutiny of the recipients by organisations such as NGO Monitor, instead of obstructing it.

Anne Herzberg, legal adviser for NGO Monitor, said: It is clear that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is highly embarrassed about the nature of its work with the NRC, and is desperately seeking to hide the details.

In a statement cited in proceedings, the FCDO admitted: In order to support UK interests, we may need to work with partners regardless of the views of their government of the day.

This means that it is sometimes appropriate to keep the identity of those partners confidential; this protects the partners from unnecessary attention from their government and protects the UKs relationship with the government.

The freedom of information request was denied.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The FCDO has a longstanding relationship with Norwegian Refugee Council, and we are not aware of any funds provided by the department to the NRC being transferred to parties that have been designated as terrorist organisations by Israel.

The FCDO carries out due diligence assessments of partners it funds directly, including the NRC, which is a leading international NGO and a trusted aid partner.

The NRC said it received 4.6 million from FCDO for Palestine in 2022, which included 2 million that was distributed to consortia partners. The FCDO has strict due diligence requirements and standards to which all its funding partners, including NRC, must adhere.

It added: NRC complies with laws and regulations, screens all potential partners against sanctions and terrorism lists (including entities proscribed by the Israeli government) and has policies in place to ensure our aid reaches those in need of assistance.

The NRC said that it has tried and tested systems aimed at preventing any funding falling into the wrong hands and that governments and bodies have strict requirements to ensure funds are only used as intended.

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Former Anson County Chamber president charged with 25 new counts of embezzlement

A grand jury indicted the former president of the Anson County Chamber of Commerce on 25 new counts of embezzlement.

Shelby Emrich was accused of felony embezzlement by a charitable employee, who said she took money for personal use.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Anson County Chamber president arrested for embezzlement

Prosecutors said she spent thousands of dollars of chamber money on Amazon purchases.

Emrich is also accused of corruptly using and misapplying thousands more.

VIDEO: All charges dismissed against Register of Deeds accused of embezzlement
Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel waits Aug. 11, 2023, in the Marion County Record office following the raid on the newsroom and her home. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA, Kan.  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.

The Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based law firm that says it represents everyday people in opposition to abuses of government power, filed the lawsuit on Herbels behalf against former Mayor David Mayfield, former Police Chief Gideon Cody, Sheriff Jeff Soyez and other local authorities.

Ruth ran for city council in Marion at age 76 because she was tired of her local governments dishonesty and lack of transparency, the Institute for Justice says in the lawsuit. She quickly learned, though, that the men with the power in Marion were resistant to change, and public scrutiny.

Herbels lawsuit is the fifth to be filed in response to the Aug. 11, 2023, raids by city and county law enforcement of the newspaper office, the publishers home and Herbels home. Recent court filings show the cases could be eventually consolidated.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the actions by law enforcement, local officials and journalists before turning findings over to special prosecutors who will decide whether to file criminal charges.

Herbels lawsuit alleges violations of constitutional rights to free speech and protections from unreasonable searches and seizures. The narrative is consistent with a lawsuit filed April 1 by Marion County Record editor and publisher Eric Meyer, whose mother, Joan, the papers co-publisher, died of stress-induced heart failure a day after police raided her home.

The lawsuits accuse Mayfield of seeking vengeance for criticism of his actions.

As mayor, he once called Herbel a bitch during an executive session of the city council, her lawsuit contends. Mayfield asked the city attorney send a letter warning her that it would be illegal to speak about city business without the councils full approval. He threatened to admonish her in a public meeting.

The lawsuit recalls Mayfields failed attempt to gather signatures for a recall election against Herbel, as well as a harebrained scheme to convince her she could be fired as an at will employee, even though she was a duly elected councilwoman.

In a July 25, 2023, social media post, Mayfield said it was not Black people, Asians, Latinos, women or gays but rather journalists who were the real villains in America.

A local restaurateur who asked the council for a liquor license became the unwitting catalyst for the raids when a resident pointed out that she had been driving on a suspended license, apparently with local law enforcement knowledge, after a drunken driving conviction. The resident distributed a copy of a government agency letter that outlined the situation.

Mayor Mayfield and his allies hatched a plan to use the letter as pretext to punish Ruth and the Record, according to Herbels lawsuit. The theory they came up with was that, because the letter listed the restaurateurs drivers license number, simply possessing the letter was illegal and that someone obviously stole the restaurateurs identity to get the letter.

But instead of a real investigation, the lawsuit alleges, the mayor worked with the police chief and sheriff to maliciously procure baseless warrants that were based on lies and omissions.

No one even swore the allegations were true, according to the lawsuit.

Cody, the police chief, didnt sign the affidavits under oath, as required by federal and state law, and his unsworn signatures on the four affidavits appear to vary.

The lawsuit accuses local officials of judge-shopping for somebody who would sign the warrants. Instead of taking them to the district judge for the county, they sent them to Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, who also had a history of drunken driving. Viar falsely asserted the applications were sworn to before me when she signed them  an action that is now subject to a complaint before the states judicial ethics panel.

The warrant failed to note that Herbel had received the letter from a tipster, that it was publicly available on Facebook, that the information included in the letter is a matter of public record, that she shared the letter as a public official in advance of a city council vote, or that police were knowingly allowing someone to drive on a suspended license.

To make things worse, the warrants were also absurdly overbroad, the lawsuit alleges. But that hardly mattered because the police just took every phone and computer, without bothering to limit their searches to the terms of the overbroad warrants they drafted. The warrants, after all, were just a means to punish their critics.

The search of Herbels home traumatized her husband, Ronald, who suffers from dementia. Police knowingly left the couple without a phone to contact their children or doctors. He remained on the couch for hours after police left and wouldnt eat. The experience intensified his depression and anxiety. He couldnt eat or sleep in the days after the raid. He would pace the house and cry.

The lawsuit contends it should have been obvious that there was no reason to search Herbels house. Her supposed crimes were identity theft and official misconduct, which involves the use of confidential information to intentionally harm someone.

Simply obtaining a copy of a KDOR record on social media is not a crime, her attorneys say the in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says the news medias spotlight on the raids spared Herbel from arrest. Cody sent an email to county prosecutor Joel Ensey with the subject line: Crimes? The email outlined five possible ways they could charge Herbel with a crime. As the lawsuit puts it, the descriptions of supposed crimes betray Chief Codys willful and malicious misunderstanding or disregard of the law.

The conspiracy started with the defined goal of silencing Ruth Herbel and Eric Meyer, and the conspirators worked backward from there to find the closest thing to a crime that would let them achieve that goal, the lawsuit contends.

This article originally appeared in the Kansas Reflector, a States Newsroom affiliate.

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The post Former Kansas councilwoman files federal lawsuit over conspiracy to silence her and newspaper appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Former MMA Fighter Pleads Guilty to Fatally Stabbing Man in Atlantic City Hotel Room

Andrew Osborne is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22 for the September 2022 crime

Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Andrew Osborne's mugshot

A former MMA fighter from Philadelphia has pleaded guilty to a 2022 Atlantic City stabbing death.

On Thursday, May 30, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said via a press release that Andrew Osborne, 35, pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the stabbing death of Brian Wilkinson, 47, of Egg Harbor Township.

The incident took place on Sept. 23, 2022, when the two were inside of a hotel room at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.

getty police crime tape -- stock image

Authorities did not release a motive for the fatal attack.

According to the release, Osborne admitted that he stabbed Wilkinson to death inside Wilkinsons hotel room. After committing the crime, Osborne and his wife, who was not identified, fled back to Philadelphia.

Related: 10 Years After Slender Man Stabbing: Why Did a Pair of 6th Graders Try to Kill Their Classmate?

Detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutors Offices Major Crimes Unit, along with the Philadelphia Police Department, later located and arrested the assailant.

Per NewJersey.com, Osborne is a former mixed martial arts fighter.

Local radio station KYW adds that he fought in three professional MMA bouts for three separate promotions between January 2012 and October 2013. Osbornes career includes one win and two losses.

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 Atlantic County Prosecutors Office adds that Osborne is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22 before Judge Bernard E. DeLury. The investigation was carried out by the Atlantic County Prosecutors Offices Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department.

PEOPLE reached out to the Ocean Casino Resort for comment, but did not immediately hear back.



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Read the original article on People.
Bail has been set at $48,000 for a former Vanguard High School dean accused of multiple sex-related offenses.

Gregory Joseph Ramputi was arrested Friday and held on five counts each of offenses against students by authority figure and unlawful sexual activity with certain minors by authority figure; three counts of traveling to meet a minor; two counts of indecent lewd or lascivious touching of certain minors; and one count of possession of child pornography.

In a prepared statement, Marion County Public School said the district continues to cooperate with the Ocala Police Department in its investigation.

Ramputi, 42, began his career with the public school system as a teacher at North Marion Middle School in 2014. Transferring to Vanguard High School a year later, Ramputi became a student services manager in 2021. He eventually became a dean at the school, police officials said.

Ramputi has no letters of reprimand in his file and was not disciplined during his time working for the school system, school officials said, adding he no longer works for Marion County Public Schools. Law enforcement officials said Ramputi resigned May 21.

Police officials issued this statement about the arrest:

"This is an alarming reminder that even some people in positions of power and trust can be corruptible, and it serves as a strong motivator to remain vigilant and ensure that those with such authority are held accountable for their actions," the statement reads.

"Making sure students are kept safe is our top priority and we have zero tolerance for this gross misconduct. We commend the students who had the courage to come forward to report this behavior. We ask if anyone else has experienced similar behavior from Mr. Ramputi, please let law enforcement know immediately."

Circuit Judge Gary Sanders

At his first appearance hearing, held Saturday at the county jail in front of Circuit Judge Gary Sanders, a handcuffed Ramputi was represented by his uncle, local defense lawyer Bill Ramputi.

Assistant State Attorney Samantha Wahba told the judge that Gregory Ramputi should not have contact with anyone younger than 18 or any of the alleged victims or their families. He also should not return to Vanguard High School, the prosecutor said.

Attorney Ramputi said his nephew is unemployed, has no criminal history, was born and raised in Marion County, is not a flight risk, and has family in Marion County.

In granting bail, the judge told the defendant he cannot have contact with anyone younger than 18 except his children, cannot reach out to the alleged victims or their families, and cannot go to any Marion County school or any place where minors gather.

His next hearing is scheduled for July.

After the hearing, attorney Ramputi told a Star Banner reporter that he will be involved, but will get another attorney to handle the case.

Detective's report

Ramputi's arrest report, prepared by Detective Denise Drake, details the allegations made against the former dean.

According to the report, on May 6 a student told the school resource officer about Ramputi's alleged inappropriate conduct. The student mentioned instances where Ramputi allegedly made unwanted sexual advances and lewd comments at students. The student said she was touched multiple times, according to the report.

More than one student interviewed by Drake described showing Ramputi nude pictures. He's accused of touching students' breasts, the report states. In some instances, the students said, they would give in to Ramputi's demands in exchange for not getting any discipline action when they get in trouble, according to the report.

Principal's arrest: Destiny Leadership Academy principal accused of battering a student

One student said the touching eventually led to sex, the report states. Some of the students said the activities occurred on and off campus and provided details on the locations, the detective notes in the report.

With the information, Drake felt she had enough probable cause to arrest Ramputi.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ex-school employee accused of sex-related crimes in Ocala Florida
This fountain was a fixture in KC since the 50s  until it was vandalized. Whats next?

A historical landmark in the City of Fountains, known as the William Volker Memorial Fountain, sits near the Kansas City Country Club Plaza, featuring five sculpted figures. But, after vandals struck, only three of those figures remain intact.

Now, the city faces a potentially hefty price tag to repair the fountain.

An unidentified suspect removed the arm and fingers of one of the structures, and the leg of another, Kansas City Parks & Recreation Director Chris Cotten said in an interview with The Star. The statue was defaced on May 19th.

In this particular instance, I would say that because this fountain had a high brass (and) copper content, it was vandalized for scrap, for money, Cotten said. Thatd be exactly what I think the reason is for this.

Cotten said there would be no other reason to deface the statue.

We dont have these issues with artwork thats not made of, doesnt have a brass or a copper content, he said.

The fountain was created in the 1950s by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles, according to the Millesgarden Museum in Sweden.

The five-figured statue was one of Milles last pieces before his death, and depicts St. Martin of Tours, a patron saint of France, as its central figure, according to the Parks & Rec website. St. Martin is surrounded by four other figures, including a beggar, a faun and two angels.

The beggar and the faun were the two figures damaged, President of the City of Fountains Foundation Mark McHenry said in an interview with The Star.

The fountain was dedicated on September 20, 1958, and was created as a memorial to William Volker, a prominent Kansas City philanthropist, according to the City of Fountains Foundation. It originally sat in Frank A. Theis Park, but was moved to its current location in the 1990s, according to Parks & Rec.

It could be substantial

The damage to the statue wont be cheap to fix, Cotten said. They have reached out to the Millesgarden Museum in Sweden to see if it could aid in fixing the statue. Cotten hopes the museum has the original molds that the statue was created with.

So whether we can get our hands on molds or replicas of the molds and melt them down and re-pour them, or figure out a way to get a 3D scan so we can replicate it, thats all kind of what were working on right now, Cotten said. But I dont have any definitive answers because we havent heard back from Sweden yet.

The City of Fountains Foundation is helping Parks & Rec with the project, President of the City of Fountains Foundation Mark McHenry said. A donation page on the City of Fountains website allows anyone to donate to the fountains repair.

Since the team doesnt have access to the stolen parts of the statue, there is currently no estimated cost to the project, McHenry said.

I will say it could be substantial, McHenry said. Which is not a number, its just the fact that this is a bit of a challenge.

Currently, there is no time frame for repair. McHenry said it will be completed as soon as possible, but thats easier said than done.

This isnt the first time a statue has been defaced in Kansas City. More than two years ago, the Childrens Fountain in North Kansas City faced a similar fate. Plaques were stolen from the fountain and had to be recreated with a fiberglass material made to look like brass, Cotten said.

So it has no scrap value, and those havent been messed with since we replaced them, he explained.

McHenry recalled another instance a few years ago when a statue of an Osage woman was stolen in the Northland. Police were able to recover the pieces of the statue, and it was welded back together.

There is precedence for this, McHenry said. The big difference here, of course, is we dont have the pieces.

Meanwhile, the criminal investigation into the vandalism is continuing.

A case detective for the Kansas City Police Department is working on gathering and processing evidence regarding the crime and remains hopeful we will generate some leads, KCPD spokesperson Alayna Gonzalez said in an email to The Star.
These four North Texas cities are the worst for dog attacks on USPS mail carriers

Dogs across Dallas-Fort Worth took a huge bite out of mail carriers in 2023.

The United States Postal Service released this week its annual rankings of dog attacks on mail carriers for the previous year. The 2023 rankings put North Texas as one of the most treacherous regions in the state for dog bites.

In total, mail carriers in North Texas were attacked by canines 76 times in 2023. Dallas clocked in with 39 attacks, Fort Worth had 23, Grand Prairie at seven and Garland had seven as well.

Reports of dogs attacking a mail carrier may seem like a tall tale, but it happens more often than you think.

 More trending stories from our newsroom:

 Video: Lightning strikes truck on I-35 in Fort Worth. "I was in shock"

 Fort Worth increases property tax breaks for seniors

 Want to visit new Palo Pinto state park? You'll have to wait.

Top 10 Texas cities for dog attacks on USPS employees

Data from 2023

Houston- 56 Dallas- 39 San Antonio- 26 Fort Worth- 23 Corpus Christi- 15 El Paso- 14 Amarillo- 10 Austin- 8 Tied at 9. Grand Prairie- 7 Tied at 9. Garland- 7

Dont let your dog bite the hand that serves you, says USPS

Overall, Texas ranked as the state with the second most dog attacks last year with 411.

California took the top spot with 727 dog attacks on mail carriers last year. Ohio came in third at 359, Pennsylvania in fourth with 334 and Illinois rounds out the top five with 316 attacks.

The point of releasing the annual dog bite rankings every year is to raise awareness for employees, the USPS said.

A few ways that dog owners can help reduce attacks on mail carriers is by keeping their pets inside the house, behind a fence, away from the door or on a leash.

With more then 5,800 cases nationwide last year, the organization is running its USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign from June 2 to 9. This years theme is, Dont let your dog bite the hand that serves you.

Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury, said Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager for Employee Safety and Health Awareness. The U.S. Postal Service consistently encourages responsible pet ownership. The national dog bite campaign is an effort to promote dog bite awareness to keep our customers, their dogs, and letter carriers safe while delivering the mail.
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Archer-Daniels-Midland's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

The top 12 shareholders own 50% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

Every investor in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 81% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Institutional investors would probably welcome last week's 3.2% increase in the share price after a year of 11% losses as a sign that returns may to begin trending higher.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Archer-Daniels-Midland.

See our latest analysis for Archer-Daniels-Midland

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Archer-Daniels-Midland?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Archer-Daniels-Midland's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Archer-Daniels-Midland. Our data shows that The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 14% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 10% and 7.9% of the stock.

After doing some more digging, we found that the top 12 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Story continues

Insider Ownership Of Archer-Daniels-Midland

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. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own US$203m of stock. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 18% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Archer-Daniels-Midland. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Archer-Daniels-Midland that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Fox Business host Elizabeth MacDonald compared Harvey Weinsteins overturned rape conviction to the future of Donald Trumps felony verdict.

We had experts on last night saying this is just a thing to get the statement out there, Trumps a convicted felon, because they know theyre going to get it overturned on appeal, MacDonald said to Trump lawyer Alina Habba on Friday. I mean, Harvey Weinsteins conviction was overturned by the New York Appeals Court, but that wasnt until four years later.

The disgraced movie producers 2020 conviction was overturned back in April after the New York State Court of Appeals found the trial judge who handled the case erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts, which led to prejudicial information for the jury. Weinstein served four of his original 23-year sentence.

MacDonald also asked Habba about the difficulty to appeal the conviction if they were unclear on the exact crime of which Trump was found guilty. She also implied that the verdict was reached without all jury members being unanimous in their decision.

The jury still did not indicate what exactly was the core underlying law broken behind the charge of influencing election, MacDonald said. Plus, the jury didnt have to be unanimous. Isnt it easier to convict when you strip a defendant of their due process rights?

Its very easy to reverse when you fail to identify what the crime is, when you fail to have them say that they have to select what the intent to cover up, what the scheme was, Habba responded.

Trump was convicted Thursday on 34 counts of criminal fraud for falsified business records in a hush money payment allegedly made for porn star Stormy Daniels. The judge set his sentencing for July 11.

The post Fox Business Host Offers Hope Trumps Felony Conviction Will Be Overturned Like Harvey Weinsteins appeared first on TheWrap.
Fox Reporter Asks Biden if He Worries He Will Also Become a Convicted Felon Someday

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked President Joe Biden on Friday if he was worried about someday becoming a convicted felon himself following the guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump this week.

Do you think this conviction helps Trump in the election? Doocy asked Biden outside the White House.

I have no idea, Biden replied. But then Doocy dug further, asking: Are you worried this could happen to you someday? Somebody comes up with some charges and tries to bring you into court after your term? Biden, unperturbed, replied: Not at all. I didnt do anything wrong. The system still works.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed the trial against him in New York, in which he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, was somehow rigged at the behest of Biden.

Doocy pushed Biden on those claims, telling him, Trump thinks youre pulling the strings behind the scenes and doing all of this to help yourself. Biden simply laughed before responding, I didnt know I was that powerful, and walking off.

"I didn't know I was that powerful" -- Biden to Peter Doocy after Doocy says to him that Trump "thinks you're pulling the strings behind the scenes" pic.twitter.com/j7fiovQeQ6  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 31, 2024

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Father John Hunwicke, who has died aged 83, was for most of his life a schoolmaster and an Anglican clergyman, but in later years he became a Catholic priest and an acclaimed ecclesiastical blogger.

Scholarly, erudite and brimming with mischief, Hunwicke spent more than 30 years teaching Classics at Lancing College; in 2007 he emerged from retirement to take over the medieval church of St Thomas the Martyr in Oxford, near the station.

A traditional Anglo-Catholic, he availed himself of the ministry of the flying bishops after the General Synod voted in 1992 to ordain women  a development which he opposed believing it to be based not on theology but in human will.

In 2011 he joined the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, set up by Pope Benedict XVI to enable groups of Anglicans to become Catholics; he sought re-ordination, but found himself on the back burner.

The problem was that the Catholic hierarchy was wary of Hunwickes mischievous sense of humour and his indifference to authority. For example, when it came to filling in the necessary forms, while others listed theological works and improving novels under Reading, Hunwicke was said to have written is a town in Berkshire. Other sections may or may not have been completed in Greek.

Another sticking point was Hunwickes blog, which had begun life slowly as Liturgical Notes in the 2000s but later took off as Mutual Enrichment. His interest in ecclesiastical ephemera, combined with a fine mind and a devotion to the life of the Church, produced a steady stream of consciousness in which papal pronouncements were dissected, and Vatican diktats debunked. It disappeared briefly in 2012, as the Ordinariate strove to get him over the line.

His ordination that year by Bishop William Kenney at the Oxford Oratory came as a relief, and the anointing oil on his hands was scarcely dry before his online apostolate resumed.

Hundreds of posts a year drew traditionally minded admirers from across the globe; they entered a world of theology, history and literature that was both acerbic and, to its enthusiasts, hilarious. In his last decade Hunwicke and his blog became a rallying point for people who were dismayed by the direction in which Pope Francis seemed to be leading the Church.

Hunwicke: he gave retreats and held Latin classes for Catholics

John William Hunwicke was born in Ipswich on March 13 1941 to William and Helen Hunwicke. His father served in the Royal Navy, and John was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School before going on to Hertford College, Oxford, to read Classics before entering St Stephens House to prepare for Holy Orders.

Hunwicke was ordained an Anglican priest in 1967, but not before he had married Pam Bowles, a fellow classicist whom he had met on the stairs at St Annes College before a tutorial on Homer  they went on to have three sons and two daughters. In 1973 he went to Lancing, with its longstanding High Church tradition, after curacies in the dioceses of Oxford and Southwark. By the time he left he had also been Head of Theology and assistant chaplain.

Hunwicke celebrated his first mass as a Catholic priest in the Tridentine rite, having been a champion of the traditional form of the mass even as an Anglican. He was an active member of the Latin Mass Society, whose pilgrimages he attended at home and abroad; he also led its retreats, taught on the societys residential Latin course, and gave Latin classes at the Oxford Oratory, where he was a regular presence.

Hunwickes Mutual Enrichment blog remains online  he had scheduled a number of posts as his health failed, and they unnervingly appeared in the days after his death (the last was on May 29)  as do YouTube videos of lectures and seminars given over the last few years, as international demand for his scholarship grew.

Referring to his cancer, a week before his death, Hunwicke was characteristically frustrated that the pancreatic nastiness stops me from getting out to libraries and archives. His wife Pam survives him, with their children.

Fr John Hunwicke, born March 13 1941, died April 30 2024

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno announced this week that it will be filing for bankruptcy in the summer as the number of sexual abuse allegations it faces rises beyond 150.

Fresno diocese leader Bishop Joseph V. Brennan said in a statement that the Central Valley church will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.

The diocese did not respond to calls and an email seeking comment.

The move allows the diocese to address those claims honestly, compassionately and equitably, Brennans statement said.

Brennan said the move was necessary because the diocese has been flooded with claims  154 that it is aware of  in the three years since Assembly Bill 218 was enacted in January 2020. The deadline to file a claim closed Dec. 31, 2022, under the legislation.

AB 218 opened a three-year window for some civil sexual assault claims that previously timed out due to the statute of limitations.

The reopening of the window has made every diocese in California susceptible to more claims, Brennan said. What we are facing gives us the opportunity to redouble our efforts in creating a safe environment for everyone in and out of the church and address real issues in atoning for the sin of clergy abuse against children.

Sacramentos diocese filed for bankruptcy in April . San Franciscos archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in the summer last year.

San Francisco said it had more than 500 new claims under AB 218, while Sacramento put the number at 250 lawsuits.

Read more: San Francisco Archdiocese says bankruptcy 'very likely' given child sex abuse lawsuits

In each case, each church opted to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows for a court-supervised reorganization. This will ensure that all victims will be compensated and church funds wont be depleted by whoever files and finishes fastest, Brennan said.

Bankruptcy, however, did not sit well with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP.

Bankruptcy is not the only way to achieve fair recoveries in lawsuits against the diocese, the organization said in a statement . It added that the process turns victims into creditors and leaves those abused before the filing date and unaware of the proceedings forever barred from suing for damages.

SNAP said Brennan and the diocese were the ultimate beneficiaries of the plan.

For those who suffered, or are suffering now, from child sex crimes committed in his diocese, there is no upside to this cruel and, in our opinion, unjustified legal tactic, SNAP said in a statement. SNAP believes that children, not secrets and assets, are what need to be protected. This legal tactic, to us, shows that the Diocese of Fresno is indeed bankrupt, morally bankrupt.

Fresnos diocese includes more than 1 million Catholics among 87 parishes and 21 schools from Fresno, Kern, Kings, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties.

The diocese released a list of clergy accused in 2021 including 64 ordained as early as 1906. Though most were local, some clergy hailed from Guatemala, France, Ireland, Mexico and the Philippines.

The diocese did not clarify whether the new claims involved previously accused priests and brothers or those newly accused.

Read more: Slew of child sexual abuse lawsuits could bankrupt the Diocese of Sacramento, bishop says

Brennan said in his letter that none of Fresnos Catholic schools would be affected by the bankruptcy.

Fresno native Jason Bettini, 49, said he was relieved when he received a letter earlier in the week from his youngest child's school  Our Lady of Perpetual Help in adjacent Clovis  confirming that news.

In 2021, Bettini founded the Central Valley chapter of the Troops of Saint George , a Catholic nonprofit that offers fraternity for priests, men and young men, according to its description.

Bettinis version is a Catholic counter to the Boy Scouts, which has also been racked with sexual abuse allegations.

The Troops of Saint George mandates that fathers are actively involved with their sons on adventures, including camping and fishing. In less than three years, the group has grown from 18 boys to 50.

He said the news left him with mixed emotions.

The diocese needs to protect themselves against this litigation, said Bettini, a longtime parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fresno. But, the true victims also need to be compensated for pain and suffering, no matter how many years its been.

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.
Gabby Petitos mother, Nichole Schmidt, said she has forgiven Brian Laundrie  her daughters fiance and suspected killer  but confessed that she will never be able to forgive his evil mom.

I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you, said Schmidt, who also acknowledged that the gesture may shock most people.

I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, she continued. I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life.

Schmidt made the declaration on Friday during an appearance at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, where she spoke about her late daughter, People reported.

On July 2, 2021, 22-year-old Petito left her native Long Island for a cross-country road trip with Laundrie. Her family grew concerned, however, when her fiance returned to his parents home in North Port, Florida, without her.

Petito was reported missing and her disappearance sparked a massive search effort that culminated in the discovery of her body at a campground near Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming.

Laundrie meanwhile reunited with his parents upon arriving home, and they quickly left together for a camping trip on the beach at Fort De Soto Park, south of St. Petersburg.

But Brian did not return from the trip and he was later discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He confessed to killing Petito in personal journals found near his body.

Petitos parents have contended Laundries parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, helped conceal their daughters murder and were arranging for their son to leave the country when he disappeared.

As for you, Roberta  and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mind with your evil ways  I see no empathy in your eyes, no remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions, Schmidt said at the conference.

You are the dark. You are the sociopath that everyone fears. The one who appears so innocent and kind, but harbors darkness within your soul, she continued. You do not deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be forgotten and dehumanized. You epitomize pure evil.
An East Georgia mans murder conviction has been overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court, citing a procedural issue during his trial.

Sherman Lamont Allen, of Elbert County, was originally convicted of malice murder for the 2017 death of Treston Smith. According to court records, Smiths death followed a fight between himself and Allen over an affair Smith was having with Allens longtime romantic partner.

Allen was tried and convicted by a jury in March 2019, but appealed the ruling based on how the jury was presented with charges in the case.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Georgia Supreme Court said state law requires that a question asked at trial for murder is whether a killing immediately following a serious provocation should be punished as voluntary manslaughter instead of murder.

For Allens case, the court said When any evidence of such serious provocation exists, it is for the jury, not a judge, to decide whether the provocation was sufficient to mitigate the culpability. This is such a case.

Allen appealed his conviction for malice murder on the sole grounds that the trial court did not instruct the jury to consider the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter.

TRENDING STORIES:

The court ruled that the State failed to carry its burden to show that it is highly probable that the error did not contribute to the verdict, and as a result, the states highest court ruled they must reverse Allens conviction.

In this case, the court said Georgia case law has long recognized that discovering a partners infidelity is generally sufficient provocation to warrant a charge on voluntary manslaughter, saying that the trial courts refusal to grant the lesser charge as an option due to Allens claiming self-defense was in error.

As a result of the error, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the malice murder conviction was reversed, but that additional counts of felony murder, aggravated battery and aggravated assault were also impacted and their verdicts could not stand.

On remand, the State may retry Allen for malice murder and felony murder, as the evidence was sufficient as a matter of constitutional due process to support a conviction on those counts.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A Tbilisi office of United National Movement (UNM), a Georgian opposition party, was attacked by up to 100 masked men overnight on June 1, the party said in a statement.

UNM, founded by imprisoned ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, is currently the strongest opposition party in the parliament and will seek to challenge the ruling Georgian Dream party in the October elections.

The news comes amid heightened tensions in the country after Georgian Dream passed a controversial "foreign agents" law, reminiscent of a similar legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent.

"The attack lasted for more than half an hour. Up to a hundred attackers took part in it," the party said on social media.

"The office's facade was damaged, glass was broken, equipment damaged."

Read also: Explainer: Whats behind ongoing protests in Georgia?

UNM's chairman, Levan Khabeishvili, said that the assailants were armed with sticks, stones, and wooden spears.

Khabeishvili claimed that the attackers tried to get inside the building, but after the people inside resisted, the attackers fled. No injuries were reported.

UNM accused "Ivanishvili's regime" of the attack, referring to Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Georgian oligarch who is seen as the de facto leader of the Georgian Dream party.

The opposition party called the attackers "titushky," a term for hired thugs first used for violent gangs used by the Viktor Yanukovych administration during the EuroMaidan Revolution in Ukraine in 2013-2014.

Georgian activists and politicians opposing the ruling party and its "foreign agents" law complained of a growing number of threats and violent incidents targeted against them.

The Georgian Dream leadership has repeatedly denied connection to these cases and instead accused their opponents of a "hateful campaign" against the government's supporters. However, several of the party's lawmakers and pro-government figures have publicly supported the attacks against the opposition.

Violent incidents were also reportedly widespread during the anti-government protests sparked by the law's reintroduction into the parliament, with the police being accused of using rubber bullets and water cannons against the protestors.

Read also: Opinion: The global implications of Georgias political crisis

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Once a Dividend King, 3M (NYSE: MMM) has cut its dividend. There are a number of reasons for the move, but there's one factor investors should pay particular attention to. Here's why dividend investors should be worried by the depth of 3M's payout cut.

A brief overview of 3M's troubles

The company has been facing material legal and regulatory headwinds over the last decade or so. One issue is related to the efficacy of earplugs the company sold to the U.S. military. Another relates to the company's production and use of so-called forever chemicals.

These are not small or easy issues that can be quickly addressed. In fact, 3M has spent billions of dollars to resolve the problems, and it is still ongoing.

The costs have been so high that management needed to get creative to find a way to address the expense. The decision was to spin off the company's healthcare division in early 2024.

That division is now a separate entity known as Solventum (NYSE: SOLV). The problem is that this segment was expected to be a growth engine for 3M, so management was basically forced to sell off the crown jewels to come up with the money it needed.

A look at 3M's dividend cut

After the spinoff, 3M reduced its dividend. That makes complete sense, given that it jettisoned an entire division and the revenue and earnings that it produced. The quarterly payout was cut from $1.51 per share to $0.70, a reduction of a little more than 50%. The dividend yield today is around 2.8%.

The industrial company's yield is notably above the 1.5% of Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT: XLI). From that perspective, it continues to look like an attractive income stock. But the healthcare division accounted for around 25% or so of the top line. So the dividend cut of over 50% is way out of line with the size of the business that was spun off.

The question that dividend investors need to ask here is why make so large a cut? The most likely answer is that 3M's legal and regulatory costs are going to be huge and linger for a long time.

To give itself the financial leeway to deal with those headwinds, it looked at the spinoff as an opportunity to hit the reset button. That's the right move for the company, but it probably changes the equation for most income investors, and not in a positive way.

In short, 3M is not the same company it was before the spinoff, and it still has massive legal and regulatory issues to deal with. Higher costs and slower growth are basically what investors should go in expecting here.

Expect 3M to get back to dividend growth

3M will probably start to increase its dividend, at least by a token amount, fairly quickly. That's likely one of the reasons the cut was so deep.

Story continues

But should a small dividend increase come to pass in the next year or so, investors shouldn't take that as a sign of strength. Without healthcare, 3M is highly likely to grow more slowly. And while it has raised much needed cash via the spinoff, it is still muddling through its legal and regulatory headwinds.

A dividend increase won't change these facts, and it's likely that only more aggressive investors should be looking at 3M today.

Should you invest $1,000 in 3M right now?

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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

Germany's anti-Islamic Pax Europa movement is planning further public gatherings despite Friday's knife attack in the city of Mannheim that left a police officer critically injured.

Next Saturday, the group will set up a booth outside the train station in the city of Dortmund, in North-Rhine Westphalia, its treasurer Stefanie Kizina told dpa.

She expected that the police "will certainly tighten security measures." Pax Europa did not intend to provide its own security service, Kizina said.

Pax Europa board member Michael Sturzenberger, who was among those hurt in Friday's attack would "definitely carry on," she added. However, he was not expect to attend the event planned next week as he was "severely injured" and remained in hospital.

The attack occurred on Friday morning at a central market square in Mannheim during an event hosted by Pax Europa. Several people were injured, including the policeman, who injuries were described as life-threatening.

The suspected perpetrator also suffered gunshot wounds during his apprehension and later underwent surgery.

The motive for the attack remains unclear. Several media reports said the suspect is a 25-year-old from Herat, Afghanistan, who lives in southern Hesse.

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
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Free Democratic Party (FDP) member of the Bundestag and FDP top candidate for the EU elections, looks at the CDU party headquarters, the Konrad Adenauer House, during the presentation of an election poster. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

The chairwoman of the Defence Committee in the German parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has called for the recruitment of 900,000 German reservists in light of Russia's belligerent stance under President Vladimir Putin.

"Putin is training his people for war and positioning them against the West. We must therefore become capable of defence as quickly as possible," Strack-Zimmermann of the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), a junior partner in Germany's governing coalition, told the Funke media group in remarks published on Saturday.

Russian industry is focused on manufacturing weapons, the defence expert said. "School books are printed that portray Germany as an aggressor state. Primary-school age children are trained to use weapons. All of this is frightening," she added.

Strack-Zimmermann called on Germany's Bundeswehr armed forces to "activate the roughly 900,000 reservists we have."

For that to happen, the military should first register those eligible, she added, pointing out that the armed forces had stopped keeping track of those who left active service decades ago.

"If we could recruit just half of them as reservists with their relevant expertise, that would be an incredible asset," Strack-Zimmermann said.

The chair of Germany's reservists association Patrick Sensburg put forward a similar proposal a few weeks ago, suggesting the systematic recording of health status and availability of all former Bundeswehr members, in order to be able to deploy them in homeland security and gradually allow them to train again.

In Germany, reservists include all former military service members as well as soldiers who have served for an extend period of time.

However, former soldiers who served in the armed forces of former communist East Germany and never joined the Bundeswehr after German reunification in 1990 are not included.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Free Democratic Party (FDP) member of the Bundestag and FDP top candidate for the EU elections, looks at the CDU party headquarters, the Konrad Adenauer House, during the presentation of an election poster. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

The chairwoman of the Defence Committee in the German parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has called for the recruitment of 900,000 German reservists in light of Russia's belligerent stance under President Vladimir Putin.

"Putin is training his people for war and positioning them against the West. We must therefore become capable of defence as quickly as possible," Strack-Zimmermann of the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), a junior partner in Germany's governing coalition, told the Funke media group in remarks published on Saturday.

Russian industry is focused on manufacturing weapons, the defence expert said. "School books are printed that portray Germany as an aggressor state. Primary-school age children are trained to use weapons. All of this is frightening," she added.

Strack-Zimmermann called on Germany's Bundeswehr armed forces to "activate the roughly 900,000 reservists we have."

For that to happen, the military should first register those eligible, she added, pointing out that the armed forces had stopped keeping track of those who left active service decades ago.

"If we could recruit just half of them as reservists with their relevant expertise, that would be an incredible asset," Strack-Zimmermann said.

The chair of Germany's reservists association Patrick Sensburg put forward a similar proposal a few weeks ago, suggesting the systematic recording of health status and availability of all former Bundeswehr members, in order to be able to deploy them in homeland security and gradually allow them to train again.

In Germany, reservists include all former military service members as well as soldiers who have served for an extend period of time.

However, former soldiers who served in the armed forces of former communist East Germany and never joined the Bundeswehr after German reunification in 1990 are not included.

In the wake of the Ukraine war, launched by Russia more than two years ago, Germany has begun to boost defence spending to meet what German leaders have acknowledged are major shortcomings in the country's military capabilities.

Shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the German government pledged that it would invest 2% of its total economic output into the military for the first time in decades - a long-held NATO target - and announced a 100 billion ($108 billion) special defence fund for this purpose.

The FDP in particular is in favour of ramping up defence spending, and has made it a core part of its European Parliament election campaign.

Strack-Zimmermann is leading the election campaign for ALDE, the European liberal grouping that the FDP belongs to, ahead of the June 6-9 polls.
President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) Siegfried Russwurm speaks during an event. "There is a real danger that the enemies of democracy will make further gains," Russwurm said in remarks published on Saturday by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) group of media outlets. Sven Hoppe/dpa

Ahead of next week's European Parliament elections, German industry and trade unions have warned of a negative impact on the country and its economy if the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) prevails in the polls.

"There is a real danger that the enemies of democracy will make further gains," the head of the Federation of German Industries, Siegfried Russwurm, said in remarks published on Saturday by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) group of media outlets.

The European elections would determine whether Germany wants to continue its successful development in an open Europe or whether it wants to seal itself off, said Russwurm.

"This is not a question of taste. Germany would be in a much worse economic position without the EU. We can prove this with hard facts," the industry leader said.

Separately, the head of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Yasmin Fahimi, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that racism and marginalization had already become deeply ingrained in the self-image and everyday lives of far too many people.

This made it all the more important to make it clear what the AfD stands for: "It wants a Europe of markets and not of employees. It doesn't want a minimum wage, but more profit. It does not want greater collective bargaining coverage, but arbitrary pay," warned Fahimi.

"An AfD success would mean that we would fall into a very deep recession, that we would lose billions in gross national product and up to 2.5 million jobs in one fell swoop," she added.

According to a recent survey conducted for the public broadcaster ARD, the AfD stands to garner some 14% of German votes in the June 6-9 election of a new European Union legislature.

Voting begins in the Netherlands on Thursday and takes place across most of the 27-country bloc, including Germany, next Sunday.

Amid deep dissatisfaction with the current ruling coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany's conservative Christian Democrats and their Bavarian counterparts, the Christian Social Union, would net 29% of the votes if the polls were held this Sunday.

Support for Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats would be at 15%, while its coalition partner the Greens would - like the AfD - net around 14% and the third party in government, the Free Democrats, would get 4% according to the survey.
President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) Siegfried Russwurm speaks during an event. "There is a real danger that the enemies of democracy will make further gains," Russwurm said in remarks published on Saturday by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) group of media outlets. Sven Hoppe/dpa

Ahead of next week's European Parliament elections, German industry and trade unions have warned of a negative impact on the country and its economy if the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) prevails in the polls.

"There is a real danger that the enemies of democracy will make further gains," the head of the Federation of German Industries, Siegfried Russwurm, said in remarks published on Saturday by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) group of media outlets.

The European elections would determine whether Germany wants to continue its successful development in an open Europe or whether it wants to seal itself off, said Russwurm.

"This is not a question of taste. Germany would be in a much worse economic position without the EU. We can prove this with hard facts," the industry leader said.

Separately, the head of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Yasmin Fahimi, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that racism and marginalization had already become deeply ingrained in the self-image and everyday lives of far too many people.

This made it all the more important to make it clear what the AfD stands for: "It wants a Europe of markets and not of employees. It doesn't want a minimum wage, but more profit. It does not want greater collective bargaining coverage, but arbitrary pay," warned Fahimi.

"An AfD success would mean that we would fall into a very deep recession, that we would lose billions in gross national product and up to 2.5 million jobs in one fell swoop," she added.

According to a recent survey conducted for the public broadcaster ARD, the AfD stands to garner some 14% of German votes in the June 6-9 election of a new European Union legislature.
The chair of the German parliament's defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, called on the country's armed forces to activate 900,000 German reservists in light of Russia's threatening policies, the DPA news agency reported on June 1.

Tensions between the West and Russia have been mounting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin has repeatedly issued threats toward Kyiv's partners over their support for the besieged country.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is training his people for war and positioning them against the West. We must, therefore, become capable of defense as quickly as possible," Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the co-ruling Free Democratic Party (FDP), said in a comment for the Funke media group published on June 1.

The lawmaker called on the Bundeswehr, Germany's military, to "activate the roughly 900,000 reservists we have."

In Germany, reservists include all former military service members and soldiers who have served for an extended period of time, excluding former East German military members who did not join the Bundeswehr after the reunification in 1990.

"If we could recruit just half of them as reservists with their relevant expertise, that would be an incredible asset," Strack-Zimmermann said.

Russia's full-scale invasion marked a major shift in Germany's defense policy, leading to Berlin announcing an additional investment of 100 billion euros ($109 billion) in military spending.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in February Germany will meet the 2% GDP defense spending target in 2024, making it the first time the country has reached this benchmark since the end of the Cold War.

Berlin has also become the second largest donor of military aid to Ukraine after the U.S. During his visit to Odesa earlier this week, Pistorius announced a new defense aid package worth 500 million euros (around $540 million), including IRIS-T air defense ammunition, drones, Leopard 1 tanks, and more.

Read also: Berlin says Ukraine can strike military targets inside Russia with German arms

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Police officers work in a cordoned-off street where four people have been severely injured in shooting incidents in the western German town of Hagen. Justin Brosch/dpa

Police are searching for a 34-year-old suspect on Saturday, after four people were severely injured in shooting incidents in the western German town of Hagen.

Among the injured was the suspect's wife, police in the western German state of North-Rhine Westphalia said. The four victims have been hospitalized and are expected to survive.

The suspected perpetrator, of Turkish nationality, is still on the run, with a police helicopter being used in the search. Police searched a supermarket and a nearby forest after receiving tip-offs from local residents.

Authorities earlier confirmed to dpa that shots were fired around 11 am (0900 GMT) at two crime scenes, consisting of a hair salon and a nearby residential building in Hagen, south of Dortmund. The incident may have been linked to a family dispute, the police added.

The police said officers were on site with a large contingent and urged the public to avoid the area around the crime scenes. "Do not put yourself in danger! If you observe anything suspicious, please call the emergency number 110," it said in a message posted on the social media platform X.

Police from the western city of Dortmund police have taken over the large-scale operation and set up a task force. No further details on the identities of the three other victims have been released.

Police emergency vehicles are parked in a cordoned-off street. Several people have been injured in shooting incidents at two locations in the western German town of Hagen, police said Saturday, with the suspected perpetrator reportedly still on the run. Justin Brosch/dpa

A policeman walks behind a police cordon to a hairdressing salon where four people have been severely injured in shooting incidents in the western German town of Hagen. Justin Brosch/dpa
German police officer still in serious condition after knife attack

Forensics officers inspect 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

The condition remains serious of a German police officer who suffered life-threatening injuries when a knife-wielding attacker targeted a gathering by the anti-Islam right-wing group Pax Europa in the city of Mannheim, police said Saturday.

Police shot the so far unidentified attacker after he injured six people on Friday, with security sources telling dpa he suffered life-threatening injuries. Anti-terror investigators have taken over the case.

Five participants in the Pax Europa rally 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.

The perpetrator was still unresponsive following surgery, meaning it had not yet been possible to interrogate him, a police spokesman said on Saturday morning.

Police have not yet identified the man.

According to media reports, he is a 25-year-old Afghan national who lives in Germany.

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.

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

Thomas Strobl, Baden-Wuerttemberg's Minister of the Interior, makes a press statement at 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 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 police officer critically injured after being stabbed at an anti-Islamic event in Germany's Mannheim has been placed in an induced coma, officials said on Saturday as the suspected perpetrator was charged with attempted murder.

"He remains in a critical condition," said a spokesman for the police force in the western German state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

The attack occurred on Friday morning during an event hosted by the Pax Europa movement, with five other people also sustaining injuries. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

The suspected perpetrator underwent surgery after sustaining gunshot wounds during his capture, according to police. He was said to be still unfit for questioning due to his condition.

The public prosecutor's office in the city of Karlsruhe and the Baden-Wurttemberg State Office of Criminal Investigation confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued for the 25-year-old attacker, who was born in Afghanistan.

The man, who lives in the western German state of Hesse and is married with two children, has been accused of attempted murder.

His home was also searched, police said. He was not previously known to police.

The attack comes at a time of deep divisions in Germany over Israel's military campaign against the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in Gaza.

It also coincides with the growing debate around the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has a firm anti-immigration stance, ahead of European Parliament elections next week.

Omid Nouripour, co-leader of the Greens, one of the three parties in the country's ruling coalition, called for democratic solidarity following the knife attack.

"We will not allow the democratic culture in this country to be destroyed by violence, regardless of whether it comes from Islamists or right-wing extremists," said Nouripour, who is Muslim, during a party conference in Potsdam.

"There is no place for violence in political debate in this country," he added, describing the Mannheim attack as abhorrent.

Despite the incident, Pax Europa said it is planning further public events. Next Saturday, the anti-Islamist group will set up a booth outside the train station in the western city of Dortmund, its treasurer Stefanie Kizina told dpa.

She expected that the police "will certainly tighten security measures." Pax Europa did not intend to provide its own security, Kizina said.

According to Kizina, the attack was specifically aimed at Pax Europa board member Michael Sturzenberger, who sustained serious injuries.

Sturzenberger would "definitely carry on" his work with the organization, she said. However, he was not expected to attend the event planned next week in light of his injuries.

Writing on the social media platform Telegram on Saturday, Sturzenberger thanked all the doctors involved in his treatment, as well as facial surgeons who travelled from a specialist clinic to assist in the operation.

"It was really close yesterday," the 59-year-old wrote. He suffered several stab wounds, including one in his thigh that caused "considerable blood loss." His face was also injured, he said.

A forensics officer walks past a stall on the market square, where 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. Uwe Anspach/dpa

Forensics officers stand at a stand next to posters on the market square, where 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. Uwe Anspach/dpa
Roderich Kiesewetter, of the Christian Democratic Union, speaks to media representatives before the start of the public hearing in the Bundestag.Police said that Bundestag lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter suffered minor injuries after a man punched and kicked him at a campaign stand in Aalen, east of Stuttgart, latest attack in a series of similar incidents ahead of next week's European Parliament elections. Monika Skolimowska/dpa

Another German politician was attacked while campaigning on Saturday, the latest in a series of similar incidents ahead of next week's European Parliament elections.

Police said a man punched and kicked Bundestag lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter at a campaign stand in Aalen, east of Stuttgart. Kiesewetter, from the right-wing Christian Democratic Union, suffered minor injuries in the attack.

The suspect, who is known to police, fled after the attack. Police are continuing investigations, a spokesman said.

The Schwabische Post, a local newspaper, reported that the suspect is a local council candidate from a party close to the far-right Querdenker movement, which came to prominence during the pandemic.

Kiesewetter told the Schwabische Post that he had been verbally and then physically attacked. "I didn't know who the person was. I told him to stop, he tore the roof off the campaign stand," he added.

The attack came after the lawmaker tried to take a photo of the man. The police arrived shortly afterwards.

Kiesewetter said he offered not to press charges if the person in question apologized.

A series of attacks on politicians and campaign workers from all parties in the run-up to the European elections have shocked Germany.

Last week, a man punched Green Party lawmaker Marie Kollenrott in the central German city of Gottingen.

Before that, a far-right German politician was punched in the face while at a supermarket.

Franziska Giffey, a prominent Berlin state minister and former mayor, who belongs to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SDP), was attacked while visiting a library in the German capital earlier this month.

Bundestag member Matthias Ecke, also from the SPD, was beaten and hospitalized in Dresden at the start of May. Green Party politician Yvonne Mosler was also insulted, threatened and spat at while putting up posters in Dresden a few days later.
Jenn Gordon, the president and CEO of WTVP, looks on as chairman of the board John Wieland, left, speaks during a press conference Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the public television station's offices in Peoria.

PEORIA  WTVP has received a six-figure check from its insurance company for damages sustained from the misuse of funds at the public television station, the Journal Star has learned.

Cincinnati Insurance paid the nonprofit $250,000  the maximum amount allowed under the station's insurance policy. John Wieland, chairman of the WTVP Board of Directors, said the payout was validation of concerns about questionable spending that has caused turmoil at the station since last year.

The public controversy started in September 2023 with the resignation and death of Lesley Matuszak, the former WTVP president and CEO, and continued with layoffs and massive turnover on the station's board of directors.

The previous board believed there was improper spending approved under the leadership of Matuszak. Wieland, who was appointed as the board's chairman in January, said the payout from the insurance company gives credence to those beliefs.

"It's a validation of the concerns of the previous board that they thought there was misuse and theft... otherwise the insurance company wouldn't have paid it out," Wieland said.

Wieland said the $250,000 goes to the station's bottom line, and there are no expenses associated with it.

The Peoria Police Department continues to investigate the handling of finances at the TV station.

More: An in-depth look at WTVP's future and criminal investigation

Finances, morale in good shape at WTVP

Wieland said morale is high at WTVP under the leadership of Jenn Gordon, who was named the station's president and CEO in March.

WTVP's finances are also in significantly better shape, Wieland said, adding they are "99% confident" the station will be in the financial black at the end of the fiscal year on June 30. At this time last year, the station was $800,000 into the red.

"We are also confident that our budget for fiscal year of 6-30-2025, will be in the black so we are very excited about the financial well-being," Wieland said. "We are going to focus on restoring the endowment fund that we had to borrow from during the difficult days, so all that is pretty positive."

WTVP timeline: Here's what has transpired at WTVP since September 2023

An audit of the station's finance being conducted by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is nearing completion as well. Wieland said they are "confident as ever" the result of that audit will be a positive outcome for the station and CPB funding will be restored.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: WTVP in Peoria receives $250,000 from insurance company
Nancy Faeser, Germany's Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs, speaks at a press conference in Ehrenstein Castle on the fringes of the meeting of social democratic interior ministers and senators. Germany enacted a new visa scheme for skilled workers from outside the European Union on 01 July that enables applicants to move to the country and look for a job for up to a year if they meet certain criteria. Michael Reichel/dpa

Germany enacted a new visa scheme for skilled workers from outside the European Union on Saturday that enables applicants to move to the country and look for a job for up to a year if they meet certain criteria.

The new scheme, known as the job search opportunity card, is open to those with at least two years of vocational training or a university degree recognized by the country where the qualification was obtained. Knowledge of German or English is also required.

Whether an applicant is eligible for the visa will be calculated based on their language skills, professional experience, age and ties to Germany. Once the card has been granted, applicants are able to enter Germany and search for a job for up to a year.

That means participants are no longer required to present a contract with a German company before being able to enter Germany. They also don't have to present a qualification recognized by or obtained in Germany. This is intended to reduce bureaucracy and shorten procedures.

"We are ensuring that workers and skilled workers that our economy has urgently needed for years can come to our country," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Saturday.

The new visa scheme is part of an extensive package of legislation aimed at tackling Germany's acute shortage of skilled labour.

The first stage came into force in November 2023 and mainly included easing the way to a residency permit known as the EU Blue Card and for recognized skilled workers.

From Saturday, opportunities for jobseekers from the Western Balkans have also been expanded, including for non-skilled workers. However, a contract with a German company is still required under this scheme as a precondition to enter Germany.
Diehard Trump supporters say rigged conviction only proves why he should be president

Travis Collins says that there is a lot of division among American voters ahead of this year's election - DERMOT TATLOW

Some 161 years since the battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest of the Civil War, visitors to its storied fields today see echoes of history in Americas new era of division  and most people have picked a side.

Donald Trumps criminal conviction this week, the first of any US president, has further exposed the festering wound of its contemporary civil strife.

Following weeks of lurid testimony in the hush money trial, the former president was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to buy the silence of adult film star Stormy Daniels by a New York jury.

The country is split between those who believe Trumps conviction represents long-awaited accountability for Teflon Don, and those who view it as the work of a legal establishment intent on blocking him from regaining the White House in November.

In Gettysburg, which saw 50,000 casualties among Union and Confederate soldiers over three days in 1863, the significance of the countrys current divide is not underestimated.

The small town, with its narrow church steeples, prim clapboard homes and neat front porches, is littered with legacies of the Civil War. Memorials, gravestones and cannons jut out against the surrounding idyllic countryside of rolling green hills and farmland.

Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War - DERMOT TATLOW

Gettysburg is the seat of Adams County, a strip of Trump heartland in the all-important 2024 swing state of Pennsylvania. Trump beat Joe Biden here in 2020 by a margin of 34 percentage points.

At the Adams County Republican Party base, a short drive from the historic battlefield, officials are determined to ensure the area is showing [Trump] the love.

Trump 2024 posters fill its office windows, and Dont get angry. Vote in November messages populate its social media page.

Residents of Gettysburg are furious at Trumps conviction and have vowed to stick with him, along with many visitors to its battlefield sites.

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives back at Trump Tower after being convicted in his criminal trial

Travis Collins, 35, a locally-based gun retailer and Civil War re-enactor, said the hush money trial was a mere smoke show.

Lets face it: from the day Trump won the election [in 2016] its been a witch hunt to stop him, he said, citing Trumps two impeachment trials and his numerous legal cases.

Mr Collins, dressed as a Confederate soldier and armed with a musket, is guiding a group of children around the battlefield site. As a student of history, he sees a lot of comparisons between 2024 and 1863.

Standing in the shadow of Gettysburgs national cemetery, he describes how todays political discourse has hardened. Theres a lot of division, Democrats and Republicans dont talk to each other any more, he said.

Despite the conflicting feelings about Trumps trial, Mr Collins doesnt believe the Republican presidential candidates status as a felon will ultimately matter.

John Dings, left, and Mike Hockenberry both hope that Donald Trump will prevail in November - DERMOT TATLOW

His conviction does not disqualify the 77-year-old from seeking the White House, or occupying it, should he beat Mr Biden, 81, in the upcoming election.

In Mr Collins view, voters are more focused on: How am I going to personally be better in November?

The polls appear to agree, suggesting that in a polarised America, most voters views of Trump have already hardened and are unlikely to be altered.

Indeed, Trumps base has reacted to his conviction by reaching for their wallets.

The Republican candidate, who claims his trial was rigged by Democrats, saw his fundraising website crash within hours of the verdict because of the surge in online traffic.

By Friday, his campaign said it had received around $35 million in new donations.

Among those donating was Barry Littlewood, 77, a retired businessman on a day trip to Gettysburg.

The Battle of Gettysburg saw 50,000 casualties among Union and Confederate soldiers over three days in 1863 - DERMOT TATLOW

Originally from Cambridge, he emigrated to the US in 1976 and has closely followed Trumps hush money trial, which he called an insult to his adopted homes values.

All the charges against him are being brought by prosecutors who are all trying to stop him running for president, he said. Its ludicrous. Whats going on?

Since he is not an American citizen, Mr Littlewood is unable to cast a vote for Trump on November 5. But he is so incensed by his trial verdict that he sent a $500 donation to his 2024 campaign.

I think the majority of Americans will react the same way, he said.

John Dings, 63, and Mike Hockenberry, 55, two members of a group of red Mustang drivers touring Gettysburg, certainly do.

It seems like the whole governments against Trump, said Mr Hockenberry.

Standing by a Civil War monument, Mr Dings said: If you go back to 1863, Gettysburg was about states rights. And now its about Left and Right. Not right and wrong, but Left and Right.

Both men are hopeful that in Novembers looming White House battle, Trump will ultimately prevail.

His supporters, said Mr Hockenberry, are even more behind him in the wake of his conviction, noting the surge in campaign donations. People want to help, he said.

Whit Ayres, a veteran Republican pollster, says ultimately Trumps conviction is not good news for his campaign.

But he believes it is too early to assess its true impact, pointing out that past polling is not necessarily indicative since people arent very good at knowing how they react to future events.

It could conceivably make a small difference at the margins in the minds of some swing voters, he said.

Barry Littlewood emigrated to the US from Cambridge in 1976 and closely followed Trump's hush money trial - DERMOT TATLOW

But he added the alternative to a convicted Donald Trump is a president 86 per cent of Americans think is too old to serve effectively in a second term.

When you put that as the alternative it is hard to imagine it making a significant difference, he said.

In Gettysburg and beyond, the countrys battlelines are being drawn once again.

Trumps allies are now set on retribution, and have called on Republican prosecutors to begin targeting Democrats.

We arent a serious political movement until we are ready to fight fire with fire, said Charlie Kirk, the founder of conservative group Turning Point USA. Indict the left, or lose America.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
(Bloomberg) -- Iceland, the worlds most gender equal country, is set to elect a woman as president for the second time in its history.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Polling stations across the north Atlantic island are opening on Saturday to choose a successor to Gudni Th Johannesson, who is stepping down after two terms. The candidate who wins the most votes will become head of state in the single round election, and serve for four years.

Two women are neck-and-neck in polls. Katrin Jakobsdottir, who stepped down as prime minister to run for president, faces competition from Halla Tomasdottir, an equality advocate with private equity background. Halla Hrund Logadottir, director general of the National Energy Authority has in recent polls fallen to third place.

The ballots open at 9 a.m. local time and close at 10 p.m., with first results expected soon after polling stations close and a conclusive outcome in the hours that follow.

Iceland has the smallest measured gender gap in the world and a strong history of female empowerment, with women famously going on strike every few years to protest against the remaining inequalities in their society. The country made history in 1980, when Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the first woman to be elected president in the world. She went on to serve a total of four terms.

Read More: Women Go on Strike in the Worlds Most Gender Equal Society

After her, for the past 28 years, Iceland has been led by male heads of state. While the presidents constitutional powers are limited, the role is significant as a unifying force in the nation of about 376,000 people  roughly half the population of Alaska. The president is also seen as a guardian of the language thats at risk of deteriorating with the prevalence of English, and holds veto power over legislation, with the ability to force a referendum over controversial matters.

The president can also play a role during a government formation process and can refuse to dissolve the parliament. The veto power has only been used by one president, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, who during his 20 years in power made this presidential power a living reality, political scientist Olafur Th Hardarson said in an interview.

The current president, Johannesson, took the nation by surprise when he on Jan. 1 announced that he would not seek reelection after his second term. He had been well liked and served without controversy.

The 12 hopefuls vying for presidency represent no political parties nor do the parties declare support for anyone. That means the peoples estimate of the personal characteristics of the candidates is the most important factor for voting behavior, Hardarson said.

Here are the three women leading the race.

Katrin Jakobsdottir, 48

Prime minister since 2017, Jakobsdottir has had a varied political career, with cabinet posts including the education and Nordic cooperation portfolios. As premier, Jakobsdottir was praised for her response to the Covid-19 pandemic, avoiding the strict restrictions seen in many other European countries  thanks to close collaboration with scientists and health authorities. Once the pandemic abated, her second term was characterized by tension between the coalition parties spanning the political spectrum.

During her campaign, Jakobsdottir has emphasized the presidents role as a unifying force and says she would focus on preventing polarization. She has also spoken about safeguarding Icelands core values  democracy, human rights and equality. The mother of three has a degree in Icelandic literature and published a crime novel in 2022.

Halla Tomasdottir, 55

The chief executive officer of not-for-profit organization B Team, Tomasdottir has advocated for transparency in business, with particular focus on business ethics, sustainability, and equality. A founder of a private equity firm and a company pursuing responsible investments, Tomasdottir was the first woman chosen to lead Icelands Chamber of Commerce.

The mother of two is known for furthering education and initiatives aimed at empowering women. As president, she plans to bring Icelandic people together on discussions on the countrys core values and speak for them on the international arena.

Halla Hrund Logadottir, 43

The Director General of the National Energy Authority, Logadottir has specialized on environmental and energy issues. She teaches at Reykjavik University and serves as an adjunct professor at Harvard University. Her courses include energy policy strategy and climate issues. In 2017 she co-founded the Arctic Initiative at Harvard and also worked on establishing the international gender equality project, Project Girls for Girls.

The mother of two young daughters sees herself as promoter of Icelandic innovation and has spoken of the power of international cooperation.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(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.

This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

The post Goose poop blamed for excessive bacteria at Iowas Storm Lake beach appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Government moves to phase out common building material due to damaging effects: 'The market demand could be created through promotion'

Bricks made from alternative materials are helping Bangladesh meet its infrastructure demands without damaging the topsoil or creating excess air pollution.

Recent public and private infrastructure developments have been driving the need for bricks in Bangladesh. However, the government's Department of Environment reported that the country's brickfields use 3,350 million cubic feet of topsoil and clay yearly.

This is a problem because topsoil degradation threatens sustainable agriculture. Despite farmers' short-term profits from selling soil for brick production, a study found that this practice results in 40-80% reduced crops and 40-70% reduced income, ultimately affecting the nation's food security and farmers' long-term finances.

Beyond the soil concerns, traditional burnt clay brick production in Bangladesh also affects air quality. In just the Dhaka region, brick kilns release 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide, 302,000 tons of carbon monoxide, and other hazardous materials.

To address these environmental concerns, the local government is shutting down conventional brick kilns and converting them to alternative brickmaking production sites. The alternative bricks are made from dredged river soil, cement, sand, and iron.

"We have decided to use alternative bricks from this year for official constructions primarily," said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the environment, forest, and climate change minister.

Alternative bricks will not only protect Bangladesh's environment but will also help save the country a lot of money. Their production cost is about half that of conventional burnt bricks.

"These building materials can easily be used for constructing buildings in the country's rural and urban areas, which will reduce the pressure of topsoil as those do not require any soil," said Md. Ashraful Alam, director general of the Bangladesh Housing and Building Research Institute.

Bangladesh's move to alternative bricks is just one of many advancements worldwide propelling modern brickmaking technology. Innovators have also been experimenting with creating bricks using a sugarcane byproduct, invasive algae, and recycled bottles to make buildings stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient.

Fortunately, the fast-growing brickmaking industry seems to support the Bangladesh government's shift to alternative bricks.

"If the market demand could be created through promotion, we eagerly will convert our business from burnt brick to nonburnt alternative bricks," said Firoz Haider Khan, president of the Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners Association.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Zaporizhzhia's Dnipro Hydroelectric Station, Ukraine's largest hydroelectric power plant, is in critical condition after Russian forces struck it overnight on June 1, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov said on national television.

He said the power plant, known as the Dnipro Dam, halted electricity production.

Currently, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station is in a critical condition. We are not even talking about electricity generation, Fedorov said.

Traffic across the Dnipro Dam was blocked following the Russian attack, so residents are limited in traffic, according to the official.

Two bridges are being used for detour, with logistics in both directions. This will be the case for the weekend, Fedorov said.

The regional governor did not provide other details of the damages caused.

Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight on June 1, damaging energy infrastructure in various regions across the country. At least 20 people, including children, were injured in the attacks.

The Dnipro Hydroelectric Station was earlier hit with eight Russian missiles on March 22 during one of the biggest attacks on the country's energy infrastructure, which reportedly led to the loss of a third of its capacity.

According to Ihor Syrota, the head of the Ukrainian state-owned energy company Ukrhydroenergo, the power plant sustained critical damage to one of its stations on March 22.

The dam raises the Dnipro River by 37 meters (121 ft) and regulates the water level of the Dnipro Reservoir, extending 129 kilometers (80 mi) upstream to the neighboring city of Dnipro.

Read also: Energy Minister warns of summer energy supply issues followed by difficult winter

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Franklin County grand jury on Friday voted not to indict eight Columbus police officers in the shooting death of a bank robbery suspect on Interstate 70.

On July 6, 2023, Columbus police officers responded to an armed bank robbery on Hilliard Rome Road. Police located a stolen Porsche SVU traveling at more than 125 mph.

Family of corrections officer who was shot and killed during training hires lawyer

The suspects vehicle eventually crashed on I-70 near the Mound Street exit. Two suspects fled the scene on foot. Abdisamad Ismail, 19, exited the vehicle and began firing a handgun loaded with an extended clip, shooting one officer three times, according to Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Tyack.

All eight officers returned fire, hitting Ismail numerous times. Officers administered medical aid to Ismail until an ambulance arrived, Tyack stated. Ismail was pronounced dead at the scene.

The stolen money from the bank robbery was recovered from the vehicle. The two suspects who fled the scene, Fazsal M. Darod and Abdullahi Jama, were later arrested and are awaiting trial in federal court. The wounded officer survived the shooting with lasting injuries.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The Mercer Museum in Doylestown is taking a new look at the notorious Doan Gang  the band of five Revolutionary War-era brothers and one cousin from Central Bucks County and served as British spies and hardened criminals during the war  through a new exhibit.

The grave marker for Abraham Doan, who was eventually executed in Philadelphia in 1788, serves as the centerpiece of the exhibit, "The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution."

Who were the members of the Doan Gang, and what were their crimes?

The Doan Gang consisted of relatives Aaron, Abraham, Joseph, Levi, Mahlon and Moses.

"Abraham Doan was a member of the infamous 'Doan Gang,' a network of loyalists in Bucks County who supported Great Britain during the Revolutionary War," read Mercer Museum's description of Abraham Doan and the Doan Gang. "The Gang robbed tax collectors, militia members, and other citizens who supported the American revolutionary cause.

"Abraham and his cousin Levy Doan were hanged in Philadelphia in 1788 and remain the only individuals ever executed for 'outlawry' in the United States of America," continued the museum's description. "The Doan cousins were buried in Bucks County after their executions, however the exact location remained a mystery."

Doan Gang hideout discovered: How a Bucks County filmmaker found the secret hideout of America's original outlaws

A newspaper clip from 1863, featuring the escapades of the Doan Gang. The Doan Gang is given new life through a new exhibit, "The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution," now on display at the Mercer Museum.

Doan Gang gravesites mystery deepens

The mystery surrounding the exact locations of the Doan Gang gravesites live on to this day.

According to the museum, many believed the Doan Gang were buried in unmarked graves in a stretch grass near the Plumstead Friends' cemetery.

More: Crossroads of the Revolution: Bucks' multifaceted role in birth of our nation

"By the 1950s, many locals had come to believe that two unengraved stones directly outside of the cemeterys walls marked Abraham and Levy Doan's burial sites. These stones are now believed to actually have marked the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers who died while the meetinghouse was used as a hospital," read a portion of the museum's press release. "Regardless of this fact, the legend of the stones continued to grow. In 1966, two engraved stones, one for Abraham and one for Levy, appeared near the unmarked stones.

"The engravings noted the names and parents of the Gang members and referred to each simply as 'An Outlaw.' Although Levys stone remains intact, Abrahams stone saw damage and had broken in half over the decades."

The grave marker was donated by the Plumstead Friends Meeting and Buckingham Friends Meeting to the Bucks County Historical Society.

Another Doan Gang hideout discovered: Dripping Springs, one-time Doan Gang hideout, has been found. Here's how

'The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution' exhibit sheds new light on infamous group

The Mercer Museum's exhibit, "The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution," looks to break down the history of the Doan Gang.

"Learn how these local outlaws plotted, schemed, and plundered their way through a divided world in the earliest days of a budding American nation, and why their deep loyalty to British rule in the colonies made them enemies of the Founding Fathers," read the museums' description of the exhibit. "'The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution,' investigates the extraordinary tales of the Gangs criminal exploits throughout the region and explores the conflicts that arose among neighbors, friends, and families in Bucks County who were forced to choose sides during a time of great political and social unrest."

The longterm exhibit will run through Dec. 31, 2026.

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: A new look at the Doan Gang, Bucks County's notorious outlaws
When you buy and hold a stock for the long term, you definitely want it to provide a positive return. Furthermore, you'd generally like to see the share price rise faster than the market. But General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) has fallen short of that second goal, with a share price rise of 33% over five years, which is below the market return. Unfortunately the share price is down 19% in the last year.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

View our latest analysis for General Mills

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Over half a decade, General Mills managed to grow its earnings per share at 12% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 6% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of General Mills, it has a TSR of 56% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Investors in General Mills had a tough year, with a total loss of 16% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 24%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 9% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for General Mills you should know about.

Story continues

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of undervalued small caps that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Greeley declares disaster after storms cause over $1.45M in damage

DENVER (KDVR)  The city of Greeley has issued a local disaster declaration after severe storms tore through and caused damage earlier this week.

The storm that moved through Greeley on Tuesday night caused over $1.45 million in damages, according to a release from the city.

Thursdays hailstorm was unexpected  heres how it happened

The storm dropped piles of hail and inches of rain over Greeley  hail covered the ground like snow and rainwater trapped vehicles in floods. FOX31 crews visited Greeley on Wednesday and observed severe damage to homes and vehicles in the area.

A man died during the storm, but police said Friday that his cause of death was still under investigation.

On Friday, the city announced that Mayor John Gates signed a local disaster declaration in response to the significant flooding.

Greeley flooded streets

This declaration has been filed and will go before City Council on June 4 to continue the disaster declaration by resolution, the city stated.

The city said the severe weather caused extensive flooding and large amounts of hail, leading to damage across downtown and east Greeley.

Northern Colorado residents get cars stuck in floodwaters after severe storm

Since the storm, the city said its employees have been working to clean and clear city streets, assess damage and provide support for those impacted.

The Local Disaster Declaration is a crucial step in our response. It allows the City of Greeley to work interjurisdictionally in our recovery efforts and may activate eligibility for state and federal assistance programs, the city said.

As of Wednesday, Greeley estimated total damages from the storm amount to over $1.45 million, but the city is still in the early stages of reporting. The city is asking residents and businesses to report damages to the city of Greeley and Weld County so officials can see the extent of the storms impacts. Anyone can report damages to Weld County online.

Denver, Colorado weather resources

Stay prepared for storms and forecast changes, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day and other important weather information:

The Pinpoint Weather team will continue to update the forecast multiple times each day.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Two prosecutors in California accuse Kroger, the nations largest grocery store operator, of misleading shoppers about the calorie count of its Carbmaster bread products.

The district attorneys in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties announced a civil case on Friday alleging Kroger violated Californias false advertising and unfair competition laws from late 2018 until at least June 2022.

The company, which operates in California as Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Foods Co., is accused of prominently advertising that its Carbmaster Wheat and White breads contained 30 calories per slice when they, in fact, contain at least 50 calories.

Carbmaster Bread

The prosecutors provided photos to the media showing conflicting calorie labels on two sides of the same package of Carbmaster Classic White Bread.

Consumers rely on nutritional information to make important decisions about their personal health and well-being. For some consumers, these decisions are based upon medical necessity, said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. False advertising of calories can mislead, or even endanger consumers, and it provides an unfair advantage over competitors who are advertising in compliance with FDA guidelines.

Counterfeit iPhone, iPad scheme cost Apple millions, feds say

The complaint also alleges that Kroger continues to falsely advertise the incorrect, lower calorie count on some of its websites.

KTLA 5 News reached out to Kroger but did not receive a response Friday afternoon.

Krogers operates nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Grover Beach dropped its appeal of a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court ruling that requires the city to approve and release recall petitions against three City Council members, clearing the way for a citizens group to gather signatures.

However, with citizens group GroverH2O kicking off its efforts to get a recall election on the November ballot in January and launching its lawsuit against the city in late April, the window for the group to get the recall on the November ballot is narrow and closing quickly.

Last week, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen ordered the city to release a recall petition against City Council member Dan Rushing after GroverH2O sued the city for denying its recall petitions against Rushing and fellow Councilmember Zach Zimmerman and Mayor Karen Bright.

Grover Beach city manager Matt Bronson said the city originally filed an appeal of van Rooyens ruling on May 28, which temporarily stayed the Superior Court judges writ, leading to a one-day delay in releasing the petition.

However, at its Tuesday meeting the City Council met in closed session and directed the city attorney to withdraw its appeal, Bronson said.

The unaltered petition to recall Rushing was then released to GroverH2O by the city clerk on May 29, giving the petitioners until June 6 to collect a minimum of 504 valid signatures to get the recall on the November ballot, Bronson said.

The citys actions concerning the groups submitted recall petitions have been undertaken and based upon the citys duty to maintain the integrity of the elections process and to protect residents from being influenced by false or misleading statements, the citys most recent update on the lawsuit read. To this end, it is notable that the proponents submitted reformed petitions that excluded the statements in question, all of which the city approved.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.

Debbie Peterson, former mayor turned activist, said she was concerned that the three City Council members were able to vote on whether or not to fund a legal defense of the citys actions, and said the city attorney cannot file an appeal without the councils approval.

Bronson said these assertions are misinformation, as the city has authorized its attorney to act on its behalf since May 9, with a city update on the lawsuit further clarifying Rushings votes related to the recall.

Although the city maintains its position and is concerned about the precedent this ruling sets, the City Council has decided to withdraw the citys appeal to the Superior Court ruling to avoid further delay and the costs of a special election, the citys update read. All actions taken by Council regarding this matter in closed session, as properly reported out in open session, confirm that contrary to Grover H2Os assertions, Council Member Rushing did not participate in this vote or in previous votes related to his recall petition.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.

GroverH2O looking to change city clerk election rules

Peterson said in addition to its recall efforts, Grover H2O has another initiative related to the recall petitions in the works: changing the way Grover Beachs city clerk is chosen.

In California, 86 out of 478 incorporated cities use an election to select its city clerk. Paso Robles is the only San Luis Obispo County city that uses elections to select its city clerk, with all other cities leaving the selection up to its city manager.

Peterson said GroverH2O started working in April on a petition to change Grover Beachs city manager selection process to an election model and isnt married to an outcome.

She also said the group wasnt pursuing that initiative in the short-term, as it wouldnt be eligible for the 2024 ballot.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.

Bronson said regardless of whether proponents aimed to get the initiative on a 2024 or 2026 ballot, a special election would need to be held to change the rule, and another would be held no later than 90 days after the adoption of the measure.

Peterson said there are advantages and disadvantages to both ways of selecting a clerk, citing the possibility of selecting an unqualified candidate as a realistic potential outcome of holding elections.

The advantage and what I know is attractive to people who are signing the petition is that theres a conflict of interest when the city clerk is appointed by the city manager or a city council, because then their allegiance is to their employer, Peterson said. As the elections official, the City Clerks allegiance needs to be to the election process.
Guilty: Donald Trump says he raised nearly $53 million a day after his conviction

WASHINGTON - Former President Donald Trump and his aides are touting lucrative fundraising as proof his criminal court conviction will trigger a backlash and bolster his support among voters.

The Trump campaign announced late Friday it raised nearly $53 million in online donations in the 24 hours after a New York jury convicted him of falsifying business records in order to improperly influence the 2016 presidential election.

Donald Trump at a news conference on Friday

"This momentum is just getting started," senior Trump advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said, in a statement.

They added: "Americans will render the real verdict November 5th."

The new money could Trump further close the financial advantage enjoyed by President Joe Biden and his campaign.

The campaigns, the voters, and the media are still trying to absorb the jury verdict.

In a complex case, jurors found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying records of hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, seeking to prevent voters from learning about his encounter with the adult film actress.

Trump said he will appeal his conviction.

In the meantime, he and his campaign team are putting together a revamped schedule of events designed to argue that the trial was politically motivated.

Trump is scheduled for an interview to be broadcast Sunday on the Fox News program FOX & Friends Weekend.

Pollsters and political analysts with the Trump and Biden campaigns are poring over polling data, trying to figure out how the conviction will affect the fall election. Even small shifts in voter sentiment could well make the difference in closely contested states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

A Morning Consult poll published Saturday said 54% "strongly" or "somewhat" approved of the verdict, while 34% disapproved.

The poll conducted on Friday also said that 49% of Independents and 15% of Republicans said Trump should drop out of the race because of the conviction, although the former president has said he has no intention of doing that.

Overall, the Morning Consult poll had the race basically tied, with Biden ahead of Trump by 45%-44%, well within the margin of error.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Friday reported that 10% of Republican registered voters say they are less likely to vote for Trump following his felony conviction.

During a rambling news conference on Friday, Trump denounced the judge, the prosecutors, and the trial itself.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," the presumptive 2024 Republican White House nominee told reporters gathered at Trump Tower.

The Biden campaign described Trumps performance as "confused, desperate, and defeated."

Said Biden campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler: "Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump says he raised nearly $53 million after his conviction
People at Trump Tower look at their phones as the guilty verdict of former U.S. President Donald Trump is reported Thursday.

Former President Donald Trump is a convicted felon.

A unanimous jury in the Manhattan case concluded May 30 that Trump was guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in an alleged scheme to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

"Victory on November 5th!" Trump wrote on Truth Social soon after the jury read its historic verdict. "Save America!!!"

Trump spoke to reporters briefly after the verdict and his campaign sent out an email. We fact-checked their statements.

"Breaking from Trump: I am a political prisoner!"  Trump campaign email

We rated a similar statement by another speaker False.

Theres no universally accepted definition of "political prisoner," but human rights and international law experts told PolitiFact in April 2023 that political prisoners are targeted specifically for their political beliefs or activities.

Experts told us then that there was no sign the legal proceedings in Trumps case were unfair or that he was being held without due process, which is a common experience for political prisoners. Political prisoners are also frequently tortured or mistreated, experts said. Trump had legal representation and has a right to appeal.

Being detained or imprisoned is a crucial part of being classified a political prisoner, according to experts and severalavailable definitions. Trump was convicted, but he has not been detained. Hell face sentencing July 11.

Milena Sterio, a Cleveland State University College of Law professor, said there is nothing that signals Trump is a political prisoner. He "was not charged with criminal offenses because of his political beliefs," she said. He was not imprisoned for participating in protests or for expressing dissenting opinions, she said, and he has not suffered any mistreatment of human rights violations.

"Most importantly, he was not held without a trial or due process  his convictions are the result of a relatively lengthy trial," she said.

"This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent."  Trump in remarks to reporters

We rated a similar statement by Trump as False.

The Manhattan district attorneys investigation of Trump began in 2018, before Biden was his partys presidential nominee. District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed the charges in 2023. Trumps fighting a subpoena lengthened this timeline.

Trump has criticized Bragg for hiring Matthew Colangelo, a former Department of Justice prosecutor who, when working for the New York attorney general, investigated Trump. Multiple lawyers told us that seasoned prosecutors commonly move among federal, state and local offices. Reasonable people might question the political wisdom of Braggs hire, but it doesnt prove that Biden has directed the Manhattan investigation.

"The more relevant prior position held by Colangelo is not his DOJ jobs, but the NY AG position in which he participated in the Trump Foundation investigation," University of Missouri law professor Frank O. Bowman III wrote in an email.

"I'd bet that Bragg hired him in part because of his familiarity with the intricacies of Trump's businesses and financial dealings," wrote Bowman, a former local prosecutor in Denver and federal prosecutor in Florida. "But, again, that proves exactly nothing about Biden influence on the Manhattan case."

"You have a Soros-backed DA."  Trump in remarks to reporters

George Soros is a liberal billionaire and the frequent target of conservatives criticism.

There is a tie between Bragg and Soros, but its indirect.

Soros did not donate directly to Braggs campaign. Soros donated $1 million in May 2021 to Color of Change, a progressive racial justice group that endorsed Bragg and pledged to spend more than $1 million supporting his campaign. Color of Change supported other progressive district attorney candidates, too.

Its impossible to know whether Soros or Color of Change swayed Braggs decisions on investigating Trump. The groups long-standing focus has been on criminal justice policy and racial equity rather than on Trumps legal situation.

Soros has long supported prosecutors who seek to reform the criminal justice system. While campaigning, Bragg argued that theres a separate standard of justice for the rich and powerful than for everyone else.

Our sources

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fact-checking Trump on Bidens role, being a political prisoner
A general view of the Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) party logo projected on stage during the Chemnitz party event. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Hackers carried out a major attack on Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union party, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Saturday.

The ministry did not provide further information about the extent or nature of the attack, which is being investigated by Germany's domestic security service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

"However, the nature of the attack points to a very professional actor," a spokesman said.

The incident is being taken very seriously, according to sources close to the government.
A general view of the Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) party logo projected on stage during the Chemnitz party event. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Hackers have carried out a major attack on Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union party, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Saturday.

The ministry did not provide further information about the extent or nature of the attack, which is being investigated by Germany's domestic security service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

"However, the nature of the attack points to a very professional actor," a spokesman said.

The incident - one week before elections to the European Parliament - is being taken very seriously, according to sources close to the government.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has reportedly been in contact with CDU party leader Friedrich Merz.

The CDU, the party of former chancellor Angela Merkel, said it was working closely with German security authorities and other external experts.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is set to issue a warning to all parties in the German parliament on Saturday, the Interior Ministry spokesman said.

"Our security authorities have ramped up all protective measures against digital and hybrid threats and are providing information on the dangers. We are once again seeing how necessary this is, especially before elections," he added.

Germany's governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) was also the victim of a cyberattack last year, with email accounts being hacked. The government blamed a Russian military intelligence unit for the hack and summoned a high-ranking Russian diplomat to the Foreign Office in Berlin.

German companies from the logistics, defence, aerospace and IT services sectors were also victims of last year's attack. According to the SPD, the source was an unknown security vulnerability linked to Microsoft software.
Phoenix residents don't need to be reminded it's hot in June. But it can be helpful to have a refresher on how to keep yourself, your loved ones and your community safe when summer temperatures arrive. And data-driven insights into how much a warming climate has influenced modern heat extremes and their impacts don't hurt, either.

That's the purpose of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' "Heat Action Day," scheduled for Sunday. The IFRC is the worlds largest humanitarian network and, as such, has put resources into tracking how climate change has exacerbated the human toll of rising temperatures.

This year, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre collaborated on a scientific report looking at how much climate change has escalated global extreme heat over the past 12 months. They partnered with Climate Central, a nonpartisan science communication organization based in the U.S., and World Weather Attribution, an international research collective exploring how extreme weather events are influenced by atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.

The report, released Tuesday, has not been peer-reviewed but was produced using scientifically peer-reviewed methodology in an effort to get results to the public faster.

The scientist authors concluded that between May 15, 2023 and May 15, 2024 more than six billion people globally were exposed to 31 days of extreme heat  defined as hotter than 90% of temperatures typical across a given country between 1991 and 2020  that were made twice as likely by human-caused climate change. This type of research, known as climate attribution science, builds on the understanding that the combustion of fossil fuels for energy has resulted in generally higher temperatures and more intense weather. The advanced climate models allow researchers to now pinpoint the exact influence these pollutants have on specific weather events.

Arizonans, according to the report, suffered through an average of 37.9 more days of locally-extreme heat over the past 12 months than they would have were it not for climate change. Arizona ranked fourth out of U.S. states and territories in this measure, behind Puerto Rico (109 extra days of heat), Florida (54 days) and Hawaii (52 days).

Understanding heat data: Heat records toppled like dominoes this year. How do we know which numbers tell the story?

Out of 168 countries analyzed, the U.S. ranked 144th with an average of 19 additional climate-influenced days of extreme heat this past year. Ecuador experienced 169 more days of locally-extreme heat because of human-caused climate change, nearly half the days in the timeframe considered. In the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, the report concluded that a heat wave in March had been made 35 times more likely by climate change.

The results surprised even the scientists who have been crunching these numbers for decades.

"Since we started World Weather Attribution 10 years ago we always found that these heat waves have been made more intense (by climate change), but this last year, almost in every heat wave we looked at there were temperatures that were so high it would have been impossible without climate change," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist based in the U.K. who in 2021 was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world and who helped author this report.

"So that was a really noticeable shift, that we don't just get hotter and more (frequent) heat waves, but that they've become so hot that it's completely out of (the realm of) anything you would have even deemed possible without climate change."

Heat hits different depending on where and who you are

While there are many ways to measure heat, the approach in this report highlights the impact of locally extreme heat on residents adapted to particular temperature ranges based on local historical norms. A 110-degree day in Flagstaff, for example, would likely send a larger percentage of that city's elderly and vulnerable population to the emergency room than a 110-degree day in Phoenix, where those conditions are more expected.

Phoenix is a super special place because you guys get some of the hottest temperatures in the country and so youre going to use different benchmarks," Andrew Pershing, a scientist with Climate Central and an author on this week's report, told The Republic in a November interview about a similar report. "What we wanted to do was to have a single way of defining what an extreme temperature would feel like for people anywhere on the planet."

Local leaders on heat response: Mayor Kate Gallego on Phoenix's 'hellscape' year and what's in store for 2024

How people experience heat also depends on their health, housing, work and social support situations. In 2023, a year when many heat records were broken in metro Phoenix, Maricopa County recorded 645 heat-related deaths, a staggering 52% increase over the previous year. Almost half of these were among people experiencing homelessness, half had an existing medical or mental health condition and nearly two out of three victims were over 50.

Outdoor workers, many of whom are lower-income or minority individuals, are also particularly vulnerable. Advocates on this issue celebrated some recent local progress when Phoenix officials voted in March to enact heat safety protections for contractors. But many feel the risk is still vastly under-acknowledged and under-regulated across the country, especially given intensifying heat.

"For those of us who work in air conditioned offices and can afford a nice car and have a nice house or apartment, 110 degrees is annoying but you can deal with it," Pershing told The Republic.

Heat feature: In Yuma, farmworkers' struggle with heat is worsened by inadequate housing

The steadily skyrocketing heat death toll in Maricopa County is despite the efforts of Phoenix's Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, which launched in October 2021 and has been adding staff and programs ever since.

In a call Tuesday about the new climate attribution results, Michelle Litwin, Phoenix's Heat Response Program Manager, said Phoenix handed out 400,000 water bottles and provided 28,000 people with heat response supplies last year in an effort to manage escalating human health impacts. The city office also works on tree shade initiatives and has a "Cool Caller" program to check on vulnerable residents during especially hot days.

Phoenix's heat office, the first of its kind in the nation to be publicly funded, has become an international leader on urban heat interventions. Still, it has been difficult for them to keep pace with how climate change exacerbates the risks every year. Recognizing this growing challenge in Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed the nation's first statewide chief heat officer in March.

A woman sits under evaporative coolers as temperatures exceed 105 degrees at Andre House who offers services for the homeless in Phoenix on July 12, 2021.

Tips for weathering hot weather

The report released Tuesday ahead of "Heat Action Day" includes tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of high temperatures. It also emphasizes that "deaths from extreme heat are preventable."

At the individual level, the best options to reduce exposure to extreme heat include staying hydrated, spending less time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day and making home weatherization improvements to increase energy and air conditioning efficiency, the report recommends.

Harlee Wheeler, (R) Addison Rushefsky (L) and Aiden Rushefsky run and slide through the water at the Splash Pad on a triple-digit heat day at Desert Breeze Park on May 28, 2024, in Chandler, Arizona.

For people like outdoor workers who are unable to stay inside on hot days, "self-dousing" with water can help by encouraging evaporative cooling. Installing shade options and taking regular breaks can also make the difference between life and death during heat events.

As whole communities, possible actions to address heat impacts include improving access to water, cooling centers and emergency medical services. Building more reliability and efficiency into electricity grids, transportation infrastructure and early warning systems can help. And pushing for stricter worker safety laws, more cold food storage and heat-mindful urban planning would also minimize human and economic losses, the report suggests.

Hobbs recently proclaimed May 6-10, 2024 as "Arizona Heat Awareness Week," so residents may already be more prepared for the summer ahead than people living in regions less accustomed to extreme temperatures. The Phoenix heat office also makes a point of reminding people about heat safety tips in early May each year. But officials have found the need for heat education to be never-ending.

"A big crux that we've been finding issues with is those that are most vulnerable don't know about the resources that are available to them," said Litwin with the Phoenix heat office. "So a lot of what I am working on is actually being out there on a day to day basis, interacting with those most vulnerable communities and making sure they know that they can call 2-1-1 and get a free ride to one of the cooling or respite centers, and then once they get there, making sure they know about the other resources that are available to them, should they be ready to have those conversations."

Phoenix-specific tips from the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation echo the advice in the globally-focused climate report, but also include recommendations to follow @NWSPhoenix (the Phoenix branch of the National Weather Service) on social media to keep track of heat alerts, to know and watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and to wear light-colored clothing and apply sunscreen when going outside.

The city also wants renters to know that landlords are required to maintain indoor temperatures at or below 82 degrees Fahrenheit for units with air conditioning, and 86 degrees or cooler for units with evaporative coolers. Residents can call 602-262-7210 to lodge complaints about this.

Read our climate series: The latest from Joan Meiners at azcentral, a column on climate change

In the bigger picture of the Heat Action Day climate report, an infographic illustrates how effects from more frequent extreme heat events permeate every aspect of society, from disrupting tourism and the economy, to affecting water levels and crop success, to elevating air pollution, aggression and mental health concerns.

Collaborators presenting the research Tuesday emphasized that responding to each of these consequences of heat retroactively will be much more expensive and challenging than addressing the root cause now by taking action to limit climate change. The way to do that, the authors said, is by insisting on a shift to cleaner and more efficient energy options and by reducing unnecessary consumption of plastic and other emissions-heavy products.

"Of course, the cause of the climate change that's making more and more people experience extreme heat is the fossil fuels that we've been putting into the atmosphere. That's driving the increased heat," said Roop Singh, a climate risk advisor with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. "So it's absolutely a day to focus on both mitigation and adaptation."

Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com. Read more of her coverage at environment.azcentral.com.

Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly climate and environment newsletter.

Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com at this link.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: On Heat Action Day, tips to stay safe in a climate-warmed world
Germany's army stepped in to help as severe rainstorms lashed large parts of the country's south on Saturday, causing rivers to swell and floods that forced residents and prisoners to be evacuated.

Faeser said 520 volunteers working for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) were bringing people to safety, securing dykes and pumping out water. She thanked members of the emergency services for their tireless work to protect lives and promised further assistance to southern German regions hit by the flooding.

The Bundeswehr, Germany's army, was also providing support to relief efforts, distributing blankets and camp beds and bringing further supplies.

Train services were cancelled between the Bavarian capital Munich, Bregenz in Austria and Switzerlands Zurich due to flooding. The route between Ulm and Augsburg was also affected, and long-distance trains travelling between Stuttgart and Munich were diverted.

Authorities in the Bavarian district of Augsburg said evacuations were required after a dyke and a dam gave way under the deluge.

The Bavarian Red Cross said it used a helicopter to rescue two people from the roof of their home in Babenhausen. The pair were in a life-threatening situation, a spokesman said.

Emergency services in the area reportedly brought more than 100 people to safety on Saturday including dozens of children.

In the Bavarian town of Fischach, west of Munich, a helicopter was used to rescue people from their homes after the Schmutter river broke its banks. The residents would not have been able to leave their homes by any other means, said a spokeswoman for the district administration.

According to police, boats and emergency services were also on the way to take people from inundated houses. Several neighbouring districts declared a state of emergency as the rain continued and water levels continued to rise.

A prison in Memmingen was also evacuated as waters rose, with its 100 prisoners being taken in by institutions nearby.

As several rivers rose to record levels, Bavaria's environment ministry set up a flood task force to coordinate measures throughout the state. Officials were preparing state reservoirs for the floods, the ministry said later on Saturday.

"The situation is very serious, especially in large parts of Swabia. The warning services are permanently on alert and are keeping an eye on the situation," state environment minister Thorsten Glauber said. "Everything possible is being done to prevent or reduce damage through consistent action in advance," he added.

In the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, west of Bavaria, the situation was rapidly deteriorating after the Rottum river began to flood several towns. In the town of Reinstetten, 150 emergency services worked for more than 22 hours to stem flooding from a breached dam, Mayor Philipp Burkle told dpa.

Burkle said fire brigades from the surrounding area were pumping out cellars and distributing sandbags. An assisted living facility in the area with 15 residents was evacuated.

Further north, authorities in the resort town of Wiesensteig imposed a requirement for its 2,100 residents to boil water before consumption after floodwaters washed over the local water supply facility.

To the south, near Lake Constance, a school in the Baden-Wurttemberg village of Meckenbeuren had to be evacuated when flooding from a local river overwhelmed sandbag barriers.

The German weather service predicted further thunderstorms and as much as 80 litres of rainfall per square metre in southern areas of Germany on Saturday. The storms were also likely to continue on Sunday.

Inclement weather also caused problems in eastern Germany, with the fire brigade called out repeatedly in eastern Thuringia due to heavy rain and thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon. The Gera control centre said cellars, streets and fields were flooded in the Greiz district.

A police helicopter flies over a flooded residential area. The region has become inundated as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Stefan Puchner/dpa

A police helicopter flies over a flooded residential area. The region has become inundated as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Stefan Puchner/dpa
Saga plc (LON:SAGA) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 28% in the last month. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last half decade have been stomach churning. Like a ship taking on water, the share price has sunk 78% in that time. So we don't gain too much confidence from the recent recovery. The million dollar question is whether the company can justify a long term recovery.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for Saga

Saga isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally hope to see good revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

In the last five years Saga saw its revenue shrink by 6.4% per year. While far from catastrophic that is not good. The share price fall of 12% (per year, over five years) is a stern reminder that money-losing companies are expected to grow revenue. We're generally averse to companies with declining revenues, but we're not alone in that. Fear of becoming a 'bagholder' may be keeping people away from this stock.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We've already covered Saga's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR attempts to capture the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested) as well as any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that Saga's TSR, which was a 75% drop over the last 5 years, was not as bad as the share price return.

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Saga shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 18% over the last year. That certainly beats the loss of about 12% per year over the last half decade. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Saga you should know about.

Story continues

Of course Saga may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Employees of the riding club stand next to sandbags on the flooded grounds. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

Germany's army stepped in to help as severe rainstorms lashed large parts of the country's south on Saturday, leading many towns to declare states of emergency as rivers swelled and floods rose, requiring the evacuation of residents and prisoners.

As the heavy rainfall continued late into the night, preparations were underway to evacuate 670 people in Upper Bavaria, with boats being deployed in the town of Schrobenhausen, local authorities said, after earlier declaring a state of disaster.

At least nine other municipalities also declared a state of emergency as water levels rose during the day.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said 520 volunteers working for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) were bringing people to safety, securing dykes and pumping out water.

The Bundeswehr, Germany's army, was also supporting relief efforts, distributing blankets and camp beds and bringing further supplies. The Red Cross also stepped in, providing trained water rescuers and specialist diving teams.

Earlier, train services were cancelled between the Bavarian capital Munich, Bregenz in Austria and Switzerland's Zurich due to flooding. The route between Ulm and Augsburg was also affected, and long-distance trains travelling between Stuttgart and Munich were diverted.

Authorities in the Bavarian district of Augsburg said evacuations were required after a dyke and a dam gave way under the deluge.

The Bavarian Red Cross said it used a helicopter to rescue two people from the roof of their home in Babenhausen. The pair were in a life-threatening situation, a spokesman said.

Emergency services in the area reportedly brought more than 100 people to safety on Saturday including dozens of children.

In the Bavarian town of Fischach, west of Munich, a helicopter was used to rescue people from their homes after the Schmutter river broke its banks. The residents would not have been able to leave their homes by any other means, said a spokeswoman for the district administration.

According to police, boats and emergency services were also on the way to take people from inundated houses. Several neighbouring districts declared a state of emergency as the rain continued and water levels continued to rise.

A prison in Memmingen was also evacuated as waters rose, with its 100 prisoners being taken in by institutions nearby.

As several rivers rose to record levels, Bavaria's Environment Ministry set up a flood task force to coordinate measures throughout the state. Officials were preparing state reservoirs for the floods, the ministry said.

"The situation is very serious, especially in large parts of [the region of] Swabia. The warning services are permanently on alert and are keeping an eye on the situation," state environment minister Thorsten Glauber said. "Everything possible is being done to prevent or reduce damage through consistent action in advance."

In the southern state of Baden-Wurttemberg, west of Bavaria, the situation was rapidly deteriorating after the Rottum river began to flood several towns. In the town of Reinstetten, 150 emergency services worked for more than 22 hours to stem flooding from a breached dam, Mayor Philipp Burkle told dpa.

Burkle said fire brigades from the surrounding area were pumping out cellars and distributing sandbags. An assisted living facility in the area with 15 residents was evacuated.

Further north, authorities in the resort town of Wiesensteig imposed a requirement for its 2,100 residents to boil water before consumption after floodwaters washed over the local water supply facility.

To the south, near Lake Constance, a school in the village of Meckenbeuren had to be evacuated when flooding from a local river overwhelmed sandbag barriers.

The German weather service predicted further thunderstorms and as much as 80 litres of rainfall per square metre in southern areas of Germany on Saturday. The storms were also likely to continue on Sunday.

Inclement weather also caused problems in eastern Germany, with the fire brigade called out repeatedly in eastern parts of the state of Thuringia due to heavy rain and thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon.

A horse looks out of a box in the flooded riding club facility. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

A cyclist rides across a flooded road. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

A helicopter circles over the village during the flood situation. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

A police helicopter flies over a flooded residential area. The region has become inundated as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Stefan Puchner/dpa

A police helicopter flies over a flooded residential area. The region has become inundated as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Stefan Puchner/dpa
A police helicopter flies over a flooded residential area. The region has become inundated as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Stefan Puchner/dpa

Severe rainstorms lashed large parts of southern Germany on Friday and Saturday, causing major disruptions to transport links and leading residents to be evacuated by helicopter.

A dyke and a dam also gave way under the deluge, requiring separate evacuations, authorities in the Bavarian district of Augsburg said.

Train services were cancelled between the Bavarian capital Munich, Bregenz in Austria and Switzerlands Zurich due to flooding. The route between Ulm and Augsburg was also affected, and long-distance trains travelling between Stuttgart and Munich were diverted.

In the Bavarian town of Fischach, west of Munich, a helicopter was used to rescue people from their homes after the Schmutter river broke its banks. The residents would not have been able to leave their homes by any other means, said a spokeswoman for the district administration.

According to police, boats and emergency services were also on the way to take people from inundated houses. Several neighbouring districts declared a state of emergency as the rain continued and water levels continued to rise.

In the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, west of Bavaria, the situation was rapidly deteriorating after the Rottum river began to flood several towns. In the town of Reinstetten, 150 emergency services had been working for more than 22 hours to stem flooding from a breached dam, Mayor Philipp Burkle told dpa.

Burkle said fire brigades from the surrounding area were pumping out cellars and distributing sandbags. Just one assisted living facility, with 15 residents, had been evacuated so far.

Some 55 km to the north, authorities in the resort town of Wiesensteig imposed a requirement for its 2,100 residents to boil water before consumption after floodwaters washed over the local water supply facility.

To the south, near Lake Constance, a school in the Baden-Wurttemberg village of Meckenbeuren had to be evacuated when flooding from a local river collapsed sandbag barriers around it.

The German weather service predicted further thunderstorms and as much as 80 litres of rainfall per square metre in southern areas of Germany on Saturday. The storms were also likely to continue on Sunday.

A police helicopter flies over a flooded residential area. The region has become inundated as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Stefan Puchner/dpa
Do you need help in a hurricane? What to do and who to contact in Miami, Broward, Keys

Forecasters are predicting a busy hurricane season.

While we keep a wary eye on the systems tracked by the National Hurricane Center, its time to prepare for the worst. Like knowing about evacuation orders.

Will you have to leave your home? When? And where will you go?

Here are the emergency websites, phone numbers and social media accounts you should save in South Florida for evacuation zones and other vital information:

Miami-Dade County

The Miami Herald front page on Friday, Aug. 28, 1992. We Need Help as Hurricane Andrew aftermath overwhelmed during relief efforts in Miami-Dade.

Miami-Dade Countys Office of Emergency Management supports the communitys disaster preparedness and has a variety of useful resources including hurricane preparation guides and information on emergency evacuations, Red Cross shelters, storm surge.

For tropical storm and hurricane specific information, including on evacuation zones, visit miamidade.gov/hurricane

Phone: Call 311 for general information and to report problems including downed traffic signs and blocked roadways. You can also sign up to receive emergency alerts by email





If you feel your life is in danger, call 911. If you cannot call, text 911. If texting, enter 911 in the To field, then enter your location and a short description of the emergency and hit send. Do not send pictures, videos, emojis, group messages, slang, abbreviations or web links.

App: You can download ReadyMDC to your Apple or Android smartphone for up-to-the minute hurricane info.

Emergency evacuation assistance program:

If people need assistance with evacuation and sheltering because they require special transportation, have no transportation or have medical needs that prevent leaving the area on their own, they are encouraged to register with the county by calling 305-513-7700. You should not wait until an evacuation order is given to request being added to the registry as resources are limited.

The county says residents in assisted living facilities or nursing homes dont qualify for this program because those businesses must have their own emergency plans.

Shutter installation assistance:

The county has a year-round first-come, first-served paint and hurricane shutter loan program that helps homeowners with a low to moderate household income to have the exterior of their home painted or accordion hurricane shutters installed. Keep in mind that a lien will be placed on your home.

Seniors and adults with disabilities who already have shutters (that were obtained from Miami-Dade County) and need help installing them ahead of a storm can also request help through Miami-Dades Residential Shuttering Program, which operates during hurricane season (June 1-Nov. 30). If a storm is approaching, you will receive a phone call to find out if you need help.

To learn about both programs, visit the countys website.

X (formerly Twitter):

Miami-Dade County @MiamiDadeCounty

Miami-Dade Emergency Management @MiamiDadeEM

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava @MayorDaniella

Miami-Dade police @MiamiDadePD

TIP: Check to see if your citys mayor, commissioners and police department are active on social media. If they are, its a good idea to follow them. Miami Mayor Francis Suarezs X name, for example, is @FrancisSuarez. Miami and Miami Beach police can be found on X at @MiamiPD and @MiamiBeachPD.

Broward County

Broward Countys Office of Emergency Management supports disaster preparedness and offers useful resources including hurricane prep guides and information on emergency evacuations, Red Cross shelters, storm surge.

For hurricane information, including evacuation plans and maps, visit broward.org/hurricane

Phone: Call 311 for general information. You can also sign up to receive emergency alerts by phone, text or email. Sign up at https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085614962#/login

If you feel like your life is in danger, call 911. If you cannot call, text 911. If texting, enter 911 in the To field, then enter your location and a short description of the emergency and hit send. Do not send pictures, videos, emojis, group messages, slang, abbreviations or web links.

If you only want emergency notifications, you can text AlertBroward to 888777. You will then need to provide your ZIP Code.

Emergency evacuation assistance:

Broward County recommends that those who are at higher risk of needing help due to disability, frailty or health , regardless of age, and choose to stay during a hurricane or other emergency should sign up for their Vulnerable Population Registry.

Residents should register in advance (dont wait for a storm to be in the forecast) either online or by calling 311 because resources are limited. You can also preregister to request transportation to a shelter by calling 954-831-3902 or TTY 954-831-3940.

Learn more at broward.org/atrisk

X:

Broward County Office of Emergency Management @ReadyBroward

Broward Sheriffs Office @browardsheriff

Tip: Check to see if your citys mayor, commissioners and police department are active on social media. If they are, its a good idea to follow them. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis is on X at @DeanTrantalis. Fort Lauderdale police can be accessed at @ftlauderdalepd.

Monroe County

Key West resident Pedro Lara takes a selfie in front of the Southernmost Point marker as waves from Hurricane Irma crash over the wall, September 9, 2017.

Monroe Countys Office of Emergency Management supports the communitys disaster preparedness and has resources including hurricane prep guides and information on emergency evacuations and Red Cross shelters.

Evacuation maps and info: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/897/Evacuation-Information

Phone: 305-294-4641.

To sign up for emergency alerts, visit: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085614966#/login

If you feel youre in danger, call 911. If you cannot call, text 911. If texting, enter 911 in the To field, then enter your location and a short description of the emergency and hit send. Dont send pictures, videos, emojis, group messages, slang, abbreviations or web links.

Special Needs Registry: Those with a disability who may need assistance in leaving during a hurricane or other disaster can preregister with the countys Special Needs Registry Everbridge Application Portal. This may take time so dont wait until the last minute because the Department of Health medical staff will need to review applications.

X:

Monroe County BOCC @monroecounty

Florida Keys Sheriff @keyssheriff

KNOW MORE: Hurricane season is here  and we have some advice on how to deal with a Florida storm

School Updates

If a storm is forecast to hit South Florida while class is in session, parents and students should check email, their school website and social media for information on closings and openings.

 Miami-Dade Public Schools

Website: http://www.dadeschools.net/

X: @MDCPS

Superintendent Jose Dotres @SuptDotres

Miami-Dade schools police: @MDSPD

 Broward County Public Schools

Website: https://www.browardschools.com/

X: @browardschools

Superintendent Howard Hepburn @howardhepburn

 Monroe County School District

Website: https://www.keysschools.com/

X: @keysschools

 Archdiocese of Miami

Website: https://www.miamiarch.org/

X: @CatholicMiami

Superintendent Jim Rigg: @RiggJim

College and university students should check their email, monitor local news and their schools social media accounts.

Statewide

 National Hurricane Center will provide information on wind speed, the storms development and its potential track.

Website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

X: @NHC_Atlantic

 National Weather Service will provide various forecast information including rain chances and potential hazards. Input your ZIP Code for the most accurate forecast.

Website: https://www.weather.gov/

X: @NWSMiami is for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. @NWSKeyWest is for the Florida Keys.

 Gov. Ron DeSantis on X: @GovRonDeSantis

 Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on X: @AGAshleyMoody

To report price gouging, call 866-9NO-SCAM or report it through the free No SCAM app available for Apple and Android smartphones.

 Florida Division of Emergency Management:

Website: www.floridadisaster.org.

X: @FLSERT

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie on X: @KevinGuthrieFL

Power, TV, phone and Internet

 Florida Power and Light

Website: fpl.com/storm

X: @insideFPL

To report or check the status of an outage, visit: https://www.fpl.com/my-account/web-outage.html#wors/mainTab/phoneTab

To report a dangerous condition such as a downed power line, call 800-468-8243. If you are in danger, call 911.

 Florida Keys Electric Cooperative

To report or check the status of an outage, visit: fkec.com/outage-center/. You can also report an outage by calling 305-587-9256 or 800-858-8845. You can also text 451-83.

To report a dangerous condition such as a downed power line, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative says to call 911 and then to call the utility at 305-587-9256.

X: @FLKeysElectric

 Keys Energy Services

To report or check the status of an outage, visit https://www.keysenergy.com/.

To report a dangerous condition, such as a downed power line, call 305-295-1010. If you are in danger, call 911.

X: @KeysEnergy

 Xfinity

To report or check if a service outage has been reported in your area, sign into your account and check the Status Center.

Tip: Once the storm is over, if youre in need of internet, you can find a nearby Xfinity hotspot to use. Xfinity also has a website with other useful information for when a storm hits at xfinity.com/Response.

 AT&T

To report or check if a service outage has been reported in your area, sign into your account online at att.com or use the myATT app.

Other websites, phone numbers to know

 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

Website: www.fema.gov

X: @fema

App: Download the free FEMA app on your Apple or Android phone for real-time alerts, emergency shelter locations, disaster recovery centers.

 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  People in emotional distress or who are considering suicide can call 800-273-8255 for free 24/7 confidential support. Starting on July 16, 2022, people can call 988 for the helpline. For Spanish, call 888-628-9454. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 800-273-8255.

Its also a good idea to write down the phone numbers of family members and put the paper in your hurricane kit, just in case something happens to your phone.
Heres what I tell teachers about how to teach young students about slavery

Nervous. Concerned. Worried. Wary. Unprepared.

This is how middle and high school teachers have told me they have felt over the past few years when it comes to teaching the troublesome topic of slavery.

Although I work with teachers in Massachusetts, their reaction to teaching about slavery is common among teachers throughout the U.S.

Fortunately, in recent years there have been a growing number of individuals who have weighed in with useful advice.

Some, such as history professors Hasan Kwame Jeffries and Kenneth Greenberg, have advocated for helping students see the ways in which enslaved people fought back against the brutality of slavery. Whether through a focus on the fight to maintain family and culture, resistance at work, running away, physical confrontation or revolt, students get a deeper understanding of slavery when the lessons include the various ways that enslaved people courageously fought against their bondage.

Others, like James W. Loewen, the author of the popular book Lies My Teacher Told Me, have argued for a focus on how slavery has deeply influenced our popular culture through movies, television series, historical fiction and music.

There are also those who recommend the use of specific resources and curriculum materials, like the Harriet Jacobs Papers Project, the four-part documentary series Africans in America and the Freedom on the Move database, which features thousands of runaway slave advertisements.

Heeding some of these recommendations, in my work with teachers we have sought to come up with lessons that students like Ailany Rivas, a junior at Claremont Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts, say have helped them to become more informed and educated about the brutal history of slavery and its legacy. These lessons that I have developed take a variety of approaches but are all rooted in taking a look at the realities of slavery using historical evidence.

Many students have echoed Ailany in feedback that I have collected from nine different classes where I have helped design lessons about slavery.

And the teachers whom I have worked with have all shared informally that they are now confident in taking on the challenge of teaching the complex history of slavery.

Much of this confidence, in my opinion, is due to four things that I believe are mandatory for any teacher who plans to deal with slavery.

1. Explore actual records

Few things shine the light on the harsh realities of slavery like historical documents. Im talking about things such as plantation records, slave diaries and letters penned by plantation owners and their mistresses.

A former enslaved Black person, W. B. Gould, escaped the South during the Civil War and began writing in a diary. Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

It also pays to examine wanted advertisements for runaway slaves. These ads provided details about those who managed to escape slavery. In some cases, the ads contain drawings of slaves.

These materials can help teachers guide students to better understand the historical context in which slavery existed. Educators may also wish to look at how people such as historian Cynthia Lynn Lyerly, who wrote a chapter in Understanding and Teaching American Slavery, have used historical documents to teach about slavery.

2. Examine historical arguments

In order to better understand different perspectives on slavery, it pays to examine historical arguments about how slavery developed, expanded and ended.

Students can read texts that were written by abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and pro-slavery advocates like George Fitzhugh.

They should wade through the newspaper advertisements that provided details about those who managed to escape slavery.

Looking at these different arguments will show students that history is filled with disagreement, debate and interpretations based on different goals.

For instance, in examining arguments about slavery, teachers can show students how early 20th-century historians like Ulrich Bonnell Phillips sought to put forth ideas about kind masters and contented slaves, while others from the 1990s, such as John Hope Franklin, co-author of Runaway Slaves: Rebels on the Plantation, focused on how Black people resisted slavery.

Seeing these starkly different portrayals of slavery gives students a chance to examine how things such as choice, context, racism and bias might affect the way slavery is seen or viewed.

3. Highlight lived experiences

In my 11 years of teaching history, many students entered my classes with a great deal of misinformation about what life was like for those who lived under slavery. In pre-unit surveys, some stated that the enslaved worked only in the cotton fields and were not treated that badly. We know the historical records tell a different story. While many worked as field hands, there were others who were put into service as blacksmiths, carpenters, gunsmiths, maids and tailors.

To combat misconceptions like this, I advise teachers to use historical sources that feature details about the lived experiences of enslaved people.

For instance, teachers should have students read Harriet Jacobs memoir  Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl  alongside diaries written by white plantation owners.

Scrutinize photographs of slave quarters and excerpts from the Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers Project, which contains more than 2,300 first-person accounts of slavery.

Ask students to examine various historical sources to gain a better understanding of how people lived through their bondage over time.

4. Consider the relevance

It is also crucial for teachers to consider the various ways in which slavery is relevant to the present with their students. I advise them to ask questions like: How has the history of slavery influenced the status of Black people in the United States today? Why are there so many movies about slavery?

In Ailanys class, we ended our unit by providing students with a chance to read and think about the relevance of recent picture books about slavery like Patricia Polaccos Januarys Sparrow, Ann Turner and James Ransomes My Name Is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth and Frye Gallard, Marti Rosner and Jordana Haggards The Slave Who Went to Congress.

We asked students to draw on what they had learned about slavery to consider and then share their perspectives about the historical accuracy, classroom appropriateness and relevance of a selected picture book. Students always have much to say about all three.

Teaching slavery has been and will continue to be challenging. To teachers who are asked or required to take on this challenge, the four things discussed above can serve as strong guideposts for creating lessons that should make the challenge easier to navigate.

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: Raphael E. Rogers, Clark University

Read more:



Raphael E. Rogers 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.
Hezbollah fighters shoot down an Israeli drone in Lebanon and fire rockets at an Israeli base

A Lebanese man gestures as he inspects a destroyed house that was hit on Friday night by an Israeli airstrike, killing one woman and wounding several other people, in the southern village of Adloun, Lebanon, Saturday, June 1, 2024. The militant Hezbollah group shot down Saturday an Israeli Hermes 900 Kochav drone over south Lebanon, after hours of Israeli drones strikes that killed at least one person and wounded others. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)

BEIRUT (AP)  The militant Hezbollah group said it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon and fired rockets at an Israeli military base on Saturday, hours after Israeli drone strikes killed at least one person and wounded several others.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters struck the Hermes 900 Kochav drone, saying such aircraft have been targeting militants and civilian homes. The exchange of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border has been intensifying over the past weeks with Israels military push on Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

The Israeli military said a surface-to-air missile was fired toward a drone operating in Lebanese airspace, adding that it was hit and fell in Lebanese territory.

The incident is under review, the military said.

The Hermes 900 Kochav is a medium altitude and long endurance drone that can carry four anti-tank guided missiles.

Hezbollah said Saturday that its fighters also attacked an Israeli army base in the border town of Kiryat Shmona with Burkan rockets scoring direct hits, igniting a fire and destroying part of it. Burkan rockets can carry a warhead that weighs between 300 kilograms (660 pounds) and 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).

The Israeli army confirmed a rocket hit a military base in Kiryat Shmona, without giving details.

Israeli media reported the rocket attack on Kiryat Shmona, and released images showing significant damage to infrastructure. No casualties were reported.

Earlier Saturday, an Israeli drone strike on a motorcycle near the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm wounded two people, state-run National News Agency said. The agency reported another drone strike Saturday afternoon in a village near the southern city of Nabatiyeh.

An Israeli airstrike on a house in the coastal village of Adloun killed one woman and wounded several others on Friday evening, the agency reported.

Late Saturday night, Israel's warplanes attacked areas west of the northeastern city of Baalbek, slightly wounding two people and causing material damage, the agency said.

Such strikes deep inside Lebanon and far away from the Israeli border have been rare since the latest round of fighting began nearly eight months ago. The Saturday night strike was about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Israeli border.

Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military posts along the Lebanon-Israel border a day after the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Over the past seven months, more than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon most of them fighters but they also include more than 70 civilians and noncombatants. In Israel, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since October.
Homeless Student Graduates Top of His Class in New Orleans: 'Keep Pushing Forward,' He Says

"Just don't let it hold you back or put you down," Elijah Hogan, 19, tells PEOPLE

Collegiate Academies Elijah Hogan (right), Walter L. Cohen High School's 2024 valedictorian

Elijah Hogan lived at Covenant House, a homeless shelter, while attending Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans

Graduating with a 3.89 grade point average, he will attend Xavier University on a scholarship in the fall

You are the bulldozer that could break your limitations," he tells PEOPLE

Elijah Hogan, 19, would have never imagined that he would graduate high school  let alone become class valedictorian.

But as the thoughtful and soft-spoken teen quips to PEOPLE on Friday, May 31, exactly one week after he graduated from Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans: I outplayed myself, I would have to say."

Hogan has overachieved in more ways than one during his young life: For more than a year, he lived at Covenant House, a local homeless shelter, while attending high school. During his time at Walter L. Cohen, he maintained a 3.89 grade point average.

"Above all the trials, tests and hardships, what led us here is that we all set a goal to reach, he said in remarks at his graduation ceremony on May 24.

Each individual on this stage has proven themselves to be able to move into the next stage of evolution. Take pride in how far you have come," he said then. "Have faith in how far you can go. But dont forget to enjoy your journey.

Related: High School Student with Disability Felt 'Robbed' After Having to Sit in Audience for Graduation

Recalling the ceremony at Cohen a week later, Hogan (whose story has also attracted local attention) says that the experience was a lot to take in but he didnt stress himself over it.

It was more a relaxed moment for me to see all the people there," he says. "It was a memorable occasion that occurred.

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.

Hogan was born in New Orleans and divided his time between growing up in that city and Houston; he has three siblings.

He first heard about Covenant House through his grandmother, a retired social worker, as his housing situation became more unstable.

Related: Twin Brothers, First in Their Family to Go to College, Named High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian



Her lease form for the house that we all used to live in started to expire, Hogan explains, and we only had 30 days until we had to move out. So I took it upon myself to live independently. She gave me some info about Covenant House and told me to continue on with my education.

Hogan credited Covenant for being extremely supportive as he was attending class. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to finish my high school years, he says about the shelter giving me a place to stay, a place to eat, a place to sleep. I wouldn't have been able to be where I'm at now.

Collegiate Academies Elijah Cohen



It wasnt an easy journey for him between living at the shelter and going to classes, however. The hardest challenge I had was fitting in and around other people, trusting others," he says. "[I was] keeping to myself, not really sharing my experience with others at Covenant House and Cohen.

At the same, it was the people from the shelter and the high school whose faith and support in Hogan led him to open up and start "to trust them bit by bit to the point where I could fully trust them with my needs and being able to pass all my grades and graduate from high school.

Related: Identical Twins  with Matching 4.0 GPAs  Graduate College as Co-Valedictorians: 'It Meant So Much'

Jarkayla Cobb, Hogans case manager, remembers him as introspective upon their first meeting. I thought he was a genius, she tells PEOPLE. He did not say too many words the first time he came into my office. But just looking at him and hearing him speak, I'm like, This is a brainiac. 

Cobb was present  proudly  at Hogans graduation ceremony at Cohen High.

I was front row and center, she says. He was the first person to walk out and I was the first person to yell his name before every other parent started yelling their kids' names. To see him and be here to experience him experiencing joy  I couldn't ask for anything more, to be honest with you.

Collegiate Academies Walter L. Cohen High School valedictorian Elijah Cohen on May 24, 2024

Hogan will attend Xavier University in the fall on a full-ride scholarship majoring in graphic design. He wants to publish his first comic book when he graduates from college.

It's been like a childhood dream, he says. I envision myself creating comics, spreading it around and seeing the joy in people's faces.

As for what advice he would give to others who faced similar challenges and situations as he previously did, the valedictorian says: You are the bulldozer that could break your limitations. That's my advice. Just don't let it hold you back or put you down. Keep pushing forward without any doubts in mind."



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
COLDWATER  The city of Coldwater will construct infrastructure off Western Avenue by late this year, opening 10 building lots for the Western Meadows subdivision.

The first phase of Western Meadows subdivision fill this open field just off Western Avenue.

With the last city lots on Thompson Boulevard now built upon, Mayor Tom Kramer discussed over the previous year the need for more building lots to meet the critical shortage for new homes.

The council agreed to develop 14.518 acres purchased for $95,819 in October 2016 from former mayor Robert Rumsey for future housing development.

Tuesday night, the council awarded Parrish Excavating of Quincy the contract for $492,093 to grade the property, install water and sewer, install storm drainage, and pave the road on the eastern side of the land.

Last October, the city spent $42,500 with Fishbeck Engineering on a survey and engineering design for the new housing development.

Keith Baker

City Manager Keith Baker said since then, "We've gone through the engineering, surveying, potential layouts, to identify how best to use this property efficiently," creating 36 lots.

Baker said the engineers divided the property into two sections, "not connected because of a pretty significant ravine or valley within the property."

Baker said the expense of filling the ravine would not yield any more lots. Tying the two sections together also requires an expensive sewer lift station.

There is already a curb cut for a street into the western half of the development from Wood Drive.

Baker said the project is the first of three phases "over a number of years, as the lots were built out."

Prior story New housing development in the works in Coldwater

Construction money comes from the Capital Improvement Fund, separate from the general fund budget and designed for various infrastructure projects as property is developed.

The sales proceeds of the 10 lots on Thompson and other projects went back into the fund.

The sale of Western Meadow lots will go back to the Capital Improvement Fund.

Questioned by councilman Jim Knaack, Baker admitted the city could not charge developers the total lot development cost of between $50,000 to $60,000.

Baker explained, "As we did with Thomson (Boulevard), to get single-family residential development, you're going to have to subsidize it in some manner."

Mayor Tom Kramer

Baker said the city is considering a 2018 Michigan law allowing Tax Incremental Financing for housing developments. "You essentially take the taxes generated off of those the property to help pay us back over time to reimburse us for the costs."

Allen Edwin Homes of Portage bought the lots on Thompson Boulevard from the city where it built homes.

Allen Edwin Homes of Portage is building these two homes in Eastpoint subdivision east of Morse, State of State Streets.

Because lots are in such short supply, the firm bought the only three vacant lots in the Eastpoint subdivision at the north end of Morse Street. That project, which was started in 2003, was for low-cost housing.

Allen Edwards built three homes for sale at over $238,000  two back up to State Street.

Subscribe: Follow this story. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter

On May 13, the city proposed selling two vacant lots in Tanners's Run off of South Willowbrook to David and Monica Lowder for the construction of two homes. The final vote is June 10.

---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: With housing shortages, Coldwater to construct Western Meadows subdivision
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) blasted the Manhattan hush money case Friday, calling it an absurdity, just a day after former President Trump was convicted in the trial.

This should never have been brought to trial. This was an absurdity, Huckabee told NewsNations Leland Vittert. More people saw through this.

The jurors were kept from much of the information that many of us can follow. They didnt get it, so Ill cut them some slack, he continued. But the American people saw through this, and thats why you saw this fundraising bonanza for the Trump campaign.

Asked what he thinks would happen if New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) pardoned the former president, Huckabee said it would show grace on her part, but added, I dont think shell ever do it.

His remarks come after Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the early days of the 2016 election to buy her silence about an alleged past affair, which he denies.

The former president railed against his conviction Friday morning during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, where he claimed the trial was rigged, as he portrayed himself to be honored to have gone through the process as the first U.S. president to be a convicted felon.

Trumps campaign announced Friday that he has brought in over $52 million since the conviction  a day after breaking his campaigns total donation record from small donors in a day.

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 5 is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict, two campaign aides said.

When pressed on what would happen if Trump were to be sentenced to jail, the former governor echoed that it would be absurd for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against Trump, to jail a former president for what they allege is a bookkeeping crime.

Huckabee added, So if he honest to God thought that he could put a former president [in jail] over this ridiculous bookkeeping issue, that I dont think even is an existent crime, if he really tried to do that, will the last person out of New York, please turn off the lights.

Trumps conviction does not stop him from running for president, but it could lead to uncharted waters as the November election is in a couple of months.

Judge Juan Merchan set his sentencing hearing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where the former president is set to become the official GOP nominee against President Biden.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns 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.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.72

FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad's RM0.65 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad's peers seem to be trading at a lower discount to fair value based onthe industry average of 8.9%

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad (KLSE:FM) as an investment opportunity by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

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.

See our latest analysis for FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad

Is FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad Fairly Valued?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, 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) RM14.6m RM34.9m RM34.7m RM33.6m RM35.0m RM35.3m RM35.9m RM36.7m RM37.7m RM38.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 0.90% Est @ 1.70% Est @ 2.25% Est @ 2.64% Est @ 2.91% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM13.2 RM28.5 RM25.6 RM22.4 RM21.1 RM19.3 RM17.7 RM16.4 RM15.2 RM14.1

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM193m

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM39m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM567m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM567m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM206m

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 RM400m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.6, the company appears about fair value at a 9.9% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

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 FM Global Logistics 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 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.116. 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 FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for FM.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad, there are three fundamental factors you should further examine:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad . Future Earnings: How does FM'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. 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.
Human chain to be formed at Mannheim vigil following knife attack

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

Activists are set to form a human chain during a vigil in the western German city of Mannheim on Sunday following a knife attack which left seven people injured.

A non-partisan alliance has come forward to organize the human chain, under the motto: "Solidarity against violence, hatred and agitation."

"We want to hold a quiet gathering without slogans and flags," Green Party city councillor Gerhard Fontagnier told the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper on Saturday.

The vigil is supported by a range of political parties represented on the city council, organizers said.

It emerged in response to a planned rally by the youth wing of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

The Young Alternative group has organized a protest on the city square where six people, including one policeman, were injured at an anti-Islamic event by a 25-year-old man born in Afghanistan.

The slogan for the youth protest is: "Remigration would have prevented this crime!" The concept of remigration - involving deporting large numbers of people of foreign origin - has been widely criticized across Germany.

City authorities confirmed that the protest has been officially registered. A police spokesman also told the Mannheimer Morgen that forces would be deployed on Sunday.

Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution is currently investigating the Young Alternative, which it has labelled a right-wing extremist organization.

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 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
2023 saw the highest number of wounds caused for six years, with 106 pedestrians being struck by bus mirrors - JOHNNY GREIG/E+

More than 450 Londoners have been injured by bus wing mirrors since 2018, Telegraph data analysis reveals, calling into question one of Sadiq Khans flagship road safety pledges.

The number of injuries caused has been rising for the past three years despite Londons bus fleet shrinking, suggesting the problem is getting worse.

Under his Vision Zero strategy, Sadiq Khan wants to eradicate deaths and serious injuries from Londons roads.

Yet the mayor of Londons own fleet of buses is causing more injuries than ever before, with 2023 marking a record high in the number of people hit by bus wing mirrors.

Last year saw the highest number of wounds caused for six years, with 106 pedestrians being struck  an increase of 70 per cent.

A typical bus wing mirror weighs around 2kg complete with its mounting arms.

The London borough with the greatest number of collisions was Lambeth  with 11 of the 37 incidents recorded there over the six-year period occurring on a Friday or Saturday night.

Route 91, which runs between Crouch End and Trafalgar Square, recorded the most wing mirror injuries over the years.

Tom Kearney, 59, of Camden, was left in a coma after being hit by a bus wing mirror in 2009.

He suffered head and lung injuries thanks to the force of the impact and now believes there is a conspiracy of silence around the issue.

It happened at a busy junction on Oxford Street. The mirror of a bus hit the back of my head and threw me against the bus and then down into the street, he recalled.

Public awareness

Mr Kearney, who now campaigns for greater public awareness of bus wing mirror injuries, added: Given the fact that TfLs own data shows that the number of people killed and injured from bus safety incidents is now higher than when the present mayor took office in May 2016, the fact that theres a rising number of people injured from bus wing mirror collisions should not come as a surprise.

Despite the number of injuries reaching a record high, Londons bus fleet has decreased in size since Sadiq Khan took office.

Eight years ago there were 9,415 buses, while last year TfL said it had 8,643 on strength  a decline of 8 per cent.

What is a surprise, Mr Kearney continued, is that all these alarming trends persist years after the mayor and TfL have announced a number of world leading bus safety programmes and a Vision Zero programme.

Andrew Boff, the Conservative chairman of the London Assembly, asserted that Londons bus safety record under Mr Khan was getting worse.

Bus related casualties were up 17 per cent in 2022 and up again in 2023, Mr Boff said.

Whilst we welcome the number of bus fatalities falling, what these figures actually show is that a significant number of people are still being injured by London buses each year.

Despite the mayor having an 80-page bus safety strategy, he continues to brush off any criticisms of the safety of the bus network.

Tom Cunnington, TfLs head of buses business development, said the capitals transport authority is ordering bus companies to replace traditional wing mirrors with cameras.

Over the past three years, there has been an increase in injuries as Londoners travel returns to pre-pandemic patterns, he claimed.

Were working to replace wing mirrors on our buses with camera monitor systems to eradicate the risk of mirror strikes, with 1,500 buses now fitted with these.

All new buses on our fleet are fitted with cameras instead of mirrors and were also working to retrofit existing buses with these systems.

Sadiq Khan, via his official mayoral office, did not respond to a request for comment.

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Members of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz, the Hungarian Civic Alliance party, have decided not to attend a special session of parliament on the evening of 31 May dedicated to the Russian cyberattack on the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in 2022.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Hungarian news outlet 444.hu

Details: The Hungarian opposition parties convened the special parliament meeting. The main issues on the agenda were a cyberattack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' information system and an initiative to call for the resignation of Tamas Sulyok, the President of the Republic, for alleged involvement in dubious land sales.

Hungarian parliamentary speaker Laszlo Kover scheduled the meeting for 20:00 on Friday, but MPs from the ruling party announced in advance that they would not attend, as they considered it a "farce". Without them, the meeting would not have had a quorum.

Members of the opposition Momentum party published a photo of the half-empty parliamentary hall, with Russian flags in the seats of Fidesz MPs.

Background:

In May, Hungarian journalists received new documents proving that hackers linked to Russian intelligence services carried out a large-scale cyberattack on the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs systems more than two years ago and could have obtained valuable information.

After the first media reports about the attack in March 2022, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry and several politicians from the ruling Fidesz party denied the incident.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during an anti-war Peace March, organized by the Civic Union (COF) in Budapest. Szilard Koszticsak/TASR/dpa

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday said right-wing parties on both sides of the Atlantic could play a role in ending the Russian war in Ukraine.

Speaking to more than 10,000 supporters at a rally in Budapest ahead of next week's European Parliament elections, Orban envisaged a "trans-Atlantic peace coalition" spearheaded by the European right and Donald Trump, should Trump win US presidential elections in November.

"At the beginning of the year we were still in the minority, by the end of the year we could be in the majority in the entire Western world," he added.

Orban, in office since 2010, is widely seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest partner in the EU. He has repeatedly threatened to prevent or water down EU sanctions on Moscow in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire and peace negotiations should occur as quickly as possible in Ukraine, warning that a third world war could destroy Hungary.

Orban accused a "war camp" in Brussels of wanting to push the Western world into taking up arms against Russia.

Its driving force, Orban said, is the Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros, who has been the target of conspiracy theories worldwide.

Orban said Soros has been working "for 30 years" to drag the West into a war with Russia, in order to replace the millions of killed soldiers with migrants.

Orban's governing Fidesz party is leading in Hungarian polls ahead of the European elections on June 9, but victory is not assured. The new Respect and Freedom party, formed by former Fidesz insider Peter Magyar, is challenging Orban.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during an anti-war Peace March, organized by the Civic Union (COF) in Budapest. Szilard Koszticsak/TASR/dpa
Husband, wife who are both NYPD officers promoted together at heartwarming ceremony

Their love story is arresting.

A husband and wife who are both cops were promoted together at a heartwarming NYPD ceremony Friday  with one spouse taking the badge number of her retired hero Emergency Service Unit officer dad.

He was always my hero so I wanted to follow in his footsteps, Gina Buscemi, 33, said of her father, James Buscemi, 70.

Im very proud to wear the same shield and keep the legacy in the family.

Buscemi, 33, of the Midtown South station was promoted from police officer to sergeant while her husband Joshua Rios, 42, got the boost from lieutenant to captain.

He has been working at the 113 Precinct in Rochdale, Queens, but doesnt know where hell be assigned next.

Buscemi was awarded the same sergeant shield number worn by her father who served for more than 33 years as a New York City cop  during which time he responded to 9/11 and worked on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) team that helped with the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people in 1995.

Now my daughter wears my shield and my shield number, 378. Im very proud of her and proud of my son-in-law, the elder Buscemi said. Its special.

Buscemi and Rios were honored at New York City Police Academy in College Point, Queens, along with roughly 300 other cops who received promotions Friday.

He was always my hero so I wanted to follow in his footsteps, Gina Buscemi, 33, said of her father, James Buscemi, 70. BRIGITTE STELZER

The lovebirds in blue, who have two daughters ages 2 and 6 months and met on the job through mutual friends.

We met at a bar after work at a group outing and hit it off, said Rios, as his wife beamed next to him.

They were married roughly five years ago and live in Seaford on Long Island.

Buscemi, 33, of the Midtown South station was promoted from police officer to sergeant while her husband Joshua Rios, 42, got the boost from lieutenant to captain. Brigitte Stelzer

[Its]unheard of, Rios said about getting promoted on the same day as his wife.

Buscemi said she was inspired to become a police officer after seeing her dad deal with the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

9/11 really had a big impact on me. Just what happened was obviously very sad and I was very happy my dad came home. He lost a lot of his friends that day, she said.

Buscemi was awarded the sergeant shield number worn by her father who served for more than 33 years as a New York City cop  during which time he responded to 9/11 and helped with the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. Brigitte Stelzer/copyphoto

Asked how he felt when he learned his daughter wanted to become a police officer, he quipped, I was like Oh no. Oh my God.

Its a big step going from police officer to sergeant. Its supervising other officers, its a big responsibility, and you go up from there. Up and up, he said.

She worked very hard to get it. She did a good job.
Explosions are visible at a distance from a massive Russian missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure with missiles on the morning of 01 June. Russia once again has attacked underground gas storage facilities in western Ukraine. Artur Abramiv/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The hydroelectric power station at a reservoir on the Dnipro river near the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya, which was damaged in a Russian missile attack, is in "critical condition," according to the authorities on Saturday.

Specialists must assess how safe the dam is, said the military governor of the Zaporizhzhya region, Ivan Fedorov, on Ukrainian television. "At the moment, traffic from the left bank to the right bank is completely blocked, so traffic is restricted for local residents."

The power plant has been attacked several times by Russian forces over the past few months. A fire broke out during a massive missile attack at the end of March. The power plant sustained serious damage and had to be shut down for a while.

Another missile hit the plant during the night and the dam was temporarily closed to traffic.

Ukraine again faced a heavy overnight barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes, primarily targeting energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko earlier on Saturday.

Facilities in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhzhya were attacked, Galushchenko wrote on Facebook on Saturday. Other civilian targets were also hit in the process.

In the town of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region, 12 people were injured due to hits on residential buildings, including eight children.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia used 53 missiles and cruise missiles, as well as 47 drones. Some of the cruise missiles were launched from far behind the border by Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flying in the Saratov region or over the Caspian Sea.

The air force said it shot down 30 Kh-101 and 4 Kalibr cruise missiles as well as an Iskander missile. Furthermore, 46 of the 47 drones were intercepted.

The attack is part of Russia's systematic efforts to destroy Ukraine's energy supply. In the past two years, the Russian military has already destroyed around 8,000 megawatts of power capacity in Ukraine.

The aim seems to be to break the will to resist of Ukraine's civilian population. Russia's constant attacks on its neighbour lead to frequent power cuts.

Kiev has just had to raise electricity prices for the second time since the war began, increasing tariffs by more than 60% according to a government statement on Friday.

The price hike is necessary to avoid power outages and "maintain the system," Galushchenko said in the statement. Significant funds were needed for repair work at damaged power stations, substations and high-voltage lines, he noted.

Russia began its full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022 and Moscow repeatedly attacks civilian targets such as cities and energy supply facilities in particular.
Chad Daybell was sentenced to death Saturday upon the recommendation of the jury that convicted him of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges in the killings of his first wife and two children of his second wife.

Daybell was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges in the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and two of his second wifes children  16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow  in a case prosecutors claim was fueled by power, sex, money and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs.

Judge Steven Boyce on Saturday formally imposed the death sentence after a jury, in a lengthy verdict form read in court earlier, said it found that penalty was appropriate under the law. The judge also imposed a 15-year prison sentence for insurance fraud charges.

Daybell had a blank expression as Boyce sentenced him to death. The judge said jurors had found beyond a reasonable doubt  that the aggravating circumstances when weighed against the mitigating circumstances do not make the imposition of the death penalty unjust.

The sequestered jury began deliberating his fate Friday afternoon and mulled the case for six hours before ending for the night. Jurors continued deliberations Saturday about 8:30 a.m. MT, and at 10:45 a.m. the Ada County courts announced the verdict had been reached.

Jurors heard contrasting portraits of the man from lawyers before beginning deliberations in a case that drew national attention in part because of what prosecutors described as the couples doomsday religious beliefs. The sensational triple murder was featured in a Netflix true-crime documentary in 2022.

In his opening statement to the jury on Friday, prosecutor Rob Wood asked them to consider aggravating factors that would make Daybell eligible for the death penalty.

First, the three murders, he said, were committed for remuneration. Daybell was also convicted of insurance fraud stemming from life insurance policies that allegedly paid him money after his first wifes death. His second wife, as well as Daybell, also were convicted of grand theft because she continued to draw Social Security benefits for her children after their deaths.

Additionally, Wood told the jury, the murders of the three victims were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity.

This defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life, Wood added. The defendant, by his conduct, whether such conduct was before, during or after the commission of the murders at hand, has exhibited a propensity to commit murder, which will probably constitute a continuing threat to society.

The prosecutor concluded, It is your decision whether one or more of these aggravators has been proven. And if it has been, you must decide if, under these circumstances, imposition of the death penalty would be just or unjust.

The verdict came about a year after Daybells second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, was also convicted of the murder of her children and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She was also convicted of conspiring to kill 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.

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 Vallow Daybell.

This case has been about speaking for and seeking justice for the lives of three wonderful humans whose lives were cut way too short by the selfish desires of the defendant and his co-defendant Lori Vallow, Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said in a release after the sentencing.

The case was challenging, Blake said, both because of the complexities of the investigation and because of her own experience as a new mother during the prosecution. I cant begin to imagine the families pain, she said.

Wood said in a release after the sentencing that while nothing can undo the immense harm caused, we have worked tirelessly to secure a measure of justice.

Addressing the jury Friday, defense lawyer John Prior portrayed Daybell as a once quiet, reserved, shy young man who grew up in Springville, Utah, a small, tight knit town of faith. Daybell, his lawyer said, met his first wife, Tammy, and they were married for 29 years, raising five wonderful children very deep in their faith, very deep in their commitment to family.

But Daybells life changed in late 2018, Prior said, when he met Vallow Daybell, who had already been married multiple times.

Everything that glitters is not gold, he told jurors. Lori Vallow glittered. She was not gold. She was the trajectory that changed the plan Chaos hits and all of these things start cascading and this thing becomes very complicated and difficult.

Prior said the new relationship with Vallow was like this bomb dropped on the life of the small town boy from Springville.

We have to look back at that, he said. You examine what Chad Daybells past was prior to the bomb being dropped, the Lori Vallow bomb being dropped If it wasnt for that trajectory coming in and changing the path, is this where we would be going? Its not where wed be going.

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. - Kyle Green/AP

Theres a hole in my heart

Jurors also heard from relatives of the victims on Friday.

It makes me angry and it destroys me to know Tammy was treated how she was, Tammy Daybells father, Ron Douglas, told jurors. I find it comforting to know that Tammy is resting peacefully in Utah, buried alone and near her beloved mother.

Kay Woodcock spoke about her grandson JJ and her step niece Tylee.

I sit here today and try and explain the immense pain that me and everyone in my family continues to endure daily, she said. But how do I do that?

I can tell you there have been too many situations in the past few years where we were slammed with the fact that JJ wont hit another milestone, she said of her grandson. The constant question remains: Who would he have become? What kind of man would he have been?

Woodcock remembered Tylee as the most precious, blond-haired, blue-eyed little girl and an absolute mamas girl.

Woodcock added, breaking into tears: Theres 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.

Tylees aunt, Annie Cushing, remembered her walking around the house singing with the voice of an angel.

Tylee had her whole life ahead of her. She had dignity, she had dreams, she had goals. This defendant stole all of that, Cushing said.

Kelsee Douglas, Tammys sister-in-law, told jurors that pain, fractured relationships and unhealed wounds are all part of the aftermath of the murders.

This is the legacy of anguish and sorrow that will haunt our family for generations, she added.

Tammys brother, Michael Douglas, lamented that the nightmare fodder I have been provided will last me a lifetime.

Daybell declined to address the court after the victim impact statements.

Law enforcement found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Chad Daybells Fremont County property in June 2020, authorities said.

Its a sad day. JJ would have been 12 years old, JJs grandfather, Larry Woodcock, said after the verdict Thursday.

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, Larry 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.

Lori Vallow Daybell sits during her sentencing hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, Monday, July 31, 2023. - Tony Blakeslee/Pool/East Idaho News

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, Wood said in his first words to the jury at the start of trial.

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 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.

Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan - Rexburg Police Department

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, 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.

CNNs Steve Almasy and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.

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shapecharge / iStock/Getty Images

If youre new to investing and want to learn how to pick stocks, it can help to understand key financial metrics. Unfortunately, without knowing about the numbers behind stocks, you could mistakenly purchase a stock thats overvalued or miss out on a great investing opportunity.

Consider these numbers to help you guide your investment choices.

Check Out: In 5 Years, These 2 Stocks Will Be More Valuable Than Apple

Read Next: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

P/E Ratio

Robert R. Johnson, Ph.D, CFA, CAIA, professor of finance at Heider College of Business, Creighton University, said that the P/E ratio is arguably the most widely employed valuation tool.

Investors use P/E ratios as a guide to indicate when a stock is richly valued or arguably undervalued, he said. The P/E ratio indicates how much investors are willing to pay for a claim to a dollar of a companys earnings. The higher the P/E ratio, the more richly valued a company and its stock are.

Johnson said that there are no absolutes with P/E ratios.

For instance, a high P/E indicates that a firm is highly valued by the market, while a low P/E indicates that the firm is not highly valued, he explained. A low multiple might indicate that a firm is a bargain (a value stock) if the firm has strong fundamentals (for example, profitability and financial strength). A low multiple might also indicate that the firm is appropriately valued due to poor future prospects.

However, Johnson pointed out that the trouble with the P/E is it doesnt tell you much on its own.

The ratio is most valuable when compared to that of similar companies or even the entire stock market, he said. Keep in mind that P/E ratios rise and fall as stock prices fluctuate and earnings change. They also are influenced by investor sentiment. When investors are very bullish, P/E ratios tend to rise. Conversely, when investors become very bearish, P/E ratios can decline dramatically.

To compare the P/E ratio of three prominent auto companies, Johnson offered the following information from Yahoo Finance:

Teslas (TSLA) P/E ratio on forward earnings is 71.9

Fords (F) P/E ratio on forward earnings is 5.9

GMs (GM) P/E ratio on forward earnings is 4.68

By simply looking at the P/E ratio, from a value investing standpoint, Ford and GM are much more attractive than Tesla, Johnson explained. That is, there is a much greater margin of safety with GM and Ford vis-a-vis Tesla.

PEG Ratio

Johnson said that an extension of the P/E ratio is the PEG ratio.

Story continues

The PEG ratio is the P/E relative to growth prospects, he said. Higher growth prospects typically imply a higher P/E ratio (because earnings are more likely to grow). Dividing the P/E ratio by the growth rate (ignoring the percent sign) attempts to adjust for this. From a value investing standpoint, as with P/E ratios, the lower the PEG ratio, the more compelling value the stock represents.

This data from Yahoo Finance takes into account five-year growth rates:

Teslas (TSLA) PEG ratio on forward earnings is 3.17

Fords (F) PEG ratio on forward earnings is 0.64

GMs (GM) PEG ratio on forward earnings is 3.12

Johnson explained that when it comes to expected future growth, Ford would seem to be undervalued relative to Tesla and GM.

Earnings per Share

Mark Pierce, CEO and founding partner of Wyoming Trust with over 40 years in financial and wealth management as well as diverse areas of financial law, said that EPS is a bedrock data point that highlights a companys overall profitability and also can help signal a well-managed, sustainable investment choice.

Its one of the key drivers behind a stocks valuation altogether, he said. Obviously, you want to keep [your] eyes out for those higher EPS numbers, but stocks with a steadily growing EPS also indicate a company is well managed.

Dividend Yields

For dividend stocks, there are other considerations to prioritize, Pierce said. First, take a look at the annual dividend yields, ideally from the past two to three years at a minimum. High dividends show that a company has a tendency to share its profits more generously amongst its stakeholders. Do be mindful, though, as suspiciously high dividend yields could mean the company is oversharing profits and mismanaging cash flow.

Debt-to-Shareholder Equity Ratio

Pierce said he would also take a look at a companys overall debt-to-shareholder equity ratio.

In general, its considered riskier to invest in companies with high debt-to-equity ratios because it indicates outsized existing debt or that a company is simply on the younger IPO side, he explained. Neither of those inherently means its a bad choice. Its just going to involve a higher risk tolerance and should be weighted accordingly.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im an Investor: Never Buy a Stock Before Checking These 5 Numbers
The Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute nations have settled their water-rights claims with the state of Arizona. Here, a stream winds through the arid Navajo Reservation. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Irene Yazzie can't think of anyone who lives within 10 miles of her farm in the Navajo Nation who has drinking water flowing into their homes, hers included. In the far reaches of the reservation in Northeastern Arizona, near where the red-rock buttes of Monument Valley rise above the desert floor, indoor plumbing can feel like a luxury.

"I don't know that people understand how hard of a life we have here," said Yazzie, 71.

Help could be on the way if Congress approves a historic agreement reached between the Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes and the state of Arizona that would settle all of their outstanding water rights claims to the Colorado River Basin.

The deal, which all three tribes have now approved, marks a historic milestone for Indigenous nations that have fought for decades for their fair share of the water coursing through their ancestral lands.

Read more: This epic slice of Arizona feeds their souls but lacks a basic necessity: Water

Water claims with New Mexico and Utah had already been settled. Arizona had been the lone holdout. The 27,400-square-mile Navajo reservation, the nation's largest, stretches across parts of all three states, with huge distances between towns and even individual homes.

While millions of people in the interior Southwest and Southern California draw from the Colorado River to sustain their cities and crops, Yazzie's tribe has lacked pipelines connecting it to this precious  and overtaxed  waterway.

Several days a week, Yazzie or one of her two adult children makes the hour-long drive along bumpy dirt and gravel roads to reach a tribal community center that allows residents to pump water for a fee. Once back home, Yazzie has her son refill a cistern in the family's yard.

"I'm always hauling water," Yazzie said recently by phone.

Navajo Nation member Shanna Yazzie talks with Irene Yazzie about her water needs at a community water depot in Dennehotso, Ariz. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Yazzie and her neighbors outside the Navajo hamlet of Dennehotso aren't alone in living with water scarcity. An estimated 30% of households on the Navajo reservation don't have indoor plumbing, and many who live in remote areas have to power their homes with generators because they're also not connected to the power grid.

During a signing event in the tribal capital of Window Rock, Ariz., Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said the water agreement is especially meaningful for residents on the reservation who are forced to haul water simply to access a basic necessity of life. In some cases, residents share water supplies with relatives and friends, while others get relief from nonprofits that offer free water system installations.

While the deal has been a long time in the making, the effort to bring safe drinking water into tribal members' homes has taken on a new urgency in recent years due to droughts caused by climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and the battle among Southwestern states to secure their share of water from the river basin.

Read more: A California tribe was twice robbed of its land. A 77-acre purchase brings hope

The country's volatile politics and the looming presidential election are also top of mind for Indigenous leaders. The tribes will need both congressional approval and a presidential signature before the new agreement can take effect.

Some tribal officials see the Democratic administration of President Biden as more favorable to water rights claims and the protection of ancestral lands than Biden's predecessor and presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, though both as president have acted in support of expanding water access. In 2020, the Trump administration backed a deal between the Navajo Nation and Utah that settled all water rights claims in state and authorized about $220 million in federal funding to help build water infrastructure. Since Biden took office in 2021, his administration has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to Indigenous tribes for water projects.

In 2023, however, the majority-conservative U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to Navajo efforts to expand water access when it ruled that the federal government is not legally obligated to aid in the building of pipelines and other infrastructure to bring safe drinking water to reservation residents.

"Last year it was a hit to the belly that the (U.S. Supreme Court) was not going to help us," Nygren said at the signing ceremony. "But now we have our own attorneys, water experts, hydrologists, and we can figure out how much water belongs to us.

Navajo Nation member Shanna Yazzie distributes water and other supplies at the Navajo reservation in Cameron, Ariz., in March 2020. (Gina Ferazzi/Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Under the finalized agreement, the Navajo will receive "a substantial amount of the Colorado River Upper Basin water, some Lower Basin water, all groundwater underlying the Navajo Nation, all surface water that reaches the Navajo Nation from the Little Colorado River, and all wash water that reaches the Nation south of the Hopi reservation," according to the Navajo Nation Council.

The deal calls for the federal government to allocate $5 billion toward the building of critical infrastructure to link the territory's surface water and groundwater sources to the communities that need them. It also gives the Navajo the flexibility to move Arizona water from the Colorado River's upper basin to the lower basin and to divert water in New Mexico and Utah to Navajo communities in Arizona if that's the closest source to those residents.

"Obviously, living on the Navajo reservation, we don't have boundaries  this is just one piece of our homeland  so building out large infrastructure for water, sewer and electric lines, that's huge," said Joelynn Ashley, who chairs the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission and represents areas that border the river.

Read more: Chuckwalla National Monument would protect swath of California desert and preserve a sacred land

Ashley said that while many Navajo have long depended on groundwater, contamination from uranium and arsenic, as well high salinity levels, make some of it unsafe to use. And some wells simply don't yield enough water to meet demand.

"We just want to be able to use all of our water because we've got a lot of places where either water quantity or water quality is not there," Ashley said.

Yazzie says the arrival of pipelines and water pouring from a tap in her home could not happen soon enough. She's looking forward to the day when she doesn't have to drive 16 miles each way to fill up on water for her family, as well as her 18 cows, 15 goats and two horses.

"It's a hassle," she said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Two days after Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in a hush money case, Iowa Republicans rallied in Des Moines to urge their supporters to turn out to support him and other GOP candidates in the coming November elections.

Joe Bidens America is more dangerous than we have seen in years, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said Saturday at her annual Roast and Ride fundraiser. It is less secure here in America because of his policies. But we cannot give into this way of life.

As she and other Iowa Republicans took the stage, each backed the former president unequivocally despite the New York jury's verdict that came after only 10 hours of deliberation.

Its time we restore faith in our justice system and stop the political persecution of Donald J. Trump, Ernst said to applause.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal trial May 30, becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. He was convicted of falsifying business records in an effort to conceal hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her story away from voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump could serve up to four years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 11  just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst introduces Gov. Kim Reynolds during the Roast and Ride fundraiser Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who said ahead of the Iowa Caucuses that she endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis because she didnt believe Trump could win a general election, also backed the former president profusely on Saturday.

Theyve weaponized the justice system with a political persecution of our nominee and Bidens opponent, Reynolds said. But I can tell you without hesitation that on Nov. 5 the people of this country will weigh in. And $53 million in 24 hours is a pretty good indication of where the people of this country are standing.

Trumps campaign has said it raised $53 million in the day after his conviction.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson and Zach Nunn also used some of their time on stage to support Trump.

"The only way the Democrats have, when they know that they've lost to President Trump, is to try and take back the House so on day one, they can impeach him. So that on day two, they can try to impeach him. And so that on day three and four, they will just try to impeach him," said Nunn, who is seeking re-election to the swingy 3rd Congressional District in central Iowa. "Because that's the only thing, as we've seen this week, that the Democrats have in their playbook."

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-IA, speaks to the crowd during the Roast and Ride program Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Asked by reporters if she has faith in the independent jury system, which found Trump guilty, Ernst again criticized the process.

If you listen to the judge's instructions, they were mind boggling to me, she said. So one juror could find one count maybe guilty, and then it could be considered unanimous. This was ridiculous. It is a sham. I am worried.

The judge's instructions did require the jurors to unanimously agree that Trump used some unlawful means to interfere in the election, but he said they didn't need to agree on which means he used.

Prosecutors accused Trump of falsifying business records to interfere in the 2016 presidential election using three "unlawful means:"

Violating federal campaign finance laws through a hush money payment to Daniels;

Falsifying another business record under New York law, such as bank records tied to former Trump fixer Michael Cohen's payment to Daniels' lawyer; and

Violating New York tax laws.

More: Trump jury had to be unanimous in hush money trial to find him guilty | Fact check

Wesley Hunt headlines Roast and Ride, known for attracting White House hopefuls

Ernsts Roast and Ride is known for attracting presidential candidates during caucus years, as well as future hopefuls in off years.

On Saturday, freshman U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas, was the featured speaker. He is an Army veteran who graduated from West Point and served in Iraq, and he is on some shortlists of Trump's potential vice-presidential candidates.

Hunt spoke earlier this year at a Republican Party of Iowa event in Fort Dodge, and he was the featured speaker at Reynolds' annual Harvest Festival fundraiser in 2022. But he said his frequent trips to Iowa are because his in-laws live in the state, not because of any future White House ambitions.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-TX, speaks with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst during Iowa's Roast and Ride fundraiser Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Des Moines.

Hunt told reporters he has not had conversations with Trump about the VP position.

President Trump has not said anything to me about this, he said after the event. My purpose at the end of the day is making sure that he gets reelected, doing everything in our power to be able to do that.

Hunt joined Ernst and about 140 others in the annual motorcycle ride across Des Moines and into the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Joni Ernst plans to seek re-election in 2026

Hunt and the other Republican speakers who took the stage took time to praise Ernst, who is not up for election this year.

Ernst recently told reporters she intends to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate, although she said she would be open to serving in Donald Trumps administration if he is elected in November.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst speaks to the crowd during her annual Roast and Ride fundraiser Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

It would be such an honor to be asked to work in an administration, she said Saturday. So, I would be open to whatever the president  if he asked, I would certainly be willing to respond.

But otherwise, she said, shes planning to run for re-election in 2026.

Yes, she said. Ten out of 10, yes.

GOP urges engagement in 2024 elections, even as Iowa looks 'so red'

The rally, which drew about 700 people, came days before the June 4 primary elections that will kick off the general election season in Iowa.

Republicans urged attendees to stay engaged, even as it seems that they have the upper hand.

We are so red. I dont know if weve got a redder color than red, Kaufmann said. But if the Democrats keep up this silly, stupid, corrupt nonsense, were going to be a redder shade of red.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is welcomed to the stage during the annual Roast and Ride Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Grassley pointed to Iowas two targeted congressional races in the 1st and 3rd districts, where national Democrats have promised to direct resources toward ousting the Republican incumbents.

In those districts, you've got to work real hard for them, Grassley said. I'm not saying don't work hard for (Randy) Feenstra and (Ashley) Hinson. But when you're targeted, there's going to be a lot of resources going into those districts from the Democrats. And we've got to work hard to keep all four of them.

Ernst told reporters it was important for the speakers to push Iowans to support Trump in November as well.

We cannot forget and we have to turn out in November, she said. We know we're a red state. Some people may take that for granted and think, He doesn't need our support. He's already got it. But we need to drive out numbers and we need to continue to encourage our neighbors, our friends to get out there as well as folks in other states too.

USA TODAY reporter Aysha Bagchi contributed to this story.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She is also covering the 2024 presidential race for USA TODAY as a senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Republicans rally behind Donald Trump at Joni Ernst Roast and Ride
This undated photo taken in the winter 2023 and provided by Breaking the Silence, a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers, shows blindfolded Palestinians captured in the Gaza Strip in a detention facility on the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel. (Breaking The Silence via AP)

JERUSALEM (AP)  Patients lying shackled and blindfolded on more than a dozen beds inside a white tent in the desert. Surgeries performed without adequate painkillers. Doctors who remain anonymous.

These are some of the conditions at Israel's only hospital dedicated to treating Palestinians detained by the military in the Gaza Strip, three people who have worked there told The Associated Press, confirming similar accounts from human rights groups.

While Israel says it detains only suspected militants, many patients have turned out to be non-combatants taken during raids, held without trial and eventually returned to war-torn Gaza.

Eight months into the Israel-Hamas war, accusations of inhumane treatment at the Sde Teiman military field hospital are on the rise, and the Israeli government is under growing pressure to shut it down. Rights groups and other critics say what began as a temporary place to hold and treat militants after Oct. 7 has morphed into a harsh detention center with too little accountability.

The military denies the allegations of inhumane treatment and says all detainees needing medical attention receive it.

The hospital is near the city of Beersheba in southern Israel. It opened beside a detention center on a military base after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel because some civilian hospitals refused to treat wounded militants. Of the three workers interviewed by AP, two spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared government retribution and public rebuke.

We are condemned by the left because we are not fulfilling ethical issues, said Dr. Yoel Donchin, an anesthesiologist who has worked at Sde Teiman hospital since its earliest days and still works there. We are condemned from the right because they think we are criminals for treating terrorists.

The military this week said it formed a committee to investigate detention center conditions, but it was unclear if that included the hospital. Next week Israel's highest court is set to hear arguments from human rights groups seeking to shut it down.

Israel has not granted journalists or the International Committee of the Red Cross access to the Sde Teiman facilities.

Israel has detained some 4,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to official figures, though roughly 1,500 were released after the military determined they were not affiliated with Hamas. Israeli human rights groups say the majority of detainees have at some point passed through Sde Teiman, the country's largest detention center.

Doctors there say they have treated many who appeared to be non-combatants.

Now we have patients that are not so young, sick patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, said Donchin, the anesthesiologist.

A soldier who worked at the hospital recounted an elderly man who underwent surgery on his leg without pain medication. He was screaming and shaking, said the soldier.

Between medical treatments, the soldier said patients were housed in the detention center, where they were exposed to squalid conditions and their wounds often developed infections. There was a separate area where older people slept on thin mattresses under floodlights, and a putrid smell hung in the air, he said.

The military said in a statement that all detainees are reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activity. It said they receive check-ups upon arrival and are transferred to the hospital when they require more serious treatment.

A medical worker who saw patients at the facility in the winter recounted teaching hospital workers how to wash wounds.

Donchin, who largely defended the facility against allegations of mistreatment but was critical of some of its practices, said most patients are diapered and not allowed to use the bathroom, shackled around their arms and legs and blindfolded.

Their eyes are covered all the time. I don't know what the security reason for this is, he said.

The military disputed the accounts provided to AP, saying patients were handcuffed in cases where the security risk requires it and removed when they caused injury. Patients are rarely diapered, it said.

Dr. Michael Barilan, a professor at the Tel Aviv University Medical School who said he has spoken with over 15 hospital staff, disputed accounts of medical negligence. He said doctors are doing their best under difficult circumstances, and that the blindfolds originated out of a fear (patients) would retaliate against those taking care of them."

Days after Oct. 7, roughly 100 Israelis clashed with police outside one of the country's main hospitals in response to false rumors it was treating a militant.

In the aftermath, some hospitals refused to treat detainees, fearful that doing so could endanger staff and disrupt operations. They were already overwhelmed by people wounded during the Hamas attack and expecting casualties to rise from an impending ground invasion.

As Israel pulled in scores of wounded Palestinians to Sde Teiman, it became clear the facility's infirmary was not large enough, according to Barilan. An adjacent field hospital was built from scratch.

Israel's Health Ministry laid out plans for the hospital in a December memo obtained by AP.

It said patients would be treated while handcuffed and blindfolded. Doctors, drafted into service by the military, would be kept anonymous to protect their "safety, lives and well-being." The ministry referred all questions to the military when reached for comment.

Still, an April report from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, drawing on interviews with hospital workers, said doctors at the facility faced ethical, professional and even emotional distress. Barilan said turnover has been high.

Patients with more complicated injuries have been transferred from the field hospital to civilian hospitals, but it has been done covertly to avoid arousing the public's attention, Barilan said. And the process is fraught: The medical worker who spoke with AP said one detainee with a gunshot wound was discharged prematurely from a civilian hospital to Sde Teiman within hours of being treated, endangering his life.

The field hospital is overseen by military and health officials, but Donchin said parts of its operations are managed by KLP, a private logistics and security company whose website says it specializes in high-risk environments. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Because its not under the same command as the militarys medical corps, the field hospital is not subject to Israels Patients Rights Act, according to Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.

A group from the Israeli Medical Association visited the hospital earlier this year but kept its findings private. The association did not respond to requests for comment.

The military told AP that 36 people from Gaza have died in Israels detention centers since Oct. 7, some of them because of illnesses or wounds sustained in the war. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel has alleged that some died from medical negligence.

Khaled Hammouda, a surgeon from Gaza, spent 22 days at one of Israel's detention centers. He does not know where he was taken because he was blindfolded while he was transported. But he said he recognized a picture of Sde Teiman and said he saw at least one detainee, a prominent Gaza doctor who is believed to have been there.

Hammouda recalled asking a soldier if a pale 18-year-old who appeared to be suffering from internal bleeding could be taken to a doctor. The soldier took the teenager away, gave him intravenous fluids for a few hours, and then returned him.

I told them, He could die,'" Hammouda said. They told me this is the limit.'

___

AP writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
Israel wanted Gazan clan to take over after war  but Hamas beheaded it

Israel has been under pressure from its closest allies to come up with a plan for how Gaza will be run after the war - Getty/Omar Al-Qattaa

A secret Israeli plan to persuade a powerful Gazan clan to take power from Hamas was derailed when the terror group executed its leader, The Telegraph can reveal.

Israel is now trying to recruit more moderate Palestinian leaders from the West Bank to rule Gaza after the war.

The plan to install Gazas Doghmush clan  the most powerful in the enclave  failed after the groups leader and several of its allies were assassinated, an Israeli intelligence source with knowledge of the plan said.

Israel has been under pressure from its closest allies, including the United States, to come up with a plan for how Gaza will be run after the war. The Israeli government has also faced pressure from within over its refusal to outline a plan for the future of the coastal territory.

The intelligence source said an attempt was made two months ago to encourage the notorious Doghmush family to take control when the fighting ends.

We offered the Doghmush control over Gaza, the source said. It ended disastrously.

The short attempt ended with Hamas entering the clans compound, beheading its people, and the next day all the clans jointly announced support for Hamas.

Significant influence

The Doghmush family had been seen as a viable option to topple terror group Hamas in the battle for political control over the Gaza Strip, where clans wield significant influence.

But each must maintain delicate relationships with Hamas, and there are many deep-seated rivalries.

The plan gave Israel a potential avenue for alliances based on the age-old adage the enemy of my enemy is my friend, said the intelligence source.

This plan was like asking Tony Soprano to govern New Jersey, the source added.

Seen as the only group with enough power to topple Hamas, the Doghmush clan had a history of conflict with the terror group, including a bloody clash in 2008 that led to the death of at least 10 members of the clan.

Several Israeli officials, unaware of the clans activities beyond its militancy, with a network of weapons and drug-smuggling operations, recognised the strategic potential and initiated contact with the clans leaders who agreed to discuss the proposals.

Muntez Doghmush, the head of the clan, which is known for its connections to al-Qaeda, is also listed among the USs most wanted terrorists. Its notoriety has also made it unpopular with Gazans.

In March, the Times of Israel reported that Hamas had killed Doghmush after accusing him of having dealings with Israel, saying the clan had consequently declared all Hamas members targets.

Controlling the smuggling

Originally hailing from Turkey, the clan now straddles the border between Gazas Rafah and Egypt, allowing it to control the smuggling in the tunnels between Egypt and Gaza, Solomon explained.

There isnt any other force in Rafah and south Gaza thats as powerful as the Doghmush clan, said Ronen Solomon, an Israeli security analyst who has been researching the clan since the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2005.

Senior Israeli officials are now drawing up plans to find credible alternative rulers for the day after the war, with the hope of persuading younger and more moderate members of Fatah, who operate the ruling Palestinian Authority (PA), to run Gaza in a way that its population can live side by side with Israel.

Oded Ailam, the former head of Israels counter-terrorism centre, said that after the war is over, there remains one alternative, difficult to digest and problematic: returning Fatah to Gaza and not allowing Hamas to integrate into the mechanism that will be established.

In order for the move to succeed, we must find worthy partners both among Fatah in Gaza as well as import from the West Bank, Mr Ailam said.

Relying on even moderate Fatah leaders creates a complex web of problems for Israel, however.

Dr Khalil Shikaki, from the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, said: Based on the current findings, only a few Palestinians would find this acceptable.

He added: If the choice is between Hamas and the PA, the majority would go with Hamas without hesitation.

Mr Ailam, the former counter-terror chief, warned that offering Fatah control of both the West Bank and Gaza would also create the basis of a unified Palestinian state  something the government of Benjamin Netanyahu opposes.

Other alternatives, including an Israeli military administration, or the introduction of a multinational peacekeeping force, would not be likely to work, 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.
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

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued their operation in Gaza's Rafah on Saturday despite extensive international criticism.

Soldiers found numerous weapons, tunnels and rockets in the town in the south of the Gaza Strip, the IDF said, adding that the army's operations were precise and based on intelligence findings.

Israel deems Rafah the last stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which triggered the current conflict in Gaza after killed hundreds of civilians in Israel in the October 7.

The latest attacks come one day after US President Joe Biden unveiled a new proposal from Israel to end the war and secure the release of Israeli hostages.

Fighting also continued in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed there over the past two days. The IDF said they were terrorists.

Several key members of Hamas have been killed in Gaza in recent days, including a man who was reportedly involved in planning terrorist attacks in Israel and the West Bank.

None of the information could initially be independently verified.

In view of the high number of civilian victims and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel is facing mounting criticism abroad, with many condemning the operation in densely-crowded Rafah in particular.

A week ago, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt the military operation in Rafah immediately.

The Hamas-run health authority in Gaza says 36,379 people have been killed in the territory since the beginning of the current conflict.
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

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued their operation in Gaza's Rafah on Saturday despite extensive international criticism.

Soldiers found numerous weapons, tunnels and rockets in the town in the south of the Gaza Strip, the IDF said, adding that the army's operations were precise and based on intelligence findings.

Israel deems Rafah the last stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which triggered the current conflict in Gaza after killed hundreds of civilians in Israel in the October 7.

The latest attacks come one day after US President Joe Biden unveiled a new proposal from Israel to end the war and secure the release of Israeli hostages.

Fighting also continued in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed there over the past two days. The IDF said they were terrorists.

Several key members of Hamas have reportedly been killed in Gaza in recent days, including a man who was involved in planning terrorist attacks in Israel and the West Bank.

None of the information could initially be independently verified.

In view of the high number of civilian victims and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel is facing mounting criticism abroad, with many condemning the operation in densely-crowded Rafah in particular.

A week ago, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt the military operation in Rafah immediately.

The Hamas-run health authority in Gaza says 36,379 people have been killed in the territory since the beginning of the current conflict.

Amid discussion of the future of Gaza and prospects for peace in the region, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke of the possibility of Germany participating in a protection force for the Gaza Strip.

"Just as we have made it clear to Ukraine that we stand up for their freedom and for their peace, I believe this also applies to the Middle East," she said. "If what is needed now is not just reconstruction, but an international protection force that guarantees that we finally, finally achieve peace in the Middle East, then that is also our common mission."

A humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza war was within the realms of possibility, said Baerbock, speaking in the Germany city of Potsdam, near Berlin.

This would have to include a cessation of Hamas attacks, the release of Israeli hostages and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, she said.

Earlier, Baerbock spoke of how much Germany owes to its European neighbours, the European Union and the former opponents from World War II.

"The fact that we can live freely and in peace in the heart of Europe is because others were there for us," she said.
Thick smoke billows following an Israeli rocket attack on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Dhaira. Marwan Naamani/dpa

Israeli warplanes have carried out several airstrikes on Hezbollah posts in areas west of the ancient city of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, Lebanese security sources said late on Saturday.

The sources said the first strike was near a farm at the outskirts of the town of Qald al-Sabaa in western Baalbek.

They added that at least two people were wounded in the strike but did not specify if they were members of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia.

A few minutes later, Israeli warplanes also raided areas at the outskirts of Chmistar near Baalbek city, targeting what sources said were a Hezbollah training area and an arms depot.

The strikes came after Hezbollah claimed several attack on Israeli posts in northern Israel.

The Israeli army has not yet commented on the strikes.

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip last October, there have been daily clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah and other groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.

The mutual shelling has caused many casualties and severe destruction in villages on both sides of the border. Around 150,000 people have been evacuated or left the combat zone.

One person died in a series of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon overnight, state media in the Middle Eastern country reported earlier.

A number of people were also injured in the attacks on various locations in southern Lebanon, according to the NNA news agency.

One building in the coastal town of Aadloun was destroyed and dozens more were damaged, it said, while two people on a motorcycle were injured near Majdal Selm on Saturday.

According to the Israeli armed forces, the two were members of Hezbollah.

The military said it launched attacks during the night on Hezbollah targets around Aadloun, Qana and Hmaileh, among other locations, in response to earlier attacks targeting northern Israel.

The Israeli strikes hit several rocket launch sites previously used by Hezbollah, which is allied to Iran and the Palestinian militant Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

In turn, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on northern Israel on Saturday. In response to the strike on the motorcycle, the militia said it fired attack drones at Israeli military targets near Yiftah in northern Israel.
South African ambassador to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela attends a hearing at the ICJ as part of South Africa's request for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Gaza war is a "military quagmire and a human tragedy", said The Economist. It is also fast turning into a "diplomatic disaster for Israel", at a critical juncture in its history.

Last week, the International Criminal Court's prosecutor alleged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister had committed war crimes in Gaza: using starvation as a weapon of war and deliberately attacking civilians. (Hamas's leaders were also accused of war crimes.) The move is bitterly contentious, and the ICC judges won't decide for weeks whether there's enough evidence to issue warrants.

There is certainly an arguable case that Netanyahu's government has "breached the laws of war" in Gaza by not providing food and medicine to civilians "to the fullest extent of the means available", as the Geneva Conventions demand. Either way, the PM's "disastrous" strategy in Gaza has brought "ignominy" to Israel. His departure is long overdue.

Israel's 'fire alarm'

The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and Netanyahu's determination to press on with the offensive in Rafah  the southern city where more than a million civilians have sought sanctuary  make it ever harder for Israel's allies to back it, said the FT.

Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to immediately halt its assault in Rafah. Israeli forces pushed on, and on Sunday, 45 people, including many women and children, were killed in an air strike on an encampment housing displaced people in a supposedly safe zone.

Meanwhile, Ireland, Norway and Spain have all recognised Palestinian statehood  a "symbolic blow against an Israeli leader who rails against any talk of a two-state solution".

An "international reckoning" has long been coming, given Netanyahu's record of refusing to offer a credible peace plan to the Palestinians, said Jo-Ann Mort in The Guardian. Now a moment of "extreme crisis" has arrived. This is "a fire alarm for Israel". Will it take heed?

A weakening position

"The world is pitted against Israel in a way we haven't seen before," said The Jerusalem Post.

Much of the international pressure comes from "smug, sanctimonious" critics embracing a "ludicrous and disgusting double standard": why did the ICJ ask for Israel's Rafah operations to be halted, but not for Hamas to free Israeli hostages? Yet we must accept that our leaders' poor decisions and inflammatory rhetoric have paved the way for this growing isolation.

The current pursuit of "total victory", without defining any political goals that can slow the "escalating cycle of bloodshed", has not made us stronger, said Tehila Wenger in Haaretz. It has made us weaker  and is losing us friends.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from the leaders of both parties in the US Congress to address the House of Representatives, his office said on Saturday evening.

The Israeli leader is excited about the privilege of presenting the truth of Israel's just war in Gaza to the representatives of the American people and the entire world, the statement said.

It said the war is directed against those who want to kill Israelis.

The statement comes after Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, published a letter to Netanyahu that was also signed by the Republican minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, as well as the top Democrats in both chambers, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.

The letter does not specify a date for the speech.

Johnson earlier publicly announced his plans to invite Netanyahu.

The invitation comes amid major divisions in US society over the war in Gaza, and Netanyahu's appearance could lead to further political upheaval ahead of the presidential election scheduled for November.

Netanyahu would be the world's first head of state to address both chambers of Congress for the fourth time, his office said.
China's new energy vehicle (NEV) startup Li Auto marked a milestone on May 31 when its 20,000th Li L6 vehicle rolled off the production line at its Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Changzhou, a city in east China's Jiangsu province that has become a hub for the country's rapidly growing NEV sector.

Photo taken on May 31, 2024, shows Li Auto's Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]



Founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Li Xiang, Li Auto has quickly emerged as a key player in China's NEV market.

Li Auto's Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]



The company's recent achievement came just over a month after the launch of its new extended-range electric vehicle, the Li L6, on April 18, 2024.

"In less than two months, the production of a brand-new car has surpassed 20,000 units  this is the speed of Li Auto and the speed of China," said Li Bin, vice president of the automaker and head of the company's Changzhou manufacturing base, emphasizing the company's innovation-driven approach to enhancing production efficiency and quality.

Li Auto's Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]



Li highlighted Li Auto's commitment to self-developed core technologies, introducing the company's intelligent manufacturing "super brain," which includes the "Lianshan System" and "Li-Mos System." These systems integrate data across research, manufacturing, supply chain, and user interfaces, allowing Li Auto to produce a car every 40 seconds and roll 90 new cars off the assembly line each hour, according to Li.

Li Auto's Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]



Li Auto, headquartered in Beijing, operates two major production bases in Beijing and Changzhou. The city of Changzhou has played a crucial role in Li Auto's success since 2016 when Li Xiang chose the city as the production base for his startup after several rounds of negotiations. The city enticed Li's team with a "factory construction + investment attraction" model, resulting in a 780 million yuan ($109 million) investment from the Wujin Industry Fund.

"Changzhou's business environment is excellent," said Li Bin, noting that the company's batteries come from the nearby Jintan district, while many traditional components are sourced locally or from the surrounding Yangtze River Delta region.

Changzhou is dedicated to becoming the "Capital of New Energy," having issued policies to accelerate its development since 2013. In addition to Li Auto, leading companies such as CATL and BYD have established operations in the city. In August 2023, Changzhou released a plan to accelerate the construction of an NEV component industry ecosystem, encompassing industry, innovation, capital, and policy.

In 2023, Changzhou's NEV sector achieved an output value of 140 billion yuan, with a production volume of 678,000 vehicles. Nationally, Changzhou contributed about 680,000 vehicles to China's total NEV production of 9.58 million units, meaning one out of every 14 NEVs in China was made in the city. Additionally, nearly seven of every 10 NEVs produced in Jiangsu province originated from Changzhou.

Changzhou's support for the new energy industry not only underscores its pivotal role within China's expanding NEV market but also reflects the nation's dominant position in the global arena. As electric vehicles become increasingly prevalent worldwide, China has maintained the top position in NEV sales for the past nine years, securing over 60% of the global market share.
Ethan Gaskill, a 29-year-old content creator, begins everyday the same way: When I wake up in the morningmost people get on their phone and start checking InstagramI check Facebook Marketplace.

With his Los Angeles home furnished almost exclusively with second-hand items and a TikTok with over 220,000 followers interested in his thrifty hauls, Gaskill trusts the shopping platform to be a reliable source for hidden gems: a thousand-dollar Herman Miller light and pendant he nabbed for $400; a $5,000 bed from the same designer he bought for 20% of the original price; and, a Founders mid-century dresser worth $4,000 that Gaskill got for $800.

It gives an opportunity for people to possibly bring in really rare items or just one-of-a-kind items into their home that otherwise they wouldn't have had if they couldn't make it out to a flea market or estate sale, Gaskill told Fortune.

Facebook Marketplace has not only become a trusted source for LAs second-hand scene. Its made itself a real contender to go toe-to-toe with well-established e-commerce sites. Facebook has grown to 3.07 billion monthly active users (MAUs) as of the end of 2023, a 3% year-over-year increase. Of those, up to 40%, or 1.2 billion, are active users shopping on Marketplace, according to a March report from Capital One Shopping.

A person poses in a photo shoot set made of items sourced from Facebook Marketplace during the "Facebook IRL" event, in New York, U.S., May 31, 2024. REUTERS/Katie Paul (Reuters / Reuters)

Metas online second-hand market is already challenging the sectors goliaths. Marketplace eclipsed Craigslists MAUs years ago, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying in 2018 that there were 800 million Marketplace MAUs, compared to the 55 million visitors on Craigslist in 2017. In contrast, Amazon had 310 million monthly users in 2023, per Tech Report, about one-fourth of Marketplaces MAUs. Marketplace is the second most popular site for second-hand purchases behind Ebay, according to a 2022 Statista report.

This is a growth area, Charles Lindsey, associate professor of marketing at University at Buffalo School of Management, told Fortune. It wouldn't surprise me if in three years, five years, it actually overtakes Ebay.

Amazon and Ebay did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

From online garage sale to e-commerce giant

Marketplaces astronomical growth is in large part because the platform is simply easy to use and already linked to a site where so many people are pre-existing members, Lindsey argued.

There's a trust factor because it's associated with Facebook, he said. It has an easy-to-use interface. It's integrated with Facebook Messenger, so it's easy to kind of go back and forth.

Story continues

Launched in 2016, Marketplace was originally a way to facilitate sales among neighbors, with most users offering up a used item for sale at a reasonable price, and buyers picking up the item and coordinating with the seller over Facebook Messenger about collection and payment. But Marketplace grew into a formidable e-commerce platform, with one-in-three U.S. Facebook users on the platform by 2018. Through the pandemic, Marketplace exploded thanks to increased reliance on e-commerce and supply chain and shipping delays that inconvenienced traditional shopping.

Were seeing everyone from artisans hand making goods, to wood workers to car sellers thrive, Deb Liu, founder and then-Marketplace vice president, told Modern Retail in 2021.

By then, Marketplace had become a boon not only for thrifty shoppers, but small businesses looking for unique sales avenues. Springfield, Missouri-based Beautiful Fight Woodworking generated $168,000 of its $266,000 revenue in 2020 exclusively through Marketplace sales.

To be sure, the platform isnt without significant problems, particularly as scammers and bot accounts have proliferated the site, giving well-intentioned buyers a tough time. One South Carolina user claimed in February he was scammed out of $18,000 after putting his 2016 Audi up for sale on Marketplace. A 2022 thinkmonkey survey of 1,000 Brits found that one in six had been scammed on the platform.

What happens offline often makes its way into online environments, and that unfortunately includes scams," Ryan Daniels, a Meta spokesperson, told Wired. Meta said it works aggressively to quickly identify, disable, and ban scams and accounts associated with them.

Gen Zs new favorite social media

Through its ascension, Marketplace has won over a generation of young people who had largely turned away from Facebook.

I look at it like it's like a social media app, Dre Vez, a 25-year-old content creator, told Fortune.

Vez spends about six to 12 hours a day on Marketplace, where he makes a living trolling sellers by asking them over voice memos to test the product, before uploading the interactions to TikTok for his 755,000 followers.

He finds Marketplace not just fodder for entertaining videos but also as a real social media tool for Gen Z and millennials because it's fast-paced and highly stimulating.

It's the ability to have several interactions in a short duration of time, where I could go on Facebook marketplace, and I could search up for a bike, and I could reach out to seven to 10 different people and have all these conversations going on at the same time, he said.

Even on days when he cant find a good deal, Vez finds some laughs on the site. Sellers have gotten away with listing used toe nail clippers, toilet brushes, plungerseven a Dorito in the shape of a face going for $10,000, he recalled.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg - Getty Images) (David Paul Morris/BloombergGetty Images)

Meta has taken notice of its enthusiastic young users. While Facebooks popularity among teens has dwindled in the wake of TikToks rise, Facebook now has over 40 million daily young adult users aged 18 to 29 in the U.S. and Canada, a three-year high, with one in four using Marketplace, Meta told Fortune.

To second-hand connoisseur Gaskill, who checks Marketplace five to 10 times a day, the platform is compelling to young people because it appeals to their desire for independence, to save money, and protect the environment against the strains of mass production and freight.

Just given the circumstances with the economy, but also just the mindset of like Gen Z, they love uniqueness, and they love self expression, he said. But they also really like finding things for a good price.

Finding room to grow

But just because Meta boasts a growing fandom for its Marketplace platform doesnt mean its a lucrative arm of the company. Meta did not respond to Fortunes request for comment on how it makes money through Marketplace, but marketing professor Lindsey suggests the company benefits from seller transaction fees, as well as more eyes on the websites advertisements.

Just overall, the more likely someone uses Facebook Marketplace, probably the more likely they also log into Facebook so many times per month, he said. Then Facebook capitalizes on that by being able to have companies pay for advertising that then hits my feed, hits your feed.

The EUs European Commission alleged in December 2022 that Facebook and Marketplace tie together and use data in a way that infringe on the EUs competition rules, according to a December 2023 SEC filing.

Marketplace is, in part, an important facet of Facebooks financial puzzle because its locally based exchanges are low-expense, according to Sucharita Kodali, retail industry analyst for market research firm Forresterespecially, compared to Ebay, which requires a massive international infrastructure.

It's an enormous transaction volume, she told Fortune. With that transaction volume comes a kind of a necessary investment in a lot of automation, customer service, seller management, seller tools, etc.

While Facebook Marketplace doesnt need an elaborate system to manage local transactions, it also means its likely not making as much money as its e-commerce competition. In fact, Kodali went so far as to call Marketplace an anti-commerce platform because it has so many buy nothing groups and peer-to-peer exchanges. She took a similar stance as Lindsey, arguing the financial merit of the platform is to help better target ads for active users.

It's not really about, like, Let's make money off of the volume of posts that we see on the marketplace section, she said.

Marketplaces virtual garage sale vibes and community feel of the platform may not be raking in billions of dollars for Meta, but theyre exactly what keeps users coming back to the site.

You never know when that next amazing thing is gonna pop up, Gaskill said. That's the fun of it. That's kind of what keeps it addicting.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Giorgia Meloni has emerged as a kingmaker ahead of European elections that have become a battleground between pro-EU and Eurosceptic parties.

The Italian prime minister is being courted for her support by Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, and by the stridently Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen.

At stake is the balance of power in the European Parliament after the elections and  according to some fearing a hard-Right surge at the June 9 vote  the very soul of Europe.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of Frances National Rally, called on Ms Meloni to join forces with her party in Brussels and Strasbourg last week.

She claimed that the new alliance would be the second-largest group in the new Parliament and swing it sharply to the Right, handing the sovereigntists a greater say over EU policies, including immigration and net zero rules.

This is the moment to unite, she told Italys Corriere della Sera, I think that we should not let an opportunity like this pass us by.

I believe that she and I are in agreement on the essential issues, including taking back control of our countries.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's National Rally, has called on Ms Meloni to join forces with her party - AP/Michel Euler

Ms Meloni, a savvy operator and powerbroker, is keeping her cards close to her chest.

She leads Italys most Right-wing government since Mussolini but has been much more moderate in power than centrists expected. Her backing for EU support for Ukraine has earnt her credit in Brussels as a constructive partner.

But her hard-Right roots shine though in her uncompromising approach to migration, her inaccurate claims the EU wants people to eat insects to fight climate change, and her appearances at rallies for other nationalist parties, such as Spains Vox.

It is clear that there are points in common, Ms Meloni said on Monday of Ms Le Pens offer.

There are points of contact on combating illegal immigration, on the approach to the Green transition, on defence of the European identity.

The future of the sovereignist camp in Europe, and of the Right in general, now rests in the hands of two women, said Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister on Thursday, as he urged Ms Meloni to throw her lot in with Ms Le Pen.

But Mr Orbans nationalist vision for the EU differs sharply from Mrs von der Leyen, who is the lead candidate for the centre-Right European Peoples Party (EPP) and worked closely with Ms Meloni on negotiating EU migrant deals with North African countries.

Giorgia Meloni gestures at a Brothers of Italy campaign event for the European elections - Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Her overtures to Ms Meloni has led to talk that the Italian leader could join the establishment group instead and make her conversation to a conventional conservative complete.

The EPP is the largest group in the European Parliament, which can amend or block EU legislation. For years, the EPP has worked in an informal grand coalition with the centre-Left Socialists and Democrats.

But the pro-EU political establishment in Brussels is spooked by polls suggesting that hard-Right, often Eurosceptic, parties are set to perform strongly in the June 9 poll.

Today there is room to build a different majority in the European Parliament, and for different policies, Ms Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party is set to win the elections in Italy, said on Monday.

Ms Le Pen is predicted to trounce Mr Macrons party in the vote and return the largest number of MEPs in a blow to the French presidents influence in the parliament.

Polls predict anti-EU parties will win in nine member states  Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia. They should come second in yet more members, including Germany.

Nationalist MEPs looking to limit EU overreach could outnumber MEPs from the EPP, according to a Politico poll this week.

Fragmented by Ukraine war

That will not necessarily translate to a shift of power because the European Right is fragmented over the war in Ukraine and Putin and between different political groups.

The EPP is expected to remain the largest-single group and pro-EU leaders will continue to be comfortably in the majority in the influential European Council of member states.

Parties form groups in the European Parliament, which qualify for extra speaking time, influence and EU funding.

After the elections, there will be a period of furious negotiating as new groups, which must have at least 23 MEPs from a minimum of seven different countries, are formed.

Ms Melonis Brothers of Italy currently dominates the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which was formed by the Tories after they left the EPP before Brexit.

Polands Eurosceptic Law and Justice is also part of the group, which Mr Orbans Fidesz is angling to join after effectively being forced out of the EPP over rule of law issues.

However, Ms Meloni, a supporter of Kyiv, has prevented that so far over the Hungarian leaders kowtowing to Moscow.

Beyond the pale

Ms Le Pens National Rally sits in the hard-Right Identity and Democracy (ID), with Matteo Salvinis League. The League is Ms Melonis coalition partners in Rome with the EPPs Forza Italia.

Some EPP members could stomach working with the ECR, including Forza Italia.

But the ID is seen as beyond the pale by the pro-EU parties, which have formed a cordon sanitaire to shut it out of any influence.

Other ID members include Geert Wilders Freedom Party from the Netherlands and, until very recently, the Alternative For Germany (AFD), which was expelled after its lead candidate claimed not all members of the SS were criminals.

The defenestration of the pro-Russian AFD, removes one stumbling block for the putative alliance between the two queens of the European hard-Right.

Nicolai von Ondarza, at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs said a more fundamental change was possible because of the split.

He said Mrs Le Pen, who has attempted to disavow her past admiration of Putin, could argue for an alliance of Ms Meloni, Mr Orban and Geert Wilders in a united far-Right sans the most radical part.

But he warned the barriers could still prove too high. Some ID members view Ms Meloni as a traitorous sell-out to the establishment.

Too many queen bees and the beehive descends into anarchy, Daniele Albertazzi, co-director at the Centre for Britain and Europe think tank, who suggested Ms Le Pen might resent playing second fiddle to Ms Meloni in a new group.

Sanitising her image

Any alliance also looks like being more to Ms Le Pens benefit than Ms Melonis, as the former looks to further sanitise her image before an attempt to win the next French presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Mrs von der Leyen has refused to rule out working with Ms Melonis ECR.

But this has angered the EPPs centre-Left allies and the Greens, who are now threatening to block her reappointment as commission president after the election.

There will be a price for this and Meloni will want to have an important position, say for somebody of her party in the next commission but then you will have the extreme Right in the commission, said Karel Lannoo, CEO of the Centre for European Policy Studies think tank.

Ms Meloni was a very clever operator, he added. She was able to speak at a Vox rally, deal with Mrs von der Leyen, while containing her combative coalition partner Mr Salvini in the ID group.

Meloni has always swung between the populist radical Right and the more traditional conservative Right, said Arturo Varvelli, of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank.

He said her group had voted seven times out of 10 with the EPP since she had been in government in Italy but it would be difficult for her to join Mrs von der Leyens party.

It is likely that she will stand firm and try to capitalise as much as possible on her position as a bridge between the two political areas, he said.

Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive of the European Policy Centre think tank in Brussels, said: I would think that Meloni will continue to try to play the current game, far-Right at home but still working with the EU at the highest level, and supporting von der Leyen in return for more emphasis on issues such as migration.

Francesco Galietti, founder of the Policy Sonar consultancy in Rome, said Ms Meloni had carved herself out the coveted status of indispensable go-between for actors across the political spectrum.

She is, he added, the the only accepted interlocutor for both, say, Macron and Orban.

An alliance with Ms Le Pen would give Meloni a bigger critical mass, but in our view there is a serious risk that it will confine Meloni into a Euro-political ghetto. A larger and deeper ghetto, possibly, but still a ghetto.

For now, Ms Meloni is having her cake and eating it; a Eurosceptic populist at home and increasingly part of the powerful establishment in Brussels.

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A Japanese billionaire canceled his trip to the moon on a SpaceX rocket after too many delays

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will no longer fly to the moon aboard SpaceX's rocket, Starship.

A statement said the voyage was scheduled for 2023, but delays made the timeline "unfeasible."

The uncertain launch schedule prompted Maezawa to scrap the project.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has canceled his star-studded trip to the moon aboard a rocket designed by Elon Musk's company, SpaceX.

The project's official website, dearMoon, published a statement on Saturday. Maezawa, the founder of online retailer Zozotown, first announced the project in 2018 and described it as "the world's first civilian circumlunar voyage aboard SpaceX's space vehicle, Starship."

SpaceX and dearMoon made plans to take flight by the end of 2023.

"Unfortunately, however, launch within 2023 became unfeasible, and without clear schedule certainty in the near-term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project," the statement read.

Yusaku Maezawa. YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/Getty Images

Maezawa echoed the statement with an X post, writing, "I can't plan my future in this situation, and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time."

"I apologize to those who were excited for this project to happen," he added.

A dearMoon representative confirmed the cancellation in a statement to Business Insider. Representatives for SpaceX did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Maezawa announced the eight people who would fly aboard the space vehicle in a YouTube video in December 2022. The guest list included American DJ Steve Aoki, K-Pop star T.O.P., and Indian actor Dev Joshi.

The billionaire previously traveled to space in December 2021 during a 12-day trip to the International Space Station. He spent an estimated $80 million to ride aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.

Musk founded SpaceX in 2022 and recently answered questions about the company during the annual Milken Institute Global Conference in May.

When asked if artificial intelligence could speed up his space exploration efforts, Musk said that "almost no AI is used" in that field.

He added that he's not against integrating AI, but "we haven't seen a use for it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Trump VP short-lister and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance has come a long way since wondering whether Donald Trump was a cynical asshole or Americas Hitler.

Vance became one of the loudest and most frequent defenders of Trump during the former Presidents hush money trial, which ultimately ended with Trumps conviction on 34 counts related to falsifying business records.

The Senator could be seen all over cable TV defending Trump throughout, accusing the trial judge of being biased, the trial of being a sham, and President Biden as the boogeyman behind it all.

WATCH: @JDVance1 torches Judge Merchan and his very obvious financial interest in this case against Trump.



"It's unfortunately not illegal to be a biased judge, which is what Merchan has been. It is illegal to be a biased judge in the service of your family's financial pic.twitter.com/bf9coV87Pg  Raheem. (@RaheemKassam) May 29, 2024





"To the American voters who are watching this, the one opportunity you get to speak up against this sham prosecution and to say the American people elect their President, not corrupt DNC prosecutors is to vote for Donald Trump in November." - @JDVance1 pic.twitter.com/KQtzk4LzJo  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 13, 2024

Holy shit - @JDVance1 just absolutely destroyed Wolf Blitzer and CNN  pic.twitter.com/XqPTmYXCzi  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 31, 2024

Vances diehard support of Trump pre-trial won him the ex-Presidents endorsement for the Senate, as Trump praised the Ohio-native as a genuine convert, following the emergence of text messages from Vance to his then-roommate Georgia state Rep. Josh McLaurin in 2016, which read in part, I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldnt be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that hes Americas Hitler.

By doubling and then tripling down on his willingness to be the GOPs stooge, Vance has been able to move past the release of the viral texts, in which he also called his party the party of lower-income, lower-education white people and lamented that Trump was fruit of the partys collective neglect.

Some have pointed to his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which was turned into a major motion picture by Ron Howard in 2020, as further evidence of Vances offensive views on the rural America he grew up in.

But Vance has been able to talk hard and fast enough about Trump being on the cusp of victory in the upcoming election and encouraging voters to speak up against the sham prosecution by choosing Trump in Novemberso much so that hes gained the public affection of Don Jr., who regularly posts Vances television appearances along with a slew of fireball emojis.

Sen. @JDVance1 on Trump's hush money trial: "I think it's really helping Trump politically...most people who have any sense of fairness recognize that this is a sham trial." pic.twitter.com/8NUBLr53LO  Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) May 7, 2024

Buoyed by the confidence that only fireball emojis can provide, Vance continues to puff up his chest and vigorously defend Trump and his supporters, who he stated confidently to Wolf Blitzer on Friday were not violent people, as he chalked January 6 violence up to a few bad apples. After all, he said, We are the party of law order.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Troconis was sentenced to over 14 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and other charges

Jennifer Dulos

The children of Jennifer Dulos spoke out at the sentencing of Michelle Troconis  the woman who was convicted of helping Fotis Dulos kill their mother in 2019.

On Friday, May 31, Troconis was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She is set to be released after 14 years, before five years of probation, after she was found guilty in March of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering the prosecution, multiple outlets including ABC News and local Connecticut Fox affiliate WTIC reported.

During the sentencing, several of Jennifer's loved ones  including friends and her five children  spoke directly to Troconis and Judge Kevin Randolph about the late mother, as part of their victim impact statements.

Theodore Dulos, who was 13 at the time of his mother's disappearance after she dropped him and his siblings off at school, told the judge that his mother was the "best mom I could ever ask for."

"She was the brightest light, a shining star, the most unselfish person you would've ever met," he said, per audio from Law & Crime. "... 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."

Related: Michelle Troconis Found Guilty of Helping Late Boyfriend Kill His Estranged Wife Jennifer Dulos

Jennifer Dulos

Speaking to Troconis and referring to her by her first name, Theodore continued: "Imagine this, you wake up tomorrow and your daughter's gone, and you will never see her again. Gloria Farber [Jennifer's mother] lived this nightmare on May 24, 2019. What if it was not your daughter, or your sister Daniella  gone without a trace."

"Five kids lost their mother," the teen later added. "Michelle, you caused this damage. On May 24, 2019, 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 ... If you have the least bit of humanity, I suggest you let all of us know exactly what happened that day and where my mother is."

"I'll never forgive you ... and until you give us more answers, you'll be considered evil, violent and most definitely a coward," he also said at one point in his statement, per ABC 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.

Authorities believe the children's late father killed his wife before dumping her body with Troconis help. Fotis Dulos later died by suicide in January 2020 before a bail hearing.

Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool Michelle Troconis speaks with her attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, on May 31, 2024

Related: Jennifer Dulos' Family Reacts After Bloodied Clothing Shown at Woman's Murder Trial: 'Brutal But Crucial'

Petros Dulos, who was also 13 years old at the time of his mother's death, told the court that he was upset he'd "never know the man I could have become if my mom was still here to guide me."

"I want to end with a lesson my mom taught me, leave everything the same or better than you found it," he said. "Michelle Troconis, you did the opposite and you should be punished."

Jennifer's daughter Christiane Dulos, who was 10 at the time of her mother's death, told the court that Troconis was the "reason I feel completely lost and alone on nights when I cannot sleep," as well as "the reason kids at school look at me with pity, the reason my teachers say 'guardians' and not 'parents,' " per ABC News.

"The reason I've had to sit on the bathroom floor with my little sister and try my best to comfort her," she added. "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'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."

Jennifer's youngest daughter, Noelle (8 at the time of her disappearance), added that she felt "betrayed by Michelle" and said it "scares me to put my trust in other people."

According to ABC News, Troconis briefly addressed the judge, stating that she was "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," she claimed. "I deeply regret ever being in a relationship with Fotis Dulos. ... I will continue to pray for those who suffered and still suffer."

Carrie Luft, a friend of the Dulos family, previously said in a statement that the family was grateful for Troconis guilty verdict earlier this year, but they were also focused on Jennifers whereabouts after she was declared legally dead.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Who are New Jersey's Most Wanted? Four 'very dangerous' fugitives

There currently are four fugitives on the New Jersey State Police Most Wanted List.

The State Police warns that each of the four is considered armed and dangerous and cautions against anyone trying to apprehend the fugitives themselves.

Any information should be reported to New Jersey State Police at 800-437-7839, or emailed to fugitive@gw.njsp.org. You also can contact your local law enforcement. All information is confidential.

JoAnne Chesimard, wanted for escape, convicted of murder

JoAnne Chesimard

Convicted of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973, she was serving a life sentence plus 26 to 33 years when she escaped in 1979. She has been living in exile in Cuba under the name Assata Shakur.

AKA: Barbara Odoms, Mary Davis, Justine Henderson, Joanne Byron, Josephine Henderson, Assata Shakur, Joanne Chesterman

DOB 7/16/47 Height 5'06" Weight 125-138 lbs. Hair Black Eyes Brown Complexion Medium Race Black Scars, Marks and Tattoos: Round scar left knee. Bullet wounds under right arm and left shoulder

Marciano J. Sanchez, wanted for attempted murder

Marciano J. Sanchez

Sanchez also is on the Ocean County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted list.

AKA: Marciano Jimenez Sanchez

Remarks: Wanted for Attempted Murder, Possession of a Handgun Without a Permit, Possession of a Firearm With the Purpose to Use It Against Another, Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon. VIOLENT TENDENCIES.Caution: MURDER WITH WEAPON. VIOLENT TENDENCIES.

DOB 01/02/84 Height 5'04" Weight 185 lbs. Hair Brown Eyes Brown Complexion Medium Race Hispanic POB Mexico Scars, Marks and Tattoos: Unknown

Wilfredo Rodriguez, wanted for murder

Wilfredo Rodriguez

Rodriguez was found guilty of murder in the 1983 stabbing of a male relative in Irvington and after being sentenced to life in prison, he fled while freed on bail pending an appeal.

AKA: Chari Wilfredo, Robert Ortiz, Wilfredo R. Santana

Remarks: Additional Charges: Conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon, hindering apprehension.

DOB 11/08/63 Height 5'08" Weight 125 lbs. Hair Black Eyes Brown Complexion Light Race Hispanic Scars, Marks and Tattoos: Tattoo: Upper right arm

Pedro A. Gonzalez, wanted for murder

Pedro A. Gonzalez

AKA: Pedro A. Gonzales

Additional charges: Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

DOB 10/20/60 Height 5'08" Weight 137 lbs. Hair Black Eyes Brown Complexion Medium Race Hispanic Scars, Marks and Tattoos:None Known

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: JoAnne Chesimard: One of New Jersey's Most Wanted fugitives
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made a surprise appearance in battleground state Pennsylvania at Pittsburghs annual LGBTQ + Pride festival on Saturday afternoon, engaging with the rainbow flag-clad crowd and delivering a forceful speech on the first day of Pride Month. She took the time to slam former President Donald Trump and his anti-LGBTQ+ policies and positions labeling him as a "bully" and "dangerous."



The festivities began with a parade that traveled through downtown and over the Andy Warhol Bridge, culminating at Allegheny Commons Park on Pittsburghs North Side. Biden arrived at the park with cheers and applause from the crowd. Biden spent time mingling with attendees, shaking hands, and taking pictures.

Related: President Joe Biden calls on LGBTQ+ community to wave their flags of pride high this June

In her remarks, Biden highlighted the progress made by the LGBTQ+ community while also addressing the challenges that remain.

I see such joy and beauty and boldness in your faces, and I love it, she said. Every year during June, we gather in communities across this country to celebrate how far weve come, to reflect on the bravery required to live an authentic life, and to honor the courage it takes to stand up for whats right.

It shouldnt take courage to go to school and walk down the halls as the person you know you are, to take someones hand on the bus, to kiss them goodbye on the sidewalk, Biden said. But in too many places, it still does.

The crowd was mostly supportive of the first lady and her message. Her speech was frequently interrupted by applause and cheers from the crowd. At one point, chants of four more years broke out, showing support for President Joe Bidens reelection campaign from those who had gathered for the Pride event. Simultaneously, however, some attendees shouted free Palestine in protest of the Biden administrations position on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Biden took the opportunity to speak out against recent legislative efforts aimed at curtailing LGBTQ+ rights.

This community is under attack, she said. Rights are being stripped away; freedoms are eroding. We must fight these measures with everything we have.

Bidens visit to the Pride festival is one example of the administrations attempt to galvanize LGBTQ+ voters. She warned against complacency and the gradual erosion of rights.

History teaches us that our rights and freedoms dont disappear overnight. They disappear slowly, subtly, silently. A book ban, a court decision, a dont say gay law. One group of people loses its rights, and then another, and then another, until one morning you wake up and you no longer live in a democracy, Biden cautioned.

Biden did not hesitate to address the political stakes for LGBTQ+ people this election year.

Donald Trump is a bully, Biden said bluntly. Hes dangerous to the LGBTQ+ community, to our families, to our country, and we cannot let him win. We have to meet this moment as if our fundamental rights are at stake because they are. We have to meet this moment as if our democracy is on the line because it is.

Earlier in the day, Biden made another stop, this time to address the graduates of Erie County Community College. There, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to education and public service.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato greeted Biden on the tarmac at Pittsburgh International Airports 911th Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force.

Innamorato told The Advocate she was excited to greet the first lady and joked that she had struggled to decide what to wear given the significance of the first ladys visit during Pride. I considered wearing body glitter, she joked.

Overall, Bidens speech in Pittsburgh at the Pride event was a rallying cry for action and solidarity.

This is a chapter in history, and its up to us to see how it ends, she urged. We have to meet this moment as if our fundamental rights are at stake because they are. We have to fight like hell and win.
First Lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to Pittsburgh Pride on Saturday June 1, 2024, and took photos with attendees before taking the stage. (Capital-Star photo)

PITTSBURGH  First lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to Pittsburgh on Saturday to speak at a Pride celebration on the citys North Side, warning the audience of the stakes of the 2024 election for LGBTQ rights.

Every June we gather in communities across this country to celebrate how far weve come, to reflect on every act of bravery that are still required to live an authentic life and to honor the courage it takes to stand up for whats right, Biden told the crowd, who waved Biden-Harris placards with rainbows emblazoned on them.

But it shouldnt take courage just to be yourself, she continued. It shouldnt take courage to go to school and walk down the hall as the person you know you are. It shouldnt take courage to hold someones hand on the bus, to kiss them goodbye on the sidewalk, to love who you love. It shouldnt, but in too many places, it still does.

For the LGBTQ community in 2024, Biden said, rights are being stripped away and freedoms are eroding. More and more state laws are being passed targeting this community, Biden said. We had to fend off 50 anti-gay amendments that Republicans tried to force into the government funding bill.

Last fall, Republicans in Congress introduced spending bills across the federal government that would have limited healthcare and weakened protections for same-sex couples; the bills ranged from restricting federal funding for gender-affirming care, to banning the use of federal funds to fly Pride flags over government buildings.

And they served only one purpose, Biden said Saturday. To spread hate and fear.

Biden said presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, who was found guilty of 34 felony counts in a New York courtroom on Thursday, was dangerous to the LGBT community. We cannot let him win. We have to meet this moment as if our fundamental rights are at stake, because they are, she said. We will secure a future so that people in all places can feel the freedom and pride that we feel here today. I hope you know that I love you and your president loves you.

The Trump campaign did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Saturday.

Biden was introduced by Nathaniel Yap, a Pittsburgher who serves on Gov. Josh Shapiros commission for LGBTQ affairs. Yap brought his husband and their two children to the stage, and said he would be voting for President Biden in November, to protect LGBTQ families.

President Biden is the guy I trust to make the Supreme Court nominations that we need to protect our families and others like it across our country, Yap said.

There were some scattered chants of free Palestine from audience members as Jill Biden spoke on Saturday, but they were mostly drowned out by louder chants of four more years and general applause for Biden during and after her brief remarks.

Before she took the stage, she took photos with dozens of visitors to Pride for about 15 minutes, and stopped at several vendor booths at the festival to chat with the proprietors.

Biden, a community college educator, began the short Saturday visit to Western Pennsylvania at Erie County Community Colleges commencement, where she delivered the keynote address.

She told the audience of graduates that community college should be free. President Biden has proposed expanding free community college in his fiscal 2025 budget.

Jill Biden praised the Erie students for their achievements at the relatively young college; Erie County Community College opened in 2021, and graduated its first class of students in 2023.

We are so proud of you, she said. When people told you that this city is too small or it will be too hard to start a new school, you fought for one anyway, because Erie doesnt do cant.

Pennsylvania is a key battleground state in the 2024 election. Both President Joe Biden and Trump have visited the state numerous times this year so far. Most recently, Biden made a joint appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on Wednesday to launch the campaigns Black voters initiative.

Trumps most recent Pennsylvania campaign stop was a rally in the Lehigh Valley in April.

The Trump campaign will open its first office in Philadelphia next week, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, but no word yet on whether the candidate will attend in person. The Biden campaign has 24 offices across the Keystone State, including in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which are solidly Democratic, but also in areas that typically favor Republican candidates, such as York and Lancaster.

Recent polling shows Trump with a slight edge over Biden.

Multiple national ratings outlets, including the Cook Political Report, still rate the 2024 presidential race as a toss-up in Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral votes on the line.

Biden beat Trump in Pennsylvania by just over 80,000 votes in 2020.

The post Jill Biden tells audience at Pittsburgh Pride event your president loves you appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Republican Representative Jim Jordan is reacting to Donald Trumps conviction on 34 felony charges by inviting the prosecutors to answer questions on Capitol Hill.



In two letters posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Jordan, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, invited Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, as well as senior counsel Matthew Colangelo, to speak before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on June 13.



Twitter screenshot with full letter - Jim Jordan

The move is not a subpoena, and thus carries no legal weight or compulsion for Bragg or Colangelo to attend. So then why issue the letters? Jordan probably is hoping for the off-chance that Bragg and Colangelo do show up so that he and his fellow Republicans can grandstand with Trump watching. Or, in the likely event the pair dont appear, he can claim they are hiding because Trumps prosecution was clearly politicized. Either way, the move itself is blatantly for political and not legal purposes, which isnt surprising from Jordan, who went to law school and then never even took the bar exam.



The Ohio congressman tried and failed to push impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden, only to have star witness Alexander Smirnov be indicted for lying to the FBI and working for Russian intelligence. Jordan still insisted that impeachment was worth pursuing after that, despite not being able to spin the Smirnov news. Fellow Republican Ken Buck called out Jordan for knowing that Smirnov wasnt a credible witness before his indictment, but Jordan was undeterred, scrambling for new evidence to use against Biden. That led to a rebuke from the Justice Department over what Jordan claims Democrats are doing now: causing politicized conflict.



If Jordan expects anything from Trump in return for this symbolic effort, its not likely to be cash, as Trump doesnt want to give up any of the fundraising money hes made since his conviction. (Trump has lost a lot of money since Thursday evening too.) Maybe Jordans after a cushy Cabinet post.


Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is investigating after a man was shot in the torso on Kings Road.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

At around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to the area and located the victim. He was transported to a local hospital in non-life-threatening condition.

Detectives believe that the victim was shot by an unknown suspect who fled the area on foot.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500, email jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org or call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.

Action News Jax will continue to follow the story and will update you as we learn more.

Read: JSO: Man shot at Jacksonville Fairgrounds during Jumbo Shrimp game, Westside High School graduation

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Federal criminal charges brought against Hunter Biden in Delaware and California have Americans divided along familiar partisan lines, but voters are unsurprised and, in some cases, pleased to see President Joe Biden standing by his adult son as he fights to avoid prison time.

That's the main takeaway from a series of interviews USA Today conducted as Hunter Biden prepares to stand trial on Monday for lying about his drug use to buy a gun. The case will go before a Wilmington, Delaware, jury only a few weeks before Biden squares off with Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump in their first presidential debate in Atlanta.

Following a derailed plea deal, Hunter Biden, 54, also faces nine tax charges that carry a combined maximum penalty of 17 years in prison in Los Angeles. That trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, five days before Joe Biden and Trump are expected to meet in another presidential debate.

"On the one hand, what is a dad supposed to do?" said Thomas Brown, 46, an independent from Long Beach, California. "On the other hand, he's the commander in chief. He's got the most important position on the planet and this is why there are laws."

Aware of the politics surrounding the case, Hunter Bidens lawyers proposed asking potential Delaware jurors about how closely they are following the 2024 presidential election, how they feel about President Biden and his accomplishments, and how closely they follow news about Trump.

A dozen Delaware residents will serve on the jury deciding whether Hunter Biden is guilty in his upcoming trial. The voting-age population for the entire country will have the opportunity to determine his dad's fate in the presidential election.

More: As Trump's trial nears an end, the Bidens prep for a month in legal purgatory

"What any parent would do for their child"

Although he rarely discusses his son's issues, when Trump invoked Hunter Biden's drug use during a presidential debate in 2020, Joe Biden came to his defense.

My son  like a lot of people, like a lot of people you know at home  had a drug problem, Biden said. Hes overtaken it, hes fixed it, hes worked on it. And Im proud of him.

Hunter Bidens drug addiction has long been a sore point for the president. Three Biden advisers told Politico recently they are concerned about the weight the trials will place on him and that he worries about his son "from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep."

The Biden campaign declined comment and the White House did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

Some of the president's supporters find his commitment to his family commendable and relatable. Carol Vasquez, 74, an independent from St. Louis, Missouri, said she thinks the president is an "excellent parent" and a "good family man" for standing by his son.

"That's the kind of man you want in office. A man who has integrity and honesty," Vasquez said. "They're always your children no matter how old they, or how old you are. Once you have children, you have them."

Republicans and Trump, who a jury on Thursday found guilty in a hush money and election interference case, however, are likely to use the Hunter Biden cases to attack the president and his family.

But even for those who don't agree with the president's politics, his defense of his son doesn't seem to make them like him less.

"I think that's what any parent would do for their child," said Jane Dhemecourt, 67, an independent from Abita Springs, Louisiana, who plans to vote for Trump in November.

President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden attend the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on on April 1, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Political motivations "not a coincidence"

Half of Americans say they believe Hunter Biden received favorable treatment from prosecutors because he is the president's son, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last summer. The poll found Republicans (75%) were much more likely to report that than independents (42%) or Democrats (33%).

Hunter Biden has called the rarely brought gun-related charges against him politically driven and accused Republicans of weaponizing his past drug addiction to attack his father during a contentious election.

Deanne Robinson, 56, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, Florida, agrees. She plans to vote for Biden in November.

"It's not a coincidence. It's a ploy to tie Joe and Hunter together as if it is Joe that is undergoing those charges," Robinson said. "But my thoughts are if he is found guilty, let justice be served."

Mike McCombs, 67, a Republican from Lincolnton, Georgia, said he sees the Hunter Biden trials as payback for the president's family following Trump's six-week long trial in Manhattan. He plans to vote for Trump in November.

"I think karma has caught up with him, the whole family," McCombs said. "The reality of politics has caught up with them. They spent all that time trying to put Trump in jail and they've done a whole lot worse."

Trump has repeatedly claimed that his opponent in the presidential election rigged the New York trial, but the case was brought by state prosecutors and not directed by the Biden administration.

Brown said he believes the trials surrounding both Trump and Hunter Biden are politically motivated and a "mockery" of the justice system. He said he doesn't like either of the major party candidates and is not planning to vote for president in November.

"I thought [Trump] should have been impeached but quite frankly, as far as I can tell, this New York prosecution is the definition of political prosecution," Brown said. "Same thing applies to Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden is a scumbag. The idea that the President's kid is a scumbag is not surprising but this is another definition of political prosecution."

Trials unlikely to change voters' minds

A majority polled last summer said Hunter Biden's charges will not affect their support for his father in 2024. Across the political aisle, voters said Hunter Biden's trials will not change their vote in November. For some, they don't plan to follow the trials at all.

"It is not anything I'm paying attention to. It's not going to change the way I think about the direction of the country and it's not going to change my vote in any way, shape, or form," said Dhemecourt, the Louisianan who added she is more focused on Trump securing the southern U.S. border. "I think it's just a distraction by the media from what is really going on. I mean, we have real issues in this country that are really, really important."

Vasquez said she plans to pay attention to news coverage of the trials but that they will not affect her vote for Biden in the fall.

"I don't think that anything that our kids do  you know, they're adults. I don't think any of that would have a bearing on how I vote," Vasquez said. "I would hope it wouldn't on other people either."

Robinson said nothing she learns in the trials is likely to change her vote for Biden in November, but that the president's response to them might.

"If he denounced his son, I wouldn't show up at the polls," Robinson said. "A parent should stand by their child and support them through difficult times."

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Biden trial divides voters on political lines as election looms
National Bank of Canada's (TSE:NA) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to CA$1.10 on 1st of August. Although the dividend is now higher, the yield is only 3.8%, which is below the industry average.

Check out our latest analysis for National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada's Dividend Forecasted To Be Well Covered By Earnings

Even a low dividend yield can be attractive if it is sustained for years on end.

Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, National Bank of Canada has a long history of paying out a part of its earnings to shareholders. Based on National Bank of Canada's last earnings report, the payout ratio is at a decent 43%, meaning that the company is able to pay out its dividend with a bit of room to spare.

The next 3 years are set to see EPS grow by 4.2%. Analysts estimate the future payout ratio will be 48% over the same time period, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

National Bank of Canada Has A Solid Track Record

Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was CA$1.74, compared to the most recent full-year payment of CA$4.40. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 9.7% per annum over that time. The dividend has been growing very nicely for a number of years, and has given its shareholders some nice income in their portfolios.

The Dividend Has Growth Potential

Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. National Bank of Canada has impressed us by growing EPS at 9.8% per year over the past five years. Shareholders are getting plenty of the earnings returned to them, which combined with strong growth makes this quite appealing.

National Bank of Canada Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that National Bank of Canada is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 10 National Bank of Canada analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Illustration of sunscreens by KFF Health News artist Lydia Zuraw.

When dermatologist Adewole Ade Adamson sees people spritzing sunscreen as if its cologne at the pool where he lives in Austin, Texas, he wants to intervene.

My wife says I shouldnt, he said, even though most people rarely use enough sunscreen.

At issue is not just whether people are using enough sunscreen, but what ingredients are in it.

The Food and Drug Administrations ability to approve the chemical filters in sunscreens that are sold in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and France is hamstrung by a 1938 U.S. law that requires sunscreens to be tested on animals and classified as drugs, rather than as cosmetics as they are in much of the world. So Americans are not likely to get those better sunscreens  which block the ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and lead to wrinkles  in time for this summer, or even the next.

Sunscreen makers say that requirement is unfair because companies including BASF Corp. and LOreal, which make the newer sunscreen chemicals, submitted safety data on sunscreen chemicals to the European Union authorities some 20 years ago.

Steven Goldberg, a retired vice president of BASF, said companies are wary of the FDA process because of the cost and their fear that additional animal testing could ignite a consumer backlash in the European Union, which bans animal testing of cosmetics, including sunscreen. The companies are asking Congress to change the testing requirements before they take steps to enter the U.S. marketplace.

In a rare example of bipartisanship last summer, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, thanked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,D-N.Y., for urging the FDA to speed up approvals of new, more effective sunscreen ingredients. Now a bipartisan bill is pending in the House that would require the FDA to allow non-animal testing.

It goes back to sunscreens being classified as over-the-counter drugs, said Carl DRuiz, a senior manager at DSM-Firmenich, a Switzerland-based maker of sunscreen chemicals. Its really about giving the U.S. consumer something that the rest of the world has. People arent dying from using sunscreen. Theyre dying from melanoma.

Every hour, at least two people die of skin cancer in the United States. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America, and 6.1 million adults are treated each year for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nations second-most-common cancer, breast cancer, is diagnosed about 300,000 times annually, though it is far more deadly.

Keep in mind that the same brands may have different ingredients if sold in U.S. stores. But importing your sunscreen may not be affordable or practical.

The best sunscreen is the one that you will use over and over again, said Jane Yoo, a New York City dermatologist.

Though skin cancer treatment success rates are excellent, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. The disease costs the health care system $8.9 billion a year, according to CDC researchers. One study found that the annual cost of treating skin cancer in the United States more than doubled from 2002 to 2011, while the average annual cost for all other cancers increased by just 25%. And unlike many other cancers, most forms of skin cancer can largely be prevented  by using sunscreens and taking other precautions.

But a heavy dose of misinformation has permeated the sunscreen debate, and some people question the safety of sunscreens sold in the United States, which they deride as chemical sunscreens. These sunscreen opponents prefer physical or mineral sunscreens, such as zinc oxide, even though all sunscreen ingredients are chemicals.

Its an artificial categorization, said E. Dennis Bashaw, a retired FDA official who ran the agencys clinical pharmacology division that studies sunscreens.

Still, such concerns were partly fed by the FDA itself after it published a study that said some sunscreen ingredients had been found in trace amounts in human bloodstreams. When the FDA said in 2019, and then again two years later, that older sunscreen ingredients needed to be studied more to see if they were safe, sunscreen opponents saw an opening, said Nadim Shaath, president of Alpha Research & Development, which imports chemicals used in cosmetics.

Thats why we have extreme groups and people who arent well informed thinking that something penetrating the skin is the end of the world, Shaath said. Anything you put on your skin or eat is absorbed.

Adamson, the Austin dermatologist, said some sunscreen ingredients have been used for 30 years without any population-level evidence that they have harmed anyone.

The issue for me isnt the safety of the sunscreens we have, he said. Its that some of the chemical sunscreens arent as broad spectrum as they could be, meaning they do not block UVA as well. This could be alleviated by the FDA allowing new ingredients.

Ultraviolet radiation falls between X-rays and visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum. Most of the UV rays that people come in contact with are UVA rays that can penetrate the middle layer of the skin and that cause up to 90% of skin aging, along with a smaller amount of UVB rays that are responsible for sunburns.

The sun protection factor, or SPF, rating on American sunscreen bottles denotes only a sunscreens ability to block UVB rays. Although American sunscreens labeled broad spectrum should, in theory, block UVA light, some studies have shown they fail to meet the European Unions higher UVA-blocking standards.

It looks like a number of these newer chemicals have a better safety profile in addition to better UVA protection, said David Andrews, deputy director of Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that researches the ingredients in consumer products. We have asked the FDA to consider allowing market access.

The FDA defends its review process and its call for tests of the sunscreens sold in American stores as a way to ensure the safety of products that many people use daily, rather than just a few times a year at the beach.

Many Americans today rely on sunscreens as a key part of their skin cancer prevention strategy, which makes satisfactory evidence of both safety and effectiveness of these products critical for public health, Cherie Duvall-Jones, an FDA spokesperson, wrote in an email.

DRuizs company, DSM-Firmenich, is the only one currently seeking to have a new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient approved in the United States. The company has spent the past 20 years trying to gain approval for bemotrizinol, a process DRuiz said has cost $18 million and has advanced fitfully, despite attempts by Congress in 2014 and 2020 to speed along applications for new UV filters.

Bemotrizinol is the bedrock ingredient in nearly all European and Asian sunscreens, including those by the South Korean brand Beauty of Joseon and Biore, a Japanese brand.

DRuiz said bemotrizinol could secure FDA approval by the end of 2025. If it does, he said, bemotrizinol would be the most vetted and safest sunscreen ingredient on the market, outperforming even the safety profiles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

As Congress and the FDA debate, many Americans have taken to importing their own sunscreens from Asia or Europe, despite the risk of fake products.

The sunscreen issue has gotten people to see that you can be unsafe if youre too slow, said Alex Tabarrok, a professor of economics at George Mason University. The FDA is just incredibly slow. Theyve been looking at this now literally for 40 years. Congress has ordered them to do it, and they still havent done it.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

The post Whats keeping the U.S. from allowing better sunscreens? appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is rivals with Tennessees Bill Lee. 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.

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.

Army spouse: Trumps callous insult of military not forgotten this Memorial Day

Calling your neighbor, Andy Beshear.

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.

A Kentucky congressman is working to reduce prescription costs, make health care affordable

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, where this column originally appeared.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kentucky, Tennessee governors should show us a new way to do politics
Under President William Rutos leadership, the Kenyan government has inked a significant agreement with some of Americas most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This alliance encompasses institutions such as Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Howard University. It aims to revolutionize STEM education and economic development in Kenya and the United States.

Empowering a New Generation

During his state visit to the U.S.  the first by an African leader under the Biden administration  President Ruto made Atlanta his first port of call. He articulated his vision of empowering a new generation through this partnership. We shall empower a new generation of disruptive thinkers, ambitious visionaries, and innovative problem solvers, and thus divine a brighter knowledge-driven future where progress transcends borders, transforms lives, and delivers prosperity, Ruto stated during his visit to Spelman College.

Wrapped up our Atlanta stop of #StateVisitUSKE by celebrating growing partnerships in trade, education, and the creative economy. Today, we move to Washington for more engagements. #USKEat60pic.twitter.com/dmy4WKDQPA  U.S. Ambassador Meg Whitman (@USAmbKenya) May 22, 2024

The agreement with HBCUs is particularly symbolic. It draws inspiration from the historical airlifts program of the late 1950s and early 1960s that saw hundreds of Kenyan students, including Barack Obama Sr., receive scholarships to attend American colleges. This move by President Ruto seeks to echo the transformative impact of such educational exchanges.

More About Kenyas Partnership With HBCUs

Dignitaries, including U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, witnessed the deal, highlighting a mutual commitment to promoting student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and helping Kenya achieve its Silicon Savannah goals.

We still have details to work out in terms of the partnership, but you know, what we really hope is that our students have the opportunity to go and learn in Kenyan schools, and Kenyan students will have the opportunity here, Dr. Helene Gayle, president of Spelman College, shared with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Our faculty will have opportunities to do research together and really build out partnerships in this very important area of STEM and technology, she added.

With significant funding from Mastercard and Microsoft, this partnership will also help the Open University of Kenya at Konza connect STEM graduates with growing industries, including information and communication technology (ICT), textile production, and pharmaceuticals.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Kansas Supreme Court upheld a set of controversial voting laws on Friday, which were contested by voting rights groups.

Nexstars Kansas Capitol Bureau spoke with the Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in an exclusive one-on-one interview. Kobach is touting the ruling as a victory, after three years of defending the laws in court.

One law restricts the amount of ballots people can collect and return to the election office. If its more than 10 ballots, people could face jail time.

The reason we have that in kansas law is to stop ballot harvesting, Kobach said. They tried to make the claim, which was really a weak claim, they claimed that it infringed upon your first amendment free speech rights to limit the number of ballots other than your own that you can collect and deliver. It was a weak claim from the beginning and the supreme court rejected it and Im glad they did.

However, opponents say it restricts peoples access to the ballot.

Which really has a negative impact on folks for example in maybe a rural retirement home or disability group home where maybe theres only one person who could assist more than ten people, and now thatd be illegal for them to, Loud Light President Davis Hammet said.

Gov. Laura Kelly signs workers compensation bill in ceremonial gesture

The Kansas Supreme Court is also upholding a law requiring verification for mail ballots. However, opponents say its like flipping a coin.

Its really up to the county clerk, just someone in a county office to say I dont think that signature matches, and be able to throw out your ballot, Hammet said.

Now a Shawnee County judge will decide if the law interferes with a persons right to vote. The attorney general stands by it.

The law gives voters an opportunity to correct any mismatch, Kobach said. The county election office has to call you and give you an opportunity to correct your signature.

Gov. Kelly announces special session to deliver tax plan

A third decision favors voting rights advocates. The measure that would make it illegal to impersonate an election official is being sent back to a lower court for review. Justices say they arent sold that its constitutional.

For more Capitol Bureau 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.
The city of Los Angeles on Friday cleared a homeless encampment near Hollywood's landmark Sunset Sound recording studio and moved more than 30 people into temporary housing, officials said.

The long-standing encampment next to the Sunset Boulevard recording studio had become a tinderbox in the neighborhood. The owner of Sunset Sound previously complained that the encampment, sidewalk fires and a break-in had threatened the business and made high-profile artists uncomfortable.

A stack of blank checks was stolen from the business during a February break-in, and employees found human feces on a drum set, Sunset Sound President Paul Camarata told media outlets earlier this year. He said he installed cacti in massive wooden planters on the sidewalk to try to deter the encampment from reappearing.

The encampment was cleared as a part of Inside Safe, the program launched by Mayor Karen Bass that has taken homeless people off the streets and moved them into city-leased hotels, motels and other facilities.

Two days before the operation, about a dozen tents and other structures were visible outside the studio at Sunset and Cherokee Avenue.

Tents line the sidewalk on Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood outside the Sunset Sound recording studio. (David Zahniser / Los Angeles Times)

Bass' office said that, between the Hollywood operation and another intervention in Windsor Square at 6th Street and Van Ness Avenue, more than 35 people were temporarily housed this week.

Photos shared by the mayor's office showed Bass talking to unhoused people on the sidewalk outside Sunset Sound and on a city bus Friday.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, whose district includes Hollywood, said that everyone living at the Sunset encampment accepted "services and housing."

"Many people living at this encampment have been in the same area on the street for over five years, and now they are finally able to move into housing because of Inside Safe," Soto-Martinez said in a statement.

The recording studio, which opened in 1960, has been used by high-profile artists including Elton John, Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Janis Joplin, Van Halen and Prince.

Representatives for Sunset Sound didn't respond to requests for comment.

Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A local hospital needs help identifying a patient who was found injured in the Westlake area earlier this week.

The patient, described as a man around 50 years old, has been hospitalized at the Los Angeles General Medical Center since May 27.

He was found lying on the ground at 1100 W 5th Street in Central L.A., according to hospital staff.

An unidentified male patient was found at 1100 W 5th Street in the Westlake neighborhood of Central L.A. on May 27, 2024. (Los Angeles General Medical Center)

The man does not have any personal belongings to help workers identify him.

He is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 132 pounds with an average build. He has a shaved head and light grey eyes.

Anyone who recognizes the man or has additional information is asked to call clinical social workers Brian Dillon at 323-409-3134 or Cristol Perez at 323-409-4317.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Labour risks triggering a revolt from teaching unions if it goes ahead with a tax raid on private schools, The Telegraph can reveal.

One union boss warned Sir Keir Starmer to think through the consequences for state schools, and another did not rule out strike action amid fears hundreds of private school teachers could be made redundant if the levy is introduced.

Labour claims it will raise 1.7bn by charging 20pc VAT on school fees, but this assumes as few as 3pc of parents will pull their children out of private school.

A survey published this week found as many as 42pc of pupils  224,000  could be forced out of private schools and one headteacher told The Telegraph this week that more than half of his staff are at risk of losing their jobs.

Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), which represents 32,000 members in private schools, said he would robustly defend them against any redundancies or changes to salaries and benefits.

He said: Whatever changes may or may not happen in relation to charitable status, the NEU will robustly defend the terms and conditions of those working in independent schools.

Mr Kebede did not rule out strike action, only promising that the union would strive to ensure any disruption to students education is minimised.

NEU members last week began strike action at one leading independent school. Teaching was disrupted last week at James Allens Girls School where staff took to the picket line over low pay awards and pension contributions. There are further strikes planned for next month.

Mr Kebede said: The NEU has also made it clear that we will challenge any schools in the independent sector using Labours policy to try and take teachers out of the Teachers Pension Scheme. Pensions are deferred earnings, and we will robustly defend our members terms and conditions.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said he was concerned that Labour had not properly considered how the policy will impact state schools.

He said: If Labour seeks to enact it, they are going to have to think through the consequences. Weve already got a teacher supply crisis in the state sector, weve got serious underfunding and underinvestment and deleted capacity in relation to support services for children and young people and that will have to be addressed.

You cant expect to deliver in the context of higher demand and increased need on the part of children and young people without the resources being in place in the first instance.

Its clear that is something that a government with its policy pledge will have to consider very, very carefully and that would be a concern to us and our members in the state sector.

He added: Im not here as a cheerleader for Labour, Im here to represent the interests of my members to any incoming government.

Meanwhile Emma Thompson, partner and head of employment at law firm Thackray Williams, said job losses at private schools were inevitable.

Ms Thompson, who advises a number of independent schools, said her clients were already looking at redundancy plans as schools deal with falling pupil numbers.

She said: We havent had the VAT pass but Ive got schools who are already restructuring because pupil numbers are already dropping, weve already seen a school close, parents are voting with their feet and everybody is anticipating a Labour government.

The numbers have already dropped, they dropped last year, they dropped again this year so schools are having to take action regardless of where the policy is at the moment because they are already feeling that financial pinch.

They are looking to do other things before affecting teachers salaries. Class sizes are getting bigger, there is definitely less investment in extra-curricular activities, I know there are less scholarships, heads are standing up saying our scholarships used to be 30pc or 40pc, we are dropping them right down to 10pc or 20pc. They are looking to do everything else they can to mitigate what is happening to teaching staff but [job losses] are the inevitable.

The lawyer said schools would not find it simple to make staff redundant as unions will come out fighting.

Legally its just not that simple and they [private schools] dont tend to go through the process very often so they are pretty green when it comes to changing terms and conditions of employment and redundancy.

Schools cannot change teachers pay and benefits without consulting with them and their union first in an attempt to reach an agreement.

They can also not force teachers to accept new terms and know any redundancies come with the risk unions will file unfair dismissal claims which could prove costly.

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Labour still has seeds of anti-Semitic virus, claims lawyer who took party to equalities watchdog

James Libson, managing partner of Mishcon de Reya, has spent more than three decades fighting anti-Semitism - Belinda Jiao

Seeds of an anti-Semitic virus still exist within the Labour party, one of its most prominent Jewish backers has claimed.

James Libson, managing partner of London law firm Mishcon de Reya, said he was encouraged by Sir Keir Starmers crackdown on anti-Jewish racism within the party but said the problem had not yet been eradicated.

Asked about anti-Semitism within Labour, he said: The actual seeds of the virus exist within parts of the party. Theyre not eliminated, theyre there and if the leadership isnt strong and resolute in relation to it, theres a danger that it would reemerge.

Mr Libsons comments were made before a party row over whether to let Diane Abbott stand as a Labour MP at the upcoming election. Ms Abbott, who served as shadow home secretary under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, was suspended from the party last year for suggesting Jewish people experienced prejudice but not racism in a letter to the Observer.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington this week claimed she was to be barred from standing as an MP, following reports that the Labour leadership were preparing to block her.

However, Sir Keir on Friday clarified that Ms Abbott was free to stand following outcry from the Left of the party, including deputy leader Angela Rayner.

Diane Abbott had the Labour whip restored last week and will now be a Labour candidate at the election - Guy Smallman/Getty Images Europe

Critics have also accused Sir Keir of culling left-wingers from the party after a number of candidates were blocked from standing for election in response to anti-Semitism complaints. Sir Keir has denied trying to purge those on the hard Left, saying Labour simply wanted the highest quality candidates to stand.

Mr Libson declined to comment on Ms Abbotts selection.

The lawyer has previously acted for the Jewish Labour Movement in its complaints to the UKs equality watchdog about Labours handling of anti-Semitism allegations under Mr Corbyn.

The litigator helped the Jewish society submit evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commissions (EHRC) 16-month investigation into the issue, which included a dossier of sworn statements from 70 past and present Labour staffers-turned whistleblowers.

In 2020, the EHRC concluded that Labour broke equality laws by failing to prevent acts of harassment and discrimination. Investigators also found Mr Corbyns leadership did not do enough to prevent anti-Semitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it.

Sir Keir has vowed to root out anti-Jewish sentiment from the party since taking over as leader from Mr Corbyn in 2020.

Mr Libson said he was confident that Sir Keir and his inner circle recognised how serious the problem of anti-Semitism is, saying it poisoned and undermined the Labour partys values and electoral prospects under Mr Corbyn.

He told The Telegraph: They absolutely see that the Corbyn era was disastrous for the party and that was intrinsically linked to the anti-Semitism that had overtaken the party and that they are absolutely resolved to make sure that it doesnt come back.

Mr Libson has spent more than three decades fighting anti-Semitism, including successfully defending American historian Deborah Lipstadt and British publisher Penguin Books from libel claims made by holocaust denier David Irving in 2000.

The High Court case was retold into the 2016 film, Denial, with Mr Libson portrayed by Jack Lowden, the star of Apple TVs Slow Horses.

Mishcon is now representing the families of British hostages being held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza following the October 7 attacks. The law firm has also raised concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism within Britains universities in the wake of the Hamas invasion.

Mr Libson led a team of partners who last December accused Queen Mary University of London of paying only lip service to campaigns against anti-Semitisim on campus after Hitler jokes, abusive messages and violent threats were allegedly made towards Jewish students.

In a letter sent to the university on behalf of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and individual students, Mishcon described Queen Marys campus as prolifically hostile.

Queen Mary has said it has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of racial bullying and harassment.

In recent weeks, a wave of pro-Palestinian protests and camps have spread across UK universities demanding institutions cut ties with Israel. The movement has been inspired by similar encampments at US universities, many of which have become the centre of clashes with police.

Mr Libson defended the right of students to protest, so long as it was non-violent.

He said: Peaceful protests, even if those peaceful protests are contrary to university regulations, is a part of growing up and part of being a student.

However, he argued Jewish students should be able to study without fear of anti-Semitism and that UK universities must protect them when demonstrations go too far and become unlawful.

Students activists should also be aware of the consequences of participating in unlawful or anti-Semitic demonstrations, Mr Libson added.

Protesters in Cambridge marching to deliver their demands to their vice-chancellor - Jason Bye

His comments come after prestigious US law firm Sullivan & Cromwell last month announced plans to introduce tougher hiring checks in response to reports of harassment at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on American campuses.

Its new vetting process will include thoroughly reviewing candidates online presence and hiring experts to conduct formal background checks, as reported by trade magazine American Lawyer.

Davis Polk & Wardwell, one of the worlds largest law firms, last year rescinded job offers to three Columbia and Harvard students who allegedly signed letters criticising Israels role in the war.

Mr Libson said Mishcon had no problem hiring protesters so long as they had not broken the law or said things that were offensive.

He said: Why would you want someone to come into your institution who has demonstrated a proclivity to hate?

Unlike Mishcon, most of the UKs elite law firms are reluctant to publicly share concerns about the safety and treatment of Jewish undergraduates. Mr Libson blamed their silence on the stark size differences of the Jewish population in each country. There are only 300,000 Jews in Britain and more than 8 million in the US.

This means there are fewer UK law firms with a Jewish character compared to the US, he argued. Mishcon is one of last remaining City stalwarts with strong ties to the community.

The law firm was founded in 1937 by Lord Victor Mishcon, the Brixton-born son of a rabbi who emigrated from Poland. The solicitor, who acted for Princess Diana in her divorce, became a Labour politician and sat on the Wolfenden Committee, whose recommendations paved the way for homosexuality to be decriminalised.

Mr Libson criticised the Governments disdain for the legal profession in recent years under successive Conservative prime ministers.

He pointed to drastic legal aid cuts, Tory attacks on lefty lawyers opposing government immigration policies, and failure to attract overseas investment into Londons commercial law sector after Brexit.

This has undermined the UKs economic prospects and global reputation for promoting the rule of law, he argued.

Mr Libson said: If were to prosper both economically and as a place where people want to invest, have their disputes resolved, then we need to have the support of government in our system of law.

Mr Libson was appointed as Mishcons managing partner in 2020 and is now at the start of his second and final term, which ends in almost three years.

He oversaw the firms one-time plans to float on the London Stock Exchange, a move which at the time valued the business at about 750m.

Mishcon ultimately abandoned the highly-anticipated listing, which would have unlocked a lucrative pay day for partners, in 2022 because of poor market conditions.

Mr Libson ruled out reviving the plan, saying: The moment for law firm IPOs has passed and Im not sure when it will come back.

He pointed to the poor performance of London-listed law firms since Mishcon shelved its IPO: I just cant see it being an attractive option for anyone at the moment.

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David Gerstenfeld, director of the Oregon Employment Department, told lawmakers the percent of Oregonians getting their first unemployment checks within three weeks dropped before the conversion to a new online system in March.

The Oregon Employment Department director acknowledged inferior customer service with hundreds of phone calls on hold for more than an hour and delays in delivering first unemployment payments, but said the agency hopes to make progress with additional hires this summer.

We know that each person that is waiting is an individual that needs our help, director David Gerstenfeld said during a presentation this week to the Senate Interim Committee on Labor and Business. This is something thats really painful, really frustrating for us."

The discussion focused on the new online system, Frances Online, and two of its major programs: Paid Leave Oregon and Unemployment Insurance.

I want to be upfront in saying that while both of those programs right now are paying thousands of people a week their benefits very quickly and answering thousands of phone calls a week very quickly, there's a lot of people that are not being served quickly enough, Gerstenfeld said.

As of May 27, the agency reported paying $277.7 million in unemployment insurance benefits since the beginning of the year and answering 6,787 calls from May 20 through May 24.

According to data presented to lawmakers, from May 12 through May 18 the unemployment customer care team answered 41% of the 6,180 calls within 5 minutes and 28.6% more than an hour later. The rest of the calls were answered within 5 minutes to an hour.

For the Paid Leave Oregon program, the average wait time was 57 minutes for the 5,226 calls from May 19 through May 25, according to its dashboard.

The average response time was 4.06 days when Oregonians used the Contact Us form for the Paid Leave Oregon program.

Since August 14, the paid leave program has cleared 70,740 claims for payment and paid $432 million in benefits.

"The employment department is filled with people that are there to help these people, so its very difficult to know that were not able to provide the customer service levels that everybody wants, understandably expects and deserves, Gerstenfeld said.

Employment Department aware of 'desperation' among some Oregonians

Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, said her office had received more correspondence about the delays than anything else in the last two months.

Patterson shared the story of one person who said they had filed the same day they lost their job and had placed more than 200 calls to the agency. All but one of those calls had generated a busy signal, she said, and the one call that did go through dropped after the individual was on hold for nearly seven hours.

Gerstenfeld said the phone technology the agency uses provided data confirming stories of frustration.

Story continues

Once we fall below a certain threshold for being timely, its not just that more people call us," he said. "Its not a linear progression. It goes up sharply and people are understandably more desperate.'

The director gave an example of a day 17,000 calls were made from one phone number.

"So that increase in the number of people and their desperation to get assistance just makes it harder and harder to get caught up, he said.

Increasing number of calls, fewer staff exasperates delays

Gerstenfeld said the Employment Department lost two-thirds of its unemployment insurance staff from June 2021 to October 2023.

Between April 2023 and February  before the March 4 transition to using the new Frances Online system for unemployment insurance  "the percentage of people getting their first unemployment check within three weeks dropped from just under 92%  which was pretty much at the top tier of the nation  to about 65%, he said.

Thats not good customer service, Gerstenfeld said.

Lindsi Leahy, the Employment Department's division director of unemployment insurance, said hiring is underway that will help provide better customer service to Oregonians seeking assistance from the agency.

Increased overtime, hiring push and reduced phone line hours

Lindsi Leahy, the unemployment insurance director at OED, said a hiring push is underway with funding from House Bill 4035.

Offers have been extended for 53 positions, some of which will begin in June, Leahy said.

It will take time to hire all 72 positions and for those folks to become proficient in their work, but we expect the new staff to begin helping make a noticeable, positive impact to our customer service levels beginning in mid to late August, she said.

The agency also raised the limit of overtime hours from 400 hours per week to 1,000, and staff from other parts of the department have helped respond to messages, Leahy said.

And starting June 4, the agency will temporarily close phone lines on Monday and permanently reduce phone hours to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, to focus on existing claim issues and processing claims.

Whats going to be the metric that you will use to determine whether or not the strategy you have set up now  is working, asked Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor and Business.

Gerstenfeld said the agency wants to reduce the 13,500 issues that are unresolved for more than six weeks by at least 80%. The agency will start taking phone calls on Monday again once the number is below 2,700. Gerstenfeld said that threshold should be enough to continue making improvements. Leahy said the number of calls unresolved for more than six weeks already is down to 8,000.

Taylor said agency leaders will be asked to provide lawmakers with an update in September.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLugo

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Employment Department making changes to improve service
Las Vegas mayoral candidates reach out to voters during first week of early voting

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  It wasnt opportunity knocking on the door for many Las Vegas residents, but candidates for mayor during the first week of early voting.

8 News Now reached out to five campaigns for the Las Vegas mayoral race, requesting photos and an update on what their candidate did this past week to reach out to voters.

Early voting sites, voter registration, mail ballot drop-off sites

Shelley Berkley

Shelley Berkley started the week by attending three separate Memorial Day events at Woodland Memorial, Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery, and Palm Mortuary meeting with Las Vegas veterans families.

She met with voters during a Taco Tuesday event at Gueros, the 8 News Now March Madness Best Taco Champion, and appealed to voters during a local podcast.

Bob Horton, head of the Ironworkers Union, met with the mayoral candidate this week extending the unions endorsement to Berkley.

Victoria Seaman

Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman knocked on doors in Ward 4 alongside her husband and campaign staffers.

Pastors at Amistad Cristiana Church met with Seaman to discuss community issues and meet members of their congregation.

Photos show Seaman also attending a campaign event at a local restaurant meeting with residents and patrons.

Cedric Crear

Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear knocked on doors in Sun City Summerlin this week while also stopping to speak with eligible voters at two mobile early voting sites.

Judge Karen Bennet Harron hosted Crear for a meet and greet to speak with residents where he discussed community issues.

Crear attended a number of voter forums and made phone calls to eligible voters.

Kara Jenkins

Kara Jenkins knocked on doors in Lone Mountain and Huntridge speaking with voters on community issues.

A downtown block party on Main Street and a community paint event saw Jenkins meet with hundreds of voters in the Arts District.

Eligible voters discussed issues and danced with Jenkins at the Martin Luther King Senior Center during a campaign event.

Tera Anderson

Tera Anderson knocked on doors in Sun City Summerlin, Historic Westside, and Twin Lakes discussing issues with eligible voters.

Anderson made campaign calls to residents this week and said she places 40 phone calls a day to eligible voters.

She told 8 News Now she makes a proactive approach to reach out to voters, including giving them her personal phone number so they can make their concerns known directly to the candidate.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A shameful day in American history. A sham show trial. A kangaroo court. A total witch-hunt. Worthy of a banana republic.

These were the reactions from senior elected Republicans, who once claimed the mantle of the party of law and order, to the news that Donald Trump had become the first former US president convicted of a crime.

Related: Angry Trump revisits escalator where it all began  but this time as a felon

It soon became clear that one of Americas two major political parties was determined to undermine faith in the US judicial system with expressions of rage and demands for revenge, creating an alternative view of the US in which Joe Biden is a clear and present danger to US democracy.

Experts warned that by sowing distrust in institutions and the rule of law Trump, his supporters and his Republican allies were creating a political tinderbox ahead of Novembers presidential election. In the coming months  especially as Trump faces sentencing in July  that sense of dread and fear of political unrest is likely to only increase dramatically.

Weve entered new political & legal territory as a Nation, historian Tim Naftali wrote on the social media platform X. Donald Trump will now force every GOP candidate to trash our judicial system. There will be a chorus of poison likely worse than what we heard before Jan. 6th. Should he win, hed have a more toxic mandate than in 17.

On Thursday a jury in New York pronounced Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He will be sentenced on 11 July, four days before the Republican national convention in Milwaukee.

While Democrats hailed the verdict as proof that Americas system of checks and balances remains robust, able to hold political leaders to account, the ex-president claimed the trial was rigged and a disgrace, adding: The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people.

His campaign fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals. One text message called him a political prisoner, even though he has not yet found out whether he will be sentenced to prison and most experts see it as highly unlikely. The campaign also began selling black Make America Great Again caps to reflect a dark day in history.

Trump campaign aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that WinRed, a platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

Republicans rallied around Trump with both uniformity and ferocity, seeking to cast the justice system as biased and broken. Mike Johnson, who as speaker of the House of Representatives is the third most senior elected official in the country, called the trial a purely political exercise, not a legal one, and accused Joe Bidens administration of participating in the weaponisation of our justice system.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina said: Absolute injustice. This erodes our justice system. Hear me clearly: you cannot silence the American people. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina implied that Trumps conviction set a dangerous precedent of prosecuting former presidents: Two can play this game. Alongside a fundraising link, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida posted on X: Dont just get angry about this travesty, get even!

The hyperpartisan response illuminated a very different America from the 1970s when the supreme court ruled that President Richard Nixon must hand over tapes of Oval Office conversations that ultimately led to his resignation; Nixon complied rather than complaining of a kangaroo court or seeking to undermine the system.

But in 2024 America is on a collision course between partisan politics and the rule of law. Analysts warned that the Republican backlash could tear at the social fabric in an already volatile election year.

Tara Setmayer, a senior adviser to the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group, said: That is the bigger crime here in the long term. The Republican party has now facilitated the continued onslaught against our democratic institutions.

Its the world turned upside down and the Republican party is enabled it Tara Setmayer

The long-term consequences of the idea that our justice system or the rule of law is somehow corrupted because Donald Trump says so are immeasurable. Were seeing that now where even in a court of law where the evidence is clear its not good enough. Its the world turned upside down and the Republican party has enabled it.

Just as Trump has told his supporters I am your retribution, so his allies in rightwing media, who have spent months conditioning their audience to distrust the courts verdict, deployed the language of vengeance. Some argued that, if Trump regains power, he should go after Democrats, prosecutors and journalists.

Setmayer added: If you look on social media platforms and the rightwing ecosystem, the reaction to the verdict was one of hysteria and threats against anyone who was in support of the verdict, particularly in the media. Add them to the list. Buy guns and ammo. Get ready, gear up.

The language is mobilising and violent and that is something that we should all be concerned about. Many of us whove been paying attention have warned about this. This is part of Trumpism. The violence and the retribution is the point and hes laying the foundation for his followers to rationalise a violent response.

No presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time, and 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 Biden to try to keep him out of the White House.

In the next two months Trump is set to have his first debate with Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his partys nomination at the Republican national convention. On 11 July he could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation to up to four years in prison. Both he and his political allies seem sure to continue exploiting Americas political polarisation and alternate realities.

After Republicans gained narrow control of the House last year they set up a panel, chaired by the Trump loyalist Jim Jordan, to investigate the weaponization of the federal government and examine what they allege is the politicisation of the justice department and FBI against conservatives. Some have called for the impeachment of the attorney general, Merrick Garland.

Nicole Wallace, a former communications chief for President George W Bush, said on the MSNBC network: I think what is important is for us not to look away from what is broken. And what is broken is that one of the two parties does not respect the rule of law, not because they didnt like what they saw, not because they saw something different in Judge Juan Merchan than we saw, but because they dont like the result. And that is a flashing red light for our country.

Bill Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution thinktank in Washington, added in a phone interview: The process of delegitimising our institutions is very far advanced and here you dont have to speculate. All you need to do is look at the surveys of trust in institutions and just about everything is at rock bottom.

Certainly the judiciary, for various reasons, is no exception. As the judiciary has gotten pulled into what many people see as partisan battles, trust has declined on both sides of the aisle. But the uniform Republican response to the outcome of this trial, which is likely to be sustained over many months, will have even more pernicious effects.

 This article was amended on 2 June 2024 because Donald Trumps sentencing is set for July, not in June as an earlier version said.
The author of a proposed constitutional amendment on public housing will pull the measure from Novembers ballot to avoid a costly campaign, pointing to recent progress in the Legislature on the issue, POLITICO has confirmed.

Novembers ballot will be very crowded, and reaching voters will be difficult and expensive, said state Sen. Ben Allen, a Santa Monica Democrat.

Lawmakers and pro-housing activists argue a provision in the California Constitution known as Article 34 has stifled affordable housing projects in many cities.

The article, which voters adopted in 1950, requires local voters to approve any new government-subsidized, low-income rental housing. The requirement promoted racial segregation in housing, Allen said, but multiple efforts to repeal it have failed.

Its a really troubling history, Allen told POLITICO in an interview earlier this year, referring to the articles segregation-era origins.

Allen and state Sen. Scott Wiener had proposed going back to the voters and asking them to remove the article from the constitution. In 2022, the Legislature placed SCA 2 on the November 2024 ballot and launched a campaign committee to support the effort.

But Allen said now isnt the right time for the public housing measure, with nearly a dozen other statewide ballot proposals already qualified.

He also noted that legislative efforts to address the issue are progressing, including his Senate Bill 469  which would add exceptions to allow for more public housing projects without voter approval. SB 469 substantially addresses some of the most significant concerns about how Article 34 might be impacting housing production, he said.

California lawmakers and some cities have created a host of work-arounds to create affordable housing, but Article 34 has still created headaches for state leaders. The city of Millbrae, south of San Francisco, filed a lawsuit in San Mateo County Superior Court late last year seeking to block the county from buying a La Quinta Inn and Suites and converting it into housing for homeless families and seniors. Millbrae officials argue the project is illegal because voters havent approved it.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has chided city officials over the lawsuit as it threatens to derail a project that would be funded through Homekey, his signature program to convert hotels and motels into housing for homeless people. Newsoms administration and pro-housing advocates are closely watching the challenge, worried it could threaten similar efforts throughout the state.

SBA 2 will be the first of the 12 currently qualified measures to be removed from Novembers ballot. With the deadline to pull measures coming up on June 27 and active discussions taking place on a handful of other proposals, its unlikely to be the last.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Advertising for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism became the center of debate Friday in the Arkansas Legislative Council meeting, with the price tag raising the eyebrows of some legislators.

The committee decided to hold the departments contract with the Little Rock-based CJRW agency for the next month and sent it back to committee to re-evaluate its price.

Arkansas legislative committee debates renewal of education contract with Solution Tree

Senator Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs) said that this is a big deal right now, at the peak tourism point of the year, because the state could lose revenue by not advertising.

Hester said the CJRW contract is for more than $100 million, which legislators believe should be looked at more closely before it was renewed by the state.

Hester said continuing with CRJW is likely, in part to it holding this contract for 40 years, but legislators need to determine if this is the best use of taxpayer money.

National Register of Historic Places adds several Arkansas sites to roster

I think members just want to know if somebodys been doing it over 40 years is there a reason bad for that or is there a really good reason? Hester asked. Maybe theyre just doing really excellent work, but its such a big dollar amount we want to send it back to committee and have some more debate on it.

Hester added that he and other legislators are still committed to growing tourism in Arkansas under Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

There was initially a motion by Rep. Stetson Painter (R-Mountain Home) to not review these contracts and have the agency reprocure them, though Hester made a motion just to hold them for the next month, which was ultimately what passed.

Arkansas state parks initiate rental accessibility program for wheelchair users, others

KARK 4 News reached out to the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism for a comment but as of publishing time there was not 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.
Advocates say they're pleased the Minnesota Legislature put $16 million toward solving southeast Minnesota's nitrate pollution problem, but some are concerned lawmakers shortchanged efforts to treat private wells in the region.

"We need to see significant additional investments in public health support for private well owners in particular," said Carly Griffith, water program director at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, which helped get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency involved in addressing nitrate issues throughout the region last year.

The $16 million lawmakers allocated will pay for testing and cleaning up wells polluted with farm runoff and help farmers change their practices to reduce that runoff.

Minnesota promised the EPA in December that it would act quickly to help residents in southeast Minnesota who had with dangerous levels of nitrate in their wells.

Several state agencies  the Departments of Health and Agriculture, as well as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency  are coordinating help for close to 100,000 residents who use private wells in the region.

Lawmakers directed $2.8 million to test and inventory private wells throughout the region. It's unclear how many private wells are in southeast Minnesota, but officials estimate more than 9,000 residents are drinking water with nitrates levels higher than federal safety standards.

Another $2.8 million will pay for nitrate treatment systems for homes, which state officials will distribute over the next several months.

"This recent funding really helps accelerate some of our work and support the effort we've had in southeast Minnesota and other vulnerable areas of the state," said Margaret Wagner of the Department of Agriculture's pesticide and fertilizer management division.

Yet advocates say that isn't enough  they pushed for at least $4 million, which they estimated would have helped address one of 10 residents with polluted water in the region. They also are disappointed lawmakers failed to pass a fertilizer tax that would have provided ongoing funding for nitrate cleanup.

"We've learned (agencies) have so little capacity without this funding," said Jeff Broberg, head of the Minnesota Well Owners Organization.

Broberg is a former delegate to a state citizens committee that oversees Minnesota's Environmental Trust Fund. He said he would have been happy to pay the proposed $0.40 per ton fertilizer tax lawmakers debated earlier this year. He rents out 56 acres near his St. Charles property and would have paid about $3 a year. But he said it's more important the state figure out some kind of funding mechanism so cleanup projects aren't delayed.

Some projects funded this session lay the foundation for future work, including money to develop best farm management practices, more conservation easements and a new nitrate management program for surface water.

State officials plan to partner with farmers and specialists in the coming months to cut down on nitrate runoff while increasing production with new farming practices. That could include more cover crops, extended crop rotations or fine-tuning nitrogen and fertilizer rates with farmers in the region.

"We, in many ways, look at this as a pilot [project] and think about building out a mitigation program in the southeast that could be replicated in other areas of the state," Wagner said.

State officials have measured nitrate water pollution since 1990. Nitrate levels largely have risen across the state since then. Although cities and towns have wastewater treatment plants to address pollutants in their water, private well owners aren't regulated. They have to treat water on their own.

Nitrate pollution stems from large-scale agriculture manure and fertilizer  about 90% of the nitrate in southeastern Minnesota's water comes from fertilizers spread on croplands, a state study found in 2013.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Nathan Fletcher is at the center of another legal tangle for alleged retaliation against someone who reported harassment claims about the former Supervisor, over a year after a bombshell sexual misconduct lawsuit spurred his fall from grace.

The new lawsuit was filed against the County of San Diego earlier this week by a UC San Diego professor Juli Beth Hinds, who said she unfairly lost two government contracts shortly after reporting a students claim that Fletcher harassed her to the universitys Title IX office.

Fletcher was a Professor of Practice with the Department of Political Science when the student informed Hinds of the alleged harassment during an office hours visit, according to the complaint.

Hinds allegations were first made public last year in a filing that serves as a precursor to a lawsuit, as the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The loss of these contracts, she said, resulted in more than $280,000 in lost income.

Timeline: Unfolding of the Nathan Fletcher scandal

FOX 5/KUSI reached out to Fletchers attorneys for comment, but did not receive a response.

Her suit is the latest in a flurry of claims that have come out in the wake of a lawsuit brought last year against Fletcher by a former San Diego Metropolitan Transit System employee, Grecia Figueroa. MTS was also a named defendant in the case.

In the still-ongoing litigation, Figueroa alleges that Fletcher, who was chair of the MTS Board of Directors at the time, sexually harassed her and assaulted her at least twice  incidents that she says directly led to her abrupt firing from the transit agency.

Fletcher resigned from all political posts shortly after the allegations were made public, describing his actions as unquestionably inappropriate. However, he has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual assault, instead admitting to consensual interactions with Figueroa.

An MTS-requested independent investigation into Figueroas claims seemed to contest at least part of her suit, given findings that concluded her firing was not a result of retaliation but due to issues with her performance.

Several batches of messages released in the course of discovery in her lawsuit and in the early stages of a countersuit for defamation that Fletcher filed against his accuser also appear to show some degree of a consensual relationship between the two.

Regardless, legal troubles have long since expanded beyond the former Supervisor, further ensnaring MTS, and now the County of San Diego, in the mess.

Earlier this year, a top officer at MTS sued the transit agency for retaliation over their handling of Figueroas claims against Fletcher. Emily Outlaw, the agencys chief information officer, alleged she received wrongful pushback by her supervisors after she raised questions about when they were made aware of the sexual assault allegations.

Where Figueroas suit stands

On Friday, Fletcher and Figueroas attorneys met for a hearing on several motions, including requests by the former supervisor to remove elements of his accusers complaint from the record and asks to compel certain information to be disclosed in discovery.

The judge hearing the case, Matthew Braner, agreed with some of the requests, removing certain parts of the complaint that describe pre-litigation settlement discussions and reference Fletchers wife, labor leader Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher, and his children.

However, the judge denied to remove other parts of the complaint Fletcher asked to be stricken, such as a paragraph detailing comments accusing him of cheating that were left on an Instagram post in September 2022  several months after the first alleged instance of assault.

As far as requests by Figueroa goes, the judge allowed for a motion to compel some responses to a discovery questionnaire, called a special interrogatory, that Fletchers attorneys sought to halt, saying they could speak to an allegation of pattern.

This included a request asking Fletcher to admit that he kissed another woman outside his marriage in the last five years.

His attorney, Sean McKavey, argued on Friday that the question about kissing other women is not a disputed fact and therefore did not need to be included in the discovery questionnaire. The judge pushed back and ultimately allowed for the question to be asked.

One persons useless is another persons useful, Braner said on Friday. Im not going to foreclose plaintiff [Figueroa] to having a different point of view.

A motion to compel responses for several other questions were denied by Braner, due to being what he described as overly broad or substantively identical to asks in earlier requests.

Among the questions he denied a motion to compel for was an ask for all formal and informal complaints of sexual harassment raised against Fletcher by other parties.

Figueroas attorney, Mary Ann Gallagher, used an example of the Title IX complaint made by Hinds as an informal complaint that could have been included, but was not. The judge encouraged posing a more tailor and focused request to add this information to discovery.

Fletcher seeking texts between accuser and friend in sexual assault lawsuit

During Fridays hearing, the two parties also discussed a line of questioning in Figueroas questionnaire for Fletcher about his struggles with alcohol abuse. Last year, he spent a period of time at an out-of-state treatment center for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.

McKavey described this question as extremely harassing during the hearing, to which Braner seemed to agree. However, the judge noted that he will come to a conclusion on whether it crosses over a line at a later hearing and he may still allow it to be included in discovery.

What the court does in discovery is ask as a gatekeeper. I intend to very scrupulously enforce that with respect to this line of questioning, Braner said. This lawsuit goes to allegations of pattern and at this point, with the liberal standard I am required to apply I think its a reasonable question. But Im going to repeat, I agree with you. There is a line and Im going to enforce it.

The parties are scheduled to meet again in about two weeks for another discovery hearing. A civil trial in the case is scheduled to begin in early February 2025, granted there are no further delays in the next few months.

The other cases facing MTS and the County of San Diego, as well as the defamation countersuit filed by Fletcher, remain in the early stages. No dates for hearings in either have been set for the next few months, 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Douglas Chrismas pictured on April 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Donato Sardella/Getty Images for MOCA)

As prosecutors told it, Douglas Chrismas, once known as one of the nations leading dealers of contemporary art, was a man so consumed by greed and ego that he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from his gallerys bankruptcy estate to put toward the rent on a museum dedicated to himself.

Chrismas, founder of Ace Gallery, had "champagne wishes and caviar dreams," Asst. U.S. Atty. Valerie Makarewicz told a jury in an embezzlement trial that began this week in federal court. Being responsible with money, she told the jury, "didnt matter."

But as his defense attorneys argued, Chrismas wanted to open that museum as a gift to Los Angeles and had used the money to pay its rent in an effort to ultimately help the bankruptcy estate.

Who the 80-year-old really is, and what his motivations were, would boil down to whose depiction the jury believed: that of the prosecution or the defense.

Megan Maitia, Chrismas attorney, likened the interpretation of the evidence to the famous duck-rabbit illusion, an ambiguous drawing in which either animal can be seen depending on the person looking. The same evidence the prosecution presents, Maitia said, "can mean the opposite."

Read more: Roundup: Ace Gallery's bankruptcy problems, Mark Ryden's controversial ham canvas, Brazil artists protest

"In the end, the government is going to tell you and argue to you that they've proven all of the elements of embezzlement on a bankruptcy estate," Maitia said. "With that same evidence we're going to get up and argue and put on a case of a man who was desperate to save his business and it's going to be up to you to decide which way you see it."

On Friday, after less than an hour of deliberation, the jury offered their verdict on who had painted Chrismas best, finding him guilty of embezzling more than $260,000 from the bankruptcy estate of Ace Gallery while he acted as the estates trustee and custodian.

He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

It was the latest fall for the octogenarian who championed pioneering artists and sculptors such as Robert Irwin, Michael Heizer, Sol LeWitt, Bruce Nauman and Sam Francis, but who early on garnered a reputation for shady business dealings.

Chrismas, who opened his first gallery at 17, has lived and operated art galleries in L.A. since 1969.

Legal troubles and controversies have dogged him since, including a score of civil lawsuits alleging that Chrismas failed to pay artists for their work and had not delivered artworks bought and paid for by collectors. (Even Andy Warhol reportedly complained about missing payments from Chrismas).

Story continues

In 1986, Chrismas pleaded no contest to a criminal charge that he stole seven contemporary artworks worth as much as $1.3 million. The stolen works included four pieces by Robert Rauschenberg and one each by Warhol, Frank Stella and Donald Judd.

Read more: CHRISMAS HAS 5 YEARS TO REPAY : ART DEALER PLEADS NO CONTEST

Chrismas and his various companies have filed for bankruptcy protection several times.

In 2013, Chrismas filed for bankruptcy protection for the last time after not paying rent on Ace Gallerys 30,000-square-foot flagship location on the second floor of the Wilshire Tower in the Miracle Mile district of L.A.

Between February 2013 and April 2016, when Ace was going through Chapter 11 proceedings, Chrismas remained the gallerys president, trustee and custodian and oversaw all operations. This role also gave him access to the gallerys property.

Chrismas remained in control of the gallery until April 2016, when the bankruptcy court appointed an independent trustee to run the bankruptcy estate and Chrismas was removed. Sam Leslie, a bankruptcy trustee and forensic accountant, took over management of the space and later filed a lengthy status report with the court documenting financial irregularities by Chrismas.

"The court left the defendant in charge of Ace Gallery because it and the creditors trusted him and expected him to run this business to benefit the people, the companies, the creditors of Ace Gallery," Makarewicz told the jury. "But as the government will show you, [Chrismas] wasnt open or honest with the creditors and the court."

Read more: Art dealer and founder of Ace Gallery arrested on embezzlement charges

Over the four-day trial, prosecutors told the jury that in late March and early April of 2016, Chrismas embezzled approximately $264,595 that belonged to the bankruptcy estate. That included a $50,000 check that Chrismas signed and that was paid to Ace Museum, a separate non-profit corporation that Chrismas owned and controlled.

They also presented evidence that Chrismas embezzled $100,000 owed to Ace Gallery by a third party for the purchase of artwork. Those funds also went to Ace Museum.

Finally, prosecutors said, Chrismas embezzled approximately $114,595 owed to the gallery by a third party that purchased artwork. That money was paid to Ace Museums landlord to keep current with its $225,000 monthly rent.

Jennifer Williams, one of Chrismas' attorneys, told the jury that they didn't dispute that the transactions went to Ace Museum, but said that Chrismas, "understood that to be estate property."

"There's no evidence, zero evidence that Mr. Chrismas as the owner of the gallery couldn't make loans himself to other companies within his gallery universe," Williams said.

By paying the rent, Williams added, Chrismas was also keeping a purchase option of the property "alive for the creditors."

Makarewicz told the jury that Chrismas had had 11 years to exercise the purchase option and "it never happened."

Ace Museum was intended to be Chrismas' legacy, prosecutors said, "the culmination of his life's work."

He wanted a legacy and he was willing to use other peoples money to buy that legacy, Asst. U.S. Atty. David Williams said during trial. You cant chase your dreams with somebody elses money. Thats called stealing."

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9.

Times staff writer Jessica Gelt contributed to this report.

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.
Lebanon reports one dead and several injured in Israeli attacks

Thick smoke billows following an Israeli rocket attack on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Dhaira. Marwan Naamani/dpa

One person died in a series of Israeli air strikes in Lebanon overnight, state media in the Middle Eastern country reported on Saturday.

A number of people were also injured in the attacks on various locations in southern Lebanon, according to the NNA news agency.

One building in the coastal town of Aadloun was destroyed and dozens more were damaged, it said, while two people on a motorcycle were also injured near Majdal Selm on Saturday.

According to the Israeli armed forces, the two were members of the pro-Iranian Shia militia Hezbollah.

The military said it launched attacks during the night on Hezbollah targets around Aadloun, Qana and Hmaileh, among other locations, in response to earlier attacks targeting northern Israel.

The Israeli strikes hit several rocket launch sites previously used by Hezbollah, which is allied to Iran and the Palestinian militant Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

In turn, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on northern Israel on Saturday. In response to the strike on the motorcycle, the militia said it fired attack drones at Israeli military targets near Yiftah in northern Israel.

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip last October, there have been daily clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah and other groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.

The mutual shelling has caused many casualties and severe destruction in villages on both sides of the border. Around 150,000 people have been evacuated or left the combat zone.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Adecoagro's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

A total of 4 investors have a majority stake in the company with 53% ownership

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

If you want to know who really controls Adecoagro S.A. (NYSE:AGRO), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 46% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Adecoagro.

See our latest analysis for Adecoagro

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Adecoagro?

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.

Adecoagro already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. 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 Adecoagro's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

It would appear that 23% of Adecoagro shares are controlled by hedge funds. 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. The company's largest shareholder is Qatar Holding LLC, with ownership of 15%. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 15% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 11% by the third-largest shareholder.

On looking further, we found that 53% of the shares are owned by the top 4 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Story continues

Insider Ownership Of Adecoagro

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. Given we are not picking up on insider ownership, we may have missing data. Therefore, it would be interesting to assess the CEO compensation and tenure, here.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 16% stake in Adecoagro. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Equity Ownership

With a stake of 15%, private equity firms could influence the Adecoagro board. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Adecoagro (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Theres an air of defiance among those organizing or planning to attend Pride events around the country this year, despite underlying fears that occasionally prompt chills eight years after the mass shooting that killed 49 people at Pulse, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Organizers of Colorados Pikes Peak Pride Festival are making plans to mark the events 34th anniversary in Colorado Springs, where a gunman killed five and injured 25 at LGBTQ+ nightclub Club Q in November 2022.

The importance of Pride and celebrating our identity is more important than any fear, said Pikes Peak Pride board member Justin Burns.

While organizers have hired a private security force and are coordinating with law enforcement and other groups to avoid potential disruptions, Burns said theres only so much those forces can do.

We all have to have each others backs," he said.

At a time of continuing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and a spate of legislative measures targeting the trans community, LGBTQ+ groups and their advocates say its more important than ever to maintain a proud sense of identity while remaining vigilant in the face of unknown threats.

The attitude continues to be that we will not let bigots drive us in to the shadows, said Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio in Columbus. We support each other visibly and proudly, this month and every other.

Last month, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a public service announcement to heighten awareness of the potential targeting of LGBTQIA+ events, such as Pride, by foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters.

One national group hopes to provide the LGBTQ+ community a sense of security by training its faith leaders and congregants to play a protective, calming role at Pride events around the country. Interfaith Alliance, an organization based in Washington, D.C., that promotes LGBTQ+ rights and inclusive faith communities, teamed with the Southern Poverty Law Center to offer the training as part of its third annual Faith for Pride initiative.

The trainings are developed and offered by Pride Peacebuilders, a program funded by Parity, a New York-based organization dedicated to healing faith and LGBTQ divides.

Folks across the country are concerned about a rise in extremism, including against LGBTQ+ people, said Maureen OLeary, Interfaith Alliances director of field and organizing. People are feeling like they cant gather safely. Unless people can feel safe showing up as their whole selves, they dont truly have freedom or equality.

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, a gay Baptist minister and the alliances president, said faith communities are especially obligated to be part of the healing process, given the unwelcoming attitude many in the LGBTQ+ community have felt from religious communities in the past. Despite polls that show Americans largely support LGBTQ+ equality, hate incidents continue to plague the community. Between June 2022 and April 2023, there were more than 350 anti-LGBTQ+ hate incidents nationally, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Arson investigators in North Texas said someone intentionally set fire to a church in July 2023 after church leaders said they were targeted for criticism by an anti-LGBTQ hate group. The suspected arson took place at Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Plano, 20 miles northeast of Dallas.

With polarization high, the atmosphere feels like a really important moment, Raushenbush said. There are people who are trying to rip those identities apart, and this is a way of not letting that happen.

OLeary said the initiative is designed to provide a counternarrative to those who attempt to pit religion against the LGBTQ+ community.

A lot of extremists show up cloaked in the language of religion, using religion as a weapon instead of a bridge for healing, she said. When people of faith show up in a capacity that is healing, joyful and supportive of LGBTQ members, the idea of 'faith versus LGBTQ' identity falls apart.

LGBTQ advocates say political climate drives hate

According to national LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Lambda Legal, more than 1,200 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 48 states since 2022. More than 130 have been enacted.

LGBTQ+ people can be denied service in businesses or lodging in hotels in 23 states, the organization said, while transgender youth face bans on gender affirming care in 25 states.

More than 750 bills affecting the LGBTQ+ community have been introduced nationwide in 2024, according to LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, including potential bans on gender affirming care, restrictions on bathroom use and allowing business owners to refuse service to LGBTQ+ individuals based on religious beliefs.

Maria Cuartero Toledo of Spain was among those participating in a special naturalization ceremony at the Stonewall National Monument at Christopher Park in Greenwich Village in celebration of Pride Month 2022 in New York City. The new American citizens took the Oath of Allegiance across from the Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, which started America's Gay Liberation movement.

Some say the accompanying rhetoric around such legislation has given fringe groups license to attack LGBTQ+ community members.

All this heinous stuff happening legislatively is giving people license to hate, said Cindi Creager, chief communications officer for Lambda Legal, who plans to attend next months 55th anniversary commemoration of the historic Stonewall riots in New Yorks Greenwich Village. So its a fraught climate to begin with.

Roland Stringfellow, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit in Ferndale, Michigan, said the atmosphere has pushed him to a breaking point.

The rise of fascism in the U.S. is a constant problem, said Stringfellow, a regular speaker at Detroits Motor City Pride celebration. But I admit, if youre looking for a fight, Im going to give it to you. People want to minimize me as a Black man and a gay man, and Im tired of it.

TOPSHOT - A protester holds a sign that reads "They Want Us Dead" during a protest against gun violence by the activist group "Gays against Guns" in New York City on June 23, 2022.

Darcy Connors, who oversees the direct services division of SAGE, an organization serving elder members of New Yorks LGBTQ+ community, said that while shes heard both concerns about safety and attitudes of defiance among members, the latter is more pronounced, given the agencys older clientele.

These folks have lived through a lifetime of trauma, she said. While the majority are cautious, theyre still going to show up and continue to fight against hateful legislation and folks who want us to go back in the closet.

How people can take steps to ensure safety at Pride events

In Houston, organizers of the 46th annual Houston Pride Festival and Parade said safety has always been a "top priority." Security measures will include watchtowers, undercover agents and extensive coordination with law enforcement agencies.

These measures are part of a comprehensive security plan designed to handle any threats effectively and ensure that our celebration remains a bastion of joy and unity in the face of adversity, leaders of Houston Pride 365 said in a statement.

While organizers of Pride events elsewhere are taking similar measures, LGBTQ+ community members and advocates say there are precautions individuals can take to ensure their safety.

Kendra Walker is co-president of Pride Houston, which organizes Houston's annual LGBTQ Pride celebration and parade.

Melissa Vitale, a queer cannabis and wellness publicist in New York, said that while she often attends LGBTQ+ supportive events and protests around the city and has yet to encounter any anti-LGBTQ+ forces, she still maintains a cautious approach.

The first thing I do in a big crowd is find my exit points, Vitale said. You never know where a lone gunman may make his stand.

Thats a step also recommended by Laura Frombach and Joy Farrow, co-authors of Street Smart Safety for Women: Your Guide to Defensive Living. The two suggest being aware of indications that signal a crowd turning into a mob.

The crowd grows quickly in size, and the rhetoric grows fiercer and more violent, Frombach said. People do things in a mob that they wouldnt do otherwise, and thats when people get hurt. You can always celebrate later, another day  but if your personal safety is compromised, that could affect you for the rest of your life.

The de-escalation training offered by Interfaith Alliance and Southern Poverty Law Center hopes to defuse such situations by giving people skills to deal with aggressive individuals in a nonconfrontational way.

Its rooted in a place of empathy and calm, OLeary said. Its really equipping people to be grounded and to have that mental readiness to be a peacebuilding presence.

Raushenbush said the sessions are essentially nonviolence training, presenting various scenarios and ways to deal with them. But collectively, the project also hopes to collect on-the-ground data about what works, what doesnt and what types of threats are encountered to better prepare people in the future.

This training will not only equip people for peacebuilding this season but lay a foundation for years to come, OLeary said.

Street Smart Safety co-author Farrow, a former deputy sheriff, agreed.

Its important to talk calmly, Farrow said. Its easy to get caught up in argument, and then other people get involved and it gets out of hand. ... It does take practice, because people want to push your buttons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pride 2024 events: LGBTQ+ communities take safety measures
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A local group called the Y Boys comprised of men who share childhood memories of the A.J. McClung YMCA, donated a scoreboard to the non-profit on Friday.

The Y Boys formed nearly two years ago after best friends Roosevelt Banks and Kenny Hardy co-founded the group. The group gathered together to collect cash not only from members but also from local businesses, and non-profits including the Student Support Club and through hosting a public fish fry.

After hosting the fish fry within 6 days a brand-new scoreboard was ordered and delivered to the A. J. McClung YCMA.

On Friday, the group presented the scoreboard officially to the non-profit and the Y Boys pledged to continue to support the A. J. McClung YCMA and its programs.

The Y Boys also invite others who spent time at the A. J. McClung YCMA during the 70s, 80s, and 90s to join the group and help elevate the non-profit.

For those interested in helping with the Y Boys vision, inquiries can be made by texting 907-350-1275 or 678-557-9623.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
'Lock Him Up': Local Dems react to Trump conviction at annual convention in Worcester

WORCESTER  A chorus of "Lock Him Up, Lock Him Up" rolled through the DCU Center Saturday where more than 2,000 Massachusetts Democrats gathered for their annual convention with one order of business: to nominate Sen. Elizabeth Warren as the party's choice for senator and ensure she returns to Washington.

From left, Denise Bilotta and Dick Shea at the Massachusetts State Democratic Convention Saturday in Worcester.

The chorus rolled through the building as Warren discussed former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who was convicted on 34 felony counts Thursday by a New York jury of his peers.

"Give Democrats a trifecta in the White House, the Senate and the House and we will deliver," Warren said, promising to codify the Voting Rights Act to ensure all Americans can exercise their civic duty with ease and to eradicate the filibuster, the mechanism used to prevent action on controversial measures, and to ensure statehood for the District of Columbia.

Even as the speakers on the stage discussed the Thursday jury decision that made Trump a convicted felon, some mentioning him by name and others eschewing it, local delegates voiced their reactions to the conviction.

"I can only say one thing: People must be held accountable, said Doreen Samuels, a delegate from First Worcester. (Donald Trump's conviction) proved to me that the justice system works; no one is above the law."

Other delegates, like Dick Shea of Ward 2 in Worcester, were not as restrained in their observations.

"It was a long time coming, there should be many more convictions in his future," Shea said. "He is the most devious, manipulative rookie politician. He's totally corrupt."

Denise Bilotta, Ward 9, sitting next to Shea, believes the former president had taken the decency out of the presidency.

"Joe Biden must be our next president, he's a decent man with experience and knowledge," Bilotta said.

Paul Yorkis, a Medway delegate, was dressed for the event, sporting an American flag shirt and pants embroidered with the flag.

"I think it's critical that the residents of the commonwealth support the values and goals of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. The party stands for service for veterans, housing, advancing energy efficiency and conservation," Yorkis said, adding his agreement to Samuels' observation. "The decision by a jury in New York City reaffirms that our democracy works in spite of claims to the contrary."

In her remarks, Warren came to the same conclusion: "The legal system worked. Donald Trump and his supporters were on attack against the courts, the judges, the juries, the witnesses. But the process worked as it is supposed to."

Warren, who is running for a third six-year term, said the former president enjoyed the best legal team money could buy. His attorneys examined the jurors and the witnesses. Both the prosecution and defense signed off on them.

"The jurors listened to the evidence and they found him guilty; now he is a convicted felon," Warren said, adding that the man can "cry, whine and lie, but he is a convicted felon."

Even as they discussed the gains for Massachusetts and the nation achieved by elected Democrats, speakers from state Democratic Party Chairman Steve Kerrigan to Gov. Maura Healey urged the delegates in the audience to reach out to family, friends, neighbors in Massachusetts and beyond to urge them to vote in November and to support the reelection of Biden.

All progress achieved by the current administration  the passage of the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, forgiveness of student debt, creation of a climate change job corps and even the reduction in the price of insulin to $35 a month  are at risk of being reversed and undone by a Trump presidency, Warren said.

"Trump cozies up to racists, white nationalists; he said he will be a dictator from Day 1," Warren said. "Listen to him."

Warren and others paraphrased the late American poet Maya Angelou: If people tell you who they are, believe them.

In his remarks, Secretary William Galvin said he had just finalized the primary ballot for the November elections. Warren is not being challenged by a Democrat, but three Republicans are vying to run against her in the fall.

e

Dick Worcester delegate from First , sitting in the front row, said "people must be held accountable. aid onlyg convictions urged the delegates, legislators, volunteers to

tate Democrate

Thousands of Massachusetts Democrats converged in the heart of the Commonwealth Saturday to nominate Sen. Elizabeth Warren as the party's candidate for senator The reviews, among Massachusetts Democrats are in: the consensus

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Local Dems react to Trump conviction at annual convention in Worcester
CHILPANCINGO, Mexico  The future of Mexico and its relationship with the giant neighbor to the north is going to be decided in places like the busy streets of this town of 283,000. Not in Mexicos elections this Sunday, posters for which hang in the central square. Or on the U.S. campaign trail and its shallow debates over the migration crisis at the southern border and the wall.

Chilpancingo inhabits a uniquely Mexican liminal space. In the present, its the capital of the criminal-ridden Guerrero. A lot of Mexico is on track to become more like it. But there's an alternate path for the future: one where the government in Mexico City establishes control over this and other lawless regions and takes the country confidently into the first world. Those are the stakes in Mexico  for Mexicans and the U.S.

The present is the problem. A few months ago, the streets here were largely empty. A fight between two criminal groups  the Tlacos and the Ardillos  over control of local transport had left at least eight drivers of public vans and taxis dead. Gunmen repeatedly shot one driver, left his body in his car and set it on fire along a main highway. Two minivans were burned in April. At the peak of violence, drivers refused to work for two weeks. Schools shut.

Local government and police were useless. A local priest, Jose Filiberto Velazquez, reached out to gang leaders and with his bishop negotiated a truce by WhatsApp. Each of the criminal groups got its own jurisdiction to operate areas to sell drugs, control public transport and extort small businesses, according to security consultants, church officials and other locals. The citys 700 or so taxi drivers now pay 1500 pesos a month, or around $90, in protection money, they add. Restaurant and bar owners pay 3,500 pesos in so-called derecho de piso.

The arrangement holds, for now. Minivans, called combis, line up near the Cathedral to pick up their passengers. But the peace is fragile. The moment the gangs  offshoots of Mexicos large organized-crime networks that grew off the drugs trade  start to disagree you immediately feel it, says Lenin Ocampo, a crime reporter for the local newspaper El Sur, and people stay home and restaurants close.



The taxi war in Chilpancingo is a familiar story of violence in Mexico. But there are new wrinkles that speak to a growing and overlooked challenge here. Mexicos criminal groups arent primarily trafficking drugs anymore. Thats maybe half their business these days. Theyve moved into extortion, transport, avocado farming, mining, logging, people smuggling and much else. Falling prices for certain drugs, such as Guerreros staple crop of poppy, was in part what made them look for cash elsewhere. Some activities are both lucrative and less dangerous than narco-trafficking  such as getting migrants up and across the U.S. border, using the same routes as they do for drugs.

This diversification of the narco-trafficker business model is changing Mexico in another way. The cartels are now engaged in activities that make control over territory and local authorities a business imperative. Politicians and policemen are reluctant to stand up to them or are in their pockets. That helps explain why the Catholic Church stepped in to end the violence here. And Chilpancingo is the seat of the regional government, on the surface at least with the evident trappings of state authority. In the more remote hills around here and down to the Pacific coast around Acapulco, there are places run fully by the cartels. In nine municipalities they pick the mayor and police chiefs, according to a local security consultant who, out of fear for his safety, insisted we not use his name. Resistance is dangerous. Two years ago, in San Miguel Totolapan, the mayor and 20 other people were gunned down at his house and the town hall after defying a local cartel.

The gangs love territorial control, says Eduardo Guerrero, a former senior government security official who runs a consulting business. You can do many kinds of business once you control territory. They seek political support. They intervene in elections aggressively. At the local level, we are losing sovereignty.



By some counts, in nine of 32 regions Mexicos government has ceded control over governing institutions and land. Others say a fifth to a third of territory is ungoverned spaces, as a U.S. general noted a couple years ago. Some prefer to list the states that are stable and safe: Mexico City, Yucatan, Guanajuato, a few more. In reality, though, criminal networks are everywhere  complex business structures like Berkshire Hathaway with criminality thrown in. Where is there no air? asks a diplomat in Mexico City.

The Mexican government is defensive about it. The popular and outgoing president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, regularly pushes back against claims by the U.S. government and media that narco-traffickers are making deep inroads in the country. America, naturally, is an ideal political pinata for the populist leader, but many Mexicans also often tell you whos really at fault: America is by far the worlds largest drug market and greedy consumer for the cartels. In the U.S., particularly but not only on the Republican side, Mexico gets caricatured in dismissive and derisive ways as a narco-state that must be cordoned off.

This all misses the point. Mexicos criminal networks and their ability to whittle away at state power here present a national security threat to both Mexico and the U.S. These groups are growing in sophistication, corrupting state institutions and people, arming up and seeping into communities on both sides of the border. They pose a challenge to Mexicos still fledgling democracy, at the federal level just 24 years old, and hence the stability of Americas southern neighbor. They have enabled a record number of migrants, mostly from other countries, to get north through Mexico. Theyre responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in both countries. Some 26 per 100,000 people are killed in Mexico every year, the highest homicide rate among the worlds larger countries. Fentanyl, recently the most lucrative drug that the Mexican criminal groups traffic into the U.S., is responsible for the deaths of some 70,000 Americans every year.

Seen through the prism of violence there and its impact on the U.S., Mexico is the rich Afghanistan next door, a place where the central authorities have lost control over key territory to armed groups. Imagine if al Qaeda were killing that many Americans? It may be the most important national security issue facing America, with the least amount of attention, says Hank Crumpton, who ran the CIAs covert operations in Afghanistan after 9/11 and works in security out of Texas. I think of [the cartels] as enemies that exhibit in structure and behavior the same characteristics of terrorist networks and of an insurgency.

Mexicos narco-state problem matters for larger strategic reasons. Security is the biggest hurdle to Mexico fully becoming part of North America in more than a geographic sense  an economic and demographic engine for the region, and a strong and stable American ally in the global competition against China.

This more hopeful vision of Mexico can give you whiplash. The country is a daily contradiction. But put aside preconceptions and look even more closely at Mexico. The last couple decades have brought stunning violence  and stunning economic gains.

Since Mexico joined NAFTA in 1994, a large middle class has for the first time in its history come to life: Roughly 80 million out of its 130 million people  or two Canadas  are out of poverty and part of the developed world as consumers and skilled workers. The peso is strong. High-end tech and manufacturing plants dot the countrys north, taking the investment that previously went to China. Last year, Mexico became Americas largest trading partner. Every day, more than $2 billion worth of goods change hands between the two countries. At the Laredo border crossing, some 20,000 trucks pass a day, four every minute. Mexico is now the worlds 12th largest economy, passing South Korea.



You cant imagine a better ally than Mexico, says Marcel Ebrard, who served as foreign minister under Lopez Obrador.

The cultural links with the U.S. are deepening with the expanding size of the Mexican-American community in the U.S., now numbering around 37 million, more than a tenth of the U.S. population, up 80 percent since 2000. The impact on the American economy, culture and not least cuisine can be felt daily north of the border.

There is no more consequential country for the U.S. than Mexico, bar none, says Dan Restrepo, who was the senior director for the region in Barack Obamas National Security Council. But we dont treat it like that. Not at all.

Ahead of Sundays vote, the debates here sound as divorced from the security challenges and strategic opportunities here as those in the U.S. over the wall and illegal migration. Lopez Obrador and his handpicked successor Claudia Sheinbaum, who looks to be cruising to the office, have little incentive to make security an issue. He came into office promising hugs not bullets, and touts his gains in eradicating poverty over the poor security picture.



How did it get this way, and what can be done about it?

Mexican criminal groups have taken advantage of the clash between Americas laws and vices going back to Prohibition. After World War II, the growing market for marijuana up north helped the Sinaloa cartel grow into a leading producer. Mexicans arent big drug users. Ronald Reagans success in cutting off the Miami transport route pushed the cocaine trade through Mexico, where the local criminal leaders seized the economic opportunity to take over that business from the Colombians.

The homicide rate was at Americas levels until conservative Felipe Calderons narrow victory over Lopez Obrador in the 2006 presidential election. Responding to U.S. pressure, Calderon launched his war on drugs. He nabbed a few big players only to spawn  as cancer can metastasize after a surgery intended to remove it  many offshoots. The murder rate tripled and has stayed high.

Lopez Obrador promised peace when he finally gained the presidency in 2018. He brought mostly neglect. The government broke up the unpopular federal police, laying off its 300,000 officers, and created a national guard that cant investigate or police. The public applauded the move, but the cartels did just fine. Crime went down in some places, like Mexico City, and expanded to others, like previously quiet Chiapas this year. Lopez Obrador points to a slowly declining homicide rate, but critics say thats because the cartels are solidifying control over more territory.

The Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are the largest umbrella organizations that sit above a criminal structure of 72 regional mafias and 400 criminal gangs with 150,000 employees and half a million people who are associated with them, according to Guerrero. Theyre not al Qaeda or an insurgency by any traditional definition: Theyre driven by money and not ideology, not a thirst for political power, nor even land as such. The motives matter. But the end result is the same as that of countries with insurgencies.



The state is as weak as 15 years ago, says Guillermo Valdes, who served Calderon as director of Mexicos Center of Investigation and National Security (CISEN), its answer to the FBI. Organized crime has become more powerful, economically, socially and politically. What we have seen in the past 15 years is the incredible empowerment of organized crime and the weakening of the state.

As drugs are only half their business now, most violence in Mexico is associated not with drug trafficking but with illegal markets, he adds. Imagine Gangs of New York, on a national scale in the 21st century. They want to control authorities, like police and justice. Temporarily they will control territory so they can control the illegal markets.

Sheinbaum, as head of government in Mexico City, implemented a crackdown on crime in the metro area of more than 22 million people. Her aides say voters should look at her record in the capital to see what shell do on the national level. But the capital is a different story from the rest of the country. Sheinbaum is more ideologically a leftist than the pragmatic Lopez Obrador. Judging by her behavior in the campaign she isnt inclined to break in any significant way from Lopez Obrador and his hugs not bullets policy. Hes also likely going to retain a strong presence in the Morena movement that he founded, shadowing her in office.

If there was an easy solution, it wouldve been tried by now. The security expert Eduardo Guerrero, like some other experts on both sides of the border, says the Mexican authorities alone cant handle the challenge from the cartels. If we dont stop them they will take over several key Mexican states at this rate, he says. We need help. We arent able to control these groups alone.

Some polls in Mexico show support for U.S. help, including even the deployment of troops, which wont be politically workable with the current government. Its critics are trying to nudge the option on the table.

Whats indisputable is that this isnt only the Mexicans problem.

There is no internal Mexican matter anymore. Everything that affects us is an American matter, says Jorge Castaneda, who was foreign minister under former President Vicente Fox from 2000-2003 and supports the opposition candidate on Sunday.

Or as Rodrigo Villegas, a political consultant in Mexico City, put it: Our cartel problem is your cartel problem. Whatever happens on one side of border has echoes on the other side.



Once upon a century, Acapulco was a playground for Hollywood royalty. Bill and Hillary Clinton honeymooned there. The Love Boat made a regular stop. Those are barely even memories. Violence in Guerrero has scared foreign tourists and cruise boats away. Hurricane Otis last fall left gaping scars in the buildings along the coast and left three-quarters of its hotel rooms unusable to this day. The town is shabby and tense. The airport empty.

Over breakfast near the strip of beachfront hotels, a colleague and I meet with three people who work with the families of the desaparecidos, the missing people of Mexico. A father lost his 15-year-old daughter, snatched off the street one night in 2015. Her remains were identified years later. A mothers son was kidnapped and never seen again. A sister lost her brother, gone one day from his hotel job.

This is a relatively recent addition to Mexicos menu of horribles. About 110,000 people are classified as missing in Mexico. On top of the tens of thousands murdered. Most serious crimes go unsolved and unprosecuted.



Besides their grief, these three share a frustration with a state that might as well not exist. The police was so disrespectful, they treated us so bad and humiliated me and  did almost nothing to try to get to the bottom of the truth, says Elba Janet Galeana Campos, who lost her brother. Everyone in Mexico has a missing loved one. Its just our collective tragedy.

The trio belong to a group called the Families of Acapulco in Search of their Missing Ones. Once a month since 2015, they organize field searches. They say they have found at least 171 bodies, sometimes in underground mass graves where authorities have already searched or even recovered other remains.

The crisis of violence in this country is not only the cartels and criminals fault, says Sergio Ceballos Ascencio, whose daughter Monserrat disappeared after going to the Oxxo convenience store to buy credit for her cellphone. He assumes she was taken by a gang. We as a society are guilty as well, we too have failed, we have forgotten basic values, we all must do better and more to dig ourselves out of this hell.

Acapulcos police chief, Luis Enrique Vazquez Rodriguez, pleads lack of resources. He says his forces are built to keep order and arrest drunks. We are supposed to prevent crimes, he says. Organized criminals are too much for them. He says Lopez Obradors decision to close the national police left the country without 17,000 investigators who werent replaced. It was a loss, he says. They had the highest capabilities in the police force. We need investigative units and dont have that now.

He grows visibly nervous when I ask about the cartels. He insists that homicide and petty crime are both falling. The citys young deputy mayor, Jose Juan Ayala Villasenor, tells me the city authorities are talking to cruise lines about stopping in again. Acapulco is by far the safest city in Guerrero, he says.

A few days after I see him, 10 people are found murdered across Acapulco.

Three days later, there are five more.


A Louisiana high school senior experiencing homelessness recently graduated at the top of his class with the highest-earned GPA.

Elijah Hogan, 19, was named valedictorian of Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans and graduated May 24 with a 3.93 GPA, he told CNN.

Hogan, who became homeless a year and a half ago, says he was in disbelief when he learned of his academic achievement.

I thought they were mistaking me for someone else, but when I looked at it and I was shown evidence that it was me, I was in awe, like, I was jaw dropped, said Hogan, who was born in New Orleans and raised mostly in Houston.

Hogan was one of four Black male students who achieved valedictorian status at their New Orleans schools this spring, CNN affiliate WDSU reported.

Hogan, who previously lived with his grandmother since he was 11, says he became homeless after the lease on his grandmothers house expired when the homeowner decided to sell the property.

He and his grandmother were given 30 days to vacate the house, according to Hogan.

From there, I made the executive decision to live on my own to lighten my grandmothers burden, Hogan told CNN.

While his grandmother went to live in a care home for the elderly, Hogan was left without permanent housing.

His grandmother told him about the Covenant House, a homeless shelter in New Orleans serving youth and young adults ages 16-22. Hogan has been living at the shelter as part of its transitional housing program since he became homeless, he said.

Elijah Hogan, center, proudly holds up his high school diploma from Walter L. Cohen High School. - Courtesy Kewe Ukpolo

The program allows young people to stay at the shelter up to 24 months rent-free, giving them an opportunity to focus on education or to save money while working, Covenant House New Orleans chief executive officer Rheneisha Robertson told CNN.

It really allows them to get stable and identify more permanent, stable housing, said Robertson, who added the homeless shelter had five other high school graduates this year.

Hogan, who addressed his graduating class with an uplifting valedictorian speech last week, said dealing with homelessness while completing his education was challenging but he found support from the homeless shelters employees and his high schools staff.

As time went on, I started to open up to people over at Covenant House as well as Cohen, people were there to support me and give me a guiding hand, Hogan said. Without them, I wouldnt (have) become who I am today.

He credits his Covenant House case manager, Jarkayla Cobb, with never giving up on him.

She helped me get through it even when I was showing a lack of faith in myself, Hogan said. Shes been there no matter what I needed.

Hogan, who lost his mother just before he turned 12, says her death encouraged him to push forward with his education for his grandmothers sake.

I know thats what (my mother) would have wanted, he said.

Hogan plans to attend Xavier University in New Orleans in the fall to study graphic design and has been granted a scholarship to cover his tuition fees, he says.

Elijahs accomplishments are worth celebrating. We know that they are a product of his character and the choices he made day after day to pursue his dreams, Jerel Bryant, chief executive officer of Collegiate Academies, which operates Hogans former high school, said in a statement.

His success is also a testament to how capable and excellent our Black youth are, in New Orleans and across this country, Bryant said.

Hogan offered these words of encouragement for other young people:

To any race, no matter what color or accent you have, you are your own guiding light, Hogan said. You are your own storybook that you write. Let yourself be the pen that you write on paper.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD) continues to see exceptional growth. The Chinese e-commerce company's revenue once again more than doubled in its most recent quarter. The stock has managed to buck the trend of other Chinese stocks and is now up over 120% over the past year.

With so much growth already priced into the stock, is it too late to buy the stock?

Exceptional revenue growth

For its first quarter, PDD saw its revenue surge 131% to $12 billion. Revenue from transaction services soared 327% to $6.1 billion, while revenue from online marketing climbed 56% to $5.9 billion.

Transaction services, which the company describes as fees it charges merchants for transaction-related services, was just 15% of its revenue back in 2021, but made up over half its revenue this past quarter. Revenue from its DuoDuo grocery business, launched in 2020, and international marketplace Temu, started in 2022, is included in this revenue line, and helps explain some of the growth.

PDD also collects marketing service revenue, which comes from providing services that match product listings in search results to products on its platforms. This is PDD allowing merchants to bid on keywords to match product listings or getting ad placements using things like banner ads.

Profitability increased more than revenue with operating profits jumping 275% to $3.6 billion, while adjusted earnings per American depositary share (ADS) soared to $2.83 from $1.01 in the year-ago quarter.

Image source: Getty Images.

Not everything is rosy

Not everything was positive about PDD's Q1 results, with gross margin falling to 62.3% from 70.5% a year earlier. Competition in China has been fierce, with companies giving concessions to third-party sellers on their platforms. Meanwhile, Temu lures customers in with initial heavily discounted offers. Both of these dynamics likely pressure gross margin.

One issue with PDD is that it is one of the least transparent companies around when it comes to both reporting results and answering questions on its conference calls. The company does not break out segments like Temu or DuoDuo grocery, so there is no clear indication of how much revenue, revenue growth, or profitability these businesses have. However, Earnest Analytics estimates that Temu revenue surged 840% in 2023.

PDD also spends billions of dollars on advertising in the U.S. Goldman Sachs estimated that last year the company spent an average of $5 to acquire an average order of $39 in the U.S. The investment bank estimates this led to a loss of $6 per order in the U.S. and $18 in other markets.

Story continues

Given these economics together with the impact of increased competition on its core Pinduoduo business in China, it is perhaps surprising that its profitability grew faster than its revenue.

When asked on the earnings call how profitability outpaced revenue despite increased competition and how it saw such solid operating leverage, PDD's management simply said that its profitability does not follow a linear path and that for some quarters, it will beat expectations, and for others, it will miss.

Attractive valuation

Despite the stock's surge in price over the past year, PDD stock is cheap, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of only 12.5 times. For a company that has been growing its revenue as quickly as PDD, that's an almost unheard-of valuation.

That said, there are risks to the stock as well. As noted previously, the company lacks transparency, which is an issue. While there are estimates on how much revenue Temu and DuoDuo are generating, the company has never broken it out, so investors don't know with certainty what they are buying when investing in PDD.

Temu has also been in the crosshairs of the U.S. government. Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, has asked President Joe Biden to ban the app over such issues as counterfeit goods, intellectual property theft, and human rights abuses, including the use of slave labor. Other lawmakers have pushed to have Temu banned in the past, as well.

Temu also has begun to face scrutiny in Europe. Several consumer protection groups in the European Union have filed complaints about the company breaking the region's Digital Services Act. Meanwhile, Germany has been pushing to end an important tax exemption that benefits the company.

Taken altogether, despite PDD's attractive valuation and exceptional growth, I'd prefer to stay on the sidelines. There are plenty of good investment opportunities in companies that are more transparent and that carry less controversy.

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PDD Holdings Stock Is Up 120% in the Past Year on Continued Revenue Surge. Is It Too Late to Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
(Bloomberg) -- S&P Global Ratings downgraded France, tarnishing President Emmanuel Macrons record for debt management and plunging him deeper into political difficulties a week before European elections.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a statement on Friday, the credit assessor highlighted the French governments missed goals in plans to restrain the budget deficit after huge spending during the Covid pandemic and energy crisis.

S&P said that although reforms and a recovery in economic growth will improve the situation, the hole will remain above 3% of gross domestic product in 2027.

The reduction to AA- from AA is a harsh blow to Macron, who has sought to foster a reputation as an economic reformer capable of addressing Frances challenges of low growth and high public spending.

The timing is also problematic for his government as it seeks to lean on Macrons economic record in the campaign for the June 9 European Parliament elections. Polls show his Renaissance group continues to trail far behind Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally.

Le Pen seized on the S&P decision to call on voters to sanction Macron at EU election. She also called other opposition lawmakers to support the latest no-confidence motion her party has proposed to bring down his government.

The catastrophic management of public finances by governments that are as incompetent as they are arrogant has put our country in grave difficulties, with record taxes, deficits and debts, she said in a message on X late Friday.

Reacting to S&Ps decision, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the government remains determined in its strategy of targeting re-industrialization and full employment to get the deficit under 3% of GDP by 2027.

According to the minister, the downgrade was driven by a sharp increase in debt when the government spent vast sums during the Covid pandemic to save businesses and protect households.

In its decision, S&P said that contrary to its previous expectations, it now sees Frances general government debt as a share of GDP increasing to about 112% of GDP by 2027 from about 109% in 2023.

The main reason for this downgrade is that we saved the French economy, Le Maire said in an interview with Le Parisien. We would probably have been downgraded sooner if we hadnt taken these decisions.

The ratings cut puts France seven notches above junk on S&Ps scale, on a par with the Czech Republic and Estonia. The outlook on the rating is stable.

France has increasingly become a focal point in Europe for investors concerned about the long-term sustainability of vast government debt piles. The extra yield on 10-year bonds over German securities has already doubled from pre-Covid levels.

That premium inched higher to 48 basis points over the past week ahead of S&Ps decision. Mizuho International strategist Evelyne Gomez-Liechti said a downgrade would likely erase the spread tightening seen since April, when Moodys Ratings and Fitch Ratings both reiterated their stance and outlooks on France.

The European Unions second-biggest economy faces a mounting challenge to contain debt after last years deficit came in much wider than initially planned amid weak growth and disappointing tax revenues.

The Finance Ministry initially responded to the deterioration by pledging additional spending cuts this year. But that belt-tightening was insufficient to avoid having to pare back longer-term pledges to fill budget holes.

Frances own High Council of Public Finance has said those revised fiscal plans now lack credibility and coherency as they require unprecedented cuts that would hurt economic output.

Other political parties besides Le Pens National Rally have used the debt difficulties to attack Macrons government in recent weeks, with the far-left also proposing a separate no-confidence vote for debate at the National Assembly on Monday.

So far, however, the center-right Republicains party, which would be pivotal in a successful no-confidence vote, has refused to coalesce with other groups to bring down the government and is unlikely to on Monday. But it remains a vocal critique of the governments fiscal policy.

France is sanctioned for its errors and budgetary inconsistencies, Eric Ciotti, head of Republicains said in a message on X. This is where the pitiful management of public finances of the Macron-Le Maire duo leads us.

Despite the opposition, Macrons government has tried to advance his economic agenda in recent weeks, presenting bills on cutting bureaucracy and announcing further changes to jobless benefits it says will boost employment and save money.

Still, S&P said the agenda will continue to face strong opposition, both from parliament, where the government has no absolute majority, and from protests, like those seen against pension reform in 2023.

Political fragmentation will likely make the continued implementation of policies to address economic and budgetary imbalances somewhat uncertain, S&P said.

--With assistance from Alice Gledhill.

(Adds with political reactions from fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Hardcore followers of Donald Trump are calling for riots, insurrection, and assassination after he was criminally convicted of falsifying business records on Thursday.

A New York jury found the former president guilty on 34 counts of falsifying records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a conspiracy to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

Republican politicians widely refused to accept the verdict from the Manhattan trial, decrying the process as "rigged", "corrupt", "ridiculous", and "bulls***".

But in messages seen by The Independent, and others reported by Reuters, Trump loyalists on right-wing social networks went much further.

"Find the jurors. All of them. Take no prisoners," wrote one user on a Trump-focused message board.

"Just give them the rope," said another. "The time for talking has long gone. Let them swing outside the courthouse."

Many posts used coded language, such as one which urged "short drops"  that is, execution by hanging  for the people responsible for Trump's trial.

Another user replied with "short walks and long drops", plus a helicopter emoji  an apparent reference to "death flights" such as those used by right-wing dictators in Argentina and Chile to dispose of dissidents.

One post seen by Reuters claimed that "someone in New York with nothing to lose needs to take care of Merchan," referring to the judge who oversaw the trial, while another declared: "Time to start capping some lefties."

The overwhelming sentiment from MAGA loyallists is that Trump's conviction is wholly unjustified, and proves that the American political and justice systems are irretrievably rigged.

"One million men (armed) need to go to Washington and hang everyone. That's the only solution," said one message quoted by Reuters.

The majority of posts seen by The Independent did not preach violence but instead were advocating electoral solutions or non-violent civil disobedience. But calls for extrajudicial murder were not difficult to find.

A thread urging Trump supporters to "LEGALLY destroy the professional lives" of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, and trial judge Juan Merchan attracted particular scorn.

"Thats a lot of unnecessary words to say 'try and hang'," replied one user. "All the ghillie suits in America and you want to use the broken and corrupt judicial system. F*** off," said another, referring to a type of camouflage suit used by military snipers.

Other responses included "my AR-15 is legal", "rope", and "they have addresses. you know".

Some of the messages found by Reuters were posted on Trump's own social network, Truth Social, which has rules against violent language. Some of the posts highlighted by the news agency were later removed.

"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," said a spokesperson for Truth Social.

Republicans' comments on the trial, and their adoption of Trump's rhetoric of "rigging" and "corruption", closely mirrored the language of the former president and his allies in the run-up to the attack on the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021.

Back then, Trump's team repeatedly claimed without any compelling evidence that the 2020 presidential election had been "rigged" and "stolen".

Many experts and critics of Trump have blamed that rhetoric for the violence of January 6, and some now fear that similar violence could follow from the hush money trial.

"I do think a lot of these folks have been looking for an excuse to maybe mobilize for a while," terrorism researcher Amy Cooter told Reuters.

"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]."
Malaysian climber who died near top of Alaska's Denali, North America's tallest peak, is identified

FILE - Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Aug. 26, 2016. A Malaysian climber who died near the top of North America's tallest mountain while sheltering in a snow cave was identified by park officials Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska (AP)  A Malaysian climber likely died of exposure and altitude-related illness earlier this week after sheltering for days in a snow cave with minimal survival gear near the top of Denali, North America's tallest mountain in Alaska, park officials said Saturday.

Zulkifli Bin Yusof, 36, likely died Wednesday in a 19,600 foot (5,974 meter) elevation cave in Denali National Park and Preserve, park spokesman Paul Ollig said Saturday. The National Park Service recovered his body Friday night, Ollig said.

Yusof was part of a three-man climbing team, all of whom listed their address as the Alpine Club of Malaysia in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, according to Ollig. Yusof's two partners survived.

Park rangers first received an SOS message from the team at 1 a.m. Tuesday, indicating the climbers were hypothermic and unable to descend after reaching the Alaskan mountain's 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) summit.

One of the men, a 48-year-old, was rescued Tuesday night after descending to a 17,200-foot (5,243-meter) camp. He was described by the park as having severe frostbite and hypothermia.

Late Thursday, the parks high-altitude helicopter pilot was able to drop a bag with survival gear near the snow cave and saw a climber waving at him, but strong winds prevented a rescue at that time, the park said.

The other climber, a 47-year-old, was rescued Friday morning after days of cloudy, windy conditions.

Two of the three men had previous experience on Denali, Ollig said. All three had previously climbed other high-elevation mountains, he said.

The climber rescued Friday was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for additional care and was in surprisingly strong condition, walking on his own even, considering what he endured, Ollig previously said. The climber's name and additional information about him and the other survivor would not be released by the park.

The other climber is also recovering at a hospital.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  One of two men arrested in the February fatal shooting of 42-year-old Candace Amack will stand trial in her death.

Jose Velazquez-Carrillo was in Sedgwick County District Court on Friday, where he was ordered to stand trial for the Feb. 15 fatal shooting of Amack. She was found in the 1400 block of S. George Washington Blvd. outside her home with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.

Suspicious package prompts police to respond to downtown Wichita business

The Wichita Police Department used FLOCK cameras to identify the suspect vehicle, eventually leading to Velazquez-Carrillos arrest. A motive for the crime has not been released.

A jury trial for Velazquez-Carrillo has been scheduled for July 8.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A 41-year-old man has been arrested for a shooting in Hanford that left a man in critical condition, according to the Hanford Police Department.

Police say on Friday, May 31 at approximately 9:55 a.m. they received a call regarding a male subject who had been shot in the 900 block of Greenfield Avenue.

When officers arrived, police say, they located a 38-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to his chest. The victim was transported to a trauma hospital and is listed in stable but critical condition.

Police say as a safety precaution, nearby schools were put on lockdown. Within minutes of investigating, officers identified the suspect as 41-year-old Michael Washington.

According to police, Washington was located about a half mile away and was arrested for his alleged involvement in this incident. After he was taken into custody, a semi-automatic pistol was located and recovered near the scene of the crime.

Officers say they learned that an argument had occurred between the victim and Washington which led to the shooting.

Police say witnesses gave detailed descriptions of the incident and the suspect which led to officers locating Washington.

Detectives say Washington was booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and felon in possession of ammunition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
** UPDATE: Police have identified the victim as 45-year-old Darryle A. Lee.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One man is dead after being shot near a party in Kansas City early Saturday morning, according to the Kansas City Police Department.

KCPD said that just after 4 a.m., officers were called to 50th Street and Prospect Avenue on a reported emergency call for a party down the street.

One man dies in hospital after Friday night shooting in Kansas City

When officers arrived, they found a man lying in the street, unresponsive and suffering from gunshot wounds. According to KCPD, on-scene officers provided medical aid until emergency responders arrived. They later confirmed the man had died.

Police said the circumstances around the shooting are currently unknown and no one is in custody. However, homicide detectives and crime scene experts are already starting to gather evidence and witness statements.

This is an ongoing investigation and is being treated as a homicide, according to KCPD.

Tonganoxie man sentenced for 2022 DUI crash that killed son

If you or anyone you know was in or around the area at the time of the shooting, KCPD asks that you contact homicide detectives directly at (816) 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at (816) 474-8477.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A man died after police found him lying in the street with gunshot wounds early Saturday, according to Kansas City police.

Officers arrived at 50th Street and Prospect Avenue just after 4 a.m. in response to an emergency call. They found a man unresponsive suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police provided medical aid until paramedics arrived. The man was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Detectives are working to determine what led to the mans shooting, said Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman with Kansas City police.

Police are investigating the killing as a homicide, Gonzalez said.

Crime scene investigators spent Saturday morning collecting evidence while homicide detectives worked to identify and speak witnesses. No arrests have been made, and no one is currently in custody.

The killing is Kansas Citys 62nd homicide reported so far in 2024, according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call the Kansas City homicide unit at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Pittsburgh police are investigating a deadly shooting in the citys Sheraden neighborhood.

Police say officers were sent to the 600 block of Sherwood Avenue around 10 p.m. for three ShotSpotter alerts totaling 17 rounds.

Officers found a man lying in the grass, shot in the chest and leg. Medics treated him on scene and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

The victim was later identified as Israel Young, 18.

Police say shell casings were recovered at the scene, and detectives are reviewing video footage. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

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A man who lost a court fight to be tried as a juvenile for sex crimes he is accused of committing more than 20 years ago in the Oxnard area has pleaded guilty and faces the potential of decades in prison.

Defendant Stephen Delacruz, now 37, pleaded guilty in mid-May to eight felonies against his sister that authorities said they only learned of in 2019 when she reported her allegations to police. He was 14 and 15 at the time of the offenses in the early 2000s, while she was around 8 years old, according to prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty in Ventura County Superior Court to three counts of forcible rape, three counts of forcible oral copulation and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object. The San Diego man faces sentencing on June 27, when District Attorney Erik Nasarenko intends to ask for a 30-year prison term.

Had Delacruz been sentenced as a juvenile, he could have received no more than two years in a locked juvenile treatment facility, according to the district attorney's office.

Stephen Delacruz

It's the first known example of a Ventura County case reviewed under a 2023 state law aimed at sending more youths accused of violent crimes to the juvenile system, which is focused on rehabilitation.

Before trying them as adults, judges must find "by clear and convincing evidence" the defendant is "not amenable" to rehabilitation in the juvenile system. Previously, judges could transfer juveniles to adult court based on a "preponderance of the evidence," or essentially evidence weighing more toward one side than the other.

DA's office spokesman Joey Buttitta said five other juvenile cases in the county, all for individuals accused of murder, have been reviewed under the new standard since the law went into effect in January 2023. The juvenile court found prosecutors proved the "clear and convincing" standard in all five cases and returned them to adult court, he said.

Delacruz's attorney, Moriya Christie, did not return messages seeking comment on the case and what she would be asking for in terms of a sentence. Before her client entered his guilty plea on May 14, she asked for the case to be dismissed on various grounds, including the length of time since the alleged offenses. The court denied her requests.

When The Star covered the issue after the law went into effect last year, she said the new standard was not met in the case of her client. She said there's also the question of whether it's appropriate to transfer defendants who were 14 or 15 years old at the time of the alleged offense to adult court based on their ability to understand their actions and the consequences at that young age.

Nasarenko said the victim never gave up.

Despite multiple setbacks and delays, she kept fighting for justice and to have her voice heard in court," he said in a statement announcing the guilty plea. "Because of her determination to see her brother held accountable for these egregious crimes, the legal process did ultimately work.

The new standard for rehabilitation generally applies to youths who committed violent crimes when they were 16 or older. Delacruz was 14 and 15 at the time of the alleged crimes, but the law allows transfer to adult court when individuals of those ages were not apprehended before the end of the juvenile court's jurisdiction.

The courts reportedly found it applied in Delacruz's case because he was apprehended at age 32, beyond the limit of the juvenile court's jurisdiction at age 25.

Local judges have twice transferred the sexual assault case to adult court.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee, who is now retired, moved the case to adult court in 2020 based on the previous standard of "preponderance of the evidence." Early last year, Superior Court Judge Ferdinand Inumerable transferred it again based on the new standard of "clear and convincing evidence" after finding the defendant was not amenable to rehabilitation in the juvenile system.

Delacruz asked the state Court of Appeal to overrule him, but a three-judge panel unanimously affirmed Inumerable's decision. The state justices found the lower court judge did not abuse his discretion based on "substantial evidence" of criminal sophistication, unlikelihood the defendant could be rehabilitated in the limited two-year period he would spend under the juvenile court's jurisdiction and the grievous nature of the alleged offenses.

The defendant also argued the appeals court should dismiss the case against him because prosecutors should have filed the allegations back in the early 2000s when he was accused of sexual assaults against two other girls. The lower court said it appeared his sister was in a group of potential victims during that time frame, but that she denied being a victim of any type of misconduct.

Inumerable found prosecutors could not pursue charges involving his sister then and the appeals court agreed, saying the facts available at the time were insufficient.

Delacruz then asked the California Supreme Court to review the decision, but the court denied the request in late January.

The defendant was free on $500,000 bond under a supervised release program, according to Nasarenko and the court docket. Delacruz allegedly violated the terms of his release by attending a family get-together where minors were present, Nasarenko said.

A hearing on that issue is set for Monday.

Kathleen Wilson covers courts, mental health and local government issues for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at kathleen.wilson@vcstar.com or 805-206-8805.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Man pleads guilty to rape of minor sister two decades ago
Man sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing in-laws in Valley Center

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his father and brother in-law in 2022 in Valley Center, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced Friday.

Christian Bobila, 46, was found guilty by a jury back in March of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his father and brother-in-law in Valley Center in June 2022.

Bizarre flyers on Lemon Grove utility poles leads to sex crime arrest

The shooting deaths of his in-laws came after what the court described as a long-simmering family schism that developed after Bobila married his wife without his father-in-laws blessing.

According to the court, after driving all the way from the Bay area to Valley Center armed with a semi-automatic pistol, Bobila shot and killed his brother-in-law, Vincent Reyes, while he spoke on the phone, planning for an upcoming business trip. Six rounds were fired, striking Vincent three times.

Verdict reached in double murder trial of former TikTok star Ali Abulaban

Bobila is then went into an upstairs bedroom where his father-in-law, Vicente Reyes, was in a recliner watching a movie with a glass of wine. The court says Bobilas wife tried to intervene at that point, but Bobila still shot Vicente in the chest and head.

After the shootings, Bobila went downstairs and told his mother-in-law her that her son was dead while pointing to the patio. She ran outside and found her son face up in a Just Married t-shirt, with a date just a few weeks before.

Bobila then fled the scene in his car and was taken into custody a mile from the Reyes home.

On Friday, May 31, Bobila was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 50 years in state prison.

Man attacks elderly woman, jumps through drive-through window to grab knife

This was a horrific murder that senselessly devastated an entire family, DA Stephan said. Although nothing is a substitute for the death of the two victims, I hope their surviving family members receive a measure of justice with the murder convictions and with todays sentence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart pleaded guilty to embezzling $47 million in bank funds to funnel into a cryptocurrency scam.

Shan Hanes, the former bank executive, could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years, fined up to $1 million and be forced to pay up to $60.5 million in restitution. Hanes fell for what cybersecurity experts call a pig butchering scheme.

Shan Hanes pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his embezzlement of bank funds that were ultimately lost in a cryptocurrency scheme.

What is pig butchering?

In a pig butchering scam the victim  or pig  is lured into making what they think is a legitimate investment opportunity into a specific cryptocurrency. The perpetrator promises bigger returns for more investments, and gradually solicits more money over time.

The victim is often investing in cryptocurrencies through apps controlled by the scammers, or deposits their money into accounts that the scammers have access to.

The gradual increase in funds is likened up to the fattening of a pig before slaughter, while the butchering refers to when the scammer eventually steals the money and cuts ties permanently.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations said the form of online scamming originated in China in 2019 but has since spread throughout Southeast Asia.

What we know about Shan Hanes case

An unidentified scammer contacted Hanes through the messaging app WhatsApp about investing in cryptocurrency. Hanes then initiated wire transfers from Heartland Tri-State Bank into his digital cryptocurrency wallet on the exchange website Kraken.

Hanes made 11 transfers, often due to scammers saying it would "unfreeze" the previously deposited funds.

Hanes lied to bank employees, its board of directors and investors about the wire transfers while dispersing the funds to a handful of cryptocurrency accounts controlled by other unidentified parties. Overall bank shareholders lost between $9 million and $13 million.

The U.S. Attorneys Office charged Hanes in February, and he signed a plea deal admitting his guilt on May 23.

What happened to the Kansas bank?

The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner announced that Heartland Tri-State Bank was insolvent in July 2023, but shared few other details at the time. The news came shortly after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, but Kansas officials said the failure wasnt indicative of broader problems in banking.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation assumed the banks assets after it was declared insolvent, and insured customers could access money despite the banks closure. Dream First Bank in Syracuse, Kansas, acquired Heartland Tri-State and assumed responsibility over its operations. Former Tri-State customers accounts automatically rolled over into Dream Firsts system.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: What to know about pig butchering, crypto scam Kansas banker fell for
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was shot in Northeast D.C. on Friday night.

Police said they were initially dispatched to the 1700 block of Lincoln Road, but after investigating learned that the actual shooting took place in the 600 block of Edgewood Street.

Police: Chevy Chase man wanted in connection to murder of parole officer in Montgomery County

The man who was shot was conscious and breathing. His injury was non-life threatening.

The man was taken to the hospital to be treated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
North Korean defector and balloon-launching activist Park Sang-hak is planning to avenge North Koreas manure attack on South Korea but says he would never stoop to match their lows.

I will not react to North Korean barbarity with barbarity, Park told The Daily Beast when asked if he would shower the North with manure when he sends 200,000 balloons over North Korea in response to the North sending balloons carrying garbage, including excrement, over South Korea.

Instead we are sending them truth and lovethe message hes printed on leaflets hes launching whenever the winds are blowing the right way for them to land in populated areasand also presumably on or near Kim Jong Uns palatial complex near the port of Wonsan on the Norths southeastern coast.

The North Korean animals sent manure to South Korea, said Park, but we love the North Koreans.

Park, in charge of a group called Fighters for Free Korea, expressed his views in a wide-ranging zoom conversation arranged and interpreted for The Daily Beast by Nam Sin-u, who lives in the U.S. Nam has frequently met Park in South Korea on behalf of the International Coalition for Human Rights in North Korea.

A devout Christian since escaping from North to South Korea 24 years ago, Park said hes responding to the Norths manure attack in accordance with biblical teachings, at least for now. Jesus said turn the other cheek, he said, but if theres nothing else to do, we should kill them.

North Korea Accused of Launching Floating Poop Balloon Attack

Officially, South Korea is promising a somewhat more measured response. Just what is not clear, but the Souths Yonhap Ness quoted an official as saying, If North Korea does not stop its provocative acts, the government will take all measures that North Korea cannot endure. Park does not think the South is doing nearly enough, but the conservative President Yoon Seok-yul is not halting balloon launches as did his left-leaning predecessor Moon Jae-in, whom Yoon succeeded in 2022.

The South Korean government does not want to antagonize the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, said Park. He does not interfere with balloon launches, but hes not helping either.

Although South Korea under Yoon has rescinded a law passed during the Moon administration banning balloon launches, Park believes the government sought to shut him up by jailing him for six months for joining in a protest against demolishing a church to make way for a construction project.

The case was not directly linked to the balloon launches, but Park believes there was a connection. It was all politics, he said. I was innocent.

No sooner was Park freed three weeks ago than he organized the launch of 300,000 balloonsa barrage that appears to have inspired the North to respond with excrement-laden garbage.

Excrement is the worst insult, he said. Koreans used to use human excrement as fertilizer. American GIs called a container filled with it a honey bucket, he saidan historical reminder that added more insult to injury.

Park, however, is not changing the basic theme of his balloon attacks, which he has been waging for more than 10 years. All I can do is send the truth about how terrible life is in North Korea to awaken North Koreans.

Along with leaflets exposing the evils of the Kim dynasty, founded by Kim Jong Uns grandfather Kim Il Sung in 1945, the balloons will also contain flash drives with popular K-Pop songs and South Korean dramas, as well as candy bars and dollar bills

South Korean drama is very popular in North Korea, said Park. North Koreans love iteven though it is banned by the regime, which imposes harsh punishment on those caught watching or listening to any of it.

Park attributes the Norths manure attack directly to Kim Jong Un even though his influential younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, may well have had a hand in suggesting it. Yo Jong, noted for acerbic remarks that obviously have big brothers enthusiastic approval, promised dozens more such balloon launches as sincere presents for the South.

Little Sister Takes Charge as Kim Jong Un Morphs Into Vegas-Era Elvis Presley

All things from North Korea come from the top, said Park. Yo Jong is a puppet.

Park believes that South Koreans, as much as Americans and other foreigners, simply do not comprehend the depths of North Korean dictatorship.

Hes afraid that South Koreans dont care about whats happening inside North Korea despite persistent North Korean threatsand missile tests.

South Koreans are doing so well, they think of nothing but themselves, he said. They are not concerned about these shameful things. They enjoy life. They do not voice anger towards North Korea. I am worried about their lack of response.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Man wanted for murder flees from police with children in car: MPD

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man who was wanted for first-degree murder was captured after crashing his car with children inside while fleeing from a traffic stop, according to the Memphis Police Department.

On Wednesday, the Memphis Police Department took Lavonte Fisher, 26, into custody where he was charged with unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon, felony evading arrest-vehicle, three counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, aggravated assault-reckless, two counts of child abuse or neglect-aggravated endangerment, reckless driving, child passenger restraint systems-violation, use of safety belt law, driving unregistered vehicle, unlawful use of registration plate, financial responsibility, and driving without license.

At 11 a.m., an officer patrolling the area of Egypt Central Road and Singleton Parkway observed a white Nissan Rogue traveling eastbound on Egypt Central. Police say the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

Suspect in fatal downtown shooting allegedly shot man in front of hotel security

The officer reportedly tried to pull the driver over, but he refused and began to speed up, driving southbound on Singleton.

Reports say the driver merged onto Austin Peay Highway and continued to flee from police, running through multiple red lights.

The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle at the Old Austin Peay and Austin Peay overpass, where he crashed his car into the concrete wall.

Police say he ran from the vehicle and jumped off the overpass, leaving a woman and two children, 1-year-old and 3-year-old, in the car.

The man was captured and identified by police as Lavonte Fisher, who had an outstanding warrant out of Shelby County for first-degree murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

During a pat down, a loaded firearm was found in Fishers waistband.

One of the children left in the vehicle was not in a car seat. Both children were transported to Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital for injuries, and Fisher and the woman were taken to Regional One for their injuries.

Police say the vehicle was not registered or insured, or displayed a tag that did not belong to the car. Fisher did not have a drivers license.

Fisher is allegedly responsible for a shooting on May 10, where a man was shot and killed in North Memphis in what appeared to be a robbery.

Officers responded to the scene at 1378 May Street just before 10 p.m. A man was located suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Video surveillance from a nearby business showed a white Kia Soul drive into the east side of the Chelsea Laundry parking lot. Two men got out of the car, opened the back drivers side door of the Kia, and pointed a handgun in the victims face.

Man dead after fatal North Memphis shooting

The victim got out of the car with his hands in the air and the suspects began to rummage through his pockets.

Reports say the driver fired a warning shot at the victim. The suspects then held the victim at gunpoint and forced him to walk into an alleyway.

One of the suspects reportedly snatched the victims phone from his hand. The victim then attempted to run down the alley to get away, before he was shot in the back of the head.

The next day, MPD received a tip identifying Lavonte Fisher as the man responsible for shooting and killing the victim. Fisher was also identified out of a six-person photographic lineup.

Fishers bond has been set at $125,000. He is still in the hospital, but is expected to be in court Tuesday morning.

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Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama, died Friday at the age of 86, according to a statement from the family.

We will all miss her greatly, and we wish she were here to offer us some perspective, to mend our heavy hearts with a laugh and a dose of her wisdom, the statement reads.

The family noted in the statement that she lived in the White House with them during former President Obamas time in office, but the trappings and glamour were never a great fit for her.

We needed her. The girls needed her, the family said in the statement. And she ended up being our rock through it all. She relished her role as a grandmother to Malia and Sasha.

Just show me how to work the washing machine and Im good, shed say, the statement adds. 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.

Robinson, a lifelong Chicago resident, rarely spoke to reporters but did attend many White House events, The Associated Press reported.

One of seven children, she attended two years of teaching college, married in 1960 and became a stay-at-home mom to her daughter and son, Craig, per the AP. She was also a large advocate for education.

Her husband Fraser Robinson, who died in 1991, was a pump operator for the Chicago Water Department.

Michelle Obama celebrated Robinson in a Mothers Day post on social platform X earlier this month, stating that Robinson has always been my rock and Im so grateful for all the ways she continues to show up for my family.

Shes taught me so much over the years, and I feel so lucky that I get to pass that same wisdom down to my own girls, she wrote in her post, which features a photo of herself and her mother. To all the moms celebrating today, I hope you know how much youre appreciated.

In March 2022, the former first lady revealed that the Obama Presidential Center would build a section honoring her mother. The area in the Chicago center included scale replicas of the East Room, the Blue Room and the South Lawn of 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.
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, 2021.

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. And more than 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.
Former President Donald Trump in New York Thursday after his conviction on 34 state charges in a hush-money case. Response by Maryland Democrats was muted, but Republicans were generally angry. Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images

A day after former President Donald Trumps historic convictions, Maryland Democrats were calling for trust in the system Friday while most Republicans were calling the case a travesty.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) called the verdict a travesty of justice and a blatant attempt by the Biden Justice Department to jail a political opponent in the middle of an election year.

But Democrats said Trump got his day in court, and lost.

Donald Trumps unanimous conviction on 34 counts proves that our system of justice is not a respecter of position, power, or privilege, Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-7th) in a statement. Even if it is the former president of the United States on trial, this case proves that no one is above the law.

At least four other Democrats in the states congressional delegation used the phrase no one is above the law in their defense of the trial and verdict.

Trump was convicted Thursday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign to cover up an affair with adult film actress, Stormy Daniels.

The conviction, in a Manhattan court on New York state charges, marked the first time a former president has been convicted of criminal charges.

Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee, vowed to appeal the ruling that he called a politically motivated scam.

That language was echoed by many Republicans in the state.

Maryland Republican Party Chairwoman Nicole Beus Harris called the jury decision the product of a two-tiered justice system which is broken and corrupt. A letter from seven GOP delegates  Matt Morgan, Brian Chisholm, Kathy Szeliga, Lauren Arikan, Mark Fisher, Ryan Nawrocki and Robin Grammer  did not mince words, calling it a political prosecution from a kangaroo court and a left-leaning prosecutor that is turning the U.S. justice system into a third world parody of law and order.

Not all Maryland Republicans agreed. Notably, former Gov. Larry Hogan, the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate this fall, parted sharply with other state Republicans.

Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders  regardless of party  must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship.

Few of the responses to Hogans post were kind. Trumps campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, responded simply to Hogan that, You just ended your campaign.

An official with Hogans campaign said the former governor, who has long said he will not vote for Trump, did not have reaction to LaCivitas comment.

Jason Johnson, a political science professor at Morgan State University, said Hogans position is hot surprising, given his difficult position of running for Senate as a Republican in a blue state like Maryland.

He was always going to have trouble, right, like  Maryland is a reliably blue state during presidential elections, Johnson said. And so he was always going to have this challenge of, how do I get you to only look at me as a candidate while not paying attention to whats happening over there at a national level?

Johnson explained that, in Maryland at least, the Republican Partys image is tarnished by Trump.

If you are a Republican and youre running in Maryland, right now, you dont have a lot of pathways to victory, because the people dont like what the Republican Party has become under Trump, Johnson said.

 Maryland Matters reporters Bryan P. Sears and William J. Ford contributed to this report.

The post Maryland Democrats guarded, Republicans angry in wake of Trump conviction appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Massachusetts man struck and killed by tractor-trailer after a crash at a weigh station in Maine

A 36-year-old man from Massachusetts was killed after a crash at a weigh station on the Maine Turnpike in Kittery.

It happened just after 3:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Maine State Police say a car driven by Chhoeunly Phoeung left the southbound side of the highway and struck several objects at the entrance to the state police weigh station.

After crashing his vehicle, Phoeung walked into traffic on the Turnpike and was struck by a tractor-trailer unit, according to a statement from the Maine State Police. Phoeung was transported by ambulance to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

State Police say they continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash and what happened after the crash.

Investigators did not say where Phoeung lived in Massachusetts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Massachusetts teacher on leave after holding mock slave auction, using N-word in class, school district says

A Massachusetts teacher who staged a mock slave auction and used the N-word in a 5th-grade class has been placed on leave, according to a letter sent to parents by the schools superintendent.

The incidents took place at Margaret Neary Elementary School, according to CNN affiliate WCVB, and were reported to Gregory Martineau, superintendent of the Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, in April. The school district is about 30 miles west of Boston.

In January, the teacher  who is not named in the letter  held an impromptu mock slave auction during a lesson on the Atlantic triangle slave trade, during which slave auctions were discussed, the letter said.

The educator asked two children sitting in front of the room, who were of color, to stand, and the educator and class discussed physical attributes (i.e., teeth and strength), Martineau said.

The second incident took place in April, and in that instance, the same educator used the N-word while reading a book, which was not part of the fifth-grade curriculum, to students, the letter said.

It was later brought to the Districts attention that the N-word does not appear in the book, Martineau said. Dehumanizing words such as slurs should not be spoken by employees or students. Using such words can harm students and negatively impact an open discussion on a particular topic.

Martineau also condemned the teachers actions in holding a mock slave auction, calling the action unacceptable and a violation of the districts core values. He also noted the damaging impact that such role-playing methods in lessons on historical atrocities or trauma can have on students of color.

Parents of students in the class met with the teacher and the principal to discuss the two incidents in April, but the next day, Martineau said the teacher inappropriately called out the student who had reported the educators use of the racial slur, which is not acceptable.

That is when the district began a formal investigation, and the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave, the letter said. The schools principal was placed on a 10-day paid administrative leave in May.

Currently, the District is engaged in due process procedures with the educator who remains on leave. All personnel matters will remain confidential, Martineau said.

Martineau went on to apologize for the events that took place at the school and said the districts cultural competency will improve.

I acknowledge that there were missteps in this process that further complicated the situation. Ultimately, I am responsible for ensuring students are in safe and supportive learning environments, he said.

CNN has reached out to the school and to the school district for further comment.

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Rico Back says a reduction in Royal Mail headcount is inevitable despite bidder's assurance no jobs cuts would be forced through - Daniel Bockwoldt

Former Royal Mail boss Rico Back has thrown his weight behind Daniel Kretinskys bid to take over the business, claiming the troubled postal giant cannot go on like it did.

Mr Back, who was chief executive of Royal Mail from 2018 to 2020, told The Telegraph that the deal would be good for Britain.

He hailed Mr Kretinsky as a very sharp thinker who will be able to improve Royal Mails worsening reliability.

He said: This will be a new age for Royal Mail. We dont know whether it will be a great age or just a better age but the company cannot go on like it did.

The comments come days after the board of parent company International Distributions Service (IDS) accepted the Czech billionaires 3.6bn offer.

The implications of such a crucial national asset falling into foreign hands has provoked alarm, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt vowing to review the deal under national security laws.

However, Mr Back argued that Royal Mail has been effectively under foreign ownership since listing on the London Stock Market more than a decade ago.

He said: To be clear, Royal Mail was never in the UKs hands. Since it went public in 2013, its shareholders have been in America, Europe, wherever.

I think that if the Government were to interfere, then this would harm the UK and its position in the world as a country where you can invest.

As part of his takeover approach, Mr Kretinsky has made a series of legally binding undertakings, including maintaining the one-price-goes-anywhere system and Saturday deliveries for first-class post.

While this has softened opposition to the bid, Mr Back believes Mr Kretinsky should go further by promising all NHS letters be sent by first class if he takes over.

Not only will this ease concerns about older people not receiving hospital appointments, but Mr Back said it would help boost delivery performance more broadly.

He said: The main focus for Royal Mail should be to get the reliability of service up to a reliable level. Since this is not the case, it is undervalued.

Mr Kretinsky has already pledged not to force through job cuts. However, Mr Back suggested that a reduction in headcount is inevitable.

Royal Mail is over-staffed, said Mr Back, who added that he has not spoken to Mr Kretinsky or his team. There is no question about that. And if you are over-staffed, then there is a need for declining jobs.

As a former custodian of the postal service, the German businessman also attacked the so-called universal service obligation, which requires Royal Mail to deliver letters nationwide six days a week.

Story continues

Mr Back, who ran Royal Mail from his home in Switzerland during Covid, said: I dont understand, really, why the Government is hanging on to a service which is not demanded by the population.

Royal Mail was contacted for comment.

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Counter-demonstrators display Israeli flags and a banner against Hamas at the end of a pro-Palestinian rally at Brueckenplatz. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

Egypt, the US and Qatar, mediators in the ongoing war in Gaza, called on Israel and Palestinian Islamist Hamas to agree to end the conflict.

The parties to the conflict should finalize an agreement that includes the principles outlined by US President Joe Biden on Friday, according to a joint statement issued by the three countries and published by Egypt.

The proposed agreement unites the demands of all parties. It serves multiple interests and will bring immediate relief to the people of Gaza as well as the hostages and their families, the statement says.

"This agreement provides a roadmap to a permanent ceasefire and ending the crisis," the statement says.
Former President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts related to hush money payments he made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, while his wife Melania was at home with their infant son. Prosecutors said the payments were an attempt to illegally interfere with the 2016 election. Trumps team had a different explanation: that he didnt have the affair in the first place, but also was still trying to conceal allegations of it from his beloved wife, anyway.

The Melania defense didnt work on the jury. But it is one of many examples of a telling dynamic: Powerful political men pushing the moral responsibility of their own actions onto their wives.

To Trumps credit, he didnt blame Melania for his alleged affairsone with Daniels, and a more prolonged relationship with a Playboy model who says she saw Trump while Melania was pregnant. Instead, Trump denied culpability entirely, while suggesting that the hush money payment was for her benefit and protection. The same cant be said of Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, whose defense in his trial for an alleged bribery and corruption scheme boils down to my wife did it, blame her. Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito has taken a similar tack since evidence surfaced of an upside-down American flag hanging outside of his Virginia home, a symbol of solidarity with those who believe the 2020 election was stolen. That was soon followed by reporting about another flag, representing the extreme Christian right, hanging outside of his New Jersey beach house. The flags, Alito has said, are the work of his wife Martha-Ann. My wife is fond of flying flags, Alito wrote in a letter explaining why he would not recuse himself from cases related to the same issues the flags represent. I am not.

Wives, amirite?

These efforts to make women responsible for mens bad acts are as old as Adam, Eve, and the apple, and are a perverse sort of marital traditionalism. Marriage, in the traditionalist and conservative Christian views, is a coming together of two people fit for complementary, not equal, roles. Men, in this tradition, are the familys public representative, economic supporter, an unquestioned leader; women are confined to the private realm, charged with keeping a home and raising children, but are also the familys moral centerthe molders of upstanding children and civilizers of otherwise boorish husbands. Marriage, in this view, is a kind of separate-but-equal union of interdependence. Women, who are intellectually feeble and less effective economic actors, need men for financial support, basic survival, political representation, and general guidance. Men need women for gentle moral encouragement; wives are the angels in the house, and in their softness and submission are supposed to inspire men to work hard and to be decent people.

The idea that it is the role of a wife to police a mans moral decisionmaking is a very old one, and continues to creep into our political discourse on gender, marriage, and society. Much of the concern about declining marriage rates, for example, has been framed as a social threat because untethered men, unchecked by the better angels of a female partner, will descend further into crime, drugs, poverty, and unemployment. The idea that young men are civilized by women and marriage may seem as corny as Kansas in August, Stephen Pinker wrote in a 2011 book, but it has become a commonplace of modern criminology. Abstinence-only education, which was especially pervasive in the 1990s and 2000s but still persists across the U.S., routinely tells young people that boys will push for sex and its up to girls to be the sexual brakes in any relationship so that both parties stay pure.

Assuming women are more inherently moral and decent than men may sound flattering. In reality, its often used to blame women for mens bad behavioreven when those men are among the most powerful around.

When Hillary Clinton was first lady, she was widely demonized as an ambitious overreacher who improperly inserted herself into politics, a woman who did not stay in her designated lane. Later, when she ran for president, she found herself blamed for some of her husbands political policies, even ones she had little or no hand in crafting. The archetype of the woman as a subservient, supportive moral center of the family can only exist if theres a comparatively domineering, wicked model: The ambitious, scheming wife who leads her husband astray, or at least fails to correct him.

Trumps Melania defense places her in the first category, a beloved and decent wife whom he could not stomach disappointing. Menendez and Alito place their wives in the second: Women of their own minds, who did their own thing and whose independent decisions have now landed innocent yet extremely powerful (and public) men in hot water, through no fault of those mens own.

The United States is in a strange cultural moment when it comes to gender equality. An anti-feminist backlash seems to be in full force as American women see our rights rolled back to a time before we were allowed to vote. At the same time, a rising hypermasculine right is gaining traction with explicit misogyny and male grievance. Tradwives are a social media trend, largely for men who seem turned on by the fantasy of wholesale female submission. Pronatalist voices are gaining more airtime by blaming women for not having enough babies, thus ushering in social and economic decline. And conservative legislators are putting a series of mechanisms into place to force women and girls to have babies whether we want to or not. Victorian-era lines between good women and bad ones seem to be reemerging, especially but not exclusively on the right.

These assumptions and stereotypes that divide the angel at home from the independent Eve run deep, despite centuries of feminist work to counter and disprove them. Trumps employment of them to make himself look like a conscientious husband seems to have failed. Menendezs use of them to blame his wife for the crimes hes charged with are being tested in a court of law; Alitos similar strategy is being tested in the court of public opinion. Perhaps the American public has finally wised up to the fact that women are people, not either angels or she-devilsbut that hasnt stopped many powerful men from recently hanging their innocence on claims that their wives are either too virtuous to disappoint, or too independent to be trusted.
Donald Trump's guilty verdict in his New York hush money trial is reportedly affecting his relationship with his wife, Melania Trump.

A source close to Melania shared that she has been unhappy about it the whole time despite her noticeable absence from the courtroom to support Trump and that the verdict is "another layer of poison" in their union.

Melania Trump continues to maintain her silence on the matter in a bid to "protect herself and her son Barron," but has been tipped to appear in court on July 11, when Donald Trump would be sentenced.

Donald Trump's Guilty Verdict Is 'Another Layer Of Poison' In His Marriage With Melania Trump

MEGA

The former president was found guilty on all 34 count charges for falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The payment was for her to remain silent over an alleged affair they had, which would have seemingly affected the outcome of the 2016 elections if it had seen the light of day.

According to People magazine, an insider has now revealed that Melania has always been unhappy about the trial, suggesting that the guilty verdict is seemingly a harmful and toxic addition to their relationship.

"She has been angry about this whole thing for a long time," the source said of Trump's legal woe. "This [New York jury's] decision is another layer of poison for her."

Would The Former First Lady Appear In Court?

Melania Trump speaks to Donald Trump's supporters at a

The mother-of-one had notably kept her distance from the courtroom, where she had been expected to support Trump while he pled "not guilty" to the charges at the time.

The insider who spoke to People went further to weigh in on the possibility of the former first lady appearing in court on July 11, when Trump would be sentenced.

"There are certain times she has to show. This could be one of those, but it would not be her idea," the source said. "To stand by her man in a traditional first lady way, no."

Trump faces up to four years in jail for his crimes. However, due to him being considered a first-time offender, he may get off with a lighter punishment, such as a fine or probation.

Melania Trump Allegedly Believes The Verdict Is 'A Political Assassination'

Melania Trump, Donald Trump

According to People, it is unlikely that Melania would break her silence on her husband's guilty verdict in order to avoid drawing attention to herself and her son, Barron.

The former first lady, who is understood to be keeping the 18-year-old high school graduate in a protective "bubble" at their sprawling Mar-a-Lago estate, reportedly believes that Trump's hush money trial is a ploy to get at him.

"Melania believes this is a political assassination, but she knows exactly who she married," a source shared, going on to add that "for this reason, she has chosen to stay away from media attention to protect herself and her son Barron."

Another political source told the news outlet that it "is very unlikely she will say much about this unless the comment would be about a political witch hunt, which she definitely believes to be true."

"She will probably always be mad at him for many of the things he does," the source added. "But since she has carved out a life that does not include him all of the time, she is able to deal with it."

The Former First Lady's Ex-Aide Claims She Would Appear In Court As A 'Distraction'

President Trump Holds Departure Ceremony Before Florida Travel

Melania's ex-aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, had earlier predicted in an appearance on CNN that the former first lady would be by Trump's side for the sentencing to act 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," Wolkoff told the news outlet.

It remains to be seen what the fate of the presumptive Republican party nominee holds, especially as his scheduled sentencing comes just days before the Republican party formally appoints him as the flagbearer for the November elections.

Melania Trump 'Knew Exactly Who She Married'

Donald Trump and Melania Trump hold hands as they depart Amalija Knavs' funeral at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Church in Palm Beach, FL.

Elsewhere in her conversation with CNN, Wolkoff shared her thoughts on what the former model's reaction to her husband's guilty verdict would have been, stating that Melania was not surprised by the jury's decision.

"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.

She claimed Melania is "telling him exactly how she feels" with her continued indifference toward the whole issue.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Regional Superintendent has chosen two people to to fill the vacancies on the Champaign School Board.

Regional Superintendent to lead search for Champaign School board replacements

The two candidates chosen are Mark Holm and Sam Banks, according to a news release from the Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education.

Sam Banks formerly was the CEO of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club. Mark Holm ran for the School Board in 2023.

Regional Superintendent Gary Lewis interviewed 11 candidates for the positions, along with five committee members.

I offer my congratulations to the selected individuals and look forward to working together to center the students and families in our incredible Unit 4 district, Board Vice President Heather Vazquez said in a statement to WCIA.

Both Holm and Banks will serve until April 2025, where both seats will be up for election.

Board President Gianina Baker shared the following statement with WCIA:

While disappointed that we were unable to finish our board vacancy process, we thank the ROE and committee with their assistance. The summer is often a bit slower but as weve been operating as a board of five for a few months now, there are certainly some outstanding items that need addressing.

I look forward to reaching out to both appointees to begin the onboarding process. Both have been long-time members of the Champaign community. While Ive not talked to the committee, Im sure Mr. Banks resume and service as well as Mr. Holms previous school board run stood out amongst the applicants. I hope they find that their previous service translates well to that of a school board member, we could use it!

As we move into this next phase, I hope the community and board members concerned with the boards process find resolve with the ROEs level of transparency and efforts to remain unbiased.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMS holds luncheon in celebration of 40th anniversary

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services is celebrating 40 years of service.

MEMS held a celebratory luncheon on Friday for the 40th anniversary of its founding.

MEMS serves Pulaski and Grant Counties and the cities of Maumelle, Sherwood, and Cabot, approximately 1,800 square miles.

The purpose of the event was to commemorate its past, present and future.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin delivered a keynote address at the 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 KLRT - FOX16.com.
NEW YORK  In May 2019, a senior official at the USDA was told by his then-chief-of-staff that Sen. Bob Menendez would call his personal cell phone in around an hour.

The agriculture official, Ted McKinney, had been trying to get Egyptian officials to reverse their decision to grant a new company a monopoly certifying halal meat exported to that country. That decision, he recalled from the witness stand of Menendezs corruption trial Friday, was very unusual and could hurt American beef interests.

McKinney said that he would never forget the words Menendez told him during the brief call: Stop interfering with my constituent.

The call is a key account that prosecutors cited in their case against Menendez, who is accused of receiving bribes to benefit New Jersey businesspeople and the Egyptian government. Federal prosecutors allege that lucrative halal certification monopoly granted to IS EG Halal, a New Jersey company led by Wael Will Hana, helped supply funds used to bribe Menendez.

In spring 2019, Egyptian officials decided to decertify all halal meat certification companies in the country except for IS EG Halal. The decision came as a surprise to American agriculture officials, recalled McKinney, who now leads the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

McKinney said that America dominated beef liver exports to Egypt at the time; beef livers were a key profit stream for American beef companies. But if a single company had the halal certification monopoly, that could raise prices for Egyptian customers  thus dissuading purchases of American meat, he said.

Before McKinney received the call from Menendez, he reached out to the Egyptian ambassador in Washington, D.C., and his counterpart in the Egyptian government overseeing agricultural issues asking them to reconsider the new monopoly. Both times, he said, he received no response.

Then Menendez called.

McKinney said he recalled the senator being serious and curt. He felt that Menendez was trying to get him to stand down in pushing back against the certification monopoly. When McKinney tried to explain his concerns about the halal certification monopoly to Egypt, he recalled Menendez cutting him off.

I was interrupted very early in my explanation, he said. I didnt get very far.

McKinney said that he thought back in 2019 that something nefarious was going on with the halal monopoly  remarks that defense attorneys for Menendez and Hana objected to in court. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein told jurors to disregard those comments.

The team McKinney oversaw at the USDA declined to keep questioning the halal certification monopoly  or respond to Menendezs call  after learning that the FBI was investigating, McKinney said.

Attorneys for Menendez during opening statements of the trial have described the call to McKinney as constituent services (another USDA official said that the monopoly drove another company with New Jersey ties was put out of business by the monopoly). And regardless of the nature of the call, Menendezs attorneys have argued that the conduct is not illegal.

He's allowed to advocate to a federal agency on behalf of a company that is a constituent, Menendez attorney Avi Weitzman said during his opening statements. And he's even allowed to yell at a federal employee. None of that is illegal. It's his constitutionally protected role.

Adam Fee, another Menendez attorney who questioned McKinney on Friday, pointed out a discrepancy in some evidence shown to jurors: One letter from McKinney to his Egyptian counterpart objecting to the halal meat certification said that there were seven halal certifiers impacted by Egypts decision, while another USDA document said that four would be impacted.

Fee also pointed to a document circulated that claimed that halal certifiers were claiming that non-halal meat was indeed certified, although McKinney he would be surprised if that were true.

Hana, the owner of the halal meat company granted the monopoly, was described by his attorneys of having a close relationship with Nadine Menendez, the senators wife. She was initially charged in the wide-ranging bribery scheme, although she faces a separate trial as she faces health issues.

McKinney will continue to be questioned by defense attorneys on Monday.
MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Among the over 40 arrests announced on Thursday as part of Operation Red Rooster was a man who was once honored by Merced City Council for using his success in the music industry to give back to his community.

In August 2023, Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega was recognized by the Merced City Council and presented with the certificate below. In May 2024, he was arrested as part of an investigation that focused on a criminal street gang in Merced, according to the California Department of Justice.

Merced City Council certificate

Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega, who is also known by the alias GB or Getto Boy from Merced, was recognized by Merced City Council in the Aug. 7, 2023, meeting. Councilmembers were told about how he used his popularity to better his community.

Hes used every ounce of popularity, every like, every view to better his own situation, the situation of his family, but also his community, said Councilmember Jesse Ornelas at the meeting on Aug. 7, 2023. To me, thats really what Merced is about. Im really proud of the growth that hes shown.

Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega (image courtesy of the City of Merced)

Councilmember Ornelas detailed how Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega holds shoe giveaways, and backpack giveaways and sets up toy drives to provide toys to Valley Childrens Hospital in Madera.

Eduardo also spoke during the August 2023 Merced City Council meeting.

My name is Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega. I go by the moniker of GB and, basically, Im just a boy that came from south Merced and I just started doing music for fun and eventually, it kind of grew bigger than what I could ever imagine.

Less than a year later, Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega was listed among the 41 people arrested as part of Operation Red Rooster.

The investigation that sparked Operation Red Rooster began in 2021 after the Livingston Police Department investigated a homicide and attempted homicide connected to a prominent criminal street gang. As a result of the operation, the California Department of Justice says over 60 pounds of narcotics were seized and 27 guns were confiscated.

Our work to address the organized criminal street gang crisis is saving lives and making communities safer  but there is more to be done, said Attorney General Rob Bonta. We wont rest until California communities are free from gang activity, including here in the Central Valley.

Eduardo Nepomuceno-Vega is due in court on Tuesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Metro is looking for the communitys input on its proposed changes to the bus network in 2025.

Metro said that its proposed Better Bus Network would improve overall service by making changes to bus routes, frequencies and hours.

Under the proposed plan, all of Metrobus current routes would be replaced with 123 new routes  fresh with new names. Metro said that these names will follow a formula: the first character will be a letter representing where the route runs, the second character will be a number depending on the corridor or neighborhood for the route and the third character will be another number to distinguish it  or an X if it is a limited-stop route.

Metro said that TheBus in Prince Georges County, Md. will also be replaced with 23 new bus routes.

Red Line passengers have mixed feelings ahead of summer closures

It will be removing stops that are too close together, serve fewer customers or do not have safe access for pedestrians across the region.

Metro said that this should provide better evening and weekend service across the DMV. It said that more than 146,000 customers will have evening service all week  another 22,000 people will have more service on Saturdays, and 46,000 people will have more service on Sundays.

You can look up details  such as places served, schedules and frequencies  for each proposed route on Metros BetterBus website.

Metro is looking for input via public hearings, surveys, written comments, interactive maps and more  you can submit all of that online. It is accepting comments until 5 p.m. on July 15.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
FILE - Ceci Flores, leader of a "searching mothers" group from northern Mexico, carries a shovel at the site where she said her team found a clandestine crematorium in Tlahuac, on the edge of Mexico City, May 1, 2024. The Mexican volunteer searcher who has been attacked in the past by the government found more bodies in Mexico City in the final days of May 2024. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme, File)

MEXICO CITY (AP)  A Mexican volunteer searcher criticized in the past by the government has found more human remains in Mexico City and officials have attacked her for it  again.

The existence of clandestine body dumping grounds is sensitive for Mexicos ruling Morena party. Morena, which is running the former Mexico City mayor for president in Sunday's elections, claims the kind of violence that plagues other parts of the country has been successfully combatted in the capital.

But volunteer searcher Ceci Flores, who has spent years searching for her two missing sons, says thats because officials havent bothered to look for bodies. It's a common complaint by relatives of missing people in many parts of Mexico, where drug cartels and kidnap gangs use shallow pits to dispose of the bodies of their victims.

On Thursday, Flores posted a video showing what appeared to be human femurs and craniums in the tall dry grass of a hillside on the city's east side. She suggested there were at least three bodies, and noted there could be more on the hillside.

We don't want to disturb them," Flores said in the video, pointing to a pile of bones with her shovel from a distance of several feet. We don't want to go in and disturb them.

Flores has sparred with the government before, accusing officials of ignoring the plight of Mexico's more than 100,000 missing people.

In late April, Flores drew the ire of city prosecutors when she claimed she had found charred bones and at least two people's identification cards in another semi-rural area on the city's east side. Prosecutors quickly concluded the bones were from dogs, and that the ID cards had been discarded or stolen and their owners were alive.

Soon after, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador played a government-produced video at his daily press briefing, accusing searchers like Flores of morbidity and claimed they were suffering from a delirium of necrophilia.

But by Friday, acting Mexico City prosecutor Ulises Lara was forced to acknowledge that Flores had indeed found bones, and that they were apparently human. Lara said police, forensic experts, National Guard officers and soldiers were dispatched to the scene.

That raised the obvious question of why the vast team of official manpower had never been able to find the bodies, while a lone searching mother armed with only a shovel did.

Lara lashed out at Flores without mentioning her by name, claiming the chain of custody of the evidence had been broken and the bones had been handled.

This violated the dignity and respect that people searching for the relatives deserve, and some of them have expressed their discontent with this situation, Lara said, implying it would have been better not to have found them.

In a video posted on social media Saturday, Flores reacted with disbelief.

Seriously? These remains were unknown. We did the work they are supposed to do, Flores said. You (Lara) didn't even know about them, weren't aware of them, had not located them.

Regarding the accusation that other searching relatives were angered by her actions  mass searches of the kind Flores carries out in her native Sonora are not common in Mexico City  Flores shot back, they should be angry at you for not doing your job.

Lopez Obrador's administration has spent far more time and resources looking for people falsely listed as missing  people who may have returned home without advising authorities  than in searching for grave sites that relatives say they desperately need for closure.

Flores is a very accomplished searcher, and like many mothers of disappeared people, she has a deep sense of mission. One of her sons, Alejandro Guadalupe, disappeared in 2015. Her second son, Marco Antonio, was abducted in 2019. Authorities have told her nothing about the fate of either of them.

In her home state of Sonora, authorities confirmed in April they had identified 45 missing people from among 57 sets of remains at a body dumping ground known as El Choyudo that was originally discovered by Flores group, The Searching Mothers of Sonora.

The madres buscadoras (searching mothers) usually arent trying to convict anyone of their relatives disappearances. They say they just want to find their remains. Many families say not having definite knowledge of a relatives fate is worse than it would be to know a loved one was dead.

At least seven volunteer searchers have been killed in Mexico since 2021.
Claudia Sheinbaum was elected the country's first female president after a bloody election campaign that saw 37 candidates assassinated.

Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as Mexico's first female president Sunday following the deadliest election campaign in the country's modern history.

More than three dozen candidates were assassinated, including a local government candidate in central Puebla state who was killed on Friday, increasing the total number of those killed to 37 ahead of Sundays vote, according to data from security consultancy Integralia obtained by Reuters.

Across the country, there were more than 20,000 positions to fill and 70,000 candidates vying for the spots.

 Why is this election so important?

One of the top issues in this years presidential contest was violent crime. Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has had to account for a persistently high murder rate, with his opposition arguing for change.

Security analyst David Saucedo told the Associated Press that drug cartels will likely try to force voters to support their favored candidates.

Cartels are becoming increasingly dangerous  theyre now well-armed and politically influential. According to a report translated by NPR, more than 30,000 people are murdered each year in Mexico, compared to roughly 18,500 in the U.S. in 2023.

 Why does it matter for the U.S.?

This Mexican election came during the same year as the U.S. presidential election, a concurrence that only happens every 12 years. Its a tumultuous time for the relationship between the two countries. Mexico became the top trading partner for the U.S. last year, and both countries are trying to figure out how to deal with the worsening illegal drug trade.

A motorcyclist passes under a line of campaign signs in Xochimilco, Mexico, on May 31. (Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images)

Another major issue for voters this year was Mexicos migration policies on both its southern and northern borders. The National Migration Institute (INM) recorded a 77% increase in migrant arrivals from 2022 to 2023, according to CNN.

In December, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that would allow officials in that state to detain and report people suspected of entering the U.S. illegally. The law is currently blocked by a U.S. federal court, and the current Mexican government said it will only discuss immigration issues with federal officials. Both leading presidential candidates support Mexico's stance.

 What has happened to the murdered candidates?

Jorge Huerta Cabrera, a candidate running for a council seat in the town of Izucar de Matamoros, was shot and killed at a political rally on Friday, according to the state prosecutors office. On Wednesday, mayoral candidate Jose Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos was gunned down during his closing campaign speech. He was among the 560 candidates and election officials given security guards by the government because of persistent threats.

Altogether, 37 candidates have been assassinated this election season  and thats not counting failed assassination attempts, Reuters reported. Integralia counted 828 nonlethal attacks on political candidates during the current election campaign.

 Who is Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president?

Sheinbaum, a member of the ruling party, was widely expected to win Sunday's vote and become Mexico's first female president  a major step for a country well-known for its macho culture. The 61-year-old is a former Mexico City mayor and climate scientist.

Sheinbaum has long been an ally of the incumbent president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who won in a landslide in 2018. They share principles and even campaign slogans at times.

Her main opponent was former Senator Xochitl Galvez, who is also 61. Galvez criticized incumbent Lopez Obrador for his hugs not bullets policy of avoiding confrontation with drug cartels, who have gained control of large parts of Mexico.

Claudia Sheinbaum, left, and Xochitl Galvez, at the last presidential debate in Mexico City on May 19. (Quetzalli Nicte-Ha/Reuters)

A third contender, 38-year-old Jorge Alvarez Maynez, trailed far behind the two women in the polls. The former deputy of the Congress of the Union gained international attention in May when a stage collapsed due to heavy winds at his campaign event in San Pedro Garza Garcia, killing nine people and injuring at least 121.
Mexico's presidential race is between two women. So why is everyone talking about one man?

Supporters of presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum fill the Zocalo in Mexico City for a rally on March 1. (Aurea Del Rosario / Associated Press)

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is not on the ballot in Mexicos presidential election on Sunday. But he might as well be.

The vote is widely viewed as a referendum on the popular but polarizing president known for pulling millions of Mexicans out of poverty while weakening some of the countrys key institutions, emboldening the military and failing to stem an epidemic of brutal gang violence.

Claudia Sheinbaum, Lopez Obradors protege and the former mayor of Mexico City, is heavily favored to win the election  in large part because she has vowed to advance his signature projects, including welfare programs and efforts to reform the judiciary.

Candidate Claudia Sheinbaum arrives at a campaign rally this week in Mexico City, where she served as mayor. (Eduardo Verdugo / Associated Press)

Meanwhile her chief opponent, Xochitl Galvez, an entrepreneur and former senator who represents an opposition coalition, has sought to tap into resentment among the middle and upper classes against the current president, who is known widely by his initials, AMLO.

It is all about AMLO, said Lila Abed, acting director at the Mexico Institute of the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. I think a lot of people who will vote for [Sheinbaum] will be voting in their minds for him.

Read more: What to know about Mexico's massive elections on Sunday

If Sheinbaum is indeed victorious, Abed said, one issue will loom above all others: What role, if any, will AMLO play in the next six years? Is he going to be actively involved in the decisions that she makes as president?

Sheinbaum has dismissed suggestions that Lopez Obrador might control her presidency from behind the scenes as misogynistic.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador appears at a campaign event with Sheinbaum, his protege who is heavily favored to succeed him. (Fernando Llano / Associated Press)

In some ways, the heated debates about Lopez Obradors record and legacy have overshadowed a more compelling storyline: the near certainty that the next president will be a woman.

That would be a first for Mexico, a traditionally conservative country known for machismo and high rates of violence against women. Women have made major inroads in politics here since a 2019 constitutional reform set quotas requiring gender parity in all elected posts at the federal, state and municipal levels. They now account for about half the Congress.

Sundays election is the largest in Mexicos history. Along with a new president, voters will choose 128 senators, 500 congressional deputies, eight governors and the mayor of Mexico City, along with thousands of local officials. Mexican presidents serve a single six-year term.

Read more: Soldiers and civilians are dying as Mexican cartels embrace a terrifying new weapon: Land mines

Beyond breaking gender barriers, the election has significant policy implications for both Mexico and the United States.

The two nations share a sometimes turbulent partnership on security concerns such as immigration, organized crime and drug trafficking  all while trade between them approaches $1 trillion a year.

Lopez Obrador has mostly cooperated with Washington on key issues even as he regularly assails its policies and even U.S. culture  denouncing abusive meddling and what he regards as U.S. moral decay. Sheinbaum and Galvez, for their parts, have both pledged to maintain close ties with the United States.

The two countries are so integrated economically that both know that upsetting it would have very deep consequences, said Tony Payan, who directs the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy. No one wants that to happen.

The future of U.S.-Mexico relations may depend less on who wins the Mexico election than on the outcome of the U.S. presidential race in November.

Read more: Bullets before ballots: Dozens of Mexican candidates have been killed as cartels seek more control

Former President Trump, who has railed against migrants and free trade, once threatened to slap tariffs on Mexican imports if the country did not do more to stop migrants from reaching the U.S. border. Lopez Obrador promptly acquiesced  even as critics accused him of doing Washingtons dirty work.

In recent months, Mexico has dispatched troops to turn back migrants from border fences, kick them off northbound freight trains and return them to southern Mexico  often to try again.

But with the 2,000-mile border a major political issue in the United States, experts say that Mexicos new president will continue to feel intense pressure from Washington to crack down on migrants.

Neither Sheinbaum nor Galvez have provided much insight on how they might deal with the issue.

Presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez holds a rally this week in Los Reyes la Paz, outside Mexico City, in advance of Sunday's election. (Fernando Llano / Associated Press)

The bigger political challenge for the next Mexican president is how to curb rampant cartel and gang violence. Polls indicated that security is the major concern of voters in Mexico.

Read more: This mega-city is running out of water. What will 22 million people do when the taps run dry?

While murders dipped slightly in the last few years, Mexico still has one of the worlds highest homicide rates. It is five times that of the United States.

And those figure dont include the disappeared  mostly victims of gang violence whose ranks have soared to more than 100,000 during Lopez Obradors presidency.

A complex patchwork of criminal groups control large parts of Mexico, with many local governments in the pocket of organized crime.

The cartels need local political allies to operate, noted Victor Clark Alfaro, a longtime human rights advocate in the border city of Tijuana. Theres widespread corruption in local government.

Mexicos criminal justice system is largely broken. The vast majority of crimes are never solved.

Read more: Dream interrupted: As gang violence soars in Mexico, migrants in U.S. rethink plans to go home

Lopez Obrador handed over many security tasks to the military  an admission that police and the civilian justice system were unable to handle the crisis. But experts say that soldiers are ill-equipped to take on civilian law enforcement.

The national election campaign only dramatized the extent of criminal reach in Mexico. At least 31 candidates were assassinated, and attacks on political figures reached record levels.

Political stability and the future progress of the country depend on the capacity to confront and overcome this wave of political violence, journalist Yuriria Sierra wrote in Mexicos Excelsior newspaper.

Apart from feeling domestic pressure to reduce violence, Mexicos next president is also likely to face amped-up demands from Washington to rein in cartels drug-smuggling operations  especially the trafficking of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of U.S. deaths a year.

U.S. lawmakers have expressed increasing frustration with what they view as an inadequate response from the Lopez Obrador administration, which has also limited U.S. drug agents access to Mexico.

Read more: Mass shootings in Mexico become an issue in the presidential race

Mutual trust between the United States and Mexico has deteriorated in recent years, said Abed of the Wilson Center. Security cooperation has deteriorated. There is going to have to be a rebuilding of mutual trust.

Vowing to reduce violence, Sheinbaum has spoken of policies such as expanding police and National Guard training, improving law enforcement intelligence-gathering capabilities and providing educational opportunities for youths to dissuade them from joining organized crime.

Where should our kids be  in the street or in school? Sheinbaum asked supporters in her campaign-closing speech on Wednesday in Mexico Citys historic Zocalo, or central square.

It sounded a lot like Lopez Obradors Hugs not bullets strategy  attacking the root causes of crime instead of trying to take down cartel kingpins.

Galvez, the opposition presidential hopeful, has vowed no more hugs for criminals. But she too has provided few specifics to back up her reassuring vows to make violence go away.

Galvez greets supporters in Huixquilucan, Mexico, in April. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press)

I propose returning peace and tranquility to your families, Galvez told a crowd in her closing campaign rally in the northern city of Monterrey.

The near daily accounts of murders and mayhem clash with an alternative national vision: Mexico as a growing hub for international businesses keen to relocate operations from Asia or Europe to be closer to U.S. markets  a phenomenon known as near-shoring.

Right now Mexico has a huge opportunity on its hands with the near-shoring movement, with its increased place as a trade hub in the global economy, said Falko Ernst, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit research group.

But he said its full potential may not be realized if you dont find ways to contain the slide of Mexico into violent chaos.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed to this report.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer, was the key prosecution witness in the trial - Mike Segar/REUTERS

Michael Cohen used a TikTok livestream to take a victory lap after Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in Manhattan.

Trumps former lawyer and fixer was the key prosecution witness in the trial, which centred on hush money payments he orchestrated on behalf of the former president to Stormy Danels, an adult film actress, to cover up an alleged affair.

Following the verdict, Cohen was showered with praise by many of his TikTok followers, who said they were impressed by his evidence and handling of aggressive cross-examination by Trumps legal team.

Users sent blue hearts on the live stream as critics of Trump struggled to contain their delight at the verdict.

To put it lightly Im a fan - thats kind of weird, one user said. I think you did a very solid service to America.

Another, however, was less happy voicing frustration with the outcome of the trial.

Cohen, however, blamed Trump for the verdict, accusing his former boss of trying to dictate the defence strategy.

Cohen, 57, served 13 and a half months of a three year jail term after admitting campaign finance charges and lying to Congress.

The one-time Trump ally has since become one of his fiercest critics, not only testifying against the ex-president but launching a social media tirade against his former boss.

Cohen had been cashing in on TikTok, earning donations from users. He was taking calls and answering questions from those who participated in his broadcasts throughout the trial.

Exactly how much Cohen earned from his broadcasts has not been disclosed.

The live streams were at times surreal, with at one point an oversized cowboy hat appearing on his head and on another an elephants ears and trunk.

They also infuriated Trump, who had been subjected to a gag order banning him from attacking witnesses by Juan Merchan, the trial judge.

Eventually the judge instructed prosecutors to tell Cohen to stop. He complied with what he described as a self-imposed gag order.

Some legal experts had suggested that Cohens broadcasts could jeopardise the prosecution case, arguing that he had a conflict of interest as a witness.

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Michael Cohen says hes afraid for national security if Donald Trump goes to prison.

In an interview with MSNBC on Saturday, the former Trump fixer stressed that he was not worried for the former president or his safety but for all of us and for the American people.

Cohen, who was sentenced to prison in 2018 for campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, said he believes the former president may seek revenge by spilling national secrets behind bars.

If America turns against him, he would rather see America burned to the ground, Cohen said, adding that this clown had four years of being debriefed on national security issues and will get debriefed again if he becomes the Republican nominee.

You now have a Republican leading candidate whos a felon, whos going to be debriefed on national security issues knowing how loose-lipped he is, he said.

You do not allow somebody like Donald Trump to be declassified, especially now as a felon. So, my concern is, in a prison situation, he is willing to give away these secrets, as I always say, for a bag of tuna or a book of stamps. He will do it because does not care, Cohen warned.

The former presidents relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin along with Trumps decision to allegedly discuss nuclear submarines with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt were illustrative of Trumps disregard for the sanctity of national security secrets, according to Cohen.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Marian Robinson applauds during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on Sept. 6, 2012, in Charlotte, N.C.

Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama, has died, the former first family announced on Friday, May 31. She was 86.

Though Robinsons cause of death was not immediately provided, the Obamas said she passed away peacefully.

My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed, Michelle wrote in a loving tribute shared on Instagram. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama also remembered his mother-in-law in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

There was and will be only one Marian Robinson, his post said. 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.

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. https://t.co/2gH0DPQYVb  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 31, 2024

An obituary credited to Robinsons two kids, their partners and her six grandchildren remembered her as a person who had a way of summing up the truths about life in a word or two, maybe a quick phrase that made everyone around her stop and think.

Her wisdom came off as almost innate, as something she was born with, but in reality it was hard-earned, fashioned by her deep understanding that the worlds roughest edges could always be sanded down with a little grace, the obituary continued.

Robinson was born Marian Shields in 1937 to Purnell Shields and Rebecca Jumper as the fourth of seven children. She grew up in Chicago, where she became a teacher and secretary before meeting her husband, Fraser Robinson III, who died in 1991. They shared two children: Michelle and her older brother Craig.

When Barack won the 2008 presidential election, the Obamas convinced Robinson to move with them to help their family of four adjust to life in the White House.

We needed her. The girls needed her. And she ended up being our rock through it all, her family reflected.

After the Obamas left the White House in early 2017, Robinson moved back to Chicago, where she spent her final years.

"She passed peacefully this morning, the familys obituary said, and right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly well move on without her.

Next: Remembering the Stars and Legends We've Lost in 2024
STAMFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A judge has sentenced Michelle Troconis to 20 years in prison, suspended after 14 and 1/2 years, for her role in the death and disappearance of Connecticut mother Jennifer Farber Dulos.

Troconis faced up to 45 years in prison and up to $45,000 in fines. Troconis was 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.

Jennifer Farber Dulos children, mom deliver victim impact statements at Michelle Troconis sentencing

What Michelle Troconis decides to do today, tomorrow and the next day is up to her, Judge Kevin Randolph said. 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.

In a written statement, Farber Dulos family wrote that while the sentence provides some relief, the pain of her loss remains.

Before sentencing, Randolph vacated one of her charges of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence, which could have lead to an additional five years in prison.

She was sentenced to 20 years, execution suspended after 14.5 years, for the conspiracy to commit murder charge. The sentence will be followed by five years of probation. The maximum prison time for the charge was up to 20 years.

She was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended after four years, for her other four charges. Those sentences will run concurrently.

Her attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, vowed outside of court that he planned to appeal the sentence, challenging the decision to not move the trial out of Stamford, allowing what he called junk science into the trial and other irregularities.

He said that she had questioned if shed get a fair trial, and that hed urged her to trust the judicial system.

I can no longer say that she didnt have a good reason to think that this was not a fair process, he said.

Both he and her family asserted outside of court that she is innocent.

Troconis, 49, was Fotis Dulos live-in girlfriend when he allegedly killed his wife in May 2019. He was charged with murder in January 2020 and died by suicide a few weeks later. Farber Dulos body has never been found.

Your honor, I am deeply saddened by this tragedy that has affected so many lives, Troconis told the court prior to sentencing. 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 and bringing my daughter, my family and myself into our lives, into his life.

Jennifer Farber Dulos: The Untold Story | News 8 Special Presentation

Troconis was accused of conspiring with Dulos to kill Farber Dulos and for being with Dulos when he disposed of evidence, including a bloody bra and shirt, in trash bins around Hartford. She also took a planned phone call from a friend in Greece as part of an attempt to create an alibi, and helped bring a vehicle involved in the killing to a car wash.

Prior to the sentence, the five Dulos children provided emotional statements asking for the full 45 years.

The defendants 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, her oldest son, 18-year-old Petros, said. 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.

Her daughter, Noelle, said that Troconis comforted her when she was afraid to climb down a bunk bed during a ski trip. Now, Noelle said, shes afraid to trust others and fears that shell lose more people in her life.

Because of that day, I constantly feel like something worse is bound to happen to the people I love, and it could be my last moments with them at any minute, she said.

Whats next in the Jennifer Farber Dulos case?

Schoenhorn said there were 64 letters submitted to the court on Troconis behalf and that 44 people were there in court to support her. Troconis was visibly emotional as her family provided impact statements.

I am begging you to listen, I need my mom in my life, not just as a parent, but as a source of strength and understanding her daughter said.

Remarks from family and friends highlighted how she worked with people who have disabilities, how she cooked at a soup kitchen and once organized a human chain to save her sister before she was swept over a waterfall. Schoenhorn said she cooperated with police and went with them to search the woods, showing where shed go with Dulos and drew maps to help with the investigation.

The court cannot sentence Michelle for what Fotis Dulos or others did, Schoenhorn said.

Schoenhorn fought back against the notion that Troconis worked to break up the marriage and replace Farber Dulos. He said that Troconis moved to Connecticut because Dulos claimed his divorce was amicable.

Her sister, Daniela Troconis, said Dulos portrayed himself as a good man and worthy of my sister.

We all feel lied to, she said. We all feel betrayed.

Troconis pastor, Rev. Christopher Solimene with Avon Congregational Church, said he trusts Troconis with his life.

I can honestly say before God and the world, Michelle Troconis is a woman of not only substantive character, but with an ethic and kindheartedness that is almost singular, he said.

Michelle Manning, the supervisory assistant states attorney for the Stamford/Norwalk judicial district, told the court that Troconis wanted to replace Farber Dulos. Manning said that Troconis joined the neighborhood homeowners association and was with the children during Dulos visitation  even though she was not allowed to be.

The defendant thought she could build her life on Jennifers death, Manning said.

Another trial in the case remains. Dulos former lawyer, Kent Mawhinney has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. A date for his trial has not been set.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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How Michigan became ground zero for H5 avian influenza in the US

Michigan has become ground zero for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus that's sweeping the nation, killing turkeys, chickens and wild birds, infecting cows and other mammals  and now has sickened a third U.S. farmworker.

The Great Lakes state has more dairy cattle herds known to be infected with avian influenza than any other state in the U.S., with 24 outbreaks in 10 counties as of Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It now also has two farmworkers with confirmed bird flu infections  transmitted to them by close contact with sick cows.

Texas is the only other state where a person is known to have contracted the H5N1 virus from a cow, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That state has reported 15 cattle herd infections since March. Seven other states  Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and North Carolina  also have cow herds with known infections, the USDA reported.

Cows graze in a field at a dairy farm on April 26, 2024, in Petaluma, Calif.

The reason Michigan's tally of livestock outbreaks and farmworkers with avian influenza is higher than other states is not because Michigan is especially ripe for viral activity or because there's something different about the state's cows or workers, said Dr. Arnold Monto, emeritus professor of epidemiology and global public health at the University of Michigan and co-director of the Michigan Center for Respiratory Virus Research and Response.

"The main reason we're detecting more infection is because we're doing very good surveillance," Monto said. "Other states need to do the same. ... It's being missed."

The CDC reported May 22 that 40 people had been tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza nationally. The same day, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical officer, told the Free Press that 35 Michigan farmworkers had undergone testing.

That means only five people who had been tested as of May 22 were from states other than Michigan. It also means the reach of the virus "is certainly more widespread" nationally than anyone currently knows, Monto said.

"The conclusions are pretty obvious when you hear things like that," said Monto. "If you don't look, you're not going to find it. What we need is to get serious about it in terms of how we handle surveillance because if you don't know it's there and don't have regulations in place ... it's going to spread even more."

The CDC updated its testing and monitoring data Friday, saying 44 people have now been tested nationally for the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, and more than 390 people have been monitored as a result of their exposure to infected or potentially infected animals.

The agency said it also is stepping up national surveillance/testing by:

Asking local labs to send more samples for subtyping to the CDC and state public health labs to test for the H5N1 virus.

Extending reporting of flu-related hospitalizations through the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network. The CDC typically stops reporting influenza hospitalizations from May-September because its ordinarily such a seasonal virus. So far, the CDC said its surveillance systems show no indication of unusual flu activity in people.

Increasing outreach through state and local health departments to health care providers and clinics about H5N1 symptoms so avian influenza is considered when patients with conjunctivitis or respiratory illness and a history of exposure to animals seek medical care.

How the virus came to Michigan cow herds

The outbreak of H5N1 virus in dairy cattle  with spillover to humans  began in Texas just a few months ago. It came to Michigan in late March, when infected cows crossed state lines, said Tim Boring, the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"We know that a farm in Montcalm County initially (had an outbreak) as a result of cattle movement," Boring said, "and we've seen an expansion of our cases out of that general area since then."

Calling the H5N1 outbreak among poultry and cattle in Michigan an "extraordinary emergency," Boring issued an order May 1 that required all dairy and commercial poultry farms in Michigan to adopt biosecurity practices to slow the spread of the virus.

Among the requirements: Farms must secure animal areas, establish a perimeter and limit access. They must name a biosecurity manager and train employees, establish cleaning and disinfection practices for all with contact within the perimeter, including delivery drivers. They must keep log books tracking all who enter and leave.

More: Avian flu has spread to cows, milk  and experts worry human outbreak could be next

The order also prohibited all lactating dairy cattle, and those in the last two months of pregnancy, from being exhibited at fairs and festivals until there are no new cases of the virus statewide in dairy cattle for at least 60 consecutive days. Similarly, poultry also cannot be taken to exhibitions, fairs or festivals until no new cases of the virus have been detected in domestic poultry for at least 30 consecutive days.

The state agriculture department also teamed up closely with state and local health departments to ensure people would be protected, Boring said.

"In Michigan, we're testing in animals and we're testing in people and we've seen really strong coordination between animal and human health components within the state level, the federal level and on the local level," he told the Free Press on Friday. "Part of the reason that we've seen good responses on testing is because of the involvement of local health departments. Those are trusted community partners. They are neighbors, not folks coming in from out of town. We're taking this really seriously. It's a proactive approach. This is both an animal and a public health concern, and we're managing it as such."

Tim Boring, the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Still, Boring said, there are many unanswered questions about this virus, including how it spreads.

"We likely have a multifactorial transmission matrix going on of how the virus spreads from dairy farm to dairy farm. ... We're getting a better handle on it every day, and we're continuing to lead across the country of what the response looks like."

Human cases so far have been mild

All three people known to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S. this year have had mild symptoms.

The Texas farmworker and the first person in Michigan to get ill from exposure to infected cattle reported only conjunctivitis, or pink eye. In the second Michigan case, which was announced Thursday, a farmworker had upper respiratory tract symptoms, including cough without fever, and eye discomfort with watery discharge, the CDC reported.

There is concern among scientists that the impact on people could change, as more animals get infected.

The more the virus spreads in animals, the greater the likelihood of human exposures and transmission, Monto said, which also increases the odds that the virus could mutate in a way that would allow H5N1 to spread from person to person or to cause more severe disease.

"That's why we really need to control it  not because we're sure that is going to happen, but because if that does happen, there's a chance it's going to be pretty bad," Monto said.

The CDC is conducting genetic sequencing on the most recent human case in Michigan to determine what, if any changes, there might be.

All three known human cases so far involved the 2.3.4.4b lineage of the virus that is nearly identical to the H5N1 viruses circulating in U.S. dairy cows, the CDC reported.

In samples taken from the infected eye of the first Michigan farmworker, whose case was announced May 22, the CDC identified a mutation that allows mammals to be infected more easily. However, it did not contain changes that would likely make it easier for the virus to spread from human to human.

And that's key, Monto said.

"We're lucky that there are receptor-binding issues that are preventing it from getting into humans easily," Monto said, "because if it were easy to transmit, with all of the workers that are on these farms handling the equipment, which is heavily contaminated, we would see more cases."

The virus affects animals, people differently

The impact of the virus on animals so far has been extremely variable, said Timothy Cernak, an assistant professor of chemistry and medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan.

"The virus behaves different in each species," said Cernak, whose work centers on developing new antiviral drugs that could be added to the arsenal of current antivirals to help stop a potential avian flu outbreak. "There are species that it gets into and they just don't seem to notice," while others get very sick and others see mass die-offs.

Tim Cernak, an assistant professor of chemistry and medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan, studies avian influenza viruses and new potential antiviral drugs that could treat them.

The current H5N1 strain in the U.S. is extremely deadly in birds and cats, sea lions, raccoons and skunks.

Dairy cows get sick from the virus, but don't typically die. A report from Michigan State University suggests cows on one Michigan farm with an H5N1 outbreak had high fevers and dehydration. There was a drop in rumination as well, which turns the grass they eat into energy and milk. Milk production dropped dramatically, and some pregnant cows miscarried.

Last week, the USDA reported that alpacas in Idaho also have contracted the virus. And mice became sick within a day of drinking raw milk from an infected cow. The New England Journal of Medicine published a letter from researchers at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory that showed the mice had high levels of virus in their organs. Levels also were high in the mammary glands of two mice  even though the mice were not lactating.

"In elephant seals it killed 96% of the pups from last year," Cernak said, adding that the virus also devastated the bald eagle population and affected horned owls. "It's entirely possible in wild populations, there are significant risks of extinction-level events happening."

Technicians analyze the remains of dead sea lions washed ashore in March 2023 in the Paracas National Reserve in Peru, where thousands of sea lions have died amid an outbreak of bird flu, also known as H5N1.

More: Michigan farmworker is second US case of H5N1bird flu likely transmitted from cow to human

For humans, he said a different subtype of H5N1 avian influenza that spread in Cambodia from 2003-23 caused severe illness and deaths.

"In Cambodia, the fatality rate in humans was really high, and that's the concerning thing," Cernak said. Of 64 people who contracted the other subtype of the virus, 41 died, according to the World Health Organization.

Could respiratory symptoms signal easier human-to-human spread?

For now, as the bird flu circulating in the U.S. has remained mild in the few human cases, Cernak said he is concerned about the potential for respiratory transmission to give this virus a boost.

"The biggest risk that we have is that it mutates toward respiratory transmission," he told the Free Press last week  before the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that the state does now, in fact, have a farmworker with H5 infection and respiratory symptoms.

It's unclear, however, whether having those symptoms will make it easier to spread the virus from person to person.

Joe Coyle, deputy state epidemiologist and director of the MDHHS Bureau of Infectious Disease, said it's the first time respiratory symptoms have been associated with a human H5N1 influenza case following contact with sick cows.

"Generally speaking, with something like influenza and respiratory viruses, when you have respiratory symptoms, you're more likely to spread the virus than if it was just conjunctivitis like the previous case we had in Michigan and the one in Texas," Coyle said.

"It is a new presentation, and it's something that we'll definitely be looking at ... to see if this represents a different mutation of the virus that's causing these types of symptoms, or is it really the same virus but just a different route of transmission with respect to the human exposure."

The CDC reported that the farmworker with respiratory symptoms was treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir, better known as Tamiflu, and is isolating at home. None of the person's contacts have developed symptoms and all are being monitored and offered antiviral medication.

More outreach to farms needed

Dr. Adam Lauring, an associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at U-M, said there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the current U.S. H5N1 avian influenza outbreak.

"Often in the health field, we are maybe appropriately focused on the humans, but the wider the outbreak is in animals, the more risk there is of humans being infected because there are more potential contacts," he said.

"I think everyone's trying to understand different ways that it could be spreading among dairy cattle within a herd and also between herds or between farms, and I think that's an important thing that we need to really get a better understanding of.

"In terms of how far it has spread in humans, that is dependent on really being able to do good surveillance, which is challenging in this situation in that it depends on people coming to attention, reporting their symptoms, getting tested."

Many farmworkers are undocumented migrant workers for whom English might not be a first language and who might be concerned about being deported if they say they are sick or seek medical care.

"A lot of these populations are hard to reach," Lauring said. "I know MDHHS has been doing outreach to try to do as best they can with surveillance for symptoms in people to try to catch anyone who could be infected, and also then to offer testing. That's how, for example, this (first) case in Michigan was identified was through this program."

Michigan, he said, appears to have done a better job than many other states. It has created a daily text-message surveillance system, available in English and in Spanish, that asks workers to detail whether they have symptoms. Anyone who answers yes is then offered testing by local public health workers.

Testing is encouraged, but not required, and the federal government now is reimbursing farms for the some of the losses they have incurred from H5N1 outbreaks and testing.

"This is an ongoing, evolving situation and it's important to pay attention to that," Lauring said. "Fortunately, the risk to the general population is low, but we need to pay attention and reach out to farms and people working with the farms and work together to control the outbreak."

'We're flying blind'

Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and consultant for several health organizations including the CDC, wrote on a post on her substack, "Your Local Epidemiologist," that the H5N1 situation in the U.S. is far from controlled.

"We are flying blind," she said. "We dont know how this virus is spreading, where it is spreading, and if its becoming better at infecting humans."

Lack of trust in public health in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, farmworkers' fears of deportation and language barriers, along with farmers' concerns about the financial impact the H5N1 outbreaks all are affecting surveillance efforts.

"It shouldnt be shocking that few are volunteering to test for H5N1," she wrote.

Animal testing for avian influenza viruses in Michigan is done through MSU's Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. Positive results are sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for confirmatory testing, Boring said.

If an animal's test result is positive, "we work closely with local and state health officials to make sure that local health is on farms, working with farmworkers, apprising them of everything they need to know about what this virus means and maintaining and tracking some human safety aspects there," he said.

That includes ensuring personal protective gear  such as face shields or goggles, respirator masks, rubber coveralls and boots  are available to workers on farms with infected animals. Although wearing PPE is recommended, it isn't mandatory.

"We're doing everything we can to assist those human health partners to be getting equipment out to not only just farms, but within those CDC guidelines around processing plants as well.

"We've had a few farms take us up on that, but the base PPE that makes so much of a difference in these cases  eye protection, gloves  that is equipment a lot of farms have on hand already."

Neither of the Michigan farmworkers who were infected by cows wore fully protective equipment, said Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive, in a statement issued Thursday. One was splashed in the eye with milk from an infected cow and the other had "direct exposure to an infected cow."

"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," she said.

For protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recommends that anyone who is within 6 feet of an infected cow should wear:

Safety goggles or a face shield

Disposable gloves

Boots or boot covers

A respirator, such as an N95 mask

Fluid-resistant coveralls

Head covering

Many questions about avian influenza remain unanswered

There remain many questions with wide implications, Monto said, when it comes to how this virus is behaving.

Among them, he said: For how long is a cow infectious? Will infections be sustained on farms or will they be able to be rid of the virus over time? Why are lactating cows so susceptible and why are virus particles so concentrated in their milk?

"What is going on in the mixed dairy-beef cattle farms? A cow is a cow," said Monto.

He noted that in one out of 109 samples of beef tested in late May by the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service, H5N1 viral particles were detected in muscle tissue. In ground beef that was inoculated with high levels of virus, cooking it to at least 145 degrees (medium) or 160 degrees (well done) killed the H5N1 virus.

"Even cooking burgers to 120 (rare) degrees, which is well below the recommended temperature, substantially inactivated the virus," the USDA reported.

And though similar testing of commercial milk found H5N1 viral fragments, those particles were inactivated by pasteurization and were unable to cause infection. Raw milk from infected cows, however, has been shown to be a risk for infection.

"We do know that raw milk is full of the virus," Monto said. "We know that we shouldn't be drinking unpasteurized milk and some people are (obsessed with) drinking unpasteurized milk."

Monto said scientists still don't know whether the milk of other animals  or humans  is infectious when they contract avian influenza.

"This virus is now spreading wherever they shipped dairy cows. It's come all the way from Texas to Michigan. And it's come to a variety of other states," Monto said.

"We need to control the infection in cattle, and that will lower the probability of humans becoming infected."

Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan has most cow herds, people infected with bird flu in US
The Triangles post-pandemic construction boom is paying off.

As new, amenity-rich Class A buildings hit the market, its putting pressure on Class B and C buildings to price competitively, experts say.

In some submarkets, rents are getting slashed by almost double digits, data shows.

In Raleigh, the median rent for one-bedroom apartments (the mid-point where half cost less and half cost more) stood at $1,290 in May, according to Zumpers latest rent report. Thats down 9.8% from a year ago.

The median rent for two-bedroom apartments held steady at $1,560 in May and was down 2.5% from 2023.

Of 100 cities nationwide, Raleigh was the 57th most expensive for renters.

In Durham, the median rent for one-bedroom apartments was $1,420 in May. Thats down 9.6% from last year, Zumper found.

Two-bedroom units stood at $1,670  a 7.2% drop. Durham ranked as the 43rd most expensive city.

(All six North Carolina cities in the rankings saw one-bedroom rents down annually. Winston-Salem had the largest decline of 11.9%.)

The national rent index saw both one and two-bedrooms increase 1.2% in April to medians of $1,504 and $1,865, respectively.

Post-pandemic construction boom

A post-pandemic construction boom saw some 10,922 apartments hit the Raleigh-Cary market in 2023.

Zumper estimates supply will jump over 50% across Durham and Raleigh this year.

There are 19 developments under construction in downtown Raleigh alone, according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliances first-quarter market report.

When completed, they will deliver 2,230 residential units, 410 hotel rooms, and 116,616 square feet of retail space.

Current move-in deals include one month free at The Signal at Seaborn Station in Raleigh and at The Ramsey on Pettigrew Street in Durham.

Construction continues on eight apartment buildings and four for-sale residential projects.

Downtowns stabilized apartment occupancy rate is 94.1%. The average effective rent in downtown Raleigh  thats the average rent over the length of the lease after factoring in any concessions or enticements  is 32.18 per square foot, or $1,808 per unit, the report said.

On the Market

Keep up with the latest Triangle real estate news by subscribing to On the Market, The News & Observer's free weekly real estate newsletter. Look for it in your inbox every Thursday morning. Sign up here.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp.) at the Mackinac Policy Conference, May 30, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Michigans two Democratic U.S. senators and two Republican U.S. representatives joined together at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island this week to discuss the current political climate and what it takes to get things accomplished in Washington.

Both the U.S. House and Senate are closely divided, with Republicans controlling the former and Democrats leading the latter.

But its hard to focus on working towards progress when news and other media platforms make political attacks the main story of the day, lawmakers said.

Stop covering it, U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp.) said Thursday in regard to news outlets. When the cameras are gone, when the microphones are out of your face, its a totally different environment.

The moderator, Nolan Finley, the Detroit News editorial page editor, opened up the conversation with McClain, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) and U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) by asking, When did Congress become a junior high school cafeteria?

Finely then referenced the recent exchange of mean girl taunts between Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Democratic U.S. Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Greene said in a House Oversight Committee meeting that she thought that Crocketts fake eyelashes are messing up her ability to understand what she was reading. Crockett responded by asking the chair if it would be appropriate for anyone on the committee to reference somebodys bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body.

Peters said bad behavior gets rewarded with attention and overshadows the reality that bipartisan work happens. Its up to news outlets, lawmakers and constituents to be firm and not allow conflict to be rewarded.

This is performative politics,  I guarantee you that each of those individuals raised a ton of money when they went out there and said, Look at this  were out here attacking each other and people are giving their $20, $25. And so what you get is you get more bad behavior, Peters said. Even if the media doesnt cover it, although they do  its still on social media.

Stabenow, who is retiring this year, said what was said in that committee was embarrassing, adding that the four panelists on stage may be from different political makeups, but want to get things done in Washington.

And as Americans its in our DNA to come together when bad things happen or were faced with challenges, Stabenow said, recalling in her first term as U.S. senator when the 9/11 attacks happened. Then-U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland said she should start singing and members of congress sang God Bless America on the U.S. Capitol steps after the attack.

I will never forget that day. I would love to see that coming together regardless of outcome or election of people coming together and standing on the steps and being able to sing, God Bless America, Stabenow said.

Whats happening in the world and holding power accountable cant be avoided, Stabenow said, pointing at the Jan. 6, 2020, attack on the Capitol from supporters of former President Donald Trump who didnt accept the result of the election.

McClain and Walberg both voted not to certify election results in January 2021 in some states.

While Democrats placed the blame on Trump for the current partisan divide marked by insult-hurling, Walberg called for lawmakers to control what they can and take responsibility for their own actions. Even so, leadership matters, Walberg said. And so if the Democratic President Joe Biden administration wants to see more bipartisanship, he has to come to the table with Republicans and understand they represent a large portion of the country.

I think the main premise of what were talking about today is what we can control. As a member of the House I want to be the one that helps control our body so that overwhelmingly we do work together, Walberg said. I think thats possible and Im glad to have senators from Michigan from the opposite party that we can sit on the plane together, we can communicate together and ride motorcycles together.

Walberg and Peters are in the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus together, a fact that was frequently brought up during the discussion.

McClain, who entered Congress in 2021, talked about her perception of politics and bipartisanship upon arrival in turbulent times.

I thought I was to hate.  I thought I was not supposed to engage and have conversations with the other side because I was supposed to be pure. In divided government, Im just going to tell you, it doesnt work, McClain said. My biggest surprise was how functioning Congress was.  If you remove the media, we all want whats best for the next generation. We all want us to leave the next generation, our children, in a better spot than they are now.  We all can agree that we want to put Michigan at the top of the list.

Although lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle often have different ideas of how to leave a better world for the next generation, there are areas of consensus in Michigan of how to make Michigan a better state, such as investing in mental health, Stabenow and McClain said. They both expressed gratitude for each others work on that issue.

Even with the desire for collaboration in governance, Stabenow said it cant be ignored that some politicians just want chaos and thats when common ground is hard to attain.

There are people who honestly are coming to Congress opposed to government and their agenda is to shut it down. Their agenda is to create chaos. Thats when it gets tough, Stabenow said.

The panel of lawmakers was asked if they trust each other, Stabenow and Peters said yes.

McClain said, Heck no, which was greeted with some laughs from the audience. She then said that everyone on the panel is predictable and trust comes through relationships and time. So far, McClain said she can trust that Stabenow and Peters seem to care about the welfare of some common areas that she values.

Walberg recalled lessons he learned from his time serving alongside the late U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn), the longest-serving member in congressional history.

He had a policy to never campaign against a colleague in Michigan and I asked him why. He said because we have to work together and what he was saying is we have to trust each other. We dont agree with each other, but weve got to trust that were going to deal openly and fairly and were not going to intentionally hurt, even at the campaign process, Walberg said.

That didnt mean that he didnt endorse my opponent, for instance, but he wasnt in there with his sleeves rolled up like a John Dingell could do. That taught me a lot and I think our conference to the greatest extent, is still that way, our delegation, and that promotes trust.

The post Michigan members of Congress point the finger at the media for elevating conflict in government appeared first on Michigan Advance.
UPPER PENINSULA, Mich. (WJMN)  Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court are coming open, and candidates are making their way across the state to gain support for the November election.

Justice Kyra Harris Bolden was appointed to her position by Governor Whitmer to fill the remainder of the term left by Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. Justice Bolden has been in the position for roughly a year and a half. She says she is seeking retention with a 4-year partial term and her work on the Supreme Court is not done.

Since being on the court, Ive authored three majority opinions, one unanimous and Ive finally hitting my stride after coming in in the middle of the term after being appointed. And theres so much more work to do. I want to continue to make good decisions for Michiganders. Like I said, using my litigation experience and my law-making experience to make sure that we are interpreting the laws in the best way possible and making really good decisions for Michiganders, said Justice Bolden.

Along with issuing opinions and making decisions for the state, Justice Bolden shared some her other roles and responsibilities.

We actually control the court rules. So, how judges and attorneys conduct themselves in the court and how trials go and things like that. I also sit on the drug treatment court task force. Im the Michigan Supreme Court liaison. And so, part of my responsibilities is to visit different treatment courts and making sure that they have everything that they need as an alternative to incarceration. And I also sit on the child welfare task force, and Im charged with pulling together people to try to make sure that theres better outcomes for children that may find themselves in the foster care system and things like that, added Justice Bolden.

Her campaign platform is, Justice for Generations. She says its a signal to let people know how consequential the Michigan Supreme Court is.

Our decisions will have generational impacts. And, you know, theres so many times that, you know, cases are cited to sometimes from the 1800s and or the early 1900s. Its not like, you know, in a vacuum for this particular time period, our opinions create a precedence that can be cited for who knows when, you know, the generations to come. Justice Bolden continued, We have to be really thoughtful about our decisions and not only how they impact us, but future generations as well. I believe in justice for today, in justice for generations.

The Michigan Supreme Court is currently at a 4-3 split with a one-justice Democratic majority. One of the open seats is that currently held by Justice Bolden. The other is the seat currently held by Justice David Viviano who announced he would not seek reelection.

Kimberly Ann Thomas is running for an 8-year term. Both Thomas and Bolden are looking for an endorsement at the Democratic Convention. Justice Bolden and Thomas have both endorsed each other for their respective seats. Mark Boonstra and Andrew Fink are looking for a nod from the GOP. Because these candidates are selected during their parties conventions, they will not appear on the ballot during the August primary. They will be on the nonpartisan part of the ballot 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 WJMN - UPMatters.com.
Eight days after voting to remove its top administrator at a meeting that was subsequently deemed illegal, Batesburg-Leesvilles Town Council again voted to dismiss the man who has managed the town since 2014, despite the mayor praising his performance.

There was also an item on the Friday night agenda addressing the employment of the town attorney, and the body likely would have voted to dismiss him, too, had he not resigned earlier in the week. It was the attorney who judged that the previous meeting was held illegally. He resigned from the post earlier in the week, upset that council decided to hold the second special-called meeting on the day he buried his recently deceased father.

Town manager Ted Luckadoo and attorney Christian Spradley were formally let go Friday at a meeting called for by council members Steve Cain, David Bouknight, Bob Hall, Shirley Mitchell and Betty Hartley.

The moves were befuddling to Lancer Shull, mayor of the town of about 5,300 that straddles the western border of Lexington County, who praised the strides Luckadoo made while leading the town over the past decade.

Just this week, we got a $1 million grant from the rural infrastructure authority, which is a direct result of the relationship and work of Mr. Luckadoo and his staff, Shull said, praising Luckadoo for the work he did for the town. We have a water project fully funded with the RIA for $14 million, I believe. We have millions of dollars for sewer treatment, water treatment plant that Mr. Luckadoo has brought in, with him and his staff and the relationships that he has.

Luckadoo didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Shull was similarly positive about the job Spradley did as town attorney.

Hes considered one of the best municipal attorneys in the state of South Carolina by the Municipal Association, the mayor said.

The move to terminate the town manager came by a vote of 5-2, with Shull and Councilman Jason Prouse voting against the motion. Council Members Barbara Brown and Paul Wise were absent.

The decision leaves the town in a lurch, coming just three days before council is set to sit down for a budget workshop to prepare the towns financial plan for the next fiscal year, due July 1. Assistant Town Manager Jason Hendrix, elevated to the top manager position in an interim capacity with a 20% pay bump while the town seeks a permanent replacement, will now lead the budget process.

Its challenging from the town standpoint, because we have a budget due at the end of June like all other municipalities according to state law, the mayor said. We do have an assistant town manager, and either well turn one in on time or well revert to the prior years budget.

Despite the challenges with the timing and the esteem with which Luckadoo was held by some, Bouknight and Hall said the town manager had to go.

I dont think the towns headed in the right direction, Bouknight said. I checked with my constituents. I asked the people that I know in my district. And the consensus there was the same.

I feel that for the betterment of the community and future we need a more aggressive town manager who is looking at long-range plans and acts more aggressively on the needs of the council and our community, Hall said. There are a lot of details. Actually, it is a personnel matter and Im not at liberty to comment on specific policy.

Bouknights son, Dave Bouknight, a major and second in command at the towns police department, was passed over for chief two years ago when Luckadoo brought in Darren Amick to fill that role. The councilman said that had nothing to do with his judgment that a change at town manager was needed.

Absolutely not, he said. I think the best thing for my son is working for Darren. Hes a good man. I think its been good for him. I think my son would tell you the same thing. It had absolutely nothing to do with that. Nothing.

Spradley, the now-former town attorney and a managing partner at West Columbia firm Moore Bradley Myers, is Halls nephew by marriage as well as his godson.

Both Hall and Bouknight levied blame on Spradley for the meeting the meeting last Thursday being deemed illegal. Five members were in attendance, and Bouknight, who chaired the meeting in Shulls absence, chose to abstain. That left the body without a sufficient quorum, and the agenda item about Luckadoos dismissal was deemed not to be specific enough to clear public disclosure requirements.

I was upset that it was declared illegal by somebody, Bouknight said. My opinion is a court needs to decide that its illegal and not the attorney. They have opinions, just like I have opinions.

It was deemed illegal without anybody going to court to prove that it was illegal, he added. I have been accused of doing something illegal, and I dont like that. All I did was show up to a meeting.

Hall seemed more concerned about council having possibly entered illegal territory in the first place.

We had some procedural issues that, in my personal opinion, could have been avoided, he said.

Shull said he was surprised by the request for last weeks meeting, and he urged the members calling it to postpone, explaining he had a conflict: His son graduated high school the day after the meeting, and he had family in town for the occasion. The mayor said he was first approached about the meeting the Monday before.

I said, I have a conflict. I would respectfully request that you move this to the next week, Shull said.

Spradley resigned as town attorney Wednesday when he learned the meeting would be held on the day of the funeral for his father, who died Monday.

The five council members choice to have the meeting tonight knowing the personal events I was dealing with led me to decide that my family was more important, he said via email. I have been honored to represent the town for a number of years and I think at this point I need to spend time with my family. I would hope that there is something pressing issue that could not wait until next week but then I always try to think the best about others and their motivations.

Hall emphasized there was no ill will intended by the decision to move forward with the agenda item addressing his nephews employment on Friday.

I have trouble comprehending that situation, he said. This meeting was scheduled. Has been sought, scheduled, and Ill have to look at the timing of his fathers demise.

We dont see eye to eye at times, but whatever, Hall added. There was no offense intended, per se.
Nurse midwives Caitlin Hainley, left, and Emily Zambrano-Andrews of Des Moines Midwife Collective are suing the state to challenge what they say is an unconstitutional permitting process for building a stand-alone birthing center in Des Moines.

A pair of central Iowa midwives fighting for the right to build a stand-alone birthing center can continue their lawsuit against the state, a federal court ruled Wednesday.

Caitlin Hainley and Emily Zambrano-Andrews, who together make up the Des Moines Midwife Collective, are challenging a state law requiring any new medical facility obtain a "certificate of need" from regulators. That involves, among other expensive and time-consuming steps, giving any potential competitor notice of the proposal and the opportunity to argue why the new facility is not truly needed.

Hainley and Zambrano-Andrews, who currently provide home birth services throughout the Des Moines metro, want to open a birth center with tubs and other equipment so patients can give birth in a home-like setting. Their attorneys say that midwife service, whether at home or a birth center, is fundamentally different than that provided by hospital maternity wards. Their lawsuit, filed in February 2023, argues it is unconstitutional for the state to grant what amounts to a "competitor's veto" to established businesses.

The state filed to dismiss the lawsuit. Wednesday's ruling, by Chief District Judge Stephanie Rose, largely denies that motion. But Rose did rule the certificate of need law does not infringe on any "fundamental right" under the U.S. Constitution, meaning it will be easier for the state to prove its law is constitutional.

From 2023: MercyOne Des Moines to shut down its midwives program. What that means for pregnant moms:

The Iowa Attorney General's Office did not respond to a message seeking comment. Wilson Freeman, an attorney with the libertarian-leaning Pacific Legal Foundation who is representing the midwives, said in an email they believe they will prevail even if the court does not agree the law infringes on their fundamental rights.

Strict scrutiny or rational basis?

Any law that burdens what courts consider to be a fundamental right  such as freedom of speech, the right to marry and have children, and more  must survive what is known as strict scrutiny, meaning it must be found to be "narrowly tailored" to serve a "compelling" government interest.

If a law does not implicate a fundamental right, courts instead apply what is known as rational basis review, meaning the law must only be "rationally related" to a "legitimate" government interest.

In this case, the midwives argued the certificate of need law violated multiple fundamental rights, including the right of mothers to choose their place and manner of giving birth and the right of the plaintiffs to earn their living. But the judge rejected those claims, finding other courts have declined to make birth setting a fundamental right and noting the U.S. Supreme Court's "unmistakable resistance" to recognizing additional rights as fundamental.

Case can continue, judge rules

Attorneys for the state had asked for the case to be dismissed entirely, but Rose refused, finding the plaintiffs have "plausibly" argued the certificate of need law might fail even under rational basis review.

Among other arguments, Rose noted that the midwives raise the question of why they are allowed to provide home births without a certificate of need, but do need a certificate to provide the same service in a centralized location. Such a distinction does not improve the cost, availability or quality of maternal care, the women argue. Rose wrote the women have asserted a "plausible claim for relief" that the law lacks a rational basis, and agreed the lawsuit should continue.

Previously: Iowa finally passed a law to license midwives. Will it help sway medical field doubters?

Freeman, representing the midwives, told the Register they're prepared to fight that fight.

"There is no rational reason for the state to require a certificate of need for midwives who want to help women give birth in a dedicated facility, while allowing midwives to attend births literally anywhere else without such a certificate, Freeman said. "While we continue to believe a fundamental right is implicated by the regulation, the law is unconstitutional under either standard."

And although rational basis review is favorable to the state, similar laws have failed that test before, Freeman said. A Kentucky law requiring a certificate of need for moving companies was struck down under rational basis in 2014.

The case currently is scheduled for a bench trial before Rose in January 2025.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dismissal denied in Iowa midwives' suit over birthing center
How the military from Utah and beyond connects to the Great Salt Lake

Dust blows across the dry lakebed of the Great Salt Lake near Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Great Salt Lake Collaborative

This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake  and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org.

The declining health of the Great Salt Lake is not only a calling card for advocates, scientists and Utah lawmakers  it is on the radar of Utahs military installations. These include Hill Air Force Base, Camp Williams, Dugway Proving Ground and the Tooele Army Depot, as well as the Utah Test and Training Range, the largest block of contiguous special-use airspace in the continental United States.

Why does it matter?

For the Utah military installations, keeping the lake thriving is a paramount goal, especially as it relates to wind-whipped dust for 800 square miles of exposed lake bed at the Great Salt Lake due to relentless drought and upstream diversions.

I do believe that it is a concern for all of us. Its not only the damage it poses to equipment, but especially to the personnel who are out there working everyday and working on the equipment. And so yeah, thats a very big concern for us because we have an aviation facility in West Jordan and those winds could easily reach into West Jordan and some of that dust and those dust storms could go down into that area, said Paul Raymond, with the Utah Army National Guard.

An M109 Paladin conducting live fire artillery training at Camp Williams. | Public Affairs Office, Utah National Guard

Raymond is the program manager for the state-sanctioned West Traverse Sentinel Landscape to facilitate important projects such as watershed restoration, wildfire mitigation and encroachment of a rapidly growing population in both Salt Lake and Utah counties  in the heart of Camp Williams country.

The state designation in 2023 added a layer of protection and gave the military options for working with communities and landowners to shore up an adequate buffer to continue its vital missions.

But earlier this year, the protection escalated to an entirely different level with the federal designation of the Great Salt Lake Basin Sentinel Landscape.

The designation ropes in over 2.7 million acres in northern Utah and contains the Western Hemispheres largest saline lake  the Great Salt Lake  and four military installations with unique missions and capabilities:. Hill Air Force Base, Camp Williams, Tooele Army Depot and the Air Force Little Mountain Test Facility.

A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, refuels an F-35 Lightning II assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, during EXPLODEO, Feb. 27, 2024, over the Rocky Mountains in the Western United States. EXPLODEO was a McConnell exercise that tested the 22nd and 931st Air Refueling Wings ability to rapidly deploy and employ into a theater. | Airman 1st Class Gavin Hameed, National Guard

What does a Sentinel Landscape designation mean?

Tyler Smith, a retired Army brigadier general who now works for the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs as the installation resiliency program manager, said there was a recognition early on to combat climate change, the effects of drought, wildfire mitigation and engage community involvement. He is the coordinator of the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape.

Smith said as the lake shrinks it creates compounding problems for the military, pushing migratory birds east to them and causing potential airstrikes.

The new designation by the government envelops numerous federal partners, state agencies and nonprofits, as well the newly established Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner and the Utah Defense Alliance, whose mission is to advocate for Utahs military.

The Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape has come together to start working more effectively with the military mission being kind of central to the goals of the civil landscape, Smith said. And so Hill Air Force Base, you know, it cant thrive if there are all these kinds of environmental factors that are creating problems in the community and in the state.

It is funded with existing money from multiple agencies that include the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Owens Lake and dust

Located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in Californias Inyo County, Owens Lake became the nations largest source of PM 10, particulate pollution that penetrates the lungs and poses health risks. The pollution happened after diversions left the lake dry. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began siphoning the waters of the 110-square-mile lake in 1913. Within 13 short years, the California lake went dry.

The China Lake Naval Air Weapons Center had to shutter operations several times because of the dust, costing millions of dollars.

Phill Kiddoo  air pollution control officer with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, which is the regulatory authority over Owens Lake and Mono Lake to the north  told the Deseret News in previous reporting that the concern was so great the Navy was doing its own studies. The Department of Defense, in fact, was one of the players urging federal action to mitigate the problem because operations at China Lake were curtailed as many as 10 times a year.

U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), prepare to complete the proper landing procedures to prevent the risk of injuries during an Airborne jump on Feb. 25, 2023, near Camp Williams, Utah. Parachute landing fall known as PLF is a safety technique that allows a parachutist to land safely and to displace the energy of the body contacting the earth at high speeds. | SPC Christopher Hall, Utah National Guard

Raymond said, so far, dust has not been a major impediment to military operations at Camp Williams.

But the military is keenly aware of the potential.

The message: We dont want to be another Owens Lake.
Milwaukee police say this 70-year-old man is critically missing

Julian Ramirez

Milwaukee police are asking for help in finding a critically missing 70-year-old man.

Julian Ramirez was last seen Friday at about 6 p.m. in the 5100 block of North 41st Street, according to police.

Police describe him as Hispanic, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighs roughly 140 pounds. He has salt and pepper short hair and a salt and pepper beard. It is unknown what he was last wearing, but should have a silver bracelet on his right wrist.

If anyone has any information regarding his whereabouts, contact the Police District 7 at 414-935-7272.

"Critically missing" is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police say this 70-year-old man is critically missing
a katz / Shutterstock.com

One thing that just about every presidential candidate from both parties and all corners of the country have in common is a promise to lift the middle class.

After all, campaigning to help the rich get richer probably wouldnt get them very far.

Find Out: Im A Retirement Planner: 4 Moves You Should Make If You Think Trump Will Win the 2024 Election

Learn More: 9 Things You Must Do To Grow Your Wealth in 2024

Even so, the rich get richer with every presidential cycle while the middle class continues shrinking.

Like President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump vows to change all that if elected to another term  but what impact would a second Trump presidency have on the middle class?

Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

More Tax Cuts Could Help the Middle Class a Little, the Rich a Lot and Make Future Tax Increases Likely

John F. Pace, founder of Pace & Associates, has over 40 years of experience as a CPA, including roles as vice president at U.S. Trust, a family office executive for a Forbes 400 family and a senior manager for the 38th-largest CPA firm in America.

Looking back at Trumps first term, he believes a second stint in the White House would most immediately impact the middle class through his area of expertise.

A second Trump presidency could affect middle-class finances through potential tax policy changes, Pace said. During Trumps first term, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 offered limited benefits to middle-income earners and more extensive benefits to the wealthy and corporations. Similar future policies could result in minimal tax relief for the middle class and possibly larger budget deficits, raising concerns about future tax increases or cuts in essential services.

In assessing the impact of the TCJA, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Brookings Institute wrote, The 2017 tax law doesnt help the middle class. The benefits of the law tilt toward the well-off both now and in the future, according to the distributional analysis of the Tax Policy Center. By 2027, benefits of the tax law flow entirely to the rich.

Media Bias/Fact Check rates the Tax Policy Center as least biased in research.

Discover More: Im an Economist: Heres What a Trump Win in November Would Mean for the Tax Burden on the Poor

Repealing the ACA Wont Be Easy, but Trump Says Hell Try

Griff Harris, CIC, president of Griffith E. Harris Insurance Services, is an insurance expert with experience in risk management and economic forecasting. Hes keeping a close eye on how a second Trump term might impact the middle class ability to afford health insurance, which, thanks to federal credits and subsidies, ties into tax policy.

Story continues

Healthcare costs are another significant factor, he said. Trumps policies aimed at repealing the Affordable Care Act could lead to higher insurance premiums and reduced coverage options for middle-class families.

In January, the Washington Post reported that a record 21 million people signed up for ACA Marketplace-based health insurance  the third straight year of record Obamacare enrollment  just as Trump doubled down on his longstanding vow to eliminate the ACA.

This would disproportionately affect those who rely on subsidized healthcare plans, increasing out-of-pocket expenses and financial insecurity, Harris said.

Deregulation Could Lower Prices for Utilities and Goods but Eliminate Key Consumer Protections

Donald Trump has made it clear that he despises regulations nearly as much as he loathes the ACA, but deregulation can be a double-edged sword thats both good and bad for the middle class, which could enjoy lower prices while suffering from fewer protections.

Deregulation in industries such as energy and finance might lower costs for consumers, said Dennis Shirshikov, head of growth at real estate investment management platform Gosummer and a professor of finance and economics at the City University of New York. For example, reduced regulatory burdens on the energy sector could lead to lower utility costs, a direct financial benefit for the middle class. An example of this can be seen in states like Texas, where deregulation has historically led to lower electricity prices compared to states with more stringent regulations. However, its crucial to balance these potential short-term gains with long-term environmental and economic sustainability concerns.

A New Round of Trade Wars Could Raise Already High Prices

According to the Tax Foundation, which Media Bias/Fact Check ranks as right-center biased, The Trump administration imposed nearly $80 billion worth of new taxes on Americans by levying tariffs on thousands of products valued at approximately $380 billion in 2018 and 2019, amounting to one of the largest tax increases in decades.

If re-elected, Trump has promised to renew and expand his trade wars.

Trumps aggressive stance on trade, including tariffs on goods from countries like China, aims to protect American jobs but also raises the cost of goods, Shirshikov said. Middle-class families might face higher prices on everyday items, which can erode the purchasing power of any tax savings.

A report from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, which Media Bias/Fact Check ranks as least biased with a slight right lean, noted that Trump has proposed a 10% across-the-board tariff on foreign imports and up to 60% on Chinese goods.

The reports authors wrote, The tariffs would reduce after-tax incomes by 3.5% for those in the bottom half of the income distribution and cost a typical household in the middle of the income distribution about $1,700 in increased taxes each year.

Editors note on election coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. For more coverage on this topic, please check out 5 Ways That a Kamala Harris Presidency Could Impact the Middle Class.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What a Trump Presidency Could Mean for the Middle Class
Milwaukee School Board members could fire Superintendent Keith Posley or take other disciplinary action against him at a meeting Monday night, according to a meeting notice updated Friday evening, days after board members found out MPS had failed to submit key financial reports to state officials.

According to the meeting notice, board members could discuss Posley's employment in a closed door meeting, before possibly returning to a public meeting to take action.

At the meeting, board members may consider "dismissal, demotion, licensing or discipline" of the superintendent. They may also discuss Posley's compensation and performance evaluation data, and confer with legal counsel, according to the meeting notice.

The meeting, at 5:30 p.m. Monday at MPS' Central Office, will also include a public hearing on the district's budget and financial situation. Board members delayed voting this week on a district budget for the 2024-25 school year to get more information about where the district's finances stand.

Also at the meeting on Monday, board members plan to announce the hiring of an outside financial consultant that will help the district get its financial reports in order.

Milwaukee Public School Superintendent Keith Posley speaks at Bryant Elementary School last June, during a program to highlight outdoor classroom spaces.

Some community members have called for Posley to resign, or for school board members to fire him, since news broke this week that the district has failed to submit financial reports to the state Department of Public Instruction, some of which were due more than eight months ago. DPI warned that it could suspend funding to MPS if the reports are not filed promptly.

MPS has not granted the Journal Sentinel an interview with Posley.

Milwaukee School Board members have said they didn't find out about the missing financial reports until May 24, when DPI notified board members, which DPI spokesperson Chris Bucher called an "extraordinary step" as the department urged MPS to submit its reports as quickly as possible.

State officials could withhold a special education payment to the district June 10 and a general aid payment June 17 if the district does not have a corrective action plan in place, Bucher said. If MPS later completes its missing reports, it will be able to recoup any of the payments that had been withheld.

MPS board held two closed meetings this week about Posley

Milwaukee School Board members have already convened two closed-door meetings to discuss Posley's employment on Tuesday and Thursday. They didn't share developments from those meetings.

In addition to the late financial reports, DPI has said that MPS made errors in its reported costs for the 2022-23 school year, which could result in a "significant reduction" in state aid for the 2024-25 school year.

Asked how significant the reduction could be, Bucher told the Journal Sentinel the amount could be in the "tens of millions" of dollars. Bucher said he cannot confirm what the errors were until there is more information from the district.

"It is possible grant dollars were coded into the incorrect fiscal year, there are journal entries without complete documentation, and we believe there are incorrectly coded revenues and expenditures," Bucher said.

If state aid is reduced, the district could maintain its total revenue by relying more heavily on local property taxes, which could result in a tax hike, according to Rob Henken, president of the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee School Board could fire superintendent Keith Posley Monday
The fatal shooting of Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell on Thursday adds to a grim tally.

Since 2021, the Minneapolis Police Department has counted about 200 assaults on its police force, according to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension  part of a rising trend in attacks in Minnesota and across the country that law enforcement leaders say is cause for alarm.

"It's beyond a level of violence I've ever seen in my entire career," said Jim Mortenson, a retired St. Cloud police lieutenant who is now executive director of Law Enforcement Labor Services, a statewide union for emergency responders.

Mitchell, 36, is the third law enforcement agent to be slain in Minnesota since Jan. 1. His killing follows that of two other officers  plus a firefighter-paramedic who tried to help render aid  in February during an hourslong standoff with a gunman in Burnsville.

Minnesota has not seen three slayings of law enforcement officers in a single calendar year since the 1970s, a more violent era for police.

And the year is not yet half over.

Fatal attacks make up a small fraction of the overall violence against law enforcement, and Mitchell is only the third officer to be killed in an ambush in Minneapolis in more than 30 years.

But across the state, reported assaults against officers are up 160% from a decade ago  a metric entailing everything from intimidation, kicking and punching to an assault with a deadly weapon  according to BCA data. This statistic includes two Hennepin County sheriff's deputies who were injured during a shootout as they attempted to execute an arrest warrant related to a probation violation in April. Deputy Keith McNamara was hit with shrapnel, and multiple bullets struck deputy Christopher Heihn, who was treated and released from the hospital.

"I know we are not alone," said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara in a statement Thursday night. "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 to attack our police, and it needs to stop."

Details are still emerging in what led to the fatal shooting of Mitchell and the injury of another Minneapolis officer. According to police, officers responded to a report of two people shot around 5:15 p.m. Thursday in an apartment in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue S.

Mitchell was among the first officers to arrive on the scene. 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 BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. Mitchell was "assassinated" by the suspect, who "continued to shoot him after he fell to the ground," O'Hara said. Mitchell died a short time later at HCMC.

The suspect, identified Saturday as 35-year-old Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed, died at the scene.

At a nearby apartment building related to the scene, police found Osman Said Jimale, 32, dead and another man suffering from life-threatening injuries. That victim was being treated at HCMC.

Outside the apartment building, a man was found shot while in his vehicle. He also was taken to HCMC with life-threatening injuries.

One officer survived his injuries and was treated and released. His identity has yet to be released. A Minneapolis firefighter was also hurt and treated for injuries without being hospitalized.

Fatal attacks still rare

Statewide, most attacks  about two-thirds  on law enforcement since 2021 are classified as simple assaults, such as punches and kicks.

In Minneapolis, a greater share are more serious. About half are labeled aggravated assaults, most involving a moving vehicle or gun.

Prior to Mitchell, a police officer in Minneapolis had not been slain for more than 20 years.

In August 2002, officer Melissa Jayne Schmidt responded to a report of an armed woman outside a public housing complex in south Minneapolis. Schmidt, 35, and another officer searched the 60-year-old suspect, Martha Donald, and found bullets in her purse but no gun.

At Donald's urging, Schmidt brought her to the restroom. Donald produced a hidden gun and burst out of a stall shooting. Schmidt returned fire, and both she and Donald died.

A decade earlier, the assassination of Officer Jerry Haaf rocked Minneapolis and its police department. Haaf, 60, was at Pizza Shack on Lake Street when he was shot in the back. Four men were convicted in connection with his killing. The cold-blooded slaying of a police officer during an especially violent period in the city dominated headlines for months.

Several of the men involved later said they were enraged over an incident of police officers manhandling a blind and disabled Black man on a Metro Transit bus and went to the restaurant, a well-known hangout for officers, looking for revenge.

Complicated moment for policing

Mitchell's killing and the current wave of attacks come at a complicated moment for Minneapolis, as city leaders seek to move forward from the murder of George Floyd and into a new era for policing.

Mortenson blamed journalists and politicians for spreading an "anti-cop" mentality, starting with the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., which he said has diminished the public's perception of law enforcement. After Floyd, he said, "it got doubled down on."

"We've gone down a path of, 'We don't need cops. Let's let our criminals out of jail early,'" he said. "It's created this sense of lawlessness."

Criminologist Michelle Phelps disagreed, calling the post-Floyd moment a "very real reckoning" triggered by the actions of a police officer convicted of serious crimes.

Phelps cautioned that much about the killing of Mitchell is unknown, including whether the shooter was motivated by anti-police bias.

She compared this time in Minneapolis to Haaf's murder in the 1990s, which came on the heels of the police beating of Rodney King and the Los Angeles riots, all of which generated intense discourse over police reform similar to the past few years. Haaf's killing drastically changed the "political winds" and opened the door to more tough-on-crime policies and aggressive policing, said Phelps, who wrote about the moment in her book, "The Minneapolis Reckoning: Race, Violence, and the Politics of Policing in America."

"My worry is we will see a switching of the political winds here, but in the context of a force that is much smaller than it used to be, that is in the middle of multiple consent decrees, that has failed to overhaul misconduct review and civilian oversight," Phelps said.

Star Tribune staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this story.
Minneapolis police search for motive after shootings left 2 dead, including officer giving medical help. Heres what we know

Minneapolis police are searching for motive as they investigate a pair of shootings Thursday night that left two people dead  including an officer hailed as a hero  and also wounded four others.

Minneapolis Officer Jamal Mitchell, 36, was one of two people killed by a gunman who ambushed the officer as he attempted to provide medical assistance to people who were injured, authorities said. The suspect was also killed.

Another officer was injured, and authorities later found three other civilians who had been shot, one of whom died at the scene.

There are not words to appropriately describe this tragedy, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said Friday morning. Its the worst call a police chief can receive.

A Minneapolis police officer and a firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries and have since been treated and released, police said. The other two victims include a person who was shot in his vehicle outside of an apartment and another who was found in an apartment, Minneapolis police said. They were still in the hospital Friday afternoon.

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.

Heres what we know about the killings and the investigation so far:

Law enforcement officers salute the flag-draped remains of fallen Minneapolis police Officer Jamal Mitchell as he is escorted to a waiting medical examiner's vehicle outside Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis on Thursday. - Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune/AP

How police say the shootings unfolded

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.

As Mitchell neared the scene of the double shooting, he spotted injured individuals nearby who were in need of medical assistance, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said at a press conference Thursday night. While aiding the injured male suspect, the suspect pulled out a gun and continued to shoot Mitchell after he fell to the ground, police said in a news release Friday.

The officer was shot about a block and a half to two blocks away from the apartment, authorities said Thursday night. Mitchell was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

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.

Its still unclear exactly how many officers exchanged fire with the suspect, as authorities have given differing accounts.

When officers arrived, they received gunfire immediately and they exchanged gunfire, Blackwell said. In a news release Friday, the department likewise said: Responding officers exchanged gunfire with that gunman.

But Evans said only one officer exchanged gunfire with the suspect.

A second officer, I should note, arrived shortly after officer Mitchell was injured and shot and exchanged gunfire with the subject at that time, Evans said Thursday night. He was injured in that gunfire exchange.

CNN has reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for more information.

Officer Jamal Mitchell, center, is presented with a Lifesaving Award by Chief Brian O'Hara in Minneapolis during a ceremony on October 4, 2023, in Minneapolis. - Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune/AP

Officer was ambushed trying to help suspect

In his final moments Thursday, Mitchell was trying 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, Evans said. It happened very fast  he ambushed him.

Mitchell, who was engaged to be married, is now being remembered for his courage and love for the job.

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.

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 at a press conference Thursday night.

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.

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.

Law enforcement gathers on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, Thursday, May 30, 2024, following a fatal shooting. - Ben Hovland/Minnesota Public Radio/AP

Police now looking for more information

While police said they believe they know who the suspect was, homicide detectives are trying to determine the motive as it remains unclear what prompted the gunfire.

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 piecing together a timeline for the incident that unfolded.

Investigators are working to determine the exact circumstances of how Mitchell was killed, OHara said Friday.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the names of the deceased suspect and civilian, and the cause and nature of their deaths.

More details will emerge in the coming days and weeks, police said in a news release Friday.

We have crime scene investigators out at the different locations right now, Evans said at a press conference Thursday night. And we have dozens of agents out working to meet with witnesses, canvass the area, gather additional information.

CNNs Emma Tucker, Holly Yan, Jillian Sykes and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Lance Hegland lost little things when he moved from his apartment to a group home.

The freedom to have the window open on a cold day without being chastised. Picking what he wanted to eat for dinner.

And then there were the big things, like a feeling of lost respect and a worry that poorly trained staff could injure him.

"You lose a lot of dignity; you lose a lot of autonomy; you lose a lot of inclusion," said Hegland, 51, who lives in Brooklyn Park. He has muscular dystrophy and had to make the shift three years ago after he couldn't find enough providers to care for his needs in his own place.

He fears others will be forced to leave their homes or a family member's residence and move into group homes or assisted-living facilities under a proposed state overhaul of disability waivers.

Minnesota is reworking its Medicaid waiver system, used by roughly 70,000 people with disabilities to cover vital services, including employment support, transportation and assistance with such daily activities as bathing, eating and dressing.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is rethinking the waivers to try to simplify the system and give people "more choice and control over their services." Department officials said their proposed model would make more money available for the vast majority of waiver recipients.

However, early budget figures have triggered an outcry among some who rely on the aid. They show people living in group homes would be eligible for far larger sums than those in their own homes or living with family.

"I am afraid we're going backward," Hegland said. "We're incentivizing institutionalizing people."

The pushback recently prompted legislators to strengthen requirements that DHS officials collaborate with people who will be affected by the so-called "Waiver Reimagine" process. But many Minnesotans with disabilities and advocates remain wary.

What would 'Waiver Reimagine' do?

Minnesota has four types of disability waivers based on needs or diagnoses. They serve those with brain injuries, the chronically ill, people with developmental disabilities or related conditions, and those whose disabilities would otherwise require a nursing facility level of care.

Under the new system, there would be just two waivers. People living in their own homes or with loved ones would get one; those in settings such as group homes and assisted-living centers would get the other.

At the core of many advocates' concerns is a chart DHS published in 2021 breaking down how much money people living in different settings could receive annually under the reimagined system. The proposed budgets vary depending on a person's needs, but the range for an adult living with family tops out at $87,298. Those who have their own home could qualify for up to $93,674.

Meanwhile, people living in community residential services, such as group homes, could qualify for up to $210,064.

Those numbers will be updated, DHS officials said. They said the budgets were shaped by the cost and use of services. Historically, people living in settings such as group homes use more service hours, while people living independently use less.

People with disabilities said they are already struggling to piece together the help they need to live in their own homes amid personal care assistant shortages. They worry the proposed waiver structure would result in more providers following the money to serve people in group homes rather than working with those in individual or family residences.

"Waiver Reimagine, as it is designed now, would definitely take disabled people's rights away, number one," said Lauren Thompson, 36, a disability rights advocate who has cerebral palsy and has had a waiver for more than 20 years. "Number two, it would be much more expensive for the taxpayers because more people would be pushed into more expensive services."

Thompson served on the advisory committee for Waiver Reimagine but left amid frustration over a process that she said wasn't incorporating feedback.

Lawmakers passed the new legislation this session. It mandates that the advisory group must be able to "collaborate in a meaningful way" in the waiver rethinking process and in a revision of MnCHOICES, the state's tool for assessing people's needs and determining what services they require to live well.

"We need to fundamentally revamp how we're doing engagement," Natasha Merz, the DHS assistant commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, said at a legislative hearing this spring. "We need to hear from people. We need to show them that their input has changed the arc of this project."

The state is trying to make the waiver system easier to navigate, Merz said. She said officials want more people to be able to self-direct their dollars, meaning they are in charge of a budget and can design a plan to meet their needs and employ workers. They are also trying to create consistency across the state, Merz said.

A Star Tribune report in 2019 highlighted issues with the arbitrary and confusing system for distributing aid and how inconsistencies across counties have led families to move in search of the care they need. The report also examined issues with MnCHOICES, which was prone to service-disrupting crashes.

Assessment overhaul also fraught

Families who rely on waivers are also raising red flags with the ongoing MnCHOICES revamp. They warn that people are seeing their aid cut after an assessment, even though their medical needs did not change.

Katrin Bachmeier has four children with disabilities and is involved in Facebook groups for households like hers. She said she sees posts about funding cuts and unsuccessful appeals of assessment outcomes.

"We're just losing really, really life-threatening appeals left and right," she said.

The waiver program provides about $150,000 to Bachmeier's 21-year-old daughter Nyla, who has cerebral palsy and a brain injury. The money allows Nyla to live with her family in their Eagan home and pays for her personal care assistant Rachel Kalsow.

Kalsow described her job as "being an extra limb" for Nyla. She ensures all the shampoo is rinsed from Nyla's hair and that she takes her seizure medication. She's a companion on trips to the beach or when Nyla rides her adaptive tricycle, which was also paid for with waiver dollars.

Bachmeier said her family and others are terrified their dollars will be slashed as the state reworks its systems.

The state is monitoring data trends and will analyze why people's budgets change, a DHS spokesman said in an email, adding that people can reach out to DHS to discuss changes.

The state agency had planned to debut the reimagined waiver system in January 2026. It is now eyeing spring 2027 due to delays in the assessment system update, as well as community members' questions and concerns.

Families must be heard and valued as the system is redone, said Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, who chairs the Human Services Committee. He said having more people in group homes is "the complete opposite of what we're trying to do in the world of human services."

Hoffman said lawmakers mandated that DHS ensures the waiver changes don't cause unintended service disruptions.

Attorney Misti Okerlund, of the newly launched initiative Disability Voice Advocates said she was skeptical that new legislation would change the waiver overhaul process. If it doesn't, she said, the disability community has options, including returning to the Legislature or filing lawsuits and civil rights complaints.

"We're going to be watching and organizing," Okerlund said. "If we feel DHS is not going to partner with the very people they are supposed to be serving well, we're going to have to take a stick to the fight."
The American republic is decaying in front of us. The precepts on which it was founded  that votes should be respected, that the law must apply evenly, that no one is bigger than the Constitution  are giving way one by one.

Both the conviction of Donald Trump and the reaction to it reveal a country where two sides start with their preferred result and then reason backwards. Process is subordinated to outcome  an attitude that, in the end, is incompatible with liberal democracy.

Ill come to the defects of the court case in a moment. But first, let me put a question to those MAGA activists who are screaming blue murder about the verdict. Suppose that you were to travel a decade back in time, and say to your 2014 self, Ten years from now, youll be arguing that its fine for your candidate to pay off a porn star and then lie about it provided there is no technical violation of campaign finance rules. How do you think your younger self would react?

Ten years ago, the current levels of polarisation were hard to imagine. Americans were conscious of living in a free country. They understood that this meant occasionally losing. They taught their children to be loyal to the Constitution before party or faction. They had themselves been taught that their nation, born out of a revolt against arbitrary rule, was designed to prevent the concentration of power; that it was, in John Adamss handsome phrase, a government of laws and not of men.

Laws on their own, though, are not enough. A free society rests also on conventions, precedents, unwritten rules. Losers are expected to accept the result, winners to exercise restraint. Supporters of other parties should be treated as opponents, not enemies. Compromise should be valued as a way to ensure national unity, not scorned as a sign of weakness.

At some point over the past ten years, these norms were dropped, and politics became an all-or-nothing affair in which any win for the other side was treated as cataclysmic. To some degree, a similar process has been playing out in other advanced democracies  witness the under-reported rise of the authoritarian Right in Europe. But Trump, as much the catalyst as the beneficiary of the process, has taken it further in the US.

In 2016 and 2020, he declared before a single ballot had been cast that the only way he could lose was through fraud. In a healthy polity, those words alone should have disqualified him from serious consideration. There ought, in a democracy, to be an electoral penalty for being anti-democracy. But that convention, too, has been lost.

What is Trumps superpower? He is no orator. He never served in uniform. He is toddler-like in his neediness, his self-centeredness, his whiny insistence that he actually won. The stories he tells are best described by Shakespeares Prince Hal: These lies are like their father that begets them  gross as a mountain, open, palpable.

No, what sets him apart is his readiness to go low. In a crowd, the man who emerges on top is often not the strongest, but the one most willing to fight dirty, to throw punches when others wont.

As someone who loves the United States, I have reached this conclusion with reluctance, but there is no getting away from it. The attributes that attract Trumps fans are precisely those that should be the most repulsive: his lies, his boastfulness, his cruelty. These what his supporters have in mind when they talk of his taking the gloves off and saying what others wont say and owning the Libs.

Incredible as it seems to outsiders, Trumps appeal rests on his character, not his policies. Ron DeSantis contested the Republican primaries offering Trumps platform, prepared by the same team, but with greater competence. No one wanted to know.

Three times, Republican primary voters have opted for such a man as the Founding Fathers had in mind when they designed their checks and balances, a man they would have clocked for a two-bit Caesarist who subordinates his public office to his private interests. It was up to voters to defend the most basic republican principle of all, namely that their national institutions are bigger than the man passing through them. They failed.

Which brings us to the present crisis. The electorates lack of interest in either character or democratic integrity prompted some anti-Trumpsters to resort to lawfare, seeking to win through the courts what they could not win at the urns. The various charges that they have brought against the former president  not just the hush-money case, but also cases involving the alleged improper removal of documents from the White House and the attack on the Capitol of 6 January 2021  show him in a terrible light. But that does not mean he broke the law.

I wish Trump had been stopped in the primaries, but this conviction is a travesty. The case was brought by a district attorney who had been elected promising to would go after the former president, and was heard by jurors in an anti-Trump part of New York. His conviction rested on the notion that he paid hush money only for electoral advantage  in other words, that he would not have paid it anyway.

There are, as this case shows, real problems in the American criminal justice system. But heres the thing. The law must apply equally to everyone. Indeed, it is precisely the bad laws that should apply to the most powerful people in the land, or there will be no incentive to reform them.

But Trumps supporters are not arguing for wholesale reform of the criminal justice system. They are arguing only that this particular case was, in Senator Marco Rubios phrase, a sham show trial got up by Marxists and the far Left.

Well, perhaps it was. But lets look at what Trumpsters were saying when the shoe was on the other foot.

She shouldnt be allowed to run, said Trump of Hillary Clinton in 2016, fantasising about some case against her. If she wins, it would create an unprecedented constitutional crisis. In that situation, we could very well have a sitting president under felony indictment and, ultimately, a criminal trial. It would grind government to a halt.

Trump himself is now not just under indictment, but a convicted felon, and it has, if anything, slightly boosted his opinion poll standing. Far from being chastened, Trump continues to demand that people who cross him be locked up.

Bit by bit, the United States is becoming like some Central American banana republic, where presidents who lose office expect to be jailed by their successors. The problem is not just that its legal system is being politicised; it is that the American people are cheering that process on whenever it is turned against their opponents.

Perhaps we are seeing the impact of the geographical clustering that makes Democrats and Republicans strangers to one another. Perhaps it is the tribalism encouraged by identity politics. Or perhaps we are witnessing the effects of screen addiction, which leaves people grumpier, more credulous and with shorter attention spans.

Whatever the cause, the effect stands before us in plain sight. Americans have lost interest in the institutions that made their country great and free.

A republic, if you can keep it, said Ben Franklin as he emerged from the Constitutional Convention in 1787. But can you, cousins? Can you?

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A miracle: NC crews help rescue man 75 miles off Myrtle Beach; search was on last leg when spotted

A miracle: NC crews help rescue man 75 miles off Myrtle Beach; search was on last leg when spotted

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN)  Crews in North Carolina helped rescue a diver who drifted away from his boat about 75 miles from the South Carolina coast and also off the North Carolina coast on Friday afternoon, officials said.

The incident was reported around 1:50 p.m. Friday when the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami was notified by an emergency GPS beacon, according to a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The GPS was activated by crews aboard the Rhudy Phillips, a 28-foot dive boat that the man, a commercial diver, was originally aboard, officials told CBS 17.

The diver, age 35, had drifted away from the boat 75 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which is about 20 miles southeast of Bald Head Island, North Carolina, the news release said.

The search took place in eight to nine-foot seas, with winds coming from the north at 15 knots.

An HC-130 Hercules airplane from Elizabeth City, North Carolina and a 45-foot boat from Oak Island, North Carolina were among the crews sent to help find the man.

Coast Guard District Seven command center watchstanders launched multiple air and surface crews to assist in the search efforts and developed search patterns near the divers last known position, based on the prevailing weather conditions, the news release said.

PHOTOS: $1 million 80-foot luxury sport yacht sinks off Florida coast, 2 rescued

Eventually, crews on an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Savannah, Georgia, found the man.

A rescue swimmer was sent down to hoist the man into the helicopter. The aircrew then flew the diver to Cape Fear Regional Jetport near Wilmington, North Carolina, where EMS crews were available, officials said.

PHOTOS: Clues to what sank $1 million 80-foot luxury sport yacht off Florida coast

It was a miracle that our rescue swimmer spotted him while we were on the last leg of our sector search, Lt. Jeff Davis, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah aircraft commander, said in the news release. The divers yellow surface marker buoy helped us spot him despite the rough seas and strong winds, which limited visibility.

After the man was rescued, no medical concerns were reported.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
Firefighters in El Dorado County rescued a dog Thursday evening after it fell 60 feet underground in an abandoned mine shaft near Placerville.

First responders from Placerville, Shingle Springs, Pollock Pines and Diamond Springs spent just over an hour conducting a permit-required confined space entry rescue, which involved lowering ropes down to the bottom of the borehole to rescue Rilee, according to the El Dorado County Fire Protection District and Rilees owner, Kimberlee Adams Norwood Mickelson.

The El Dorado firefighters reported that the dog experienced amazingly few injuries, and was reunited with Mickelson shortly after the rescue.

All intact except a minor scrape above her right eye, said Michelson in a Facebook post.

Miracles do happen! Shes ALIVE!!!
A North Carolina couple was found dead in the woods in rural northern Iredell County Friday, one day after they were reported missing, authorities said.

The Davie County Sheriffs Office on Thursday asked the public for help in finding 60-year-old Cynthia Roberson Gobble and 59-year-old Gregory Wayne Gobble.

The couple was last seen Wednesday near Country Lane, Campbell Road and Highway 601 in Mocksville, N.C., sheriffs officials said on Facebook. They were in a 1997 white Ford F-250 pickup truck with NC plate YV1974, according to the sheriffs office.

Cynthia Gobble was diabetic, didnt have her medicine and was considered endangered, sheriffs officials said.

They were found dead just after 11 a.m. Friday near Harmony, N.C., according to Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC.

We do not suspect that any other persons were involved in this incident, and there is no continuing danger to members of the public, Davie County Sheriff J.D. Hartman said on Facebook Friday.

Investigators havent said if they know how the couple died and released no updates on Saturday.

This is a developing story that will be updated.
Most Mississippi Republican politicians quickly took to social media this week to defend Donald Trump and to attack the New York justice system after the former president was convicted of 34 felony charges.

The former president was found guilty of charges related to falsifying business records to conceal that just before the 2016 election he paid off porn actress Stormy Daniels to conceal a sexual encounter.

Mississippi politicians, claiming the guilty verdict was politically motivated to harm Trumps election chances, echoed some of the same attacks they used in 2020 after they falsely claimed, like Trump, that the presidential election was stolen. In 2020, many Mississippi politicians supported the former presidents effort to throw out votes cast by millions of Americans in order to reverse the outcome of the election.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, who twice was endorsed by Trump, said on social media: The lawless conviction of President Donald Trump only reflects the desperation of President Biden and the corrupt methods he will use to steal this election. I am confident that justice will prevail, and the people of America will not reward the leftwing wannabe dictators abusing our justice system in November.

Reeves falsely blamed the conviction on President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020. The pair will most likely face off again in November as both vie for a second term. But Trump was not convicted by the U.S. Department of Justice. The case was brought by state District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who was democratically elected by voters of Manhattan, where Trump has lived for most of his life.

State Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula, who did not attack the jury verdict, was an exception among Mississippi Republicans on social media.

All jurors deserve thanks and respect. They are the foundation of the best judicial system in the world (though not perfect). He added that the Republicans leadership has a lot of soul searching to do.

He also posted, Thomas Jefferson wrote, I consider [trial by jury] as the only anchor yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.

Some came to Wiggins defense on social media, but he was attacked by many for his defense of the jury system. Before being elected to the state Senate, Wiggins served as an assistant district attorney prosecuting criminal cases before juries.

Mississippi U.S. Reps. Trent Kelly and Michael Guest were also local prosecutors before they were elected to Congress, but it did not stop them from attacking the jury verdict.

Kelly, who served as district attorney in northeast Mississippi before being elected to the 1st District U.S. House seat, said on social media: The verdict against President Trump is a travesty! This action moves us closer to less than a democracy. This political prosecution is a mockery of the American Constitution, and a miscarriage of justice.

And Guest, who now holds the 3rd District House seat but was previously a district attorney for Madison and Rankin counties, offered similar comments.

Former President Donld Trump was convicted today on charges that were politically motivated and the evidence presented against him did not arise to the level of reasonable doubt. All Americans are entitled to a fair trial brought by an impartial prosecutor. President Trump was not afforded these fundamental protections and his conviction should be overturned.

U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, a former Gulf Coast sheriff, who represents the 4th District in Congress, like Reeves incorrectly blamed the prosecution on federal officials.

Todays verdictand this entire trialwas based in politics, not the law. The Biden Admin. and their allies continue to weaponize our justice system against their political enemies, Ezell said. I look forward to seeing this ridiculous, partisan verdict quickly appealed and overturned.

State Auditor Shad White and state Attorney General Lynn Fitch, like prosecutors, often depend on juries as part of their job.

White said: Democrats love to talk about how important democracy is, but today we saw a justice system weaponized to undermine democracy. What a travesty. Make America Great Again.

Fitch said in a statement: In a New York courtroom, the American legal system was manipulated for political gain and weaponized against former President Trump. The trial only emphasizes the profound partisan divide in the United States and the outcome sets a concerning precedent for future proceedings. I have faith in the rule of law and expect that on appeal justice will prevail even against this brash manipulation.

In 2020, Fitchs office joined in a lawsuit that tried to throw out millions of votes in an effort to overturn the election. That lawsuit was quickly dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Secretary of State Michael Watson said: If they can do it to DJT, they can do it to you. As an aside, if any businesses are looking to get out of NY, our tax structure and regulatory reform measures have Mississippi on the rise. Come on down.

Andy Gipson, the commissioner of agriculture and commerce, said: Liberals are coming after conservatives, but I still stand with President Donald J. Trump. Join me in praying for him as he appeals the verdict from a rigged and politically motivated witch hunt of the New York trial. We the voters will have the last word.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said simply: The election is in November. The voters will make the final decision on our president, who will be Donald Trump.

And state Treasurer David McRae said: I stand with Trump.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, who voted to certify the election in 2020 despite Trumps objections, said: This prosecution has been an outrageous perversion of our system of justice. Unless reversed, it could set a disturbing precedent in which our courts are weaponized by one party against the other. Today is a dark day for the rule of law.

And junior U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith posted on X, formerly Twitter, the word truth in response to a statement of Senate Republicans criticizing the outcome of the trial.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippis highest-ranking Democrat and sole Black member of the states congressional delegation, said on social media: Todays verdict confirms what we have always known: Donald Trump is a criminal who thinks nothing of breaking the law, or our Constitution, to get what he wants. No one, especially an ex-president, is above the law.

Thompson, who headed a select committee that looked into the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by those trying to stop the certification of the election and Trumps role in that attack, added, Justice has prevailed.
John George Todd III of Blue Springs is seen on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A Blue Springs Marine Corps veteran convicted of injuring an officer during the Capitol riot was sentenced Friday to five years in prison.

John George Todd III, 34, chose not to address the court before his sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell. The sentencing hearing was held in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Todd is the 26th of the 37 Missouri residents charged in Capitol riot cases to be sentenced. Five other Missouri defendants have been convicted and await sentencing, and the cases of another six are pending.

The government had recommended a sentence of 12 years and seven months incarceration. Todds attorneys asked that he receive two years probation with weekly counseling classes, saying he suffers from PTSD and other mental health issues, some stemming from his military service. He needs treatment, they said, not prison.

Todd, who faced six charges in connection with the Capitol breach, was convicted in February after a five-day trial. On the third day of deliberations, the jury found him guilty on all six counts. He has been in custody in the D.C. Jail since his conviction.

In a sentencing memorandum filed May 17, the government said that on Jan. 6, 2021, Todd was upset that Donald Trump would not be sworn into office. He attended the pro-Trump Stop the Steal rally, then walked from the Ellipse to the Capitol, carrying a fiberglass tent pole with a flag tied to the end, the document said.

Frustrated that the former President and his supporters had exhausted every f--- legal route, Todd was hellbent on disrupting the certification by illegal means, including by taking part in a violent riot and assaulting police officers who were trying to protect the Capitol building and members of Congress, the document said.

After spending almost an hour on restricted Capitol grounds and ignoring warning signs to leave the area, it said, Todd entered the building through the Upper West Terrace Door at about 2:44 p.m. He repeatedly pushed against officers inside the Rotunda between 3:10 p.m. and 3:17 p.m., the memorandum said, telling them, I aint f--- moving.

Todd was instructed to leave multiple times, and in body worn camera footage (BWC) obtained from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Todd was recorded yelling at law enforcement officers, I swear to God, Ill hip toss your ass into the f--- crowd, mother f--!

MPD Officer Noah Rathbun, who was trying to clear the Rotunda, thought Todd was about to strike someone with the tent pole he was carrying, the document said, and tried to take it from him.

Todd and Rathbun pushed back and forth to gain control of the pole, it said. As they wrestled over the pole, it splintered.

When the pole splintered, the officer and Todd both saw the splintered fiberglass, and Todd ripped the splintered pole out of Officer Rathbuns hands, the sentencing memorandum said. This pulling sliced the officers hand open at the knuckle. The cut was deep and exposed a tendon in his finger, requiring medical attention and stitches.

Rathbun received seven stitches and missed nine days of work, costing MPD approximately $4,514.68, the government said.

Officers forced Todd out of the Capitol at 3:18 p.m., the sentencing document said. He moved to the Northwest Terrace, where for the next hour he interacted with the crowd and banged against police shields, yelling at officers, Come on, drop your s! Lets go right now.

By 4:50 p.m., the memorandum said, Todd had moved toward the Lower West Tunnel, where police had engaged in a violent, hourslong physical conflict with the rioters.

Todd leaned off railings and watched rioters attacking officers with plywood and bear spray, the document said, as other rioters on megaphones called for the crowd to pass up their gas masks and helmets so that the people at the front could continue their siege on the officers in the tunnel.

Todd eventually left the Capitol and headed west toward the National Mall, it said, where he gave a video interview to a journalist.

The government said Todd had a criminal history that included alcohol and drug-related convictions, and he was given an other than honorable discharge from the military that appeared to be the result of alcohol abuse.

There also had been numerous serious interactions between Todd and law enforcement during his Jan. 6 case, the document said.

In an incident in April 2023, it said, Todd was identified climbing up the side of a building with razor blades and knives, attempting to enter the home of a man who was romantically involved with his ex-wife. After that, a magistrate judge ordered Todd to move to South Carolina, where he would be under the care of his sister and take part in a high-intensity supervision program.

Todd has shown no remorse for his actions on Jan. 6, the government said.

Instead, he has remained adamant that a law enforcement officer allowed him to come into the Capitol (a claim demonstrably proven to be false) and denied any responsibility for Officer Rathbuns injury, the document said. Todd repeatedly provided materially false testimony at trial.

Todd was originally charged May 3, 2022, with four misdemeanors: entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

He twice declined offers to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor. Instead, he opted to take his case to trial. In preparing for the trial, the government found additional video that it said showed Todd assaulting Rathbun.

A federal grand jury then indicted Todd on two felony charges  inflicting bodily injury on an officer and obstruction of an official proceeding  along with the misdemeanors. The trial jury found him guilty on Feb. 7.

Todds defense attorneys, led by John Pierce  who has represented more than 20 Capitol riot defendants, including QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley  argued that Todd had no idea he wasnt supposed to be in the Capitol that day. Because of his lack of intent, they said, he was innocent of the charges that he had disrupted the certification of the 2020 election and was in a restricted space. They also said the cut on Rathbuns hand was minor and self-inflicted.

The government seeks to turn two misdemeanor counts into 10-year felonies upon an imaginary notion that Todds tiny flag with its fiberglass flagpole was a dangerous weapon, his attorneys wrote in his May 19 sentencing memorandum.

They said Todd was an honorable veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2009 to 2013 and had committed no violent offenses within the past 10 years..

Throughout his life, Defendant has endured extensive trauma, the document said. ... Since serving the United States, Defendant has battled with PTSD, military related sexual trauma, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, incarceration will only further Defendants trauma whereas rehabilitation and therapy will mend Defendants devastating past.

Todds sentence, the document said, should be consistent with that of other protestors convicted of political demonstration activity at the Capitol or other federal buildings nationwide.

  Unfortunately, sentences handed down in the District of DC in January 6 cases have created gross sentencing disparities compared to similar defendants elsewhere, it said. January 6 sentences are the longest prison sentences in American history for rioters or defendants involved in political demonstrations.

On Thursday, Todds attorneys filed notes of support from friends and relatives asking the judge for leniency. They called him a caring man and loving father who had an abusive childhood and struggled with mental illness.

What I have seen in John is a man that has given his life to serving the Lord in the midst of trials that he has faced, wrote Mitch Trammel, pastor of the Riding for Jesus Cowboy Church in Pacolet, South Carolina.

  In what I have seen from John is a young man that served his country with pride and dignity. I also see in him as having a helpful personality willing to help his friends, neighbors, and even strangers in time of need.
Lego Group, in collaboration with Chinese charity partner Ai You Foundation, has donated 1,626 Lego MRI scanner sets to 108 hospitals in 67 cities and counties across China as of May, the company revealed in Beijing on Thursday. The initiative, which was announced in Shanghai during the sixth China International Import Expo in November 2023, has been ongoing for the past seven months.





A showcase of the Lego MRI scanner set at a press event held at Beijing Children's Hospital in Beijing, May 30, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Lego Group]

The Lego MRI Scanner project, initiated in 2015 by Lego employee Erik Ullerlund Staehr and Odense University Hospital in Denmark, aims to make MRI scans less scary for children. The sets facilitate better interaction between children and clinicians, allowing kids to better understand the MRI machine through play. Designed specifically for child-centered MRI treatments, the sets encourage role-play and dialogue, enhancing confidence and reducing anxiety before the actual scan.

At a press event held at Beijing Children's Hospital under Capital Medical University on Thursday, Yolanda Gu, the director of Social Responsibility at Lego China, stated, "Lego Group believes in the power of play and is committed to inspiring and nurturing future builders. I am delighted to see the tangible results achieved by the Lego MRI scanner project in the physical pilot, and appreciate the recognition and positive feedback from children, parents, and partner hospitals."

Gu added, "In the future, we will further expand the scope of the pilot to provide more children in need with opportunities to learn and develop through play."

In addition to donating sets to staff and social workers in hospitals for the project, Lego and Ai You Foundation have also provided related training for medical staff of the recipient hospitals and supplied manuals to help them use the models accurately to guide children through play, thus enhancing the efficiency of pediatric MRI examinations.

Luan Yibin, executive secretary-general of the Ai You Foundation, said that with the strong support of Ai You's partner hospitals, the Lego project had been quickly implemented in the daily work of medical personnel and medical social workers.

"The high compatibility of the Lego models with actual examinations has made pediatric MRI checks both innovative and fun," Luan said. "These models provide a vivid tool for child-friendly medical services. We look forward to the project reaching more hospitals and enhancing the efficiency and quality of medical care for more children."

At Beijing Children's Hospital on Thursday, just before International Children's Day, celebrated in China on June 1, hospitalized children were seen happily playing with specially designed Lego kits alongside nurses, seemingly forgetting their pain for a short while.

Zhang Guojun, secretary of the Party Committee at Beijing Children's Hospital, one of the first hospitals to receive donations, said that in the daily diagnostic and treatment process, many patients experience anxiety and tension due to a lack of medical knowledge and fear of the unknown. This is especially prominent in children undergoing MRI scans. "Our hospital is honored to have been involved in the early stages of the Lego project, which not only helps children better cooperate during examinations but also provides a new way for medical staff to communicate with children more easily," Zhang said.

According to the Lego Group Sustainability Progress Report released in March, the company carries out social responsibility projects and local community participation activities globally, both online and offline, impacting over 9.86 million children. In China, the Danish toymaker actively partnered with local collaborators to launch several projects, including "Play Box," "Build the Change," and "Lego Braille Bricks." These initiatives have provided approximately 2.65 million Chinese children opportunities to learn and develop through play.
SMIC.

The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether Ronda Korea, a South Korean company, has been selling chipmaking equipment to Chinese firms. U.S.-based Lam Research produces the equipment, which was reportedly procured by Chinese companies subject to U.S. sanctions, reports The Information. The probe somewhat mimics another DoC investigation exploring shipments of Applied Materials tools to Chinese entities via South Korea.

The U.S. DoC is specifically examining whether Ronda Korea resold components for chipmaking equipment made by Lam Research to Chinese entities. Lam Research told The Information that Ronda Korea is not an authorized supplier and is cooperating with the Commerce Department to comply with export restrictions to China. Ronda Korea has not commented on the matter, and the Commerce Department has not disclosed specific details about the investigation.

This investigation is part of a larger effort to enforce export controls and prevent sanctioned Chinese firms  particularly Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co.  from obtaining advanced wafer fab tools. The U.S. DoC is also looking into other South Korean companies that might supply sanctioned Chinese companies with advanced wafer fab tools.

Due to these tighter export restrictions, Chinese chipmakers have faced increasing difficulties in obtaining necessary components and equipment. The U.S., the Netherlands, and Japan have imposed stringent controls to block China's access to logic technologies below 14nm/16nm, DRAM production nodes beyond 18nm, and 3D NAND with more than 128 active layers. Despite these efforts, South Korean companies have emerged as alternative suppliers, helping to keep Chinese fabs operational.

Unlike the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands, South Korea has not imposed strict Chinese export rules on wafer fab tools, which made it a key player in the semiconductor supply chain to China. Ronda Korea has been expanding its operations in China, establishing three subsidiaries in 2023.

However, the U.S. has been urging South Korea to restrict these exports since March, adding pressure on South Korean authorities and companies. The outcome of this probe could influence other South Korean companies and prevent the re-export of advanced fab tools to Huawei, SMIC, YMTC, and other entities from China. However, this situation poses a risk of retaliation from China, which could impact South Korea's significant trade relations with the country.
In their days, months and years at a secluded boarding school in southeast Missouri, they say they lost their childhood.

Instead of slumber parties with friends, family dinners, campouts  even prom  they spent their time outside doing labor and extensive exercises, were given ice bucket showers and forced to stand at a wall for hours when in trouble, and too often went to bed hungry when food was withheld.

All of this was at a faith-based unlicensed school where they say the smallest of students would get the worst treatment.

These are not students of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Agape Boarding School, facilities in Missouri that were investigated in 2020 and 2021 and are now closed. They attended Lighthouse Christian Academy, yet another Missouri unlicensed boarding school that until recently operated for two decades unchecked by local and state authorities.

Some were taken to the campus by force, others were dropped off by parents who were lured into thinking the school, run by ABM Ministries, would help their children and straighten them out through strong discipline and the word of God. Literature promoting the school touted horses and other animals, and parents were told their children would learn responsibility by caring for them.

A sign outside of ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy.

Former ABM students, though, say they learned little at the school, other than how to endure the harsh environment and live with the pain.

After a certain amount of time out there, I realized it was just keep your head down. Dont ask questions, Aaron Blackburn, now 32, said. We knew what needed to be done to make your time easier if possible.  It was a survival thing.

The Star has spoken to more than a dozen former students in the days before and after owners of the school  Larry and Carmen Musgrave, ages 57 and 64  were charged with kidnapping in March and the school ultimately closed. Both have pleaded not guilty and their attorney did not respond to multiple calls for comment.

Their arrests, says Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch, were just the beginning of an extensive investigation.

When investigators spoke to Larry Musgrave after his arrest, he denied everything, the sheriff said.

Whenever we interviewed him, he laughed about it, Finch said. And he said, That is not going on. That never happened.

For many former students, hearing that Finch had arrested the owners of the school was also the beginning of their healing  something they say theyve been desperate for.

Its the first time I could breathe in 13 years, said Michael McCarthy, who left ABM in 2012 and cried after he learned that Mr. Larry and Miss Carmen had been arrested. It just felt very vindicating. People were listening to us.

Its all amazing, you know?

Children are screaming for you to help them

Weeks before the Musgraves were arrested and charged, Aralysa Baker told The Star that the couple had fooled authorities and others for decades.

Theyre not what you think they are, the former student said in February after several current students had run away. They might have painted themselves as really doing the Lords work. They are not. Theyre abusing those kids just like they abused me and my fellow classmates.

And even though you walk through the door (of the school), and you think that everything is fine, those children are screaming for you to help them.

Baker said she knows that because nearly two decades ago, she was one of those children. And she still thinks about the time she could have said something and didnt.

Today, Baker  a stay-at-home mom in Oklahoma  is one of the leaders of a group of former students who stay connected on Facebook and a group chat. Many of them went to the Wayne County unlicensed school between 2004 and 2015.

A page on the ABM Ministries website, which has been taken down, included photos of the facility.

Several years ago they tried spreading the word on social media and forums about the abuse they say they suffered there. Their main goal was to help the kids still at the school.

Nothing came of that effort. But when several boys fled the school over a period of three weeks in January, they came together again. Knowing that they would need to be the voice of those attending the school now. And wishing that someone had done that for them.

In 2007, when girls were still part of the school and Baker was a student, she was yanked out of the shower one day to talk to a law enforcement officer. He had come to do a welfare check on me. After she had been at the school for nearly two years, her great-grandparents finally found out where she was and wanted to make sure she was OK.

Carmen told me  dont even say a word, Baker said. I threw on all my clothes. And whenever I went out there, (the officer) asked me if I was OK and I just shook my head.

I didnt make eye contact with him. I stepped away from him. We were in the hallway and Larry and Carmen were like, staring me down. I know they had eyes on me.

She said she also knew that if she said anything about the constant berating, the withholding of food and students being restrained by staff leaders, she would be punished once the officer left. Plus, she said, the Musgraves constantly drilled into students heads that authorities were on their side.

The fear that runs through your head is hes not going to believe me, said Baker, now 31. Im gonna say that something bad is happening. And then its gonna get back to Larry and Carmen and I dont know what theyre gonna do with me. I just keep my mouth shut, so I dont get in trouble.

... I barely answered yes or no to anything that (the officer) said and he ended up leaving, Baker said. And then Carmen gave me a pat on the back and told me I did a good job.

On that day, she wasnt punished.

But throughout her more than two years at the school, Baker said she was mentally and physically abused and saw many other students treated the same way.

Carmen could manhandle anybody, Baker said. She could take down the girls, she could take down the boys  it didnt matter. That woman is strong, at least she was whenever I was there. She had no problem throwing us around.

Larry, she said, liked to put people in headlocks.

I thought I was the only one, Baker said. I was not.

What she struggled with then, and still does, is how staff treated the little kids, as young as 8 and 9.

The older boys, they (staff leaders) had no problem taking them down, Baker said. But they didnt instigate those physical altercations the way that they did with the smaller kids.

One young boy in particular, who she and other former students said was constantly taunted and abused by staff, has stayed in her mind since she left the school in December 2007. She never knew how long he stayed at ABM and how he survived, both physically and mentally.

He was so little, she said. He very much had the brunt of the treatment.

During Bakers interview with the Wayne County sheriff, she spoke about this student and the abuse she said he endured.

I drew a diagram of the dining hall so I could show the sheriff, You know, this is the table (the young boy) was sitting at whenever (a staff leader) picked him up and slammed him between the wall and the table. I wanted him to know I saw it with my own two eyeballs.

When one of the former students in the group chat said in March that he found that student online and he was doing well, it was like an explosion went off, Baker said. Everyone wanted to know how he was doing and where he was.

Her former classmate is living in the Midwest and is married. Baker was able to talk with him over the phone.

Goosebumps, she said of her reaction when she learned he was doing well. I started crying.

Nothing ever came of it

Aaron Blackburn remembers a woman showing up at the secluded southeast Missouri boarding school more than 15 years ago and wanting to talk with students individually.

Josh, a classmate, had run away again, and this time the state had apparently taken notice. Multiple former students of Lighthouse Christian Academy, whom The Star has spoken to, said the woman was a social worker with Missouris child welfare agency.

One of her questions has stuck with Blackburn all these years: Has anyone been restrained here?

Everyone I talked to from the school said they didnt say anything, Blackburn said in late February. I damn sure said something.

He and another former student told The Star that they reported mental and physical abuse at the unlicensed school to the state investigator in 2008 or 2009. They described treatment that included students being restrained, forced to do extensive labor and exercises in extreme weather, and often not given enough food.

Nothing ever came of it, Blackburn said. That was the scary thing. Josh went home. And I never saw a police officer, just that one lady I talked to from social services.  I felt no one was listening to me or anyone else around me.

From Mississippi, Blackburn attended Lighthouse Christian Academy from the beginning of 2007 until mid-2009. His dad dropped him off when he was 14 and only visited him twice; his mom went to Wayne County once during his time there, he said.

He hadnt been at the school long, he said, when he realized he needed to keep his head down and do what he was told just to get by. It was a lesson he ultimately learned one afternoon six months into his time at the school.

I liked to look up to see who was walking by me  thats all it was, Aaron said. Looking up at a girl walking by.

Afterward, Mr. Larry and another male staff leader took him outside, he said.

They told me that if I felt like I was man enough to look at girls around here, I was man enough to fight them, Blackburn said. And the men began to hit him, he said.

They were fighting me, he said. Punching me in the face and stomach.

There were moments that hurt Blackburn even more. These were when he saw what happened to others, especially the younger ones.

Ive seen specific kids that were folded up like a pretzel (by staff) because they just wouldnt eat, he said. This one particular kid  he used to get folded up all the time, headlocked, hands behind their back all of the way up to the top of his head.

Im surprised that little mans arms werent broken, Blackburn said. Because they would twist him up like a pretzel.

(Blackburn identified the boy as the same one Baker saw being abused.)

Seeing what happened to Josh, the boy who ran away, also stays with Blackburn. After one of the times he ran, he said staff put a heavy tree chain around Josh.

They padlocked him with a chain around his waist and made him drag it around, Blackburn said. There was a river, creek or something like that around the school and every now and then theyd take us down to go swimming and of course they made Josh get in the creek with the chain on.

He slept in it all the time until I think he could convince them to get it off.

For more than a decade now, Blackburn said hes pushed the memories and experiences deep down into a place where he rarely revisits them. Hes had to move on, for himself and his family and his son.

Aaron Blackburn, now 32, attended Lighthouse Christian Academy from the beginning of 2007 until mid-2009. His dad dropped him off when he was 14. Hes pictured here with his son.

It was only earlier this year, after current allegations of abuse surfaced, that he said hes been forced to face his years at the school.

It f----- me up in the head, Blackburn said. Trust in people is hard. Physically, Ive been able to make the right decisions, but in my head, its still pretty tough.

When a group of former students joined forces earlier this year to get the word out about what they see as the mistreatment at the Wayne County school, he wasnt so sure he wanted to get involved. He and others had tried this before, to get leaders and law enforcement to do something. And that effort went nowhere.

But now that the Wayne County sheriff is actively investigating, Blackburn said he hopes officials in the state are listening.

Though the doors of Lighthouse Christian Academy closed in early March, he said he knows there are other schools like it that are still open.

There are a lot of kids that need you alls help to get them out of situations like this, Blackburn said. They really feel like no ones there to help them.

Some nights I did go hungry

Philip McNair, now 22, admits he caused some trouble as a preteen. Always testing limits, talking back.

After his parents caught him stealing a computer from his middle school, he said it was their final straw. And in 2012, when he was in the sixth grade, they drove him from St. Louis to the school in southeast Missouri where he stayed three years.

I felt like I deserved to be there, said McNair, of Missouri, who does not blame his parents for his time at the school which he called a hellhole.

It may look like a nice Christian place but it was like a prison to us.

By the time McNair was a student at the school, it only accepted boys. The school stopped accepting female students after principal Craig W. Smith Jr was accused in a federal lawsuit of grooming a female student after she enrolled in 2005.

Court records show that Smith and the Musgraves were the subjects of that 2009 civil suit. It alleged that Smith committed multiple acts of sexual bodily contact with the student  including intercourse  from September 2007 until June 2008.

The lawsuit says the girls parents notified the Musgraves in late 2007 that they were concerned about the degree of Smiths personal relationship with their daughter, but nothing was done to prevent further contact between them. The lawsuit was settled in 2010, court records show, with a $100,000 judgment entered against Smith and a $750,000 judgment against ABM Ministries and the Musgraves.

Many of McNairs waking hours at ABM, he said, were spent in the kitchen. Washing dishes, putting them away. Preparing food for the next day. Pouring cereal in bowls at night for breakfast in the morning.

Philip McNair, 22, attended ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy from the time he was 11 years old until 14.

After dinner, when most boys were dismissed from the table to go play board games or watch TV, the younger boys, like Philip, stayed to clean up.

From 7 to 10 (each night) I was in the kitchen, he said. Miss Carmen told me it was because she didnt want to see me get in trouble.

So she put him to work, he said. Yet he still got in trouble, for talking back or not doing exactly as he was told.

I was on red chip a lot, McNair said of one of the harshest discipline levels at the school.

When he first arrived at Lighthouse Christian Academy, McNair realized kids were classified by a chip system. There werent actual chips, just references to the level of discipline each child was on.

Kids in good standing were on white chip, which meant they ate first and had big portions. They could sit on the couch when they watched TV and take showers first.

And basically, McNair and other former students said, those kids were on Miss Carmens good side.

Kids on blue chip  meaning, McNair said, youre not doing too good, youre not doing too bad, youre doing right  still had some privileges. They wouldnt get as many advantages as students on white chip, though.

If a student was put on red chip, they were considered to be on Miss Carmens bad side and had to stand for hours at a time, often looking at the wall. They didnt get to eat what some classmates ate, McNair and others said. And by the time they could take a shower, the water was cold. Black chip was the harshest level of discipline, which McNair said he fortunately was never on.

When on black chip, students said they got even less food, more physical punishments like hours of exercise and more time standing at the wall.

When McNair was on red chip, he said he would work in the kitchen almost the whole entire day. From the time he was 11 years old to 14.

Theres not one time I would go to the school room and do my school stuff, he said of being on red chip. Id be in the kitchen working, sweeping, doing the dishes, breaking down boxes. Id do more chores to make it look nice for Miss Carmen.  Hell yeah, it was child labor.

While on red or black chip, the food was the worst, he and other former students said. Breakfast could be a tortilla with peanut butter on it or one pack of unflavored oatmeal.

Standing as they ate, students on red or black chips would have to watch their classmates enjoy big portions of good food, McNair said.

I would think,  Why are they eating more than I am? McNair said.   Some nights I did go hungry.

Because he was so young, he said he didnt truly know whats right, whats wrong.

Or whats supposed to happen, whats not supposed to happen, McNair said. Youre so young your brain doesnt comprehend. To them, they can use that power against you, like, Oh yeah, this is fine. This is normal.

I didnt know any better.

Where the Hell Am I?

After Michael McCarthys mom and dad left him at Lighthouse Christian Academy in the summer of 2010, he began to cry.

Thats when, he said, co-owner Larry Musgrave began to laugh and make fun of him in front of dozens of kids his age that hed never met.

What are you, a pickle lover? McCarthy said Mr. Larry asked, taunting him.

Just 16, the teen from a Philadelphia suburb felt alone and scared. And with each passing hour and day, he said recently, it only got worse.

Mr. Larry, from almost the first day was like, You look like your dog just died. At least your parents brought you. Youre lucky we didnt have people come and kidnap you in the middle of the night.

Lighthouse Academy, operated by ABM Ministries, is one of many boarding schools in Missouri and other states that have used transport companies to pick kids up  often in the middle of the night while theyre sleeping.

McCarthy said all he could think of back in those early days at the school was, Where the hell am I?

One of the first orders that staffers gave him when he got to campus was not to make eye contact with anyone. Keep your head down, he was told when he walked through the campus. For the next two weeks, he said, he wasnt allowed to look any student in the eye.

They claimed that I was new and that I was worldly and someone who would, you know, cause problems for the other boys, McCarthy said, referring to the fact he was coming from the outside. .

Michael McCarthy, 29, attended ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy from August 2010 to August 2012. Hes pictured above with his dog, a pit bull mix, named Betty White.

Musgraves wife, Miss Carmen, also gave the teen a rundown of rules. She would tell me about the punishments, about how they would take mattresses and blankets off of the bed if you got in trouble and you would have to sleep on the wooden boards of the bed, or the bars of the bed.

I think she was trying to scare me, he said.

Like several other former students The Star spoke to, McCarthy said Miss Carmen could be, at times, one of the better things about the school especially because she was a good cook. Former students remember meals like tater tot casserole that were a treat if they were on the two top chips (white and blue) and were able to eat it.

She could also be the worst, McCarthy said.

Shed like love bombing you at times, he said. She would like to make us feel very important, to have you watch other students when were cleaning the bathrooms. You know, shed give you an extra dessert here and there. Sometimes shed smile at you and say something nice.

Then  and this was most of the time, McCarthy said  another side came out.

She was very, very mean. Condescending, he said. If you looked at her, you could get screamed at, you know. At the beginning of my stay there, I felt like Miss Carmen somewhat liked me. She trusted me. I would do dishes with her in the kitchen. Id help her cook meals.

But then when she found out that I was gay, she totally cut me off.

She wouldnt even look at him, he said.

Anytime I would try to speak she would say Dont talk to me, McCarthy said. It did feel very hopeless.

McCarthy grew up in a religious home. And he knew as a young teen that his parents were worried when they learned he was gay.

They sent me to ABM in hopes that I would get a Christian education, he said.

At home, he was also struggling with depression and teen angst and his parents thought he needed help. He didnt blame them for sending him to ABM  I think they were just trying to help me, in their own way.

It was after he turned 18, and felt he couldnt leave the school because he had nowhere to go, that it became unbearable to be there, McCarthy said.

I was kind of under the impression that I had to stay there, he said. That was something that the staff members would tell us a lot. You know, When you turn 18 youre still ours. You cant leave. And even if you did leave, where would you go? Your parents dont want you back home.

McCarthy said Mr. Larry told him at one point that he could leave, but I would likely get shot by one of the neighbors for wandering around in the middle of Missouri. I was scared.

Leaders would berate him over his sexuality. He was taken into Mr. Larrys office one day.

He was like, You are a leech on society, you always have a bad attitude, McCarthy said the owner told him. ... He called me a pickle lover. And then he said that, If you look at or speak to any of the other students for the rest of your time here, we will call the police and get you arrested for pedophilia and youll go to prison for the rest of your life.

And that scared the shit out of me, because I knew that nobody would believe me.

Soon after, he went home for a visit and on a beach day with his family, he approached his father.

As drama-free as I could, I just said, Hey, you know, Im willing to be homeless rather than go back there. I dont have to live with you. I can go to a shelter or something. But I do not want to go back, McCarthy said. And my dad was like, Well, I think it might be good for you to come home. You can go to high school at a school near here.

McCarthy didnt tell his parents about the abuse at ABM. Not until earlier this year when The Star began covering the recent abuse allegations.

He just apologized profusely and told me that if he had known, he would never have sent me there, McCarthy said of his dads reaction. Then he started crying a little bit.

When asked what he would say to the Musgraves if he could talk to them, McCarthy said he wouldnt say anything.

They made a career of abusing children and taking advantage of vulnerable parents, McCarthy said. All in the name of God. They deserve everything thats coming to them.
(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Narendra Modis party is set to win a decisive majority in Indias election for the third time in a row, several exit polls showed, extending his decade in power atop the worlds fastest-growing major economy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The polls showed his Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will win substantially more seats than the 272 needed for a majority in Indias 543-seat lower house of parliament. Official election results will be released June 4.

Modi claimed victory for the BJP-led alliance based on the exit poll results, saying the ruling partys track record resonated with voters, especially the poor.

I can say with confidence that the people of India have voted in record numbers to reelect the NDA government, he said in a post on social media platform X. He also criticized the opposition alliances campaign for failing to provide a vision for the country.

The results are likely to boost Indian financial markets, which had been volatile in recent weeks amid speculation the BJP and its allies would fail to meet Modis ambitious goal of winning 400 seats. In 2019, the BJP won 303 seats on its own and about 351 with its allies.

Read more: Indias Popular, Polarizing Leader Eyes a Thousand-Year Legacy

V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services, predicted a market rally on Monday, saying the exit polls removes some of the election jitters that had been weighing on sentiment in May.

Read more: Modi Is Preparing for a Thousand-Year Legacy

This comes as a shot in the arm for the bulls who will trigger a big rally in the market on Monday, he said. Investors will likely also be buoyed by data Friday showing the economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace of 8.2% in the fiscal year ended in March.

While exit polls have a mixed track record in Indian elections, they correctly predicted the broad outlines of the result from the 2019 and 2014 general elections.

The polls were released after the last of Indias nearly 1 billion registered voters finished casting their ballots in a grueling six-week-long election that was spread over seven voting phases. It started on April 19.

The BJPs strategy of centering its campaign around the hugely-popular Modi appears to have paid off if the exit polls are accurate. The partys star campaigner, Modi criss-crossed the country holding roadshows and addressing large crowds. The party even titled its manifesto Modis Guarantee.

A win for Modi would be historic: no prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru  who ruled India for 17 years after independence  has managed to secure three consecutive terms in power.

WATCH: How India's Leader Is Preparing for a 1,000-Year Legacy

The exit polls showed the BJP made gains in southern India, where Modi campaigned heavily to woo voters traditionally skeptical of the ruling partys Hindu nationalist policies. The polls also showed the BJP retained much of its monopoly in the northern Hindi-speaking states.

The win also signals additional trouble for the countrys opposition, especially the Indian National Congress, the largest party in the opposition alliance. Failure to dent the BJPs mandate for a third straight national election may fuel concerns the Congress party needs an ideological revamp or a change in leadership.

Shashi Tharoor, a Congress official, called the exit polls deeply unscientific and said the party would wait for official results on Tuesday.

A bigger win for the ruling party positions it to potentially push through decisive new policy measures and further elevate Modis global stature. The BJP pledged in its election manifesto to invest more in infrastructure, boost manufacturing and continue its popular welfare programs.

If the BJP-led alliance wins two-thirds of the seats, or 363, in the lower house of parliament  as some of the exit polls predicted  it also brings the party a step closer to making changes to the constitution. Most amendments would require two-thirds majority in both the upper and lower house of parliament. The BJP-led alliance currently holds about 50% of the seats in the upper house.

Opposition parties on the campaign trail had warned voters the BJP government would use its super-majority to dilute affirmative action policies for lower-caste individuals. BJP officials have repeatedly denied the claims.

What Bloomberg Economics Says

A sweeping win for the BJP, as the exit polls are predicting, would mean a sharp rally in financial markets across asset classes. However, we see a risk this result might embolden the BJP to try to alter Indias Constitution, diluting the governments focus on its economic agenda.

Abhishek Gupta, senior India economist

For the full report, click here

Indias economy grew more than 8% in the fiscal year that ended in March, making it the fastest-expanding major nation in the world. The central bank is predicting 7% growth in the current financial year, far outpacing global expansion of about 3% in 2024. S&P Global Ratings this week signaled a possible credit rating upgrade for India, giving a boost to financial markets just ahead of the countrys inclusion in JPMorgan Chase & Co.s emerging market bond index later in June.

If the results come in line with exit polls, it should be highly positive for markets as it would suggest policy continuity and sustained focus on macroeconomic stability, reforms, infrastructure creation and fiscal prudence, said Garima Kapoor, an economist at Elara Securities India Ltd.

--With assistance from Ruchi Bhatia, Preeti Soni, Anup Roy and Sudhi Ranjan Sen.

(Updates with additional details.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Narendra Modi waves to supporters during an election campaign rally in Kolkata - AFP

Narendra Modi is on track to win his third successive landslide election victory, exit polls showed on Saturday, after voting ended in a gruelling six-week poll.

Results will be formally announced on Tuesday but Mr Modis victory has long been treated as a foregone conclusion by analysts, in large part because of his aggressive championing of Indias majority Hindu faith.

Exit polls showed he was well on track to triumph and Mr Modi himself was certain he had prevailed, saying he was confident that the people of India have voted in record numbers to re-elect his government.

They have seen our track record, and the manner in which our work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden, he said.

An exit poll from broadcaster CNN-News18 forecast Mr Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition allies to win 355 seats, well above the 272 needed for a majority in the lower house.

However, such forecasts have proven unreliable in the past at capturing public sentiment in a country with nearly a billion eligible voters.

I voted for growth

Many in Mr Modis constituency of Varanasi who cast their votes on Saturday were nevertheless excited at the prospect of his return to power.

I voted for growth and development of my country, Varanasi resident Brijesh Taksali told AFP outside a polling station where he cast his ballot to re-elect the 73-year-old premier.

Varanasi is the spiritual capital of the Hindu faith, where devotees from around India come to cremate deceased loved ones by the Ganges river.

It was one of the final cities to vote in Indias long election, and it is where public support for Mr Modis ever-closer alignment of religion and politics burns brightest.

Mr Modi presided over the inauguration this year of a grand temple to the deity Ram, built on the grounds of a centuries-old mosque in Ayodhya razed by Hindu zealots in 1992.

Muslims uneasy about the future

Construction of the temple fulfilled a longstanding demand of Hindu activists and was widely celebrated across the country with back-to-back television coverage and street parties.

The ceremony, and numerous other chest-beating demonstrations of fidelity to Indias majority religion over the past decade, have left many among the countrys 200 million-plus minority Muslim community uneasy about their futures.

Mr Modi himself made a number of strident comments about Muslims on the campaign trail, referring to them as infiltrators.

He had also accused the motley coalition of more than two dozen opposition parties contesting the poll against him of plotting to redistribute Indias wealth to its Muslim citizens.

Janesar Akhtar, a Muslim working in Varanasis famed embroidery workshops, told AFP that the BJPs sectarian campaigning was an unfortunate distraction from Indias chronic unemployment problems.

The Modi government has been busy with the politics of temples and mosques, the 44-year-old said.

He is supposed to give us jobs and not tensions.

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.
By Krishna N. Das, Rishika Sadam and Chris Thomas

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance could double its parliamentary seats in the prosperous south of the country, in a sign that he can widen his appeal even after 10 years in office.

Results of the six-week national election will be out on June 4 and the alliance led by Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win easily, exit polls showed after voting ended on Saturday.

This would make him only the second Indian prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three straight terms.

Initially low voter turnout in the election that began on April 19 had raised opposition hopes that support for Modi was waning. Exit polls do not always get it right in the world's most populous country of 1.42 billion people.

The BJP has long been seen as a party dependent on the big and poor northern states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but analysts say it is now making inroads in the more industrialised south.

This is thanks to Modi's popularity, big spending on roads and bridges, his wooing of the majority Hindus including by inaugurating a temple to Lord Ram on a contested site in January, and forming alliances with strong regional groups.

Modi's National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition could win 55 to 64 seats in the five southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, according to ABP-Cvoter, nearly doubling the 32 seats it won in the 2019 election.

The exit poll showed that though the BJP is not in power in any of those states, it is expected to win more than 30 seats there alone.

News18 gave the NDA 51 to 64 seats in the region, while Axis My India gave it 59 to 67.

"The BJP is now poised for its big entry in south India," said CVoter founder Yashwant Deshmukh, predicting it had substantially increased its vote share in all those states to worry the ruling parties there. "Now they can say they are a pan-India party. Modi's popularity is the biggest thing."

If the polls are right, the BJP looks set to open its account in Kerala, a Communist bastion where Modi's colleagues have been reaching out to Hindus and Christians.

"There is a Modi wave ..." said A. Jayashankar, a political analyst. "The Ram temple move worked silently in the state. The BJP has also managed to sway Christian denominations in Kerala."

The main opposition Congress party dismissed the exit polls, saying its "INDIA" alliance would get a clear majority of 295 seats in the 543-seat lower house of parliament.

Political analyst Ghanta Chakrapani said any BJP gains were a direct threat to Congress in the region.

"Whats also worked well for the BJP is ... they chose people who have a strong local presence, from castes or communities which are locally strong, dominant and have a good following in that region," he said.

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das, Rishika Sadam and Chris Thomas; editing by Giles Elgood)
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Police are looking for a man who has stolen money from businesses and people in Manhattan in the last two weeks.

PIX11 News obtained surveillance video of one of these robberies.

More Crime News

Police say in most of the incidents, the suspect used a Citi bike to get away after committing these crimes. According to authorities, he pretended to have a gun. It is not confirmed if he was indeed armed.

Amjad Ali has owned a deli on East 34th Street and Second Avenue in midtown for three decades.

My guy said he didnt see the gun, but he said I have gun give me money, said Ali

Surveillance cameras captured the moment when a man who said he was carrying a gun approached one of his workers and demanded money from the register.

He checked on the inside. He didnt say nothing. We keep 100 dollars always, gave to him, added the deli owner.

Alis business is one of at least six along the east side between East Third and East 107 Street that have been robbed in the last two weeks. Authorities are looking for this suspect.

Im scared about that, if something happens like that, said Ahmed Hamed. Adding says it is terrifying knowing that there is a man out there who is potentially armed. Police say the Dunkins location next to his convenience store on East 57th and Second Avenue was a target last Wednesday.

The perpetrator is not just aiming at businesses. Police say at least three other robberies have occurred to random people walking on the street. One of the victims was a 17-year-old boy. Same age as Jeremiah Ortiz.

Sometimes you just gotta be on the lookout because you dont know what happened on the day-to-day basis, stated the teenager.

According to the NYPD, the thief has stolen about 1,000 thousand dollars. But as this worker from another deli that was also robbed says, the damage the criminal is causing is way much more.

Sometimes, I feel scared because I dont know who is coming. If you are scared about who comes in, how can you do your business?

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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.

The post Montana senator holds up nomination of states first Native American federal judge appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Maryland flags will fly at half-staff Saturday in honor of former Del. Doyle L. Niemann, who died earlier this month.

Former Del. Doyle Niemann (D-Prince Georges). Prince Georges County States Attorneys office photo.

Niemann served for more than a decade in the House of Delegates representing Prince Georges County as a Democrat. He also held a number of other position in Prince Georges County, including on the school board and in the states attorneys office.

Niemann, 77, died on May 1 at Washington Hospital Center. A former colleague told Maryland Matters that Niemanns death was the result of complications from surgery to remove a tumor.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Karen, and three children  Cassi Niemann, Shea Niemann, and Travis Niemann  four grandchildren, and a brother.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) ordered flags to be flown and half-staff from sunrise to sunset on June 1 to honor Niemann.

The post Moore orders flags lowered Saturday in honor of Niemann appeared first on Maryland Matters.
More than 9,000 acres of forest engulfed in flames in Kharkiv Oblast, State Emergency Service says

Massive forest fires have engulfed more than 3,700 hectares (9,140 acres) of forest in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said on June 1.

There were at least nine separate fires, most of which were started by Russian strikes, the State Emergency Service said. Six of the fires, encompassing around 2,300 hectares (5,680 acres) were contained.

The work of firefighters has been complicated by ongoing Russian attacks in the area and the presence of mines and other unexploded ordinance, the State Emergency Service said.

An investigation by NGL Media in April found that more than 60,000 hectares (148,000 acres) of forests have been destroyed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine, amounting to at least Hr 14 billion ($360 million) in damages.

Ukraine's State Forest Resources Agency estimated in March that almost 30% of the country's forests have have suffered some kind of damage due to hostilities.

Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets told Deutsche Welle in January that the environmental costs of Russia's war have already exceeded Hr 2.2 trillion ($56.6 billion). Kyiv has recorded 3,600 Russian crimes against the environment, he added.

Read also: Opinion: Green recovery in Ukraine is a strategic imperative for the EU

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Mosaic Templars kick off Juneteenth celebrations in Little Rock

Mosaic Templars kick off Juneteenth celebrations in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A flag raising at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Saturday morning kicked off a month full of events commemorating Juneteenth.

The Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge took part in the 3rd annual ceremony on West 9th Street.





Preparations are underway for the Little Rock Juneteenth In Da Rock Street Festival on Saturday, June 15.

We have our local artists thatll be here, we have over 130 vendors, food and treats, information, jewelry clothing  all of that combined, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Director Quantia Key Fletcher said.

Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden.

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center prepares for Juneteenth celebration

On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce that all enslaved people were free, which was two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

To learn more about Juneteenth events, please visit JuneteenthLittleRock.com .

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
A total of 73 combat engagements between Ukrainian and Russian forces took place across the battlefield over the course of 1 June, most of them on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 19:00 on 1 June

Details: Russian occupation forces are continuing to carry out airstrikes on Ukraines Kharkiv Oblast from Russia. As part of these attacks, Russian forces fired guided aerial bombs on Kharkiv and Velyki Prokhody from near Belgorod, Russia; they also dropped three guided bombs on Ruska Lozova, and one each on Piatykhatky and Chaikivka. They also deployed eight air-to-surface rockets to attack Veterynarne.

Four combat clashes occurred on the Kupiansk front, with Ukrainian forces successfully repelling two Russian assaults; the other two are still ongoing near Druzheliubivka. Russian forces frequently deploy guided aerial bombs in this area, dropping two on Druzheliubivka and one on Raihorodka today. Russian aircraft launched air-to-surface rockets on Tabaivka (7 missiles) and Synkivka (14 missiles).

On the Siversk front, Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed 10 times today. Ukrainian forces repelled one of the Russian assaults, but the other nine are still ongoing. The situation is under Ukrainian forces control.

On the Kramatorsk front, Russian forces launched several aircraft-supported assaults. Units of Ukraines Defence Forces repelled four Russian assaults on this front.

The situation on the Pokrovsk front remains difficult. A total of 23 combat engagements occurred on this front over the course of today, with aircraft-supported Russian forces continuing to make attempts to break through the Ukrainian defences. Ukrainian forces repelled 14 Russian assaults, and the other nine are still ongoing.

On the Kurakhove front, Russian forces carried out 19 assaults, with Ukraines Defence Forces successfully repelling 13 of them. Another six clashes are underway near Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka and Vodiane, where Russian aircraft are actively operating.

On the Vremivka front, Ukrainian forces repelled four Russian assaults.

Three clashes occurred near Krynky on the Prydniprovske front, where Russian forces deployed their aircraft to attack Ukrainian positions.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Mt. Angel man accused of murdering an individual in January was arrested in Mexico, officials announced.

Agustin Barocio, 42, was taken into custody on May 24 and has been transported back to the U.S. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Timeline: Atmospheric river impacts on Oregon, Washington this weekend

Barocio is accused of shooting and killing 42-year-old Brandon Slack on New Years Day in Marion County.

The Marion County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the U.S. Marshals for their assistance with this investigation, authorities said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
FILE PHOTO: Tin Oo, a patron of the NLD, points out other party members at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the NLD in Yangon

(Reuters) - Tin Oo, a towering figure in Myanmar's pro-democracy movement and close ally of detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, died on Saturday at age 97, political associates and close friends said.

Tin Oo had a pivotal role with Suu Kyi in the 1988 creation of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which suffered two decades of persecution over its non-violent struggle against military dictatorship.

The NLD ruled Myanmar for five years until its overthrow in a 2021 coup, weeks after its second successive landslide election win during a decade of tentative democracy.

A former military commander who turned into a powerful advocate for democracy, Tin Oo had stepped back from active politics during the NLD's short stint in office due to health issues, but his influence and legacy continued to be felt within the democracy movement, according to his associates.

The cause of death was not immediately clear.

"A dutiful and loyal uncle U Tin Oo, may you rest in peace," Zin Mar Aung, foreign minister of Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government, posted on social media.

Suu Kyi, 78, is in detention at an unknown location, serving a 27-year sentence for a multitude of offences her allies say were trumped up by the junta to keep her at bay.

It was not immediately clear if she was aware of Tin Oo's death. A spokesperson for the junta could not immediately be reached for comment.

COUNTRY IN CHAOS

Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup, with the military struggling to govern and stifled by an alliance of ethnic minority armies and an anti-junta resistance movement that have been battling security forces, posing the biggest challenge to the military since it first took power in 1962.

Born in 1927, Tin Oo joined the military after World War Two and rose to commander in chief. He was forced to retire in 1976 and spent four years in prison, convicted of involvement in a coup plot against military ruler Ne Win.

A popular figure among troops and the public, according to associates, Tin Oo re-emerged as a political figure during mass protests in 1988 that were brutally suppressed by the army, leading to the NLD's formation.

Like Suu Kyi, Tin Oo was detained for years, in jail and under house arrest, until his release in 2010 ahead of the military's transition to a quasi-civilian political system.

He ignored orders to stay out of politics and was released with Suu Kyi, who was allowed to enter parliament in 2012. The NLD, with Tin Oo as patron, emerged as Myanmar's biggest political force and was swept to power in a November 2015 election.

Tin Oo in 2016 told Reuters he was "too old" and had therefore ruled out becoming president to lead Myanmar alongside Suu Kyi, who was barred from the post but served as head of government in a specially created role of state counsellor until her overthrow in 2021.

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Editing by Martin Petty and William Mallard)
Netanyahu on cease-fire talks: Conditions for ending the war have not changed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that conditions for a cease-fire in its war against Hamas, have not changed, despite President Biden announcing that an end to the fighting could be in sight.

Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, the prime ministers office said in a statement.

Netanyahu added that Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent cease-fire is put in place, calling any plans otherwise a non-starter.

His latest comments come just a day after Biden delivered remarks Friday afternoon, announcing the terms of a proposal from Israel that includes a three-part road map toward ending fighting and the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.

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, Biden said. Its a road map to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages.

The proposal was sent to Hamas through Qatar, but Biden said the group had not yet formally accepted the deal.

Each of the three phases would be about 42 days long. Phase one, during the six-week pause in fighting, would distribute relief to the Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Phase two would involve the release of the remaining hostages. Phase three would involve an extensive three-to-five year reconstruction plan for Gaza backed by the U.S. and international community.

Biden acknowledged that many Israelis will not be happy with the deal but urged them to get behind the plan despite whatever pressure comes.

The White House said earlier this week that the Israeli strike that caught fire and killed dozens of civilians did not cross a red line that would have led to a shift in policy. Still, Biden urged Israel to take a step back and accept the deal.

While on a bike ride in Delaware Saturday, Biden did not answer reporters questions about Netanyahus latest comments, per the White House pool report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two of Benjamin Netanyahus hard-Right coalition allies on Saturday night threatened to quit the government if he goes ahead with the truce deal outlined by Joe Biden.

The US president announced on Friday that Israel had offered a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire including the release of hostages held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

But Itamar Ben Gvir, Israels national security minister, said his party would dissolve the government if the deal went through, describing the proposal as a victory for terrorism and a security risk to the State of Israel.

Agreeing to such a deal is not total victory  but total defeat, he said.

Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, said he would not be part of a government that will agree to the proposed outline.

We demand the continuation of the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages return, Mr Smotrich said, adding that he opposes the return of displaced Gazans to the territorys north  one of the stages of the plan announced by Biden  as well as the wholesale release of terrorists.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu insisted that the destruction of Hamas was part of the Israeli plan laid out by Biden.

The Israeli prime minister also called a permanent ceasefire in Gaza a non-starter until long-standing conditions for ending the war are met, appearing to undermine the proposal.

Protesters march in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for an end to fighting and backing Joe Biden's deal - GETTY IMAGES

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid vowed to offer Netanyahu our safety net for a hostage deal if Ben Gvir and Smotrich leave the government.

The prime minister is facing growing political pressure over the war.

Without the support of Mr Ben Gvir and Mr Smotrichs parties, Mr Netanyahus coalition could lose its majority in parliament.

It comes after Benny Gantz, a member of Mr Netanyahus war cabinet, on Friday submitted a bill to dissolve Israels government to unseat the prime minister.

Mr Netanyahu on Friday insisted that Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place.

The US president on Friday asserted that Hamas militants are no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one on October 7. He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended ceasefire.

Hard-Right members of Israel's government want the war in Gaza to continue - GETTY IMAGES

The first phase of the deal described by Mr Biden would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from the wars devastation.

Mr Biden acknowledged that keeping the proposal on track would be difficult, with details to negotiate to move from the first phase to the second. Mr Biden said if Hamas fails to fulfil its commitment under the deal, Israel can resume military operations.

Hamas has said it viewed the proposal positively and called on Israel to declare an explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

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By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Gaza conflict mediators on Saturday urged Israel and Hamas to finalise a ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden that they said would bring immediate relief to people in Gaza and to the hostages and their families.

Israel has said there will be no formal end to the war as long as Hamas retains power, raising questions of timing and interpretation over the truce offer, which has been provisionally welcomed by the Palestinian faction.

Biden said on Friday that Israel had proposed a deal involving an initial six-week ceasefire with a partial Israeli military withdrawal and the release of some hostages while "a permanent end to hostilities" is negotiated through mediators.

The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been seeking for months to mediate an end to the war, but a deal has proven elusive.

The proposal, Biden said, also "creates a better 'day after' in Gaza without Hamas in power". He did not elaborate on how that might be achieved. The Iranian-backed Islamist group has given no indication it might step aside or disarm voluntarily.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Saturday any notion that Israel would agree a permanent ceasefire before "the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities" was "a non-starter".

Two members of his coalition also threatened to withdraw from the government if he went ahead with a deal that ended the war without destroying Hamas.

Hamas said on Friday it was ready to engage "positively and in a constructive manner". But senior official Mahmoud Mardawi told Qatari television it had not yet received details of the proposal.

"No agreement can be reached before the demand for the withdrawal of the occupation army and a ceasefire is met," he said. Hamas remains committed to Israel's destruction.

Israel has been willing only to suspend the war in exchange for hostages, saying it would resume the campaign to eliminate the Hamas threat. Hamas wants any deal to entail concrete Israeli moves to end the war, such as a full troop withdrawal.

A senior Biden administration official, asked about a potential rift in the U.S. and Israeli viewpoints on the future of Hamas, suggested this may be open to interpretation and would come down to future Egyptian and Qatari sway over the movement.

"I have no doubt that the deal will be characterised by Israel and be characterised by Hamas," the official told reporters.

"And I think the arrangements and some of the day-after planning, you know, helps ensure that  that Hamass military capacity to regenerate in a way that can threaten Israel would be very much foreclosed under this arrangement and, I think the president said in his speech, ensuring that Hamas cannot rearm."

MONTHS OF WAR

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas-led Palestinian fighters rampaged into southern Israel from Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing more than 250 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has left the territory in ruins, led to widespread starvation, and killed more than 36,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, who say most of the dead are civilians. More than 290 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the Gaza invasion.

An Israeli public once solidly behind the war is showing signs of fatigue amid worry for the fate of the hostages.

Benny Gantz, a centrist ex-general who joined Netanyahu in an emergency coalition, has threatened to bolt next week if the prime minister does not form a Gaza day-after plan with him.

But in a possible sign that that could be deferred, Gantz on Saturday voiced appreciation for Biden and called for the Israeli war cabinet to be convened "to decide the next steps".

On Wednesday, Netanyahu's National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said he expected the war to continue for the rest of 2024, at least.

In the United States, Israel's main ally, the extent of civilian suffering in Gaza has put pressure on Biden, who hopes to win a second presidential term in the November election.

In his speech on Friday, Biden called on Israel's leadership to resist pressure from those in the country who wanted the war to go on "indefinitely".

Netanyahu could have a chance to rebut in Washington soon. His office said he had accepted an invitation to address both houses of Congress by top lawmakers - which would make him the first foreign leader to make such an appearance four times.

Netanyahu said he felt honoured and would use the opportunity to tell "the representatives of the American people and the entire world the truth about our righteous war against those who seek our destruction".

Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu to agree a hostages and ceasefire deal, saying his party would support it even if ultranationalist factions in the governing religious-rightist coalition rebelled. Lapid's pledge meant a deal would likely pass in parliament.

"The government of Israel cannot ignore President Biden's consequential speech. There is a deal on the table and it should be made," Lapid said on social media.

(Reporting by Dan Williams; Additional reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Frances Kerry, Giles Elgood and Daniel Wallis)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Head Start programs in the Las Vegas Valley will receive more funding after lawmakers approved a $275 million increase for fiscal year 2024, bringing the programs total budget to $12.2 billion.

The program, which aims to create early learning opportunities for newborns through age 5, is provided at no charge to eligible families. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, eligibility includes families whose income is at or below the poverty level.

Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto visited one such Las Vegas learning center Thursday to highlight the billion-dollar push for the program. She said that Head Start parents need a place where they know their children will be safe and taken care of.

Critics of Head Start suggest that it doesnt do enough to prepare students for school, pointing to the Department of Health and Human Servicess report that indicated that by third grade, there was little difference in outcome between students who attended Head Start and those who didnt.

However, advocates for the program say that it works. Tameka Henry, the parent of a former Head Start child and current chair of the programs board of directors, described how she said the program engaged her as a parent.

Head Start truly works, Henry said.

Aside from the current funding, Cortez Masto said she is pushing for additional funding to help hire people to work at learning centers, adding that the staff must be able to make a living.

Officials from Acelero Learning, which operates licensed Head Start centers in Clark County, agree. They said the additional funding would reduce the number of children on wait lists for Head Start and allow learning centers to expand to where they are most needed, most urgently in North Las Vegas.

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As head of the Manhattan Mental Health Court, Justice Juan Merchan is accustomed to dealing with people who commit crimes and want to avoid getting locked upbut not people who are also running for president.

After a New York jury convicted Donald Trump of 34 felonies on Thursday, Merchan set sentencing for July 11. That timing raises the disquieting possibility that Trump could be handed a prison sentence days before the Republican convention officially nominates him for the presidency. He might also face probation, limiting his movements and preventing him from attending the event in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state. Theres even the comical possibility that Trump, who complains about Manhattans filthy streets, will be forced to do community service.

Its an anxiety inducing period for the Trump campaign. Inside Merchan's courtroom on Wednesday morning, spokesman Steven Cheung whispered to this reporter that the campaign has essentially remained in a holding pattern due to the legal chaos of recent weeks. The team can only now start planning the days ahead.

But this is also a time for Merchan to ponder what it means to punish a powerful politician who recently said he would want to be a dictator for one day upon returning to the White House, who in 2020 told the armed fascist Proud Boys gang to stand back and stand by, and who is currently facing trial in Washington for trying to remain in office after losing the last election.

The judge has 40 days. And he has a lot to consider.

Unlike federal court, where sentencing guidelines devolve into a game of point-based math that narrowly defines the punishment to come, New York law gives sweeping authority for state judges to rule as they see fit.

The world is his oyster, said Jill Konviser, a retired New York criminal court judge, of Merchan.

Its the one place were not micromanaged by the legislature. He can consider all the prior cases, the probation report, what the defendant said before, during, and after the trial, the lawyers comments in court, and he can consider the manner in which the defendant behaved himself.

Merchan is freesome would say requiredto consider Trumps total lack of remorse. In public statements after the verdict was read, Trump repeatedly bemoaned a rigged, disgraceful trial.

We didnt do a thing wrong. Im a very innocent man, he said. Our whole country is being rigged right now well fight until the end and well win, because our countrys gone to hell.

What fight was he talking about? The trial? Or the retribution he has promised if he wins? It could matter to Judge Merchan.

Trump relentlessly flouted court rules, handing over $10,000 to the 10th-floor clerks office for repeatedly violating Merchans gag order. Trump intimidated prosecutors. He intimidated witnesses. He even directed his loyalists rage at the judges daughteralleging yet another conspiracy theory, that this was all a political sham, this time based on the fact that she runs a consulting firm that works with Democrats.

How Trumps Cheapness Over Stormy and Cohen Came to Cost So Much

And of course, there are the basic details in Trumps biography. As a Manhattan prosecutor targeting fraudsters, Catherine A. Christian saw judges consider all kinds of personal details when trying to determine how harshly to bring down the hammer.

They look at criminal history and delinquency, background, personal habits, social history, economic status, and any other factor that the judge deems relevant, she said.

In Trumps case, Christian said, Its a nonviolent felony. Hes an old man. He has no criminal convictions. [But] its fair to say he has three open indictments in three different jurisdictions. Hes had several judgments regarding fraud, the most recent one with Justice Engoron.

Shes referring to Arthur F. Engoron, the civil court judge at another courthouse just a block down the street, the one Trump railed against in televised daily speeches during a three-month bank fraud trial that ended with a $500 million judgment Trump still hasnt paid.

Trumps nonstop vitriolcalling the judge lunatic, wacko, hater, corruptinfected the MAGA hive mind. The phone line in Engorons chambers was flooded with death threats and increasingly sick taunts, with the worst directed at his law clerk, Allison Greenfield. The last day of that trial was nearly postponed after someone threatened to bomb Engorons home, police cars speeding to his quiet neighborhood on the northern side of Long Island.

Thats another thing for Merchan to consider: his own personal safety.

Nothings in a vacuum, Konviser said. Hes a human being, and thats something thatll be on his mind. But that wont drive the results in this case.

Not that Trump will make it any easier. On Friday, he dedicated the first three minutes of his groaning speech at Trump Tower to his utter contempt for the gray-haired man in black robes with whom hed spent the last seven weeks.

It was very unfair, Trump whined. You saw what happened to some of the witnesses on our side. They were literally crucified by this man, who looks like an angel but hes really a devil. He looks so nice and soft.

But he went on.

Theres never been a more conflicted judge. Minutes later: The judge was a tyrant. And then: Hes a crooked judge its very dangerous for me to say that but Im willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and our constitution.

He paused for applause, then promised to continue the fight. Well make America great again.

How Might Judge Merchan Treat Trump? These Defendants Know

And thats the Catch-22 Merchan must confront. The more harshly he punishes this convicted felon, the more he fuels the threat of civil unrest. (During the trial, the judge made a single, veiled reference to the maelstrom he knows could be unleashed.) But if he goes too easy on Trump, Merchan runs the risk of weakening the publics faith in its institutions.

Of course theres a risk. Hes damned if he does and damned if he doesnt, Konviser said.

The road to hell may be paved with good intentions, but the onramp to authoritarianism has often been built with acceptance of rule-breaking leaders.

That phenomenon was aptly captured by Milton Mayer, a Jewish-American journalist who spent considerable time after World War II living with and befriending Germans who were active members of the Nazi partywithout ever revealing his background.

It is actual resistance which worries tyrants, not lack of the few hands required to do the dark work of tyranny, he wrote in his 1955 book, They Thought They Were Free.

The book has seen something of a resurgence since Trumps election win in 2016, recommended by scholars of fascism. The #Resist movement that emerged then was made up of everyday liberals swearing to counter Trumps nativism and corruption. Now Trump has turned his rage toward the nations institutions, hes unwittingly made the justice systemeven when its simply doing its job fairlypart of that resistance too.

No defendant is entitled to a perfect trial, Konviser said. Theyre entitled to a fair one. And he got one.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Investigators responded to a reported sexual assault Friday night in Jefferson County but found no evidence that it actually happened.

There was a heavy police presence in the 7000 block of Sangre De Cristo Road because of the investigation, according to a 6:49 p.m. post from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

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The area is southwest of West Ken Caryl Avenue and South Kipling Parkway. Ken Caryl Ranch Community Park is on that block.

Around 7:15 p.m., a sheriffs office spokesperson told FOX31 that all units responding to the report were standing down because they found no evidence of a sexual assault in that area or a victim. The incident was thoroughly investigated but was not what was initially reported, and investigators determined no crime was committed, the sheriffs office later posted.

No further details were immediately released about the case.

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Looming elections across North America could upend a decades-long integration process as the continents three major nations face sharp choices between populism and traditional liberalism.

The interactions among Mexican, U.S. and Canadian leaders stand to shape the political and economic future of a free trade zone with complex and profitable supply lines and consumer markets on one hand  and increasingly fortified borders on the other.

On Sunday, Mexico will choose between former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, who shares the centralist, populist vision of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or a return to the institutionalist structure favored by Mexicos traditional political parties, former bitter rivals banded together behind opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez.

Canada, a country thats yet get its taste of 21st century populism, will head to the polls on or before October 2025; for the moment, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is tanking in the polls, and populist Conservative Pierre Poilievre is gaining strength.

And of course, this November features the heavyweight matchup in the U.S.: President Biden and his traditional liberal approach to governance vs. former President Trumps nationalist populism.

Elections matter, and leaders matter for that purpose. And we have two different kinds of leaders for each of the three countries, and the mismatch between them could make a difference, said Roberta Lajous, a fellow at the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute and former diplomat who represented Mexico as ambassador to four countries, including Cuba from 2002 to 2005.

So we really have to look at the future of North America carefully. We have to see who wins in each of the three countries, because a lot is at stake. And from the point of view of North America, what is at stake is the possibility to continue in a path greater economic integration or the path to a bumpy road, added Lajous, who openly supports Galvez.

In a global trade environment increasingly defined by major trading blocs, North America, under the auspices of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), is up against blocs including the European Economic Area and Asias Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in a race to build competitive and sustainable webs of supply chains and consumer markets.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, both Mexico and Canada have overtaken China as the United States top trading partners  the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada trade relationships are the two largest bilateral trade relationships in the world.

Migration dominates

But trade is not the center of attention in the U.S. and Mexican elections.

The relationship in general is very focused on the U.S. seeking for Mexico to reduce the number of people arriving at the U.S. southern border, said Stephanie Brewer, director for Mexico at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights-focused research and advocacy organization.

Mexico under Lopez Obrador has been a key player in U.S. border policy under both Biden and Trump, including by dialing Mexican immigration enforcement up or down to influence the number of migrants showing up at the U.S.-Mexico border, and by agreeing to receive third-country nationals expelled by the United States.

[Lopez Obrador] has managed the relationship with Washington the way it was managed during the period of the hegemonic party in the middle of the Cold War. Instead of open and frank cooperation, said Ildefonso Guajardo, Galvezs top foreign policy advisor and the former top Mexican USMCA negotiator. He manages his assets with Biden [migration and fentanyl] to prevent Washington from opining on human rights and democracy in Mexico.

That dynamic, or something like it, is likely to remain regardless of who wins on Sunday and in November.

The policies are going to differ, but I think the underlying sort of common objective of whoever wins the White House is to stem illegal migration to the United States. How that plays out and which policies are enacted will obviously be different depending on who stays in power in the United States, but I do believe that no matter what theyre going to have to deal with Mexico on this issue, said Lila Abed, acting director of the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute.

The core of Trumps immigration policies, such as Title 42 or the Migrant Protection Protocols  better known as remain in Mexico  depended on Lopez Obrador agreeing, sometimes under the threat of tariffs, to take in a number of foreign nationals.

Bidens approach has been less blunt, but his administration has at all costs avoided being critical of Lopez Obrador while enjoying the results of a massive Mexican crackdown thats cut border encounters from just over 300,000 in December to 179,725 in April.

The administration is widely believed to be holding back on its own crackdown on asylum until after Sundays election, where Sheinbaum is the heavy favorite.

Claudia Sheinbaum, when asked about migration policy, has emphasized and often really limited her answers to the need to address the root causes of migration, said Brewer.

And that, of course, has been also a major talking point for President Lopez Obrador, while at the same time Lopez Obrador has in practice continuously ramped up containment measures and detention measures and militarized borders and imposed visa requirements. And currently, the Mexican government is returning large quantities of people from the north of Mexico to the south of Mexico.

Brewer added that Galvez has been especially critical of Lopez Obradors acceptance of U.S.-imposed migration policies, whether under threat or through other diplomatic means.

What we havent heard or seen very clearly, from anyone, are plans to really transform these policies or Mexicos participation in these types of U.S. border policies and to really transform the current model of quote-unquote, management of migratory flows, because the current model is to concentrate an enormous population of migrants and asylum seekers in Mexico, which is an unsustainable model, she said.

Who is Claudia Sheinbaum?

If polls are correct and Sheinbaum wins by a wide margin on Sunday, Lopez Obrador will be handing over power to a hand-picked successor who has for years sung the praises of what the term-limited incumbent calls the fourth transformation, the dogmatic base of his movement to reengineer power structures in Mexico.

Sheinbaum, who often touts her scientific credentials as a PhD energy engineer and as an environmentalist, became mayor of Mexico City more than a decade after Lopez Obrador left the post.

As mayor, she emulated Lopez Obradors policies, including a controversial emphasis on construction of urban highways known as the segundos pisosor second stories of Mexico Citys existing ring roads.

Sheinbaum has described her governance goals as building the segundos pisosof the fourth transformation, leaning heavily on the symbolism surrounding the highly popular Lopez Obrador.

Thats led both friend and foe to wonder whether and how far Sheinbaum would distance herself from Lopez Obradors more contentious policies.

We dont know who Claudia Sheinbaum really is. We dont know if she will continue to follow word-for-word whatever Lopez Obrador says, or if she will be her own self. So we dont know, one. Two, between the moment that AMLO started his administration and today, many contentious issues have risen within USMCA, said Lajous.

Beyond migration

Bubbling USMCA controversies likely await Mexicos first female president, whether its Galvez or Sheinbaum, potentially even eclipsing the political relevance of migration in a second Biden or Trump term.

One would hope that the next Mexican president would enact policies to reverse the measures that are in violation of the USMCA, said Abed, referring to a slew of Lopez Obrador policies from imposing state control of energy markets to banning genetically modified corn.

Galvezs camp believes Lopez Obrador is gunning for a Trump victory to preserve those policies.

[Lopez Obrador] is betting on a Trump victory, that means more pragmatism in the relationship. And thats the policy that Claudia Sheinbaum would follow, Guajardo said. Xochitl on the contrary has a modern vision of geopolitics and the strategic integration of Mexico in North America.

Galvez is all but certain to take a more liberal approach to economic management, particularly as the countrys fiscal deficit has soared under Lopez Obrador and his penchant for massive pet projects, though both Sheinbaum and Galvez have pledged to maintain direct cash transfer assistance programs that seem to have made a dent in the countrys poverty rates.

Energy policy is already a source of tension between the United States and Mexico, though one that has been obscured by discussions on migration.

Lopez Obrador has reemphasized state control of energy production and distribution, bolstering state-owned oil company PEMEX and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

Theres an inherent contradiction between what Claudia Sheinbaum has been signaling  though not openly stating  in regards to what her policies with renewables would be with the fact that she has explicitly doubled down on the predominant role that PEMEX and utilities company CFE would play in her administration. You cant have your cake and eat it too, said Arturo Sarukhan, who served as Mexican ambassador to the United States from 2007 to 2013.

Concerns about the security of foreign investments and global economic trends have contributed to a slowdown in new foreign investment, with the exception of Chinese investment thats looking to cash in on nearshoring, while circumventing trade barriers set between Washington and Beijing.

More than anything, I would highlight the following and thats Chinese investment in Mexico. I think that thats a real red flag for the United States, because it actually puts at risk the national security of the United States in terms of certain technologies, critical infrastructure, sensitive data, said Abed.

Skepticism over security reforms

One of Lopez Obradors most significant legacies will be the expansion of military control into traditional civilian areas, from running customs at borders and ports to construction and administration of large infrastructure projects.

I think [Sheinbaum] has signaled that she will not do a U-turn on the growing encroachment of the armed forces in a number of public policy matters that have nothing to do with national security or national defense. Xochitl Galvez, I think, would try to rein in some of the extra duties that Lopez Obrador has given the armed forces over these past years, said Sarukhan.

But many Mexicans are skeptical of changes in security policy. Since 2006, the military has taken a central role in fighting organized crime, with each successive president creating a new national police force that in effect is manned by soldiers.

Lopez Obradors version of a militarized police, the National Guard, has limited its frontal engagements with non-state armed groups and instead retreated to a patrol role, while also enforcing his migration crackdowns.

Galvez says that a priority will be making sure the National Guard is under a civilian command, but we havent heard of proposal that would really significantly deviate from deployment of the armed forces in security tasks. Claudia Sheinbaum, of course, pledging to continue with the current model of militarization as well, said Brewer.

Once again, theres reason for voters to be skeptical of the extent to which a change in ruling party would really bring about that change because the past three administrations  which have all been changing parties  have not brought about the needed change.

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The trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, is seen behind police tape in Incheon, South Korea, Sunday, June 2, 2024. North Korea launched hundreds of more trash-carrying balloons toward the South after a similar campaign a few days ago, according to South Koreas military, in what Pyongyang calls retaliation for activists flying anti-North Korean leaflets across the border. (Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea launched hundreds more trash-carrying balloons toward the South after a similar campaign a few days earlier, according to South Koreas military, in what Pyongyang calls retaliation for activists flying anti-North Korean leaflets across the border.

Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, about 600 balloons flown from North Korea have been found in various parts of South Korea. The balloons carried cigarette butts, scraps of cloth, waste paper and vinyl, but no dangerous substances were included, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday.

The military advised people to beware of falling objects and not to touch objects suspected to be from North Korea but report them to military or police offices instead. There have been no reports of injuries or damage.

In Seoul, the city government sent text alerts saying that unidentified objects suspected to be flown from North Korea were detected in skies near the city and that the military was responding to them.

The Norths balloon launches added to a recent series of provocative steps, which include its failed spy satellite launch and and a barrage of short-range missiles launches that the North said was intended to demonstrate its ability to attack the South preemptively.

South Koreas military dispatched chemical rapid response and explosive clearance teams to recover the debris from some 260 North Korean balloons that were found in various parts of the country from Tuesday night to Wednesday. The military said the balloons carried various types of trash and manure but no dangerous substances like chemical, biological or radioactive materials. Some of the balloons were found with timers that suggested they were designed to pop the bags of trash midair.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, confirmed that the North sent the balloons to make good on her countrys recent threat to scatter mounds of wastepaper and filth in South Korea in response to leafleting campaigns by South Korean activists.

She hinted that balloons could become the Norths standard response to leafletting moving forward, saying that the North would respond by scattering rubbish dozens of times more than those being scattered to us.

South Koreas Unification Ministry said Friday that North Korea must stop the provocations  also including its missile launches and other acts  or face unspecified unbearable consequences.

South Koreas military has said it has no plans to shoot down the balloons, citing concerns about causing damage or the possibility that they might contain dangerous substances. Firing at balloons near the border would also risk triggering a retaliation from the North at a time of high tensions.

(We) decided it was best to let the balloons drop and recover them safely, Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing Thursday.

North Korea is extremely sensitive about any outside attempt to undermine Kim Jong Uns absolute control over the countrys 26 million people, most of whom have little access to foreign news.

In 2020, North Korea blew up an empty South Korean-built liaison office on its territory after a furious response to South Korean civilian leafleting campaigns. In 2014, North Korea fired at propaganda balloons flying toward its territory and South Korea returned fire, though there were no casualties.

In 2022, North Korea even suggested that balloons flown from South Korea had caused a COVID-19 outbreak in the isolated nation, a highly questionable claim that appeared to be an attempt to blame the South for worsening inter-Korean relations.

__

Associated Press writer Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report.
UPDATE: Police said Monday morning that Wilson was located and has safely returned home.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  North Las Vegas police are searching for a missing 74-year-old woman last heard from in the northeast valley.

Inez Evadney Wilson was last heard from on Friday, May 31 around 8 a.m., when she spoke to a family member on the phone at her home in the 3600 block of Emmons Avenue near north Pecos Road and Lake Mead Boulevard.

Police said Wilson arranged to pick up her aunt from the airport at 11 a.m. but never showed up. Her aunt found a ride to WIlsons home but did not answer the door and neighbors had not seen her all day.

North Las Vegas police responded to her home for a welfare check but they did not find Wilson inside.

Wilson is described as a black woman with brown eyes and grey/brown hair, 58, and around 185 pounds. Police said Wilson displays early signs of dementia and may get confused. She has a slight Jamaican accent and goes by the nickname Cherry.

Inez Evadney Wilson (NLVPD)

Inez Evadney Wilson (NLVPD)

Anyone with information on Wilsons whereabouts is asked to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department immediately at 702-633-9111.

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Not religious, not voting? The nones are a powerful force in politics  but not yet a coalition

Nearly 30% of Americans say they have no religious affiliation. Today the so-called nones represent about 30% of Democrats and 12% of Republicans  and they are making their voices heard. Organizations lobby on behalf of atheists, agnostics, secular humanists and other nonreligious people.

As more people leave religious institutions, or never join them in the first place, its easy to assume this demographic will command more influence. But as a sociologist who studies politics and religion, I wanted to know whether there was evidence that this religious change could actually make a strong political impact.

There are reasons to be skeptical of unaffiliated Americans power at the ballot box. Religious institutions have long been key for mobilizing voters, both on the left and the right. Religiously unaffiliated people tend to be younger, and younger people tend to vote less often. Whats more, exit polls from recent elections show the religiously unaffiliated may be a smaller percentage of voters than of the general population.

Most importantly, its hard to put the unaffiliated in a box. Only a third of them identify as atheists or agnostics. While there is a smaller core of secular activists, they tend to hold different views from the larger group of people who are religiously unaffiliated, such as being more concerned about the separation of church and state.

By combining all unaffiliated people as the nones, researchers and political analysts risk missing key details about this large and diverse constituency.

Crunching the numbers

In order to learn more about which parts of religious unaffiliated populations turn out to vote, I used data from the Cooperative Election Study, or CES, for presidential elections in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. The CES collects large surveys and then matches individual respondents in those surveys to validated voter turnout records.

These surveys were different from exit polls in some key ways. For example, according to these survey samples, overall validated voter turnout looked higher in many groups, not just the unaffiliated, than exit polls suggested. But because each survey sample had over 100,000 respondents and detailed questions about religious affiliation, they allowed me to find some important differences between smaller groups within the unaffiliated.

My findings, published in June 2023 in the journal Sociology of Religion, were that the unaffiliated are divided in their voter turnout: Some unaffiliated groups are more likely to vote than religiously affiliated respondents, and some are less likely.

People who identified as atheists and agnostics were more likely to vote than religiously affiliated respondents, especially in more recent elections. For example, after controlling for key demographic predictors of voting  like age, education and income  I found that atheists and agnostics were each about 30% more likely to have a validated record of voting in the 2020 election than religiously affiliated respondents.

With those same controls, people who identified their religion as simply nothing in particular, who are about two-thirds of the unaffiliated, were actually less likely to turn out in all four elections. In the 2020 election sample, for example, I found that around 7 in 10 agnostics and atheists had a validated voter turnout record, versus only about half of the nothing in particulars.

Together, these groups voting behaviors tend to cancel each other out. Once I controlled for other predictors of voting like age and education, the nones as a whole were equally likely to have a turnout record as religiously affiliated respondents.

Religious and nonreligious voting patterns may not be so different after all. Hill Street Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images

2024 and beyond

Concern about growing Christian nationalism, which advocates for fusing national identity and political power with Christian beliefs, has put a spotlight on religions role in right-wing advocacy.

Yet religion does not line up neatly with one party. The political left also boasts a diverse coalition of religious groups, and there are many Republican voters for whom religion is not important.

If the percentage of people without a religious affiliation continues to rise, both Republicans and Democrats will have to think more creatively and intentionally about how to appeal to these voters. My research shows that neither party can take the unaffiliated for granted nor treat them as a single, unified group. Instead, politicians and analysts will need to think more specifically about what motivates people to vote, and particularly what policies encourage voting among young adults.

For example, some activist groups talk about the secular values voter: someone who is increasingly motivated to vote by concern about separation of church and state. I did find evidence that the average atheist or agnostic is about 30% more likely to turn out than the average religiously affiliated voter, lending some support to the secular values voter story. At the same time, that description does not fit all the nones.

Instead of focusing on Americas declining religious affiliation, it may be more helpful to focus on the countrys increasing religious diversity, especially because many unaffiliated people still report having religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. Faith communities have historically been important sites for political organizing. Today, though, motivating and empowering voters might mean looking across a broader set of community institutions to find them.

Rethinking assumptions

There is good news in these findings for everyone, regardless of their political leanings. Social science theories from the 1990s and 2000s argued that leaving religion was part of a larger trend in declining civic engagement, like voting and volunteering, but that may not be the case.

According to my research, it was actually unaffiliated respondents who reported still attending religious services who were least likely to vote. Their turnout rates were lower than both frequently attending religious affiliates and unaffiliated people who never attended.

This finding matches up with previous research on religion, spirituality and other kinds of civic engagement. Sociologists Jacqui Frost and Penny Edgell, for example, found a similar pattern in volunteering among religiously unaffiliated respondents. In a previous study, sociologist Jaime Kucinskas and I found that spiritual practices like meditation and yoga were just as strongly associated with political behavior as religious practices like church attendance. Across these studies, it looks like disengagement from formal religion is not necessarily linked to political disengagement.

As the religious landscape changes, new potential voters may be ready to engage  if political leadership can enact policies that help them turn out, and inspire them to turn out, too.

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: Evan Stewart, UMass Boston

Read more:



Evan Stewart 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.
MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A now-former McColl Police Department captain was arrested Friday and charged with misconduct and second-degree assault and battery, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Dozier L. Rhames, 62, allegedly entered a home unlawfully on Aug. 26, assaulted the victim and then arrested the person without an originating criminal offense, according to warrants provided to News13 by SLED. The altercation stemmed from an earlier telephone conversation in between Rhames and the victim.

Rhames allegedly grabbed the victims left arm and throat and shoved the victim onto a couch, the warrants show. He also punched the victim twice in the face and allegedly told the victim, I tried to knock your f****** head off.

At least part of the incident was captured on Rhames body camera, the warrants show. He resigned on Thursday, according to employment documents News13 obtained from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

Rhames alleges in a report in the documents that he tried to grab the victim in the doorway of the residence after the victim tried to punch him.

This isnt the first time Rhames has faced trouble. The academy documents show that in October 2014, Rhames was charged with misconduct in office and fired from the Marion County Sheriffs Office after he was untruthful about being caught in a sexual act with another mans wife.

An unidentified victim complained to the Marion County Sheriffs Office that Rhames had slept with his wife. The command staff with the sheriffs office asked Rhames about the incident and he denied it, according to the documents.

Rhames was asked to submit a statement about the incident and to take a take a polygraph examination, which revealed that Rhames was deceptive during the exam. However, he did not lose his law-enforcement certification as a result of the incident.

Prior to working for the McColl Police Department, Rhames worked for the Bennettsville Police Department, the Marion Police Department on three occasions, the Timmonsville Police Department, the Marion County Sheriffs Office, the Aynor Police Department, the Conway Police Department and the Law View Police Department.

* * *

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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New NYC bill seeks to repeal de Blasio-era sanctuary city laws to help weed out criminal migrants

Despite anticipated pushback from the NYC Council's progressive Democratic majority, Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Dem, and Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) will be sponsoring legislation to repeal laws instituted under former Mayor Bill de Blasio that severely limit local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with the federal immigration officials

Migrant-friendly laws that limit local law enforcements ability to cooperate with the feds on immigration matters would be repealed under new legislation to be considered by the NYC Council.

Council members Robert Holden (D-Queens) and Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told The Post theyll introduce a bill Thursday that would roll back so-called sanctuary city laws approved from 2014-2018 under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Some of the laws prohibit the NYPD, and Correction and Probation departments from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents unless the cases involve suspected terrorists or serious public safety risks.

New City Council legislation seeks to repeal laws instituted under former Mayor Bill de Blasio that severely limit local law enforcements ability to cooperate with the feds on immigration matters. AP

The bill  which is likely to face strident objections from the Councils left-wing Democratic majority  would also reverse rules prohibiting city agencies from partnering with ICE to enforce federal immigration laws.

Sanctuary city laws put all New Yorkers, both immigrants and longtime residents, in danger by preventing the NYPD and DOC from working with ICE, said Holden, a moderate Dem. We do not need to import criminals, and only 23 years since 9/11, we have forgotten the deadly consequences of poor interagency communication. We must repeal these laws immediately.

Murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley might still be alive if it wasnt for the sanctuary city policies, Holden and other critics have said.

The 22-year-old was found dead Feb. 22 on the University of Georgias campus, six months after her alleged killer Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested in Queens and charged with endangering a child.

Queens Councilman Robert Holden said sanctuary city laws put all New Yorkers, both immigrants and longtime residents, in danger by preventing the NYPD and [the Department of Correction] from working with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Getty Images

The NYPD had no choice but to cut the Venezuelan-born Ibarra loose  instead of turning him over to federal immigration officials  because he didnt have any major crime convictions.

Like most things in New York, sanctuary city policy is a social experiment gone off the rails, said Borelli. All the problems with these local laws came out during the public-hearing process, but the Council just stepped harder on the gas pedal.

In February, Mayor Eric Adams called for the rules to be loosened so migrants suspected of serious crimes could also be turned over to ICE  as they once were under sanctuary city policies implemented as early as 1989 under ex-mayors Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg.

Migrants who crossed the southern border in January are dropped off in Trenton, NJ before getting transported to NYC. Christopher Sadowski

Former Mayor Bill de Blasios put policies place to help protect migrants, but critics say the rules are too lenient and must be repealed. AP

But Council Speaker Adrienne Adams shot down the idea a day later, saying she and the rest of the Councils progressive Democratic majority wouldnt be considering any rule changes.

Mayor Adams plans to review the legislation, said his spokesperson Kayla Mamelak.

The Council Speakers Office declined comment.
NEW YORK  More than 1,000 New York City high school students walked out of class Friday to protest the Israel-Hamas war  and the response by the nations largest school district to the heightened tensions.

Protest plans obtained by the Daily News called for students to stand up during class and start chanting slogans before heading out of their school building, and by mid-afternoon, about 400 protesters had converged on the central offices of the Department of Education in lower Manhattan.

Some students scribbled makeshift signs for a ceasefire on spiral notebooks, while others designed banners for their high schools, such as Bronx Science Against Apartheid and Ceasefire Art & Design 4 Palestine.

I think this is a great opportunity for New York students to speak their minds, because a lot of students havent been able to do that, said Sofya, a senior at Edward R. Murrow High School in Midwood, Brooklyn.

Our teachers unfortunately are not ever bringing up the subject of Palestine in classes, she added. It feels  like youre in this bubble universe where everyones blind and doesnt want to see whats happening.

Students called on city schools to support a teacher-led divestment campaign of pension funds from Israel and also for Palestinian history curriculum mandates. They demanded education officials protect students and teachers from disciplinary action and any retaliation for their activism.

In Harlem, a Palestinian-American sophomore named Salem at the City College Academy of the Arts said he thought he was the only student to walk out of the magnet school.

Its only me thats affected, said Salem. Whenever I wear a keffiyeh to school, Im always asked to take it off. But I keep it on.

This hasnt just started this year, he added. Ive always expressed myself being Palestinian.

Schools spokesman Nathaniel Styer warned there could be consequences for student actions.

Our expectation is that students remain in school, he said in a statement. If they leave school before dismissal, they will be marked absent from the classes they missed and could face disciplinary action. Additionally, we expect that our students will voice their opinions respectfully.

Aubrey, a senior at Central Park East High School in East Harlem, walked out of school as did her cousin who attends Brooklyn Technical High School. While she learns about the conflict in the Middle East, she said her cousin at the specialized Fort Greene high school has not been taught the same topic.

Were living in the most segregated school district in the country, Aubrey said. In my history classes, weve never shied away.

They know that were young, but they know that youth voices are actually voices. So they give us the space to talk about Israel-Palestine, Black Lives Matter, she added.

Groups including Teachers Unite, Palestinian Youth Movement, NYC Educators for Palestine and a progressive caucus of the United Federation of Teachers put out a toolkit of plans to help students organize the walkouts.

Teachers Unite said 27 schools were part of an organizing group but that more were likely to have participated in Fridays protest.

The Department of Education said it had gotten no reports on Friday of staff members leading students or participating during school hours, which is against local policy.

The walkout follows similar pro-Palestine protests throughout the school year, the largest of which was in November, when nearly 800 high school students demanded an immediate ceasefire at a march to the main branch of the New York Public Library. Another citywide walkout took place in February.

Chancellor David Banks, while describing himself as a big believer in student voices and students standing up for issues important to them, lamented at a Thursday news conference that students have missed their mark when they skip class.

If it just becomes a regular thing, now kids are just walking out of school just to walk out of school, he said.

_____
Harold "Heshy Tischler, a notoriously outspoken pol running for NYC Council, was captured on video telling a FDNY fire safety inspector he'll treat him to "the best corned beef and pastrami sandwiches on the planet" once a Brooklyn property dispute Tischler is involved in gets resolved. The video was turned over to the city's Department of Investigation to review allegations of bribery.

Hes in quite a pickle.

A notorious political firebrand running for City Council in Brooklyn is being probed by the city after being caught on video offering to treat an FDNY inspector to the best corned beef and pastrami sandwiches on the planet.

Harold Heshy Tischler tendered the tasty proposal on April 17 after the FDNY inspector arrived at 960 East Third Street in Midwood to investigate complaints of alleged misuse of a propane tank.

Harold Tischler was captured on video telling FDNY fire safety inspector Mateo Galloza hell treat him to the best corned beef and pastrami sandwiches on the planet once a property dispute Tischler is involved in gets resolved. Obtained by The New York Post

The exchange was caught in a nearly three-minute video filmed by Hershey Goldberger, whose family owns the home and is currently embroiled in a bitter, property-line dispute with their next-door neighbors, the Onefater family, over alleged illegal construction.

Tischler  who runs a nearby Foster Avenue business specializing in helping construction contractors score city permits and beat fines  is helping the Onefaters in their property fight.

Goldberger turned the video over to the city Department of Investigation and asked it to determine whether Tischlers nosh proffer to Fire Safety Inspector Mateo Galloza constituted a bribe.

The DOI requested additional information from Goldberger, according to an email chain examined by The Post.

Tischler, a self-described expediter for Brooklyns Orthodox Jewish community, said he is helping the Onefaters for free.

In the videotaped exchange, he told Galloza he hopes the dispute between Goldbergers stepfather Abe Friedman and the Onefaters is resolved soon.

He said once that happens theyll celebrate  his treat  at Essen New York Deli on Coney Island Avenue.

Pastrami sandwiches at Essen New York Deli in Brooklyn run $24 plus tax. Michael Nagle

The best corned beef and pastrami sandwiches on the planet, Tischler gushes.

If youre paying, Im there, whatever. So it dont matter to me, responds Galloza, who started working his $52,070-a-year job in October.

Ill even throw in a soda, says Tischler.

Thats it! shouts Galloza.

Hershey Goldberger and Abe and Rivka Friedman (far left to right) watch Harold Heshy Tischler yell at a New York Post reporter who was checking out their claim that a neighbor is stealing their property for a construction project. Michael Nagle

Pickles and cucumbers and Coke will come with it, so we have no problem, adds Tischler.

Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches at Essen run $24 a pop, plus tax, and soda is $3.

Extra lean pastrami is another buck.

Under city rules, offering someone lunch is something of value and could be considered a bribe.

If DOI determines wrongdoing, it could turn the case over to local prosecutors and also refer the matter to the citys Conflicts of Interest Board.

Hershey Goldberger points from his familys second-floor balcony in Midwood, Brooklyn, to new construction put up by a neighbor that he and his mother Rivka Friedman say expands onto their property. Michael Nagle

Penalties could include fines of up to $25,000, and Galloza could face suspension or be fired.

DOI said it is aware of the matter and declines further comment. An FDNY spokesperson said the incident is under investigation but declined further comment.

Ken Fisher, a lawyer representing the Onefaters, said his clients had nothing to do with Tischlers meal offer.

Tischler  who is planning to run as a Republican next year to replace term-limited Councilman Kalman Yeger in the 44th District representing Borough Park, Midwood and other parts of southwest Brooklyn  erupted Thursday when confronted by a Post reporter about the video.

Tischler chats with FDNY fire safety inspectors in April. During the conversation, which was taped, he let them know he was running for City Council. Obtained by The New York Post

He pulled out his smartphone and began recording while asking repeatedly, are you an idiot?  and if the reporter was homosexual  during a nearly eight-minute rant.

He then threatened to air the footage of the confrontation on a conservative radio show he hosts on Facebook and YouTube.

Youre here for a corned beef sandwich? Youre a sick guy! fumed Tischler, surrounded by retired cops working security for the Onefaters.

However, a more solemn Tischler called the reporter Friday and apologized for his remarks.

Tischler, who previously ran for City Council and lost, sports one of his campaign hats while attending a pro-Israel rally in 2021 in Times Square. James Keivom

He insisted he wasnt bribing Galloza but has a long history of buying pizza and other food regularly for local cops and other city workers to show appreciation for their service.

He also said he welcomes any DOI investigation.

Tischler, 60, pleaded guilty to inciting a riot during an October 2020 protest in Borough Park over COVID-19 mandates by urging supporters to attack a reporter from the Jewish Insider.

In 2013, Tischler was convicted and sentenced to a year behind bars for being part of a fraud scheme involving promising jobs to immigrants at bogus companies.

Goldberger said to see the exchange between Tischler and the inspector was really disappointing.

Messages left for Galloza through the Fire Department were not returned.
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. (Courtesy of 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.

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.

Emergency hospitals ineligible for federal drug discounts

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, a Michigan Republican, 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.

Some critique program as hospital cash cow, worry about expansion

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 Idaho Capital Sun.
In 1922, the El Paso Herald ran a semiregular column, Oddities In The El Paso News. From mosquito watching at City Hall to a banana peel slip at Alligator park, following are one-paragraph "Oddities" in the Borderland  excerpts from some those columns:

Watching mosquitos hatch

Aug. 5, 1922

Watching mosquitos hatch is the newest indoor sport at the City Hall. At mosquito headquarters in the building a glass jar filled with water in which has been placed a number of wiggletails. A few of the mosquitos hatch every day, fly to the top of the cylindrical screen above the glass and perish.

Ten pounds is the limit so far as importing pretzels into Juarez is concerned. Saloonmen who use that article to stimulate thirst, therefore, carry small packages of them over the river every morning. The average saloon needs about five pounds daily.

An El Paso street car motorman who has a wife and five children and is on the extra list and waits at the carbarn until opportunities for trips present themselves, last week had to give up $1.50 of his earnings to make up for Mexican pennies and other comparatively worthless foreign coins dropped into the boxes of cars he operates.

Col. N. Lapowski, city clerk and chairman of the American Legions grievance committee, is one man who had a chance to get rich and would not take it. The government allows a man to collect 10 percent of any claim he gets for a disabled service man. If the colonel had received from disabled veterans 10 percent of all sums he obtained for them, he would be $70,000 richer. As it is, he is still working for a salary and not five cents better off  materially.

Dont pull out a cigarette on Comercio street and fumble for a light unless you want to pay a penny for a match. A number of small Mexican boys watch Americans in that plight and run up to them with lighted matches. After the Americans accept the lights, the boys demand pennies.

More: NFL player Jerry Nuzum faced trial by fury after Las Cruces teen slain: Trish Long

Ventas por Mayor

Aug. 22, 1922

Ventas por Mayor is a sign on San Antonio street. It means sales at wholesale. A passerby remarked: Who is this guy Ventas that is running for Mayor?

A Mexican woman residing in South El Paso who washes for families in Government Hill has a baby turkey and the dogs and larger fowls have been chasing it. In order to save the life of the little bird, she takes it to work with her, carrying it under her waist.

Uncle Sam and Napoleon are neighbors, these being the names of saloons on opposite sides of the same block in Devils Row, Juarez.

Juarez Turf Club in Juarez, January 23, 2003.

P.D. Scott, Juarez Scotty, who serves lunch at the Turf, claims to be the busiest man in Juarez, making between 1500 and 2000 sandwiches daily.

Napoleon Lucero, manager for the El Paso Gas company in Juarez, is a former press telegrapher, and he can take a press report today as good as the best of them.

Arthur Lockhart has a moving picture machine of his own and he also has a big lawn. He has hit upon the happy idea of making moving pictures of his friends mowing his lawn  and it works splendidly.

When Milton Warner was a boy, the other fellows called him Miltie. Recently in a burst of confidence he told this to Mrs. Warner and in another confidential burst she told it to a woman friend and the woman friend told it confidentially to her husband, and now when the Rotarians or other friends want to get Warners goat they call him Miltie.

R.H. Rinehart is the only man alive who served in Roosevelts Rough Riders and can say that he has never held a federal appointment and never asked for one.

When the Mills building was under construction a gage was kept on the ground level and it was found that when the sixth story was completed the building had settled three-sixteenths of an inch all around.

Sign on a northside garage: Autos stored $7 a month, Fords $6.

The last two of the three trees that stood on the sidewalk in front of the residence on West Boulevard in which Gen. Victoriano Huerta died, have just been dug up, having recently died, as the first one did shortly after the death of the former Mexican dictator. Four big pulque plants in the front yard are healthy looking specimens of vegetation still.

More: A look back at the history of the letters on El Paso's Franklin Mountains and NMSU's 'A'

Well hold your hoss

Dec. 9, 1922

Well hold your hoss, crank your Ford, and even take care of your baby  but we cannot cash your check. So reads a sign in an El Paso restaurant.

Americans note with surprise that squads of soldiers marching through Juarez streets turn on bugle calls, instead of oral orders by officers, as in the American army.

Very interesting are the words appearing in black type on the first line in a circular on walls in Juarez announcing the opening of a new undertaking establishment.

Admiral George Dewey, hero of the war with Spain, is a patron of slot-machine gambling in Juarez. His photograph, in the center of a red, white and blue shield, grace the front of many of the machines. The latest type of machines to be installed in Juarez saloons has in metal relief a Liberty Bell, with 1776 in the center.

09/26/1951 Robert E. Codner of Tucson, Ariz., tries to keep Abercrombie out of the water long enough for The Times' photographer to set up a picture with him and Bob Shipp, city recreation director. But Abercrombie couldn't wait to hit the water and Codner lost the uneven struggle. Abercrombie is the city's new 175-pound, 6-foot alligator given to the city by Codner, who arrived in El Paso Tuesday night with the scaly monster.

This girl was good looking and was sitting on a bench at the extreme southeast corner of Alligator park. The bench faced south. So did the girl. A dapper young man was crossing Mesa avenue. He saw the girl, threw out his chest and intended to give her a treat by letting her give him the once over. When at the Mills street sidewalk the dapper young mans foot came in contact with a banana peel and he did a swimming stunt on the sidewalk. The girl giggled and the youth retreated.

A bottle of poisonous whiskey seized by prohibition agents recently was wrapped in an old newspaper with a conspicuous headline reading Beware of Juarez liquor, says Bob Jones.

W.D. Smith, zone dry chief stationed in El Paso, was one of the first three federal prohibition agent. He was appointed in Washington in December, 1919.

Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com or915-546-6179.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Oddities in El Paso News, border life in 1922: Trish Long
Story at a glance

The U.S. is facing a years-long affordable housing shortage and record-high office vacancies.

Elected officials are pushing to speed up the conversion of commercial buildings into housing to address both issues.

Regulatory and architectural challenges can make those conversions complicated, and costly.

From city halls to the White House, officials across the U.S. are pushing to turn commercial real estate into housing in an effort to solve two national problems: the rising need for homes and the increasing amount of vacant office space.

The idea garnered renewed interest during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of Americans were suddenly forced to work from home, leaving office buildings vacant.

Commercial building occupancy still hasnt recovered from those days, with office vacancy rates reaching almost 20 percent  a record high  in April, according to Moodys Analytics.

At the same time, the U.S. has experienced a years-long shortage in affordable housing and new housing construction has slowed down again this year.

Developers have turned to unused office space as a potential source of much-needed housing supply. But transforming an office building into apartments isnt easy, and doing so comes with regulatory and architectural challenges that can cause the process to be costly.

There are a few circumstances where things might align [where] incentives and the architectural conditions and the neighborhood conditions all come together  but those are far and few between, said Mahesh Daas, president of Boston Architectural College.

Elected officials have sought to speed up office building conversions by offering help, funds or greater flexibility in the codes and regulations that govern the structures.

The Biden administration announced a plan in late 2023 to help speed up conversions of high-vacancy commercial buildings to residential spaces through new financing, technical assistance, and sale of federal properties.

At the state level, lawmakers are proposing tax incentives to help make office to residential building conversions more affordable.

City officials, like New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), are also proposing changes to zoning laws to allow for residential construction everywhere to help ramp up office to apartment conversions.

The context of an office building plays a big role in whether it can be turned into housing, according to Jesus Vassallo, an associate professor of architecture at Rice University.

Thats because most office buildings are located in areas that are less desirable to live in due to their limited access to schools, parks and other things people typically want close to their homes.

It also means considering city zoning laws, which can be tricky to navigate.

In New York City, most commercial areas where office buildings are located allow for some residential buildings as well. But some parts of the city are ruled by Euclidean zoning, or zoning laws that only allow one building type  commercial, industrial, residential or retail  to exist in the area.

It poses an obstacle to the more modern return in urban planning to mixed-use neighborhoods, said Casey Berkovitz, a spokesperson for New York Citys Department of City Planning.

In some cases, there are site specific zoning changes that can make a building eligible for conversion that wouldnt be otherwise, Berkovitz said.

But those cases are limited, he added.

And once the question of what is allowed under city zoning laws is answered, architecture firms also face the challenge of making an office building habitable while abiding by residential building codes.

City building codes include natural light and ventilation requirements for residences, which is why many apartment complexes are H-shaped or have an inner courtyard.

Making sure that potential new apartment buildings have enough natural light and ventilation can be a major task.

New York City building code, for instance, dictates that all bedrooms must have access to natural light through a window, according to Berkovitz.

This is much easier to ensure when constructing new rooms in prewar buildings, because of their narrow frames and shallow floor depth, according to Florian Idenburg, a professor of practice at the Cornell University College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

Office buildings built between the 1970s and 2000s, meanwhile, tend to be tall and rectangular or square and have deep floors with long distances between windows thanks, in part, to the widespread adoption of air conditioners and fluorescent lightbulbs.

New York City building code also requires that apartments have operable windows to allow for air ventilation, a feature towering office buildings are typically short on.

Some designers have tried to remedy both natural light and ventilation issues by increasing buildings perimeters and removing their cores, replacing them with open spaces like atriums.

But removing a buildings core also removes a lot of its structural stability, according to Idenburg.

Its a puzzle where the older the tower the easier it is, Idenburg told The Hill.

Little natural light and poor ventilation can wreak havoc in apartments that were once commercial spaces.

Some residents in an Albany, N.Y., apartment complex called The Kenmore that used to be a hotel, for example, do not have openable, indoor windows, a tenant told The Hill.

The buildings owners tried to improve air circulation by creating a breezeway, but some residents still endure strong smells in the building, said the tenant, who requested to remain anonymous.

The Hill reached out to the buildings management for information about The Kenmores natural lighting and ventilation but did not receive a response.

Limited kitchen facilities, bathrooms and sometimes lower ceilings also present challenges for architects when trying to convert office to residential space, according to the Washington, D.C., Office of Planning. D.C. is also offering tax incentives for commercial to residential conversions.

Typically, the plumbing systems of an office building are ripped out and replaced so that future apartment units can each be equipped with adequate toilet, sink and shower access, according to Idenburg.

Office building interiors are often completely redone during the conversion process to meet energy codes, sustainability codes or to remove toxic material like asbestos, a D.C.-area real estate worker told The Hill.

All of this work adds up, with the delays in the conversion process sometimes adding on unnecessary fees, according to the worker, who also requested to remain anonymous.

The price of converting an office to an apartment runs at about $100 to $200 per square foot, according to a 2022 analysis from Moodys Analytics, which noted that the cost is most likely higher now.

Daas told The Hill he thinks the cost of retrofitting and converting office buildings to apartments could be as expensive as $500 per square foot.

The higher the cost of converting the building, the higher the potential asking price for the apartments, Daas notes, potentially pricing out those who need affordable housing the most.

This stuff is very expensive, said Berkovitz. The costs in some cases can actually approach those of new construction.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 (PIX11)  Dozens of community leaders, lawmakers and survivors of gun violence vow this summer will be safer.

They stood in solidarity on the steps of City Hall to thank the city for its resources and to show the success they are having so far.

NYPD talks summer safety concerns

Shooting incidents are down year to date more than 12% in the city, according to the NYPD.

Sheena Wright, First Deputy Mayor, Co-Chair of Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, A.T. Mitchell, Co-Chair of Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Keith Howard, Commissioner, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Representatives from New York State Department of Health, New York State Office of Victim Services, and New York State Office of Youth Justice Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS)/Crisis Management System (CMS) community organizations and survivors of gun violence representing all five boroughs kicked off off National Gun Violence Awareness Month in June on a positive note.

Mitchell said, the community has always been the secret weapon to public safety.

Jonathan Kimble is an advocate in the Bronx, doing outreach in hopes of changing his own community. Kimble is also a victim of gun violence, shot 17 years ago.

NYPD leaders answer questions on protests, crime, subway safety & more

He says talking about his own experience is not only therapeutic but inspiring to young people.

Keith Howard, DYCD Commissioner said the city has added more resources to community groups and programs to give the youth an alternative, including after school programs, summer jobs, camps just to name a few.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office in McAlester is shown on a day with high winds.

McALESTER  Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris was charged twice Friday with receiving a bribe.

The Republican, who is up for reelection, denies wrongdoing.

Morris was first charged May 14 in Pittsburg County District Court with embezzlement of state property. A special prosecutor on Friday added a bribery count to the existing case and filed another bribery count as a new case.

Pittsburg County commissioners have called for his removal. A jury trial on their request is set for July. A judge will decide next Thursday if he will be suspended until then.

The sheriff has complained commissioners sought his removal after only hearing one side of the story.

"I've done nothing wrong and I am concentrating on winning the election on June 18th and my day in court," he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

Charge earlier this month stemmed from utility task vehicle purchase

He was accused May 14 in the embezzlement case of unlawfully arranging for the sheriff's office to purchase a damaged utility task vehicle (UTV) he had owned so he could get a new one for himself.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation began looking into the $31,099 purchase after the county clerk became suspicious.

He was accused Friday in the added bribery count of letting an accessory, a lift kit, be installed at a discount on the UTV while he still owned it.

Morris

The special prosecutor alleged the sheriff told Advantage Truck and Auto to charge the county more for new bed covers for hail-damaged sheriff vehicles in exchange for the personal discount.

He was accused Friday in the new bribery case of accepting free hail damage repair to his Toyota 4Runner. The special prosecutor alleged he promised in exchange to use McAlester Auto Collision in the future for repairs of sheriff vehicles.

Morris, 50, of McAlester, was first elected in 2016 as sheriff of Pittsburg County, which is in southeast Oklahoma. He was a Democrat in his first race but was reelected as a Republican in 2020. He will be reelected again if he wins the GOP primary election in June.

"Election interference is not only happening in our great nation, but it is happening right here in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma," Morris said after he was charged May 14. "This is an orchestrated event, planned to make me look bad just weeks before the election. The truth will come out. It is paramount that you keep a strong sheriff with proven leadership for our county."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma sheriff accused of bribery as primary election looms
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

But it's probably the next few lines of Charles Dickens' opening in his book, "A Tale of Two Cities," that perhaps best describe whats been unfolding at the Colorado General Assembly in the last two sessions.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) A Troy man is dead after an ATV crash near Luverne Friday afternoon.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, 41-year-old Elvis Bowles was killed when the 2022 CFORCE ATV he was riding ran off the road and hit an embankment, throwing him off.

Bowles was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, on Athens Church Road near Golden Road, approximately four miles east of Luverne.

The crash is under investigation by the ALEA Highway Patrol Division.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
** UPDATE: Police have identified the victim as 23-year-old Jacarious I. McKissic.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a shooting Friday night that left one person dead in Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD said just before 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the 600 block of East 110th Terrace  less than a block west of Holmes Road  where sounds of gunshots were reported. While driving to the scene, the call was updated to a shooting.

Tonganoxie man sentenced for 2022 DUI crash that killed son

Upon arrival, KCPD officers said they were taken to a nearby home where a man was found in the front yard, unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

According to police, life-saving measures and medical aid were given to the victim until emergency responders took the man to the hospital. Police said he was later pronounced dead.

KCPD said preliminary investigations showed the shooting happened over an argument, and that currently, homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have started gathering evidence and witness statements.

Police do not have a person in custody and homicide investigations are currently ongoing.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

If you or anyone you know was in or around the area at the time of the shooting, KCPD asks that you contact homicide detectives directly at (816) 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at (816) 474-8477.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
One person shot and killed in SW OKC shooting

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City Police responded to a deadly shooting early Saturday morning.

According to police, the shooting happened near SW 44th St. and S May Ave. around 3 a.m. on Saturday.

Authorities confirmed that a group of subjects transported a victim with a gunshot wound to Integris SW Medical Center. The victim was taken into ICU but was pronounced dead shortly after.

Currently, the location of the suspect is unknown. The cause of the shooting is under investigation.

No further information is available at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Editors Note: 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. The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion on CNN.

In the run-up to Thursdays verdict in former President Donald Trumps document falsification trial, there was a concerning rumbling within the legal community criticizing defense lawyer Todd Blanche for having had the temerity to represent Trump. This disapproval came after a number of articles in recent years have reported that many law firms have rejected the opportunity to represent Trump for political reasons.

Tim Parlatore - Courtesy Tim Parlatore

While private attorneys certainly are free to accept or reject clients for any number of reasons, disagreeing with a criminal clients politics shouldnt be a reason for that client to go unrepresented. Allowing defendants with politically unpopular opinions to face imprisonment without a competent defense is antithetical to the American system of justice and the principles of equal justice under the law. And had Trump not been able to be represented in his Manhattan criminal trial by the lawyers of his choosing, it would have undermined the conviction that was ultimately handed down.

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig noted last month that a lot of lawyers in the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, where both he and Blanche once worked, had been asking him, Why the heck would Todd do this  why would he ever take this case? What Honig told them was perfect: My response is, generally, when did we become pearl-clutchers about defense lawyers defending defendants? Thats what the job is and what our system requires.

To be clear, I am no defender of Blanche, with whom I briefly worked on the Trump team. But while some have questioned his motives or political ambitions, that does not lead to the conclusion that he or other attorneys should not have taken on the case.

This pearl-clutching was evident in a troubling op-ed for the New York Law Journal penned by former prosecutor, Elliott B. Jacobson, who argued that it is unethical for Blanche, or any private defense attorney for that matter, to represent Trump in his criminal trials. Whatever the marginal utility of defending Trump to the preservation of Constitutional values and our criminal justice system at large, it is more than outweighed by the damage he would do to the Constitution and that system if he were acquitted  and went on to become president for a second time, Jacobson wrote. But in arguing that private attorneys, who can choose their clients, should reject representing Trump, this article advances a profoundly misguided political argument.

Jacobson, who begins his article by touting his own bona fides in prosecuting Trump-aligned figures and, after his retirement, volunteering to act as an unpaid prosecutor probing Trump and the Trump Organization, is essentially saying that because he wants Trump to lose the election, it is wrong for a private attorney such as Blanche to represent him. But no prosecutor should ever put partisan politics over constitutional principles. Such an admission of naked partisanship by a career prosecutor unfortunately also lends credence to the Trump campaigns rhetoric about prosecutors engaging in election interference and a witch hunt.

Our criminal justice system is only as good as the people who administer it. While most prosecutors try to do the right thing, we cannot ignore the fact that prosecutors are imperfect humans, some of whom who do engage in misconduct. Our adversarial system was designed to protect people against abuses by having advocates on both sides to ensure that rights are protected. As the late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stephens wrote, disposing of lawyers is a step in the direction of a totalitarian form of government.

Others have pointed out that several attorneys who have previously represented Trump found themselves in legal hot water, such as Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and John Eastman. However, this also misses the mark, as there is a major difference between attorneys participating in campaign activities  which is what put those lawyers in jeopardy  and criminal attorneys defending a client in court. Successful criminal attorneys represent all sorts of interesting and sometimes unsavory characters without being tempted to engage in any unethical or illegal behavior. In my own experience representing Trump in the January 6 and Mar-a-Lago investigations, I never felt any pressure to compromise my integrity.

Our founders understood the principle that these critics of Trumps defenders fail to grasp. John Adams, an ardent patriot who would help draft the Declaration of Independence and serve as the first US vice president and second president, agreed to take on the deeply unpopular representation of the British soldiers accused of murder in the Boston Massacre.

In doing so, he stated, Council ought to be the very last thing that an accused Person should want [i.e. lack] in a free Country. The legal profession, he continued, ought in my opinion to be independent and impartial at all Times And in every circumstance, while the Persons whose Lives were at Stake ought to have the Council they preferred. He referred to the Boston Massacre as important a Cause as ever was tryed in any Court or Country of the World and therefore every lawyer must hold themselves to the highest legal principles and expect from him no Art nor Address, No Sophistry or Prevarication in such a Cause; nor anything more than Fact, Evidence and Law would justify.

Our criminal justice system desperately needs less partisan influence, not more. Despite my public moniker of former Trump lawyer, I do not personally subscribe to the orthodoxy of either political party and I enjoy representing clients on both sides of the political aisle. Moreover, I do not believe that any honest lawyer should publicly identify themselves as either a conservative lawyer or a liberal lawyer. You can be a lawyer who holds conservative or liberal political beliefs, but those political beliefs should not alter how you represent our clients or impact our analysis of the facts or the law.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  As Orchard Park High School students are getting their tuxes and dresses ready for their prom, the school partnered with local first responders to demonstrate the consequences of driving while impaired.

Our senior prom is tomorrow, so they can see the consequences, physically and emotionally of what a car crash could potentially look like if they make poor decisions, said Amanda Mohler, a social worker at Orchard Park High School.

The annual demonstration makes the crash make everything look and sound real, hoping to prevent this type of scene from becoming a reality for OPHS students.

It makes it more real, seeing their peers being involved in this stuff, rather than a story they might hear online, said student AJ Beck, who was involved in the demonstration. Seeing actual friends be in this type of situation, this makes it all more real.

According to a 2020 survey done by the CDC, 29% of drivers ages 15-20 who were killed in car crashes that year had been drinking.

Every year around prom night, OPHS drama students work alongside Orchard Park Police, Orchard Park Fire, EMS, and this year, Mercy Flight, to show their senior class the physical and emotional consequences to which drinking and driving can lead.

The demonstration started with a video produced by the students of a scenario involving students who decided to drink after prom, and then getting behind a wheel.

The video, and hopefully the scene itself, really just promotes to everyone there to never drink and drive, drama student Jackson Brauer said. We really put in the emotions and everything so we hope this turns out real well.

The drama students involved were told to improvise during the demonstration, and some didnt know the outcomes of their respective characters, just like the real fears and unknowns of a crash.

Most of them might not experience this, and hopefully none of them will, Mohler said. Its a great learning experience.

If you know a student who is going to prom, or if youre a student, AAA asks students to make a PROM-ise. Promise to not drive impaired or distracted, to not let friends drive impaired or distracted, and promise to parents to get home safely or call them for help.

Latest Local News

Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Organization works to fight food insecurity in Little Rock area

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Community Advocates said this summer theyre aiming to curve food insecurities in the Little Rock area.

This summer the organization will be jumpstarting a Pantry to You project with the North Little Rock Hunger Force, using every third Sunday of the month to deliver food to low-income households.

Federal study shows Arkansas leads US in food insecurity; What some are doing about it

ACA Director Zachary Karr highlighted the need that community members face.

It was stocked full this morning but theres a huge need in these communities, ACA Director Zachary Karr said as he showed the shelves he stocks weekly.

Karr said he comes from a less fortunate household and uses his story as motivation.

The older I get the more I understand the problem, unhoused people on every street corner, people just struggling to make ends meet, Karr said.

Ordinance passed to create a food commission for Little Rock to combat food insecurity

Each day of the week the pantry located front of Karrs home will remain open.

Caitlyn Bowman has been a volunteer for three years and said its vital to support families heading into the summer.

We get a lot of produce fruit, vegetables, this is just whats left from our heavier donation this morning, Bowman said.

She said her daily experiences show her how important it is to keep donations coming in.

Every week I feel like Im seeing new faces seeing new people who are just like I need this I dont know why Im working my butt off and I cant afford food, Bowman said.

Arkansas Foodbank working to combat food insecurity

The organization will also be kicking off Breakfast on Broadway starting this Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
More than 200 rainbow flags disappeared overnight from the town of Carlisle Massachusetts on Monday, the Carlisle police department said in a news release.

Officials are investigating the apparent mass theft of the LGBTQ+ flags, which went missing from the rotary at Carlisle Center just days before the start of Pride Month. Police chief Andrew Amendola said authorities are taking the disappearance very seriously and called it a sad instance that didnt reflect the towns values.

It is unfortunate, as Carlisle is an inclusive community, and we want everyone to feel safe and welcomed here, Amendola said in a press release.

Travis Snell, chairman of the Carlisle Select Board, condemned the thiefs actions and vowed to hold the culprit accountable in a Facebook post.

Such action and behavior have no place in Carlisle and our police department is working to identify whoever is responsible and they will be held accountable, Snell wrote.

On behalf of the Town of Carlisle, the Select Board would like to reiterate that Carlisle is an inclusive community that respects its freedoms and the rights of individuals. Stealing property and undermining freedom of expression is a cowardly act and has no place in our town.

The flags, last seen on Sunday evening, were quickly replaced by community members in the hours after the theft, NBC Boston reported. Investigators said there were no anti-gay incidents reported recently in the area.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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PACE president condemns yet another Russian attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, has condemned Russia's latest large-scale missile attack on Ukraine, which damaged the country's energy infrastructure.

Source: Rousopoulos on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Theodoros Rousopoulos condemned the large-scale Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the night of 31 May-1 June.

I strongly condemn Russias large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure across the country. There will be no impunity for such acts. Those responsible will be brought to justice.  Theodoros Rousopoulos (@PACE_President) June 1, 2024

"There will be no impunity for such acts. Those responsible will be brought to justice," the official stressed.

Background:

Following the attack overnight, Ukraine's Energy Ministry said it was Russia's sixth strike on Ukrainian energy facilities since March and that the previously announced power consumption restrictions may change due to its aftermath.

DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine, reported that equipment at two thermal power plants had been severely damaged.

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Buildings cover Gardi Sugdub Island, part of San Blas archipelago off Panama's Caribbean coast, Saturday, May 25, 2024. Due to rising sea levels, about 300 Guna Indigenous families will relocate to new homes, built by the government, on the mainland. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

GARDI SUGDUB, Panama (AP)  On a tiny island off Panamas Caribbean coast, about 300 families are packing their belongings in preparation for a dramatic change. Generations of Gunas who have grown up on Gardi Sugdub in a life dedicated to the sea and tourism will trade that next week for the mainlands solid ground.

They go voluntarily  sort of.

The Gunas of Gardi Sugdub are the first of 63 communities along Panamas Caribbean and Pacific coasts that government officials and scientists expect to be forced to relocate by rising sea levels in the coming decades.

On a recent day, the islands Indigenous residents rowed or sputtered off with outboard motors to fish. Children, some in uniforms and others in the colorful local textiles called molas, chattered as they hustled through the warren of narrow dirt streets on their way to school.

Were a little sad, because were going to leave behind the homes weve known all our lives, the relationship with the sea, where we fish, where we bathe and where the tourists come, but the sea is sinking the island little by little, said Nadin Morales, 24, who prepared to move with her mother, uncle and boyfriend.

An official with Panamas ministry of housing said that some people have decided to stay on the island until it's no longer safe, without revealing a specific number. Authorities wont force them to leave, the official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue.

Gardi Sugdub is one of about 50 populated islands in the archipelago of the Guna Yala territory. It is only about 400 yards (366 meters) long and 150 yards (137 meters) wide. From above, its roughly a prickly oval surrounded by dozens of short docks where residents tie up their boats.

Every year, especially when the strong winds whip up the sea in November and December, water fills the streets and enters the homes. Climate change isn't only leading to a rise in sea levels, but it's also warming oceans and thereby powering stronger storms.

The Gunas have tried to reinforce the islands edge with rocks, pilings and coral, but seawater keeps coming.

Lately, Ive seen that climate change has had a major impact, Morales said. Now the tide comes to a level it didnt before, and the heat is unbearable.

The Gunas autonomous government decided two decades ago that they needed to think about leaving the island, but at that time it was because the island was getting too crowded. The effects of climate change accelerated that thinking, said Evelio Lopez, a 61-year-old teacher on the island.

He plans to move with relatives to the new site on the mainland that the government developed at a cost of $12 million. The concrete houses sit on a grid of paved streets carved out of the lush tropical jungle just over a mile (2 kilometers) from the port, where an eight-minute boat ride carries them to Gardi Sugdub.

Leaving the island is "a great challenge, because more than 200 years of our culture is from the sea, so leaving this island means a lot of things, Lopez said. Leaving the sea, the economic activities that we have there on the island, and now were going to be on solid ground, in the forest. Were going to see what the result is in the long run.

Steven Paton, director of the Smithsonian Institutions physical monitoring program in Panama, said that the upcoming move is a direct consequence of climate change through the increase in sea level.

The islands on average are only a half-meter above sea level, and as that level rises, sooner or later the Gunas are going to have to abandon all of the islands almost surely by the end of the century or earlier.

All of the world's coasts are being affected by this at different speeds, Paton said.

Residents of a small coastal community in Mexico moved inland last year after storms continued to take away their homes. Governments are being forced to take action, from the Italian lagoon city of Venice to the coastal communities of New Zealand.

A recent study by Panamas Environmental Ministrys Climate Change directorate, with support from universities in Panama and Spain, estimated that by 2050, Panama would lose about 2.01% of its coastal territory to increases in sea levels.

Panama estimates that it will cost about $1.2 billion to relocate the 38,000 or so inhabitants who will face rising sea levels in the short- and medium-term, said Ligia Castro, climate change director for the Environmental Ministry.

On Gardi Sugdub, women who make the elaborately embroidered molas worn by Guna women hang them outside their homes when finished, trying to catch the eye of visiting tourists.

The island and others along the coast have benefitted for years from year-round tourism.

Braucilio de la Ossa, the deputy secretary of Carti, the port facing Gardi Sugdub, said that he planned to move with his wife, daughter, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Some of his wifes relatives will stay on the island.

He said the biggest challenge for those moving would be the lifestyle change of moving from the sea inland even though the distance is relatively small.

Now that they will be in the forest their way of living will be different, he said.

___

Juan Zamorano reported from Panama City.
FORT LEE, N.J. (PIX11)  Parents of students at Fort Lee High School in New Jersey are demanding an investigation into what they claim is a history lesson that went too far.

Several juniors in the 11th-grade social studies class claim that two teachers requested the students hand over their phones before the teachers began their lesson. Parents of students in the class who have seen copies of the 29-page presentation contend it is skewed against Israel and claim it sugarcoats Hamas as a Palestinian political party and armed resistance movement rather than a terrorist organization it is recognized as by many nations, including the United States.

More Local News

A Jewish mother of a student in the class told PIX11 that her son felt very uncomfortable during the presentation and didnt understand why he had to hand over his cellphone beforehand.

Fort Lee School Superintendent Robert Kravitz confirmed to PIX11 News that he is looking into the parents complaints. In a subsequent email, he wrote, The Fort Lee School District values a harmonious culture and climate with board-approved policies and procedures that honor our curriculum and diversity. We cannot make any comment at this time as it is a personnel and legal matter that is currently under review.

The matter is scheduled to be on the agenda at a Board of Education meeting expected to be held early next week.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11)  He lived in nearby Belleville for years, but its Glaucio Silvas first time visiting Patersons Great Falls National Historical Park.

You see [it] on TV, but when you come here live and you see it yourself, you can smell- even when you walk by the bridge over there, the water splash on your face, its a great feeling, said Silva.

These 6 national parks will require a permit this summer

Its very nice to know that we have that type of a waterfall here in the middle of a town, said Hector Rodriguez, another first-time visitor.

Around 300,000 visitors come to the Falls every year, enjoying the natural beauty from below, and from above  at least, to the extent theyre allowed; a pedestrian footbridge spanning across the Falls has fallen into disrepair, making it unsafe to cross.

On Friday, Congressman Bill Pascrell joined Mayor Andre Sayegh in announcing $1 million in federal dollars towards building a new bridge.

The sun is shining on our City, and shining on the symbol of our City, said Sayegh.

It provides a much easier way to get to the other side of the park with equally nice views, said U.S. Park Ranger Ilyse Goldman. Currently, people have to walk all the way around, so itll just be more accessible.

New Jersey officials seek to improve living standards for seniors

Another $1 million will be used to restore a historic building right across the street  the Ivanhoe Wheelhouse.

The first continuous roll of paper that was manufactured in the United States was actually manufactured here in Paterson, said Goldman, and there were a few paper mills. One of those mills is the Ivanhoe Paper Mill.

That happened here in Paterson  the first planned industrial city, said Goldman. People, thats what they find really remarkable. Its not just the Falls.

Officials hope to have the pedestrian bridge reopened by September 2025.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the notion that Ukraine would benefit from a pause in fighting in an interview with the Guardian on May 31, saying instead that it would allow Russia to regroup and rebuild its strength.

"Russia needs a break to stabilize its position on the battlefield," Zelensky said.

"Russia has more equipment that we do," he added, "but it also has a deficit. It lacks experienced soldiers, artillery shells, and missiles."

"Therefore, a pause will certainly benefit (Russia), definitely not us," Zelensky said.

If Russia is able to rebuild its forces during a pause in fighting, it will be able to become strong enough to issue ultimatums to Ukraine, such as ceding territory, a pledge not to join alliances (such as NATO), or other undesirable conditions, he added.

Such a ceasefire would be a "trap," Zelensky said.

The president's comments came as Ukraine prepares for the upcoming global peace summit, which is scheduled to be held in Switzerland on June 15-16. Some 90 countries have already confirmed their participation as of this week

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. One of the key elements of the 10-point peace formula is the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

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.

Bloomberg reported in May that U.S. President Joe Biden would likely not attend the summit, which prompted criticism from Zelensky.

"I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.'s reaction," Zelensky said.

"(Biden's) absence would only be met by an applause by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, a personal, standing applause by Putin," he added.

At the same time, U.S. officials told the Financial Times (FT) that Ukraine had scheduled the summit despite being informed that Biden would not be able to attend. A yet unannounced senior official will attend in his place.

Read also: Bloomberg: EU wants to follow up peace summit with conference with Russia in autumn, sources say

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Penn State has agreed to hold off on plans to demolish a historic barn in Centre County for a month, but what happens next is unclear as advocates for saving the barn fear the loss of a local landmark.

Siblings Richard Kepler and Vicky Kepler Didatos family previously owned the farm, located along state Route 45 in Ferguson Township. Their great aunt, Millie Kepler, took over the farming operation in the late 1920s after her husband, Aaron Kepler, died.

She worked there from then until her death in 1990. Richard Kepler and Kepler Didato have many fond memories of playing at what came to be known as the Kepler Barn. To this day, Richard Kepler can remember the taste of his Aunt Millies concord grapes.

She had what I thought were the best concord grapes Ive ever tasted. Im 69 now and I still have not tasted better concord grapes than what she had growing right there outside her farm, Richard Kepler said during a phone interview.

Hes worried that if Penn States plans to demolish the structure go through, memories are all hell have left of the barn, with its history lost to future generations.

S ignificant historical structure

Penn State has owned the barn since the 1990s. When Millie Kepler owned it, it was kept in perfect condition, Richard Kepler said.

I knew at a young age, she was just very adamant about that farm and taking care of it. Ive never seen a barn or a farm area this spotless almost, it was stunning. I remember thinking that being a young child. But that was the way Aunt Millie was, Richard Kepler said during a phone interview.

As Lancaster Farming reported in March, Millie Kepler was a remarkable female farmer who was dedicated to her farm  even winning awards  despite many tragedies in her life. One son died a month after he was born, her husband died at a young age and not even two years after his death, their other son died at 13 years old.

Shortly after, she learned that the farm was $20,000 in debt, Richard Kepler said, and mortgaged the farm through a bank. A single mother of two teenage daughters with no income outside of the farm, Millie Kepler paid it off within five years, he said.

Thats just unbelievable, Richard Kepler said. She did everything herself.

The barn is one of the largest 19th-century bank barns in the area. Throughout the years, Millie Kepler had crops such as potatoes, strawberries and berries, and oats.

The barn is, Im telling you, its a museum. You dont even need a tour guide, just as it stands there, is a museum, Richard Kepler said. The way she ran that potato production  it was quite the organization. My sister Vicky and I used to go out there and watch it like we were at the world expo or something.

Due to several factors, Penn State plans to tear the barn down, and the family arent the only ones concerned about it.

Mary Sorensen, executive director of the Centre County Historical Society, said if the barn is demolished, theyll lose history that cant be replaced.

The barns merits are in the 200+ year history of the farm, the prominent families that lived there, its visual dominance in a historic rural landscape, and its architecture. The demolition of such a significant historical structure would not only result in the loss of a beloved landmark in the rural Pennsylvania Furnace landscape but also deprive future generations of the opportunity to connect with this heritage. Once demolished, this piece of history cannot be replaced, and the cultural richness it represents will be lost, Sorensen wrote on behalf of the Centre County Historical Society.

Historic barns offer insights into the agricultural heritage and the lives of the people who built and worked on them, the CCHS said. Preserving them is not only essential to maintaining the character and identity of the rural landscape in Centre County, Sorensen said, but it also aligns with efforts to promote sustainable development and conservation practices.

Repurposing historic structures for modern use not only reduces waste but also contributes to the revitalization of rural communities and promotes a sense of pride and identity among residents, the statement reads.

No trespassing and keep out signs can be seen on Kepler barn from West Pine Grove Road on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

How did we get here?

Penn State purchased the farm in the 1990s; it is part of more than 2,000 acres of land that makes up the agricultural research facility, near where Ag Progress Days are held.

But in the years since, the barn has become structurally unsound and unsafe for occupancy, Penn State said in an emailed statement (the university denied an interview request for this article). It pointed to the barns age, additions and hazardous materials, as well as the universitys budget.

The university has delayed tearing down the barn for several years, the statement said, and has looked for alternative solutions to restore the barn including trying to find a potential buyer for the structure, exploring a philanthropic campaign to refurbish it, and engaging with organizations to preserve the barn.

None of the efforts produced a viable solution, the university said.

The plans to remove the Kepler Barn are necessitated by the Universitys current budget challenges, the overall condition of the barn, the projected costs to renovate or restore it, and the operational needs of our agricultural research practices, the universitys statement reads. Ultimately, as a public university responsible for good financial stewardship of both tuition and taxpayer monies, and with a need to mitigate unsafe conditions, we unfortunately cannot take on an expense of this nature. However, we are working with the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of PA to explore alternatives.

At the end of May, Penn State agreed to a one-month freeze in its plans at the request of the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania to pursue alternative solutions.

Priscilla deLeon, president of the HBFF-PA, in a phone interview said they are appreciative that Penn State gave them the month and are looking for ways to preserve or save the farm.

(The HBFF-PA is) trying to preserve as many barns as we can, theyre a treasure. With Penn State being an agriculture college or university, it sets a standard to the state, deLeon said. Do you care about history? Do you want to try to preserve it, do you want to show the students that this is the way life was back then, and work it in the curriculums and try to tell the story about those barns?

No trespassing and keep out signs can be seen on Kepler barn from West Pine Grove Road on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

First time in my life Ive ever felt a little frustrated with Penn State

The Keplers are a Penn State family  more than 30 family members have graduated from the university.

My heartstrings are torn on this, Vicky Kepler Didato said. This is a prime, prime opportunity for a win-win. Penn State started as a land grant agricultural college. Aaron Kepler, Aunt Millies husband,  went to Penn State, got his agricultural degree there. This farm, I think, is one of  the oldest barns in the state. Its also, if not the largest, one of the largest (barns). And it was the largest potato farm in the entire state of Pennsylvania during the Depression. I mean, theres so much history.

Kepler Didato is hoping to see the barn saved and turned into a training center or something else that the university could utilize and share the rich history with the public.

Its not about my family history. Obviously, Ive got a personal investment in it. But Im amazed at how connected the farming community is not just in that area, but statewide, Kepler Didato said.

Theres also a possibility that it is connected to the Underground Railroad, although its difficult to trace, Lancaster Farming reported.

Richard Kepler said this is the first time in my life Ive ever felt a little frustrated with Penn State. He doesnt understand why the barn would be taken down and why the university isnt doing everything possible to keep it.

The only thing Ive heard or read is all about finances. And if thats the case, thats the weakest argument I think they have because these are the people, again, that have raised millions of dollars to purchase these farms, he said. ...Nothing falls into disrepair, its just simply ignored or not taken care of. Which is, again, a great mind blower. What happened? Come on now. A single, widowed mother for 60, 70 years could keep this thing immaculate, running. And an agriculture department made up of how many people, with how many millions of dollars, wakes up one day and says, Oh, its falling apart. Were going to tear down.

Whats next?

Penn State said that if no viable alternative solutions are presented, theyll proceed with the barns removal. If that happens, they plan to pursue a potential historical sign or commemorative recognition in the area of the barn to recognize its legacy and the contributions of the Kepler family.

The Centre County Historical Society said while they understand there may be challenges and costs associated with preserving the barn, they believe that is outweighed by the benefits of safeguarding our shared heritage.

We encourage the exploration of alternative solutions, such as adaptive reuse or at least stabilizing the structure to preserve the historic landscape. If this is not possible, we hope that Penn State will, at minimum, reconsider working with the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation to have the Kepler Barn measured and photo documented for future research, the society said.

Penn State said it has made investments to restore barns and other structures in the past, like the renovation of the barn across from the Department of Agriculture Livestock Evaluation Center and the Parsons Barn on the Ag Progress Days site.

We appreciate that these farms and barns, and the families that lived there, are part of the history, memories, and stories of our region, the university said in a statement.

A date of 1818 seen on Kepler barn on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
The farm bill is bogged down, not by flood waters, like in this 2019 file photo from Hamburg, Iowa, but by politics. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

Politicians do not appear to be serious about passing a new five-year farm bill before the November elections.

The House Agriculture Committee controlled by Republicans last week on a 33-21 vote recommended a bill to the floor that is dead on arrival in the Senate. The bill will cut nutrition benefits by $27 billion, which Democrats cannot accept.

I think the fact that were crossing that red line raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. It is essentially a crack in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to the passage of a farm bill.

 Key parts of the House bill split the Farm Bill coalition in a way that makes it impossible to achieve the votes to become law, said Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. And it is also clear that we do not have time to waste on proposals that cannot meet that goal.

Congress blew past a farm bill deadline last September. Its extension expires Sept. 30. House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson, R-Pa., swore he would get a bill out of committee before Memorial Day. That doesnt mean its going anywhere.

Of course, the $1.5 trillion legislation is vital to Iowa, covering everything from crop insurance to conservation payments to school lunch programs. Lobbyists jammed the committee room to make certain their sundry nests remain feathered.

Four Democrats joined 29 Republicans to put forward legislation that lifts income caps for larger farms, increases subsidies for crop insurance and limits executive authority over the Commodity Credit Corp. None of this can (or should) get past the Senate or the White House.

Republicans held up the last farm bill two years over funding for nutrition and conservation programs. The bill finally passed in 2018. The same old issues come up again, already having been argued ad nauseam. The result is delay and uncertainty. What was a bipartisan exercise has become a vehicle for grandstanding.

It shows how unserious the House GOP is about governing. Thompson pledged bipartisanship but defeated every Democratic amendment on a straight party-line vote. We will increase subsidies for larger farms and shift conservation funding their way, while cutting food aid for the poor. To hell with amendments and children who need a decent meal.

Farmers need city folks to subsidize their crop insurance premium. Thats the coalition that can pass big legislation. The House GOP is more interested in making a point about welfare queens than it is about how to make the popular Conservation Stewardship Program available to more Iowa farmers.

The Senate Ag Committee has been more bipartisan. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell understands how important SNAP benefits are to poor rural whites in Kentucky. He advised his friends in the House to tread carefully but they did not listen.

Vilsack has been accommodating to corporate interests wanting a chunk of that climate-smart money. He thought he was buying their complicity in doing something about agricultural resilience against obviously extreme weather (see Greenfield, Iowa). What he gets in return is a kick in the teeth. The House bill attempts to emasculate him. What is the point?

Just a few weeks ago leading Republicans in the Senate, including Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, acknowledged that another one-year extension probably will be required. Let a new Congress and president hash it out. That well could be under a flipped scenario: Democrats narrowly in control of the House, Republicans taking the Senate, and Donald Trump back in the White House.

All the posturing suggests that the most important piece of federal legislation affecting Iowa will get punted again. More of the same, even if something can get rushed through this year.

We could address economic diversity, soil health and water quality, and better nutrition if we were serious about it. The House farm bill shows that were not.

Meanwhile, another dairy worker just came down with the avian flu. Louisiana is giving way to the Gulf of Mexico, and they can barely water the cattle in Kansas. Were shipping black gold down the river. In Storm Lake, the food pantry lights go out for lack of funding  we arent feeding the hungry in the protein capital of the world, Christian soldiers!

More of the same stuff that has been hollowing out rural Iowa for a half-century, bought and paid for by those lobbyists packing the meeting room.

Art Cullen is editor of the Storm Lake Times Pilot, where this column first appeared, as well as Art Cullens Notebook on Substack. It is republished here as part of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and its member writers to support their work.

The post These people arent serious about our most basic enterprise: food appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
As a real estate agent and homeowner in Stillwater, Carmen Rubel Carver became concerned in March when she learned that the city's water system had been tagged with a state Health Department advisory due to PFAS contamination.

She believes her lifelong struggles with autoimmune issues could be exacerbated by contaminated water. But when she tried to learn more about the test results, which wells were contaminated and whether the sites were feeding water to her home, Carver hit a wall.

"They're not sharing that data," she said, adding that she's called City Hall two or three times but didn't get satisfactory answers.

After years of watching Woodbury, Oakdale and Lake Elmo confront PFAS drinking water contamination, it's now Stillwater's turn. The city has been scrambling to keep up with the complex science of PFAS and human health, a litany of questions from residents and the question of who will pay for the costly cleanup estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.

It didn't help that Stillwater officials at first slow-walked the news that a city well was failing water tests, keeping the information in-house despite a Health Department notification last October that said it was time to tell the public. A Star Tribune story in March made it public; Stillwater has since created a webpage with more information including some of the latest test results for the worst wells.

The state Health Department, in response to a public records request, provided more Stillwater test results going back several years. The results show that six of the city's eight wells have failed to meet the Health Department's most stringent health goals for a specific PFAS chemical  PFOA  and that two wells fail to meet the state's health goals for an additional chemical known as PFOS.

The goals, known as health based values, set a very low level for specific contaminants as a means of measuring risk, said state toxicologist Kristine Klos. If city water is above that level, it doesn't mean that a person will automatically become sick, she said. "It's when we look at the population as a whole, most people will be OK, some people will be affected." The risks are greater for vulnerable populations such as infants and fetuses, she added.

The new goals fall as low as .0079 parts per trillion for PFOA. One part per trillion is roughly the equivalent of one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The city's two dirtiest wells  No. 6, located along Highway 95 south of downtown, and No. 10, near Lily Lake  also failed to meet a less-stringent national standard set in April by the Environmental Protection Agency. They have been shut down. Health department tests show both wells were above the EPA standard of 4 parts per trillion for PFOS as early as the fall of 2021. Well No. 9, near Lily Lake, had PFAS levels just below the EPA standard. Some of those test results are now shared on the city's website.

The federal standard is legally enforceable, unlike the state's health goals, and will require municipalities by 2029 to take action to reduce PFAS levels and notify the public.

The family of chemicals known as PFAS, short for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were pioneered by 3M for use in manufacturing and today are in a wide variety of products, from food packaging to firefighting foam. The chemicals are resistant to water, oil, and heat and due to their tight carbon-flourine bonds are nearly indestructible, giving rise to their nickname as "forever chemicals."

A plume of PFAS chemicals has contaminated groundwater across the east metro thanks to four 3M dumpsites in Washington County where the company disposed of PFAS manufacturing waste from the 1950s through the early 1970s. Some compounds, particularly the original ones known as PFOS and PFOA, have been linked to damage to the liver, the immune system and diseases including cancer.

Stillwater City Administrator Joe Kohlmann said the city estimates that it could cost up to $13 million per well to clean city water. The city is pursuing funds from the state bonding bill, the drinking water revolving loan fund, community project funding and the MPCA Drinking Water Planning and Design Funds grant to help pay for water treatment, he said.

Some cities have paid for PFAS cleanup with funds made available in 2018 when 3M settled a state lawsuit by creating a $850 million cleanup fund. The fund was created to clean up a PFAS plume created by four 3M disposal sites in Washington County, but it's not yet known if Stillwater's contamination comes from any of those sites.

Even for cities allowed to use 3M settlement money, there's concern that funds will run out. Oakdale Mayor Kevin Zabel said his city needs to expand its water system and has accelerated plans fearing it will be more difficult to access cleanup funds in the future.

One of the latest cities to find PFAS in its water is Oak Park Heights, which borders Stillwater to the south. "It was probably just about a month ago that the testing came back, and the public works director let everybody know," said Mayor Mary McComber.

The city has created a website for residents, and signed on to the national $10.3 billion 3M settlement reached last summer for water cleanups across the country.

"There is money out there but when you think of how many cities are having big issues  I don't think that money is not going to be enough for everybody," said McComber.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr asserted his nation's claims in the disputed South China Sea while taking pointed swipes at Beijing during a speech in Singapore on Friday - Ore Huiying/Bloomberg

If a Filipino citizen were killed in a confrontation with the Chinese coastguard, it would be very close to an act of war, the president of the Philippines has warned.

Asked at the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singapore whether China would be crossing a red line if one of its coastguard ships killed a Filipino during a confrontation, Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippine president, replied it almost certainly would.

Clashes between Filipino and Chinese coastguard vessels in the contested South China Sea have intensified during the past year as Beijing steps up its claims over shoals and reefs in waters that Manila says are legally within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Chinese vessels have accelerated so-called grey-zone activities, including shadowing, bumping, harassing, and swarming Filipino supply and patrol ships, as well as using high-powered water cannons to block their passage.

Close to an act of war

If a Filipino citizen is killed by a wilful act, that is very close to what we define as an act of war, and therefore we will respond accordingly, and our treaty partners, I believe, also hold that same standard, he said. We would have crossed the Rubicon.

Mr Marcoss remarks came just hours after the US and Chinese defence chiefs shared their first handshake at Asias top security summit  a symbolic gesture that many hope will curb the risk of conflict in the Indo-Pacifics many hotspots.

The annual summit, which draws together hundreds of senior defence and intelligence officials for high-level talks every June, has evolved into a gauge of diplomatic and military relations between Washington and Beijing since its launch over 20 years ago.

Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, met his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun for the first time just days after Beijing sparked alarm with military drills to punish perceived separatists and encircle democratic Taiwan, testing its ability to seize power there.

Few believe the meeting will change the course of potential conflict, but the fact that it even happened was progress for the rival superpowers, who are trying to restore military communications channels that broke down as ties frayed in 2022.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun (c) walks to a meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore - REUTERS/Edgar Su

Mr Austin was snubbed last year by Mr Dongs predecessor, Li Shangfu. This year, however, he had a 75-minute face-to-face conversation that was described by Chinese military spokesperson Senior Col Wu Qian as positive, practical, and constructive.

The two countries agreed that a stable US-China military-to-military relationship is important, Col Wu said, despite confronting each other over contentious issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

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, Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement after the meeting.

In his speech, Mr Austin sought to allay fears that the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have taken attention away from the Indo-Pacific.

Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theatre of operations, he said. Let me be clear: The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure.

But despite , it is the spiking tension in the South China Sea that will receive top billing this weekend, and which many believe has a higher chance of tipping into conflict  even accidentally  in the near term.

Filipinos do not yield

President Marcos delivered a closely watched keynote speech on Friday evening and, as expected, underscored his nations determination to defend its sovereignty in the face of Chinas aggressive territorial claims over maritime features near the Philippine coastline.

Addressing senior defence officials from more than 40 countries, including Mr Austin and Mr Dong, he denounced what he described as illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions being taken in the disputed South China Sea  a clear censure of Beijing without explicitly naming it.

Such actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, he said, adding: Filipinos do not yield.

But he also had firm words for treaty ally, the United States, underscoring that competition between Washington and Beijing was destabilising the Indo-Pacific region.

Their rivalry is constraining the strategic choices of regional states. Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas, he said, urging both countries to better manage their relations.

Mr Marcos has boosted the Philippines security relationship with Washington and taken a firmer line with China since entering office.

In recent months, there have been frequent flare-ups between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs, atolls, and other features of the South China Sea.

Many of the tense run-ins have been near the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and the Second Thomas Shoal, where a grounded and rusting warship, the Sierra Madre, serves as a Philippine military outpost to stake Manilas claims.

This week, Mr Marcos described new rules outlined by Chinas coastguard, granting it the right to detain foreigners accused of trespassing into waters claimed by Beijing, as worrisome.

China, however, argues it is the Philippines that is deliberately stoking strife.

Beijing asserts historical rights to much of the resource-rich South China Sea, which not only contains plentiful deposits of fossil fuels but today facilitates about $3.4 trillion in annual ship-borne trade.

An international tribunal in The Hague dismissed Chinas assertions in 2016 as having no legal basis, but China rejected this ruling and has continued to militarise islands and atolls while denying access to disputed waters to rival Southeast Asian claimants.

Risk of major conflict

The rising skirmishes between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea could spark a major conflict at any time, Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to the US, warned in a Nikkei interview late last year.

Many foreign policy experts agree that this disputed waterway is currently riper for a clash than the Taiwan Strait.

I have thought for some time that the most dangerous near-term flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific is Second Thomas Shoal, not Taiwan, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

I also expect that the US and other like-minded countries will echo [President Marcoss] messages about the rule of law and the need to settle disputes peacefully.

The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed additional resources in different Philippine territorial waters, including the disputed South China Sea - EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/FRANCIS R MALASIG

The stakes are high for Washington, which is bound to respond to any military attack on the Philippines by the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT).

However, the Cold War-era agreement did not foresee the kinds of coercive grey-zone tactics used by Beijing to change the status quo without resorting to lethal force, and the Biden administration has not fully spelled out what types of Chinese behaviour could invoke a US reaction.

In April, President Marcos signalled the death of any Filipino serviceman because of an attack or aggressive action by another foreign power in the South China Sea would be enough to activate the treaty.

Such a scenario could have dire consequences, Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coastguard, told the Telegraph last month.

Im very sad to say this, but there will be war and the MDT would invoke the inclusion of the United States in that kinetic conflict, he said.

But defence analysts like Dr Collin Koh, a senior fellow at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, argue the trigger and nature of possible US intervention in such circumstances is much less clear-cut.

It is probably in the best interests of the US, China, and the Philippines that the MDT remains strategically ambiguous, he said.

Strategic ambiguity

While there was a risk of inadvertent or accidental clashes, Beijing would likely back down from actual conflict in the South China Sea, he said.

I believe that China is likely to stay laser-focused on Taiwan and not allow other regional flashpoints to serve as a distraction, said Dr Koh.

Both Lloyd Austin and Dong Jun are expected during their own speeches this weekend to lay out their nations tough stances on the future of Taiwan, the South China Sea, and repeated territorial stand-offs between Beijing and Tokyo over the contested Senkaku Islands.

Chinese coastguard ships have been spotted in waters around the uninhabited Japanese-controlled island chain for a record 158 consecutive days, Tokyo revealed on Monday.

An incident there could again raise the prospect of regional conflict as the US also has a mutual defence treaty with Japan.

Behind the scenes in Singapore, there will be a chance for defence chiefs and other regional leaders to signal more nuanced red lines and create mechanisms to de-escalate crises.

One possibility could be a new communications channel between the heads of US Indo-Pacific Command and Chinas Eastern Theatre Command  the two officers who would lead military operations if there was a war over Taiwan, wrote James Crabtree, a columnist in Foreign Policy.

A military-to-military meeting between the two is unlikely to produce diplomatic breakthroughs. But the fact that it could happen at all is a welcome development  and, given recent years of frosty silence, a somewhat surprising one.

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Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) pressed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to pardon former President Trump following his recent conviction in his hush money trial.

Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim, Phillips said in a post on social platform X Friday. @GovKathyHochul should pardon him for the good of the country.

Trump became the first former U.S. president to have the status of being a convicted felon on Thursday, following a jury finding him guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to hide alleged affairs amid his 2016 campaign.

Shortly after the jury read the verdict, Trump railed against the hush money trial, calling it rigged and disgraceful.

You think pardoning is stupid? Phillips, also a former presidential candidate, said in a Saturday post on X. Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid. (Election charges are entirely different.) Its energizing his base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost.

Trumps son, Eric Trump, boasted about fundraising numbers for this fathers campaign following the former presidents conviction in the case Friday.

Whats really amazing, go back to 2016 for a second, the largest fundraising haul in history to that point, we did in one day, you know, $16 million, Eric Trump said to Fox Newss Jesse Watters.

And as of a couple of minutes ago, we just announced $52.8 million in 24 hours and were probably another five, six million dollars above that, based on the fact that that was exactly 24 hours from the indictment time, which was about 5:30 [p.m.], Trump continued.

The Hill has reached out to Phillips office.

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A climate campaigner stuck a poster over a painting by Claude Monet hanging in a Paris museum, in the latest of a string of acts of vandalism against famous works of art.

The activist, from the group Food Riposte, a movement calling for sustainable agriculture to tackle climate change, affixed a sticker on Monets Poppy Field, covering the artwork with an apocalyptic version of the same scene.

She posed for pictures alongside the vandalised painting as it hung in the renowned Musee dOrsay in the French capital, a favoured tourist spot and home to some of some of the worlds most famous impressionist works.

In a video of the incident, the activist said: This nightmarish image awaits us if no alternative is put in place.

Monet completed 'Poppy Field' in 1873

Monets painting, completed in 1873, shows people with umbrellas strolling through a field of blooming poppies.

The woman was detained pending investigation, according to Paris police.

It was unclear whether the incident damaged the painting. The museum did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press news agency.

The work is not protected by glass.

Inspired by British groups such as Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain, Food Riposte have also seen their methods widely criticised.

Protesters from the group previously targeted the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, hurling soup over the bulletproof glass protecting the painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.

In January, protesters from the same group hurled soup over the bulletproof glass protecting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris - David Cantiniaux/AFP

In April, two of its members were arrested at the Musee dOrsay suspected of preparing an action there.

It is at least the second time one of Monets works has been targeted by climate groups in recent years.

In 2022, Last Generation, a movement based in Germany and Austria, poured instant mash potato mix over Les Meules at the Barberini museum in Potsdam, west of Berlin.

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NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance had to scrub another attempt to send up astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the Crew Flight Test mission aboard the CST-100 Starliner on its first human spaceflight.

The duo saw the scrub on June 1 after previously attempting to launch on May 6 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 41 atop a ULA Atlas V rocket for a trip to the International Space Station.

Watch live: Boeings Starliner set for launch today on historic human spaceflight

When they do launch, the plan is for the pair to test out manual maneuvers and the spacecrafts environmental controls on both the way up and ride down. NASA plans to keep them on the ISS for about eight days, aiming for a return to Earth for a landing in the desert in the southwestern United States.
COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL)  The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council at Piedmont Columbus Regional hosts an exhibit to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Month.

Attendees were invited to partake in local AAPI eateries, listen to music from different countries and learn the cultural traditions of multiple AAPI communities. The conference room at Piedmont Hospital was full of artifacts from different countries worldwide.

Tracy Sprowls, the chair of Piedmont Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council told WRBL that this exhibit is a springboard for colleagues and the community to celebrate and understand the culture, beliefs, and traditions of different countries.

As employees visited different exhibits, some employees shared cultural terminology and experiences with the attendees.

WRBL also spoke with T.J. Henderson, the pharmacy manager of Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital who is of Hawaiian descent.

Henderson said, So days like this where were able to come together with coworkers and colleagues and be able to celebrate, whether its over information or whether its over food, it creates camaraderie. It also creates discussion, which I think is very important, especially in this day and age

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Poland reports "long and tense night" during Russian attack on Ukraine

Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces has said that its own and allied aircraft were scrambled on the night of 31 May-1 June in response to the threat of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Source: Polish Operational Command on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Polish military stated that Russia's nighttime strike spread over the entire territory of Ukraine, including the districts bordering Poland, and was carried out using cruise missiles, Shahed attack drones and ballistic missiles launched from the Black Sea area.

"It was a long and tense night for the entire air defence system of Poland," Polish Army Operational Command noted.

The deployment of Polish and allied aircraft ended at 06:00 as the threat of missile strikes by Russian aircraft on Ukrainian territory lessened.

"The Polish army is continuously monitoring the situation on Ukrainian territory and is on constant combat alert to ensure the security of Polish airspace," they stated.

Background:

On the night of 31 May-1 June 2024, Russian forces carried out missile and air strikes on critical infrastructure in several oblasts, with Ukrainian defenders shooting down 35 missiles and 46 drones.

This is not the first time Poland has scrambled fighter jets in connection with Russia's missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Three people were injured in a shooting in Southeast D.C. early Friday evening.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said that the shooting happened in the 1600 block of W St. SE.

DC man charged for shooting, killing another DC man in Prince Georges County

Two men and one woman were shot. All of them were conscious and breathing, MPD said, but homicide had been called to the scene to investigate.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Police: Chevy Chase man wanted in connection to murder of parole officer in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said its looking for a Chevy Chase man who is wanted in connection to the murder of a Maryland Parole and Probation Agent.

Police said that on May 31 at about 5:50 p.m., they were dispatched to the 2800 block of Terrace Drive in Chevy Chase for a welfare check on a parole officer who had not reported back to work after checking in on 54-year-old Emanuel Edward Sewell, a registered sex offender.

When officers went to the parolees home, they found the parole officer dead.

Alexandria police investigates shooting that left 1 injured

Police obtained a warrant for Sewells arrest and are charging him with second-degree murder.

Officers said Sewell may be armed and is considered dangerous.

Police believe he may be driving a gray 2017 Hyundai Elantra with Maryland license plates 93661HT.

The name of the parole officer will be released after notifying the family.

Credit: The Montgomery County Police Department

Anyone with information on where Emanuel Edward Sewell could be is urged to call police at 301-279-8000 or visit the Crime Solvers.

There is a reward from $250 up to $10,000 to anyone Tips with information that leads to an arrest.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
BALTIMORE, Md. (DC News Now)  The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) said a fetus was discovered inside a Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus on Saturday afternoon.

Police said that at about 12:40 p.m., an MTA bus driver discovered a fetus on a seat on the bus in the 2500 block of Kirk Avenue.

Olney kitchen fire displaces 2 people

MTA police and BPD officers responded.

Police said no further information is available at this time.

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The Republicans running in the June primary in Colorado's 4th Congressional District threw more elbows than punches in a televised debate on Thursday night in Denver, with most of the jabs aimed at U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, though her rivals also took hits.
Police: Man stole liquor truck in hope of selling off booze to pay drug debt

MUNCIE, Ind. (WXIN)  An accused thief in Indiana told Muncie police officers that he was sitting in his car when he spotted a delivery truck full of beer and liquor pull up outside the Cheers Bar.

A plan reportedly came to his mind: Steal the truck. Sell the booze. Pay off his drug debts.

But the plan didnt go as intended.

Beau Burchel, 39, of Gaston was found by police officers hiding in a brush line near Meadowview Farms, an area mobile home community.

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans have reported losing someone to a drug overdose: Study

According to the Muncie Police Department, Burchel was successful in swiping the box truck full of booze while it sat outside Cheers Bar on Thursday morning. But police spotted the truck in a field behind the Shriners Club located near Meadowview Farms.

As police arrived on scene, officers spotted Burchel, described as a man with a ponytail, running into a woodline near the edge of the cornfield. Officers found him hiding under a bush.

Officers said that Burchel reportedly admitted to swiping the truck as part of a ploy to pay off his drug debts. He hoped to unload the liquor and beer from inside the box truck and sell it.

Also found hidden behind the Shriners Club was a skid steer loader that was reported stolen earlier in the day. Burchel also allegedly admitted to stealing the skid steer and cutting off the GPS unit.

Police said a search of the liquor truck revealed that Burchel had damaged the box truck by ripping out the camera system and tearing away the GPS device.

Richmond County man arrested for stealing school activity bus

The stolen skid steer allegedly has a value of more than $60,000. The box truck was estimated to be worth $50,000. Police said the alcohol was still in the back of the truck and valued to be worth more than $12,000 in assorted beer and liquor.

Burchel was booked on several preliminary felony theft charges. Final charges will be decided by the Delaware County Prosecutors Office.

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Polish aircraft scrambled during Russian missile attack on Ukraine

Poland has scrambled its aircraft during a Russian missile attack on Ukraine on the night of 31 May-1 June.

Source: Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces on Twitter (X)

Quote: "Be advised that Polish and allied aircraft are flying in Polish airspace, which may lead to increased noise levels, especially in the southeastern part of the country."

Background: Poland has regularly scrambled its aircraft during a Russian missile attack on Ukraine since February.

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Political leaders are sending their thoughts to the Obama family and honoring former first lady Michelle Obama after her mother, Marian Robinson, died on Friday.

Robinson died at the age of 86, the family said in a statement. The family noted that Robinson, a lifelong Chicago resident, lived with them in the White House during former President Obamas time in office, but the trappings and glamor were never a great fit for her.

Michelle Obama posted on the social media platform X honoring her mother.

My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed, she said. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today.

President Obama, Robinsons son-in-law, posted online saying there was and will be only one Marian Robinson.

In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life, he said. And we will spend the rest of our trying to live up to her example.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden released a statement Saturday honoring Robinson, who they knew as a devoted mother and grandmother.

She believed, like we do, that family is the beginning, middle and end. She moved into the White House to be there for her family when they needed her most, and in so doing, she served her country right alongside them, the Bidens statement said. Her life is a reminder that we are a great nation because we are a good people.

The Bidens sent their deepest love to the Obama family.

Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., sent her heartfelt condolences to the family.

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time, she said. May you find peace and strength in your cherished memories.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center posted online sending the former first lady its thoughts and prayers.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of her mother, Marian Robinson. May they find strength and comfort in each other and in the cherished memories of Mrs. Robinsons remarkable life, the center said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also posted honoring Robinson.

What an incredible woman. What an incredible life, he said. Were mourning the passing of Marian Robinson. Were praying for her, for @MichelleObama, for the Obamas and the Robinsons, and for their whole family.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) sent her love to the entire family as they mourn.

She was an extraordinary woman that gave unconditional love to her family and was truly one of a kind, Klobuchar wrote.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) said her heart goes out to Michelle Obama and her family as they mourn the loss. Robinsons strength, kindness, and devotion are qualities we should all strive to embody. Her memory will continue to inspire us, Whitmer said in a post.

Reverend Al Sharpton said Robinson was a remarkable woman who embodied strength, grace, and resilience.

She was a true warrior, a source of inspiration for us all, he wrote. We are grateful for her presence in the Robinson/Obama family and the impact she made as a loving mother and grandmother. May her spirit continue to guide and uplift us.

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New poll finds 49% of independents and 15% of Republicans think Trump should end campaign after conviction

A new poll shows that nearly half of independent voters and some Republicans want Donald Trump to end his presidential campaign.

A Morningside Consult poll from Friday said that 49 percent of independent voters and 15 percent of Republican voters want Trump to end his 2024 bid after his felony conviction. However, just 8 percent of Trump supporters said they want his campaign to end. Their poll also demonstrated that 54 percent of voters approve of the historic verdict.

On Thursday, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of an election conspiracy that involved covering up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story of an affair threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trumps sentencing is on 11 July, just days before the Republican National Convention where he will be named the official GOP presidential candidate.

The same poll indicated half of voters oppose a prison sentence for Trump. 69 per cent of voters think a fine would be appropriate, while 49 per cent think Judge Juan Merchan should place him on probation, according to the Morningside Consult poll.

Supporters of former president Donald Trump wave banners after Trump spoke at a press conference at Trump Tower the day after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money criminal trial. A new poll shows nearly half of independent voters think Trump should now end his presidential campaign (EPA)

President Joe Biden commented on the conviction on Friday, decrying his reckless attacks on the trial and insisting the verdict is evidence that the justice system works.

Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself, he said, adding that the case against Trump had been brought in a state court, not a federal one, and was decided by an ordinary jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you that was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen.

Meanwhile, some of Trumps die-hard supporters are calling for violence online in the wake of his conviction.

Find the jurors. All of them. Take no prisoners, wrote one user on a Trump-focused message board.

Just give them the rope, said another, in an explicit reference to lynching. The time for talking has long gone. Let them swing outside the courthouse.

Several prominent GOP politicians have also refused to accept the verdict, calling their ruling rigged and corrupt.
People queue outside a polling station during the 7th and last phase of Lok Sabha Election. Shailesh Bhatnagar/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

India's mammoth parliamentary elections came to a close on Saturday after more than six weeks of voting across the country, with with Prime Minister Ravendra Modi's governing BJP party expected to win a further term in office.

The final polling stations closed in the world's most populous democracy at 6 pm (1230 GMT), with results not expected until June 4.

Modi is favoured to win a third five-year term in office, with his nationalist BJP party hoping to extend its parliamentary majority.

The 73-year-old would be the first Indian leader to win a third term since inaugural prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s.

More than 500 seats were up for grabs in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, with at least 8,000 candidates standing.

Around 970 million voters were eligible to take part in the election, held across more than 1 million polling stations in several phases beginning in mid-April.

Modi remains popular in India, and the campaign by the BJP - which translates as Indian People's Party - focused heavily on his personality and charisma.

The political opposition is relatively weak and fractured. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's Congress Party, which once dominated Indian politics after independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, now holds power in only three of India's 28 states.

Under Modi, India has risen to become the world's fifth-largest economic power and is also playing an increasingly important political role as a counterweight to China.

Modi has invested heavily in modern infrastructure projects such as roads, high-speed trains and airports. But economic growth has not been evenly distributed.

Unemployment remains high and poverty widespread, with many struggling to afford the basic necessities. According to the World Bank, the gross domestic product per capita is around $2,000 per year.

Hinduism, the religion of about 80% of Indian's population, has moved to the centre of national identity. Opponents warn that religious minorities, such as the country's 200 million Muslims, are becoming second-class citizens and subject to growing discrimination.

Modi's election campaign has further inflamed religious tensions. At the start of his campaign, Modi consecrated a Hindu temple on the site of a centuries-old mosque that was destroyed in 1992 by Hindu fanatics.

The election campaign was also hit by a severe heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius in the north of the country. Local media reported that some election workers were among those affected, with some suffering fatal heatstroke.

People queue outside a polling station during the 7th and last phase of Lok Sabha Election. Shailesh Bhatnagar/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Bolan Mountain Lookout in southern Oregon is set to be rebuilt after it was destroyed in the Slater Fire in 2020.

One of Oregons more popular mountaintop fire lookouts is set to be rebuilt after it was destroyed in the 2020 Labor Day wildfires.

Bolan Mountain Fire Lookout, located just above the Oregon-California state line near Cave Junction, will be restored by the Siskiyou Mountain Club in partnership with Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the groups said Thursday.

Perched on 6,269 foot summit with sweeping views of the Siskiyou Mountains and even to the coast, Bolan was one of the structures burned in the Slater Fire. The fire burned 125,000 acres and destroyed over 200 homes.

Bolan Mountain Lookout in southern Oregon was destroyed by the Slater Fire.

Slater impacted a lot of people, Scott Blower, district manager for the Wild Rivers Ranger District, said in a news release. This is a project about healing.

The new and improved lookout will be built using sustainable and fire-resistant materials but will still have its original feel, said Siskiyou Mountain Club executive director Gabriel Howe. He added the project includes funding to restore a network of trails in and around the lookout, "bringing the area back to life and reimagining the area's recreational opportunities," he said.

The group said they're looking for project sponsors, as well as volunteers and partner groups to help haul supplies and assist with tasks such as pre-finishing material. Email gabe@siskiyoumountainclub.org or call 458-254-0657 to participate.

Emma Logan is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at elogan@salem.gannett.com or on X @emmmalogan

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon fire lookout to be rebuilt after 2020 Labor Day wildfire
President Joe Biden is recognizing Pride Month this year saying the period celebrating LGBTQ+ life, experiences, struggles, and history, helps to reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion.

Biden pointed to the courage of LGBTQ+ people to live out and proud even when it was dangerous to do so.

Evoking the Stonewall uprising in 1969, the president said that since that catalyst for LGBTQ+ civil rights in the U.S., courageous LGBTQI+ Americans continue to inspire and bring hope to all people seeking a life true to who they are.

In the proclamation, Biden referred to his administrations advancement of LGBTQ+ rights, including his signing of the Respect for Marriage Act, his order ending the ban on trans service members in the military, as well as executive orders protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in health care, employment, education, and more. He referred to his administrations push to end conversion therapy and to stop the ongoing HIV epidemic.

The president referenced the ongoing attacks against LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are transgender and LGBTQ+ youth. The ACLU is tracking more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S. as of May 31.

These bills and laws attack our most basic values and freedoms as Americans: the right to be yourself, the right to make your own medical decisions, and the right to raise your own children. Some things should never be put at risk: your life, your safety, and your dignity, Biden said in the proclamation.

He also mentioned the violence queer people have faced in attacks at Club Q in 2022 and Pulse in 2016.

We are doing this work here at home and around the globe, where LGBTQI+ community members are fighting for recognition of their fundamental human rights and seeking to live full lives, free from hate-fueled violence and discrimination, Biden said.

 I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQI+ community, Biden said, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high.
Pride flag flying over Los Angeles City Hall for first time ever

For the first time ever, Los Angeles is celebrating Pride Month by flying the iconic rainbow flag over City Hall.

The L.A. City Council approved a notion on Friday to allow for a flag, other than the American flag, to be raised on a government building.

Announced by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass on Saturday, the Pride Flag will now fly over City Hall for the entirety of Junes Pride Month in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ricky Martin headlining 2024 LA Pride in the Park

Im proud to have signed this historic motion to fly the pride flag over City Hall. Our message to the rest of the country and to the world is clear  now more than ever, we must stand together, Bass said. We know the harm that discrimination and hate brings and Im proud that in Los Angeles, we accept our LGBTQIA+ community with open arms.

The Pride Month celebrations in Southern California kick off this weekend with the annual WeHo Pride Parade on Sunday. The parade starts at 12:30 p.m.

KTLA is the official broadcast partner of the WeHo Pride Parade. Live coverage begins at 1 p.m. on KTLA 5, KTLA+ and KTLA.com. Viewers can also watch the broadcast on KTLAs Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The first day of June kicks off Pride Month in Pittsburgh and other cities nationwide.

The 2024 Pittsburgh Pride March and Parade drew large crowds across the Andy Warhol Bridge on Saturday.

This parade is all about celebrating love, freedom and LGBTQ+ rights.

Pride means everything to us, its like our Super Bowl, said Linnea Drenning, the Central Outreach Wellness Center marketing coordinator.

It feels great, it feels like we are part of the community and everyone is here for the same reason, you feel connected to everyone, said parade-goer Amanda Wenke.

From area political leaders to pets decorated in pride colors, everyone came out to show unity and support.

Its exciting, Pittsburgh is on fire and we are here to celebrate Pittsburgh pride; love is love. Pennsylvania is a place where everyone can be who they choose to be. Thats what we are here fighting for today, said Lt. Governor Austin Davis.

Central Outreach of Pittsburgh took the opportunity to make special t-shirts paying tribute to Marsha P. Johnson, a black transgender woman who led the gay rights movement back in 1969.

This is the Marsha P. Johnson famous headband that you know she wore and we wouldnt have pride without her and so we are super proud and honored to be able to wear these and celebrate pride and celebrate her, said Jason Nunez, of Central Outreach Wellness Center

Along with the celebration, Central Outreach offers services for the homeless or anyone in need.

We are getting out in the community. We are getting in the parks, we are partnering with other teams, Nunez said.

Amanda Wenke comes every year to support friends in the LGBTQ community. This year she brought her daughter.

A lot of kids grow up and dont feel supported by their parents, so I definitely want to be that for my daughter and the new generation, Wenke said.

Central Outreach compiled a list of all pride activities in the communities it serves. Some of the events include:

June 2: Pittsburgh Pride continues in Bloomfield

June 8: Wheeling Pride in Heritage Port Park

June 15: Columbus Pride

June 15: Mount Oliver Pride

June 28: Pride and Joy at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh

Click here to learn more about Central Outreach Wellness Center in Pittsburgh.

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Pro-Palestinian protesters descended on the Brooklyn Museum Friday evening, shutting down the institution and damaging artworks in the museum lobby, according to a spokesperson for the museum.

Museum workers frantically rushed to lock the front doors but were quickly overcome by protesters who overtook the Brooklyn Museums lobby.

5 people slashed at homeless shelter in Manhattan: NYPD

At around 4:30 p.m., a group of demonstrators came up Eastern Parkway and began protesting outside on the plaza as well as inside the building, blocking entrances and unfurling banners both indoors and on the facade of our building, read a statement by Taylor Maatman, director of public relations and communication at the museum.  Unfortunately, there was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed. Out of concern for the building, our collections, and our staff, the decision was made to close the building an hour early and ask the public to vacate peacefully. 

A group claiming to represent the protesters said the action targeted museum board members. It was not immediately clear whether anyone on the Brooklyn Museum Board of Trustees has direct ties to Israel or the war with Hamas.

The art museum is 560,000 square feet and is New York Citys second-largest, containing around 500,000 works of art. The museums permanent collection is home to works of art by artists like Judy Chicago, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh, according to the museums website.

It remains unclear what works of art in the lobby were damaged by protestors.

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.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Pro-Palestinian protesters descended on the Brooklyn Museum on Friday evening, shutting down the institution, according to video and an X post by Within Our Lifetime.

The crowd of people waved banners and chanted, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. We will free Palestine. At least three people waved the Palestinian flag atop the museum steps. A black banner with the words Free Palestine was hung from the museums roof, videos on social media show.

More Local News

Notify NYC warned residents to avoid the area and expect traffic delays near Atlantic Avenue and Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

A group claiming to represent the protesters said the action was targeting museum board members. It was not immediately clear whether anyone on the Brooklyn Museum Board of Trustees has direct ties to Israel or the war with Hamas.

The Brooklyn Museum was targeted in an autonomous action organized by hundreds of artists, cultural workers, and other NYC communities who came together under the banner Cultural Front for Free Palestine with demands relating to the genocide in Gaza, an email obtained by PIX11 News read. Today, the ongoing pillage of housing and livelihoods proceeds through the economic violence of investors and developers, many of whom sit on museum boards while the ongoing trauma comes at the hands of armed police whose primary mission is the protection of property and the repression of dissent. Free Palestine. Palestine is everywhere.

Museum workers frantically locked the front doors as a swarm of protesters rushed to get inside. However, they were quickly overcome by pro-Palestinian protesters who overtook the lobby of the Brooklyn Museum, as seen in the photo below.

(Credit: FNTV)

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.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Did David Sutherland defraud a trust fund of former Carhartt leader and philanthropist Gretchen Carhartt Valade of millions of dollars?

Prosecutors say yes, while Sutherland's attorney told jurors Friday "there was no crime committed here."

That question is one a Wayne County Circuit Court jury is to begin weighing Monday in the criminal case against Sutherland, of Grosse Pointe Farms, in a trial that began May 15 and wrapped up Friday after closing arguments. About two dozen witnesses testified, including Sutherland, who took the stand this week.

Scott Teter, division chief of the financial crimes division for the Michigan Attorney General's Office, told jurors during his closing argument Friday that "it's sad that before (Valade) passed away, what she found out was David Sutherland was a liar and a thief and not her friend."

Attorney James Joseph Sullivan, left, speaks with his client David Sutherland, an attorney who has been charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from recently deceased Carhartt heiress Gretchen Valade's trust, after an arraignment hearing at Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court on Jan. 11, 2023.

"He didn't want to serve Ms. Carhartt. He wanted to be Ms. Carhartt," Teter said of Sutherland, before ending his closing argument. "He wanted to be the wheeler dealer. He wanted to be the guy. And he used her to do it."

'He's not a thief'

He added: "Ms. Valade deserves justice, even if she's not here to see it."

Sutherland's attorney, James Joseph Sullivan, told the jury during his closing that no crime was committed. He said Sutherland had authority as trustee and kept a complete, accurate record.

"This notion that he was trying to rip her off is just a bunch of baloney. He had plenty of opportunities for gain," Sullivan said of Sutherland. "He's not a thief. He wasn't disloyal to her. He's not a criminal."

Sullivan asserted that Sutherland was targeted and that Carhartt stock was at the center of the issue.

Sullivan told jurors that his client is accused of being a liar, but asked: "What's he lyin' about?" He also questioned how much was allegedly embezzled in 2019 and 2020, adding "I don't know, because they don't know." He implored the jury "to do the right thing and find this man not guilty."

Sutherland is facing four charges, including three counts of embezzlement from Valade trusts when he was serving as trustee.

He faces two counts of embezzlement over $100,000, one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of $100,000 or more and one count of conducting criminal enterprises. Each charge is a 20-year felony offense, the Michigan Attorney General's Office previously said.

He was arraigned in January 2023, less than two weeks after Valade died.

Gretchen Carhartt Valade, metro Detroit businesswoman, philanthropist and "angel of jazz," died peacefully in her home on Dec. 30, 2022 at age 97.

Valade, a businesswoman, philanthropist and arts patron, died at her Grosse Pointe Farms home on Dec. 30, 2022. She was 97 and the granddaughter of Carhartt Inc. founder Hamilton Carhartt.

Her son, Mark Valade, sat in the courtroom Thursday and Friday after he testified earlier this week.

A 'nightmare' of debt and obligations

Teter told jurors that Gretchen Valade was a trusting, caring, generous person who was active into her 90s, but "she also had some people around her she couldn't trust." He told them that she began to have health issues in 2016, and was in a wheelchair two years later. As her health began to fail, Teter told jurors, Sutherland's activities began to pick up.

He said it turned Valade, who "gave and gave and gave to this town and to this community, and it turned her into an ATM. Every time they needed money, they came and hit the buttons and hit the buttons and hit the buttons. And pulled her into stuff that turned this thing into a nightmare because of all of the debt and all of the obligations."

The case focused on Valade's 1982 revocable trust and her 2009 irrevocable trust. Prosecutors alleged Sutherland wrote two promissory notes for $5 million each owed to the 2009 irrevocable trust, one to Sutherland himself; the other to Byzantine Holdings LLC, in which Sutherland was a partner. Testimony indicated the notes were produced and backdated a year and a half after the money was withdrawn.

Julie Cotant, a senior trust officer with Plante Moran Trust, previously testified the notes are owed to Valade's 2009 irrevocable trust, and a review of the records on each note indicates the amounts actually owed appear to be in excess of $7.7 million each.

Cotant testified that the 2009 irrevocable trust of Valade's "is deeply underwater" with liabilities far exceeding its assets. Plante Moran became the trustee of the trust in August 2020, taking over Sutherland's role, she testified. When the firm took it over, the interests it held included real estate (buildings and parking lots), some promissory notes and life insurance policies.

Prosecutors alleged that Sutherland moved money out of the trust to pay for entities Sutherland owned or was tied to and that the 1982 revocable trust was used to try to create cash flow.

Sullivan told jurors the alleged crime wasn't reported to law enforcement for year and a half and that Sutherland's payment plan was rejected. He said Plante Moran considered the promissory notes as assets of the trust. Cotant testified neither note has been paid in full.

Sullivan told jurors Sutherland was venturing, had assets and that Valade was supportive. He told jurors the racketeering statute his client is facing is meant for "mobsters" and "gangbangers," not attorneys practicing for decades. He told jurors that his client was "never a threat."

During the trial, Sullivan asked for a directed verdict and mistrial, both of which Judge Paul John Cusick denied.

In a separate matter, Sutherland is accused of stealing from the trust of a Grosse Pointe Farms school in a case that will be tried later. He's charged with one count of embezzlement of $100,000 or more in that case.

In that matter, the Attorney Generals Office said the allegation involves embezzlement of more than $1.4 million from the William Cardinal Foundation, which is to benefit education at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School in Grosse Pointe Farms. That alleged crime is said to have occurred between Aug. 1, 2018, and last year, according to statements made during Sutherland's arraignment in June 2023 in Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Prosecutor: Gretchen Valade 'deserves justice' in embezzlement case
Prosecutors have renewed their request to a federal judge to order Donald Trump to stop making false claims that the FBI was authorized to kill him when it executed a search warrant at his Florida home in August 2022.

The motion Friday from special counsel Jack Smiths team comes four days after U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon spurned a similar request from prosecutors, using unusually blunt language to fault them for failing to make an adequate effort to resolve the issue with Trumps lawyers before coming to the judge.

The new motion, filed Friday evening, makes the same central argument: that Trumps claims about an approval to use deadly force pose a danger to FBI agents who took part in the search or are connected in other ways to the pending criminal case in which Trump is accused of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence and obstructing an investigation into the subject.

These deceptive and inflammatory claims expose the law enforcement professionals who are involved in this case to unjustified and unacceptable risks: they invite the sort of threats and harassment that have occurred when other participants in legal proceedings against Trump have been targeted by his invective, prosecutors Jay Bratt and David Harbach wrote. They also warned that the claims could impact potential jurors in the case, which is not currently set for trial.

In the new filing, the prosecutors list a series of social media posts and political fundraising emails where Trump has made inflammatory and false claims, like Bidens DOJ was authorized to shoot me! and Joe Biden was locked & loaded and ready to take out me & put my family in danger.



Trumps comments appear to have been triggered by language in an FBI operations plan related to the search that described when agents were allowed to use deadly force. However, FBI officials have said that language is included in virtually all such plans and is designed to limit the use of force, not expand it. In addition, they note that agents deliberately chose to execute the warrant when Trump was not at home in order to prevent any confrontation.

Prosecutors asked the judge to change Trumps release conditions in the case to prohibit him from making statements posing a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

While the new filling describes prior threats to witnesses and law enforcement in connection with legal matters involving Trump, it does not point to any actual threats received by FBI agents that appear related to his assertions about the raid.

Prosecutors also complied Friday with a request from Cannon, a Trump appointee, that they relay the views of Trumps defense without editorializing. The end of the motion contains language in which Trumps attorneys say they oppose the judge issuing a gag order in the case.

President Trumps position is that the requested modification is a blatant violation of the First Amendment rights of President Trump and the American People, which would in effect allow President Trumps political opponent to regulate his campaign communications to voters across the country, the statement from Trumps lawyers said.

For the second time, Smith did not request that Cannon consider the request on an expedited basis. Trump is asking for two weeks to respond to the gag order request and asked the judge not to start that time until officials in the courts probation office determine whether they concur with the prosecutors about the need for a gag order.
FAIRBANKS RANCH, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A protester calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was arrested Friday in the Fairbanks Ranch neighborhood during Vice President Kamala Harris visit to the San Diego area for a political fundraiser, authorities said.

Around 3 p.m., Harris motorcade arrived in the 1600 block of Circa del Norte where about 50 protesters gathered outside the gated entrance to the Fairbanks Ranch community, Lt. Gavin Lanning with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department said in a news release.

One of the protesters jumped in front of the motorcade to stop Vice President Harris from entering the neighborhood, Lanning said.

Authorities said they detained the protester blocking the motorcade, but another protester intervened, causing the first to run away.

A video of the arrest was posted to social media shortly afterwards by one of the groups who organized the protest.

Man sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing in-laws in Valley Center

In the video, California Highway Patrol officers and sheriffs deputies could be seen pushing two protestors, before one who was thrown onto the ground. At least two other demonstrators could be seen falling to the ground in the scuffle with a sheriffs deputy tripping over them.

One of the demonstrators who fell to the ground could be seen being grabbed by the sheriffs deputy and a CHP officer afterwards.

Based on the video, it is unclear which demonstrator was taken into custody by law enforcement in the incident. However, Lanning said the protestor who intervened in the arrest of the individual in the street was detained.

The demonstrator was taken to the North Coastal Sheriffs Station where she was cited and released, he added. The second protestor faces possible charges on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer.

The protest ended after 45 minutes. There was no property or vehicle damage, and no injuries were reported.

FOX 5/KUSIs Danielle Dawson 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Protesters set up new encampment at Columbia, calling for divestment from Israel

NEW YORK  Just weeks after police stormed a student-led occupation at Columbia University, a cohort of protesters set up a new camp on the same lawn Friday during an alumni reunion, calling on college graduates to withhold donations until Columbia divests from Israel.

Security guards stormed the nascent encampment shortly after tents went up, as protesters chanted Shame, shame, according to a video shared on Instagram by the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. Students were instructed to sit in the tents, making them harder to remove.

About 10 tents were set up overall, according to the student newspaper the Columbia Spectator. Students unfurled banners saying @alumni, NO DONATIONS til DIVESTMENT and LIBERATED ZONE, according to photos shared by the student group.

Columbias campus remained locked down to the public Friday evening. Barnard and Teachers College students continue to be blocked from the campus without special permission.

Organizers called the encampment a Revolt for Rafah: Installation One and cited Columbias efforts to raise funds from alumni as the cause for their action.

We are aware of the encampment erected this evening and are monitoring the situation, said a Columbia spokesperson. We remain committed to hosting a successful weekend for our alumni.
Newly assigned to cover the Reagan White House, Associated Press photographer Ron Edmonds knew the most important part of the job was to keep watch on the president at all times.

He did that for 28 years.

But there was never a day like March 30, 1981. That was when Edmonds, who died Friday night in Virginia at age 77, took a series of images for the ages.

President Ronald Reagan had just spoken to members of the AFL-CIO at a Hilton hotel not far from the White House. As Reagan emerged from the hotel, John Hinckley Jr. used a revolver to fire at the president, his aides and his protective detail.

Edmonds was in place for an exclusive series of pictures taken across the roof of Reagans limousine as Reagan was struck and then shoved down and into the vehicle. It sped to the hospital where doctors saved the presidents life.

That coverage and those indelible images won Edmonds the Pulitzer for spot news photography.

In this combination of file photos, President Ronald Reagan waves, then looks up before being shoved into a presidential limousine by Secret Service agents after being shot outside a Washington hotel, March 30, 1981. Ron Edmonds, who won a Pulitzer Prize for photographing the attempted assassination, died Friday, May 31, 2024, in Virginia at age 77. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)

I wish it had been for a picture that had not been of violence, of people being hurt, he said when the award was announced on April 12, 1982.

Edmonds was summoned to the Oval Office for a chat with the president the next day. Reagan joked, Edmonds said, that photographers always asked him for just one more picture. He could replay the shooting scene, the president said, but this time he would use a stuntman.

In a first-person retrospective three decades later, Edmonds said in an AP video that the fateful day was shaping up like one of the thousands of events he had covered during Reagans campaign: Meet and greet, a little speech, shake some hands. I actually thought it was going to be a rather boring event.

Outside, however, the photographer heard what sounded like firecrackers.

Everything happened in such a quick, split-second. If you looked to your right to see what the shot, what the noise was, and looked back, the president was already gone. The president immediately, when the first pop went off, he kind of grimaced in his face and thats when I pushed the shutter down, Edmonds recalled.

Would it be blurry because Reagan was whisked away so fast? Edmonds had to wait until the film was processed so he could see the negatives and know whether he had anything.

You did the best you could with the abilities that youve got, he said. Of this, he was sure: I had the camera on him and I mean I saw everything through the viewfinder.

APs executive editor, Julie Pace, said that Ron brought some of the most significant moments in the history of the American presidency to life for people around the world. Working with Ron was also an honor for any journalist who had the opportunity. He was generous with his time and advice, and he had the respect of his colleagues, competitors and those he covered.

Honored in 2013 by the White House News Photographers Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award, Edmonds traced the arc of his career.

I decided to take a photography class in 1968 and it literally changed my life, Edmonds wrote. A newspaper photographer turned college professor encouraged Edmonds to photograph antiwar demonstrations in Sacramento, California.

Edmonds sold one of his images for $25 to United Press International. I saw it in the newspaper the next day, and I knew what I wanted to do for a living.

He freelanced in California before taking a job at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Five years later came a promotion to chief photographer.

Edmonds, who was born June 16, 1946, in California, met his wife, Grace, when she joined the newspaper in 1975 to cover courts. She survives him, as does their daughter Ashley.

Opting for a bigger pond, he wrote, Edmonds joined UPI in Sacramento in 1978 as a newspicture bureau manager.

The AP came calling during Reagans presidential campaign in 1980 with an opening in the Washington bureau. It was a dream come true to work at the White House with legends in the craft, Edmonds wrote.

The Pulitzer, he noted, was earned on only his second day as the APs White House photographer covering Reagan.

The most important element of my job was to watch the president at all times, and I think, on that day, I did everything I was supposed to do, Edmonds wrote.

Still, I was convinced I was in trouble with my bosses because I had failed to get a picture of John Hinckley Jr. When I got word to call the president of the AP in New York, I assumed the worst. He told me, You nailed it, kid. I got a $50-a-week merit raise. My bureau chief, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walter Mears, jokingly complained that he had only gotten a $25-a-week raise for his Pulitzer.

Edmonds retired in 2009, when he was the APs senior White House photographer. He had covered presidents and the world, Super Bowls and the Olympics.

Ron was a very dedicated photojournalist who helped me a lot when I first started in Washington by teaching me how to cover the White House beat for the AP, said Pablo Martinez Monsivais, assistant chief of bureau for photography in Washington. I am very fortunate to have had him as a coworker and friend for all these years.

To J. David Ake, retired directory of photography at the AP, what stood out was Edmonds kindness.

He wanted to win and put the AP first more than anyone I knew, but never at the expense of the photographers he was competing with. If your batteries died or you committed the ultimate sin and ran out of film, Ron would hand you his, Ake said. He would insist he be the first one through the door at a photo op but he always made sure everyone else got through the door, too.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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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 essays so far are listed at the bottom of this article.

Today, Dr Ivana Stradner considers what Putins next European conquests would be after seizing Ukraine.

Russia recently celebrated Victory Day, a major national holiday commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany. Speaking before Russian troops in parade formation on Red Square, Putin promised Russia would soon achieve victory again  this time over Ukraine. Such an outcome would imperil not just Ukraine but also security in Europe and beyond. For his next conquests are already in his sights.

The Kremlin has been honest about its desire to weaken Nato, break Western unity and subjugate Russias neighbours. For Putin, the war in Ukraine isnt just about that country. He sees the current conflict as a defining moment in his broader struggle against the West and reshaping the world order.

Putin said that Russia has no plans to attack any Nato country and, as such, too many Western leaders rest easy in the belief that Russias war is strictly confined to Ukraine because Natos Article 5 is watertight. But if Moscow is allowed to prevail in Ukraine, other countries  including Nato members  will be at far greater risk. Conversely, Western support for Ukraine demonstrates to Putin that he will pay an even greater price for an attack against Nato, and is preparing accordingly.

This fact is not lost on the countries closest to Russia. The Baltic nations, first of all, have warned that Russia could pivot quickly from Ukraine to invade their territory. Moldova, too, which hopes to break free of Russias influence and join the West, fears it would be next if Putin emerges victorious in Ukraine.

Crucially, Russia does not need to send tanks and jets to such places. A victorious, emboldened Russia, engorged on Ukraine and with spare capacity, could rely on hybrid warfare tools, utilising little green men both on the ground and in the information space to convince the West that a conflict in there is internal and, therefore, in the case of the Baltics, does not trigger Article 5. This is what German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius meant when warned that Russia could attack a Nato member state within five to eight years. It need not be as obvious as tanks rolling across a Nato border.

A mural depicting Vladimir Putin on a building adjacent to the Russian embassy, in Riga, Latvia

In fact, Russia is already working to destabilise Europe. In May, Nato warned that Russia is waging an intensifying campaign of cyberattacks and other hybrid operations against its members. British intelligence has cautioned that Moscow is even planning physical attacks on the West. We know Russia is recruiting far-Right extremists to carry out attacks on individuals, and European intelligence agencies say that Moscow, seeking to weaken us, has staged violent acts of sabotage across Europe and is planning more. The Russians are already attempting to interfere in this months European Parliament elections, and the U.S. elections in November are no doubt on Putins menu, too.

Meanwhile, Russia is using its hybrid warfare machine to foment chaos in Natos soft underbelly: the Western Balkans. Using information operations and corrupt influence, Moscow aims to stoke ethnic tensions between Serbia and Kosovo and within Bosnia and Herzegovina. As Georgia faces massive protests triggered by a proposed law that targets civil society and its aspirations to join the EU, Russia is calculating security assistance. With the elections in Moldova and its vote on EU membership this year, Russia will likely not miss an opportunity to sow further discord in the country.

A Russian victory over Kyiv would also carry serious implications in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. If Moscow is able to outlast the West in Ukraine, Beijing may conclude it would face feeble resistance to Chinese military aggression against Taiwan. Furthermore, Moscows aims to strengthen its military footprint in Africa, which it has already worked to do with the assistance of the remnants of its Wagner mercenary group. Fundamentally, Russia and China believe the decline of US global power is essential and have been advocating for a multipolar international system not led by Washington.

A Dutch Army THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) unmanned vehicle during the NATO Quadriga military exercise, in Pabrade, Lithuania

The West can only win this war if leaders understand Putins game. Since Putin first came to power, he has conducted an offensive aimed at gaining reflexive control of the West. Reflexive control is an old Soviet concept, foreign to most Western nations. It encompasses interfering in another countrys decision-making until the government is compelled to take actions in the Kremlins interest. In the words of Russias Ministry of Defense, Russias war game works through massive psychological manipulation of the population to destabilise the state and society. This is what Moscow did with some success in Ukraine before its Maidan Revolution in 2014 when the people fought back.

President Zelensky said we can and should think only about how to win. Alas, this sentiment is not shared by many in the West, leaving ambiguous what victory means and promising to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. This is a dream come true for Putin giving him the ability for a protracted war.

Make no mistake: the West has the power to ensure Russias defeat. Collectively, Western countries dwarf Russia economically and outclass it militarily. But they must translate that potential into reality. This requires patience and determination to stand by Ukraine and provide it with the weapons and training its forces need to win on the battlefield. Otherwise, Ukraine will just be the first domino to fall.

Dr Ivana Stradner is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies 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.

Other essays in the What If Putin Wins? series:

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Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, speaks during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos. Jakob Polacsek/World Economic Forum/dpa

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has expressed the hope that a proposal accepted by Israel for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza can bring movement to the efforts of the mediators.

In a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Al Thani stressed that "mediation is working to achieve a lasting ceasefire to put an end to the war."

He also "expressed the mediators' hope that the parties will deal positively with the fundamentals mentioned in US President Biden's address, including the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from all populated areas in the Gaza Strip, release of all hostages including women, the elderly people and the injured in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and the aid entry into the enclave," according to a statement.

The US, Egypt and Qatar have been mediating between Israel and Palestinian Isamist Hamas for weeks, attempting to secure the release of the remaining hostages and a ceasefire in the conflict.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Saturday that mediators hope all parties will deal positively with the principles of a Gaza ceasefire proposal that U.S. President Joe Biden laid out on Friday.

Al Thani made the remarks during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Qatar's state news agency said.

The principles in the ceasefire proposal "include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza, the release of detainees including women, the elderly, and the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the entry of aid into the strip," Al Thani added.

Qatar, with Egypt, has been mediating ceasefire discussions between Israel and Palestinian militant faction Hamas. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also said in a phone call with Blinken on Saturday that his country would support all efforts to end the war in Gaza, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Al Thani, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, said in April the Gulf state was re-evaluating its role as mediator, citing concerns that its efforts were being undermined by politicians seeking to score points.

Qatar has faced criticism from within the United States and Israel over its ties to Hamas since Oct. 7.

Some 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attack and 252 others were abducted, according to Israeli tallies. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ensuing military onslaught on the Gaza Strip, say health officials in the Hamas-ruled enclave.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher and Enas Alashray; editing by Giles Elgood)
In a Texas House primary runoff, a queer Black woman has defeated an incumbent who broke with her fellow Democrats to support a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

Lauren Ashley Simmons beat Rep. Shawn Thierry in the Tuesday runoff by a margin of 65 percent to 35 percent to win the Democratic nomination in Texas House District 146, located in Houston. In the March 5 primary, they were the top two in a field of three candidates, but neither won a majority  although Simmons came close  leading to the runoff. The district is heavily Democratic, so Simmons is favored to win the general election in November over Republican Lance York.

Thierry, who served four terms in the House, usually voted with her party, but she outraged Democratic colleagues when she gave a 12-minute speech on the Texas House floor last year defending a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors, the Associated Press reports.

I am making a decision to place the safety and well-being of all young people over the comfort of political expediency, she said at the time, according to the AP. It is my core belief and conclusion that we should remain consistent in the premise that children must be given special provisions under the law as they cannot fully appreciate the long-term consequences of their actions.

However, when minors undergo gender-affirming care, they do so with the guidance of parents or guardians as well as medical professionals. The care is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and many other health care organizations.

Three other Democrats voted for the ban, which passed and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, but Thierry was the most vocal among them. She also supported the removal of sexually explicit books from school libraries  something often used to target LGBTQ+ content  and a bill requiring trans college athletes to compete under the gender they were assigned at birth, The Texas Tribune reports.

Several current and former House members backed Simmons, and Thierry told the Houston Chronicle editorial board that Simmonss supporters were the gay ones, according to the Tribune. Thierry later said the comment was taken completely out of context.

The Simmons-Thierry contest emerged as a test of whether Democratic lawmakers who do not fully support LGBTQ+ causes can remain in good standing with their own partys voters, the Tribune notes. In this case, the answer was no.

Simmons is a shop steward and organizer with the Communications Workers of America labor union. Her family has a history of activism  one of her ancestors escaped slavery and founded a town for free Black people, and her father helped integrate his high school, according to an LGBTQ+ Victory Fund biography. She became a mother at age 19 and struggled financially for several years.

I know what its like to be without power and keep fighting, she said in the bio. I went literally overnight from being a comfortable middle-class kid to a 19-year-old mom on food stamps. The Black women in low-income apartments where I lived taught me how to survive  how to stretch every penny. I owe them a debt. Thats why I do what I do.

Her priorities in the legislature will include support for public schools, health care, and a living wage.

She was endorsed by Victory Fund, Equality Texas, and the Human Rights Campaigns political action committee.

Clearly voters are tired of the bigoted politics of Shawn Thierry, who has betrayed her constituents so she could carry water for the worst politicians in Austin, said a statement from Victory Fund President and CEO Annise Parker, a former mayor of Houston. [Tuesdays] result shows that Houstonians in District 146 are ready for much better representation. I couldnt be more proud of Lauren, the campaign she ran and the fierceness shell bring to the Texas House, where shell proudly fight to make Houston a more welcoming place for everyone.
A contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has resigned in protest over the Biden administrations support for the war in Gaza  and in an interview with The Independent said that political pressure from the White House was silencing dissent at the agency.

Alex Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, said he was given a choice of resigning or being fired after a presentation he was due to deliver on child mortality among Palestinians was cancelled by USAID leadership.

In his resignation letter to the head of USAID, Samana Power, he alleged that the agency was treating the war in Gaza and Palestinians differently than other conflicts and humanitarian emergencies.

Read his resignation letter in full below:

(Alex Smith)

(Alex Smith)

(Alex Smith)

27 May, 2024

Dear Administrator Power,

After years of service to USAID, this will be my last communication to your office in my position as a Senior Advisor on Gender, Maternal Health, Child Health, and Nutrition.

This is a heartbreaking and dangerous moment in world history. Since October last year, Israel has launched a deadly campaign of collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, mass starvation, and cultural erasure of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. More than 35,400 people (two thirds of them women and children) have been killed in Gaza, and another 500 people (100 of them children) have been killed in the West Bank. At least 10,000 more people are missing under the rubble. More than 7,350 West Bank Palestinians have been abducted, often without charge or in administrative detention.

Over 1.7 million people, more than 75% of Gazas population, have been displaced since October. The UN estimates that around 640,000 Gazans have been displaced from Rafah, since May 6th. Hundreds of thousands of children and other civilians are at risk of death or life-long illness due to poor living conditions and intentional starvation. Over 79,000 people in Gaza have been injured. UNICEF estimates a thousand children have lost one or more limbs. The intentional bombing of all 36 of Gazas hospitals means most Palestinians lack access to even basic first aid, let alone maternal care and other vital health services.

Rather than sanctioning this horrific violence, the United States has consistently provided political cover for Israels actions, blocked UN votes for ceasefire and recognition of Palestinian statehood, dismissed the possibility of legal redress in the international courts, and provided tens of billions in financial support and arms to continue the slaughter. Years ago, I read all of your books on genocide, on the integrity of international humanitarian systems, and on idealism. I had thought that you and our leadership at USAID would surely speak out or allow others to speak out about what is true and what is right in a framework of international law.

USAID has always prided itself on our programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law. USAID defends human rights norms and international law when Ukrainians suffer from Russias crimes. In Ukraine, we call for legal redress when people are victimized, and name perpetrators of violence. We even work with human rights organizations collecting evidence for international prosecution. We boldly state Slava Ukraini in peppy promotional videos. When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses theyre currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water. When Ukraine was invaded, we at USAID volunteered and rallied with Ukrainian partners to plan for the day after the war and rebuilding of health systems. For the Palestinians, however, no such plan exists, and worse: the US continues to deny vital funding to the most effective aid coordinator, UNRWA, despite zero evidence of malfeasance.

On May 22nd, 2024, I was scheduled to present a session to a conference of USAID colleagues and partners. My abstract An Intersectional Gender Lens in Gaza: Ethnicity, Religion, Legal Status, and Maternal/Child Health Outcomes was submitted in February 2024 and vetted for quality in three rounds by 35 reviewers. My presentation was one of a few selected out of 368 submissions. One of the discussion themes of the conference focused on intersectional gender and the fact that indigenous women and women from racial and ethnic minorities often experience higher maternal mortality rates and other negative maternal health outcomes. My presentation addressed this issue directly, citing UN and US government sources and data. It focused on maternal and child health outcomes in Gaza and the long-term implications of starving and bombarding pregnant women in this and previous conflicts.

One day before I was to present, however, I received from leadership a list of words I was forbidden to say, including Israel-Gaza border, Palestinian state, and Palestinians in reference to Palestinian/Arab citizens of Israel who identify as Palestinians. I was also told that a UN OCHA map of Gaza which accurately describes the 2022 borders was unacceptable. Later the same day, my session was canceled without explanation. Every reference to it was quietly deleted from the conference website. This decision denied the conference participants the opportunity to receive accurate, relevant, data-driven information about a serious global health and human rights crisis.

On the same day that I was to have given my presentation based on credible reporting, data, and facts, Israels Minister of Strategic Affairs told Sky News, there is no famine in Gaza and there never has been famine in Gaza. What a sad state of affairs were in when offencive, perhaps criminal, misinformation and propaganda can be broadcast to millions around the world while at the same time important and accurate information cannot be whispered at a conference on gender equality and human rights.

As a Senior Advisor on Gender, Maternal Health, Child Health, and Nutrition, it has been my job to address harmful social and human rights issues impacting health outcomes in a wide range of contexts, including conflict-affected areas. Ive carried out these duties for four years, providing technical and policy assistance across our missions in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. As specific needs arose, I also volunteered for rotations on the COVID Vaccine Task Force, the Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment (GenDev) Hub, and the Ukraine Response Management Team (RMT).

I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race. I can no longer in good conscience continue to be silent amidst USAIDs de facto policy of ignoring human suffering when that suffering is perpetrated by an ally. Actively silencing discussion of Palestinian lives and the ongoing global health disaster is dehumanizing, not only to the people of Gaza, but to the people of the United States who deserve to know the extent to which we are paying for and supporting crimes against Palestinians.

I sincerely hope that in future years the leaders of USAID regain their moral footing and speak truthfully in important and dangerous times such as these.

Sincerely,

Alexander Smith
CUNY is already a world-class public university

Manhattan: In NYC needs a new world-class college (op-ed, May 26), Jonathan Bowles and Winston Fishers argument that New York City needs a world-class university to attract young people and fuel New Yorks economy is a solution in search of a problem. Drawing an imaginary line between excellent and top-tier that seems to correspond more closely with tuition cost than anything else, the authors conspicuously overlook the fact that the City University of New York already accomplishes much of what their imagined college would.

CUNY colleges are regularly included in lists of top educational institutions, our graduates and faculty are often recognized for their groundbreaking scholarship and we propel almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class as the Ivy League colleges combined. Most relevantly, thanks to a growing investment in private-public partnerships, CUNY colleges are powering New York Citys economy, enabling employers to tap into an educated workforce that represents 200 countries and speaks 137 languages.

I believe Bowles and Fisher have good intentions, and I share their goals and certainly their assessment that CUNY is a vital institution. But with schools competing for fewer students and inequality forcing young adults out of the city, their approach would drain resources from our educational institutions and spend billions to benefit a vanishingly small number of people at some point down the line.

Public institutions like CUNY attract tens of thousands of brilliant and persevering students ready to join the workforce now. These students are the key to a more resilient city and where we should focus our resources. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, chancellor, City University of New York

The verdict is in

Merced, Calif.: Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 counts, and thats a good thing. The best thing to have happened to our democracy is the fact that Stormy Daniels, David Pecker and Michael Cohens testimonies were the right thing in bringing down Trump. John Huerta

First in his class

Branford, Conn.: If Michael Cohen is MVP in the Liars Club, then Trump has made the All-Star team 30 years in a row. James Stonick

Non-carceral state

Mount Vernon, N.Y.: I think its hilarious that TV news reporters are asking sagely (hopefully?) whether, after being convicted, Trump is going to be sentenced to prison. In Alvin Braggs New York, murderers and rapists arent sentenced to prison, so why should he be? Tedd Smith

Risque relativity

Richmond Hill: To Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who claims his office did their job by prosecuting Donald Trump: Let me get this straight  you are jumping for joy because finally, your office was able to prosecute one minuscule loudmouth whose main crime was paying off a porn star to keep quiet about their sexual encounter? You think this gives you reason to celebrate? Granted, it was a crime, but it doesnt compare to the thousands of times your office failed to incarcerate dangerous criminals instead of releasing them back to the streets! Were talking about violent and sexual predators in comparison to a man who paid off a porn star. For the record, Im not a Trump supporter, just a New Yorker who has had enough. Francheisko Perez

Never called

Briarwood: Trump claims there were a lot of key witnesses that the prosecution did not call that would have given us (Trump) the win. Question: Why didnt Trumps defense team call these witnesses when they had the opportunity? Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Jury of voters

Staten Island: Donald Trump was found guilty by a jury of everyday Americans on 34 felony counts. He is finally being held accountable for one of his many illegal schemes to gain and hold onto power. His conviction is a reminder that no one  including a former president  is above the law. And its another reminder that Trump still poses a major threat to our democracy. The New York trial may be over, but Trump still faces three additional indictments and 54 criminal charges for a litany of crimes, including federal charges for his efforts to incite violence and overturn the will of voters. And on top of all that, hes still running for president. Our fundamental freedoms are on the line. Dont let a convicted fraudster hold the highest office in our land. Its up to us to stand up and defeat Trump at the ballot box this November. Gary Turner

Split personality

Belfast, Maine: On Dec. 17, 2023, former President Trump compared himself to Al Capone. On Wednesday, he compared himself to Mother Teresa. From Al Capone to Mother Teresa in 164 days. Not bad. Lawrence Reichard

Positive outcome

Hicksville, L.I.: Regarding the verdicts in Trumps trial, Im reminded of what Craig Ferguson used to say to open The Late Late Show: Its a good day for America. Steven Malinofsky

Serial scammer

Bronx: There is a pattern here with the former president. He loses the election and says the election is rigged. He is found liable in the rape case and he says the judge is corrupt. He loses the tax fraud case and says the state attorney general is corrupt, along with the judge, and says he has done nothing wrong. He is convicted now for trying to prevent the story about hush money from coming out, as he never did anything with Stormy Daniels  and besides, the judge and the Manhattan district attorney are corrupt. Everyone is wrong but him. Growing up in the Bronx, we would never play ball with a cheater like him. Martin Sandok

Tried and convicted

Scarsdale, N.Y.: Well, the verdict is in, and the verdict is witch. John Kern

Unsavory characters

Mineola, L.I.: Re De Niro isnt the voice voters should hear from (column, May 29): One need not be a devotee of Donald Trump  I am certainly not  to be repulsed by Robert De Niros histrionically vulgar press conference outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trumps hush money trial was nearing its denouement. De Niros display of raging bile is typical of this overrated thespian, as is his innate hypocrisy. Though all the world is indeed a stage, and one man in his time plays many parts, De Niro is but a counterfeiting actor upon whose tongue continual slanders ride. While he would never play the irredeemable Donald on the silver screen, De Niro has spent the better part of his cinematic career depicting Italians as loathsome Neanderthals and misogynistic thugs  from The Godfather to Goodfellas to The Untouchables to A Bronx Tale and beyond. Rosario A. Iaconis

Climates costs

Western Springs, Ill.: More intense and frequent storms and wildfires caused by increased global warming have raised home insurance payouts so much that insurers in 18 states have lost money. As this years-long trend has worsened, insurance rates have skyrocketed, coverage has been reduced and insurance companies have completely left some states. Yet, Donald Trump, if elected, would roll back President Bidens actions against global warming. At a recent dinner with oil company executives, he sought to raise $1 billion in campaign contributions, saying they would gain much more than that from his rollbacks. Trump and congressional Republicans enjoying large oil-industry contributions ignore increasing temperatures, rising oceans, melting glaciers and the decades-long consensus of climate scientists  including Exxons own  that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of global warming and its disruptions. It may be more difficult for them to ignore soaring insurance costs and the actions of home insurers. Richard Barsanti

Staying power

Forest Hills: Who would have predicted that the Rangers season would last longer than the Mets? Alan Hirschberg

Commuter wisdom

Jackson Heights: The New York MTA, the agency that brought us the easily hacked anti-fare-beater turnstiles and the beloved congestion pricing, proudly announced a six-month, million-dollar project that encompasses a more holistic approach to create and implement mechanisms to decrease fare-beating. Really? Hey, geniuses: Put your checkbook away. Just survey the riders! We know the common-sense solutions. Ask us! Glenn B. Jacobi
MEXICO CITY  On virtually every corner of Mexicos capital city, drivers encounter political activists holding signs for one or another of the countrys political parties. Colorful banners enliven the otherwise gray and white walls of the citys office buildings. The nation is visibly preparing for its presidential election on Sunday.

One word dominates, on fences and bumper stickers, even in radio commercials: Morena. It is the acronym of Mexicos current ruling party, the National Regeneration Movement, which is set to win in the upcoming election.

And one person dominates, as well. Next to the partys dark red logo, Mexicans have grown accustomed to reading the phrase Es Claudia  Its Claudia  or Claudia Presidenta  President Claudia. Those slogans refer to 61-year-old Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City and the clear favorite to occupy the nations highest office.

In fact, the contest is all but decided. Morena, with two allied parties, currently holds a majority of seats in Mexicos Chamber of Deputies and Senate. It is also the party of Mexicos current president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who, despite many controversies throughout his tenure, maintains an approval rating well above 50 percent.

As a result, Sheinbaum seems like a virtual shoo-in. Polls give her an ample winning margin of between 15 and 25 percent. Moreover, this spread has remained constant since last September, when Mexicos largest political forces announced their candidates for the presidency. Sheinbaum is just as popular as her party.



So, unless something unexpected were to occur  something that destroys a 20-point lead overnight  Mexicans know what will happen on election day. Millions will head to the polls and around midnight, the president of Mexicos National Elections Institute will announce Claudia Sheinbaum as the countrys next leader  and the first woman to occupy the presidency.

The real question, however, is what will happen after that.

For as long as Claudia Sheinbaum has been a public figure, she has alternated between what people here see as two different personalities. On one hand, shes an accomplished physicist with expertise in environmental science and a reputation for pragmatism. On the other, shes a long-time leftist activist, a close ally and champion of Lopez Obrador  a divisive figure who came to power promising to represent the lowest echelons of Mexican society and, during his tenure, increased social spending to a historic high while simultaneously attacking Mexicos system of checks and balances.

The question raging here is: Which of Sheinbaums two personalities will dominate? Some think she will be Mexicos Angela Merkel  a scientist by training who will prioritize efficiency over ideology for the nations benefit. Others see her as a mere puppet of Lopez Obrador, who will follow in his leftist footsteps, increasing social welfare programs and battling the nations Supreme Court.

The truth, in all likelihood, is that she will fall somewhere in between. But how that balance is set, the way in which she reconciles these aspects of her life, will define not only Mexicos future but what kind of president she will be when it comes to negotiating with the United States and its president.

In other words, which Claudia  or combination of the two  becomes president will have an outsize influence on the U.S. political landscape at a time when immigration, drug trafficking and trade are all top issues for American politicians.



Mexico already plays a disproportionate role when it comes to the U.S. debate over immigration, and having a Mexican president set on defending Mexican sovereignty and other Latin American countries could worsen the U.S. border crisis during a presidential election cycle. But the implications to the U.S. go beyond immigration. A more ideological and leftist Sheinbaum could easily take a nationalist perspective on drug policy and commerce. She could seek more beneficial terms for Mexico in the USMCA negotiations next year or be unwilling to cooperate with U.S. authorities to investigate the increased drug trade of fentanyl. A more pragmatic Sheinbaum, on the other hand, could find compromises when discussing trade, and agree on a middle ground for investigating cartels with U.S. support without risking Mexicos sovereignty.

That means the United States should have a keen interest in figuring out which side of Sheinbaums personality will govern her interactions with Washington. And it turns out some key episodes in her past took place in the United States.



Mexico today is a democracy with a peaceful transfer of power between parties and broadly successful elections. But this is a fairly recent phenomenon. For most of the 20th century, the country was ruled by a single political party, the PRI, in a unique form of autocracy  one that earned it the nickname of the perfect dictatorship from Peruvian Nobel Prize-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa.

For close to 70 years, the PRI ruled the country from top to bottom, holding the presidency, governorships and Congress. However, every six years, the party would hold elections and a new generation of politicians would enter its ranks. Dissidents were severely punished. In 1968, as students sought to protect the autonomy of Mexicos public universities, government forces opened fire on protesters resulting in a massacre and the incarceration of many student activists. This would occur again, in 1971. The people would change over time, but the party wouldnt and anyone who objected was repressed.



That is the Mexico that Claudia Sheinbaum grew up in. Born in 1962, she was the daughter of a small businessman and an acclaimed cellular biologist  both descendants of Jewish immigrants from Europe, although Sheinbaum herself is not religiously observant; she kept an image of the catholic Virgin of Guadalupe on her desk as mayor of Mexico City. Due to her mothers academic life, Sheinbaums family was close to some of the student protesters who were arrested in 1968. Her childhood was divided between studying for exams, reading books, listening to political meetings in Mexicos nascent left wing and visiting family friends incarcerated under the PRI regime.

As an undergraduate in Mexicos National Autonomous University (UNAM), she majored in physics with a focus on clean energy generation. At the same time, however, she was a core member of the universitys activist community, taking part in the Student Council and leading a number of protests against the regime. She was both Claudia the physicist and Claudia the activist. Even her undergraduate physics thesis had a political dimension; she studied the impact of stoves used by purepecha indigenous communities in Mexico to better understand energy consumption in rural areas.

Later, as a Ph.D. candidate, she moved briefly to California where she did research at the University of California, Berkeley, while her then-husband, Carlos Imaz, pursued graduate studies at Stanford. Even then, away from Mexico, Sheinbaum found an outlet for politics. When Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari visited Stanfords campus in 1991, she joined protesters holding a sign calling for Free Trade and Democracy Now  a moment that would be immortalized on the front page of the universitys newspaper, the Stanford Daily.



The truth is that all along, Sheinbaum has been both a researcher focused on her career, and a social activist deeply engaged with Mexicos left. Upon returning to Mexico after her graduate studies, Sheinbaum joined the faculty at UNAM teaching courses on energy management while joining Mexicos newly formed Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)  a leftist party run by Michoacan governor Cuauhtemoc Cardenas.

In 2000, a then up-and-coming politician ran for mayor of Mexico City with the PRD and won; it was Lopez Obrador. Sheinbaum joined his administration as Secretary of the Environment  her first time in public office.



According to a biography of Sheinbaums career published ahead of the election, she did that job as a data-driven pragmatist, even as her boss became known as a leftist ideologue. Sheinbaum was in charge of expanding Mexico Citys highways and she did it by building a second roadway above the citys main arteries  Periferico and Viaducto  to reduce emissions and lower traffic congestion. She was also in charge of building the citys first metro bus line to expand public transportation, now a staple of Mexico Citys urban infrastructure. As a recent memoir puts it, Sheinbaum was passionate about the technicalities of the projects and impatient with the political maneuvering often needed to get them done.

But politics and activism were never far away. When Lopez Obrador ran for president in 2006, she became the spokesperson for his campaign; when they lost the election and claimed political fraud, Sheinbaum organized protests in support of their movement. That was her modus operandi: technical when possible, political when needed.



Sheinbaum took a break from politics starting in 2006 when Lopez Obradors tenure in Mexico City ended and she became mired in a political controversy involving her then-husband receiving bribes, allegedly in support of the Lopez Obrador presidential campaign. After the scandal, Sheinbaum returned to teaching full time at UNAM and participated as a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (ICPP).

It was close to a decade later, when Lopez Obrador created a new party  Morena  that Sheinbaum reentered politics. In 2015, she ran to become borough chief of Tlalpan  one of Mexico Citys 16 districts. Morena was seen as a decidedly leftist party, seeking to transform Mexico and put an end to a neoliberal era. But after she was elected, she began to make a name for herself as a pragmatist. In 2018, she made a successful bid to become Morenas nominee for mayor of Mexico City, beating more party-line candidates such as long-time activist Marti Batres. Sheinbaum would go on to win the election by using her pragmatism to attract middle-class voters while supporting the ideological stance of Morena, which appealed to lower-class voters who felt neglected by past administrations.

As mayor, at least in the beginning of her tenure, Sheinbaums technical nature predominated. Her administration was not marked by the kind of political battles that followed her predecessor, Marcelo Ebrard, who had legalized same sex marriage and decriminalized abortion. Instead, she focused on large infrastructure projects and innovation, meant to improve mobility and decrease carbon emissions. She spearheaded the development of a cableway system, capable of moving 133,000 people every day. She also developed a free wifi program across the city, and began constructing the largest solar park inside of a city  built on top of Mexicos iconic Central de Abastos market. Quite famously, she worked with people outside of her own party to consolidate her cabinet, including her Secretary of Public Security, Omar Garcia Harfuch, who would later run to replace Sheinbaum as mayor with her blessing.

Her tenure, of course, had its difficulties. She had to deal with a number of crises including the sudden collapse of a metro train resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians. But even then, ideology seemed to be an afterthought; a ghost of her activist past.

It wasn't until after the 2021 midterm elections that Sheinbaum had to deal with politics more closely. The election resulted in a vote of no confidence against president Lopez Obrador after the COVID-19 pandemic, decreasing his partys hold on Congress and, in a historical shift, turning nine of Mexico Citys 16 boroughs  many of them run by the left  to the opposition. Soon she was dropping her stance as a technical mayor and once again becoming one of Lopez Obradors fiercest defenders.

Pre-2021, Sheinbaum held back on attacking Mexicos autonomous electoral institute, the INE, which President Lopez Obrador has criticized since the 2006 presidential election. After the 2021 midterm election, Sheinbaum joined her mentor and began to tweet against the institute. A similar thing happened when speaking of the main opposition parties: PAN and PRI. Her mentions of the political opposition pre-2021 were scarce; afterwards, she would criticize them for opposing a reform to Mexicos energy sector, and blasted them as harbingers of inequality. The more political Sheinbaum had emerged once more to defend her party and its leader.

Some of that shift likely stemmed from the change between being a mayor to running for president. But it also marked a return of the defining tension of her life.



Now, with the election looming, which of Sheinbaums personalities will guide her presidency is a hot topic of debate here. One needs only to look at Sheinbaums proposed government plan to see the inherent tension between her personas.

Some of her proposals are truly technical in nature like creating a program to support women who are victims of violence (Proposal #49) or doubling Mexicos rail freight capacity (Proposal #71). Others are truly political in nature, such as reforming the nations electoral institute and Supreme Court so its ministers and justices are elected by popular vote (Proposals #8 and #98). Both of those were key priorities for Lopez Obrador that he did not succeed in implementing.



Nowhere is this tension more evident than in her proposals for the energy sector. On the one hand, Sheinbaum has been vocal that she differs with Lopez Obradors reluctance to invest in renewable energies. In fact, Proposal #66 of her government plan is precisely about supporting an energy transition towards greener sources. Yet, to do this, she aims to maintain Mexicos state-owned Petroleum and Electricity companies that have been favored by Lopez Obrador despite their immense debts (Proposals #63-65). So which will it be? A green future or one that invests in state-owned oil? At this point in time, no one can say for sure.

Whichever Claudia or combination of Claudias comes to power will determine whether she will seek an open dialogue with the U.S. president or fight with ideological fervor to protect Mexicos sovereignty. It will determine if Mexico will compete for global investment as dozens of western companies seek to relocate away from China or if Mexico will focus solely on domestic concerns. Will Claudia Sheinbaum follow party-line views and be guided by ideology, or will she follow her technical past?

That is the election outcome that Mexicans  and Americans  will learn only after the new president is seated.
(KRON)  A Redwood City man succumbed to lethal injuries after being involved in a three-way car crash on Highway 101 early on Friday morning, California Highway Patrol Redwood City said. The man was in a solo crash and then died in a separate car crash approximately 20 minutes after the first.

Kia, Hyundai owners eligible for theft compensation in Oakland

The initial crash, according to CHP, occurred at 2:56 a.m. The Redwood City man, who drove a red Hyundai, was driving northbound on Hwy. 101 north of San Antonio Road, in an unknown lane, before crashing into a pole. CHP said this was a solo crash with property damages only.

After hitting the pole, however, the red Hyundai stopped working, blocking the fourth lane on Hwy. 101, CHP said. The man then exited the car for unknown reasons, officials said.

CHP said that approximately 20 minutes after the crash, the Golden Gate Communication Center (GGCC) was notified of a second crash involving the red Hyundai. According to officials, the second crash involved the red Hyundai, a Scion, and a Freightliner.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the Scion was driving in the fifth lane northbound before finding debris from the Hyundai partially blocking the lane. Since this was the last lane, the Scion attempted to change directions into the fourth lane before crashing into the red Hyundai, pushing it in a northeasterly direction, CHP said.

Alameda Co. DA imposes maximum sentence for 39-year-old convicted rapist

After the Scion crashed into the non-functioning Hyundai, CHP said a Freightliner was traveling northbound on the fifth lane before noticing the two-vehicle crash and attempted to avoid them by driving between the Hyundai and the Scion. Despite the Freightliner sustaining minor damage, the driver of the Hyundai was killed.

No injuries were reported related to the Scion. According to CHP, the Freightliner driver declined transportation and will seek his own medical aid later.

This investigation is still ongoing, CHP said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Republican factions fighting for control of the party in Tuesdays primary election

Voting booths at a vote center. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)

Most of the action in Tuesdays South Dakota primary election is in Republican legislative races, where a fight for control of the party has drawn in players ranging from upstart challengers to fundraising groups affiliated with members of Congress.

There are 44 Republican legislative primary races across the state, and only one Democratic legislative primary. Winners will go on to represent the party in the Nov. 5 general election, when all 105 seats in the Legislature will be up for grabs.

Republicans currently hold all but 11 of those seats, and their grip on the majority is not in doubt. But the partys direction could be influenced by Tuesdays results, many of which will be the final result. Among 35 districts, 16 of them lack general election contests for House seats and 20 lack general election contests for Senate seats, due to candidates running unopposed or one of the parties (mostly Democrats) failing to field a candidate. In other words, in some districts, the primary election is the de facto general election.

More election news

Visit the Election 2024 page.

One of the Republicans trying to influence the primary results is Toby Doeden, who considered challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson but decided against it. Doeden has since launched Dakota First Action, a political action committee aiming to remove fake Republicans and their whole crony crowd from the state House of Representatives, replacing them with America First candidates, according to Doeden.

Then well take the Senate and governors office, Doeden said, referring to future elections.

Doeden contributed $100,000 of his own money to the committee and reported it as a donation, according to a campaign finance report. After online commenters pointed out the $10,000 limit on individual contributions to political action committees, Doeden said the contribution should have been reported as a loan, not a donation.

Pat Powers, a Republican blogger, has filed an affidavit alleging Doeden is flagrantly violating campaign finance laws. Powers also published correspondence from Attorney General Marty Jackley indicating that Jackleys office is investigating.

As of the last filing deadline, Doedens committee had spent $25,000 on data acquisition, and recently sent text messages to District 25 voters alleging a Republican candidate he dislikes is a liberal in disguise.

Another political action committee seeking to challenge the Republican establishment in Pierre is Spearfish Republican Rep. Scott Odenbachs Liberty Tree. It spent $58,000 ahead of the primary.

Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, speaks to the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 8, 2024 in the Capitol. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Former executive director of Rapid City Catholic Social Services Jim Kinyons Protecting SD Kids donated $37,000 to similar candidates, as did anti-abortion activists South Dakota Right to Life PAC, spending $11,600. The PAC is affiliated with the nonprofit South Dakota Right to Life, which includes Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, Rep. Fred Deutsch, R-Watertown, Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, and former representative and current candidate Spencer Gosch on its board.

None of the money spent by those committees went to Republican candidates currently serving in legislative leadership positions.

Former Republican state senator Tom Dempster, of Sioux Falls, warns that confrontational politics within the party will contribute to further divides in an already divided country.

We have way too many candidates on the fringe that want people to rally around them because they simply want to upset the system, Dempster said. Its just the opposite of what our democracy needs today. We need people who know how to handle conflict and pull people together.

The kinds of candidates Dempster favors are receiving help in the primary from longtime Republican state lawmaker Lee Schoenbeck, of Watertown, who isnt seeking reelection. He founded a political action committee in 2021, South Dakota Strong. The committee spent $46,000 on nine candidates ahead of this primary, according to its campaign finance report.

Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, on the Senate floor during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Schoenbeck said todays Republican party consists of two different groups of people.

There are the normal Republicans, and there are these strange individuals who are not conservative. Theyre just unusual, Schoenbeck said. But they turn out big in primary elections. So, if normal, regular-thinking conservative folks dont vote in this primary, the highly unusual folks will win.

Mort PAC, run by House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, R-Fort Pierre, spent $48,271 to help some of the same candidates. It received $10,000 from Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds Peter Norbeck Leadership PAC and $10,000 from Republican U.S. Sen. John Thunes Heartland Values PAC.

Dusty PAC, managed by supporters of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, donated $25,750 to many of the same candidates and more.

Dakota Legacy PAC, run by Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree, R-Madison, took a similar approach, giving $16,700 to candidates and spending $10,000 on advertising. The committee also received $10,000 apiece from Thunes and Rounds PACs.

Following are summaries of some races that people on both sides of the Republican divide say theyre watching closely.

House of Representatives

In state House of Representatives primaries, the top two vote-getters from each party advance to the general election, where they will vie for two House seats in each legislative district.

District 18 (Clay, Yankton counties): Incumbents Mike Stevens and Julie Auch, and challenger John Marquardt, all of Yankton.

Auch received money from South Dakota Right to Life PAC and a 91.7% scorecard rating from South Dakota Citizens for Liberty, a group that says it advocates for limited government. Stevens received money from Dusty PAC and a 33.3% rating on the Citizens for Liberty scorecard.

Meanwhile, Auch received a D rating from a scorecard published by the Republican blogger Powers, the Real Conservative Scorecard, and Stevens received a B+ rating.

Yankton County Commission Chairman Marquardt received donations from Mort PAC and Dusty PAC.

District 13 (Lincoln, Minnehaha counties): Incumbent Tony Venhuizen and challengers Brad Jankord, John Hughes and Penny BayBridge, all of Sioux Falls. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the two Republican primary winners will win the two House seats.

Venhuizen formerly served as chief of staff for Governors Kristi Noem and Dennis Daugaard and has been involved in Republican state politics for many years.

Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, waits for Governor Kristi Noem to deliver her State of the State speech at the Capitol in Pierre on Jan. 9, 2024. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Jankord received donations from Dusty PAC, Mort PAC, former Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Venhuizen and others, totaling over $60,000.

Hughes has received funding from Odenbachs Liberty Tree, South Dakota Right to Life PAC, Protecting SD Kids and others, totaling over $40,000.

BayBridge took in $4,703 from various individuals.

With Venhuizen taking in over $100,000, plus the fundraising by other candidates, the districts primary election is the most expensive South Dakota Searchlight found.

District 9 (Minnehaha County): Incumbent Bethany Soye, of Sioux Falls, and challengers Kristi Golden, Daryl Christensen and Tesa Schwans, all of Hartford.

Soye has a 97.5% Citizens for Liberty rating and contributions from Liberty Tree, South Dakota Right to Life PAC and Protecting SD Kids. She was given a D rating on the Real Conservative Scorecard.

Schwans received donations from South Dakota Right to Life PAC, Protecting SD Kids and Liberty Tree.

Golden received donations from Dusty PAC and Mort PAC, and Christensen received donations from Venhuizen and Daugaard.

District 2 (Minnehaha County): Incumbents John Sjaarda, of Valley Springs, and David Kull, of Brandon, face challenger Jake Schoenbeck, of Sioux Falls. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the two Republican primary winners will win the two House seats.

Sjaarda has an 87.5% Citizens for Liberty rating and contributions from Liberty Tree and Protecting SD Kids. Schoenbeck is the son of longtime legislative leader Lee Schoenbeck (who isnt seeking reelection). South Dakota Strong gave Jake Schoenbeck $5,000. He also received contributions from Mort PAC and Dusty PAC.

Kull has an A rating on the Real Conservative Scorecard and received donations from Dusty PAC and Mort PAC.

District 21 (Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory and Tripp counties): Incumbent Marty Overweg, of New Holland, and challengers Lee Qualm, of Platte, and Jim Halverson, of Winner. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the two Republican primary winners will win the two House seats.

Overweg has a 97.5% Citizens for Liberty rating and contributions from Liberty Tree and South Dakota Right to Life PAC. Qualm, a former legislator, also has Liberty Tree and South Dakota Right to Life PAC contributions, plus an endorsement from Dakota First Action.

Halverson, whose daughter is involved with U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnsons reelection campaign, received donations from Dusty PAC and Mort PAC.

District 23 (Brown, Campbell, Edmunds, Faulk, Hand, McPherson, Potter, Walworth counties): Incumbents Scott Moore, of Ipswich, and Majority Whip James Wangsness, of Miller, and challenger Spencer Gosch. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the two Republican primary winners will win the two House seats.

Gosch previously served as speaker of the House. He received contributions from Protect SD Kids, Liberty Tree and a PAC affiliated with the South Dakota Freedom Caucus, whose members sometimes clash with Republican legislative leaders.

Wangsness has an A+ rating on the Real Conservative Scorecard and received contributions from Dusty PAC and Mort PAC.

Moores pre-primary finance report includes donations from Dusty PAC, Protecting SD Kids and the South Dakota Freedom Caucus PAC.

Senate

In state Senate primaries, only the top vote-getter from each party advances to the general election to vie for one Senate seat in each legislative district.

District 16 (Lincoln, Turner, Union counties): Kevin Jensen vs. Eric Hohman, both of Canton. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

Jensen, a current state representative, is term-limited in the House. He has an 83.3% Citizens for Liberty rating and a contribution from Liberty Tree and South Dakota Right to Life PAC.

Hohmans campaign has received contributions from Lee Schoenbecks South Dakota Strong PAC, Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtrees Dakota Legacy PAC and the Dusty PAC.

District 3 (Brown County): Carl Perry vs. Katherine Washnok, both of Aberdeen. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

Current state representative Perry is attempting a switch to the Senate against Brown County Republican Chair Washnok.

Washnok says she grew up in the state Republican Party. She has a contribution from Dakota Legacy PAC and Dusty PAC.

Perry has a 75% SD Citizens for Liberty rating, a Dakota First Action endorsement, and checks from Liberty Tree and South Dakota Right to Life PAC.

District 30 (Custer, Fall River, Pennington counties): Incumbent Julie Frye-Mueller, of Rapid City, vs. Amber Hulse, of Hot Springs, and Forrest Foster, of Rapid City.

Frye-Mueller is one of two Republicans with a 100% rating from Citizens for Liberty. The state Senate censured Frye-Mueller in 2023. She had allegedly verbally harassed a Legislative Research Council staffer, including criticism of the staffers decision to have her baby vaccinated.

State Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller, R-Hot Springs, speaks on the Senate floor on Feb. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Hulse is a lawyer and former Miss South Dakota who worked as an intern in President Donald Trumps administration. She received a donation from Dusty PAC.

Foster received $1,600 ahead of the primary, including $1,000 from himself.

District 8 (Brookings, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner counties): Incumbent Casey Crabtree, of Madison, vs. Rick Weible, of Elkton. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

Crabtree is the Senate majority leader and reports taking in about $69,000 on his pre-primary finance report. He has a 31.8% rating from Citizens for Liberty.

Weible is a leader in attempts to get rid of vote-counting machines and force hand-counting. He received a donation from the South Dakota Freedom Caucus and took in $6,000 total.

District 4 (Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin and Roberts counties): Fred Deutsch, of Florence, vs. Stephanie Sauder, of Bryant. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

With term limits forcing John Wiik out of the Senate, current representatives Deutsch and Sauder are seeking the open seat.

Deutsch has a 66.7% Citizens for Liberty rating and received donations from South Dakota Right to Life PAC, Protecting SD Kids and Dusty PAC. Sauder has a 43.5% Citizens for Liberty rating and contributions from South Dakota Strong and Dusty PAC.

District 35 (Pennington): Incumbent Mike Walsh, of Box Elder, vs. challengers Greg Blanc and Curtis Nupen, both of Rapid City. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

Walsh was appointed to an open seat this year by Gov. Kristi Noem. He has a contribution from South Dakota Strong. Blanc has contributions from Liberty Tree and South Dakota Right to Life PAC. Nupen gave himself $6,000.

District 34 (Pennington): Jason Green vs. Taffy Howard, both of Rapid City.

With incumbent Michael Diedrich not seeking reelection, former legislator Howard is seeking a return to the Legislature. She is a former primary challenger to U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, whom she described as insufficiently conservative. She has contributions from Liberty Tree, South Dakota Right to Life PAC and Protecting SD Kids, and a Dakota First Action endorsement.

Green is endorsed by outgoing Sen. Diedrich and received donations from Dusty PAC and Lee Schoenbeck.

District 25 (Minnehaha and Moody counties): Incumbent Tom Pischke, of Dell Rapids, vs. challenger Jordan Youngberg, of Colman.

Pischke has an 80.7% rating from Citizens for Liberty, a contribution from Liberty Tree and a Dakota First Action endorsement. He made statewide news for being banned from the House during the last days of the most recent legislative session for a breach of decorum.

Youngberg, a former legislator, has contributions from South Dakota Strong and Dusty PAC.

District 17 (Clay and Union counties): Incumbent Sydney Davis, of Burbank, vs. Jeffrey Church, of Vermillion. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

Church has contributions from Liberty Tree and Protecting SD Kids, and is highlighting Davis 20% Citizens for Liberty rating in his campaign material. Davis has donations from Dusty PAC and others totaling about $39,000.

District 9 (Minnehaha County): Joy Hohn, a vocal opponent of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, faces off with former representative Mark Willadsen. There is no Democratic or independent candidate, which means the Republican primary winner wins the seat.

Doedens Dakota First Action endorsed Hohn, and she has donations from Liberty Tree and South Dakota Right to Life PAC.

Willadsen has donations from Dusty PAC, former Gov. Daugaard, and former speaker of the state House, Mark Mickelson.

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The post Republican factions fighting for control of the party in Tuesdays primary election appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Chinese premier meets Bahrain's king in Beijing

Xinhua) 09:43, June 01, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse 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/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Beijing on Friday.

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bahrain 35 years ago, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals and deepened friendly cooperation.

China cherishes its traditional friendship with Bahrain, Li said, adding that it stands ready to work with Bahrain to follow the important strategic guidance of the two heads of state, continuously consolidate the political foundation of the two countries, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, push the bilateral ties to a new level and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China firmly supports Bahrain in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and stability, and in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, the premier said.

Li said China is willing to work with Bahrain to solidly promote the construction of energy, housing and other infrastructure and people's livelihood projects under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, expand trade and investment cooperation, deepen cooperation in emerging fields such as electric vehicles and digital economy, and actively carry out people-to-people exchanges in education, tourism and other fields.

Li noted that China is ready to work with Bahrain and other Arab countries to build the "five cooperation frameworks" between China and Arab countries, step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future, and make greater contributions to global peace and development.

Hamad said Bahrain values its friendship with China, firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Bahrain supports the joint construction of the Belt and Road and is willing to work with China to further expand cooperation areas and push for continuous and in-depth development of Bahrain-China relations.

Hamad said Bahrain supports positive outcomes of free trade agreement negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and China, adding that it greatly appreciates China's objective and just position on the Palestinian issue.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse 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/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
In 2023, the infant mortality rate and the mortality rate for children under the age of five in China saw respective reductions to 4.5 per thousand and 6.2 per thousand, decreases of 56.3 percent and 53 percent, respectively, compared to 2012, and recording the country's best levels historically, a health official revealed on Friday.

"The core indicators of children's health in China have continued to improve, surpassing the average level of middle- and high-income countries globally," said Shen Haiping, an official with the National Health Commission, at a press conference.

Moreover, there has been a 23 percent decline in the incidence rate of severe disabling birth defects such as neural tube defects and Down syndrome, while China's mother-to-child HIV transmission rate has decreased from 34.8 percent before comprehensive intervention to the current 1.3 percent.

According to statistics released at the press conference, there are now 158 children's hospitals and 3,082 maternal and child health institutions nationwide. In addition, the number of hospital beds per thousand children in the country has reached 2.7 -- an increase of 0.27 since 2015.

Shen pledged further efforts to improve the capacity of China's health care and medical services for children.


Residents in Atlanta, Georgia left without water following water main breaks: What to know

Water main breaks in Atlanta, Georgia in the downtown and Midtown areas have caused major disruptions. Many residents have been left without water and a boil water advisory remains in place as crews work to fix the issue.

The breaks have forced many popular attractions, businesses and restaurants to close. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion's concerts at the State Farm Arena had to be canceled Friday and Saturday due to the continued impacts from the water main breaks.

Unfortunately, we will need to reschedule tonights show at State Farm Arena due to the massive water main break that The City of Atlanta is experiencing 



Im extremely disappointed because I had a huge surprise for the Hotties tonight, but we will follow the Mayors protocol.  TINA SNOW (@theestallion) May 31, 2024

In a press conference on Saturday, the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Commissioner Al Wiggins Jr. said the department is working quickly to repair the breaks.

We have made significant progress since the last update we spent a significant amount of time removing pressure from the system in order for us to be able to conduct the necessary repairs, Wiggins said. This took a little bit longer than we had expected because of the time that the repairs were done, there was not a lot of demand on the system so therefore it took a little longer to depressurize the system.

Wiggins said he hopes to get the water running again in the area today, but also is not sure if that will happen. The department is working to slowly pressurize the system so it wont result in further damages to other areas within the network.

Wiggins also understands the urgency and dependability of water in the city but would rather take a slower approach to fix the issue so a regression of the departments work does not happen.

The breaks were caused by decay and corrosion, officials say.

The Atlanta mayor issues a boil water advisory in the areas picture above.

23 people charged: With domestic terrorism after attack on Atlanta police center 'Cop City'

A boil water advisory is issued by the Atlanta Mayor

In a press release by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, he said that the boil water advisory is still in effect and residents should follow the advisory until the DWM clears the area.

Dickens advises residents, to boil all water prior to use or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food, or brushing teeth. The water should be boiled for one minute past the rolling boil. Infants, the elderly, and those who are with immune deficiencies should be cautious. Do not drink water from public water fountains in the impacted area.

Dickens took to X to apologize to Atlanta residents for the inconvenience.

The @CityofAtlanta and @ATLWatershed teams are working hard and nonstop to repair the water main breaks impacting you. We apologize for the disruption over the past day & assure you we will have updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/Ef42fBqRMM  Andre Dickens (@andreforatlanta) June 1, 2024

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has set up a bottled water distribution for DeKalb residents affected by City of Atlantas water main break.

Residents take to social media to express outrage over water main breaks

Residents took to social media to discuss their frustrations about the water main breaks as many try to navigate without running water.

Water main break a couple of blocks away from the conference I am attending in #Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/kUVo38HWEr  Julien Picault (@PicaultJ) June 1, 2024

Instead of being mad about the major issue, some residents decided to take a different approach.

Atlanta trying to fix a water main break https://t.co/v3Oqzpiocv pic.twitter.com/9HonftXcjr  Ryan Campbell (@BanUnsweetTea) June 1, 2024

Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com . Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Water main breaks in Atlanta, Georgia leads to boil water advisory
TAMAQUA, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Stories like that can be seen as any parents worst nightmare.

People in the small town of Tamaqua are extra concerned for the safety of their community and are making sure their children can be as protected as possible.

Police say the Tamaqua officer was soliciting minors on Snapchat.

A family at a local park in the small town who 28/22 News spoke with is surprised to hear that a leader in their community, who should be able to be trusted has been accused of such a crime.

Tonya Decindio takes her family to the park in Tamaqua regularly. But on Friday, she felt uneasy for her children. After hearing about the arrest of a police officer on child porn charges.

I loved growing up here my entire life but I mean it really makes you second-guess anything, said Decindio.

Child struck by car in Luzerne County

Tamaqua officer Christopher Cordes is facing 21 charges of child pornography. Its a breach of trust that she says gives her a different perspective on the town she grew up in.

Its very unnerving and very shocking at the same time. Were supposed to be able to count on them for the safety of our town, and the safety of our children, but if they are going to be having charges like that on them how could we rely on them, explained Decindio.

Tamaqua police confirmed Cordes was having unlawful contact with minors on the social media app Snapchat under the username Haytherecowboy.

A case like this is exactly why Decindio says the children in her family are taught how to stay away from danger.

They have nicknames so dont give your actual name, your full name. Dont give your address out, your phone number. Dont give any of that personal information out especially online, stated Decindio.

The fear of something like this happening has even made Decindio educate her kids at home.

Its honestly part of the reason we homeschool the girls because you dont know what they are going to face in school and you dont know what they are going to face at the park now. Going from my childhood to see how its changed, its like whatever happened? And its very heartbreaking, continued Decindio.

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.

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Thousands stood in on the Indiana side of the former Louisville Memorial Bridge as it was officially transferred to the State of Kentucky, Nov. 1, 1946.

Now, Mr. Mayor, on behalf of the commission, I have the honor to present to the city of Louisville this structure which for generations to come will be an artery of commerce and whose traffic shall be a bonding link between Kentucky and Indiana and a gateway of every-increasing importance between the North and South.

That announcement by William Black, Chairman of the Louisville Bridge Commission, was heralded by the Courier Journal, on Nov. 1, 1929, with a banner front-page headline that read Municipal Bridge Dedicated Here, which was the day before.

Now known as the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (or, Second Street Bridge by many Louisvillians), this 1.08-mile span over the Ohio River is now approaching its 100th anniversary.

Staff writer John Eschrich, 95 years ago, noted the bridge dedication celebration began at 2:30 pm when a cannon boomed to start a parade commencing from both sides of the span, with Hoosiers and Louisvillians walking, or maybe running, toward the center.

Front page of Courier Journal's Municipal Bridge edition on October 29, 1929.

Eschrich wrote: The crowd, over-eager, began to rush and the big structure trembled startlingly as the mass of people from both sides struggled to get nearer as the officials took their seats beneath a tarpaulin stand in the exact center of the structure where a pure white ribbon, the last barrier, stood to be cut only a few minutes later by an excited little Helen West, daughter of the executive secretary of the Bridge Commission.

Seated in the bridge center were Kentucky Gov. Flem Sampson, Louisville Mayor William Harrison, Jeffersonville Mayor Harry Poindexter, Indiana Lt. Governor Edgar Bush, Kentucky U.S. Senator Frederic Sackett, several Congressional representatives, and many other local dignitaries.

Black, the Bridge Commission Chairman, stated: "The total (bridge) cost is a little less than $4,750,000 (about $88,700,000 in 2024 dollars) the actual cost being about three-quarters of a million dollars under the original estimates. Construction was started in June 1928 and was completed in the remarkably short time of sixteen months. Ordinarily two and a half years are required to complete a structure of this kind and size.

The Louisville Municipal Bridge is owned by the City of Louisville. There is no mortgage on it. The outstanding bonds are payable only from tolls collected. No taxpayer is responsible for any of the cost. The original toll was 35 cents ($6.28 in 2024 dollars), which was lowered to 25 cents in 1937. Tolls were removed in 1946.

While Eschrich provided many laudatory aspects of the dedication, he did sadly report that two workers died during the construction: one due to a boat accident and the other on the structure itself.

In 1936 the Municipal Bridge - later renamed the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge and often called the Second Street Bridge - stood out alongside Louisville's skyline.

Several days earlier, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, the Courier Journal published a special section about the new bridge. The 12-page supplement provided all the design, construction and financing information for the Municipal Bridge. One interesting fact mentioned was that a public vote was held in November 1928 as to whether the bridge should be free to cross, or to be paid by tolls: ". . . the free bridge proposal was decisively defeated."

A week prior, Oct. 23, 1929, the city welcomed President Herbert Hoover. He was here to promote a $200 million Federal program ($3.5 billion in 2024 dollars) to improve navigation on the nations inland waterways like the Ohio River. He spoke at Memorial Auditorium and the Oct. 24, 1929, Courier Journal reported the president, along with the First Lady, Lou Henry Hoover, arrived by boat from Cincinnati and docked at the Fourth Street wharf. They had a great view of the soon-to-be-opened Municipal Bridge.

The President and First Lady stayed at the Brown Hotel, which was built just six years earlier. This might have been Hoovers last enjoyable week as President due to what happened the next week.

The celebratory events for President Hoover and the new bridge were likely overshadowed by what appeared on the front page of the Oct. 29, 1929, edition: STOCK PRICES CRASH screamed the large-bold banner headline. The day before, Oct. 28, 1929, has since been labeled "Black Monday" when the stock market lost 13% of its value.

The next day, Oct. 29, 1929, the stock market lost 12% of its value  a 25% decline in two days. A series of stock market losses began earlier in September dominoed throughout October leading to the national crisis now known as the Depression Era of the 1930s.

The Municipal Bridge was renamed in 1949 to honor the citys founder, Revolutionary General George Rogers Clark. There was an effort in the 1950s to reinstate tolls to pay for another new bridge, but that public vote was defeated. Two new federally funded "free" bridges were built in the early 1960s, the Sherman Minton on I-64, and the Kennedy on I-65. And, two more bridges, the Lincoln and the Lewis and Clark, were recently completed with tolls paying for those crossings. The Kentucky and Indiana Terminal Bridge, originally built in 1886 and rebuilt in 1912, did allow cars, as well as trains, to travel across the Ohio River.

Steve Wiser, FAIA, is a local historian, architect, and author.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Retro Louisville: Municipal (Clark Memorial) Bridge Opens
RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Chad Dwayne Giddens, 37, was arrested for stealing a school activity bus, Richmond County sheriffs say.

On May 29, a deputy noticed a drop cord running from a meter base of one residence to another that was supposed to be unoccupied.

The deputy contacted the property owner and she said the residence should be unoccupied and asked if they would go inside and look around.

While on the property, deputies noticed a school activity bus parked between the two residences. After contacting the school bus garage, it was confirmed that the bus was stolen from their property.

Queen City News

Crime & Public Safety

Deputies reviewed the security video and identified Giddens of Ellerbe as the suspect who took the bus.

Deputies found Giddens hiding in the closet of the unoccupied residence.

Giddens was arrested and charged with Felony Breaking & Entering, Felony Injury to Utility Company Property and Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle.

He is currently being held at the Richmond County jail without bond.

Get breaking news alerts with the Queen City News mobile app. Its FREE! Download for iOS or Android

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Demands Cigarette After Falling 6 Stories

DETROIT. May 23.- (By U.P.) Edward McKenna, 27, fell to the ground from a six story window in an office building, demanded a cigarette shortly after his landing, and protested vigorously when police took him to the hospital.

He bruised a hand trying to grab something solid on his way down.  May 23, 1924

Ripped from the headlines, May, 1924.

Spirit of '65 Lives Again As Veterans March

Veterans of the Civil War took a prominent part in the Memorial Day parade here Friday.

The upper left hand picture shows the older members of the fife and drums corps. The veterans are A. P. Chapin, Charles Merritt, Billy Tidwell, W. R. Holloway, and Fred Russell. Commander Fred Sharp of the local Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) post is at the upper right.

The center picture shows Franklin Payne, Don Kennedy and T. A. Shirts, three of the oldest members of the organization, while at the lower left John Davison, color bearer, is shown carrying one of the flags of the G.A.R. The lower photograph shows the platoon of police which led the parade under command of Chief Alfred Seymour.  May 31, 1924

Ripped from the headlines, May, 1924.

Widow of Vet Returns Bonus

Mrs. Jean Piper Declares Acceptance of State Award Capitalizes War

"The spirit which prompted Elmer Piper to enlist, and all the other sons of Michigan, and the noble sacrifice they made, has no price, " declared Mrs. Jean Piper, a Michigan newspaper woman, addressed in a letter to the president of the Michigan state senate explaining her reasons for returning to this state the $400 soldiers' bonus remitted to her for the World War service of her husband, Elmer, who was killed in action in France.

Mrs. Piper is in the editorial department of the Brooklyn Eagle at this time. The letter came into the hands of Charles S. Pierce, clerk of the house of representatives, in the absence of Dennis E. Alward, secretary of the state senate, and he at once took up the matter with O. B. Fuller, auditor general. The $400, returned by post office money order, will be placed back in the soldiers' bonus fund. This is the first case where a Michigan soldier's bonus payment has been refunded.

The letter of Mrs. Piper in full follows:

Dear Mr. President:

Enclosed herewith you will please find post office order in the amount of $400. This money, Mr. President, is the soldier's bonus money given me by the state of Michigan.

Last summer I wandered though the senate chamber. It was empty. I sat in one of the seats and wondered what it must be like to be a lawmaker.

I am returning this bonus money because I believe we have all been mistaken  the state of Michigan in passing a soldier's bonus in the fist place, and we who are entitled to receive it. In taking it, we have capitalized war. We have established a wrong precedent for the coming generations. There must be found some way to honorably settle differences between nations, and the rulers of nations, other than plunging a civilization into warfare, which if if comes again, will exterminate the greater share of mankind. Are wrongs righted by violently thrusting a million or more men from one plane of existence to another?"

General Sherman was right when he made his famous statement concerning war. And, it does not end when the armistice is signed.

In the long, long days that have gone since that morning when I watched my husband striding across the brown prairies of Texas to join his regiment, the whole realization of what war really means has borne itself in upon my heart. It would have been too awful If it had all come at once. It would have crushed me. If I had had this vision two years ago, I would never have applied for the bonus. Now I see and because I must 'carry on,' I return the money to my state; and trust that it will divert it into channels where it will do good to someone. I wish it might be used for the education of some child made orphan by the war.

The insurance money is a different matter. Each man earned it. It is what any man would leave to his wife. The bonus is a moral issue.

I could dispose of this bonus money myself in ways which are known to me to be needy but I feel that I must register with the lawmakers of my state and I know of no other way than by returning this money. After all it is only money. The spirit which prompted Elmer Piper to enlist and all the other sons of Michigan, and the noble sacrifices they made, has no price. The long days that have merged themselves into years, when we who wait, have longed for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still, and the smile that made life all sunshine, have no monetary value. And gentlemen, I cannot look into the faces of little children until I too have done my full part in seeing that this thing shall not be again.

Respectfully yours,

Mrs. Jean Piper

 May 3, 1924

Ripped from the headlines, May, 1924.

Start War On Cats In City

Lansing Audubon Society to Seek Feline License Law As First Move

How much do you think of pussy?

The Lansing Audubon society, organized Wednesday evening, will get her if you don't watch out. The first thing the new society proposes to do is to work for a cat licensing ordinance.

The organization meeting was held in a room in the state office building. The hope of those present at the initial meeting last night is to greatly increase the membership and then elect a full quota of officers. At the meeting Wednesday night Maurice Reed of 1030 E. St. Joseph street was named secretary.

The club here will be affiliated with the State Audubon society which is doing an increasingly effective work in the state in behalf of bird life. Membership in the society exacts a fee of $1 a year.  May 8, 1924

Ripped from the headlines, May, 1924.

A Tribute to Mothers on the Job

By HELEN NESBITT

No one knows exactly why, but the mothers who are usually meant when Mother's Day is mentioned are the Whistler mothers, so to speak.

The frail, gentle mothers, with lifetimes of memories behind their dim old eyes, and the whispering thoughts of an eternity of reunions forever in their ears.

Artists, for the most part, paint mothers who are voung, vivid, with the dazzle of motherhood still shining in their eyes, on their lips.

Mothers who have only just ceased being girls. and whose hearts are all untried by the downy-headed babies that snuggle contentedly against them.

But today, for our part, we're going off on a paean of praise for the mothers militant! For that valiant army that patches trousers, and washes ears, and doctors colds, and pulls teeth, and hands out bread-and-butter, and sighs over school reports, and works and loves and hopes and prays.

Works and loves and hopes and prays!

Mothers of the middle years!

Mothers of the stormy years!

God bless 'em!

 May 10, 1924

Ripped from the headlines, May, 1924.

Brother Is Willed Pair of Trousers

Only Member of Family They Will Fit, Says Pontiac Man's Will

PONTIAC, May 29.-(By U.P.) -Believing his brother, Washington, to be the only fit legatee, William Irish bequeathed him his pants, Irish's will, filed in Oakland County probate court, revealed.

"They may fit him," said the will, "but I don't think they will fit any other member of the family."

Irish, who died last February, was a pioneer of Independence Township.

 May 22, 1924

Ripped from the headlines, May, 1924.

DIVORCE RATE ON GAIN IN MICHIGAN

5.7 Decrees to Every 100 Marriages, State Statistical Report Shows

Every time there are 100 marriages in Michigan there are 5.7 couples who are obtaining divorces, according to the statistical report just issued by W. J. V. Deacon, head of the vital statistics division of the state health department. This was about the same ratio as in 1922, but far higher than in pre-war days, according to Dr. Deacon.

As usual the agricultural communities average a smaller percentage of divorces than the cities, according the report. Wayne County was below the general average, however, with 4.6 marriages to each divorce; Kent was one divorce to every 6.2 marriages. Kent was forty-second in the list of all the counties, with the rest ranging in between these figures to make the general average of 5.7 marriages for each divorce.

 May 9, 1924

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ripped from the Headlines, LSJ, May 1924
This is a locator map for Afghanistan with its capital, Kabul. (AP Photo)

ISLAMABAD (AP)  At least 20 people were killed when a boat sank while crossing a river in eastern Afghanistan Saturday morning, a Taliban official said.

Quraishi Badlon, provincial director of the information and culture department in Nangarhar province, said that the boat sank while crossing a river in Mohmand Dara district, killing 20 people including women and children.

Badlon said that the boat was carrying 25 people, according to village residents, of whom five survived.

So far five bodies have been retrieved including a man, a woman, two boys and a girl, said the Nangarhar health department in a statement. It added that a medical team and ambulances were sent to the area.

The officials didnt provide details on the cause of the accident and said that rescuers are still searching for other bodies.

Residents of the area frequently use locally made boats to travel between villages and local markets.
Roadwork on Roswell Road will impact drivers until 7 p.m.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will close Roswell Road over I-285 on what it says are three critical mainline bridges.

During the closure, which will last from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Triple Team Traffic says the best alternate routes to take are via Riverside Drive, Glenridge Connector or Peachtree Dunwoody Road.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

A full list of detour options from GDOT says:

Motorists traveling on Roswell Road north should use I-285 eastbound connecting lanes to Glenridge Drive (Exit 26) and Hammond Drive to access Roswell Road.

Motorists traveling on Roswell Road south should use Cliftwood Drive, Sandy Springs Circle, Allen Road, Lake Forrest Drive, and Northwood Drive to access Roswell Road.

Motorists traveling on I-285 eastbound to Roswell Road (Exit 25) should use I-285 connecting lanes, Glenridge Drive (Exit 26), and Hammond Drive to access Roswell Road.

TRENDING STORIES:

Two right lanes will be blocked on I-285 in both directions between Riverside Drive at Chamblee Dunwoody Road until Monday at 5 a.m.

To get around the closures, drivers heading north on SR 400 can take Exit 4B for I-285 westbound and Exit 25 Roswell Road to access I-285 eastbound.

GDOT said the construction activity will be aimed at roadway, noise barrier and bridge construction.

A more expansive list of closure areas and detours is available online.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
(ROCKY FORD, Colo.)  A narcotics investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies occurred on the evening of Friday, May 31, in Rocky Ford. The bomb squad was called, and the community was advised to avoid the area while it was being cleared.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation reported around 9:30 p.m. that they were assisting the Rocky Ford Police Department, Otero County Sheriffs Office, and the Colorado State Patrol with a narcotics investigation in the area of the 900 block of Maple Avenue, near 9th Street. Investigators requested the assistance of the regional bomb squad after discovering a suspicious package.

No further reports were received about the results of the investigation, but the Rocky Ford Police Department announced around 11 p.m. that all roads were cleared and open and the investigating agencies had left the area.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The district in charge of planning a passenger rail line from Pueblo to Fort Collins said on Friday that it would wait until 2026 to seek voter approval for a sales tax raise.

Nancy Burke, director of communications and outreach for the Front Range Passenger Rail District, said district board members had been considering between this year and 2026 to introduce funding ballot measures in the 13 counties where the rail line would pass.

She said the sales tax amount is still under consideration, with different models requiring more and less funding.

In a statement, the district said it would continue the planning phase of the project for the next two years, including the completion of a Service Development Plan by the Colorado Department of Transportation, before seeking funding from voters.

We believe voter support will grow as we continue to demonstrate the strength and rigor of the financial plan, collaborate with local governments for the nine station locations and engage with stakeholders. Going to the ballot in 2026 allows for the necessary time needed to accomplish this," said Andy Karsian, Front Range Passenger Rail District general manager, in the statement. He said that FRPR already had voter support reflected in polls.

Burke said continued planning would allow the district to present to voters specifics about the project, like the locations of the nine planned stations and more concrete service modeling showing the number of trains running per day.

Featured Local Savings

It would also allow the district to pursue opportunities opened through two senate bills passed this legislative session. One, SB 184, allocates rental car impact fees to transportation infrastructure maintenance and help pay for transportation projects like the FRPR.

A second, SB 190, preserves train tracks at risk of abandonment from reduced coal freight by creating an income tax credit. Qualified rail lines must be covered by an access agreement for passenger rail.

Burke also said that the time would allow the district to make concrete plans to push the rail project forward, citing the nearly 20-year languishing of the Regional Transportation District's planned commuter Northwest Rail line between Denver and Longmont. RTD was successful in a ballot initiative that included the project in 2004.

"We're aware of this and we're looking at all the things we don't want to do," she said.

She said that the FRPR district was collaborating with RTD to find solutions that would allow both lines get services past the planning stage.
(ROCKY FORD, Colo.)  The Rocky Ford Police Department reported that on Friday, May 31, they received a report of a disturbance between two men involving a machete.

The Police Department and the Otero County Sheriffs Office responded to the 1500 block of Elm Avenue, near South 15th Street, at around 11:30 p.m.

Courtesy: Rocky Ford Police Department

Police Chief McDonagh and Officer Berig detained 31-year-old suspect Jorge Villegos, while Sergeant Pina communicated in Spanish with those involved. According to the Rocky Ford Police, they were able to determine what had happened from the 61-year-old victim and formally arrested Villegos.

Villegos was taken to a medical center to treat injuries discovered when officers arrived on the scene, then was transported to the Bent County Sheriffs Office jail, charged with felony menacing, burglary, assault, and criminal mischief.

While Law Enforcement was on the scene, they were approached by a woman who claimed she had an active warrant for her arrest for an unrelated incident. After confirming the warrant, the Sheriffs Office assisted the Police Department and transported her to the Bent 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 FOX21 News Colorado.
DENVER (KDVR)  A week of hailstorms brought a sobering reminder of whats to come for severe weather season. The last storm on Thursday took its toll on homes and their siding, windows and roofs.

We havent seen something like this in a number of years, said Scott Nakayama with North West Roofing.

Fierce hail that caused major damage described as hell on Earth

He and his team were out in Aurora assessing the damage in a neighborhood near Chambers Road.

We have found extensive damage, Nakayama said. Theyve suffered some severe window damage, siding damage, stucco damage, fence damage.

Just a few blocks away, Hoffman Weber Construction was inspecting the damage of a single-family home that had serious damage to an awning at the roof.

Since it started hailing again, were doing inspections every day, said Tim Swenson, with Hoffman Weber Construction.

Roofers assess damage after hail storm.

How to reduce insurance claims from hail damage

Hailstorms are something Coloradans have gotten used to every year.

Hail is our number one insured catastrophe in Colorado, another reminder of that last night, is you need to be doing everything you can to reduce being a risk, said Carole Walker, executive director of Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

Walker said filing too much could lead to being considered a high risk for insurance companies.

We know that filing a lot of claims over a short period of time can put you at risk for non-renewals, Walker said.

This is why insurance and roofing companies are suggesting Coloradans look into reroofing with hail-resistant roofs.

With hail-resistant roofing products, it can replace one entire roof cycle, Walker said.

Green Valley Ranch homes damaged in Thursdays hailstorm

This means you may not have to replace your roof as often during hail season.

The normal shingle might be able to get through two or three smaller hailstorms. That impact-resistant shingle is going to be much more likely to go the long haul and weather it out until you get some of these 2 and a half, 3, 4-inch hail storms, Swenson said.

Some insurance companies even offer rebates if people invest in these impact-resistant roofs, which means more savings in the long run.

Two large hailstones cover a hand

Hail damage? Get an assessment before filing a claim

Another thing to do to keep from over-filing insurance claims is to contact a roofing company to assess the damage.

Have a reputable contractor go out and inspect your roof to show you and tell you if youve got that hail damage prior to filing a claim so you dont have an unnecessary claim on your record there, Swenson said.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team

Many contractors and roofers do this for free and recommend it, especially after a bad storm.

When we get hail like this, where its actually leaving holes in the shingles, possibly the decking underneath, that could immediately result in leaks, Nakayama said. When you leave things like this untreated, youre opening yourself up to a lot of possible further damage, interior repairs and things like that. And all that stuff gets messy. So again, regardless of the size of the hailstorm, big or small, if you got hail at your property, give somebody a call, have them come out, take a look.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM)  A long-time Hanover Square bar has once again closed its doors.

Rosar Grill had its last day of business on Friday, May 31. The owner announced that the bar would close in a Wednesday, May 29 Facebook post.

Rosars has been located at 114 John St. in Horseheads since the 1920s. The bar previously closed during the pandemic and was reopened by Joe White. White ran the business for two years before closing it in part due to rising costs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law that was passed by Congress with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the abortion rights battle between Republican-led states and the federal government (Getty Images).

Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina  the only female employee there.

I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could happen, she said.

When her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 25 pounds, her employer wouldnt let her move temporarily to a role where she didnt need to lift furniture, even though those roles were available, she said. She was forced to go on leave and then lost her job. Her marriage unraveled and she spent time after the birth in emergency housing.

That hardship affected me years on, and it took away the joy of being pregnant, said Jackson. They made me feel guilty and ashamed for having a baby.

Jackson, now 41 and a mother of four who owns her own cleaning company, has spent years working with advocacy groups to fight for better laws to protect pregnant workers. Last year, she was invited to speak at a White House event celebrating the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law for which she had advocated.

But now this law, passed with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the bitter battle over abortion rights between Republican-led states and the federal government.

The act fills gaps in state and federal protections by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and those who have recently given birth or have related medical conditions  unless the employer can prove it would cause undue hardship on the business.

Accommodations can include allowing an employee to take additional bathroom breaks, carry a water bottle, or sit instead of stand while on the job. After years of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and business groups, the federal law passed in December 2022. It went into effect last June.

In its rulemaking process, the Biden administration included abortion as a related medical condition covered by the law. That means employees seeking abortion care can ask for accommodations from their employers, such as time off work for an appointment or recovery.

This year, 19 Republican attorneys general  including from Jacksons home state of South Carolina  have sued the administration over that interpretation.

The AGs argue the Biden administration is forcing abortion accommodations even in states where abortions are illegal.

Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement last month announcing the lawsuit filed by Arkansas and 16 other Republican-led states.

But some advocates say the lawsuit threatens protections for all pregnant workers covered under the new law  not just the small subset who need abortion care.

These states are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, said Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization that provides legal services and has long pushed for a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

These attacks have very real consequences for peoples lives and for their economic security and health, she said.

Jackson fears the lawsuit could lead to fewer workers accessing the care they need to be healthy.

[Workers] should have the right to proper medical care during pregnancy, after childbirth, after having a miscarriage, or having an abortion, she said. It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it.

Into the fray

After Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency known as the EEOC, had to hammer out a set of rules that clarify what employers can and cant do under the law.

So last summer, the EEOC sought public comment on its proposed rules for how the new law would work. More than 100,000 comments were submitted over a two-month period.

The flood of comments stemmed from opinions about whether the EEOC should include abortion in its definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions that are covered under the new law.

The vast majority were nearly identical form comments, according to the EEOC. About 54,000 of the comments urged the EEOC to exclude abortion, while about 40,000 supported its inclusion.

In a 3-2 vote, the EEOC ultimately adopted new rules that included abortion care in its definition of conditions covered under the law. The rules are set to go into effect June 18.

But in April, a week after the EEOC announced its final rules, the 17-state coalition of GOP attorneys general argued in its lawsuit that the agencys erroneous interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act creates an abortion accommodation mandate.

When the law was passed by Congress, it was explicitly understood not to address abortion at all, and the text of the statute does not address abortion, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Arkansas Griffin.

Skrmetti and the other Republican attorneys general point to comments made by lawmakers during debate on the measure that appear to signal Congress intent was not to impose abortion-related requirements in states where those abortions would be illegal.

Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who sponsored the pregnant workers bill, said during debate that the EEOC could not issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of state law.

The 15 other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

More states have jumped into the fray. In mid-May, Louisianas and Mississippis attorneys general, both Republicans, filed their own lawsuit challenging the same provision.

And in February, a federal judge in Texas blocked the EEOC from accepting complaints filed by Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It was a win for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had sued the Biden administration last year.

Protections at risk

Skrmetti, the Tennessee attorney general, believes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a good law.

It was passed with a degree of bipartisanship that you rarely see, he told Stateline, and it undermines the efforts of Congress and the popular will when agencies take laws and change them without the authority of the peoples representatives.

But Gedmark, of A Better Balance, said decades of legal precedent support including abortion as a related medical condition for pregnant workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, a federal law passed in 1978, prohibits sex discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions  a definition that the EEOC has long interpreted to include abortion.

Proponents of the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOCs rules worry the lawsuits will sow confusion among employers and employees. Theres concern, Gedmark said, that a court could render more of the regulations invalid, beyond those that mention abortion.

Skrmetti doesnt think the 17-state lawsuit will hurt the laws protections for pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers.

The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated, he said. But the law remains the law regardless of what the [EEOCs] rules are.

While states and the feds clash in court, Jackson said shes focused on making sure as many women as possible know about their new rights.

Whenever shes out shopping and spots a pregnant store employee, she asks how theyre doing. She asks if they know about their workplace rights, and how to ask their employers for the accommodations they need.

Whether a mother decides to have an abortion or not, she still needs medical care after the procedure, the same as she would need medical care if she had a miscarriage or regular childbirth, Jackson said. I believe that employers need to know the difference between personal [ideology] and business.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Explosions are visible at a distance from a massive Russian missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure with missiles on the morning of 01 June. Russia once again has attacked underground gas storage facilities in western Ukraine. Artur Abramiv/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Russia has once again hit neighbouring Ukraine with a heavy overnight barrage of missile and drone strikes, primarily targeting energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

Facilities in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhzhya were attacked, Galushchenko wrote on Facebook on Saturday. Other civilian targets were also hit in the process.

In the town of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region, 12 people were injured due to hits on residential buildings, including eight children.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia used 53 missiles and cruise missiles, as well as 47 drones. Some of the cruise missiles were launched from far behind the border by Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flying in the Saratov region or over the Caspian Sea.

The air force said it shot down 30 Kh-101 and 4 Kalibr cruise missiles as well as an Iskander missile. Furthermore, 46 of the 47 drones were intercepted.

The attack is part of Russia's systematic efforts to destroy Ukraine's energy supply. In the past two years, the Russian military has already destroyed around 8,000 megawatts of power capacity in Ukraine.

The aim is to break the will to resist of Ukraine's civilian population. Russia's constant attacks on its neighbour lead to frequent power cuts.

Kiev has just had to raise electricity prices for the second time since the war began, increasing tariffs by more than 60% according to a government statement on Friday.

The price hike is necessary to avoid power outages and "maintain the system," Galushchenko said in the statement. Significant funds were needed for repair work at damaged power stations, substations, and high-voltage lines, he noted.
Russian forces struck 10 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in 21 separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on June 1. At least 62 explosions were reported in Sumy Oblast over the past 24 hours.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, and drone attacks. Overall, the communities of Krasnopillia, Bilopillia, Khotin, Yunakivka, Myropillia, Esman, Svesy, Seredyna-Buda, Velyka Pysarivka and Chupakhiv were targeted.

The community of Khotin saw several mines dropped, while the Chupakhiv communty was targeted with missiles, according to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration. No casualties were reported.

The town of Krasnopillia, with a pre-war population of about 7,700 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks.

Russian strikes against Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent months. A Russian rocket attack on May 29 on the village of Krasnopillia in Sumy Oblast killed two civilians and injured three others.

Amid intensified attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered evacuations from the region. Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts.

Read also: Defense Ministry: Ukraine destroys record number of Russian artillery systems in May

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Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast 131 times in 24 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on May 31.

The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Myropillia, Seredyna-Buda, Mykolaiv, Svesy, and Esman were targeted.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, drone, and artillery attacks, while also dropping explosives from drones onto two of the communities.

No casualties or injuries were reported.

The village of Esman, located about 24 kilometers west and 10 kilometers north of the Ukraine-Russia border, experienced the bulk of the attacks reported with 29 explosions recorded in the area.

Russian strikes against Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent months. Amid intensified attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered increased evacuations from the region.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on May 14 he expects Russia to launch a new attack in Sumy Oblast once the situation in Kharkiv Oblast stabilized, the New York Times reported.

Officials from Ukraine's Border Guard service later said that Russia does not have enough troops on the Sumy Oblast border to launch a major attack on the region.

Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia, with residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day.

A Russian rocket attack on May 29 on the village of Krasnopillia in Sumy Oblast killed two civilians and injured three others.

Read also: Ukraine can strike inside Russia with American arms near entire northern border, US official says









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The recent delivery of long-range Atacms missiles from America have seen an escalation in the attacks - U.S. Army / Avalon

Russia has begun overhauling unused airfields in Crimea because of the threat of long-range strikes by Ukrainian forces, pro-Kyiv partisans have claimed.

Work was underway to reopen abandoned bases at Kirovskoye, near Feodosia, and Bagerovo, near Kerch, in response to the latest attacks on the occupied peninsula, according to the Atesh movement.

An agent of Russias 27th Aviation Division shared details of plans to reopen Zavodskoye airport in Simferopol, the group added in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

The anonymous account said repairs were being carried out on the runways, taxiways and buildings. It was also claimed that the Russians have transferred military equipment to the airfield, which has only been used for flights to and from Russia since Crimeas illegal annexation in 2014.

In connection with the positive trends in the destruction of military installations of the Russian Federation on the peninsula, the occupiers are rapidly trying to restore abandoned places, such as the Kirovskoye airfields and Bagerovo, Atesh wrote.

But our agents are vigilantly monitoring this and promptly transfer information into reliable hands.

Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian positions on the peninsula, in a move Western analysts say is designed to loosen Vladimir Putins grip on the territory.

The recent delivery of long-range Atacms missiles, which can hit targets around 190 miles away, from America have seen an escalation in the attacks.

A long-range radar system, valued at $100 million, that watched over a 380-kilometre section of the front line in Ukraine was destroyed in a separate drone strike.

Airfields, air-defence barriers and docked warships have all been targeted as part of the Ukrainian campaign to squeeze Crimea.

Meanwhile, strikes on Moscows Black Sea naval fleet since the start of the invasion have led to most of its ships being relocated to ports in Western Russia to keep them out of range of Ukraines maritime drones.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight on June 1, damaging energy infrastructure in various regions across the country.

At least 20 people, including children, were injured in the attacks.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, at least four people were injured in the strikes, including a seven-year-old girl, following a strike on the city of Nikopol, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. The attack damaged a house, as well as two other buildings and a transport bus.

In Lviv Oblast, Russian forces hit energy infrastructure facilities, injuring four people, the State Emergency Service said. During the attack, regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported Russian missiles heading toward the town of Stryi.

Six cruise missiles hit three critical infrastructure facilities in Lviv Oblast, Kozytskyi said later in the morning.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a Russian missile attack aimed at the town of Balakliia in the Izium district, hitting two houses where 12 people were present at the time, said Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Twelve people were injured following the attack, and one woman suffered from shock, Olena Shapoval, the spokesperson of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, told the Kyiv Independent.

The victims included eight children aged two to 17, all of whom were hospitalized, regional officials said. They were injured on the day that Ukraine, Russia, and other countries celebrate World Children's Day.

Syniehubov originally said that one of the injured victims was a pregnant woman, but Vitalii Karabanov, the head of the town's military administration, later clarified in a comment for Suspilne that her pregnancy was not confirmed.

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At around 4 a.m. local time, the debris from a downed Russian Shahed-type drone caused a fire to break out at a critical infrastructure facility in Vinnytsia Oblast, Governor Serhii Borzov reported.

Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed that energy infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts came under fire by Russian forces. Restoration and emergency workers are currently on scene and are determining the extent of the damage.

In Zaporizhzhia, multiple explosions were heard around 3 a.m local time, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov reported on Telegram.

Fedorov later said that a combined 20 residential buildings and social institutions were damaged as a result of the attacks. No casualties were reported.

An energy infrastructure facility was also hit in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, resulting in a fire. No casualties were reported, Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk said.

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said that two of its thermal power plants were targeted in the attack, resulting in "serious damage" to the equipment.

Two hydroelectric power stations and nearby infrastructure were also hit, inflicting "critical damage," said Ukrhydronergo, the state-owned hydroelectric energy operator.

Neither Ukrhydroenergo nor DTEK disclosed the location of the targeted power plants.

Ukraine's Air Force announced an air alert throughout the country, including the far-western oblasts, citing the threat of Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, drones, and Tu-95MS bombers.

Missiles were reported flying over Zakarpattia Oblast, which borders Ukraine's western neighbors, including Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Air alerts warned that the city of Mukachevo, located just 26 kilometers northeast of the Hungary-Ukraine border, was under threat of missile attacks.

Russia reportedly launched 47 Shahed-type "kamikaze" drones and 53 missiles of various types, including 35 Kh-101/555 cruise missiles, four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, one Iskander-K cruise missile, 10 Kalibr cruise missiles, and three Kh-59/69 aerial missiles.

Ukrainian air defenses downed Kh-101/555 missiles, four Kalibr missiles, one Iskander-K missile, and 46 drones, the Air Force said.

Polish and other allied aircraft were scrambled in response to reports of the Russian missile attack against Ukraine, the Operational Command of Poland's Armed Forces said on X.

Air raid alerts were turned off at 5:30 a.m. local time, and operations by Polish and allied aircraft concluded around 6:30 a.m.

In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure in a renewed assault against the country's energy grid.

Russia's massive aerial assault follows the deadly bombing of the busy Kharkiv hypermarket in the middle of the day on May 25. The attack killed at least 19 people and injured 44. Hours later, a second Russian attack injured 25 people.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Presidents Office confirms Washington allowed Kyiv to strike inside Russia with US arms near Kharkiv

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Aftermath of Russian atack on Kharkiv Oblast. Photo: Synehubov on Telegram

Russian Armed Forces have struck private residences in the city of Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast on the night of 31 May-1 June, injuring 12 people.

Source: Balakliia City Military Administration on Telegram; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration on Telegram

Details: The Russians targeted private residential areas.

Early reports indicate that 12 people were injured, including eight children and a pregnant woman.

All of them are receiving medical assistance.

Update: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, reported that there were 12 people in two buildings at the time of the missile strike: four adults (including a pregnant woman) and eight children, aged 2 to 17.

All the people who were injured in the attack are in a moderate condition, with one child experiencing an acute stress reaction.

They have been taken to hospital.

Fires broke out in the buildings.

Background:

Six Tu-95MS strategic bombers took off in Russia on the night of 31 May-1 June. They performed launch manoeuvres at around 03:00. The missiles reached the westernmost part of the country, Zakarpattia Oblast, at 04:29. The all-clear was given at 05:30.

Serhii Borzov, Head of Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration, reported that wreckage from a downed Russian drone caused fire at a critical infrastructure facility in Vinnytsia on the night of 31 May-1 June.

Ukraines Energy Ministry wrote that the Russians attacked energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts.

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Russians drop bombs on Kostiantynivka: woman hospitalised in serious condition

Russian occupation forces have attacked the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast with guided aerial bombs on Saturday, 1 June, injuring a woman.

Source: Anastasiia Miedviedieva, Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Offices spokesperson, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "At 11:25 on 1 June, Russian troops attacked the town of Kostiantynivka, supposedly with two D-30 SN glide bombs.

As a result of the attack, a 48-year-old woman who was in the street was injured. She was hospitalised with shrapnel wounds in a serious condition."

Details: The spokesperson reports that private households, apartment buildings, and cars were damaged in the city.

A pre-trial investigation has been initiated under Art. 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely violations of the laws and customs of war.

Background: On 31 May, at 22:10, the Russian army attacked Myrnohrad with two D-30 SN glide bombs, hitting a residential area and injuring five people.

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A Ukrainian soldier. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has found evidence confirming that Russian forces have seized approximately 752 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in 2024.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: ISW had previously said that Russian forces had seized approximately 516 square kilometres of territory from 1 January 2024 to 29 April 2024.

Military analysts noted that Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov has greatly overestimated the progress of Russian troops in Ukraine since the beginning of 2024 even though they achieved significant tactical successes in northern Kharkiv Oblast at the beginning of May.

Belousov claimed on 31 May that Russian forces had already seized 880 square kilometres in 2024.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 31 May:

US and German officials confirmed that the United States and Germany have changed their policies to allow Ukraine to use US- and German-provided weapons to strike Russian territory with some restrictions but did not offer precise details about these restrictions.

Ukrainian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against a Russian long-range radar system in occupied Crimea and an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai on 31 May following the 30 May Ukrainian strike against the Kerch Strait ferry crossing.

Ukraine signed long-term bilateral security agreements with Sweden, Iceland, and Norway on 31 May.

Russia's continued efforts to rally Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member countries around an imagined confrontation with the West likely stems from Russian concerns about the CSTO's longevity as a vector for Russian influence.

Although Russian forces made significant tactical gains in northern Kharkiv Oblast in early May 2024, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov heavily overestimated Russian advances in Ukraine since the start of 2024.

Ukraine and Russia conducted a one-for-one prisoner of war (POW) exchange on 31 May, the first POW exchange since 8 February.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) announced on 31 May that it will not join the June 2024 Ukraine peace summit.

Russian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City.

Russian State Duma Information Policy Committee Chairperson Alexander Khinshtein announced on 30 May that he and Duma Security Committee Chairperson Vasily Piskarev submitted a bill for the Duma's consideration that would eliminate toll fees for Russian military, Rosgvardia, and Federal Security Service (FSB) vehicles.

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Sacramento Diocese ordains new bishop  fifth Filipino Catholic bishop in the United States

Nearly every pew was filled with attendees Friday inside downtowns Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament as the Catholic Church ordained Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal, who became the fifth Filipino to be ordained as a bishop in the United States.

Im hoping we continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder in serving the people of God in Sacramento, Bersabal said at the conclusion of a two-hour ordination ceremony held at the cathedral on 11th Street.

Bersabal, 59, speaks English, Tagalog, Visayan and Spanish. Since 2012, he has been the liaison in the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento for the Filipino presbyterate, or priesthood.

Bishop Jaime Soto, who presided over Fridays ceremony, welcomed Bersabal into the college of bishops, many of whom traveled to Sacramento from throughout California and as far as Philadelphia and the Philippines.

Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal prostrates in front of the altar during his ordination ceremony as Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto reads a scripture.

To provide us with another coworker, Soto said during the ceremony. To unite us under the Lord.

Bersabal joined the Diocese of Sacramento in 1999 at the invitation of Bishop Emeritus William K. Weigand, serving in multiple parishes and capacities, including parochial vicar, pastor and dean across several parishes. He also has served on the diocesan priests personnel board, liturgical commission and independent review board.

He has served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in midtown since July 2022, and he will continue in this role while serving as vicar general of the diocese, which serves Catholics across interior California from the capital to the Oregon border.

I join you in your happiness today, said Cardinal Christophe Louis Yves Georges Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S. on hand to read an official letter from Pope Francis elevating Bersabal.

Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal looks out to the parishioners gathered to celebrate his ordination.

Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal prostrates in front of the altar on Friday during his ordination ceremony.

Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal gives a blessing to parishioners after his ordination on Friday.

Bersabal was born in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental in the Philippines; the youngest of three children. His familys deep faith inspired his choice to join the priesthood.

He attended both Catholic and public schools, before entering the seminary of San Jose de Mindanao in the Philippines. Bersabal later obtained a degree in philosophy from Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University in his home country.

Bersabal was ordained as a priest in April 1991, for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro  holding various roles including parochial vicar, parish administrator and parish priest. He served as chancellor, archdiocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and assessor of marriage cases for the metropolitan tribunal.

Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal gives thanks to participants in his ordination ceremony on Friday.
The 23-year-old Sacramento man convicted of opening fire inside a Greyhound bus in Oroville two years ago  killing one woman and wounding four others including an 11-year-old and a pregnant woman  was sentenced to life in prison by a Northern California judge.

The sentence was handed down Friday by Butte Superior Court Judge Corie J. Caraway after a jury in late April convicted Asaahdi Elijah Coleman of killing 43-year-old Karen Dalton while the Los Angeles-bound bus was stopped at an Oroville gas station on the night of Feb. 2, 2022.

Dalton, a resident of Seattle, was traveling with her 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, whom Coleman shot twice including once in the face.

Daltons family told The Sacramento Bee days after the murder that Dalton suffered multiple wounds in the shooting as she tried to protect her children. She and her two children boarded the Greyhound bus in Spokane, Washington, and were on their way to visit Daltons eldest son in New Mexico, before they would continue their trip to Alabama. Her family was moving there, and they decided it would be more affordable to travel by bus.

Three other people suffered gunshot wounds in the bizarre attack that called into question the mental competency of the then-21-year-old, who had been a previous ward of Sacramento juvenile court.

He was also found guilty of four counts of attempted murder  for the shooting of Daltons daughter, as well as a 25-year-old pregnant woman, a 32-year-old man and a 38-year-old man  and a slew of enhancements for allegedly using a gun in the commission of the attack.

Coleman was from Sacramento though public records about his time in the city were sparse. He also lived what law enforcement officials described as a transient lifestyle in California.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at the time that the victims on the bus described Coleman as acting erratically and paranoid from the time he boarded in Redding. At one point, he showed passengers a 9mm handgun he was carrying in a small bag.

Authorities say Coleman, who had been sitting in the back of bus, lunged forward and pulled out a 9mm handgun, brandished it toward passengers and began arguing with a person who he claimed was an undercover cop. Honea said in the hours after the attack that a significant confrontation escalated from there and Coleman had fired somewhere north of 10 shots.

After opening fire inside the bus parked at an AM-PM convenience store, Coleman fled. Deputies, police and other law enforcement officers took him into custody at a nearby Walmart, where authorities said he had fought with a man and stripped off his clothes.

In a statement, the Butte County District Attorneys Office said Daltons daughter addressed the court during the sentencing phase by video conference, telling the judge that she still has recurring nightmares of Colemans attack.

Another victim, Rose Whitley, now 27, had her statement read by a victims advocate. Prosecutors said she told of her constant pain from shrapnel that lodged in her tailbone from the shooting and how her child was born prematurely.

Bobby Farber, now 34, spoke from his wheelchair in the courtroom, the D.A.s Office said. He noted he was now permanently paralyzed as a result of the shooting and in constant pain.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Murphy drew a direct line between Farbers courage and Colemans cowardice, noting a prosecution expert who determined Coleman suffered from anti-social personality disorder and other behavior that was deeply defective and dangerous. Murphy said the strictest sentence was urged to protect the public.

At the end of the penalty phase, Caraway sentenced Coleman to a minimum of 74 years, 8 months, to life, noting his previous crimes involving violence and guns both as a juvenile and adult in the Bay Area and Sacramento, the D.A.s Office said.

Prosecutors, however, said Coleman could be eligible for parole as early as 2049, when he would be 48, because of Californias Youthful Offender Parole law.

Coleman remained in custody in Butte County Jail pending his admittance to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The Bees Rosalio Ahumada contributed to this story.
Firefighters rescued a woman by helicopter Saturday after she suffered an injury kayaking on the North Fork of the American River the day before, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The woman was camping with friends near Heath Falls, south of Soda Springs in Tahoe National Forest, when she injured her leg, Metro Fire said in a news release.

Ground crews were unable to access the remote campsite on Friday  but paramedics with Metro Fires Air Operations Division were able to hoist the woman out and transfer her into the care of Truckee Fire Department personnel, officials said.

Our teams training and preparedness were key to the successful outcome of the mission, said Nick Covington, a Metro Fire flight officer.

We are grateful for the support and coordination of Cal Fire, Placer County Sheriff, and the Truckee Fire Department, Covington said in the release. This rescue underscores the importance of our ongoing commitment to public safety and all-risk nature of Metro Fire.

9:57a: SACRAMENTO, Calif.  Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Air Operations Division rescued a victim on June 1 after she suffered a leg injury while kayaking on the North Fork of the American River the previous day.

The kayaker and her companions camped overnight and were pic.twitter.com/g89qBpcoFs  Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) June 2, 2024
The Heritage Oaks Backpack Kids program recently raised over $39,000 to benefit All Faiths Food Bank, surpassing last year's total by 30%. Combined with HOBKs annual fundraising effort at Heritage Oaks, All Faiths Food Bank received $73,000 for children facing food insecurity. Over 25 Heritage Oaks members and staff filled more than 2,000 backpacks at the food bank warehouse. To date, the HOBK program has contributed nearly $530,000 to fight childhood hunger.

SCC receives $1.5 million gift for Youth Shelter campaign

The Safe Children Coalition's Youth Shelter campaign recently received a $1.5 million gift  including a $500,000 challenge match  from the Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation.

From left, Michelle Pearson of Northern Trust, SCC president/CEO Brena Slater, and Gary Bucholtz, trustee for the Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation.

The new Youth Shelter on Sawyer Road in north Sarasota is expected to provide nearly 3,000 safe shelter bed-nights a year and serve up to 200 youths annually. There are more than 2,000 teens at any given time who are homeless in the 12th Judicial Circuit, which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.

Currently, homeless and unaccompanied youths are being cared for in a temporary facility while funds for a new shelter are being raised. The Youth Shelter campaign has raised nearly 75% of what SCC leaders expect the facility to cost. For information or to inquire how to support the Youth Shelter campaign, contact Jacqueline House at jhouse@sccfl.org; call 941-371-4799, ext. 1127; or visit sccyouthshelter.org.

10 Temple Emanu-El members attend Holocaust remembrance

Ten members of Temple Emanu-El represented Sarasotas Jewish community at a ceremony for Holocaust Remembrance Day in May at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

Temple Emanu-El's Alisha Leopold, Jamie Marco, Laura Bishop, Shera Friedman, Helene Zukas, Shari Vermeulen, Cheryl Kindred, Ilanit Klang, Rebecca Murphy, Jill Fischberg, and Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman recently participated in a Holocaust Remembrance Day event at the Florida Holocaust Museum.

In addition to photographs, written testimonies, artifacts, and a interactive exhibition produced in partnership with Steven Spielbergs Shoah Foundation, the Florida Holocaust Museum marked Holocaust Remembrance Day on May 7 with a Names Reading Commemoration. Reading the names of the men, women, and children killed during the Holocaust is a symbolic yet deeply personal way of remembering these individuals," museum president Carl Goodman said.

Each Temple Emanu-El member recited two pages of names of victims of the Holocaust. "The act is done from the heart, participant Alisha Leopold said. I felt this as we listened to the names spoken and were surrounded by faces of those we have lost." For information about the Florida Holocaust Museum, visit tfhm.org.

Music Compound presents Rock Your Summer Reading

The Music Compound has launched its annual Rock Your Summer Reading initiative, partnering with area businesses to provide prizes and one-of-a-kind experiences for youths taking part in the program through Aug. 31.

As the total of books a child reads increases, the value of prizes they can earn grows. Prizes range from meals, books, and passes for local attractions and private music lessons at Music Compound. All participants who read 50 books or more are eligible for a grand prize drawing for a party for up to 20 people.

Last year, 297 children participated  logging nearly 5,000 total books  and 80 qualified for the grand prize drawing, Music Compound studio manager Alyssa Martin said "Its success in motivating kids to read over the summer has just been incredible.

For information, visit MusicCompound.com/read; contact Music Compound at info@musiccompound.com; or call 941-379-9100.

Port Charlotte student wins art contest for 17th District

Port Charlotte High School 11th grader Beyonce Landa recently won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Florida's 17th District. "Congratulations to Beyonce for her outstanding achievement," Rep. Greg Steube said. "Her piece, 'Delicate Eulogy,' is a testament to her talent and creativity. I am excited to see her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol."

Port Charlotte High School's Beyonce Landa, with Yenley and Bernardo Landa, won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Florida's 17th District for 'Delicate Eulogy.'

The 2024 competition included exceptional submissions from students across the district. Thanh Nguyen, a 12th grader at Port Charlotte, earned second place with "Isolation" and Sarasota High School senior Shane Alba claimed third place with "Blue Heron Hunting for Dinner."

The Congressional Art Competition has celebrated artistic talent among high school students nationwide since 1982. Winners are recognized at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., and receive the opportunity to display their artwork at the United States Capitol for one year.

Around and about

 The Alzheimers Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter will provide virtual education and support groups to help caregivers of those with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) facing Alzheimers, thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation. Education will also be available to health care professionals and provider networks. For information, visit alz.org/flgulfcoast or call the Alzheimers Association at 800-272-3900.

 The Literacy Council of Sarasota is offering tutor training workshops in June for volunteers who want to help other adults improve their basic English skills. Sessions will focus on teaching adult learners how to read, write, comprehend, and speak better in English. For information, contact program director Susan Bergstrom at 941-955-0421 or sbergstrom@sarasotaliteracy.org.

Submissions by Callie Hoffa, Sharon Kunkel, Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman, 17th Congressional District, Matt Eaton, Thomas Melville.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: $1.5M for Sarasota shelter; Holocaust remembrance; reading initiative
Salem hit with 3 armed bank robberies within 8 days: What we know

This stock photo shows a law enforcement line with a police car in the background. Salem Police detectives are working with the FBI Portland Field Office investigating a string of three armed bank robberies in eight days.

Salem Police detectives are working with the FBI Portland Field Office investigating a string of three armed bank robberies in eight days.

In each incident, a man displayed a handgun, demanded money from a bank teller and then fled on foot with varying amounts of cash.

No one was injured in any of the robberies, according to Salem Police.

The first robbery occurred on May 21 at Valley Credit Union, 2096 Mission St. SE.

Another happened May 23 at Chase Bank, 5135 Commercial St. SE.

The third occurred May 28 at KeyBank, 1500 Edgewater St. NW.

Neither investigating agency put out a press release after any of the incidents, and it doesn't appear any suspects have been identified or apprehended.

A Salem Police spokeswoman said in response to emailed questions from the Statesman Journal that detectives and agents are working to determine if there is a connection between the three robberies.

The initial description of the suspect for the first two robberies was the same: white man, 5-foot-7, in his 30s, according to emergency dispatch archives. The robber at KeyBank was described as a 45-year-old.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has jurisdiction over most U.S. bank robberies, even though local police typically respond first. The FBI works jointly with the local agency.

Salem Police was first on the scene for each of the three robberies.

Because they are active investigations, Salem Police said no other information is being released.

Robberies take place at all 3 banks just before closing

Dispatch archives indicate all three bank robberies occurred just before closing. The Valley Credit Union and Chase robberies, which happened on a Tuesday and a Thursday, were reported to have taken place at 4:45 p.m. Both financial institutions close at 5 p.m. on those days.

The KeyBank robbery happened the following Tuesday just before 5 p.m. when it closes.

The Valley Credit Union robber was reported to have left on foot and headed northbound on 21st Street SE from Mission. A teller told an officer the suspect left with about $1,400, mainly $50 and $100 bills.

Two days later, Salem Police responded to a similar robbery at Chase Bank on Commercial Street SE.

It sounds like the same M.O. as the guy off of Mission, an officer reported to dispatch, asked for $100s and $50s only.

His direction of travel from Chase was not immediately known. Officers set up a perimeter, including a search of the south Walmart parking lot across from the bank, and checked surrounding businesses for security footage.

A K9 unit responded to track the suspect. Officers reported witnesses inside Chase said the robber was wearing a brown wig with highlights. No information was reported to dispatch about how much money he got away with.

During the KeyBank robbery, a 911 dispatcher reported early during emergency response that the suspect got $120,000, all $50s and $100s, no dye pack.

A bloodhound was not initially available to aid the search, but Salem Police planned to launch a drone.

Bank robberies are federal crimes tried in US District Court

Statistics for local bank robberies are difficult to find. Robbery falls under violent crimes, and the city of Salem's crime data does not break down robberies into subtypes.

The FBIs most recent report for bank crime statistics, for 2022, shows 1,740 incidents of robbery, burglary and larceny at Federally Insured Financial Institutions in the U.S. Of those, 28 were in Oregon. Nearly 93% of all incidents across the country were robberies, the taking of property with force or the threat of force.

Most perpetrators were male. The most common modus operandi used was a demand note, followed by "weapon threatened." Acts of violence were committed during 58 of the 1,740 incidents. Even fewer incidents resulted in injuries, and there was one death.

Most tellers are trained to comply with demands and not overtly challenge a bank robber.

Traditional bank security practices, including alarms and surveillance systems, increase the likelihood of apprehending a suspect. The clearance rate for bank robbery is among the highest of all crimes, although the amount of stolen money recovered is small.

Most bank robberies are federal offenses tried in U.S. District Court. Federal sentencing guidelines can subject a perpetrator to a sentence of up to 20 years and a fine, or both. A sentence can be increased by five years if a weapon is present during a bank robbery.

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com, and follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem armed bank robbery spree: City hit with 3 in 8 days
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) re-upped his vow to boycott war criminal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress and again slammed the leaders handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, Sanders said in a statement released on Saturday. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend.

Sanders rebuke of Netanyahu and Israels bombardment of Gaza comes as he was officially invited to address Congress, The Hill first reported on Friday. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent Netanyahu a formal invitation that was also signed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). The address is expected as soon as the next eight weeks or soon after August recess, a source familiar told The Hill.

The progressive Democrat previously said he would not attend any speech by Netanyahu in Congress, saying last week that Israel created the worst humanitarian disaster in modern history. That week, Johnson was pushing to get Netanyahu to address Congress. Schumer, who previously slammed the prime minister and called for new elections in the country, said he was open to signing the invitation.

In his statement on Saturday, Sanders said it was a sad day for the U.S. that Netanyahu was invited by leaders of both political parties. He reiterated that Israel has the right to defend itself following Hamas Oct. 7 attack on the southern part of the country where around 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 were taken hostage. But, the Vermont senator, strongly criticized Israels military operation in the Gaza Strip, slamming it for the number of civilians killed, the damage to the infrastructure and the destruction of the health care system in the region.

Israel does not have the right to kill more than 34,000 civilians and wound over 80,000  5% of the population of Gaza. It does not have the right to orphan 19,000 children. It does not have the right to displace 75% of the people of Gaza from their homes, Sanders said.

It does not have the right to annihilate Gazas health care system, knocking 26 hospitals out of service and killing more than 400 health care workers, he continued. It does not have the right to bomb all 12 of Gazas universities and 56 of its schools, or deny 625,000 children in Gaza the opportunity for an education.

He also said Israel does not have the right to block humanitarian aid and the Jewish state is in violation of the American and international law.

It does not have the right to condemn hundreds of thousands of children to death by starvation, he said while also voicing his support for International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The ICC is right, Sanders said. Both of these people are engaged in clear and outrageous violations of international law.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A more than 3,000-acre tract of land between Fort Carson and the city of Fountain is one step closer to becoming an industrial site with a new rail spur into the military base and the potential to generate thousands of jobs.

El Paso County Planning Commission unanimously backed a sketch plan of the four-stage, multimillion-dollar project in May ahead of a review by the Board of County Commissioners. Called the Southern Colorado Rail Project, the development is the proposal of the international Edw. C. Levy Co.

After years of negotiations with the county and cities of Fountain and Colorado Springs dating back to its proposal in 2017, the Southern Colorado Rail Project, if approved, will occupy a section of land bordered on three sides by Fort Carson and on the other by Fountain just west of Interstate 25.

A sketch is the first step in approval for large or complex land development projects, meant to broach discussion on the feasibility. The project will then approach the county with a preliminary plan.

Steve Mulliken, a lawyer with the company, said that the area was ideal for the type of heavy-industrial project usually undesirable in a population center. A live-fire area on Fort Carson and Fountain utilities operations are both in the vicinity, he said.

Its a very active area with uses that are not compatible with many things but would be compatible with a rail-served industrial park, he said.

Mulliken added that the industrial park would not be visible from I-25.

Current estimates of jobs generated by the project when completed are around 7,000. Project manager Gary Barber said that estimate came from an aggregate of businesses that came to the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corp. in recent years seeking rail service in the area, and had a projected range of 5,500 to 11,000 jobs.

If the sketch is approved by county commissioners, next steps in the project include applying for the area to become a metropolitan district, a governmental entity that can raise money through property taxes and apply for certain federal grants. The plan also raises the possibility of creating a rail authority that would include current public and private stakeholders.

A special district would allow the multiple stakeholders to jointly plan for public works, said Kimberly Bailey, Fountain economic development and urban renewal director.

The project probably would also apply for full annexation into the city of Fountain, which has in the past considered supplying utilities to the site.

Bailey said that plan was now less defined where water is concerned, as conservation of the limited resource becomes a bigger issue to the city. She said that stakeholders were considering a collaboration to meet water needs.

We have to further evaluate how the services can be provided, she said.

A water feasibility study conducted by Edw. C. Levy and submitted to the Planning Commission estimated that the projects industrial build out could require 98 million gallons of water each year. That figure was derived from an estimate of 20 gallons used per square foot of planned heavy industrial space, a statistic pulled from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The report said the actual water use per square foot could be different, depending on what industry decides to build in the area.

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In a letter of intent submitted in June 2023, Fountain Utilities Director Dan Blankenship said that the city would provide water if the annexation went through on a first come, first served basis.

To address capacity beyond the city's current unused water rights, we are working on a policy that would require landowners/developers to obtain water rights that are consistent with the city's existing water rights portfolio.

A spokesperson with Colorado Springs Utilities said that no current agreement exists to supply water to the project, and that utility coverage was currently limited to its service territory.

The May approval application included a recommendation to waive an annexation-impact report typically necessary for parcels of more than 10 acres. Kari Parsons, a planner with the county, said that the project had already conducted studies that would cover the requirements set out in the report. The Board of County Commissioners will now decide whether to approve the waiver request along with the rest of the sketch.

Andrea Barlow, a planner with N.E.S. Inc. who is working on the project, outlined the proposals stages, starting with a new rail connection that would allow a second railyard for Fort Carson. Former post commanding Gen. Matthew McFarlane said in a letter presented in 2023 and at the May meeting that the second rail connection would help reinforce security.

A second rail line would dramatically increase the reliability of rail operations at Fort Carson," he wrote.

Mulliken at the May meeting said that Fort Carsons current rail spur, which meets the main line at the Kelker Junction yard on the north side of the base, was built in the 1940s to accommodate shorter trains. He said that railcars are now often backed up into insecure areas near the base.

They wind their way through neighborhoods, and theyre sitting there exposed, he said. Its not a good route.

The new rail spur would be used by both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, according to Mulliken. The proposed spur splits off from a line serving Colorado Springs Utilities' Nixon Power Plant.

According to Colorado Springs-based project manager Gary Barber, the rail spur was the impetus of the entire project as regional economic leaders and Fort Carson looked at ways to secure the bases standing in the Base Realignment and Closure evaluation conducted by the Department of Defense. The study determines the size and placement of military assets and installations, and can result in the closing of existing bases.

Bailey said that retaining and capitalizing on the economic advantages of Fort Carson was a top priority for Fountain. She said adding a redundant rail spur would increase the deployment capacity of Fort Carson, lessening the likelihood it might be closed.

She also said that a heavy-industrial center might attract veterans to stay in the area for employment.

That really could be applied to the technical skillsets coming out of the military, she said.

After the rail spur, the three other phases of the project would build out the industrial site and a commercial area in increments of five years per phase, according to Barlow. Plans include a commercial area for shops and restaurants.

The sketch will next be heard at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A scammer reportedly tried to use a mans death in an East Nashville shooting from Christmas 2022 to take advantage of his widow.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Chris Spaunhorst, 37, of Greenbrier, was shot and killed along Interstate 24 on Dec. 25, 2022 in a road rage incident. Authorities later released photos of the suspects vehicle, believed to be a black Kia Optima.

Officials said multiple gunshots were fired into the drivers side door and window of Chris blue Ford F-150 pickup truck as he was driving along I-24 West between the Shelby Avenue and James Robertson Parkway exits, adding that the pickup truck came to rest along the median wall at James Robertson Parkway.

JANUARY 2023: Scammer pretending to be Greenbrier widow for money, police say

With a $21,000 reward on the table for information, a scammer told Chris wife that he knew what happened.

He said, I have information you would be interested in. And I was like, Hey, what information would that be?' Stephanie Spaunhorst recalled.

Stephanie has done multiple interviews with News 2 as she continues to share the photos of the car the suspect was driving when her husband was shot and killed. For more than 17 months, shes asked the public to come forward with any information about Chris case.

OCTOBER 2023: Detective investigating deadly Christmas shooting on I-24 discusses case with News 2

He said, The information I have will change everything for you,' Stephanie said.

Stephanie has been waiting for a message like that.

I was an emotional wreck, of course, because we had waited 17 months for that moment, and were still waiting for that moment, Stephanie told News 2.

The person claimed to have been at Chris funeral and messaged back and forth with Stephanie for over a week.

DECEMBER 2023: No arrests 1 year after Greenbrier man shot, killed on I-24 last Christmas

It was a long 11 days, Stephanie said. It was very draining.

According to Stephanie, details eventually started not to add up. Then, the scammer asked for money in the form of gift cards in exchange for information.

For a little bit, he was pretty convincing. I thought it was it, like, I thought that whoever he was, he knew something, Stephanie explained.

While she continues to fight every day for justice and begs anyone with information about Chris death to come forward, Stephanie is now worried that something like this will happen to another vulnerable family .

FEBRUARY 2024: Reward for info about deadly Christmas shooting on I-24 reaches $21K

Theres evil people out thereand if somebody else is in my same situation, I want to prevent them from being scammed and taken advantage of by someone that their intentions arent pure, she said.

There is still a $21,000 reward to help solve the case. If you know anything about this deadly December 2022 shooting, call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The joint fire district for Middleton and Star faces the prospect of two soon-to-be-built fire stations sitting empty and unstaffed. The Caldwell School District plans to shrink its workforce. Nampa will need to delay construction on street projects citizens have said would reduce congestion  a high priority in the fast-growing city.

All three are scrambling to figure out a plan B to fund very needed improvements, as Tom Points, Nampas senior director of public works, called his citys proposed projects, after proposed property tax increases failed in the May 21 primary election.

Much of the proposed funding was intended to address the areas rapid growth. In Middleton and Star, the fire district aims to build and staff new stations to improve its emergency response times, which have been creeping up amid rising numbers of calls  and traffic and construction blocking the roads. The Canyon County Ambulance District is in a similar position.

Of seven levies and bonds  types of tax increases  on the ballot, six failed. The proposed funding included:

A $38 million bond to help rework congested and problematic intersections and roads in the city of Nampa.

A $8 million levy to allow the Canyon County Ambulance District to add stations, ambulances, equipment and staff.

A $4.1 million-per-year levy to supplement state funding for Caldwell schools for two years.

A $5.3 million-per-year levy to supplement state funding for Kuna schools for two years.

A $2.25 million levy to help retain and hire firefighters and improve response times in the Middleton Star Fire District.

The voters spoke loud and clear across the board, said Michael Stowell, chief of Canyon County Paramedics. It isnt anti-fire, anti-school  It was an anti-tax vote.

The seventh levy, to support West Ada schools with $13.8 million per year for two years, passed with over 58% of the vote.

The two-year school levies required only a simple majority of votes to pass. Bond measures, which require borrowing, require a two-thirds majority. The Nampa bond, for example, failed even though it had the support of over 55% of voters.

Construction delays in Nampa

Points said the failure to secure funding for Nampas general obligation bond was a setback that would delay the start of the multiple projects involved, including improvements to its Marketplace and Midland intersections; the creation of a 12th Ave. to 11th Ave. crossover corridor; and a rework of traffic patterns around Library Square.

Nampa asked voters May 21 to approve a $38 million bond for construction projects, including a 12th to 11th Avenue Crossover that would create a four-lane connection between the two roadways, between 7th and 4th Streets near the public library, providing a more direct route to and from Interstate 84. The bond failed to secure the required two-thirds majority of votes.

But he expressed optimism that the city could bridge the gap with alternate sources of funding for these projects, including federal, state and local grants.

Well be looking to get some of these projects more shovel-ready  more fully designed, planned and ready for construction  which gets the grant applications funded easier, Points said.

And in the meantime, the city is exploring lower-cost ways to tackle congestion, an issue that residents have said is among their top priorities. For example, Nampa has been able to synchronize and manage its traffic signals from one central point.

Without any construction, were able to optimize the system with what we have today.

Few options for Middleton and Star Fire District

Greg Timinsky, the chief of the joint Middleton Star Fire District  a partnership of the Middleton and Star fire departments that shares leadership to save money  says he has far fewer options to secure the improvements his district needs. After levies in both Middleton and Star failed  securing only about 40% of the votes in each city  Timinsky said he expects to try again in the November general election.

The Middleton and Star levies would have helped to staff two new fire stations that are already being built with money from impact fees that municipalities impose on developers to offset the impact of new developments.

If the levy fails again in November, those new stations will be empty. They will not be staffed, Timinsky said. They will be built, and then well try again in May, he said.

A Middleton Star Rural Fire District firefighter helps put out a fire on farmland. Voters rejected the districts request on the May 21 ballot for a levy to help fully staff its stations.

He blamed the failure on a lack of public understanding about what the levy would mean for taxpayers. Many, he said, thought that because it was a permanent increase, their tax rates would continue to rise year after year.Instead, he said, it would be a one-time adjustment.

I felt that we didnt do a good enough job explaining truly what that means, Timinsky said.

Starting June 20, the fire district is hosting classes to explain to the public what a levy would entail and why its needed. Among residents who are more active in the political process  responding to the districts emailed survey and coming to open houses  the fire district had secured high levels of support for the levy. But its failure in the election suggests theres more work to do to reach people who are less involved, Timinsky said.

Most people that show up are supportive, he said. I would love to have the people that are not supportive show up and challenge me, ask me those questions.

Timinsky pinned much of his districts struggles on a bill the Legislature passed in 2021 that capped the amount of new property tax dollars local governments could take from new development.

The joint Middleton Star Fire District says it hasnt been able to save enough since joining forces in 2019 to keep up with growth. Population increases, the property tax budget cap and rising construction costs have left the department unable to keep up with staffing and operational demands, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

The need is not going away for Canyon County Paramedics

Canyon County Paramedics likewise have relatively few options beyond going back to voters in the fall, Stowell said. But he believes his organization has set a strong educational campaign in motion to combat widespread confusion about which areas the paramedics serve, what their needs are, and what the levy would entail.

The paramedics will also be looking for grants, Stowell said, and trying to re-prioritize the projects to ask voters for a smaller sum in November.

Paramedics may levy like we did, but just for a smaller amount  but we do have to go back, because the funding is not there, he said. I get it: Times are tight for personal expenses, but the need is not going away.

And the needs are stark. Paramedics response times have been creeping up in recent years, as have day-to-day shutdowns of some units on days when there arent enough staff. Station 41, one of the paramedics busiest, will shut down within the next two years, now that the hospital campus on which it sits has been sold for development.

We have to replace that somehow, Stowell said.

Over in Caldwell, trustees on Tuesday gave the school districts administration permission to cut staff and make other cuts to address a deficit caused by the failed supplemental school levy, Idaho EdNews reported. The board plans to meet again June 3 to give more specifics about the impact of the deficit.

Travis Manning, the vice chair of the board of trustees, expressed his frustration to Idaho EdNews.

For 85 out of 115 school districts in the state of Idaho, they have supplemental levies, Manning said. And so, one may ask: Why? Why do you run supplemental levies? The state should give you enough money. And, unfortunately, what has happened over time is the Legislature has neglected their civic duty to fund  public schools.

A tax-limit law curbed a fast-growing Boise-area fire districts capability. What now?

Voters finally OK replacement for crumbling Idaho school. West Ada levy passes, Kunas fails

Cost of growth: West Ada asks voters to pass record levy to handle school overcrowding
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.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, meets with Senate Democrats during their caucus meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should have settled the case against former President Donald Trump, but instead made a political decision to move forward with a trial. Romney called Democrats actions political malpractice.

Trump was found guilty in a Manhattan court of falsifying business records after labeling payments to an adult film actress as legal expenses in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.

Romney, who is a frequent critic of Trump, provided a comment about the trial to McKay Coppins, a writer for The Atlantic who wrote a biography about Romney.

Bragg should have settled the case against Trump, as would have been the normal procedure. But he made a political decision, Romney said, according to Coppins. Bragg may have won the battle, for now, but he also may have lost the political war. Democrats think they can put out the Trump fire with oxygen. Its political malpractice.

The 34 felony charges against Trump were brought by Bragg using a novel legal approach that tied the payments to Trumps run for president. This turned what would typically be misdemeanor charges into felonies.

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig called the case against Trump a Frankenstein Case, in a New York magazine article, because it tied a state-level misdemeanor to state and federal tax and election laws.

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, he wrote.

Earlier, Romney said he thought President Joe Biden should have pardoned Trump.

You may disagree with this, but had I been President Biden, when the Justice Department brought on indictments, I would have immediately pardoned him. Id have pardoned President Trump, Romney told MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle. Why? Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person I pardoned a little guy.

Trump and his legal team have said they will appeal the conviction after he is sentenced on July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention. Trump also faces charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and for his handling of classified documents.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Sentara is hosting Virginias first Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit at Norfolk State University.

The purpose of the summit is expose underrepresented minority youth to opportunities in the medical field.

Courtesy of Sentara

Courtesy of Sentara

Dr. Andrew Githaiga, pulmonologist with Sentara Health, will provide the keynote address. Githaiga will share his journey of coming from Kenya to the U.S. at the age of 29 and the lessons he learned along the way.

Courtesy of Sentara

Courtesy of Sentara

Students will have the opportunity to participate medical simulations and anatomy dissections during break-out sessions. Additionally, students will get a chance to speed network with physicians.

A panel of physicians will provide insight on how parents can best support children that are interested in a medical career.

The event gets underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 1 at NSUs Nursing & General Education building, 700 Park Avenue in Norfolk.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FILE - Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, center left, greets supporters at a campaign rally, flanked by mayoral candidate Clara Brugada and Morena party president Mario Delgado, in Mexico City, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

Mexican voters are poised to elect their first female president, a cause of celebration for many that has also touched off a flurry of false and misogynist online claims, blurring the lines behind fact and fiction.

The two leading candidates, both women, have had to respond to demeaning attacks about their appearance, their credentials and their ability to lead the nation.

The candidate considered the favorite in Sunday's contest, former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, has also faced slurs about her Jewish background as well as repeatedly debunked claims she was born in Hungary. This week, in an apparent bid to undermine her candidacy, a social media account impersonating a legitimate news outlet posted fake, AI-generated audio of Sheinbaum admitting that her campaign was failing in a key Mexican state.

The wave of election misinformation facing voters in Mexico is the latest example of how the internet, social media and AI are fueling the spread of false, misleading or hateful content in democracies around the world, warping public discourse and potentially influencing election outcomes.

We have a general atmosphere of disinformation here in Mexico, but its slightly different from what is happening in India, or the U.S., said Manuel Alejandro Guerrero, a professor and communications researcher at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.

In Mexicos case, that misinformation is the result of growing distrust of the news media, violence committed by drug cartels, and rapid increases in social media usage coupled with a lag in digital literacy. Guerrero added one more contributing factor now familiar to Americans: political leaders who willingly spread disinformation themselves.

Sheinbaum is a member of the Morena party, led by current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. She faces opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez and Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the small Citizen Movement party.

Compared with election misinformation spread about male candidates, the attacks against Galvez and Sheinbaum often take a particularly personal nature and focus on their gender, according to Maria Calderon, an attorney and researcher from Mexico who works with the Mexico Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., that studies online politics.

I was surprised by how cruel the comments could be," said Calderon, whose analysis found that attacks on female candidates like Sheinbaum and Galvez typically focus on their appearance, or their credentials, whereas misinformation about male candidates is more often about policy proposals.

A lot of direct attacks on their weight, their height, how they dressed, the way they behave, the way they talk," Calderon said.

She suggested that some of the sexism can be traced back to Mexico's machismo culture and strong Catholic roots. Women only received the right to vote in Mexico in 1953.

Lopez Obrador has spread some of the false claims targeting Galvez, as he did last year when he erroneously said she supported plans to end several popular social programs if elected. Despite her efforts to set the record straight, however, the narrative continues to dog her campaign, showing just how effective political misinformation can be even if debunked.

Con artists have also gotten in on the misinformation business in Mexico, using AI deepfake videos of Sheinbaum in an effort to peddle investment scams, for instance.

Youll see that its my voice, but its a fraud," Sheinbaum said after one deepfake of her supposedly pitching an investment scam went viral.

As they have in other nations, the tech companies that operate most of the major social media platforms say they have rolled out a series of programs and policies designed to blunt the effect of misinformation ahead of the election.

Meta and other U.S.-based tech platforms have been criticized for focusing most of their efforts on misinformation in English while taking a  cookie-cutter  approach to the rest of the globe.

We are focused on providing reliable election information while combating misinformation across languages, according to a statement from Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, about its election plans.

The specter of violence has haunted the election since the first campaigns began. Dozens of candidates for smaller offices have been killed or abducted by criminal gangs. Drug cartels have spread terror in the lead up to the election, spraying campaign rallies with gunfire, burning ballots and preventing polling places from being set up.

This has been the most violent election that Mexico has had since we started recording elections, Calderon said.
(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday morning, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Bloomberg News earlier reported Zelenskiy is expected to deliver a speech, urging Asian leaders to attend a summit in Switzerland to discuss his countrys peace blueprint. He wants support from foreign leaders, including the so-called Global South countries, for a summit that will be hosted by Switzerland in June.

Senior defense officials from around the world have gathered at the security forum to discuss a host of fractious issues including Taiwan as well as Chinas relationship with Russia. The three-day event kicked off Friday and continues through Sunday afternoon.

Latest Coverage

Australia Has Security Anxieties With China Even as Ties Warm

Pentagon Chief Touts China Talks and Efforts to Box Beijing In

Marcos Swipes at China, Vowing Not to Yield in Disputed Sea

Zelenskiy to Join Singapore Defense Forum to Promote His Summit

US Cyber Chief Sees Very Aggressive Chinese Hacking Strategy

(All times local)

Zelenskiy Will Speak at Security Forum in Singapore on Sunday

Zelenskiy is set to deliver a speech at the forum, according to the event organizer International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The Ukrainian president wants to persuade Asian leaders that his summit offers a real possibility of bringing an end to the war, Bloomberg News earlier reported, citing a person familiar with matter.

Read more: Zelenskiy Implores Biden, Xi to Attend Summit as Russia Ramps Up

Prabowo Backs Two-State Solution in Middle East (3:15 p.m.)

Prabowo said the only real solution to lasting peace and security for both Israel and Palestine is a two-state solution, and called the ceasefire proposal backed by US President Joe Biden a positive development in helping to bring peace to Gaza.

Although we have to further study the details of this proposal put forward and announced by Biden, we do view this proposal as an important right step in the direction we have to go, Prabowo said. He added that a just solution would recognize Israels right to exist and the rights of Palestinians to have a homeland and live in peace.

The president-elect, who takes office in October, added that Indonesia stands ready to send peacekeepers and medical teams to Gaza if all sides agree.

Cambodia Needs Chinese Support at Naval Base: Minister (1:00 P.M)

Cambodias top defense official said he needs Chinas support to help train troops to use equipment stationed at its naval base on the Gulf of Thailand, while once again reiterating that Beijing will not be given permanent military presence.

We need some technicians who are trainers so that our navy can use all this equipment in order to protect our maritime boundary and territorial integrity, Minister of National Defense Tea Seiha said in response to a question during a panel discussion.

Philippines to Continue Publicizing Maritime Clashes With China (1 p.m.)

The Philippine Coast Guard will continue publicizing its encounters with Beijing in the South China Sea, its chief said, as part of efforts to assert the Southeast Asian countrys maritime claims.

The Philippines will also pursue missions to contested areas such as the Second Thomas and Scarborough Shoals despite recent clashes with Chinese vessels, Coast Guard chief Admiral Ronnie Gavan said at sidelines of the forum.

PLA General Accuses US of Building Asian Version of NATO (12:15 p.m.)

The true motive of the US is to create an Asia-Pacific version of NATO to maintain American-led hegemony in the region, according to Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng

The US Indo-Pacific strategy is a political rhetoric that sounds good but does no good, Jing said at a briefing in Singapore. He was responding to Pentagon chief Austins speech that touched on the partnerships Washington is strengthening in the region as a hedge against Beijing.

Jing accused America of arming Taiwan for independence, and slammed US for breaking its promise on Taiwan and hollowing out the One China policy.

Australia Says Israel Needs to Comply with ICJ Orders (12 noon)

Israel must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance, according to Australia Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

Australias position must not be taken as any kind of acceptance of the moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas, Marles said in a speech. Clearly there is not. Israel as a democratic state, Hamas is a terrorist organization.

Australia Has Security Anxieties With China (11:58 a.m.)

Australia has security anxieties in its relationship with China even as trade ties have stabilized, Marles said, as he called on Beijing to uphold the global rules-based order.

Theres no point in denying the fact that they exist, which is why we talk about cooperating with China where we can, and disagreeing where we must, he said earlier in an interview with Bloomberg Televisions Haslinda Amin.

Austin Reassured Allies on Ukraine Aid in Estonia Meeting (11:45 a.m.)

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said Austin sought to reassure European allies that the US is committed to the timely delivery of billions in aid for Ukraine after months of delays forced Kyiv to ration munitions and lose ground to Russia.

In an interview, Pevkur said he raised the matter with Austin during a meeting, adding that he didnt see any reason for further delay. The $60 billion package is a big package, and it has to be delivered as soon as possible to Ukraine, he said.

Pevkur also said that Estonias defense budget would likely grow to 3.4% of GDP by the end of the year from an initial 3.2%, though the economy is not growing so fast as we were hoping.

Canada Aims to Meet NATO Defense Spending Target by 2030 (11:30 a.m.)

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said the country is absolutely committed to reaching the NATO military spending target of 2% of GDP as it faces mounting pressure from allies.

My own personal target is to have that done within the next five years, by 2030, that we will reach that threshold, Blair said in a Bloomberg Television with Haslinda Amin on Saturday.

We just released our defense policy update, Blair added. We are making very significant new investments in defense.

South Korea Says Russia Is Aiding Norths Satellite Tech (11:01 a.m.)

Russia is aiding the development of North Koreas satellite technology as part of the arms and resource trade, according to South Korea Defense Minister Shin Wonsik.

North Korea exported missiles and artillery and, in return, they received oil, food and military technology, Shin told the forum. Particularly for military reconnaissance-related satellite technologies.

The US and South Korea are putting measures to counter this as North Koreas capabilities can be significantly improved if these exchanges continue, Shin said.

South Korea Slams North Koreas Arms Trade With Russia (10:20 a.m.)

Shin earlier condemned Russias expanding arms cooperation with North Korea, saying those ties threaten world peace and aid Kim Jong Uns nuclear obsessions.

Read more: Russia Is Using North Korean Missiles in Ukraine, US Agency Says

The defense minister also used the regional forum to criticize North Koreas launching of balloons carrying trash earlier this week to South Korea.

Austin Disagrees With Academic on NATO Triggering War in Ukraine (9:35 a.m.)

Pentagon Chief Austin disagreed with a Chinese military academic who said the expansion of NATO triggered the war in Ukraine, saying the blame lies with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He assumed he could very quickly roll over his neighbor and annex the country, Austin said in a Q&A session after his speech. That was two-plus years ago. He has not achieved any of his strategic objectives.

Austin said countries in Asia with similar values and a common vision were coming together. He was responding to a Cao Yanzhong, a research fellow at the Academy of Military Sciences, who asked if the US was building a NATO-like alliance in Asia-Pacific.

US Doubtful Aukus-Like Deal Can be Done With South Korea (9:13 a.m.)

Austin said it was highly doubtful that the US can take on another Aukus-like initiative with South Korea, when asked during a Q&A session whether Washington would consider extending the deal.

Aukus is a defense pact between Australia, the UK and the US that is aimed at pushing back against Chinas assertiveness in Asia. Under the first pillar of the Aukus pact, the UK and US will work with Australia to help Canberra field a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines by the 2030s.

However, it is the strategic research partnerships under Pillar II of Aukus that interests regional partners including Seoul.

Austin Hails Better US-China Ties, Sees Need for Deterrence (9:05 a.m.)

Austin hailed improved military-to-military communication between the two nations but also saw the need for deterrence against Beijing.

He told a regional defense forum the Indo-Pacific would continue to be Americas priority theater of operations despite Washingtons recent preoccupation with conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Austin also emphasized that a string of actions aimed at bolstering regional deterrence against Beijing would continue.

Marcos Swipes at Beijing Over South China Sea (9:15 p.m.)

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserted his nations claims in the disputed South China Sea while taking pointed swipes at Beijing during a speech at the forum  as Chinas new defense minister sat in the audience.

With the Philippines and China locked in a standoff over disputed islands and reefs, Marcos used his keynote speech late Friday to call out assertive actions that aim to propagate excessive and baseless claims through force, intimidation, and deception.

--With assistance from Harry Suhartono, Sam Kim and Andreo Calonzo.

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A Jewish Metropolitan State University of Denver student has filed a notice with the Auraria Higher Education Center, alleging she and others faced harassment and defamation on campus in the days after the Hamas attack on Israel, The Denver Gazette has learned.

Sara Rones, a 19-year-old MSU student, filed the notice on April 5  as required under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act before pursuing a lawsuit.

The law is designed to protect public agencies and the individuals who run these entities from unlimited liability. Under the law, the default is that public entities enjoy immunity from liability  but that immunity is waived for damages or injuries arising out of wrongful actions in specific contexts.

Dan Ernst, a civil and constitution rights attorney in Denver representing Rones, said the pro-Palestinian protests  which erupted on the campus and elsewhere in the country after the Hamas attack  left Jewish students fearful and unprotected.

As many as 50 students on the Auraria Campus stopped attending classes, Ernst said.

She (Rones) thinks, and I agree, its an awful situation to have students here in America being pushed off of campus in this manner, Ernst told The Denver Gazette in an exclusive interview.

The way Ernst sees it, campus officials are culpable in not preventing the emotional distress of Rones and other unnamed Jewish students.

Rones is seeking punitive damages estimated at $150,000, according to the notice.

Devra Ashby, a spokesperson for the Auraria Higher Education Center, declined to comment.

The Auraria Campus is shared by three public institutions: Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver.

Protests erupted on college campuses across the U.S. and the Denver metro area in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, which began when Hamas  a militant group labeled as a terror organization by several countries, including the U.S.  crossed into southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Hamas killed more than 1,200 people that day and took more than 200 people as hostages.

Retaliatory strikes by Israeli and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Citing the rising number of civilian deaths caught in the crossfire of the Israeli-Hamas, activists set up encampments across the U.S. in protest.

Pro-Palestinian protesters also demanded that university officials end study abroad programs to the Jewish state, divest from corporations that operate in Israel  a move tantamount to economic sanctions  and deny grants or funding from corporations that contract with the U.S. military.

Tents first popped up on the Auraria Campus last month and remained for weeks.

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On April 26, the campus police, backed by the Denver Police Department, arrested more than 40 people and dismantled the camp, which protesters promptly re-erected.

Protesters on the Auraria Campus ultimately abandoned their tents after a three-week standoff with university officials.

A platform to pressure our political system

The Colorado protests  and elsewhere  have set off a fierce debate over the parameters of free speech, drawing allegations of antisemitism that has put the spotlight on university administrators.

At the height of the protests, campus officials at both Auraria and the University of Denver repeatedly pleaded  without success  for Pro-Palestinian activists to dismantle their encampment, citing, among other things, health hazards. In the case of the Auraria campus, officials described escalating health and safety conditions, noting the presence of feces, drug paraphernalia, graffiti and vandalism that has cost roughly $300,000.

In the days after the Hamas stormed the open-air Nova Musical Festival in Israels Negev Desert about three miles from the Gaza border, pro-Palestinian protesters also took white chalk to the side walk and brick walls of the Golda Meir House Museum & Education Center on the Auraria Campus.

Vandals wrote, referring to Golda Meir  one of the signatories of Israels Declaration of Independence in 1948 and Israels fourth prime minister  Get this racist Zionist off our campus and Tear this down.

During the days of the encampment, Auraria officials erected a security fence and stationed a guard outside to protect Meirs childhood home, which was saved from demolition in the 1980s. The museum boasts historical photos of Meir  who led Israel during the fourth Arab-Israeli war in 1973, also known as the Yom Kippur War  with foreign dignitaries, kings and presidents, as well as framed letters from heads of state and others.

Today, her childhood home is the center of Jewish student life on the Auraria campus.

Meir  a Ukrainian refugee who lived briefly in Denver and attended North High School for nearly two years  rose to international prominence and served as prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974.

This is a place of Colorado history, but also its a place of Jewish history and the history of the state of Israel because of Golda, said Lena Fishman, executive director of the Golda Meir House Museum & Education Center. So, it felt like, kind of obvious, that this would be a meaningful place for Jewish students to meet.

Programming, which the protests had disrupted, has recently resumed.

Ernst, the lawyer, said that, for a group of people traumatized by the atrocities and genocide of Adolf Hitlers Germany in World War II, its critical for those in authority  in this case, Auraria officials  to ensure free speech doesnt teeter into defamation and harassment.

Because the protesters are being funded by what Ernst called political groups  such as Students for Justice in Palestine, which is fiscally sponsored by the Westchester Peoples Action Committee, according to the Anti-Defamation League  university officials should not have permitted the activists on campus.

Theyre coming into the community, the Auraria campus, and a bunch of other campuses and using this as a platform to pressure our political system, Ernst said. Were hoping the universities see this as something they can act against.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- Picture this: A highly popular president who cant run for reelection seeks to cement his legacy by anointing a more technocratic female successor to become the countrys first woman president. That describes the rise of Mexicos Claudia Sheinbaum in a nutshell.

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The same was said about Dilma Rousseff when she reached Brazils highest office in 2010 after Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas eight successful years in office. Today its Sheinbaum who is expected to ride President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors coattails to victory in Sundays election.

The Sheinbaum-Rousseff parallels are largely a product of the striking similarities between Lula and AMLO. Both crafted their political identities as voices of the poor and working classes, both finally won election on their third attempts, and eventually arrived at the end of their presidencies having built a unique brand around their personality.

These two populist leaders in Latin Americas two biggest economies acted as mentors to female proteges  Rousseff, 76, is an economist and former revolutionary. Sheinbaum, 61, is a scientist and one-time student activist.

Theyre both seen as less charismatic and more technical in terms of their training, said Anya Prusa, an associate partner and Brazil analyst at the Albright Stonebridge Group in Washington. Those are the challenges that, if you look at both women, they have had to overcome.

Thats where the analogies end as Rousseffs presidential career ended in disgrace while Sheinbaums hasnt even begun. The rise and fall of Brazils only female president does show how even the best-laid succession plans can go wrong. She ultimately failed to live up to the high expectations Lula had set, lacking his political instincts or shrewdness.

What may ultimately shape the trajectory of the aspiring Mexican leader are the crucial differences not only between the two women but also the countries they represent.

The fractured nature of Brazils congress, which is made up of members of nearly 20 parties, meant Rousseff always relied on an unstable governing coalition  one that proved difficult to keep in line once the economy and her approval rating began to nosedive.

In Mexico, however, the Morena party AMLO created quickly became the dominant force in local politics, with the ruling coalition currently controlling both houses of the legislature.

Even as Mexicos economy has shown signs of sluggishness near the end of AMLOs term, Sheinbaum is unlikely to face such a steep challenge from lawmakers: Morena is entering the weekend elections seeking to win supermajorities in both the lower house and Senate. That would give it a level of control over the federal government, including the power to force through constitutional changes, that even AMLO never enjoyed.

Sheinbaum may not have a big problem with governability, and will have the support she needs, said Valentina Sader, deputy director and Brazil lead at the Atlantic Council. Congress may be an obstacle on bigger projects like constitutional reforms, but not so much on a day-to-day governing basis. The difference in terms of what Congress might look like may be defining.

Read More: AMLO Successor to Inherit Slowing Economy as Mexico Spark Fades

Brazilian analysts, meanwhile, have long attributed many of Rousseffs problems to her lack of governing experience. A former anti-dictatorship activist, she had served as Lulas chief of staff and energy minister. But she had never held elected office before taking power in Latin Americas most populous nation.

Sheinbaum, by contrast, served as the mayor of a borough of Mexico City home to roughly 700,000 people. She then became the first woman elected to lead Mexico City itself, a position that put her in charge of one of the planets largest metropolises.

She has a depth of political experience that Dilma did not, Prusa said. Dilma had held cabinet positions but she was not political, and once the economy went south she did not have the skill or the alliances  or even the recognition that she needed alliances  to deal with that.

Read More: The 10 Challenges Mexicos Next President Will Face: QuickTake

None of that means Sheinbaum is in for an easy ride. Mexicos ongoing public security crisis, its uncertain economy, and need for deep fiscal and other reforms will all pose risks to the countrys next president from day one. She is likely to face pressure from inside Morena over the direction of her government, especially if she seeks to stray from the policies that made AMLO successful.

One of the biggest open questions is what role AMLO will play once his presidency ends. Lula largely receded to the background after leaving office, serving more as an informal adviser to Rousseff until he reemerged publicly  as a target of corruption allegations  in her final days.

Lula, of course, is now back. The Mexican constitution bans presidents from running again  so that option is off the table for AMLO. He has pledged to leave politics behind altogether, but there are doubts he will abandon the spotlight so easily.

That leaves Sheinbaum with the burden of being a female president in a continent where misogyny remains as a key issue despite recent progress.

Shell be judged as a woman no matter what, Prusa said of Sheinbaum, in case she gets elected. Dilma made plenty of mistakes, but I think the consequences were harsher because she was a woman.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  An educational event will be held in Fresno for the Carry Concealed Weapons Awareness Day on Saturday, giving community members resources to provide safety to their families.

The event is going to be held by the Fresno County Sheriffs Office in partnership with the United States Concealed Carry Association, which representatives will speak about the resources they provide to their members such as safety courses, home practice print-outs, concealed carry magazines, educational books and more.

The event, deputies say, will include firearms simulator training, a K-9 Unit, a Bounce House, food trucks, free cotton candy and Sno-Cones, and other family-friendly events. Some of the speakers will include Sheriff John Zanoni (from 11 a.m. to noon), CCW Coordinator Kevin Draughon, Dave Jeffers and Kelly Wells from the USCCA, Wilson Law Firm Attorney Roger Wilson, Todd Cotta with the Kings Gun Center and more.

The meeting will cover topics such as concealed weapons permits, the California Senate Bill 2, and Second Amendment Rights and will include a raffle with a chance to win assisted firearms, apparel and more, according to sheriffs officials.

The event will give visitors access to a certified USCCA instructor, face time with educated and experienced local law enforcement, opportunities to ask questions, access to fun activities for the family, and food.

However, sheriffs officials warn the event is not a class to obtain a concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit, and per Penal Code 171B, since the event is at a law enforcement facility, no firearms and/or weapons are allowed on the premises. This also applies to CCW holders.

CBS47 Brian Dorman interviewed CCW Coordinator Kevin Draughon and Dave Jeffers with the USCCA to give some information regarding CCW for those who might not be able to make it to the event. You can watch the full interview in the video player above.

The event is free to attend, registration is not required and it will held at 1129 N. Armstrong Ave., in Fresno on June 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A scam directly in front of the cash register slipped $1,000 of profit out of a south Las Vegas valley retail store, which even has a magician impressed by the technique.

Hottie is a retail store with four locations throughout the valley. Last June, two people were captured on camera breaking through the window from inside its Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road location with almost $800 worth of clothes.

Last month, it was money that escaped from the store on Blue Diamond Road and Valley View Boulevard. Security footage captured an adult man on April 23 interacting with a teenage female employee at the register.

In it, the man takes back a stack of bills the employee just counted for his order, which included fourteen items totaling $1,212.62 after tax. The receipt provided by the stores owner also shows the customer initially provided $1,220 in cash.

As he recounts the money, the man points towards the register, to which the employee turns her head and no longer is watching him. Before he hands back the stack of bills with his right hand, some of it is seemingly crumpled in his left hand.

Visibly unaware, the employee does not double-check the money and completes the transaction. The owner reports about $800 not returned to the teenager.

One of the stores supervisors said she was feet away as a female accomplice of the man distracted her.

The Hottie store manager and supervisor, who asked to not be identified, recount the sleight of hand incident with 8 News Now Reporter Ryan Matthey. (KLAS)

She wants to bring down a dress from $200 to, like, $75. Im like, No we cant do that, the supervisor, who asked to not be identified, said behind the same counter Friday morning. She just kept doing the same thing over and over again.

An hour later, the stores manager, who also asked to not be identified, says the duo returned to the store to return some of the items from the original purchase. This refund receipt shows that $189.64 was refunded to them.

The manager said they realized they were victims of a scam the next morning.

We just noticed the money wasnt adding up, she said, standing behind the same counter Friday morning. It was a major hit to my team. It was a major hit to the company. We are a small business. For a small business owner, thats a big hit.

As con artists become savvier, one of the savviest in Las Vegas said even he was impressed by the security footage. Murray SawChuck has bamboozled tourists with his illusions for years, including his run at the now-closed Tropicana Hotel.

I had to rewind it a couple of times and rewatch it again because it was really well done, SawChuck said inside his home Friday afternoon. When youre watching somebody do something and you dont know theyre going to do it, your attention isnt as strong.

Las Vegas Illusionist and Magician Murray SawChuck (left) demonstrates sleight of hand tricks to 8 News Now Reporter Ryan Matthey (right). (KLAS)

He demonstrated how simple this customers sleight-of-hand maneuver was. Using his middle finger, SawChuck separated the two bills stacked on top of each other in his hand and folded one down towards his palm. That bill disappeared in a clutched fist while handing back the other.

Theres a lot of things between you and me I can hide behind, SawChuck said, referencing the registers and items typically on a retail counter. These are professionals, so dont feel like youre dumb or uneducated. Its just not your vocation to know when somebodys cheating you.

Las Vegas Illusionist and Magician Murray SawChuck demonstrates the sleight of hand trick used in the Hottie security footage from April. (KLAS)

The customers seen in Hottie security footage have not been identified or are on the radar of police. But, the stores manager says they did not turn to law enforcement for help, citing previous examples from incidents within their stores.

I have called several reports in for big shoplifting and (police) do nothing, she said. They file a report, and then no actions are being taken. These people are not being caught. Money is going down the drain.

The stores owner said the teenage employee quit shortly after this incident. Other employees of the store said they are sharing their stories in hopes other businesses remain vigilant in similar situations.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A 36-year-old man was shot by a state trooper in Prices Corner on Friday night, according to police.

Delaware State Police said they responded to a residence on Ferris Road at 9:19 p.m. where Jonathan Kreiser of Smyrna was reported to be suicidal.

A preliminary investigation revealed two teens saw Kreiser walking down the street and waving a gun, police said. One teen convinced him to put the gun down. The teen then removed the magazine, placing it and the gun on the sidewalk. The teens also called 911.

Delaware State Police: Here's what led to shooting

A trooper arrived on the scene and began negotiating with Kreiser, giving him multiple commands to show his hidden hand. But he refused to follow orders, police said. Kreiser then grabbed the gun from the sidewalk and loaded the magazine into the gun, and he turned toward the trooper. The trooper responded by shooting at Kreiser, a state police news release stated.

Delaware State Police officers investigate after an officer shot a man police said wielded a gun in a confrontation on Ferris Road in Prices Corner shortly after 9 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2024.

After the shooting, troopers provided first aid to Kreiser until EMS arrived and took him to an area hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Kreiser is hospitalized in stable condition. No one else was injured, police said.

Smyrna man is charged

Kreiser was charged with aggravated menacing and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, police said. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and turned over to the custody of the Department of Correction on a $21,000 cash bond.

Police later determined the Smyrna Police Department issued a Gold Alert for Kreiser earlier that day. The Gold Alert indicated he took his brother's gun and he was suicidal.

Based on the Delaware State Police's standard operating procedure, the trooper involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, pending a use-of-force investigation conducted in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice.

Wilmington crime: 26-year-old man killed Saturday; 2 others shot Friday

The state police Homicide Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective D. Grassi at 302-365-8441, email daniel.grassi@delaware.gov or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Smyrna man with gun is shot in Prices Corner by Delaware State Police
(Bloomberg) -- South Africas ruling party is girding for grueling talks with bitter rivals over the makeup a new government, after losing a parliamentary majority thats stood for 30 years.

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With ballots from 99.9% of voting districts counted in the May 29 election, the African National Congress got a 40.2% share, down from 57.5% in 2019 as voters dealt a historic rebuke to the party Nelson Mandela led to power at the end of apartheid. The main opposition Democratic Alliance secured 21.8%, while a party led by former President Jacob Zuma seized 14.6% just five months after its launch.

The ANCs slump comes after years of economic mismanagement and corruption damaged water and power supplies and unemployment running above 30%. The electoral shake-up has pushed Africas most-industrialized nation into uncharted territory, and prompted key leaders of the ANC, DA and others to consider a coalition.

The ANC has been in power for too long and has been too complacent, William Gumede, a political analyst and founder of the Democracy Works Foundation, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. I think now for the first time since 1994 we will actually see some kind of accountability, some kind of urgency to deal with all these structural issues.

The countrys Electoral Commission says it will officially announce the results on Sunday evening, notwithstanding Zumas demand that they delay to review allegations of voter irregularity made by his party and some others.

Under the constitution, South Africas National Assembly must convene within 14 days to elect a speaker and a president after the declaration of the election outcome.

Read more: Zuma Doubles Down on South Africa Vote Discrepancy Claims

The extent of its loss leaves the ANC with the choice of turning to the DA or seeking an alliance on the left with either Zumas uMkhonto weSizwe Party, known as the MKP, or the populist Economic Freedom Fighters.

The future of President Cyril Ramaphosa is also in question, six years after he ousted Zuma to end a scandal-tainted tenure.

Bloomberg Terminal clients can click on ELEC ZA for more on South Africas elections.

DA leaders are leaning toward seeking a formal coalition with the ANC in which they would receive some cabinet posts and control of several parliamentary portfolio committees, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified as the talks arent public. Some DA leaders oppose the idea, the people said, and a decision has yet to be taken.

The DAs top leadership is scheduled to meet on Sunday to discuss its approach toward coalitions. The Inkatha Freedom Party, a minor conservative group, has also organized a gathering of its national executive committee for Sunday morning. Those summits will inform the ANCs own discussions on the topic that are expected to start early next week.

Read More: What Next for South Africa After Seismic Election?: QuickTake

At this stage the party hasnt worked out what the approach should be, DA national spokesman Solly Malatsi said in an interview on Saturday at the election results center near Johannesburg. By the end of tomorrow, we will have a sense of the approach for coalitions and who we can start initiating prospective talks with.

ANC Chairman Gwede Mantashe has said the party wont comment on coalition talks until the final results are declared.

If the ANC chooses to form a minority government, it will still need the support of a rival to appoint a president as that position is voted on by parliament.

For financial markets, the ANCs choice of partner is key, as both the MKP and EFF have demanded that everything from land to banks be nationalized. The prospect of them joining the government has spurred a sell-off in the rand and nations bonds, with the risk of the investor exodus accelerating if such an alliance was formalized.

Read More: South Africas Shock Election Imperils Business-Driven Reforms

A tie-up with the DA would likely accelerate economic reforms and privatization initiatives that Ramaphosa had begun to put in place.

Its pretty binary, said Martin Kingston, chairman of the local unit of Rothschild & Co. That is best- and worst-case scenarios for business.

Ramaphosas allies prefer an investor-favored pact with the business-friendly DA which would keep him at the helm, according to people familiar with the situation. Some of his detractors in the party favor linking up with EFF and MKP, which could see Ramaphosa ousted or resign.

EFF leader Julius Malema, who established the party in 2013 after he was expelled from the ANC, said hes open to cooperating with his former party.

We want to work with the ANC, he told reporters Saturday. If there is any party that we can work with, and work with properly, it is the ANC.

The MKP said its considering calling for a rerun of the vote over alleged irregularities and is taking legal advice on the matter.

If Ramaphosa does step down, that would represent a victory for Zuma, who was fired as deputy president in 2005 amid corruption allegations, won control of the ANC in 2007 and led the country for almost nine years before being ousted by his own party and replaced by Ramaphosa in 2018.

Since then, hes been fighting a legal battle against charges of taking bribes to facilitate an arms deal in the 1990s and served time in jail after refusing to testify before a judicial inquiry into state graft. His imprisonment in 2021 triggered the worst riots in South Africa since the end of White-minority rule, leaving 354 people dead.

The MKP won 45.4% of the ballot in KwaZulu-Natal, Zumas home province and the second-most populous in South Africa. The ANC saw its support there plunge to 17% from 54.2% in 2019. The DA retained its majority in the Western Cape province  famed for tourist mecca Cape Town, wine farms and gangs  which it has ruled since 2009.

Sign up here for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter

--With assistance from Monique Vanek, Mpho Hlakudi, Ntando Thukwana, Paul Vecchiatto, Mike Cohen, Arijit Ghosh, Loni Prinsloo and Alister Bull.

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The News

South Africas ruling African National Congress has lost its parliamentary majority for the first time, leading to what is likely to be a fortnight of uncertainty and tense negotiations with rival parties to form a coalition government.

It marks the biggest shift in the way the country is governed since it came to power after the end of apartheid 30 years ago.

With nearly all votes counted, electoral commission data showed the ANC had secured just 40% of the vote in Wednesdays election. Some 99.6% of votes had been counted as of Saturday, however the final results will be officially declared until Sunday.

The partys failure to secure 50% of the 400 seats in the National Assembly has sparked discussions over how a coalition could be formed with smaller parties to form a government. Under the constitution, a new parliament must convene within 14 days of final results being declared. And parliaments first act must be to elect the countrys president.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance won 22% of the vote and the populist uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), formed just six months ago and led by former president Jacob Zuma, stood at 14.6%.

MK, in an exclusive interview, told Semafor it would not join a coalition with the ANC if it was led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, or with the DA. The DAs leader told Semafor his party would not join a coalition that involved MK or the Marxist-leaning Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who won 9.5% of the vote.

EFF leader Julius Malema on Saturday told reporters his party was open to coalition talks with all parties. But he said his party would want to ensure it could enact its policies on redistributing land, as well as nationalizing mines and the countrys Reserve Bank. MK had also called for such an approach on land and nationalization.

Know More

Some 27.7 million people were registered to vote. Voter turnout stood at just under 60%, with some 16 million people having cast their ballot.

The ANCs reputation was hit by unemployment at around 33%, which rises to 45.5% for people aged between 15 and 34. It was further undermined by rising crime rates, corruption scandals and rolling power rationing blackouts known as loadshedding.

The ANC had won every election since 1994, when Nelson Mandela led the party to power following the end of white minority rule.

But support for the ANC has waned in recent years while the number of opposition parties party has mushroomed. The party has seen its support, and share of the vote, fall in recent years. Back in 1994, it won 62.5% of the National Assemblys seats. At the last election, in 2019, it secured 57.5% of the vote.

Room for Disagreement

Former President Jacob Zuma called for the vote to be conducted again due to what his party said were irregularities in the voting process. Zuma spoke at a press conference in the election results center, after sparking a media scrum with his arrival. More than 20 smaller parties said they backed the claims and were therefore disputing the election results.

Zuma called on the electoral commission to delay the final declaration of the results which is due to take place on Sunday. Nobody must declare tomorrow. If that happens, people will be provoking us because we know what we are talking about  were not guessing, said Zuma, late on Saturday. Im hoping whoever is responsible is hearing what were saying: dont start trouble, when there is no trouble, he said.

South Africas constitution stipulates that authorities must announce the result within seven days of the election.

The electoral commissions chairman, at a late night press conference held after Zuma addressed journalists, said the official declaration of the election results would be declared on Sunday as planned.
Two groups of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the U.S. Air Force Academy at 7 a.m. Thursday morning ahead of its 2024 graduation commencement.

Approximately 20 people, including members of the Colorado Springs People's Coalition and UCCS Students for Justice in Palestine, specifically protested this year's keynote speaker and current Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. aid to Israel as the war with Palestine continues.

"We want President Biden and Vice President Harris to know that we won't be silent while they're here," Colorado Springs People's Coalition organizer Genevieve Richard said. "And we want to tell them that until they stop supplying military aid to Israel, they are compliant in genocide."

Planning for the demonstration began shortly after Harris was announced as this year's keynote speaker. Richard said. Protesters set up an area supplied with food, water and signs just outside of the base on public property so as not to disrupt any procedures.

Multiple chants directed at Harris, President Joe Biden and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rang out as cars pulled up to the academy's south gate entrance for commencement. Some cars honked while others shouted back in response to the protest.

Richard said they expected their crowd to grow throughout the day and plan to continue the demonstrations until the ceremony is over.

According to an Air Force Academy (AFA) spokesperson, the group originally set up their demonstration closer to the entrance before a member of the security force team asked them to relocate to a pre-approved protest zone for their safety from inbound traffic. The group obliged and relocated to the approved zone.

The noise protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations held in Colorado Springs. In February, the Colorado Springs People's Coalition called on City Council to support a ceasefire to both Palestine and Israel while both UCCS and Colorado College held separate demonstrations demanding transparency for all divestments from the schools to Israel.

"We've been really disappointed in our local officials to date," Richard said. "They (city council members) told us they don't want to get involved with international affairs, but they came and out in support of Israel shortly after the October attack."

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Around the same time further up north, a separate protest and car rally was conducted by the Colorado Springs Democratic Socialists of America and Colorado Palestine Coalition near the academys north gate.

According to Maryah Lauer, a spokesperson for Colorado Springs DSA, about 30 volunteers drove their cars continuously through the two roundabouts on North Gate Blvd at approximately 7:45 a.m.

Cars were plastered and painted with home-made signs displaying support for Palestine and messages directed towards Harris while protesters chanted, honked their car horns and played loud music.

Lauer said their demonstration sought to disrupt the flow of traffic to the ceremony while publicly condemning the Vice President for militarily and politically aiding Israel and calling for a ceasefire.

We wanted to bring attention to the conflict thats ongoing, the military industrial complex and Aaron Bushnell to some people who may not have known otherwise, she said.

Bushnell, 25, was an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force who died by self-immolation outside the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. in February in protest of the Israel-Hamas war.

According to Lauer, multiple members of various law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene around 8:00 a.m., broke up the demonstration and temporarily closed Northgate Blvd leading to the Academys entrance.

The AFA spokesperson told the Gazette that the north gate demonstration was not approved and that the lead driver was informed that their actions were illegal. The driver was then told they needed to depart or risk apprehension before continuously circling both roundabouts to disrupt traffic. Security forces and Colorado State Patrol then partnered to clear the protestors from the roundabouts and block them from re-entering, to allow normal traffic flow.

Lauer said it ultimately worked in their favor by temporarily closing Northgate.

So, they actually helped our cause in the end.

The road was re-opened shortly thereafter around 9:00 a.m.

This year marks Harris's first time speaking to Air Force Academy graduates. As vice president, Harris is part of the regular rotation of speakers for the academy, which is graduating 974 this year.
South Africas ruling party has lost its majority, putting President Cyril Ramaphosa under pressure to form a coalition government as the polls close in the country's election. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

June 1 (UPI) -- South Africa's ruling party has lost its majority, putting President Cyril Ramaphosa under pressure to form a coalition government as the polls close in the country's election.

With nearly all votes reported and counted, Ramaphosa and his African National Congress now 40% of the national vote, the party's lowest vote total since its inception in 1994.

The ANC collected 58% of the vote in South Africa's previous election on the way to securing a majority government.

Its own analysts had predicted a worst-case scenario would see the party pick up 45% of the vote. The ANC has never polled below 50% after Nelson Mandela was chosen as its leader and won the presidency in the country's first democratic election in 1994 following the end of Apartheid.

Final election results are expected to be made public at 6 p.m. SAST on Sunday.

With nearly all votes reported and counted, Ramaphosa and his African National Congress now 40% of the national vote, the partys lowest vote total since its inception in 1994 and after the ANC collected 58% of the vote in South Africas previous election on the way to securing a majority government. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

Support for Ramaphosa and his party is waning as South Africans look for political alternatives to combat continually-high levels of corruption, unemployment and crime.

The 71-year-old came to power in 2018, succeeding former President Jacob Zuma. Now, Ramaphosa and ANC leadership are considering coalition options, the BBC reported, including with Zuma's newly-formed uMkhonto weSizwe or MK party.

The leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance, John Steenhuisen (R), which placed second in the country's election with over 20% of the vote, said it would consider a coalition with the ruling African National Congress but not if President Cyril Ramaphosa remains in power. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

The far-left MK party was only formed late last year but has picked up around 15% of the votes.

Another far-left party, the Economic Freedom Fighters collected 9% of the vote.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC are now considering coalition options, the BBC reported, including with former President Jacob Zumas (pictured) newly-formed far-left uMkhonto weSizwe or MK party. File Pool Photo by Peter Foley/UPI

Zuma, now 82, was released early from prison last August due to overcrowding after being handed a 15-month sentence for defying a court order to testify on corruption charges.

Ramaphosa and Zuma were locked in a power struggle over ANC leadership, with the latter ultimately resigning in 2018 because of corruption charges.

The MK party has said it would consider working with the ANC but not while Ramaphosa, the country's fifth president, is in charge.

Zuma's new party has petitioned for nationalizing banks and expropriating land held by White land-owners without compensation.

The economic-focussed Democratic Alliance sat in second place Saturday after collecting an estimated 21.7% of the vote.

Its leader John Steenhuisen did not rule out a coalition agreement with the ANC but did say any shared government could not include Zuma's MK party.
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

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has lost its absolute majority for the first time in three decades, the country's electoral commission announced on Saturday following this week's parliamentary polls.

With 97.51% of the votes counted, the ANC stood at 40.11% on Saturday morning, the IEC electoral commission said. The preliminary partial result shows a massive loss of power for the ruling party of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

For the first time in the country's history, the party once led by anti-apartheid fighter Nelson Mandela will have to form a coalition.

Over the past 30 years, since the start of democracy in 1994, the ANC has always won an absolute majority and governed the continent's strongest economy alone.

The economically liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) came in at 21.71%, according to preliminary partial results, while the party founded only six months ago by former president Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), stood at 14.84%. The Marxist-influenced party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) garnered 9.37% of the votes.

Political commentators largely attribute the ANC's historic loss of power - nearly 17 percentage points since the 2019 parliamentary elections - to the new establishment of the MK, while also pointing to the party's weak governing record.

The southern African country of 61 million people suffers from a struggling economy, mass unemployment, dilapidated state-owned enterprises, regular power outages, as well as high crime and corruption.

Members of 52 parties competed in the May 29 election for the parliament's 400 seats. Once the results are announced, the newly elected parliament must form a government and elect a president within 14 days. Provincial governments were also newly elected.

Politically and economically, South Africa is regarded as the "gateway to Africa," a continent that is becoming increasingly important internationally due to its abundance of raw materials needed for the global energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Although South Africa maintains good relations with Western countries, the government is closely connected to Russia and China. The country has taken a strong pro-Palestinian stance in the Gaza war and has filed a genocide lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice.
A member of a Southern California street gang has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2012 murder of a 14-year-old boy.

Gilbert Villanueva, 29, of Ventura was sentenced Friday, weeks after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Angel Burciaga. He also admitted to committing the crime on behalf of his gang.

On the night of June 27, 2012, Villanueva and a co-defendant, Justin Patino, traveled to Saticoy Park in the unincorporated community of Saticoy near Ventura wearing face coverings and looking for revenge after one of their fellow gang members was injured.

There they found a group of people, including Burciaga, whom they recognized and began firing at with handguns.

Villanueva and Patino chased Joshua and continued to fire at him until he fell to the ground  stood over him and fired additional shots as Joshua begged for his life, a news release from the Ventura County District Attorneys Office states.

They then fled the scene and attempted to conceal and destroy any evidence that could tie them to the murder, officials said.

Joshua was pronounced dead at the scene, shot multiple times including twice in the head from close range.

Gilbert Villanueva of Ventura is shown in this undated mugshot provided by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office on May 31, 2024. Villanueva was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2012 killing of a 14-year-old boy.

Villanueva was arrested the following month and charged with Burciagas murder. Patino was arrested and charged in October of that year as he was being released from a juvenile facility on unrelated charges.

The two murder weapons were found buried at a ranch in Santa Paula, wrapped in the same bandanas they used to cover their faces on the night of the shooting, officials said.

Both Villanueva and Patino were only 17 at the time of the killing, but were tried as adults.

Patino was found guilty of murder on March 16, 2018 and was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, twice the length of Villanuevas sentence.

Tom Dunlevy, a senior deputy district attorney, said the D.A.s Office was grateful for the thorough investigation conducted by the Ventura County Sheriffs Office.

We hope that the defendants sentence provides some sense of closure to the victims family after so many years and allows them to continue the healing process, Dunlevy 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 KTLA.
Special counsel Jack Smith has once again asked the federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against Donald Trump to impose a gag order against the former president, barring him from making statements about the law enforcement officers who searched his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The gag order request is focused on false or misleading statements Trump has made about the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, including that his life was in danger because of a policy in place around the use of deadly force during the search.

Prosecutors say Trumps comments in recent weeks have endangered law enforcement officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case and threatened the integrity of these proceedings.

Trump is charged in the case with taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the governments attempts to retrieve the materials. He has pleaded not guilty.

The request comes one week after Smiths initial attempt for a gag order, which Judge Aileen Cannon quickly shot down for procedural reasons, and is almost identical to the original request.

In her ruling earlier this week, Cannon bashed prosecutors for failing to make a sufficient effort to discuss their motion with Trumps defense attorneys before filing. The judge said prosecutors could refile their motion once that effort had been made properly.

Prosecutors now say they discussed the motion with Trumps attorneys but failed to resolve the issues.

While Trump has told his supporters he could have been in danger during the search because of the use-of-force policy, the policy is standard protocol for FBI searches and limits how agents may use force in search operations. The same standard FBI policy was used in the searches of President Joe Bidens homes and offices in a separate classified documents investigation.

Trump, according to prosecutors, has made false claims that have created a grossly misleading impression about the intentions and conduct of federal law enforcement agentsfalsely suggesting that they were complicit in a plot to assassinate himand expose those agents, some of whom will be witnesses at trial, to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment.

Prosecutors also repeated their concern that Trumps deceptive and inflammatory claims expose agents involved in the case to unjustified and unacceptable risks, including threats and harassment.

In a statement from defense attorneys in the prosecutors filing, Trumps lawyers reiterated their stance that the gag order is a blatant violation of the First Amendment rights of President Trump and the American People, which would in effect allow President Trumps political opponent to regulate his campaign communications to voters across the country.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Speed camera breaks down in Rotterdam after thousands race by

A speed trap stands by the road near Arbon on Lake Constance. A camera set up to catch drivers breaking the speed limit at a motorway construction site in the Dutch city of Rotterdam broke down due to the sheer number of cars surging by. Felix Kastle/dpa

A camera set up to catch drivers breaking the speed limit at a motorway construction site in the Dutch city of Rotterdam broke down due to the sheer number of cars surging by.

"It was approaching ten thousand fines per day," a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office told broadcaster RTL.

The problem was not the frequency of the contraventions but that the processing system was unable to handle the large number of drivers being recorded.

Local reports said many commuters had not yet adjusted to a new speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour while the motorway bridge is being renovated.

"Perhaps we switched the speed camera on too early," the spokesman said.

The authorities turned off the camera again just days after it was set up, due to the technical problems and high number of speeding motorists. "It is not an end in itself to register as many offences as possible," the spokesman said.

Drivers caught in recent days will no longer have to pay the fines issued and the city has set up additional signs to warn drivers to slow down.

The camera has since been reactivated. "Road users have had time to get used to the new situation," the public prosecutor's office's spokesman said.

Tests in recent days show the number of fines issued has fallen significantly compared to the start of the month.
I spent my first night in Panama at a hotel in the heart of the historic district. The stay made me fall in love with the country in less than 24 hours.

The exterior of the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I spent my first night in Panama at the five-star Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo hotel.

The property had luxury amenities and was located in the heart of Panama City's historic district.

Good food, stunning architecture, and unbelievable views helped me fall in love with Panama.

A bellhop opened the door to the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, and I was transported out of Panama City's humidity and into a chilly hotel lobby brimming with excitement.

Enormous vases of hydrangeas filled the center of the room, and a mosaic map of Panama City stretched across one wall. People bustled in and out of the lobby, heading out for tours of the Panama Canal or to the infinity pool a floor below.

When visiting Panama City, it's a mistake not to explore Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Panama City's historic district.

And if you stay anywhere in the neighborhood, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo is the place to go.

Moments after landing in Panama, I was off to my hotel for the evening: the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo.

The courtyard at Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Before arriving in Panama, the Sofitel Legend's concierge desk reached out to help coordinate any details for my Panama City stay. I booked a driver to pick me up from the airport through email for $50.

My driver, Alberto, was waiting for me at the airport, and before I knew it, I was in the back of a car heading to Casco Viejo.

After a 30-minute drive, I arrived at the white-washed building at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

The exterior of the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Alberto navigated Casco Viejo's narrow streets and dropped me off outside the historic building.

The building plays an important role in Panama City's history. It has welcomed guests like Albert Einstein and Queen Elizabeth II.

The exterior of the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Later, during my stay, I joined a tour where a hotel representative shared the property's history. Originally, the building served as Panama City's Club Union in the early 1900s, a social club for wealthy and influential people created in 1908. The club hosted well-known people like Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1967, the club relocated to another area of Panama City, and the building sat empty for years.

Then, the French hospitality group Accor took over the property and opened the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo in 2023.

The property is now one of six Sofitel Legend properties, which are hotels located in historic buildings.

Bellhops grabbed my bags, opened the hotel doors, and ushered me into a lobby.

The entrance to the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Across the hotel, you'll find French and Panamanian influences. The hotel lobby is nautical-themed, wrought-iron balconies line the exterior of the building, and glass chandeliers glimmer in the afternoon sunlight.

Inside the air-conditioned lobby, I checked into my room. I spent one night in a luxury queen room that cost $339.

The lobby of the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The hotel has 159 rooms and suites, each with a view of the lush courtyard, Pacific Ocean, or Casco Viejo neighborhood.

About a month before my stay, I reserved my queen room with a historic view and a living room. The room cost $339, which included a 20% spring discount.

With my key in hand, a bellhop guided me to my room.

The entrance view of the author's room at the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I walked across the mahogany herringbone floors and noticed luxury details scattered throughout the room.

A fluffy robe was hanging in the bathroom, the room's four-poster bed felt fit for a queen, and a minibar with essentials, including coffee and water, was waiting for me.

Inside the bedroom area, a queen-sized bed called my name.

A view of the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

With crisp sheets and perfectly placed pillows, it was hard to resist an afternoon nap.

Attached to my room was a living area.

A second room adjoined the hotel's bedroom area. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

In a separate room was a velvet couch, chair, and bistro table with views of the neighborhood.

Outside my hotel window, I had views of both the ocean and Casco Viejo.

The view from the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

From my bed, I could glimpse the Pacific Ocean just feet away. From the living room, views of the historic Casco Viejo filled the window.

The highlight of the room was easily the bathroom.

The interior of the bathroom in the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Brass accents, marble countertops, a rainfall showerhead, and luxury soaps made the bathroom my favorite part of the spacious room.

At 5:30 p.m., I headed back to the lobby, where guests can join a tour of the property each evening.

Rows of historic images line the hotel's ballroom. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

One of Sofitel's concierge representatives hosts a short property tour every evening. For 30 minutes, we discussed the historic photographs that line the hotel's walls.

Here, I learned about the history of the Panama Canal, and how its creation welcomed a new era of wealth to Panama. That wealth led to social clubs like the Club Union, home to the Sofitel today.

The tour ends with a dance performance and candle ritual.

Dancers perform in the Sofitel Legend's bar every evening. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

After the tour, I was greeted by two dancers in traditional Panamanian attire. As they danced across the hotel lobby and bar, one carried a candle to symbolize Panamanian and French cultures uniting.

I continued wandering around the property, which has five restaurants and bars, a spa, a pool, and a fitness center.

A restaurant at the Sofitel Legend. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The hotel is filled with luxury amenities and eateries. A rooftop bar is ideal for watching the sunset, and guests can visit the hotel speakeasy hidden behind a library shelf.

I had enough time to squeeze in a quick dip in the hotel pool.

A view of the infinity pool at the Sofitel Legend in Panama City. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I knew my stay at the hotel wouldn't be complete without a swim in its infinity pool.

Located a floor below the lobby, the pool has views out onto the Pacific Ocean. Recliners line three of the four edges of the pool.

And, of course, I had enough time to explore the pool bar.

The hotel's pool bar. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

One of the most colorful parts of the hotel was attached to the pool. Bright-green tiles lined the bar, where staff served smoothies, juices, beers, and tropical cocktails.

Finally, I watched the sunset from the hotel's lush courtyard.

The sunset at the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

After drying off from the pool, I headed to the hotel's courtyard to soak in the last few moments of sunlight on my first day in Panama.

By the time I woke up the next morning, I was already missing the courtyard. I grabbed a cup of coffee and spent the morning outside.

The author at the Sofitel Legend hotel. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Instead of spending the morning in my queen bed or sipping coffee from the living room, I headed downstairs to the courtyard to soak in more ocean views.

And while Sofitel is a highlight of the neighborhood, Casco Viejo is home to much more.

A tree-covered walkway in Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The hotel is situated at the water's edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which dates back to 1673.

Right outside the hotel is the bougainvillea-canopied Paseo de las Bovedas. Street vendors line the shaded walkway, where tourists can purchase local art, and Panama's indigenous Kuna members sell textiles. Visitors are greeted with stunning ocean views at the end of the paved path.

I wandered around the area's half-dozen historic squares.

The Casco Viejo neighborhood in Panama City. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

A short walk away are about a half-dozen historic plazas and squares.

I tasted Panamanian foods for lunch at Fonda Lo Que Hay.

Fonda Lo Que Hay is one of Casco Viejo's popular restaurants. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Beyond history, Casco Viejo is home to some of Panama City's most beloved restaurants.

A handful of people urged me to stop at Fonda Lo Que Hay , a modern take on a Fonda, which is a Panamanian roadside eatery. Here, traditional meals and ingredients are served in an upscale setting.

I dined on ceviche and a yuca tostada  some of the best food I had during my nine-day visit to the country.

And I got lost in the historic streets.

A street in Panama City's historic district. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Besides eating, aimlessly walking around the neighborhood was a highlight of my Casco Viejo trip. The brick-lined streets, colorful buildings, and flower boxes teeming with plants transported me back in time.

One evening wasn't enough, but Sofitel was the ideal launching point for a week in Panama.

The author in her hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Panama City is home to a wide range of neighborhoods. One place might feel like visiting Dubai, while another feels like living in a country club.

But Casco Viejo was one of my favorite neighborhoods to explore.

I was treated to luxury, dove into the city's history, and fell in love with the beauty of Casco Viejo  which was the ideal foundation to continue exploring all that Panama had to offer.

The courtyard at Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

By the time my bags were packed and I was off to my next destination in the city, I was convinced that Panama was a destination I would love.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Spitfire crash in Lincolnshire on May 25 could not have happened at a worse time. Every available Second World War aircraft was being made airworthy in order to be able to fly at the numerous events taking place to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6 and beyond. But the Ministry of Defence announced on Friday that the RAFs own fleet of planes  including the stricken Spitfire in last weeks accident  have been grounded in order for checks to be carried out while the cause of the accident remains uncertain.

The grounding  which will cover the D-Day commemorations and may extend to Trooping the Colour on June 15  includes the Hurricanes, Chipmunks, Dakota and Lancaster of the RAFs Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). 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.

The whole veteran aircraft community is now concerned over whether this accident will lead to restrictions on flights and, perhaps, more stringent safety requirements.

Spitfires almost invariably play a major role in these displays for two reasons. First, they were the only aircraft to be in full production for the whole duration the Second World War and ultimately more than 20,000 were produced  around 60 are, today, still able to fly. Secondly, the Supermarine Spitfire embodies the ethic of Britains resistance in the face of the German assault on these shores during the Blitz and right through to the end of the war. The older Hawker Hurricanes, phased out long before the Spitfires, shot down more enemy aircraft than Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, but the Spitfires elegance  it was also a faster and more nimble machine  caught the imagination of the British people then as now: as Jonathan Glancey, author of Spitfire: the Biography, put it: They were the key symbol of freedom. Everything about them was admirable  their design, their speed, even the fantastic sound they made. They were quite simply beautiful.

RAF pilots and a Supermarine Spitfire during the Battle of Britain on July 29 1940 - Getty

The Spitfire was the product of inspired British invention and engineering. The airframe and particularly the remarkably thin elliptical wings were conceived to allow the plane to dive at very high speeds, surprising enemy aircraft below, while sporting eight .303 machine guns. The engine, shared with the Hurricane, was another brilliant technical innovation  the Rolls-Royce Merlin, a 1,000 horsepower V-12.

In contrast to its principal enemy in the Battle of Britain, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, which was practical, economical and workmanlike, the Spitfire, as Glancey relates, was the embodiment of British values that had emerged from a culture famous for producing lithe, good looking and even sensual machinery.

This helps explain its special place in British culture. Inevitably, given that the pilot, Squadron Leader Mark Long, was killed in the accident, questions are being asked about the viability of flying veteran aircraft, particularly at the numerous air shows to be held in the forthcoming summer months.

Indeed, similar safety concerns were raised after the accident in Shoreham, West Sussex, in August 2015 when a Hawker Hunter jet, performing an acrobatic manoeuvre, crashed onto the A27 killing 11 people. The subsequent lengthy report resulted in restrictions on air displays and imposed extra training requirements on pilots performing in them. That case, however, was clearly very different. The pilot was attempting a manoeuvre without sufficient height or speed and had not practised it sufficiently.

While the airframes are some 80 years old, the engines running in the Spitfires currently taking wing have few remaining parts from the originals. The brilliant Rolls-Royce Merlin engines are complex mechanisms, a mass of tubes, pipes and wires, most of which will have long been replaced or completely overhauled.

More than 20,000 Spitfires were produced during the Second World War - Getty

Like many of those flying today, the particular plane involved in the accident, MK356, did not have a continuous record of flight since it was built in 1944. It was allocated to the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew some 60 sorties from bases in southern England and was involved in the attacks over France in the run up to D-Day. After the war, the plane was on display at a couple of air bases, but then was refurbished in 1992 for the RAFs Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which consists of a dozen planes, including six Spitfires.

The Spitfire accident took place on a routine flight and was flown by an RAF Typhoon pilot who was very experienced at handling veteran aircraft. Moreover, this was not some time-worn Spitfire brought out every now and then for a spin over the countryside. The aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are maintained in tip-top condition, with all the RAFs facilities at their disposal, and safety is the prime consideration, which makes this accident all the more unusual. These planes, consequently, are the elite of veteran aircraft, comparable to, say, the cars driven on the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run or the locomotives kept in steam by the National Rail Museum.

According to Jeff Gazzard, an aviation safety expert, most accidents or mishaps involving veteran aircraft are the result of pilot inexperience or mechanical failures due to poor maintenance. As there was clearly good weather, and the aircraft was well maintained, it is understandable that they grounded the aircraft, but this is likely to be rescinded rapidly once the cause is found. However, Gazzard does have misgivings: While by and large the operation of these planes seems to be safe, I am still concerned that the overall structure of ensuring that standards are maintained may not be sufficiently robust.

Early reports suggest engine failure was the cause of the Spitfire accident (though this has not been confirmed). Nevertheless, there is every confidence that the Memorial Flight will take off again, but not whether this will be in time for the various events over the summer. And other operators of Spitfires who run short flights for guests are confident that safety has not been compromised. One, who did not wish to be named, said: There really is nothing to be worried about. Safety will always be our top priority.

Christian Wolmar is the author of The Liberation Line, the last untold story of the Normandy landings, which has recently been published by Atlantic Books, 25

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.
Speaker of the House Charles McCall stands at his desk for the last time on May 30 during the last week of the legislative session at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City.

Though they didn't do as many as they did in 2023, state lawmakers attempted seven overrides of measures vetoed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt this year.

They were successful on five.

That number was much smaller than the 19 bills the Legislature overrode in 2023. Last year, legislative leaders criticized Stitt's vetoes, saying the governor threw a tantrum because lawmakers disagreed with him on tax policy.

Wednesday afternoon, both the House and Senate overrode Stitt's veto Senate Bill 102, a retirement measure written by Sen. Jessica Garvin, a Republican from Duncan. The bill increases benefits from the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System and raises employee and employer contributions.

Law enforcement and the Fraternal Order of Police supported the bill. Stitt countered the bill would damage the funds long-term viability. In a veto message posted on the website X (formerly Twitter), Stitt said the bill would put the pension systems at risk.

"The math didn't just add up," Stitt said. "We won't put the future pensions of our law enforcement or the future financial health of our state at risk. It's not an easy decision, but it's the right one for our state. That's why I vetoed this bill."

More: Lawmakers end legislative session one day early; budget, tax cuts headline the debate

During debate on the override, incoming Senate Pro Tempore Greg McCortney, R-Ada, said the measure was a good bill. "Don't get distracted by claims about how good it might be two years form now," McCortney said. "I encourage you to vote yes today."

Gavin, the bill's author, said the measure wasn't an easy yes vote.

"Yes, this bill is not perfect. No, it doesn't have a cost of living allowance. I urge you to join me in believing this is the right thing to do," she said.

The veto of SB 102 was overridden by a 36-9 vote in the Senate and by a 83-4 vote in the House of Representatives.

Vetoes on two bills on health insurance also overridden

Lawmakers also overrode vetoes on two bills that addressed health insurance, including House Bill 1712, by Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, which prohibits insurers from refusing to cover prescribed durable medical equipment; and House Bill 1979, by Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, which restricts the conditions placed on vision care providers by insurers from prepaid plans.

Stitt said both measures would weaken provider networks and force consumers to pay more.

The Legislature also overrode vetoes on SB 1438, by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and HB 2687, by Rep. John George, R-Newalla. Rader's bill allows a 1.25% recovery fee for heavy equipment. The measure by George adds new certified law officers hired by either the attorney generals office or the state's Military Department to the state police pension fund.

More: Bumpy legislative session ends with hundreds of bills on Gov. Kevin Stitt's desk

While the Senate successfully overrode the veto of SB 1210 by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, the attempt came up short in the House. The bill would have allowed county assessors to use photos taken from fixed wing aircraft for appraisal purposes.

The Senate also voted to override the veto of Democrat-authored legislation SB 1751, by Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, but the motion failed in the House. It would have required guardians of incapacitated adults to receive training based on the condition of the person the guardian is providing care for.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmakers override five of Gov. Kevin Stitt's vetoes
State pulls alcohol permits from Hickory pub where officer was shot

ABC permits have been suspended from the Hickory pub where a police officer was shot, state officials stated Friday in a news release.

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents were called to the Gateway Pub and Grill on 534A Highway 70 SW Sunday morning where a Hickory police officer was shot.

Everybody was running: Officer, armed suspect shot at Hickory bar, department says

The officer was behind the business in the parking lot investigating reports of shots fired. Officers took an armed suspect into custody but while doing that, someone else started shooting at officers.

The officer was struck twice. An assisting officer and is recovering. The suspect who was shot was flown to a Charlotte hospital.

Gateway Pub and Grill has a history of violent events, including reported gunfire, large-scale fights, and weapons violations involving employees, investigators said.

The Hickory Police Department has had 250 calls for service at Gateway Pub since January 2022.

The Gateway Pub has been and continues to be a place where violence and disorder occur on a regular basis, said Reed Baer, Hickory Police Department police chief. The Gateway Pub has not only been a drain on our resources but also a place that threatens the safety of our community. This latest incident in which one of our officers was shot highlights a wanton disregard for public safety that must end.

Authorities suspended its ABC permits as a result of the ALE investigation.

The shooting is under investigation.

VIDEO: Everybody was running: Officer, armed suspect shot at Hickory bar, department says
States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant. (Getty Images)

Years before the Dobbs decision, providers like Dr. Kylie Cooper were already uncomfortable with some of the reporting requirements for abortion procedures in states where they practiced.

Cooper was a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for several years in Idaho before she reluctantly left the state in 2023 because of the near-total abortion ban that is now in place. But when abortion was still legal, she was required to fill out a form and submit it to the state with information about the patient and the procedure, including the physicians name and when it occurred. While the law said that the information would be aggregated and could not identify individual patients, Cooper never felt sure about how it would be used or how secure the data would be kept.

It was supposed to be anonymous, but they asked for patient identifiers on it, so I was like, Could this get tracked back to them? she said.

In April, TIME magazine interviewed former President Donald Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, about his goals in office if he is elected. He was asked whether he would be comfortable with states monitoring womens pregnancies to determine whether someone may have received an abortion despite a ban. Trump responded that it didnt matter if he was comfortable with it or not, because the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision allowed states to dictate abortion policy.

Although it was posed as a hypothetical and limited to states with abortion bans, there are efforts underway at the legislative and congressional levels  and in the blueprint for the next Republican presidential administration  to track abortion and pregnancy data. Some have already become law, and some are pending in the U.S. Congress, including a bill that would mandate that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collect more abortion data from all 50 states. At the same time, there are renewed concerns about deceptive practices around data privacy at crisis pregnancy centers nationwide, which are receiving large infusions of taxpayer dollars from some state governments such as Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.

I dont think most people recognize the way that we are currently being surveilled in our health care system, said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for a policy advocacy organization called State Innovation Exchange. People need to be talking to their providers about what information is shared, how its shared, and start reading the forms.

Patients misunderstand how protective HIPAA is, researcher says

Carmel Shachar, a Harvard law professor with research experience in data privacy and health policy, said people typically think of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act  better known as HIPAA  as fully protective of medical records, but thats not the reality.

HIPAA is protective of whats in your medical records, but its a little more like Swiss cheese than I think people understand. There are a lot of exceptions, Shachar said.

Two of the big exceptions are for law enforcement, when it is conducting an investigation, and the other is for public health reporting, she said. Public health data reports can be positive in terms of understanding whats happening in hospitals and clinics, but on the law enforcement end, the exception in the law could be used by state governments with anti-abortion laws to prosecute those seeking and facilitating care in other states. Thats the loophole that President Joe Bidens administration sought to close with a recent rule that was enacted after the Dobbs decision to address patient privacy specifically around procedures related to reproductive care. It does not allow law enforcement to seek those records for that particular type of care if it was obtained in a state where it was legal.

But that hasnt stopped one attorney in Texas from trying. Jonathan Mitchell, the states former solicitor general, has filed two petitions seeking legal action against women he says traveled out of state to obtain an abortion. Courts are still considering whether he can proceed with depositions against those women.

Meanwhile, 17 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws protecting providers and patients from out-of-state investigations for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care. Governors in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have also issued executive orders declaring that state agencies wont cooperate in extraditions or investigations involving reproductive care.

Shachar said some laws are also made under the guise of public health reporting when theyre more about political tactics.

One example is a recent law passed in Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly rejected abortion bans in a 2022 referendum. Lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto at the end of April to pass House Bill 2749, which Kansans for Life asked a legislator to introduce. It requires providers to ask patients for the most important factor in their decision to terminate a pregnancy. Kansans for Life is the same group that led the failed referendum.

On May 20, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Great Plains announced it is challenging the law in court, adding it to an ongoing case from 2023, according to Kansas Reflector.

Although the bill says a patient can decline to answer the questions, Center for Reproductive Rights staff attorney Alice Wang said that isnt enough, because it doesnt require the provider to tell the patient they dont have to answer. Especially now that patients are coming to Kansas for an abortion from states where the procedure is banned and criminalized, Wang said, the bill is designed to intimidate providers in particular, since they are the ones subject to criminal penalties, not the pregnant person.

When patients are confronted with these questions, then that raises questions of what this deeply personal information is going to be used for in an atmosphere where anti-abortion extremists have already threatened to come after activities that should be perfectly legal, she said.

The list of reasons includes whether the patient already has enough, or too many, children, whether they cannot provide for another child, that the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest or that it threatens their health to be pregnant. The data must be reported biannually to the legislature.

Shachar said the reporting of abortion procedures is not in itself shocking, but asking for reasons why is alarming.

It feels like its trying to lay the groundwork to separate out good or permissible abortions from bad abortions, she said.

One of the reasons listed is that The child would have a disability, but there is no reason in the list for a pregnancy with a fatal or severe life-limiting fetal anomaly. Organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Live Action often refer to severe fetal abnormalities as disabilities, even if the patient chose to continue the pregnancy and the infant died hours after birth.

According to the legislation passed into law in Kansas, except in cases of medical emergencies, every patient is to be asked what the most important factor was in their decision to terminate a pregnancy from a list of the following:

Having a baby would interfere with the patients education, employment or career

Patient cannot provide for the child

Patient already has enough, or too many, children

Patients husband is abusive to patient or their children

Patients husband or partner wants them to have an abortion

Patient does not have adequate support to raise a child

The pregnancy is a result of rape

The pregnancy is the result of incest

The pregnancy threatens the patients physical health

The pregnancy threatens the patients emotional or mental health

The child would have a disability

If the patient declines to answer, that response would be recorded. Each biannual report shall include:

Number of times each reason listed was described as most important

Number of times a patient was asked about the reasons listed and declined to answer

Patients age, marital status at the time of the abortion, country of residency, race and highest level of education completed

Whether in the month before the abortion the patient received services, financial assistance (excluding financial assistance for the abortion), or other assistance from a nonprofit organization that supports pregnant women

Whether the patient reported experiencing domestic violence in the past 12 months

Whether the patient is living in a place they consider to be safe, stable and affordable

Whether the patient made a report of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect

The method of the abortion performed

Abortion survey bill advances in New Hampshire legislature

While Kansas law is one of the most recent, it is not a new concept. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant.

In Oklahoma, before its ban went into effect, reporting requirements included a list of 40 reasons that could be identified, whereas the Kansas list is 11 reasons. Seven other states that asked for reasons in their reporting requirements now have a near-total abortion ban or severe restrictions, including Arizona and Florida.

A similar reporting bill is advancing in the New Hampshire legislature, where abortion is still broadly legal, and another failed to pass in the Michigan legislature in 2023. In Indiana  a state with a near-total ban  an anti-abortion group is suing the state to make abortion records public information.

Another misunderstanding of HIPAA, according to Shachar, is that people cant be identified through public health information as long as enough data points are removed.

That theory is totally wrong, she said.

She pointed to a story from 1997, one year after HIPAA became law, when a computer scientist named Latanya Sweeney was able to identify the medical records of the governor of Massachusetts at the time even though the dataset she was working from had been de-identified.

It makes it more difficult to figure out who were talking about, but it doesnt make it impossible, especially if someone is motivated to re-identify the data, Shachar said.

Heritage Foundation outlines steps to federal abortion regulation

There are also national policy advocates prescribing the next actions to take in the fight over abortion rights. A document produced by conservative interest group the Heritage Foundation called Project 2025 details a wish list of priorities and approaches for many sectors of the federal government to be carried out by the next Republican president. The document, called Mandate for Leadership, The Conservative Promise is 920 pages and references abortion nearly 200 times.

Project 2025s advisory board includes staff from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative law firm that represented the clients at the center of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and is arguing for the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict access to mifepristone, part of a two-step drug regimen to terminate a pregnancy. The firms senior counsel, Erik Baptist, is listed as a contributor to the document.

The board also includes anti-abortion groups such as the Family Research Council, the Family Policy Alliance and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. As part of its overall guidance, the document calls for the next Republican president to remove all references to abortion and reproductive health and appears to suggest a nationwide abortion ban.

Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for State Innovation Exchange, said Project 2025 is the foundation for the recent state-level legislation.

It would be naive to think this was not a design behind those with Project 2025, Driver said. Even if theres not this conservative federal administration that comes, were already seeing Project 2025 elements and have for a long time at the state level.

The plan states that federal abortion reporting data is woefully inadequate. California, Maryland and New Hampshire, where abortion access is broadly legal, do not submit abortion data to the federal government at all. The plans authors contend all 50 states must mandatorily report to ensure reliable public health and policy.

Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, (the agency) should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method, the plan states.

Project 2025 suggests rescinding HIPAA rule regarding abortion investigations

Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman introduced a bill in Congress in January 2023  about nine months after the Heritage Foundation established Project 2025  that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fulfill those data-tracking plans. Its titled the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, and contains the exact language used in Project 2025s outline. The bill has 29 co-sponsors and the support of the anti-abortion organizations on Project 2025s advisory board. It has not advanced in the Subcommittee on Health. In a statement, Norman said current data collection severely underestimates the number of abortions taking place and tax dollars are being allocated to family planning programs without clear data.

Mandatory factors for reporting would include the pregnant persons age, race, ethnicity and state of residence, the abortion method type, the persons marital status, and the number of times they have been pregnant, including the number of previous live births, induced abortions and miscarriages.

Those factors  except for the number of previous abortions and miscarriages, which was less common  have been part of the data the CDC collected for many years, but the reporting was voluntary. Whats new is that the required data would also have to indicate whether the child survived the abortion. The agency head could also add questions at any time, according to the bill text. All states would have to report this data or lose federal Medicaid funding for family planning services.

The documents authors also call for the federal government to rescind the HIPAA rule protecting those who seek abortion procedures in legal states from law enforcement action. Project 2025 calls the rule a politicized statement in favor of abortion and against Dobbs.

Crisis pregnancy centers imply they are subject to HIPAA law, but most are not

Amid the passage of new laws like the one in Kansas, an organization called the Campaign for Accountability filed complaints in April with attorneys general claiming that crisis pregnancy centers in five states  Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington  are using deceptive language about HIPAA. Crisis pregnancy centers are often formed as nonprofit organizations with a stated mission to support pregnant women who are unexpectedly pregnant and a goal of dissuading them from seeking an abortion. Many of the centers have been criticized for promoting or providing false information related to abortion, such as claims that having an abortion increases a persons risk of cancer or future fertility issues, or that the abortion pill is dangerous.

The centers almost always offer their services for free, which means they do not bill insurance providers and are therefore not subject to penalties under the federal HIPAA law for disclosing a patients health information. However, some of the centers claim on their websites that they are required by law to keep health information protected.

One of the clinics named in a complaint filed with the attorney generals office in Pennsylvania uses the same type of language in the notice of privacy practices portion of the website. There are links to the federal HIPAA informational page, with one reference stating a person can file a complaint with the HIPAA office if they feel their data privacy was violated. Another section states the organization is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information with a link to the HIPAA website.

The Pennsylvania clinic is part of a network of crisis pregnancy centers called Heartbeat International, one of two organizations targeted by the complaints, with Care Net being the second. Heartbeat has more than 2,000 affiliates in the U.S., and Care Net has 1,200.

Heartbeat International told States Newsroom in an email that while the organization could not speak for individual affiliates, all affiliates in the network adopt a commitment to hold client information in strict and absolute confidence and is only disclosed when required by law or when necessary to protect the client or others against imminent harm.

Pregnancy help centers provide that protection to their clients, even when the law does not explicitly require them to do so, said Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications for Heartbeat International. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to pregnancy help centers, and the forms women sign before receiving services provide them legal protection of their confidential information. Pregnancy, abortion, STDs/STIs, and other circumstances that might bring a woman to a pregnancy help center or abortion facility should be handled with the greatest confidentiality.

Trudden added that the Next Level CMS system uses the same software platforms used by hospitals and doctors offices nationwide.

Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, said some of the centers state they can disclose health information for moral reasons. Heartbeat International also maintains a data management system called Next Level CMS for all of its centers, which it says follows privacy standards according to HIPAA law.

Our fear is that the data collected at these centers are laddering up to much more sophisticated operations, Kuppersmith said. Every single woman who is thinking about going to one of these places because it seems like a friendly place should know that their personal health information is not required by any federal medical law to be protected, and they should be enormously careful what information they give to these places.

The post States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private. appeared first on NC Newsline.
States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant. (Getty Images)

Years before the Dobbs decision, providers like Dr. Kylie Cooper were already uncomfortable with some of the reporting requirements for abortion procedures in states where they practiced.

Cooper was a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for several years in Idaho before she reluctantly left the state in 2023 because of the near-total abortion ban that is now in place. But when abortion was still legal, she was required to fill out a form and submit it to the state with information about the patient and the procedure, including the physicians name and when it occurred. While the law said that the information would be aggregated and could not identify individual patients, Cooper never felt sure about how it would be used or how secure the data would be kept.

It was supposed to be anonymous, but they asked for patient identifiers on it, so I was like, Could this get tracked back to them? she said.

In April, TIME magazine interviewed former President Donald Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, about his goals in office if he is elected. He was asked whether he would be comfortable with states monitoring womens pregnancies to determine whether someone may have received an abortion despite a ban. Trump responded that it didnt matter if he was comfortable with it or not, because the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision allowed states to dictate abortion policy.

Although it was posed as a hypothetical and limited to states with abortion bans, there are efforts underway at the legislative and congressional levels  and in the blueprint for the next Republican presidential administration  to track abortion and pregnancy data. Some have already become law, and some are pending in the U.S. Congress, including a bill that would mandate that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collect more abortion data from all 50 states. At the same time, there are renewed concerns about deceptive practices around data privacy at crisis pregnancy centers nationwide, which are receiving large infusions of taxpayer dollars from some state governments such as Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.

I dont think most people recognize the way that we are currently being surveilled in our health care system, said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for a policy advocacy organization called State Innovation Exchange. People need to be talking to their providers about what information is shared, how its shared, and start reading the forms.

Patients misunderstand how protective HIPAA is, researcher says

Carmel Shachar, a Harvard law professor with research experience in data privacy and health policy, said people typically think of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act  better known as HIPAA  as fully protective of medical records, but thats not the reality.

HIPAA is protective of whats in your medical records, but its a little more like Swiss cheese than I think people understand. There are a lot of exceptions, Shachar said.

Two of the big exceptions are for law enforcement, when it is conducting an investigation, and the other is for public health reporting, she said. Public health data reports can be positive in terms of understanding whats happening in hospitals and clinics, but on the law enforcement end, the exception in the law could be used by state governments with anti-abortion laws to prosecute those seeking and facilitating care in other states. Thats the loophole that President Joe Bidens administration sought to close with a recent rule that was enacted after the Dobbs decision to address patient privacy specifically around procedures related to reproductive care. It does not allow law enforcement to seek those records for that particular type of care if it was obtained in a state where it was legal.

But that hasnt stopped one attorney in Texas from trying. Jonathan Mitchell, the states former solicitor general, has filed two petitions seeking legal action against women he says traveled out of state to obtain an abortion. Courts are still considering whether he can proceed with depositions against those women.

Meanwhile, 17 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws protecting providers and patients from out-of-state investigations for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care. Governors in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have also issued executive orders declaring that state agencies wont cooperate in extraditions or investigations involving reproductive care.

Shachar said some laws are also made under the guise of public health reporting when theyre more about political tactics.

One example is a recent law passed in Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly rejected abortion bans in a 2022 referendum. Lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto at the end of April to pass House Bill 2749, which Kansans for Life asked a legislator to introduce. It requires providers to ask patients for the most important factor in their decision to terminate a pregnancy. Kansans for Life is the same group that led the failed referendum.

On May 20, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Great Plains announced it is challenging the law in court, adding it to an ongoing case from 2023, according to Kansas Reflector.

Although the bill says a patient can decline to answer the questions, Center for Reproductive Rights staff attorney Alice Wang said that isnt enough, because it doesnt require the provider to tell the patient they dont have to answer. Especially now that patients are coming to Kansas for an abortion from states where the procedure is banned and criminalized, Wang said, the bill is designed to intimidate providers in particular, since they are the ones subject to criminal penalties, not the pregnant person.

When patients are confronted with these questions, then that raises questions of what this deeply personal information is going to be used for in an atmosphere where anti-abortion extremists have already threatened to come after activities that should be perfectly legal, she said.

The list of reasons includes whether the patient already has enough, or too many, children, whether they cannot provide for another child, that the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest or that it threatens their health to be pregnant. The data must be reported biannually to the legislature.

Shachar said the reporting of abortion procedures is not in itself shocking, but asking for reasons why is alarming.

It feels like its trying to lay the groundwork to separate out good or permissible abortions from bad abortions, she said.

One of the reasons listed is that The child would have a disability, but there is no reason in the list for a pregnancy with a fatal or severe life-limiting fetal anomaly. Organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Live Action often refer to severe fetal abnormalities as disabilities, even if the patient chose to continue the pregnancy and the infant died hours after birth.

According to the legislation passed into law in Kansas, except in cases of medical emergencies, every patient is to be asked what the most important factor was in their decision to terminate a pregnancy from a list of the following:

Having a baby would interfere with the patients education, employment or career

Patient cannot provide for the child

Patient already has enough, or too many, children

Patients husband is abusive to patient or their children

Patients husband or partner wants them to have an abortion

Patient does not have adequate support to raise a child

The pregnancy is a result of rape

The pregnancy is the result of incest

The pregnancy threatens the patients physical health

The pregnancy threatens the patients emotional or mental health

The child would have a disability

If the patient declines to answer, that response would be recorded. Each biannual report shall include:

Number of times each reason listed was described as most important

Number of times a patient was asked about the reasons listed and declined to answer

Patients age, marital status at the time of the abortion, country of residency, race and highest level of education completed

Whether in the month before the abortion the patient received services, financial assistance (excluding financial assistance for the abortion), or other assistance from a nonprofit organization that supports pregnant women

Whether the patient reported experiencing domestic violence in the past 12 months

Whether the patient is living in a place they consider to be safe, stable and affordable

Whether the patient made a report of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect

The method of the abortion performed

Abortion survey bill advances in New Hampshire legislature

While Kansas law is one of the most recent, it is not a new concept. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant.

In Oklahoma, before its ban went into effect, reporting requirements included a list of 40 reasons that could be identified, whereas the Kansas list is 11 reasons. Seven other states that asked for reasons in their reporting requirements now have a near-total abortion ban or severe restrictions, including Arizona and Florida.

A similar reporting bill is advancing in the New Hampshire legislature, where abortion is still broadly legal, and another failed to pass in the Michigan legislature in 2023. In Indiana  a state with a near-total ban  an anti-abortion group is suing the state to make abortion records public information.

Another misunderstanding of HIPAA, according to Shachar, is that people cant be identified through public health information as long as enough data points are removed.

That theory is totally wrong, she said.

She pointed to a story from 1997, one year after HIPAA became law, when a computer scientist named Latanya Sweeney was able to identify the medical records of the governor of Massachusetts at the time even though the dataset she was working from had been de-identified.

It makes it more difficult to figure out who were talking about, but it doesnt make it impossible, especially if someone is motivated to re-identify the data, Shachar said.

Heritage Foundation outlines steps to federal abortion regulation

There are also national policy advocates prescribing the next actions to take in the fight over abortion rights. A document produced by conservative interest group the Heritage Foundation called Project 2025 details a wish list of priorities and approaches for many sectors of the federal government to be carried out by the next Republican president. The document, called Mandate for Leadership, The Conservative Promise is 920 pages and references abortion nearly 200 times.

Project 2025s advisory board includes staff from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative law firm that represented the clients at the center of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and is arguing for the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict access to mifepristone, part of a two-step drug regimen to terminate a pregnancy. The firms senior counsel, Erik Baptist, is listed as a contributor to the document.

The board also includes anti-abortion groups such as the Family Research Council, the Family Policy Alliance and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. As part of its overall guidance, the document calls for the next Republican president to remove all references to abortion and reproductive health and appears to suggest a nationwide abortion ban.

Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for State Innovation Exchange, said Project 2025 is the foundation for the recent state-level legislation.

It would be naive to think this was not a design behind those with Project 2025, Driver said. Even if theres not this conservative federal administration that comes, were already seeing Project 2025 elements and have for a long time at the state level.

The plan states that federal abortion reporting data is woefully inadequate. California, Maryland and New Hampshire, where abortion access is broadly legal, do not submit abortion data to the federal government at all. The plans authors contend all 50 states must mandatorily report to ensure reliable public health and policy.

Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, (the agency) should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method, the plan states.

Project 2025 suggests rescinding HIPAA rule regarding abortion investigations

Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman introduced a bill in Congress in January 2023  about nine months after the Heritage Foundation established Project 2025  that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fulfill those data-tracking plans. Its titled the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, and contains the exact language used in Project 2025s outline.

The bill has 29 co-sponsors and the support of the anti-abortion organizations on Project 2025s advisory board. It has not advanced in the Subcommittee on Health. In a statement, Norman said current data collection severely underestimates the number of abortions taking place and tax dollars are being allocated to family planning programs without clear data.

Mandatory factors for reporting would include the pregnant persons age, race, ethnicity and state of residence, the abortion method type, the persons marital status, and the number of times they have been pregnant, including the number of previous live births, induced abortions and miscarriages.

Those factors  except for the number of previous abortions and miscarriages, which was less common  have been part of the data the CDC collected for many years, but the reporting was voluntary. Whats new is that the required data would also have to indicate whether the child survived the abortion. The agency head could also add questions at any time, according to the bill text. All states would have to report this data or lose federal Medicaid funding for family planning services.

The documents authors also call for the federal government to rescind the HIPAA rule protecting those who seek abortion procedures in legal states from law enforcement action. Project 2025 calls the rule a politicized statement in favor of abortion and against Dobbs.

Crisis pregnancy centers imply they are subject to HIPAA law, but most are not

Amid the passage of new laws like the one in Kansas, an organization called the Campaign for Accountability filed complaints in April with attorneys general claiming that crisis pregnancy centers in five states  Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington  are using deceptive language about HIPAA.

Crisis pregnancy centers are often formed as nonprofit organizations with a stated mission to support pregnant women who are unexpectedly pregnant and a goal of dissuading them from seeking an abortion. Many of the centers have been criticized for promoting or providing false information related to abortion, such as claims that having an abortion increases a persons risk of cancer or future fertility issues, or that the abortion pill is dangerous.

The centers almost always offer their services for free, which means they do not bill insurance providers and are therefore not subject to penalties under the federal HIPAA law for disclosing a patients health information. However, some of the centers claim on their websites that they are required by law to keep health information protected.

One of the clinics named in a complaint filed with the attorney generals office in Pennsylvania uses the same type of language in the notice of privacy practices portion of the website. There are links to the federal HIPAA informational page, with one reference stating a person can file a complaint with the HIPAA office if they feel their data privacy was violated. Another section states the organization is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information with a link to the HIPAA website.

The Pennsylvania clinic is part of a network of crisis pregnancy centers called Heartbeat International, one of two organizations targeted by the complaints, with Care Net being the second. Heartbeat has more than 2,000 affiliates in the U.S., and Care Net has 1,200.

Heartbeat International told States Newsroom in an email that while the organization could not speak for individual affiliates, all affiliates in the network adopt a commitment to hold client information in strict and absolute confidence and is only disclosed when required by law or when necessary to protect the client or others against imminent harm.

Pregnancy help centers provide that protection to their clients, even when the law does not explicitly require them to do so, said Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications for Heartbeat International.

Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to pregnancy help centers, and the forms women sign before receiving services provide them legal protection of their confidential information. Pregnancy, abortion, STDs/STIs, and other circumstances that might bring a woman to a pregnancy help center or abortion facility should be handled with the greatest confidentiality.

Trudden added that the Next Level CMS system uses the same software platforms used by hospitals and doctors offices nationwide.

Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, said some of the centers state they can disclose health information for moral reasons. Heartbeat International also maintains a data management system called Next Level CMS for all of its centers, which it says follows privacy standards according to HIPAA law.

Our fear is that the data collected at these centers are laddering up to much more sophisticated operations, Kuppersmith said. Every single woman who is thinking about going to one of these places because it seems like a friendly place should know that their personal health information is not required by any federal medical law to be protected, and they should be enormously careful what information they give to these places.

The post States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private. appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
there are efforts underway at the legislative and congressional levels  and in the blueprint for the next Republican presidential administration  to track abortion and pregnancy data. (Photo via Getty Images)

Years before the Dobbs decision that struck down U.S. constitutional abortion rights, providers like Dr. Kylie Cooper were already uncomfortable with some of the reporting requirements for abortion procedures in states where they practiced.

Cooper was a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for several years in Idaho before she reluctantly left the state in 2023 because of the near-total abortion ban that is now in place. But when abortion was still legal, she was required to fill out a form and submit it to the state with information about the patient and the procedure, including the physicians name and when it occurred. While the law said that the information would be aggregated and could not identify individual patients, Cooper never felt sure about how it would be used or how secure the data would be kept.

It was supposed to be anonymous, but they asked for patient identifiers on it, so I was like, Could this get tracked back to them? she said.

In April, TIME magazine interviewed former President Donald Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, about his goals in office if he is elected. He was asked whether he would be comfortable with states monitoring womens pregnancies to determine whether someone may have received an abortion despite a ban. Trump responded that it didnt matter if he was comfortable with it or not, because the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision allowed states to dictate abortion policy.

Although it was posed as a hypothetical and limited to states with abortion bans, there are efforts underway at the legislative and congressional levels  and in the blueprint for the next Republican presidential administration  to track abortion and pregnancy data.

Some have already become law, and some are pending in the U.S. Congress, including a bill that would mandate that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collect more abortion data from all 50 states. At the same time, there are renewed concerns about deceptive practices around data privacy at crisis pregnancy centers nationwide, which are receiving large infusions of taxpayer dollars from some state governments such as Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.

I dont think most people recognize the way that we are currently being surveilled in our health care system, said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for a policy advocacy organization called State Innovation Exchange. People need to be talking to their providers about what information is shared, how its shared, and start reading the forms.

Patients misunderstand how protective HIPAA is, researcher says

Carmel Shachar, a Harvard law professor with research experience in data privacy and health policy, said people typically think of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act  better known as HIPAA  as fully protective of medical records, but thats not the reality.

HIPAA is protective of whats in your medical records, but its a little more like Swiss cheese than I think people understand. There are a lot of exceptions, Shachar said.

Two of the big exceptions are for law enforcement, when it is conducting an investigation, and the other is for public health reporting, she said. Public health data reports can be positive in terms of understanding whats happening in hospitals and clinics, but on the law enforcement end, the exception in the law could be used by state governments with anti-abortion laws to prosecute those seeking and facilitating care in other states.

Thats the loophole that President Joe Bidens administration sought to close with a recent rule that was enacted after the Dobbs decision to address patient privacy specifically around procedures related to reproductive care. It does not allow law enforcement to seek those records for that particular type of care if it was obtained in a state where it was legal.

But that hasnt stopped one attorney in Texas from trying. Jonathan Mitchell, the states former solicitor general, has filed two petitions seeking legal action against women he says traveled out of state to obtain an abortion. Courts are still considering whether he can proceed with depositions against those women.

Meanwhile, 17 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws protecting providers and patients from out-of-state investigations for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care. Governors in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have also issued executive orders declaring that state agencies wont cooperate in extraditions or investigations involving reproductive care.

Shachar said some laws are also made under the guise of public health reporting when theyre more about political tactics.

One example is a recent law passed in Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly rejected abortion bans in a 2022 referendum. Lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto at the end of April to pass House Bill 2749, which Kansans for Life asked a legislator to introduce. It requires providers to ask patients for the most important factor in their decision to terminate a pregnancy. Kansans for Life is the same group that led the failed referendum.

On May 20, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Great Plains announced it is challenging the law in court, adding it to an ongoing case from 2023, according to Kansas Reflector.

Although the bill says a patient can decline to answer the questions, Center for Reproductive Rights staff attorney Alice Wang said that isnt enough, because it doesnt require the provider to tell the patient they dont have to answer. Especially now that patients are coming to Kansas for an abortion from states where the procedure is banned and criminalized, Wang said, the bill is designed to intimidate providers in particular, since they are the ones subject to criminal penalties, not the pregnant person.

When patients are confronted with these questions, then that raises questions of what this deeply personal information is going to be used for in an atmosphere where anti-abortion extremists have already threatened to come after activities that should be perfectly legal, she said.

The list of reasons includes whether the patient already has enough, or too many, children, whether they cannot provide for another child, that the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest or that it threatens their health to be pregnant. The data must be reported biannually to the legislature.

Shachar said the reporting of abortion procedures is not in itself shocking, but asking for reasons why is alarming.

It feels like its trying to lay the groundwork to separate out good or permissible abortions from bad abortions, she said.

One of the reasons listed is that The child would have a disability, but there is no reason in the list for a pregnancy with a fatal or severe life-limiting fetal anomaly. Organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Live Action often refer to severe fetal abnormalities as disabilities, even if the patient chose to continue the pregnancy and the infant died hours after birth.

Kansas abortion survey questions

According to the legislation passed into law in Kansas, except in cases of medical emergencies, every patient is to be asked what the most important factor was in their decision to terminate a pregnancy from a list of the following:

 Having a baby would interfere with the patients education, employment or career

 Patient cannot provide for the child

 Patient already has enough, or too many, children

 Patients husband is abusive to patient or their children

 Patients husband or partner wants them to have an abortion

 Patient does not have adequate support to raise a child

 The pregnancy is a result of rape

 The pregnancy is the result of incest

 The pregnancy threatens the patients physical health

 The pregnancy threatens the patients emotional or mental health

 The child would have a disability

If the patient declines to answer, that response would be recorded. Each biannual report shall include:

 Number of times each reason listed was described as most important

 Number of times a patient was asked about the reasons listed and declined to answer

 Patients age, marital status at the time of the abortion, country of residency, race and highest level of education completed

 Whether in the month before the abortion the patient received services, financial assistance (excluding financial assistance for the abortion), or other assistance from a nonprofit organization that supports pregnant women

 Whether the patient reported experiencing domestic violence in the past 12 months

 Whether the patient is living in a place they consider to be safe, stable and affordable

 Whether the patient made a report of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect

 The method of the abortion performed

Abortion survey bill advances in New Hampshire legislature

While Kansas law is one of the most recent, it is not a new concept. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant.

In Oklahoma, before its ban went into effect, reporting requirements included a list of 40 reasons that could be identified, whereas the Kansas list is 11 reasons. Seven other states that asked for reasons in their reporting requirements now have a near-total abortion ban or severe restrictions, including Arizona and Florida.

A similar reporting bill is advancing in the New Hampshire legislature, where abortion is still broadly legal, and another failed to pass in the Michigan legislature in 2023. In Indiana  a state with a near-total ban  an anti-abortion group is suing the state to make abortion records public information.

Another misunderstanding of HIPAA, according to Shachar, is that people cant be identified through public health information as long as enough data points are removed.

That theory is totally wrong, she said.

She pointed to a story from 1997, one year after HIPAA became law, when a computer scientist named Latanya Sweeney was able to identify the medical records of the governor of Massachusetts at the time even though the dataset she was working from had been de-identified.

It makes it more difficult to figure out who were talking about, but it doesnt make it impossible, especially if someone is motivated to re-identify the data, Shachar said.

Heritage Foundation outlines steps to federal abortion regulation

There are also national policy advocates prescribing the next actions to take in the fight over abortion rights. A document produced by conservative interest group the Heritage Foundation called Project 2025 details a wish list of priorities and approaches for many sectors of the federal government to be carried out by the next Republican president. The document, called Mandate for Leadership, The Conservative Promise is 920 pages and references abortion nearly 200 times.

Project 2025s advisory board includes staff from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative law firm that represented the clients at the center of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and is arguing for the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict access to mifepristone, part of a two-step drug regimen to terminate a pregnancy. The firms senior counsel, Erik Baptist, is listed as a contributor to the document.

The board also includes anti-abortion groups such as the Family Research Council, the Family Policy Alliance and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. As part of its overall guidance, the document calls for the next Republican president to remove all references to abortion and reproductive health and appears to suggest a nationwide abortion ban.

Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for State Innovation Exchange, said Project 2025 is the foundation for the recent state-level legislation.

It would be naive to think this was not a design behind those with Project 2025, Driver said. Even if theres not this conservative federal administration that comes, were already seeing Project 2025 elements and have for a long time at the state level.

The plan states that federal abortion reporting data is woefully inadequate. California, Maryland and New Hampshire, where abortion access is broadly legal, do not submit abortion data to the federal government at all. The plans authors contend all 50 states must mandatorily report to ensure reliable public health and policy.

Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, (the agency) should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method, the plan states.

Project 2025 suggests rescinding HIPAA rule regarding abortion investigations

Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman introduced a bill in Congress in January 2023  about nine months after the Heritage Foundation established Project 2025  that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fulfill those data-tracking plans.

Its titled the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, and contains the exact language used in Project 2025s outline. The bill has 29 co-sponsors and the support of the anti-abortion organizations on Project 2025s advisory board. It has not advanced in the Subcommittee on Health.

In a statement, Norman said current data collection severely underestimates the number of abortions taking place and tax dollars are being allocated to family planning programs without clear data.

Mandatory factors for reporting would include the pregnant persons age, race, ethnicity and state of residence, the abortion method type, the persons marital status, and the number of times they have been pregnant, including the number of previous live births, induced abortions and miscarriages.

Those factors  except for the number of previous abortions and miscarriages, which was less common  have been part of the data the CDC collected for many years, but the reporting was voluntary. Whats new is that the required data would also have to indicate whether the child survived the abortion. The agency head could also add questions at any time, according to the bill text. All states would have to report this data or lose federal Medicaid funding for family planning services.

The documents authors also call for the federal government to rescind the HIPAA rule protecting those who seek abortion procedures in legal states from law enforcement action. Project 2025 calls the rule a politicized statement in favor of abortion and against Dobbs.

Crisis pregnancy centers imply they are subject to HIPAA law, but most are not

Amid the passage of new laws like the one in Kansas, an organization called the Campaign for Accountability filed complaints in April with attorneys general claiming that crisis pregnancy centers in five states  Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington  are using deceptive language about HIPAA.

Crisis pregnancy centers are often formed as nonprofit organizations with a stated mission to support pregnant women who are unexpectedly pregnant and a goal of dissuading them from seeking an abortion. Many of the centers have been criticized for promoting or providing false information related to abortion, such as claims that having an abortion increases a persons risk of cancer or future fertility issues, or that the abortion pill is dangerous.

The centers almost always offer their services for free, which means they do not bill insurance providers and are therefore not subject to penalties under the federal HIPAA law for disclosing a patients health information. However, some of the centers claim on their websites that they are required by law to keep health information protected.

One of the clinics named in a complaint filed with the attorney generals office in Pennsylvania uses the same type of language in the notice of privacy practices portion of the website. There are links to the federal HIPAA informational page, with one reference stating a person can file a complaint with the HIPAA office if they feel their data privacy was violated. Another section states the organization is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information with a link to the HIPAA website.

The Pennsylvania clinic is part of a network of crisis pregnancy centers called Heartbeat International, one of two organizations targeted by the complaints, with Care Net being the second. Heartbeat has more than 2,000 affiliates in the U.S., and Care Net has 1,200.

Heartbeat International told States Newsroom in an email that while the organization could not speak for individual affiliates, all affiliates in the network adopt a commitment to hold client information in strict and absolute confidence and is only disclosed when required by law or when necessary to protect the client or others against imminent harm.

Pregnancy help centers provide that protection to their clients, even when the law does not explicitly require them to do so, said Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications for Heartbeat International. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to pregnancy help centers, and the forms women sign before receiving services provide them legal protection of their confidential information. Pregnancy, abortion, STDs/STIs, and other circumstances that might bring a woman to a pregnancy help center or abortion facility should be handled with the greatest confidentiality.

Trudden added that the Next Level CMS system uses the same software platforms used by hospitals and doctors offices nationwide.

Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, said some of the centers state they can disclose health information for moral reasons. Heartbeat International also maintains a data management system called Next Level CMS for all of its centers, which it says follows privacy standards according to HIPAA law.

Our fear is that the data collected at these centers are laddering up to much more sophisticated operations, Kuppersmith said. Every single woman who is thinking about going to one of these places because it seems like a friendly place should know that their personal health information is not required by any federal medical law to be protected, and they should be enormously careful what information they give to these places.

The post States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private. appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant. (Getty Images)

Years before the Dobbs decision, providers like Dr. Kylie Cooper were already uncomfortable with some of the reporting requirements for abortion procedures in states where they practiced.

Cooper was a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for several years in Idaho before she reluctantly left the state in 2023 because of the near-total abortion ban that is now in place. But when abortion was still legal, she was required to fill out a form and submit it to the state with information about the patient and the procedure, including the physicians name and when it occurred. While the law said that the information would be aggregated and could not identify individual patients, Cooper never felt sure about how it would be used or how secure the data would be kept.

It was supposed to be anonymous, but they asked for patient identifiers on it, so I was like, Could this get tracked back to them? she said.

In April, Time magazine interviewed former President Donald Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, about his goals in office if he is elected. He was asked whether he would be comfortable with states monitoring womens pregnancies to determine whether someone may have received an abortion despite a ban. Trump responded that it didnt matter if he was comfortable with it or not, because the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision allowed states to dictate abortion policy.

Although it was posed as a hypothetical and limited to states with abortion bans, there are efforts underway at the legislative and congressional levels  and in the blueprint for the next Republican presidential administration  to track abortion and pregnancy data. Some have already become law, and some are pending in the U.S. Congress, including a bill that would mandate that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collect more abortion data from all 50 states.

At the same time, there are renewed concerns about deceptive practices around data privacy at crisis pregnancy centers nationwide, which are receiving large infusions of taxpayer dollars from some state governments such as Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.

I dont think most people recognize the way that we are currently being surveilled in our health care system, said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for a policy advocacy organization called State Innovation Exchange. People need to be talking to their providers about what information is shared, how its shared, and start reading the forms.

Patients misunderstand HIPAA protections

Carmel Shachar, a Harvard law professor with research experience in data privacy and health policy, said people typically think of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act  better known as HIPAA  as fully protective of medical records, but thats not the reality.

HIPAA is protective of whats in your medical records, but its a little more like Swiss cheese than I think people understand. There are a lot of exceptions, Shachar said.

Two of the big exceptions are for law enforcement, when it is conducting an investigation, and the other is for public health reporting, she said. Public health data reports can be positive in terms of understanding whats happening in hospitals and clinics, but on the law enforcement end, the exception in the law could be used by state governments with anti-abortion laws to prosecute those seeking and facilitating care in other states.

Thats the loophole that President Joe Bidens administration sought to close with a recent rule that was enacted after the Dobbs decision to address patient privacy specifically around procedures related to reproductive care. It does not allow law enforcement to seek those records for that particular type of care if it was obtained in a state where it was legal.

But that hasnt stopped one attorney in Texas from trying. Jonathan Mitchell, the states former solicitor general, has filed two petitions seeking legal action against women he says traveled out of state to obtain an abortion. Courts are still considering whether he can proceed with depositions against those women.

Meanwhile, 17 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws protecting providers and patients from out-of-state investigations for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care. Governors in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have also issued executive orders declaring that state agencies wont cooperate in extraditions or investigations involving reproductive care.

Shachar said some laws are also made under the guise of public health reporting when theyre more about political tactics.

One example is a recent law passed in Kansas, where voters overwhelmingly rejected abortion bans in a 2022 referendum. Lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto at the end of April to pass House Bill 2749, which Kansans for Life asked a legislator to introduce. It requires providers to ask patients for the most important factor in their decision to terminate a pregnancy. Kansans for Life is the same group that led the failed referendum.

On May 20, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Great Plains announced it is challenging the law in court, adding it to an ongoing case from 2023, according to Kansas Reflector.

Although the bill says a patient can decline to answer the questions, Center for Reproductive Rights staff attorney Alice Wang said that isnt enough, because it doesnt require the provider to tell the patient they dont have to answer. Especially now that patients are coming to Kansas for an abortion from states where the procedure is banned and criminalized, Wang said, the bill is designed to intimidate providers in particular, since they are the ones subject to criminal penalties, not the pregnant person.

When patients are confronted with these questions, then that raises questions of what this deeply personal information is going to be used for in an atmosphere where anti-abortion extremists have already threatened to come after activities that should be perfectly legal, she said.

The list of reasons includes whether the patient already has enough, or too many, children, whether they cannot provide for another child, that the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest or that it threatens their health to be pregnant. The data must be reported biannually to the legislature.

Shachar said the reporting of abortion procedures is not in itself shocking, but asking for reasons why is alarming.

It feels like its trying to lay the groundwork to separate out good or permissible abortions from bad abortions, she said.

One of the reasons listed is that The child would have a disability, but there is no reason in the list for a pregnancy with a fatal or severe life-limiting fetal anomaly. Organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Live Action often refer to severe fetal abnormalities as disabilities, even if the patient chose to continue the pregnancy and the infant died hours after birth.

According to the legislation passed into law in Kansas, except in cases of medical emergencies, every patient is to be asked what the most important factor was in their decision to terminate a pregnancy from a list of the following:

Having a baby would interfere with the patients education, employment or career

Patient cannot provide for the child

Patient already has enough, or too many, children

Patients husband is abusive to patient or their children

Patients husband or partner wants them to have an abortion

Patient does not have adequate support to raise a child

The pregnancy is a result of rape

The pregnancy is the result of incest

The pregnancy threatens the patients physical health

The pregnancy threatens the patients emotional or mental health

The child would have a disability

If the patient declines to answer, that response would be recorded. Each biannual report shall include:

Number of times each reason listed was described as most important

Number of times a patient was asked about the reasons listed and declined to answer

Patients age, marital status at the time of the abortion, country of residency, race and highest level of education completed

Whether in the month before the abortion the patient received services, financial assistance (excluding financial assistance for the abortion), or other assistance from a nonprofit organization that supports pregnant women

Whether the patient reported experiencing domestic violence in the past 12 months

Whether the patient is living in a place they consider to be safe, stable and affordable

Whether the patient made a report of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect

The method of the abortion performed

Abortion survey bill advances in New Hampshire

While Kansas law is one of the most recent, it is not a new concept. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 15 states already require providers to gather information about a patients reason for seeking an abortion, with varying degrees of specificity. Many of those states now have near-total abortion bans or six-week bans, which is before many people know they are pregnant.

In Oklahoma, before its ban went into effect, reporting requirements included a list of 40 reasons that could be identified, whereas the Kansas list is 11 reasons. Seven other states that asked for reasons in their reporting requirements now have a near-total abortion ban or severe restrictions, including Arizona and Florida.

A similar reporting bill is advancing in the New Hampshire legislature, where abortion is still broadly legal, and another failed to pass in the Michigan legislature in 2023. In Indiana  a state with a near-total ban  an anti-abortion group is suing the state to make abortion records public information.

Another misunderstanding of HIPAA, according to Shachar, is that people cant be identified through public health information as long as enough data points are removed.

That theory is totally wrong, she said.

She pointed to a story from 1997, one year after HIPAA became law, when a computer scientist named Latanya Sweeney was able to identify the medical records of the governor of Massachusetts at the time even though the dataset she was working from had been de-identified.

It makes it more difficult to figure out who were talking about, but it doesnt make it impossible, especially if someone is motivated to re-identify the data, Shachar said.

Heritage Foundation outlines federal regulation

There are also national policy advocates prescribing the next actions to take in the fight over abortion rights. A document produced by conservative interest group the Heritage Foundation called Project 2025 details a wish list of priorities and approaches for many sectors of the federal government to be carried out by the next Republican president. The document, called Mandate for Leadership, The Conservative Promise is 920 pages and references abortion nearly 200 times.

Project 2025s advisory board includes staff from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative law firm that represented the clients at the center of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and is arguing for the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict access to mifepristone, part of a two-step drug regimen to terminate a pregnancy. The firms senior counsel, Erik Baptist, is listed as a contributor to the document.

The board also includes anti-abortion groups such as the Family Research Council, the Family Policy Alliance and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. As part of its overall guidance, the document calls for the next Republican president to remove all references to abortion and reproductive health and appears to suggest a nationwide abortion ban.

Driver, senior director of reproductive rights for State Innovation Exchange, said Project 2025 is the foundation for the recent state-level legislation.

It would be naive to think this was not a design behind those with Project 2025, Driver said. Even if theres not this conservative federal administration that comes, were already seeing Project 2025 elements and have for a long time at the state level.

The plan states that federal abortion reporting data is woefully inadequate. California, Maryland and New Hampshire, where abortion access is broadly legal, do not submit abortion data to the federal government at all. The plans authors contend all 50 states must mandatorily report to ensure reliable public health and policy.

Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, (the agency) should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method, the plan states.

Project 2025 suggests rescinding HIPAA rule

Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman introduced a bill in Congress in January 2023  about nine months after the Heritage Foundation established Project 2025  that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fulfill those data-tracking plans. Its titled the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, and contains the exact language used in Project 2025s outline.

The bill has 29 co-sponsors and the support of the anti-abortion organizations on Project 2025s advisory board. It has not advanced in the Subcommittee on Health. In a statement, Norman said current data collection severely underestimates the number of abortions taking place and tax dollars are being allocated to family planning programs without clear data.

Mandatory factors for reporting would include the pregnant persons age, race, ethnicity and state of residence, the abortion method type, the persons marital status, and the number of times they have been pregnant, including the number of previous live births, induced abortions and miscarriages.

Those factors  except for the number of previous abortions and miscarriages, which was less common  have been part of the data the CDC collected for many years, but the reporting was voluntary. Whats new is that the required data would also have to indicate whether the child survived the abortion. The agency head could also add questions at any time, according to the bill text. All states would have to report this data or lose federal Medicaid funding for family planning services.

The documents authors also call for the federal government to rescind the HIPAA rule protecting those who seek abortion procedures in legal states from law enforcement action. Project 2025 calls the rule a politicized statement in favor of abortion and against Dobbs.

Most crisis pregnancy centers not subject to HIPAA

Amid the passage of new laws like the one in Kansas, an organization called the Campaign for Accountability filed complaints in April with attorneys general claiming that crisis pregnancy centers in five states  Idaho, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington  are using deceptive language about HIPAA.

Crisis pregnancy centers are often formed as nonprofit organizations with a stated mission to support pregnant women who are unexpectedly pregnant and a goal of dissuading them from seeking an abortion. Many of the centers have been criticized for promoting or providing false information related to abortion, such as claims that having an abortion increases a persons risk of cancer or future fertility issues, or that the abortion pill is dangerous.

The centers almost always offer their services for free, which means they do not bill insurance providers and are therefore not subject to penalties under the federal HIPAA law for disclosing a patients health information. However, some of the centers claim on their websites that they are required by law to keep health information protected.

One of the clinics named in a complaint filed with the attorney generals office in Pennsylvania uses the same type of language in the notice of privacy practices portion of the website. There are links to the federal HIPAA informational page, with one reference stating a person can file a complaint with the HIPAA office if they feel their data privacy was violated. Another section states the organization is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information with a link to the HIPAA website.

The Pennsylvania clinic is part of a network of crisis pregnancy centers called Heartbeat International, one of two organizations targeted by the complaints, with Care Net being the second. Heartbeat has more than 2,000 affiliates in the U.S., and Care Net has 1,200.

Heartbeat International told States Newsroom in an email that while the organization could not speak for individual affiliates, all affiliates in the network adopt a commitment to hold client information in strict and absolute confidence and is only disclosed when required by law or when necessary to protect the client or others against imminent harm.

Pregnancy help centers provide that protection to their clients, even when the law does not explicitly require them to do so, said Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications for Heartbeat International. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to pregnancy help centers, and the forms women sign before receiving services provide them legal protection of their confidential information. Pregnancy, abortion, STDs/STIs, and other circumstances that might bring a woman to a pregnancy help center or abortion facility should be handled with the greatest confidentiality.

Trudden added that the Next Level CMS system uses the same software platforms used by hospitals and doctors offices nationwide.

Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, said some of the centers state they can disclose health information for moral reasons. Heartbeat International also maintains a data management system called Next Level CMS for all of its centers, which it says follows privacy standards according to HIPAA law.

Our fear is that the data collected at these centers are laddering up to much more sophisticated operations, Kuppersmith said. Every single woman who is thinking about going to one of these places because it seems like a friendly place should know that their personal health information is not required by any federal medical law to be protected, and they should be enormously careful what information they give to these places.

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The post States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA wont always keep it private. appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Violent incidents against teachers and other school personnel jumped after schools reopened after the pandemic, according to a new study.

The findings from the American Psychological Association included two surveys: one conducted during the height of the pandemic (August 2020-June 2021) and a second one conducted after many schools lifted COVID restrictions in 2022.

The study said before the pandemic, 42 percent of teachers surveyed said they experienced physical violence by students. After the pandemic, that number jumped to 56 percent.

Our Washington News Bureau spoke with Dr. Susan D. McMahon, Chair of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel. The task force conducted the study.

ALSO READ: I did not feel safe: Teachers facing violence from students are leaving profession

Its a pretty significant problem, said McMahon. The teachers are getting the biggest brunt especially post-pandemic. They had the biggest increase in violence.

The findings show the violence isnt only coming from students.

It found while only one percent of teachers reported violent encounters with parents before the pandemic, that skyrocketed to 26 percent after schools reopened.

McMahon said around half of the sample indicated they want more training and professional development.

That included trauma-informed practices, social emotional learning, de-escalation strategies, threat assessment, staff team building, said McMahon. Were not doing a good enough job of training our teachers and other school staff and our leaders and so then they feel unprepared in their school for things that are happening.

The study also found school psychologists, social workers, counselors, administrators, and other school staff reported violent incidents rebounding or increasing after pandemic restrictions were lifted.

These new findings come after we told you about our company-wide investigation that surveyed more than 8,000 teachers in 34 states. 71 percent told us they have experienced physical violence by a student at least once. More than half said they have experienced it more than once.

ALSO READ: More than 10,000 NC teachers left their classrooms last year, report says

McMahon points out data collection about this problem is not currently required, and she argues yearly assessments would help address the issue.

Our Washington News Bureau asked McMahon if that data collection should happen at the federal level to ensure uniformity in the questions, or if it should happen at the local level since schools are overseen by local school districts.

I think federal level policy around that would be helpful because we could have a more standardized approach, said McMahon. It doesnt mean that every school should have the same solutions. What you do in one school may not work well in another school Im not suggesting we should have a one-size fits all solution.

The new study also reveals more teachers are considering leaving the job. It said 49 percent of teachers expressed intentions to resign or change schools during the pandemic, and after the pandemic it jumped to 57 percent.

VIDEO: I did not feel safe: Teachers facing violence from students are leaving profession
This weeks Sunday news shows will most likely focus on the ramifications of former President Trumps conviction in his New York hush money trial earlier this week.

The former president became the first former U.S. president to have the status of being a convicted felon on Thursday, following a jury finding him guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to hide alleged affairs amid his 2016 campaign.

The former president railed against the trial shortly following the verdict being read.

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.

Multiple prominent Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have now criticized the verdict in the case. In a statement Thursday, Johnson, who will appear on this weeks Fox News Sunday, said it was a shameful day in American history.

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.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), who will appear on CBS Face the Nation this week and is considered a possible vice presidential pick for Trump, has said that the recent conviction isnt giving him pause on possibly serving in another Trump administration.

Its not causing me any pause, because I think we, everybody knows that its  very tough to get a fair trial for Donald Trump in New York, Burgum said. Does not give me pause.

On Friday, President Biden announced terms of an Israeli-led proposal featuring a three-part road map in the direction of the conclusion of fighting and the freeing of remaining hostages taken on Oct. 7, a strong sign towards a possible ending to the Israel-Hamas war.

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.

Biden said that the proposal had been transmitted to Hamas by way of Qatar, but signaled that Hamas hadnt accepted the plan formally yet.

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.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby, who has often spoken with the press about the Biden administrations policy surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, will make an appearance on ABCs This Week Sunday.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday  Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).

ABCs This Week  Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D); Will Scharf, lawyer for former President Trump; White House national security communications adviser John Kirby.

NBCs Meet the Press  House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.); Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

CBS Face the Nation  North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R); former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara; Scott Anderson, senior deputy director of affairs for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) based in Rafah.

CNNs State of the Union  RNC co-chair Lara Trump; Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.); New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R).

Fox News Sunday  Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.); Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

Fox News Sunday Morning Futures  Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization; Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.); former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A man charged with voluntary manslaughter in the beating death last year of a grocery store employee appeared in court Friday.

Not guilty pleas were entered by a deputy public defender on behalf of Demetrius Ford Jr., 30, accused of killing Superior Grocers employee Juan Carlos Urvina, 54. Hes due back in court next month.

Prosecutors brought charges of voluntary manslaughter, assault likely to produce great bodily injury and involuntary manslaughter nearly a year ago. Ford wasnt apprehended until this week.

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Just before midnight on New Years Day 2023, Ford hit a parked car with his vehicle in the parking lot of the Superior Grocers on Union Avenue. That prompted employees, including Urvina, to take photos of his vehicle.

Ford then assaulted Urvina, police said. He was taken to Kern Medical and died the next day.

Ford was arrested days later but was released after the District Attorneys Office requested further investigation. Hes also facing an attempted murder charge in Mojave.

Between both cases, hes being held on $1,150,000 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 KGET 17.
The Charleston Police Department arrested a suspect in a shooting at a popular waterfront restaurant in West Ashley last week.

A employee reportedly shot and wounded a coworker during a dispute over work-related issues at California Dreaming on Friday, May 24, at about 8:30 p.m., police say. The victim was taken to the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Charleston and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Kresha Simmons, 30, of Charleston, was arrested Friday, May 31, and charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. She was in custody Saturday at Al Cannon Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing.

No other injuries were reported.

Police said that customers were inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting.

Those with information about the shooting are asked to contact the police at 843-720-2422 or Crime Stoppers of the Low Country at 843-554-1111.
Suspect still at large after four severely injured in German shooting

A policeman walks behind a police cordon to a hairdressing salon where four people have been severely injured in shooting incidents in the western German town of Hagen. Justin Brosch/dpa

Police continued to search for a 34-year-old suspect on Saturday evening, after four people were severely injured in shooting incidents in the western German town of Hagen.

Among the injured was the suspect's wife, police in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia said. The four victims have been hospitalized, with one in a life-threatening condition.

The suspected perpetrator, of Turkish nationality, is still on the run, with a police helicopter being used in the search. Police searched a supermarket and a nearby forest after receiving tip-offs from local residents.

Police said the man shot his wife in a residential building in Hagen, south of Dortmund, likely due to a family dispute.

He then drove to a nearby hair salon and shot three further people before fleeing the crime scene on foot.

Officers were on site with a large contingent and authorities urged the public to avoid the area around the crime scenes. "Do not put yourself in danger! If you observe anything suspicious, please call the emergency number 110," it said in a message posted on the social media platform X.

Police from the western city of Dortmund police have taken over the large-scale operation and set up a task force. No further details on the identities of the three other victims have been released.

Police officers work in a cordoned-off street where four people have been severely injured in shooting incidents in the western German town of Hagen. Justin Brosch/dpa

Police emergency vehicles are parked in a cordoned-off street. Several people have been injured in shooting incidents at two locations in the western German town of Hagen, police said Saturday, with the suspected perpetrator reportedly still on the run. Justin Brosch/dpa
The status of the case of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs student accused of killing two individuals in a dorm room earlier this year now remains uncertain after a competency hearing was scheduled on Friday morning.

Nicholas Jordan, 25, is accused of shooting and killing Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, of Pueblo, and Samuel Knopp, 24, of Parker, in the early morning hours of Feb. 16.

Jordan and Knopp were roommates and students at UCCS, according to previous reporting from The Gazette. Jordans arrest affidavit states that he had made a death threat against Knopp over taking out the trash, and that campus security and housing had recorded multiple complaints about Jordan prior to the shooting.

On Friday Jordan appeared in court for a status conference where Judge David Shakes informed the court that a competency hearing was now needed after the prosecution's expert found Jordan competent to proceed.

In April, Shakes announced that the first competency evaluation, performed by the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, found Jordan incompetent to proceed. The prosecution then requested for a second evaluation by an expert unaffiliated with CMHIP.

A competency hearing is scheduled when two conflicting competency reports are filed to the court regarding the same defendant. The two experts who conducted the conflicting reports will appear in court to testify as to their findings and a judge will make the final determination on if the defendant is mentally competent or not to stand trial.

If Shakes finds Jordan is competent to proceed, a preliminary hearing will be scheduled to determine if there is probable cause or not to bind over the six charges faced by Jordan. If Shakes finds Jordan incompetent to proceed, the case will be stalled indefinitely until Jordan is restored to competency through mental health services.

Competency hearings can often lead to contentious court hearings.

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Last year a competency hearing was held for Tyrek Williams, 23, who is accused of beating Andrew Dominguez, 56, to death at 7-Eleven in 2022. Due to conflicting competency reports, a competency hearing was scheduled where Judge Frances Johnson ruled that the evaluation finding Williams competent held more weight and ruled him competent to proceed with his case.

Since then, Williams' attorneys have been adamant that their client  who has appeared to every court hearing handcuffed to a wheelchair and wearing a muzzle  should be receiving mental health restoration services. At his most recent hearing Williams' attorneys pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on his behalf, due to a lack of communication with their client over the past year.

Regardless of the findings of Shakes at Jordan's upcoming competency hearing, a lengthy delay in the case appears to be unavoidable. Due to scheduling conflicts with the attorneys and the two experts, Shakes was unable to schedule the competency hearing until Aug. 16.

"A three-month delay concerns me a little bit," Shakes said in court. "Thats a long time to have no progress on the case."

Shakes stated he hopes to potentially schedule the hearing sooner if the prosecution and defense can agree on a new date.

Jordan's second case where he is accused of assaulting a deputy in the El Paso County jail over a dispute regarding cleaning supplies also remains on hold pending the results of the competency hearing.

Jordan remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $5 million bond for the double homicide case, and a $10,000 bond on the assault case.
Police emergency vehicles are parked in a cordoned-off street. Several people have been injured in shooting incidents at two locations in the western German town of Hagen, police said Saturday, with the suspected perpetrator reportedly still on the run. Justin Brosch/dpa

Several people have been injured in shooting incidents at two locations in the western German town of Hagen, police said Saturday, with the suspected perpetrator reportedly still on the run.

"People have been injured," the police posted on social media site X, although the number of injuries was not initially clear.

Authorities did not rule out the possibility of several perpetrators.

The police confirmed to dpa that one of the two crime scenes is a hair salon in Hagen, a town south of Dortmund in the western German state of North-Rhine Westphalia. The other crime scene is said to be a residential building in downtown Hagen.

The police said officers were on site with a large contingent and urged the public to avoid the area around the crime scenes. The incident may have been linked to a family dispute, the police added.
A gray-haired Dartmouth professor was tackled, zip-tied, and detained on May 1 along with about 90 other protesters. "I've been teaching here for 34 years," Annelise Orleck told The New York Times after video of the arrest went viral. "There have been many protests, but I've never, ever seen riot police called to the green."

Much of the debate about the campus protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war has centeredquite reasonablyon questions around free speech, civil disobedience, and violence. When do chants become threats? When does blocking access to a building become the use of force? Less attention has been paid to the role of policing. But even as Americans have become numb to the militarization of police in other contexts, there's something shocking about the sight of cops in riot gear on college campuses.

About 2,700 protesters have been arrested or detained at dozens of schools this spring. At UCLA, nearly 200 arrests recently occurred, with police stepping in many hours after counterprotesters attacked the encampment. At the University of Virginia, students (and one Reason reporter) were hit with pepper spray and then hauled off the lawn along with their tents; 25 students were arrested or detained.

While clearing an encampment at Columbia, the New York Police Department (NYPD) used a specialized vehicle with a ramp, nicknamed "the bear," to access the second story of a building occupied by a few dozen students. Police stormed the building and the encampment outside it wearing helmets and wielding ballistic shields. They used flash-bang grenades. One New York Police officer discharged a weapon in the university's Hamilton Hall. (An NYPD spokesman later told a local publication, The City, that the officer had been using a firearm "equipped with a flashlight" to see around an area barricaded by students when he fired the gun "accidentally.")

Witnesses initially posted on X that they thought the vehicle was an MRAP, or mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, which became popular with police departments in the wake of the 1033 Program, a 1990s George H.W. Bushera* initiative to hand off Department of Defense surplus to local law enforcement. That program has been somewhat curtailed, but the taste for such vehicles has not. "The bear" turned out to be a BearCat, a tactical vehicle now popular with police and available from a private supplier. The NYPD has several; a batch acquired in 2005 cost $225,000 apiece.

In the decade since former Reason reporter Radley Balko wrote Rise of the Warrior Cop, most major citiesand plenty of college townshave seen a normalization of the paramilitary mindset for policing, as well as the use of SWAT teams in routine police action.

But the use of these tactics on college campuses in the context of political protest should be an occasion to examine the tools and powers given to policeand the difficulty of the task assigned to them.

In summer 2020, aggressive policing was both under debate and on display, as protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police flooded the streets. The urban crime spike that followed those protests was blamed, in part, on the possibility that cops might have become overly cautious or disaffected in light of national scrutiny. But in most cities, the crime wave has receded, calling that explanation into question. (Washington is an exception, for reasons that resist simple explanation, as one D.C. neighborhood commissioner, Joe Bishop-Henchman, explains.) Around the same time, homeless tent camps began to multiply in cities, raising difficult questions about the policing of camping in public and semi-public spacesquestions that have been reraised by the tent camps of college kids. (Reason's C.J. Ciaramella looks to Miami for answers to the homelessness problem.)

Universities tend to lack the wherewithal to clear encampments themselves, even if rules about the time, place, and manner of protests are clear, content-neutral, and unambiguously constitutional. In the case of the Dartmouth arrests, the police swooped in mere hours after the first sign of an encampment, at the request of the university president. But as national attention to that decision and the disasters at Columbia, UCLA, and elsewhere make clear, many universities were right to be cautious when calling in off-campus law enforcement.

The mindset and training of law enforcement is unlikely to be suited to the delicacy of the situation. Nor are local police likely to be up to date on the subtleties of First Amendmentprotected conduct. For now, college presidents (and the U.S. president) seem to have internalized the lessons of Kent State and have resisted the temptation to involve the actual military. The arrests at Dartmouth took place on the 54th anniversary of the Ohio National Guard's shooting of four students on that campus over anti-war protests, but enforcement has been strictly civilian so far.

But this leaves colleges and cops in a difficult position, and not one of their own making. Though the protesters often have demands for campus administrators, typically about divestment and diversity, those asks tend to be minor and mostly beside the point. They are angry about U.S. involvement in an overseas conflict, something the victims and targets of their protests have very little power to change. But with obsessive national political attention on college campuses already, the temptation to make a fuss on campus is too strong to ignore.

Likewise, by equipping themselves to be as large and terrifying as possible, police have paradoxically limited their ability to deal with the kind of human-scale problems that actually arise in 2024, whether it's crime, homelessness, or protest.

Elsewhere in this issue, Editor at Large Matt Welch analyzes the distortions in U.S. foreign policy caused by the massive buildup of American armed forces, as epitomized by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's famous 1993 query: "What's the point of having this superb military you're always talking about if we can't use it?"

The same mindset has taken hold domestically. Both abroad and at home, the American way is now to send expensively overequipped cops barging into situations that desperately need de-escalation instead.

*CORRECTION: The original version of this article misstated which presidential administration was responsible for the 1033 program.

The post SWAT Goes to College appeared first on Reason.com.
Swing-district Republicans in New York decried Trump's conviction. It could cost them politically.

Key Republicans in NY swing districts are standing behind Trump after his hush-money conviction.

The lawmakers have parroted Trump's argument that the conviction undermines the judicial system.

But that support could hurt them politically among suburban moderates and independents.

For GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill, former President Donald Trump continues to wield immense power over their political futures.

Since 2016, Trump has effectively maintained a stranglehold over the party by molding its ideological direction, keeping Republican lawmakers in line, and cultivating a political base that has remained unflinchingly loyal to him for nearly a decade.

After Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a 2016 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels, that dynamic has only strengthened.

But to the surprise of many, Trump's conviction elicited vocal outrage from a contingent of House Republicans in New York, including Reps. Marc Molinaro and Anthony D'Esposito, who represent some of the most competitive districts in the country. In these districts  concentrated in suburban areas outside of New York City  the upcoming House majority could be decided by swaths of moderates and independents.

Intense reactions

Molinaro, a first-term Republican representing the swing Catskill-and- Hudson Valley-anchored 19th district that Biden carried by nearly 5 points in 2020, blasted the Manhattan verdict.

"This is how we're going to do politics now?" he said in a statement on X. "Not through spirited debates, but by weaponizing the justice and court system to attack a political rival right before the election."

D'Esposito  a retired New York Police Department detective who flipped the Long Island-anchored 4th district in 2022  said this week that the "best revenge" for Trump's conviction would be winning the November general election.

"It is clear to me that Democrats are so afraid of engaging in a fair fight against President Trump that they continue to weaponize the justice system in an attempt to stop him," the congressman wrote.

Former President Donald Trump at his criminal hush-money trial in New York. Steven Hirsch - Pool/Getty Images

In 2020, Biden won D'Esposito's district  filled with the sort of affluent, college-educated voters who have been trending toward Democrats in recent cycles  by nearly 15 points.

Mike Lawler, who narrowly won the purple 17th district north of New York City, said Trump's conviction "undermines our electoral process and our judicial system" and deemed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, state Attorney General Letitia James, and Gov. Kathy Hochul as "hyperpartisan New York Democrats."

Long Island GOP congressman Nick LaLota suggested that Hochul should pardon Trump and "pre-emptively commute any sentence" that the ex-president might receive on his July sentencing date.

The sharp reactions from the House lawmakers, which are akin to Republican politicians from safely red seats in more conservative states, underlies one of the party's biggest challenges headed into November: corralling suburban voters around the GOP.

The suburban dilemma

While Biden isn't all that popular in New York State at the moment  with the latest Emerson College survey showing him with a 39% approval rating and polling ahead of Trump by only 7 points in a state that he won by 23 points in 2020  many voters remain unplugged from the race or have indicated that they'd consider a third-party option like independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

But in a decidedly Democratic state like New York, Biden is likely to gain some ground ahead of the election.

While suburban voters on Long Island trended Republican in the 2022 midterms  a trend which could continue in 2024, especially given Trump's support among many active and retired law enforcement officials  lawmakers like LaLota and D'Esposito are still running in districts where the former president remains a polarizing figure.

In a presidential year, it's become more difficult for many down-ballot candidates from an opposing party to win as ticket-splitting has waned. And the vulnerable GOP lawmakers will be tasked with defending their records while explaining their stance on Trump, which could be a tall order for voters who believe that the former president committed a crime.

Across the country, suburban voters were already turning away from Trump even before his conviction  as former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has continued to win significant blocs of GOP voters even after suspending her presidential campaign in March.

The decision by vulnerable New York House Republicans to tie themselves to Trump's crusade against his hush-money case is an incredibly risky one  but one that is emblematic of a GOP that remains firmly under the former president's grasp.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A volunteer from Switzerland has suffered injuries as a result of a Russian attack on the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The prosecutor's office clarified that the attack in which the Swiss citizen was injured occurred on 30 May.

Quote: "The man had come to Ukraine as part of a humanitarian mission to assist in the evacuation of people and animals from areas of active hostilities. He received medical assistance."

A pre-trial investigation was launched into violations of laws and customs of war due to the attack.

Background:

Vovchansk has become one of the centres of fighting following the Russian advance in northern Kharkiv Oblast and according to Ukrainian official data, the Armed Forces of Ukraine control 70% of the city.

In September 2023, a Spanish and a Canadian volunteer were killed in Ukraine by a Russian bombardment.

In addition, an investigation has established that 28-year-old British volunteer Christopher Perry, who was assisting in delivering humanitarian aid in Donbas, may have been killed by Wagner Group militants.

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People pass by the logo of the Chinese E-commerce Group Alibaba during the opening of CeBIT in Hannover. Christian Charisius/dpa

Egyptian, US and Israeli officials are due to meet in Cairo on Sunday to discuss reopening the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip nearly a month after its closure, according to an Egyptian TV station.

Citing a high-level source, state-linked al-Qahera News TV reported Saturday that Egypt insists on Israel's complete withdrawal from the Palestinian side of the crossing.

"Egypt has confirmed to all parties its constant stance based on non-opening of the Rafah crossing so long as Israel keeps its control of its Palestinian side," the source said.

The level of representation at the reported meeting was not immediately clear.

On May 7, Israel took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in an operation that halted aid deliveries via the vital facility into the heavily populated coastal strip.

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, putting their decades-old ties at risk.

Cairo is also concerned that an expansion of the Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, packed by refugees fleeing the fighting, could trigger a mass exodus into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Israel deems Rafah the last stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which killed hundreds of civilians in Israel last October.
Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Israeli government and in favor of a hostage agreement with Hamas, in Tel Aviv's city center. Cindy Riechau/dpa

Tens of thousands of people in Israel have taken to the streets in support of a deal with Palestinian Islamist Hamas on Saturday evening, after details emerged of the proposal for a hostage agreement accepted by Israel.

The demonstration was the latest after similar weekly protests over te past few months as people call for an agreement with Hamas, and criticize the Israeli government.

In central Tel Aviv, the organizers said 120,000 demonstrators rallied on Saturday, demanding new elections and shouting that the current coalition's time is up, according to the Times of Israel.

Many demonstrators are also slamming the Israeli leadership for not doing enough to release those kidnapped by Hamas in October.

Several people whose family members are being held hostage addressed the media on Saturday, calling on the government to accept the proposal presented by US President Joe Biden on Friday.

The Times of Israel quoted a woman whose son is being held in the Gaza Strip. She said Biden's speech offered real hope for the first time after a lengthy period of despair.

Biden gave a public speech on Friday, knowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could still reject the deal, she said. "Biden wanted the public to know what was really on the table." She said she was concerned because Netanyahu had not yet publicly approved the deal.

Netanyahu again said that the conditions for ending the war remain unchanged, repeating that a prerequisite is the destruction of Hamas' leadership and military capabilities and the return of all hostages, according to a statement issued by his office on Saturday.

A similar statement had already been published on Friday evening after Biden's speech, ruling out that Israel would agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions were met.

Hamas meanwhle insists on an end to the war before it will release any more hostages.

Rallies were also held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheva and other cities on Saturday evening, demanding the release of the hostages.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Israeli government and in favor of a hostage agreement with Hamas, in Tel Aviv's city center. Cindy Riechau/dpa
Tuesdays contentious runoffs laid bare the turmoil in Texass state Republican Party.

In elections that saw unprecedented levels of outside spending, the partys so-called business faction was left battered but still standing as some incumbents hung on, most notably Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).

Their positions, however, are precarious. In Tuesdays vote, conservative hard-liners in the state executive largely wiped the board of holdout members  largely those who had fought the rise of privatization in the states massive public school system, as well as a smaller group that had backed the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

Tuesdays results were truly the most chaotic outcome, said Joshua Blank of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. You had most of the targeted Republicans losing, and yet the Speaker eking out a victory.

As a result, the primaries have widened divisions within the state GOP as a whole  a body that has been widely criticized, Blank noted, for prioritizing going after Republicans more than building out the state party.

Now, he said, it looks like the party is continuing in that direction.

Tuesdays election came just after a state party convention, where Republicans passed a hard-line platform calling abortion homicide, not health care; advocating for the end of no-fault divorce; labeling homosexuality as an abnormal lifestyle choice not deserving of any legal protections or parental rights; and classifying climate-warming carbon dioxide as a non-pollutant.

These moves flew in the face of the once-dominant business faction of state Republicans, who tended to put the culture war second to the day-to-day functioning of the state.

Those intraparty tensions were on full display following Tuesdays runoffs. School voucher activist Corey DeAngelis called the result a political earthquake.

Abbott said he now had the votes to pass school choice, which proponents call vouchers, and conservative activists were already sharpening their knives for Phelan, who they perceive as insufficiently committed to that cause.

Well see whether the Speaker hangs on, said Sherry Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which is a strong advocate of vouchers. Hes got a whole new House, many of whom were elected on their commitment to school choice, and he didnt let school choice pass, didnt make it a priority, and has said that he would have preferred a weaker version of school choice to pass.

Now, she said, the voucher side has the ability to pass a stronger version. Because every previous time, it included carrots for the school districts. We dont need those carrots now. We have the votes.

But that sort of analysis views things too simplistically, argued Republican lobbyist Thomas Ratliff. Whatever members top-line commitment to vouchers is, he said, there are 37 different flavors of what that means. Youre going to have a divide within the House, and as big or bigger a divide between the House and Senate.

Ratliff pointed to the number of Texas House members who have rallied around Phelan since the runoff as a sign that picking him off will not be easy.

What still holds true in Texas politics is that House members and Senators dont like when the other side meddles in what they consider to be their internal affairs, he said. I think outside interference influences the House to come together and circle the wagons.

The vitriol among Republicans was apparent in congressional races, as well.

Gonzales narrowly survived a challenge from his right against Brandon Herrera, a YouTuber and guns enthusiast, in the Tuesday runoff. The congressman had drawn the ire of the Texas state GOP last year over his position on several pieces of legislation, most notably supporting a bipartisan gun safety law in the wake of a devastating school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which Gonzales represents, and for backing the Respect for Marriage Act.

In response, the Texas Republican Party censured Gonzales  a move that, under measures proposed in the new party platform, would allow them to remove him from the ballot.

Gonzaless primary got personal when several of his House colleagues endorsed Herrera in the primary. Among those who backed the YouTuber were House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) and Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.).

Though Gonzales had the backing of House colleagues from his home state, in addition to Abbott and others, the mainline conservative barely squeaked out a win.

As typically happens in Texas primaries, both Gonzales and state Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas), whos running in the 12th Congressional District, were being challenged from the right, Travis County GOP chair and Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak told The Hill.

I wouldnt say either one of their opponents were serious, Mackowiak added.

But the political environment made them serious.

Many in the party argued non-Republicans had helped Gonzales ride to victory. This belief  and the steps the party is taking to respond to it  underscore a second divide, between those Republicans who believe in embracing a big tent that includes as many new voters as possible and those who want a smaller, more ideologically united party committed to the culture war.

The new Republican platform, for example, restricts primary voting to registered party members and sets out the partys intention to end the states lengthy period of early voting.

Those steps have concerned even some on the states ascendant far right.

As a conservative, my side is coming up with good ideas all the time that we think we can win people over, Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation told The Hill. Elections are about ideas and need to make as easy for [people to vote] as possible.

Sylvester also criticized a party plank that seeks to require statewide elected officials to win more than half of Texas counties  locking the largely-urban Democratic party out of power.

Still, Sylvester and other Republicans are in agreement that the party will be successful in the fall.

Texas Republicans are more united than ever before, said state GOP chair Abraham George in a statement to The Hill. We just passed our platform, legislative priorities, rules, and elected new party leadership at our convention with overwhelming majorities.

Others see a longer road ahead.

Infighting at the state House level is unlikely to give Democrats an opening electorally outside of a few purple districts, experts told The Hill, noting that many of those consequential races took place in rural districts that are safely conservative.

But they acknowledge tensions and infighting will still linger heading into the fall and into the new Legislature.

I think this is going to continue all summer, all fall and all winter because everybody has their eyes on Dade Phelan and whether he can remain Speaker or not, said Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser.

There are a lot of vested interests that want to replace him, not only on the school choice issue, but on other issues like the border or other cultural issues.

Phelan is still a clear favorite to keep control of the House, Blank of the Texas Politics Project told The Hill, in part because many members may be angry at the role Abbott, Patrick and Paxton played in picking off their incumbent colleagues.

They may have created an environment in which those Republican members  or at least a significant number of them  are even less likely to come in with the goal of compromising, Blank said.

That division could give statehouse Democrats a level of strategic power they have not known in a long time.

From Washington to Austin, Republicans are more divided than ever, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told The Hill.

But as in Congress, when Democrats come together  our unity is our greatest asset, he said.

One looming question is whether Texas Republicans will begin to shoot down bills just because Democrats have proposed them, Ratliff told The Hill.

If Democrats come back to the legislature next session with less power and less say in the process, they could become a further force for chaos, which is not really the role that they tend to play, Blank said. And so you may have factions of the Republican primary of the Republican Party within the legislature at odds with each other, and Democrats, more inclined to throw gasoline on the fire.

Abbotts attempt to take control of the House may founder on something far more prosaic than intraparty politics.

They run on a single issue, they have 7,000 bills headed their way. So there are still a whole lot of unanswered questions about what these members want to do, Blank said.

But he said those hoping the insurgents will remake the culture of the House may be disappointed.

To have a significant impact on rules or the process, he said, is not the norm for a freshman member.

Updated on June 3 at 10:19 a.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.
This article first appeared at ProPublica and the Texas Tribune.

The men knocked on the door of a two-story, red-brick building in downtown El Paso one chilly morning in February. When a volunteer answered, they handed her a document they said gave them the right to go inside and review records kept by Annunciation House, a nonprofit that for decades has served immigrants and refugees seeking shelter.

An employee phoned Ruben Garcia, the nonprofits director and founder, who was at one of the organizations other properties. Feeling a calling to do more to help immigrants and other people experiencing poverty, Garcia was part of a small group that formed the nonprofit in the 1970s. Hes since become an unofficial historian of the migration patterns and political response to immigration and immigrants.

But in his nearly five decades helming the nonprofit, Garcia had never encountered a situation like this. Standing on the organizations doorstep were officials sent there by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons Consumer Protection Division. They were demanding to come inside and search the nonprofits records, including all logs identifying immigrants who received services at Annunciation House going back more than two years.

Is this a warrant? Garcia recalls asking the group, which included an assistant attorney general and a law enforcement officer from the state agency.

It wasnt. Still, the letter the men presented stated that the attorney generals office had the power to immediately enter the building without one.

Consumer protection laws give attorneys general broad legal authority to request a wide range of records when investigating businesses or charities for allegations of deceptive or fraudulent practices, such as gas stations that hike up fuel prices during hurricanes, companies that run robocalling phone scams and unscrupulous contractors who take advantage of homeowners.

But attorneys general have increasingly used their powers to also pursue investigations targeting organizations whose work conflicts with their political views. And Paxton, a Republican, is among the most aggressive. Hes laying out kind of like the blueprint about how to do this, said Paul Nolette, an expert in attorneys general and director of the Les Aspin Center for Government at Marquette University.

An analysis by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune shows that in the past two years, Paxton has used consumer protection law more than a dozen times to investigate a range of entities for activities like offering shelter to immigrants, providing health care to transgender teens or trying to foster a diverse workplace.

Not a single one of the investigations was prompted by a consumer complaint, Paxtons office confirmed. A complaint is not necessary to launch a probe.

The analysis is possibly an undercount. The attorney generals office said it has not consistently maintained a list of the Consumer Protection Divisions demands to examine records and would need to review individual case files to determine how many requests had been sent. The agency also fought the release of certain records requested under Texas Public Information Act, citing exceptions for anticipated litigation.

Paxtons office did not respond to requests for comment or to detailed questions. It also did not reply to a request to speak with the Consumer Protection Divisions chief.

Two attorneys representing nonprofits that Paxton recently targeted said they believe he launched the investigations simply to harass their clients and to cause a chilling effect among organizations doing similar work. Both said the attorney generals demands violate the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free speech, association and religion, and the Fourth Amendment, which offers protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

The political weaponization of consumer protection divisions by Paxton and other attorneys general appears to be a core violation of constitutional laws that runs counter to what these divisions were established to do, said Georgetown Law professor Michele Goodwin.

The offices were intended to protect the public, Goodwin said. Instead, she added, what is taking place in these times are efforts that undermine the civil liberties and the civil rights of people who are the public in those states and the people who are in those states who are seeking to aid and assist the public.

In the Annunciation House case, the attorney generals office went even further by showing up at the nonprofits door and demanding to immediately review documents rather than sending its requests for records by mail and giving organizations weeks to respond, as it often has in other cases ProPublica and the Tribune examined.

Paxtons office then denied the nonprofits request for additional time to determine what information it was legally required to turn over, prompting Annunciation House to sue. In response, the attorney generals office argued in court documents that the nonprofit had forfeited its right to operate and publicly accused it of acting as a stash house for immigrants he alleges are in the country illegally.

The attorney generals move to shutter Annunciation House drew swift rebuke from political and religious leaders, who said his characterizations of the nonprofit were a dangerous misrepresentation of the charity. Paxtons actions also sparked concern as far away as the Vatican. In a recent interview with CBS News, Pope Francis called Paxtons efforts madness, sheer madness.

The migrant has to be received, the pope said on the television news program 60 Minutes. Thereafter you see how youre going to deal with them. Maybe you have to send them back. I dont know. But each case ought to be considered humanely, right?

Annunciation House primarily serves people who are processed and released into the U.S. by immigration officials. Garcia communicates daily with Border Patrol and other federal agencies that regularly ask for help finding shelter for people who turn themselves in to authorities or are apprehended but have nowhere to go while their cases are processed.

In March, an El Paso state district judge temporarily blocked the attorney generals efforts to obtain Annunciation Houses records and said the state must go through the court system to continue the investigation. There is a real and credible concern that the attempt to prevent Annunciation House from conducting business in Texas was predetermined, the judge wrote in his order.

Even when Paxton doesnt get speedy access to the documents he wants, he often publicizes these typically confidential cases, putting out news releases that draw headlines and build support among his base of hard-line conservatives.

The simple act of publicizing that he is pursuing an organization can cause irreparable harm, said Jerome Wesevich, an attorney who represents Annunciation House.

Someone has to say what is the line between a legitimate investigation and harassment, Wesevich said.

As the Annunciation House case progresses through the courts, Paxton has continued his public attacks on the nonprofit. On May 8, Paxton announced in a press release that he had filed a court injunction to stop what he called Annunciation Houses systemic criminal conduct. He then issued a warning to other nonprofits that assist immigrants, saying that those that are complicit in Joe Bidens illegal immigration catastrophe and think they are above the law should consider themselves on notice.

He again called for the charity to be shut down.

Evolving Power

The consumer protection cases that Paxton and like-minded attorneys general are pursuing today are virtually unrecognizable from the historically bipartisan and apolitical ones their counterparts undertook even 20 or 30 years ago, said James Tierney, a former Maine attorney general.

The people that the laws were designed for were working-class people who were getting ripped off when they bought a used car, said Tierney, who directs the attorney general clinic at Harvard Law School. While many attorneys general still do that work, consumer protection laws are also increasingly being used to obviously move social agendas.

The push to protect consumers was among numerous social movements that began to materialize in the 1960s and 1970s as Americans demanded more government action in areas like civil rights and environmental justice. As a result, states began to adopt laws that gave attorneys general the ability to investigate potential fraudulent activity by businesses.

Federal and state institutions also started encouraging attorneys general to think of themselves as representing not only the state but also the people who lived there. This shift was significant because by serving as the representatives of individuals and groups allegedly harmed by corporate conduct, AGs essentially became a form of class-action litigator, Nolette, the Marquette professor, wrote in his book, Federalism on Trial.

Initially, attorneys general focused consumer protection investigations in their own states. By the 1980s, however, the scope of the investigations began to change as the attorneys general offices started to work across state lines to target large industries.

Perhaps the most notable example is the decision by all 50 state attorneys general to sue tobacco companies in the 1990s. They successfully argued the industry misled consumers about the dangers of cigarettes and other tobacco products and intentionally marketed them to children. The lawsuits resulted in billions of dollars in settlement money. More recently, attorneys general across the country pursued similar multistate suits against the opioid industry and pharmaceutical supply chain.

The power of attorneys general continued to grow through the decades as Congress passed measures that empowered states to enforce federal law and the courts interpreted ambiguities in the law in such a way that made it easier for states to sue under federal statutes.

A number of other court decisions unrelated to consumer protection further changed the role of attorneys general. As states found it easier to bring cases that are similar to class-action suits, the Supreme Court issued rulings in the early 2010s that made it harder for private litigants to do so. The decisions essentially drove those cases to attorneys general, Tierney said.

A 2014 Supreme Court decision that lifted limits on individual campaign contributions raised the stakes of attorneys general campaigns and created a funnel for dark money to flow into every AG race, Tierney said.

The machine is up and running, Tierney said, and will continue to run unless someone figures out how to stop it.

Stretching the Boundaries

Although Paxton has used consumer protection law to investigate a wide range of organizations with which he disagrees politically, he has perhaps most aggressively pursued those that provide or support gender-affirming care for minors.

Over the past two years, his office has launched at least six investigations into hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and an LGBTQ+ advocacy and support group, often demanding records that include sensitive patient information.

These investigations came amid a growing wave of conservative initiatives in Texas and across the country that have worked to chip away at the rights of transgender people. At least 25 states ban gender-affirming care for minors in some way, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Texas was not among those states when, in August 2021, then-state Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican who the same year launched an investigation into school library books that dealt with topics like sexuality and race, wrote to Paxton asking for an opinion on whether gender-affirming care for children amounted to child abuse. In February 2022, Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion that said it did.

Days later, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who authorized such treatment for their children, a move that spurred both condemnation  including from families, medical professionals and the White House  and fear across the state and country. These investigations are on hold following several court rulings.

As Abbott ordered the state agency to go after parents, Paxton began launching investigations into organizations that provide or support gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

One of those targeted entities was Dell Childrens Medical Center in Austin. In May 2023, one of Paxtons Consumer Protection lawyers sent a letter to the hospital demanding documents related to the use of puberty blockers and counseling for transgender youth. Three weeks later, the same lawyer sent a letter seeking similar records from Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. In a news release announcing the investigation, Paxton said his office was examining whether the facility was unlawfully providing gender transition care.

At the time that the letters were sent to the hospitals, a law preventing transgender minors from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapies was working its way through the Legislature. The law ultimately passed, but it did not go into effect until Sept. 1.

Dell Childrens did not respond to an interview request. Texas Childrens Hospital declined to comment for this story.

In the months that followed, Paxton went even further. He began to investigate organizations outside of Texas for their connections to gender-affirming care: Seattle Childrens Hospital in Washington state; QueerMed, a telehealth clinic based in Georgia; and PFLAG Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based national nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ people and their families.

Seattle Childrens Hospital sued the attorney general in December to block the release of any patient records, arguing that handing them over would violate federal and state health care privacy laws. The hospital said in legal filings it had no staff that treated transgender children in Texas or remotely.

Paxton has not answered questions about why he decided to investigate out-of-state facilities, but in court filings in the Seattle case, the attorney generals office argued it has the right to investigate the hospital and other organizations registered to do business in Texas. The demand letter sent to the hospital asked for records related to the facilitys gender-affirming treatment of children who reside or used to reside in Texas. (The news organizations filed a public information request for the investigative letter Paxton sent to QueerMed, but the attorney generals office is fighting its release, citing exceptions when information is related to pending or anticipated litigation.)

What seems to unite all three cases is that the attorney generals office under Paxton is going to use consumer protection law to stretch the boundaries of what they can do to try to make transgender care as minimal as possible in Texas, said Colin Provost, an associate professor of public policy at University College London whose research has included how attorneys general in the U.S. work together to enforce consumer protection laws.

Paxton and Seattle Childrens reached a settlement in April. As part of the deal, the hospital agreed to withdraw its Texas business license. In exchange, Paxton dropped his demand for records.

QueerMed founder Dr. Izzy Lowell declined to comment for this story. But the doctor said in an interview with The Washington Post that Paxtons push to access transgender youths medical records was a clear attempt to intimidate providers of gender-affirming care and parents and families that seek that care outside of Texas and other states with bans.

PFLAG sued Paxtons office in February after the attorney general demanded its records. In court filings, Paxton alleged that the nonprofit had information about medical providers in the state that may have been committing insurance fraud. The attorney general accused health care professionals of providing gender-affirming care but disguising it as treatment for an endocrine disorder.

A Travis County district court judge issued an injunction in March that temporarily blocked the states access to the records. In her ruling, she wrote that failing to stop the attorney general from getting these records could result in PFLAG and its members suffering harm, including limitations on their First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights. Paxton appealed her ruling. The 3rd Court of Appeals, which is hearing the case, has issued a temporary order protecting PFLAG from Paxtons demands for records.

Karen Loewy, a lawyer with Lambda Legal, which is representing PFLAG, said she remains baffled by the attorney generals decision to use the states consumer protection law to investigate organizations like PFLAG, which provides resources to chapter support groups in the state.

Theres no consumer fraud happening here at PFLAGs hands, Loewy said.

Yet, she said, the attorney general appears to believe that he can send these demands to anyone his office thinks has information related to an investigation. In a court filing in response to PFLAGs lawsuit, Paxtons office admitted it does not believe the nonprofit is violating the states consumer protection law, known as the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The attorney general, however, argued in the filing that it can demand records of anyone, not just those suspected of a violation.

The way in which the AGs office has argued this already shows that they think that their power is unlimited, Loewy said.

Sending a Message

Just as Paxtons campaign against transgender care for minors has sent a chill through the network of people who provide this medical care, the impacts of the attorney generals investigation of Annunciation House are reverberating throughout the community of people who work with migrants.

On Friday, Annunciation Houses lawyers filed a motion to throw out the attorney generals case. Aside from arguing that Paxtons claims about the organization are unfounded, the nonprofit said in the legal filings that the probe has caused harm that is not only imminent, it is ongoing.

Immediately after the attorney general officials showed up at the nonprofits offices in February, three Annunciation House volunteers quit, including the woman who answered the door. They worried the situation was more unpredictable than they could handle, Garcia said.

According to court records filed by Annunciation House attorneys, some volunteers have received threatening phone calls. The filings also state that the city of El Paso started stationing security guards at all of the nonprofits shelters around the clock to protect the people who are staying there.

Its scaring people from wanting to volunteer with us, Garcia said. Its scaring people from wanting to work with the refugees.

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, an El Paso-based nonprofit that works with Annunciation House and provides legal services to immigrants and refugees on both sides of the border, has not lost volunteers, but the organizations executive director, Marisa Limon Garza, said people were rattled by the fact that employees from Paxtons office showed up at a fellow nonprofits door demanding access.

If its a letter in the mail, thats one thing, Limon Garza said. But coming and trying to access the space, thats a different level of state intervention that definitely sends a chilling effect. It sends a message.

That message changed how Las Americas operates. It updated its security and technology systems at a cost of $25,000, money the nonprofits leadership hadnt planned to spend, Limon Garza said. The organization also better secured its internal files, got new cellphones and laptops, and added new intercom and doorbell screening systems.

It no longer allows walk-ins.
A Thai-American millennial went to Bangkok to find 'real Thai food.' Now, his private supper club has a monthslong waitlist.

A Thai-American millennial went to Bangkok to find 'real Thai food.' Now, his private supper club has a monthslong waitlist.

Thai-American millennial Dylan Eitharong started connecting to his roots by cooking Thai food in Orlando.

In 2019, he moved to Thailand to learn more and went on to open his supper club, Haawm.

Set up in his aunt's old townhouse, he charges $75 per head. It's become one of the hardest tables to book in Bangkok.

As a half-Thai, half-American kid growing up in Florida, Dylan Eitharong often felt out of place.

His father, a Thai immigrant, was focused on building a new life in the US and rarely taught him about Thai culture. But it was a comment his dad made while the family was eating out at a Chinese restaurant that sparked his curiosity about Thai cuisine.

"My dad told me this was 'real' Chinese food. It was different from the American Chinese takeout food. That made me think: If this is 'real' Chinese food, then is there 'real' Thai food too?" Eitharong told Business Insider.

His dad told him he'd have to figure out this for himself. "After that, I just fell into that wormhole, wanting to know what it was really like and what it tasted like," Eitharong said.

Eitharong, now 32, said the Thai restaurants he had grown up with in the US served things like green curry with bell peppers, and nothing was ever too spicy. He voraciously researched online and began cooking at home as a hobby.

Dylan Eitharong opened and ran Bangrak Thai Street Kitchen, a pop-up in Orlando until he moved to Thailand. Dylan Eitharong

His first journey to the Motherland

By the time he was enrolled in community college in Orlando, studying to be a teacher, he was also running a boat noodle pop-up at Swine & Sons, a Michelin-recognized restaurant in Florida. "After that, I felt like this cooking thing was kinda fun so I just dropped out of school," Eitharong said.

He went on to open his own pop-up, Bangrak Thai Street Kitchen, and expand his menu to serve street favorites such as khao soi (noodles with curry soup) and fried rice with fermented pork sausages.

Eitharong kept trying out new recipes but eventually concluded there was only so much he could learn in the US: "I had never been to Thailand before I was 23." After his first trip to Thailand, he continued to fly back and forth between Thailand and Florida every few months.

Eitharong's aunt originally wanted him to run her renovated townhouse as an Airbnb Parisa Pichitmarn

Thanks to Covid, Haawm was born

Eitharong took up Thai cooking masterclasses with a renowned food scholar, Hanuman Aspler, in Chiang Mai  a province in northern Thailand. Back in Bangkok, he worked as a chef at a contemporary Thai restaurant, before he moved on to set up his own pop-ups.

In 2019, he moved to Thailand. His goal was to continue learning more about Thai food. "In that first year, I wasn't getting the experience I wanted living in Thailand though, because Covid was happening," Eitharong said.

Forced to quarantine at his aunt's old townhouse deep in the residential Bangkok neighborhood of Onnut, he spent his free time teaching himself the language so he could read old Thai recipe books. During this time, he learned how to cook less common dishes and forge his own style of loud, maximalist flavors.

"It was curry that made it immediately click for me, that Thai food in Thailand doesn't taste like what you eat in America," he said. "In the US, curry was disgusting, and I hated eating it as a kid. It's a can of coconut milk and curry paste blown up together. If it's green curry, it's this beige color but here, it's delicious, complicated, and there's oil on top," he said. Curry became his main focus.

Eitharong bought antiques and vintage memorabilia from Srinakarin Night Train Market in Bangkok to decorate the dining room. Parisa Pichitmarn

Casual but cool dining

Initially, his aunt had wanted him to run her renovated townhouse as an Airbnb. Instead, he converted the space into a private supper club and named it Haawm, which means "smells good" in Thai.

He invested 60,000 baht, or $1,639, to set up Haawm. Eitharong decked out the two rooms on the ground floor of the townhouse with pieces he picked up at Srinakarin Night Train Market  famously filled with antiques and vintage memorabilia.

Splashed in magenta and purple neon lights, the space is now decked out with vintage Thai posters, weave trays, a banana neon sign, and hot pink floral tablecloths.

Haawm's popularity in Bangkok spread through word of mouth and his inbox became flooded with people interested in the dining experience. He credits the pandemic for his supper club's success. "Without Covid, there would be no Haawm," said Eitharong. "People wanted to eat with their friends. This was the perfect set-up because they could eat and have fun with their friends but wouldn't be out in public. That's why it took off I think."

Eitharong explains that while his jee juan beef curry is a less common dish, it's similar to massaman curry. Parisa Pichitmarn

Upon arrival, diners are greeted with a playlist that bounces between Green Day and Randy Travis to Prince and Beyonce. Two tables are set up that seat six to eight people each. Groups of six people can have the table to themselves, while lone diners are seated with others. As Haawm operates only Wednesday through Saturday, serving two rounds of diners each night, he said his bookings fill up months in advance.

A typical meal at Haawm starts with four snacks, before the six mains are served together to be shared. Two desserts round off the meal. No alcohol is sold, but diners can bring their own booze. The price fluctuates according to the menu, but it starts at 2,800 baht, or $77, per person.

Each meal at Haawm finishes with two rounds of dessert. Parisa Pichitmarn

Despite Eitharong's culturally mixed upbringing, he sticks to authentic Thai food and never fusion. When I visited for BI, one snack, somewhat resembling a taco, was a spoonful of spicy duck laab (meat salad) served on a curved, deep-fried kratom leaf. A less familiar dish, jee juan beef curry, made an appearance as well. The chef made it a point to explain that it only differs slightly from the ever-popular massaman curry.

Eitharong's presence, too, was memorable. He's a badass chef with tattoos all over his arms and neck.

Dylan Eitharong looks to moms and grandmas for the ultimate approval Parisa Pichitmarn

Winning over locals

Eitharong said his diners are a mix of tourists and Thai people. A few people have claimed he's not cooking Thai food because he's American. "I'm used to it, though. The ultimate approval for me is when moms and grandmas come here and love it," he said.

"For us, the Thai palate is still the most important one we want to please," he added.

Siradej Donavanik, 38, has been to Haawn six times. "When I tasted the first bite, it was just wow and all these explosions. My only gripe is how hard it is to book because sometimes Dylan will just decide he's off to America to cook for two weeks," he told BI.

Food and travel writer Vincent Vichit-Vadakan told BI he appreciates how Eitharong has switched up the local food scene. "He doesn't feel bound by the rules of classic culinary school techniques or the weight of Thai tradition," Vichit-Vadakan said of the chef. "And that is a breath of fresh air in Bangkok."

Eitharong started out doing it all himself but now hires three staff to help run Haawm Parisa Pichitmarn

Small but easy to manage

Long past the days of having to be the chef, waiter, and host all in one, Eitharong now hires three staffers to help run Haawm. He's made back his investment, but credits that to having to pay his aunt an affordable monthly 12,000 baht for rent.

He said the plus side of running a supper club is the predictability, as you don't have to worry about rainy days when no diners will show up. He can plan ahead when it comes to both ingredients and staff. "That way you're not throwing blindly in the wind," he said.

Eitharong says that the intimate dining experience works better for chefs Parisa Pichitmarn

He said his biggest expenses are building maintenance and his staff's salaries.

With a monthslong waiting list still going strong, Eitharong is looking to expand and upgrade Haawm. He hopes to be open for more nights and remodel the kitchen in the future.

"In a post-Covid world, the small, intimate dining experience works better for chefs," Eitharong said. "There's a whole culture of overworking that comes with food. I don't think that needs to be necessary, and I'd like to stick with that. I didn't think Haawm would take off like it did and I didn't think I'd still be doing it now."

Read the original article on Business Insider
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Rainbow flags filled the streets of Bangkok on Saturday at the start of Pride Month as Thailand inches closer to recognising same-sex marriages.

Thousands of LGBTQ+ revellers and activists gathered for a parade through the capital's street as signs and placards with "Love wins" slogans were displayed across the city.

"This year's pride parade can be considered one of the biggest because it coincides with the passing of the same-sex marriage," Avorawan Ramwan said, who joined the parade with her partner.

Thailand is set to legalise same-sex marriage as an equality bill heads for the final readings in the Southeast Asian country's Senate later this month.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin also joined the parade, dressed in a rainbow shirt.

"It is a basic right to choose who to love," he posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The bill overwhelmingly passed the upper house's first reading in April and will have its second and third readings this month.

"The Senate will likely pass the bill on June 18," Senator Wallop Tangkananuruk, chairman of the Senate's committee on same-sex marriage, told Reuters.

If there are no amendments from the lower house, the government will send it for royal approval, Wallop said, adding that the law will come into force 120 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette.

"Pride events are meaningful, and Thailand is known worldwide as a paradise for the LGBT community. Therefore, we must help promote and advocate for it, as well as implement laws to support the LGBT community," said transgender woman Aunchanaporn Pilsauta.

(Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar, Artorn Pookasook and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng)
Donald Trump became the first former president to ever be convicted of a crime Thursday after a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 president election.

The presumptive GOP nominee's historic conviction has plunged the nation into uncharted territory as Americans ready for the November election and appears to hang heavily over Trump himself, who faces three other criminal trials  albeit none with set start dates  and sentencing on his New York offenses in just over a month.

"He is edging closer every day to drowning in the cesspool he once denounced as the place for grifters, losers, and misfits," Bennett Gershman, a Pace University law professor and former New York prosecutor, told Salon, also highlighting findings of Trump's liability for fraud, defamation and sexual abuse over the last year and subsequent multimillion-dollar judgments. "Now he is one of them and shares a dirty place with them."

The verdict followed just hours after the jury asked to hear testimony from the first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, including his recounting of the 2015 Trump Tower meeting where he agreed to a catch-and-kill scheme publishing positive stories while buying and burying negative ones about Trump and his candidacy.

Jurors also asked to hear ex-Trump-lawyer-turned-vocal-Trump-critic Michael Cohen's testimony, which aligned with Peckers, according to The New York Times. Those testimonies, the outlet noted, very well could have been what sealed Trump's fate.

While presiding Judge Juan Merchan will ultimately administer the former president's sentence at a hearing on July 11, just days before Trump is expected to be named the GOP presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, legal experts have a range of theories on what exactly the punishment will be and whether prison time will be a part of the equation.

"Frankly, in general, we like to see that convicted criminals get sentenced, serve that sentence and then move on in society. That is for the greater good and that people don't live with a lifetime stigma, when it comes to their job applications, of a conviction after they've served their sentence," Adam Pollock, a former assistant New York attorney general, told Salon. "I would expect that he will be sentenced, he will serve whatever sentence there is and he would move on in his future career endeavors, which obviously he's applying for a job."

Prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney's office accused Trump of writing off $130,000 in hush-money payments as a legal expense as part of a plot to keep voters from learning of an extramarital sexual encounter he allegedly had with an adult film actress in 2006. Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg announced Trump had been indicted by a grand jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records last April, and the trial began just over a year later following a last-minute delay.

After six weeks of testimony and two days of deliberation, the jury of 12 of Trump's peers handed up the verdict, unanimously finding the former president guilty of each charge.

Prior to his sentencing, the former president will go through the same court-system procedure as any other person convicted of a felony in New York, according to The Times.

The New York City Department of probation will conduct an interview with Trump, in which the New York State Unified Court System says one can try to make a good impression and explain why he or she deserves a lighter punishment." After that, the department will craft a sentencing recommendation for Merchan.

The New York Supreme Court justice could sentence the former president to up to four years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines for each offense, but time served, conditional discharge, probation  which would require the former president to regularly report to an officer  and other "creative" sentences, like "participating in an anger management program" or doing community service are also options, said Eliza Orlins, a Manhattan public defender whose career spans nearly 15 years.

"I doubt we're gonna see him in city parks picking up trash, but I do think that they may come up with some creative sentence for him," Orlins told Salon.

Pollock said that a first time offender on class E felonies  which are the lowest level felony in the state  like Trump, typically faces "no universe" of ending up with jail time. Probation is the most likely sentence, with its terms including conditions such as maintaining or actively seeking employment, drug and alcohol testing, checking in with a probation officer whenever he needs to travel out-of-state and having international travel restrictions or a requirement to get permission to travel internationally.

But because the former president is employed by the Trump Organization and pursuing the presidency, is famously sober by his own account and actively campaigning, "nothing about a probationary sentence would make sense in this instance," Pollock said, noting that travel requirements or restrictions would be "a lot to ask for" given Trump's candidacy.

A short period of home confinement could make sense, but anything too long may lead a lot of people to "view that as somehow fundamentally unfair" for this "level of offense" given Trump's candidacy, he continued.

"On one hand, you almost never see a jail sentence for a class E felony, first time offender in New York. Never, never, never," Pollock added. "But the one time you might see that is in exactly this situation where the defendant continues to insult the judge, continues to insult the institution of justice, continues to display no remorse."

Shortly after his conviction Thursday, Trump took to the courthouse hallway to decry the verdict as a "disgrace," repeat his claims that the trial was "rigged" and deny his guilt.

The former president continued to lash out Friday morning, even going on to further deride Merchan as a "devil" during a press conference at Trump Tower.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Though these remarks certainly don't cement a prison sentence for Trump, the lack of remorse the comments show  coupled with his being found in contempt 10 times during trial and months-worth of attacks of the court, the judge, Bragg and others  increase the likelihood of one, experts said.

"The statements on social media and his press conference this morning were outrageous," Pollock said. A convicted defendant should be able to say, "'although I disagreed, I respect the decision of the jury. I respect the court, and I am remorseful that I found myself in this situation,'" Pollock added. "You've got to be able to say something like that if you're going to plea for no jail time. If you come to the court and continue to disrespect the judge and continue to disrespect the institution of justice, that's when judges hand down jail time."

Still, Orlins and Pollock said the likelihood of Merchan sentencing Trump to time behind bars is slim.

"For over a year ever since this indictment came out, I always said I did not believe that Trump would ever spend a single night incarcerated, that he wouldn't go to jail that he wouldn't go to prison," Orlins said, emphasizing she still believes "it is a near impossibility."

While some may oppose Trump evading prison time citing the "equal administration of justice," Pollock said "it doesn't make sense to put the defendant  a serious contender for president  in jail on this crime" in the middle of his campaign.

"I think that Justice Juan Merchan is also aware of that concern because we heard it in the contempt proceedings when Merchan said exactly that," he added.

Instead, Pollock said he expects Merchan to sentence Trump to a $170,000 criminal fine and three years of probation. Orlins voiced a similar opinion, telling Salon she expects Trump to receive a fine and "hopefully" have other conditions set as part of a conditional discharge.

Gershman, however, said he expects Merchan to impose a "stiff prison sentence" of 18 to 24 months.

"Trump has escaped accountability his entire life. It seems that now, to use the time-worn phrase, the chickens are coming home to roost. He is finally being held accountable for his wrongful behavior," Gershman argued, pointing to Trump's unsavory conduct throughout the trial as "important" indicators for why he should be "punished severely."

Gershman added, "If we care about the rule of law, which most normal and responsible people do, then there must be some way of dramatically showing all people committed to protecting the rule of law that Donald Trump is not above the law, that he is not a special criminal defendant who deserves to be given special treatment, and despite his age, he should spend many months in a jail cell, even if his security detail needs to be inconvenienced."

Trump has indicated his plans to appeal the conviction, which could delay any punishment or resolution likely until after the November presidential election.
Participants hold a banner reading "The rent is too high!" during a demonstration against high rents in Berlin. Paul Zinken/dpa

Several thousand people demonstrated in Berlin on Saturday against high rents and evictions in the German capital.

The protesters - numbering 4,000 according to police but 12,000 according to organizers - demanded a radical change in housing policy.

Demonstrators called for a nationwide rent cap, an end to forced evictions and a ban on contract terminations in cases where owners seek to use a property for their own purposes.

They also demanded the implementation of a 2021 referendum which saw 59% of voters demand public ownership of real estate companies with more than 3,000 flats in Berlin.

Participants hold signs reading "Speculators out" and "drinking landlord tears" during a demonstration against high rents in Berlin. Paul Zinken/dpa
By Boldizsar Gyori

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched through downtown Budapest on Saturday in support of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who faces an unexpected challenge from a political newcomer ahead of next week's European Parliament election.

Orban, in power since 2010, hopes his Fidesz party, which is not affiliated with any grouping in the European Parliament (EP), will benefit from a rise in far-right support across Europe as he prepares to take over the European Union's rotating presidency in the second half of the year.

Orban has long been at odds with fellow EU members over a range of issues, including refusing to send weapons to Ukraine and maintaining economic ties with Moscow after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The flag-waving crowd, chanting "Hungary-Hungary" and holding banners saying "Give us peace, Lord", marched from Budapest's Chain Bridge alongside the parliament building to Margaret Island, where Orban addressed supporters.

"Never before have so many people lined up for peace. We are the biggest peace corps, the largest peacekeeping force in Europe," Orban said.

"Europe must be prevented from rushing into war, into its own destruction. Europe today is preparing for war, with daily announcements of the handing over of a new section of the road to hell," he added.

"We are fighting for peace," said Zoltan, 62, who took part in the march. "We have to turn the European Union in a different direction to avoid war ... The rhetoric coming from the direction of France, the United kingdom and Germany clearly wants war, with the help of the U.S."

Midway through his fourth successive term in power, Orban has struggled to contain the fallout from a sex abuse scandal that brought down two of his key political allies, former President Katalin Novak and former Justice Minister Judit Varga.

Since then, Fidesz has been in damage control mode, while fending off Peter Magyar, a former government insider, who launched a political movement after delivering incendiary comments about the inner workings of Orban's government.

"The results of the EP and local elections on June 9 will reveal how big Orban's domestic political challenges are and whether Magyar poses a greater threat to Fidesz or other opposition parties," said Andrius Tursa at think tank Teneo.

"A disappointing performance by Fidesz would likely force Orban to rethink electoral strategy ahead of the 2026 parliamentary vote."

(Reporting by Boldizsar Gyori; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Giles Elgood)
Thurston Countys public health director resigned Friday just 17 months after taking on the role.

The county hired David Bayne to lead its Public Health and Social Services department in December 2022 after a nationwide search. He submitted his resignation letter to County Manager Leonard Hernandez on Friday, according to a news release.

While we are disappointed to see David leave the county, we appreciate his leadership and contributions to our county, especially as we continue to work through the recovery phase of the COVID pandemic, Hernandez said in a prepared statement.

The release says Bayne chose to pursue a new opportunity outside the county. Jennifer Freiheit, assistant director of PHSS, has reportedly agreed to serve as interim director for now.

The leadership team looks forward to supporting Dr. Freiheit and all the hardworking employees of PHSS through this transition, Hernandez said. The work they do is vital to our community.

Bayne and Freiheit began their roles at about the same time and have been working together since then, per the release. The county reportedly offered Freiheit the assistant director position after the same nationwide search that led the county to Bayne.

This is the second time within the last three years that a PHSS director has resigned. Former PHSS director Schelli Slaughter announced her resignation in December 2021, citing personal reasons.

Slaughter left the role in January 2022 after leading the department through the early years of the pandemic. The county initially said it wanted to replace Slaughter in early 2022, but it took a long nationwide recruitment process for them to find a replacement.

Its unclear if a similar process will follow Baynes resignation. The release only says the county is assessing the departments next steps.

Bayne previously worked over four years for the Washington State Department of Health and nearly seven years at the Georgia Department of Public Health, according to his LinkedIn profile.

How is Thurston County addressing its public health challenges? New director speaks

Thurston County hires new public health director after year-long search
U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are seen here in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 18, 2023. Credit - GPO/AnadoluGetty Images

President Biden took the unusual step of detailing an offer to Hamas that would end the war in Gaza, describing the proposal as a new initiative by Israel. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is simply not there yet. The plan has many holes to be navigated, and Netanyahu still needs the support of extreme rightwing cabinet ministerswho oppose any concession to Palestinians and have even spoken of moving Jewish settlers into the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu might disappoint Biden by backing out. He could easily cite a flaw in any deal. And thats if everyones lucky enough to get a yes from Hamas.

If the plan described by the President does go forward, Israelis will likely have very mixed feelings. They will welcome the return home of any of the 121 hostages unaccounted for since Hamas seized them on Oct. 7. However, Israel would be allowing Hamas to continue governing the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has set freeing hostages as a key objective of the war, but he has emphasized, perhaps even more so, the goal of destroying Hamas.

Biden tried to make the end-of-war plan palatable by declaring that Hamas no longer is capable of attacking Israel as it did in October. He also said that if the deal he endorses becomes reality, it could calm Israels low-level war on its northern border with Lebanon. Both remarks are aimed at pleasing Israelis who are concerned about approximately 100,000 of their countrymen who have fled their homes near Gaza and in the North.

The sad truth is, after almost eight months of warfare that has killed over 36,000 Palestiniansaccording to figures supplied by the Hamas-led Gaza Ministry of Health and recognized by the U.N. and U.S. governmentthe hostage crisis continues to cause deep despair in Israel. Furthermore, since the Israeli military launched its ground offensive in response to Oct. 7, nearly 300 Israeli troops have been killed. Families of the missing regularly stage protests, urging Netanyahu to put the fate of their loved ones first by ending the war. Israeli soldiers managed to rescue just three live hostages, and they also mistakenly shot dead three Israelis who were trying to escape captivity.

This is no victory for Israel, and it would be wisest for the countrys leaders to take the loss; not necessarily to acknowledge that the fighting in Gaza has been a failurealthough the cost has been high, and the harm to Israels image gigantic. The defeat was in the one-day war of Oct. 7. Hamas should not have been able to pierce the supposedly impregnable border, and Israels widely praised army should have been able to rush to the scene and defeat the invaders. Eventually an Israeli 9/11-style commission is almost sure to assign blameand, in the normal course of parliamentary governments, the Prime Minister and Defense Minister would be expected to resign. They will continue to try to avoid that.

But the pressure on Israelfrom the hostage relatives, from the irreplaceable ally of the United States, and even from many Jews around the world who feel that this war has sparked an upsurge of antisemitismshould be heeded by Netanyahu. Biden says a lot of good can result from an end to the war, international efforts to rebuild Gaza without Hamas involvement, and the tantalizing possibility of Saudi Arabia agreeing to have open, cooperative relations with Israel.

Biden went public with the details of a proposal that Netanyahu may well have preferred to keep secret for now, because he has never publicly said he is willing to end the war at this point. But he should say it, and Biden is trying hard to create a situation in which both Israel and Hamas say yes. To save lives, to restore American leadership, and to get the Israel-Hamas war off the agenda in the U.S. presidential election.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
A Tonganoxie man was sentenced Friday to 11 years in prison for the murder of his 9-year-old son, who died in a truck crash while his father was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Shane Michael Degraeve, 35, was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck on September 4, 2022 when he ran the truck off the road into a ditch at 70 mph, according to court documents. The Degraeve family had been visiting various relatives that day, according to court documents.

The crash occurred around Easton Road and K-92d in Leavenworth County around 8:15 p.m., according to court documents. The truck rolled and ejected 9-year-old Greyson Degraeve, who later died.

Greyson was alive when the truck crashed, but struggling to breathe and unable to move his legs, according to testimony from May 2023. Degraeves other sons Cashton, 13, and Stetson, 3, survived the crash.

Greyson Degraeve was a 3rd-grader at Tonganoxie Elementary School, according to an obituary shared by Quisenberry Funeral Home in Tonganoxie. His family remembers him as a gentle caretaker who was good with babies and with the various animals at his home, including dogs, cats and fowl.

He also loved cars, trucks, fishing and all things American flag, according to the obituary.

Greyson brought joy and laughter to everyone that knew him, the obituary reads. ... He was a mamas boy, but had a love for big trucks like his daddy. He will be greatly missed.

Greyson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in a statement Friday. Shane and Cashton were also not wearing seat belts during the crash, according to court documents.

On April 4, a jury found Degraeve guilty of second-degree murder, along with reckless driving and three counts of child endangerment. He was sentenced Friday to 135 months in prison, or just over 11 years.

Our hearts go out to the families involved in this incident, Thompson said in Fridays statement. DeGraeves responsibilities as a father include adhering to traffic laws, avoiding driving under the influence, and ensuring the safety of his children.

Shane had installed a seat-belt silencer on the front passenger seat of the truck, preventing the vehicle from beeping if anyone sitting there was not buckled in, Thompson wrote. The device blocked the seat belt from being used properly, according to court documents, leaving Greyson unprotected in the passenger seat during the crash. A second seat in the car also had a silencer.

Shane Degraeve registered a blood alcohol level of .083 percent more than three hours after the crash, according to Thompson. The legal limit in Kansas is .08, and blood alcohol level can drop up to 0.02% per hour after someone finishes drinking.

Law enforcement officers testified that they smelled alcohol coming from Shane Degraeve at the scene of the accident, and that he was lethargic with bloodshot eyes. Degraeve said he had been run off the road, which was not supported by witness statements or evidence during his trial, per Thompson.

Cashton Degraeve told the jury in May 2023 that Shane Degraeve was drinking beer throughout the day, starting at breakfast, including before driving, and had brought five to seven beers along in a cooler in the truck. Cashton also testified that Shane was on his phone at the time of the accident.

Degraeve had previously been charged with several traffic infractions, including speeding, illegal parking and operating machinery with reduced vision, according to court documents.

Ninety-five people died in alcohol-related vehicle accidents in Kansas in 2022, the most recent full year of data available from the Kansas Department of Transportation. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 3.7% of traffic crashes that year.
Tractor-trailer, five vehicles collide on I-85 in Dinwiddie; two people killed, four hurt

Emergency personnel work the scene of a crash involving five vehicles and a tractor-trailer Friday, May 31, 2024, on southbound Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County. At least two people were killed and four others taken to area hospitals for treatment.

DINWIDDIE  Two people were killed and several others injured in a six-vehicle crash Friday morning on southbound Interstate 85 that also involved a tractor-trailer, state police said.

The crash closed lanes in both directions for the majority of the morning. The northbound lanes were reopened to traffic around 11:30 a.m.

The southbound lanes finally were cleared shortly before 7 p.m., according to the Virginia Department of Transportation, almost 12 hours after the 7:45 a.m. crash happened.

The accident happened at the 40.2-mile marker on I-85, about 2.5 miles south of the state Route 40 interchange in McKenney. The fatalities were in a car that caught fire when the tractor-trailer rammed it into a tree.

Their bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office in Richmond for positive identification.

A total of four occupants from among the five cars involved were taken to local hospitals. Two of them were airlifted to VCU Medical Center for treatment.

Photos from the scene indicate that an SUV and a work van were among the wrecked vehicles.

The crash remains under investigation.

The deaths are among four reported on Dinwiddie roads in a week. A 77-year-old Petersburg man and a 14-month-old North Carolina child were killed in separate crashes on Dabney Mill Road and I-85 over the Memorial Day weekend.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Interstate 85 crash in Dinwiddie kills two people, hurts four others
Christopher Gregor is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 2 in the death of his son Corey Micciolo; however, he plans to appeal the conviction

Thomas P. Costello / Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK

A New Jersey father who forced his 6-year-old son to run on a treadmill as he increased the speed has been convicted for his death, according to Newsweek, NY Post and USA Today.

On Friday, May 31, following a month-long trial and nearly two days of juror deliberations, Christopher Gregor, 31, was found guilty of child endangerment and aggravated manslaughter for his son Corey Micciolo's death. Gregor was found not guilty of first-degree murder.

"We're happy with the verdict and we thank the prosecutor's office,'' Micciolo's mother, Breanna Micciolo, told reporters outside of Ocean County Superior Court, per USA Today. "He deserves to be in jail. He's a very bad man."

Related: Pa. Man Allegedly Threw Toddler into Pack-n-Play So Hard that Family's Chihuahua Was Killed

During the trial, in which Gregor did not testify, jurors saw surveillance footage from the Atlantic Heights Clubhouse in Barnegat, N.J., that dated back to March 20, 2021. The footage allegedly showed Corey running on a treadmill as Gregor walked over to the exercise machine. The father began increasing the speed, causing Corey to stumble and fall. Whenever Corey fell off, Gregor would put him back on the treadmill and power it up further. At one point, he appeared to bite his son on the head in the video.

Days later, Corey was taken to see a doctor and said his father made him run on the treadmill because he was "too fat," according to the NY Post. A day later, he was taken to the hospital after he began stumbling, having slurred speech, nausea, and trouble breathing after a nap. He suffered a seizure during a CT scan and died.

In July 2021, the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office determined Corey had "sustained injuries due to blunt force trauma."

Gregor was arrested and charged in March 2022.

gofundme

Related: Judge Denies Bid by Polly Klaas' Murderer to Throw Out Death Sentence

Though his legal team challenged that the child died of an infection during the trial, his mother took the stand and said she filed for sole custody of Corey after she saw bruises on him, Newsweek reports.

Meanwhile, prosecutors argued that although the treadmill incident might not have caused the child's death, it proved a cycle of abuse that led to the tragedy, according to USA Today.

"At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished," Ocean County prosecutor Bradley Billhimer told USA Today Network's Asbury Park Press.

"Christopher Gregor must live the rest of his life with the knowledge that he, and he alone, was responsible for the death of his one and only son,'' Billhimer added. "While nothing can bring this precious child back to his family, we hope that today's jury verdict offers some semblance of peace and closure for those who knew and loved Corey.''

Gregor's attorney said his client is "not surprised" by the jury's decision, and plans to appeal.

Gregor's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2. He could get up to 40 years in prison.

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.
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 nations president.

Trumps 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, 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.

Can Trump pardon himself if he wins presidency in 2024?

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.

Were 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, Trumps 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 havent 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 hell 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 didnt 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 Miamis Versailles restaurant, an icon of the citys GOP-leaning Cuban American community, said he would continue to stand by Trump.

I would vote for him 20 times, Perez Ruiz 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 PIX11.
Donald Trump leaves the Manhattan courtroom after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial on May 30, 2024.

Donald Trump leaves the Manhattan courtroom after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial on May 30, 2024. (Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a news conference about former President Donald Trumps arraignment on April 4, 2023.

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.

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 article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Gabriel Chin teaches criminal law, immigration, and race and law at UC Davis School of Law. 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 Trump found guilty: 5 key aspects of the trial explained by a law professor appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Trump found guilty on all counts. What now? Our USA TODAY Network columnists explain.

It's been days since Donald Trump was found guilty of all those felony counts, sending the high-profile and historic New York trial to a sudden and impactful end.

With that, the soon-to-be Republican nominee for president became a convicted felon, and the country began to react to what that meant for the party and for a 2024 presidential election that feels as if it's finally getting started.

We have some of that reaction for you through opinion columns and content posted throughout the USA TODAY Network. Below are columns from professional writers and submissions for regular people trying to make sense of it all. You'll find liberal and conservative voices writing about the verdict.

Trump, guilty on all counts, carries a new label into 2024 election: Convicted felon

Donald Trump  a well-established liar and consistently cruel conspiracy theorist  will carry a new label into the 2024 presidential election: convicted felon.

Its an apt development for Trump, who has spent his life evading accountability, and for Republicans who allowed a transparent con artist to walk in and run roughshod over any modicum of decency their formerly Grand Old Party may have possessed.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee will, of course, wail endlessly about the injustice brought on him by a jury of his peers. Hell attack the jurors, the judge, the district attorney, the entire U.S. justice system, Biden, all Democrats, the news media, any relative you have who has ever cast even the mildest aspersions at him. The blast radius for his blame-casting will be global.

And some will buy it.

 Rex Huppke, USA TODAY

Read the full column: Trump must now campaign for president as a convicted felon

Trump is guilty. It won't matter at all this election.

While Trump's conviction is going to make for some salacious headlines and nonstop cable news fodder, dont count on it impacting the 2024 presidential election.

Those who havent made up their minds yet are likely not planning to vote at all or will check the box for a third-party candidate.

When is Trump's sentencing? How a jail sentence became a win for Trump. | USA TODAY

A PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll released just ahead of the Trump verdict found that 67% of voters said a guilty verdict wouldnt affect whom they plan to vote for in November.

And 25% of Republicans said they would be even more likely to vote for Trump if he were found guilty.

 Ingrid Jacques, USA TODAY

Read the full column: Trump is guilty. It will change nothing.

Conservatives, would we question the Trump verdict if it were Biden?

For Republicans who knew that Trump was unethical and immoral, this verdict confirms our suspicions. The guilty verdict makes these Republicans, like me, all the more frustrated that the GOP has chosen Trump as its de facto nominee.

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.

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?

 Nicole Russell, USA TODAY

Read the column: I don't like the questions Trump's guilty verdict forces conservatives to ask ourselves

What have we learned from Trump's trial? He's counting on America to roll with him.

In the first months of Donald Trumps presidency, long before his much-ballyhooed promises to revamp health care, fix immigration and jump-start a massive infrastructure program had fizzled, I sat down with one of his most loyal Republican supporters.

Betsy Hower of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was no fool. Yes, she was a rock-solid Republican  a former party chairwoman of Adams County, Pennsylvania. And yes, she felt Trump could transform America and even had the personal charisma to Make America Great Again.

But she also knew Trumps personal flaws.

Hes no choirboy, she said with all the matter-of-fact assuredness that she also used to describe the rolling beauty of the countryside near her town. I know that.

'The Guiltiest': 7 editorial cartoons about Donald Trump's conviction | Columbus Dispatch

In that simple admission by just one Trump loyalist, you can find the roots of a recurring national dilemma that America once again faces as Trump was found guilty on Thursday in New York City of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an alleged sexual affair with a porn actress on the eve of the 2016 election.

We all know Trumps flaws  and, now, the immensely historical fact that a former president and current presidential candidate is a convicted felon facing a possible prison term. But do those flaws  and that conviction and possible incarceration  matter anymore?

 Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com

Read the full column: Why aren't Americans disgusted by Trump's hush money trial?

Trump won't be sentenced until July. He should be locked up until then  like we would be.

What allows the former president to roam free  on bail, as news pundits stated he will be  after conviction?

Sentencing not happening until July should mean hes wearing an orange jumpsuit in lockup somewhere enjoying all the benefits of jail food and life until then.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York City on May 31, 2024.

If he isn't doing so, then once again we get to see that there are two levels of justice in our country  one for those that have and one for all the rest of us.

 Don Mayeski | Letters to the Editor, Arizona Republic

Read more letters about Trump's verdict: Trump threatens our democracy. Verdict proves it.

Trump allies: Stop debasing our courts. He got a fair trial and could have testified.

What disturbs me the most about the Donald Trump phenomenon in this country is how educated representatives of United States citizens are so willing to jeopardize the very constitutional republic in which they function.

It is absolutely despicable, some would say deplorable, that individuals like Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, as well as many other Republican congressional representatives and senators deride a fundamental tenet of our republic.

 Robert Landry | Letters to the Editor, Tennessean

Read the full letter: Donald Trump got a fair trial and he's mad a jury found him guilty

Opinions expressed by the USA TODAY and USA TODAY Network Opinion teams and contributing writers are separate from any part of the USA TODAY Network or its parent company, Gannett.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump is guilty. How conservatives, liberals reacted speaks volumes
Donald Trump is officially the first president, acting or former, to be convicted of a felony. Such a historic moment for a young nation would ordinarily be quite somber, but both sides of the political aisle will be energized by the inflammatory result.

But today I want to consider if the investigation and trial should have even happened.

Now, I've written repeatedly that I'm not Trumps biggest fan, so I'm sure people would expect me to be happy that he was convicted of 34 felony counts on Thursday in New York. But, sadly, I find myself writing in defense of one of Americas most difficult men to defend because I think the decisions to indict and prosecute Trump were woefully misled and likely sped us toward Americas political decay.

The jury found Trump guilty. How did we get here?

In 2016, in the days before the election that elevated him to the White House, Trumps lawyer, Michael Cohen, made a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, buying her silence about her 2006 sexual relationship with Trump.

Trump would then go on to win that election, with the Daniels story becoming public in 2018. He then lost his reelection bid in 2020 to Joe Biden while claiming voter fraud to pave the way for his current campaign.

Fast-forward to April 4, 2023, when Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the payment, delivering on a significant campaign promise he made.

Misguided legal decisions elevated crimes to felonies

The felony indictment of Trump was built upon a novel legal theory, tying a state crime to a federal statute the prosecutor has no authority to pursue charges on.

This is not the foundation you want for something as monumental as the first conviction of a U.S. president to be built upon. Falsifying business records in New York could be treated as a misdemeanor crime. However, in connecting these records to the Trump campaign as illegal contributions, Bragg was able to elevate the charges to felonies.

What do Republicans do now? I don't like the questions Trump's guilty verdict forces conservatives to ask ourselves

This is a stretch. In order to elevate the charges, Bragg needed to prove that Trumps actions were intended to defraud voters. No other reason, such as concealing such a scandalous story from his wife and children, applies. Bragg's argument is that Trump acted to conceal this information from voters through fraud, making these crimes felonious.

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.

Legal experts were skeptical of this theory from the moment the indictment was released.

"This explanation is a novel interpretation with many significant legal problems," wrote Fordham law professor Jed Handelsman Shugerman in The New York Times. "I could find no previous case of any state prosecutor relying on the Federal Election Campaign Act either as a direct crime or a predicate crime."

Even legal scholars typically hostile toward Trump weighed in against the prosecution strategy. "Bragg has evidence that Trump acted to cover up a federal crime, but it is not clear that Bragg is allowed to point to a federal crime in order to charge Trump under the New York state law," wrote Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser.

DOJ declined to prosecute Trump, so Bragg decided to find a way

The reality is that Bragg has no authority to enforce federal crimes but was allowed to use a federal crime Trump was never convicted of to justify upgrading a state crime to a felony.

Trump is now a felon: Trump, guilty on all counts, carries a new label into 2024 election: Convicted felon

The Department of Justice and the Federal Election Commission have both declined to prosecute Trump over this matter, making Braggs decision even more baffling.

Enabled by an extremely sympathetic judge being assigned to the case, Bragg chose to hinge his prosecution on a federal crime the agencies governing over chose not to prosecute Trump for.

Trump's conviction creates even more chaos in an election year filled with it

Braggs indictment of Trump was the weakest of the cases brought against the former president and the most politically motivated. This is why it was the worst choice to be the first one to be both announced and finished.

Now, it is easier for those sympathetic toward Trump to write off any other convictions due to the shakiness of this one. Democrats are forced to defend each indictment through the lens of this one as a result, particularly if it ends up being successfully appealed.

Another consequence is that in the event of a successful appeal, this entire election cycle will fall under extreme scrutiny. Imagine a scenario in which Trumps conviction is overturned on appeal after he loses the 2024 election, leading to all of history wondering if the election would have been different.

This is where the lefts folly lies. Had the first case to be decided been the classified documents probe, a set of facts far more solid than this, the result would be far less politically helpful toward Trumps arguments that there is a deep state plot against him.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

It's not yet clear how the conviction will impact the November election. The four indictments brought against Trump provided an uptick in primary polling, but polling indicates an indictment hurts Trump broadly more than it helps among diehards.

Democrats don't realize what's in store for them

Even if Trump ends up losing in November, Democrats must know that this process can only harm faith in our republic, both among Trump's supporters and those moderates who are sympathetic toward some of his positions.

Another reverberation of this action is that Republicans are undoubtedly going to push to the very top of their agenda pursuing legal action against President Biden and his degenerate son. Republican majorities in Congress would mean four years of extraordinary legal scrutiny against the Biden administration.

Dace Potas

Republicans have already impeached Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, subpoenaed Hunter Biden and opened an impeachment inquiry against President Biden. If Democrats view these actions over the past four years as a sideshow, they have a whole new thing coming to them in 2025 if Republicans grow their legislative power.

Norms have been routinely broken over the past decade of American politics, but this reckless prosecution is a new escalation beyond what many envisioned in 2016 or even 2020.

American politics is in distress, and in their attempts to fight Trump, Democrats are only stress-testing the system even more. We are accelerating down a path with seemingly no off-ramp, and somebody would be wise to hit the brakes soon.

Dace Potas is an Opinion fellow for USA TODAY. A graduate from DePaul University with a degree in political science, he's also president of the Lone Conservative, the largest conservative student-run publication in the country.

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: Why was Trump found guilty? I don't know, but Bragg's case was a sham
Trump is now a convicted felon. Here's what that could mean for his rights

For the first time in United States history, a former -- and quite possibly future -- president is now officially a convicted felon.

The guilty verdict in Donald Trump's hush money trial has opened a huge can of worms regarding what this could mean for him legally. Like any other American found guilty of a crime, Trump is likely to face new restrictions and lose a number of rights due to his newfound felon status.

Here's what legal experts say we can expect to see happen.

MORE: Trump trial: Biden calls Trump's remarks 'dangerous'

Could Trump still run for president?

He most certainly could. As long as you're over 35, a natural-born citizen and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years, you're eligible to run for president.

It wouldn't be the first time there's been a convicted felon in the presidential race, in 1920, Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs won 3.4% of the popular vote while in prison on sedition charges for speaking out against the World War I draft.

Could he still vote?

Yes, unless he's in prison.

Though Florida -- where Trump is registered to vote -- prohibits people convicted of felonies from voting until their sentence is complete, New York law will allow him to maintain his voting rights.

In New York, felons are only barred from voting if they are currently incarcerated, and voting rights are automatically restored upon their release from prison.

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after being found guilty on all counts in New York, May 30, 2024. (ABC News)

Florida law states that felons are ineligible to vote "only if the conviction would make the person ineligible to vote in the state where the person was convicted," thus clearing the way for Trump to cast his ballot in November -- as long as he's not behind bars at that point, in which case, he would be legally prohibited from voting.

MORE: Can Trump still be elected president after being convicted in hush money case?

Could Trump own a gun?

Probably not. Under both federal law and New York state law, people convicted of felonies cannot legally possess firearms.

But Trump -- who in 2012 told the Washington Times he had a concealed-carry permit and owned several guns -- could eventually get that ban reversed.

"He could seek to have that right restored, since his conviction was for a lower level non-violent felony," Cheryl Bader, a professor at Fordham Law, told ABC News.

Could he travel internationally?

Probably, but possibly not to some particular countries.

As part of sentencing, a judge may impose travel restrictions, but that's usually only done when there's concern that the person might flee. "I would be surprised if Judge Merchan will feel that travel restrictions are necessary as Trump is not a flight risk," Bader said.

However, there are a number of countries -- including Canada, China and the U.K. -- that refuse entry to foreign visitors who've been convicted of crimes. Even so, it's not such a black-and-white rule, and is often decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the crime.

"These laws could cause Trump problems depending on what happens with his sentence and whether a particular country bans people convicted of a comparable crime ... [but] governments of these countries likely have some discretion to waive the prohibition." Betsy Ginsberg, a professor at Cardozo Law, told ABC News.

Trump is now a convicted felon. Here's what that could mean for his rights originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
For most politicians seeking the highest office in the land, being found guilty on 34 counts in a court of law less than six months before an election would be reasonably damaging. In the case of Donald Trump, however, Im not so sure. In fact, I wouldnt be surprised if it didnt cost him a single vote.

Put it like this. Does anyone seriously think that at this moment, across Americas key electoral battlegrounds, there are people holding the following conversation?

Honey, have you seen the news? Donald Trumps been convicted of paying hush money to cover up an affair he allegedly had with a busty blonde porn star.

Wow. Well, Im certainly never voting for him again. After all, the reason I always supported him was that I thought he was a shining paragon of angelic virtue.

Me, too, honey. I just cant believe it. Id always taken Mr Trump to be a scrupulously upstanding gentleman with an unswerving commitment to maintaining the highest standards of public decency. If, in 2016, there had ever been even the slightest hint of evidence that he was anything less than a saint, I could never possibly have cast my vote in his favour.

Same here. Just imagine if, a mere month before the 2016 election, a recording had emerged of Mr Trump boasting that, because he was a star, he could grab women in an unmentionable place whenever he felt like it. I would have said: No way am I voting for that disreputable lout. Im switching to his opponent.

Or imagine if, during a televised rally, hed performed an impression of a reporter, ridiculing the mans disability. Or if hed said that a female journalist whod asked him awkward questions must have had blood coming out of her... wherever. Or if hed mocked a famous US military veteran for getting captured during the Vietnam War, a conflict which Mr Trump himself ducked out of. Anything like that would have instantly scuppered his presidential campaign, which, as everyone knows, was based on emphasising his spotless personal morality.

It was the very core of Mr Trumps electoral appeal. Yet now we find that, all along, he may just possibly have been something of a vulgar, unscrupulous rogue. All I can say is: this changes everything.

Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

What a pity about Iain Dale. A few days ago, the former LBC radio host applied to be the Tories election candidate for the Kent constituency in which he lives, Tunbridge Wells  only for reporters to reveal that, in 2022, he said hed never liked the place, and would happily live somewhere else. As a result, Mr Dale has now withdrawn from the race. His past comments, he said, would have been constantly used against him by his political opponents.

No doubt they would. But surely there was a straightforward solution to his plight. At every hustings of the campaign, Mr Dale could simply have stood up and roared: Indeed I did say that Ive never liked Tunbridge Wells. Thats precisely why I want to be its MP  so that I can make it a better place! Instead of just sitting on my backside and moaning about everything thats wrong with this town, Ive decided to do something about it! I said that Tunbridge Wells had a massive drug problem  so Im going to clean it up! I said that some parts are very deprived  so Im going to help lift them out of poverty!

If anything, therefore, my vocal dissatisfaction with Tunbridge Wells actually makes me the perfect man to be its MP! Who would you rather choose: someone who thinks the area is already unimprovable, and so would sit around doing nothing for five years? Or someone like me, who is honest about the areas problems, and is determined to solve them?

Obviously such a response would have been slippery, specious and self-serving, a shameless attempt to use spin to disguise a damaging gaffe. But that makes it all the better. Because it would have shown that he was ideally suited to Commons debate.

In any case, his past comments would surely have won favour in the constituency, because they suggest that Mr Dale embodies the true spirit of Tunbridge Wells. Since time immemorial, the people of the town have been famed for voicing their disgust at the world around them. Indeed, at this very moment they are doubtless writing to newspapers in their droves to share their views on Mr Dales withdrawal.

Dear Sir, I have always been nauseated by the spectacle of sycophantic political candidates trying to suck up to voters by gushing witlessly about how much they love their constituency. At last, one man dared to tell it like it is  yet we have been deprived of the opportunity to vote for him. Now Im even more disgusted than ever.

The absolute Pitts

The 18-year-old daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie  who broke up in 2016  has made a legal request to drop her fathers surname. In Hollywood, excitable showbiz commentators have chosen to interpret this as yet another skirmish in the bitter divorce battle between the young womans parents.

Well, maybe. Or perhaps shes just realised that Shiloh Pitt is a deeply unfortunate spoonerism.

Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 7am every Tuesday and Saturday

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Trump Says His Gag Order Is Still in Effect: He Might Be Right

(Bloomberg) -- A day after being convicted of 34 felony counts, Donald Trump said a gag order still prevented him from fully defending himself outside of court.

Most Read from Bloomberg

At a New York press conference Friday, Trump said the judicially-imposed restriction wouldnt let him make comments about Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and the prosecutions star witness at the hush-money trial.

Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order, Trump said, though he did manage to call Cohen a sleazeball.

After two days of deliberation, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to a porn star, a conspiracy that prosecutors said deprived voters of vital information before the 2016 election.

Trump also used the press conference to attack the judge presiding over the trial, Justice Juan Merchan, and slammed the prosecution as a scam.

While several lawyers wouldnt weigh in on Merchan or the prosecutors, they did say the former president might be right about the gag order.

Such restrictions are generally put into place to protect witnesses and jurors and can expire after a trial, but Merchan didnt lift the order after the verdict came in Thursday afternoon. He imposed the order in March after prosecutors argued Trumps statements were threatening the integrity of the case.

Read more: Donald Trump Becomes First Former US President Guilty of Crimes

Michael Obus, a former New York state judge, said Friday the order cant be extended past Trumps July 11 sentencing, when the case will be over.

During the trial, Merchan found Trump violated the gag order 10 different times, warning the former president that any further violations could land him in jail.

A spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case, and Todd Blanche, a lawyer for Trump, didnt return emails seeking comment about the status of the gag order.

Its still an important issue because Merchan has said that Trumps attitude toward the gag order could effect sentencing. While Trump technically faces as much as four years in prison on each count, some lawyers have speculated that as a first-time offender with no prior convictions, he could be given a fine or probation.

I said early on that the one way Trump could guarantee spending some time in jail would be to violate the gag order one more time, Obus said. And after the 10, it has had a salutary effect.

If there is any confusion about the gag order, Trump may have to blame his own legal team, said Marvyn Kornberg, a veteran criminal defense lawyer in New York.

His lawyers lost a chance to get some clarification from the judge, Kornberg said.

--With assistance from Erik Larson.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A Donald Trump supporter in Florida protests against the guilty verdict against the former president - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Donald Trump supporters are trying to identify and have threatened violence against the 12 jurors who convicted the former president in Manhattan last week.

Their identities have been kept under wraps for their safety and in March Judge Juan Merchan issued an order banning the publication of the jurors names and addresses.

But this has not stopped Trump supporters trying to track them down.

According to Advance Democracy, a non-profit organisation, social media is swirling with posts threatening violence against members of the jury, as well as the judge and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The group found posts carrying what it claimed were jurors home addresses on fringe pro-Trump message boards with a reputation for harassing and threatening political opponents.

Some of the websites were used by Trump supporters as they planned to storm the US Capitol on Jan 6 in 2021 in an attempt to prevent Joe Bidens election victory.

On a website known as The Donald, which was popular among the Capitol rioters, one user wrote Dox the Jurors. Dox them now, referring to the process of doxxing  or sharing someones personal information online.

On another forum, an anonymous user wrote: Hope these jurors face some street justice.

One user voiced the hope that a member of Trumps legal team would anonymously leak the identity of jurors.

This is not the first time jurors involved in legal action against Trump have been under threat.

The names of members of the Georgia Grand Jury who voted to indict Trump in September 2023, for his attempt to overturn the election in the state, which was narrowly won by Joe Biden, were circulated on far-Right internet groups.

Another tactic is swatting, making false alarm calls to the police triggering a response by armed SWAT teams.

This was a tactic used against Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, after she ruled that Trump should be excluded from the 2024 presidential ballot.

Unfortunately, social media has given rise to a whole generation of amateur sleuthing that lacks journalism standards and ethics, leading to countless examples of mistaken identities and wrongful accusations, Ben Decker, the CEO of Memetica, a threat analysis company, told CNN.

The Telegraph has approached the Trump campaign for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Related video: Trump speaks following conviction

WASHINGTON (NBC News)  The 34 felony guilty verdicts returned Thursday against former President Donald Trump spurred a wave of violent rhetoric aimed at the prosecutors who secured his conviction, the judge who oversaw the case and the ordinary jurors who unanimously agreed there was no reasonable doubt that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee falsified business records related to hush money payments to a porn star to benefit his 2016 campaign.

Advance Democracy, a non-profit that conducts public interest research, said there has been a high volume of social media posts containing violent rhetoric targeting New York Judge Juan Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, including a post with Braggs purported home address. The group also found posts of the purported addresses of jurors on a fringe internet message board known for pro-Trump content and harassing and violent posts, although it is unclear if any actual jurors had been correctly identified.

The posts, which have been reviewed by NBC News, appear on many of the same websites used by Trump supporters to organize for violence ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. These forums were hotbeds of threats inspired by Trumps lies about the 2020 election, which he lost, and that the voting system was rigged against him. They now feature new threats echoing Trumps rhetoric and false claims about the hush money trial, including that the judicial system is now rigged against him.

Dox the Jurors. Dox them now, one user wrote after Trumps conviction on a website formerly known as The Donald, which was popular among participants in the Capitol attack. (That post appears to have been quickly removed by moderators.)

Read the full story on nbcnews.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A group of retired judges and prosecutors were on their annual fishing trip at Lake Hiawassee in western North Carolina when news broke that a jury had found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The verdict sent North Carolinas two candidates for attorney general  Reps. Dan Bishop, a Republican, and Jeff Jackson, a Democrat  into a tit-for-tat on social media with one another over whether the trial was rigged.

And Tom Keith, former Forsyth County district attorney, said it was similar to the conversations happening between the judges and prosecutors at the lake, who disagreed on whether Trump should have been charged.

You have two diametrically opposed, Keith said of Bishop and Jackson. And here we are a bunch of ex-prosecutors, judges; and were falling into different camps.

The hush-money case

Trump, 77, was accused of giving hush-money to adult film star, Stormy Daniels, to prevent her from discussing a sexual encounter she had with Trump, as a means to influence the 2016 election. The jury found him guilty of covering up the payments.

Prosecutors said in doing so, Trump committed tax fraud. Keith said he believes that accusation is what sealed Trumps fate.

The jury gets down to a simple thing: youre trying to take a tax deduction for having sex with Stormy Daniels, Keith said. I think when it came down to it  every man on the street would be like, Well, I cant do that. Thats wrong.

The trial began on April 15, with opening testimony first heard on April 22. The jury deliberated for more than nine hours before reaching their consensus that Trump was guilty. He is the first ex-president convicted of a felony.

He now awaits sentencing on July 11 that could range from probation to a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Defending Trump

Across the nation, Republican lawmakers immediately swarmed social media, coming to Trumps defense.

Bishop, a Republican from Waxhaw, was among them.

Election interference to get Trump, Bishop posted on X. 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. #MAGA2024.

Bishop stands out among Trumps defenders because despite currently serving as a member of Congress, he is running in 2024 to become North Carolinas attorney general. He is also running against Jackson, a Democrat from Charlotte, whose congressional district was redrawn to favor a Republican win.

If Bishop wins, he would be the first Republican attorney general the state has elected since 1986.

Jackson reposted Bishops social media post Thursday night with his own message.

He immediately dismisses 34 unanimous verdicts by a jury as rigged, Jackson wrote. Hes never been a prosecutor  and it shows. Disagreeing with a jury is one thing, but saying the whole thing is rigged is dishonest and destructive.

Should DA have brought case against Trump?

Former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr called Bishops messaging unacceptable, particularly from a licensed attorney or someone trying to be the states attorney general.

Its perfectly fair to say I disagree with the verdict, and disagree with the decision to bring the case, I disagree with rulings that happen invariably in litigation, Orr said. But clearly there was a law on the books, criminal law, that prohibited the kind of conduct that the jury found that Trump committed.

Orr said its even fair to disagree on whether District Attorney Alvin Bragg should have brought the case, though he added that that might be giving Trump a pass because of his position of power.

I think its perfectly legitimate to disagree, Orr said. But theres sort of the standard of professionalism that lawyers, and I would submit candidates, should surely exhibit that disagrees with what transpired, as opposed to casting aspersions.

Orr also noted that both Democrats and Republicans in the legal system have been under attack and there is diminished public confidence in the judicial system. He added that the kind of attacks that Bishop made Thursday night only weaken public confidence.

Social media posts

Bishop went on to call the trial a sham with a sham outcome. He said a reckoning is coming for a gangster government. And that while victims of crime in New York City suffer, Alvin Bragg and criminals rejoice.

He added that the latter is the vision Jackson has for North Carolina.

And while Bishops supporters piled on to Jackson, Bishop told them to wait for Jacksons forthcoming kitchen-table apology.

Jackson is known for weekly social media posts, particularly on TikTok, that he makes at his kitchen table explaining the inner workings of Congress. Recently, he posted an apology video after misreading the reaction he would receive for voting in favor of a bill that could ultimately end with TikTok being banned in the United States.

Jackson told McClatchy Friday afternoon someone had sent him a screenshot of Bishops post that he retweeted and it was what he described as Bishops attack on the jury that really bothered me.

When I was a prosecutor, I saw jury verdicts I disagreed with, Jackson said. You want to respond to that, in a rational way. Not by lashing out and calling the jury rigged. I just thought that behavior really targeting the jury is well beneath what we should expect from an attorney general, especially when were talking about someone whos never prosecuted a single case.

Jackson said the 12 jurors were called upon to make a decision that regardless of what they chose would upset tens of millions of people.

The fact that the accusations against them as being rigged, started flying almost instantaneously, in the absence of even hearing from a single one of them, I thought was particularly troublesome, Jackson said.

McClatchy reached out to Bishops office for comment but got no response.

Delay in bringing the case

Back at the lake, Keith said he would have never brought the case forward. He turned down many white-collar crimes, he said, because he was focused on violence and didnt have the manpower to pursue a case like Trumps.

We just couldnt handle it, Keith said. We didnt have the resources.

But he stopped for a minute and thought about the positions of Jackson and Bishop. He pointed out that Jackson has experience as a former prosecutor. And he said Bishop is a far-right Republican who would probably follow Trumps lead.

But you know, both are actually kind of right, because there was a crime, they did convict him and he had a fair trial and he had a great lawyer, Keith said. But they waited eight years, and thats problematic.

Keith said he voted for Trump in both elections.

He said when the prosecutors and judges discussed the case while fishing, there was one thing they all agreed on. He said waiting eight years was really strange.

North Carolina does not have a statute of limitations for felonies. But Keith said people expect to be tried before the recollections of witnesses change and before evidence disappears.

Its not fair to the defendant, Keith said. And sometimes not very fair to the state, because the circumstances change in that intervening time. The closer you can try it, whether that happens in a reasonable time, six months or a year, you probably have the most active evidence and its probably the fairest time to try it. But after eight years, who knows?

Orr, who recalls calling Trump a danger to our country and a danger to our republic in 2016, feels differently.

He noted how much changed in eight years. Daniels had come forward. Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer who was known as his fixer, had left Trumps organization.

It was certainly a case of better developed evidentiary basis for bring a case, Orr said. Everybody felt this was the weakest of the four (cases) that Trump is facing and you got a unanimous verdict on 34 counts in about two days of deliberation, which feels to me like it was a pretty solid evidentiary case that was presented beyond a reasonable doubt.

Keith said he does not believe this trial was a sham. Had they brought the case sooner, he said, there would be a lot less criticism.

But he said he wondered how many violent crimes went unpunished while New York prosecutors focused on Trump.

And then he doubled back.

We have to get justice, Keith said. We have to convict everybody. He did this. The rich and powerful cant get away with crime.

I dont think theres a single answer that youll get from people.
The survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which is considered one of the most heinous acts of racial violence in U.S. history, can vividly remember when a white mob destroyed the robust all-Black Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Decades later, neither Viola Fletcher nor fellow survivor Lessie Benningfield Randle have been compensated for the harrowing experience. It has been estimated that hundreds of "Black Wall Street" residents were killed during the attack, and homes and businesses were annihilated on May 31, 1921, and June 1.

A white mob attacked Greenwood, a district of Tulsa, Okla., home to about 10,000 people. Successful entrepreneurs who had turned the 35-block area into Tulsa's "Black Wall Street" were left with nothing. Estimated hundreds of the Black community's residents were dead and injured.

Since the massacre, archivists, attorneys, archeologists, and historians have rallied around the survivors to help them tell their stories. While learning about the massacre, some people have learned that they, too, are connected to a victim or are descendants of a victim.

Tulsa native, Africa diaspora archaeologist National Geographic explorer Dr. Alicia Odewale described Greenwood as a "space of refuge and safety." In recent years, she has discovered her family's ties to the massacre, and in her work, she uses archaeology to learn more about Greenwood.

Greenwood "is a space where the community came together despite the racial terror that was all around them," she told USA TODAY.

"It's more important for us to keep talking about Greenwood, to keep talking about this community that still exists, that nevertheless, that is continuing to fight this continual fight for justice for the survivors and their descendants," she said. "We have to continue to hold our legislators accountable and ensure our history is being taught."

Coming home to nothing left': An illustrated history of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

'Mother Fletcher' and 'Mother Randle' are the last living survivors

Survivors Lessie Benningfield Randle (left to right), Viola Fletcher, and Hughes Van Ellis sing together at the conclusion of a rally during commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on June 01, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. President Biden stopped in Tulsa to commemorate the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre. May 31st of this year marks the centennial of when a white mob started looting, burning and murdering in Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood, then known as Black Wall Street, killing up to 300 people and displacing thousands more. Organizations and communities around Tulsa continue to honor and commemorate survivors and community residents.

At 110, "Mother Fletcher," a mother and grandmother, is notably the oldest survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre. She has launched the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation, a non-profit that aims to help individuals' "self-sufficiency through health, educational knowledge-sharing and workforce opportunity," according to its website.

Last year, Fletcher and her grandson, Ike Howard, also released a memoir titled "Don't Let Them Bury My Story."

In May 2021, Fletcher, her brother Hughes Van Ellis nicknamed "Uncle Red"  a World War II veteran who recently passed away last year and Randle appeared before Congress, pushing for their reparations and for the country to acknowledge the tragedy that impacted generations.

Dressed in a sage green blazer and sitting poised before lawmakers, Fletcher recounted the night of the massacre, describing herself as "rich."

"Not just in terms of wealth, but in culture, community, heritage, and my family had a beautiful home," she clarified. "We had great neighbors, and I had friends to play with. I felt safe. I had everything a child could need. I had a bright future ahead of me."

Fletcher went to sleep in her home but was awakened hours later as chaos ensued. She was only 7 years old at the time. The home she knew was gone, but the memories and violence she witnessed lived with her throughout her years.

"I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire, I still see Black businesses being burned, I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams," she explained. "I have lived through the massacre every day. "

In the meeting before Congress, Randle tells them how her grandmother's home was looted and destroyed before her eyes. As a result, she explained that what she saw still has an impact on her today causing emotional and physical distress. In her Oct. 14, 2020 deposition, Randle told Congress she experiences flashbacks from the Tulsa massacre and is taken back to the sight of Black bodies being stacked up on the street as her neighborhood was set on fire.

"Whenever we're talking about this story, I don't think people recognize that a lot of the survivors that have shared all their testimony were children at the time. This is a story about children," Odewale said.

'We're going to fight to the finish': Tulsa Race Massacre survivor on lawsuit and struggle

Search for graves of victims from Tulsa Race Massacre

The past three searches for graves from the Tulsa Race Massacre have uncovered 35 exhumed burials. Of those, eight supplied enough genetic information to determine family history, according to a May 29 update posted to the City of Tulsa's website.

The website also provides a full list of those burials, their surnames and location.

Intermountain Forensics, the laboratory helping the City of Tulsa with its search for victims and relatives from the Tulsa massacre, says it has identified many families but is still looking for more.

"All of us at Intermountain Forensics are both humbled and honored to contribute to such a pivotal initiative, which also serves as a template for addressing similar historical injustices nationwide, Intermountain Forensics Director of Laboratory Development, Danny Hellwig, said in the press release. The assistance from the public has been invaluable, and continued support of family stories and DNA comparisons will be crucial as we move forward in this historic work. We are pleased to report significant progress in our work on the 1921 Tulsa Graves Project.

1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: 2 dozen more unmarked graves discovered in search for victims

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said in the press release that the lab working to find and make these genetic profiles has helped the project move forward.

Im so thankful for our experts who have been pouring over the samples and data for the better part of the past year to help move this investigation forward, Bynum said. Six years ago, we wanted descendants and the community to have more answers and today we are one step closer on the identification side. I feel a great sense of responsibility to follow through on what we promised and Im eager for the process to continue.

Tulsa Massacre survivors lawsuit

Damario Solomon-Simmons, attorney at Solomon-Simmons Law in Tulsa, told USA TODAY that he was a young law student turned lawyer when he got involved in the Tulsa Race Massacre lawsuit.

In 2004, I was very fortunate as a law student and then a young lawyer to work as a clerk and a young lawyer with Professor Charles Ogletree, Johnny Cochran, Willie Gary, Michelle Roberts," Solomon-Simmons said. "Some of the greatest civil rights attorneys across the nation that bought a federal case and that case lasted a couple years and that got dismissed in the federal reports."

Solomon-Simmons and his team started to do some research and stumbled upon the public nuisance theory.

We worked on that for over a year, and we filed the case Sept. 1, 2020 as both a public nuisance case, which is saying that there is still remnants and problems that the massacre created back in 1921 is still ongoing. That's the key to a public nuisance case," Solomon-Simmons said. "It's ongoing and doesn't matter when it is like an oil spill, right? Oil spill comes in spilled out 1 million gallons of oil on June 1, 1921, and there's still some oil that are causing problems June 1, 2021."

The case isnt just for his clients, its for the entire Greenwood community.

It's not just for the individual clients, it is for the entire approximately 40 blocks of Greenwood that was devastated that is still suffering," Solomon-Simmons said. "Blight, that started because of the massacre, still suffering from other ongoing of what's called in the law, continuing harm."

Tulsa attorney forms a friendship with the massacre survivors

Solomon-Simmons said although Fletcher and Randle are his clients, he meets with them regularly. Fletcher turned 110 years old a few weeks ago and Solomon-Simmons attended her birthday party in Frisco, Texas at her grandsons home. With Randle he is working on a mini documentary called Greenwood is still burning in a partnership with Lush Cosmetics that premiered on Friday May 31 in Tulsa.

Lush they have a platform called WaterBear. The 205 different locations will have information about our litigation, about Justice for Greenwood and people can actually write a letter of support to us to the Department of Justice," Solomon-Simmons said. "They're gonna have that going on for two weeks. They've trained all of their managers at each store a little bit about the history, a little bit about lawsuit, and then you go in there, you can see, you'll see a silhouette of myself, Mother Randle and Cecil McBee and you can press the button, you can hear a little discussion from us."

Solomon-Simmons said that working with Fletcher and Randle has given him a different perspective on life. Fletchers parents were sharecroppers and Randles grandmother was an enslaved African, Solomon-Simmons said.

Despite all of that discrimination, world wars, two pandemics, Jim Crow. They're still optimistic," he said. "They're still hoping that the city and the court system will do the right thing.

While testifying alongside Hughes Van Ellis in the United States House of Representatives on May 19, 2021, Solomon-Simmons said he told him something that has stuck with him until this day.

One thing that Uncle Red said, that was just so powerful and sticks to my mind, he said, you know, we're not just pictures on a black and white photo, we're real flesh and blood.

Taylor Ardrey is a Trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at TArdrey@gannett.com.

Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com . Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921: Latest on survivors, search for graves
Michelle Reimers is resigning as general manager of the Turlock Irrigation District after four years in the job.

The water and power utility announced the decision, effective June 21, in a news release Friday. Reimers was its first female GM and had started there as a public information officer in 2006.

She does not have anything specific that she is moving to right away and is looking forward to exploring new ways in which she can impact the water and power industries, said an email from Constance Anderson, communications division manager.

The district board will launch a search for a successor to Reimers. No timeline was announced.

Turlock Irrigation District General Manager Michelle Reimers, left, speaks to state and local officials about its groundwater recharge program along its irrigation canal at the Gemperle family almond orchard near Keyes, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. TID launched the recharge project in the fall with Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, and the California Department of Water Resources.

TID and MID grew up together

TID is the oldest irrigation district in California, established in June 1887 to secure rights to the Tuolumne River. The neighboring Modesto Irrigation District came along later that year. The two agencies share Don Pedro Reservoir, one of the states largest water storage sites.

TID supplies about 149,000 acres of farmland in southern Stanislaus and northern Merced counties. It also provides river water to a new treatment plant for Turlock and Ceres residents, easing their reliance on wells.

TID has about 240,000 electricity customers, and it is served by Don Pedro hydropower, gas, wind, solar, and other sources.

Debate over water for fish

Reimers led the district as it tried to fend off state efforts to greatly boost river flows for fish below Don Pedro. TID also has worked to capture storm runoff for use in recharging groundwater, and to meet state mandates for renewable electricity.

I am proud of the progress that we have made as an organization, Reimers said in the release, and I believe that TID is well-positioned to continue to meet our mission of providing reliable and affordable water and power for years to come.

Reimers had been assistant general manager of external affairs between 2016 and 2020. This included consumer programs, state and federal legislative and regulatory efforts, and communications.

Michelle has been a tireless advocate of our community and has always led with the customer in mind, board President Ron Macedo said in the release.
Seattle police are investigating after two juvenile boys were injured in a drive-by shooting in downtown Seattle Saturday morning.

Officers responded to a 911 call reporting multiple shots fired and people running in the 300 block of Pike Street at 1:11 a.m. When they arrived, they found the two boys had been shot.

The Seattle Fire Department provided aid until they were transported to Harborview Medical Center. One was in stable condition, the other in serious condition.

According to officers, no suspects were taken into custody and detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are investigating what led up to the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Portland-area dog rescue will take in five pugs with disabilities that were believed to be abandoned in two different counties over Memorial Day weekend.

Columbia County Animal Control Officer Roger Kadell told KOIN 6 that one dog was discovered on Caanan Road near Deer Island and another was found on Highway 47 in the Mist area. Officials said a third pug was reported dead on the highway, but its body has not been located.

Happy Otterversary: Oregon Zoo celebrates 2019 rescue of two orphaned otters

Clatsop County Animal Shelter welcomed three additional pugs that same weekend. According to Animal Control Supervisor Justin Dersham, the animals were all recovered from rural areas along Highway 30, Highway 202, and Highway 47.

Officials suspect that all of the pugs came from the same litter, as theyre all of a similar size and color. They also suspect the animals were intentionally abandoned.

Pacific Pug Rescue in Beaverton has since housed the two pugs found in Columbia County, and named them Rowan and Ayla. The rescue organization plans to take in the remaining animals next week.

PSU creates new investment committee after calls to cut ties with Boeing

In total, there are four boys and one girl. According to a Facebook post, each has a deformed rear leg that will require specialist surgery.

We can tell you this is going to be a very expensive endeavor, frankly we are in a bit of shell shock right now about the impending costs of treatment, Pacific Pug Rescue wrote. As we discussed in a prior post we got a pug named Popcorn that was dumped in this same area a couple years ago with the same leg deformities.

The organization has launched a fundraiser to cover the cost of surgery.

3 Gresham firefighters injured, 1 critical after duplex fire

Both Clatsop and Columbia counties are investigating this incident as a case of animal abandonment. The agencies encourage anyone with additional information, or who believes they have found another abandoned pug, to contact officials.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
By Idrees Ali and Xinghui Kok

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to refocus attention on China's threat in the Asia-Pacific on Saturday, seeking to alleviate concerns that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have distracted from America's security commitments in the region.

Just hours after Austin spoke at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy arrived in Singapore, where he will address delegates at the security forum on Sunday.

In a statement on the social media platform X, he said he had come to gather support from the Asia-Pacific region for a peace summit planned for June 15-16 in Switzerland. He said he planned to hold several meetings, including with Singapores President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, Austin, and Singaporean investors.

Zelenskiy later wrote on Telegram that he had discussed the front-line situation with members of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, including "the dispatch of additional air defence systems." Sanctions against Russia were also discussed.

Austin met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the conference on Friday in a bid to cool friction over issues ranging from Taiwan to China's military activity in the South China Sea.

There has been increasing concern that Washington's focus on helping Ukraine counter Russia's invasion and support for Israel's war in Gaza, while trying to ensure that the conflict does not spread, has taken away attention from the Indo-Pacific.

"Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theatre of operations," Austin said in his speech, which appeared aimed at underlining the administration's legacy in the region as President Joe Biden's first term in office nears its end.

Biden is running for re-election in November against former President Donald Trump.

"Let me be clear: The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure," Austin said. "Thats why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region."

Austin underscored the importance of alliances in the region.

"And ... peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and not coercion or conflict. And certainly not through so-called punishment," Austin said, taking a shot at China.

In response, Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng said the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy was intended "to create division, provoke confrontation and undermine stability."

"It only serves the selfish geopolitical interests of the U.S. and runs counter to the trend of history and the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and win-win cooperation," said Jing, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission.

Some U.S. officials say Beijing has become more emboldened in recent years, recently launching what it described as "punishment" drills around Taiwan, sending heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks after Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwan's president.

GAZA PROPOSAL

Indonesia's president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, told the meeting that his nation was willing to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza to maintain a ceasefire, if needed.

He said U.S. President Joe Biden's three-phase proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction.

"When needed and when requested by the U.N., we are prepared to contribute significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire as well as providing protection and security to all parties and to all sides," Prabowo said.

Prabowo, currently defence minister, takes over the presidency of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation in October.

The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since Russia's February, 2022 invasion, and the U.S. Congress appropriated $61 billion more last month. It has also continued to arm Israel, and the same bill provides $26 billion to in additional support for that country.

In another session, South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik declined to say whether his country would change its laws, which prohibit arms exports to nations in conflicts, to more directly provide aid to Ukraine.

In the last year, South Korea has transferred artillery ammunition to the United States and signed historically large arms deals with Poland; both of those countries provide security assistance to Ukraine.

About $8 billion in U.S. funding is set aside for countering China in the Indo-Pacific as part of the supplemental funding bill passed by lawmakers.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Friday denounced illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in the South China Sea, a disputed ocean territory that China has been flooding with coastguard ships in recent months.

The Philippines, a sprawling archipelago with strong historical ties to the United States and close geographical proximity to China, is at the centre of an intensifying power struggle between Washington and Beijing.

Austin said the harassment faced by the Philippines was dangerous and reiterated that the United States' mutual defence treaty with Manila was iron clad. He said the aim was for tensions between Beijing and Manila not to spiral out of control.

"America will continue to play a vital role in the Indo-Pacific, together with our friends across the region that we share and care so much about," Austin said.

Jing, the Chinese general, said these alliances contributed to instability in the region.

"It is natural for neighbours to bicker sometimes, but we need to resolve disagreements through dialogue and consultation rather than inviting wolves into our house and playing with fire," he said.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali, Fanny Potkin, Tom Westbrook, and Xinghui Kok; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Joe Brock, and Gerry Doyle)
UPPER PENINSULA, Mich. (WJMN)  Two legislators in the Upper Peninsula are denouncing the recent conviction of Former President Donald Trump after he was found guilty on all 34 counts against him in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

The charges largely relate to falsifying business records.

U.S. Representative Jack Bergman posted to X Thursday evening that this is a dark day for our Nation.

The weaponization of our justice system is obvious, egregious, and just sad, Bergman continued. This sham of a trial has been purely political from start to finish and indicative of the Banana Republic that President Biden is hell-bent on turning us into.

Bergman added that he believed Trump will appeal the verdict, and win.

On Friday, Local 3 spoke in conversation with State Sen. Ed McBroom about the decision.

Its a big mess, McBroom said. You know, I look at it and say the man is no saint. He certainly has problems like so many others doespecially many of those who seem to be our leaders these days. But it also seems very clear to me that hes been treated in a way that no other has been treated, and thats very frustrating to me.

McBroom went on to say he believed the prosecution to be politically motivated, comparing Trumps situation to Hillary Clintons concerning her emails and former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, who was tried for using campaign funds to support his mistress.

Trump has yet to face trial in three other criminal cases, including two concerning accusations of election fraud related to his call to the Georgia Secretary of State and the J6 insurrection. When asked about those, McBroom indicated he believed those prosecutions were politically motivated as well.

We asked McBroom if that was indicative of corrupt justice system, to which he responded, I dont know if I suppose some might define it as corrupt. I would lay it back more on a failure to fully comprehend roles and to trust the democratic process.

McBroom said he thought it related to an idea he said people on both sides of the aisle have expressed, that in order to protect democracy, we have to break democracys rules.

McBroom said, thats very bad for all of us and shouldnt be done. He explained that, in his view, the justice system may be straying from the principle of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

On what his constituents should do with his evaluation that the prosecution was politically motivated, McBroom said they should work to stay educated, and show up to the ballot box.

People should do what were always encouraged, as Americans to do; be as informed as possible and use that information to select the best possible candidates, said McBroom, to support the best laws, to seek out change through the political process and the peaceful political process, and to continue to be good citizens.

And, you know, right now we just have a lot of folks and movements that try to stir us all up so they can reap the benefits of our participation in it and give them money and try to affect all of us into running around like crazy and being angry at everything. And thats, I think, pretty ineffective most of the time, right?

Its just understanding what we can change, what we have the power to do. And I believe that fundamentally the way to help save the country is to is for me, myself, to be better friend and neighbor and better at the job I do whatever that job happens to be, whatever hat Im wearing. And it starts in my own backyard and in my own home with my own family, McBroom said.

Watch our full interview:

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The UK ambassador to Mexico was quietly fired earlier this year after pointing a rifle at a local embassy employee, the Financial Times reported Friday. The incident was captured in a video shared on social media.

The five-second video, published May 26 on an X account called Subdiplomatic, appears to show Jon Benjamin sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, picking up a rifle, and pointing it toward a person sitting in the back. At least one person is heard laughing in the video during the episode.

CNN has reached out to Benjamin but has not received a response.

A spokesperson for the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told CNN Saturday, We are aware of this incident and have taken appropriate action, adding, Where internal issues do arise the FCDO has robust HR processes to address them.

People familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that Benjamin was reportedly fired soon after the incident occurred during an official trip to the Mexican states of Durango and Sinaloa in April.

CNN has also contacted the Mexican foreign ministry for comment but has not received a response. When asked for details, the UK embassy in Mexico deferred CNNs questions to the British foreign office.

The UK government website indicates that Benjamin is no longer an envoy. His biography page reads: Jon Benjamin was UK Ambassador to Mexico between 2021 and 2024  and that position is listed under a section titled Previous roles in government. The site does not explain why he no longer holds that role.

Mexico - which holds presidential, national and local elections Sunday - faces rampant violent crime, with sky-high crime and homicide rates.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Ukraine's Air Force shoots down 35 out of 53 missiles and almost 50 Shahed UAVs

Russian forces carried out missile strikes and airstrikes on critical infrastructure facilities in several oblasts on the night of 31 May-1 June 2024, with Ukrainian defenders shooting down 35 missiles and 46 drones.

Source: Ukraines Air Force on Telegram

Details: The Russians fired a total of 53 different types of missiles and 47 assault UAVs.

- 35 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95 MS strategic aviation aircraft (launch area in Saratov Oblast and airspace over the Caspian Sea, Russian Federation);

- four Iskander-M ballistic missiles (launched from Crimea);

- one Iskander-K cruise missile (launched from Crimea);

- ten Kalibr cruise missiles (launched from the north-eastern part of the Black Sea).

- three Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles (launched from the airspace of the temporarily-occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast);

- 47 Shahed-131/136 assault UAVs (launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk launch location, Russian Federation).

As a result of the anti-aircraft combat, anti-aircraft missile units, fighter aircraft, electronic warfare units of the Air Force and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defence Forces shot down:

- 30 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles,

- four Kalibr cruise missiles,

- one Iskander-K cruise missile;

- 46 Shahed-131/136 assault UAVs.

Quote: "Russian terrorists continue to intend to damage the countrys fuel and energy sector."

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United Airlines plane to undergo deep cleaning after several passengers report feeling sick on Vancouver-to-Houston flight

A United Airlines plane that departed from Vancouver, Canada, was removed from service to undergo a deep cleaning after several passengers who had been on the same cruise ship reported feeling unwell on the Houston-bound flight, according to the airline.

The 25 sickened passengers who complained of nausea on Flight 1528 on Friday were among a group of 75 people that had previously traveled on a cruise in Vancouver, according to the Houston Fire Department.

United Airlines did not say what cruise the passengers were on prior to Fridays flight, which carried 163 passengers and six crew members.

The travelers aboard the Boeing 737 Max 8 that arrived in Houston shortly after 6 p.m. CT were ill due to the cruise, Martee Black, a spokesperson for the Houston Fire Department, told CNN.

The Houston Fire Department arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and evacuated three patients from the plane but no one was transported to the emergency room, Black said.

United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation, according to a statement from the airline. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.

The airline said the aircraft will be deep cleaned before being returned to service as a precautionary measure.

CNN has reached out to the Houston Health Department for comment.

CNNs Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Over 800 days into Europes bloodiest conflict since the Second World War, Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of relenting. Despite tens of thousands killed on both sides, and Ukrainian cities still facing daily, deadly bombardments, Russian president Vladimir Putin  emboldened by Western equivocation  has not abandoned his maximalist objectives, seeking to seize more territory.

Now Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, is in his sights. For weeks, President Zelensky has pleaded with the United States to permit his armies to use the advanced missiles donated by Washington to strike nearby military targets in Russia preparing to assault Ukraine  something President Biden had been reluctant to do, citing the dangers of escalation. Yet this decision, whilst well-meaning, led to the patently absurd scenario that Moscows forces could gather, unmolested, as little as four kilometres from the targets in Ukraine they were about to attack en masse.

Now, at last, President Biden has relented, bowing to international pressure to permit Kyiv to use American weapons to strike nearby Russian territory on the Kharkiv front. Britain can be proud that it has long granted permission for Kyiv to use its donated weapons  including deadly Storm Shadow missiles  on targets in Russia without such restrictions, recognising that Ukraine is in an existential fight. Washington, by contrast, even now is still limiting the range its weapons can be fired into Russian soil.

For too long Europe has looked to a White House for leadership that is so cautious it is impeding Ukraines ability to defend itself. The US has a vital role to play, but if Kyiv is to survive this war, then it will ultimately be Europes, not Washingtons, responsibility to lead the charge.

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.
(Getty Images)

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.

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 recent Pew Research Center survey 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.

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.

 Kenneth Mash, President of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties

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.

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University of Virginia reaches $9 million settlement with families of 2022 mass shooting. But they say its not enough

The University of Virginia has reached a $9 million settlement with the families of three college football players who were killed in a 2022 mass shooting after a school field trip, school officials and attorneys for the families and victims announced Friday.

Attorneys told CNN in statements on behalf of the victims families the settlement does not bring them any closure and strongly urged for the results of the attorney generals independent review of the shooting to be released.

University spokesperson Brian Coy said a judge in the Albemarle County Circuit Court approved settlement agreements between the university and the estates of football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and DSean Perry.

The three men were killed on November 13, 2022, when a fellow student opened fire on a bus returning to the Charlottesville campus from a class field trip to Washington, D.C. where the class had seen a play.

Two other people, Marlee Morgan and Michael Hollins, were injured by the gunfire. Suspect Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a former football player, faces three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, UVA Police Chief Tim Longo said.

He also faces two counts of malicious wounding, each accompanied by a firearm charge, said Albemarle County prosecutor James Hingeley. The motive behind the killing of three UVA Cavaliers remains a mystery, the universitys president said.

An attorney for the Perry family, Elliott Buckner, told CNN the settlement will be paid by the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to its Division of Risk Management Plan. The families of Chandler, Davis and Perry will each receive $2 million and $3 million will go to Morgan and Hollins, Buckner said.

In an email to CNN, Coy said both parties reached an agreement in principle on the terms of the settlement and said it was approved by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares before the courts approval.

University President Jim Ryan and Rector Robert Hardie said in a statement: Since November 13, 2022, the families of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and DSean Perrywhose lives were tragically cut shorthave been ever present in our minds.

We will forever remember the impact that Devin, Lavel, and DSean had on our community, and we are grateful for the moments they spent in our presence uplifting UVA through their time in the classroom and on the football field, they said.

CNN reached out to the attorney general and the governor for comment.

Kimberly Wald, a lawyer for The Perry, Hollins and Morgan families, told CNN the court finalized the $9 million global settlement in this case with the families of the three students who were killed and the two who were injured.

Wald said the results of the independent investigation into the shooting, launched by Miyares, have not been released.

Left to right: Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr. - University of Virginia

Families demand release of external probe

Miyares announced days after the tragedy he would begin an independent review at the request of Ryan and then-rector Whitt Clement of the universitys response to the shooting, as well as the efforts it undertook in the period before it.

The attorney for the victims families said they are demanding the release of the information to understand what happened and why it happened and then initiate reforms across the U.S. at college campuses to save lives.

Victoria LaCivita, Miyares spokesperson, previously said the AGs office will enlist special counsel to assist in completing the work.

A public report will be shared with students, families, the larger UVA community, and government officials at the appropriate time, LaCivita said. The Attorney General will work with deliberate speed while ensuring that all necessary resources remain devoted to the criminal investigation being conducted by state and local authorities.

Perry attorney Buckner echoed Wald regarding the independent review, telling CNN the settlements approved by the court do not bring the families any closure.

The families still do not have all of the facts about what happened to their sons. It is time for UVA and the Commonwealth to release the Report. The families deserve to know what happened, Buckner said.

The suspect was denied bail during a hearing in a few days after the shooting that revealed he was charged and convicted of a reckless driving and hit-and-run in 2021 and had a concealed weapons charge the same year. He received suspended sentences for all the offenses.

Jones bought two guns, a semiautomatic rifle and a pistol, in separate purchases in 2022, according to the owner of Dances Sporting Goods in Colonial Heights, CNN previously reported.

But Jones also had twice unsuccessfully to buy a firearm there, Marlon Dance told CNN in an email. In 2018, he was younger than the legal age of 21 to buy a handgun and was denied a purchase. Three years later he tried to buy a rifle, but failed a background check, according to Dance.

In an email to CNN, Virginia State Police Spokesperson Corinne Geller said an investigation into the attempted purchase on July 8, 2021, revealed the state police firearms transaction center denied Jones request based on an ongoing legal matter.

CNNs Joe Johns, Aileen Graef, Amir Vera and Holly Yan contributed to this report.

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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 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has suspended its work in Rafah after the Israeli army entered the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip.

"UNRWA had to stop health and other critical services in Rafah," the UN agency's chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote on social media platform X on Saturday evening.

The aid organization is now working from the city of Khan Younis north of Rafah and from the central Gaza Strip. "In Khan Younis we restarted operations despite damage to all our facilities," Lazzarini wrote.

A spokesman for the organization confirmed to dpa on Saturday evening that UNRWA staff had left Rafah and were continuing their work in Khan Younis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued their operation in Gaza's Rafah on Saturday despite extensive international criticism.

Israel deems Rafah the last stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which triggered the current conflict in Gaza after killing hundreds of civilians in Israel in the October 7.

Many of Israel's allies, however, have adamantly opposed a military incursion into in Rafah due to the high number of civilians having sheltered there from fighting elsewhere in the coastal area. Many of them have since left Rafah again.

According to the UNRWA chief, there are currently 1.7 million people in Khan Younis in the south of the coastal area and in the central Gaza Strip.

UNRWA began to gradually resume its work in Khan Younis following the withdrawal of the Israeli army in April and is now primarily providing services there.

Previously, the agency's work focused on Rafah. Lazzarini said all 36 of the aid organization's shelters there are now empty.

UNRWA said thousands of displaced people are now living amidst rubble and in destroyed aid organization facilities in the Jabalia refugee camp after the Israeli army recently withdrew from the town in the north of the Gaza Strip.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday hailed the arrival of a new convergence in the Indo-Pacific, as the United States fortifies strategic and security partnerships in the region amid rising threats from China and Russia.

Today, we are witnessing a new convergence around nearly all aspects of security in the Indo-Pacific, Austin said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

This new convergence is producing a stronger, more resilient, and more capable network of partnerships. And that is defining a new era of security in the Indo-Pacific.

The new convergence is not a single alliance or coalition, but instead a set of overlapping and complementary initiatives and institutions, propelled by both a shared vision and a shared sense of mutual obligation, Austin said.

Looming large in that regional vision is a more assertive China, which Austin alluded to without mentioning it by name.

The convergence, he said, is not about imposing one countrys will or bullying or coercion, but common principles and beliefs including the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue  not coercion or conflict. And certainly not through so-called punishment.

The remark appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to Chinas military drills around Taiwan last week, which Beijing said was a strong punishment for the self-ruled islands separatist acts. The massive show of force came just days after Taiwan swore in its new democratically elected leader Lai Ching-te, who called on Beijing to cease its intimidation tactics.

Austin said the new convergence helped the US make historic progress in the past three years. Weve strengthened stability on the Korean Peninsula. Weve supported the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. And weve stood up for the rule of law in the South China Sea, he said.

Under President Joe Biden, the US has bolstered ties with allies and like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific region to counter a rising China, which under leader Xi Jinping has become increasingly assertive and belligerent about its many maritime and territorial claims in the region  from Taiwan to the East and South China Seas.

That bolstering of US ties has infuriated Beijing, which accuses Washington of leading a campaign of encirclement and suppression of China.

Austins emphasis on a new convergence in Asia-Pacific appeared to have struck a raw nerve with the Chinese delegation in the audience.

In the Q&A session, a Chinese colonel asked Austin whether the US is planning to build a NATO-like alliance system in the Asia-Pacific region, and blamed NATO for the Ukraine war.

The eastern border expansion of NATO has led to the Ukraine crisis. What implications do you think the straightening of the US alliances system in the Asia-Pacific will have on this regions security and stability? asked Cao Yanzhong, a senior colonel and researcher at the Institute of War Studies of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese military.

I respectfully disagree with your point that the expansion of NATO caused the Ukraine crisis, Austin replied, drawing a rare round of applause from the audience.

The Ukraine crisis obviously was caused because (Russian President) Mr (Vladimir) Putin made a decision to unlawfully invade his neighbor.

The exchange came a day after Austin held his first face-to-face talks with Chinas Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun on the sidelines of the defense forum.

The rare talks between the US and Chinese defense chiefs touched on a host of fractious issues including Taiwan and Chinas relationship with Russia, as well as frictions in the South China Sea.

On Saturday, Austin mentioned the meeting with Dong in his speech, saying they had a frank discussion.

There is no substitute for direct military-to-military talks between senior leaders. And theres no substitute for open lines of communication to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations, he said, adding that he looked forward to more talks with China.

Austin also reiterated US commitment to its defense treaty with the Philippines, calling it ironclad.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Friday denounced illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in the South China Sea at the opening of the defense forum, saying peace, stability and prosperity in the waters was being undermined by other actors, without naming China.

Austin also reaffirmed US commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, saying peace and stability across the region are crucial for the whole world.

The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure. Thats why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region. And thats why we continue to make the investments necessary to meet our commitments to our allies and partners, he said.

Hours after Austin reaffirmed Americas commitment to the Indo-Pacific, a Chinese military spokesman accused the United States of creating division and provoking confrontation.

The US keeps creating chaos and has become the source of risks, as well as the destroyer to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Jing Jianfeng, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department at Chinas Central Military Commission, told a group of reporters in Singapore.

CNNs Alex Stambaugh and Eric Cheung contributed to this report.

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F16 fighter jet perform a maneuver as part of the African Lion military exercise, in Tantan, south of Agadir, Morocco, Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

TAN TAN, Morocco (AP)  High-ranking military officials from the U.S. and its top African allies watched intently as dust and flames shot up from pieces of the Sahara Desert hit by tank and artillery fire. They looked up as pilots flew F-16s into formation. And they listened intently as Moroccan and American personnel explained how they would set up beachheads to defend the Atlantic coastline in the event of a potential invasion.

The practice scenario was among those discussed during African Lion, the United States' largest annual joint military exercise on the continent, which concluded Friday in Morocco.

Over the past two weeks, roughly 8,100 military forces from nearly three dozen maneuvered throughout Tunisia, Ghana, Senegal and Morocco as part of the war games held this year as militaries confront new challenges in increasingly volatile regions.

Generals from the United States and Morocco, which hosted the finale of the two-week event, celebrated African Lion's 20-year anniversary and how partnerships between the U.S. and African militaries have expanded since it began.

This exercise has grown over the years since 2004, not only have the number of multinational service members that we train with, but also the scope of the training as well, which has expanded to more than just security, said Gen. Michael Langley, the head of the United States Africa Command.

But despite the spectacle of live-fire demonstrations and laudatory remarks about partnerships by Langley and Col. Maj. Fouad Gourani of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, parts of Africa are getting much more dangerous.

The United Nations earlier this year called Africa a global epicenter for terrorism. Fatalities linked to extremist groups have risen dramatically in the Sahel, the region that stretches from Mauritania to Chad.

Since 2020, military officers disillusioned with their governments' records of stemming violence have overthrown democratically elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and began distancing themselves from Western powers.

From 2021 to 2024, militants killed more than 17,000 people across the three countries, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

The United States is holding steadfast to its strategy of coupling weapons assistance and intelligence sharing with initiatives designed to boost civilian populations and strengthen institutions.

But it faces new competition. Decades after the end of colonialism, Africa has once again become absorbed in fighting among Great Powers, with Western influence waning and countries accepting more economic and military support from Chinese firms and Russian contractors.

At African Lion, the U.S. military showcased part of what it offers countries facing instability inside and just beyond their borders. Besides tanks and bombers, the joint exercises included operations and practice in field hospitals, medical evacuations and humanitarian assistance.

The exercise emphasized a whole of government approach to addressing the root causes of instability, ranging from climate change to displacement, rather than solely focusing on military might.

Its important that we not only be associated with kicking down doors, said Col. Kelley Togiola, a command surgeon who helped set up a field hospital alongside Moroccan doctors as part of the exercise. In times of crises, those relationships matter.

That strategy differs from whats being offered by Africa Corps, the descendent of the Russian state-funded private military company Wagner, whose leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died last year. Yet it's come under scrutiny since military officers with a history of participating in training exercises have risen to positions of power after the ousters of democratically elected leaders in countries such as Guinea and Niger.

Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said regardless of how much the U.S. military broadens its efforts, its continued focus on counterterrorism will keep empowering military leaders throughout West Africa.

The nature of security assistance is that its much more visible, impactful and manipulated by the recipient for ill, Hudson said. When we come in with training and toys, we reinforce within societies these power dynamics that in the long run are not helpful to the consolidation of civilian democratic rule.

Despite training exercises like African Lion, U.S. military leaders face difficulties prolonging their partnerships in places theyve long characterized as strategically critical. Countries such as Niger and Chad  which participated in African Lion  have embraced Russian trainers and paramilitaries and pushed for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The U.S. military officials note their assessment of the threat of malign Russian and Chinese influence but say they can work in countries that accept assistance from geopolitical rivals.

To juggle curbing Russian influence while opposing the overthrow of democratically elected leaders hasn't worked everywhere, especially as the U.S. military often attaches strings to how countries can implement training and weapons provided.

U.S. law makes governments deposed in military coups ineligible for large portions of assistance, despite the military's talk of equal partnership and noninterference.

Rachid El Houdaigui, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, said the growing youth populations in west African countries wanted to forge new political identities and were skeptical of the West after years of insecurity.

African states consider variety favorable. It allows them to choose and gives them many possibilities, he said of countries in the Sahel that have opened their doors to Russian and Chinese assistance.

___

Associated Press writer Arushi Gupta contributed from Los Angeles.

___

This story has been corrected to give the name of the exercise as African Lion and to fix the spelling of the first name of Col. Kelley Togiola.
Shes not telling the truth about war crimes: US official resigns over Gaza war and hits out at boss Samantha Power

Alex Smith, a public health expert working in the humanitarian field, read all of Samantha Powers books before he joined the agency she now leads. He carried around copies with him, and even hosted a book club in Rome when she released her memoir in 2019.

But this week, he delivered a blistering criticism of the woman he respected for years when he resigned from the US Agency for International Aid (USAID in protest over her failure to speak out against the same crimes she had built a career exposing.

She has been a very passionate vocal advocate for human rights and specifically against genocide. So to see her not talk about international law now, about illegal acts that Israel is currently very publicly carrying out, it is very frustrating for me and a lot of staff, Smith, who worked as a contractor at the agency for four years, told The Independent by phone.

Smith, who worked as a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, became the ninth official to resign from the Biden administration over its unconditional support for Israels war in Gaza, and only the second to leave USAID  the agency devoted to humanitarian assistance.

He said Powers refusal to name and blame Israel for blocking aid into Gaza, as a famine that threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands takes hold, was inconsistent with his values.

Specifically, he criticized Power for not calling out what is causing it, and stating the very obvious fact that starvation of children is a war crime and a crime against humanity.

But he also offered some insight into Powers thinking and a possible explanation for why a prolific campaigner against genocide would self-censor at such a crucial time.

US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power speaks during a news conference at the National Palace of Culture in Guatemala City, Guatemala, January 15, 2024. (REUTERS/Jose Cabezas)

Smith said he believes that political pressure from the White House, as well as from Republicans like Matt Gaetz who has threatened to defund USAID for what the Florida congressman has characterized as its radical leftist ideology, was stopping her from speaking out publicly.

I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Having read her books, I understand that she often takes stands that she sees as the lesser of two evils, he said.

In this case, she wants to preserve the budget of USAID, which is an arguable moral case that you can make, that preserving our budget does help millions of people around the world.

However, Smith said he and his colleagues were uncomfortable about the agency censoring itself to keep the money coming in.

Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

I think me and a lot of staff think that if you are preserving our budget by not telling the truth about war crimes and crimes against humanity, thats not acceptable, he said.

Smiths resignation comes two weeks after The Independent published an investigation into dissent at USAID in response to the Biden administrations handling of Gazas hunger crisis.

The investigation revealed that at least 19 internal dissent memos have been sent since the start of the war by staff at USAID criticizing US support for Israels war in Gaza.

Power herself has spoken out about the effectiveness of government officials resigning in protest.

As a young college graduate, while the Bosnian war was ongoing, she wrote in her journal : My only regret is that I dont work at the State Department so I can quit to protest policy. Instead, I sit impotent and incapable.

Power began her career as a journalist covering the mass killing of Bosnian Muslims by Serbians, and became a powerful advocate for using American power to protect innocent civilians.

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid shortages of aid supplies, after Israeli forces launched a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah. (REUTERS)

Later, she became a foreign policy advisor for Barack Obama at a time when he stubbornly resisted pressure to use the US military to protect civilians in the Syrian civil war. She joined USAID as its administrator in 2021.

Smith said Powers decision not to identify a culprit in Gazas worsening humanitarian disaster mirrored the development she wrote about in her 2019 memoir, The Education of an Idealist, in which she documented her shifting ideology from the politics of protest to a kind of brutal pragmatism.

Power has gone further than most US officials in declaring that a famine has likely already taken hold in parts of Gaza in a Senate hearing in April. In doing so, she became the first high-ranking US official to make that declaration.

Speaking to other donor governments about the crisis in Gaza on Wednesday, Power said civilians there were paying a devastating and unacceptable price in this war, particularly in the wake of the IDFs expanded operations in Rafah.

A USAID spokesperson said: We have consistently made clear, internally and externally, that far too many innocent people have been killed and injured in Israels war against Hamas. Hundreds of staff across the Agency are working tirelessly to accelerate aid, to advocate for greater protections for civilians and the improvement of deconfliction, and to advance diplomatic efforts.

Israeli tanks move towards Rafah in the Gaza Strip (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

Cindy McCain, the US director of the UN World Food Programme, said earlier this month that there was a full-blown famine in Gazas north. Since then, Israel has launched an offensive in the city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians were sheltering, causing the closure of a major crossing to aid and a dramatic worsening of Gazas hunger crisis.

Israel has vehemently denied that there is a hunger crisis in Gaza, or that it has restricted aid. It says fighting with Hamas, the militant group that triggered the current war when it killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in Israel on 7 October, has hampered aid efforts. But Powers reluctance to be forthright that Israel is a major cause of the famine has caused frustration among USAID staff, Smith said.

There really theres sort of a self-imposed culture of not talking about Gaza within leadership, he said.

He added that he believes that Powers and other leaders are likely reacting to political pressure from the White House.

No administration officials or spokespeople have stated clearly that the famine is intentional. No officials have said intentional starvation of a civilian population is a violation of international law, Smith said. So either administration officials at Powers level have been told not to state those facts or theyre choosing to self-censor, parroting the administrations public stance.
US tells Ukraine it cant use its Atacms missiles inside Russia

A girl shelters in a metro station with her family during the overnight attacks - REUTERS/Alina Smutko

The White House has confirmed that Ukraine cannot use US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles inside Russia.

President Joe Biden this week gave Ukraine permission to strike inside Russian territory with American munitions  but under certain conditions.

A White House spokesperson said: This does not apply to ATACMS or long-range strikes, but it is designed to enable Ukraine to defend itself.

It is the second time this year that Mr Biden has quietly relaxed his policy on weapons supplies for Ukraine, bending to calls to send long-range missiles known as ATACMS to Kyiv.

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, president Volodymr Zelensky told reporters yesterday.

05:33 PM BST

Thank you for following our live coverage

The key developments from the day were:

The White House has confirmed that Ukraine cannot use US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles inside Russia.

Russia unleashed the largest missile and drone attack against Ukraines critical infrastructure in more than three weeks, firing a combined 100 missiles and drones overnight.

At least 19 people were injured by the Russian attacks.

Mourners and soldiers laid flowers at a new statue to Yevgeny Prigozhin, a pro-Kremlin mercenary who staged a mutiny and died in a plane crash, at his grave in Saint Petersburg.

Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at a Singapore security forum, where he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.

Estonias prime minister Kaja Kallas told the BBC on Saturday that we have no Plan B for a Russian victory.

Italys foreign minister has repeated his opposition to Ukraine using Italian weapons inside Russia, warning of a delicate situation where rash moves must be avoided.

Vladimir Putin plans to impose the largest tax rises on Russians since the 1990s to help pay for his war in Ukraine.

05:08 PM BST

Zelensky meets with Indonesias president

Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Indonesias president in Singapore and said that Ukraine is interested in developing relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations.

The presidents discussed progress in implementing the Ukrainian Peace Formula, and Mr Zelensky expressed hope for Indonesias attendance at the Peace Summit.

We look forward to Indonesias support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mr Zelensky said.

03:47 PM BST

Putin set to increase taxes to pay for war in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin plans to impose the largest tax rises on Russians since the 1990s to help pay for his war in Ukraine.

He will ditch his once-feted flat-rate tax regime for a progressive tiered system to raise an extra 26 billion per year for his war machine.

Russias finance ministry submitted the new tax regime proposals to parliament this week, claiming they would ensure stability and fairness but analysts said they were a simple raid on earners.

Putin has forced the Russian economy to bend to his war by increasing spending on his military to 7 per cent of Russias GDP, a third of all government spending, as he cuts cash for social projects.

Sergei Aleksashenko, a US-based former deputy governor of Russias central bank who has criticised the Kremlins war in Ukraine, said that the extra cash will be funnelled into the military.

War is not a cheap thing, he said. Most of the corporation tax and income tax will go to the federal budget.

03:01 PM BST

Russian mercenary Prigozhins statue unveiled

Mourners and soldiers have laid flowers at a new statue to Yevgeny Prigozhin, a pro-Kremlin mercenary who staged a mutiny and died in a plane crash, at his grave in Saint Petersburg.

Prigozhin was head of the Wagner private militia, which fought alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, capturing the city of Bakhmut in a grinding months-long assault.

He staged a 24-hour mutiny last June, seizing Russian military command buildings in the southern city of Rostov and marching on Moscow in a bid to oust the countrys military leaders.

People queue to approach the sculpture of Yevgeny Prigozhin - REUTERS/Anton Vaganov

In voice messages published to social media he had raged daily against what he said was corruption and mismanagement of the offensive by bureaucrats in the defence ministry and General Staff.

Two months later, after backing down and being scolded as a traitor by President Vladimir Putin, he died in a plane crash.

On Saturday, when he would have turned 63, a bronze statue of Prigozhin was unveiled at his grave in Saint Petersburgs Porokhovskoye cemetery.

Mourners, including soldiers wearing Wagner insignia, some with their faces covered, laid flowers at the feet of the statue, an AFP reporter saw.

02:16 PM BST

Listen: Historic moment as Biden permits US weapons to be fired on Russian soil

12:32 PM BST

Italy warns against rash moves over arms to Ukraine

Italys foreign minister has repeated his opposition to Ukraine using Italian weapons inside Russia, warning of a delicate situation where rash moves must be avoided.

Support is growing among Nato allies for allowing Ukraine to use Western-donated weapons to strike inside Russian territory  but Rome, a founding member of the alliance, remains opposed.

It is a very delicate moment, we must not make false steps and must avoid rash steps and declarations, Antonio Tajani told a meeting in Rapallo, northwest Italy, according to the AGI and ANSA news agencies.

He added that even the US has not authorised the indiscriminate use of its weapons against Russia, but only to strike a base from where the drones depart. They too are very cautious, AGI reported.

12:09 PM BST

Russia says it hits depots with western weapons

Russian defence ministry has said that Russia had inflicted retaliatory strikes with high-precision weapons on Ukraines energy facilities operating for its military industrial complex, and depots with western weapons.

11:33 AM BST

Zelensky arrives in Singapore

Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at a Singapore security forum, as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground.

Reporters saw Mr Zelensky enter the lobby of the luxury hotel hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is attended by defence ministers from around the world.

Mr Zelensky arrives in Singapore - Reuters/Edgar Su

Mr Zelensky will speak at the security forum on Sunday, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which organised the three-day event.

The Ukrainian president has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.

11:17 AM BST

In pictures

A spontaneous national memorial has formed in Independence Square, where anyone can raise a flag in honor of a person who has died in the war - Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian military attack - REUTERS/Alina Smutko

Explosions from a massive overnight Russian missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure - Artur Abramiv/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

11:06 AM BST

German MP urges military to activate 900,000 reservists

The chair of the German parliaments defense committee has called on the countrys armed forces to activate 900,000 German reservists in light of Russias threatening policies, the DPA news agency reported on June 1.

Putin is training his people for war and positioning them against the West. We must, therefore, become capable of defense as quickly as possible, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the co-ruling Free Democratic Party, told the Funke media group.

She then called on Germanys military, to activate the roughly 900,000 reservists we have.

In Germany, reservists include all former military service members and soldiers who have served for an extended period of time, excluding former East German military members who did not join the Bundeswehr after the reunification in 1990.

10:51 AM BST

We have no Plan B if Ukraine falls, says Estonia

Estonias prime minister Kaja Kallas told the BBC on Saturday that we have no Plan B for a Russian victory.

The Nato-member considers itself a front-line state, and is convinced that once the fighting stops in Ukraine, Russia will turn its attention to the Baltics.

We should not give in to pessimism. Victory in Ukraine is not just about territory. If Ukraine joins Nato, even without some territory, then thats a victory because it will be placed under the Nato umbrella, she said.

10:27 AM BST

Zelensky to address security forum in Singapore

Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Singapore to address a major security forum, the organisers told AFP on Saturday, as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv.

Mr Zelensky will speak in-person at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said.

There had been feverish speculation that Mr Zelensky would make an appearance at this weekends security forum attended by defence ministers from around the world, including the United States and China.

Mr Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks.

The Singapore announcement follows a US decision to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky has hailed as a step forward.

10:10 AM BST

Russia unleashes biggest missile attack in weeks

Russia unleashed the largest missile and drone attack against Ukraines critical infrastructure in more than three weeks, firing a combined 100 missiles and drones overnight.

The barrage targeted energy sites across the country and damaged two thermal power plants, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

The enemy launched 53 missiles of various types and 47 attack drones, the air force said, adding that it shot down 35 of the missiles and all but one of the drones.

Civilian people, infrastructure, and energy facilities. This is what Russia is constantly at war with. This night, another barrage of over 50 missiles of various types and around 50 'Shahed' drones targeted the south, center, and west of Ukraine.



I am grateful to our warriors pic.twitter.com/1tmt6aly08  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2024

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was trying to exploit a lack of determination among Ukraines key Western backers and repeated his call for more air defence systems.

Russias main goal is to normalise terror, to exploit the lack of sufficient air defence and determination of Ukraines partners, he said.

10:02 AM BST

Nineteen injured in overnight attacks

At least 19 people were injured by the Russian attacks overnight, local officials say.

Injuries were reported by officials across the country, including in Ukraines western Lviv region and the central Dnipropetrovsk region.

Twelve people, including eight children, were hospitalised after a strike close to two houses where they were sheltering in the Kharkiv region, said governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Elsewhere, five civilians died amid Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, said the areas Moscow-installed leader Denis Pushilin. Another three people were injured, he said.

Civilians, infrastructure and energy facilities. This is what Russia is constantly at war with, said Volodymr Zelensky.

09:38 AM BST

Ukraine reaches preliminary agreement with IMF on $2.2 billion loan

Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund reached a preliminary agreement to unseal a $2.2 billion chunk of a four-year loan to help cover the war-torn countrys budget, Bloomberg reports.

The staff-level agreement, which still requires approval by the IMFs board, comes at the completion of the fourth review of the overall $15.6 billion IMF aid package, the fund said in following talks in Kyiv and Warsaw.

Performance under the program has remained strong despite the challenges of the war, Gavin Gray, the IMF mission chief to Ukraine, said in the statement. However, risks are high and rising as the war continues, and the outlook for the remainder of the year remains highly uncertain.

The funds review of the Ukrainian economy and financial sector included fiscal policies and reforms, risks from state-owned entities and the energy sector, and the countrys debt load.

09:30 AM BST

Where Ukraine could strike inside Russia after Biden authorises cross-border attacks

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.

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.

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.

Read the full article here

09:23 AM BST

Iran condemns EU sanctions over drone programme

Iran has criticised the European Unions imposition of new sanctions on high-ranking officials and the Revolutionary Guards for supplying drones to Russia and its Middle East allies.

The EUs measures, unveiled on Friday, target Irans defence minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Guards foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, among others.

The sanctions also target an armed forces command centre, the head of a state aviation firm and the Kavan Electronics Behrad company.

The Islamic republics foreign ministry described the move as regrettable, saying they were based on repeated, absurd, and baseless excuses and accusations.

The European Union... once again resorted to the obsolete and ineffective tool of sanctions against the powerful Iran, ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement.

The sanctions forbid any EU citizen or company from engaging in business with the listed individuals and organisations.

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.
China's most advanced aircraft carrier set sail for sea trials in early May.

It boasts electromagnetic catapults capable of launching the modern air wing China hopes to build.

Here's how this ambitious ship and its predecessors compare to US aircraft carriers.

On May 1, China's newest aircraft carrier left its berth in Shanghai under its own power for its first-ever sea trial, which lasted eight days.

Known as the Fujian, the carrier, the sole vessel of China's Type 003-class, is a completely new design compared to China's previous carriers, and is a symbol of China's ever-expanding naval ambitions.

With a displacement of over 80,000 tons, it is also the closest thing to a direct rival to US Navy aircraft carriers, which have long been regarded as the masters of the seas.

With vessels from follow-on classes expected, Fujian represents the latest evolution in China's carrier program, which, despite its scale and the impressive speed at which it has developed, has been regarded as lacking overall strength and capability compared to those of the US Navy.

China looks to have built a formidable warship in the Fujian, a centerpiece of its effort to design a modern carrier air wing. But a review of its capabilities shows it lacks some key advantages of the newest class of US supercarriers and also the infrastructure demanded by far-flung operations, possibly tethering its operations near China's mainland.

Liaoning and Shandong

Aircraft carrier Liaoning set out for sea trials at Dalian shipyard with the help of tugboats. VCG/VCG via Getty Images

With construction beginning around 2017, Fujian is the third aircraft carrier China has built for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The first two carriers, the Type 001-class Liaoning and Type 002-class Shandong, were commissioned in 2012 and 2017 respectively.

Liaoning and Shandong are both based on the Soviet-designed Kuznetsov-class. Liaoning itself was purchased as an incomplete hulk from Ukraine in 1998 for just $20 million under the pretense that it would be turned into a casino. It was instead towed to China and refitted for war.

Both carriers were slightly modified from their original Soviet design to incorporate modern tech and enable more space for aircraft. Liaoning and Shandong's flight decks both measure about 1,000 feet in length, and while Liaoning displaces around 60,000 tons, Shandong displaces around 66,000 tons.

Despite attempts at modernization, Liaoning's and Shandong's capabilities are limited by their employment of the short take-off, barrier-arrested recovery (STOBAR) system, which utilizes a ski-jump ramp at the bow to get jets airborne under their own power.

This imposes limits on the weight of the jets at take-off, as they need to be light enough to lift off the deck under their own engines. Consequently, force multipliers like airborne early warning aircraft and dedicated aerial refueling aircraft cannot operate from Liaoning and Shandong.

A J-15 fighter takes off from aircraft carrier Shandong during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around Taiwan. An Ni/Xinhua via Getty Images

The air wings of the Liaoning and Shandong, which consist of 24 to 32 jets and 12 to 17 helicopters, respectively, are less than optimal for this setup, as the backbone of the wings, the J-15 fighter, is the heaviest carrier-borne aircraft in service. This means it has to carry a limited armament and fuel load, reducing its capabilities and combat range.

Because of these severe limitations, some observers have looked at Liaoning and Shandong less as battle-ready warships and more as training platforms from which China can gain experience with carrier production and operations as it prepares to field a more advanced and capable design.

China's latest carrier

An aerial drone photo shows China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, during its maiden sea trials. Pu Haiyang/Xinhua via Getty Images

Fujian appears to be that more advanced and capable design.

Measuring 1,036 feet long and displacing over 80,000 tons, Fujian is larger than its predecessors. The most obvious advantage of its larger size is that it enables a larger airwing, which is believed to number approximately 60 aircraft.

The most important upgrade on Fujian, though, is its employment of a catapult-assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery (CATOBAR) system, which uses a catapult to launch an aircraft off a carrier's deck. While the CATOBAR system isn't new, Fujian is one of only two carriers in the world equipped with electromagnetic catapults (EMALS), the other being the new USS Gerald R. Ford.

An EMALS catapult enables Fujian to launch heavier aircraft than steam catapults, which means a more diverse air wing. China is currently developing a host of new carrier aircraft, including a catapult-launched variant of the J-15 known as the J-15S, a twin-seat electronic warfare variant known as the J-15D (similar to the EA-18 Growler), and a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft known as the KJ-600, which is almost identical in appearance to the US Navy's E-2 Hawkeye.

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was festooned with streamers during a launching ceremony at Jiangnan Shipyard. VCG/VCG via Getty Images

China is also in the process of developing a carrier variant of its unadopted J-35 stealth fighter for the PLAN.

With three catapults on its deck, Fujian will have a higher sortie generation rate than its predecessors, as it will be able to catapult multiple aircraft into the sky within seconds of each launch. By comparison, Liaoning and Shandong can only launch one aircraft at a time off their ski-jump bows.

Fujian's sea trial was meant to test the reliability and stability of its propulsion and electrical systems, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency. The carrier has already passed its mooring trials and completed its outfitting, and reporting has suggested that the carrier will be commissioned in late 2025 or 2026.

Nimitz and Ford classes

Aircraft are seen flying in formation over USS George H.W. Bush, the last Nimitz-class carrier, during a training exercise. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

The US Navy's carrier fleet is currently made up of 11 carriers from two classes; the Nimitz-class, and the new Gerald R. Ford-class.

The 10 flattops of the Nimitz class hardly need an introduction. Built between 1968 and 2006 and in commission since 1975, each carrier measures 1,092 feet long and displaces some 97,000 tons. All are nuclear-powered, meaning their range is virtually unlimited  constrained only by crew comfort and provision stores.

Each ship is capable of carrying around 65 aircraft of varying types, including F/A-18 multirole fighters, EA-18G Growlers electronic warfare aircraft, E-2 AEW&C aircraft, C-2 Greyhound or MV-22 Osprey logistics/transport aircraft, and SH-60 helicopters.

All Nimitz-class carriers utilize the CATOBAR system and are equipped with four steam catapults. However, only a few of the 10 carriers are able to operate F-35Cs  the carrier-based variant of the F-35 only in service with the US Navy  as the F-35C requires retrofits to a carrier's maintenance spaces and weapons lockers.

In 2017, the US Navy commissioned the USS Gerald R. Ford, the flagship of the successor class to the Nimitz. At 1,106 feet long and with a displacement of 100,000 tons, Ford is the largest warship ever built.

It is also one of the most advanced, with 23 new technologies on board. This includes a new Dual Band Radar system, two newly designed A1B nuclear reactors (capable of generating almost three times more power than the reactors on the Nimitz class), and a new elevator system built and positioned for modern smart munitions.

The most impressive upgrades may be its four EMALS catapults, which, thanks to their use of linear induction motors, have enabled the Ford to have a 33% increased sortie generation rate compared to the Nimitz-class. This measures the total number of aircraft the carrier can launch for missions in a day.

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford sails in the Adriatic Sea. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins

There is also the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), which, in addition to handling the weight of a wider variety of aircraft, is capable of self-diagnosing problems and sending maintenance alerts. Carrier aircraft snag a tensioned cable on the angle deck with their tailhooks, rapidly slowing the aircraft to a stop; those that miss must lift off and circle around for another try.

The sheer amount of new systems proved to a major headache for the Navy, as not all of them were functioning properly when the ship was launched. Consequently, the carrier didn't conduct its first deployment until 2022, five years after its commissioning.

Two more Ford-class carriers, USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise, are under construction. The fourth, the future USS Doris Miller is on order, with its first cut of steel ceremony occurring in 2021.

At over 90% complete, Kennedy was originally expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2024, but is now planned to be delivered in 2025, whereupon it will join the Pacific Fleet. Enterprise's original delivery date of 2028 was likewise delayed to late 2029 or early 2030.

As Ford is unable to support the F-35C, Kennedy will be the first Ford-class vessel to have the stealth fighters as part of its air wing. Ford itself is scheduled to receive the modifications to be able to do so after an overhaul in fiscal year 2025.

How the flattops compare

The first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford and the Nimitz-class USS Dwight D. Eisenhower sail in formation in the Mediterranean Sea. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly

The speed and scale of the development of China's carrier fleet is astonishing, but its limitations are also important to note  especially when it is compared to the US Navy.

At just 11 years old, China's carrier fleet is still quite nascent compared to the US Navy, which commissioned its first carrier over a century ago. Consequently, the US Navy has a wealth of carrier experience, including seasoned personnel and a training pipeline to impart lessons to new generations of sailors and naval aviators.

In contrast, China has only a few years' worth of experience with carrier operations, has no historical or practical experience protecting carriers from anti-ship weaponry or enemy submarines, and has no experience operating naval AEW&C aircraft. Like its larger fleet, its carriers have no experience in combat.

The experience issue is also relevant when it comes to development.

China has no experience operating carrier catapults on its warships (though it did study carrier catapults when it purchased the decommissioned Australian carrier HMAS Melbourn from Canberra in 1985 under the guise of scrapping). Despite this, it has chosen to skip developing a steam catapult system in favor of an electromagnetic one. This is likely going to prove a difficult task; it took years to solve the problems with Ford's EMALS catapults, and since the US is the first and only other country that operates the novel system, China can't learn how to develop or operate such catapults from anyone else.

The commissioning ceremony of the Shandong aircraft carrier is held at a naval port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty Images

Another large limiting factor is the fact that all of China's carriers so far are conventionally powered, meaning their steam turbines are powered by fuel combustion. This means their ranges are much more limited as they will have to be refueled, something made more difficult by China's lack of a network of dedicated overseas naval bases like the US Navy's.

Chinese-controlled ports along the so-called "String of Pearls" may provide locations for Chinese carriers to refuel, but they are unlikely to be able to provide other kinds of necessary support like aircraft maintenance, and may also be unable to be defensive safe havens as dedicated military bases would, as they are more oriented towards civilian use. China does have a force of replenishment ships, but they would require escorts for protection.

The lack of nuclear reactors may also limit Fujian's sortie generation rate, as it is unknown how well its conventional steam turbines and diesel generators can generate the power for the EMALS catapults and the rest of the ship's systems.

"China is making progress, but it is slow and still lags the US considerably," Timothy Heath, a senior defense researcher at the RAND Corporation, told Business Insider. Heath noted in particular that China's carriers "rarely attempt to operate aircraft in blue water (outside the range of landing unrefueled aircraft to a divert airfield on land)" and that their overall sortie numbers are much smaller  about a dozen a day compared to 170 by the US.

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, docks in Shanghai with a Chinese flag seen in the foreground. Pu Haiyang/Xinhua via Getty Images

Nonetheless, Heath said the launching of the Fujian "shows clear ambitions to operate carriers at long range and this would overcome at least some of the issues of lack of bases and fuel."

China's continued investment in its carrier program, the progress it has made in naval aviation so far, and Fujian's size and sophistication indicate that China's commitment to a long-range and battle-ready carrier fleet is real and will only bear more results going forward.

"This will take years of practice and training to eventually overcome, but the Fujian gives China the ability to do so once they have mastered flight operations," Heath said.

China plans to build a fleet of six carriers by the year 2035. A fourth carrier, the first of the presumably named Type 004-class, is reportedly in development, though Chinese officials have been quiet on its details, including whether it will be nuclear-powered.

Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Three people were injured during a two-vehicle collision in the Morena neighborhood Friday evening, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the incident occurred around 5:14 p.m. when a 27-year-old man was driving his 2008 Toyota 4Runner westbound in the 6000 block of Friars Road.

14 charged in multi-million dollar cocaine trafficking scheme

Police said an 87-year-old man was driving a 2017 Infinity in the same area and struck the 27-year-old driver when he attempted to make a left turn onto Friars Road from Gaines Street.

The elderly man suffered fractures to his back, facial injuries and internal bleeding. His passenger had complaints of pain to the chest, shoulder and hip.

Meanwhile, the Toyota driver suffered a complaint of pain to his lower back and nose.

Traffic Division officers responded to the scene and are investigating the collision. Alcohol was not a factor in this incident, police said.

Anyone with information related to this crash is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in San Diego on Friday for a political fundraiser in North County.

White House officials confirmed the visit on Thursday. Harris landed at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar around 2:30 p.m. and is anticipated to leave around 5 p.m. SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky is over the scene as Air Force Two pulled into the runway.

Traffic was blocked by law enforcement along Interstate 5 as the vice presidential motorcade traveled up towards where the fundraiser is taking place.

Air Force Two arrives at MCAS Miramar on May 31, 2024. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky)

The vice presidential motorcade travels along Interstate 5 on May 31, 2024. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky)

Harris was reportedly traveling from Los Angeles, where she has a home in the Brentwood neighborhood. On Thursday, the vice president was in Colorado Springs for the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation, which she spoke at.

Harris stop in San Diego on Friday will mark the first visit by either the president or vice president in over a year  President Joe Biden last journeyed to the city for a meeting with the British and Australian Prime Ministers to discuss a historic defense deal.

First Lady Jill Biden visited San Diego several months after that meeting for a private event supporting the presidents reelection campaign.

The fundraiser was held at the Rancho Santa Fe estate owned by Allan and Megan Camaisa, according to the press pool at the event. Allan is an entrepreneur in biotech and security software, while Megan is a producer in film and Christian media.

It is unclear if the vice president will be visiting the same Rancho Santa Fe estate or another for Fridays fundraiser.

FOX 5 has a team following Vice President Harris while she is in San Diego. 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Seattle for a fundraising event on Saturday afternoon.

Update 3:23 p.m. Northbound Interstate 5 is closed south of Albro. Washington State troopers tell drivers to expect the closure to last approximately 30 minutes.

Vice President Harris has landed at King County International Airport and is scheduled to head straight to the event.

The Washington State Department of Transportation warned drivers of traffic delays and added travel times.

KIRO 7 is at the location of her fundraiser and will be posting live updates of her visit here.

The Vice President Harris visit to #Seattle this afternoon/evening could mean traffic delays in the area. People should plan for road closures and added travel times. As a reminder, we don't have details of the travels to share & don't control the routes. https://t.co/hPDWJ0SsIe  WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) June 1, 2024




In October 2015, I wrote an article for the Star-Gazette about the Vin Fiz. Earlier this year, I obtained a photograph I had not seen before. So, I will add to my story.

Vin Fiz was the name of a new grape-flavored soft drink produced by the Armour Company of Chicago and was hailed as refreshing and invigorating. The new product, however, presented one significant marketing problem  it tasted terrible. The company needed an exceptional strategy if it were to sell its product and came up with a novel idea to boost its popularity.

In early January 1911, publisher William Randolph Hearst offered $50,000 to the fastest aviator to cross the country coast-to-coast within 30 days. With Hearsts contest, Armours Vin Fiz had its gimmick. A young pilot, lacking funds, approached Armour, and its marketing team had an idea to use the stunt to promote its soft drink. That young man was Calbraith Perry Rogers.

Early in this contest, several aviators tried, but the task proved too difficult. Even nine years after the Wright brothers first successfully flew, airplanes were still considered impractical and a novelty. These early airplanes flew at levels lower than the tops of our hills, had no radios, could only fly in good weather, and broke down on almost every flight.

Three aviators intended to try the stunt. Hearst set no specific route  just to fly from ocean to ocean. Pilot Robert Fowler chose to fly from California to New York, while pilots Jimmy Ward and Vin Fizs Cal Rodgers were to fly from New York to California. Fowler took off in California on Sept. 11, Ward left Governors Island, New York, on Sept. 13, and Rodgers left Sheepshead Bay, New York, on Sept. 17. Rodgers aircraft sported the Vin Fiz trademark.

After crashing numerous times in the early days, Robert Fowler gave up. Jimmy Ward got lost many times and eventually ran out of money. Thirty-two-year-old Cal Rodgers had less than 60 hours of flying experience when he left New York on Sept. 17 in a Wright brothers type EX spruce, wire, and fabric bi-plane with a 35 horsepower, 4-cylinder engine. Cals plane followed a special Armour Vin Fiz train with tools and equipment. When Rodgers got to Elmira, he flew over the city looking for the Chemung County fairgrounds, as it was a flat place to land.

The Vin Fiz left the Millers Pond area in Elmira at 2:15 p.m. on Sept. 23, 1911.

After circling Elmira and not finding the fairgrounds, he landed in farmer Edmund Millers open meadow (now Elmira Senior Living near Millers Pond) at 5:55 p.m. on Sept. 22. The Star-Gazette and the Elmira Advertiser said his landing was graceful. Rodgers was then taken to the city in an automobile to the Hotel Rathbun, where his crew had gathered. Rodgers crew roped off the airplane for the night with a lone watchman keeping guard.

The new-to-me photograph shows Rodgers leaving the meadow on Sept. 23. At 8 a.m., a heavy fog covered the neighborhood. Several thousand Elmirans arrived early to stake out the situation. The watchman woke up early after sleeping on the cold, wet ground. By 9 a.m., the meadow looked like a county fair. The watchman had a rough time keeping spectators from touching the Vin Fiz.

Rodgers was still in his pajamas at the hotel when he was told of the crowd. He had planned to leave Millers Pond around 10:11 a.m. The fog disappeared promptly at 10 a.m., and Rodgers arrived on the scene. He tested his aircraft, and everything seemed fine. The Star-Gazette reported that the plane "whizzed across the field toward the Erie tracks, flew over Millers pond, but could not get above the trees. He quickly landed. Spectators helped carry the plane back to where it started. Repairs were again in order. Hours went by; picnic lunches were eaten. Hours went by."

After minor repairs to three broken guy wires, things were looking better. Several thousand Elmirans watched Rodgers take off at 2:15 p.m. He was reported over Corning at 2:37 p.m.

Rodgers continued his journey through New York state, west to Illinois, south to Texas, and finally west toward California. Weather and machinery failure cost him any hope of winning the prize. He was in Oklahoma when the prize date expired, but he vowed to fulfill his contract with Armour.

The Vin Fiz was the first airplane ever seen in many of his stops. Elmira was slightly more sophisticated than the rest of the country because the city witnessed Lincoln Beacheys bi-plane two months earlier.

More: Summer events in Corning: See what's happening at CMoG, Rockwell Museum, Gaffer District

Cal Rodgers utilized 49 days to travel 3,350 miles. He stopped 69 times, crash-landed 19 times, and rebuilt the poor Vin Fiz four times. He ended the first transcontinental flight by landing in Tournament Park (now on the Cal Tech campus) in Pasadena, California.

Even though Rodgers made it to California, he felt his journey was incomplete until the Vin Fiz touched the Pacific Ocean. On Nov. 12, he left Long Beach but was forced to land. On Dec. 10, he tried and succeeded by landing on the beach and taxiing into the water.

A few months later, Rodgers was chasing seagulls when one bird became caught in the rudder wire, and while trying to extricate the bird, the wire broke, and the plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean, killing Rodgers. In 1934, the rebuilt Vin Fiz joined the collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Calbraith Perry Rodgers was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1964.

 Elmira city historian Diane Janowski writes a monthly column.

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: How Elmira became a stop on an historic coast to coast flight in 1911
Palestinians return to their homes following the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Jabalia area in the northern Gaza Strip, where ground attacks continued for nearly three weeks on May 30, 2024. Credit - Karam HassanAnadolu/Getty Images

Days after the AI-generated image calling for all eyes on Rafah went viral on Instagram, dozens more posts that seem to have been created using artificial intelligence have been shared across the social media platform.

The images circulating online are a mix of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine posts, NBC News reported. Some of them imitate the original all eyes on Rafah image, while others are more graphic, such as one that depicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu covered in blood.

One post is an image of a large crowd with the words bring them home now, referencing the Israeli hostages in Gaza.

This wave of AI-generated images comes after the all eyes on Rafah post has been shared more than 47 million times by Instagram users, including celebrities like Bella Hadid and Nicola Coughlan. The image began circulating on the social media platform after public outrage over an Israeli airstrike in Rafah that killed at least 45 Palestinians. Rafah, which sits on the southern Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border, had been designated a humanitarian zone for civilians.

Some people criticized using AI for the all eyes on Rafah image, saying that it sanitized the devastation in Gaza. Others said that, because of social media algorithmic guidelines that restrict graphic content, it may have been difficult for activists to share images related to the war, so AI-generated images was a way around that.

Many pro-Israel images started being shared on social media after the all eyes on Rafah image went viral, according to NBC News. As is common among AI-generated content, these posts often have repeated or blurred visual features. Some people who posted the images admitted to using AI to make them.

Some Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday that a pro-Israel Instagram post that was created in response to the all eyes on Rafah image was taken down from Instagram. In the AI-generated image, a Hamas gunman stood over a baby in a puddle of blood and an Israeli flag on fire, with text that said, Where were your eyes on October 7? The Times of Israel reported that the post had been reinstated on the social media platform, and Meta said that the image did not violate its guidelines and was removed by accident.

Meta had previously said that it would aim to mark content created by artificial intelligence on its platforms, but none of the posts analyzed by NBC News had labels to indicate that they were AI-generated.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Nato's Operation Steadfast Defender in Finland in March involved more than 20,000 troops - Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

Russia has begun probing the borders of Finland and Estonia for weaknesses as it draws up what Western security chiefs suspect is a long-term plan to capture parts of the Baltic region after the war in Ukraine.

In the space of just a week, Moscow has ignited border disputes with both Nato member states, issuing a draft proposal to revise its sea border with Finland and removing a series of buoys in Estonian waters used to mark a river frontier with Russia.

The moves followed a warning last week by Micael Byden, Swedens chief of defence, that Vladimir Putin aims to eventually seize control of the Baltic and use it as a playground to terrorise Nato members.

Diplomats from the Baltic states and security experts have told The Telegraph the provocations were part of a wider strategy by Moscow to test the Wests resolve and potentially to seek out weak spots for a future incursion.

Vladimir Putin, pictured marking Russia's Victory Day in May, has his eyes on fresh conquests if Ukraine falls, Western security experts fear - Sputnik/Maxim Blinov/Pool via Reuters

This is part of this ongoing hybrid warfare: Russia is aggressively trying to destabilise our society and also our support for Ukraine, said Viljar Lubi, the Estonian ambassador to London.

We need to be well prepared. It is not always easy, because you dont know exactly what the next move is. They go into the so-called grey area, where we dont know exactly what is next.

Finland, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which won independence from the former USSR in 1991, are all Nato members committed to defending their land borders from Russia.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, and a surge in imperialist rhetoric from Putin, concerns have grown that the Russian leader could be plotting land grabs in that region within the next five to seven years, if he manages to defeat Ukraine and resupply his army.

Pattern of provocative behaviour

On May 23, Russian border guards removed buoys floating in the Narva river between Estonia and Russia, in what Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, said was an unacceptable part of a broader pattern of provocative behaviour.

The guards took the buoys in the middle of the night, Mr Lubi said, and Estonian requests for a full explanation have so far gone unanswered: It was surprising for us, especially because it came without warning.

The Narva region is mostly Russian-speaking and there is currently no formal border agreement between Tallinn and Moscow, which potentially makes it an attractive target for a future Russian incursion.

Also last week, Russias defence ministry issued  then quickly deleted  a decree which appeared to adjust sea borders around the Gulf of Finland and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Lithuania said the move was a deliberate, targeted escalatory provocation.

Russia, which parades its military might on Victory Day every year, is now rearming for its ongoing war with Ukraine - Kremlin Press Service/Anadolu via Getty Images

Kai Sauer, the Finnish ambassador to Germany, said the recent accession of Finland to Nato was clearly a factor in the manoeuvres by Russia.

In military terms, our threat perception has not changed, but it seems quite clear that we are facing certain hybrid activities, he said.

It is clear that with the Finnish and Swedish Nato membership the geopolitical situation in the Baltic sea has changed. I think its also quite predictable that Russia is adapting to that change but how that will manifest itself is less clear.

Another potential flashpoint is the Swedish island of Gotland, located in the middle of the Baltic Sea between Stockholm and Kaliningrad.

Im sure that Putin even has both eyes on Gotland. Putins goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea, Mr Byden, the Swedish defence chief, told German news outlet RND.

If Russia takes control and seals off the Baltic Sea, it would have an enormous impact on our lives, in Sweden and all other countries bordering the Baltic Sea. We cant allow that... the Baltic Sea must not become Putins playground where he terrifies Nato members, he added.

On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, referred to the Estonian incident and warned that Russia was evidently preparing for provocations in the Baltic region against borders.

Baltic is Natos most fragile border

Aliona Hlivco, a former Ukrainian MP and the managing director of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think tank, said she saw disturbing parallels between the latest Baltic dispute and the prelude to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It is all a means of probing to see how far they [Russia] can go, though they do not currently have the military capacity to go for an actual war with the Baltics, she said.

The Baltic region, she explained, was the most fragile border of Nato not just because it was porous but due to its contingency of Russian diaspora which they can mobilise through Russian propaganda and TV  we had all these factors in Ukraine.

Russia is currently rearming its forces as it continues its latest offensive in north-east Ukraine.

But Western leaders such as Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, have warned that Moscows rearmament could also make it ready to attack a Nato state within the next five to seven years.
Nato's Operation Steadfast Defender in Finland in March involved more than 20,000 troops - Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

Russia has begun probing the borders of Finland and Estonia for weaknesses as it draws up what Western security chiefs suspect is a long-term plan to capture parts of the Baltic region after the war in Ukraine.

In the space of just a week, Moscow has ignited border disputes with both Nato member states, issuing a draft proposal to revise its sea border with Finland and removing a series of buoys in Estonian waters used to mark a river frontier with Russia.

The moves followed a warning last week by Micael Byden, Swedens chief of defence, that Vladimir Putin aims to eventually seize control of the Baltic and use it as a playground to terrorise Nato members.

Diplomats from the Baltic states and security experts have told The Telegraph the provocations were part of a wider strategy by Moscow to test the Wests resolve and potentially to seek out weak spots for a future incursion.

Vladimir Putin, pictured marking Russia's Victory Day in May, has his eyes on fresh conquests if Ukraine falls, Western security experts fear - Sputnik/Maxim Blinov/Pool via Reuters

This is part of this ongoing hybrid warfare: Russia is aggressively trying to destabilise our society and also our support for Ukraine, said Viljar Lubi, the Estonian ambassador to London.

We need to be well prepared. It is not always easy, because you dont know exactly what the next move is. They go into the so-called grey area, where we dont know exactly what is next.

Finland, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which won independence from the former USSR in 1991, are all Nato members committed to defending their land borders from Russia.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, and a surge in imperialist rhetoric from Putin, concerns have grown that the Russian leader could be plotting land grabs in that region within the next five to seven years, if he manages to defeat Ukraine and resupply his army.

Pattern of provocative behaviour

On May 23, Russian border guards removed buoys floating in the Narva river between Estonia and Russia, in what Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, said was an unacceptable part of a broader pattern of provocative behaviour.

The guards took the buoys in the middle of the night, Mr Lubi said, and Estonian requests for a full explanation have so far gone unanswered: It was surprising for us, especially because it came without warning.

The Narva region is mostly Russian-speaking and there is currently no formal border agreement between Tallinn and Moscow, which potentially makes it an attractive target for a future Russian incursion.

Also last week, Russias defence ministry issued  then quickly deleted  a decree which appeared to adjust sea borders around the Gulf of Finland and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Lithuania said the move was a deliberate, targeted escalatory provocation.

Russia, which parades its military might on Victory Day every year, is now rearming for its ongoing war with Ukraine - Kremlin Press Service/Anadolu via Getty Images

Kai Sauer, the Finnish ambassador to Germany, said the recent accession of Finland to Nato was clearly a factor in the manoeuvres by Russia.

In military terms, our threat perception has not changed, but it seems quite clear that we are facing certain hybrid activities, he said.

It is clear that with the Finnish and Swedish Nato membership the geopolitical situation in the Baltic sea has changed. I think its also quite predictable that Russia is adapting to that change but how that will manifest itself is less clear.

Another potential flashpoint is the Swedish island of Gotland, located in the middle of the Baltic Sea between Stockholm and Kaliningrad.

Im sure that Putin even has both eyes on Gotland. Putins goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea, Mr Byden, the Swedish defence chief, told German news outlet RND.

If Russia takes control and seals off the Baltic Sea, it would have an enormous impact on our lives, in Sweden and all other countries bordering the Baltic Sea. We cant allow that... the Baltic Sea must not become Putins playground where he terrifies NATO members, he added.

On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, referred to the Estonian incident and warned that Russia was evidently preparing for provocations in the Baltic region against borders.

Baltic is Natos most fragile border

Aliona Hlivco, a former Ukrainian MP and the managing director of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think tank, said she saw disturbing parallels between the latest Baltic dispute and the prelude to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It is all a means of probing to see how far they [Russia] can go, though they do not currently have the military capacity to go for an actual war with the Baltics, she said.

The Baltic region, she explained, was the most fragile border of Nato not just because it was porous but due to its contingency of Russian diaspora which they can mobilise through Russian propaganda and TV  we had all these factors in Ukraine.

Russia is currently rearming its forces as it continues its latest offensive in north-east Ukraine.

But Western leaders such as Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, have warned that Moscows rearmament could also make it ready to attack a Nato state within the next five to seven years.

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On the doorstep this week, I met Sue. In her 50s and running her own small business, her pebble-dashed semi reminded me of my childhood home. A known floating voter, but instinctively Tory, I ventured. But after I introduced myself as her Conservative candidate and inquired how she might vote, she smiled and simply shook her head politely: Time for a change. Im sorry.

Tempting though it might be to want change after 14 years, if that change means disaster, chaos and decline, Ill pass. For whilst Keir Starmer claims that he has changed the Labour Party, the truth is something quite different.

Be under no illusion: todays Labour is just as extreme, vacuous and dysfunctional as that of the Corbyn era. Whenever Starmer has been given the opportunity to assert his authority over the more militant elements of his party, he has woefully failed.

Take the non-vote on Gaza in the House of Commons back in February. As I wrote at the time, Keir Starmer sought to avoid having to take a side. In doing so, he undermined Parliament, pressured the Speaker, and played to voters whose sympathies should be confronted rather than appeased.

Or take just this week. Initially resolute in his decision to stop Diane Abbott from standing for Parliament  even Labours disciplinary procedures had sanctioned her over her appalling remarks about British Jews. But cowed by pressure exerted by no less than his Deputy, Angela Rayner, he took the knee and gave in. Again.

This weakness extends to pretty much every policy area. We want to cut migration, claims Starmer. Well, good luck with that in the face of Labour MPs who, like Rachel Maskell, only recently proclaimed in her seat of York Central that: We must keep going [with mass migration] until we are at saturation point, because what does it matter that we have to wait another week for a hospital appointment?

Likewise, when it comes to womens rights or child safeguarding, you can bet your bottom dollar that Labours recent epiphany that women cannot, in fact, have a penis (it took Starmer about two years to get to this insight) will become a faint memory. Pretty much every member of the Shadow Cabinet has expressed some sort of denial of biological fact about what a woman is. Dont forget that Labour policy is to make obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate easier than it is today and ban conversion therapy (which will criminalise parents and professionals trying to talk their children out of gender reassignment). Remember, too, that Scottish Labour supported the SNPs ill-fated transgender legislation  thankfully now binned by the Scottish Government.

Or on race. You can be sure they will pass the divisive Race Equality Act to place more Diversity, Inclusion and Equality drivel in the workplace. And those of us who dare to speak against such madness will most probably face criminal charges, because the law and the criminal justice system will be weaponised against conservatives in pursuit of their virtue-signalling mission. For, as weve seen, those who preach tolerance are the most intolerant of debate or discussion.

And lastly, Brexit. Starmer campaigned for a second referendum a mere four and a half years ago. Labour hated Brexit and will, given the first opportunity, take us back to closer union with Europe. A deal with the EU on migration? Done  on condition of joining the EU Customs Union or regulatory harmonisation. And dont expect a vote or a debate. Well wake up one day to the fait accompli. Everything we Brexiteers and Spartans fought for lost, overnight.

So, has Labour changed? Can a leopard change its spots? Dont believe the lie. Labour spells the open borders, take the knee, Eurocrat, Britain is racist brigade on steroids. Change? No thank you, Ill pass.

Suella Braverman is the former Home Secretary

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KYIV, Ukraine  The streets here bear messages for the U.S. and western allies. A common one is a call for strength: Be Brave like Ukraine.

Others are more direct. Kharkiv is drowning in the tears of the Red Union and in blood, one sign reads, calling for the U.S. to close the skies over Ukraine.

But even after more than two years of war, there are no signs of despair in Ukraines capital. Ukrainians remain dead set on defeating Russian despot Vladimir Putin, and optimistic in their militarys ability to stand up to his invading forces.

That stands in stark contrast to the U.S., which has grown more divided over support for Ukraine as Russia has seized momentum in the war. And theres growing frustration with U.S. caution and suggestions from some that Ukraine should seek a peace deal that cedes land to Putin.

There is no political decision that leads Ukraine to victory, said Andiriy, who did not give his last name. The end of the war will be when Ukraine wins.

Andiriy and his wife, Inna, lost neighbors in the beginning of the war, when Russia invaded the Kyiv suburb of Bucha where they lived.

Moscow has been accused of war crimes in Bucha, including deliberately killing civilians, many buried in mass graves found after Russian troops retreated.

Andiriy said the first week of the war was like a nightmare. His family lost one home in the war but has a second home to live in around Bucha.

Andiriy expressed confidence in Ukraine but said that Kyiv needs to be allowed to strike inside of Russia with U.S. weapons, a policy that President Biden partially lifted in recent days.

The aggressor understands only force, he said. What we need is to use the weapons that you give us.

Ukraine has fought off Russia for more than two years, far exceeding global expectations. But the hope spurred by two surprise counter-offensives that regained territory last year has now fizzled away into a struggling defense.

Russian forces are taking heavy losses for small gains, but they are advancing across the 600-mile front in eastern Ukraine, from the Donetsk region to the northeastern province of Kharkiv.

Ukraine desperately needs more weapons and fighters to turn the tide of the war. While Kyiv lowered the draft eligibility age from 27 to 25, its not clear how many soldiers that will add to its fighting force.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has so far refrained from issuing a likely unpopular mobilization decree to call up around 500,000 servicemembers, something the military has previously recommended doing.

Zhanna Savostianova, whose son is on the frontlines, said she supported mobilization but added it should be targeted toward those inspired to stand up for the country.

We need mobilization of course because we need to protect our country, she said, but we need to mobilize those who are ready to fight. It would be the better choice.

Savostianova has videos saved to her phone that her son sent her from the frontlines, including one for Mothers Day where he sang with his fellow combatants.

Yet Savostianova is not weary of the war, even with her son still fighting. She said Ukraine must take back all its territory, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

I wouldnt give anything to the Moscow guys, said Savostianova. A lot of our guys died in action, so we cant forget about it and give Russia what they want. So this would mean they die for nothing. Its unacceptable.

The U.S. finally sent fresh military aid to Ukraine after passing a $61 billion package in April, but that came after months of delays because of stalling in Congress from far-right Republicans.

Those Republicans may stymie more aid efforts, having already vowed to block more legislation after the April bill passed. And former President Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee who is leading Biden in polls, has talked about ending the war in 24 hours, reportedly with an effort that would involve ceding territory to Russia.

But the war fatigue in Washington seems to be avoiding most Ukrainians.

If Ukraine is going to give those territories, Russia will not stop, said Tatiania. Its like a huge business. [Russia] will go further and will want more.

Tatianas husband died during the defense of the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which Russia obliterated in the early days of the war, when he was fighting to defend the Azovstal steel plant. She gave only her first name.

Tatiana stressed that without U.S. help, Ukraine could become entirely occupied. She shared her own harrowing story, which involved fleeing from Mariupol with her now 15-year-old son after her husbands death.

She moved to her parents home outside of Mariupol, but then fled again after Russian authorities began cementing control over the region. She moved through Russia, Belarus and Poland before returning to Kyiv with her son. Tatiana said she was questioned by Russian authorities but never detained.

But even in Kyiv, she said life has not returned to normal amidst Russian shelling. Theres no quiet place in Ukraine.

Along with the frustration behind the delay in weapons from the U.S. Ukrainian officials have ramped up calls for Biden to let them strike inside Russia with those weapons.

Scrutiny intensified on the weapons policy following Russias May offensive in Kharkiv, which saw Moscow amass troops and fire rockets from the neighboring Russian Belgorod region, safe from any U.S. arms attacks.

The Biden administration announced Thursday that it would allow Ukraine to hit some Russian targets inside of Russia near Kharkiv with U.S. weapons, but the ban is still broadly applied.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made a call for allies to lift such restrictions in a speech this week, saying Ukraine has the right to defend themselves.

If they cannot attack military targets on Russian territory, then it ties one hand of the Ukrainians on their back and makes it very hard for them to conduct defense, he said. Self-defense includes the right to also attack legitimate military targets inside Russia.

NATOs Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration at the end of May calling for the acceleration of weapons to Ukraine and the lifting of restrictions on weapons hitting inside of Russia.

Yehor Cherniev, a Ukrainian member of Parliament and deputy chair of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, expressed frustration with the weapons restrictions as Russia gains ground in Kharkiv.

We could prevent this using the U.S. weapons against their troops on the other side of the border, he said.

Cherniev traveled to Washington after the Kharkiv offensive to push the Biden administration and Congress to lift the policy. He was also at the NATO parliamentary assembly vote.

Speaking in Kyiv late last month, Cherniev said they are making progress and the NATO declaration is likely to step up pressure on the Biden administration to reverse the policy.

But he expressed frustration with the U.S. on several other issues, including the slow training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, a critical step so the fighter jets can arrive on the battlefield, and unclear responses on Kyivs request to get more Patriot air defense systems to better cover Ukraine.

Its crucial to have everything in time and in sufficient amount, he said, adding if Ukraine had everything that we need I have no doubt that we would have won this war.

Ukraines Museum of Civilian Voices is taking a novel approach to spreading the message of Ukrainian resilience, both online and through physical exhibits.

Its chambers in Kyiv feature more than 100,000 stories of Ukrainian civilians who have been impacted by the war since 2014, when Russian-backed separatists began fighting in eastern Ukraine.

This war, its a war of free people, of the democratic world, and investing in this war is protecting future generations, said Andrii Palatnyi, a line curator at the exhibition. At what cost are we ready to pay today for our freedom?

Palatnyi said the exhibition offers a constant reminder  to Ukrainians and their allies  of the horrifying price being paid to keep up the fight.

Nowadays we pay not [with] money, not weapons, we pay [with] the lives of our people, he said. Each day we lose people and the price is higher.

Disclosure: The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation funded this reporters trip to Ukraine. It also founded the Museum of Civilian Voices.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Queen City News.
As President Joe Biden started walking out of the press room on Friday afternoon, after finishing a speech outlining a cease-fire plan for the Israel-Hamas war, a journalist called out, questioning him on former President Donald Trumps historic hush-money trial conviction.

Donald Trump refers to himself as a political prisoner and blames you [Biden] directly. Whats your response to that, sir? the person enquired.

Biden stopped, turned around, and reacted by smiling widely, seemingly amused by the question or the topic at hand. The journalists continued to ask for the Presidents thoughts.

Do you think the conviction will have an impact on the campaign? was another query put forward. But without answering any questions, Biden proceeded to walk out of the room.

The moment is receiving much social media attention, as the public continues to digest Trump's conviction of 34 charges in a plot to illegally influence the 2016 election by falsifying documents that showed hush-money paid to Stormy Daniels, a former porn actor, who claims the two had sex.

Earlier in the day on Friday, Trump made a statement from Trump Tower in New York, speaking for over 30 minutes, and insisting that the verdict was rigged and driven by politics. Throughout his speech, he verbally attacked the judge, the witnesses, and called President Biden a very big danger to our country.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, immediately after leaving court, Trump outwardly blamed the Biden Administration.

"The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people," he said. "This was done by the Biden Administration in order to wound or hurt a political opponent, and I think its just a disgrace.

President Biden reacted to the verdict and Trumps words directly in his own speech, before discussing the Israel-Hamas war cease-fire plan.

He reified that this was a state case, including local representation, rather than a federal case that could be influenced by the Justice Department and those under his presidential purview. Biden also defended the jurors as citizens, not unlike those watching, and said that Trump had every opportunity to defend himself over the five weeks that evidence was shown.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict, Biden said.

On June 27, Biden and Trump are set to meet in their first debate for the 2024 election cycle. Soon after, on July 11, Trump is set to return to court for sentencing, where he could face penalties ranging from heavy fines to prison time.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
As crews work tirelessly to repair water main breaks across the city.

The City of Atlanta is under a State of Emergency Mayor Andre Dickens said on Saturday night at a press conference to update the status of the recent water main breaks throughout the city.

On Sunday, the mayors office said a large pipeline needed to fix the midtown water main break arrived.

Multiple water main breaks were reported in midtown Atlanta starting on Friday, heading into Saturday morning.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As a result, the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management issued a boil water advisory for a large portion of the city. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, they extended that advisory to cover another section of the city.

It now includes most of the city from midtown and below. It now includes areas north of Ponce de Leon Ave. and west of I-75. On Friday night, police say they responded to the area of 11th Street NE and West Peachtree Street NE in reference to a water main break.

City officials are targeting the breaks aggressively and starting on the main breaks at the intersection of West Peachtree St. and 11th Street.

During the overnight hours into Monday, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said repairs on West Peachtree Street and 11th Street will cause water interruptions.

Two large water main breaks caused customers to be without water in a large area of northwest Atlanta, from downtown to westside to midtown to southwest Atlanta. A boil water advisory is in effect in parts of metro Atlanta.

The first of which was at the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive around 8 a.m. A spokesperson from the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne that the break was a 48-inch transmission line that directly connected to the citys water treatment plant.

[PHOTOS: Major water main break having widespread impact on northwest Atlanta]

Workers are continuing to work to repair the pipe.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management initially said the water disruption would be city-wide, but then clarified it is limited to the impacted area.

[READ: Full list of business and organization closures]

Stay with Channel 2 Action News for the latest on this developing story.

LIVE UPDATES

12:42 a.m. The Atlanta Watershed said work on West Peachtree Street and 11th Street will cause water interruptions from 11th Street to W. Peachtree Street to Peachtree Street, and W. Peachtree Street from 10th Street to 12th Street.

4:11 p.m. The six-inch water main has been turned on after the emergency repairs were completed near the intersection of Euclid Ave. NE & North Ave. NE. Water service has been restored to 35 homes and four hydrants.

3:24 p.m. Crews have turned off a six-inch water main to make emergency repairs near the intersection of Euclid Ave. NE & North Ave. NE. This outage is affecting 35 homes & four hydrants.

1:18 p.m. The Atlanta Watershed is investigating a potential water main break near the intersection of Euclid Avenue and North Avenue. There is also a potential water main break being investigated near 1190 Atlantic Drive NW.

A temporary disruption of water service for businesses and residents may occur.

12:33 p.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed said after the repairs at Joseph E. Boone Blvd and J.P. Brawley Driver were completed, water service was fully restored to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Fulton County Jail, Atlanta City Detention Center, many of Atlantas critical facilities, and residents, including several senior high-rise buildings. Also, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena now have water service, and scheduled events will go on as planned.

6:00 a.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed said crews continue to work to repair the water main break at West Peachtree St. and 11th St.

A boil water advisory remains in effect for residents and businesses in the area.

12:02 a.m.

Repairs have started on the main breaks at the intersection of West Peachtree St. and 11th St., officials say.

11:37 p.m.

West Peachtree Street NE from north of 10th Street NE to 14th Street NE will remain closed indefinitely until repairs are completed.

9:50 p.m.

Mayor Andre Dickens issues State of Emergency to allow city to access needed resources as crew continue to restore water pressure to city, businesses

6:49 p.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed says they have completed multiple rounds on the aging pipe at the junction of Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and J.P. Brawley Dr.

4:17 p.m.

Emory University Hospital Midtown says they are on diversion for ambulance traffic and some dialysis patients are being transferred to other Emory hospitals.

2:23 p.m.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, Watershed Commission Al Wiggins Jr. and other officials hold news conference.

1:39 p.m.

The City of Atlanta is handing out bottled water at several fire stations: 71 Elliot Street, 1568 Jonesboro Road, 447 Boulevard and 1048 Joseph E. Boone Blvd.

1:22 p.m.

A Boil Water Advisory is still in place for much of Atlanta and has been extended to include another portion of the city. There is no timeline for the advisory to end.

11:03 a.m.

Grady Memorial Hospital has released a statement saying they have low water pressure, but are accepting emergency patients. Elective procedures are still being canceled.

Grady continues to experience low water pressure due to a water main break in City of Atlanta. However, we remain fully operational and our emergency room is accepting all patients. To ensure patient safety elective procedures remain canceled at this time. Hospital leadership and our facilities team are working directly with our care teams to ensure we maintain the same level of quality medical care for our patients.

10:41 a.m.

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has backtracked their statement on repairs being completed at Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and James P. Brawley Dr. They anticipate three more hours of repairs before completion.

10:28 a.m.

Grady Memorial Hospital and neighboring hospitals, as well as the Fulton County Jail has water service, according to the public information officer for Mayor Andre Dickens office.

10:17 a.m.

Atlanta Watershed Management officials say repairs have been made to the water main break on Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and James P. Brawley Dr. and they are slowly pressurizing the system. There is no timeline for when it will be fully restored.

Crews are now working to repair the water main break at W. Peachtree Street and 11th Street.

9:29 a.m.

Nine Fulton County library locations will remain closed on Saturday: Auburn Avenue Research, Central, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Louise Watley @ Southeast, Mechanicsville, Metropolitan, Washington Park and West End.

Public water fountains are closed at all other Fulton County libraries.

9:15 a.m.

Water Commissioner Al Wiggins, Jr. will provide updates on the water main breaks impacting Atlanta at around 9:30 a.m., according to department officials.

8:32 a.m.

The Georgia Aquarium will remain closed on Saturday. Spokespeople say the water issue in the city is not affecting animals, but is affecting guest areas.

6:10 a.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said repairs at multiple water main breaks are still underway but no expected time for completion is currently available.

5:03 a.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is investigating a potential water main break on Berkeley Avenue NW, according to the citys water outage map.

4:40 a.m.

Work crews on the scene at Atlantic Drive told Channel 2s Veronica Griffin that they were able to lock the water main break quickly overnight. While the water was temporarily turned off for an area of roughly two blocks, they expect service to be restored before 6 a.m.

2:34 a.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management reported another possible water main break on Atlantic Drive is under investigation.

A potential water main break is being investigated near 1190 Atlantic Dr. NW.

It could result in a temporary disruption of water service for residents and businesses.

Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed pic.twitter.com/DV45l3RJkr  Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 1, 2024

The water main break on Beechwood Drive was repaired and service was restored shortly after 10 p.m.

The six-inch water main has been turned on after emergency repairs were completed near 1236 E. Beechwood Dr. NW. Water service has been restored to 20 homes and 3 hydrants. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed #ATLFireRescue pic.twitter.com/FiR3pCHnse  Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 1, 2024

10:36 p.m.

The Atlanta Police Department reported they responded to the area of 11th Street NE and West Peachtree Street NE in reference to what appears to be a water main break.

5:47 p.m.

Megan Thee Stallion announced on Twitter that tonights show at State Farm Arena has been postponed until Sunday night.

Unfortunately, we will need to reschedule tonights show at State Farm Arena due to the massive water main break that The City of Atlanta is experiencing, she wrote. Im extremely disappointed because I had a huge surprise for the Hotties tonight, but we will follow the Mayors protocol.

Unfortunately, we will need to reschedule tonights show at State Farm Arena due to the massive water main break that The City of Atlanta is experiencing 



Im extremely disappointed because I had a huge surprise for the Hotties tonight, but we will follow the Mayors protocol.  TINA SNOW (@theestallion) May 31, 2024

State Farm Arena confirmed that tickets for tonights show will automatically be honored on Sunday.

5:50 p.m.

Nine MARTA stations have been shut down due to the water outage. They include the West End, Lakewood, Five Points, Georgia State, King Memorial, Inman Park, Candler Park, Bankhead and College Park stations.

4:35 p.m.

Water service disruption will begin at 5 p.m. for the affected areas.

3:56 p.m.

The boil water advisory will remain in effect until the DWM is cleared to lift it after sampling protocols.

The boil water advisory will remain in place until DWM is cleared to lift the advisory following sampling protocols. DWM has developed an informative video outlining proper procedures to take during a boil water advisory. #ATLDWM



Link: https://t.co/ugH9lGPXch pic.twitter.com/lOoqTq1cTv  Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) May 31, 2024

3:23 p.m.

DeKalb County Fire Rescue has sent a 3,000-gallon water tanker to the city of Atlanta.

DeKalb County is honored to be able to support the city of Atlanta during this crisis, DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum said. DeKalb County stands ready to provide additional resources if needed.

2:37 p.m.

A third main appears to have broken in the West Paces Ferry area. That break, on Beechwood Road, is affecting residents, businesses and hydrants in that area. Its unclear if that main break is related to the other two.

The Department of Watershed Management crews team is making emergency repairs near 1236 E Beechwood Drive NW. Water service has been temporarily interrupted, affecting residents, businesses, and hydrants in the area. We will provide additional updates. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed pic.twitter.com/rolDBGHnhs  Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) May 31, 2024

2:23 p.m.

Parts of metro Atlanta in the shaded area will experience a water outage starting at 5 p.m. when crews start to make repairs. People in those areas are asked to prepare to not have water for an unspecified amount of time.

The DWM is asking for immediate water restrictions to allow system pressures to rebuild.

PLEASE SHARE: If you are in the shaded area below, you are advised to boil your water before drinking or use bottled water: https://2wsb.tv/3R9ct4G Posted by WSB-TV on Friday, May 31, 2024

2:12 p.m.

A boil water advisory has been issued for much of metro Atlanta. Anyone experiencing low pressure or outages are asked to boil water before drinking or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food and brushing teeth.

DWM is also reporting another main has broken in East Atlanta in the area of 2922 Glenwood Ave.

Its unclear when water will be restored or how many customers have been affected.

2:10 p.m.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management now says a 36-inch main has also broken. Both pipes are transmission lines that carry large volumes of water to the metro Atlanta area.

Water main break in northwest Atlanta

Water main break in northwest Atlanta

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Chipotle is denying rumors circulating on social media that customers are getting significantly smaller portions of food.

Several influencers have uploaded TikTok videos claiming that the Mexican grill chain has become stingy with its servings, from its burrito sizes and chip portions to the amount of meat inside bowls.

"There have been no changes in our portion sizes, and we have reinforced proper portioning with our employees," Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs officer, said in a statement to USA TODAY on Friday. "If we did not deliver on our value, we want our guests to reach out so we can make it right."

The fast food chain did not clarify how customers will be compensated if they feel their portions were too small.

"Our intentions are to provide a great experience every time, and our meals have always been completely customizable so guests can vocalize or digitally select their desired portions when choosing from the list of real ingredients," Schalow said.

Poor review fuels portions criticism

Online food critic Keith Lee, with more than 16 million followers on TikTok, said that he no longer appreciates Chipotle the way he used to.

In Lee's May 3 video with over 2 million views, he gives disappointing reviews for a bowl and a quesadilla, commenting on its taste and quality. Lee continues to say that it's a struggle to find any chicken and that there were only a few pieces at the very bottom of the bowl.

"Where the chicken at?" he says. "This is how you know I'm not lying. I'm literally looking for a piece of chicken."

One TikTok comment with over 250,000 likes said Lee calling out the chain's servings was very necessary while another wrote: "The rise and fall of chipotle."

Frustrated guests encourage poor reviews

TikTok content creator Drew Polenske, who has more than 2.5 million followers, echoed the complaints, saying he was "sick and tired" of the portions and encouraged people to leave one-star reviews online.

"You remember peak chipotle. you know how they used to load those bowls up. They would give you enough food to feed a small village," Polenske said in a May 3 video. "And now I'll walk into Chipotle, I'll get three grains of rice and a piece of chicken if I'm lucky. I can't do it anymore."

Frustrated customers have encouraged others to walk out without paying if their food portions are unsatisfactory or to boycott the chain altogether. Other users are encouraging the "Chipotle phone method," where customers record employees serving food to ensure greater portions. A Chipotle spokesperson rejected claims that it instructs employees to only serve bigger portions when a guest is recording them.

"It actually kind of really bums me out when people, frankly, do this videoing thing," Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol told CNBC. "It's a little rude to our team members, and, you know, our team members, their desire is to give our customer a great experience."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chipotle denies social media accusations that portions are smaller
The White House and other lawmakers are renewing previous vows to support the LGBTQ community as Pride Month begins.

During Pride Month, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community, Biden said in a proclamation Friday. We reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion. We recommit ourselves to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and around the world.

Vice President Harris said in a post on the social platform X Saturday that her message to LGBTQi+ Americans is that We see you. We hear you. And we celebrate you.

Happy Pride! her post continued.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretary in U.S. history, celebrated Pride Month in his own post on X.

Happy Pride! Pride month rests on a tradition of both celebration and protest, and above all an insistence on equality, safety, and belonging for all LGBTQ+ Americans, he said in a Saturday post.

Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ community, began in 1970 due to the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which are often considered a pivotal moment in the history of the community. The month is often marked by street parades, parties and colorful decorations.

The U.S. Defense Department said Pride Month is a time to come together to honor the contributions of LGBTQ+ service members, in a Saturday post to social platform X.

We are committed to ensuring and promoting an atmosphere of dignity and respect for all civilian and military personnel, the departments post continued.

The Congressional Equality Caucus, a pro-LGBTQ rights caucus in Congress, also marked the start of Pride Month with a post on X Saturday.

As we kick off #PrideMonth, lets remember that Pride is the story of progress, the post reads. Our members are helping write that story every day by opposing the House GOPs anti-equality agenda & supporting pro-LGTBQI+ legislation. Our members have LGBTQI+ peoples back. Happy Pride, all!

Top Congressional Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, also made their own Pride Month posts on X Saturday.

Schumer said said he would never stop fighting for full equality, against bigotry and hatred, and for LGBTQ+ Americans to be able to live their full and complete truths in his post to the social platform.

Ever since Stonewall 55 years ago, each #PrideMonth celebrates the courage, beauty, strength & contributions of our LGBTQ+ communities, Pelosis post to social platform X said.

Generations of brave LGBTQ+ leaders have fueled the fight for full equality. And we wont rest until all can live authentic lives, with safety & dignity, Pelosi continued.

Pride Month Is a time to celebrate all of the incredible LGBTQIA+ people across this country and continue the fight for full equality, so that EVERYONE can live their full lives as their true, authentic selves, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Congressional Progressive Caucus chair, said in a post to X.

Happy Pride!! Jayapal, whose own state was one of the first to legalize same-sex marriage, continued in her post.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Why telling time on the moon is a conundrum for NASA

Editors note: A version of this story appeared in CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

Its easy to take the moon for granted as a silvery orb in the night sky, providing a soft light on most evenings. But have you ever pondered what time it is on the moon?

As multiple countries race to establish a human presence on the lunar surface, experts say its time to establish a time scale for Earths natural satellite. Otherwise, things could get confusing.

Albert Einsteins theory of relativity decades ago changed the way we understand time, and time even passes differently depending on where a clock is sitting on Earth. Determining a lunar time scale will be even more challenging.

The new system of measurement that NASA and its international partners need to agree on will have to account for the fact that seconds tick by faster on the moon. Over time, those seconds add up.

But it will be crucial for astronauts living in lunar habitats and scooting around in moon buggies who need to know exactly what time it is.

Defying gravity

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams were prepared to launch Saturday, but officials scrubbed the Boeing Starliner mission moments before liftoff. - Joe Skipper/Reuters

Boeing officials scrubbed the highly anticipated crewed maiden voyage of the Starliner spacecraft moments before liftoff on Saturday.

An automatic hold was triggered by the ground launch sequencer, the computer that essentially launches the rocket, a few minutes prior to the scheduled launch time of 12:25 p.m. ET, and mission teams are still assessing the cause of the issue.

Its possible that Starliner could be ready to launch again as soon as Sunday if the issue can be easily resolved.

Veteran NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore remain safe and have exited the capsule, and will be ready for the next Starliner launch attempt when all systems are ready to go.

Look up

The sunspot clusters responsible for the May 10 solar storm, which painted the skies around the world with colorful auroras, are coming back around.

Experts predict that auroras could dance over northern and upper Midwest states on Saturday, but there is also a chance for more dazzling displays over the next week as the sunspots directly face Earth.

Meanwhile, a planet parade in which six planets appear to align in the sky will soon occur, with optimal viewing in North America and Europe right before sunrise on Sunday. Expect to glimpse Mars, Saturn and Jupiter, but Uranus, Mercury and Neptune likely wont be visible to the naked eye.

And the devil comet will make its closest approach to Earth on Sunday as well, but it will likely only be glimpsed by those in the Southern Hemisphere with the aid of binoculars or a telescope.

We are family

A digital reconstruction of a Bronze Age woman's face is on display at Scotland's Perth Museum and Art Gallery. - Perth Museum, Culture Perth & Kinross/Chris Rynn

About 4,000 years ago, a woman living in Bronze Age Scotland likely took an accidental bump to the head, causing her to die in her 30s.

Now, visitors to the Perth Museum and Art Gallery can see a blinking, expressive digital version of her face, thanks to a recreation by Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist who studied her skull.

Other facial reconstructions on display at the museum include an Iron Age man who could have belonged to a group called the Picts and a young murder victim who lived in medieval Scotland.

Additionally, scientists have uncovered evidence that ancient Egyptian physicians attempted to remove a cancerous tumor from the skull of a young man more than 4,000 years ago.

A long time ago

The remains of 28 horses buried nearly 2,000 years ago at Villedieu-sur-Indre in central France are astounding archaeologists  especially because the horses cause of death is still a mystery.

The nine graves date between 100 BC and AD 100, and the horses were all carefully laid to rest in the same position at the same time.

The adult stallions may have been killed in battle during the Gallic Wars, when Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, or perhaps they were part of a ritual sacrifice, according to the researchers.

Separately, an exceptionally complete Stegosaurus fossil is going up for auction this summer, but paleontologists have concerns about where it will end up.

Fantastic creatures

People first spotted "salty licorice cats with a distinctive white fur pattern in the Finnish village of Petajavesi more than 15 years ago. - Ari Kankainen

When people first began to observe cats with striking fur patterns living in the Finnish village of Petajavesi in 2007, scientists sat up and took notice.

The cats sported ombre strands of fur that were dark at the root and faded to white. And now, researchers know what creates their unusual fur pattern: a mutation affecting a gene called KIT, which controls hair color.

The felines have been dubbed salty licorice cats, named after salmiak, a popular Finnish treat of black licorice speckled with white salt.

Curiosities

Explore these intriguing new findings:

 Archaeologists excavating Pompeii in southern Italy have uncovered childrens sketches depicting scenes of gladiators and hunters battling animals, suggesting that young kids watched the violent displays firsthand.

 Observations of the asteroid Dinkinesh captured by NASAs Lucy mission reveal that a sun-driven quake may have created a baffling double-lobed moon orbiting the space rock.

 The modern cockroach has a surprising history that began more than 2,000 years ago, and the insects path to becoming a pest involved hitching rides in the lunch baskets of soldiers and travelers.

Like what youve read? Oh, but theres more. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Wichitans want solutions for homelessness. Can they accept them in their backyard?

As Wichita struggles to address a growing homeless population with uncertain funding, crucial details surrounding a future city-operated homeless shelter or resource center remain unresolved.

Among several homelessness-related initiatives promoted by the city is a multiagency campus and center, often referred to as the MAC  a one-stop resource center that would house supportive low-income housing and two 24/7, low-barrier homeless shelters; one communal, one not.

In its recent session, the Legislature considered allocating $40 million for homeless services statewide to be distributed as grants, but action on the proposal fizzled amid a provision that would have required communities to enforce ordinances on camping and vagrancy. Wichita is now left to decide how to divvy up the last of its $25 million in American Rescue Plan Funds. A primary consideration is: Should it fund the start of a permanent center or provide another temporary emergency shelter to be open in the winter?

Wichita City Council member Maggie Ballard thinks the citys goal right now should be to figure out how to fund the MAC.

The MAC is our prize. We are keeping our eye on the prize and figuring out how we can do this, she says. If the states not going to partner with us, we need to get creative.

The former Riverside Hospital in west Wichita remains a possibility for the MAC, Ballard says. But if chosen, it would be the first such facility near the Indian Hills and Delano residential neighborhoods.

If that happens  or if another emergency winter shelter opens up before the MAC does  there would be an adjustment period for both housed and homeless Wichitans. Neighborhoods such as downtown and Historic Midtown are accustomed to living alongside homeless services and their patrons and have some familiarity with the strains that come with it.

But what about neighborhoods less acquainted with co-existing? How can the needs and interests of those residents be balanced with the need to provide services to homeless people?

The Journal spent time with Wichitans across the city, as well as city officials, to weave together lessons learned so far and cautions for the future when it comes to having neighborhood residents and Wichitas homeless living in the same area.

From these conversations, The Journal learned about the importance of extensive communication between city officials and neighborhoods, assurances that no one area will have to carry too much of a burden hosting homeless services and the need for residents to be provided more data about what is and isnt working when it comes to homelessness, so neighborhoods know what part theyre playing in the solution.

Aujanae Bennett, a 56-year resident of Millair, opposed the emergency winter shelters location in the neighborhood. She said that residents felt forced to bear the weight of yet another vulnerable population in an already disenfranchised community.

The recent past: lessons from 21st and Grove

Last seasons temporary winter shelter arrived in northeast Wichita with controversy. Aside from homeless clients expressing concern about conditions, the shelters opening at 21st and Grove was opposed by many in the Northeast Millair neighborhood.

At a November City Council meeting, Millair residents criticized the citys decision to place the shelter in a residential neighborhood, expressing concerns about cleanliness and safety. Past winter shelters operated by HumanKind Ministries were located near its campus in Midtown.

Residents were also angry that a predominantly Black neighborhood was being forced to take in another disadvantaged population  the homeless.

Aujanae Bennett, a 56-year Millair resident and president of its neighborhood association, was one of those opposing the shelters opening.

She said that Millair residents noticed more trash and nuisances such as public defecation and urination around the shelter, complaints validated in part by a city council member but difficult to document. She also took issue with the shelters no-barrier system, saying that allowing anyone to seek shelter meant that people suffering with severe mental illness could be just down the street from a child care center and the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas, located nearby on Opportunity Drive.

They didnt screen anybody, so that was a concern for us, Bennett says. I think we need to think of the safety of our residents.

She notes that homeless people were dissatisfied with the situation too, citing complaints about their treatment while in the shelter.

Brandon Johnson, who represents the City Council district that includes Millair, says the shelters location was not ideal but still a necessity.

You have to look at impacts and long term. In this neighborhood, it was impacted by the shelter being there. But in the short term, we made a decision and allowed people to have a warm place to go temporarily, even if it impacted that neighbor, Johnson says.

Of course there were incidents. Of course it was trashy a little bit. It did not work out perfect, but we did not expect perfection, he adds. This was a last-minute we got to keep people off the streets.

Ballard, a self-proclaimed over-communicator, says the rollout of last winters shelter was fumbled.

I think there was a real missed opportunity there to bring people alongside, she says. We really did search tons of different places. Certainly, we didnt have the time and did not do a good job of informing people throughout the process.

Im even worried about right now, she says. Winters going to creep up here really, really soon. I know theres conversations happening about options, but it takes so long to get things figured out. Even once you know where the location is going to be, its not overnight.

Millair residents opposed the winter shelter, in part, because they are weary of putting up with additional stressors beyond what theyve accumulated. Living near homeless residents was not new. Bennett points out that the area already hosts Union Rescue Mission, a privately-run mens only homeless shelter and service tucked alongside Glen Dey Park. Stays at the shelter usually run for only 30 days.

If clients leave the shelter without housing set up, they tend to stay in the area by either living at the park or sleeping at bus stops, she says.

So to have to deal with both of them at the same time was kind of a challenge, Bennett says.

She says that the dynamic between Union Rescue Mission and the surrounding neighborhood is peaceful after years of work. If there are issues, she says, theres an established line of communication. Theres trust between community leaders like herself and service providers like Union Rescue Mission.

Homeless people live all over Wichita, regardless of the proximity of a shelter or services. But the visibility of that population is lower without a service provider drawing clients, especially one with no barriers for entry, such as a winter shelter.

When it comes to safety concerns, theres little data that suggests a significant increase in crime during last winters operations.

A lot of folks said that a lot more crime was happening. It must not have been reported, because our numbers didnt drastically jump, Johnson says.

He adds that the few complaints he got from local businesses were mostly about the increased numbers of homeless people around. The local Family Dollar told Johnson there was more thefts at the time, but they werent reporting it.

That store is closing, leading to speculation that the reason was shoplifting. Family Dollar did not answer inquiries by The Journal about the reason for the closure. In March, Dollar Tree, which owns Family Dollar, announced that it was closing 600 locations nationwide in an effort to improve profits.

Johnson says there werent any reports of violent incidents, either. A couple of people were reported for acting aggressively, such as yelling into the air and kind of swinging at the air a little bit, but no assaults were reported.

Still, Bennett is disappointed in City Hall  and Johnson.

He voted yes for the shelter here. I told him, Whether you were the only no or not, you should have stood with your community. Because thats something the community doesnt want.

Midtown residents like Rhandalee Hinman have lived decades alongside homeless Wichitans. She says that though the community is peaceful, she thinks successful homelessness policy would move resources south  farther from densely populated residential neighborhoods.

In Midtown: The act of homelessness is not something that upsets me

For other neighborhoods, being located near a cluster of services means having homeless residents as neighbors. In Midtown, co-existing with people who are homeless can bring a degree of familiarity. Residents know many homeless people by name and dont mind sharing space with them  they just wish that the responsibility of community care would be shared throughout Wichita.

Rhandalee Hinman is a proud Midtown resident of over 20 years  one who rejects any perception that the neighborhood is lesser because of the density of services and homeless people.

The negative impact of services in our neighborhood is not actually having them here. It is the perception of the Wichita population that this is not a nice area, Hinman says. So we dont see development. We dont see families moving in.

Hinman says that shes had a couple of home break-ins, the sort of thing that definitely hurts the areas reputation, but she cant say the perpetrators were homeless. Other than those incidents, she says, shes relatively unbothered.

Makayla Nasser-Welch, a 14-year resident of Midtown and president of its neighborhood association, says she strives to encourage others to see the homeless as neighbors.

I think there are plenty of adjectives out there that explain how people feel about the homeless, and not very many of them are positive. I dont have a negative feeling about people who are struggling and their only option is my street corner, she says. I have a problem with thieves. I have a problem with people who hurt other people. But the act of homelessness itself is not something that upsets me.

She admits that theft is an issue.

If you live in Midtown, you dont leave a bicycle out anywhere. You dont. Because in five minutes it will be gone. And youll see somebody who you know has no business riding a girls pink, fluffy bike down the street.

Nasser-Welch says she knows of one Midtown resident who passes out trash bags to homeless people, to use for garbage or to carry their belongings.

I hadnt thought of that. But they dont have access to trash services, right? And they dont want to live that way either, Nasser-Welch says. Now if I run across one of our unhoused neighbors, Ill offer them a trash bag and tell them if you just leave it here tied up, Ill pick it up on my way back. And I am not joking. Nine times out of ten, there is a full trash bag right there waiting for me that I never would have had the opportunity to get off the street or get rid of.

Hinman and Nasser-Welch agreed on one particular sentiment: The residents of Midtown are tired.

Nasser-Welch says that many homeowners struggle with the process of selling their homes, because their proximity to homeless services weighs on the selling price.

Everyones tired of fighting it (the homeless problem), but theres still energy here. Because theres so much opportunity for growth, Hinman says.

I think sometimes our neighbors feel bad seeing our unhoused population, Nasser-Welch says. I think that act of feeling bad makes them not like the experience (of living next to it).

What does an ideal location look like for a homeless shelter?

Both Hinman and Nasser-Welch say that the ideal homeless strategy for Wichita to adopt would be to share the responsibility of care. Several service providers  including United Way of the Plains, The Lords Diner, the Salvation Army, HumanKind Ministries and United Methodist Open Door  currently are clustered in downtown Wichita. Because most homeless people lack transportation, many choose to stay near where they can get food, showers and case management.

Hinman and Nasser-Welch differ, though, on where a centralized campus should go. Hinman thinks that a neighborhoods growth is easily hindered by a populous homeless community, so she thinks that creating a campus like OneRise (the location of Sedgwick Countys new mental health hospital), which will be located south of Wichita, is ideal.

I just think for growth of businesses, it would be better down south, Hinman says. And, you know, we dont have to have transportation down there then, because everythings down there.

Nasser-Welch has thrown her support behind moving services to the former Riverside Hospital.

The concentration is fierce here (in Midtown). It would be better to be a little more diluted, she says, referring to all the services in her neighborhood. If Riverside Hospital gets to move forward, its an exciting opportunity to see what Midtown could look like without everything being right here.

Denise OLeary-Siemer, a 21-year resident of Indian Hills, one of the neighborhoods that would be impacted if Riverside Hospital were to become home to the multiagency campus, sees the sites potential. But she is a little wary.

What policy is driving this? Do we have any data, any evidence of it working? What went wrong there on 21st Street? she says. Is it going to be truly a resource center or is it going to be a containment center? A corral? Thats what Im afraid of.

She characterizes her neighborhood as peaceful with a very low crime rate. Shes noticed that more encampments are beginning to pop up farther north along the Arkansas River but hasnt heard of any negative impact. Of course, she wants to keep it that way.

She reflects on a time when a homeless woman camping along the river left her encampment after OLeary-Siemers sister called the police departments Homeless Outreach Team about her. She requested that the city clean up the site, and when that didnt happen, her sister and a neighbor cleared it out themselves.

The future

The Journal poised this question to both council members: How do you encourage a community that might be uncomfortable with having a shelter nearby? How do you engage with that concern, make residents feel heard and comforted, but also try to help them understand that a service like a shelter is for the greater good?

Johnsons answer relies on data. Once hes convinced that a location is the best for homelessness services, then its about engaging with the residents.

Less on the greater good and more on the This site will help this population in these ways, and this is why its the best, Johnson says. But anticipate what that pushback would be. I think a more informed public can understand (data) whether they like it or not. Wichita is supportive of different things but not in my backyard.

Another important aspect of engaging with a neighborhood when planning a potential new site is to ask the right questions, he says.

What would make this location better for you? Is it a fence? A wooden or masonry fence? A certain number of officers? You try to take in even a reluctant neighborhoods wishes to make that site better. To make themselves feel more comfortable.

Ballard represents District 6, an area of Wichita that stretches from just east of downtown to west of the Arkansas River  where a majority of the citys homeless services are located.

Whats ideal in the planning of a new homeless resource or shelter in a neighborhood: timely, consistent communication from city officials, assurances that no one area will have to carry too much of a burden hosting services and a need for residents to be provided more data about what is and isnt working when it comes to homelessness.

She says that most of the complaints she fields are regarding encampments on the river. A lot of her constituents feel frustrated with the lack of enforcement of camping ordinances, an issue made more complex by the lack of shelter beds available.

Wichita ordinances prevent disbanding encampments unless a homeless person has a shelter bed to go to. There are no womens shelters in the city (except for those fleeing domestic violence) and only Union Rescue Mission accepts homeless men. Temporary housing units such as HumanKinds Studios have long waitlists.

Given that, how can officials like Ballard validate a housed persons concerns about unhoused people?

Listening to them is the absolute most important thing. Making sure that they feel heard and trying to address it in the best way that I possibly can, Ballard says. In doing that, though, we have to increase affordable housing. If youre staying along the river, unless youre a male that can go to Union Rescue or someone leaving a DV (domestic violence) situation, theres literally nowhere for anybody to go.

Bennett, the Millair resident, holds views similar to Hinman. She has doubts whether homeless services and residential neighborhoods can thrive together.

In a densely populated area? I think it can be unrealistic, she says. They really need to think about where theyre going to put it. Im sure that people near Riverside Hospital are not going to be happy about it.

OLeary-Siemer is particularly concerned about whether the MAC would force homeless people to be invisible  contained in one place, perhaps forced into the back of the communitys mind.

If theyre out and about, it doesnt bother me. I live in a very conservative neighborhood, so others might be concerned, she says. But what really bothers me is when I see a homeless person, I wonder what kind of help he or she needs.

If a future MAC or shelter might settle nearby, OLeary-Siemer wants this: She wants to know who the decision makers are. She wants to be invited to every meeting, with chances to give feedback that feels genuinely heard.

Bennett agrees.

Neighborhood associations are grassroots. You need to invite those presidents and their staff to your meetings and sit down and discuss with us whats going to be put in our community and take our recommendations, she says. Because we live here, and you dont.

Communication will be key, Ballard says.

Communication is extremely important to me. I usually have a community meeting or forum. I think even if its good or bad news, I think having an opportunity for peoples voices to be heard is extremely important.

How people get their information is half the battle, Ballard says. Really saturating people with information is what needs to be done.

As the city maps out a way forward on dealing with homelessness, it will have to navigate the tension between neighborhood opposition to hosting homeless services  and the challenges they can bring to an area  and the need for the homeless to have access to those services to survive and move into housing.

For Brandon Johnson, the ideal communication strategy includes a little more control over its notification method. He says that while the city was preparing its communication rollout to northeast Wichitans about the winter shelter, the decision leaked.

It literally got leaked to the media as we were planning the engagement to the community, Johnson says. That morning I came in at like 7:30 and was like We got the door hangers. And I wanted to call a public meeting and meet people, and I got told the news ran already. So that sucked.

Nasser-Welch knows empathy wont be enough.

Just because I care and Im compassionate, it doesnt fix it, she says. Im hoping the task force comes up with answers. Im hoping that we as Wichitans are strong enough as a community to honor the answers. Because were very vocal when they dont work. But are we as vocal about supporting when they know what could work?

Stefania Lugli is a reporter for The KLC Journal who focuses on covering issues related to homelessness in Wichita and across Kansas. She can be reached at slugli@kansasleadershipcenter.org.



This story is shared from The KLC Journal through the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, a coalition of 11 newsrooms and community groups, including The Wichita Eagle.
A fourth person has died after a crash in Scioto County that killed three young children last week, our news partners at WBNS-10 TV reported.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers received a call about a two-vehicle crash on State Route 104 in Morgan Township on May 24.

Gage Smith, 22, of Piketon, was driving northbound on SR 104, according to OSHP.

After passing another northbound vehicle, Smith lost control, traveled left of center, and struck an oncoming southbound vehicle.

Three children in Smiths vehicle died in the crash.

They were identified as 4-year-old Navy Copas, 6-year-old Madison Copas, and 5-year-old Xavier Smith.

>> Pride month kicks off with events in Dayton this weekend, events planned across Miami Valley

A woman, identified as 28-year-old Courtney Copas, of Piketon, was taken to Grant Medical Center with serious injuries.

OSHP told WBNS-10 TV that it received confirmation on May 31 that Copas died from her injuries.

Smith was treated at a hospital and is currently being held at Scioto County Jail.

OSHP says he was suspected to be under the influence of drugs and impairment is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Smith is charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of aggravated vehicular assault.

Its unclear if the charges will be changed following Copas death.
Woman fatally slashed on the neck in the Bronx: NYPD

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  A woman was fatally slashed in the Bronx Saturday morning, according to police.

Officers responded to a call of a woman being assaulted at 1418 Oakley St at around 6:08 a.m., according to the NYPD. A 37-year-old woman was found unconscious and unresponsive with a slash wound to the neck, police said.

More Crime News

First responders rushed the victim to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The woman was identified as Ashley Smith, from Mount Vernon, New York, authorities report. Its not clear the circumstances that led to the victims death.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Woman injured in Russian strike on Kherson Oblast

The settlement of Velyka Oleksandrivka (Kherson Oblast). Photo: DeepStateMap

A local resident of the settlement of Velyka Oleksandrivka (Kherson Oblast) was injured in a Russian bombardment on Saturday (1 June).

Source: Kherson Oblast State Administration

Details: The local authorities reported in the evening that the attack took place around 10:00.

The woman, 50, was diagnosed with contusion. The injured was hospitalised.

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A bipartisan effort to let new mothers vote by proxy after giving birth is putting a spotlight on the unique challenges congresswomen face as they weigh motherhood against the archaic rules of the House chamber.

After suffering significant complications when giving birth to her son in August, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) grew frustrated by the lack of any mechanism to vote on behalf of her constituents. She joined with Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) to introduce a bipartisan proposal to fix that: The resolution would amend House rules to allow members, for six weeks after giving birth, to vote by proxy.

The proposal is far narrower than most Democrats would have liked  notably excluding fathers and parents who adopt  but with Republicans holding such a slim majority in the House, Luna wanted to make it difficult for either party to oppose.

For, I think, both parties, they should be supporting it, Luna said in a recent interview.

If youre hearing opposition to it, I think that its hypocritical of both parties, she continued, mainly because you have the Republican body thats been championing family values and being a mother, and then you have really Democrats that champion women in the workforce and womens rights, and so this is something that, I think, for members of Congress, embodies both.

Proxy voting never existed on the House floor before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it became a useful tool to prevent a wider outbreak in the Capitol. Over time, some grew critical of the proxy voting practice, especially when members were spotted at the airport trying to skip town early, or campaigning when the House was still voting.

When Republicans won back the House, they got rid of proxy voting entirely in their rules package, but there has been some discussion among smaller groups in both parties about bringing it back in some fashion.

The pandemic showed us how to adapt and that some of these adaptations are possible, in a way that I think many people didnt believe they were before, Jacobs said in an interview with The Hill. And, you know, while there were some people who misused proxy voting, I think there were many others who used it as it was intended, to protect their health and the health of all of us.

Because the recently elected members of Congress tend to be younger and from different backgrounds than Congress has historically had, Jacobs said, there is a desire to see some of these antiquated rules be updated for what modern families and workplaces are like.

When Luna approached Jacobs about a possible proxy voting push, Jacobs said it was a no brainer to back her proposal. The Democrat has openly talked about her decision to freeze her eggs for when she is ready to become pregnant. She said even with all of the hormone pills and injections and doctors visits and recovery from the procedure, that was all still easier to do than having a baby.

In recent weeks, Luna has doubled down on her efforts to get this resolution to the House floor. She told The Hill she spoke to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) about the proposal a few weeks ago and was hoping to hear from him soon.

Only 13 congresswomen have ever given birth while serving in office, including two in the past year: Luna had her son in August 2023, and Del. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R), the nonvoting member from Puerto Rico, had twins in February 2024.

Both Republican congresswomen faced difficult recovery processes.

Luna had preeclampsia, which she said can sometimes be a silent killer of pregnant women. And during labor, she said, her high blood pressure could have led to cardiac arrest. She also got an infection and was bedridden for a month.

Theres so much that our body goes through after giving birth, and I dont think that the Founding Fathers anticipated that women would be serving in office, so we have to make necessary changes, she said.

I dont ever want my constituents to think that I cant do a job because Im pregnant. But I also think that the House of Representatives, if we are going to be representative of what the American people are  which is of young families, of working parents  that there have to be these necessary changes, Luna said.

So we need to get with the times. Its simply unacceptable that it hasnt been done prior.

At 47 years old, Gonzalez-Colons pregnancy was considered high risk. She had to induce labor at 35 weeks as a result of high blood pressure, and the twins were in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 16 days, she said. The congresswoman said her high blood pressure continues to prevent her from flying.

Gonzalez-Colon and Luna both said these lived experiences reflect what many of their constituents face after giving birth, which the congresswomen say helps them better represent their voices.

The reality is that just 13 women in the history of U.S. Congress delivering while in the House. That sends a message that this is not allowed, that the House and the Senate are not allowed for women to actually run or maintain their families, Gonzalez-Colon said.

And I believe that we should represent our families in Congress, we should represent the voice of women that are pregnant, that are having kids, because we can actually represent more our communities, our districts, and the issues that are there.

Gonzalez-Colon is permitted to vote in specific circumstances, including in committees. She is also the only representative for all of Puerto Rico, which as an island of 3.2 million people is the largest district in Congress. She said she still participates in zoom calls and remote meetings and works out of her district office in Puerto Rico.

Gonzalez-Colons biggest frustration with the absence of proxy voting is about representation, saying it is taking that voice away for the people that we do represent, and we do proudly represent.

We should not be in the position to select between family and our people, family and our voice to represent our constituents. Because those two things should be compatible, she said.

By not embracing proxy voting for new mothers, she said Congress runs the risk of pushing women away from running for office, forcing them to choose between being a wife, between being a mother or entering politics.

Looking ahead to the next several months, the fate of proxy voting is largely dependent on which party wins the House majority in the November election. That party would approve a rules package in January 2025, almost certainly on a party-line vote, and it would specify whether or not  and under what circumstances  proxy voting would be permitted.

Democrats, many of whom are optimistic theyll flip the chamber in November, have broader aspirations for proxy voting allowances.

Jacobs is a co-sponsor of an amendment that would allow for proxy voting in circumstances due to a serious medical condition, including any pregnancy-related condition, or if they are the primary caretaker of a spouse or dependent with a serious medical condition if a doctor has recommended that they not travel.

So, I know there is appetite, and those conversations are ongoing, Jacobs continued. Im not sure, you know, given the current makeup of the leadership of Congress right now that it will be this term necessarily.

Luna, however, is committed to seeing a rules change pass under GOP leadership, noting that Congress has consistently had a slim majority in recent years  even with Democrats in charge.

Luna recalled that at one point, three weeks or so after she gave birth, she received a phone call from a fellow Republican asking for her help  while she was still under doctors orders not to fly.

I felt that I had to be back up here, Luna said.

Some members had left, and they were within one vote of not being able to pass some legislation, so they actually called me to see if I could fly up, Luna said. And so I was, like, packing my pump into my luggage, and I literally was on my way to the airport, and then they found a member who had shown up.

Luna noted the challenges of motherhood for those serving in Congress is unlikely to go away any time soon.

Ive been told by some of the younger members of Congress that theyre trying to have kids right now, she said. So I know Im not going to be the only one, so if I can champion this cause, its just sad that more, especially female, members arent speaking up even though they support it because theyre afraid of the blowback.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Poolesville, Maryland  At a ceremony in Poolesville, Maryland, earlier this month, American Legion Post 247 paid special tribute to one of its own, the late Gunnery Sgt. Richard Remp.

"He was a Marine," friend Julien Singh said. "He was most proud of being a Marine."

Remp, who everyone called Gunny, quit high school his senior year to serve in World War II, and stayed in the Marines through the Vietnam War. Friends Julien Singh and James Cappuccilli say he was highly decorated.

Despite all his extraordinary accomplishments, there was still one thing left for Remp to do: receive his high school diploma.

"That was his sort of farewell wish," Singh said.

Fortunately, Pennsylvania law allows any honorably discharged veteran of World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War to receive an honorary high school diploma. Unfortunately, it takes time, and Remp had just days to live.

Nevertheless, his friends, in desperation, reached out to school officials in his hometown of Sharon, Pennsylvania.

Sharon City School District Superintendent Justi Glaros took the call.

"I have a lot of passion for the men and women that serve our country, and just everything inside of me said, 'Yes, go, do it,'" Glaros told CBS News.

She expedited the request, and then went the extra mile, or more like the extra 550 miles, driving nearly five hours each way to hand-deliver his diploma to Remp at his home.

"It was overwhelming," Glaros said. "And I knew that he had been weak, but in that moment he wasn't. He was all in."

Remp died May 19 at the age of 98, just two days after receiving his diploma.

"The last thing he really remembered was getting that high school diploma from Justi," Singh said.

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Our Uniquely Fort Worth stories celebrate what we love most about Cowtown, its history & culture. Story suggestion? Editors@star-telegram.com.

World War I began in Europe in August 1914. In the next two years, tensions escalated between the United States and Germany over violations of neutrality and freedom of the seas, coming to a head with the loss of American lives in the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915.

Woodrow Wilson and Congress agonized over joining the war, with public opinion favoring by a large margin. To pressure Congress, a National Preparedness Day was planned for June 3, 1916, with Preparedness Parades all across the country.

Dallas jumped the gun, holding its parade, the first in Texas, on May 30. Fort Worth also missed the big date, staging its event two days late. A parade committee scheduled it for Monday, June 5, to begin at 7 p.m. The route would start on Houston Street at First and go south with new contingents joining at Second through Fifth streets. They would proceed south to Eleventh then cut over to Main and back up to Weatherford Street, where they would turn west to return to the starting point.

Fort Worthers were nothing if not patriotic, and this would give them a chance to demonstrate that patriotism. This would be the biggest parade in Fort Worth history: 2,500 marchers and upward of 25,000 spectators. The whole thing was put together in less than a week. Businesses and schools let out early on that Monday, and people started showing up three hours in advance. They packed the sidewalks on Main and Houston and hung out windows along the parade route. Nearly every major business, fraternal organization, and ethnic group was represented.

Participating groups carried multiple flags, representing their country and their organization. They also carried banners expressing nationalist sentiments. The patriotic spirit had never run higher in Fort Worth.

The theme was America First and Last. The Star-Telegram described the crowd as earnest to distinguish it from the festive crowds that turned out for the annual Fourth of July parades.

Grand Marshal was a Rough Rider

The grand marshal leading the parade was George Vinnedge, a Spanish-American War veteran who had been one of Teddy Roosevelts Rough Riders. The order of the marchers behind him was carefully set to give honor of position to participants according to their perceived status in the community. There was a strong feeling of competition among the various organizations to put on the best show.

Behind the grand marshal marched a contingent of mounted Fort Worth police. Then came the elderly Civil War veterans of both sides, marching together in their old uniforms under Old Glory. They kept up the pace with difficulty because not one of them was younger than 70.

A U.S. Navy contingent marched behind the Civil War veterans. They were followed by city and county officials and employees. Next came the Swift and Armour packing house contingents, each seeking to outdo the other. The Armour contingent brought a fife and drum corps that played Dixie. The Swift bunch brought a U.S. flag that they carried horizontally, stretching almost from curb to curb.

Greek marchers received loud applause

The Woodmen of the World, Rotarians, and Ad Club followed. Following the Ad Club was a contingent from the citys Greek community, residents of the North Side. Many were veterans of the Balkan wars of 1912-13 who had fled their homeland for the safety and opportunity of America. They carried a banner that said, Born in Greece. But We Are Americans. The Star-Telegram reported that no section of the parade was applauded more.

The Greeks were followed by federal officials. Next came cadets of Central High Schools Reserve Officer Training Corps led by George C. Clarke, president of the school board. They wore their khaki uniforms and marched in perfect military order. Some of them would soon be enlisting to join the national war effort.

The Boy Scouts came next, followed by a contingent of men and boys from the YMCA. A musical contingent came next, led by Samuel S. Losh, head of TCUs music department. They included a chorus and marching band that performed America and the Star-Spangled Banner. Next came the Camp Fire Girls in their homemade woodland uniforms.

The first business in line was the Monnig Dry Goods Co. contingent carrying not a flag but a huge golden eagle with wings spread. They were followed by members of Fort Worths Texas A&M club, former cadets wearing their old uniforms and carrying rifles. Their band marched behind them playing Maryland, My Maryland for some reason, probably because it was a favorite of Southerners dating back to the Civil War.

Next came an All Saints Catholic Church contingent from North Fort Worth led by Father J.E. Malone. The church was represented by 50 children of the Mount Carmel School who proved a challenge to keep in order for the duration of the parade. The presence of this church in the parade was especially significant because it was home to more different nationalities than any other in the city: Bohemians, Mexicans, Poles, and Greeks all worshiped under one roof.

The Elks Club came next followed by marching bands from Granbury and Cleburne. A procession of business groups came next, including employees of Veihl-Crawford Hardware Co., Striplings, Turner & Dingee, Vinnedge Coffee, King Candy, Western Union, Bell Telephone, J.J. Langever, and Hub Furniture.

A spirit of unity

Three hundred railroad officials marched together under one banner, with nothing to distinguish one railroad from another. For perhaps the first time ever, they all marched together as one entity. They were followed by the Red Men, a fraternal order claiming to be direct descendants of the colonial Sons of Liberty with no connection to actual Native Americans except their rituals.

The African-American contingent was at the end of the parade. They carried banners saying, Negroes Are Not Hyphenates, Negroes Saved the Colonel [Theodore Roosevelt] at San Juan Hill, and Negroes Fought in 1812. Feelings were still too sensitive about the Civil War to point out that they had fought in that war too  on the Northern side. They brought along two marching bands that played sprightly tunes to the delight of those on the parade route.

The Star-Telegram reported that the Black marchers were cheered along the way by the (white) crowd. Fort Worth had turned out for many parades in the past, but this was the first time that white people and Black people had marched together.

The spirit of racial unity would be severely tested in the next two years when more than 2,000 Black men came to Camp Bowie to train.

There was no Latino contingent in the parade because the American army was still chasing the Pancho Villa across Mexico following his raid on Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9, 1916, that killed 17 Americans.

It took 45 minutes for the full parade to pass a single spot on the route. By the time the head of the parade returned to its starting point, darkness had fallen, broken only by streetlights. It is a mystery why the parade started so late.

The Preparedness Parade was a memorable event that represented a coming together of Fort Worth, not counting the German-heritage community, which was not represented in the parade, though it was a sizable demographic previously prominent in civic affairs.

The following April we were at war.

Author-historian Richard Selcer is a Fort Worth native and proud graduate of Paschal High and TCU.
Whats worse  industry fouling the SC Lowcountry, or too many people? | Opinion

Its never over until its over, and it will never be over.

Thats a fair description of the fight to keep people from ruining the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Last month, we celebrated the greatest victory yet in preserving our lifeblood  the pristine waterways of the Port Royal Sound estuary.

The Town of Hilton Head Island unveiled an informational kiosk and mural telling of the historic time, circa 1970, when Gullah shrimpers joined forces with the islands major developers and incensed citizens to stave off a petrochemical plant on the Colleton River that would have done unknown harm to the water and air.

But heres the point.

It wasnt over when BASF backed out of the deal that all the powers-that-be promoted and set up shop in an area of Louisiana now known as Cancer Alley.

Within a decade, Chicago Bridge and Iron wanted to build gigantic domes used in offshore oil drilling on the same Victoria Bluff site.

That too was fought, and that too never happened.

The die was cast. We would not be a place of industrial smokestacks but one of a real estate and tourism economy.

WE are the heavy industry. And there is no end in sight of the WE flooding the Lowcountry.

The question is whether WE are as toxic as the industry our forebears fought off so passionately.

It was addressed head-on at the ceremony last month to celebrate the new recognition of the Hilton Head Fishing Cooperatives role in fighting off the BASF debacle.

State Sen. Tom Davis of Bluffton said, We won it over 50 years ago, but were looking at a similar battle now.

The battle is over development, now sprawling into rural Jasper County.

Clear-cutting is the new norm. And every tributary within the estuary carries a growing burden of processing all the runoff of humankind.

Think of the traffic congestion that clogs the intersection of U.S. 278 and S.C. 170 in Okatie. That is the same burden the industry of people is putting on the marshes and waterways.

Its changing who we are, Davis said.

One of the leading voices in the fight against BASF and Chicago Bridge and Iron was the late Fred C. Hack.

He was in the original developers of Hilton Head, beginning in 1950.

He and his brother, Orion Hack, who may have been the heart and soul of the BASF fight, had a reverence for the environment and knew its every leaf and wing.

Fred Hacks company planned and built neighborhoods on Hilton Head, including Port Royal and Shipyard, but he was convinced responsible development could be done in concert with nature and that the Lowcountrys environment was its greatest blessing.

Hack warned time and again that we had only one chance to save the Port Royal Sound estuary because once it was ruined, it would be ruined forever.

He chided local elected officials and bureaucrats for selling our soul for a bowl of pottage.

He reminded us that the fight is never won, and that it is up to people to become activists for the environment. And to never give up.

Fred Hack wrote a series of newspaper op-eds in late 1977, when the CBI plant seemed so much a done deal that land had been cleared for it.

He was urgently rallying the troops, saying its never over. He said, CBIs contribution to blend into natures works will be large structures including a 22-story-tall crane that will be almost in front of the Mackays Creek bridge, impressive thoughtlessness for the natural landscape.

And, in his final op-ed that was published two weeks before his untimely death at the age of 63, Fred Hack put an onus on readers that is as real in todays fight as it was in his fight.

We seem to have drifted into a state of contentment or an irresponsibly tranquil mood, Hack wrote in The Island Packet. Let somebody else do those required chores to keep our paradise in top shape, many seem to say.

That too, then as now, is impressive thoughtlessness for the natural landscape.

David Lauderdale may be reached at LauderdaleColumn@gmail.com .
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 facts and the law behind New York District Attorney Alvin Braggs successful prosecution of Donald Trump could be argued at length. But as a government prosecutor for 30 years, I have been most interested in the ethics of prosecuting that case.

Outside the courthouse after the verdict, Trump said, This was a disgrace. That echoes comments made over the year since his indictment in the case in which Trump repeatedly claimed the prosecution was political persecution.

Theres merit to his point.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference to discuss his indictment of former President Donald Trump on April 4, 2023. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

No one better outlined the important ethical standards that have enabled state and federal prosecutors to maintain an image of integrity and honesty than Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. In a speech to the nations federal prosecutors on April 1, 1940, he noted that prosecutors should select cases where the offense is most flagrant and the public harm the greatest, while warning that the prosecutors ability to choose defendants is the most dangerous power.

Choosing defendants, Jackson said, requires judgment. It is a power that can be abused.

With the law books filled with a great assortment of crimes, a prosecutor stands a fair chance of finding a technical violation of some act on the part of almost anyone, Jackson said. In certain cases, he said, it is not a question of discovering the commission of a crime and then looking for the man who has committed it, it is a question of picking the man and then searching the law books, or putting investigators to work, to pin some offense on him.

It is when the prosecutor picks some person whom he dislikes or desires to embarrass, or selects some group of unpopular persons and then looks for an offense, that the greatest danger of abuse of prosecuting power lies, Jackson warned.

For years, as a federal prosecutor, I had been proud to stand up before the juries and announce, Ron Sievert for the United States. I believed that the majority of those in the courtroom understood that the federal government traditionally prosecuted cases that were the most flagrant. These were cases where, as Jackson said, the public harm was the greatest.

We prosecutors preserved our reputation of not prosecuting cases for political reasons by only pursuing cases where there were real victims, in the sense of bodily harm or financial loss. The U.S. Department of Justice had an unwritten but long-understood policy of never indicting and trying a politician for a nonviolent crime within one year of an election.

New Yorks prosecution of Donald Trump can be, and has been, characterized long before today by some as a political prosecution because of the strong belief that a case on an allegedly false record would never have been brought if Trump were not running for president.

Justice Jackson warned that such a case, without an apparent victim, could undermine the publics perception of the prosecutions legitimacy. This prosecution may have upset Trump, but the real question is: Will it damage the good faith  both in the United States and internationally  that has been earned for decades by American public prosecutors?

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: Ronald Sievert, Texas A&M University.

Read more:



Ronald Sievert does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Two women have gone on the record to accuse famed mountaineer Nirmal Nims Purja, of serious sexual misbehavior, according to reporting by The New York Times.

While the story mentions several cases of women who have suffered from sexual abuse in outdoor sports, it presents Purjas case in the most detail through the testimonies of experienced climber and former Miss Finland, Lotta Hintsa, and American doctor April Leonardo. Both describe experiences in recent years in which he [Purja] kissed them without consent, made aggressive advances, or touched them sexually against their wishes, reported The Times.

Hintsa recounted an episode of sexual aggression during a supposed business meeting at the Marriott in Kathmandu last year. And April Leonardo, a client of Purjas, allegedly suffered constant sexual harassment during a K2 expedition in 2022.

Its not only the rock fall or the avalanches that are dangerous for a female climber, Finnish climber and mountaineer Lotta Hintsa told The New York Times.

Purja initially responded through his lawyers, denying all accusations as false and defamatory. Purja subsequently took to social media to formally address the accusations, which he called defamatory and false.

nims purja statement instagram

This story was originally published on ExplorersWeb.

Brand Impact

The women claim they have spoken up so that others dont have to go through the experiences they say they endured.

The New York Times story impacts not only Purja personally but also his brand. Purja owns a guiding company, Elite Exped, and a clothing brand. The Nims branding is on collections by Grivel and Nike. He is one of a very select group of Red Bull athletes, a member of the prestigious Order of the British Empire, and has an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University.

But recently, Nims and Elite Exped have been the focus of varying controversies on Everest. In the last 2 weeks, several articles in local Nepali media accused the mountaineer of improper permitting, though Elite Exped substantiated there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

And this week, Purja went on social media to claim that the ropes had been cut on the upper slopes of Everest just as he was about to lead a team to the summit. Fellow outfitters denied the accusation, and an investigation is now ongoing.

More generally, the sexual misconduct allegations cast a spotlight on the entire high-altitude climbing community. As Hintsa said, a base camp should be a safe point to return to from the summit, not an added risk.

The post New York Times Article Alleges Nims Purja Sexually Assaulted Fellow Climbers; Purja Responds appeared first on GearJunkie.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to speak at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to speak at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore

By Gerry Doyle and Idrees Ali

SINGAPORE(Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy arrived in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue conference on Saturday, where he planned to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and discuss support for his embattled country in an address to delegates.

After arriving at the conference venue in a motorcade amid heavy security, Zelenskiy said in a statement on the social media platform X that he had come to gather support from the Asia-Pacific region for a peace summit planned for June 15-16 in Switzerland.

"Global security is impossible when the world's largest country disregards recognised borders, international law, and the U.N. Charter, resorts to hunger, darkness, and nuclear blackmail," the statement said, referring to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The statement said Zelenskiy planned to hold several meetings, including with Singapores President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta, Austin, and Singaporean investors.

A U.S. official said Zelenskiy and Ukrainian Defence Minster Rustem Umerov would meet Austin "to discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and to underscore the U.S. commitment to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression".

The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), which organises the security conference, said Zelenskiy would participate in a discussion session on Sunday entitled "Re-Imagining Solutions for Global Peace and Regional Stability".

Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Russia is trying to disrupt the Switzerland peace summit, which he hopes will generate support for the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders.

Reuters first reported his planned trip to Singapore on Friday.

It is Zelenskiy's second trip to Asia since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In May 2023, he attended the G7 meetings in Japan.

Russia has begun renewed assaults against Ukrainian lines and has stepped up missile attacks in recent months. Russian troops have made small gains in Ukraine's east and south, even as Kyiv's allies accelerate shipments of ammunition and other arms.

Russia has not attended the Shangri-La Dialogue since the invasion.

The United States this year approved $61 billion of weapons for Ukraine, some of which - such as Patriot missiles and ATACMS precision ballistic missiles - have already arrived there.

On Thursday, U.S. officials said President Joe Biden had assured Ukraine it could use U.S. weapons to strike targets across the border in Russia that were being used to attack areas around Kharkiv, a city in Ukraine's northeast.

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.

Sweden also approved a new security package this week worth about $1 billion that included armoured vehicles, and for the first time, airborne warning and control aircraft that can spot targets in the air at extreme distances.

Austin, who spoke earlier on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, noted in his remarks that the support for Ukrainian forces pushing back against Russia's invasion for more than two years showed that countries around the world could rally in the face of aggression.

The Shangri-La conference, held annually in Singapore by the International Institute of Strategic Studies for the last 21 years, ends on June 2.

(Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Singapore on June 1 for the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference and meetings with high-ranking foreign officials.

"In Singapore, I will address the conference and hold a number of meetings, particularly with Singapores President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Singaporean investors," Zelensky said on X.

The president arrived in the Asian country just one day after his visit to Stockholm for the third Nordic-Ukrainian summit.

Security assistance for Ukraine is expected to be one of the key issues discussed at this year's conference, which is organized annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an independent think tank.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is also scheduled to join the event.

"Global security is impossible when the world's largest country disregards recognized borders, international law, and the UN Charter, resorts to hunger, darkness, and nuclear blackmail," Zelensky said.

"Restoring just peace for Ukraine and ensuring global food and nuclear security will be the aims of the global peace summit in the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland. And this is why the Asia-Pacific voice must be heard there."

The peace summit will be held on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland, with some 100 nations and organizations confirming their attendance. Russia was not invited to join the conference, and China has also signaled it would not attend.

Read also: China wont attend Ukraines global peace summit, Reuters reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy arrived in Singapore Saturday for a previously unannounced appearance at a summit of defense chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific as Ukraines troops scramble to counter a major Russian advance into its northeast.

Zelenskys surprise attendance at the gathering is a stark illustration of Kyivs determination to keep the international community engaged in Ukraines defense  and its vision for peace  more than two years into Russias devastating invasion.

The Ukrainian leader has traveled outside his embattled country sparingly during the war and earlier this month called off international engagements as his troops defended against the surprise Russian offensive in northeastern Kharkiv.

A CNN team at the summit witnessed Zelensky and his delegation arriving.

His attendance at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore provides a rare opportunity for Zelensky to potentially meet with defense chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific, including China which has deepened its relations with Moscow since the war.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and defense heads from US allies Australia, Japan, and South Korea, as well as Chinas Defense Minster Dong Jun are expected to be in attendance for the three-day gathering.

Announcing his arrival at the summit, Zelensky said in a statement on X that he would hold a number of meetings, in particular with Austin, Singapores president and prime minister, Timor-Lestes president and Singaporean investors. The pentagon confirmed on Saturday that Austin would meet Zelensky and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Shangri-La on Sunday, to discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and to underscore US commitment to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression.

Ukrainian forces launch a rocket toward Russian positions in the Kharkiv region, on May 15, 2024. - Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty Images

Zelensky arrives in Singapore weeks ahead of a Ukraine-backed peace summit slated to be held in Switzerland amid a mounting urgency for Kyiv to bolster international support for its peace plan  especially in the face of the looming US presidential elections, which could see a shift in the level of US support for his cause.

Ukraine relies squarely on international funds and weapons  and faces shortages of manpower and equipment. Months of political wrangling on Capitol Hill as well as lack of supplies from NATO countries have kept Ukraines forces significantly outgunned against Russia. A major $61 billion aid injection for Ukraine bill was finally passed by the US in late April.

On Friday, Zelenksy was in Sweden for a summit with Northern European leaders where he said Ukraines top priorities were to ensure more air defense systems and weapons for Ukraine, as well as global efforts to force Russia to make peace, according to the leaders post on the platform X.

In Asia, Zelensky may carry a similar message.

The conflict, though a continent away, has been watched closely by governments across the region, especially those contending with territorial disputes with another military and authoritarian power in the region, China.

The conflict in Europe is also widely seen to have impacted the security climate in Asia. Russia has nurtured a burgeoning relationship with North Korea, believed by Western governments to have supplied Russian forces with munitions in recent months.

Moscow and Beijing have also deepened their strategic partnership during Russias war, with the US accusing China of bolstering Russias defense industrial base with dual-use exports  and divisions between China and the West deepening over Beijings close Kremlin ties.

Those exports were raised during a meeting Friday between Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun. Austin indicated to China that there would be consequences if Beijing continues to support Russia militarily, a senior US defense official said after the meeting.

Dong said China, which claims neutrality in the conflict, had honored its promise not to provide weapons to either side of the conflict and has strict controls on dual-use exports, according to Chinas spokesperson.

Firefighters at the site of a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 10, 2024. - Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Reuters

Beijing also confirmed Friday that it would not send a delegation to the upcoming, Ukraine-backed peace conference in Switzerland, with its Foreign Ministry citing its view that any international peace conference should have recognition by both Russia and Ukraine, equal participation by all parties, and fair discussion of all peace plans.

Zelenskys 10-point peace plan calls for Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian territory and the restoration of Ukraines internationally recognized borders.

Zelensky has previously made surprise appearances at global summits to keep attention focused on Ukraines plight and strengthen ties  he famously dropped in on the Group of 7 (G7) summit last year in Japan.

Its not clear if he will have an opportunity to meet with any Chinese officials during his time in Singapore. Russia is not participating in the gathering.

In an interview with Russias state news agency RIA Novosti, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested Thursday that China could organize a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine.

Zelenskys arrival also comes as US President Joe Biden broke from long-standing policy to give Ukraine permission to use American munitions for limited strikes within Russian territory close to the border with Kharkiv, CNN reported Thursday, citing US officials.

Key European leaders have also signaled a similar position shift.

However, the US elections have raised uncertainty over the level of US support for Ukraines war effort if the fighting continues into next year  widely seen as adding another measure of urgency to Ukraines push for peace on its terms.

Biden, a staunch supporter of Kyiv, competes for office against former President Donald Trump, who in the past refused to say whether he wants Russia or Ukraine to win the war and raised questions about his commitment to Americas NATO allies.

CNNs Ivan Watson, Xiaofei Xu, Alex Stambaugh, Natasha Bertrand and Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that a number of Ukraines allies that support inviting Ukraine to become a NATO member might be able to persuade the US to back their position.

Source: President Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy said that some of the decisions with regard to Ukraine are "everyones decisions" and that a number of countries support inviting Ukraine to join NATO.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "The UK supports us [joining] NATO. The US is hesitating: theyre afraid of escalation. But we cant say that The US is afraid of escalation while all other countries support Ukraine,  thats not the way to approach this issue.

If everyone supports us, I think everyone will have enough strength, reason and influence to communicate with the US, to change their mind, to change their approach. Its important that Ukraine isnt the only country raising the issue of its NATO membership."

Details: Zelenskyy drew an analogy between the issue of Ukraines NATO membership and discussions about other decisions that have proven difficult for the Allied states, such as whether Ukraine can use Western weapons to strike targets in Russia  something that the US has finally come round to only recently.

"First they had to see that part of Kharkiv [Oblast] had been captured and only then did they give [Ukraine] permission to strike clusters of [Russian] forces near the border. They have to have more faith in us," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the July NATO summit in Washington, DC, should be an occasion to provide a "bridge" for Ukraines membership in the Alliance.

On 29 May, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said that important changes in the wording regarding Ukraine's membership prospects will be made at an upcoming meeting of NATO leaders in Washington and that NATO has agreed on the need to send a political signal about Ukraine's pathway to NATO membership.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is certain that any frozen conflict is a war, whether it is a slow war, a gradual occupation, or a frozen conflict between the parties.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian

Quote: "And there will come a moment when, for one reason or another, it [the conflict - ed.] will be unfrozen. The occupier will always find a justification.

They need a pause to solidify their position on the battlefield. Determine where they fall short. We are aware of this. We have the same deficiency, and we discuss it freely...

They [the Russian Federation - ed.] have more weapons than we do, but they also have a shortage: skilled soldiers, artillery shells and missiles.

As a result, this pause will benefit them and not us. They will become stronger, and then, just like with Normandy Format agreements, they will acquire strength, and they will be able to issue an ultimatum  to recognise all [occupied - ed.] territories [as belonging to Russia - ed.], to leave the Alliance, to abandon European integration, and many other requirements."

Details: The president recalled the occupation of Donbas and how, despite the absence of active hostilities until 2022, Ukrainians were nevertheless killed by Russian strikes.

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Prabowo Subianto and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

During a meeting with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Singapore, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is interested in developing relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and seeks to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the Association.

Source: Ukrainian president's website

Details: Zelenskyy met with Subianto on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue Asia Security Summit in Singapore.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We look forward to Indonesia's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

More details: The presidents discussed progress in implementing the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Zelenskyy expressed hope for Indonesia's attendance at the Peace Summit at the highest level.

Zelenskyy also noted that despite Russia's attempts to obstruct civilian shipping in the Black Sea, Ukraine is ready to increase the supply of agricultural products to Indonesia.

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Zelenskyy meets with Timor-Leste's president for first time and invites him to Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held the first meeting in the history of Ukraines bilateral relations with Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in Singapore.

Source: Ukrainian president's website

Details: Zelenskyy thanked his Timorese counterpart for supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and important UN resolutions condemning Russia's aggression.

The Ukrainian president stressed the importance of Southeast Asian countries' involvement in the Global Peace Summit and thanked Ramos-Horta for confirming his attendance.

Zelenskyy noted that the food security clause of Ukraine's Peace Formula would be one of the key issues at the summit.

The Ukrainian president expressed his readiness to develop bilateral cooperation with Timor-Leste, particularly regarding the supply of agricultural products, and invited the country's president to visit Ukraine.

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Zelenskyy meets with US officials to discuss air defence and Ukraine using Western weapons to strike targets in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a bipartisan delegation of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Singapore. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with a bipartisan delegation of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee led by its Chairman, Republican Michael McCaul, in Singapore.

Source: website of the President of Ukraine

Details: Democratic House Foreign Affairs Committee Co-Chairman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Members Yong Kim (R) and Joe Wilson (R) and Joe Courtney (D) also attended the meeting.

Zelenskyy briefed the meeting participants on the latest developments on the battlefield in Ukraine. They then discussed further military assistance to Ukraine, including strengthening Ukraines air defence with additional systems and missiles.

Those present at the meeting also talked about the importance of allowing Ukraine to use US weapons to strike military targets in Russia in the areas bordering Ukraines Kharkiv Oblast.

President Zelenskyy also talked to the US officials about further strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia, saying that the US Congress plays a key role in shaping the legal framework for the use of frozen Russian sovereign assets for Ukraines urgent needs.

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Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian strike on Vinnytsia Oblast. Photo: Ukraines State Emergency Service

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said after Russias large-scale attack on Ukraine on the night of 31 May-1 June that "partners know exactly" how to protect Ukraine's skies.

Source: Zelenskyy on Facebook

Quote from Zelenskyy: "This night, another barrage of over 50 missiles of various types and around 50 Shahed drones targeted the south, centre, and west of Ukraine.

I am grateful to our warriors for shooting down the majority of them, but there were also hits. All services are working on the ground to provide recovery and relief. Everyone affected will receive all of the necessary assistance.

Russia's main goal is to normalise terror, exploit Ukraine's lack of sufficient air defence, and capitalise on Ukraine's partners' indecision.

Russian terrorists understand only the language of force. And the only way to stop this terror and keep it from becoming the norm is to promptly make effective decisions. Full protection for the Ukrainian sky must become the norm. So that the madmen in the Kremlin understand that their terror is futile.

Partners know exactly what is needed for this. Additional Patriot and other modern air defence systems for Ukraine. Accelerating and expanding the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine. Providing our warriors with all the necessary capabilities."

Details: Zelenskyy is adamant that once Russian leader Vladimir Putin loses the ability to attack civilians and civilian infrastructure, he "will be forced to stop his terror".

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Zelenskyy on Trump's idea to end Russo-Ukrainian war: does he really want to be a loser president?

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Donald Trump, the former US president and current presidential candidate, could become a "loser president" and weaken US influence in the world if he forces Ukraine to a truce with Russia.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian

Quote: "I don't quite understand: does he [Trump] really want to be a loser president afterwards? Let's imagine that Trump is the president and, for example, he decides to end the war at the expense of Ukraine. And somehow, in the dialogue, he gets confirmation from [Russian ruler Vladimir] Putin on the Russian side that this is a stop, that's it. The Ukrainians will not put up with this, but he can then say: That's it, I'm not giving you any support, there are no weapons, there is no funding'. Maybe he will reach an agreement with some of his partners, and they will also stop [supporting Ukraine]. Of course, Ukraine cannot fight a multimillion-strong army without weapons. Let's just imagine it.

And let's imagine for a second... I think it's 100% likely that this will happen, but let's imagine that it's 10% likely that Putin will not stop after that. What will this new president of the United States look like for the whole world, then? He will then be very weak, and this is not about his personality but about the institutional capacity of the United States. They will become very weak, they will not be leaders of the world."

Details: Zelenskyy believes that the United States will still be mighty in the domestic economy in this case, but its international influence "will amount to zero".

"And then Putin will move on, realising that the United States is no longer such a [strong] player. And then other leaders of other countries, mostly authoritarian, will enter the arena. That's the end of the ceasefire, the beginning of what everyone is so afraid to talk about, a real World War III," the Ukrainian president warned.

Background:

Future US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has often boasted that if elected president, he could negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours. However, he has repeatedly refused to publicly elaborate on how he would make that happen.

The Washington Post, citing sources, claimed that Trump seems to be seeking to push Ukraine to make concessions to Russia and transfer Ukrainian territories, in particular Crimea and Donbas, under its control. Trump's campaign adviser, Jason Miller, dismissed these details as fake.

In April, CNN said Trump hopes to force Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations on a cessation of hostilities by pressuring them with the argument of further US military assistance.

Trump's former adviser, Fiona Hill, said that while he was president of the United States, he made it clear that he believed Ukraine should be part of Russia.

Trump himself has said that if he wins the election, he will try to help Ukraine but will simultaneously demand the same efforts from Europe.

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Zelenskyy: US aid has been slow to arrive so far  video

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the speed of delivery of US aid to Ukraine as "slow" and explained that the funds received so far are insufficient.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian

Quote from Zelenskyy: "I believe that little of this amount has arrived so far. That's my personal opinion. I can't staff the reserve brigades to simply replace the standing brigades to ensure a proper rotation.

Russia clearly understands this  what they are now doing with Kharkiv and why they are heading north [from it]  [they are aiming] to stretch the front. They know that we have an understaffed reserve, they know that we cannot send [in] a reserve without the necessary weapons, unlike how they (the Russians) send [their troops] as cannon fodder.

They understand that our forces are standing their ground in the east, and Russia does not give up its primary goal of occupying the entire east of our country, [and they seek to] stretch them.

If enough [supplies] arrived, we would have staffed the brigades, we would not have been withdrawing our forces from Donbas, and we could have retaliated with long-range [capabilities] in Kharkiv Oblast."

Details: Zelenskyy admitted that the amount allocated by the US Congress is large and that it is "simple and fast" to equip the brigades, but "the West lacks this speed".

The president further explained that Ukraine needs help faster, as the Russians "have been taking human lives minute by minute".

Background:

On 24 April, US President Joe Biden signed a package of legislation passed by Congress that includes nearly US$61 billion in aid to Ukraine and other US allies. Immediately afterwards, the US announced a US$1 billion military aid package for Ukraine.

The US had previously expressed hope that the new US military aid, unblocked after the Congresss decision, would help the Ukrainian Armed Forces regain the initiative on the battlefield over time, but a large-scale Ukrainian offensive was unlikely in the near future.

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Zelenskyy to visit Singapore and speak at security forum

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Singapore on 1 June to speak at a major security forum.

Source: AFP with reference to the organisers of the forum; Zelenskyy on Telegram

Details: The Ukrainian leader will speak in person on Sunday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key platform for security topics in the AsiaPacific region.

Zelenskyy will also hold a number of meetings, including with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, President of Timor-Leste

Jose Ramos-Horta, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Singaporean investors.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Global security is impossible when the world's largest country ignores recognised borders, international law and the UN Charter, and blackmails with hunger, darkness and nuclear weapons.

The Global Peace Summit in Switzerland's task is to restore a just peace in Ukraine and ensure global food and nuclear security. That is why it will be important for us to hear the voice of the Asia-Pacific region there."

Background: Media reports emerged on Zelenskyy's visit to Singapore.

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(Bloomberg) -- South Africas former president Jacob Zuma repeated his allegation about discrepancies in counting of votes, even as election results showed that his new uMkhonto weSizwe Party had eaten into the support of the ruling African National Congress.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Wrong things happened during counting, he told reporters in Johannesburg on Saturday evening, without providing any evidence. Earlier, MKP spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhela said the organization was considering seeking a revote.

South Africas electoral commission has denied any disparity in the count.

With the ballots of 99.9% of electoral districts counted in the May 29 election, the ANC has 40.2% of the vote, while Zumas party garnered 14.6% just five months after its launch, making it the third-largest. The ANC had 57.5% in the 2019 elections. The business-friendly Democratic Alliance had 21.8% of the vote.

Zuma, who led South Africa for almost nine scandal-ridden years before the ANC forced him from office, has said that his party wants two-third majority.

Dont interfere with us by bringing all the tricks, Zuma said.

(Updates with latest vote count in fourth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Boeing Starliner has another launch scrubbed for technical issue: What to know

Boeing's Starliner will have to wait at least another day before liftoff.

NASA said Saturday's launch of Boeings CST-100 Starliner from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida was scrubbed around 12:40 p.m. Saturday about 4 minutes before liftoff.

NASA said the launch attempt was stopped "due to the computer ground launch sequencer not loading into the correct operational configuration after proceeding into terminal count," in a post on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

This follows several delays including, most recently, a May 6 launch halted by a series of technical issues, an oxygen leak and a helium leak from the capsule's propulsion system.

Starliner has a possible backup launch opportunity at 12:03 p.m. Sunday, NASA said.

After that, crews would stand down awaiting launch opportunities on Wednesday and Thursday, as reported by Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.

.@NASA, @BoeingSpace, and @ulalaunch scrubbed todays launch attempt due to the computer ground launch sequencer not loading into the correct operational configuration after proceeding into terminal count. The ULA team is working to understand the cause.



The crew and #Starliner pic.twitter.com/Lnz5QzUSEz  NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) June 1, 2024

You can watch NASA launches on USA TODAY's YouTube channel and through NASA via NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, on YouTube or on the agency's website.

What is the mission for Boeing's Starliner?

The Boeing Crew Flight Test is meant to carry two NASA astronauts: Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, both former Navy pilots, to and from the International Space Station.

Once on board, Wilmore and Williams will stay at the ISS for about a week to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems.

A Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is rolled out April 16 from a Boeing's facility past NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. A crew is set to launch Monday to the International Space Station aboard the Boeing capsule.

What is the Boeing Starliner?

The Starliner was designed to accommodate a crew of no more than seven for missions to low-Earth orbit. On NASA missions, the capsule would carry four astronauts along with a mix of cargo and other scientific instruments to and from the space station.

If Starliner is successful, NASA will begin the final process of certifying the spacecraft and its systems for crewed rotation missions to the space station, according to the U.S. space agency.

Boeing was awarded $4.8 billion from NASA in 2014 to develop Starliner, a private industry-built vehicle that can ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Competitor, SpaceX, which recently saw the return of its eighth crew sent to the ISS, was awarded $3.1 billion to develop its respective spacecraft, as part of NASAs commercial crew program. NASA has also paid SpaceX $2.9 billion to develop the first commercial human lander for the agency's Artemis moon missions and eventually trips to Mars.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boeing Starliner launched scrubbed, another attempt possible Sunday
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.  With under four minutes on the countdown clock, teams scrubbed a launch attempt Saturday of a pair of NASA astronauts seated in what was supposed to be the first human spaceflight of Boeings CST-100 Starliner.

A backup date is available for Sunday at 12:03 p.m., but NASA, Boeing and ULA may not make that call until later Saturday night based on the findings ULA makes with what it has identified as the source of the problem.

Additional backup options fall to Wednesday and Thursday. Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron forecasts a 90% chance for good conditions for the Sunday backup option.

Saturday was the second time Barry Butch Wilmore and Sunita Suni Williams took the ride out to the pad and came close to launching after their initial attempt on May 6 was called off with two hours before liftoff.

We got really close today, said NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich. I know its a little disappointing. We were all excited. Butch and Suni were excited to go fly. This is kind of the way spaceflight is.

With 3 minutes and 50 seconds ahead of launch, the tell-tale Hold, hold, hold came through the mission control communication lines leading to the latest abort of the Crew Flight Test mission.

The duo were strapped into the Starliner sitting atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 41, but a computerized ground launch sequencer did not load into a proper configuration during the terminal count forcing the scrub, according to NASA.

The pair had to once again leave the spacecraft to make their way back to crew quarters at KSC.

Theyve had a great attitude during the whole long quarantine period, said NASA astronaut Mike Fincke. So hopefully this is a shorter round and getting ready for the next time.  Theyre keeping their optimism right now and keeping options open.

The scrub happened because one of three ULA computers that are part of the ground systems at the launch pad couldnt confirm quickly that everything was set to go, according to ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno.

ULA requires all three to agree for the sequence of things like retracting umbilicals and pyro events that release the bolts of the base of the rocket and then when ignition happens the rocket is free to fly away to do its job, he said.

Two came up normally. The third one came up, but it was slow to come up, he said. That tripped a red line and then created an automatic hold.

The fix is to check the problem computer, which cannot happen until the fuel is removed from the rocket and any hazardous gas is cleared so people can get in to look at it.

If its as simple as replacing (a part), we have spares for everything and we will do that, he said. We will test it, which is required, and then be in a position to support a recycle for tomorrow. If its more involved in that or it just takes longer to get through all of that, then we will move to the backup day on (Wednesday).

Liftoff on Saturday was set for 12:25 p.m. with the International Space Station the destination. The countdown saw a few issues that needed troubleshooting including each of the astronauts spacesuit fans shutting down temporarily, and problems reading data from ULAs upper Centaur stages cryogenic propellant.

On their previous trip to the launch pad, a fluttering valve on the Centaur stage ultimately led to a scrub and rollback of the rocket to ULAs nearby Vertical Integration Facility for replacement. But teams then also took the time to gauge the threat of a small helium leak found on the Starliners propulsion system, which managers ultimately decided to not fix before this second launch attempt.

I mean its a really, really small leak and its well within the margin that we have, Stich said during a prelaunch press conference Friday. And so sometimes for spaceflight, you plan for contingencies and you design the vehicle to have margin. And in our case, we have margin in the helium tank and weve worked really hard and worked really hard to understand that margin and understand maybe the worst cases.

Stich said the spacecraft could handle a leak that was 100 times worse and still fly safely.

We took the time to go through that data, and we really think that we can manage this leak both by looking at it before we launch, and then if it got bigger in flight, we could manage it, he said.

Teams on Saturday remeasured the leak noting it was still within parameters, and less than what was seen on May 6.

Whenever Wilmore and Williams do take flight, they will try for a rendezvous with the ISS a little over a day after launch. They will then stay on board about eight days before making the return trip to Earth for a parachute-assisted desert landing in the southwestern United States.

As a test flight, the duo will work through manual backup navigation systems and be the first to fly with life support systems as well as making sure the capsule can act as a lifeboat while attached to the ISS. The capsule itself already flew to space on the original Orbital Flight Test mission in December 2019.

Everythings new, the procedures are new, said Wilmore ahead of launch. We have procedures now that we didnt have a year ago because weve learned as the process has gone forward.

Williams was given the honor to name the capsule after it landed, and dubbed it Calypso, in deference to oceanographer Jacques Cousteaus famed vessel. The zero-gravity indicator for the mission follows the maritime theme, a stuffed narwhal that is also named Calypso.

The CFT mission is the final key needed before NASA can certify Starliner so it can begin regular rotational crew missions to the ISS. Boeing is playing catch-up to SpaceX, which just celebrated the four-year anniversary of its own crewed test flight, Demo-2, that launched from KSC on May 31, 2020.

SpaceX has since been the sole U.S.-based provider for human spaceflight for NASA. Its fleet of four Crew Dragons have launched 13 times carrying 50 people to space, including last Februarys launch of Crew-8, who await the arrival on Starliner on the ISS as part of Expedition 71.

The Commercial Crew Program was designed to end NASAs reliance on Russia with its Soyuz launches after the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. The contracts for Boeing and SpaceX were awarded in 2014, but both programs faced development delays.
Starliner's first crewed launch postponed until at least Wednesday

NASA test pilots Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore speak to NASA managers after walking out from the Operations and Checkout Building on Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

June 1 (UPI) -- NASA is still unsure of when it will attempt the first Boeing Starliner crewed mission launch, but it for sure won't be Sunday.

The mission was called off once again Saturday, just 4 minutes before launch due to a computer data problem.

NASA had a backup launch date at 12:03 p.m. EDT Sunday, but it announced Saturday evening that it will not attempt liftoff at that time.

The next launch window is 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. Another window is Thursday.

United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, wants to "give the team additional time to assess a ground support equipment issue" and is planning an update Sunday.

With under four minutes left in the countdown, engineers at the Control Center called a hold to the launch of the ULA Atlas V rocket on Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

.@NASA, @BoeingSpace, and @ulalaunch are forgoing a Crew Flight Test launch attempt on June 2 to give the team additional time to assess a ground support equipment issue. ULA will assess the ground support equipment overnight, and NASA will provide an update June 2 on next steps... pic.twitter.com/BlBddwk63o NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) June 1, 2024

"We got really close today, and the team did a phenomenal job," Steve Stich, NASA manager for the commercial crew program, told reporters during a post-launch attempt news conference.

A ULA Atlas V rocket is being prepared to launch the Boeing Starliner spacecraft and NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

"This is kind of the way that spaceflight is," he added. "Every time you go to the pad for a crew flight or any flight, you've got a chance for scrubbing."

A computer launch sequencer problem with the Atlas V rocket triggered a hold less than four minutes before the first crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft was to occur.

NASA test pilots Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore are attempting the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft .

The Atlas V rocket was set to launch the Starliner into space from the Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday.

Prospects for Saturday's launch initially looked good despite a minor setback.

Around 10 a.m., teams found a loss of data from ground valves responsible for replenishing the liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the second, or upper stage, of the Atlas V rocket.

A redundant system worked as intended, which didn't halt or slow the launch.

At 3 minutes and 50 seconds before launch, the computer launch sequencer triggered an automatic launch hold, which scrubbed the day's launch.

The Atlas V rocket uses three large computers to monitor launch conditions and provide triple redundancy if something fails, ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters during news conference.

Triple redundancy means there are three ways to do the same task in case one or two other systems fail.

"That ended up scrubbing the mission," Bruno said, adding that it will take up to four hours to remove fuel from the rocket before a team can analyze the problem.

"If it's as simple as replacing a card, we'll do that" and prepare for a Sunday launch at 12:03 p.m., Bruno said initially.

The test pilots will spend a day traveling to the International Space Station, where it will dock and remain for about a week while testing the Starliner's ability to support a crew in space. Seven astronauts and cosmonauts are aboard the ISS.

The Starliner will return to Earth with a soft landing planned in White Sands, N.M.

It is designed with a service life of 10 launches and landings.

Earlier test launches were delayed for many reasons, including the use of flammable tape in the Starliner capsule, a buzzing noise detected on the launch pad, a defective pressure valve on an upper-stage oxygen tank and a helium leak in the service module.

If the 10-day test flight proceeds successfully, NASA likely will certify the Starliner for use.

Starliner would be the second private U.S. company to sent astronauts to the space station, joining SpaceX.
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, technical personnel work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) in Beijing, Sunday, June 2, 2024. A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. (Jin Liwang/Xinhua via AP)

BEIJING (AP)  A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.

The landing module touched down at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time in a huge crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the China National Space Administration said.

The mission is the sixth in the Change moon exploration program, which is named after a Chinese moon goddess. It is the second designed to bring back samples, following the Change 5, which did so from the near side in 2020.

The moon program is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S.  still the leader in space exploration  and others, including Japan and India. China has put its own space station in orbit and regularly sends crews there.

The emerging global power aims to put a person on the moon before 2030, which would make it the second nation after the United States to do so. America is planning to land astronauts on the moon again  for the first time in more than 50 years  though NASA pushed the target date back to 2026 earlier this year.

U.S. efforts to use private-sector rockets to launch spacecraft have been repeatedly delayed. Last-minute computer trouble nixed the planned launch of Boeing's first astronaut flight Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, a Japanese billionaire called off his plan to orbit the moon because of uncertainty over the development of a mega rocket by SpaceX. NASA is planning to use the rocket to send its astronauts to the moon.

In Chinas current mission, the lander is to use a mechanical arm and a drill to gather up to 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of surface and underground material over about two days.

An ascender atop the lander will then take the samples in a metal vacuum container back to another module that is orbiting the moon. The container will be transferred to a reentry capsule that is due to return to Earth in the deserts of Chinas Inner Mongolia region about June 25.

Missions to the moons far side are more difficult because it doesnt face the Earth, requiring a relay satellite to maintain communications. The terrain is also more rugged, with fewer flat areas to land.

The South Pole-Aitken Basin, an impact crater created more than 4 billion years ago, is 13 kilometers (8 miles) deep and has a diameter of 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), according to a report by China's Xinhua News Agency.

It is the oldest and largest of such craters on the moon, so may provide the earliest information about it, Xinhua said, adding that the huge impact may have ejected materials from deep below the surface.
Only those with an acute attention to detail have noticed something wonky has been happening to signs on U.S. freeways and interstates over the past several years.

Federal highway authorities havent been able to decide what font makes for the clearest, safest road signage, leaving some states with signs written in a font called Highway Gothic, others with signs in Clearview, and some places with a mixture of both.

This font saga dates back to 1948, when the Federal Highway Administration adopted Highway Gothic, a modified Gothic font, as its standard. The federal authority made the change following studies by the California Department of Transportation, which was seeking an easy-to-read font that wouldnt be distracting to drivers.

Why California lets motorcycles legally split lanes while 49 other states do not

But that easy-to-read font wasnt so easy to read come the 1980s, Vox reports, when reflective highway signs became ubiquitous. The reflective signs were supposed to be easier to see at night, but as they reflected more light back to drivers, people  especially the elderly  had trouble reading them due to halation.

Halation is an optical effect that can make the edges of lighted objects appear blurry, like theres a halo effect. Its sometimes experienced during night driving, and it was making lowercase letters, like e, appear like an o on road signs.

So type design firm Meek & Associates worked with researchers at the Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute to come up with a solution. What they created was called Clearview, a font they said improved legibility by about 20% for all drivers with no change in the signs size.

Clearview was given the green light by the Federal Highway Association in 2004 and it became an option for road signage in the U.S.  at least for a period of time. (More on that later.)

While the two fonts dont look dramatically different, you can spot the changes if you take a close look at letters like l, t and d. Youll see a slant at the top of those letters. The interior space of the letters like a, o and e is pretty small.

With Clearview, the interior space of lowercase letters was made larger to help with halation. The tops of skinny letters like l, t and d were also flattened.

You can see an example of both fonts side-by-side on a Texas roadway (below): Clearview is on the left and the older Highway Gothic is on the right. Look at the lowercase letters for the most obvious differences.

When the change was made in 2004, some states immediately started redoing their signage to be in Clearview.

But then, a study out of Texas claimed that Clearview wasnt actually any easier to read than Highway Gothic. The Federal Highway Administration rescinded its approval of Clearview in 2016.

Designer Don Meeker, who worked on creating Clearview, contested the Texas researchers findings, telling CityLab, They dont understand design.

Helen Keller can tell you from the grave that Clearview looks better, he said.

California police can no longer ask you this at a traffic stop starting in 2024

The saga doesnt even end there. Federal authorities changed their minds again in 2018, regranting states permission to use Clearview over Highway Gothic, if they so choose. In this case, the agency chose not to endorse one over the other.

That brings us to where we are today, with an eclectic mashup of highway signage depending on the state and the date it was installed.

An urban design video creator, who posts under the account Streetcraft, noticed the transition from Highway Gothic as he drove north on I-75, starting if Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, where Highway Gothic is still used, into Kentucky where everything switches to Clearview. Further north, in Ohio, youll see both (depending on when the sign was installed), before heading back into Clearview territory in Michigan.

Curious which font your state uses? Consider it a low-tech road trip game next time youre on a long drive, and check those lowercase letters closely.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Just off Route 66 in the heartland is a boutique breathing new life into vintage Ford Broncos. At its 60,000-square-foot factory in Hamel, Illinois, Gateway Bronco reimagines its namesake with a modern twist, creating the worlds highest-quality Bronco SUVs for a discerning clientele.

The company holds nearly a dozen patents for restoring the boxy classic, hewing to its original design while adding modern safety and technology, such as antilock brakes, independent suspension, premium audio, and infotainment systems with Apple CarPlayall topped with Gateway Broncos impeccable craftsmanship. The look recalls the candy-colored Broncos of yore, built for cruising the Pacific Coast Highway or off-roading in Moab, Utah.

More from Robb Report

The boutique takes the two-door body of a Bronco built during the nameplates original production run between 1966 and 1977, and maintains its classic shape while updating its drivetrain and technology for safer, reliable performance. In their second lives, these Broncos come with high-tech updates such as a backup camera and a patented automatic soft top that collapses behind the tailgate with the push of a button.

Built for reliability and rugged luxury, each bespoke Bronco from the Illinois shop has its own story. Gateway provides clients the chance to create the Bronco of their dreams from scratch, whether gifting one to a spouse on Christmas morning, driving cross-country to deliver your kid to college, or passing it down to future generations to create their own stories. From cross-country road trips to coastal joy rides, these custom Ford Broncos are made for memorable adventures that give rise to multigenerational family legacies.

Gateway offers three levels of build: Fuelie, Coyote, and LUXE-GT Editions. Each comes with a range of custom options, including paint-to-sample, leather-to-sample, multiple wheel options, and many more premium items. Starting at $325,000, the shop can also build custom four-door Broncos. The six-seat resto-mod comes with a 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, Apple CarPlay, and zoned air-conditioning.

The 60,000-square-foot Illinois facility is vertically integrated, from metal fabrication through final assembly. Gateway Bronco even acquired a powder coating company to provide the ultimate in rustproofing on frames, differentials, and suspensions. All the work is done in-house, where the cars pass more than 560 inspections and come with industry-leading warranties of up to seven years.

The design process becomes a journey, described by many clients as an enjoyable process on par with designing a boat or a home with an architect. At the start of the journey, each client receives an experience kit that allows them to physically explore and match paint, leather, and wood samples at their convenience. Clients then participate in multiple design reviews, fine-tuning every small detail using a state-of-the-art design configurator as well as professional design renderings for the truly custom items.

The hands-on approach ensures that the final product is a true reflection of the clients vision, according to Gateway Bronco Founder and CEO Seth Burgett.

The shop has in many ways reawakened these legends, whether featuring treated barn wood for the backseat floor or integrating interior cloth from an original Bronco. Clients can also match the interior thread color to exterior paint color or create their own custom color. One client customized his Bronco for University of Florida tailgates, featuring Gator colors and an AC plug in the rear to power his drink mixers. Burgett says the crowning detail is a set of alligator heads for the twin-stick 4WD engagement.

At Gateway Bronco, we believe that every vehicle should be a reflection of its owners unique style and personality, Burgett says.Thats why we take a consumer-centric approach to design, working closely with our clients to customize every element, from the carpet and leather upholstery to the soft top and roll bar. The result is a cohesive and thoughtfully curated masterpiece that is as individual as its owner.

Build your own custom vintage Bronco today with Gateway Bronco.

Learn MOre

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FILE - Space flight participant Yusaku Maezawa attends a news conference ahead of the expedition to the International Space Station at the Gagarin Cosmonauts' Training Center in Star City outside Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 14, 2021. Japanese billionaire Maezawa on Saturday, June 1, 2024, cancelled his planned flight around the moon on a Space X spaceship because of uncertainty about when it may be possible. (Shamil Zhumatov/Pool Photo via AP, File)

TOKYO (AP)  Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on Saturday canceled his planned flight around the moon on a SpaceX vehicle because of uncertainty about when it may be possible.

The tycoon in 2018 launched plans for the lunar flyby voyage. He bought seats for eight traveling companions in 2022 for what would be his second space journey after his 12-day trip to the International Space Station on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2021.

Maezawa was aiming the moon trip for 2023, a target seen by most space observers as overly optimistic given the progress of SpaceXs Spaceship mega-rocket project. It would have been the first private flight around the moon.

That project became unfeasible, said the mission organizer on Saturday in a statement posted on its website. Without clear schedule certainty in the near-term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project.

To all who have supported this project and looked forward to this endeavor, we sincerely appreciate it and apologize for this outcome, it said.

Maezawa had selected eight people for his dearMoon project from 1 million applicants. They included a lead rapper for the K-pop group Big Bang, and Americans DJ Steve Aoki and filmmaker Brendan Hall.

Separately on Saturday, Maezawa said in his message on X: I cant plan my future in this situation and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence (I made) the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time.

I apologize to those who were excited for this project to happen, he said.

He said he signed the contract with SpaceX in 2018 assuming the launch would be possible by the end of 2023. Its a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch.

SpaceXs two test flights of its mega-rocket last year ended in explosions minutes after liftoff. In a third test in March, its spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.

Maezawa and his producer in December 2021 became the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009.

Maezawa made his fortune in retail fashion, launching Japans major online fashion mall, Zozotown.
The Army awarded Palantir Technologies a $480 million contract to expand a data analysis and decision making tool to more military users across the globe.

The Maven Smart System is part of Project Maven, the Pentagons marquis artificial intelligence program, which ingests and processes data from multiple sources, like satellite imagery and geolocation data, and uses it to automatically detect potential targets.

Palantir, a Denver-based software and data analytics company, has been developing and experimenting with the prototype with a limited number of operators. The five-year contract, announced May 29, will allow the Defense Department to expand its use to thousands of users at five combatant commands: U.S. Central Command, European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, Northern Command and Transportation Command. The system will also be available to members of the Joint Staff.

Users are going to span everyone from intel analysts and operators in some of the remote island chains across the world to leadership at the Pentagon, Shannon Clark, Palantirs head of defense growth, told reporters May 30. This is taking what has been built in prototype and experimentation and bringing this to production.

Clark described Maven as a contributor to the Pentagons Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control concept, which is driving efforts to integrate and share data across the many environments in which the military operates. The system has been involved in DOD exercises, including the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Offices Global Information Dominance Experiment series.

The CDAO is using these exercises, in part, to validate CJADC2 capabilities. The Defense Department announced in February that it had delivered a minimum viable capability for CJADC2, though declined to provide details on what specific capabilities were included in that. Clark would not confirm whether the Maven Smart System was part of that initial delivery.

Mavens applications range from awareness and visibility of the battlefield, to congested logistics and joint fires, she said.

For example, the U.S. military has struggled in the past to visualize its location on the battlefield because that navigation data comes from a number of different sources. According to Andrew Locke, Palantirs enterprise lead, Maven fuses that data and puts it on a map that leaders can use to provide direction to forces.

Where this becomes powerful is when we start layering on additional sources of information to that, and so besides just seeing like where that formation is, were able to do really interesting things through data integration, and through joining with different datasets, he said.

As part of the contract, Clark noted, Palantir will integrate AI capabilities from other firms to build on the baseline theyve established.

Clark declined to confirm what DoD assets the Maven Smart System is integrated with or which systems it may connect to in the future, but noted that the firms intent is to incorporate any new data system or AI tool the government buys and wants to include in Maven.

Should, tomorrow, a new sensor come online, should, tomorrow, a new AI capability come online, we want to be able to integrate with that, she said.
Coconut farmers on Karkar Island in Papua New Guinea seem to have found a productive way to utilize the fruit in a lagging international market for it.

The Guardian reports that farmers on the more than 2,400-acre Kulili plantation have been making coconut-based biofuel since 2007 using the white flesh of the fruit. It has become a cheaper replacement for diesel for Karkar residents and has the potential to have a greater impact beyond the island.

"[The fuel] is used on Karkar in government vehicles, ambulances, police cars, motor vehicles, ships, generators, and our own business," Kulili managing director Derek Middleton told The Guardian about the operation, which is producing 600,000 liters (more than 158,000 gallons) a year.

Biofuels are typically made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease. The U.S. government considers them to be a planet-friendlier alternative to dirty fuels, like diesel, because they are safely biodegradable and produce fewer harmful particulates and other pollution when burned.

The government has invested at least $15 million into biofuel research as part of the Energy Earthshot program.

On Karkar, The Guardian reports that Middleton is looking for more support to fuel the coconut operation. Other islands in the region, including Vanuatu and Fiji, are also using the fruit to make biofuels.

It's made by shredding the white part of the coconut and mixing it with lye and alcohol, per the news outlet. There's a little more chemistry needed to finish the process.

Interestingly, Middleton told The Guardian that it can be blended with traditional fuel when needed without engine changes.

The country's PNG University of Technology is also interested in the alternative fuel, with experts there analyzing how the biodiesel can be expanded across the country. The goal is to reduce the amount of petroleum diesel imported.

"The positive social impact would be undeniable," Economist Maholopa Laveil said in the newspaper's story.

Biofuel isn't without drawbacks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists land and water use and some other pollution concerns  depending on the production method  that are on par or worse than what's generated from dirty fuels.

However, under the right circumstances, many officials view it as a viable part of our sustainable energy future. There are even some efforts underway to revive biofuel made from algae, a concept that gained prominence earlier this century but never came to fruition. It doesn't require land for crops.

In the meantime, Middleton and other coconut fuel proponents are lobbying for support to expand production in the Pacific. They hope to prove that there's a successful business model for their enterprise. The goal is to grow on Karkar, then throughout Papua New Guinea, before reaching other borders.

If the concept is fully realized, it could mean healthier air. The Maryland Department of the Environment reports that traditional diesel can aggravate asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other lung problems when its exhaust is inhaled.

"For the initial stages of the establishment of biofuel creation  not only coconuts, but sugar and others  I see the fuel, if it meets industrial and regulatory standards, meeting domestic markets before it enters international markets," Laveil said to The Guardian.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Second thoughts about college? Why certificate-first schools like Ensign College and Davis Technical College are getting a second look

Schillene Bigelow, Ensign College health professions chair and professor, observes as Muzi Dube, right, checks Camilla Carvajals blood pressure in Clinical Medical Assisting class at Ensign College in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Writing for The Atlantic several years back, George Mason economics professor Bryan Caplan remarked on his 40 years of education before asking about the practical value of the thousands of hours American students spend with subjects he calls irrelevant to the modern labor market.

Noting that human beings have trouble retaining knowledge they rarely use, Caplan argues that the proverbial class clown snarking what does this have to do with real life may, in fact, be onto something.

More people today are reaching a similar epiphany, reflected in the worrisome continued decline in public trust in traditional higher education, with a Gallup poll last year showing sharply lower numbers of respondents expressing confidence (37%).

From Megan Brenan's "Americans' Confidence in Higher Education Down Sharply," July 11, 2023, Gallup News

Amidst this crisis of confidence in higher education broadly, there is evidence of growing interest in alternative pathways for advanced, post-secondary education. In a 2023 representative survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education, nearly 90% of respondents stated that compared with getting a bachelors degree, some kind of professional/technical training or trade school would be a similar or better choice to achieve a successful livelihood.

Caplan also suggests that time and money would be better spent preparing students for the jobs theyre likely to do, which he notes has long motivated occupational, vocational and technical education that revolves around learning by doing, rather than only learning by listening.

This insight is at the heart of a growing network of technical, business and career-oriented schools across the country and in Utah, dating back to the first in the state, Ensign College in Salt Lake City. This 138-year-old school takes what they call a certificate-first approach for its 2,037 on-campus students (and 8,182 remote, served through BYU-Pathway Worldwide), aiming to provide some kind of industry-recognized credential early in a students education, so they dont have to wait years for practical benefits and are prepared to earn a working wage quickly after graduation.

Half of the 16 institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education are also technical colleges, with an enrollment of 34,616 students across the state between 2022 and 2023, 86% of which are part-time and 70% of which are adults (vs. still in high school). These other skills-oriented institutions of higher education talk about student learning that is industry-driven, hands-on, competency-based and employer-guided, while preparing those enrolled to be job-ready and career ready.

Rather than absorbing learning through lectures primarily, students across these campuses are mentored more directly by faculty in how to problem solve real-world challenges across various business, medical and technological settings. As Ensign College President Bruce C. Kusch put it in a 2019 TEDx talk, Why isnt college a lot more like the world of work?

Johannes Castellano asks a question in Cybersecurity Capstone at Ensign College in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A rich history of hands-on learning

This is not a new conversation. While the earliest known universities emphasized theology, history and philosophy, apprenticeships in skilled trades have an even longer history. It wasnt until the early 19th century, however, that more organized coordination began to take place between the fledgling U.S. public education system and the American workforce. One early educational leader, Theodore D. Weld, was concerned with how much time was spent in classical education that affords no pecuniary advantage and no addition to the means of human substance.

Womens colleges in the 1840s began to adopt more hands-on learning approaches, as did educational institutions during the post-Civil War reconstruction, with Booker T. Washington the most famous graduate of a newly founded Hampton Institute that offered training in blacksmithing, bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, machine work, painting, shoemaking, plumbing and tailoring.

With the Morrill Act of 1862, lands were donated to establish colleges within each state as a way to expand access to practical education in agriculture and mechanical arts. This prompted the 1888 establishment of the Utah Agricultural College in Logan  while contributing more broadly to what vocational historians have called the Vocational Education Age between 1876 and 1926, with early training and trade schools established in St. Louis, Missouri, and New York between 1879 and 1881.

The priority of education in Utah history

It was during this same period that Ensign College first opened its doors in 1886, originally known as Salt Lake Stake Academy, and later as LDS University, LDS College and LDS Business College, before the adoption of it current name in 2020  in reference to the hill overlooking the Salt Lake Valley where early settlers planted a flag symbolizing their desire to be an ensign to the nations.

Throughout its history, the institution has sought to prioritize helping students learn an employable skill, while simultaneously imbu[ing] them with a high code of morality, ethics, and social purpose. This close pairing of spiritual and secular learning is a distinctive feature of all six institutions involved in the Church Education System  following Brigham Youngs charge to early educators to not teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God.

Education has been a strong priority for the faith throughout its history. Soon after settlers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young organized a board of regents to create a university. The University of Deseret, founded in 1850, later became the University of Utah, the oldest state university west of the Missouri River.

History professor Paul Reeve calls this early Utah focus on higher education an indication of the value the Latter-day Saints placed on education in what was at the time a remote, western community. In 1874, Timpanogos University in Provo was established as a branch of this same University of Deseret  soon renamed Brigham Young Academy and later Brigham Young University.

In 1875, the Presbyterian Church also opened Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ later created Ephraims Sanpete Stake Academy in 1888 (now Snow College), Ogdens Weber Academy in 1890 (now Weber State University) and St. George Academy in 1911 (now Utah Tech University).

Geoffrey Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, emphasized how higher education is an important aspect of Utah culturally, with the state having one of the highest attainment rates, in terms of how many people have achieved some kind of credential.

Technical, occupational education as second-tier?

One ironic consequence of the states strong historic emphasis on higher education, Landward went on to note, is that many parents have taken for granted that a traditional liberal-arts university was the one, exclusive path for a college education.

Inadvertently, he said, a perception has been created that technical education is this second tier. As a law school graduate himself, Landward confessed his own shock after learning the true scope of Utahs technical colleges. I was blown away by what we were offering  how inexpensive it was, and how expansive it was.

Landward also admitted feeling disheartened  If I dont know about this stuff, and I was working in higher education for a few years, we have a real perception problem, and a real lack of knowledge.

Pushing back on the perception of technical education as somehow less than, the commissioner said it was important to change this mentality. Its all higher education, he said, emphasizing the range of viable options for a college education, and how critical technical graduates were for Utahs economy and prosperity. There are really good careers and work force options for anyone going into these schools.

This expanded view is reflected in the states decision to merge the former Utah System of Technical Colleges with the Utah System of Higher Education. Were all in for expanding technical college opportunities, Landward said  expressing appreciation for the states legislative support for technical colleges which clearly demonstrates its a priority in Utah.

The evolution of vocational education

It didnt used to be this way here in Utah or anywhere. One major accelerant for hands-on, skills-based education was how it piggy-backed on the expansion of American public high schools, which were first developed after the Civil War with the idea of fitting young people for commercial life. It took another 45 years for vocational education to become more integrated with these secondary schools, following the 1917 National Vocational Education Act (Smith-Hughes Act).

This federal funding was sparked by a congressional commission that declared national vocational education an urgent necessity and something that would vitalize the countrys education by adapting it to the real needs of children while taking steps to promote a higher standard of living for workers.

Who should receive vocational education? asked an educational text in 1943. Everyone who can work. Stephen Voorhees, who chaired the Advisory Board on Industrial Education in New York City during this time stated, everybody must work, so everybody must learn to work.

Both world wars catalyzed the further expansion of career and technical education, thanks to adults needing technical skills for military purposes and then later needing to be retrained to reenter the domestic workforce. It was the later post-war era in which what used to be called applied technology colleges were established in Utah, starting with Roosevelts Uintah Basin Technical College (1968), followed by northern Utahs Bridgerland Technical College (1971), Ogden-Weber Technical College (1971), Kaysvilles Davis Technical College (1978), Lehis Mountainland Technical College (1989), Cedar Citys Southwest Technical College (1994), St. Georges Dixie Technical College (2001) and Tooele Technical College (2011).

Student in the diesel and heavy duty technology lab at Davis Technical College

The specific skills taught in these institutions have naturally changed over time, keeping pace with rapidly shifting developments in automotive technology, computers and medical professions, along with continued instruction in foundational skills in construction (masonry, painting, plumbing, wood-working, electronics, welding). Most of these are still taught on Utah campuses, with the exception of agricultural skills, which have become housed primarily at land-grant institutions like Utah State and their various Extension offerings to the community.

Business offerings have likewise evolved, with Ensign College offering shorthand and bookkeeping the second year it opened. Typewriting classes began soon after its invention in 1900, with the first computer class offered in 1956 called IBM Punch Cards, followed in 1968 with Operating Systems, COBOL, FORTRAN and Assembler Languages.

Typing class at LDS Business College in 1901.

Now, schools like Ensign College teach an array of business-related skills including cybersecurity, data science, system administration, software development and digital marketing  along with accounting, finance, business analytics, business management, supply chain management, small business management and entrepreneurship, communication, human resource and public relations.

Alex Wylie, student at Ensign College, said she enrolled at the school because it was more affordable, and so she could finish sooner and get into the cybersecurity field. In addition to appreciating more personalized help from professors in smaller classes, she remarked on how many of them have a lot of work experience, some even still working in their designated fields. Prior to graduating, Wylie was able to land an internship as an Information Security Analyst.

There are other schools like Western Governors University and Salt Lake Community College that offer an array of business-specific offerings, with some Utah colleges dedicated to computer science training exclusively (Neumont College of Computer Science). Medical assisting certificates also began to be offered many places, including Ensign College, with a wide variety of health training programs available at state schools like Davis Technical College, with others now dedicated specifically to health care training (Provo College, Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences).

Students in the practical nurse lab at Davis Technical College

In recent years, schools like Davis Technical College have applied their reach beyond high school students and adults seeking additional training, receiving awards for their work teaching incarcerated juveniles at the Millcreek Youth Center, and inmates at the Utah Department of Corrections.

Growing interest in technical education

Landward points to four overlapping trends behind the increasing interest in technical colleges both nationally and in the state. First, the word is starting to get out that technical colleges are more than traditional plumbing, HVAC, automotive  all of which he emphasizes are critical. But as evident above, its also cybersecurity, IT, health care and learning to start a business, learn how to develop apps, graphic design, film editing.

So many industries, he says. And lot of options.

Landward next highlights the acute demand for more skilled workers in the traditional trades, with premium wages being paid to those possessing the qualifications  a fact well-known to anyone whos tried to call a plumber or handyman lately.

The commissioner notes that people have also become more concerned at AI and its impact on white-collar jobs in finance and law, as people see the possibility that artificial intelligence can do these things, and do them better  all of which has prompted a resurgence in appreciation for advanced training in hands-on skills.

This is AI-proof, Landward says. You know, AI isnt going to come and fix your plumbing.

None of this is to deny the significant value to be found in traditional liberal-arts education for many other college students, or the need to uphold timeless ideals of seeking truth through grappling with conflicting ideas. But Landward agrees that the national conversation around traditional higher education has also elevated some concerns about affordability and the mounting socio-political unrest on college campuses. He suggests that prospective students may be relieved to realize, well, none of that really happens on our technical college campuses.

Staying focused on a vocational mission

Some institutions that began with more of an applied, skills-based focus have followed institutional inertia in trying to become more of a conventional university. The schools described here have resisted this inevitable expansion, instead remaining focused on their original mission.

Kirk Rawlins, communications director at Ensign College, describes how the school has doubled down on what he calls its birthright  involving lower cost, skills-based education that aims to help students get quickly to work and change their circumstances.

Everyone thinks they need to be a Harvard, Rawlins adds. We found a niche we think is unique.

Derrick Jones, Logan Page, Kemish Hermosilla, Brian Moss and Thais Robertson discuss podcast logos they designed during Communications Special Topics class at Ensign College in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Kusch emphasizes the value of what he calls subject matter immersion  with students absorbing a specific discipline from the very first minute of the very first day, of the very first class, while also taking more responsibility for what and how they learn. In this class, Im an actor and not an object, said another student, David, about his experience in an Ensign College leadership course.

When you get a job, you dont walk in on the first day and get handed a syllabus for the next 14 weeks, Rawlins says. No, they tell you what needs to be done, and expect you to take accountability.

To illustrate this learn by doing approach, Rawlins notes that an accounting teacher at Ensign College might bring in a box full of financials, receipts, dump it on the table, then ask: How are we going to figure out how to make sense of all this, learn about this, what are we going to do with this?

We dont want to drag you through years of schooling, he adds, where you come out and say, Wow, I dont know that Im any better off spending that time and money.

Students practice testing vital signs in Clinical Medical Assisting class at Ensign College in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Not college people?

Theres a whole population who are not college people, Rawlins adds  drawing attention to those who are intimidated by the complexities of higher education and arent sure of its value. This giant machine of college education is very difficult to navigate he says, which can be off-putting to many.

We are happy to have you come and be a first generation college student, he said, noting that the Ensign student body hails from from all 50 U.S. states and 87 countries, with international students comprising approximately 35% of the student body.

Many of you have made, and continue to make, great sacrifices to come to a new country, learn a new language and work long hours to obtain an education that will allow you to provide temporally for yourselves and your families, said Bishop W. Christopher Waddell of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to students in a January devotional. I congratulate you for your determination.

But does that investment really pay off? According to the school, 84% of Ensign College students seeking employment after recently graduating with associates and bachelors degrees had jobs at graduation. That number jumps to 92% when measuring students one year out, and including students with certificates.

To reach more people who cant attend in person, the school is developing curricula for online dissemination, in partnership with BYU Pathway Worldwide, with its nearly 70,000 students across 180 countries. As Deseret News reporter Tad Walch has previously reported, about 90% of those who complete degrees through BYU-Pathway also report improved employment.

In recent years, the results of this innovative approach have been apparent in the way Ensign student seem to be punching above their weight at various state and national business competitions. For instance, students at Ensign College placed third nationally in the DECA Sales Challenge with Enterprise Rental. There were nine first-place finishes in the state FBLA Collegiate Competition, a second place at the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge and one student Ensign team taking first place at the State SHRM Collegiate Case Study Competition.

Ensign College students at the Collegiate International Career Development Conference (C-ICDC) held in Austin, Texas, April 20-23, with over 1,200 students from all over the U.S. and other countries. Alejandro Gonzalez won third place in the Enterprise Sales Challenge, with Blair Adamson, Abraham Olivares, and Spencer Tidwell placing in the top 10 in the Financial Statement Analysis event.

Ensign professors believe these wins demonstrate the effectiveness of this unique pedagogical approach. Because of the applied nature of the curriculum, professor Jerry Sandorf says, students go to competitions confident they can analyze and synthesize on the fly if handed a case study with only a few hours to read, evaluate and create a well-reasoned presentation.

Because the world of work is so dynamic and ever changing, my firm belief is that higher education must change too, dramatically, Kusch concluded.

Kenia Cabral, Ensign College lab instructor, helps Lucas Araujo as he practices preparing injections during Clinical Medical Assisting class at Ensign College in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Smart rings are a considerable investment and worth protecting on your finger. When Samsung releases the Galaxy Ring, its first smart ring, at some point in the near future, theres a good chance smart jewelry will gain more attention than ever before  and more people than ever will look for a way to keep it safe.

Ive been trying out the OSleeve, a cover for the Oura Ring, and it gives us a good insight into what may become the top accessory for smart rings later on this year.

Why cover your smart ring?

The OSleeve cover with a pouch and two Oura Rings.

The OSleeve performs an important service that first-time smart ring wearers may not immediately consider. If you do things like lift weights, work with delicate surfaces, or grip abrasive or hard surfaces in your job or leisure time, the surface of your smart ring is going to pick up tiny scratches and scuffs, regardless of how tough the material is. Putting it in a protective cover keeps it looking its best.

Ive been sent two different OSleeve covers to try out: one in Arctic White and the other in a transparent Luxe Clear finish. They arrived in a small, white pouch to keep them safe. Each is made from soft, flexible, but grippy silicone that wraps around the outer part of your smart ring and over the sides. It leaves the underneath open, so theres no need to worry about it covering the sensors.

Two OSleeve covers with a pouch and two Oura Rings.

The Luxe Clear version has a small OSleeve logo on it, but the Arctic White version is free from any markings. Theyre easy to stretch over the Oura Ring, and although its initially difficult to get them precisely centered, Ive found they work themselves into place after a short time anyway. Once on, it forms a barrier between the Oura Ring and any surface it comes into contact with, whether thats a barbell bar, a rock face, or a cars paintwork.

Is it comfortable?

A person wearing an OSleeve cover on an Oura RIng.

The OSleeve cover looks quite big when you first get it, and I was concerned it would make wearing my Oura Ring uncomfortable. It does add a few millimeters to the width of the ring, and you do notice it between your fingers the first few times you wear it. However, if youre already used to wearing the Oura Ring  and therefore the feeling of a smart ring on your finger  it does disappear after a short while.

Its very grippy, though, and the stickiness is a bit of a distraction when you wear it continuously. Ive found it pulls when Im doing normal tasks, and if your smart ring is loose on your finger, it will move around more than usual. But in some circumstances, I can see the extra grip being an advantage, such It also turns around on your finger far more than usual, and the surface can feel more tacky after it gets wet. However, I found this more with the transparent version and youll only notice this if you wear it all the time, and I dont think thats the best way to use the OSleeve.

A person wearing an OSleeve cover on an Oura RIng.

The sleeves are well made but they arent especially attractive despite coming in different colors, and I wouldnt use them to either try to enhance or alter the style of the Oura Ring in the way we do with a case for our phone. Instead, covering the smart ring with the OSleeve when its necessary seems to be the way to go. It means the ring is protected when required, and its very good at this, as the surface is completely covered. But at all other times, it can be admired unadorned.

Only for Oura?

Ive been using the OSleeve on an Oura Ring, but does it fit other smart rings, and what about future products? Digital Trends asked Rachel Kelly, co-founder and head of product at OSleeve, about the companys plans.

The OSleeve has been custom-engineered to fit the Oura ring and is also compatible with Ultrahuman smart rings, she told us via email. We will be verifying and refining the fit for the Muse RingOne and other devices as time progresses. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is another important player in the market, and we have reached out to Samsung to explore a potential partnership.

But its not just different versions for different rings OSleeve wants to introduce, as Kelly explained:

While the OSleeve may appear to be a simple protector, significant engineering has gone into ensuring the best fit. Were consistently exploring novel materials and textile science to enhance durability, with new variants set to hit the market later this year. We have an exciting product development roadmap to continue innovating as new smart ring products are launched and our communitys needs evolve. Having a supportive community helps us re-invest in innovation to build more delightful products.

How much does it cost?

A person wearing an OSleeve cover on an Oura RIng.

How much does this thin, light piece of circular silicone cost? Its not cheap. OSleeve sells each one for $35, or about the same as wed expect to pay for an average smartphone case, regardless of the color you pick. The size of OSleeve you need is based on the size of your smart ring, so its easy to select which is the right one for you, and the price doesnt vary either. My Oura Ring is a size 11, and the medium OSleeve is very snug but not impossible to put on or remove. If you want to keep your Oura Ring looking its best, the OSleeve is a great way to do so.

OSleeve is not the only company making covers for smart rings. For example, there are other options available through Amazon. Oura supplies one with its Equinox bundle, and RingConn offers a transparent silicone cover as an official accessory. Whether one is worth buying depends on whether the smart ring ever gets in harms way on your finger or if you want to make sure it remains scratch-free forever. Either way, if smart rings take off in a big way this year, a ring cover may end up being another one of those necessary accessory purchases we make to protect our expensive tech investment.

The OSleeve is available for purchase now.
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The launch of Boeings Starliner, which aimed to lift off on its crewed maiden voyage Saturday, has been scrubbed.

The new spacecraft was expected to lift off atop an Atlas V rocket at 12:25 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launchpad during sunrise ahead of the Saturday launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. - Chris O'Meara/AP

But an automatic hold triggered by the ground launch sequencer, or the computer that launches the rocket, stopped the countdown clock at 3 minutes and 50 seconds ahead of launch. Teams safely extracted the astronauts from the capsule, and Williams and Wilmore returned to crew quarters to await their next steps.

NASA announced late Saturday that it will not attempt to launch the Starliner on Sunday. The next available opportunity to lift off is Wednesday at 10:52 a.m. ET., however the agency indicated mission teams have not yet determined whether they will attempt to launch the spacecraft then. There is another backup launch window on June 6.

Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, which built the Atlas V rocket Starliner sits atop, said to assess the issue that caused the launch scrub, teams will have to get hands-on this evening with the ground launch sequencer.

Once the rocket has been drained of fuel, teams will be able to assess the triple-redundant computer system at the launchpad.

Imagine a large rack that is a big computer where the functions of the computer as a controller are broken up separately into individual cards or printed wire circuit boards with their logic devices. So theyre all stand-alone, but together its an integrated controller, Bruno said. And we do that to make it easier to troubleshoot them, to swap out parts so that you can replace just one element of it without having to replace the whole thing.

All three computers have to agree for launch to occur, Bruno said.

The third one was slow to come up and that tripped a red line  that created an automatic hold because, although the health system did not note that it came up anomalously, it took longer, and so something is not correct, Bruno said.

Well know more, much, much later this evening, he added.

Other issues occurred prior to the scrub.

Around 10 a.m. ET, mission teams reported a loss of data from ground valves responsible for replenishing the liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the second, or upper stage, of the Atlas V rocket. Both liquid oxygen and hydrogen, used to fuel the rocket, boil off as the rocket sits on the pad ahead of launch, so replenishment is ongoing until liftoff.

After evaluating the issue, which prevented the hatch from closing after the astronauts entered the crew capsule for about 45 minutes, mission teams switched to a redundant system for the valve data. Then, teams resumed replenishing liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Fortunately, mission teams were ahead of the expected timeline when the issue occurred, and the countdown to launch resumed, according to the live NASA broadcast.

The valve issue did not cause any safety concerns for the crew, and the hatch on Starliner closed around 11:20 a.m. ET.

The mission, called Crew Flight Test, is the culmination of Boeings efforts to develop a spacecraft to rival SpaceXs Crew Dragon capsule and expand US options for ferrying astronauts to the space station under NASAs Commercial Crew Program. The federal agencys initiative aims to foster collaboration with private industry partners.

Boeing Crew Flight Test mission goals

When Starliner does launch, the flight would mark only the sixth inaugural journey of a crewed spacecraft in US history, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson noted in a May news conference.

It started with Mercury, then with Gemini, then with Apollo, the space shuttle, then (SpaceXs) Dragon  and now Starliner, Nelson said.

Williams will also make history as the first woman to fly aboard such a mission.

After reaching orbit, the Starliner crew capsule carrying Wilmore and Williams will separate from the Atlas V rocket and fire its own engines. Starliner is expected to spend more than 24 hours traveling to the International Space Station.

The astronauts will test various aspects of Starliners capabilities, including the spacecrafts thruster performance, how their spacesuits function within the capsule, and manual piloting in case the crew needs to override the spacecrafts autopilot.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams walk at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida before boarding the Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for the Crew Flight Test mission. - Joe Skipper/Reuters

The astronaut duo will join the seven astronauts and cosmonauts already on board the space station and spend eight days on the orbiting laboratory.

The astronauts will test Starliners safe haven capability, designed to offer the space station crew a shelter if there is a problem on the space station, according to Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, who spoke during a Friday news conference.

When its time to head home, Williams and Wilmore will return using the same Starliner capsule and land at a site in the southwestern United States.

The earliest possible return for Williams and Wilmore is June 10, but there are other dates available in case of bad weather conditions, Stich said.

A series of delays



Years of development hang-ups, test flight problems and other costly setbacks have slowed Starliners path to the launchpad. Meanwhile, Boeings competitor under NASAs commercial program  SpaceX  has become the go-to transportation provider for the space agencys astronauts.

This mission could be the final major milestone before NASA deems Boeings Starliner spacecraft ready for routine operations to deliver astronauts and cargo to the space station.

We look forward to flying this mission. This is a test flight; we know were going to learn things, said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program at Boeing, in a statement. We are going to improve, and that improvement starts with the Starliner-1 mission and it will be even better than the mission were about to fly.

Starliner was only about two hours from its first crewed launch attempt on May 6 when engineers identified an issue with a valve on the second stage, or upper portion, of the Atlas V rocket. The entire stack, including the rocket and spacecraft, was rolled back from the launchpad for testing and repairs.

Then, mission teams reported a small helium leak within the spacecraft service module. The leak was traced to a part called a flange on a single reaction control system thruster, where helium is used to allow the thrusters to fire.

The space agency said the leak did not pose a threat to a mission.

We looked really hard at what our options were with this particular flange, he said. A fuel line, an oxidizer line and a helium line all go into the flange, which makes it problematic to work on. It makes it almost unsafe to work on.

Rather than making a replacement to fix the leak, the teams decided that the helium leak is small enough to be manageable, Stich said.

When we looked at this problem, it didnt come down to making trades, Nappi said. It came down to, is it safe or not? And it is safe. And thats why we determined that we could go fly with what we have.

During the launch countdown Saturday morning, mission teams monitored the leak, and so far, no issues have been reported. The teams have spent the past two weeks assessing acceptable levels for the helium leak and troubleshooting, which have been laid out in the rulebook that engineers will use, Nappi said.

While evaluating the helium issue during the lead-up to launch day, engineers also spotted a design vulnerability in the propulsion system  essentially identifying a remote scenario in which certain thrusters might fail as the vehicle leaves Earths orbit, without a backup method of getting home safely.

NASA and Boeing have since worked with the vendor of the thruster to come up with a backup plan to perform the deorbit burn, should that situation arise, Stich said in a May 24 news conference.

We have restored that redundancy for the backup capability in a very remote set of failures for the direct burn, Stich said.

After a flight readiness review meeting on May 29, leaders from NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance, which built the rocket, verified launch readiness, including all systems, facilities, and teams supporting the test flight, according to the space agency.

The mission teams also took a close look at Starliners parachutes after one parachute on Blue Origins recent suborbital crewed flight failed to fully inflate. Starliner uses components that are similar to that parachute system, Stich said.

Blue Origin shared flight data with Boeing and NASA, and after assessing Starliners parachutes, the team deemed them good to fly.

Last-minute packing

The space station experienced an anomaly on Wednesday that Starliner could help fix, said Dana Weigel, manager for NASAs International Space Station Program.

A pump on the stations urine processor assembly has failed.

That urine processor takes all of the crews urine and processes it in the first step of a water recovery system, Weigel said. It then sends it downstream to a water processor which turns it into drinking water. The stations really designed to be a closed loop.

The pump was expected to perform until the fall, and a replacement was set to fly aboard a cargo resupply mission slated for August. But the pumps failure put us in a position where wed have to store an awful lot of urine, Weigel said.

In this screen grab from video, Williams and Wilmore are seen during launch preparations onboard the Starliner capsule. - NASA TV

Now, the urine has to be stored on board in containers. To solve this issue, a replacement pump was quickly swapped into Starliners cargo. The pump weighs about 150 pounds, so the team removed two crew suitcases from Starliner carrying clothes and toiletries such as shampoo and soaps handpicked by Wilmore and Williams.

There is a contingency supply of generic clothes and toiletries on the space station that the astronaut duo will use instead for their short stay, Weigel said.

Wilmore and Williams have been in crew quarantine to protect their health prior to launch since the end of April, said NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, who is slated to serve as pilot for the upcoming Boeing Starliner-1 mission that would follow a successful test flight.

Butch and Suni have every confidence in our rocket, our spacecraft and in our operations teams and leadership management teams, and they are definitely ready to go, he said.

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Where Canada's 'super pigs' are most likely to invade the US  and potentially cause millions of dollars in damage

Where Canada's 'super pigs' are most likely to invade the US  and potentially cause millions of dollars in damage

Researchers say Canadian super pigs, a cross of between domestic pigs and wild boars, could invade the US.

They can withstand more cold than wild hogs, which already cause billions in damage in the South.

Areas of four northern US states are the most likely to be invaded by super pigs, a new study found.

Researchers have warned that Canadian "super pigs" could soon invade the US, potentially causing millions of dollars in damage  and four states in particular are especially at risk.

The so-called super pigs are a cross between a domestic pig and an Eurasian wild boar, brought to Canada in the 1980s as a new exotic pork product. Farmers eventually bred the two types of swine to make pigs that were larger, more prolific, and could withstand cold Canadian winters.

But when the boar market collapsed in 2001, many of the pigs were let loose, leaving the wild, super-charged pigs to proliferate. Today, they are common in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and have been documented in most Canadian provinces.

"They are the worst invasive large mammal on the planet. Period," Ryan Brook, a wildlife researcher and professor at the University of Saskatchewan who has studied the pigs for over a decade, told Business Insider last year.

A study published this month in the journal Biological Invasions found that northeastern Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and western parts of Minnesota are the areas in the US most vulnerable to super pig occupation.

The researchers used data from GPS collars on feral pigs to follow their movement patterns and determine their invasion potential. They found the pigs were mostly located in forests, fields of crops, and wetlands. The pigs' apparent preferences and the opportunities for habitat connectivity indicate those areas of the northern US have "a high potential for invasive wild pigs" to move throughout them, the study said.

"Our work highlights a need for monitoring and science-based response strategies for likely southward spread of this invasive species to prevent or reduce potential crop damage, risks to native species, and disease transmission to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife," the researchers wrote.

Feral pigs, like these shown in 1999 in Stephensville, Texas, can be found throughout the South. Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

Brook called the super pigs an "environmental train wreck." They can grow to over 600 pounds and eat just about anything, preying on native species like frogs and salamanders, the eggs of ground-nesting birds like ducks and geese, and even white-tailed deer. They destroy agricultural crops, especially corn, by eating them or tearing up the ground to access plant roots and insect larvae. They also carry diseases that can infect animals and people.

The resulting destruction adds up. According to USDA estimates, feral pigs already cause $2.5 billion worth of damage to US agriculture annually.

Those pigs, located in California and throughout the South, primarily Texas and Florida, are confined to warmer climates. They're the descendants of pigs first brought to the Americas in the 1500s by Europeans as a food source and later escaped or were set loose. Feral swine in the US today includes domestic pigs, wild boar, and even crossbreeds between the two, but they are not adapted to colder temperatures.

If the Canadian super pigs can establish populations in the northern US, farmers in colder climates, like the Dakotas, Montana, and Minnesota, could soon be terrorized by feral swine, too.

Both Canada and the US have struggled to control their feral pig populations.

"Eliminating or exterminating pigs is not an option in most of their US territory. Limiting the damage to crops, ecosystems, and native species is the best course of action," according to USDA Forest Service researcher John Kilgo, who studies wild pigs in South Carolina.

Hunting, a common wildlife-management tool in the US, has been proposed as a solution, but Brooks said the super pigs reproduce too quickly for hunting to keep up and that they also adapt quickly and become more elusive.

So, regardless of what you've heard, it's unlikely you can shoot your way out of a super pig invasion.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Still, its Baltic Fleet remains intact.

- Yes, but we are capable of doing to it what Ukrainians did to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

A few days ago, Putin traveled to Minsk to oversee the launch of joint nuclear exercises. Should Europe be concerned?

- In the past years, Russia has already modernized its nuclear-capable missiles and the warhead stockpile located in the Konigsberg exclave. Nothing changes from our point of view. Russians have threatened to annihilate us with nuclear weapons back when I was negotiating with the US to set up elements of the missile defense shield in Poland. They did it so often that I had to openly appeal to Russian generals not to threaten us with nuclear weapons more than once a quarter. They stopped for a while.

Nuclear weapons are Putins very last resort. But let's not forget that the Russian military is simply not equipped to fight in radioactively contaminated terrain. The threat of using nuclear weapons carries with itself many such complex implications. Therefore, we should not allow Russian threats to intimidate us.

In this regard, do you think Poland should acquire its own nuclear arsenal?

- Poland has ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And it intends to stick to its provisions.

What about entering NATO's Nuclear Sharing program?

- The less said about it in public, the better.

So negotiations are underway?

- No. And besides, being part of this NATO program does not mean that one gets operational control of nuclear weapons. Only the means of delivery are shared. It's like the mailman who gets to deliver a million-dollar check. That doesn't make him a millionaire, does it?

The Polish government launched a commission tasked with investigating undue Russian influence. How is this different from the commission established under the so-called "Lex Tusk" that PiS set up shortly before the national election for the purpose of political revenge?

- The difference is fundamental. The unconstitutional commission set up by the Law and Justice party had the power to ban people from politics. In its nature, it was supposed to be a political commission with the powers of both the prosecutor's office and the court. In contrast, the commission set up by our government is merely an advisory body to the Minister of Justice. It will check past cases, follow journalistic investigations, and make recommendations to the Justice Minister on what the prosecutor's office should do. And that's it. Everything will take place behind closed doors, without cameras, and no one will be excluded from public office.

How visible is Russian influence in Poland?

- Among you is a journalist from Spain, a country where Russians have financially supported separatists. In Paris, Russian agents drew Stars of David on walls to stigmatize Jewish residents. In Germany and Britain, the Russians sent assassination squads. A Polish judge recently fled to Belarus. We believe this was a Russian operation as well.

So, you see, Russia has its operatives everywhere, including in Poland. Therefore, we should immunize our political system and public opinion against Russian manipulation. Putin has been waging a war against us since 2011, since the time of the huge protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg against his return to the Russian presidency, which he said were inspired by the West.

It is necessary to accept this challenge and confront it.

Do you think PiS was penetrated by the Russians?

- Certainly in an ideological sense. Just look at their propaganda: anti-European, targeting minorities, with a cult of the Polish version of machismo. Just look at the party's use of public media, the unity between the party and the Church. These are all characteristics of Putinism. They say they hate Putin, but their program is similar. In fact, there have been publications in the PiS-associated press that Putin has an offer for European traditionalists that is anti-Western, anti-progressive, contesting the modern world. These people were fooled by Putin because he weaponized traditionalism. In every country, at least a third of the population is susceptible to authoritarian ideas and feels nostalgic for the traditional past. The Russians have realized this and are now targeting these voters. In Poland, the recipients of these ideas are PiS and the far-right Confederation.

Several Russian spies and saboteurs have been arrested in recent weeks. The government warns of Russian cyber-attacks. Is Poland prepared for such threats?

- First of all, we are strengthening our eastern border. Not only against illegal migration but against a military threat. I would like to emphasize that this is not about the migration of poor people seeking a better life. What we are dealing with on the eastern border is an organized attack against the European Union. 90% of the people who try to cross the Polish-Belarusian border have Russian visas in their passports. These people were encouraged in various countries in Africa and the Middle East, were transported to Moscow, then taken to Belarus and directed to the border with the EU.

Thats how migration works. People also come to Europe directly from Africa. That doesn't make them dangerous...

- The procedure in North Africa is not organized by the state. Meanwhile, our neighbor, a member of the UN, is organizing an attack aimed at destroying the European Union through a political process. The plan is simple. Russia and Belarus are right in assuming that if we fail to control the situation at our border, the far-right will triumph in both the national and European elections. This, in turn, has the potential to blow up the European Union from within.

So you would not provide these migrants with the privileges granted to them by the Geneva Convention?

- I myself enjoyed such privileges when I was a refugee in Britain back in the 1980s. The Geneva Convention was adopted with individuals in mind, not millions of people. Numbers do matter. A billion people on the other side of the Mediterranean would rather live in Europe than in Africa. Are we in a position to take them in? No.

But human rights are at stake...

- There is no human right that allows you to live wherever you want in the world. There is no human right that allows you to cross borders illegally. If such laws existed, we would not need passports or visas. And since we still use them, borders must be maintained. Our citizens demand that the external border of the Schengen zone be under control, otherwise this border will collapse. And then there will be no more freedom of movement within the zone. We are obliged to do so when it comes to our section of the EU border.

Yet, migrants have the right to seek asylum, and their applications must be processed.

- Indeed. That's why the migration pact provides for the creation of reception centers, where asylum applications will be recognized quickly and people who have no chance of obtaining asylum or residency rights will be returned to their countries of origin. Spain has a lot of experience in this regard. It also controls who can get into its exclaves in North Africa. No convention guarantees the right to live in Ceuta or Melilla.

Donald Tusk's government voted in the EU Council against the migration pact you are referring to. Will Poland respect it?

- We disagree with some of its provisions. We are constantly checking its consequences for our country.

Keep in mind that of all the EU countries Poland has taken in the largest number of war refugees. We are looking at another massive wave of refugees if Putin succeeds in destroying the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. We need to distinguish between actual refugees, Ukrainian women and children, and people brought to our border by the Russian GRU.

Citing its sources, a few days ago, Reuters claimed that Putin is ready to negotiate a ceasefire on the current frontlines. Do you think thats a credible announcement?

- To put it diplomatically: I have limited confidence in Vladimir Putin. If he wants to stop the fighting, let him end the war by withdrawing from Ukraine. He could do it with a single phone call. I can even imagine what he would have to say to the receiver: "General Gerasimov, starting tomorrow, please end the special military operation." The tragedy here is that Ukraine can't make him do it.

Would you send Polish troops to Ukraine?

- We should not rule out anything. Let Putin guess what we will do next.

I myself was already there, with my wife, with my son. Delivering aid. We went to Kharkiv, then to Bakhmut, to the zone where heavy fighting was going on, to Kherson, which was bombed by the Russians.

Do you think Russia is meddling in the European Parliament elections?

- Of course it is. They've been meddling in our elections since 2014. They've meddled in the U.S. elections, in the Brexit referendum. They continue to do so, and they will continue to do anything that throws us off balance, that frustrates us. They will try to provide our society with arguments that democracy doesn't work, and the Russian society that we are no better than Russia in anything. Sowing chaos, and undermining trust - this is the Russian business model.

There is a lot going on in the European Parliament itself ahead of the election. Because of statements made by Maximilian Krah, an Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEP, who glorified the Waffen SS, Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Unity, pushed through the exclusion of AfD from the joint Identity and Democracy faction...

- When I was an MEP myself, Mr. Krah sat not that far from me. I didn't know at the time that his assistant was a Chinese spy. And that Krah is so forgiving of SS...

Since Le Pen got rid of the German far-right, she may form a coalition with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party.

- We are, of course, pleased that Prime Minister Meloni has shown such expedience when it comes to supporting Ukraine. We really appreciate it.

What are the red lines for your party in the future European Parliament? What deters you from working with the far-right?

- I believe in maximizing the electoral outcome of pro-European parties. What all nationalists have in common is that they treat the Union as something foreign, as "them" and not us. They propose simple solutions to complex problems, and besides, in European politics, they want to eat a cookie and have a cookie. They demand that the Union achieve the goals they set for it, but deny it the competence to do so. In the military parlance, there is the concept of "combat recognition." If they gained power, they would see for themselves that their program does not hold water. But this lesson of theirs would be very costly for us.

What are your thoughts on a potential alliance between the European People's Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a faction that includes Meloni and PiS?

- Some parties that are part of the ECR were previously in the European People's Party, and this also applies to PiS. Only that 10 years ago it was a different party altogether. Back then, PiS was not an anti-European party. The Law and Justice party's 2007 program shows that at that time they even understood that strong European institutions serve smaller countries. However, Polands former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, who plays the role of Nigel Farage (the main proponent of Brexit) in Poland, converted the conservative camp to ardent anti-Europeanism in just eight years. Today, PiS politicians say that the EU is worse than the Soviet Union. Whenever I hear such words, I respond: how many millions of people has the EU murdered so far?

So a "no" to cooperation with PiS, but a "yes" to cooperation with Meloni?

- I have already said what I could: we appreciate Italys solidarity towards Ukraine.

What challenges lie ahead of the next Parliament and Commission?

- First of all, policy-making. The European Parliament has real power and you have to make coalitions and build compromises to solve more issues.

We support Ursula von der Leyen as a candidate to head the European Commission, we believe she is competent and represents the European mainstream. She has kept her word on issues that are important to us.

In her successive State of the Union addresses, she spoke of the need to make the EU more geopolitically active and defense-oriented. I support this.

What about the reform of the EU treaties?

- We are not in favor of it. We believe that, among other things, EU enlargement can take place without changing the treaties.

Also without changing the way decisions are made and without removing the veto right?

- I would do away with unanimity in only one area: sanctions. A situation where one country is able to stop or slow down the imposition of sanctions is not good.

The European Union has maintained unity when it comes to supporting Ukraine and policy toward Russia. Why is it so difficult to show unity in the case of the war in Gaza?

- Let's start with the fact that the current cycle of violence was started by Hamas - there seems to be no dispute here. There is also a consensus in the European Union that a Palestinian state is needed. Poland has recognized Palestine as a state since 1988. Unfortunately, the EU's influence on the course of affairs in the Middle East is limited.

How would you comment on the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

- I find it unfortunate to issue a decision on the prime minister of a democratic country at the same time as similar decisions on terrorists [the ICC ordered the arrest of Hamas leaders]. The Court has done itself a disservice.

President Andrzej Duda does not want to agree with the new government on changing ambassadors, and announces he wants to decide who will be Poland's European commissioner. Who is in charge of Polands foreign policy?

- Please read Article 146. of the Polish Constitution, its provision leaves no doubt.

A decade ago in Berlin, you said that you feared German inaction more than German strength. Has that changed?

- I would say the same thing today. Germany is not very strong, it is sometimes tardy. We've seen this in the context of Ukrainiane. For example, when discussing the supply of Leopard tanks. But now German support for Ukraine is at its highest. So the Germans can change their views, become convinced. Now they have recognized that we were right to warn them against Putin and the construction of the Nord Stream pipeline.

Distance from Russia matters. From the perspective of Germany's security against Russia, Poland is like an anti-tank mine. But Russian tanks are no threat to Germany.

How so?

- Their engines fail to meet EU standards. If they cross the Polish border, theyll be stopped by our traffic patrol.

Translated by Jakub Kibitlewski
New Delhi: 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.
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha election completed all its seven phases on Saturday and three days left to know the result of the general election 2024. The NDA-led BJP claiming to secure a victory in more than 400 seats. The Saffron party has used the slogan 400 paar during the election campaign. Crossing 400 seats is already Indias electoral history which happened only once, Congress secured a victory on more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha Election.

After the Independent Congress becomes the largest and most prominent party in India. The grand old party has secured 300 plus seats in many terms of Lok Sabha Elections. In 1957 the party hit the highest tally of 371, while in 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1971 the party won more than 300 seats. In the post-emergency election, the party secured victory on 154 seats but later in 1980, Congress recovered to 353 seats.

1984 Congress Historical Victory



In the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress Party won more than 400 seats under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi. 1984 election was the last year when Congress from its government on its own. Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest Prime Minister of the country. But later in 1989, the party lost power and never achieved a majority in the Lok Sabha on its own.

After the death of Indira Gandhi, Congress came into the hands of Rajiv Gandhi. The 1984 Lok Sabha elections were held in three phases and the Congress Party got 404 out of 514 seats. Voting was held later in Punjab and Assam. Congress was also successful in winning 10 seats in these two states.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 at her residence on Safdarjung Road, New Delhi. After this, the command of the Congress Party came into the hands of Rajiv Gandhi. There was nationwide sympathy towards Rajiv Gandhi due to the brutal assassination of Indira Gandhi. The 1984 Lok Sabha elections were held in three phases and the Congress Party got 404 out of 514 seats. Most of the country voted in December that year while voting for Punjab and Assam was held in September 1985, Congress was also successful in winning 10 seats in these two states.
Bihar Lok Sabha Chunav Exit Poll Results 2024: Bihar has always been a politically crucial state. As the final phase of polling for the Lok Sabha Election 2024 ended today the waiting for the counting begins which is scheduled to be held on June 4. The state has a total of 40 Lok Sabha seats and all the political parties have done multiple campaigns to boost their tally.

If we talk about the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, then according to the exit polls, BJP was expected to get more seats. Exit polls had already indicated that the NDA alliance could show a strong performance in Bihar. When the final results came, the predictions of the exit polls proved correct. If sources are to be believed, survey agency IPSOS had conducted an exit poll, in this exit poll it was estimated that NDA would get 34 to 36 seats out of 40 seats in Bihar.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha Election, NDA led by BJP contesting 17 seats, JDU 16, Chirag Paswans LJP (Ram Vilas) 5, Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Morcha 1, and Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM 1 seat. On the other hand, INDIA Alliance parties RJD is contesting 23 seats, Congress 9, Left Parties 5 and VIP 3 seats.

Bihar 2019 Lok Sabha Election

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, the BJP secured victory on 17 seats, the JDU won 16, the LJP secured 6, while the Congress managed to win a single seat in a state.

Bihar Lok Sabha Election Exit Poll Result 2024

7:45 PM INDIA Bloc Likely To Make Gains

Jan Ki Baat predicted that NDA may secure more than 30 seats in the state, while the INDIA bloc could increase its seat share in Bihar with 2-6 seats expected for RJD and 1-2 for Congress.

7: 30 Bihar Exit Polls Live: PM Republic TV's P-MARQ Exit Poll

According to Republic TV's P-MARQ Exit Poll prediction, the BJP-led NDA may win 37 seats in Bihar, while RJD expected to secure 3.

7:10 PM Bihar Exit Polls Live: India Today My-Axis Exit Polls

According to India Today My-Axis, the BJP may win around 13-15 seats and JDU may win around 9-11, while RJD may win around 6-7 Lok Sabha seats.

6.45 PM Bihar Exit Polls Live: NDA To Repeat 2019 Tally

As per the exit polls by the School of Politics, the NDA (BJP+LJP-RV+JDU+RLM) is likely to win 37-39 seats while the INDIA bloc (Congress+RJD) is likely to win 0-3 seats

6.35 PM Bihar Exit Polls Live: Congress-RJD Likely To Make Gains

As per the School of Politics exit poll result data, the RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar is likely to make some gains but whether it converts into the number of seats or not will be intersting to watch.

6:15 PM In the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, NDA secured a victory on 39 seats out of 40.

6:00 PM Bihar Lok Sabha election Exit polls: Bihar contested in all the 7 phases of Lok Sabha Election. The polling started in the state on April 19 and concluded on June 1.

5:45 PM Bihar Lok Sabha election Exit polls: The counting for Bihar's all 40 Lok Sabha constituencies will take place on June 4.
Mumbai: A Mumbai-bound IndiGo flight operating from Chennai made an emergency landing in Mumbai on Saturday after it received a bomb threat, the airline said in a press statement. Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew of the flight 6E 5314 followed protocol, and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines.

All passengers safely disembarked the aircraft. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection and postcompletion of all security checks it will be positioned back in the terminal area. This is the second time in one week that the airline has recieved bomb threat.

On Tuesday, a tissue paper, with the word ''bomb@5.30'' written on it was found in the lavatory of an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Varanasi prompting security agencies to conduct an inspection The threat turned out to be a hoax, said a senior CISF official. Delhi Fire Services confirmed that they received a call at 5.35 am and two fire engines were sent. The bomb disposal squad of CISF also reached for flight checking.
Congress' Exit Poll Debate Boycott: The BJP has showered the Congress party with cutting remarks since the grand old party announced its decision to not participate in the exit poll debates shows. Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at Rahul Gandhi saying that his party is in denial mode. He added that this shows that the opposition has conceded its defeat.

Affirming confidence in the exit polls Shah said that the exit poll will showcase the saffron party alliance getting the 400-paar' remark. The Congress does not have the courage to take questions from the media, so it is dismissing the entire exit poll exercise as meaningless, he added.

He further said that the Congress campaigned through the polls claiming it would get a majority. However, it now realizes the reality and knows it faces a rout in the exit polls to be broadcast after the elections tomorrow.

         ,           ? ,       



         ,       pic.twitter.com/pxeT3Qw8wA  Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) May 31, 2024

On the other hand, BJP national president JP Nadda took to social media platform X to denounce Congress exit poll boycott, he wrote, Let no one in Phase 7 waste their vote on them. Nadda said that the resolution of the largest political party in the opposition to skip exit poll debates signifies a clear acknowledgment from the opposition party that it has surrendered the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He questioned whether the Congress was suggesting that there existed a large conspiracy involving millions of voters, all aimed at ridiculing the party when the actual results were revealed on June 4th. He remarked that it didn't suit India's oldest political party to act like a child whose toy had been taken away. He further added that one would anticipate a certain level of maturity from the largest political party in the opposition.

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

(Based on inputs from PTI)
Maharashtra Lok Sabha Polls: The fierce battle to claim the throne of Maharashtra holding a whooping 48 seats was played out in four phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13. The lead contest is between the Maha Yuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the stakes are high for five prominent leaders Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar. However, the fate will be steered clear when the dust settles on June 4 (Lok Sabha elections results).

Battle Of Baramati

Sharad Pawar, at 83 faces a significant challenge to keep the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) afloat after a major split in July 2023, when his nephew Ajit Pawar defected with a substantial faction of the party. This split has left Sharad Pawar with only 13 MLAs and three MPs out of the original 54 MLAs and four MPs.

The Baramati seat has not disappointed Pawar in a long time, he has been MP six times, his daughter Supriya Sule twice, and his nephew Ajit Pawar once from this constituency. This year, eyeing his victory from the Baramati constituency is Supriya Sule contesting against Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawars wife. The outcome here will be a decisive indicator of the partys strength and Sharad Pawars ability to hold his political fort.

The election results will determine if Sharad Pawar can rebuild his party and maintain his stature as a key opposition figure both in Maharashtra and at the national level.

Litmus Test For Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar aims to reaffirm his leadership within his NCP faction and bolster his position within the Maha Yuti alliance. His faction directly contests only four seats.

The victory of his wife, Sunetra Pawar, in the Baramati constituency is pivotal. A win would strengthen his leadership and affirm his role as the true leader of the NCP whereas, failure would enhance Sharad Pawar's standing.

Saving The Shiv Sena Legacy

Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), is locked in a fierce battle with the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after a split in June 2022. Thackerays faction is contesting 21 seats, while Shindes faction is contesting 15 seats, resulting in direct competition in 13 constituencies.

Retaining a significant front would solidify his claim as the rightful heir to the Shiv Sena legacy. Thackerays approach includes forming new alliances with Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) to attract a broader voter base. The effectiveness of this alliance will be determined after the results.

How Influential Is Maharashtra CM

As the current Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde is leading the Maha Yuti alliance in the elections. His leadership and political acumen are being tested, especially in the direct contests against Thackerays faction. Shinde needs to perform well to validate his leadership within the alliance. His ability to secure 15 seats, against BJPs initial preference for limiting him to 10, demonstrates his negotiating strength. The election results will ultimately reflect his capability to deliver on these expectations.

Fadnavis's Leadership On The Line

As Deputy Chief Minister and a senior leader of the BJP, Fadnavis has played a critical role in managing the coalition dynamics and addressing internal crises. The BJP is contesting 28 seats, aiming to maintain or exceed its previous performance. According to Fadnavis recent statement the Bhartiya Janta Party being the largest party is nominated on majority of seats; to uphold its reputation, it must secure victories in most of these seats.
Maharashtra Exit Poll Results 2024 Live Updates: The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 concluded with 57 constituencies going for polls in the final phase of the general elections. The exit poll results for the 2024 elections were declared as polling for the last phase of the election concluded.

While some states brought good news for Congress, others gave the BJP reasons to celebrate. According to the exit polls, the saffron party is set to expand its influence in Southern India, while Congress is improving its numbers in northern states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Bihar. However, the overall results indicate that Narendra Modi is poised to lead the nation for a record third term. Here's a look at how the exit polls played out this year for Maharashtra where 48 parliamentary constituencies in the state went to polls in the first five phases of the election starting from the first phase on April 19, 2024.

Maharashtra Lok Sabha Chunav 2024

Maharashtra with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh, is witnessing contest between the ruling Mahayuti comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP, and the opposition alliance of the Shiv Sena , Congress and NCP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of 23 seats.

Maharashtra 2024 Lok Sabha Chunav Exit Polls Live

7.30: ABP-CVoter Exit Poll: Maharashtra's Election Outlook

According to the ABP-CVoter exit poll results, a close contest is expected in Maharashtra. Out of the 48 seats, the NDA is projected to secure 22-26 seats, while the All India Alliance is likely to win 23-25 seats.

7.20: Republic TV's Matrize exit poll prediction - NDA may get 30-36 seats in Maharashtra

NDA- 30-36

INDI- 13-19

OTHERS- 00

7.00: Republic Bharat-MATRIZE exit poll

Republic Bharat-MATRIZE has predicted NDA to get 353-368 seats in its exit poll. The opposition's INDIA alliance is expected to get 118-133 seats. Others will get 43-48 seats, says Republic Bharat-MATRIZE exit poll.

6.45 pm: Maharashtra Exit Polls Live: NDA Likely To Lose Some Seats

As per the exit polls by the School of Politics, the NDA (BJP+Shinde Sena+NCP Ajit Pawar) is likely to win 31-35 seats while the INDIA bloc (Congress+Sena UBT+NCP SP) is likely to win 12-16 seats.

6.35 pm: Maharashtra Exit Polls Live: NDA Losing Seats In Maharashtra

NDA losing seats in Maharashtra but is still comprehensively ahead. BJP might retain its 2019 tally, according to exit polls by the School Of Politics.

6.20: Over 48% Voter Turnout Recorded In 8 LS Seats In Bihar Till 5 pm

Bihar registered 48.86 per cent voter turnout in eight Lok Sabha constituencies till 5 pm on Saturday, officials said. Voting began at 7 am in Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Arrah, Karakat, Jehanabad, Buxar, Nalanda and Jehanabad Lok Sabha seats and will continue till 6 pm.

6.10 pm: LS polls phase 7- Over 58% voting till 5 pm

A voter turnout of 58.34 per cent was recorded till 5 pm on Saturday in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls with incidents of violence between TMC and BJP supporters reported in Sandeshkhali region of West Bengal, and complaints of EVM glitches and rigging at some booths lodged.

6.00 pm: 7-phase Lok Sabha Elections Conclude; Counting Of Votes On June 4

As the 7th Phase of polling in General Elections 2024 wraps up, the Election Commission of India thanks all stakeholders: voters, polling personnel, security forces, media and political parties.

5.50 pm: Jharkhand records 67.95 pc voter turnout in 3 Lok Sabha seats

A voter turnout of 67.95 per cent was recorded in three Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand, where voting took place in the seventh and final phase on Saturday, officials said.

5.40 pm: INDIA Bloc To Get 295+ seats, Says Kejriwal

After the INDIA alliance meeting, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "The INDIA Alliance is projected to secure 295+ seats, while the BJP will get around 220 seats, and the NDA alliance 235 seats. The INDIA alliance will form a strong and stable government on its own. The PM candidate will be decided on June 4."

5.30 pm: INDIA Bloc Allies to Participate In Exit Poll Debates

INDIA bloc parties on Saturday announced that they will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening after the grouping's top leaders met and deliberated on the issue at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.
Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Chunav Exit poll Results 2024 Live: Uttar Pradesh has been a politically crucial state as it's the largest state in terms of Lok Sabha seats. The state has 80 Lok Sabha seats and all the political parties are focussing on this state to boost their tally. What is interesting is that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who contested from Wayanad, chose Rae Bareli this time instead of Amethi where he lost in the 2019 polls.

Uttar Pradesh Exit Polls Highlights

9.0 PM: BJP-led NDA is projected to win 69 seats In Uttar Pradesh while INDIA bloc is likely to win 11 seats as per India News-D Dynamic exit poll survey.

8.05PM: Times Now-ETG Exit Poll Gives 66-70 Seats To BJP

As per the Times Now-ETG Exit poll results 2024, the BJP may increase its seat tally to 66-70 this time while the SP-Congres and BSP may win 10-14 seats together.

7.25PM: BJP set to hold ground in Uttar Pradesh with the party's seat sharing standing in the range of 60-70 as per pollsters.

6.45PM: School Of Politics Predict 58-66 Seats For the BJP

As per the School Of Politics exit polls, the NDA may win around 58-66 seats while the INDIA bloc may win around 14-22 Lok Sabha seats.

6.20PM: BJP Confident Of Victory

BJP leaders including Narendra Modi and party president JP Nadda have exuded confidence that the party may win more than 370 seats.

6PM: Akhilesh Says BJP Losing In UP

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP will lost its all seats in Uttar Pradesh and the INDIA alliance will win the most seats. "There was an earthquake of unemployment, price rise, GST, CBI, ED and Income Tax. All of these earthquakes will end," he said.

Sonia Gandhi has shifted to the Rajya Sabha, thus vacating the seat. Despite all speculations, Priyanka Gandhi did not contest the polls. On the other hand, the BJP managed to increase its alliance circumference by allying with the RLD and other regional parties. Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi is seeking re-election for the third time from the state's Varanasi seat.

Congress, this time, contested the polls in alliance with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party under the banner of the INDIA bloc. Congress contested 17 seats out of the 18 as part of the alliance.

Uttar Pradesh 2019 Lok Sabha Result

In the 2019 Parliamentary elections, the BJP-led NDA had won 64 seats while the SP-BSP-Congress had bagged 16 seats. The NDA suffered a loss of seven seats when compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. In 2014, the NDA had bagged 71 seats riding on the Modi wave.
Lok Sabha Exit Poll Results: The Lok Sabha elections is all set to conclude with the final votes set to be cast today. After the conclusion of voting at 6:30 pm, various media outlets will begin to release the results of Lok Sabha chunav Exit Poll on Saturday. The Election Commission had imposed a ban on the publication of exit poll prediction from 7 am on April 19, 2024, until 6:30 pm on June 1.

Lok Sabha Exit Poll Results 2024 - What Is An Exit Poll?

Exit polls offer an insight into the decisions made by voters by forecasting the results of the elections. The way opinion polls are conducted prior to elections, exit polls are post-election surveys. After leaving the voting place, voters are questioned about their vote in an exit survey. Please note that exit surveys have not always been correct.

Lok Sabha Exit Poll Results 2024 - Date And Time

News channels will start airing their predictions by 6:30 or 7 p.m. on Saturday. Additionally, these will be aired live on YouTube and other social media sites.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7

The election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls concluded on Thursday, paving the way for the seventh and last phase of voting on Saturday. 57 seats across seven states and one Union Territory goes to vote today, with a total of 904 candidates. On Saturday, polling will take place for 13 seats each in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha, all four in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand, and one in Chandigarh.

Lok Sabha Exit Poll Results 2024: Congress Decides To Skip Exit Polls Debate

As the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections approach its conclusion, the Congress party has declared that it will not participate in debates on exit polls, which are scheduled to begin from June 1. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera announced this decision on Friday. He stated that the party sees no reason to engage in speculation and a battle for television ratings. He added that the Indian National Congress will not participate in debates on exit polls, but will join the debates after the election results are announced on June 4.

Pawan Khera posted on X, explaining the Congress party's decision not to participate in exit poll debates. He stated that the voters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured. The results will be announced on June 4, and until then, the party sees no reason to engage in speculation and a battle for television ratings. He added that the Indian National Congress will happily participate in debates from June 4 onwards.

Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024: SP's Akhilesh Yadav Slams BJP

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav appealed to party workers, officials, and candidates on Friday to stay alert and not be affected by the BJP's exit polls. He made a special appeal for them to remain vigilant, maintain their confidence, and remember their basic mantra of victory, voting, and caution. He encouraged them to celebrate the victory of the Constitution, democracy, and the people of the country only after receiving the certificate of victory.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases over a six-week period from April 19 to June 1. The first six phases of polling took place on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, and May 25.

Assembly Elections 2024

Assembly elections have also been conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha is witnessing simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Pune Porsche Crash: Shivani Agarwal, the mother of the 17-year-old involved in the Pune Porsche accident case, has been taken into custody on Saturday. Her arrest follows the discovery that the teenager's blood sample, intended for an alcohol test at Sasson Hospital, had been substituted with that of a woman. This raised suspicions that the sample might belong to his mother.

Meanwhile, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has on Friday granted permission to the police to investigate the minor allegedly involved in the car crash in Pune that claimed the lives of two IT professionals. The cops had written to the authorities to probe the 17-year-old, who is currently held in an observation home. The Juvenile Justice Act mandates that any inquiry involving a minor must be conducted in the presence of their parents.

According to the police, the teenager was driving the luxury car while intoxicated when it slammed two tech professionals on a motorbike in Kalyani Nagar in the early hours of May 19.

Shailesh Balkawade, additional Commissioner of Police (crime), informed that the JJB heard the plea seeking permission to question the minor, and it allowed the probe.

In another development, retired IAS officer Arun Bhatia has written to the Chairman of the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC) asking for the transfer of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. Bhatia has called for an investigation into Kumar's conduct, noting that he represents the city's police force.

Expressing distrust in the authorities, he said, "The present Police Commissioner cannot be relied upon to do this.

Bhatia has urged an investigation into the appointment of the Chief Medical Officer, who was allegedly influenced by a politician, and has demanded that the Health Secretary be punished.

Following the incident, the accused minor was released after a few hours and instructed to write a 300-word essay on road safety. However, due to a nationwide outcry, the police approached the JJB again, which then revised its decision and placed the teenager in an observation home until June 5.

The father and grandfather of the teenager have been arrested and remain in custody for 14 days on charges of detaining the family's driver after the accident, offering him money and gifts to take the blame and protect the minor, and threatening him.

The police have also arrested two doctors and a staff member from Sassoon General Hospital for allegedly tampering with the teenager's blood samples to falsely indicate that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident.
New Delhi: Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan have reportedly team up in the highly anticipated action extravaganza 'King'. Now, a leaked picture is circulating online speculating that it is from the sets of Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming movie.

Check- Out The 'First Leaked Pic' Below:

#EXCLUSIVE



First leak pic from the sets of #KING #SRK is currently shooting in Spain for the film. _ pic.twitter.com/JJv7waFJYt  Harsh Mishra.. (@iamharsh55) June 1, 2024

On Saturday, an X user named Harsh Mishra posted an image of Shah Rukh Khan, claiming it was from the sets of 'King'. The post also mentioned that Khan had begun shooting for the project in Spain. The user wrote, First leak pic from the sets of #KING. SRK is currently shooting in Spain for the film. (fire emoji),.

About The Leaked Pic

In the leaked pic one can see Shah Rukh sitting with a group of people, and indulging in conversation with them, wearing a blue suit. The backdrop features a breathtaking landscape with serene blue waters and mountains.

Notably, the authenticity of the picture couldn't be confirmed as there is no further announcement from the filmmakers, but it has undeniably ignited excitement among Shah Rukh Khan's fans. Further adding to the intrigue, Shah Rukh departed from Mumbai last week accompanied by his daughter Suhana.

All About King

Several reports claim that the film is being made on a massive budget of Rs 200 crore. Directed by Sujoy Gosh and co-produced by Red Chillies with director Siddharth Anand.

SRK is to play the role of a Don whereas Suhana is to play Khan's disciple in his upcoming. Fans can look forward to heartfelt moments between the father-daughter duo in the film.

'King' is slated to hit theaters in 2025, though the official release date has yet to be announced.

Stay tuned for more updates!
New Delhi: Megastar Rajinikanth paid a sacred visit to the Kedarnath Dham and Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand.

In the visuals obtained by ANI, Rajinikanth can be seen offering prayers at the temple. After arriving in Dehradun earlier, Rajinikanth expressed excitement about his spiritual trips.

He said, "Every year I used to get new experiences that made me continue my spiritual journey again and again. I believe even this time, (I) will get new experiences." He shared that such sacred trips help him grow.

Rajinikanth also spoke about why spirituality is important.

"The whole world needs spirituality, as it's important for every human being. Being spiritual means experiencing peace and tranquillity, and fundamentally, it involves believing in God."

Recently, Rajinikanth visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Videos and pictures of Rajinikanth seeking blessing at the temple were posted on the official social media account of the BAPS Hindu Mandir.

Rajinikanth was granted the golden visa by UAE's Department of Culture and Tourism.

On the acting front, Rajinikanth has completed the shoot of his upcoming movie Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel. Vettaiyan also stars Amitabh Bachchan.

Vettaiyan, which is Rajinikanth's 170th film, is scheduled for a worldwide release in October this year. Earlier this month, Rajinikanth and Amitabh were seen filming a few scenes together in Mumbai.
New Delhi: Home-grown smartphone manufacturer Lava has rolled out its latest budget-friendly Lava Yuva 5G smartphone in India. It is the first smartphone in the country to incorporate the Unisoc T750 5G chipset. The smartphone comes in Mystic Blue and Mystic Green colour options. Notably, the Lava Yuva 5G comes with a one-year warranty. It comes with 4GB+64GB and 4GB+128GB storage models. The smartphone has achieved a score of over 350,000 on the AnTuTu benchmark platform.

The Lava is offering a Free Service at Home facility from any part of the country with the phone. To avail this facility, the company will assign a technician/engineer to assist customers with the request at your doorstep. (Also Read: OnePlus 11R And OnePlus 12R Receive Massive Price Cut On Amazon, Flipkart; Check New Price And Specs)

Lava Yuva 5G Price And Availability:

For the 4GB+64GB storage model, the smartphone is priced at Rs 9,499. The 4GB+128GB carries a price tag of Rs 9,999. Consumers can purchase the smartphone via Amazon, the Lava e-store, and retail outlets, starting June 5.

Lava Yuva 5G Specifications:

The smartphone features a 6.52-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 2.5D curved screen. It is loaded with a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. The newly launched phone runs on Android 13 OS out of the box. The company has claimed that the Android 14 upgrade and 2 years of security patches.

In the camera department, the smartphone features a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP secondary lens. For selfies and video chats, there is an 8MP shooter on the front. On the security front, the smartphone comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader and face unlock for quick and secure access to the device. (Also Read: Realme C63 Smartphone Launched With Android 14-Based Realme UI 5; Check Specs, Price)

For connectivity, the smartphone supports 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5, GPRS, OTG, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB Type-C port.
New Delhi: The tech giant Google is celebrating the 7th and final phase of polling of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with a special Google Doodle today on June 1, 2024. The India election-themed Google Doodle depicts a voter's hand with electoral ink applied to the forefinger, a commonly used symbol of polling.

Notably, Google has consistently celebrated similar doodles throughout the previous six phases of voting in India's 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Users who click on the Doodle are directed to search results related to the latest updates on the ongoing 7th phase of the Lok Sabha Elections in India. As we know, the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections is currently underway, with voting being held in 57 constituencies across eight states and one union territory.

This phase marks the conclusion of the general elections that commenced on April 19 and has already covered six phases and 486 Lok Sabha seats. The campaigning for the 7th phase of the Lok Sabha polls was completed on Thursday.

During the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi attended over 200 campaign events like rallies and roadshows in 75 days. Meanwhile, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi participated in more than 100 rallies and public events. It is important to note that the Congress chief Kharge also held over 100 rallies, and 20 press conferences, and had over 70 interviews and media interactions.

In the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, 904 candidates are in the fray from these 57 constituencies, with over 10 crore people eligible to vote.

What are Google Doodles?

Google Doodles are temporary changes made to the homepage of the Google logo. These changes are crafted to pay tribute to a range of local and global themes, including holidays, important dates, and impactful figures who have made notable contributions to society.
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.
Sorry! The requested post has been removed or deleted by its author.
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Photo taken on May 29, 2024 shows a celebration for the resumption of Hainan Airlines' operations in Austria in Vienna, Austria. (Xinhua/He Canling)



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.
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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.
Earlier this week the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority announced its approval of $22.7 million in grants to Virginia communities, including over $8 million for Southwest Virginia opioid remediation efforts.

These grants will help communities across the Commonwealth develop and expand programs to prevent opioid addiction, to provide treatment, and to support people in recovery, said Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, chair of the OAA Board of Directors.

Virginia fought back against companies that were pushing their highly addictive drugs on vulnerable people and now we are making sure those settlement funds are bring used to save lives, support families, and restore communities, said in a written statement.

Virginia expects to receive a total of approximately $1.1 billion from litigation against manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies that were alleged to have contributed to the opioid crisis. Payments from these settlements and bankruptcies began in 2022 and are expected to conclude by 2041.

The authority was established by the General Assembly in 2021 to oversee the distribution of 55% of Virginias total settlement funds. Of the remainder, 30% is distributed directly to cities and counties and the remaining 15% to the commonwealth. The use of funds is restricted by court orders and state statute, with the restrictions requiring that funds be used for opioid abatement and remediation efforts.

Ten Southwest Virginia projects will divide About $8.3 million, including:

* $1.7 million to build and begin operations of the Wildwood Wellness Health and Recovery Center for women serving Dickenson, Lee and Scott counties.

* $1.9 million in one-time funding for Secor, community residential 90-day step-down program for recently released non-violent inmates from state prison system, in Russell County.

* $250,000 for recovery housing in Smyth County.

* $305,040 for Project Pathfinder, providing legal aid for people in recovery who are ready to reconcile issues such as divorce, custody, housing, bankruptcy, etc., as a means of progressing their recovery. It is expected to serve Smyth, Russell, Lee, Dickenson, Tazewell, Wise and Wythe counties.

* $1.13 million for mobile delivery of comprehensive substance use and primary care services across eight cities/counties using two bus-type vehicles.

* $939,990 to fund year two of Mt. Rogers Regional Opioid Abatement Partnership. Also, $60,010 from the first year is being carried over.

* $1.54 million for capital cost, one-time funding for the Appalachian Center for Hope substance use treatment center in Smyth County.

* $162,171 for Gate City recovery house, to serve Lee, Scott and Wise counties and the city of Norton.

* $294,034 for the second year of intensive outpatient treatment program for Scott, Wise, Lee and the city of Norton. Additionally, $118,348 of first-year funding is being carried over.

* $63,207 for a second year of peer support in Smyth County Recovery Court.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Tunisian President Kais Saied 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 Kais Saied in Beijing on Friday. 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. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.



The announcement came as Xi held talks with Saied, who is on a state visit to China.

Noting that China and Tunisia are good friends and brothers, Xi said that over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Tunisia have always respected and supported each other, and treated each other as equals despite international vicissitudes, writing a vivid chapter of developing countries standing together through thick and thin.

Consolidating and developing China-Tunisia relations conforms to the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two peoples, Xi noted, adding that China is willing to work with Tunisia to continue the traditional friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level.

"Today, we announced the establishment of China-Tunisia strategic partnership, which will open up an even brighter future for our relations," he said.

China supports Tunisia in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, independently advancing the reform process, and keeping its future firmly in its own hands, Xi said.

China is ready to enhance synergy of development strategies with Tunisia, deepen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction and new energy, foster new growth engines for cooperation in medical and health care, green development, water resources, agriculture and other fields, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries to achieve more results, Xi said, welcoming more high-quality Tunisian products into the Chinese market.

China is willing to continue to send high-caliber medical teams to Tunisia, deepen cooperation with Tunisia in education and tourism, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, he added.

Xi urged the two sides to work with countries in the Global South to strengthen solidarity and coordination, practice true multilateralism, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and achieve common development.

China is ready to work with Tunisia to build well the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, inject new impetus into the development of China-Arab relations, and jointly build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he said.

Saied said he is pleased to pay a historic visit to China on the occasion of marking the 60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

Tunisia enjoys profound friendship and fruitful cooperation with China, and the country expects more support from China for its national development and closer cooperation in health, transportation, green development and education to raise bilateral relations to a new level, he said.

Tunisia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and staunchly supports China's efforts in achieving national reunification and safeguarding its core interests, Saied said.

He said Tunisia and Arab countries appreciate China's commitment to fairness and justice in international affairs. Every country has the right to independently choose a development path suiting its own national conditions. Tunisia is willing to work with China to uphold the common values of humanity, strengthen unity and coordination, oppose hegemonism and bloc confrontation, and create a more equal and beautiful world, so that people of all countries can enjoy real human rights and freedom, live in harmony, and share peace, security and prosperity.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi stressed that China's position is highly consistent with that of Arab countries, and China is ready to work with Tunisia and other Arab countries to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question based on the two-State solution.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including green and low-carbon development and investment.

The two sides also issued a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership.

Prior to the talks, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Saied and his wife. A welcome banquet was also held for the guests around noon.
CHARLESTON  In the 16th year of the Jefferson Rotary Leadership Awards, there were two firsts.

Two sets of siblings were selected as Leadership Award winners for 2024 while there was a tie at the top among the sixth grade girls who were nominated.

Edy Laingen, fourth grade, and Kenny Laingen, sixth grade, both were named Jefferson Leadership Award winners while siblings Lucas Tomshack, fourth grade, and Emma Tomshack, sixth grade, also were selected by the committee of Jefferson teachers and Rotary members.

Emma Tomshack was a co-winner with Annie Porter among sixth grade girls

Since 2009, a committee of Rotary members and Jefferson teachers have selected the Leadership Award winners from nominations by the schools teachers. Teachers nominate students from the fourth, fifth and sixth grades as classroom leaders who shined throughout the school year.

This years winners include:

4th Grade Girl - Edy Laingen, daughter of Chris and Mary Laingen.

4th Grade Boy - Lucas Tomshack, son of Paul and Emily Tomshack.

5th Grade Girl - Zoie Crist, daughter of Zeb and Ashton Crist.

5th Grade Boy - Alantae Bruno, son of Altheia Bruno.

6th Grade Girl - Annie Porter, daughter of Adam and Rachel Porter.

6th Grade Girl - Emma Tomshack, daughter of Paul and Emily Tomshack.

6th Grade Boy - Kenny Laingen, son of Chris and Mary Laingen.

Rob Ulm, Jefferson Elementary principal, told the luncheon audience of Rotarians, honored students and their parents, that the nominations from teachers pointed out these students leadership traits, including such things as stepping into a teacher role when a classmate needed help and showing the Jefferson building to future students.

Among the traits teachers are to consider when nominating students are helpfulness, respect, understanding, assisting others, service to others, motivating others, time management, teamwork, ethics, planning, being a mentor and being accountable.

Those are pretty impressive skills for anyone, let alone fourth, fifth and sixth graders, said Rick Hunt, who coordinates the awards program for the Rotary Club. If each of us could do these things every day, the world would be a better place.

The Leadership Award winners each receive a plaque plus their names are added to a plaque outside the school gym with the names of all past award recipients. Ulm noted that names of winners in the first 15 years of the awards program filled the permanent plaque. The names of this years winners will be the first placed on a new plaque.

Charleston Rotary meets at the Charleston Public Library at noon each Tuesday. New members are welcome. More information is at Charlestonrotary.org.
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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)

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.
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

Vote

View Results
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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)

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.
A scientist in Cuba is raising silkworms native to Asia in hopes the creatures will produce local, high quality silk for clothing.

Dayron Martin is a biochemist who lives in western Cuba. He carries out experiments at the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station. The research center was established in 1962 in an effort to improve agriculture production methods in the Caribbean nation.

A reporter from Reuters news agency recently visited Martins laboratory. As he looked over a table of many silkworms, he explained that he oversees the whole lab operation from start to finish. This includes raising the silkworms, also known as caterpillars, producing their food and harvesting their silk.

As part of his work, Martin heads the ArteSeda project. He told Reuters the project has progressed well so far. The goal is for Martin to harvest high-quality white fibers that can be used by the local population to make clothing and possibly other products.

Martin described his work as a Chinese "ancestral process that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. He said it was only recently brought to Cuba.

Martin said he does not have to go far to get materials for the caterpillars food  he mainly uses dark green mulberry leaves from plants growing outside his lab. "(The worms) need very specific conditions," he added.

The project began with financial support from the European Union and the Cuban government. It more recently also received money from the French government. The effort aims to teach artisans the process so they can learn to raise worms on their own.

Cuba was chosen because of its climate. The country has warm temperatures and a lot of wind. In addition, its growing season lasts the full year.

Silkworms are the young form of a kind of moth native to Asia. The caterpillars produce a cocoon of silk fiber that has long been used to manufacture many kinds of products.

The artisans can use silk to create products at home to sell to local people and visitors, said Dalgi Chaviano. She owns a small shop in Havana that produces beauty products, fabrics and other materials.

Chaviano told Reuters she recently got approval from the local government to raise mulberry trees and silkworms in Havana. This will permit her to produce her own material for products.

"Every day I discover something new to do with the silk," Chaviano said.

Im Bryan Lynn

Bryan Lynn adapted this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

fiber  n. one of the thin threads that forms a substance such as cloth

artisan  n. someone who does skilled work with their hands

moth n. a winged insect that, in its early development, is a wingless caterpillar

cocoon  n. a cover that protects some insects as they develop into adults

fabric  n. cloth material
The wife of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, visited the Book Arsenal in Kyiv the day before, where she appeared in a dark outfit. For the first time in a long time, the First Lady brought a bag with her, although she had previously posed without it in photos.

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The Ukrainian woman also wore a beautiful necklace, which somewhat diluted the gloomy shades of Olena Zelenska's suit and blouse. The photos appeared on her social media.

To buy more than 10 editions and see with her own eyes the books that were almost burned during the Russian missile attack, the First Lady chose a restrained bow.

She wore a navy blue suit, which added depth to the image, and a black blouse under the jacket. A snow-white necklace with a large pendant could be seen around Zelenska's neck, which diluted the dark, elegant outfit with light color.

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In some shots, you can find a medium-sized black leather bag that the first lady took with her to the Book Arsenal.

This element is quite atypical for Zelenska's image. She usually just holds her phone in her hands. Perhaps the accessory complemented the Ukrainian woman's image for a reason. The first lady's bag had a rather sturdy handle, so we can assume that she was putting her new books in it.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Almost two decades after the knifepoint attack she thought would end her life, a woman saw the man who raped her along an East Side bike path in October 2005 sentenced to 20 years in prison.

She faced her attacker, Aidison Yang, 43, at his sentencing Friday for three counts of first-degree sexual assault with a deadly weapon. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ellen Berz ordered Yang to serve 20 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of extended supervision.

Yang, who will be in his 80s before his supervision ends, also is required to pay $12,278.95 in restitution plus administrative costs.

In handing down the sentence, Berz spoke about both the victims suffering and the impact the attack had on the larger community. To many women, some of whom wrote impact statements of their own for the court, the then-unidentified attack was a bogeyman, lurking in public spaces that were supposed to be safe.

This was so outside the norm for Madison, Wisconsin, back in 2005 that it literally sent chills throughout the entire community, Berz said.

Yang was living in Eagan, Minnesota, when he was arrested in February 2023. Madison police learned that the FBI, through its Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, had found a match between DNA collected from the victim after the assault and from Yang.

According to court documents, the UW-Madison graduate student was walking on the bike path to a coffee shop at about 8 p.m. Oct. 15, 2005, when Yang caught up to her, brandished a knife and said, You had better come with me and Dont scream or I will kill you. He then took her behind some trees and assaulted her.

Yang was 24 at the time and living with his parents on Madisons Far East Side. A jury found him guilty on Feb. 22.

Victim speaks

On Friday, the victim spoke of the psychological impacts of Yangs assault  a delayed masters degree, a compulsive need to know where the exits are in every social setting, constant passive suicidal ideation. She opened her statement with five words from Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale:

Pain makes your world small, she said.

She recalled lying in the bushes where Yang left her, wondering who would find her body.

I was sure I was going to die painfully alone at the age of 22, she said. I thought that it might be several days before anyone discovered I was missing. I hadnt spoken to anyone that day. Not my family, not my friends, no one. It was unbelievable to me that my life was going to end this way.

More subterfuge

Defense attorney Christopher Van Wagner told the court that Yang had been a father figure to his ex-fiancees two children. The judge, however, noted that relationship ended in November after Yang unsuccessfully tried to convince both his ex-fiancee and his sister to lie about the nature of his relationship with his ex-fiancee and say the pair had been culturally married.

Mr. Yang was trying to corrupt the case, was trying to influence a person to lie for his benefit in this case, Berz said.

The defense also noted the absence of further sexual assault charges against Yang in the 17 years between the bike path assault and his arrest. He was cited for operating while intoxicated in 2010 in Wisconsin and 2020 in Minnesota. He was also cited for giving a peace officer a false name after a traffic stop in Minnesota in 2021.

We have someone who continues to commit crime throughout his adult life, who lies to police, Berz said.

Berz noted the victims resilience in the face of trauma and the courage it took not only to pursue an education, therapy and relationships after the attack, but also to testify during the trial.

Carrying on

Cyclists and pedestrians on that bike path near Eastwood Drive will not find a memorial bench or plaque bearing the name of the graduate student who was attacked there 2005. The victims family members and friends do not have T-shirts with her face on them or burnt candle ends saved from a vigil.

Thats because she survived.

Now 40, she works outside Wisconsin as a professor. She and her husband will fly home in the coming days.

Yang will be taken to prison, where he will spend the next 20 years working to pay off the restitution he owes her.

12 tips for preventing a trail attack 1. Avoid hiking alone 2. Hike during busier times While hiking on a crowded trail can be a drag, having more people around could limit the risk of an attack. Avoiding early morning and late day hikes can help you avoid hiking in an isolated situation. 3. Avoid using headphones 4. Carry an emergency signaling device Consider carrying a GPS device that lets you report an emergency situation. Reporting a dangerous situation quickly and accurately is important for search and rescue crews that may be needed. 5. Bring a hiking whistle By carrying a loud whistle, youre able to quickly and efficiently alert those in the area to a dangerous situation thats unfolding. Many hikers prefer to keep their whistle around their neck for easy access. 6. Learn self-defense 7. Know the trail 8. Consider bringing pepper spray Not only can pepper spray be used to prevent an animal attack, it can also be used to ward off dangerous humans. Obviously, pepper spray should only be used in the direst of situations when using it is legal. Its also a smart idea to practice using the pepper spray on a mock target prior to carrying it so that one knows how to use it and what the experience of using it is like. 9. Wear proper gear 10. Tell a friend where youre headed Whether youre hiking alone or with someone else, a trusted individual whos not there should know where youre headed and when youre expecting to be back. This will allow them to alert authorities in a timely manner if you dont return. 11. Pay attention to your surroundings 12. Put that canine to use
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized the Israeli negotiation team to present an outline for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement by Netanyahu's office on Friday.

The statement was issued following U.S. President Joe Biden's speech, in which Biden revealed a three-phase Israeli proposal that would lead to an end to the ongoing Gaza conflict and the release of all hostages.

"The Israeli government is united in the will to return our hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal," the Israeli statement said.

It added that "the prime minister authorized the negotiation 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 statement noted that the outline, including the "conditional transition from phase to phase," allows Israel to "maintain these principles."

According to Biden, the first phase of the Israeli proposal includes a six-week "complete" ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the release of women, the elderly and the wounded being held hostage in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

At the same time, the Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighborhoods in "all areas of Gaza," including in the north, and 600 aid trucks will enter the enclave daily, according to the U.S. president.

During the first phase, the second phase will be discussed, and terms of a permanent end to hostilities will be negotiated. Biden said the six-week ceasefire will last as long as negotiations continue.

In the second phase, all living hostages will be released, and the temporary ceasefire will become permanent, while the third phase will see the return of the bodies of the deceased hostages to their families and the start of a major reconstruction plan in Gaza.

In his remarks on Friday, Biden also noted that the Israeli proposal had been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.

On Friday night, Hamas, in response, confirmed its readiness to deal positively and in a constructive manner with any proposal for a permanent ceasefire.

The Gaza-ruling Palestinian faction said in a statement that it held a positive view of Biden's speech while stressing that the truce proposal should be based on the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the reconstruction of the strip, and the return of the displaced to their places, along with the fulfillment of a genuine prisoner swap deal if Israel clearly announces commitment to such deal.
Recent videos show military aged young men from Africa crossing our southern border unimpeded.

More than 37,000 Chinese nationals crossed our southern border illegally in 2023 alone.

Debit cards of $10,000 apiece are being handed out to illegal immigrants in New York City.

This week in San Francisco a foreign national was sworn in as an official on the elections commission.

What the hell is going on?

This is not merely a frustration, not a minor political problem to worry about, this is an absolute outrage, an existential crisis for our nation!

America is in danger like never before. Why is this happening? Who is responsible? We are sick to death of hearing platitudes like secure our border. Our leaders have no intention of securing our border, and its time we ask ourselves why?

Its reckless, its dangerous, and its expensive. Yet it gives Washington elites and the Biden administration  or whoever is running the White House  more power.

How?

Illegal immigration takes power away from law abiding citizens. It makes a mockery of the rule of law, giving power to those who intentionally break our laws. If you value freedom, law and order, and our cultural heritage, you should be outraged. If you respect our nation, the greatest ever to exist in human history, then its time to ask what the hell is going on?!

Illegal immigration takes jobs away from law-abiding Americans. It threatens the safety of our communities. It dilutes our voter base, taking away the sanctity of your vote.

You might think the problem is far away from here. Let Texas deal with it, let the federal government worry about enforcing the law. But it affects Idaho too, thats the plain truth of the matter. Millions of illegal immigrants pouring into our country year after year affects all of us. Illegal immigration brings crime, drugs, sex trafficking, terrorism, and more. When we stop enforcing our laws, were telling all the bad actors in the world that we are defenseless, that they can come here and do whatever they want.

It doesnt have to be this way. There are enough laws on the books now to take care of this problem, and House Republicans passed a strong border bill last year. National leaders can solve this crisis today if they wanted to, which means they want it to continue. Its time to say enough is enough. Its time for patriotic Americans to stand up and say WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
Fashion Interiors by Paul Cornelissen transcends the limitations of a typical retail space. It offers an immersive experience, showcasing exceptional Filipino craftsmanship and design with the potential to gain global recognition.

Founded in 2015 by Paul Cornelissens father, Paul Sr., a Dutch trader who fell in love with Filipino craftsmanship during visits in the 70s, the company has grown into a major exporter with over 100 clients worldwide.

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The collection is named after us. My father is a trader who grew a fondness for the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the most creative countries together with Indonesia. Due to the lack of commercial views, we see a lot less international buyers coming to the Philippines. On the other hand, I think theres a lot of very good supply of raw materials which can be sourced from the local market, Cornelissen said.

The younger Paul joined the family business after earning an Economics degree and working as a sales representative for his fathers import company.

With a keen eye honed by international travels, he now guides the design and export strategy for Fashion Interiors by Paul Cornelissen.

East meets west

Cornelissens design philosophy is a unique blend of European aesthetics and Filipino touches. He sources a significant portion of materials locally, utilizing native materials like rattan, abaca and driftwood alongside some imported fabrics.

The approach has struck a chord with international buyers, who appreciate the distinctive character of their pieces. The companys ingenuity is core to their creations.

The company is not afraid to experiment with unexpected combinations, like pairing high-gloss finishes with natural fibers, resulting in truly unique and eye-catching furniture.

Filipino craftsmanship

Fashion Interiors by Paul Cornelissen prides itself on employing a team of 200 skilled Filipino artisans operating out of their manufacturing hub in Pampanga.

Cornelissen acknowledges the challenge of retaining skilled workers due to the global demand for Filipino talent, but emphasizes the exceptional quality their craftsmanship brings to their furniture.

The heart of our collection lies in handcrafted pieces, a skill that sets us apart. Were passionate about showcasing the exceptional talent and materials the Philippines has to offer the world, Cornelissen said, citing how his craft allowed him to work alongside a team of remarkable Filipino and foreign designers.

Global trends

Unfazed by a diminished Philippine presence at international furniture fairs, Fashion Interiors by Paul Cornelissen maintains a robust international profile, attending fairs and cultivating relationships with clients across the globe.

Its reach spans continents, with customers in Australia, the US, the Middle East, Europe and South America. It has a network of showrooms beyond their flagship store in Makati, including a space in Pampanga and a year-round booth at Deco Central.

Cornelissen, a seasoned traveler himself, spends a significant portion of the year attending major furniture fairs like the recent Milan Furniture Show.

These events serve as a vital source of inspiration, allowing him to keep his finger on the pulse of global design trends.

He observes everything from popular materials and finishes to innovative furniture shapes and functions.

Upon returning to the Philippines, he skillfully integrates them with the companys signature East meets West aesthetic and readily available Filipino materials.

This approach results in furniture collections that feel fresh and internationally relevant, while still retaining a unique Filipino identity.

Expansion plan

While Fashion Interiors by Paul Cornelissen boasts a strong presence in the export market, Cornelissen acknowledges the potential for domestic growth.

He sees an increasing appreciation for high-quality, design-forward furniture among Filipinos who have traveled abroad and are familiar with international trends.

The companys existing showrooms in Makati and Pampanga cater to this growing demand, and Cornelissen hints at the possibility of further expansion within the Philippines.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte vowed to uphold international rules to promote peace and security.

Facing challenges from their respective neighborsChina for the Philippines and Russia for Lithuaniaboth leaders emphasized the importance of adhering to international law.

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Over a hundred years that we have been in contact in informal trade that has been going on. Its still not balancedall we want really, is the promotion of peace and the national interest, President Marcos told Prime Minister Simonyte in a bilateral meeting in Singapore.

President Marcos stressed the necessity of a clear stance within international law to navigate geopolitical challenges.

The only way that we can navigate through all of these is to find ourself, plant ourself very clearly within international law, and within the rules-based order, within the agreements that most nations are made, with one another when it comes to the resolution of these kind of differences, he added.

Simonyte supported President Marcos stance, highlighting the significance of international law for smaller states.

Absolutely. I think that, you know, small states matter. That will be my message tomorrow on the panel but not only small states matter, international law matter because this is a safety network for small states, she said.

The leaders also discussed political cooperation, economic collaboration, and regional and global issues, including those in the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to strengthen their support for international law and global peace.

Department of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro meanwhile met with Lithuania, Canada, and New Zealand defense ministers at the sidelines of the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Teodoro met with Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas, who offered cybersecurity training and other military cooperation. Teodoro directed officials to explore a memorandum of understanding with Lithuania.

In talks with Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair, both leaders reaffirmed their countries enduring friendly relations. Blair praised the Philippines alliances with the US, Japan, and South Korea.

Canada has a major role to play in the Indo-Pacific region, Teodoro said.

New Zealands Defense Minister Judith Anne Collins expressed concern over the West Philippine Sea, advocating for increased Indo-Pacific engagement. The two defense chiefs discussed augmenting cooperation in engineering and logistics.

Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines is not causing the regional issues.

These meetings followed President Ferdinand Marcos keynote at the Shangri-La Dialogue, addressing the Philippines stance on the hotly contested West Philippine Sea.
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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.
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: CC0 Public Domain

People of color and those who experience social vulnerability are more likely to experience worse glycemic control than their white counterparts, according to research presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass.

"As of 2021, 29.7 million people were living with diabetes, contributing to significant morbidity across the population. Despite advances in diabetic care, marginalized populations bear an increased burden of diabetic complications," said study author Jennifer Tich, M.D., from Internal Medicine-Pediatrics R3 at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y.

Tich and colleagues identified about 26,000 people living with diabetes. They used census data to calculate their social vulnerability index (SVI) based on 16 variables in four themes: socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial/ethnic minority status, and housing/transportation.

The scoring range for individual SVI is ranked 0 (lowest) to 1 (highest vulnerability). They also accounted for self-reported race and ethnicity, food and housing insecurity, transportation and social isolation.

"We found that both race and social vulnerability were independently associated with diabetes control. Increasing social vulnerability was associated with worsening glycemic control across all racial groups studied," said the study's Principal Investigator and University of Rochester Professor, Robert Fortuna, M.D., M.P.H.

"Within a given social vulnerability category, non-white participants had worse diabetic control than white participants."

Specifically, the data revealed 73.6% of patients had controlled HbA1C (white: 75.7%, Black: 66.1%, Asian: 75.2%, and other races: 67.3%). However, when controlling for race, social vulnerability led to worse control.

Around half of the patients were additionally surveyed on social determinants of health. Those who reported food insecurity showed lower rates of glycemic control (67.7%) compared with those without food insecurity (79.8%).

Patients who reported housing insecurity fared similarly, with 66.0% having lower control compared with their counterparts who had better housing security (80.1%). People with no unmet transportation needs had better glycemic control (79.2%) than those who had unmet transportation needs (67.7%).

"These findings highlight the importance of social vulnerability and social determinants of health on the control of diabetes. These findings further depict the persistent racial disparities across the spectrum of social vulnerability," Tich said.
The room is full of people talking to each other, and theres a buzz of active conversation. Whats going on here? Welcome to Disagreement for the Sake of Heaven, an approach to talking about controversial issues. Based on a time-tested model of Jewish learning called havruta, a roomful of discussion partners is reading Bible, rabbinic commentary, and contemporary sources about the qualities of argumentation.

The word havruta derives from the three-letter Hebrew root for friend. A pair of people who learn together in havruta are spiritual friends whose conversation includes themselves and Divine presence. Sometimes havruta partners agree and sometimes they dont. Their disagreements allow them to sharpen their thinking as true partners. Together, they elevate their discussion to the level of prayer.

In Missoula, the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative (MIC) has adopted this approach as one way to build relationships among participants in our interfaith community. We realize that our ways of practicing and observing our traditions have both great similarities and differences, and we seek a way to listen to each other respectfully and glean wisdom from the spiritual vitamins of our neighbors.

In April, we gathered at Congregation Har Shalom to read rabbinic text about Hillel and Shammai, great rabbi-scholars of the first century BCE and first century CE. They were known to disagree with each other fiercely on many matters of religious practice. The following is a quote from Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 13b):

"For three years Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagreed. These said: The halakha (the established way of Jewish practice) is in accordance with our opinion, and those said: The halakha is in accordance with our opinion. Ultimately, a Bat Kol (Divine Voice) emerged and proclaimed: Both these and those are the words of the living God."

From this text we learn that the disagreement of Hillel and Shammai is a constructive disagreement because they seek a solution that honors the Divine. The Bat Kol declares that their argument is holy! So, we learn from this that some arguments have inherent sanctity.

But are there unholy disagreements? Well, yes. In contrast, we read a text in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 16, about Korah, who challenges the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Korah says that Moses and Aaron have misled the ancient Israelites to wander in the desert, unjustly removed from the comforts of civilization and sustained by lowly manna. Korah is motivated by ego. He wants the power of the anointed priests, and he questions Divine imperatives. Ultimately, Korah and his followers are swallowed by the earth in a supernatural act that signifies Divine disapproval of their actions. From this text, we learn that jealousy and a desire to advance oneself above the common good constitutes unholy disagreement.

So, what does reading ancient texts teach us about our daily lives now? Many of us live in echo chambers where everyone affirms the same ideas, theologies, and politics. Especially in the polarizing political environment of an election year, finding a way to talk to each other across our differences is a precious tool for establishing common ground and affirming neighborly love. We may not always agree, but we can see each others humanity and begin to understand our differences in a caring, respectful way. Our common ground is wonder, devotion, gratitude, and the desire for fellowship and service.
Chinese companies under spotlight as AI summit kicks off in Geneva

Xinhua) 09:50, June 01, 2024

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. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Alibaba DAMO Academy showcased AI solutions for early cancer detection, while Chinese telecom company ZTE presented its comprehensive AI solutions for industry applications.

GENEVA, May 31 (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.

Robot artist Ai-Da draws at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

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,

Participants interact with a robot for social care at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

"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.

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. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

"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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
Campus may be quieter thanks to the arrival of summer, but there are still plenty of fun events and activities to get involved in, from the rocking Staff Fest on June 14 to a peaceful walk along the still waters of Lullwater Preserve.

1. Taste a new plant-powered menu.

All Emory employees are invited to join the Emory University Hospital Asbury Cafe team for a presentation about the rollout of the new Plant-Powered Menu on Tuesday, June 4, at 4 p.m., in the Emory University Hospital Tower Conference Room (T239). Attendees will get a taste of the planning and implementation efforts of the new menu  and a chance to sample the food. A virtual option is available via Zoom. This event is free to attend, but registration is required.

2. Prepare yourself for time in the sun.

As you spend more time in the summer sun, its a good idea to learn about how to prevent potential UV damage. Join the Emory Sun Safety webinar on Wednesday, June 5, at 2 p.m. to learn about ultraviolet rays and how to avoid sun damage. Attendees will also learn how to identify signs of heat-related illness. This webinar is open to all Emory employees, but registration is required.

3. Learn how pediatric research combines with clinical practice.

The 13th annual Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference is coming to the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center on Friday, June 7, at 8 a.m. The conference highlights important pediatric research from across the southeastern United States, emphasizing research from Emory University, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Tech and Morehouse School of Medicine. This conference is ticketed and open to the public.

4. Stock up on local produce and more.

The Emory Farmers Market continues through the summer, so stop by on Tuesday, June 11, and June 25 at 11 a.m. Head to McDonough Plaza to purchase locally grown produce, fresh bread, a meal and other items. Admission is free and the farmers market is open to the public.

5. Get inspiration from organizations around Atlanta.

Head to Science Gallery Atlanta on Saturday, June 15, at 11 a.m. to celebrate the start of Resilient Earth season. The kickoff will feature organizations from around Atlanta that support climate change awareness and action showcasing their work and inspiring the community to get involved. The event will also feature an artists market, food and local vendors. This fair is free and open to the public. Science Gallery Atlanta is located at 225 Rogers Street, NE, Building 12, in Atlanta.

6. Celebrate with your colleagues at the 46th annual Staff Fest.

Emory University staff, faculty and retirees are invited to join the annual recognition event on Friday, June 14, as thanks for their hard work throughout the academic year. This years theme is Rock the Quad, featuring live music from Atlantas own Band X. The Fun Run/Walk and volleyball tournament begin at 10:30 a.m., with lunch from La Parilla Mexican Restaurant and other activities from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration is required.

7. Hear from experts about brain health.

Join a webinar presented by the Goizueta Alzheimers Disease Research Center at Emory to learn about ongoing studies and hear from faculty clinicians who are experts in their field on how to manage, preserve and improve brain health. The presenters will offer practical insights and tips that attendees can apply to daily life. These free webinars, which take place each Tuesday at 2 p.m., are open to the public at every level of experience.

8. Join a docent-led tour of the Carlos Museum.

There are thousands of pieces on view at the Michael C. Carlos Museum  but that doesnt mean it has to be an overwhelming experience. Attendees are invited to join a docent-led tour and explore the museum every Sunday at 2 p.m. These public tours are free with museum admission and no prior registration is required. To join, simply meet the docent in the rotunda on level one of the museum.

9. Access popular books online.

Spend some leisure time reading this summer with the help of the Woodruff Library. Emory faculty, staff and students can use the Overdrive program to download ebooks and audiobooks for free, giving you access to the most popular titles and bestsellers.

10. Take a peaceful stroll at Lullwater.

Lullwater Preserve offers a place of solace in the middle of a busy city and campus. Visitors can find plenty of paved and unpaved trails, 154 acres full of natural beauty, Candler Lake and much more. Check out the Lullwater map for information about trails around Candler Lake. Lullwater Preserve is open during daylight hours.
When John Rickford (Stevenson, 71, sociolinguistics) arrived at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1968, the fledgling three-year-old campus was small, scrappy, bold, and adventurous, with a student body of only 1,800.

At UC Santa Cruz, Rickford, this years Humanities Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award honoree, became the first person to earn an undergraduate degree in sociolinguistics, the study of the relationship between language and society and the ways in which people use language in different social contexts.

Rickfords time at UC Santa Cruz also prepared the groundwork for his long and distinguished career as a linguistics professor at Stanford University, where he taught for 40 years until his retirement five years ago. He is also a high-profile advocate for the rights of vernacular language speakers.

Humanities Dean Jasmine Alinder will present Rickford with this award on June 6 at the Humanities Divisions annual Celebrating the Humanities: Spring Awards ceremony next Thursday from 4-7pm at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History in downtown Santa Cruz.

"This prestigious award recognizes extraordinary Humanities graduates who have done exemplary work in diverse fields, while exemplifying our core values of social justice and inclusion, Alinder said.

She called attention to Rickfords unique combination of rigorous scholarship, generosity, advocacy, activism, and his interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.

In his long and distinguished career, John Rickford has explored the various ways in which issues surrounding language connect to education, discrimination and criminal justice, Alinder said. And hes made a lasting contribution to Civil Rights, from leading the UC Santa Cruz Black Student Association during his time here on campus to hosting Rosa Parkss historic visit to Stanford University in 1990.

A strong commitment to justice

Rickford, the author of more than 15 book-length scholarly works and a well-received memoir, Speaking My Soul: Race, Life and Language (Routledge, 2022) specialized in Activist Sociolinguistics, a sub-area that he helped to create.

Activist Sociolinguistics uses linguistics as a lens to confront the prejudice that people who use vernacular language all over the world face in their daily lives.

It may apply most readily in the United States to varieties such as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Chicano English and other vernacular varieties of English, but it may apply in other countries to any languages or dialects whose speakers are misunderstood, disregarded or disparaged in reference to education, housing, or the law because of the varieties they speak, Rickford said.

Often, in the United States, these vernacular English speakers find themselves at an unfair disadvantage in the court system and wind up being misjudged as guilty or having their testimonies belittled or disregarded because of the non-standard varieties of English they speak, Rickford said.

Rickford worked with Rachel Jeantel, a good friend of Trayvon Martin, whose testimony was an important part of the prosecutions case against George Zimmerman, who gunned down Martin in 2013. Rickford contends that the jury in that case discredited and ignored Jeantels testimony because of her use of vernacular English. The Black Lives Matter movement was founded in 2013 in response to Zimmermans exoneration.

Aside from standing up for the right of vernacular speakers to be heard, Rickford also celebrates the unique beauty and cadences of Black Talk.

In an essay on the subject, Rickford quoted the celebrated author and essayist James Baldwin, who once described black English as "this passion, this skill . . . this incredible music.

Rickford also referenced the Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, who spoke of the essential role of Black Talk in her fiction. It is the thing that Black people love so much -- the saying of words, holding them on the tongue, experimenting with them, playing with them, Morrison said. It's a love, a passion. Its function is like a preacher's: to make you stand up out of your seat, make you lose yourself and hear yourself.

A life-changing mentorship and a sense of camaraderie

John Rickford was born in Guyana, the youngest of ten children. When he arrived in UC Santa Cruz, Rickford was coping with the profound sense of displacement he experienced after arriving in the United States.

At the time, Rickford had to negotiate a new identity from colored or mixed race in Guyana to Black in the U.S.

In that time of dislocation, Rickford soon found a generous mentor and father figure in the legendary sociologist, author and activist J. Herman Blake, who is now a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at UC Santa Cruz.

Blake was also the Founding Provost of Oakes College and the renowned co-writer of Revolutionary Suicide by the late Black Panthers leader Huey P. Newton, who received his Ph.D. in UC Santa Cruzs History of Consciousness Department in 1980.

In his freshman year, Rickford took Blakes course on Ethnic and Status Groups. It was a revelatory experience. The content of the course was amazing, and Blake also made us each try to find out from our parents about our own genealogy, which was incredibly important for me, Rickford said.

Finally, Professor Blake gave me the huge privilege of serving as his teaching assistant when he taught his Ethnic and Status Groups course at Mills College, Rickford recalled.

We would drive to Oakland from Santa Cruz, talking all the time, and back again, Rickford recalled. I learned so much from him in the process, and regarded him as a kind of father figure, especially since my dad had died in Guyana in 1969, and I couldnt afford to fly back home for his funeral.

During his time at UC Santa Cruz, Rickford also had immersive hands-on research experiences that influenced his future career path. He was part of a cohort of students who went on a research trip to the South Carolina Sea Islands for a quarter working among the speakers of the English-Creole based language known as Gullah on Daufuskie Island. He was amazed by the uncanny similarities between their Gullah variety of Black Talk among African-American populations in coastal Georgia and South Carolina and his own native Guyanese Creole.

Forging his own academic path

Another of Rickfords life-changing mentors was Professor of Anthropology Roger Keesing, who was affiliated with Stevenson College and was a renowned expert on linguistics as well as cultural anthropology.

In 1971, Rickford received his BA with highest honors in sociolinguistics from UC Santa Cruz. After graduating, Rickford received a Danforth Fellowship, which allowed him to get his PhD in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania. While in graduate school, he wrote a 600-page thesis that took him right back to his childhood home, focusing on phonological and grammatical variations in Guyanese Creole personal pronouns.

These days, Rickford is considered a pioneer in the field of Activist Sociolinguistics, which makes use of both quantitative and non-qualitative approaches to linguistics studies.

He won a Dean's Award for distinguished teaching in 1984 and a Bing Fellowship for excellence in teaching in 1992.

Rickford is looking forward to returning to campus to accept his latest honor.

I am deeply honored and extremely humbled, Rickford said. UCSC made me who I am.

The Humanities Division continues to honor John Rickfords pioneering work and influence through the Department of Linguisticss John Rickford Undergraduate Development Fund, which recognizes his distinguished intellectual achievements and for his unstinting commitment to marginalized communities and the languages that they speak.

The Fund provides new academic opportunities for distinguished undergraduates by supporting research projects, travel to conferences, and undergraduate linguistics club activities.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal hit out at the party on Friday alleging that an attempt was made to portray her as a "villain" and Delhi Chief Minister's aide Bibhav Kumar as a "hero" after she made assault allegations against him. "I am very hurt and saddened by the behaviour of Arvind Kejriwal. 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 then. I have been working since then, with passion, selflessness, and honesty," AAP leader Maliwal told ANI. Maliwal alleged victim-shaming by the party adding that her character was "maligned" and she was left "alone in the entire battle." "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. To date, he neither rang me nor came to meet me and 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," Maliwal said. "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 that Bibhav Kumar accompanied Kejriwal during his visit to Lucknow and Amritsar for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls. "As soon as Delhi Police arrested Bibhav 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." 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. Maliwal lodged a complaint with the Delhi police against Bibhav Kumar on May 14, a day after the alleged assault took place. A day later, Bibhav Kumar lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him. A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case based on Maliwal's complaint. Bibhav was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 19. (ANI)
The floods in Assam in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal have so far claimed eight lives as six people including two children died in the last 24 hours. The flood situation in Assam is still grim as nearly 3.50 lakh people, including over 78,000 children from 11 districts, have been affected by the deluge. According to the flood report of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), six people including two children, died after drowning in flood waters in the state in the last 24 hours. The ASDMA flood report stated that three persons, including a child, died in the Cachar district, two persons including a child died in the Hailakandi district and one died in the Karbi Anglong West district. Nearly 1.20 lakh people were affected in the Cachar district while 78756 people were affected in the Nagaon district, 77030 people in the Hojai district, 52684 people in the Karimganj district, 10165 people in Hailakandi district. A total of 560 villages under 25 revenue circles of Karbi Anglong, Dhemaji, Hojai, Cachar, Karimganj, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Hailakandi, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong West and Dima Hasao districts are still submerged under water. The water levels of several rivers including Kopili, Barak, Katakhal and Kushiyara are flowing above the danger level mark following torrential rain. The flood waters have submerged 4931 hectares of crop area in the flood-hit districts. The administration has set up 187 relief camps and distribution centres where 68,600 people are taking shelter. On the other hand, many flood-affected people have taken shelter in higher lands, safer places. A total of 1023063 domestic animals were also affected in the deluge. The NDRF, SDRF, Police, Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) and local administration are engaged in rescue operations in many flood-hit areas and on Friday the teams rescued 615 people. In the last 24 hours, flood waters damaged 11 roads, several health centres, culverts, anganwadi centres, school buildings, irrigation canals, and breached three embankments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the kin of each deceased due to the natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal. The Prime Minister has also announced that those injured in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal would be given Rs 50,000 each. "An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each: PM," the Prime Minister's Office said in a post on 'X'. (ANI)
Congress MP and candidate from Amritsar seat, Gurjeet Singh Aujla along with his family members cast their vote in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Saturday. Aujla extended his wishes to all the candidates and expressed confidence in winning the general elections. "I extend best wishes to all the candidates. May God bless everyone. I would like to thank all voters across the country. This is the last phase of elections, our government is going to be formed on 4th June," the Congress leader said. He is in the electoral fray against Taranjit Singh Sandhi, who retired after serving as the Indian envoy to the United States, AAP's Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, and Shiromani Akali Dal's Anil Joshi. All 13 parliamentary constituencies of Punjab are voting today in the last phase of the Lok Sabha polls. In the 2019 elections, Aujla won the Amritsar seat by almost 1 lakh votes. He defeated Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The seventh and final phase of polling in the largest festival of democracy started on Saturday as voting started in the last 57 parliamentary constituencies at 7 am across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. According to the Election Commission of India, over 10.06 crore electors including approximately 5.24 crore male, 4.82 crore female and 3574 third gender electors are expected to exercise their franchise. A total of 904 candidates are in the fray for the final phase of polling. The prominent candidates in the fray in this phase include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nishikant Dubey, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Congress leaders Manish Tewari, Charanjit Singh Channi, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Misa Bharti. Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20 and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha is seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh BJP president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Saturday appealed to voters to exercise their franchise 'as much as possible' with few hours left before the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections concludes. He also expressed confidence that "people have faith" in PM Modi. "Our Constitution gives the right to every citizen to vote. We are seeking people's mandate with a report card of the work done by our government in the last 10 years. People have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I appeal to everyone to exercise their franchise as much as possible," Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary told ANI on Saturday. As the final phase of polling proceeds, an approximate voter turnout of 49.68 per cent was recorded across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh as of 3 pm, according to the Election Commission (ECI). As per the ECI data, Jharkhand is leading the voter turnout charts at 60.14 per cent as of 3 pm. The voter turnout in other states polling today as of 3 pm are Bihar- 42.95 per cent, Odisha--49.77 per cent, Punjab--46.38 per cent, Uttar Pradesh--46.83 per cent, West Bengal--58.46 per cent and Himachal Pradesh 58.41 per cent. The Union Territory of Chandigarh recorded 52.61 per cent as of 3 pm. The polling for the last phase started at 7 am on Saturday in the 57 parliamentary constituencies spread across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. According to the Election Commission of India, over 10.06 crore electors including approximately 5.24 crore male, 4.82 crore female and 3574 third gender electors are expected to exercise their franchise. Six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh have also gone to polls today. The outcome will have a bearing on the Congress government in the state. All six seats going to the polls were held by Congress MLAs from these seats cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls. Polling for the remaining 42 Assembly Constituencies of the Odisha State Legislative Assembly is also underway. 49.77 per cent voter turnout has been recorded till 3 pm here. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini hit back at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal amid the row over the water crisis in the national capital, and said that Haryana is providing its complete quota of water to Delhi and the Aam Aadmi party government is "spreading lies" to hide its own "corruption." Addressing a press conference on Saturday, CM Saini said, "Kejriwal made this allegation earlier also. I want to ask him to pay less attention to corruption and more to development. Haryana is providing more water than was decided in the agreement made at the court's order. Haryana is providing more water than agreed." "But just for their politics, for hiding their corruption, he (AAP CM) is spreading lies. This is the nature of Arvind Kejriwal," he added. Taking a jibe at the Delhi government, Saini said that the AAP government couldn't build proper infrastructure for water, as it was busy with "corruption." "He (Kejriwal) failed to build a proper water system because his full focus was on corruption...the court also slammed the Delhi government and said the Haryana government is providing their quota of water," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi continues to battle a severe water crisis amid rising temperatures in the National Capital. Earlier on Friday, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court to get immediate additional water from neighbouring Haryana. Delhi government in its plea said that it is constrained to file the petition on account of the acute shortage of water being faced by the people of Delhi, triggered by the ongoing severe heat conditions in North India, particularly in the national capital. Several areas in Delhi including Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area and the Geeta colony area were among those facing acute water shortages. In the blazing heat, people have to wait in long queues to fill buckets from water tankers. The residents have complained that despite submitting applications to the government regarding water shortage, the residents complain that their pleas go unnoticed. The Haryana CM further said that they are probing the allegations of discrepancies and incidents of 'bogus voting' during polling in the state He also said the whole report of BJP leaders who were allegedly working against party's interest will be sent to the central leadership. "We called a meeting with all the district in-charges yesterday, the other position holders, and other leaders. We are collecting all the information...whatever will be found, whoever has done the whole report will be sent to the central leadership. Whatever decision will be taken by them, will have to be followed by everyone," CM Saini said. "The officers who have committed discrepancies, made attempts of bogus voting, tried to spoil the atmosphere. Whichever booths are found involved in this, we will take action against the involved officers," he added. The 10 seats of Haryana went to polling on May 25 in the sixth phase of polling. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. (ANI)
A special CBI court on Saturday sent four accused, including CBI Inspector Rahul Raj to judicial custody in the nursing college scam. On the completion of their custody till today, the accused CBI Inspector Rahul Raj and intermediaries Om Goswami, Ravi Bhadoria, and Jugal Kishore were produced before the court of Judge Arvind Kumar Sharma and the court sent them to judicial custody. Earlier on Tuesday, nine accused namely, Inspector Sushil Kumar Majoka from MP Police (on attachment with CBI), Anil Bhaskaran, Tanveer Khan, Radharaman Sharma, Sachin Jain, Ved Sharma, Preeti Tilakwar, Suma Anil Bhaskaran, Jalpana Adhikari, were produced before the court. All were sent to judicial custody. Notably, in compliance with directions from the High Court, CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Bhopal had formed seven core teams and several support teams. These teams, composed of CBI officials, representatives from nursing colleges, and Patwaris, were tasked with inspecting nursing colleges across the state to ensure they met the required infrastructural and faculty standards. During the monitoring process, officials from one of the support teams were found indulging in corrupt activities. It was observed that Inspector Rahul Raj of the CBI, along with other team members, was issuing favourable inspection reports in exchange for bribes. The internal vigilance mechanism swiftly responded, leading to the registration of a case against 23 individuals, including Inspector Rahul Raj, three other CBI officials, and various intermediaries. On May 18, Inspector Rahul Raj was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakhs from Anil Bhaskaran and his wife, Suma Anil. Subsequent actions by CBI teams from New Delhi resulted in searches at 31 locations across Bhopal, Indore, Ratlam, and Jaipur. These searches led to the recovery of over Rs. 2.33 crore in cash, four gold bars, 36 digital devices, and more than 150 incriminating documents. Thirteen individuals were arrested in connection with the case, including Inspector Rahul Raj, Inspector Sushil Kumar Majoka from MP Police (on attachment with CBI), and intermediaries Om Goswami, Ravi Bhadoria, and Jugal Kishore. Three women were also among those arrested. All arrested individuals have been remanded to CBI custody until May 29. Later following the instruction of CM Mohan Yadav, CBI inspector Rahul Raj and Inspector Sushil Kumar Majoka from MP Police (on attachment with CBI) were dismissed from the job. On the other hand, CM Yadav also instructed to shut down 66 unsuitable nursing colleges running in 31 districts in the state. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu offered condolences to the bereaved families of those who died in a boat accident in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district on Saturday. "The news of the death of many people including children in a boat accident in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," the President said in a post on 'X'. At least seven people died as a boat capsized in the Seep River in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur. The seven deceased included five children, police said adding that the boat was ferrying a total of eleven people. "A tragic incident took place in Seep in Manipur police station area. A boat capsized in the river. There were 11 people in the boat, out of which 4 people were safe. The bodies of seven people have been recovered, and have been brought to the district hospital where doctors have declared them dead. Out of the seven people, there are two adults and five children...," Superintendent of Police Abhishek Anand said. Earlier last month, a fisherman died after the fishing vessel he was travelling in capsized in Muthalapozhi in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, identified as Abraham hailed from Attingal municipality and his boat capsized while returning to shore in the Muthalapozhi harbour area. The boat was ferrying a total of four people at the time of the incident. Three of them were rescued by local authorities. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden has condemned former President Donald Trump's assertion that his trial, in which he was convicted on all 34 counts, was rigged. Biden emphasised the reaffirmation of the American principle that "no one is above the law" and highlighted the extensive legal process Trump underwent, including being heard by a jury of twelve citizens. "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. It was heard by a jury of twelve citizens- twelve Americans twelve people like you, millions of Americans who served on juries. This jury is chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It was a process that Donald Trump's attorney was part of. The jury heard five weeks of evidence," said Biden in an address from the White House. Biden also characterised Trump's claims as "reckless," "dangerous," and "irresponsible," warning against undermining the integrity of the judicial system simply because one disagrees with the verdict. "After careful deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict. They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts...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 US President said. Biden's remarks come a day after Trump called the hush money trial "very unfair" in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. 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. 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. (ANI)
Congressional leaders extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session on Capitol Hill, emphasising "America's solidarity with Israel" in the wake of the October 7 terror attack perpetrated by Hamas, The New York Post reported. In a joint letter penned by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La), Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), Netanyahu was invited to speak, echoing previous sentiments of support for Israel expressed during President Isaac Herzog's visit to Washington last year. "Last year, Congress was proud to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Washington to celebrate 75 years of friendship and partnership between our two democracies," the so-called "Gang of Four" wrote to Netanyahu. "Less than three months later, the horrific attacks of October 7th shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence. 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 invitation comes amid lingering tensions between the Biden administration and Israel over differing approaches to handling the conflict with Hamas, as reported by The New York Post. Hamas' October 7th attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and 33 Americans. Netanyahu responded by declaring war on the terror group, vowing to eliminate it from the Gaza Strip. However, the conflict has resulted in significant casualties in Gaza, with the death toll reaching nearly 35,000, according to figures provided by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health. These numbers, however, do not distinguish between terrorists and civilians and may be inflated. President Biden and his administration have previously criticized Netanyahu's leadership during the conflict and withheld some munitions shipments to the IDF, sparking bipartisan backlash. Biden recently called for Israel to withdraw entirely from the conflict, asserting that Hamas was no longer capable of carrying out another attack similar to October 7th. Meanwhile, the IDF has intensified its military campaign in southern Gaza, targeting Hamas strongholds, including Rafah. The Biden administration's stance on the conflict has shifted, with Biden now advocating for a ceasefire. This change comes amidst concerns about voter sentiment among Muslim and Arab American communities in key battleground states like Michigan. Schumer's previous call for new elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu during the war was met with criticism from both US lawmakers and Israeli officials, who viewed it as interference in Israel's democratic processes. However, Schumer, alongside other congressional leaders, reiterated their support for Israel and extended the invitation to Netanyahu to share Israel's vision for defending democracy, combating terror, and achieving lasting peace in the region. "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," they wrote. "To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America's solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government's vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region." Netanyahu, aged 74, has spoken before Congress on three occasions, with his most recent address occurring in 2015 following the Obama administration signing the Iran nuclear agreement. Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister, is the sole foreign leader besides Netanyahu to have been granted this honour, delivering speeches to US lawmakers during joint meetings in 1941, 1943, and 1952, The New York Post reported. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 1 (ANI/TPS): A booby-trapped tunnel where three soldiers were killed was underneath a Rafah medical clinic, the Israel Defence Forces said on Thursday. The IDF added that the complex also housed a UNRWA school where tunnel shafts and weapons were found. The IDF said troops raided the UN Relief and Works Agency school after Hamas terrorists inside the building fired anti-tank rockets. The complex where the school is located also houses a health clinic and mosque. The booby-trapped tunnel was discovered under the clinic and blew up, killing three soldiers and injuring four more. Inside the UNRWA school, soldiers discovered tunnel shafts, uniforms and weapons, including large numbers of grenades. The UNRWA is under fire amid revelations that its staffers participated in Hamas's October 7 attacks. Israeli officials demand that the agency be stripped of its authority in Gaza and defunded. On Wednesday, the Knesset approved the first reading of legislation authorizing the Foreign Ministry to designate UNRWA as a terror organization and strip it of its diplomatic immunity, tax-exempt status, and other legal benefits. Also on Wednesday, the Israel Lands Authority ordered UNRWA to vacate its Jerusalem offices over violations of its lease. Israel's largest bank froze UNRWA's account in February over suspicious financial transfers that the agency failed to adequately explain. Israeli forces discovered a Hamas complex located directly under the UNRWA's Gaza City headquarters. Computer servers belonging to Hamas were directly connected to UNRWA's electricity system. Soldiers have found weapons stored in UNRWA facilities on multiple occasions. Palestinian refugees are the only refugee population with its own dedicated UN agency. The rest of the world's refugees fall under the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Israeli officials have called for UNRWA to be closed and for Palestinian refugees to be brought under the responsibility of the UNHCR. At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 125 remaining hostages, 39 are believed dead. (ANI/TPS)
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 1 (ANI/TPS): The Israel Defence Forces exposed a Hamas document, revealing on social media how the terror group planned to steal millions of shekels from Gaza banks. "Revealing an internal document issued by Hamas, which shows a plan by members of the movement to plunder the safes of a bank in Gaza, followed by the theft of hundreds of millions of shekels from the branches of the Bank of Palestine in the Gaza Strip by Hamas a month later," Lt Col Avichay Adraee, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. The Bank of Palestine is the largest Palestinian bank with branches throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The document was drafted by a Hamas figure identified as "Abu Jihad" and dated March 10. According to the document, "members of the movement robbed branches of the Bank of Palestine in Gaza and stole more than 400 million shekels," Adraee said. Adraee explained that in early February before the document was drafted, "thugs belonging to Hamas threatened Bank of Palestine employees in the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City about withdrawing cash from the bank's safes." Adraee added that on April 16, one month after the document, "Hamas members stole hundreds of millions of shekels from the branch." Two days later, the same people stole tens of millions of shekels from another branch in Gaza City, and then on April 19, hundreds of millions of shekels were stolen from the Bank of Palestine's main Gaza City branch. "While the residents of Gaza are experiencing an economic and social crisis, Hamas is stealing without any hesitation from civilians in the Gaza Strip for the sake of its survival and the survival of its members, and it finances its terrorist activities on the backs and out of the pockets of the people of the Gaza Strip," Adraee said. The war has put a squeeze on Hamas's depleted finances. Israel seized Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt on May 7, and on Wednesday, the IDF said it had full operational control over the entire 14 km border, depriving Hamas of 20 smuggling tunnels discovered crossing into the Egyptian Sinai. Before it lost control of the border, Hamas also hijacked humanitarian aid trucks delivering food, water, medicine, fuel and other supplies from Egypt. As well, Israeli forces have confiscated more than USD 12 million in shekels, dollars, and other currencies from Hamas strongholds, operatives and affiliated money changers. The money was transferred to the Ministry of Defense's finance division for counting, then delivered to the Bank of Israel and deposited into state coffers. While Palestinian residents of Gaza are displaced by war, Hamas leaders have been enriching themselves and their families for years. As The Press Service of Israel reported in September, Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Mashaal and Musa Abu Marzouk have personal fortunes worth a combined USD 11 billion, while the organization's leadership controls an investment portfolio worth USD 1 billion. Before the war, Hamas imposed taxes of 20 per cent on goods smuggled from Egypt, and while earning an estimated USD 450 million annually from Gaza's black market trade. Iran is also believed to have provided Hamas leaders with a USD 100 million expense account. Meanwhile, The Press Service of Israel reported on Wednesday that a Hezbollah crowdfunding campaign has sparked controversy in Lebanon, with critics arguing that the terror group is coercing citizens to fund a jihad campaign that does not serve the country's interests. At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 125 remaining hostages, 39 are believed dead. (ANI/TPS)
Taiwan's Coast Guard on Wednesday expelled two Chinese military vessels that entered waters off Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported, citing Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA). On Saturday, the CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch said that coast guards began monitoring two suspicious vessels at 9:13 am (local time) on Wednesday, which took off from the direction of southeastern China's Xiamen city, which is near Taiwan's three outlying island groups. The Chinese vessels intruded into Taiwan's restricted waters south of Kinmen's Zhaishan area. The Coast Guard said it monitored the situation and sent patrol boat PP-10039 to collect evidence and found that the Chinese ships were People's Liberation Army (PLA) supply ships with hull numbers "KD161" and "KD162," made with the structural integrity of landing crafts, Central News Agency reported. After the discovery, the Taiwanese patrol boat issued warnings and drove the vessels away. This ordeal lasted for approximately 40 minutes, according to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA). On Saturday, the Taiwan Army's Kinmen Defence Command confirmed the transgression. The command said that it discovered the sortie on Wednesday and reported the ships to the Coast Guard's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch, according to CNA report. It further said that it had notified its response troops to enhance their awareness after the incident. The Taiwanese army noted that the area under its defence has the capability to monitor the situation around its premises to give a proper situational response. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry for National Defence (MND) on Saturday detected nine Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels and four Chinese Coast Guard vessels around Taiwan, Taiwan News reported. According to the MND, among the nine People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwestern portion of the nation's air defence identification zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity, as per Taiwan News. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "9 #PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 8 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the #Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's SW ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." The increased activity in the Taiwan Strait region comes amid growing geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China, as reported by Taiwan News. Taiwan has long been a point of contention for Beijing, which considers the island a renegade province and has repeatedly expressed intentions to reunify it with the mainland, even if by force. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has issued daily reports on Chinese military activities for the past few years, including identifying those Chinese aircraft, drones, and balloons that are found to have crossed the Taiwan Strait median line to the Taiwan side. Since the start of May, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 463 times and naval/coast guard vessels 272 times. (ANI)
Nearly 270,000 people are eligible to vote and they have to bring personal identification, like a passport or driving license, to receive their ballot, according to Iceland Review report.

According to the latest poll, Former Iceland Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir are neck and neck. A Gallup poll gave Jakobsdottir 26 per cent of the vote and Tomasdottir 23.9 per cent, Iceland Review reported citing the RUV report.

The election in Iceland takes place in one round and the new President could be elected with only around a quarter of the total vote. The poll gave Halla Hrund Logadottir 19 per cent votes and Baldur Thorhallsson stood fourth with just under 15 per cent votes. According to the poll, Jon Gnarr fifth received 8 per cent. As many as 12 candidates are in the fray for polls.

On January 1, Iceland's Outgoing President Gudni Johannesson announced that he would not seek reelection after serving two terms in office. Johannesson will serve as Iceland's President until August 1, when the newly-elected President takes office.

Notably, the President in Iceland has limited political powers, Iceland Review report. However, he performs all ceremonial duties and is considered to have a significant influence on Icelandic society. (ANI)
The Ministry for National Defence (MND) of Taiwan on Saturday detected nine Chinese military aircraft, and four Chinese Coast Guard vessels around Taiwan, Taiwan News reported. According to the MND, among the nine People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwestern portion of the nation's air defence identification zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity, as per Taiwan News. The increased activity in the Taiwan Strait region comes amid growing geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China, as reported by Taiwan News. Taiwan has long been a point of contention for Beijing, which considers the island a renegade province and has repeatedly expressed intentions to reunify it with the mainland, even if by force. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has issued daily reports on Chinese military activities for the past few years, including identifying those Chinese aircraft, drones, and balloons that are found to have crossed the Taiwan Strait median line to the Taiwan side. Since the start of May, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 463 times and naval/coast guard vessels 272 times. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan. According to Taiwan News, Gray 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." 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. Lai Ching Te is openly despised by Beijing for promoting the island's sovereignty and distinct character."We urge relevant members of the US Congress to stop playing the "Taiwan card," stop interfering in China's internal affairs, stop supporting and conniving at "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and stop undermining China-US relations and cross-Strait peace and stability," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. (ANI)
Authors, political activists and journalists discussed "Pakistan's Deteriorating Relations with Neighbours" at an event organised by American Friends of Gilgit and Muzaffarabad (AFGM) at the Washington, DC Press Club. In a statement, AFGM said the meeting drew attention to the multifaceted challenges posed by China's expanding influence in the region, particularly its impact on ethnic and religious minorities across Pakistan and neighbouring territories. Key speakers at the event included Bradley Thayer, who provided insight into the historical rise of communism in China and its repercussions on ethnic and religious minorities within the country. Saleh Hudayar, former Prime Minister of East Turkestan in Exile, highlighted China's aggressive policies in Xinjiang and its repercussions on Uyghur communities, as well as the complicity of Pakistan in these actions. Ngawang Tashi emphasized the destabilizing effects of China's occupation of Tibet on neighbouring regions like Ladakh and India. Hizbullah Kakar, president of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (US), shed light on the collaboration between the Pakistani army and China in exploiting natural resources, leading to displacement and marginalization of Pashtun communities. The event also saw passionate interventions from Ishaq Sharif and Senge Sering, who respectively addressed the crackdowns in Muzaffarabad and the strategic importance of Gilgit, underscoring Pakistan's controversial control over these regions and the plight of their inhabitants. Priya Saha from Bangladesh brought attention to Pakistan's role in the Bangladeshi genocide and its interference in Bangladeshi affairs, echoing concerns over China's increasing economic influence in Bangladesh. Jan Jekielek supported the call for raising awareness about the cultural impact of Chinese aggression, stressing the need to educate local congress members on these issues. Moderated by Se Hoon Kim, an American journalist working for Global Strat View, the event concluded with a call for continued advocacy and awareness-raising efforts. Senge Sering, expressing gratitude to all participants, invited them to reconvene for dinner and announced plans for a follow-up event at the same venue, focusing on the impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on local communities. Senge Sering's initiation of the membership process for the National Press Club signals a commitment to further amplify the voices of marginalized communities in the region. As tensions continue to escalate, events like these serve as crucial platforms for dialogue and advocacy on pressing regional issues. (ANI)
Vice-chancellors of public sector universities in Pakistan's Balochistan have raised concern over the Higher Education Commission's (HEC) decision to slash funds for the universities, stressing that the move will put the future of students in the province at stake, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. The Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences vice chancellor, Khalid Hafeez, said that no funds will be available to meet expenditures of universities are the current fiscal year. He made the remarks while presiding over a meeting attended by the vice chancellor of all public sector universities in Balochistan to review the financial situation of the institution. The vice-chancellors of all public sector universities of Balochistan stated that the dream of higher education would remain unfulfilled and the future of education appeared bleak considering the HEC's decision, according to Dawn report. Hafeez said, "The recent HEC decision to cut funding for universities in the province has created a major problem for these institutions." The meeting was also attended by Provincial Secretary of Higher Education and Colleges Hafiz Tahir and Junior Political Secretary to the Governor Attaur Rehman, Dawn reported. Earlier in May, the students, teachers, and employees of the Balochistan University of Quetta held protests over the non-payment of salaries and administrative irregularities, reported The Balochistan Post. The protests were held at the entry gate of the university premises and led by the Joint Action Committee of Balochistan University reportedly continued for over 70 days. The protesting employees have raised complaints that the financial crisis of the university has led to the non-payment of their salaries and pensions, continuing for a very long time. In addition, the protestors also demanded that the university administration provide them with a permanent resolution to the problem and compensate the protestors for what they have lost. The protestors also demanded that the university be allocated at least PKR 10 billion in the upcoming annual budget and an additional PKR five billion to pay the endowment funds Earlier in April, the employees of the same university carried out a march on different roads of Pakistan's Quetta and staged a sit-in protest over the non-payment of their salary for the past four months. (ANI)
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari lambasted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, asserting that even the Taliban is better than him, as reported by ARY News. During a press briefing, Bokhari accused PTI that it's 'simple formula' of revolution was to gain support and NRO from 'powerful quarters'. She questioned the significance given to the Hamoodur Rahman Commission (HRC) report, suggesting that a commission should be formed to investigate Imran Khan's alleged "anti-Pakistan" agenda. "Imran Khan's agenda is to break Pakistan into parts," Bokhari claimed, according to ARY News. She went on to compare PTI founder to the Taliban, arguing that while the Taliban own up to their beliefs and actions, Imran Khan fails to do so. These remarks followed a letter from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Cell, requesting access to Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated, to probe a "controversial" post from his official social media account. The letter stated that the PTI founder's post on May 26 disseminated anti-state propaganda, targeting institutions, particularly the Pakistan Army. According to the FIA Cybercrime Cell, the video posted aimed to distort facts, incite rebellion among officers and soldiers, and sow discord within various state institutions, violating the PICA Act 2016. They seek access to Imran Khan for further investigation. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has called upon PTI leaders Barrister Gohar and Omar Ayub, as well as party spokesperson Raoof Hasan, regarding the alleged "misuse" of imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan's X account for disseminating provocative content against state institutions, it was revealed on Saturday, Dawn reported. On May 26, a video shared from Imran's official account featured a quote attributed to him: "Every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman." The video asserted that the former military dictator bore responsibility for the country's division, citing purported atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the civil conflict. Additionally, the video juxtaposed images of the current civilian and military leadership, alleging that they had unlawfully seized the party's electoral mandate. The post sparked considerable backlash and controversy, particularly from government circles. An investigation into the post has been initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Wing. Initially distancing itself from the post, the PTI later "claimed" ownership of it on Friday and reiterated the call for people to read the Hamoodur Rehman Commission report, while also emphasising the need for the military to operate within its constitutional bounds, Dawn reported. (ANI)
The first human crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft carrying Indian-orgin Sunita Williams was cancelled minutes before it could take off from the Kennedy Space Centre. According to US space agency NASA, the delay which happened at 3 minutes and 50 seconds before liftoff was called by an automated computer system, which takes over the flight sequence in the final minutes of the countdown. "Teams have scrubbed today's launch attempt for BoeingSpace's Starliner Crew Flight Test due to an automatic hold of the ground launch sequencer," NASA said in its broadcast on Saturday. The ground launch sequencer is the computer that tells the rocket to launch. The agency has scheduled a backup launch attempt for Sunday. If the United Launch Alliance (ULA), which operates the Atlas V rocket, decides the issue that plagued Saturday's attempt has been resolved, the launch would take place at 12:03 pm ET ( 9.33 pm Indian Standard Time). NASA has also additional launch opportunities scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Addressing a press conference in Cape Canaveral, Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for the Commercial Crew Program at Boeing said, "When Starliner shifted from ground power to internal power, there was a slight increase in voltage that turned off the cabin fans, which keep the astronauts cool as they sit in their spacesuits in the capsule. They were able to get them turned on again quickly," Nappi said as per CNN. The Boeing official said that "Tomorrow or whenever we try our next our next launch attempt, we'll have that figured out," adding "This is the business that we're in. Everything's got to work perfectly." Although Starliner didn't launch as planned, "we got really close today," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, addressing the press conference. Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, which built the Atlas 5 rocket Starliner sits atop said,"If the issue can be fixed tonight, Starliner could launch Sunday at 12:03 p.m. ET. If not, the next launch attempts are June 5 and June 6." The innagural test flight of the Starliner will send NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Willams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore to the International Space Station, where they will be stationed for about a week to test out how the spacecraft operates with humans on board. The ISS presently has seven astronauts and cosmonauts already on board.. The mission, dubbed the Crew Flight Test, will be a stepping stone to get NASA clearance deeming Boeing's spacecraft ready for regular operations. The launch is part of NASA's "commercial crew programme", which selected Boeing and SpaceX to develop spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station after NASA retired its Space Shuttle Program in the year 2011. Boeing received over USD 4 billion in US federal funds to develop the Starliner, while SpaceX received about USD 2.6 billion. While the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX company's Crew Dragon has performed 12 crewed missions to the ISS since its first launch on May 30, 2020, Boeing's Starliner has been faced with multiple setbacks. Its first flight mission in December 2019, the Starliner with no crew on board was launched into space but ran into problems. Similarly its second attempt in 2021 also without crew also failed before completing a successful uncrewed test flight in May 2022. Starliner was only about two hours from its first crewed launch attempt on May 6 when engineers identified an issue with a valve on the second stage, or upper portion, of the Atlas V rocket. The entire stack, including the rocket and spacecraft, was rolled back from the launchpad for testing and repairs, CNN reported. Then, mission teams reported a small helium leak within the spacecraft service module. The space agency determined the leak did not pose a risk to the flight. CNN explained that While evaluating the helium issue over the past two weeks, engineers also spotted a "design vulnerability" in the propulsion system -essentially identifying a remote scenario in which certain thrusters might fail as the vehicle leaves Earth's orbit, without a backup method of getting home safely. Williams who has traveled to space twice before, once on a NASA space shuttle in 2006 and then on a Russian Soyuz capsule in 2012 in an earlier . She's logged 322 total days in space. Meanwhile, NASA said that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore exited their spacecraft and were transported back to their quarters at the Kennedy Space Centre's Neil A Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, remaining in quarantine as they await Starliner's next launch attempt. (ANI)
Interactive map: Enter address to see hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed nearby

Heavy waves come ashore near the Oak Island Beach Pier Friday Sept. 30, 2022 in Oak Island, N.C. as the effects of Hurricane Ian move into Southeastern North Carolina.

As we mark the official start of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and look forward with trepidation on what may happen, let's stop a moment and look back.

North Carolina surely is no stranger to hurricanes. From 1880 to 2020, more than 159 named storms have impacted the Tar Heel State.

Colorado State University issued a report predicting North Carolina has an 85% chance of being affected by a named storm this year. Researchers looked at NOAA's historical hurricane tracks to predict what the 2024 hurricane season could bring.

But closer to home  literally  how do you know how close storms have come in the past to exactly where you live? Our interactive map answers that question for you.

Interactive map: Has a named storm hit or passed near your home?

Enter a city or your address to find out how many hurricanes and tropical storms have passed nearby since 1851.

The interactive tool shows the storm paths based on location points recorded every six hours. The lines connecting the points represent the general path of the storm, not its exact route.

The search radius varies depending on the storm's category:

Category 5: 45 miles

Category 4: 40 miles

Category 3: 35 miles

Category 2: 30 miles

Category 1: 25 miles

Tropical Storm: 20 miles

Tropical Depression and Extratropical Cyclone: 10 miles

Will a hurricane or tropical cyclone hit North Carolina in 2024? What about landfall from a major hurricane?

Here are the chances of tropical cyclone impact probabilities, which CSU defined as one or more storms within 50 miles of each location).

2024 forecast probability of named storm impact, top 5:

Florida: 96%

North Carolina: 85%

Louisiana: 84%

Georgia: 82%

Texas: 80%

2024 forecast probability of hurricane impact, top 5:

Florida: 75%

North Carolina: 56%

Louisiana: 56%

Texas: 54%

Georgia: 46%

2024 forecast probability of major hurricane impact, top 5:

A major hurricane is a Category 3 or higher, the maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. North Carolina didn't make the top 5.

Storms from 1880 to 2020

North Carolina ranked number 2 with 159 named storms.

Sixty-eight was the number of hurricanes that hit North Carolina, ranking it 2 out of 5.

North Carolina tied with Alabama and South Carolina with 12 as the number of major hurricanes that hit.

CSU predicts North Carolina counties most likely to feel impact of tropical storms, hurricanes in 2024

2024 forecast probability of named storm impact in your area:

New Hanover: 58%

Brunswick: 59%

Pender: 60%

The bottom line is to expect a very, very busy season.

Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida, contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Enter address to see hurricanes that have passed nearby in NC
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
Mexicos next president will be a woman. But violence has overshadowed the glass ceiling being shattered.

Claudia Sheinbaum was campaigning for president in southern Mexico when hooded men approached her car, filming the interaction as they implored her to keep their town from being taken over by gangs.

One man said he felt helpless, and that the government had never done anything for these lands. They lived in Chiapas, Mexicos poorest state and an increasingly important territory for criminal organizations moving illegal drugs, firearms and migrants from neighboring Guatemala. Sheinbaum thanked the men, shaking one of their hands before her car pulled away.

The former Mexico City mayor is the frontrunner in a landmark election this weekend where Mexico is all but certain to emerge with its first female president  a remarkable achievement in a country known for its patriarchal culture and high rates of gender-based violence, where around 10 women are murdered every day.

Sheinbaum is riding on a wave of popularity with the support of her long-time ally, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and their leftist Morena party. Trailing her in the polls is former senator Xochitl Galvez, from the conservative PAN party, who is representing a coalition of opposition parties.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gestures during an event in Mexico City. March 18, 2024. - Raquel Cunha/Reuters

But what should have been celebrated as a ground-breaking election has become overshadowed by the bloodiest election campaign in Mexicos history, and ongoing high levels of violence across the country.

At least 34 political candidates or applicants have been murdered since June 2023 as gangs try and influence those coming into power, according to a report by research group Laboratorio Electoral, which also found hundreds of attacks on candidates and people related to the current electoral process.

And while the murder rate has fallen in Mexico between 2019 and 2022, in absolute numbers the country is still reeling from historically high levels of homicides of around 30,000 people murdered each year, say experts.

The central challenge for the next president will be convincing voters that she can end the near-certain impunity in Mexico; around 95% of all crimes nationwide went unsolved in the country in 2022, according to think tank Mexico Evalua.

Mexico is a country where more than nine out of 10 crimes committed against the population go unpunished, Stephanie Brewer, Mexico Director at the Washington Office for Latin America (WOLA), told CNN. Its a country with low levels of reporting of crimes due largely to distrust in authorities, lack of faith in investigations, which can be very well founded.

Paradoxical

Mexico is a world leader when it comes to gender equality in elected office, which was cemented in 2019 constitution reform. It outflanks several countries in terms of womens parliamentary representation.

Yet Mexico remains a dangerous place to be a woman, with sky-high femicide rates for the region. The most recent data from Mexicos National Institute of Statistics and Geography found that at least 11,852 femicides were recorded in the first three years of Lopez Obradors presidency  higher than the 7,439 reported during the same period of Enrique Pena Nietos presidency (2012-2018).

With security topping voter concerns, both Sheinbaum and Galvez have largely remained coy about their proposals. Neither has repudiated a nearly two-decades-long approach of relying on the armed forces to tackle organized crime  which has coincided with historically high levels of homicides.

The photos of five missing and apparently murdered young men are seen on a makeshift memorial altar at the Mirador San Miguel, the place where they were kidnapped on August 11, in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco State, Mexico, on August 30, 2023. - Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

Sheinbaum, a former climate scientist, has pledged to continue with her predecessors policies. She has pointed to her record as Mexico City mayor, with her team indicating having improved conditions for police and better intelligence gathering about criminal networks.

Galvez has been critical of Lopez Obradors non-confrontational approach to cartels. She has suggested pulling forces back from domestic security roles, increasing the number of police in violent areas, and building a new high security prison.

In 2018, millions of Mexicans voted for change with hope, but the truth is that it did not happen, Galvez said during a presidential debate in April, taking aim at the incumbents approach to tackling organized crime.

Claudia Sheinbaum is offering to continue the hugs for criminals  I am offering to build a Mexico where we can end violence, but above all, to bet on health and education.

Both have spoken of the need to strengthen police and civilian institutions, and better use intelligence and coordination. But the extent to which either one of them really means to emphasize or follow through on that is very unclear, Brewer said.

Experts have been underwhelmed by the lack of new approaches to the security situation, saying there is a connection between militarization and more bloodshed in the country since its inception in 2006, when former President Felipe Calderon declared an all-out-war against criminal groups.

Mexico cannot deploy its way out of problems like impunity or corruption in institutions or lack of effective criminal investigation, Brewer told CNN. Militarization simply is not a tool that could ever do that.

Hugs, not bullets

Incumbent Lopez Obrador won the presidency in 2018 on a platform of demilitarizing the countrys war against drug cartels, vowing to restore peace with hugs, not bullets.

Popular social welfare programs would address the root causes of economic insecurity, instead of violent confrontations with criminal groups, he promised. It was a strategy that saw the son of Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman released on the orders of Lopez Obrador in 2019 to avoid bloodshed. He was later re-arrested and extradited to the US.

However, he never really de-militarized public security. Lopez Obrador instead merged several law-enforcement agencies, such as the federal police, to create the National Guard that was, in principle, to be under civilian command. But he soon after placed the body under the Secretary of Defense, sparking criticism across the political spectrum, which said it was furthering militarization in Mexico.

The Supreme Court upheld an opposition complaint and ordered Lopez Obrador to return the National Guard to civilian jurisdiction. He said he would follow suit, but the National Guard still reports to the Secretary of Defense.

Police officers patrol following the killing of Armando Perez Luna, National Action Party (PAN) mayoral candidate, who was gunned down by unknown assailants, in Maravatio, Michoacan state. February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Macias - Ivan Macias/Reuters

This creation was part of what Brewer described as a populistand highly visible measure that intended to give the perception that something is being done about crime. The National Guard has gone on to take over several civilian functions including building infrastructure projects and airport management  a situation ripe for corruption, warn Mexico watchers.

Meanwhile, criminal groups have only expanded their reach.

A May report by the Crisis Group documented limited crime-fighting where there were large military deployments in areas most affected by warring cartels. Instead, the report found that a set of largely unspoken rules has been established, encouraging illegal groups to reduce and conceal the violence they perpetrate, the report wrote.

In exchange, authorities have turned a blind eye to a degree of illegality, enabling these organisations to diversify their trafficking operations (including into newer illicit drugs such as fentanyl), expand their extortion rackets, branch out into legal business, and assume greater control of communities and local governments.

This may have distorted official statistics around homicides, Falko Ernst, a senior analyst on Mexico at the Crisis Group who led the report, told CNN. But what we have seen in a number of high conflict states is that while official murders have dropped, disappearances have gone up, even the official ones, so that puts another question mark behind the drop in homicides, he said.

The report found there was also political pressure to reduce the recorded rate of lethal violence has led to murders being logged under other causes of death or going unrecorded.

CNN has reached out to the Mexican Secretary of Defence for comment.

There is a through line between militarization and gender-based violence in Mexico, say experts.

Feminist groups in the country began documenting a dramatic increase in women being killed by firearms after 2007 as well as women being targeted in the public sphere, said Gema Kloppe-Santamaria, assistant professor of Latin American History at George Washington University.

Female homicides often fail to get prosecuted, with 88.6% impunity rate for femicide cases, according to Mexico Evalua.

Both candidates have recognized the crisis of femicide, but Sheinbaum, who holds a sizeable polling lead against Galvaz, has a tense relationship with some feminists who encountered lots of repression by Mexico City police under the purview of Sheinbaum, said Kloppe-Santamaria.

Sheinbaum has touted her efforts for women and girls, saying there was zero impunity to femicides in Mexico City during her time as leader, and that there was a large reduction in femicides under her watch. Though the claims have not borne out after some scrutiny, say critics.

Amid ongoing gender-based violence, including femicides and disappearances, Kloppe-Santamaria said, getting a female president at this moment feels very paradoxical.

CNN en Espanols Ines Amarelo, Jose Manuel Alvarez and Ivonne Valdes contributed to this report.

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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?
Lynchburg City Council approved siting agreements this week with a Charlottesville-based energy company that will bring the first two major battery energy storage system projects to the city.

Both battery energy storage system projects  the James Energy Center near the Reusens hydroelectric facility and the Quarry Energy Center at 2904 Carroll Ave.  are being developed by East Point Energy LLC. Each facility will connect to existing electric substations owned by AEP.

Battery energy storage is a growing segment of the electric power industry that allows electricity, in many cases produced by solar energy plants, to be stored so it can be deployed in the future. Also, the energy storage facilities planned for Lynchburg can provide grid resiliency and lower-priced power during heat waves and cold snaps when the electric grid is facing high demand and wholesale power prices are skyrocketing.

Lynchburg City Council approved the James Energy Center for a conditional use permit in April 2023, while the Quarry Energy Center is allowed to be constructed without a special permit. Under legislation enacted by the Virginia General Assembly in 2021, localities can enter into siting agreements  like the ones approved by the Lynchburg City Council on Tuesday  with energy storage developers that allow the two parties to negotiate favorable contractual terms and conditions.

While state law requires battery energy storage developers to offer municipalities a siting agreement, it does not require the developer and municipality to come to an agreement.

However, we, at East Point, believe that a constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with the community where projects are sited ensures a quality long-term partnership, Chris Meyer, project developer of the two Lynchburg battery energy storage facilities, told The News & Advance. This partnership with the City of Lynchburg is indicative of the relationships we intend to build with local communities for all of our projects.

As part of the siting agreement for the Quarry Energy Center, East Point Energy will provide Lynchburg with a $65,000 payment: $5,000 within 90 days of the signing of the agreement, $20,000 at the start of the projects construction and $40,000 within 90 days of the facility entering commercial operation.

For the James Energy Center, East Point Energy will provide the city a total payment of $55,000: $5,000 within 90 days of the signing of the agreement, $10,000 at the start of construction, $30,000 for fire department equipment, and $10,000 within 90 days of the facility entering commercial operation.

In addition to the cash payments to the city, East Coast Energy will fund specialized training for the Lynchburg Fire Department that may be needed to respond to an emergency at either facility.

East Point Energy is developing several battery energy storage systems in Virginia, including two large projects in Pittsylvania and Charlotte counties. The Dry Bridge project in Chesterfield County, the largest battery energy storage project so far in Virginia, entered service in late 2023. The project was developed by East Point Energy before it was sold to Dominion Energy.

The two Lynchburg projects are sized to support 20 megawatts, or power to roughly 10,000 homes for four hours. The projects may end up being smaller based on studies currently underway with AEP subsidiary Appalachian Power, Meyer said.

At Tuesdays city council meeting, Meyer answered questions about the safety of the two proposed energy storage projects. He told councilmembers that each battery will be placed inside separate enclosures that would contain any fire that may be caused by one of the giant batteries.

Prior to city council voting to approve the siting agreement for the Quarry Energy Center, a local property owner expressed opposition to the siting of the battery energy storage system. Frederick Burton Sr. told the city council, I see a lot of danger, I see a lot of risk.

Burton said the tenants on his properties on nearby Clover Place are frightened about what would happen if those batteries explode.

In response to Burtons comments, Meyer told city council the Quarry Energy Center will be located at least several hundred feet away from the majority of the houses in the area.

When the project begins operation, there will be failsafe measures in place that will ensure no significant risk to nearby residents property or their health.

Tom Martin, director of community development for the city, told council Lynchburg would not have received any one-time payment from East Point Energy if it had rejected the siting agreement. The fire department also would not have received any funding for specialized training to deal with potential fires at the facility.

Also, East Point Energy could have returned to the city council and asked the city to determine whether the facility, which would be located in an industrially zoned area, was in compliance with the citys comprehensive plan.

It would be very difficult for us to say, No its not in compliance with our comprehensive plan since its a use permitted by right, Martin said. So, the city would be in a better position to deal with any catastrophic events, if they were to happen, if the siting agreement were approved.

The siting agreements for both the Quarry Energy Center and James Energy Center were approved unanimously by city council.
TOKYO, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - Princess Kako, who visited Greece, has returned to Japan. The local media has been reporting on her as the 'Diana of the East' and her clothing choices have caused a significant stir, with items selling out rapidly.

Princess Kako, the second daughter of Prince Akishino, was seen smiling and shaking hands with hotel staff before departing for the airport. Her visit commemorated the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Greece. This marks her third official overseas visit.

Kako remarked, 'Through this visit, I have been able to experience Greece's diverse charms and feel the strong connection between our countries. I am very pleased.'

During her busy schedule, Princess Kako even learned a few phrases in Greek to use during her interactions.

Kako greeted, 'Yasas (Hello), it's nice to meet you.'

She visited landmarks like the Parthenon Temple and a monastery where Japan has contributed to restoration efforts. Additionally, she engaged with local students, showcasing her warm and friendly demeanor.

Kako expressed her gratitude, 'Thank you very much. I am delighted that you are studying Japanese and have a deep affection for Japan. Please stay well. Efcharisto para para para poli (Thank you very much).'

The local media showed great interest in Princess Kako, reporting on her role in international goodwill.

Local outlets referred to her as the 'Diana of the East' and highlighted her gentle personality, natural elegance, and beauty. They also noted the recent challenges faced by the Japanese royal family, which have brought attention to Kako.

Fashion Craze: Blue Knit and Light Blue Dress Sell Out

In Japan, Princess Kako's outfits, chosen to suit her visit, have also garnered significant attention.

While visiting the Parthenon Temple, Kako wore a blue knit and white pants, inspired by the Greek flag.

Mayuko Tomohiro from Pierrot Press commented, 'If she indeed wore our product, it is a great honor and quite surprising.'

The blue knit, believed to be from an online-only retailer, quickly became a hot item. Priced at 2,990 yen, it sold out after the news broke. The next sale date is yet to be determined. This isn't the first time Princess Kako's fashion choices have caused a stir; a jacket she wore during a visit to Peru last year also sold out quickly.

Kako expressed her appreciation, 'I am very happy to have been warmly welcomed by everyone.'

On the day she visited the old town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Kako wore a light blue lace dress with a black belt accent. This dress also sold out, with CELFORD chief press officer Ichimayuko saying, 'The dress is sold out, and the number of requests has surged. Inquiries are flooding in.'

During her six-day stay, Princess Kako maintained her cheerful demeanor, contributing to the goodwill between Japan and Greece. She returned to Japan on the afternoon of June 1st.

Source: ANN
SAPPORO, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - Former company employee Hironobu Suwa was charged with violating the Explosives Control Act after being found in possession of explosives at his apartment in October two years ago.

On June 30th, the Sapporo District Court ruled that Suwa had explosives at his home and noted that his actions posed a significant risk to people's safety and property. Suwa posted videos on social media showing gunpowder igniting.

The court sentenced Suwa to six years in prison.

Source: ANN
HIROSHIMA, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - A man suspected of threatening a woman with a knife and robbing her has been captured. Police officers, equipped with shields and helmets, rushed in and carefully conducted a body check on the man. The suspect complied without resistance.

Just before the police approached, the man was seen raising his arms.

The incident occurred on the 30th at a shopping facility in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. A female university student sitting in an eat-in area had a knife pointed at her and was robbed of 5,000 yen in cash.

Eyewitnesses reported, 'A friend of my daughter was eating there, and behind her, the suspect threatened a young woman with a knife, telling others to leave.'

When the police arrived, the man was holding a knife to the woman's back. Officers continued to persuade the man to move away from the woman and drop the knife. About 15 minutes after the incident began, the man discarded the knife, leading to his immediate arrest.

Koichi Tanizawa, a 38-year-old unemployed man, is suspected of stealing about 5,000 yen. He was found in possession of 72,000 yen in cash, and police are investigating his motives.

Source: ANN
OSAKA, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - Families of the victims of the Osaka Kyoiku University Ikeda Elementary School stabbing incident 23 years ago have compiled a guide for crime victims on how to handle media interviews.

This initiative was announced during a press conference held by the families of the eight children who were killed in the 2001 incident at Osaka Kyoiku University Ikeda Elementary School. The guide emphasizes that it is the victim's right to decide whether or not to accept media interviews, and it outlines the rights guaranteed to them.

The families, who faced significant media pressure, also recognized the benefits of communicating their message to a wider audience. They hope that more people will understand the pros and cons of engaging with the media.

Chie Sakai, who lost her 7-year-old daughter Maki, stated, '(Victims and their families) should know that with the right information, they can make decisions for themselves.'

The guide will be distributed to victims and their families through support organizations.

Source: YOMIURI
Shiga, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - A tea offering ceremony was held on May 31st at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, considered the birthplace of Japanese tea.

The Sakamoto area, where Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine is located, is known as the birthplace of Japanese tea due to a legend that Saicho, who founded the Tendai sect about 1,200 years ago, brought back tea seeds from Tang China and planted them here. The ceremony began at 10 a.m. at Nishihongu Shrine within Hiyoshi Taisha, with Sen Soshu from the Urasenke school preparing tea according to ancient traditions.

In the temple grounds filled with the fragrance of fresh greenery, about 200 members of the Urasenke school and tourists watched as Shinto priests offered thick and thin tea to the gods, praying for the prosperity of the tea ceremony. Hiyoshi Taisha will host another tea offering ceremony by the Omotesenke school in November.

Source: YOMIURI
TOKYO, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - In an effort to curb the yen's depreciation, the government and the Bank of Japan conducted a record 9.7 trillion yen intervention during the long holiday period. Does such an intervention effectively counteract yen depreciation?

The announcement on May 19th by Japan's Ministry of Finance detailed the intervention amount of 9.7 trillion yen, the largest on record. Although the ministry did not specify the exact dates or amounts of each intervention, it is believed that the intervention mainly occurred during the sharp yen depreciation around April 29 and May 2.

Tetsuo Yamazaki, a former Finance Ministry official with experience in foreign exchange intervention, mentioned, 'The scale of the intervention suggests it was a significant and firm action by the Bank of Japan. This intervention, totaling 9.7 trillion yen, even surpasses Japan's trade deficit of about 5.9 trillion yen last year. Thus, the excess yen in the market should help curb yen depreciation.'

Regarding the specific dates, Yamazaki speculated that the intervention on April 29 was likely an emergency response to a sudden speculative move in a thin market during the holidays. The intervention on May 2 was more likely planned, coinciding with the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy announcement, which was less hawkish than expected, prompting a natural yen buy-back.

Yamazaki emphasized, 'The timing of interventions is crucial to counter speculative positions effectively. The goal is not just to adjust the exchange rate but to send a strong warning to speculators. The intervention's success depends on creating a significant price action that forces speculators to reverse their positions.'

Reflecting on his own experience with interventions in 2003 and 2011, Yamazaki noted that large-scale interventions send a powerful message. He highlighted the importance of timing and the scale of interventions to influence market expectations and speculative behavior.

Source: BIZ
TOKYO, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - In the case involving the withering of street trees in front of former Big Motor stores, the Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office has decided not to indict twelve out of the thirteen individuals sent by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, including former Vice President Hiroichi Kaneshige.

In March of this year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department sent documents to the prosecutor's office on suspicion of property damage, alleging that thirteen people, including former Vice President Kaneshige, had cut down street trees in front of Big Motor stores in Tokyo using grass trimmers.

On May 31, the Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office decided not to indict twelve of these individuals, including Kaneshige.

The remaining individual was summarily indicted by the Tokyo Summary Court on the same day, May 31.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - Tokyo police have arrested a YouTuber for obstructing business operations by causing disturbances in a yakiniku restaurant while livestreaming.

The suspect, identified as Seiji Ohara, known by his YouTuber alias 'Shin-yaccho,' was arrested and sent to prosecutors on charges of forcible obstruction of business.

In August 2023, Ohara got into an altercation with a group of four acquaintances outside a yakiniku restaurant. Pursuing them into the restaurant, he allegedly caused disruptions while livestreaming, including stepping onto tables with his shoes on and spitting out alcohol onto the tables.

During the investigation, Ohara admitted to the allegations, stating, 'I got carried away because I drank too much.'

Source: BIZ
Saitama, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - In the landlocked prefecture of Saitama, a day-trip hot spring facility has begun offering sea urchins raised in its hot spring waters starting on June 1st.

At 'Natural Hot Spring Nagomi' in Kuki City, Saitama, around 2,000 sea urchins have been raised using hot spring water since February this year.

A nearby seafood processing company has provided damaged seaweed, which has been used to fatten up the sea urchins with little flesh.

A couple from Kuki City commented, 'Delicious. It's a bit creamy.' 'It's better than expected.'

The hot spring facility plans to expand sea urchin cultivation in the future and develop them into a local specialty.

Source: ANN
A Council Bluffs man who allegedly shot at law enforcement officers in Omaha and a female accomplice were taken into custody in Washington County, Nebraska, on Friday morning.

Jason Davenport, 42, and Dana Banks, 40, were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha to be treated for injuries not believed to be life-threatening after both engaged in a standoff with law enforcement inside a shop building near Kennard, Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent Col. John Bolduc said at a press conference in Lincoln.

Bolduc said the incident began around 8:15 p.m. Thursday when state troopers went to a residence in the 6200 of South 30th Street in Omaha to follow up on an active arrest warrant against Davenport after he allegedly fled from a traffic stop in Pottawattamie County last week.

Banks answered the door and confirmed Davenport was inside the residence. Bolduc said Davenport refused to exit the residence. More state troopers as well as Omaha police officers arrived to assist.

At 8:56 p.m., the official said, Davenport left the residence and fired at least two shots from a handgun toward troopers. Davenport then jumped a fence and ran toward an unoccupied Nebraska State Patrol cruiser.

Several law enforcement officers fired their weapons toward Davenport as he attempted to steal the cruiser. Davenport failed in that endeavor due to the cruisers security measures.

Photos taken from a cruiser dashcam show Davenport appearing to hold a handgun in his right hand and raising it. Bolduc said Davenport was attempting to access a rifle locked inside the cruiser but was once again thwarted by the cruisers security measures.

A gray Ford Fusion sedan then drove up to Davenport. Banks exited the Fusion and approached Davenport. Davenport then held Banks in front of him as he went into the drivers side of the Fusion.

Banks, Bolduc said, then voluntarily got into the passengers seat. Banks was initially thought to be a hostage but now is believed to have been a willing accomplice, Bolduc said.

Davenport then led law enforcement on a car chase through Upland Park about 1 1/2 miles east of the residence. Law enforcement lost visual with the Fusion.

Law enforcement searched for Davenport and Banks for about two hours before determining the two had left the area.

During the overnight hours, law enforcement received information that Davenport may be traveling in a different vehicle in Washington County. Around 3 a.m., a Washington County sheriffs deputy located a Kia Soul SUV believed to have been stolen.

Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said in an email that the deputy and another law enforcement officer attempted a high risk traffic stop on the vehicle, which fled. Davenport and Banks were inside the Soul, Bolduc said.

After a short vehicle chase, Davenport and Banks then fled on foot to a semitrailer truck inside the shop building near Kennard. Around 6:30 a.m., the Nebraska Department of Transportation said a 2-mile portion of Highway 30 was closed southwest of Kennard due to law enforcement activity.

Numerous law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, including a Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team, arrived at the scene for a standoff. Davenport refused to follow commands to drop the gun in his possession and exit the cab. Bolduc said Davenport pointed the weapon toward officers prompting them to fire.

Immediately after shots were fired, Bolduc said, Banks left the semi cab and surrendered. She was taken into custody and taken to the hospital to treat a gunshot wound.

Davenport still refused to exit the cab, Bolduc said. Eventually, the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office brought an armored vehicle outfitted to allow access to the semi cab.

Once access was achieved, a State Patrol K9 went into the semi cab. Shortly after 8 a.m., Davenport was taken into custody and then to the medical center.

Charges are pending against Davenport and Banks in Douglas and Washington counties, Bolduc said. The Omaha Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol will investigate two officer-involved shootings. No officers were struck by gunfire.

The 10 troopers who fired their weapons have been placed on leave in accordance with policy. The investigation remains ongoing and there is no danger to the public, Bolduc said.

Bolduc added Davenport has a criminal history and may have been recently released from incarceration.

Photos: Major police presence near South 30th and Jefferson Streets in Omaha
The Nigerian army said a separatist militia killed 11 people in the countrys southeastern Abia state.

Five soldiers and six civilians were killed in the attack by separatists in a series of raids to commemorate an anniversary of their short lived self-proclaimed Biafara republic, AP reported.

The separatist militia, called the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has waged guerrilla warfare for decades in a conflict that claimed at least 1 million lives.

However, this main separatist group in the restive southeast region denied responsibility and blamed criminals for the deadly attack.

The Nigerian army vowed to retaliate. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat, defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said in a statement.

Biafara declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the former Eastern Region of Nigeria, predominantly inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group.

The Nigerian army fought a three-year war to reclaim the territory in 1970. But the scars of civil war still exist and different armed groups still stage attacks on Nigerian forces there.
Newly elected Senegalese president Bassirou Faye started a regional visit with Mali and Burkina Faso in a bid to strengthen ties with neighbors that quit the regional bloc ECOWAS in protest over sanctions following their consecutive coups.

In Bamako, Faye held talks on the ECOWAS with Malis leader Col. Assimi Goita. Following the talks, he said I understand Malis position, which, although rigid, is not totally inflexible.

But we think that, at least from my point of view, we must continue to work with all the parties involved. We must not be discouraged; we must find happy ways to strengthen integration, he said.

Faye has promised that he would intercede with both Mali and Burkina Faso to negotiate their return to the regional grouping.

In Ouagadougou, Faye met junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore in the capital, Ouagadougou.

We also discussed the subject of ECOWAS; I understand today that the positions are somewhat fixed, but I perceive in each of these positions a window of opening that allows us to establish a thread of dialogue, Faye said, according to the Burkinabe presidencys communications department.

The spate of military coups that hit the Sahel were followed by anti-western positions and pro-Russian rhetoric backed by the activism of Russias Wagner.

Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, some of the most hit nations by the surge of terrorist activity have formed a military alliance.

Groups such as Islamic State (IS) continue to wage a violent campaign in the region, with annual deaths due to terrorist activity growing more than 2,000 percent between 2007 and 2022.

The Sahel now accounts for 43 percent of the worlds terrorism deathsmore than South Asia and the MENA region combined.
Moroccan pharmacies start as of this June 1 selling legal cannabis products, notably food supplements and cosmetics, the pharmacies union (CSPM) said.

In total, nine cannabis-based food supplements and ten cosmetic products will be available on pharmacy shelves after receiving the greenlight of regulators, Le360 cited CSPM sources.

Producers could also sell independently in their own shops once they met the criteria laid down by the national authority for the regulation of cannabis-related activities (ANRAC)

Morocco increased eightfold the area cultivated with legal cannabis to 2078 hectares as the number of permits for investors grew to 161.

ANRAC has greenlighted the cultivation of the local strain Beldia, which has a low thc and requires less water compared to imported seeds.

The cultivated area with Beldia was 732, that is 35% of the total areas dedicated to legal cannabis.

In April, Morocco reported its first legal export of the substance to Switzerland for medical purposes

Last year, Moroccos legal cannabis harvest stood at 294 tons, the first since the country legalized the cultivation of cannabis for medicine and industry use in 2021.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres honored two peacekeepers from the Royal Armed Forces during the annual ceremony paying tribute to the memory of civilian and uniformed personnel who died in UN peacekeeping operations in 2023.

The ceremony coincided with the commemoration on May 29 of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, an occasion to honor the remarkable men and women who have served in UN peacekeeping missions. This special day pays tribute to their dedication, professionalism, and bravery, while also remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace.

During the ceremony, the UN Chief awarded posthumously The Dag Hammarskjold Medal to Master Corporal Hafid Nachit and Private First Class Driss Hajjaj, both of whom died on October 2, 2023, while fulfilling their noble mission of maintaining peace within the contingent of the Royal Armed Forces deployed to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

On the occasion of this ceremony, the international community paid tribute to more than 4,300 men and women peacekeepers, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace since 1948, including 61 during 2023.

In his speech, Guterres stressed that the memory of the fallen peacekeepers is a reminder of the tragic human cost of conflict, and that as the world lives in difficult and dangerous times, the role of peacekeepers is more indispensable than ever. They show us what peace looks like: protecting the most vulnerable, preserving fragile ceasefires, defusing local conflicts, eliminating mines and explosive remnants of war, strengthening local institutions and democratic systems on which depend peace and development and implementing prevention, as we committed to in the New Agenda for Peace.

In a videoed message projected during this ceremony, the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Omar Hilale, presented his most sincere condolences and prayers to the bereaved families of the honorable peacekeepers and to the great family of United Nations peacekeeping.

Paying tribute to the invaluable work of peacekeepers who lost their lives defending the noble cause of peace and security, as well as the principles and values shared within the United Nations, Hilale said we aspire to continue our efforts every day to build a world of hope and peace for all.

With 1,714 peacekeepers deployed in UN missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Morocco is currently the 8th contributor of troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The 76th anniversary of the UN peacekeeping mission was commemorated under the theme: Fit for the Future, Building Better Together, which embodies the supreme commitment to progress and collaboration for a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

In his Address, the United Nations chief has hailed the efforts of the about 76,000 UN peacekeepers who take a great personal risk to maintain peace in strife-torn areas across the world, including many of them in conflict zones around the African continent.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo:Getty Images

In the end, it was Manhattans plodding and plainspoken district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who proved the pundits wrong and delivered what all the big-talking power brokers could not: the criminal conviction of ex-president Donald Trump for the corrupt and illegal business practices that helped him win the 2016 race for president.

Bragg does not swagger into a room the way so many New York lawyers and politicians do. He does not preen, pose, shout, or boast. Even when traveling with an armed security detail, he tends to arrive quietly, with the friendly, open, and approachable style of a Sunday-school teacher, which Bragg has been for years.

It is typical for New Yorks men of power to huddle in dark bars and boozy back rooms, swapping gossip, cutting deals, and sipping booze. Youre more likely to find Bragg in Harlems Abyssinian Baptist Church chatting about values, scripture, and how to make ones way in the world with honesty and integrity. That alone makes him a different kind of fish in the shark tank of New York politics, which is stocked with bullies, boasters, bluster, and bullshit.

This type of white-collar prosecution is core to what we do at the Manhattan district attorneys office, Bragg said after the conviction, repeating almost word for word what hed said last April after Trumps indictment and arrest. He was telling the truth: An investigation by NBC News showed that during Braggs first 15 months as DA, the office charged 166 felony counts for falsifying business records against 34 different people or corporations. As Bragg put it: 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.

Fear and favor have been floating around People v. Trump from the start. The defendant himself, a former president of the United States who instigated the January 6 riot at the Capitol, publicly predicted that death and destruction would be the result of his being tried on criminal charges by Bragg. That didnt happen, even when Trump posted the word PROTEST on social media and only a handful of people turned out. But Bragg did receive at least 89 death threats, including a note that said Alvin  Ill kill you, which came with a package containing a suspicious white powder. Another ominous note read: Remember we are everywhere and we have guns.

In addition to dodging pro-Trump death threats, Bragg had to fend off attacks from men like Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz, two seasoned prosecutors brought in as special assistant district attorneys by Braggs predecessor, Cy Vance. Dunne and Pomerantz quit the DAs office when, shortly after taking office, Bragg refused to bring sweeping racketeering charges against the Trump Organization.

I believe that your decision not to prosecute Donald Trump now, and on the existing record, is misguided and completely contrary to the public interest. I therefore cannot continue in my current position, Pomerantz wrote in a resignation letter. I have worked too hard as a lawyer, and for too long, now to become a passive participant in what I believe to be a grave failure of justice. Pomerantz went on to write a self-aggrandizing book attacking Bragg and disparaging the case against Trump as the legal equivalent of a plane crash due to pilot error.

In legal terms, many attorneys, including my friend Elie Honig, were bothered by Braggs use of New Yorks clunky two-step law that makes it a felony to file false business records. Trump has been convicted of using false records  disguising his hush-money payments as a legal fee paid to his fixer/lawyer Michael Cohen  with the intent of concealing or advancing additional crimes. The quirk under New York law is that those additional crimes do not need to be proved or even specified. We dont know whether the jurors believed Trump intended to violate campaign finance laws, tax laws, or some other statute.

The legal objections were accompanied by complaints from the pundit class that condemned Bragg for bringing a case that they called trivial or a distraction; the critics included Jonathan Chait, Peggy Noonan, Richard Hasen, and Van Jones. The main complaint seemed to be that falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments to a porn star was small potatoes compared to sweeping charges of election fraud in Georgia or the mishandling of top-secret documents in Florida.

The players in the drama arent people of import who stand for big things, theyre not fate-of-the-republic people, they dont have any size. Theyre tacky lowlifes doing tacky lowlife things, Noonan wrote in The Wall Street Journal. The case involves a questionable legal theory that depends on the testimony of Michael Cohen, who is half-mad in his own right.

Fair enough. But Ron Kuby, a well-known left-leaning attorney, pointed out in the Daily News that the tackiness of the witnesses and the complexity of the law do not constitute a valid defense. It is true that the application of these laws has never been used to criminalize attempted campaign-finance violations, but that is because most candidates for president keep better books, Kuby wrote earlier this year. It is no more novel than arresting a presidential candidate for DWI; it has never happened before but the law is unambiguous.

That sounds about right to me: If Trump or any other candidate was charged with driving while intoxicated, few people would say the matter should be ignored. Bragg, operating at the steady, methodical pace of the courts, stood up for the principle that using business records to hide additional crimes should not be ignored or dismissed for Trump or anybody else. And he convinced a jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the former president violated the law.

Bragg now gets the last laugh against his critics in the legal profession. Pomerantz got a book contract and made money; Bragg got a conviction and made history. And politically, he has made more of a dent in Trumps attempted comeback than any of the louder, flashier Democrats that frequent the cable-news shows, liberal think tanks, and the big-donor speaking circuit. It almost reads like the kind of lesson from scripture that gets taught in Sunday school: that sometimes, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Happy Pride everyone.

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Oh well.



Anyways, ONTD what did you have for breakfast?

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I might have some Avocado, hummus with olives with sprouts, tomato, and spinach on Dave's Killer Bread, green tea, and a protein shake. I'm watching Furiosa today at IMAX and hoping that a fulfilling meal will keep me from buying Popcorn and Nerds.

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I had three Milka cookies because its Saturday and Im working so, obviously I deserve it. Later I also had some Brazilian cheese bread which burned my tongue but it was great!

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What is a brazilian cheese bread?

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Nothing! I do not normally eat breakfast on the weekends but plan to have a BLT & watermelon for lunch.

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bagel and cream cheese :3

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Cheese and pickle sandwich and Marsala chai!

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Greek yogurt with homemade granola and a banana.

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I have a feeling that my partner will make breakfast sandwiches, but I cant wait for that due to meds. Itll probably end up being boring cereal and oat milk.

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I have to do some OT work this morning to cover for a co-worker who is taking emergency leave for 2 weeks.



... so I rewarded myself by DoorDashing an iced coffee and donut for breakfast.

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made trader joe's ube mochi waffles and iced latte

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I went out for Eggs Benedict and a caesar and now I have a good buzz 

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Vegan black cherry yogurt.

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cleaning out my kitchen because im moving soon

breakfast was a cherry matcha protein smoothie & just egg patty

lunch is jalapeno bean dip and corn chips lol

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Bagel with cream cheese

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I had maize porridge but it had this taste of cooking oil to it. I don't know why. We store the maize meal in the freezer, have done so for ages now to protect it from insects. The sack was nearly empty. All the other times we've made anything from the maize meal in this particular sack has always turned out fine. I'm not sure why the porridge had the oil taste to it...

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costco coffee cake muffin

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poached eggs on wheat toast

coffee

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my mom made cream'o'wheat

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Iced coffee and a bowl

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Welp I'm glad he won't be paroled! 



The two monsters who butchered a South African woman named Alison Botha were paroled last year. The thing is, she survived. It is EXTREMELY gruesome, what they did to her, so look her up with caution. They were in prison for 28 years and then released and Alison wasn't even notified. All over the world, men who kill women are given limitless second chances.

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the pig in korea who severely disabled a little girl after abusing her was released a few years ago too, and theyre dedicating a HUGE amount of police resources to protecting him. its disgusting.

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ugh i think i know what youre talking about...didnt he try moving back to where he was living and possibly near where the little girl was living.

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Sniper. A nice shot from a great distance would solve this issue. I'm just fantasising Mr FBI man...

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Colleen Stan is one of the worst cases Ive ever read about , and her rapist/kidnapper/torturer is already on parole within the hospital system and may be eligible for full release due to new laws.

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In Canada a person like him would never get parole. He likely wasn't able to apply for 25 years. It's hard for the loved ones though when someone like that guy gets a parole hearing and they have to show up to tell the board why he shouldn't get parole.

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omg - I've listened to countless true crime stories but that one disturbed me/straight up scared me the most of any - I will click off if I click on a video and realize that's the story they're covering.

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I looked her up and omg her strength and resilience

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Omg I remember reading about her attack. I dont believe in miracles but it was genuinely one that she survived. Absolutely fucking insane that anyone who committed such a barbaric act gets even a sniff of freedom. Given the state of violence against women (which is especially bad in South Africa) Im very sadly not surprised though

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I know I am days late, but I had to comment to say HOLY SHIT. How??? How did she survive that? Wow.

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Should have happened sooner.

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He is a disgusting, horrible, sick person. The sheer number of women he killed is staggering. Unfathomable.



I hope the victims families find some measure of comfort in the fact that he's dead.



His case is another reminder that this country routinely fails indigenous women and sex workers.

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i think i read that the victims' families sued the police and got like 100k per family member or something? just appalling bullshit because they straight up did not look for these women.



good fucking riddance, when i saw the news the other day that he was in critical condition in the hospital i literally cheered.



ETA: i just need to correct myself here. it was $50K but only for the children of the women who were killed. absolutely sickening stuff.



Edited at 2024-06-02 02:13 am (UTC)

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iirc not only were they not looking for these women, but they were told by multiple people for years that pickton was at the very least kidnapping and torturing women and they did fuck all.

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First for my 50th Birthday the universe gifted me with guilty on 34 charges. And NOW it belatedly gives me this. What a kind and thoughtful gift-giver. I hope it eventually gets to the rest of my list.

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Do Alito, Thomas and their wives next pls!!!

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I'll try my hardest!

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Polanski for 51st birthday please! Manifesting!!

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holy shit, i saw he was trending yesterday but i didn't click it because i assumed it was going to be something depressing like his parole time. i somehow missed it was because he died? i didn't even know he was attacked.



well, i hope every minute of his last days was painful.



Edited at 2024-06-01 04:14 pm (UTC)

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if it helps he was allegedly stabbed in the head with a broken broom and spent his last days in a medically induced coma lol so i imagine that was painful.

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They should get some years off their sentences for doing a good deed

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And absolutely nobody is worse off for it.

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I hope he was in agony.

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Thank you to whoever took out the trash



I'm only against the death penalty in practice because of the corruption and racism inherent in the criminal justice system. I think monsters like this should be put to death.





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I hope he suffered. And I hope he spends eternity living out what he did to those women.

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The guy who did it stabbed him twice in the neck than shoved a broke broom up his nose. Like wrecked his frontal lobe.



Someone wrote into Last Podcast and said medical staff was pissed they had to treat him.

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Ah well.





Anyway, Im thinking of getting myself a kindle scribe. I feel like itll be helpful when I go back to school in August

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There has been a lot of talk about moving away from natural gas stoves in favour of greener fuels over the last couple of years. Some cities, such as New York and San Francisco, have banned gas hook-ups to new buildings in the hope of phasing out gas-fuelled heating and cooking. Meanwhile, some recent studies have deemed natural gas stoves to be dangerous in confined spaces, such as small homes. However, some of the alternatives being promoted, such as green hydrogen, are far from ready for a commercial rollout. As governments and private companies invest heavily in the development of renewable fuels, just how close are we to a natural gas alternative for the home?

The obvious alternative to the natural gas being used in homes for heating and cooking is clean electricity, produced using renewable energy sources. However, governments and the private sector are exploring alternative solutions to ensure they develop a diverse energy mix. Solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects are expanding rapidly in several regions of the world, but much of the electricity produced from green sources is being used for power. Therefore, if the green hydrogen and other renewable fuel sectors could be expanded to provide for heating and cooking needs it could reduce the dependence on clean electricity producers.

One fuel that has received greater attention in recent years is green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources to power an electrolysis process, which separates the hydrogen and oxygen in water. The process emits no carbon dioxide, making it much cleaner than grey hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency encourages the production of green hydrogen as it is a versatile energy carrier, which can help to decarbonise a range of sectors, including long-haul transport, chemicals, and iron and steel, where it has proven difficult to reduce emissions, as well as being used for cooking and heating in residential and commercial buildings.

Another industry that is gaining traction is biofuels. Biogas is produced using feedstocks such as livestock waste, and sludge from water treatment plants, which makes it renewable. Biofuel is expected to be useful in rural areas that are difficult to connect to the grid. For example, bioethanol is already being used as clean cooking fuel in various parts of Asia and Africa. Ethanol cookstoves, using ethanol produced from crop residues or dedicated crops in marginalised land, have replaced the traditional use of biomass for cooking, which was harmful to both human health and the environment. The switch to ethanol cookstoves has helped improve indoor air quality and reduce emissions in several low-income, rural areas according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Although some governments are enthusiastic about the potential use of green hydrogen and other renewable fuels in homes for heating and cooking, some experts are sceptical. Many critics believe that green hydrogen is far too inefficient to be used for heating homes, as a large amount of energy is lost at each stage of the production process. While the average boiler has around an 85 percent efficiency rate, electrolysis has an efficiency rate of around 80 percent, which produces an overall efficiency of around 70 percent, with 30 percent of the energy being lost. In comparison, a heat pump powered on green electricity is far more efficient. One review of research that excludes studies funded by industry suggests, It takes about five times more electricity to heat a home with hydrogen than it takes to heat the same home with an efficient heat pump.

Others are more concerned about the safety issues associated with burning green hydrogen in homes. Several utilities are striving to blend hydrogen into fossil gas networks to move gradually towards a green transition. However, recent lab tests revealed that blending up to 20 percent hydrogen with natural gas could lead to more leaks from typical household appliances such as cookers and boilers. Boilers tested by U.K. scientists at Enertek International saw an emissions increase of 44 percent on average using the hydrogen-gas blend, suggesting that blending hydrogen with fossil fuels for use in residential houses would not reduce emissions and could be dangerous for consumers.

Recently, Comms Declare, a climate communications group in Australia made a complaint to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate a case of potential greenwashing after the cooking show MasterChef promoted renewable hydrogen and biomethane. Comms Declares founder Belinda Noble stated, We believe that hundreds of thousands of MasterChef fans are being deceived into thinking that the gas used in the program is good for the planet the biomethane and grey hydrogen used in the MasterChef kitchen is not renewable, not low emissions, not commercially viable and not available in ordinary Australian homes. Declare emphasised that the cooking fuel that was being used in the show was grey hydrogen, which is not considered a clean energy form as it is derived from natural gas.

While there is great optimism around the future of clean fuels, it appears that we are a long way off from making green hydrogen, biofuels and other renewable gases commercially available for domestic use. There are significant safety concerns around blending renewable and natural gases using the current infrastructure, and much more research needs to be done to deem clean fuels as safe for home use. Further, governments and private companies are investing heavily in green hydrogen to support the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries, meaning that renewable electricity may be a better option for residential heating and cooking.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Russia, China, and several other countries have accepted Taliban-appointed diplomats without officially recognizing the Taliban government.

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.

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.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Via Metal Miner

Indias steel industry currently finds itself in a stressful predicament. Already reeling from cheap steel imports, the country is now even more worried about a surge of Chinese imports following the imposition of fresh tariffs on Chinese steel by U.S. President Joe Biden. Alongside the U.S., India and many other countries around the world have long desired a more level playing field for the trade of steel, aluminum, and other metals. However, these new steel tariffs may actually make that more challenging.

How U.S. Steel Tariffs Affect the Indian Steel Industry

As MetalMiner previously reported, India concluded the financial year 2023-2024 as a net importer of finished steel, causing concern among industry experts nationwide. Now, recent moves from the U.S. could compound the situation for the Indian steel industry. According to a statement issued by the White House, the tariff rate on certain steel and aluminum products under Section 301 will go up from 0-7.5% to 25% in 2024. Many now fear that at least some portion of the steel earmarked for the U.S. will end up diverted to Indian shores.

Steel experts in India are now trying to figure out how this shift in steel imports could influence prices in that country. Alok Sahay, Secretary General of the Indian Steel Association (ISA), a representative body of Indian steelmakers, told Business Standard that India remains vulnerable to price surging and predatory imports. He pointed out that India already faces a significant threat from such imports, as all major steel-consuming economies were now in the process of stopping the entry of steel from over-producing countries like China.

Despite some signs of economic recovery in China, weak domestic demand for steel continues to prompt the country to sell off its surplus stocks at competitive rates. This not only includes selling stock to Indian buyers, but also to countries like the U.S. as well as parts of Eastern Europe. With the new U.S. tariffs kicking in, logic dictates that the situation may only get worse as Chinese steelmakers try and find alternate markets to dump their steel. Steel industry fluctuations like these are covered extensively in MetalMiners free weekly newsletter.

Chinese Exports Keep Increasing

A look at recent trade record books for China shows an upward graph in terms of steel exports. In April this year, steel exports remained above the nine million tons mark. As with India, this excess steel continues to add to trade tensions between China and other nations. For instance, the European Commission recently initiated an investigation into flat-rolled iron or steel products coated with tin from China to determine if the prices are excessively low. This anti-dumping investigation stems directly from a complaint by Eurofer, the European Steel Association, which oversees trade policy in the 27-nation EU.

Despite protests by steelmakers from multiple countries, there seem to be no signs of steel production in China slowing down for now. Evidence for this includes the high monthly import figures of iron ore, a critical raw material in the making of steel. In fact, according to this report, ore imports already hit the 100 million tons mark for the third time this year.

However, some analysts remain optimistic that Chinas steel exports may decrease in the coming months due to a crackdown on the tax evasion boosting overseas sales. If this fails to occur, its possible the country might manufacture more than 100 million tons of steel this year. Naturally, the reduced domestic consumption means a large chunk of this steel will end up exported elsewhere.

What is India Doing?

Indian finished steel imports totaled 8.3 MT in the last fiscal year. This represents an increase of 38.1% from a year earlier. Concerned by the rising imports needed to meet Indias growing steel consumption, steel mills are urging the Indian Government to intervene and implement safeguard measures.

The association representing steel companies previously requested similar interventions. However, the Ministry of Steel has yet to respond to these demands. One reason for that could be because India is in the middle of central elections. Until a new government is in place, not little will likely be done to protect Indian steel mills.

By Sohrab Darabshaw

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
NORMAL  The contributions of two prominent community leaders are recognized in the name of a new gathering space on the Heartland Community College campus.

The college, 1500 W. Raab Road, unveiled its new Dobski Family Plaza as part of an event Friday to honor recipients of the college's President's Medallion, awarded annually to those who work to increase educational opportunities in the community.

The plaza, located outside the Fitness and Recreation Center, transforms the 30,000 square feet of event space with a new patio with sun sails and renewed green space, landscaping, and pedestrian walkways, according to the college. It is named after Bob and Julie Dobski, whose financial contribution to the project made the space possible.

We are so happy to work with Heartland College, said Julie Dobski, who received a President's Medallion in 2021, the first year they were awarded. "This has meant so much to me."

The founder and owner of Little Jewels preschool, Julie Dobski co-chaired the first major gifts campaign in the colleges history in 2015, raising nearly $8 million for scholarships and programs.

The couple regularly provides learning opportunities for their employees, college leaders said. The Dobskis owned 11 local McDonald's franchises from 1989 to 2017. Little Jewels, which opened in 2004, has expanded to three locations with over 150 staffers, while Bob Dobski opened Rob Dob's Restaurant in 2019.

With this community, the friendship and the feeling of family when you come in here  and weve been here about 35 years now  but this is what makes the difference. This is what Heartland is built on, Bob Dobski said.

Construction on the approximately $700,000 project began in September with a break in work over the winter.

The Dobskis are passionate advocates for our community and for education, said Chris Downing, executive director of the Heartland Community College Foundation. The naming of this space on our campus honors Bob and Julie, who have shown time and time again how they value the power of education to transform lives.

Heartland also recognized seven individuals with the Presidents Medallion award, given to those who share the college's mission of enriching the community and who show exemplary service, philanthropy and dedication to advancing opportunities in education.

This year's honorees are Jerome and Frances Maddox; Steve and Patty McManus; Ed Rust; Faye Freeman Smith; and Rob Widmer.

Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille praised them as "true difference-makers."

Making a difference in our community and in the lives of individuals is really what all of this is about, Cornille said. It is a part of a community colleges mission to connect the educational needs of our students with the needs of the community and our workforce. After all, theres nothing more valuable in developing a career for individuals than a good education, and there is nothing more important in our work than transforming the lives of individuals and placing them on a pathway to success.

Jerome and Frances Maddox are residents of the Bloomington-Normal community who embody resilience and service despite the loss of their son Sgt. Anthony Maddox, who died in Afghanistan in 2013.

Both have contributed to the Hero House initiative by Habitat for Humanity and helped to create a Fallen Hero Wall honoring nine Central Illinois soldiers who lost their lives in combat. They also both serve as board members of the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.

Jerome Maddox is president of the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois and has been instrumental in establishing a robust mentoring program across the region, the college said.

On behalf of the Maddox family, I want to say thank you, Jerome Maddox said. We are very humbled and honored to have this award.

Steve McManus, honored along with his wife Patty, served as the Heartland Community College Foundations past chair and initiated the inaugural major gifts campaign, which raised over $7 million for scholarships.

He has also taken on community roles, like co-chairing the Civil Justice Reform Group and Milestones Early Learning Center. Patty McManus is the chair of the Bloomington-Normal Junior Womens Club, actively contributing to various local charities and initiatives.

I would like to recognize Keith and Chris and this wonderful staff," Steve McManus said, accepting the award also on behalf of his wife, who was not present. "What youre both doing to advance this institution, its just tremendous."

Ed Rust served as the CEO of State Farm for 30 years and helped turn the company into one of the largest private contributors to educational initiatives since 1990.

Rust serves on the boards of Americas Promise Alliance and the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership, and is a recipient of the Owen B. Butler Education Excellence Award. He is also a recipient of the Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and the Order of Lincoln, the states highest honor for a living individual in business.

Thank you for this recognition, and I hope to continue to help support what you do, Keith and Heartland, in helping to grow this community, Rust said. Your reputation  really outstanding role that you play in helping young people continue to grow.

Faye Freeman-Smith is known for establishing Heartlands Counseling Center in 2011, when she served as the colleges director of student mental health counseling services, and for her role on the Mental Health Advisory Board of the McLean County Health Department.

Freeman-Smith is also a founding member of the Black Business Alliance and was recognized in 2017 with the YWCA Women of Distinction Award as well as the Multicultural Leadership Program Servant Leadership Award in 2021.

Her membership on the Distance Counseling Advisory Board has been instrumental in creating guidelines for tele-mental health, and was critical both before and during the pandemic, especially in supporting the mental well-being of young adults.

This honor, the Presidential Medallion, says to me you value me as part of that hope, and Im truly home, Freeman-Smith said. Thank you, thank you, thank you for welcoming me.

Rob Widmers career in higher education spans across four decades with 22 years dedicated to Heartland, where he served as president for five years, during which he navigated the college through financial hardships stemming from the Illinois budget impasse.

Widmer helped spearhead a new strategic planning process that fortified the colleges reputation as a vital community asset. His tenure also included the development of Heartlands current campus in Normal.

I appreciate the recognition, Widmer said. Thank you all for coming and being part of this. Its a great honor.

Photos: Memorial Day celebrations in Bloomington-Normal history 1940: Memorial Day parade in Bloomington 1940: Memorial Day parade in Bloomington 1941: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1941: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1942: Memorial Day parade, ceremony in Bloomington 1944: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1944: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1945: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1945: Memorial Day in Bloomington 1946: Memorial Day, graveside services 1946: Memorial Day parade, Bloomington High School band 1946: Memorial Day ceremony, Park Hill cemetery 1946: Memorial Day ceremony
The Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is leaving no stone unturned in engaging with Ghanaians with the hope of leading the country.



Dr. Bawumia has been touring various Regions of the country to engage groups and citizens using different channels.



One approach used by him in his campaign is his on-street meet and greet, market interactions with traders and house-to-house engagements in communities.



During his tour of the Oti Region on Friday, May 30, Dr. Bawumia took his house-to-house engagements to another level.



After meeting with a number of groups earlier in the capital, Dambai, the NPP flagbearer hit the streets on foot randomly meeting a number of people.



He got into the communities, surprising them with visit to their homes and interacting with them.



Residents were extremely surprised and excited to see Dr. Bawumia in their homes.



While the elderly happily received and interacted with him, a large of the youth requested to take selfies which Dr. Bawumia happily obliged.

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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Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's message of being a driver's mate for 7 years, therefore pleading to be handed the steering wheel has resonated with Ghanaians across the country.



During his campaign tour of the Oti Region yesterday, ecstatic residents of the Regional capital, Dambai, welcomed and greeted Dr. Bawumia publicly showing their two hands symbolically controlling the steering wheel of a car.



Dr. Bawumia's engagements in the Oti Region took him to meet the Clergy, Imams, Zongo Chiefs, the Oti Regional House of Chiefs and the youth in the community.



He also embarked on a house-to-house and street-to-street campaign.



The estastic residents cheered him on amidst chants of yde steer no ama wo meaning we have given you the steer, also to wit they solidly support him and will elect for Dr. Bawumia as Ghanas next President.



Dr. Bawumia, in response, acknowledged their applause and replicate the symbol with his two hands depicting a driver driving a car.



In one instance, one of the ecstatic young ones displaying the give me the steer signhanded over a round cardboard paper to Dr. Bawumia to depicting a steering wheel.



Dr. Bawumia received the cardboard and started to drive it much to the excitement of the crowd.



Interestingly, as the bus carrying Dr. Bawumia moved around the Dambai township, many of the residents came out doing the steer controlling sign amid cheers and waving at him.

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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In a Facebook post, the former High Commissioner and Ambassador to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Said Sinare has re-echoed his enthusiastic support for John Dramani Mahama's 2024 December 7th electoral victory claiming that, the Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a respected leader, capable, and a hard-working leader who should be given the nod to rescue Ghana from its current economic predicaments.



The former National Vice Chairman said he was impressed by Mahama's vision, mission, leadership qualities, and experience, which he believes are essential to reviving Ghana's ailing economy.



The outspoken former High Commissioner to Egypt and Saudi Arabia has also issued a stern warning to anyone who attempts to tamper with the will of the Ghanaian people during and after the December 7th polls.



Speaking to the media after a meeting with the Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, H.E John Dramani Mahama, at his Cantonment office, Alhaji Sinare declared that the elections 2024 "will be won by the NDC and Mr John Dramani Mahama on his own merits as the suffering Ghanaians can now see the clear difference between Malt and Fanta"



"We are poised for a resounding victory to rescue suffocated Ghana, and we won't spare anyone who attempts to tamper with the election results to favour the wicked NPP," he said.



"The Ghanaian people will be speaking in a clear language on 7th December, and their will should be respected and protected by the electoral Umpire and for the records, as a party, we will not tolerate any attempt to subvert the democratic process if anyone dares to favour the corrupt NPP which has allowed the Ghanaian people to pay for more yet wallowing in abject and unreasonable poverty due to the reckless management of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia led Economic Management team."



He praised former president John Dramani Mahama as a rescuer and a result-oriented leader with national and international acceptability.



Alhaji Sinare, The former Awayaso Central Lawmaker also highlighted Mahama's credibility and unbreakable track record, making him the only candidate capable of leading Ghana forward.



The meeting reinforced Sinare's conviction that the NDC is poised for a resounding victory in the December 7th polls. He emphasized that this victory would give every Ghanaian a sense of belonging announcing that, the ZONGOS should get ready for his campaign vans.

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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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been urged to dismiss Attorney General Godfred Dame in light of a leaked audio aired by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



The leaked audio recording contains a conversation between Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah-Dame and the third accused person in the ongoing ambulance case against Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson, Richard Jakpa.



In the 16-minute recording, Mr Jakpa alleged that the Attorney-General had prompted him to testify falsely against Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in the ongoing ambulance case.



Bernard Mornah, Co-Convener of AriseGhana, in a statement, urged the President to dismiss Mr. Dame immediately to restore faith in the Attorney Generals office and the Ghanaian Bar.



We, therefore, call on the President to sack Mr Godfred Dame without any further delay in order to restore some confidence in the office of Attorney-General as well as the Bar of Ghana he said



The opposition NDC has on the other hand called for his resignation.



However, James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called "Kabila" speaking in a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' says there's no basis for Godfred Dame to be sacked or resign.



Listen to his reason in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Giraffes, with their distinctive body shape and variations in coat patterns, have long been an example in evolutionary biology teachings. They are a textbook example of how species adapt to their surroundings and survive under harsh conditions. Despite this, scientists and conservationists still grapple with understanding the evolutionary history of giraffes.

Giraffes occur throughout most of the savanna landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa. Fewer than 70,000 are left; a sharp decline from the estimated 150,000 in the 1980s. This makes it even more relevant to understand their diversity, as increased conservation efforts are needed to safeguard this diversity for the future.

However, scientists still struggle with how different populations are related to each other, and the number of species they represent. The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently recognizes giraffes as a single species. Other studies suggest the existence of two, three, four or even six species.

The debate surrounding giraffe taxonomy, which deals with the classification of species, may sound like a purely scientific exercise. But taxonomy often guides conservation efforts. Treating all giraffe populations as a single species may obscure unique genetic lineages. To conserve biodiversity, it is necessary to accurately identify and understand the distribution of diversity, between and within species.

A complex evolutionary history

Our recent study delves into the genomic landscape of giraffes, improving our understanding of giraffe diversity.

By analyzing the entire DNA of 90 giraffes from 29 locations in Africa across their natural range, we reconstructed the giraffe's evolutionary past. Our findings reveal strong differentiation between populations of giraffes, identifying four major lineages:

northern giraffes (west and central Africa)

reticulated giraffes (Horn of Africa)

Masai giraffes (east Africa)

southern giraffes (southern Africa).

What exactly drives this population structure is still unknown. While some boundaries align with geographical features like rivers, others defy such explanations. In many places, neighboring lineages connect in their distributions. For example, three of the four major lineages mentioned above occur in Kenya.

Despite this close geographic proximity, reports of hybridization between major lineages in the wild are rare. This contrasts with observations in captive giraffes, where hybridization does occur, suggesting there is something else that deters them from doing so in the wild.

But we're not only interested in describing contemporary patterns of diversity. We'd also like to understand the processes which shaped the patterns we observe today. Looking at full genomes, or the entire DNA of the individuals, allows us to take a deeper dive into the evolutionary history of giraffes.

The data reveals a rather complex story. We tend to think of evolution as a tree, just like English naturalist Charles Darwin drew in his notes. Following this concept, there is a common ancestor, which gives rise to two lineages of offspring, which continue to evolve into ultimately separate species.

Genomic data, however, show that this is too simple. There are many cases in which there has been gene flow, or hybridization, between lineages after they split from their common ancestor. Instead of an evolutionary tree, maybe it would be better to talk about an evolutionary network, with connections going back and forth, forming loops.

This is also what we observe in giraffes. Historically, there has been gene flow between lineages, and giraffe evolution cannot be properly presented in the form of a tree.

In particular, reticulated giraffes, with their distinct patchy coat or pelage, have been heavily affected by historical gene flow. So much so that we could refer to them as a hybrid lineage.

Conserving giraffes

There are many different definitions of what constitutes a separate species. Whether we regard the lineages described here as separate species or not, it is clear that they each represent a unique branch of giraffe diversity.

Giraffes have been reported as undergoing a "silent extinction"international attention to their fate has been limited although populations are dwindling across Africa. They are estimated to have faced a 40% decrease since the 1980s.

Conservation actions can counteract this trend by protecting giraffe habitats and ensuring connectivity between populations. Genetics can help to guide conservation actions.

It can be used to identify which populations belong to which lineage, and therefore what part of giraffe diversity is being lost. For example, if particular populations were to be lost through local extinctions, a whole branch of the giraffe tree would disappear. Genetics can help with prioritization of particular populations for conservation efforts, to maintain existing diversity most effectively.

Similarly, if translocations are planned to reintroduce giraffes in an area where they previously went extinct, or to reinforce existing populations, conservationists probably should take individuals from the same genetic lineage, to keep the natural pattern of diversity intact.

This has also been discussed for other species, such as lions, and aims to give guidance to managers who are faced with tough decisions about which populations to prioritize.

This is particularly relevant in regions where multiple lineages coexist, such as Kenya. Here, the National Recovery and Action Plan for Giraffe in Kenya (2018-2022) already acknowledges these distinctions, albeit still regarding them as a single species.

By moving beyond the conservation of giraffes in general, but also safeguarding populations and their underlying unique evolutionary histories, we can ensure the preservation of the rich tapestry of giraffe diversity for future generations.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

There are three main forms of SRM  stratospheric aerosol injection, cirrus cloud thinning, and marine cloud brightening. Credit: UN Environment Programme One Atmosphere report

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is a suite of possible technologies to counteract global warming by reflecting incoming solar radiation.

Some SRM proposals involve the injection of reflective aerosols into the stratosphere; others include cirrus cloud thinning and marine cloud brightening.

In all cases, SRM proposals are intentional human interventions in the climate system that aim to reduce global warming by increasing the reflectivity of the Earth rather than by decreasing human greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate model experiments, as well as reports from the IPCC, the United Nations Environment Program and the European Commission show that these technologies could potentially slow the rate of global warming and even cool the planet. However, these same reports also caution that SRM technologies could themselves change the climate in ways that would generate severe adverse impacts.

There is no global consensus around SRM as a climate change response strategy.

At the recent Sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), attended by one of the authors, Jennifer Garard, world governments were unable to come to an agreement on whether to call for a scientific assessment of the potential and risks of SRM deployment and the resolution was withdrawn.

As climate scientists, we argue that a robust and democratic scientific assessment process, enriched by the inclusion of the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, would be an important step forward to help the global decision-making community build consensus around this critical and controversial topic.

The risks

Deploying SRM technologies, or even testing these technologies in real-world settings, would carry risks. Many of these risks remain poorly understood.

SRM actions could have severe negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, air quality and the ozone layer and agricultural productivity. These impacts are likely to be felt unequally across the Earth and could further exacerbate existing challenges related to environmental justice and equity.

A breakdown on the need for governance in SRM technologies produced by the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative.

Moreover, deploying SRM technologies in the absence of rapid emissions cuts would produce a dangerous dependence on sustained SRM action to maintain its climate effect. In this scenario, if SRM were stopped suddenly, the so-called termination effect would cause rapid warming with the potential for substantial harm to multiple life-sustaining systems around the world.

These questions raise additional concerns of intergenerational injustice, in which future generations may have no choice but to continue with SRM deployment to avoid the consequences of terminating it.

Surface level

By definition, SRM does not address the accumulation of greenhouse gases which are the root cause of climate change. Consequently, there is an additional risk of distracting attention and resources away from the need for rapid and profound emissions cuts.

On top of its potential for distraction, SRM technologies cannot address the problem of ocean acidification and may also pose challenges to using solar energy to support decarbonization.

The costs of SRM deployment are also high with one estimate placing this value at US$2.25 billion per year over the first 15 years of deploymentfunds which likely would be much better spent on emissions reductions efforts.

Simply put, despite several decades of research and discussion, there remains no comprehensive scientific assessment of SRM risks and uncertainties. Such an assessment is critically needed to underpin multilateral discussions and inform governance frameworks.

SRM technology is likewise a highly controversial topic in global environmental negotiations. A resolution was put forward by Switzerland at the most recent UN Environment Assembly to mandate the UN Environment Program to convene a scientific expert group to assess SRM.

Opposition was strong from various quarters. Leaders from many African nations joined forces to advocate for a strict non-use agreement rather than a scientific assessment. Meanwhile, the Joint Global Statement from Major Groups and Stakeholders stated bluntly that: "SRM is basically fighting multidecadal, global-scale pollution with multidecadal, global-scale pollution."

A trailer for the 2013 film Snowpiercer. In the film the planet is plunged into a lethal ice age as a result of SRM efforts gone wrong. Snowpiercer belongs to a sub-genre of post-apocalyptic fiction that dramatizes very real anxieties about the efficacy, and risks, of SRM technologies.

Other countries were opposed to the resolution but wished to keep the question of exploring the use of SRM open. Ultimately, no decision was reached.

What role for scientific assessments?

Given the significant risks involved, the issue of SRM governance urgently requires international attention and oversight. However, world governments at UNEA were unable to reach consensus on even assessing SRM, let alone on whether a non-use agreement could be implemented.

Most world government representatives at UNEA agreed on the need to avoid the serious risks of unilateral deployment of SRM technologies. However, we feel that the opposition to a scientific assessment of SRM may inadvertently enable individual countries or organizations to proceed with risky experiments.

Given the divergent global views on this topic, a non-use agreement appears unlikely in the short term. However, a transparent and inclusive assessment process could actually be an important step towards such an eventual agreement.

The International Panel on Climate Change is an important player in any assessment process given its strong history of rigorous scientific work on climate change. Likewise, the UN Environment Program could also play a pivotal role and help bring in diverse stakeholders.

Mandating a trusted intergovernmental organization such as the United Nations to lead a rigorous and transparent assessment process that is inclusive of multiple perspectives would be a critical step towards SRM governance, including a potential non-use agreement.

Governance of SRM is of the utmost importance, precisely because of the high level of controversy surrounding this suite of technologies.

A non-use agreement is one potential governance strategy, though international discussions currently seem a long way from being able to agree on such an outcome. The only way to break this deadlock is to carry out a transparent and inclusive scientific assessment process.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
LINWOOD  Traffic was detoured on Shore Road for approximately five hours Friday as police tried to communicate with a man believed to be having a mental health crisis.

No injuries or damage were reported.

"The situation has been brought to a safe and peaceful resolution by the Linwood Police Department with the assistance of the Atlantic County Crisis Negotiation Team," police said in a post on Facebook. "We would also like to thank the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, Linwood Fire Department, Somers Point Police Department, and Inspira EMS for their assistance."

Several police cars and many officers surrounded the home, and neighbors said some officers were heavily armed.

"He's by himself," police Chief Steve Cunningham said Friday. "We are doing this out of an abundance of caution."

Cunningham said police got a call at about 3:45 p.m. from a relative of the man. The caller was concerned about the mans mental health and asked for help.

Shore Road traffic was detoured in both directions between Garfield and Kirklin avenues.
Have you ever seen a great-horned owl up close, or wondered what it takes to rehabilitate an injured raptor?

Wild Skies Raptor Center is presenting Raptor Day at the Mansion with ambassador birds, educational information and fundraising on Sunday, June 9.

Founder and Executive Director Brooke Tanner said the afternoon will include ambassador birds, a presentation called Raptor Rehabilitation from Rescue to Release, and youth activities.

We do 40% of our work in the Bitterroot Valley and are pretty active there as far as rehab goes, Tanner said. The whole event will be rehab-based. Ill give a short talk at the beginning... and well have other organizations like the Owl Research Institute, The Raptor Institute and well also have Sporting Lead-Free there because it is a huge issue.

Ambassador Birds likely to be in attendance include a red-tailed hawk, a great-horned owl, a screech owl and a pygmy or saw-whet owl. The raptors will be at the Daly Mansion for audience members to see them up close and personal.

Our Ambassador Birds are commonly injured raptors that have come into a rehab setting but are not releasable due to permanent injury and they wouldnt be able to survive in the wild, Tanner said.

The Daly Mansion is the site of the talk on Sunday, June 9, because of an interesting bird rehab connection.

Volunteer Tami Bienusa got involved last May when an owlet fell out of a nest on the mansion grounds.

They were unable to put it back in the nest, it was too high, Bienusa said. So, it was cared for at Wild Skies for 30 days and then released in the same tree, back with momma owl and sibling. It was amazing.

Recalling that situation, Tanner said that great-horned owls dont build their own nests but often take over abandoned nests.

They dont always pick good ones, Tanner said. Owl babies often end up on the ground with crazy winds or tree limbs falling. In return for the rescue, [The Mansion] offered us the lawn to do a fundraiser program and event. People will love this.

Tanner moved to Montana in 2002 after graduating from veterinary tech school in Colorado. She started rehabilitating raptors at the Ground Eagle Foundation in Condon, from 2006-2009.

I realized how important rehabilitating is," Tanner said. "And that there is a need for it."

She continued to work at the Missoula Veterinary Clinic and founded Wild Skies Raptor Center in March of 2010 as a nonprofit and rehabilitates injured raptors through the permitting under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Migratory Bird Office and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Currently, the Wild Skies Raptor Center is on 12.5 acres of mostly forested land near Potomac, and is focused on the quality of care and life for injured birds.

Tanner is sub-permitted under Raptor View Research Institutes USGS Banding Permit and since 2011 has banded around 200 rehabilitated raptors, including 20 eagles.

The mission of the Wild Skies Raptor Center is to provide the best possible care, rehabilitation and eventual release of injured raptors. Tanner said the goal of the Raptor Day at the Mansion is to help the birds.

Wed like to see birds get help more quickly, or avoid window collisions, or intentional shootings, or to get less lead poisoning, she said. Weve been talking about it for a long time and more and more people are making the switch [to lead-free sporting practices].

She hopes the topic is interesting to many community members and that it results in a high attendance to their raptor event at the mansion.

I hope we get people who want to know more about raptors, people who have heard about us and want to know more, people who brought us a bird and didnt know about the education part, she said. Well give general knowledge about who we are and what we do. The majority of injuries that we see are human related.

The Wild Skies Raptor Center staff currently includes Tanner, Assistant Director Jesse Varnado, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Estelle Shuttleworth, Mat Seidensticker who earned a bachelors degree in Wildlife Biology (2000) and a masters degree in Environmental Studies (2011) from the University of Montana, and Kate Stone who has spent the past 10 years piloting the Avian Science team at the MPG Ranch near Florence. Stone supports and strengthens Wild Skies research objectives, collaborations with agencies and other organizations, and public engagement on topics addressing common causes of raptor intake to rehabilitation.

Kate has been a long-time friend and involved with us for quite a few years, Tanner said.

Tanner said her job has its good points, but it can also be sad at times.

I like to feel like Im contributing in some way, she said. I enjoy the rehab end of things, but it is tough learning how many of these are human related. People arent aware so education has become a big part of what we do on top of the rehab.

Her goal is to help people know the issues that affect birds.

Hopefully they care and want to help, Tanner said. I would love for people to appreciate the birds because they are an essential part of nature. Its rough out there for birds, I want people to give them a break. If the birds are able to do well, then all the other critters on the food chain are able to do well too.

Enjoy the Wild Skies Raptor Centers Raptor Day at the Mansion from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, at the Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton. For more information visit wildskies.org/.
Dave Ress State Politics / Growth and Development Reporter Follow Dave Ress 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

Every minute or so, a tiny black dot on a white, 1/16-inch diameter circle peeks out from the edge of a pocketbook mussels shell. Its fishing, not realizing its no longer at home in the Potomac River.

Instead, its in a plastic basin at the Harrison Lake Fish Hatchery in Charles City County, where a more than 2-decade-long effort to restore what may be the most endangered group of animals in the world has found ways around a challenge any fisherman knows: Fish  in this case, what the mussel needs to feed her babies  dont always bite, no matter how enticing the lure.

10 questions about Trump verdict fallout  including what it means for Virginia Virginia political analysts weigh in on whether Trump will go to prison, how the verdict will affect Virginia's presidential vote and much more.

And with populations down an estimated 90% for creatures that can play a central role in keeping rivers and streams clean, it may not be good enough anymore to simply let them go fishing.

So instead of counting on a largemouth bass to snap at the pocketbook mussels lure  its meant to look like a small fish eye and is attached to a small sack full of tiny larvae that will burst when a bass bites  Rachel Mair, project leader for the Harrison Lake mussel program, will use a pressured syringe to pop the sack and collect the baby mussels.

If the mussel were still on the river and got a bite, its babies would be expelled into the bass, clamp onto its gills, and feed on the fishs blood for a couple of weeks, before dropping off and burying themselves in the river bottom where they would grow to adulthood and spend their lives.

Mair, instead, will inject the mussel larvae she collects in her syringe into the mouth of one of the hatcherys bass.

When the larvae have fed enough, the circular current flowing through the basss hatchery home will swirl them around and into a column where she or biological technician Joseph Nichols can gather the tiny, 5/1,000ths of an inch babies and start feeding them.

Fish can help them spread

The hatchery raises 15 kinds of mussels. Each has its own favorite fish hosts, life cycle, preferred home and vulnerabilities of water temperature, acidity and oxygen.

Each has its own time of year and length of time when males sperm will drift through the water to, hopefully, fertilize females eggs.

Eastern Elliptio mussels, for instance, like the ones on the shelf next to the pocketboook mussels, favor eels as their babies hosts.

They will release a mucous strand of their larvae, hoping it will attach to one of the young elvers born deep in the Atlantic as it swims to the upstream fresh water where it will grow to adulthood. (Eels cycle is the mirror image of shad or alewives or sturgeon: Eels spawn in the ocean but are adults in fresh water; shad, alewives and sturgeon spawn in fresh water but are adults in salt.)

Adult mussels dont move very much, said Joe Wood, senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Fish can help them spread.

But eels arent always easy to find or catch.

For Eastern Ellipito mussels, then, Nichols whips out a special formula  it has 26 ingredients  to nourish its larvae.

Figuring such fixes out takes time.

Mair, for instance, started trying to figure out how to help the endangered James River spinymussel back in 2005.

Its not the fussiest, but it is still pretty finicky. It prefers bluehead chub or rosy-sided dace as its babies host.

It has a very short brooding season  in the wild, a heavy rain that makes a stream rise or a rivers water flow faster can mean no babies that year.

Freshwater mussels and Virginia WHAT THEY DO: Freshwater mussels filter bacteria, algae and other particles, which improves water quality. HABITAT: Most prevalent in streams and rivers. Eighty-two species are in Virginia. STATUS: Mussels are threatened by pollution and loss of habitat, among other factors. Thirty-one species in the state are designated as threatened or extinct. Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

In the end, it wasnt until 2018 that the hatchery started raising enough that they could be planted in the James and its tributaries. Batches have now been planted in the James River near Scottsville.

Studying the spinymussel, Mair learned early on that a creature no one knew anything about does not fish the same way the pocketbook mussel does.

The spinymussel cuts its babies loose to drift down the current in a sack that looks a bit like a caddis fly nymph.

To shorten the odds a fish will host the mussel babies, Mair or Nichols will collect those sacks as they drift, poke them with a needle to release the larvae into the basin where the chub or dace swim and in two or three weeks, when the babies have had enough to eat and drop to the bottom  plexiglass this time instead of river silt  use the steady flow of fresh clean water for the fish to move the microscopic babies to a collecting point.

They will spend the next eight months or so  some species need less time  in their own small basins in another building.

Nichols moves some 500 gallons a day of carefully filtered water through the dozens of such basins. He changes the sediment they are in every week and adjusts a flow of nutrients  mostly the farm-raised algae used in many aquaculture operations as they grow to about 1/10th-inch long.

When they get that big, Nichols can move them to the next stages. During those months, he checks their health with examinations through a microscope.

Shape and color can tell you a lot about how healthy they are, how old they are. Theyll move around some with their foot, he said, picking up a graduate Brook Floater from the sand in its basin in the next stage, as it obligingly sticks its pale orange muscular foot out of its shell.

Beautiful, he murmured.

Virginia leads other states in mussel restoration

James River spinymussels, like the 2-inch-long Brook Floaters and Northern Lance nestled in their basins sand at this next stage, will stay at the hatchery for two years or more.

Looking across the surface of one pan with a dozen 2-year-old Brook Floaters, the small, 1/8-inch across indentations that come every time a mussel takes in some water to filter out its food points to why scientists and conservationists say they are so important.

Mussels filter feeding removes the nitrogen and phosphorus that causes the algae blooms that create dead zones in the bay, just as oysters do in salt water.

Electric shock for withdrawal? Chesterfield takes a chance on new device for addiction Chesterfields jail has debuted a new technology for helping addicts. The Bridge sends electric frequencies into the brain of a person in the worst throws of drug withdrawal.

Filter-feeding shellfish clear grit from the water that can block sunlight underwater plants need before they can feed oxygen into streams and rivers.

Theyre one more tool to improve water quality, said the Bay Foundations Woods. They can filter water as much as three times faster than the oysters that have made so much progress on the shores of the Chesapeake.

Virginia is ahead of other states with its mussel restoration effort  Mair and her team are sending mussels to 13 Virginia streams and rivers, as well as supplying 17 in all across the eastern United States and providing mussels for researchers still probing the creatures mysteries.

Theres still a lot to learn, too  though so far, no one seems to have learned to enjoy their taste, described as somewhat muddy.

You can have a stream that had plenty of mussels 10 years ago and now theyre gone, Mair said. What changed?

Development and the runoff of pollutant-tainted rain from newly paved streets and parking lots that makes its way to streams can be one reason.

Fewer trees and so less shade for those mussels that prefer cooler water, along with climate change, can also be factors.

A heavy rain or larger than normal snowmelt at the wrong time could mean no next generation in a stretch of river.

But at least mussels are no longer harvested, as they once were, to make shirt buttons.

Still, mussels guard their secrets well. Once those little ones drop off a fish into a river bottom, they often bury themselves deep in silt or sand.

Weve been able in recent years to grow them large enough that we can tag them, Mair said. And we can go out with a detector and hear the beep that tells us theyre there  but we often still cant actually find one to see them.

Gallery: Harrison Lake Fish Hatchery mussels
On May 1011, 2024 in Rome, Italy, the Italian Evangelical Alliance (Alleanza Evangelica Italiana, AEI) celebrated its 50th anniversary during its 2024 general assembly. The event also commemorated 50 years since the first World Congress on Evangelization held in Lausanne, Switzerland and included members of the Lausanne Movement.

Pastor Scognamiglio, a member of the first AEI committee in 1974, told the assembled group that he was happy to see how the alliance has borne fruit over time. Letters from former AEI presidents were shared. According to Evangelical Focus, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also wrote an extensive letter on the governments commitment to religious freedom which was read to assembly participants.

AEI leadership and members attending the event remarked on Gods faithfulness as their organization grew and overcame challenges. From Pentecostals and the Salvation Army to Chinese and Romanian churches, many evangelical groups expressed their gratitude for the AEI.

The general assembly also had several panels that discussed topics such as the state of mission in Europe, the regional impact of Lausanne, and the state of religious freedom on the continent.

In one panel, Co-director of the Lausanne Movement Europe Jim Memory talked about Europes current spiritual condition. The narrative of Christians about Europe should not be dominated by pessimism but by what can be read in the Bibles book of Revelation 7, where people of every language and nation are around the throne, Memory stated.

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AEIs vice president Lucia Stelluti explained that priority must be placed on being faithful to the gospel. Without fidelity to the Word of God there is no evangelical mission, but inconclusive religious activism.

Jonathan Gilmore, the Acts 29 area lead for southeastern Europe, explained that the Lausanne Movement can be a platform that strengthens conversation among evangelicals in Italy. He also said it can magnify the impact of missional vocations.

Another panel discussed religious freedom. Julia Doxat-Purser, socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance, explained that problems exist on three main levels. The first is defective or discriminatory laws (legislative level). The next is the absence of a value for pluralism (cultural level). And the final is a problem that Doxat referred to as secularization that becomes an anti-religious mindset (antagonistic level).

She emphasized that the goal is not to protect Christendom, but to ensure religious freedom for all. Co-chair of the Lausanne Movement Europe (LME) Usha Reifsnider mentioned how migration is reshaping churches in Europe. Referring to Leviticus 19:33-34, she pointed out the Christian duty to welcome foreigners as native-born regardless of a persons religious background. Reifsnider went on to share that conversions to Christ can come about when the Church fulfills these responsibilities.

Following the panel discussions, the Theology and Dialogue Commission of the AEI initiated a dialogue on collaborating for theological formation, research, and evangelical witness. It was agreed to establish a forum which includes several theological training institutions and a representative of the AEI. Participation in the forum is open to other evangelical teaching institutions.

In the last part of the assembly, the AEI presented a document asking four questions about evangelical witness, today. It connected to the 850th anniversary of the Waldensian movement  a pre-reformation ascetic movement in France and Italy which was later absorbed into the Protestant movement. The questions were about the authority of Scripture, the legitimacy of the Waldensian 1655 Confession of Faith, the place of ecumenicalism, and the significance of current evangelism efforts in Italy.

The Lausanne Movement is a globally recognized movement that gathers evangelical leaders together to collaborate and work together on pressing missional issues. The movement was born in 1974 with the International Congress on Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland. This first congress, headed by Billy Graham, attracted more than 2,300 leaders from 150 countries.

The AEI is an organization of communion and connection of evangelical churches, works and believers. It was founded in Florence in 1974 as a response to the European Congress on Evangelization (Amsterdam 1971) and the Lausanne gathering in 1974. It is now based in Rome.
Extreme temperatures continue for Yucatan Peninsula on first day of 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  June 1 marks the official start of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. With between 17 and 25 named storms predicted, local officials have declared themselves ready.

Selection of potential hurricane shelters began more than two months ago starting in the southern region. Over 800 buildings have been chosen around the state of Quintana Roo to be used as emergency shelters if need be.

State officials are seen training committee members for the 2024 season.



Photo: Secretaria de Proteccion Civil, Prevencion de Riesgos y Bomberos de Solidaridad May 31, 2024.



Each of the municipalities has also formed a hurricane committee of trained people who will be responsible for organizing emergency protocols in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane.

Training was provided to state officials for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season.



Photo: Secretaria de Proteccion Civil, Prevencion de Riesgos y Bomberos de Solidaridad May 31, 2024.



According to the NOAA, there is a 70 percent chance their prediction of 17 to 25 total named storms for the 2024 season in Atlantic waters are correct. Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes of which 4 to 7 could be major hurricanes.

The NOAA also says there is an 85 percent chance the Atlantic will see an above normal amount of activity during the 2024 season. The increased activity forecast is in part due to the increase in temperatures.

The state of Quintana Roo has recorded 40C (104F) to 45C (113F) degree temperatures for a second consecutive month with nighttime temperatures barely dipping below 30C (86F). The Weather Channel has again issued an excessive heat warning for Playa del Carmen, this time, for an entire week.

A severe weather alert has been issued for Playa del Carmen for the week of June 1 by The Weather Channel.

Image: The Weather Channel June 1, 2024.



The NOAA says La Nina and warmer-than-average ocean temperatures are major drivers of tropical activity and that the National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.

The NOAAs outlook for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season includes a prediction of an 85 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 10 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 5 percent chance of a below-normal season.

The weather agency has already detected one out-of-season system that developed in the Atlantic in late April. That system was noted as being 38 days ahead of season. With the official arrival of the hurricane season, the first storm will be named Alberto.
Five Playa del Carmen bars shut after rescue operation of 25 women

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  An Argentinian man was arrested after more than two dozen women were freed during an operation Thursday night. Local authorities made the arrest after 25 women were located during building searches.

The State Attorney General (FGE), through elements of the Investigative Police in collaboration with the National Guard and the International Organization OUR Rescue, rescued 25 women, possible victims of the crime of labor and sexual exploitation, the agency reported Friday afternoon.

In addition, there was an arrest while carrying out search warrants in five bars located in this municipality, they added.

Enrique Abelardo N was arrrested as the alleged person responsible for the coordination of the businesses.

During the fulfillment of the court orders in five bars, the participating elements managed to arrest a male person identified by the name of Enrique Abelardo N.

The arrest occurred when the subject, upon noticing the surprise presence of the agents in one of the bars, tried to flee, but they caught up with him and he was placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry, the FGE reported.

According to the FGE, their first investigations point to the now detained man as one of the leaders of the structure dedicated to human trafficking in its form of sexual and labor exploitation who was in charge of supervising the bars, they said.

After a search of five different clubs around Playa del Carmen, a total of 25 women were rescued. Of the 25, 20 were Mexican, four from Venezuela and one from Cuba.
Muyil Archaeological Zone closing in June as part of Promeza restoration project

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R.  The Muyil Archaeological Zone in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto is set for temporary closure. The June 4 closure of the site was announced by the the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) Friday for restoration work.

The federal Ministry of Culture, through the National Institute of Anthropology and History, informs that the Muyil Archaeological Zone, located in Quintana Roo, will be temporarily closed to the public starting June 4, 2024 until further notice due to work of the Archaeological Zone Improvement Program, the INAH reported.

The Muyil Archaeological Zone is part of the Government of Mexicos Promeza Program (Programa de Mejoramiento de Zonas Arqueologicas) that restores archaeological sites near Maya Train routes.

It is a project of the Government of Mexico, implemented by the federal Ministry of Culture, through the INAH, and in collaboration with the National Tourism Promotion Fund, the Ministry of National Defense and the participating consortia.

Archaeological specialists in restoration, conservation and researchers have participated in the revamping of 27 archaeological zones. Since the start of the program, 11 Visitor Service Centers have also been built along with nine museums, all along Maya Train routes.

The INAH invites the public to visit other archaeological sites that are open in this state, such as Tulum and San Miguelito, they added.

The Muyil Archaeological Zone is an ancient Maya site on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula approximately 15 kilometers south of the coastal site of Tulum.
Tabasco woman captured in Cancun for her involvement in attempted kidnapping that left 11 year old dead

Cancun, Q.R.  A Tabasco woman wanted for attempted kidnapping has been located and arrested in Cancun. The State Attorney General reported on the arrest of Nancy del Carmen N who was picked up on an outstanding warrant Thursday.

Nancy del Carmen N is reported involved in the attempted kidnapping of a woman from her home in Paraiso, Tabasco on May 21 of this year. During the attempted kidnapping, the womans 11 year old son tried to protect his mother by preventing her from being removed from the home.

During the struggle, the boy was shot five times. He died at the scene.

A warrant for the arrest of Nancy del Carmen N was issued by a Tabasco judge and completed at a shopping plaza in the Paseos del Mar subdivision of Cancun. She has since been returned to the state of Tabasco to face charges.
Woman arrested for attempted vote buying for upcoming PDC mayor position

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  A Playa del Carmen woman has been arrested for electoral fraud. Guadalupe del Rosario N was arrested Friday on accusations of exchanging votes for debit cards loaded with 4,000 pesos.

Local authorities reported that she was taken into custody for her probable participation in acts constituting electoral crimes in its form of request for votes with the promise of receiving money in electronic cards.

According to an official statement by the State Attorney General (FGE), on May 28, Guadalupe del Rosario N carried out the purchase of votes at a home in the Nicte-Ha neighborhood in favor of a candidate for the Municipal Presidency (mayor) of Solidaridad.

For this purpose, electronic cards were offered with transfers of 4,000 pesos in exchange for the vote, divided into two parts: 2,000 pesos before the elections and 2,000 pesos after, the FGE detailed.

The Prosecutors Office Specialized in Combating Electoral Crimes requested and obtained an arrest warrant which was completed by elements of the Investigative Police.

According to the FGE report, Guadalupe del Rosario N could receive a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison as established by the General Law on Electoral Crimes.

The cards were to be loaded with 2,000 pesos before voting and another 2,000 after voting.

The FGE did not say which potential mayor candidate Guadalupe del Rosario N was representing at the time of the alleged attempted vote buying.
Israeli army withdraws from Jabalia refugee camp after weeks of operation

Xinhua) 10:08, June 01, 2024

Palestinians are seen on a street with destroyed buildings after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- 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 defense 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.

The Israeli troops of the 98th Division completed 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 said in a statement on Friday.

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.

Palestinians are seen among the rubble of destroyed buildings after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

People walk among the rubble after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

People are seen in front of destroyed buildings after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians sit among the rubble after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians are seen on a street with destroyed buildings after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians collect items from the rubble after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians collect items from the rubble after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Palestinians are seen on a street with destroyed buildings after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

A woman walks among the rubble after Israeli army withdrew from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2024. The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
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


In the city, tourists can wander along the Raca Vineyard Path or attend well-established wine events.

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This article was published in the latest edition of our Bratislava City Guide, which can be obtained from our online shop with Spectacular Slovakia travel guides.

Theres a certain irony in the fact that Slovakia is considered among the so-called new wine-producing countries of the world. Winemaking in these parts has a proven history dating back to the 6th7th centuries BC. Yet the comparatively low awareness of Slovak wines abroad is largely owing to the patterns of its consumption: hardly any makes it beyond the keen wine-drinkers within Slovakias borders. This means that if you want to try Slovak wine  and you should  youll need to come to the country to do so.

The reputation of Slovak wines has improved significantly in recent years, as indicated by its results in international competitions. Slovakia produces about 380,000 hectolitres (hl) of wine (i.e. 38 million litres), of which only about 40,000 hl is exported. White wines make up 66 percent of local production.

We in Slovakia cannot afford to produce cheap, low-quality wines, said Jaroslava Kanuchova-Patkova, executive director of the Grape and Wine Producers of Slovakia (ZVHV). In this [area], bulk producers beat us.

City centre: Wine shops & Wine-tasting Museum of Viticulture + Slovak National Collection of Wines: www.salonvin.sk

Vinimka: www.vinimka.sk

Vinoteka Trunk: www.facebook.com

Grand Cru wine gallery: www.grandcruwinegallery.com

Wine Not!?: www.facebook.com

Hotel Matysak  wine restaurant: www.hotelmatysak.sk

Vinoteka pri Modrom kostoliku: www.vinotekamodrykostolik.sk

Kanuchova-Patkova highlights the importance of new varieties among Slovak wine producers, which are specifically cultivated to exploit the full potential of Slovakias climate and soil. The result is a selection of wines that cannot be made anywhere else.

You can taste Chardonnay almost everywhere in the world, but the Devin, Dunaj, and Milia varieties you can only taste here in Slovakia, said Kanuchova- Patkova. This is how we can establish ourselves in the world. Devin and Dunaj are wines that are also harvesting success in world competitions.

White Devin and blue Dunaj are the most popular new Slovak grape varieties among Slovak winegrowers.

The white Devin grape is a cross between the Tramin cerveny (Gewurztraminer) and Veltlinske cervenobiele varieties. It produces a green-yellow wine with a moderately spicy aroma, leaning towards Muscat. This variety, crossed with Dorota Pospisilova and Ondrej Korpas in 1958 in the Wine Research Institute in Bratislava, produces dry wines as well as naturally sweet wines.

The Dunaj variety was created by Pospisilova in 1958, when she first crossed Muskat Bouchet with Oporto and then with Svatovavrinecke (St. Laurent). With its early ripening it is a very suitable variety for Slovak climatic conditions.

City centre: Wine bars Viecha pod hradom: ww.viecha.com

Viecha Stara trznica: ww.viecha.com

Viecha modranskych vinarov: ww.viecha.com

As the capital of the country, it is only fitting that Bratislavas vineyards also made the city the first significant viticultural and wine-making town in what is now Slovakia. However, the commercial prosperity of the modern city, and pressure from developers, has meant the acreage of vineyards in Bratislava has decreased over the years.

Bratislava and its surroundings belong to the Small Carpathian wine-growing area and the regions changing terrains mean that each of its wine-growing districts is known for a different variety. In Raca, it is Blaufrankisch or Frankovka modra; in Vajnory, it is the white Leanka; and Devin is best known for its currant wine.

Currant Devin

Currant wine almost completely disappeared from Devin in the 1990s, but Augustin Mrazik, a local who is an IT expert by profession, set out to restore its story. Thanks to his and other local producers efforts, visitors can still taste the local specialty.

Outside of the city centre: Wine-tasting OZ Terroir Raca : www.terroirraca.sk

Villa Vino Raca: www.villavinoraca.sk

Vinohradnictvo a vinarstvo Milos Matus: www.vinomatus.sk

Vino Rakyta:  www.vinorakyta.sk

Vinarstvo Chvostek: www.chvostek.sk

Racianska vinoteka: www.facebook.com

Vinarstvo Hulansky: www.vinohulansky.sk

Vinarstvo Adams Family: www.vinoraca.sk

Vino Vajnory:  www.vinovajnory.sk

Vino Vladar a syn: www.vinohrady-vladar.sk

BRATIA CICKOVCI vinohradnictvo a vinarstvo:

www.bratiacickovci.sk

Komunitna zahrada Pionierska

THEBENER - Devinsky ribezlak: www.thebener.com

Baba Wine Shop :

www.potravinyodnasich.sk/vinoteka

Vinarstvo Cenky : www.vinocenky.sk

Currant wine has always belonged to Devin, said Mrazik. I could not imagine that currant wine would disappear from Devin. Thus, after I failed to motivate my wine-making friends enough to salvage the tradition, I started its production in 2007.

While traditional currant wine is sweet, Mrazik as well as other currant wine producers nowadays produce a whole scale of currant wines: traditional semi-sweet from red and black currants, but also barrique currant wine, wine exclusively from red, black or white currants as well as medium dry and dry wine and other specialities like fortified wine. That Mrazik chose the right path is proven by medals he has been collecting at international competitions.The best opportunity to taste all kinds of currant wine, as well as other specialities made from currants, is to visit the annual festival Ribezlovy Devin (Currant Devin) held in Devin in July.

Enchanted by Frankovka

Frankovka has a royal seal of approval, bestowed by Empress Maria Theresa in 1767. She was reputedly enchanted by its taste and quality and deemed it suitable to be served at the imperial table. Two centuries later, scientists were able to give her opinion some additional credence when they discovered resveratrol, an ingredient believed to have benefits for the heart, in Frankovka.

Its the sunny location as well as the soil composition of the vineyards in Raca to which the local Frankovka owes its unmistakable taste. This belief is echoed by Jozef Morik, an enthusiastic grape grower and wine maker who revitalised with his four friends one of Racas oldest vineyards, Tale.

It was our dream, said Morik. Frankovka, called the lightest red wine full of concentrated bouquets of fruit and berries, with a harmonic and round taste, enchanted him with its taste and history, he admits.

Wine events June-September: Racanska lokalka (tourist wine train); FB: tour4u.sk

Racanska lokalka (tourist wine train); FB: tour4u.sk May: Festival of Frankovka in Bratislava; Wine tasting of Blaufrankisch or Frankovka modra traditional variety of wine in Bratislava region; www.visitbratislava.com

May, November: Day of open cellars Winemakers in the Small Carpathian region open their doors several times a year for a day and visitors can taste anything they want for a fee; www.mvc.sk

September: Currant Devin; Tasting of traditional currant Devin wine made from red and black currants

Vintage in several towns of the region (Bratislava-Raca, Modra, Pezinok, Svaty Jur) offers the opportunity to taste burciak (young wine or immature wine typical for the region)

The 2.5-hectare Tale is a vineyard where wine lovers can stop while wandering along the Racansky Vinohradnicky Chodnik (Raca Vineyard Path). An alternative to walking is taking the Presporacik tourist train that runs on the new line Racanska lokalka along Racansky Vinohradnicky Chodnik during the summer season. Every Friday, it takes passengers through the streets of old Raca and its vineyards, and also stops at the cellars of local winemakers.

Just next to Raca is another historical wine-producing village, Vajnory, now part of Bratislava. Here, the best place to taste local wines is the newly established wine shop of the local farm PD Vajnory on Hospodarska Street. It offers 26 kinds of wine produced exclusively from grapes grown in their vineyards totalling 30 hectares.

Those who want taste or buy the best wines from all of Slovakia should head to the Slovak National Collection of Wine in Apponyis Palace on Bratislavas Main Square. They will find here a collection of the 100 best wines from Slovakia selected each year. Booking is recommended.

Other popular places in the centre of Bratislava are wineshops (vinoteka) with degustation programmes as well as wine bars (viecha) where you can have bottled wine or have a glass tanked from barrels with wine of good quality and affordable prices.

Festivals

The grape harvest festival (vinobranie) season in the region of Bratislava starts in late August and lasts until mid November. Burciak, a slightly alcoholic and sparkling drink, is a regional specialty offered only in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria. In addition to festivals, you can taste it during autumn in wine bars in the city.

Burciaks sweet, natural, intoxicating flavor lures drinkers into danger. The cumulative effect of several drinks, a.k.a. the burciak curse, creeps up on them later after several glasses of the stuff. Although its average alcohol content of 5% is only half that of mature wine, burciak continues to ferment just as merrily inside the drinkers stomach. The continued fermentation, combined with a bubbly-champagne effect, gives burciak its infamous one-two punch. According to Slovak legend, every man should replace his blood every year with two liters of burciak.

I like to go to wine harvest festivals not only to taste burciak, but also to talk with wine makers and wine growers about wine and the current wine season, or just to meet with friends which, especially now, when everything is affected by the coronavirus pandemic, I highly appreciate, said Renata Novotna, a regular visitor of wine harvest festivals.

Taking a wine route

Many Slovak wine experts insist that wine should be tasted where it is produced, and a lot of wine makers have thrown open their cellars to allow visitors the opportunity to do just that. Numerous ancient cellars or brand new premises are open throughout the year, many clustered along the so-called wine roads that snake the country.

The Small Carpathian Wine Route (MVC) is the oldest example in Slovakia. It hosts several popular events throughout the year, including the annual Day of Open Wine Cellars in autumn and the annual St Urbans Day of Open Cellars in spring. On both occasions, many of the top wine producers open up for visitors to taste young and vintage wines.

The route itself is a string of more than 30 towns and villages along the east side of the Small Carpathians, of which Pezinok, Modra and Svaty Jur are the best known. In Pezinok, visitors can admire as many as 43 wine presses, the biggest collection in central Europe, in the Malokarpatske muzeum (Small Carpathian Museum) or head to the recently reconstructed chateau Simak with a winery located in the 800-year old cellars underneath.

In Modra, a must-see place is the wine park Elesko. It contains a restaurant and gallery, where visitors can not only see wine being produced but also mix their own cuvee.

It will be exceptional because it will contain your story, promises the winery.
Six-Time Tony winner Audra McDonald returns to Broadway as monster stage mother, Mama Rose in a revival of the musical, "Gypsy." She took to Instagram, saying in a video, "I can finally say 'curtain up,' 'light the lights,' I am returning to Broadway this fall."

The announcement comes a mere three months after the six-time Tony-winning actress denied rumors of a revival involving her.

"Gypsy" premiered in 1959, and was written by composer Jule Styne and lyricist Stephen Sondheim based on the childhood of Burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee. McDonald's character is a controlling mother who forces her two children onto the Vaudeville stage, and is considered one of the greatest roles in musical theater.

Directing the show is another Tony heavyweight--George C. Wolf, who won the award for "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches," and "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk."

"When we began this journey we had the specific dream of pairing Audra McDonald, our most lauded stage actress, with legendary director George C. Wolfe in a musical deemed by many to be the greatest," said producers Tom Kirdahy and Mara Isaacs. "Sometimes the theatre gods smile upon us. This is one such time. We could not be more honored to bring this particular 'Gypsy' to the Broadway stage and also include the singular Camille A. Brown as part of our creative team." Wolfe and McDonald are reuniting after their 2016 collaboration in "Shuffle Along." Additional cast members will be announced at a later date.

The "Gypsy" revival will start previews on November 21. Opening night is on Dec. 19, reopening the newly renovated Majestic Theater which had been closed since last year.

McDonald's last Broadway appearance was in 2022, when she played Suzanne Alexander in "Ohio State Murders." She received a Tony nomination for the role.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/republican-us-senators-say-will-block-democratic-bills-nominees-due-to-trump-conviction-1118725898.html

Republican US Senators Say Will Block Democratic Bills, Nominees Due to Trump Conviction

Republican US Senators Say Will Block Democratic Bills, Nominees Due to Trump Conviction

Sputnik International

A group of Republican senators said they will block the expedited consideration of Democratic legislation and the confirmation of some Democratic nominees in response to the prosecution of Donald Trump.

2024-05-31T21:48+0000

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On Thursday, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records related to a so-called hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied the accusations and expressed an intent to appeal the verdict. The letter is signed by eight Republican senators, including Mike Lee, JD Vance, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio. The senators will not allow any increase to non-security related funding for the Biden administration or any appropriations bill that funds partisan lawfare, the letter said. The senators will also not vote to confirm the Biden administrations political or judicial appointees or allow expedited consideration of Democratic legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of Americans, the letter said. The group invites all concerned senators to join their effort, Lee said in a statement via social media platform X. Strongly worded statements are not enough, Lee added. Trump has denounced the case as a scam and a form of election interference amid the 2024 US presidential race. However, President Joe Biden said it is reckless and dangerous to characterize the trial as rigged.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/trump-campaign-says-broke-fundraising-record-after-guilty-verdict-in-hush-money-case-1118718888.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/biden-letting-ukraine-strike-russia-risks-moving-from-proxy-to-real-war---ex-us-diplomat-1118735361.html

Biden Letting Ukraine Strike Russia Risks Moving From Proxy to Real War - Ex-US Diplomat

Biden Letting Ukraine Strike Russia Risks Moving From Proxy to Real War - Ex-US Diplomat

Sputnik International

President Joe Biden authorizing Kiev to fire US weapons into parts of Russia coupled with belligerent moves by other Western nations risks turning the Ukraine conflict from proxy war to real war, former US diplomat and State Department consultant on US-Russia relations James Carden told Sputnik.

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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 (also known as Kharkiv) region. The US has not authorized the use of long-range missiles, including ATACMS, inside Russia, the spokesperson told Sputnik. In only the last few days, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have issued twin warnings against enabling Ukraine to strike inside Russia. Attempts to strike Russia with US weapons are already being made, and it eloquently attests to the extent of the US involvement in the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. President Putin warned NATO nations 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/russia-may-see-ukrainian-long-range-attacks-as-precursor-to-nuclear-strike-ex-dod-analyst-fears-1118724278.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/egypt-us-israel-planning-to-discuss-reopening-of-rafah-checkpoint-on-sunday---reports-1118738187.html

Egypt, US, Israel Planning to Discuss Reopening of Rafah Checkpoint on Sunday

Egypt, US, Israel Planning to Discuss Reopening of Rafah Checkpoint on Sunday

Sputnik International

Egypt, the United States and Israel are planning a meeting in Cairo on June 2 to discuss the reopening of the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip, Al Qahera News broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing a high-ranking source.

2024-06-01T12:23+0000

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2024-06-01T12:39+0000

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On Thursday, the broadcaster reported that Egypt demands a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Rafah border checkpoint so that its operations can be resumed. In early May, 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 Wednesday, Israeli National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi said that the Israeli army was already controlling 75% of the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land running along the border of the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Egypt has repeatedly warned Israel against attempts to establish control over the Philadelphi Corridor. Egyptian State Information Service chairman Diaa Rashwan said that Cairo is able to protect its borders.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/no-signs-israel-will-reopen-rafah-crossing-for-humanitarian-aid---palestinian-minister-1118693883.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/eu-increases-purchases-of-russian-iron-steel-and-aluminum-1118652981.html

EU Increases Purchases of Russian Iron, Steel, and Aluminum

EU Increases Purchases of Russian Iron, Steel, and Aluminum

Sputnik International

In March 2024, the European Union (EU) has increased purchases of Russian iron, steel and aluminum. The ramp up mainly stems from a significant rise in demand from Belgium and Germany, Sputnik assessed based on the blocs statistics.

2024-06-01T07:20+0000

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In March, Moscow became the second main supplier of iron and steel to the EU, increasing its exports by 1.7 times, up to 328 million euros (in monthly terms). This is the highest number since May 2023, when EU countries bought 369 million euros' worth of these metals.Belgium became the number one buyer, as the country increased its imports by 3.5 times, up to 130.5 million euros. This was Belgiums largest purchase since June 2022. Italy increased its purchases by 25%, to 85 million euros, and Denmark did so by 30%, to 35.1 million euros. The top five buyers also include the Czech Republic (23 million euros) and the Netherlands (20 million euros). Meanwhile, Hungary resumed imports from Russia following a four-month break, buying iron and steel worth 13.7 million euros.At the same time, Russias aluminum shipments rose by 29% month-on-month to 91.4 million euros, the highest figure since October 2023.The export growth can be explained by rising demand from Germany. The country has seen a fivefold surge of aluminum imports, which stand at 22.4 million euros today. Spain (+69%) and Poland (+21%) also both expanded their imports.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/eu-sees-surge-in-russian-grain-imports-1118579479.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/if-trump-were-a-leftie-democrats-would-love-him-1118707132.html

If Trump Were a Leftie, Democrats Would Love Him

If Trump Were a Leftie, Democrats Would Love Him

Sputnik International

Part of the reason Bidens polls are so awful is that Democrats and their supporters dont have a clue about what is driving Trump and his MAGA movement.

2024-06-01T19:15+0000

2024-06-01T19:15+0000

2024-06-01T19:15+0000

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The answer would shock many of them. Republican voters want the same thing as Democrats: a warrior. Republicans dont much care whether their president or senator or congressman is a decent or law-abiding individual. They just want him to vote for the bills they agree with, and to push like hell to turn them into law.Evangelical Christians, the bedrock of the GOP base, embodies this seeming paradox. It is odd, The New Statesman muses, to see a man who embodies so many sinsincluding all seven deadly ones; is there anyone who better exemplifies a noxious combination of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth?be so widely embraced by the religious Right. This is a politician who has no home church and cant name his favorite Bible verse. White evangelicals went 84% for Trump in 2020, up from 77% in 2016 according to the Pew poll. And from their perspective, it paid off. Trumps Supreme Court appointees, a trio of hard-core right-wingers, are why Roe v. Wade and the federal right to an abortion are no more.If they thought about it, Democrats would realize its not odd at all.Recently I noticed a photo I have of myself with the late Ted Kennedy, liberal lion of the US Senate and perennial candidate for president. Kennedys personal life, particularly vis-a-vis women, was deplorable. I knew, everyone knew, about that when I went to work for his primary campaign against Jimmy Carter in 1980, and then when he tried again in 1984. And yet again when I met him at the ceremony where I received the RFK Journalism Award.I didnt care.I wouldnt let my daughter catch a ride in Kennedys black Oldsmobile. So what? What mattered to me was not what he did as a private individual but how he voted and championed liberal values.Many women felt like that. If you are sympathetic to Kennedy and his politics," Newsweek observed when Kennedy died in 2009, you were willing to measure the benefits that Kennedy brought to countless people through his politics, and give them proper weight on the scales of the mans record.In 2004, when antiwar leftists and progressives disgusted by the then-popular Cult of George W. Bush and his lie-based invasion of Iraq were at their most desperate for a champion to walk tall, consequences be damned, Kennedy stood head and shoulders above his fellow Democrats. We thrilled as he dared to unleash his outrage against a GOP that hadnt faced serious criticism since the September 11, 2001 attacks.Iraq is George Bushs Vietnam, Kennedy said in one of his many famous speeches. Truth is the first casualty of policy when it came to Bush, he thundered. This is the pattern and the record of the Bush administration [on] Iraq, jobs, Medicare, schools, issue after issuemislead, deceive, make up the needed facts, smear the character of any critics. Again and again, we see this cynical, despicable strategy playing out.Mitch McConnell (R-KY), then the Senate majority whip, blasted Kennedy as vicious and outrageous.It is, however, no coincidence that Kennedys favorability polls peaked in 2004.Liberals could sure use a warrior like Kennedy now.If you can, try to imagine a Joe Biden with many of the same qualities and flaws of men like Ted Kennedy and Donald Trump. Lets say that we knew for a fact that he repeatedly crept out on Jill with, among other people, a porn star. That he cheated people who worked for him. That he issued truly disgusting utterances, some of it racist. But, that he was also indefatigably determined to push forward a far-left agenda whether or not the establishment was ready for itsocialized health care, free college, much higher minimum wage, legalized abortion at the federal level.If you are tired of a Democratic Party that constantly seems to sell itself cheap to the Republicans, you might vote for that kind of Joe Biden.Alternatively, what if Trump were the same exact person, but a warrior for the Left? Admit itprogressives would love him.Of course, the real Joe Biden is not that different than the theoretical Joe Mr. Hyde Biden I just describedthe bad part, anyway. A former Capitol Hill staffer accused Biden of sexual assault. So did other women. Like Trump, Biden credibly stands accused of corrupt business dealings. He launched his political career by defending segregated schools, engineered a racist crime bill that sent two generations of young Black men to prison for minor crimes and made numerous racist remarks.Sadly, Biden isnt enough of a warrior to justify turning a blind eye to his negatives. If he were, the extreme-right government of Israel would have to look somewhere else for the tens of billions of tax dollars Biden is sending them to help slaughter the Palestinians.Even so, tens of millions of Democratic voters will do just that this November. Like the Trumpies, the Bidenites are overlooking their candidates flaws, not least of which is his alarming mental decline. Surely liberals should be able to see that, in this respect, they are exactly the same as the Republicans. But, of course, there is a difference. Unlike the Republicans who ignore Trumps failings, Democrats who put their consciences on silent mode in order to vote for Biden are doing so without any indication that they will ever get anything back in return.(Ted Rall (Twitter: @tedrall), the political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist, co-hosts the left-vs-right DMZ America podcast with fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis. His latest book, brand-new right now, is the graphic novel 2024: Revisited.)

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240524/trump-biden-doesnt-know-hes-alive-1118610290.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240304/over-60-of-us-citizens-concerned-over-bidens-mental-capability---poll-1117122364.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/iran-reserves-right-to-respond-to-sanctions-imposed-on-it-by-eu---foreign-ministry-1118727447.html

Iran Reserves Right to Respond to Sanctions Imposed on It by EU - Foreign Ministry

Iran Reserves Right to Respond to Sanctions Imposed on It by EU - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik International

The Iranian FM condemns the recent sanctions imposed on Iran by the EU, Iran reserves the right to respond to this EU move, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.

2024-06-01T04:26+0000

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The EU on Friday imposed sanctions against Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani for allegedly providing military assistance to Russia. In addition, five more individuals and three Iranian organizations were included in the sanctions list, including the Iranian IRGC Navy for allegedly undermining security in the Middle East and Red Sea region. The Iranian ministry spokesman said the EU, which has been inactive in recent months regarding the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, has once again - instead of focusing on Israel's actions in Palestine - sanctioned a number of Iranian institutions and leaders who effectively counter terrorism and ensure security in the region.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/like-wwi-ukraine-conflict-is-reshaping-war-for-the-21st-century-1118727144.html

Like WWI, Ukraine Conflict Is Reshaping War For the 21st Century

Like WWI, Ukraine Conflict Is Reshaping War For the 21st Century

Sputnik International

The conflict in Ukraine is reshaping warfare in the 21st century, and just like WWI, it will be the generals who can adapt who will find success.

2024-06-01T02:44+0000

2024-06-01T02:44+0000

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Regardless, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, chief of staff of the British Expeditionary Force and the architect of the battle decided to soldier on, losing an additional 400,000 troops in four months until winter came and mercifully halted the fighting.The Battle of Somme ended inconclusively and is considered one of the greatest tragedies of the First World War for the British army. Haig appeared to be a qualified general when he took the post, but as the saying goes, generals are always fighting the last war and few personified that more than Haig.Trained in outdated military doctrine that had already been discredited in the Civil War and again in the Russo-Japanese War. Haig ordered frontal assaults, and not even the kind that were typical (though largely unsuccessful) during the early stages of the Great War. Haig preferred the kind that came out of the Napoleonic era. The general ordered his men to assault the brunt of the German defense using slow-moving, orderly lines, which he saw as easier to command. He planned to send in the cavalry which often played major roles in Haigs plans despite their ineffectiveness in modern war after his infantry broke the German lines.Time and time again, Haig ordered his cavalry to suit up in anticipation of the coming breakthrough, only to order them to stand down when it failed to come and his infantry divisions were bleeding out in no mans land between the defensive lines.Haig was not the only general to look silly during WWI, but his refusal to learn was among the worst. What Somme and many other battles in WWI proved was that the old way of fighting had come and gone. The weapons had changed the battlefield and armies had to adjust their tactics or face ruin.The weapons that shaped warfare in the 20th century: barbed wire, machine guns, tanks, long-range artillery, and battleships, still play significant roles on the battlefield in the 21st, but they are dwarfed in importance by one invention, from which multiple theaters have been affected: the drone.While specific numbers of their effectiveness are difficult to come by at this stage of the conflict (that will be a job for war historians) there is no doubt that it is the most significant innovation on the battlefield today, used by both sides to inflict large amounts of casualties on the other.During Ukraines failed 2023 counteroffensive, drones played a huge role in stopping that advance. With the possible exception of Russias distance mining equipment, which also took out large numbers of tanks, drones were pivotal in taking out NATOs most powerful armor.But it is an evolution of warfare that is occurring before our eyes. So, the Chinese and Americans are certainly paying very close attention, he noted earlier in the interview.It is an opinion shared by former Marine and UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter. Speaking on the Danny Haiphong show, he explained how everything from tactics to logistics has been changed by drones.When this war started, people were working off of Cold War-era doctrinal thinking. That is: you have tank columns, you have artillery that operates in battery or battalion sized formations flooding a zone, you have big arrow movements and things of that nature, Ritter recalled. [Then] drones started coming in, not just for targeting purposes, not just for deep strike purposes, but tactical drones on the battlefront. These FPV drones are a nightmare for soldiers.Much like Haig, this was a lesson that the Armed Forces of Ukraine failed to learn during their counteroffensive. Rabotino was intended to be the first minor step during that offensive that would lead to Tokmak which would serve as the staging ground for an assault on Melitopol.But as armor assault after armor assault was destroyed, it became apparent that the Ukrainians would never reach their goal. But, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needed something to show his Western benefactors, so Rabotino became the goal. It took 71 days to capture the tiny village with a pre-war population of about 500 people, largely using the same tactics they began with. Ukraine lost dozens of expensive tanks and thousands of men capturing and then holding the village. The Ukrainian offensive never went any further and in May, Russia recaptured the village.Just as the invention of the tank helped break the stalemate of the First World War, new technologies are emerging to counteract the drone and there it seems Russia has a decided advantage on that front. According to Military Watch Magazine, Russian electronic defenses have rendered Ukraines best artillery weapons all but useless, including the Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells, the vaunted HIMARS rocket artillery systems and the JDAM precision-guided bombs.But the innovations on the battlefield arent exclusive to high technology, often they come from the soldiers on the ground. As tanks were increasingly taken out by drones, soldiers started adding cope cages in an attempt to protect them. This eventually led to the deployment of what is affectionately called the turtle tank.Typically beginning with a T-72 tank, so-called turtle tanks are outfitted with a metal shell that covers almost the entirety of the tank, leaving only the very front and its cannon exposed to drone attack. While limiting the driver in visibility and maneuverability, those drawbacks have proven worth it. The Ukrainians who initially laughed at the turtle tanks awkward appearance and low-tech solution quickly stopped laughing as they retreated from turtle tank assaults across the Western front.As Sleboda noted, Ukraine didnt even bother trying to outfit the Abrams with anti-drone measures. They couldnt. Theyre much too arrogant, to put a cope cage on an Abrams, he said.The innovations on the battlefield in the Ukraine war are undoubtedly going to shape the next war and the war after that. China has made clear that it is paying attention and it wants the US to know that as well. In January they released a video showing how their drone swarms would work in concept against naval fleets.China also claims to have a new anti-drone tank, which includes electronic warfare equipment and anti-air measures designed to counteract drones and slow-moving guided missiles. They have also shown off very advanced maritime and underwater drones.In WWI, the generals who failed to learn from the lessons of the Civil War and the Russo-Japanese War suffered the consequences on the battlefield. Russia learned its lessons already. Ukraine did not and we see the results of that. China seems to be paying close attention and appears to be adjusting its priorities accordingly. The United States pioneered drone warfare in the 2000s, but as evidenced by the number of MQ-9 Reapers taken down by the Houthis in Yemen, those are no longer effective. Will the lumbering behemoth of NATO be able to adjust as quickly as Russia and China, or will they, like Haig, be stuck fighting with the tactics and equipment of the last century?The tensions are increasing right now across the Taiwanese straits. We're in [with Ukraine] one of the early stages of a conflict that in the future will be regarded as part of a series of conflicts that are [a part of] World War 3, Sleboda warned.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240511/watch-zala-drones-thwart-ukrainian-attempt-to-cross-dnepr-river-1118383808.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240515/russian-forces-completely-liberate-rabotino-village-in-zaporozhye-region-1118444826.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240424/redefining-speed-russian-turtle-tanks-adapt-to-realities-of-modern-warfare-1118087517.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/orban-coalition-for-peace-could-be-created-after-elections-in-us-and-eu-1118740637.html

Orban: Coalition for Peace Could Be Created After Elections in US and EU

Orban: Coalition for Peace Could Be Created After Elections in US and EU

Sputnik International

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said on Saturday that a transatlantic coalition for peace could be formed after the European Parliament elections and the US presidential election, especially if a pro-peace president is elected

2024-06-01T18:21+0000

2024-06-01T18:21+0000

2024-06-01T18:21+0000

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"The elections are in a week, after that we can create a European coalition for peace. In the fall, the Americans may elect a pro-peace president, and with them together we can create a pan-Western transatlantic coalition for peace," Orban told Peace March participants. Peace advocates were in the minority at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the year they could form a majority in the West, Orban added. Tens of thousands of Hungarians rallied in Budapest on Saturday at a peace march to protest the European country's possible involvement in the Ukraine conflict ahead of the European Parliament elections, slated for June 6-9.At the moment, however, the bloc continues its escalation against Russia: after the NATO parliamentary assembly stated in May that Ukraine has the right to attack the Russian territories with weapons supplied by the West, France, Germany, Netherlands, and many other European nations approved that move.The US presidential election will take place in November, with stakes rising higher last week after Republican frontrunner Donald Trump was found guilty by a New York court on all 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump lambasted the verdict as a part of political witchhunt against him, while his campaign reported a record $53 million sum of donations in the span of 24 hours following the conviction.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/scott-ritter-ukraines-nato-allies-dragging-world-into-nuclear-armageddon--1118717524.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/palestinian-movement-hamas-welcomes-bidens-proposal-for-ceasefire-in-gaza---statement-1118726861.html

Palestinian Movement Hamas Welcomes Biden's Proposal for Ceasefire in Gaza - Statement

Palestinian Movement Hamas Welcomes Biden's Proposal for Ceasefire in Gaza - Statement

Sputnik International

The Palestinian movement Hamas on Friday welcomed the proposal of US President Joe Biden on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

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Earlier in the day, Biden said that Israel has offered Hamas a new three-phase proposal with a roadmap that would lead to an enduring cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip as well as the release of all hostages. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes the new proposal announced by US President Biden will achieve a permanent peace in Gaza, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/israel-on-path-to-make-gaza-unlivable-while-seeking-to-destroy-hamas-1118688979.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/robert-kennedy-jr-condemns-bidens-decision-to-authorize-ukrainian-strikes-inside-russia-1118735636.html

Robert Kennedy Jr. Condemns Biden's Decision to Authorize Ukrainian Strikes Inside Russia

Robert Kennedy Jr. Condemns Biden's Decision to Authorize Ukrainian Strikes Inside Russia

Sputnik International

US presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. condemned President Joe Biden's decision to greenlight Ukrainian strikes using US-supplied weapons inside Russian territory.

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"More insane escalation by the Biden administration  authorizing Ukraine to strike targets deep in Russia. Using our weapons, trained in their use by our trainers," Kennedy said on X.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 (also known as Kharkiv) region. The US has not authorized the use of long-range missiles, including ATACMS, inside Russia, the spokesperson told Sputnik.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/washington-to-allow-ukraine-to-hit-russia-with-uss-himars-gmlrs-artillery---reports-1118716946.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/russian-forces-launch-rockets-at-ukrainian-military-linked-energy-facilities---mod-1118737077.html

Russian Forces Launch Rockets at Ukrainian Military-Linked Energy Facilities - MoD

Russian Forces Launch Rockets at Ukrainian Military-Linked Energy Facilities - MoD

Sputnik International

The Russian armed forces over the past 24 hours have launched a group rocket strike against Ukrainian energy facilities working for the military-industrial complex in response to Kiev's attempts to damage Russian energy and transportation facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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"In response to attempts by the Kiev regime to damage Russian energy and transportation facilities, the Russian armed forces launched a group strike with long-range airborne and sea-based precision weapons against Ukrainian energy facilities that support the operation of enterprises of the military-industrial complex," the ministry said. Russian forces also hit an expert center responsible for developing flight missions for Ukrainian drones, the ministry added. Meanwhile, Russia's Battlegroup Yug eliminated over 660 Ukrainian soldiers near the villages of Krivaya Luka, Zaliznyanske, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Kalinina, Andreyevka and Seversk of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the ministry said. At the same time, Russia's Battlegroup Zapad grouping of troops repelled a Ukrainian attack, eliminating up to 450 servicepeople and a tank, the ministry said. Besides that, Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr grouping of troops repelled six attacks by Ukraine, eliminating up to 330 soldiers and two IFVs, including a US-made Bradley, the ministry said. During the counter-battery fire, Ukraine lost a US-made M777 howitzer, three Msta-B howitzers and two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery cannons, as well as a D-20 howitzer, three D-30 howitzers, and two US-made M119 howitzers, the ministry noted. Russia's Battlegroup Sever grouping of troops repelled five attacks by Ukrainian assault groups, eliminating up to 240 servicepeople, the ministry said. During the counter-battery fire, Ukraine lost a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, a D-20 howitzer and an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery cannon, as well as a D-30 howitzer, the ministry noted. Russia's Battlegroup Vostok grouping of troops eliminated up to 120 Ukrainian servicepeople, the ministry said. "The units of the Vostok Battlegroup took more favorable lines and hit the manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade and 128th territorial defense brigade in the areas of the villages of Urozhaynoye and Makarovka in the DPR. Ukraine's armed forces lost over 120 servicepeople, an armored combat vehicle, four vehicles, and a 122 mm D-30 howitzer," the ministry added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/ukraine-firing-us-arms-at-russia-will-push-moscow-to-expand-buffer-zone---ex-us-army-col-1118721590.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/senior-german-lawmaker-demands-activation-of-900000-reservists-amid-anti-russia-hysteria-1118737684.html

Senior German Lawmaker Demands Activation of 900,000 Reservists Amid Anti-Russia Hysteria

Senior German Lawmaker Demands Activation of 900,000 Reservists Amid Anti-Russia Hysteria

Sputnik International

Germany went from doing its best to avoid getting dragged into the Ukrainian quagmire to one of the NATO proxy wars biggest cheerleaders, committing over 10 billion in military and economic support to Kiev, and suffering major economic losses due to spiking energy costs after cutting itself off from cheap and plentiful Russian pipeline gas.

2024-06-01T12:31+0000

2024-06-01T12:31+0000

2024-06-01T13:17+0000

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Bundestag Defense Committee Chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has urged the government and armed forces to activate 900,000 reservists in light of the so-called Russian threat.Putin is preparing his people for war and positioning them against the West. We must therefore become capable of defending ourselves as quickly as possible, Strack-Zimmermann told the Funke Media Group on Saturday.Russia produces only weapons. School books are being printed that portray Germany as an aggressor, the lawmaker claimed.Strack-Zimmermann, whose Free Democratic Party is part of Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Traffic Light Coalition alongside the Social Democrats and the Greens, has been an avid proponent of a military solution to the Ukraine crisis from its outset, actively promoting the delivery of German heavy armor to Kiev.Her remarks come just days after Defense Minister Boris Pistorius apparently dropped plans to reintroduce conscription under his campaign to make Germany a war-ready nation, and promised a new, largely voluntary recruitment scheme after months of internal debate in the government over the severely unpopular proposal ahead of upcoming elections for the European Parliament later this month.The new government proposal does not mention compulsory military service, but could force Germans over 18 years old to fill out a physical fitness assessment questionnaire for reference. Other proposals include the waiver of administrative fees for drivers licenses, discounts on student loan repayments, and other enticements.The Bundeswehr has experienced a years-long slump in its recruitment numbers, with troop numbers shrinking (by 1,500 personnel to 181,500 total in 2023) despite plans to grow its ranks to at least 203,000 personnel by the early 2030s.Germany indefinitely suspended conscription in 2011.To deal with the dearth in recruitment and the political unpopularity of conscription, German Reservist Association Chairman Patrick Sensburg recently called on the military to systematically record the health status and availability of all former military personnel in order to create plans for their deployment for homeland security and national and alliance defense in case of a crisis. Germany counts "reservists" as all former military service members of the Bundeswehr, but does not count troops from the defunct National Peoples Army of the German Democratic Republic  the pro-Soviet East Germany annexed by the Federal Republic in 1990 with Mikhail Gorbachevs blessing on the condition that NATO does not expand the alliance to the east. Veterans of the defunct National Peoples Army number in the hundreds of thousands, and faced widespread dismissal in the 1990s, miserly pension benefits, and difficulties finding work in the new Germany.Berlin has allocated some 10 billion euros ($10.85 billion US) in military aid to Ukraine over the past two years, more than any other country in NATO besides the United States. This support has included an array of heavy weapons  from tanks and armored vehicles to air defense batteries and artillery, with Leopard 1s and 2s making up the backbone of Ukraines NATO main battle tanks, and destroyed by the dozens by Russia during last years Ukrainian counteroffensive.Berlin joined lockstep with Washington on Friday by formally greenlighting Ukrainian strikes against targets deep inside Russia using long-range NATO strike systems, but has yet to deliver its Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 km.At home, German generals and politicians have complained of major problems with the Bundeswehrs capabilities, including the inability to scrape together even a single 20,000-troop-strong combat-ready division after sending billions in equipment to Ukraine, and controversial plans to send panzer battalions without panzers to guard NATOs eastern flanks in light of the Russian threat."Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin have said repeatedly that Moscow has no interest  neither geopolitical, nor economic, nor political, nor military  in getting into a conflict with NATO, while warning of the dangers of the Ukraine proxy wars potential for escalation.At the same time as Germany has ramped up defense spending and sought to increase the size and strength of its military, the country has suffered major economic difficulties throughout the course of the Ukraine crisis. Hundreds of major companies have relocated industrial production overseas amid unbearably high energy prices after the German government unilaterally rejected pipeline gas deliveries from Russia, and after US Navy divers allegedly destroyed the Nord Stream pipeline network. The traditional European industrial powerhouses recession has dipped in and out of recession, with Economy Minister Robert Habeck admitting in February that the countrys economy was in troubled waters and performing dramatically bad.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240516/symbolic-germany-quietly-deports-ukrainian-troops-over-use-of-nazi-insignia-1118481875.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230320/a-fateful-error-history-of-natos-expansion-1108611973.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/german-economy-hit-by-unprecedented-outflow-of-capital--cdu-chairman-1118271912.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/trump-raises-53mln-in-24-hours-after-conviction-averaging-2mln-per-hour---campaign-1118727000.html

Trump Raises $53Mln in 24 Hours After Conviction, Averaging $2Mln Per Hour - Campaign

Trump Raises $53Mln in 24 Hours After Conviction, Averaging $2Mln Per Hour - Campaign

Sputnik International

Former President Donald Trump's presidential campaign said in a press release that it raised a record $53 million in the span of 24 hours following his New York conviction.

2024-06-01T01:22+0000

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"In the 24 hours since Crooked Joe Biden and his New York henchmen got their sham trial verdict, the Trump Campaign has raised $52.8 million through the online digital fundraising platform," the release said on Friday. The new total means Trump's campaign is receiving an average of $2 million in donations each hour, according to the release.More than one third of these contributions are from new donors to the campaign, the release said, adding that it showcases a growing opposition to the jury's decision. On Thursday, a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.Trump said the verdict was a disgrace and part of a sham trial pushed by the Biden administration via a weaponized judicial system and a partisan judge in order to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.Trump also said he will appeal the verdict while his campaign and various legal scholars noted that it does not affect his right to run for president of the United States.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/trump-hush-money-trial-rigged-disgraceful-after-guilty-verdict-1118708239.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/ukraine-warmongering-burns-hole-in-frances-budget-1118736230.html

Ukraine Warmongering Burns Hole in Frances Budget

Ukraine Warmongering Burns Hole in Frances Budget

Sputnik International

Frances President Emmanuel Macron got a nasty wakeup call on Friday as Standard & Poor's cut its long-term sovereign credit rating from AA to AA.

2024-06-01T13:35+0000

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French President Emmanuel Macron got a nasty wakeup call on Friday as Standard & Poor's cut its long-term sovereign credit rating from AA to AA.The agency cited the larger-than-expected deficit overshoot, but maintained that the outlook remained stable.It added that, "The stable outlook on France reflects our expectations that real economic growth will accelerate and support the government's budgetary consolidation, albeit not enough to bring down its already elevated general government debt-to-GDP ratio.The agency projected that general government debt will reach 112.1% of GDP in 2027, noting that France's debt-to-GDP ratio was the third highest in the euro area after Greece and Italy. The American rating agency assessed Frances track record of budgetary consolidation over the past decades as weak.Back in April 2023, Fitch cut its rating on France to "AA-," while Moody's kept it at "Aa2."The downgrade didnt come out of the blue and was to be expected, considering that France racked up a budget deficit of 5.5% of GDP in 2023 instead of the projected 4.9%. This fiscal shortfall equal to an estimated 20 billion euros will "complement" the already excessive sovereign debt pile, which stood at 110.6% of GDP in 23Q4. In 2024, France was officially reported as having a debt-to-GDP ratio of 112% by the IMF.The rating cut will further put a damper on Emmanuel Macrons hopes regarding the European Parliament elections this month.According to opinion polls, Macrons Renaissance (RE) party is trailing the right-wing National Rally (RN) in a distant second place. Macron also lacks a parliamentary majority at home, while his personal ratings swooped to their lowest recorded level last year over his handling of the controversial pension reform and ensuing protests. Some 70 percent of respondents judged him negatively in 2023, as per Odoxa polling. In April, close to three-quarters of French respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Macron's actions since his reelection, particularly in the economic and social sphere, an Ifop-Fiducial survey for Sud Radio showed.Since taking office in 2017, Macron has vowed to comply with the EUs Sustainability and Growth Pact (SGP). But when spending hand over fist, getting finances back on track becomes a daunting challenge.Massive spending announcements have marked the last three years, starting with the coronavirus pandemic. After the West targeted Russia with short-sighted, backfiring sanctions over Ukraine in 2022, the spending surged even more. Fallout from the restrictions brought on Europes huge energy and cost of living crises. Costly measures were brought in to support French businesses and citizens, but any such spending party has to end at some point.Frances debt is such that reimbursing the vast sums would require drastic and unpopular public spending cuts. Macrons Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has said he wants to work towards debt reduction in 2024, and bring the deficit to below the EU limit of 3% by 2027. All this would require a serious budget tightrope-walking feat if it is to be done without raising taxes.Another big-ticket item for France is the Paris Olympics. The bill total is currently approaching nine billion euros ($9.66 billion), but may pass 10 billion euros, a government source told AFP in April.It is worth noting that amid Macrons recent ponderings on sending NATO soldiers to Ukraine, France has to spend more on paying interest on the national debt than on military expenditures. The country currently spends 43.9 billion euros on the military, which is 1.94% of GDP, as per Ouest-France. While one might expect the high political stakes to prompt Macron to take stock of the countrys disastrous finances, France and Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement in February that included pledges from Paris to deliver up to three billion euros in military aid to Kiev in 2024. Government military support to Ukraine from January 24, 2022 to February 29, 2024 equaled 2.69 billion euros, according to the Ukraine Support Tracker, Kiel WP.With Macron dramatically raising the stakes of Western intervention in the Ukraine proxy war, it remains to be seen how the French leader will fare in the June elections, and once his presidential term ends in 2027.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/le-pen-sees-macrons-backing-of-ukraines-strikes-inside-russia-as-step-toward-world-war-1118699805.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/macron-seeks-to-form-eu-coalition-for-sending-military-instructors-to-ukraine---reports-1118702096.html

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Half-mile track specialist Hellabalou invaded the The Raceway at Western Fair District to take top honours in the 2024 edition of the $150,000 Camluck Classic Invitational Pace, presented by Seelster Farms, as the London, Ont. meet wrapped up in front of a packed grandstand on Friday, May 31.

Hellabalou marked trainer Ron Burke's fifth victory in the track's signature event.

Driver Louis-Philippe Roy took advantage of his inside post position and Hellabalou's gate speed to take command of the field of eight with trailing tier starter Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) protecting pocket position while Blue Hunt (Travis Cullen) and Linedrive Hanover (James MacDonald) fired wide into the first turn before eventually settling in line through a :26.4 first quarter.

Hellabalou continued to lead the way through a rated half in :56 with Blue Hunt back out first-up and Linedrive Hanover following the cover as they completed the first lap.

Blue Hunt was in the hunt down the backstretch, applying pressure to three-quarters in 1:23.3, but Hellabalou shook him off through the final turn. Linedrive Hanover then fanned three-wide and took aim down the lane, but 4-5 favourite Hellabalou lasted on the lead to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.1. Poseidon Seelster finished third.

"I was confident in the way that if we could take advantage of that rail position, I think it would have been a big difference, and that's actually what happened," said Roy of his pre-race assessment. "James kind of got into a tough spot because he had the six-hole there and I was able to control the race. And that horse [Hellabalou] makes it so easy for you to do it because he snapped off the gate really fast and then the second quarter was :29.1; it's not every horse that can be really aggressive off the gate and then slow down for you and relax for a quarter, so it's really a horse well suited for a half-mile [track]."

Roy said he remained confident around the last turn, but was impressed by the runner-up's game overland effort.

"I was still hearing 'Linedrive' coming so I was surprised how 'Linedrive' can be fast for a piece as well. So, like I said, the fact that he had to go around everyone, it made it a little easier for us, but that doesn't take anything off Hellabalou because he's a pretty nice horse."

Hellabalou, who earned his second Borgata Series title last month at Yonkers Raceway, now has two wins from 10 seasonal starts. The victory was his 28th lifetime and boosted his bankroll over the $1.5 million mark.

The six-year-old Sweet Lou-Magestic Blue Chip stallion is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Weaver Bruscemi and Lawrence Karr.

"Nights like this really make you love your work," added Roy, who last won the Camluck Classic two years ago with Richard Moreau trainee Jimmy Freight and also teamed up with Burke to win the 2018 edition with Rockin Ron in a 1:50.1 track record. "Every post parade you have people cheering for you and just the atmosphere with the crowd there, it's really nice. We can't be thankful enough for everybody that organizes these kind of events."

Burke also won the race, previously known as the Molson Pace, from 2010 to 2012 with Won The West and two-time champion Foiled Again.

Hellabalou paid $3.80 to win.

Local fan favourite So Much More defended her title in the $50,000 Forest City Invitational Pace, matching her 1:53 win time from last year's edition which was just one-fifth of a second off the track record for older pacing mares.



After following in fourth through opening panels of :27 and :56.1, driver James MacDonald sent the three-time O'Brien Award winner three-wide off cover down the backstretch to put a neck in front at the 1:24.3 third quarter mark and opened up 2-1/4 lengths from there to win over Talk Curdy To Me (Louis-Philippe Roy), who tracked the winner's backside move and chased through the stretch. Early leader Gias Surreal (Bob McClure) rounded out the top three.

"She's the epitomy of an iron horse, they don't make too many like her," said MacDonald after the race. "When they started to tire up front, she could really feel it. She's a special horse who has given us a lot of thrills. I'm just really proud to drive her."

The millionaire daughter of Big Jim-Ladysai earned her 72nd career victory for trainer Don Beatson, who co-owns with son Kenn Beatson and grandson Cole England.

So Much More paid $3.20 to win.

The Raceway's three-week City Of London Series was dominated by male pacer La Sun Control (Colin Kelly, 1:55.1) for trainer Rick Edwards, pacing filly Sauble Lila (Jason Ryan, 1:56.3) for conditioner Otis Hall and trotting filly Mass Money (Scott Young, 2:01.3) for the Mark Etsell stable. All three completed sweeps of their respective series divisions. Captain Wania was also perfect in the male trot division after one appearance in the preliminary legs. The Shannon Henry trainee returned to The Raceway to take the final in 1:58.4 with Travis Henry in the bike.

The City Of London Series, with finals ranging in purses of $23,000 to $30,000, was for Ontario-sired horses four years old and younger that were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight March 1, 2024.

The Raceway also hosted Ontario Sires Stakes action on the Camluck Classic undercard with four $20,000 divisions comprising the first leg of the Grassroots Series for three-year-old pacing colts.

James MacDonald drove a pair of Grassroots winners, teaming up with the David Menary-trained Chalk Hanover for a 1:55.3 score and the lightly raced Lakers Bank, who lowered his mark to 1:54.4 in his first OSS appearance for Tim Myers.

Sports Activator also won his division in a time of 1:54.4 for driver Brett MacDonald and trainer Michael Armstrong. The final division went to Logan Behold, who equalled his 1:55.3 lifetime mark with Tyler Borth in the bike for trainer Joseph MacIsaac.

R Royal Port was a repeat winner in The Raceway's Preferred trotting ranks, wiring the field in Friday's $15,000 edition named after the London Classic Sale. The Gerard Demers trainee scored in 1:57.1 by more than two lengths over Insanity and Treasured Tee with James MacDonald aboard for another trip to the winner's circle.

Cassidy Schneider, leading trainer through the first part of the year at The Raceway, added a victory on the meet finale in the $15,000 Bulldog Hanover Preferred Pace with Hollys Treasure, a homebred owned by her father Colonel Jr., holding off Arties Ideal by a nose in 1:54.2 in rein to Colin Kelly.

Schneider ended the meet with 41 wins so far this year at The Raceway while Cameron McQueen finished second in the standings with 32 victories and Jason Libby rounded out the top three with 22.

Garrett Rooney topped the driver standings with 119 victories, followed by Tyler Borth (88) and Travis Henry (80).

The Raceway reported on-track handle for the Camluck Classic card was up 17 per cent over the 2023 total with one of the largest crowds in recent memory in attendance.

Live harness racing will return to The Raceway in the fall on Oct. 1.

A replay of COSA TV's Camluck Classic coverage is available below.

To view Friday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
A 21-year-old man faces no criminal charges after hitting a SAPD patrol. mbbirdy/Getty Images

A 21-year-old man will face no charges after striking a San Antonio police patrol car at a North Side intersection.

Around 11:30 p.m. Friday, a man was traveling southeast in the 13400 block of Wood Valley when he entered the intersection of West Avenue and Interpark Boulevard. Witnesses reported that the driver of a white Dodge Ram disregarded the red light and struck a patrol car.

He also struck a telephone pole head-on, police said.

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ALSO READ: San Antonio man convicted of killing girlfriend whose body was left in a car

The San Antonio police patrol car was traveling northeast in the 13300 block of West Avenue at the time of the incident. No major injuries were reported.

Police said the 21-year-old was evaluated and found not to be under the influence of any substances.

Police said no criminal charges are expected to be filed in the case. The police report did not note if the driver was cited for traffic violations.
San Antonio Municipal Court in partnership with Vision Zero SA will host an open house for the new Drive Safely SA Resource and Education Center. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

The city of San Antonio is opening a new resource and education center for teenagers seeking their driver licenses.

On Monday, the San Antonio Municipal Court and Vision Zero SA will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the San Antonio Municipal Court to unveil the Drive Safely SA Resource and Education Center.

District 2 Council member Jalen Mckee-Rodriguez, San Antonio Municipal Court presiding Judge Carla Obledo, Director of Transportation Catherine Hernandez, and Vision Zero SA representatives will attend the event.

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The new center will offer online courses and in-person training for unlicensed teenage drivers. The courses will focus on safe driving practices, defensive driving techniques, dangers of distracted driving and driving under the influence.

Vision Zero SA is an initiative that seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and to enhance the safety of our transportation system.

The goal is to help teenagers get their licenses while improving their driving behaviors.
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.
Plaintiffs in the Zurawski v Texas case stand outside of the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Austin, Texas, after the Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments for their case, a major challenge to Texas abortion ban led by more than 20 women suing for clarified medical exemptions. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

After the Texas Supreme Court declined Friday to provide relief for nearly two dozen women and doctors who sued over the state abortion bans emergency exception, many of those women spoke out about their rage and disappointment over the decision

The case was the most significant challenge to the state's abortion bans since they took effect in 2022. The court essentially reiterated a December ruling in a similar case, saying it is up to doctors to use their reasonable medical judgment to determine when they can step in.

READ MORE: Texas Supreme Court declines to clarify abortion ban in suit from 20 women who suffered emergencies

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Here is what the women had to say about the opinion Friday:

Amanda Zurawski, of Austin

The Texas Supreme Court has showed us today that they don't wish to help pregnant Texans access health care, and they don't want to help doctors practice medicine in the state of Texas.

The Supreme Court had the opportunity to provide clarity, but they didn't. And we are right back where we started.

Her story: Zurawskis water broke before labor started but while doctors could still detect a heartbeat, was denied an abortion, according to the lawsuit. Days later, Zurawski developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition that is the bodys extreme response to an infection, and eventually doctors performed an abortion.

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Zurawski continued fighting the infection for three days in the intensive care unit, during which time one of her fallopian tubes had to be closed, which made it harder for her to conceive.

Ashley Brandt, of Dallas

As a Texan, I've never felt more expendable. And frankly, I'm tired of feeling that my health and life don't matter and that my viable twin, her life did not matter either.

And I just cannot emphasize this enough: This could be you. This could be someone you love. Abortion is health care, and exceptions do not work.

Her story: Brandt in 2022 was pregnant with twins, but at 12 weeks, she learned that one of them had acrania, a condition where the fetus does not develop a skull, according to the lawsuit.

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She eventually had to go to Colorado to abort that twin to increase the odds of the second twins survival. The second baby was later born healthy in Texas, though complications treated in Texas made Brandt fearful and uneasy because medical staff did not seem to want to acknowledge her abortion.

Kaitlyn Kash, of Austin

Today feels like I'm reliving the day that I got my child's diagnosis of severe skeletal dysplasia and being told that my child's bones would start to break in-utero with the slightest movement, including picking up my four-year-old son.

And what I want women in Texas to hear is that on the worst day of your life, the state of Texas has just told us that you have no right to health care, you have no right to decide what you want to do for your own children.

I wanted to end my child's pain before it could begin. And the state just told me that as a mother, I don't have the right to make those decisions for my child.  So if you want to grow your family, if you want to have children, you should definitely get out of Texas. That's all I have to say.

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Her story: Kash was pregnant with her second child when she discovered after her 13-week ultrasound that her baby had severe skeletal dysplasia, a condition affecting bone and cartilage growth, according to the lawsuit. The baby was unlikely to survive until birth or would suffocate soon after being born.

Kash traveled to a clinic in Kansas to have the abortion, enduring harassment from protesters there. During subsequent pregnancies, she ran into other issues, including trouble filling a prescription for medication that would help pass a miscarriage and delays getting a procedure to remove placental tissue after a healthy daughters birth that almost cost her uterus.

Kimberly Manzano, of the Dallas-Fort Worth area

As a currently pregnant woman in the state of Texas, I'm very sad, very sad for my unborn child that we lost. He would not have made it on the outside world. He was missing, not just a limb, but he was also missing vital organs. He was missing genitalia; he was missing parts of his body, that if you and I were missing, we would be dead.

Texas does not allow exceptions for him, or for any of my fellow plaintiffs on this case. It is very heartbreaking. It's very scary as a pregnant woman in the state of Texas, going forth in a high risk pregnancy, knowing the risk, knowing the outcomes, knowing that at anytime if I needed a health care abortion, I would still have to travel outside of the state of Texas.

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I'm scared through. I'm 21 weeks, and I've been scared since day one. And I continue to be scared.

Her story: Manzano found out at an ultrasound at 10 weeks that some of her babys organs were growing outside the body, which gave it little to no chance of survival and caused a risk of infection, according to the lawsuit. While she and her husband considered themselves pro-life, abortion seemed to be the only option. Without a bladder, the babys urine was circulating in her uterus, the lawsuit said. At 18 weeks pregnant, she traveled to New Mexico to get an abortion.

Taylor Edwards, of Austin

To me, what the ruling tells me is that dangerous complications in pregnancy are expected and normal. And it completely dismisses the pain that all of us went through, having unviable pregnancies and being left with no other options in our home state.

Having the fear of having to flee your home to access healthcare and being forced to carry a baby who's never going to live is not an expected and normal part of pregnancy.

Her story: Edwards learned at 17 weeks pregnant that her daughter had a fatal condition called anencephaly and would die at or before birth, according to the lawsuit. After a second opinion confirmed the diagnosis, Taylor decided to travel to New Mexico to have an abortion

Three hours before her flight was scheduled to leave, the New Mexico clinic canceled Taylors appointment due to a shortage of medication needed for the procedure. While enduring daily vomiting and emotional distress, she eventually found an appointment in Colorado. Taylor and her husband still want kids, but she is afraid to get pregnant again in Texas.

Samantha Casiano, of East Texas

We hope that everyone else that makes these decisions hears us, too, that you're not alone, they're not alone.

Because I gave birth to my daughter, and I watched my daughter suffocate. And it's just not something that anyone should have to see at all, whatsoever, or go through. There was no mercy for my daughter.

Her story: Casiano learned at her 20-week scan that her baby had a fatal condition called anencephaly and would not survive. She did not have the resources, financial or otherwise, to travel out of state for an abortion; she couldnt miss work or find child care for her five children.
Partial results from Wednesday's election suggest that South Africa's legendary ruling party, the ANC, is on track to lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years.

With results from 75% of voting districts counted so far, the ANC is leading with 42%, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 22%, reported the BBC.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) of former President Jacob Zuma trails behind with 13% of the vote, while the Economic Freedom Fighters party has garnered about 9%.

On Friday morning, the online system streaming the election results crashed, causing poll screens to show zero results.

South Africa's electoral commission issued an apology for the disruption and subsequently restored the service, ensuring that the poll results were not compromised.

Many voters hold the ANC responsible for the country's rampant corruption, crime, and unemployment.

The respected Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and News24 project the party's final vote at around 42%, down from 57% in 2019.

This would force the party to form a coalition to secure a majority in parliament.

The DA advocates for liberal economic policies, whereas both the EFF and MK Party support increased state intervention and nationalization, so the choice of a coalition partner will have a major impact on South Africa's future trajectory.

Prof. William Gumede, chairman of the non-profit Democracy Works Foundation, said, "It is unclear whether President Cyril Ramaphosa will remain in power, as he could come under pressure from the ANC to resign if the party gets less than 45% of the final vote.

"The ANC could turn him into a scapegoat, and a faction within the party could push for him to be replaced by his deputy, Paul Mashatile. The EFF and MK are also likely to demand his resignation before agreeing to any coalition with the ANC," Prof. Gumede told the BBC.

South Africans do not directly vote for a president; instead, they vote for members of parliament, who then elect the president.

An electoral official in Johannesburg told the BBC that the queues were similar to those seen during the historic 1994 election, when black people voted for the first time.

Sifiso Buthelezi, who voted at Johannesburg's Joubert Park, the largest polling station in South Africa, shared,

"Freedom is wonderful, but we must address corruption."

Final results are expected over the weekend.
Bahrain's The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has won the Champion Award within the United Nations World Summit awards on the Information Society (WSIS), in recognition of its work on the revamp of the National Portal (bahrain.bh).

The iGA work was selected from among more than 1,000 submissions globally under the eGovernment category as part of "ICT Applications: Benefits in All Aspects of Life categories" for its standout features.

These include user profile 'Personalization', a favorite eServices list, 'Government Notifications' for various government entities, a transaction history spanning six months, and a smart assistant 'Chatbot'.

The portal supports multiple payment methods, including BenefitPay and Apple Pay, and provides secure options through a "Saved Cards" feature, enabling users to easily store bank or credit cards.

On behalf of iGA, the Champion award was received at special ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland, by a representative from the Kingdom of Bahrain's Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Lauding the key features, iGA Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed said this was done as per the directives of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT) in bid to enhance the National Portal and digital channels, and also improve access to government services, and enhance user experience.

Following several development stages, the portal offers information on 1,300+ government services, 680+ eServices, seamless electronic integration with more than 40 public and private entities, with monthly visits that surpassed 1.5 million visits.

Al Qaed, presenting the National Portal's standout features, underscored the iGA's mission to continuously develop eServices since the portal's launch in 2007, in line with technological advancements and the needs of citizen and resident.

He commended the portal users from the citizens and residents for their significant contributions towards this achievement, emphasizing their cooperation with the iGA and their feedback and suggestions through various interactive channels.

The WSIS is an annual event held in the Swiss city by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to spotlight digital projects that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is co-organised by ITU, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed an agreement to award a 3% participating interest in the emirate's offshore Umm Lulu and SARB (Satah Al Razboot) fields concession to State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (Socar).

This award builds on the strategic energy partnership between the UAE and Azerbaijan and deepens Adnoc's growing partnership with Socar across the energy value chain.

The SARB and Umm Lulu concession deploy cutting-edge digitalisation and AI technologies for remote monitoring, smart well operations, and production management to optimise the production efficiency, reduce emissions, enhance safety, and increase production capacity, it stated.

Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy, Adnoc Upstream Executive Director, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Socar to the SARB and Umm Lulu concession. This award supports Adnoc's strategy to leverage strategic partnerships and advanced technologies to maximise value from Abu Dhabi's energy resources to ensure a secure, reliable, and responsible supply of energy."

This agreement builds upon previous collaborations between the two companies, including Adnoc's acquisition of a 30% equity stake in Absheron gas and condensate fields in the Caspian Sea and a Strategic Collaboration Agreement on the potential development of low-carbon energy technologies, including hydrogen and geothermal.

Socar President Rovshan Najaf said: "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 advancing our energy partnership with Adnoc even further and will continue cooperating on many more projects of mutual interest," he stated.

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, it added.
Godrej Security Solutions, a division of India-based Godrej & Boyce, is strengthening its presence in the Middle East region, with a focus on providing cutting-edge security solutions tailored for the jewellers community.

With a projected 20% growth by FY2025, the company aims to revolutionise security standards and meet the evolving needs of businesses in the region with an expected target revenue of $2 million.

The Godrej Security Solutions has a major presence in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, with the banks and financial institutions remaining its primary customer base. It now plans to extend its reach to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, said the company in a statement.

The demand for security solutions in the Middle East is on the rise, with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE investing heavily in infrastructure and enhanced security measures

This growth is driven by factors such as increased tourism, flourishing business activities, and the strong commitment of regional governments to protect critical assets, it added.

The Indian group said the jewellery industry in the region was a significant contributor to this demand, with jewellers relying on advanced security technologies to safeguard their valuable assets.

Increasing awareness about security risks, the emergence of new technological solutions, and the availability of cost-effective devices are propelling the overall market growth.

To cater to this demand, the Godrej Security Solutions has introduced Smart Fog, one of a kind and first ever concept to be introduced in Indian market. It is a brilliant fogging security system that effectively halts intruders.

Pushkar Gokhale, Executive Vice President and Business Head, Godrej Security Solutions, said: "Recognizing the critical importance of the Middle Eastern market for Godrej Security Solutions, we are dedicated to expanding our presence in the region, with a particular focus on the jewellers' community."

"Leveraging our extensive expertise and innovative solutions, we are committed to delivering unparalleled security measures that protect their invaluable assets. Currently, we have a significant presence in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, and we plan to extend our reach to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia," stated Gokhale.

"We aim to strengthen our support for the existing dealer network, facilitating greater market penetration. Our mission is to provide unmatched security, offering peace of mind to businesses and individuals alike. While banks and financial institutions remain our primary customer base, we anticipate substantial growth in our jewellery sector security solutions exports to the UAE," he noted.

"We target 25% increase in our retail touchpoints over the next two years. Back home we are also working on a 30% capacity expansion plan by End of FY25," he added.

According to him, the UAE holds significant strategic importance for Godrej Security Solutions. It has ambitious growth plans for the next five years, largely driven by exports.

"Presently, 10% of the revenue is generated from exports, focusing on the Middle East, SAARC countries, and Africa besides our exports into US, Europe and South East Asia," he stated.

"For the security solutions division, 20% of export revenue comes from the Middle East market, with a targeted growth of 20% over the next two years," he added.

Godrej Security Solutions said it is directing its attention towards the jewellers community in the UAE and Middle East, recognizing their distinctive security requirements.

With tailored solutions and dedicated support, the company is poised to effectively address the unique needs of jewellers in the region.

Additionally, it actively engages with the jewellers community by participating in industry events like the GJC Next Gen Global Meet, fostering awareness and understanding of their security concerns.

"The demand for security solutions in the Middle East is on the rise, with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE investing heavily in infrastructure and enhanced security measures," said Gokhale.

"This growth is driven by factors such as increased tourism, flourishing business activities, and the strong commitment of regional governments to protect critical assets," he noted.

On the Smart Fog, the top official said this revolutionary product adds an extra layer of protection to the overall security ecosystem of jewellers.

"It utilizes advanced technology to detect unauthorized attempts to open any vault or safe. It is equipped with remote cloud-based application as well as wireless technology for triggering the system," he stated.

AccuGold is the Gold Testing Machine by Godrej to determine gold purity with the highest accuracy. This machine is designed to analyse the composition of the ornament under testing, without damaging it.

"Whether you are a jeweller, a bank or a financial institution, this machine is the perfect enabler for your business," said Gokhale.

"With these innovative offerings, Godrej Security Solutions is set to strengthen its presence in the Middle East, focusing on meeting the unique security needs of the jewellers community and driving substantial growth over the coming years," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Saudi Heritage Commission has signed an agreement with Asfar, the Saudi tourism investment company owned by the kingdom's wealth fund PIF, in bid to boost collaboration and elevate and enrich visitor experience at its key heritage sites across the kingdom.

This agreement is a significant step toward advancing the strategic objectives of the two entities, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of operations and boosting cooperation to prepare plans as well as refining preliminary designs and establishing operational models for heritage sites across the kingdom, said Heritage Commission in its statement.

Heritage Commission CEO Dr Jasser bin Suleiman Al Harbash and Asfar CEO Dr Fahad bin Mushayt attended the signing ceremony.

According to The Commission, forging partnerships with diverse sectors is integral to its commitment to developing the national heritage and archaeology sector.

This latest initiative will help realize its strategic objectives, in line with the national cultural strategy envisaged in the Saudi Vision 2030, it stated.

Asfar is taking on a fundamental role in defining and shaping the tourism landscape of the Kingdom, said the statement.

This objective will be realized through investments in tourist destinations, significant historical and cultural sites, and an unwavering commitment to fostering a comprehensive tourism ecosystem throughout the Kingdom, stated the Commission.

By collaborating with both public and private sectors, Asfar seeks to elevate the standing of promising Saudi cities on the tourism map. This MoU is part of a series of successful partnerships Asfar has reached since its inception it added.-TradeArabia News Service
China expands health insurance coverage of fertility treatment to improve birth rate

Xinhua) 10:12, June 01, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
Tragedy sadly struck Massachusetts as an accused rapist out on bail killed his teen stepdaughter before turning the gun on himself.

Juliano Santana, 49, was granted bail following six counts of aggravated rape of a child.

The Middlesex District Attorney said the teen victim was walking on Great Road near her home in Acton after school when she was abducted by Santana.

Her mother reported her missing on Thursday around 4:00 p.m., according to The Daily Mail.

Authorities tracked Santana using a GPS monitoring device he was ordered to wear by the court.

They discovered the rapist inside his vehicle, parked at the Pine Hill Condominium, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Tragically, the sixteen-year-old was also found in the vehicle. She was declared dead at the scene.

She previously reported to officials in September 2021 that Santana had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.

He was arrested by police, given $30,000 bail, and later released with conditions that included wearing a GPS monitoring device and having no contact with the victim or anyone under 18.

Authorities disclosed that the teen also had an active restraining order against Santana.

His trial date has been scheduled for July 29, 2024.
This weeks news had a dash of macabre, and laughter was the only medicine. All white actors will be forced to die in Knives Out 3 or The White Lotus. Pope Francis  on a technicality  may be allowed to use a gay slur. The sea is hungry for another One Percenter. And Donald Trump could be going to jail after being found guilty of 34 felonies.

Keep on reading for the funniest memes about the past weeks news cycle, including a compelling pitch for a Hunger Games spin-off.

4 The Whos Who of Knives Out 3 Ever since Rian Johnson revealed the name of the third installment of the Knives Out franchise, people have waited to see who would join Daniel Craig in the whodunnit. What we didnt expect was that literally everyone is going to be in this movie. Casting announcements have featured a hodgepodge of stars, including Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Josh OConnor and Mila Kunis, leading Twitter users to make memes about their dream additions to the lineup, including the fuzzy long shot everyones wanted since the first film. Don't Miss

3 The Popes Fanciful Word The word frociaggine seems more blended coffee drink than Italian slur for gay people, but unfortunately for Pope Francis, its definitely the latter. Despite appearing to be a progressive ally to the LGBTQ community, the Pope was accused of using the derogatory slur in a closed-door meeting when remarking that gay people shouldnt be allowed in seminaries because theres already too much gay stuff going on in there. Much like the good old-fashioned f-slur, Twitter users have already reclaimed the slur in the form of memes, with one gay Twitter user even going so far as to explain why the Pope is allowed to say it. Advertisement

2 A Billion Dollars Below Sea Level Last year, five people boarded a submersible to explore the wreckage of the Titanic only to never be seen again. The disastrous implosion should have been a cautionary tale to anyone who wanted to recreate the excursion, but Larry Connor refuses to learn such lessons. The billionaire real estate investor is on a mission to prove that the expedition is safe, and the extremely online and non-wealthy were quick to jest about the deep seas insatiable appetite for the One Percent.
Russia will not be invited to take part in the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings because of its war against Ukraine, according to reports.

"These are not the right conditions for [Russia] to be included, given the war of aggression launched in 2022, which has only intensified in recent weeks," a French government official said, Politico.eu reported.

A French government official, briefing reporters on the June 6 ceremony in Normandy, said President Vladimir Putin would not be invited but Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be because of his country's "just fight" against Russia, Reuters reported.

He will participate in the commemorations along with President Joe Biden and dozens of other world leaders.

D-Day organizers said in May that Putin would not be on the guest list, but there were plans for Russia to be represented due to its role in the war, Politico.eu reported.

But World War II allies, including the United Kingdom, the United States, raised concerns.

The Russian leader attended 60th anniversary commemorations in 2004 and the 70th anniversary shortly after he illegally annexed Crimea, the report said.

The then-Soviet Union fought the Nazis on the Eastern Front in what it calls the Great Patriotic War. It lost about 27 million people during the war.
Since she lost her husband earlier this year, not much has gone right for Debi Copeland.

But having a friend at her side, she said, has at least helped her survive emotionally.

Were both very laid back. I think she gets that from me, she said of Lily, her canine companion, who peered up drowsily from a blanket next to Copeland at the Tulsa Day Center on Friday.

Copeland, 69, said she and Lily  a 5-year-old shih tzu-Jack Russell mix  are staying at the centers shelter and will be there until at least June 21, when she expects to move into an apartment.

In the meantime, so she can keep Lily with her, shelter staff have provided a portable carrier for her to use.

Theyve been very good to us, Copeland said.

Situations like Copelands have been on center officials and city leaders minds for some time. But now, at last, they say help is on the way.

On Friday a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Day Center for a new animal shelter, which when finished will house up to 10 animals while their owners are staying at the shelter or accessing services.

Data tells us that about 20% to 25% of unsheltered individuals have pets and that oftentimes thats a barrier to them coming in to access services, said Mack Haltom, Day Center director.

The 600-square-foot facility, expected to open in November, will be climate-controlled.

Money for the project includes $230,000 from the citys American Rescue Plan Act funding, along with $252,000 in private funding.

Tulsa Deputy Mayor Cassia Carr, a member of the citys Housing, Homelessness and Mental Health Task Force, said she and her fellow task force members, along with Mayor G.T. Bynum, are enthusiastically supportive of the project.

We need a place for people to bring their pets, Carr said. I dont want to get rid of my pet, and they want their pets. So people need to be able to bring their pets in, and then they wont be on the streets. Theyll be here to access services they need to improve their lives.

Theyve given me hope

Copeland moved back to Tulsa in January after several years in Joplin and Houston.

She and her husband were divorced, she said, but were in the process of reconciling.

When he died unexpectedly earlier this year, it was a blow, she said.

Copeland had always been able to provide for herself. An Air Force veteran and former teacher, she taught many years at Whitman Elementary School.

But given her age now and circumstances, shes been forced to seek services.

I never thought I would see this side of Tulsa, she said of life in a homeless shelter. But here I am.

While Copeland was not deterred from seeking the services she needs, thats not the case for many homeless people who have animals, officials said.

Carr said: We have learned that more often than not many of these folks are not seeking services because they know they wont be able to bring their pet or service animal with them. And by not seeking temporary housing, they will also miss out on the wraparound supports that will be provided to them by partners such as the Day Center.

City Councilor Lori Decter-Wright, who joined Carr in speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, added: Now they wont be faced with the choice between helping themselves or helping their animals. They can do both.

Day Center officials will partner with other organizations to plan and operate the shelter.

We will be forming an advisory board to help guide us with policies and best practices, said Sara Delgado, Day Center board chair.

Also, once its up and running, we want to keep it that way, Delgado added. We need operational funding, but we also need things like dog food and treats and collars and leashes. So if anybody has those, we will always welcome them.

While her life has taken a turn she never expected, Copeland is grateful for the Day Center staff and services.

Theyve given me hope, she said.

The news that the center is getting an animal shelter is very exciting, Copeland added.

Not that I plan to be here in November. But Im glad it will be here for others like me.
Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Related content Ryan Walters, state employee rally supporters to seek veto of bill stopping spending on PR

Two Oklahoma House leaders drew the ire of State Superintendent Ryan Walters at the close of the legislative session by demanding answers about a part-timer drawing a six-figure salary from the state while also running a political campaign consulting business.

House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, issued a formal subpoena demanding that Walters turn over copies of his Chief Policy Advisor Matt Langstons employment contract with the state, as well as his application, employment offer and job description.

Walters immediately responded on Thursday that no such documents exist. He also revealed that Langston shifted last summer from full-time to part-time employment with the state Education Department.

In an email sent by another state employee to Walters political supporters, Walters claimed: We are under a direct political attack from the Speaker of the House, Charles McCall, and House Member, Mark McBride.

Still, state payroll records show that Langston was paid a total of $113,500 during the 2023 calendar year. And his 2024 earnings are outpacing last years  from Jan. 1 through the end of March, his state pay has totaled $45,475.

In an interview with the Tulsa World on Friday, McBride said the subpoena was only necessary because Walters had not responded to any of his repeated inquiries about the matter since the beginning of March.

I wanted them to tell me they didnt have anything. I suspected it all along, he said. I dont think its right or fair to the people of Oklahoma that this guys got carte blanche, making over $100,000 with full-time benefits and not showing up for work.

Walters made everybody quit working remotely except Matt Langston, who sits at home in Texas doing campaigns. Its obvious we are paying him for nothing. He does not do work for the OSDE  hes promoting Ryan Walters as a politician.

Tie between Stitt administration and Engage Right

Langston ran Walters successful 2022 campaign, and the most recent quarterly campaign reports for 2024 show that Langston continues to be paid as a campaign consultant for Walters through his Texas-based firm, Engage Right.

McBride said that while drawing benefits as a state employee, Langston has been actively seeking to expand his campaign consulting work for Oklahoma candidates.

After April filings, candidates in Oklahoma were solicited by Brian Bobeks daughter Brittoni Lantz with Engage Right for meetings with their CEO, Matt Langston, McBride said, providing a copy of one such written communication shared with him by a candidate.

I find it interesting that Langstons using all of his political ties here and even has the daughter of the governors deputy chief of staff (Bobek) employed at Engage Right. I dont know if the governor even knows about that connection. Who knows?

The Tulsa World reached out to Stitts office for comment.

The Governor is not aware of who employs Mrs. Lantz nor does an employees family members employment have any impact on policy decisions he makes, said his spokeswoman, Abegail Cave.

McCall also defended the subpoena, saying it was an extraordinary measure after repeated, failed attempts to get answers by McBride, a lawmaker specifically tasked with the oversight of taxpayer dollars for education.

We dont issue those customarily or very frequently. But we do have an ability and a responsibility to oversee the taxpayer dollars, and any agency that will not answer the request of a committee chair for information ultimately will be compelled by the House to produce it, he told reporters Thursday afternoon.

The best thing is transparency and communication. And I think that issue has been resolved with the information and response from Superintendent Walters. I appreciate his action.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives

March 15 video: Gov. Stitt asked about state money being used to boost Ryan Walters national profile
The New York judge who's set to sentence former president President Donald Trump next month has a reputation for imposing punishments that can depend on the "respect" shown by defendants, according to a new report.

That could be bad news for Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that his trial was "rigged"  and that Justice Juan Merchan was "crooked" after a jury convicted him on all counts in the historic Stormy Daniels "hush money" case on Thursday.

Merchan is "known as being a tough sentencer but not over the top," high-profile Manhattan defense lawyer Arthur Aidala told the Daily Beast for a report Friday,

One of three men convicted in 2015 for parachuting from the World Trade Center also said Merchan went easier on him than on a pal who showed a "lower level of compliance at trial."

"I, myself, was pretty quiet and just tried to keep my mouth shut and be apologetic," Andrew Rossig told the Daily Beast. "But one of my co-defendants was posting things on social media and being kind of an ass, and he got more community service than I did."

Rossig, a carpenter, said he thought that Merchan was "more lenient" toward people who "at least seem apologetic for the crime you did."

"I don't ever remember saying to myself, 'This judge is ridiculous and I'm going to jail for the rest of my life.' It was more like, 'Treat him with respect and he'll be fair,'" he recalled.

On Friday, Trump called Merchan a "tyrant" and said he "looks like an angel, but he's really a devil" during remarks to reporters at his Trump Tower highrise in Manhattan.

The first former U.S. president to face criminal prosecution was found guity of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

Daniels, a porn star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, testified they had an affair in 2016, which Trump denies.

The charges each carry a maximum 4-year prison tern, but state law limits the total punishment for multiple counts to 20 years, according to the Associated Press.

It also allows Trump, President Joe Biden's presumptive Republican challenger, to be sentenced to a minimum of probation.

Aidala told the Daily Beast that Merchan has "already indicated to Trump during the trial that he does not want to put him in prison," referring to remarks the judge made after Trump repeatedly violated a gag order.

"I believe that will be the same at the actual sentencing. The judge should craft some significant form of community service in a way that Trump is obligated to make the city a better place," Aidala said.

Trump's sentencing is set for July 11.
Golden Gate, which operates over 20 restaurant chains in Vietnam, including well-known brands like GoGi House, Manwah, Kichi Kichi, and iSushi, reported a layoff of more than 2,700 employees in 2023 despite new restaurant openings.

The recently-released 2023 financial report of Golden Gate Group Joint Stock Company indicates a total workforce of 17,087 individuals by the end of the year, down by 2,713 from the previous year.

The average monthly salary for full-time employees last year stood at VND12.2 million (US$479) per person.

Both revenue and after-tax profit fell short of Golden Gates targets, reaching only 91.3 percent and 83.1 percent, respectively.

Despite a cut in the cost of goods, its gross profit saw an eight-percent decline, reaching VND3.96 trillion ($155.6 million).

Golden Gate achieved a notably high gross profit margin of 63 percent in food and beverage sales.

However, substantial costs related to rent and labor resulted in a significant drop in net profit, recording only VND139 billion ($5.46 million), down nearly 79 percent compared to 2022.

This translates to a net profit margin of only 2.2 percent, significantly lower than the 9.5 percent recorded in the previous year.

In the cost structure, labor expenses remained the largest at VND1.18 trillion ($46.36 million), roughly consistent with the previous year.

Store rental costs increased by 22 percent to VND932 billion ($36.62 million).

Additionally, advertising costs rose from VND64 billion ($2.51 million) to over VND72 billion ($2.83 million).

The rise in expenses coincided with the groups active expansion efforts in 2023.

The firm introduced 12 new brands, such as Chixmax, Union District, Mak Mak, Man Tang Guo, Cloud Pot, Mama Bakery, Sakura, and Chibo, and expanded its network to a total of 506 restaurants.

Golden Gates leaders attributed the challenges faced in 2023 to consumers tightening their belts amidst economic difficulties.

The financial statements also disclosed the income of the board of directors and top executives.

In 2023, the group allocated over VND4 billion ($157,171) to remunerate its three leaders, who are also the founders.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The administration of Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam has approved a research project under which researchers will explore the carbon storage capacity of seagrass beds and suggest effective and sustainable solutions to the management, restoration, and exploitation of seagrass meadows in the province.

The research aims to determine the carbon stock and value in seagrass meadows at two local beaches, namely Cua Tung and Cua Viet, and Con Co Island, the provincial administration said in a statement made on Thursday.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Tri, the projects investor, underlined the important role of seagrasses in the marine ecosystem.

The value of seagrass meadows around the world is an estimated US$3.8 trillion, reaching an average $212,000 per hectare per year.

Seagrasses are capable of storing some 19.9 billion metric tons of organic carbon, some three-fold higher than the storage capacity of evergreen forests with the same area unit, according to the department.

The conservation and development of seagrasses can create tradable carbon credits.

Carbon credits refer to tradable certificates that give holders the right to emit a certain amount of CO2 or another amount of greenhouse gas converted to CO2 equivalents.

One carbon credit is equal to one metric ton of CO2 or one metric ton of CO2 equivalents.

Each carbon credit fetched between $11 and $35 in 2022.

The department believed that developing seagrass beds would help Quang Tri generate revenue by joining carbon credit trading and offsetting projects in the global market, as well as enable the province to realize its commitments to reducing emissions, coping with climate change, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

Prior studies show that the Cua Tung and Cua Viet beaches were home to two types of seagrasses, including Japanese eelgrass (known scientifically as Zostera japonica) and beaked ditch-grass (Ruppia maritima), that spanned a combined area of some 400 hectares.

However, the Formosa disaster in 2016 wreaked havoc on the number of seagrasses in the waters of central Vietnam, including Quang Tri.

Only a scatter of paddle weed, whose scientific name is Halophila ovalis, was found in the Con Co island region, with a low coverage and unknown acreage.

In April 2016, mass fish deaths were reported in four central Vietnamese provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien  Hue, which were later found to be caused by toxic wastewater from the nearby Formosa steel plant, a subsidiary of Taiwans Formosa Plastics Group in north-central Ha Tinh Province.

The Taiwanese firm took responsibility for the disaster, pledging to pay US$500 million in compensation to the affected provinces, which was received by the Vietnamese government in August 2016.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Politics

-- Leaders of Thailand, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Morocco, Finland, Turkey, Timor Leste, Uzbekistan and Slovenia and the ASEAN Secretary General extended their congratulations to newly-appointed Vietnamese State President To Lam.

Society

-- Ho Chi Minh City has announced a comprehensive fire prevention inspection in rental accommodations.

-- Police in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi are investigating the case of an infants body in a plastic bag hanging from a tree on Nguyen Xien Street.

-- If rainfall exceeds 70mm, Hanoi is expected to experience flooding in 30 areas, as reported by Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Limited Company.

-- Police in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam said on Friday that they are seeking Liang Ren Yang, a 34-year-old Chinese national, who fled the scene after causing a car accident resulting in injuries to others.

Business

-- Golden Gate, which manages over 20 restaurant chains in Vietnam, has reported a layoff of 2,700 employees in 2023 despite new restaurant openings.

-- Ride-hailing company Grab Vietnam on Friday announced to users that its Moca e-wallet service will cease operations starting July 1.

-- Vietnamese EV maker VinFast on Friday announced the signing of cooperation agreements with the first four Philippine dealers, paving the way for the companys presence in the Philippines.

Lifestyle

-- The second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival kicked off at Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi Wharf and Saigon Cruise Port on Friday evening and will last until June 9.

-- The 2024 Da Lat Music Night Run kicked off in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Saturday morning, aiming to draw approximately 5,000 tourists to initiate Lam Dongs summer tourism season and serving as the inaugural event for the third Lam Dong Tourism Golden Week.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The number of Chinese visitors to Vietnam reached 357,000 in May, exceeding the count of South Korean visitors at 351,000, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.

However, for the January-May period, South Korea remained Vietnams largest source of tourists, with over 1.9 million visits, constituting 25.7 percent of the total.

China ranks second, with 1.6 million visits, comprising 21.2 percent.

Taiwan follows in third place with 529,000 visitors, while the U.S. and Japan rank fourth and fifth with 350,000 and 289,000 visitors, respectively.

Other notable markets within Vietnams top 10 include Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, and India.

In May, Vietnam welcomed nearly 1.4 million international visitors, marking a remarkable increase of over 50 percent compared to the same period last year.

This figure brings the total number of international visitors to 7.6 million year-to-date, representing a 65 percent surge over the corresponding period last year and a nearly four percent rise over the same period in 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Revenue from accommodation and food services in the past five months is estimated at VND296.3 trillion (US$11.6 billion), reflecting a 15-percent increase over the same period last year.

Meanwhile, travel revenue is estimated at VND24.2 trillion ($950.88 million), demonstrating a robust 45-percent growth.

Several localities, including Da Nang City, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Quang Ninh Province, have experienced significant increases in travel revenue compared to the same period last year.

Air travel remains the primary mode of arrival for international visitors to Vietnam, accounting for nearly 1.2 million arrivals in May, followed by land and sea travel.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Torrential downpour began pounding lots of districts of Ho Chi Minh City from 2:00 pm on Friday due to the impact of Storm No.1 in the East Vietnam Sea, turning many streets citywide into rivers.

The southern weather agency said in a weather forecast released at 1:45 pm the same day that thunderclouds were forming and causing heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in various areas of Can Gio District, Binh Tan District, District 6, Cu Chi District, and Hoc Mon District.

Thunderclouds were also moving toward the city from neighboring provinces such as Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, and Long An.

After over 30 minutes of rainfall, many streets experienced heavy flooding, including Le Van Viet Street in Thu Duc City, an administrative district of Ho Chi Minh City, and Ung Van Khiem Street in Binh Thanh District.

At around 3:00 pm the same day, employees of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company came to the flooded road sections where they removed trash from clogged manholes to help rainwater drain quickly.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that people in the city and other southern provinces could see more downpours and thunderstorms over the next few days, with rainfall mostly taking place in the afternoon and evening.

According to the national weather center, a tropical depression in the northern part of the Hoang Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea on Friday afternoon strengthened into Storm No.1, the first storm to hit Vietnam this year and internationally known as Storm Maliksi.

By 4:00 pm on Friday, the storm was spotted in the southern waters off the Chinese province of Guangdong.

It was moving northward at 5-10 kilometers per hour, packing strong winds of between 62 and 74 kilometers per hour.

Maliksi is expected to move northeast at around 10 kilometers per hour over the next 24 hours before steadily weakening into a tropical depression in the mainland of Guangdong.

Vehicles wade through an inundated street in the rain in Ho Chi Minh City on May 31, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Quy / Tuoi Tre

A birds eye view of heavy rainfall lashing Tan Binh District in Ho Chi Minh City on May 31, 2024. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

A vehicle breaks down due to flooding on Le Van Viet Street in Thu Duc City, an administrative district of Ho Chi Minh City, on May 31, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Quy / Tuoi Tre

A motorcycle falls into the street due to fast-moving rainwater on Le Van Viet Street in Thu Duc City, an administrative district of Ho Chi Minh City, on May 31, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Quy / Tuoi Tre

Intense rainfall made life tougher for commuters in Ho Chi Minh City on May 31, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Quy / Tuoi Tre

An employee of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company removes trash from a clogged manhole to help rainwater drain quickly on a street in Ho Chi Minh City on May 31, 2024. Photo: Tien Quoc / Tuoi Tre

A street vendor is seen handling his stall on the heavily-flooded Ung Van Khiem Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City on May 31, 2024. Photo: Tien Quoc / Tuoi Tre

Heavy downpour turned a tunnel next to Ho Chi Minh Citys new Mien Dong bus station into a river, May 31, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Quy / Tuoi Tre

Local residents try to prevent knee-high rainwater from entering their house on Dang Van Bi Street in Thu Duc City, under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City, May 31, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Flooding due to intense rainfall caused many motorbike breakdowns on Do Xuan Hop Street in Thu Duc City, under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City, May 31, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

A pedestrian walkway in the Tan Tao tunnel area in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City is waterlogged after a heavy downpour on May 31, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

Heavy flooding induced by intense rainfall also hits Thao Dien Street in Thu Duc City under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City on May 31, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Police in Vietnams capital city of Hanoi have rejected a rumor circulating on social media that foreigners exiting Vietnam must go through temporary absence declaration procedures or will be fined up to tens of millions of Vietnamese dong (VND10 million = US$393).

This false rumor, recently spread by some online groups, has caused confusion among foreigners living in Vietnam and lodging facilities that accommodate them, and also affected businesses guaranteeing and employing foreigners, the Hanoi Department of Public Security stated on Friday.

The department has cited relevant prevailing regulations to discard the fake news.

Under the current rules, foreigners are required to declare temporary residence when they move to a new place, temporarily live outside the address stated in their permanent residence card, or make changes to the information in their passports.

However, the regulations do not mention any temporary absence declaration for foreigners exiting Vietnam, the department affirmed.

The citys police, therefore, asked people to stop spreading such false information, and warned that those who disseminate or share incorrect information on social networks will be strictly handled according to the law.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Poland scrambled its fighter jets to protect the country's airspace after Russia launched a large-scale attack involving missiles and drones in neighboring Ukraine, targeting energy facilities and infrastructure in the war-torn country, according to reports.

The Operational Command of Poland's Armed Forces said Friday evening that it had responded to "intense long-range aviation activity" by Russia to "ensure the safety of Polish airspace," Newsweek reported.

Three hours later, another statement said the operation had ended, following a "long busy night for the entire air defense system in Poland."

A "massive long-range missile attack by the Russian Federation covered the entire territory of Ukraine, including the regions bordering Poland," its armed forces said. "The strikes were carried out using cruise missiles, Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles launched from the Black Sea region."

The barrage, the sixth major air attack on the Ukrainian power sector since March, according to Reuters, damaged energy facilities in the east, central and western regions of Ukraine, said the national grid operator.

Ukraine's air force downed 35 of 53 Russian missiles and 46 of 47 drones.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been pleading with the U.S. and other allies to provide air defense systems, said the attacks were meant to terrorize civilians.

"Russia's main goal is to normalize terror, to use the lack of sufficient air defense and determination of Ukraine's partners," Zelenskyy said, Reuters reported.

"Partners know exactly what is needed. Additional 'Patriots' and other modern air defence systems for Ukraine. To accelerate and expand F-16 deliveries to Ukraine. To provide our soldiers with all the necessary capabilities," he said.

Russia's defense ministry said it is targeting Ukraine's energy sector in retaliation for Kyiv's attacks on its oil facilities, Reuters reported.
Gabby Petitos Mom Says She Forgives Brian Laundrie, but Not His Mother: 'I See No Empathy in Your Eyes'

You do not deserve forgiveness," Nicole Schmidt said of Brian's mom, Roberta Laundrie, at CrimeCon 2024

AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson; Facebook Gabby Petito's mom, Nichole Schmidt; Gabby Petito

Gabby Petitos mother has forgiven her killer  but not his parents.

While speaking at CrimeCon 2024 on Friday, May 31, about her late daughter  who was found strangled in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park in September 2021  Nicole Schmidt shared messages to both Brian Laundrie and his mom.

I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you, Schmidt said at the Nashville convention, admitting that the gesture may shock most people.

"I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness," she continued. "And I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life."

Related: Gabby Petito's Parents Say 'She Would Be Alive Today' If Police Handled Traffic Stop Differently (Exclusive)

Speaking about Brians parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie, however, Schmidt alleged they were complicit in his cowardly flight from justice and said their actions have added salt to her wounds.

As for you, Roberta  and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mind with your evil ways  I see no empathy in your eyes, no remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions, Schmidt said.

Find Gabby/Facebook Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie

"You are the dark. You are the sociopath that everyone fears. The one who appears so innocent and kind, but harbors darkness within your soul, she continued. You do not deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be forgotten and dehumanized. You epitomize pure evil.

Schmidt also told the CrimeCon crowd that she and Gabbys father, Joseph Petito, were denied the chance to confront our daughter's killer, to look him in the eye.

They never faced Brian  who was dating Gabby at the time of her murder  in court, because he died by suicide, an attorney for the Laundrie family announced in November 2021.

On Oct. 20, 2021, partial human remains of Brian were discovered in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park  near his last known location.

Prior to his death, he had abandoned his and Gabbys cross-country road trip and returned home to his parents' house in Florida alone on Sept. 1. He was then reported missing 10 days later.

Related: Brian Laundrie's Parents 'Knew the Whereabouts' of Gabby Petito's Body When They Vacationed with Him: Suit

In January 2022, the FBI determined that Brian was responsible for Gabby's death, stating that he had written a confession in his notebook before he took his life.

Two months after the FBIs investigation concluded, Schmidt and Joseph filed a civil lawsuit against Roberta and Christopher, alleging that they knew about Gabby's murder and the location of her deceased body.

momandpaparazzi.com / SplashNews.com Brian Laundrie's mom, Roberta Laundrie

The families reached a settlement in the lawsuit  which sought damages for the mental anguish Schmidt and Joseph suffered due to the Laundries alleged deceit  in February 2024 before it went to trial.

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.

Schmidt ended her May 30 CrimeCon speech with a tribute to her daughter, who she said was and still is, a bright light in this world, full of love, compassion, and boundless potential.

We will continue to honor her memory, to cherish the moments we shared, and to fight tirelessly for justice and change in her name, she said. May Gabby's legacy serve as a beacon of hope in the world desperately in need of light, hope for a future where such senseless violence and injustice are eradicated from our society.

Added Schmidt: I implore you all, live by these simple words directly from Gabby: Just be a nicer person."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Igor Dodon, Moldova's President and presidential candidate, speaks to the media at a polling station during the second round of a presidential election in Chisinau

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - The pro-Russian leader of Moldova's largest opposition party has called for better relations with Russia and China and urged other groups to join forces in fielding a single challenger to pro-European President Maia Sandu in an October election.

Sandu views Russia as one of the biggest threats facing Moldova, which is located between Ukraine and Romania, and has led the effort to join the European Union. A referendum on EU membership will take place alongside the presidential election.

Igor Dodon, the leader of the leftist Socialist party and a former president who was defeated by Sandu in 2020, said Moldova was ignoring its traditional allies, and its pro-European stance ran the risk of dragging the country into conflict.

"Let us return to a normal dialogue with our partners - Russia, China and other countries. This is what we should be doing," Dodon said in a weekly online broadcast. "There is a lot of work to be done."

Moldova, he said, should take no further part in military exercises with foreign partners - as have been conducted with U.S. and Romanian forces - or maintain large numbers of reservists.

"Everyone should understand that Moldova stands for peace and will not allow itself to be dragged into geopolitical quarrels as Ukraine has been dragged," he said.

Sandu sees EU membership for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, as the best way to safeguard its sovereignty in the face of what she sees as Russian threats.

A poll published this week put support for Sandu at 30% versus 18% for Dodon. Recent surveys suggest Moldovans will back EU membership, with about 60% in favour of joining the bloc.

The Socialists and the smaller Communist party have denounced the referendum as a ploy to help Sandu's re-election bid.

The pro-Moscow "Victory" bloc, linked to fugitive Moldovan business magnate Ilan Shor, is campaigning under a "No to the EU" slogan. But Shor, who was sentenced in absentia last year to 15 years in prison for fraud, and his supporters have shown no inclination to join forces with the Socialists and Communists.

Dodon, a chess grandmaster, urged opposition forces to come up with a "worthy joint candidate able to defeat Sandu in a second round of voting," and suggested Alexandru Stoianoglo, a former chief prosecutor.

Stoianoglo was dismissed from his position for allegedly exceeding his authority and failing to press anti-corruption cases against prominent business magnates.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Editing by Ron Popeski and Paul Simao)
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

New York: Award winning Palestinian nurse fired for highlighting Israeli war crimes

An award winning Palestinian-American nurse has been fired by New York University Langone Medical Centre in the United States (US) for highlighting the Israeli war crimes at an award ceremony

Saturday June 1, 2024 12:05 PM , ummid.com News Network

[Image posted by Hesen Jabr on Instagram]

New York: An award winning Palestinian-American nurse has been fired by New York University Langone Medical Centre in the United States (US) for highlighting the Israeli war crimes at an award ceremony.

Hesen Jabr, a labor and delivery nurse, was awarded for providing excellent care to patients suffering perinatal loss.

In her speech at the award acceptance event, Hesen Jabr referring to the ongoing Israeli war against the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank called the IoF military actions genocide.

It pains me to see the women from my country going through unimaginable losses themselves during the current genocide in Gaza, Hesen Jabr said in her award acceptance speech.

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, she added.

The award ceremony was held on May 07, 2024. On May 22, 2024 when Hesen Jabr arrived for work the President and Vice President of Nursing at NYU Langone accused her of "putting others at risk" and "ruining the ceremony" and "offending people", Jabr said in an Instagram post.

 (it was all) because a small part of my speech was a tribute towards the grieving mothers in my country, she wrote.

After working almost the entire shift that day she was given the termination letter and escorted out of the unit by a plain clothes police officer.

Jabr said the NYU had also deleted a group photo of her with other award recipients from Instagram.

To add insult to injury, NYU posted the first photo in a post on their Instagram page. Later that day, the post was deleted and then re-uploaded without this photo, Jabr wrote on Instagram sharing the original photo.

More than 36,000 civilians have been killed by the Israeli Occupation Forces since Oct 07, 2023 according to the Palestine Health Ministry.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in response to a plea by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide had asked the immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The Israeli Occupation Forces however have continued their military offensive against the Palestinians.





Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
A former second-in-command of the Navy is accused of using his influence to steer a military training contract to a company in exchange for a $500,000-year job and stock options.

Retired Adm. Robert Burke was arrested Friday on charges including conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and performing acts affecting a personal financial interest, the Justice Department said.

Also arrested were the company's co-CEOs, Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, who were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery.

Their company was identified in reports as New York City-based Next Jump, which sells training sessions in leadership development and decision making.

Burke denies the allegations against him, his defense lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told CNN.

"We intend to take these charges to trial, and we expect he will be found not guilty," said Parlatore, who's also a CNN legal commentator.

Lawyers for Kim and Messenger couldn't be identified and Next Jump didn't return a request for comment, the network said.

Burke, 62, was nominated by former President Donald Trump to serve as vice chief of naval operations, the Navy's second-highest uniformed position, from June 2019 to June 2020.

After he was later put in charge of naval operations in Europe, Russia and most of Africa, he allegedly met with Kim and Messenger in Washington, D.C., in July 2021 and agreed to arrange a $355,000 "sole source" contract for Next Jump in exchange for future employment.

The discussions also involved another potential contract that could have been worth "triple digit millions," according to the Justice Department.

In December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered his staff to award the contract to train personnel under his command in Italy and Spain, then allegedly tried to convince a senior Navy official to also hire Next Jump.

Following his retirement, Burke began working for the privately owned company at a starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options, according to the Justice Department.

If convicted on all counts, Burke would face a maximum of 30 years in prison, while Kim and Messenger would each face 20 years, authorities said.
By Mai Huong

In the midst of an ongoing global shift towards sustainability, Viet Nam has emerged as one of regional leaders in Southeast Asia's green economy transition. This leadership is not just about setting ambitious goals, but also about demonstrating measurable progress.

The Southeast Asias Green Economy 2024 report, recently released by Bain & Company, GenZero, Standard Chartered and Temasek, underscores Viet Nam's advancements, highlighting the nation's leap in the green economy index.

Viet Nams rise by five spots in the index reflects substantial improvements in its roadmap for a green economy. This is a testament to the country's commitment to bridging the gap between green aspirations and actual progress.

At the heart of Viet Nam's green agenda lie robust commitments.

The nation has set ambitious climate targets, including a non-binding net-zero goal by 2050, with a 2030 emissions target of 781 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, up from 458 in 2020.

Viet Nam's progress includes expanding forest land, reducing emissions per capita to 4.7 tonnes, achieving 43 per cent renewable energy in power generation, attaining 3 per cent battery EV sales, and curbing tree loss by 14 per cent.

To accelerate this transition, several mechanisms are in place.

Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), introduced in May 2023, outlines a comprehensive strategy to phase out coal by 2050, while significantly increasing the contribution of solar, wind and hydroelectric power to the national grid.

Another critical component of Viet Nam's strategy is the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which plans to draw in US$15.5 billion in investment. This partnership emphasises the importance of public-private collaboration in accelerating the green transition.

Additionally, the country is developing carbon pricing instruments and an Emissions Trading System, slated to become operational by 2028. This initiative, led by the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is a critical step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a market-driven approach to carbon reduction.

Emissions reporting is currently mandatory for sectors, but there's a lack of a permitting process for renewable energy electricity. Viet Nam also lacks a carbon market registry and Voluntary Carbon Market standards. Initiatives like a developing carbon tax and incentives for EVs, solar power, and green buildings are underway, yet challenges persist in attracting sufficient private investments.

Despite requiring a capital investment of $34 billion for its green transition, Viet Nam secured only $200 million in private investments in 2023.

Viet Nam experienced a dramatic 79 per cent decline in private green investments in 2023. This drop is largely attributed to delays in executing major national roadmaps and the high cost of capital, which ranges from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. This financial strain underscores the urgent need for timely policy implementation and the creation of a favourable investment environment.

Regulatory uncertainties further complicate the situation. Delays in the implementation of key policies such as PDP8 and JETP have hindered large-scale investments. Additionally, Viet Nam provides fewer financial incentives and subsidies for decarbonisation compared to other regions. This lack of support affects corporate willingness to invest in green technologies.

In response to these challenges, Viet Nam is making strategic adjustments. The country is updating its feed-in tariffs for wind and solar projects and offering incentives for electric vehicles and green building construction.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is also spearheading an initiative to transform 563 industrial parks into eco-friendly zones by 2030. This move aims to engage companies focused on decarbonisation and to create sustainable industrial hubs.

Additionally, in 2023, Viet Nam launched its first voluntary carbon exchange, marking a key step in its carbon reduction efforts. By 2025, the country plans to pilot a comprehensive carbon exchange system to create a robust platform for carbon trading, enhancing its ability to meet emission targets and foster a carbon credit market.

Viet Nams progress is notable compared to its ASEAN peers.

Singapore leads the way with a robust sustainability framework, including a carbon tax and strong incentives for green technologies. It climbed four spots in the green economy index. Thailand has made notable progress in solar power but faces similar regulatory and financial obstacles. Indonesia and Malaysia have seen mixed progress, dealing with regulatory ambiguity and high capital costs, each moving up by two spots on the index.

The region confronts a significant investment gap, requiring $1.5 trillion to finance its green transition by 2030. Urgent collective action from governments, corporations, and investors is essential. Standardising regulations, mitigating investment risks, and fostering a conducive environment for green investments through regional collaboration are crucial.

Southeast Asia's success in its green transition relies on collective efforts to embrace commercially viable green technologies, while unlocking economic benefits for a sustainable and prosperous future. VNS
Green outstanding loans reached more than VN636.96 trillion at the end of the first quarter this year, accounting for about 4.5 per cent of the total outstanding loans in the banking system, deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) ao Minh Tu said on May 22.

At the launch ceremony of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Viet Nam Forum held in Ha Noi, Tu said ESG outstanding loans of the banking system had grown steadily over the years, reaching about VN2.9 quadrillion by the end of the first quarter this year, accounting for more than 21 per cent of the total.

According to Tu, green growth and sustainable development is a path every country is now following. Viet Nam is one of the countries facing many environmental and social problems and has been heavily affected by climate change, which has negatively impacted economic development and people's lives. Therefore, Viet Nam has actively participated in implementing international commitments on green transformation and greenhouse gas emission reduction to minimise the impact of climate change.

As an important financial supply channel of the economy, the banking industry has a responsibility to keep capital flows green, to achieve sustainable development goals, including the requirements on applying environmental, social and governance criteria, to contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.

Based on the SBVs regulations, many credit institutions have proactively cooperated and received green capital sources and technical support from international financial organisations to develop internal regulations on implementing environmental and social risk management for granting credit to customers, according to Tu.

Tu said the SBV would continue to research and complete the legal framework to strengthen the management of environmental, social and climate risks for credit institutions. It will also monitor, guide and remove difficulties for credit institutions in implementing environmental risk management according to regulations in Circular No. 17/2022/TT-NHNN on environmental risk management guidelines in loan granting of credit institutions.

The SBV would also direct credit institutions to focus resources on financing green economic sectors and economic model projects that contribute to the national and low emission growth model.

Ngo Binh Nguyen, OCBs strategy director, said to achieve green goals, banks must develop green customer loan portfolios. Banks operations at all branches and transaction offices must also achieve energy savings, while directors, the executive board and staff of OCB had agreed to join in a concerted effort to achieve those goals.

OCB would offer consulting and support solutions for customers with green projects, such as environmentally-aware construction, wind and solar energy and logistics, Nguyen said, adding that it had plans to build a digital platform for early ESG assessment.

Nguyen said when accessing green loans, enterprises must have a specific early plan, for example, for real estate projects, from the bidding and design stages, they must incorporate best ESG practice, which would help the projects to be effective in both the short and long term. VNS
HA NOI  The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) has mandated that securities and fund management companies conduct security checks and assessments for their information systems. The requirement aims to ensure the security and safety of the trading system.

SSC has also requested securities companies and fund managers to devise plans for effectively addressing safety and security incidents and urgent situations related to the online securities trading system. Additionally, the organisation undertakes initiatives to promote and disseminate information, aiming to enhance awareness of information security among its officers and employees.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Official Dispatch No 33/C-TTg on April 7, 2024, requesting ministries, branches, and localities to strengthen cyber information security. Previously, the PM also issued many documents directing ministries, branches, and localities to strengthen cyber information security assurance.

Ngo Tuan Anh, General Director of SCS Cyber Security Company and Vice Chairman of Vietnam Information Security Association, said: According to the Government's guidelines, it is necessary to use 10 per cent of technology system investment for safety and security, but the actual implementation is not really enough. Much depends on the investor and the perception of the head about safety and security.

In March 2024, a securities company experienced a security breach in its information technology system, leading to a temporary shutdown of the company's securities trading system. SSC requires that the company must adhere to Clause 10, Article 89 of the 2019 Securities Law, which requires the company to ensure the secure and uninterrupted operation of its information technology systems and backup databases.

Faced with the recent sharp increase in cyberattacks, especially ransomware, the Prime Minister has requested the implementation of a number of urgent tasks, assigning specific tasks to relevant ministries, industries, and organizations to increase proactiveness and effectively respond to attacks.  VNS
HCM CITY  There remains much untapped potential for trade and investment between Viet Nam and Malaysia, heard a meeting held in HCM City on Friday.

Speaking at the event, ao Minh Chanh, deputy director of the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), pledged to facilitate Malaysian investment in Viet Nam.

He also encouraged Vietnamese exporters to boost halal exports to Malaysia, given its majority Muslim population.

The ITPC regularly supports local businesses in trade promotion and expanding export markets.

Viet Nam and Malaysia have set a target to increase bilateral trade to $18 billion by 2025 and $25 billion by 2030.

The visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Viet Nam in 2023 underlined the strategic relationship between the two nations.

Malaysia is among Viet Nams top 10 trading partners and has various free trade agreements.

Key Vietnamese exports to Malaysia include machinery, electronics, steel, petroleum, and chemicals.

The event was organised by the ITPC, Malaysian consulate and National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia.  VNS
HCM CITY  The cashew industry is at risk of disruption since raw nut exporters in West Africa are not fulfilling their contracts with local firms, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas).

Speaking to the press in HCM City on Friday, Nguyen Minh Hoa, Vinacass vice chairman, said Viet Nam has been the worlds largest processed cashew exporter for long, but is heavily reliant on cashew imports since local supply only meets 10 per cent of processors needs.

West Africa, which accounts for 70 per cent of their imports, has been a reliable supplier for long, but following sharp fluctuations in prices recently, some raw cashew exporters in the region (including the Ivory Coast) did not deliver as contracted or failed to send documents to their Vietnamese partners so that they could take delivery of shipments, he said.

He said raw nuts cost US$1,000 - 1,050 per tonne at the time of signing contracts (between mid-February and March), but the price skyrocketed to $1,500-1,050 by May.

Raw nut exporters blamed the price increase on lower output in West Africa due to unfavourable weather and changing raw cashew nut export policies in some countries: such as Ivory Coast temporary suspending exports of raw nuts to support local processors, he said.

Ta Quang Huyen, chairman and general director of Hoang Son 1 JSC, one of Viet Nams leading cashew processors and exporters, said: This year the company has signed contracts to buy 52,000 tonnes of raw cashew from West Africa but has only received 25,000 tonnes at the contracted price, and would receive half of the rest at higher prices.

There is a high possibility it would not receive 10,000 - 12,000 tonnes at all.

According to the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, raw cashew output in West Africa is forecast to decrease by 7 per cent this year.

A group of raw cashew exporters from Ivory Coast took advantage of this opportunity to delay deliveries and ask Vietnamese firms to pay higher prices even for shipments that were already en route to Viet Nam or deliver lower quality nuts, Son said.

He said: Prices have increased by 40-50 per cent in just one month, something I have never seen in my 22 years in the cashew industry.

Cao Thuc Uy, CEO of Cao Phat Co., Ltd, said his company imports around 80,000 tonnes of raw cashew nut every year from various countries, with West Africa accounting for the majority.

It has so far received delivery of 70 per cent of the contracted volume this year, he said.

Local cashew firms, after signing a contract to buy raw cashew, immediately sign contracts to sell processed cashew kernels at prices that depend on those of the raw cashew, he said.

So the rapid increase in raw cashew prices in recent times is causing great difficulties for them, with the lower quality this year due to the impact of drought worsening things, he said.

The company is trying its best to complete cashew export orders, but will not sign new orders considering the shortage of raw materials.

We have also adjusted processing capacity to about 70 per cent of capacity to preserve workers jobs until the end of the year.

Hoa said according to the associations preliminary statistics, raw nut exporters in West Africa have delivered only less than 50 per cent of contracted volumes.

If the delivery delays and price manipulation continue, Vietnamese cashew firms would face a shortage of raw cashew for processing from the latter half of Q3 onwards, he said.

This would risk disruption in the global supply chain since Viet Nam accounts for nearly 80 per cent of cashew exports, he said.

Faced with that situation, Vinacas has written to the Cashew Exporters Association of Ivory Coast, asking the body to remind exporters to implement their cashew sales contracts.

Vinacas urged its members to make every effort to fulfil the contracts they have signed for cashew exports.

If they are unable tomanage to procure adequate raw cashew, they need to communicate the issue to their buyers so that they understand the situation and come up with solutions, it said.

It said it would gather information and create a blacklist of defaulting raw cashew exporters to warn Vietnamese businesses to stay away from them.

Exporters who deliberately default on contracts would face lawsuits, it promised.

Bach Khanh Nhut, Vinacass permanent vice chairman, said the association has established a working group to work with relevant agencies to resolve the issue.

To maintain its position as the world's largest cashew exporter and reduce its dependence on imported raw cashew, Nhut said the Government and localities should take measures to expand domestic cultivation and develop cashew varieties with higher productivity and quality.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam earned $1.55 billion from cashew exports in the first five months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 19.3 per cent.  VNS
The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta in southern Viet Nam, known as the nations 'rice bowl' thanks to its vibrant agricultural sector, is grappling with a worsening drought and saline intrusion amid concerns over a neighbours mega canal project.

Global efforts are needed to secure the regions prosperity and protect residents livelihoods.

Bo Xuan Hiep writes about what is at stake.

As the arid winds blew across the Mekong Delta in southern Viet Nam, the once fertile lands were beginning to wither under the relentless onslaught of drought and saline intrusion. The livelihoods of the regions inhabitants hung in the balance, as their crops failed and their water sources dwindled.

In the scorching heat of Ca Mau, sixty-year-old Tran Thi Kim Hong, waited patiently for over an hour to fill her two 30-litre cans with fresh water from tankers which had travelled from HCM City, nearly 300 km away.

Hong revealed her family now totally relied on water trucks from nearby cities and provinces in the Southeast region.

Without these trucks, finding water would be impossible for us, she told Viet Nam News.

Some 3,000 households in Ca Mau currently lack access to fresh water and irrigation, resorting to purchasing water from trucks from other regions such as HCM City and the Binh Duong and Tay Ninh provinces.

When the Governments sluice gates were closed recently to prevent saltwater intrusion, levels across the local canals dropped significantly, some even drying up.

Up to 96,000 households or 430,000 people this year are now facing daily water shortages, provincial authorities have reported.

Without access to fresh water, farmers had no choice but to pump salt-intruded water into their fields, damaging rice crops and reducing production by up to 50 per cent.

Hoang Van ai, deputy director of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting Centre, said the region had experienced multiple periods of saltwater intrusion since the beginning of the 2023-24 dry season.

"However this year's saltwater intrusion is above the multi-year average and exceeds that of last year," he said.

According to a study from the Water Resources Science Institute, under the Ministry of Natural Environment and Resources, over 80,000 hectares of rice and fruit farms in the region could be impacted by salinisation this year.

The region has faced severe drought and saline water intrusion before, particularly in 2019-2020 and this year, 2023-2024 looks to be more devastating.

Main causes

Hoang Van ai, deputy director of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting Centre, said the current dire issues can be attributed to three main factors, including climate change and upstream and downstream factors.

Upstream, contributing to the severity of the drought, there are low reserves in the Tonle Sap and a significantly reduced flow of the Mekong River due to extensive dam development along the mainstream rivers from China to Cambodia.

Downstream, erosion and subsidence factors are caused by groundwater over-extraction for intensive agriculture in the region, the construction of dikes to protect agriculture lands from natural flooding and excessive sand mining.

Added to this, over the past decades, the region has undergone considerable geophysical and environmental changes, with the land subsiding at an average rate of about 1 cm per year, reaching up to 6 cm in some areas.

Tides are rising at a rate of nearly 2cm per year, leading to an increase in salinity levels by approximately 0.2-0.5 PSU annually.

Significant losses

Experts, addressing a recent meeting in Can Tho, warned of worsening climate change making these factors even more dire, leading to enormous economic losses for farmers and communities.

Sea level rise poses an even greater threat, with potential losses of up to 58 per cent in rice-growing areas in the Delta, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

So far this year, farmers have collectively suffered a loss of VN34 billion ($1.3 million) due to damaged rice production areas caused by extreme weather conditions.

Nguyen Viet Hoan, a farmer from Tran Van Thoi District in Ca Mau Province, is one of the many individuals who have been devastated by the impact of saltwater intrusion on his rice fields.

The rice that was ready to be harvested was destroyed, resulting in a loss of approximately VN200 million, he said.

Hoan was forced to pump salt-intruded water into his fields in a desperate attempt to salvage what remained, resorting to the use of pesticides and plant growth chemicals to combat the effects of the intrusion.

Nguyen Van uc, another farmer in the region, has also faced immense challenges. I have lost everything, he said. Harvesting the rice now seems pointless when the costs outweigh the potential returns.

The report by the ministry has also warned that by 2030, nearly $3 billion will be lost every year in crop losses as saltwater intrusion continues to wreak havoc on arable land.

The fishery sector on the Mekong River may also suffer losses of $23 billion by 2030, again due to drought and salt intrusion, according to a report by the Mekong River Commission.

Impacts from deforestation may also result in a further loss of $145 billion.

Experts are also concerned the impacts could also pose a significant threat to food security in Southeast Asia.

A key player in global rice production, Southeast Asia accounts for 26 per cent of the worlds rice output and supplies 40 per cent of rice exports to various regions.

'New normal'

Global environmentalists have warned that persistent drought and saltwater intrusion have become the 'new normal' conditions in the region.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, addressing a recent conference, said both national and regional governments needed to adapt to these new conditions.

He said: " Urgent action is needed to address these long-term hurdles before its too late.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently introduced a comprehensive climate change adaptation strategy working to 2050.

The strategy focuses on the importance of governmental oversight and integrating adaptation measures into long-term planning.

Efforts are also underway to mitigate the effects of the water crisis, including the construction of water reservoirs, promoting water-saving techniques and encouraging crop diversification.

Farmers are encouraged to adopt climate-resilient agricultural methods, while aquaculture systems are adapting with advanced technologies.

Land-use changes are also being managed to align with long-term objectives.

Despite these efforts, the future remains uncertain for millions of people in the region, according to experts.

With the delta plain just 80 cm above local mean sea level, even minor changes in sea level could lead to significant portions of the region being submerged, they have warned.

The distribution of rainfall is also changing, leading to more intense storms and flooding in some areas, while others face water scarcity and increased salinity.

By 2100, rainfall patterns could shift dramatically, with dry months experiencing a significant decrease in precipitation.

Rising temperatures due to climate change are also exacerbating the spread of diseases and environmental pollution.

The combination of climate change and unsustainable resource use from the Mekong River has led to mass migration from Mekong Delta to other cities and provinces in search of work.

Global cooperation

Experts are concerned about the impact of upstream dams and infrastructure projects on the Mekong River, which could worsen the problems in downstream areas.

They have called for international cooperation and responsible development in safeguarding the Mekong River and its surrounding communities.

Peter Moyle, a biology professor emeritus at the University of California, stressed the negative impacts of such dams, including blocking fish migration and reducing the natural flow of the river.

The $1.7 billion Funan - Techno canal project in Cambodia, with funding from China, is currently a particular concern, as it could worsen water shortages in the region.

In a report by the Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning sent to the Directorate of Water Resources (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), it was noted that if Cambodia uses the canal not only for waterway transport but also for multi-purpose development in agriculture, industry, services and trade, the estimated extraction flow could reach up to 150 cu. m per second ; accounting for about 30 per cent of the flow to the Hau River during the dry season. This could exacerbate saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, making it more severe and unpredictable.

Expressing concerns about the project, Associate Professor Le Anh Tuan, former Deputy Director of the Research Institute for Climate Change (Can Tho University), estimated that the FunanTecho canal would make water shortages in the Mekong Delta more severe, potentially affecting over half of the region's agricultural land during the dry season in the future.

"Meanwhile, in the rainy season, the Funan - Techo canal, with embankments on both sides turning into roads and urbanisation, could also become a barrier cutting across flooded fields. This could significantly alter the water distribution to the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, impacting the largest rice-producing area of the Mekong Delta," Tuan said.

Viet Nam is calling for a comprehensive assessment of the mega canal project before implementation.

The Mekong River, stretching 4,350 km, is vital for millions of people in countries such as China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam.

The inter-governmental Mekong River Commission, consisting of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam, was set up in 1995 to facilitate regional dialogue in the lower Mekong River basin.

Home to nearly 18 million people, the Mekong Delta supports over half of Viet Nams total rice production and 95 per cent of rice exports, making it one of the worlds largest rice exporters.

It produces 70 per cent of the nations fruits and more than 60 per cent of its seafood exports, which plays a critical role in the regions economy and food security.  VNS
HCM CITY  Ecotree Group, a sustainable forestry company focusing on carbon removal and biodiversity preservation, will team up with Germany's NGUYEN GmbH Chau Au to implement a carbon dioxide reduction project in Viet Nam under an agreement signed on May 31.

Under the project, Ecotree will plant one million ha of forest in Viet Nam and manage them in line with European standard.

According to Le Thanh Tung, chairman and general director of Ecotree Group, its strategy is to attract foreign direct investment to Viet Nam, contributing to boosting the country's socio-economic development and GDP growth.

To date, Ecotree has worked with 16 provinces and cities across the country, of which six have approved proposals on conducting surveys to pilot a carbon credit project for planted and natural forests.

He went on to say that Ecotree experts have begun conducting field surveys in some provinces such as Ca Mau, Gia Lai and Binh inh, which will serve as a foundation for signing cooperation agreements with local forest owners.

According to Raphael Thomas, an environmental expert, Viet Nam has a very large forest area and great potential to develop the carbon credit market. He estimated that the project can absorb 12 million tonnes of CO2 each year and earn about 120 million EUR (USD130.4 million) per year.

Truong Thanh Ha, deputy head of Gia Lai Provinces Forest Protection Department, spoke highly of the project, saying said that it does not only brings CO2 credits but also creates a better living environment, and improves income for people engaging in forest planting at the same time.

According to Ecotree Group, the CO2 reduction project will be deployed this year and its implementation results will be reviewed in each phase.  VNS
HCM CITY  A Vietnamese comedy drama Mua He ep Nhat (The Beautiful Summer) about friendship and youth promises to bring moviegoers back to their younger years this summer.

Directed by Vu Khac Tuan, the movie focuses on the friendship and love of a group of five college students, four men and a woman, who make a promise of a trip together to celebrate their youth. However, the trip could not happen.

Many years later, the four men suddenly meet again when they are 60, and then decide to fulfill their promise.

The movie features performances from established actors Peoples Artists Thanh Nam and Viet Anh, Meritorious Artist Cong Ninh and uc Son, who play four men in their 60s.

The production also highlights emerging actors Cong Duong, Minh Du, Nguyen Tu, Tran Nghia and Khanh Van, who play young students.

Nguyen Ngoc Nga from ong Nai Province, after watching the movies teaser on YouTube, said: I like the movies topic and colour, and the scenes are beautiful as well. Mostly, I am impressed with a cast of established actors. I think the movie will bring us both laughter and tears remembering beautiful memories of youth.

Mua He ep Nhat is the directorial debut of Tuan, who is known for editing several top grossing Vietnamese films such as Thang Nam Ruc Ro (Go-go Sisters) in 2018, Bo Gia (Dad, Im Sorry) in 2021, Nha Ba Nu (The House of No Man) in 2023, and Mai in 2024.

The movie will be released in cinemas nationwide on June 28.  VNS
The 2024 edition of World Environment Day will focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, under the slogan 'Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration', as the year marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

According to the UNCCD, up to 40 per cent of the planets land is degraded, directly affecting half of the worlds population and threatening roughly half of global GDP (US$44 trillion). The number and length of droughts have increased by 29 per cent since 2000  without urgent action, desperate water shortages could affect over three-quarters of the worlds population by 2050. Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-30), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the sustainable development goals.

In Viet Nam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments data estimates that about 15,400-21,500 ha of rice cultivation area in the central region will be affected by drought in the coming months.

Viet Nam News reporter To Nhu interviewed Luong Van Anh, deputy head of the Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development about how the ministry is responding to the drought this year.

This year the theme of World Environment Day (June 5) is land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. What is the response from the ministry?

In accordance with the Government's directives and instructions from the Prime Minister regarding coping with droughts, water shortages and saline intrusion, the ministry has issued documents to enhance the implementation of measures to prevent and combat heat waves, droughts, water shortages and saline intrusion. Under the documents, the ministry has instructed the implementation of specific and regionally appropriate solutions.

Specifically, water resources and saline intrusion forecasts for the dry season of 2023-24 nationwide were provided early by the ministry, starting from September 2023 and are continuously updated weekly and monthly, adjusted in case of unusual developments. The forecasts include identifying agricultural areas at risk, as the foundation to take effective response measures, early planting and efficient operation of irrigation systems. Based on these forecasts, localities have developed drought and saline intrusion prevention plans, actively deploying measures in line with the directives of the Prime Minister and the ministry.

The results have shown that all rice-growing areas vulnerable to saline intrusion, along coastal provinces, have adjusted their planting schedules to start early in October and end in December. Through agricultural weather bulletins and water storage guidelines issued by the Crop Production Department and the Irrigation Department under the ministry, fruit-growing areas have actively stored water to ensure adequate supply during periods of high saline intrusion. Currently, all advised crop areas in affected regions are safely protected.

A synchronised approach has been deployed to provide household water supplies to affected households, including providing water storage equipment and tools in the southern province of Ca Mau and the Mekong Delta provinces of Kien Giang and Bac Lieu; establishing public water supply points; organising a rotational water supply in the Mekong Delta province of Long An; connecting water supply stations and expanding pipelines in four Mekong Delta provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Kien Giang and Soc Trang; drilling additional wells in the Mekong Delta province of Long An; using desalination equipment and salinity monitoring for proper operation of water infrastructure in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.

The ministry has ordered the acceleration of the construction of Nguyen Tan Thanh saltwater prevention sluice project, which was started in November 2022 at the beginning of Nguyen Tan Thanh Canal, in two communes of Song Thuan and Binh uc in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. The project is ahead of schedule and expected to be completed in July this year. The sluice aims to contribute to saltwater intrusion prevention, freshwater storage, protecting agricultural production for an area of approximately 12,580 ha and providing water for water supply plants serving around 800,000 people in Tien Giang Province.

Additionally, the ministry will develop a comprehensive plan to include urgent and long-term solutions, scientific and feasible measures and specific resource allocations for investment and implementation of effective measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change, heat waves, droughts, saline intrusion and address the shortage of freshwater for both domestic and agricultural use then report to the Government in the third quarter of this year.

What are the ministrys forecasts regarding the situation in the coming months?

Currently, some regions across the country have begun the rainy season, such as the northern region, Central Highlands region, southeast region and Mekong Delta, where the drought and salinity situation has basically ended. Only the central region is experiencing a prolonged dry season extending until the end of July and August this year, so the area continues to face the risk of water shortages and drought in the upcoming period, especially if intense heat occurs, it will lead to a rapid decrease in water reserves in reservoirs.

The central region is currently harvesting the winter-spring crop 2023-24, while some areas in the south central region have started planting the summer-autumn crop. With the impact of heatwaves, water reserves can rapidly decline, increasing the demand for water and posing a risk of drought and water shortage for the summer-autumn crop.

Specifically, the north central region is at risk of being affected by drought, with an area of approximately 6,000-8,500 ha (1,500-2,000 ha in Thanh Hoa Province; 3,000-4,000 ha in Nghe An Province; 300 ha in Ha Tinh Province; 100-500 ha in Quang Binh; 1,000-1,500 ha in Quang Tri Province; 100-200 ha in Thua Thien Hue Province). The south central region is at risk of being affected by drought with an area of approximately 9,400-13,000 ha (1,800-2,400 ha in Quang Nam Province; 1,300-1,800 ha in Quang Ngai Province; 1,800 ha in Binh inh Province; 1,500-1,700 ha in Phu Yen Province; 2,000-2,100 ha in Khanh Hoa Province; and 1,100-3,200 ha in Ninh Thuan Province).

To mitigate the impact of drought in the central region during the summer-autumn crop, the irrigation department will enhance monitoring of meteorological and hydrological conditions, provided by relevant agencies both domestically and internationally. Then the department will make water forecasts and assess the impacts of drought, water shortages and salinity intrusion on agricultural production and livelihoods to serve as a basis for effective operation of irrigation works.

In the meantime, localities will implement drought response measures under the direction of the Prime Minister and the ministry, actively develop water scenarios, response plans to provide water for people's livelihoods and production.

The department will focus on reviewing and inspecting water sources at irrigation works in the central region, ensuring production only takes place in areas with adequate water supplies; areas with insufficient water will consider delaying production or changing crop structures. It will also coordinate closely with management units, operating hydroelectric reservoirs to develop strict regulation plans, ensuring adequate water supplementation for downstream areas. Priority will be given to daily water supplies, ensuring a minimum water supply for people at risk.

Some people have suggested the need to transfer water from the ong Nai River to Ben Tre Province to combat drought and salinity intrusion. What are your thoughts?

Diverting water from the ong Nai River to Ben Tre Province to combat drought and salinity intrusion has been rejected by ministry leaders for two reasons.

The first reason is that water sources in the ong Nai River basin are currently low. Despite the presence of reservoirs like Dau Tieng and Phuoc Hoa in the ong Nai River basin, HCM City, Binh Duong Province and ong Nai Province are currently experiencing a shortage of 5 billion cu.m of water per year.

This is a very important issue, therefore, in upcoming irrigation planning, the ministry will study and calculate solutions to divert water from Be River through the Phuoc Hoa irrigation system to supply water to HCM City, Binh Duong Province and ong Nai Province.

And the second reason is that Ben Tre Province already has sufficient fresh water for production and daily life for the people in both Ben Tre Province and Tien Giang Province. In the northern part of Ben Tre Province, the ministry is running the Ben Tre Water Management Project, funded by JICA. As scheduled, by the end of next year, major saltwater prevention sluices such as the Ben Tre and Thu Cuu sluices will be in operation, ensuring daily water supplies are protected.

In the southern part of Ben Tre, the ministry will use medium-term investment capital from 2026 to 2030 to construct the Vam Thom and Vam Nuoc Trong sluices, which, when completed, will ensure water supply to the whole area. Therefore, in Ben Tre Province, there is no need to transfer water from elsewhere because there are already sufficient solutions locally. VNS
A conservative media company has withdrawn the widely debunked  though popular in right-wing circles  documentary and book that falsely claimed ballot fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

The Salem Media Group also issued a public apology Friday to a Georgia man, Mark Andrews, who was accused in the movie "2000 Mules" of putting illegal ballots in a drop box in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, the Associated Press reported Friday.

"What you are seeing is a crime. These are fraudulent votes," conservative pundit Dinesh D'Souza claimed in a voiceover.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation cleared Andrews of any wrongdoing after determining that the ballots were cast by him, his wife and their three adult children, who all lived at the same address, which was legal under state law.

The documentary was a favorite of Donald Trump supporters. Trump called the film the "greatest and most impactful documentary of our time," and railed against Fox News for not covering it, accusing the network of refusing to cover it because "they do not want the TRUTH to get out."

During recorded testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee, former Trump administration Attorney General Bill Barr also said the 2020 election "was not stolen by fraud."

"And I haven't seen anything since then that changes my mind on that, including the '2000 Mules' movie," Barr added with a laugh.

In a statement posted on its website, Salem Media said it had "removed the film from Salem's platforms, and there will be no future distribution of the film or the book by Salem."

"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 publicly traded company said.

Salem Media, which operates a radio network aimed at conservative and Christian audiences, also said it "relied on representations made to us" by D'Souza and True the Vote, a nonprofit, self-described "ballot integrity" operation based in Houston.

Lawyers for D'Souza, who was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump for making illegal campaign contributions in a 2012 Senate race, and True the Vote didn't respond to messages, AP said.

Salem Media's move came during an ongoing federal defamation case filed by Andrews in Oct0ber 2022 against the company, D'Souza and True the Vote.

Lawyers for Andrews and Salem Media didn't respond to emails asking whether the company acted in response to the lawsuit, AP said.
 Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to the participants and guests of the events dedicated to International Childrens Day (June 1, 2024)

 V.V. Putin : Established 75 years ago, in 1949, this holiday is celebrated in many countries. In Russia, the center of celebrations is traditionally Moscow. Today she again welcomes guests from different regions of the country, as well as from the Republic of Belarus and the Peoples Republic of China. The children have exciting events ahead, exciting excursions and trips to the theater. And of course, they will meet interesting people, gifts and surprises, and friendly communication.

Let me emphasize that in our country the issues of raising children and strengthening family values are given priority attention by the state and society. It is important that every child is surrounded by care and love, grows up healthy and happy, and develops his or her talents and abilities. The Russian Childrens Fund makes a significant contribution to this large, joint work. His charitable programs in the fields of healthcare, education, enlightenment, and creativity are worthy of the deepest recognition.

Wish you all the best.

Putin

***

WtR
Comcast Xfinitys XB8 cable internet gateway supports Wi-Fi 6E, which makes gigabit internet service faster  if you have compatible devices that connect to it. Dwight Silverman photo AT&T Fiber gateway BGW320-505, right, uses the Wi-Fi 6 standard, which means if you have a 1Gbps or faster service tier, you may not be able to reach the speeds you want. Fortunately, you can connect another router to it, such as the Eero Pro 6E. Dwight Silverman photo

Houston is fortunate when it comes to internet access. Not only are there competing providers in most parts of town, but super-fast speeds of 1Gbps and higher are also available. Still, all gig-speed services are not created equal.

I recently had Comcasts and AT&Ts gigabit broadband connections running at the same time in my swankienda and explored those differences. As I wrote in late April, AT&T wired our 1990s-era condo community for fiber, and once the network went live, I signed up and then was able to compare it directly with Comcasts Xfinity  the cable-based internet service Id had since it was Time Warner Road Runner in 1999.

Ultimately, only one could survive. Im happy with the choice I made. Heres how the two compared.

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Download speeds

Both Comcasts Xfinity and AT&Ts Fiber services offer download speeds of different tiers. Over the years, thanks to various promotional prices and Comcasts nearly annual habit of boosting download speeds, Id worked my way up to its 1-Gbps service. Regular readers know I have owned my own cable modem and router, avoiding the monthly gateway rental fee.

Whether you can achieve those speeds is another matter, depending on the modem/router youre using, their placement in your home and the various devices you own. For example, while Comcast may sell you a 1.2Gbps service tier and rent you their top-of-the-line XB8 modem/router combo, if your devices support only the WiFi 6 standard or older, youre unlikely to hit the advertised speeds.

Ive got an iPhone 15 Pro Max that uses the faster WiFi 6E protocol, a cable modem that supports multi-gigabit download speeds and Eero Pro 6E mesh routers. Standing right in front of the Eero router connected to the modem, I get gigabit-plus download speeds on my phone. Had I opted to rent the WiFi 6E-capable XB8, the same would have been true, as I wrote in a review two years ago.

AT&T doesnt charge you to use their BGW320-505 fiber gateway  which is good, because you dont have a choice. You must use that device to connect to their fiber-optic network. However, you can use your own WiFi equipment and disable the gateways built-in radio signals. Thats also good, because if you crave the fastest speeds, AT&Ts device only supports WiFi 6 and the fastest my iPhone could get was 650 to 800 Mbps, not the 940 Mbps indicated in the companys marketing materials. (An AT&T spokesperson told me earlier this year that the companys next-generation gateway will use even faster WiFi 7 instead.)

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When I connected my Eero routers to the AT&T gateway, their WiFi 6E signal provided download speeds close to that of Comcast, but not quite as good.

Advantage: Comcast

Upload speeds

While Id been mostly happy with Comcasts download speeds over the years, the opposite is true for uploads. Cable internet relies on a standard known as DOCSIS, and the predominant version is 3.1. It allows for multigigabit download speeds but uploads are a fraction of that.

In Houston, the company recently boosted upload speeds in many neighborhoods to around 100Mbps  but only if you have the right equipment. My Arris S33 cable modem doesnt support those faster uploads, maxing out at around 24Mbps. Had I used a different modem, or paid monthly for the XB8, Id be better off. But I didnt, so I wasnt.

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One of fibers top selling point is that download and upload speeds are symmetrical, or roughly the same. At the gigabit service tier, advertised upload and download speeds are around 940Mbps. But what I found is that often upload speeds were more than download  sometimes significantly so. When I was getting download speeds in the 600s, my upload speeds were in the 800 to 900Mbps range. With the Eero routers, uploads are often more than 1Gbps.

Advantage: AT&T

But thats for now. A Comcast spokesperson said the company will roll out the next generation of the cable internet standard, DOCIS 4.0, in the second half of 2024 locally. Among other benefits, it will enable the symmetrical download/upload speeds that fiber offers. If pricing is similar to markets where DOCSIS 4.0 is already in place, it will be competitive with fiber  and will lack data caps.

Equipment and data caps

Comcast charges $15 a month for its gateway, but you could pay as much as $25 a month if you opt for xFi Complete. This gets you the XB8, a WiFi extender if needed, cybersecurity protection and exempts you from the providers 1.2gigabyte data cap. As I wrote, you can use your own equipment instead of Comcasts. You can pay $30 a month to avoid the cap and $10 per 10GB if you blow past it. (Theres a one-time, one-month grace period if you go over.)

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AT&T doesnt charge a gateway fee, but as I said, their equipment uses an older version of WiFi. As I did, you can connect a faster router to it, but it does involve digging deep into settings to disable the gateways WiFi and point the gateway.

Advantage: AT&T

Pricing

Its hard to do a comparison on cost because the two providers take different approaches.

Comcast offers promotional deals. For example, for the past two years Ive paid about $60 for my internet service, but when that promotional period ended my bill jumped to more than $90 a month.

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In the past, Ive been able to negotiate with Comcast to drop to a lower tier, or even jump to a faster tier with promotional pricing. Over the years, Ive found the company enters periods where its less apt to wheel and deal; were apparently in one of those now, based on my experience and what Ive heard from other customers. I couldnt get them to budge, and dropping to a slower tier wouldnt save me that much.

This coincided with the activation of the fiber service at our condo complex and AT&Ts pricing, which doesnt rely on promotions. Except for pass-throughs on some government fees, the price you see is what you pay, and its not tied to a promotional period. That said, AT&T says there will be no price increase in the first year. After that, no promises are made.

Both Comcast and AT&T offer internet discounts if you add their cellular services. I wasnt interested in switching to Xfinity Wireless, but my wife has an AT&T phone line for her business. That got us a $20 discount on fiber. Im now paying $65 a month for gigabit, symmetrical internet.

Advantage AT&T, until theres a price hike
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74132

Answers to media questions following the visit to Uzbekistan

Vladimir Putin answered questions from the Russian media following his state visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan. The press availability took place at Tashkent Airport. May 28, 2024, 16:25 Tashkent

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. What will we discuss today? Please go ahead with your questions.

Yegor Piskunov: Hello, Mr President. Yegor Piskunov, Russia Today TV channel.

Your visit to Tashkent was absolutely unprecedented in terms of its packed agenda. You spent two nights here, and some of us thought you might stay for the third. You had a lengthy face-to-face conversation with the President of Uzbekistan. What are your impressions? What are your expectations for cooperation with Tashkent, especially in trade and economic matters? And what are Uzbekistans prospects for taking part in integration structures in the post-Soviet space? Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: As you know, I arrived here on Sunday evening, so we did not have anything on our agenda for that day except for the official events  a flower-laying ceremony at the Independence Monument. That was it for the day. But the next day was packed with all kinds of formal contacts, meetings and talks. It all happened on Monday, and we worked late into the evening. This is true. The hosts scheduled our visit this way.

This was the first time we attended a meeting of the regions. Do you know why this visit was so effective? The composition of our delegation was impressive; it included nearly half of the Russian Government members, all the key ministers. Naturally, a meeting that involved heads of regions and Cabinet ministers from both sides featured a wide-ranging and fulfilling discussion. I am not even referring to the number of documents signed, but to the actual face-to-face contact between people who want to work together and know how to do it. Russia has a genuine interest in expanding our relations with Uzbekistan.

First, Uzbekistan is currently the second most populated country in the post-Soviet space, after Russia. Today, it is home to 37 million people, and it adds one million every year. That is how Uzbekistans population is growing.

It has a vibrant, fast-growing economy which has gathered substantial momentum. Last year, Uzbekistans GDP increased by six percent, which is a major achievement compared to other countries of the world. The President of Uzbekistan has implemented an effective governance framework and a growth-driven economic model.

We have a lot of joint plans in terms of industrial cooperation, energy, and infrastructure, as you have probably seen and heard.

Uzbekistan faces some problems because it is a landlocked country with no access to the sea or ocean. In this connection, we and other regional partners can take action to help our friends in Uzbekistan resolve this logistics task and create essential conditions for entering external markets. We have a lot to discuss here. So, there are very many issues, and there is a large volume of potential projects.

As you know, we have established a US$500 million fund for conducting joint work, and the Russian side has contributed US$400 million of this amount. This does not mean that we have more money, this is because we have major interests in this part of Asia, and we can see that it is possible to realise them, given the stability of the political system and specific terms for investing in Uzbekistans economy. I repeat, we are very much interested, and this explains such intensive contacts.

Speaking of integration processes, we never insist on anything. To be honest, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first President of Kazakhstan, had initiated these integration processes, if you mean the EAEU (above all, we are talking about the economy, of course). This organisation has gained considerable momentum, and it is yielding real results for all participants. However, any sovereign state is free to decide whether to take part or not; this decision is motivated by specific interests, primarily economic interests, and economic expediency. We have different levels of economic development and financial system development. When any particular government makes a relevant decision on taking (or not taking) part in any specific integration association, it proceeds from these considerations, in the first place.

On the whole, if such an economy as that of Uzbekistan joins the association, then I believe the association would only benefit from this. However, Uzbekistans economy should also benefit. This amounts to a rather complicated negotiating process because while establishing the EAEU, we had debated for many days and nights on what specific mandatory terms and mutual obligations would arise. Consequently, this is a steady and smooth process.

Our economies are aligning and developing, and numerous joint projects are emerging. We will gradually chart our mutual interests in the sphere of subsequent cooperation and involvement in integration associations.

Pavel Zarubin: Good evening,

Pavel Zarubin, Rossiya TV Channel. I am sorry but I have two questions and both are extensive.

Here is the first one. You went to Tashkent and we arrived together with you, practically right from Minsk. Since then we have been interested in this issue: In Minsk you replied to a question about Zelenskys legitimacy and with whom to hold talks if and when they become possible. You said it was necessary to look up in the Constitution of Ukraine what government authorities can operate without elections. But proceeding from the Constitution of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada is the only body that can work now. Not a word is said about extending the powers of the president. Zelensky seems to continue to stay in office exclusively on the basis of martial law. You said a legal analysis is needed. Are we conducting this analysis? Who are we going to talk to if we do?

Can I ask you a second question right away?

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, please. Whatever suits you best.

Pavel Zarubin: More and more bellicose statements are made from high Western rostrums. Now they are even saying that Kiev should be allowed to strike deep into Russian territory with Western weapons. The EU Defence Minister spoke about this issue today, and the NATO Secretary General said this: We are giving weapons to Kiev and consider them Ukrainian from this moment, so Ukraine can do whatever it wants with these arms, in part, strike at Russian territory where it deems necessary.

Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: The first question was about the legitimacy of the Ukrainian power. Indeed, it is necessary to conduct a serious, deep analysis of this.

The first point is on the surface and is mentioned by my colleagues. This is what it is about. The Constitution of Ukraine only extends the powers of the Rada. It says nothing about extending the powers of the president. This is the first point.

Second. Indeed, the law of Ukraine on the legal status, legal position and martial law reads that presidential elections are not held during martial law. However, this does not mean that they are extended. They are not held but who said that they must be extended? The Constitution says nothing about this. But Article 111 of the Constitution of Ukraine reads that in this case the powers of the supreme authority, actually the presidential powers are transferred to the Speaker of Parliament. All the more so since the powers of parliament are extended during martial law. This is a preliminary analysis. We should take a deeper look into this issue.

Some specialists say that there are contradictions between the Constitution that provides only for the extension of the Radas powers under martial law and the law I have just mentioned  I think it is the 2016 law that defines the legal status of martial law. As I already said and repeat, this law stipulates that the presidential elections are not held but nothing is said about the prolongation, and this is a problem.

What is the point? The point is that in essence, the Ukrainian statehood is based on the idea of the parliamentary-presidential republic rather than the presidential republic. The main levers of power are concentrated in the representative state body. Therefore, it is quite logical that the Constitution itself and other legal acts adopted on its basis are construed in such a way.

Therefore, speaking strictly, in a tentative estimate  I am just talking about a tentative estimate  the parliament and the Rada Speaker remain the only legitimate power. And so, basically, if they wanted to hold presidential elections, they should have simply repealed martial law at that time and held elections. But they did not want to do this for a number of reasons.

I think, and this is not linked with the Constitution in any way, that maybe the current bosses of Ukraine, who are overseas, would like to place the burden of making all unpopular decisions on the current executive branch. This includes the adoption of yet another decision to further lower the conscription age. It was 27 years, now it is 25 and next it may be 23 years or even 18 years.

I believe that after this and other unpopular decisions are made, those who are acting today as representatives of executive government would be replaced with people who would not be responsile for the unpopular decisions made. These representatives will be simply replaced in a snap. If this is the idea, the logic is understandable in principle. Lets see what happens next.

But as I said in Minsk, the final say should be made by the political and legal system of Ukraine. It should formulate and explain what is happening in Ukraine. I believe, this is not too difficult, indeed. I will repeat for the third time that the 2016 law prohibits holding presidential elections under martial law but nothing is said about extension of these powers. So, what? See Article 111 of the Constitution  all power is transferred to the Speaker of Parliament.

With regard to the strikes, frankly, I am not sure what the NATO Secretary General is talking about. When he was the Prime Minister of Norway, we communicated and addressed challenging issues concerning the Barents Sea and other issues, and generally, we were able to come to terms, and I am positive he was not suffering from dementia back then. If he is talking about potentially attacking Russias territory with long-range precision weapons, he, as a person who heads a military-political organisation, even though he is a civilian like me, should be aware of the fact that long-range precision weapons cannot be used without space-based reconnaissance. This is my first point.

My second point is that the final target selection and what is known as launch mission can only be made by highly skilled specialists who rely on this reconnaissance data, technical reconnaissance data. For some attack systems, such as Storm Shadow, these launch missions can be put in automatically, without the need to use Ukrainian military. Who does it? Those who manufacture and those who allegedly supply these attack systems to Ukraine do. This can and does happen without the participation of the Ukrainian military. Launching other systems, such as ATACMS, for example, also relies on space reconnaissance data, targets are identified and automatically communicated to the relevant crews that may not even realise what exactly they are putting in. A crew, maybe even a Ukrainian crew, then puts in the corresponding launch mission. However, the mission is put together by representatives of NATO countries, not the Ukrainian military.

So, these officials from NATO countries, especially the ones based in Europe, particularly in small European countries, should be fully aware of what is at stake. They should keep in mind that theirs are small and densely populated countries, which is a factor to reckon with before they start talking about striking deep into the Russian territory. It is a serious matter and, without a doubt, we are watching this very carefully.

The focus is on the developments on the outskirts of Kharkov. But they were the ones to provoke those events. I made it clear publicly, I think it was six months ago, that if they continue to target residential neighbourhoods, we will have to create a security area. Not long ago, we started doing what I said back then.

First, they provoked us in Donbass. For eight long years they have been pulling the wool over our eyes and making us believe that they were going to resolve the issue peacefully and eventually made us try to restore peace by using the armed forces. Then, they deceived us during the negotiating process and decided that they would defeat us on the battlefield by inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia. We warned them against making incursions into our territory, shelling Belgorod and neighbouring areas, or else we will be forced to create a security area.

Look at what your Western colleagues are reporting. No one is talking about shelling Belgorod or other adjacent territories. The only thing they are talking about is Russia opening a new front and attacking Kharkov. Not a word. Why is that? They did it with their own hands. Well, let them reap the fruits of their ingenuity. The same thing can happen in case the long-range precision weapons which you asked about is used.

More broadly, this unending escalation can lead to serious consequences. If Europe were to face those serious consequences, what will the United States do, considering our strategic arms parity? It is hard to tell.

Are they looking for a global conflict? I think they wanted to agree upon strategic arms, but we do not really see them being really eager to do so. They are talking about it but are not doing much to make it happen. We will wait and see what happens next.

Viktor Sineok: Mr President, my name is Viktor Sineok, Izvestiya.

For several months before your visit, delegations from the US Treasury and other agencies implementing the sanctions regime were coming to Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan. Unprecedented pressure was put on the Central Asian capitals in order to exclude and strangle all the possibilities and prospects for cooperation with Russia. How do you find this behaviour? Can Russia redress this pressure for the Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan?

If I may, I would like to ask a second question very quickly. News came out that Russia was considering the possibility of removing the Taliban from the list of terrorist organisations. How has this decision been made and why? How will it affect our relations with Afghanistan, and when will it take effect?

Vladimir Putin: I will begin with the second part.

This is constantly being discussed, and I will not comment on it now, because relations with the Taliban and Afghanistan are constantly being discussed. It cannot be denied that there are problems in Afghanistan. Everyone known this very well.

How can we build our relations with the current regime? It is a different question altogether. However, we have to do it. These are the people controlling the country, its territory; they are the power in Afghanistan today. We must proceed from reality and build relations accordingly.

We stay in contact with many partners, including with many partners in the Central Asian region. We take into account each partners and friends opinion and will formulate this position together.

As for the first part of your question, there is nothing new about it. I mean the voyagers flying all around the world, be it Latin America, or Africa, or the East, threatening everybody. These are elements of imperial behaviour. American political observers and analysts say directly that the United States is an empire, and its imperial ambitions are connected with internal political events to a large extent. Presidential election is coming soon, and the current authorities want to confirm their status as an empire. Many in the United States do not like this, do not want to be an empire and bear the imperial burden. They do not want responsibility, and do not want to expose their country to any dangers or get it into a difficult position.

What about Central Asia? Uzbekistan is not only the biggest country in Central Asia. It is second after Russia in terms of population  37 million. But voyageurs from the US are flying to all parts of the world. As you know, quite recently, the Secretary of the Treasury, I believe, also visited China. What did she talk about? I think I also recalled this in Minsk. She said the Chinese produce too many cars. They talked about overproduction of cars. I dont think that the US Secretary of the Treasury is an illiterate person. This is simply juggling with facts.

What is overproduction? If we live in the market conditions, the market regulates whether this is overproduction or not. If people buy products and they are produced with a profit, there is no overproduction. And how else do you force another country to stop the production of different goods? By using force? Sanctions? And this is one of the variants of using force, and this is how they are trying to act all over the world.

Of course, countries that are weak, insecure, especially those with dozens of NGOs that feed off the American hand, are pecking at what they have been given, and, of course, it is easier to manipulate public consciousness in these countries, easier to pressure incumbent authorities. But the countries where the authorities feel confident, where they devote all their activities to strengthening sovereignty, the interests of their people and their country, do not respond to these peremptory orders from across the ocean. This is the case with large countries and small states if they are self-sufficient and dignified.

We know that pressure was exerted on Central Asia as well. So far I havent seen people kneeling ready to blindly obey any edicts from across the ocean.

They  the Americans and the Europeans  certainly take certain steps that deal damage to our partners but eventually this is also a sovereign choice of any country of how to create its policy, fight for its sovereignty or not, consider sovereignty a value or not and so on.

I think it represents a value. This is because if a country wants to be successful, it must be sovereign, even on the socioeconomic plane. If it wants to be successful, it must be sovereign. Otherwise, other states will always pressure it and subjugate it to foreign interests  like what they are now trying to do with China regarding cars.

They will do the same with fertiliser, chemicals, aircraft  you name it. We are facing this. Yes, we are seeing this and there is nothing good in it. This is damaging both international security and the global economy.

Konstantin Panyushkin: Good afternoon, Mr President. My name is Konstantin Panyushkin, Channel One.

Yesterday, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky was reported to have approved the deployment of French mercenary instructors, who can be called the military, on the territory of Ukraine. Now it is official and was finally made public. Moreover, Syrsky says he hopes that the Kiev regimes other partners will also officially follow the French example. What do you think about this and how far can it go?

Please allow me to add a bit of clarification as a follow up on the question of legitimacy. It is clear from your answer that, until Western handlers replace Zelensky in Kiev, you have virtually no one to talk to in Ukraine. But I wanted to ask: did Alexander Lukashenko offer you the Ukrainian military as the ones to talk to?

Vladimir Putin: Who? The military?

Konstantin Panyushkin: Yes, the military.

Vladimir Putin: Unfortunately, Mr Lukashenko does not command the military in Ukraine yet. If he did, we would have ended this conflict long ago, and to mutual satisfaction. We would have found a solution on Ukraine if Ukraine were now managed by people guided by national interests, and not by the interests of their masters in Europe or overseas.

As for the fact that there may be mercenaries in Ukraine, we are well aware of that, there is nothing new about it. The fact that the military in Ukraine are now saying that they [the French] may come is because they have been there for a long time. We hear English, French, or Polish on the radio. We know that these mercenaries are there. But there are specialists there under the guise of mercenaries.

There was a question about long-range precision weapons. And who controls and maintains these weapons? Of course, the same instructors who are disguised as mercenaries. They exist and they suffer losses. Perhaps this statement has been made because it is apparently increasingly hard for them to conceal these losses. Therefore, perhaps the time has come to show that they are officially there, so that these losses can be shown realistically, legally. I do not know. Maybe.

As for various contingents, I have already spoken about it. The Polish authorities say they are ready to send their contingents. We can hear Polish language, so there are many mercenaries from Poland. If some contingents from European countries enter [Ukraine] together with the Poles, others will later leave whereas the Poles will never do. This is obvious, at least for me. I might be wrong but I doubt that.

Therefore, this pretext of freeing some Ukrainian units along the border, releasing them so as to send them to the battlefield, keeping them along the borders to ensure their safety is nonsense. If they are there, then they will also be in the engagement area of our Armed Forces.

I do not think that this is the right decision or a good way out. This is escalation and yet another step towards a large conflict in Europe and globally. Do they need it? They are welcome. We will continue to do as we see fit, regardless of who is on the territory of Ukraine. And this is what they must remember.

Alexei Golovko: Alexei Golovko, Rossiya TV channel.

There have been reports in Western press that Western countries allegedly want to hold another conference in Saudi Arabia after the Swiss conference on Ukraine, and officially invite Russia there in order to show Moscow a purportedly consolidated position and begin some kind of talks.

Mr President, if we receive such a proposal, will Russia attend this conference? If yes, on what conditions?

Vladimir Putin: I do not have an answer now, because I do not know what you are talking about. They say that now they are not ready to invite Russia, and later they will be. We never refused them: not now, nor later, nor a year ago. We have said that we are ready.

It wasnt us who stopped the talks. We were told: thats it, we will no longer have talks with you. They could have said we are not satisfied with the agreements that were reached in Istanbul. The talks were launched in Minsk and were completed, brought to a certain stage in Istanbul. They could have said this this had it not been for the signature of the head of the Ukrainian negotiating team on the digest of the agreement that we had prepared as a draft.

He initialled this which means it suited Ukraine. They were ordered to throw it into a rubbish can and try to beat Russia on the battlefield, to inflict strategic defeat on it. But he said directly and publicly  had we not been ordered from abroad (from Britain in this case, that is, from the US  the same thing), the hostilities would have stopped a year and a half ago. He did say this.

We have never refused to talk on this basis and we are ready to continue the negotiating process. But we do not know what and who will offer us at some other stages, in view of the legitimacy of Ukrainian representatives. Therefore, I do not have an answer to this question.

I am always looking with surprise at some antics of our friends and partners that are saying that Russia is rejecting talks. I have said a thousand times but it seems they dont have ears. No, we are not rejecting talks. Ukraine rejected them in public. They initialled the agreement and rejected it with a view to beating us on the battlefield. They are not succeeding in this. Now they are ready. Well, if you are ready, come back. Whats the problem?

They want to paint something, to create a semblance of global support for what they have painted on their own free will, proceeding from their own wants and wishes and present this as a consolidated position of the international community. They wont succeed. This shows that they do not want to come to terms but are still wishing to get something and turn the tide on the battlefield but all in vain. The more attempts they will make, the more losses there will be, and these losses will by no means be in favour of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Why is this happening? The current rulers of Ukraine do not feel sorry for these people. They do not consider them their own people. This is the gist of Ukraines problem and tragedy today. They do not consider these people their own people. They do not protect the interests of the Ukrainian people today. I am hoping that people will still realise this eventually.

WtR
Bridgeland Central breaks ground on new Village Green center with new 110,000 square feet H-E-B. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.

Several new businesses are planning to open their doors in the Cy-Fair and Bridgeland area by next year, including a 100,000-square-foot HEB.

According to registered projects with the Texas Department Licensing and Regulation and the Howard Hughes community relations department, here are several new restaurants and businesses with plans to open in Cy-Fair and Bridgeland.

The Kebab Shop

The Kebab Shop is a Mediterranean restaurant that offers wraps, bowls, plates, kebabs, and salads. The restaurant is also known for sauces such as their O.G. yogurt which is a garlic yogurt sauce. This restaurant is expected to open this winter in Cy-Fair on Fry Road, TLDR records show.

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Address: 9620 Fry Road

Estimated Construction Start Date: August 1, 2024

Estimated Completion Date: December 1, 2024

Estimated Cost: $275,000

Size: 2,000 square feet

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Action Behavior Center Cypress

Action Behavior Center Cypress Fairfield is a business that helps children who have autism and will be located at 27126 Northwest Freeway, according to TLDR records.

Address: 27126 Northwest FWY

Projected Start Date: July 1, 2024

Projected Completion Date: January 1, 2025

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Estimated Cost: $250,000

Size: 5,868 square feet

Spartan Nail Spa

Spartan Nail Spa opened in Cypress in March and offers manicures, pedicures, and other premium spa services.

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Address: 20711 Tuckerton rd

Size: 4,300 square feet

Cheaters Creamery

Cheaters Creamery is an ice cream truck located on Washington Avenue in Houston that looks to open a brick-and-mortar location on Barker Cypress Road, state records show. Cheaters Creamery offers a various of flavors of ice cream with over 10 toppings. This ice cream spot doesnt just offer scoops of ice cream but also serves ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes.

Address: 8828 Barker Cypress road

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Projected Start Date: March 15, 2024

Estimated Cost: $200,000

Size: 1,475

Casa Grande Supermercado

Casa Grande Supermercado is a Mexican-style grocery store that offer frozen goods, hot food and several other foods.

Address: 20611 FM 529 road

Projected Start Date: April 15, 2024

Projected Completion Date: December 15, 2024

Estimated Cost: $300,000

Size: 9,800 square feet

SafeSplash Swim School

SafeSplash Swim School is a swim school owned by former Olympian Cammile Adams that is coming to Bridgeland at Parkland Village. The school is expected to open at the corner of Westgreen and Tuckerton before 2025.

Kids R Kids of Bridgeland

Kids R Kids Learning Academy is coming to Parkland Village. This early learning childhood center will be a two-story, 25,000 square feet building located at the intersection of Prairie Refuge Crossing and Westgreen Boulevard. Kids R Kids Learning Academy is projected to open in January of 2025.

Chevron Fuel Center

Chevron Fuel Center will be joining other retailers by opening in Bridgeland Central. Chevron is one of the largest privately owned gas station chains in Houston. The gas station will open before the end of 2024 and will be located on Bridgeland Creek Parkway near Starling.

SCHOOL CYBERATTACK: North Houston suburb student accused of taking down internet in cyberattack during STAAR test

Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube plans to open early summer serving Bridgeland residents with services such as tire changes and oil changes. The new shop will be located at Lakeland Village.

H-E-B
The Yerington Police Department is asking for your help finding a missing person.

Jesse Lee Olson was last seen around 6 a.m. on May 29 at the Golden Gate gas station at 1001 West Goldfield Avenue in Yerington, Nevada.

He was last seen in a white 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with temporary plates reading NY477746.

Anyone with information on Olson's whereabouts is asked to contact the Yerington Police Department at (775) 463-6620 or email policechief@yerington.net

The case number is 24-YE-0204.
In Texas, the largest charter management organization is Harmony Public Schools, with seventy campuses serving K-12 students. Harmony Public Schools

Charter schools offer an alternative for families who don't want their children to go to traditional public schools but either can't or don't want to pay private school tuition.

The number of charter students in Texas has grown from 2,412 in 1996-97 to about 375,000 in 2022, according to Texas Education Agency statistics.

Charter schools must be nonprofit in Texas and are publicly funded, tuition-free, independent schools, founded by teachers, parents, nonprofit organizations or community groups.

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The founders create a charter, a legal document outlining the schools mission, goals, curriculum, financing and governance structure, which then must be approved by the TEA. The approval may be contingent upon meeting certain conditions or requirements specified by the TEA.

FORT BEND INSIDER: Never miss a story with our bi-weekly newsletter

Here are five charter school programs offered in Fort Bend County and what they have to offer.

Harmony Public Schools:

In Texas, the largest charter management organization is Harmony Public Schools, with seventy campuses serving K-12 students. Harmony Public Schools

Harmony Public Schools is the largest charter management organization in Texas with 70 campuses serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

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Harmony is known for its curriculum focused on STEM  science, technology, engineering and math  said Candice Keutzer, director of communications and marketing. The schools employ project-based learning methods, encouraging students to engage in real-world problem-solving, according to the website.

"Parents are coming to our schools because they want their children to excel in STEM, and this will usually lead them to a career in a STEM field," Keutzer said. "In fact, the majority of our graduates do pursue a career in STEM education once they graduate from our schools.

Keutzer said Harmony saw a surge in enrollments during the COVID pandemic.

SEE ALSO: Rosenberg needs resident input on road safety for improvement plan

I cant pinpoint the reason, but I think during this time parents started doing a lot of research into schools and seeing what was out there, because many of them were disappointed with virtual learning, she said.

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There are 41,867 students currently enrolled at Harmony Public Schools, and 100 percent of seniors are accepted to college, according to the website.

The Harmony schools in Fort Bend County have a student teacher ratio of 16:1 or 15:1.

International Leadership of Texas:

The mission of IL Texas schools is to prepare students for exceptional leadership roles in the international community. IL Texas students learn English, Mandarin and Spanish. IL Texas

While Harmonys focus in on STEM, the mission of International Leadership of Texas schools is to prepare students for leadership roles in the international community. IL Texas students learn English, Mandarin and Spanish.

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When the Texas Legislature authorized the creation of charter schools in 1995, the schools were meant to present new or innovative opportunities for students, said Eddie Conger, superintendent, CEO and founder of IL Texas schools. "So for us, it's language and leadership. Mandarin Chinese being a national security critical language, there's really not (another) option that I'm aware of, for any kid being able to go to a school like that."

IL Texas schools serve approximately 23,000 students, kindergarten through 12th grade, at 27 campuses in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Cleveland, and College Station areas, according to the website.

There are two IL Texas campuses in Fort Bend County  IL Texas Katy-Westpark High School, and the newly constructed IL Texas Richmond, which will welcome its first students in August. Approximately 800 students have enrolled at the new campus, Conger said.

"Our kids now in college are getting internships at the State Department and the White House," Conger said. "I walked into a congressional law office, back in January, there was a kid  well a young man  who said, 'you're my superintendent, I graduated from ILTexas.' He was a college student who was there for a six month internship."

School of Science & Technology Sugar Land

SST Sugar Land is known for its rigorous academic programs, STEM-focused curriculum, and commitment to preparing students for success in higher education and beyond. School of Science & Technology Sugar Land

School of Science & Technology Sugar Land is part of a network that operates several campuses across Texas. SST Sugar Land is known for its rigorous academic programs, STEM-focused curriculum and commitment to preparing students for success in higher education and beyond.

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SST Sugar Land offers pre-kindergarten through 9th grade and has 420 students and a student-teacher ration of 8:1.

"Parents recognize the value of attending a school that provides a rigorous academic path for their children while not necessarily binding them by their zip codes," said SST spokesperson Natasha Turner.

"Many of the tuition-free charter schools have a specific academic focus...With a keen focus upon STEM education, we make sure that students are skillfully prepared to go into the workforce immediately after graduating high school whether they decide to attend college or not."

A new SST Sugar Land College Prep High School is currently under construction, and expected to open its doors in August 2025.

Turner said SST Sugar Land had seen a significant enrollment increase during the past few years.

Arrow Academy-Liberation Academy

Arrow Liberation Academy offers a variety of learning opportunities beyond the classroom, including extracurricular activities, clubs, and community service projects. This holistic approach to education aims to develop well-rounded individuals. Arrow Liberation Academy

Arrow Liberation Academy offers a variety of learning opportunities beyond the classroom, including extracurricular activities, clubs, and community service projects. Its leaders believe this holistic approach to education aims to develop well-rounded individuals.

Were one of those small charters. Thats, I think, one of the things thats really attractive to parents, that were a small learning environment, said Superintendent Dr. Audrey Sanders.

There are around 20 Arrow Academies in Texas. Arrow Liberation Academy serves 210 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, with a 20:1 student-teacher ratio.

Students begin the day by reciting the ALA mantra  You know we are readers, we are scholars, and we are going to college."

Students start every day with brain gym, student-created educational chants and dancing, Sanders said.

ALA offers a blended learning environment; which includes web-based, customizable station rotation and flex models; data driven small group instruction, whole group instruction and supplemental resources for additional practice.

"We have a social contract," said Sanders. "It's an agreement of behavior that is created with the teachers."

Sanders said in traditional classrooms, a list of rules will be posted, but that's not the case at Arrow Academies.

"For the first week, the teachers are building this relationship with kids asking questions. 'How do you want to be treated when there's conflict?' And students answer that question, and those become part of the social contract."

KIPP Academy

KIPP, short for the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a network of public charter schools founded in 1994 by two Teach For America alumni.

There are 57 KIPP schools with nearly 35,000 Pre-K  12 students across Texas. KIPP has several schools in Fort Bend County.

KIPP representatives did not respond to an interview request. According to KIPP's mission statement, "together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose."

KIPP Academy West Middle School has 446 students and a student-teacher ratio of 18:1
Miles is leading one of the largest educational transformations attempted in this country, and his success or failure likely wont be apparent for years. The TEA is judging the district on three criteria  school ratings, special education improvements and board governance  which Miles himself has estimated may take at least five years to fulfill, before it will turn the district back to Houston voters. A close study of what led Miles to this point may give Houston an indication of what is in store during that time.

It has been more chaotic than beneficial, overall, said Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. We knew the district wasnt perfect and we needed changes, but you dont have to destroy something entirely to straighten it out.

His supporters  business leaders, school choice proponents and like-minded education reformers  praise his dedication to educating societys most vulnerable children. His critics, who include teachers union leaders, many elected officials and, increasingly, Houston parents and students, see Miles as an agent sent by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to destroy the public school system in the states largest Democratic stronghold.

The difference this time is that he has more authority than ever to carry out his vision for wholescale systemic reform . The elected trustees are powerless to enact the will of voters who might demand Miles' removal, and the appointed Board of Managers that Miles now answers to has shown near lockstep support for his initiatives so far.

Since arriving in Houston on June 1, 2023, Miles, who makes $380,000 as HISD superintendent, has spent the past year transforming Texas' largest school district largely at his own discretion, using strategies he has implemented at previous stops and instigating many of the same controversies.

Miles found himself in the superintendents seat after Wheatley High School fell short of state standards for a fifth year in a row in 2019, triggering a state law and a protracted legal battle that eventually allowed Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to replace HISDs elected board and superintendent with his own selections.

As a leader, I understand change management and I understand leadership, and I understand that there has to be leaders who stay focused on the mission and help guide the ship, Miles said. If youre going to chase your tail, which is what some people want you to do, youre never going to get it done.

One year since the Texas Education Agency appointed him as superintendent of Houston ISD , the question of whether Miles is living up to his promise makes him arguably the most polarizing figure in Houston.

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles heard the tale of Gyges in 2017 as a fellow at the Pahara Institute , an education reform training ground based in his home state of Colorado. He and his cohort considered the fable and, upon graduation, gifted each other washers looped onto kite strings as a symbol of their commitment to use their influence for the betterment of society. To this day, Miles often wears a flat, brass ring around his neck as a reminder of that pledge.

In Book 2 of his Republic, the Greek philosopher Plato writes of a shepherd named Gyges who finds a ring that grants him the power of invisibility, and uses it to seduce the queen, slaughter her husband and take control of the kingdom. Written over 2,000 years before The Lord of the Rings, Platos story poses the question: If granted complete immunity, would man act in his own self-interest or use his power for the greater good?

Miles' military career came to an end in 1983 following a plane crash in 1981, in which seven soldiers were killed during a training exercise in the Nevada desert. Miles was among the 61 who survived  news reports at the time said it was miraculous that more men were not killed.

In him I saw that combination of martial skill and enlightenment that I myself struggled to develop. I aspired to be a modern-day Cyrano  a Renaissance man, a poet and a fighter, a man of thought and a man of action. Thus, at West Point I resolved to be as good at crafting a line of verse as planning a night assault, as committed to philosophy as the study of war, Miles wrote.

As a young cadet, I added Cyrano de Bergerac to my list of heroes, Miles wrote in the resume, referring to the fictional protagonist of Edmond Rostands 1897 play.

After graduating in 1978, Miles secured a spot in the U.S. Armys elite 2nd Ranger Battalion, where he spent five years leading a special operations team and helping establish procedures for hostage rescues in enemy territory, according to a resume he provided to the Colorado Springs School District 11 , where he bid to open a charter school that has since closed due to declining enrollment.

He was just a super guy  keenly intelligent, very incisive, serious, dedicated, hardworking and studious, said Jim Peterson, a member of Miles company at West Point. When we used to head off to the movies occasionally as sophomores, wed walk by his room and he was always at his desk studying.

Even amid the staid social scene at West Point, a teenage Miles stood out as particularly disciplined.

One of eight children growing up in the suburbs of Colorado Springs, Miles enrolled at West Point Military Academy after finishing high school. Well-liked by his peers, Miles was a Star Man at the military academy, according to former classmates, his uniform specially embroidered to demonstrate his distinction as one of the schools highest-performing students.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles eats Twizzlers while Chief Finance and Operations Officer Jim Terry is having technical difficulties during their budget presentation meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles eats Twizzlers while Chief Finance and Operations Officer Jim Terry is having technical difficulties during their budget presentation meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles, from left, has a curriculum meeting with Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole and staff Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles, from left, has a curriculum meeting with Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole and staff Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles asks Special Assistant to the Superintendent of HISD Matthew Giles to point out a school on the map during a meeting with division superintendents Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles asks Special Assistant to the Superintendent of HISD Matthew Giles to point out a school on the map during a meeting with division superintendents Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

My heart and soul is to do whats right for the organization, to do whats right for the system, Massey said. He said he knew it was asking a lot and that I didnt have to say yes, but I immediately did because thats what was needed.

Sandi Massey, HISDs chief of leadership and professional development, worked for Miles as a coordinator and principal in Dallas ISD during his tenure between 2012 and 2015. When he asked her to move to Colorado in 2021 for a job directing Third Futures campuses, she didnt hesitate. Then, when he asked her to take on additional duties as a school principal in Odessa, she didnt complain, even though it meant splitting her time between Colorado and Texas for two years.

His most trusted advisers are more comfortable around him; many worked with him in Dallas, his charter network, Third Future Schools, or, in some cases, both. They bought into his vision for education reform years ago and approach it with the same zeal he does.

Miles speaks often about the need to stay within the chain of command at HISD, and almost everyone he interacts with appears to show him some level of deference, with room for disagreement but rarely all-out confrontation. When he cracked jokes at a recent principal meeting, just days after some beloved school leaders were terminated without much explanation , the laughter was noticeably louder at the tables nearest to him. No one asked about the departures.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles views documents for his next meeting while moving between meetings with Special Assistant to the Superintendent of HISD Matthew Giles Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Hattie Mae White Education Center in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles views documents for his next meeting while moving between meetings with Special Assistant to the Superintendent of HISD Matthew Giles Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Hattie Mae White Education Center in Houston.

The two often cook each other eggs (fried over hard, salt and pepper, no toast) on a hot plate in the office because its fast, Miles said. His dinners typically consist of pre-packaged Snap Kitchen meals from Whole Foods  about once a week, hell treat himself to a meal at Saltgrass Steakhouse. He calls his wife, Karen, back in Colorado before he goes to bed each night.

He arrives at the Hattie Mae White Educational Center before 7 a.m., where his assistant, Matthew Giles, walks him through a schedule dominated mostly by meetings  about budgets, about curriculum, with principals, with cabinet members.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles starts his daily workout at 5 a.m. at his apartment building in the Heights Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles starts his daily workout at 5 a.m. at his apartment building in the Heights Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles wipes sweat while doing his daily workout at 5 a.m. at his apartment building in the Heights Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles wipes sweat while doing his daily workout at 5 a.m. at his apartment building in the Heights Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles starts his daily workout at 5 a.m. at his apartment building in the Heights Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles starts his daily workout at 5 a.m. at his apartment building in the Heights Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston.

Miles, 67, starts his days at 5 a.m. sharp with half an hour on the treadmill and another 30 minutes on a rowing machine or lifting weights (his workout playlist includes Mickey Gilley, Pitbull and Rick Astley). His one-bedroom apartment in the Heights is devoid of decoration or personal touches. Furnished with little more than a love seat, a TV and a desk, the living room feels more suited to a fresh college graduate rather than a seasoned professional who has lived in several different countries.

Hes very smart and quite capable of doing whatever he put his mind to, Jones said. I always was the first one to write the check (during his campaign) just to support him. We always thought it was a long shot, but we said if anyone could convince folks to (vote for him), it would be Mike.

Dwight Jones, chair of the national board of Third Future Schools and former Colorado commissioner of education, was superintendent of Fountain-Fort Carson when he hired Miles as principal and assistant superintendent.

Were way too political in this country, as far as education goes. Ive always been a person who supports the underserved, Miles said. The real irony is when people think Im doing something to hurt Black and brown kids  if you only knew who I was and what Ive done, then it would make no sense.

Now registered as an independent, Miles said he doesnt consider it ironic that he went from liberal darling in the Colorado primary to the face of what critics call conservative overreach in Houston.

For two years along the way, Miles ran a long-shot campaign for U.S. Senate, challenging Colorados then-Attorney General Ken Salazar from the left in the 2004 Democratic primary (he still proudly notes that he beat Salazar at the state Democratic convention). He ran against the Iraq War, No Child Left Behind and school vouchers, according to news reports from the time .

Just four years into his career as a classroom teacher, Miles was named principal of Fountain Middle School. He became assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 four years after that.

On paper, the abrupt jump from Soviet-era diplomat to suburban school teacher may be a head-scratcher, but Miles, who calls himself a professional public servant, is adamant that he transitioned to a career in education because he felt it was the best way he could give back to his country.

It was a scary time in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Russians were firing on each other, not us, but we were in the way, and I was having a really good experience because I wanted to work in Russia, my wife learned Russian at (University of California) Berkeley with me and we had gone on the exchange program (to University of Leningrad), Miles said. So it was fun, but it was really hard for the family.

Despite his enthusiasm for the role, raising two young children in Moscow as the Soviet Union collapsed proved too risky. He returned to his hometown of Fountain, Colorado, to teach at the local high school.

After leaving the Army in 1983, Miles went back to school  where he met his wife  to pursue a career in the foreign service. He lived in Moscow and Warsaw, Poland, between 1990 and 1995 as a foreign service officer in the Department of State.

Im not going to get political. Ill say this: I support school choice (as in charter schools). My mission here is (focused on) 274 (HISD) schools, and we will do whatever the law is, of course, Miles said.

Miles has openly embraced charter schools but refused so far to publicly come out for or against vouchers, providing ammunition to detractors who say he was installed to assist in Abbotts efforts to use public money for students to attend private schools. He demurred when asked directly whether he supported publicly funded school vouchers.

It was an unnatural kind of alliance, but we became friends and totally trusting of each other, Schuck said. He didnt necessarily align with my allies, but he didnt even think in those terms, he only thought about what was best for kids.

Steve Schuck, a school-choice activist and real estate magnate in Colorado Springs, said Miles upset the blob, as he refers to unions and their supporters, during his time at HSD2. Schuck was initially skeptical that Miles would be open to working with his organization, Parents Challenge , because Miles was too liberal for the Democratic nomination during his Senate run, but was surprised to find a willing partner and friend.

They had huge staff turnover year over year, so you had the least experienced teachers and professionals teaching the highest-risk kids, and they were getting burnt out, Gemskie said. That whole model of burning people out, it was like a seasonal model of work. Extract everything you can from them and move on and those that were the chosen ones made paydays.

Miles was quick to fire educators who he felt werent living up to his standards, said Thad Gemskie, then director for the Pikes Peak Education Association, the union representing HSD2 teachers. Teachers became scared to ask for doctors notes when they were sick or to take days off that they were entitled to under their contracts, he said.

Despite the districts academic gains, Miles' tenure led to some of the same issues in HSD2 that have angered Houstonians today. The districts staff turnover rate was 26% the year before Miles took office; by the time he left in 2012, it was at a 10-year high of 32%, about a third of employees.

He certainly put a number of things in place and we had many wins during Mikes tenure, Hendrix said. There were many improvements that were made and many of those improvements are still going on today.

Hendrix said Miles' reforms led to improvements for the children of HSD2. The percentage of students rated proficient on state reading tests increased 7 percentage points during Miles' six years as superintendent, from 54% to 61%, bringing HSD2 on par with the rest of the state. In math, the percentage of students achieving proficiency rose from 31% to 36%, surpassing state averages by about 4 percentage points by the end of Miles' tenure.

Plans to implement a pay-for-performance model for teachers were received poorly by many in both cities. Teachers were expected to post learning objectives on the wall and administer daily demonstrations of learning, and would be assessed on their ability to do so with frequent spot observations, all of which are now expected of HISD teachers nearly 20 years later.

Miles sparked equal outrage in Houston when he imposed the same mandate at HISD, among the first in a series of controversies that played out similarly in Colorado Springs.

One of the first things he did is he wanted all of the classroom doors to be left open, Hendrix said. Oh my goodness, you would have thought that he was creating such chaos.

A review of Miles tenure as superintendent of Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs, from 2006 to 2012, can invoke a strange sense of deja vu for anyone who has followed his work in Houston. The district was at risk of being taken over by the state of Colorado when Miles was brought in, according to Deborah Hendrix, former board president of HSD2, and he set to work immediately.

'His way is the only way'

If Colorado Springs provided a glimpse into whats unfolding in Houston, then his time in Dallas, from 2012 to 2015, lays out the playbook. His DISD turnaround plan Destination 2020 served as an early draft for his Destination 2035 in Houston, and Miles pulls from many of the same materials he used in Dallas for reports and presentations in Houston (including the convocation that cost the district nearly $500,000).

Mike Miles, HISD superintendent, observes a class at Thompson Elementary School, 6121 Tierwester St., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles rubs his eyes while having a curriculum meeting with Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole, not in picture, and staff Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles starts his day with a briefing from Special Assistant to the Superintendent of HISD Matthew Giles Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Hattie Mae White Education Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Students are shown during a class at Thompson Elementary School, 6121 Tierwester St., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles talks to school principals during the last principals training of the school year Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston. Miles has this monthly training with all principals in the school district. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A student is shown during a class at Thompson Elementary School, 6121 Tierwester St., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Mike Miles, HISD superintendent, left, and Erica Brame-Manuel, principal, right, are shown at Thompson Elementary School, 6121 Tierwester St., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Mike Miles, HISD superintendent, speaks to students at Thompson Elementary School, 6121 Tierwester St., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Mike Miles, HISD superintendent, talks during a tour at Thompson Elementary School, 6121 Tierwester St., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

While academic outcomes stayed stagnant during Miles' three years leading DISD, some said his trademark overhauls  pay-for-performance, teacher and principal evaluations, early childhood expansions  laid the groundwork for gains that followed. The percent of students who tested at grade level in all subjects rose from 25% when Miles took office in 2012 to 41% by 2018, reducing, but not eliminating, the gap between DISD and average state performance.

Miguel Solis, Miles' former assistant and later board president at DISD, said that Miles' successor, Michael Hinojosa, was hired in 2015 with the understanding that he would build on Miles' initiatives.

All of that intellectual framework and the initial push to turn theory into practice was established by Mike Miles, Solis said. Michael Hinojosa came in and was able to very deftly create the political dynamics that were required to sustain that framework, so I wont go as far as to say who deserves more credit  but a lot of the systemic transformation around the instructional core comes from the Destination 2020 plan.

Other familiar trends didnt need much time to play out. Teacher turnover jumped from about 13% to about 22% within two years of Miles' leadership, far outpacing statewide rates, and hovered close to 20% for years after his departure. Rena Honea, president of the Alliance/AFT, the teachers union in Dallas, said that the targeted distribution Miles uses for his evaluations shortchanged excellent teachers.

These teachers work their tails off, produce outstanding students  but every year the target changes because the system cant afford to have buckets of people making top dollar, Honea said.

Over a decade after Miles began implementing his pay-for-performance model, known in Dallas as the Teacher Excellence Initiative, DISD teachers still made an average salary of about $67,000 last year, just about $2,000 more than what HISD teachers made on average.

While the similarities between Miles' plans for Dallas and Houston are striking, he had obstacles in Dallas that he doesnt have in Houston, publicly butting heads with board members who took issue with his changes. At the end of his first year at DISD, Miles had district police physically remove an elected trustee from a campus after she joined a staff meeting to question sweeping terminations at the school. Its difficult to imagine a similar confrontation with the appointed board of managers at HISD.

His way is the only way. Theres no discussions about being reasonable. He believes if a staff member is bad, get rid of them, the trustee, Bernadette Nutall said. He talked about systems, but there were no systems.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles is photographed during a department chiefs meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Miles declined to directly comment on the situation with Nutall, only saying that there were some not very good board members who were not focused on the common good of the district and just had some different agendas. HISD Board of Managers President Audrey Momanaee and Vice President Ric Campo maintain that the superintendent is accountable to them for student achievement and demonstrating certain identified leadership proficiencies.

While both Mr. Miles and the nine members of the Board were appointed by the TEA, it is crystal clear that he is accountable to the Board which has all of the powers of any elected Board, they said in a statement on behalf of the board of managers.

Anna Brining, the longtime principal of DISDs Rosemont Elementary, did not go out easily when DISD requested her resignation at the end of Miles' third year. After overseeing Rosemonts expansion to a prekindergarten-through-8 dual-language school, she said she was asked to resign without a thorough explanation from her supervisors. Brining feels she was retaliated against because Rosemont parents and teachers had become prominent critics of Miles' administration.

Brinings staff was preparing to throw her a quinceanera to celebrate more than 15 years as Rosemont principal when she was called downtown and asked to resign, she told the Chronicle, her voice still shaking a decade later. She refused, and the DISD Board of Trustees denied Miles' request to terminate her and two other principals. With no other recourse, Miles had them fired himself, according to a Dallas Morning News report.

Brining and the other principals eventually reached settlements with the district that allowed them to resign instead of being fired. Rosemont had met state standards in all three years of Miles' superintendency, state data shows, and outperformed DISD averages in reading and math during that time.

It seems to be if you are strong and successful within the system that exists, those are the ones he wants to get rid of, Brining said.

While some Houstonians, particularly in low-income Black and brown communities, have been protesting Miles' leadership since the day he set foot in Houston last year, principal and teacher turnover has increasingly driven outrage among communities who were told their schools would be mostly left alone.

Brynn Cabe, 12, center, a 7th grade student at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School, protested alongside parents and HISD students outside Gary L. Herod Elementary School in the in the Maplewood/Meyerland West area in Southwest Houston, TX on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Parents say their principal and several teachers are being being forced out. At far right is Ishtar Valor of Houston and at far left is Rochelle Cabe of Houston. Sharon Steinmann Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School parents and students demonstrate against the resignation notice of Principal Auden Sarabia on Monday, May 13, 2024 in Houston. Sarabia told staff he must either resign by Tuesday or go before the district's Board of Managers. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Parents, teachers, students and community members join The Houston Federation of Teachers in protesting the current state of HISD schools in front of HISD headquarters on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

HISD has stayed silent on the reasons for specific terminations, citing personnel issues, and it remains unknown exactly how many principals and teachers have been told they cant return next year. Miles has repeatedly said that employment decisions have been based around data, and that a teacher or principals popularity or longevity are not good indicators of their ability to provide high-quality instruction, Miles' No. 1 priority.

Miles backtracked on plans to use midyear proficiency screenings as an initial assessment tool in March, saying the district would use only data to assess school leaders in response to widespread backlash following a Chronicle article that reported nearly half of the districts principals did not pass the screening.

HISD PRINCIPAL TRACKER: Schools with leadership turnover since Mike Miles became superintendent

He later said the data his administration used to terminate principals this spring was the same used in the proficiency screening, however, making it unclear what, if anything, changed. Miles' final principal evaluations incorporate student achievement data, instructional observations, special education compliance and the principals school action plan, but those evaluations wont be finished until later this summer.

Miles has chalked up the outrage to confusion about the screening, but community members in Dallas were similarly perturbed when the Dallas Morning News reported that 25% of DISD principals had been put on notice in March 2013, during his first school year in charge.

By the time classes began that fall, 62 DISD schools, or about 25% of those in the district, were under new leadership, according to an op-ed written by then-DISD Trustee Mike Morath.

I was certainly sad to see some good principals leave last year, but the overall district-wide data are unmistakably clear, Morath wrote, referring to gains that students made on standardized tests. Principal changes substantially raised the collective bar, likely marking the biggest improvement in the history of Dallas.
ABBY Awards 2024: Leo Burnett is Creative Agency of the Year; VML, FCB shine

On Day 3 of the Abby Awards 2024 Powered by One Show, a total of 4 Grand Prix, 35 Gold, 52 Silver, and 123 Bronze metals were awarded. Leo Burnett India won a Grand Prix in Creative ABBY and another Grand Prix in Audio Visual TV, Cinema, Digital, OTT (Below 1 min duration) for Spotify India for the campaign Feel the Music with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The agency was declared  Creative Agency of the Year, Brand Activation and Promotion Specialist Agency of the Year, and Branded Content & Entertainment Specialist Agency of the Year.

ABBY Awards 2024: Leo Burnett gets top honours; FCB shines; ZEE leads Broadcaster ABBYs

Day 2 of Abby Awards 2024 saw a total of 2 Grand Prix, 18 Gold, 56 Silver, and 70 Bronze Metals were awarded. Leo Burnett India walked away with top honours on Day 2 bagging the coveted awards for  Digital Specialist Agency of the Year, Technology Specialist Agency of the Year, Mobile Specialist Agency of the Year, and Direct Specialist Agency of the Year. Leo Burnetts total metals tally stood at 26.

At the vanguard of transforming creativity - Leo Burnett celebrates ABBYs wins

Reacting to the agencys strong show, Rajdeepak Das, CCO, Publicis Groupe South Asia, and Chairman, Leo Burnett South Asia, The best thing about our win is that we are not winning in one category, but across multiple categories ranging from direct to tech to mobile to digital, and it really shows the depth and variety of work Leo Burnett creates.

Media ABBY Awards: Wavemaker India is Media Agency of the Year

Day 1 of Goafest 2024, held in Mumbai, culminated with the announcement of the winners of Media ABBYs and Publisher ABBYs. With total points of 98 and 16 metals, Wavemaker India was declared Media Agency Specialist of the Year. The agencys metals tally included  4 Golds, 9 Silvers, and 3 Bronzes. Wavemaker won the four Golds for client Cadbury.

Publisher ABBY Awards 2024: ABP adjudged Publisher of The Year

Publisher ABBYs saw a total of 20 metals being awarded, which included: 2 Golds, 6 Silvers, 6 Bronzes, and 6 Merits. ABP Pvt Ltd was adjudged Publisher of The Year, garnering total points of 28 and winning 5 metals, which included  1 Gold, 2 Silvers, and 2 Bronzes. ABP won the Gold for Cadbury Dairy Milk for the campaign titled Cadbury Gaane Mishti Folk Fusion.

Amazon in final stages of acquiring MX Player from Times Internet for over $100M

After months of delays and speculation, e-commerce giant Amazon is in the final stages of acquiring the video streaming platform MX Player from Times Internet. According to media reports, Amazon is acquiring MX Player in an all-cash deal for slightly over $100 million.

We wanted to build something of our own: Naresh Gupta on BITMs 12-year journey

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Naresh Gupta, Founder & Managing Partner of Bang In The Middle, reflects on the 12-year journey of the independent advertising agency. Gupta shares the inspiration behind starting the agency, the lessons learned, and the distinct culture that sets them apart.

The battle between bots and creativity - Part 1: Can AI ads be original enough?

A new trend is emerging that could significantly impact the AI gold rush in the creative realm of advertising. Some brands in the West are now incorporating No AI, No How clauses in their contracts with ad agencies, effectively banning the use of generative AI in their creative processes. Why such a drastic move?

Battle between bots & creativity - Part 2: Why brands are saying No Thanks to AI in Ads

For decades, the magic formula for advertising success relied on a potent mix of human ingenuity, creativity and consumer insights. But with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), a new ingredient is stirring the pot  and some brands arent so sure they like the taste.

From controlled messaging to transparent strategies - Why authenticity is crucial for PR

Amid the rapid transition to Digital and the emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Machine Language, human touch continues to retain a great degree of meaningful connections and bring in authenticity in brand communications and in Public Relations.

How Motorola is strategising to enhance content consumption on smartphones

In this weeks exclusive interaction with Adgully, Shivam Ranjan, Marketing Head, Motorola APAC, delves into Motorolas debut in the True Wireless Stereo (TWS) category with two new products. He elaborates on the creative process and inspiration behind the Sound of Perfection campaign and Song of India, involving five music artists across India.

How ice cream brands are vying for market dominance amid enhanced competition

The Indian ice cream market is a scoop of good news, valued at over $3 billion in 2023 and projected for significant growth, as per industry reports. Analysts predict a healthy Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.49% between 2024 and 2030. Moreover, according to IMARC Group, the Ice Cream Market in India reached Rs 228.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to Rs 956.0 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.4% from 2024 to 2032.

Focus East: How 125-year old Keventers is driving brand loyalty among GenZ

Keventers has had a chequered and interesting history in India. The company aims to take the legacy of over 130+ years in FMCG to new heights, while remaining committed to Edward Keventers philosophy and beliefs. In conversation with Adgully, Suparna Mucadum, Head of Marketing and Brand Custodian, Keventer Agro Limited, delves into the current trends in the beverage industry in the East market and more.

Kunal Sharma decodes India Gate Foods No Compromise agenda this poll season

Premium Basmati rice brand India Gate launched Phase 5 of its Apne Vote Se #NoCompromise campaign, aimed at raising awareness and encourage civic engagement. In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Kunal Sharma, Head of Marketing & Business Head for Modern Trade and Ecommerce at KRBL, elaborates on the campaigns objectives, as well as the broader vision for India Gate Foods.

P&G Shiksha serves up humour with a punch to highlight learning gaps in kids

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Abhishek Desai, Vice President - Brand Operations and Category Leader for Grooming, P&G India, delves into the intricacies of P&G Shikshas compelling #StandUpForLearningGaps campaign, providing insights into its innovative approach and strategic collaborations.

Our aim is to be the Shah Rukh Khan of Generative AI: Saket Dandotia

In conversation with Adgully, Saket Dandotia, Founder and CEO, Onetab, shares the origins of Onetab, challenges in the current market environment for AI-based SaaS solutions, the landscape of the Indian startup ecosystem, and much more.

Practicing gender equality is not just a moral imperative: Mansi Sharma

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Mansi Sharma, Founder of The Honest Tree and Co-founder, Boddess Beauty, speaks about the role and scope of women leaders in todays market ecosystem, emotional intelligence, maintaining a successful work-life balance, fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, and more.
Zee News is poised to revolutionize election forecasting with the new AI-driven sentiment exit polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Following the culmination of India's longest electoral process, Zee News proudly announces its pioneering initiative to unveil exit polls driven by cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. At the forefront of this technological innovation is Zee News' AI anchor, Zeenia, scheduled to debut on Sunday, June 2nd at 5 PM, delivering the AI Exit Poll data to viewers.

In collaboration with India Consolidated Private Limited, a subsidiary of the esteemed US data analytics powerhouse, Zee News has set a new standard in predictive accuracy and reliability. This partnership signifies a significant milestone in the realm of election forecasting, promising to redefine how Indian media interprets and predicts election outcomes. For years, all the survey agencies and news channels of the country have been reporting exit poll figures based on the opinions of a few thousand or a few lakh people. To ensure the reliability and accuracy of this AI exit poll, the combined team of Zee News and ICPL gathered opinions from an astonishing sample size of over 10 crore individuals,forming the basis for comprehensive data analysis covering 542 Lok Sabha seats.

Whatever exit polls or surveys have been conducted before this, they have been prepared on the basis of people's opinion. People may be inclined towards one side or the other, which directly impacts the results of the exit poll. But for the first time, ZEE NEWS has collected the opinions of voters with the help of Artificial Intelligence, in which there is absolutely no scope for bias. In such a situation, we can say that ZEE NEWS's AI EXIT POLL is completely unbiased, reliable and accurate.

The integration of AI-driven sentiment analysis into Zee News's exit polls signifies a significant leap forward in journalistic innovation. By harnessing advanced AI algorithms, Zee News' exit polls promise accuracy and reliability, enabling the capture of nuanced sentiments of voters across diverse regions and languages.

Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, expressed pride in the network's dedication to journalistic excellence, stating, "Zee News approach towards AI-driven sentiment analysis for exit polls marks a strategic leap forward from a news business perspective. This partnership signifies our commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the media industry. Through meticulous data collection and analysis, we aim to offer our audience unparalleled insights into the electoral landscape, reinforcing Zee News's reputation for delivering accurate and reliable news.

As we leverage AI technology to decipher the sentiments of millions of voters, we towards redefining how Indian media interprets election outcomes but also open new avenues for revenue generation and audience engagement in the ever-evolving landscape of news broadcasting, added Rahul Sinha.

As the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections draw to a close, Zee News's AI-driven predictions offer a true reflection of the sentiments of the Indian populace.
If youre the type of wanderer who loves quirky roadside attractions like I do, it doesnt really matter if they have a purpose. Worlds Largest Cedar Bucket? Stonehenge replicas? Im there  simply because someone took the time to make them. But sometimes roadside oddities do have a purpose they tell a bit about a towns history. Alabama has several clever oddities that honor their towns past. I chose seven you can see on your next road trip.

Ronald McDonald "McWeevil" in Enterprise, Ala., honors the city's history with the agricultural pest that forced farmers to diversify their crops.Courtesy of Enterprise Chamber of Commerce

The McWeevil

652 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise, Ala.

What would happen if Ronald McDonald and a boll weevil had a baby? A bunch of scientists would show up with white coats and microscopes, thats what. But if it were an imaginary pairing, we know what it would look like: The McWeevil statue in Enterprise, Ala. The boll weevil is sort of a mascot for the town to honor the agricultural pests role in the citys history  it forced farmers to diversify from only growing cotton crops which led to prosperity. The town erected a Boll Weevil Monument downtown in 1919.

The newer statue is definitely a candidate for Alabamas strangest roadside attraction because, while it looks a lot like the traditional Ronald McDonald, it has four arms  including one holding a Happy Meal  and a weirdly long nose.

The former Ritz Theatre's marquee is preserved as a unique welcome center in Brewton.Michelle Matthews

The No-Theater Theater

South Boulevard, downtown Brewton, Ala.

If youre visiting Brewton and get the idea to stop at the Ritz Theater for a movie, youll be disappointed. It doesnt show movies anymore. But the marquee was so important to the town that when it closed after 51 years in 1987, it was preserved as a local landmark. Materials from the marquee and tower were saved and reconstructed on the original site.

That doesnt mean you shouldnt stop when you see the marquee, though. Today, the unusual piece of architectural history operates as a community information kiosk, where announcements or tidbits of local history are displayed. It also makes a great photo opp!

From more than two decades, spider monkeys lived in Opelika's Municipal Park. When they moved to the Montgomery Zoo in 1980, the City of Opelika placed wooden statues in their old habitat. (Courtesy of Matthew Battles)

Fake Monkeys in a Cage

Park Road, Opelika, Ala.

In 1952, an animal attraction was added to Opelika Municipal Park  a habitat filled with eight spider monkeys. Residents began calling it Monkey Park. In the early 1980s, the much-beloved monkeys were donated to the Montgomery Zoo. Because the monkeys had entertained generations of residents, the city had wooden statues of the primates displayed inside the cage. The replica monkeys remain an attraction.

First Baptist Church in Huntsville. (Photo by Wil Elrick)

Eggbeater Jesus

600 Governors Drive SW, Huntsville, Ala.

Anyone who has lived in Huntsville for any amount of time is familiar with Cosmic Jesus, a massive mosaic on the front of First Baptist Church. It is lovingly referred to by locals as Eggbeater Jesus because Christs swirling robes resemble a whisk. The artwork is made of 14 million pieces of hand-painted Italian tile.

The funky age of Aquarius-type mosaic, installed from 1966-73, represents an era when Huntsville was on the cutting edge of space exploration. The mosaic is a beloved local landmark in Huntsville, home of Space Camp and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

Equal Justice Initiative unveiled statue of Rosa Parks on Feb. 14, 2024, which can be seen in Montgomery's Legacy Plaza.Savannah Tryens-Fernandes

Rosa Parks on an Invisible Bus Seat

336 North Court Street, Montgomery, Ala.

We all know the story. Alabama native Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a White man in 1955 and was arrested. Though she was not the first Black person to be arrested for such an act, her case inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for more than a year and eventually forced the end of segregation ordinances.

This statue, unveiled in February 2024, was rendered by artist Basil Washington. It shows Parks sitting on an invisible seat. Its located in Legacy Plaza outside the Legacy Museum.

This catfish made of hubcaps celebrates the movie "Big Fish" that was filmed in downtown Wetumpka.Kelly Kazek

Car-Parts Big Fish

234 Hill Street, Wetumpka, Ala.

If you walk around downtown Wetumpka, youll come across a 7-foot-long catfish sculpture made from Ford hubcaps. It celebrates the fact that Wetumpka was a filming site of the 2003 movie Big Fish. The quirky sculpture was erected downtown in November 2021. Wetumpka is also home to the Big Fish house, a distinctive white, hilltop manor used in the film.

The sculpture is by Colorado artist Brett Jakel (pronounced Yay-kel).

The Singing River Statue that was erected in Muscle Shoals, Ala., in 2015. (Courtesy of Singing River Sculptures Facebook page | AL.com File)

Silver Rock-n-Roller

1918 Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Muscle Shoals, Ala., is famous for its recording history  so much so that theres a 2013 documentary about it called Muscle Shoals. To honor this rich musical heritage, a group got together to erect statues of musicians in various genres. So far, two have been erected, made of shiny aluminum. You can see a 20-foot rock-and-roller near the library in Muscle Shoals. It was created by Tuscumbia sculptor Audwin McGee using aluminum donated by Wise Alloys in Muscle Shoals. An 18-foot statue is located in Sheffield.
An early-morning shooting in Birminghams Tom Brown Village housing community left one man dead.

Police identified the victim as Brandon Wilson. He was 31.

South Precinct officers were dispatched at 1:30 a.m. Saturday to the 500 block of 41st Street North after the citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter  indicated shots fired in that location. Officers were then updated that a person was down, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Wilson was found wounded in the intersection of 41st Street and 5th Court North.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed him to UAB Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Fitzgerald said details are limited and no one is in custody.

Wilson is Birminghams 59th homicide of 2024. Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 82 homicides including the 59 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Ancient Jieshou painted pottery revives in modern time

Xinhua) 10:16, June 01, 2024

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)

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 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 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)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
Samantha Ketterer is a Houston Chronicle reporter covering higher education. She can be reached at samantha.ketterer@houstonchronicle.com.

Since joining the staff in 2018, Samantha has also covered criminal justice and the Harris County courthouse. She is a former reporting fellow for the Dallas Morning News' state bureau and a former city hall reporter for The Galveston County Daily News.

Samantha, who is from Houston's suburbs, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and is a proud alumna of The Daily Texan.
The training wheels are coming off a 1-year-old Alabama law this month when state authorities begin enforcing legislation that penalizes reckless drivers holding cell phones.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Friday it will start enforcing the states hands-free law, which imposes a $50 fine and one point on a drivers license for their first offense, on June 15 .

Holding a wireless communications device while driving may result in a citation if you swerve, change lanes without signaling, or otherwise operate a vehicle in what the law describes as an impaired manner, the agency said Thursday.

The law was passed in June 2023, but its language states a law enforcement officer may only issue a written warning for the offense for the first 12 months it was in effect.

ALEA warned Alabama drivers that the new law is not a secondary violation and motorists can be pulled over if a trooper or other state law enforcement official observes the law being broken.

Individuals observed crossing in and out of a traffic lane without using a turn signal, swerving, or otherwise operating the vehicle in an impaired manner while physically holding a wireless telecommunication device could be issued a citation, the agency said.

Drivers face a $100 and two points on their license for a second conviction and $150 and three points on their license for a third conviction within a two-year period.
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 states 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 bills 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 didnt 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 cant 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.
Maxwell Air Force Base has launched its new mission of preparing pilots and crews to fly the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter, an advanced aircraft that will protect the nations intercontinental ballistic missile fields in five states.

A ceremony on the base Friday commemorated the new mission for the 908th Airlift Wing. The role of training aviators for the Grey Wolf replaces the 908th Airlift Wings previous mission as home base for C-130 Hercules transport planes.

The change was announced almost four years ago, setting in motion an expansive effort to get Maxwell ready for the new responsibility.

Todd Taylor, who oversaw the transition to the Grey Wolf mission as director of the 908th Airlift Wings program integration office, said he started working on the project in May 2021.

Most of that time has been just research, preparing, planning, Taylor said. Building execution plans, training plans, financial plans.. So the impact of today, to see aircraft on the ground, flying operations, training operations - the wing actually changing and becoming a helicopter organization - is really significant for the team thats been responsible for managing this process for three years already.

A ceremony that included remarks from Lt. Gen. John Healy, commander of the Air Force Reserve, and several others, was followed by a reception where people could see one of the new helicopters up close and pose for photos.

The Grey Wolf will replace the UH-1N Huey helicopter. The Grey Wolf cruises 50% faster, flies 50% further, has a 30% larger cabin, and can lift 5,000 pounds more than the Huey, according to the Air Force.

The bottom line is, its a step up, which we would expect, said Col. Ryan Richardson, commander of the 42nd Air Base Wing, which supports all the 43 missions at Maxwell. Its a new aircraft. Its a new weapons system. Its faster, safer, arguably more lethal. And obviously we want the safest weapon system for our air crews to execute their missions.

The crews trained to fly the Grey Wolf will provide security and support for the nations ICBM fields in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska, according to the Air Force.

Taylor said the responsibility for supplying trained pilots and crews to the Air Force Global Strike Command, which is responsible for the ICBMs, makes the 908th Airlift Wing a vital cog in the nations defense.

Maxwell is right there at the forefront to making sure that our national security and nuclear surety is covered, Taylor said.

Richardson said support from political and community leaders has helped Maxwell get ready for its new mission. The base is a major economic engine for Montgomery and the surrounding counties.

The whole of the River Region has embraced this mission in much the same way theyve embraced the F-35 coming to the 187th Fighter Wing just down the road at Dannelly, Richardson said.
A Troy man was killed in an ATV crash in Crenshaw County.

Alabama State Troopers identified the fatality victim as Elvis W. Bowles. He was 41.

The wreck happened at 4:10 p.m. Friday on Athens Church Road near Golden Road, about four miles east of Luverne.

ALEA Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said Bowles was driving a CFORCE 800XC ATV that left the road and hit an embankment. Bowles was thrown from the ATV and pronounced dead on the scene.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.
NASA once again scrubbed the first crewed Starliner flight to the International Space Station.

The space agency made the decision moments before the mission was supposed to launch astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the space station on Saturday.

According to NASAs website, teams were evaluating the ground launch sequencer. According to the space agencys broadcast, officials are still hopeful for a launch on Sunday at Launch Pad 41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The vehicle, an additional ferry to the space station in addition to Space Xs Crew Dragon, has often been delayed going into space. A previous launch attempt was scrubbed on May 6 because of a helium leak.

The vehicle will be launched on an Atlas V rocket built at the United Launch Alliance facility in Decatur. Huntsvilles Marshall Space Flight Center has also been involved in the effort.
This is an opinion column.

Waaaaaah.

They were all about justice as long as the criminal justice system primarily impacted other folksas long as justice was just us.

They were all-in on rule of law as long as most rulings tilted in their favor.

Now that one of their owntheir big boo-thangis a felon, justifiably convicted under rule of law by a jury of his peers, Alabamas top Republicans are wailing louder than the bundled occupants of a neonatal nursery. Call it the big boo-hoo.

Waaaaaah.

No surprise, of course. In a New York courtroom Thursday, former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records to obfuscate the use of campaign funds to illegally influence the 2016 election with hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.

Guiltytimes 34.

The ex-president/felonhes done more boohooing (and lying) than anyonecouldnt arrive at his east side home just a few miles from the downtown courthouse before Alabama Republicans spit their pacifiers and began spewing practiced talking-point whines like sour formula: witch hunt (Sen. Tommy Tuberville), banana republic (Sen. Katie Britt), and hoax (Attorney General Steve Marshall).

Waaaaaah.

Blame the timing and the tenor. With the 2024 presidential election looming in November and felon Trump the presumptive Republican nominee, Im not shocked at the party-line tears shed by the faithful. Even if it exposes their partys blatant and pitiful hypocrisy about justice and the rule of law.

Theyve shed no tears since the passage of the 1977 Habitual Offender Act. Its egregiously harsh sentencing mandatelife without parole for a Class A felony after any three previous felony convictions (such as drug possession, a non-violent robbery, or, oh, falsifying business docs)caused the states already crowded prison population to explode.

The state imprisoned 4,000 men and women when the HOA was passed. As of January, more than 20,000 people are tuna-canned into our penal mess, into a system built for 11,000. Into a system long declared inhumane and in violation of the U.S. Constitution by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Yet no tears.

No tears for the myriad men and women senselessly left behind bars because our Board of Pardons and Paroles board did little of either for years before its banal inhumanity was exposed by my colleagues earlier this year.

No tears for Quinton Cook and Frank Meadows, two brothers wrongfully convicted of rape when in their teens. Their convictions were overturned as wrongful last November by a Jefferson County circuit court judge after both men had lived more than 20 years behind our bars, serving their full sentences. Yet the state refused to compensate them a single penny for their paindoing a flip-flop by deeming them ineligible for compensation just a couple of months after the Department of Risk Management had recommended in March that Meadows was eligible under the states wrongful conviction statute to receive $1,106,988.11 (based on 19 full years of incarceration, plus 364 days in 1996 and 125 days in 2015, when he was released) and Cook was eligible for $1,007,809.78 (19 years of incarceration, plus 227 days in 1995 and 195 days in 2014 when released).

No tears.

No tears for Toforest Johnson. Hes been on death row since 1998 after being convicted of murdering a sheriffs deputy in Birmingham, a verdict a parade of public officials now says was terribly wrong. Theyre all calling for Johnson to be granted a new triala motion has been filed in circuit courtyet Marshall wont pick up the phone.

Indeed, he filed a brief arguing the U.S. Supreme Court should not hear Johnsons case because itthe mans lifeisnt of extraordinary public importance.

Thats a crying shame.

I cant believe Im typing this: Tuberville was right about one thing. Its a very dark day in American history, he said at the start of his tirade.

Sad and shameful Britt similarly shared.

Dark, sad, and shameful indeed that for the first time in our nations history a former president is a felon.

It will be even darker, sadder, and more shameful should voters return the keys to our highest, most powerful office to him.

A felon in the White House. Those words should be enough to make us all cry.

Roy S. Johnson is member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, Edward R. Morrow Award winner, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary. My column appears on AL.com, as well as the Lede. Tell him what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow him at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj.
Its the middle of the night as I write this, and Im deeply troubled by Trumps conviction. Why? Perhaps Im hyper-partisan, perhaps not. I know Ill never forget where I was when I heard about his conviction. I knew Id remember it forever, just as I did when I first heard about 9/11, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, President Kennedys assassination or the Soviet Union breathing its last. They were all moments when the clock stood still. The world was never quite the same afterward, and the question, always, was what comes next.

My friends who believe either that what happened to Trump was not such a big deal or that the rule of law is not yet totally corrupted because Trump is likely to prevail on appeal miss the point. Anarchy at this level in America is outside of any of our experiences. Even those who dislike Trump recognize injustice in the same way that Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart recognized pornography: I know it when I see it. Trumps conviction is a metaphor for pornography.

I have watched a man who does not need us, even though we need him, dragged through the streets of New York in an almost medieval manner. All that was missing was either tar and feathering him by breathless spectators or cries of hang him.

Trump was heard the day before the verdict, acknowledging that he would likely be found guilty. My wife, an optimist, thought a hung jury was likely. Im not an optimist. Like Trump, I expected a conviction, given the judges conduct during the trial and the legally weird instruction given to a jury that we can assume reflected Manhattan at large, 85% Democratic.

What is it about New York City and the Democrat party, in general, thats got it in for Trump so bad that a politician can run for office on the single pledge that he or she will put Trump in jail, and no one bats an eye? Thats what a rogues gallery of politicians or political appointees espoused, including the New York state Attorney General, the Manhattan District Attorney, and the U.S. Justice Departments number three, who resigned and stepped down to prosecute Trump in New York.

All of us bear stark witness to something never before seen in American political lifethe successful use of lawfare to nullify a political enemy. How else can you explain the wantonness of New Yorks attempt to silence its conservative enemies? If you need another example of how lawfare works, Trumps conviction overshadowed a landmark Supreme Court decision about a New York official who used lawfare against the National Rifle Association:

The Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated a lawsuit by the National Rifle Association, alleging that a New York official violated the groups First Amendment rights when she urged banks and insurance companies not to do business with it in the wake of the 2018 shooting at a Florida high school. In a unanimous decision by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the justices agreed that the NRA had made out a case that Maria Vullo, then the head of New Yorks Department of Financial Services, had gone too far in her efforts to get companies and banks to cut ties with the NRA, crossing over the line from efforts to persuade the companies and banks  which would be permitted  to attempts to coerce them, which are not.

As wrong as this quote sounds, the reality is even worse. Vullo offered to let New York corporations slide on possible violations of New York law in exchange for joining her in pillorying the NRA. It was New York Attorney General Letitia James, the same woman who got Trump convicted for paying off loans on time and in full, who filed suit accusing LaPierre and other current and former executives of flouting state laws and internal policies to enrich themselves.

James made no bones about her motives. She went after the NRA for its position on guns and not for the stated reason. James tried and failed to break up the NRA in the first round and failed again. The NRA is moving its corporation to Texas in a move long overdue.

The case for whether Trump could get a fair trial in Manhattan has been answered. New Yorks legal and governance system has sunk to the level of junk bonds, along with its reputation, which may never recover. The rule of law is the one expectation Americans understand and believe separates us from countries that make it up as they go. Americas standing in the world has been diminished. Whats happened in New York instantly turned us into a Third-World country.

So, you may ask where we go from here. We are in uncharted territory for sure.

Trump will likely go on campaigning, but with what restrictions, we dont know. Trumps status as a free man is now gone, at least for the moment. Judge Merchan owns Donald Trump right now. Despite the case being appealed, Trump has lost his civil rights. He cannot vote, for instance, or own a gun. His movements and his speech are subject to review. He must show up for court, various court-mandated psychiatric evaluations (something Democrats have lusted after for years), and more. Trump, at this moment, is Merchans ward. I cant begin to wrap my mind around this singular reality.

Do we think the Democratic leadership of New York is huddling right now to determine how best to turn this conviction (at least for now) to the partys advantage? You betcha! They know they have a tiger by the tail, and it is only wounded, not vanquished.

This is where all of you come in. Up to now, the Dems warfare strategy has not gone as planned. Over the next two weeks, polls will come out that will give us a better read on how being tarred as a felon will play out with likely voters. Be prepared for some potential surprises. The Dems may triangulate again depending on how those polls play out; well see.

One more final thought. Perhaps Democrats knew from the start that Trump would prevail on appeal. The entire purpose of this kangaroo court was to waste his time and diminish him with the electorate by being able to say President Trump is a felon. If so, I hope they are wrong. Well soon find out that Americans of all persuasions see this for what it is and come to his aid.

For the first time, we can see how a corrupt system can violate our rights with impunity. If they can get Trump, they can get you too. The level of outrage by ordinary Americans will determine more than just the next President.

God Bless America and help us all survive this travesty.

Author, Businessman, Thinker, and Strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com
Watching pro-Hamas campus demonstrations can be dangerous to ones health. Such stupidity, mendacity, and gratuitous violence virtually guarantees high blood pressure or cardiac arrest. It's not easy watching Ivy League presidents explain how calls for Kill the Jews is not exactly hateful since it is a matter of context.

Personally speaking, the most upsetting is watching frightened Jewish students recounting woeful tales of being intimidated from attending classes or visiting the library. This is classic Jewish passivity and reminiscent of how millions of Jews reacted when expelled from Spain, rounded up by the Gestapo, or forced to flee their neighborhoods due to crime. All predictable, of course, since Jews are easy targets who seldom fight back. Fleeing danger is the history of Jews for the last 2000 years.

Of course, campus functionaries promise to take action. All pointless. Does anyone believe that including Jews to the list of protected campus groups will deter radical Muslims from screaming anti-Semitic slogans? Good luck firing tenured professors who compulsively demonize Zionist settlers. Doing something is Kabuki theatre entirely directed at rich Jewish donors.

Can Jewish students and non-Jewish allies feel safe on campus? The only genuine solution is to abandon the meek, flight, not fight mentality and instead develop a backbone to terrify your enemies. This does not mean Jews attacking their enemies; rather, the aim is to reduce attacks on Jews.

Time to restore the Old Testament. Jews are the people of the book, and Old Testament is replete with tales of this God violently destroying enemies of His people. No more nice guy turning the other cheek. Richard Dawkins characterized this God of the Jews (p. 51) as a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. Just what the doctor ordered for todays campus anti-Semitism.

The Old Testament famously tells of how Joshua conquers the city of Jericho in which he kills every person (apart from Rahabs family who had spied for Joshua) together with all the city donkeys and sheep. Joshua then moves on to the city of Ai, fails initially, but advised by God, succeeds on the second try, and sets the city on fire and kills all the inhabitants.

Biblical commentators have compiled these grim accounts. Heres a sampling:

[He] helps Judah win in battle against the Canaanites and Perizzites (Judges 1:4), and they celebrate by cutting off Adoni-Bezeks thumbs and big toes (Judges 1:6). He enables Judah to dispossess the inhabitants of the hill country (Judges 1:19). He is with Joseph when they put the entire town of Bethel to the sword (Judges 1:25).

Similarly,

[In] Deuteronomy 7:15, [He] tells Israel to utterly destroy seven nations including the Canaanites and Perizzites. No treaties, no mercy, no intermarriage. Instead, they are to destroy their idols and altars. Nothing that breathes should remain alive (Deuteronomy 20:1618).

This is Old Testament vengeance, not the terrified Shtetl Jews of Eastern Europe fleeing pogroms. It is also the vision that informs present-day Israel. T odays Israeli leaders repeatedly warn Arab enemies that if they strike the Jews, the Jews will hit back ten time harder, and the warning is credible. It's hardly accidental that the campus fans of Hamas plead for a cease-fire versus urging Hamas fight on, since they recognize their military impotence to defeat the Jews on the battlefield.

This tough Jew mentality that defines Israel must be exported to the American campus and Jewish donors would happily fund it. Given the success of violent-appearing campus groups such as the Black Panthers, victory is guaranteed.

Start with intensive self-defense training as taught by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). Women can enroll in the KMI school in the New York City area for a 12-month intensive program in Krav Maga, the judo-like approach for unarmed self-defense. This is one of many such Krav Maga schools taught by IDF veterans. Such training can be expanded given that over a 1000 IFD veterans are now studying on U.S. college campuses. There are also online video instructions.

Trained Krav Maga graduates might wear IDF-logo clothing -- both in English and Hebrew -- that can be ordered on the internet. Once fearful Jewish students will now stand tall thanks to hats and shirts with in-your-face IDF emblems. Recall when during the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC the Persian King Xerxes demanded that the Spartans surrender their swords. The Spartan king, Leonides, told him, Molon Labe,  , or come and take them. Pro-Hamas professors will think twice before going off on their daily rants against Zionist settlers.

Next, learn to use guns, and this hardly requires being personally armed though open-carry laws would be helpful. This is the logic behind the Second Amendment -- owning firearms, knowing how to shoot, and having quick access to them is the bulwark against tyranny. Imagine Harvard and Columbia filled with shooting clubs for Jews conducted by IDF veterans? This would entail intensive training and graduates would own firearms and regularly practice. Pro-Second Amendment groups would surely help and an explicitly Jewish pro-firearms group already exist.

This Old Testament-like response did surface in pre-Holocaust Europe, and one individual in particular, Zeev Jabotinsky, embodied this aggressive resistance. Jabotinsky (1880-1940) grew up in Russia during its deadly pogroms, became a Zionist, and concluded that only armed self-defense could protect Jews. He organized self-defense groups throughout Russia with such slogans as "Better to have a gun and not need it than to need it and not have it!" and Jewish youth, learn to shoot!" During WW I he helped create the Jewish Legion as part of the British Army in the liberation of Palestine from Ottoman rule. After leaving the British army, he trained Jews in warfare tactics and small arms.

During the interwar years Jabotinsky helped build a Jewish state in what is today Israel while, calling for millions of Jews to flee Europe. When the British severely curtailed Jewish emigration to Palestine, he planned for Jews to enter illegally, and then forcefully expel the British. Though this scheme failed to materialize, he continued to endorse armed action.

Today Jabotinsky is recognized as a founder of Israel who supported liberal democracy and the right of Arabs to remain in Israel as full citizens. For him, Zionism was a necessary radical departure from the passivity of European shtetl life. Israel now has 57 streets and public places named in his honor, a figure greater than any other person in Jewish history.

Tough, militant Jews need not provoke armed campus strife. This is a vision of peace that rests on the reality that if attacked, Jews will fight back, and forcefully if necessary. This replaces protection via promulgating glittering declarations of diversity and inclusion or adding Jews to the official list of protected species. Safety for Jews will arrive when a group of pro-Hamas demonstrators bedecked in their keffiyehs are walking down a dark street late, hear approaching footsteps behind them, turn around and tell each other, Dont worry its only a bunch of gangbangers, not Jews.

Image: Micha Perry
Libertarianism



The theory: The reality: pic.twitter.com/EW2j40mFrY  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 27, 2024

President Trump recently made headlines for speaking to the Libertarians at their annual convention. Who are Libertarians and what do they believe? Maybe, if youre a disaffected Republican (or Democrat  lets be inclusive), you once gave them a look but it was so long ago you can no longer remember why you decided against joining their cause. You just remember it wasnt a good fit. Well, whatever it was, Im here to tell you what the problem is: theyve gone globalist!

The official Libertarian Party platform page starts great  until you think about it for juuuuust a second. From the Preamble:

As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty: a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and are not forced to sacrifice their values for the benefit of others.

Well, who could argue with that, right? Except the world part. Theyre  ostensibly  an American party, with American voters, nominating an American to be the American president, so these rascally kids need to focus, because this lack of, shall we say, America First, forces their entire cause to collapse onto itself. Its absolutely fatal. We will get into the specifics of why in a bit.

The Preamble continues:

We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.

Ok, still sounding good but its A-m-e-r-i-c-a with which we need to be concerned. American individual rights are an essential precondition for a free and prosperous America. Citizens of the world have no essential American rights. (And, parenthetically, banishing force and fraud from human relationships? Are these guys doing politics or religion? Should we light a candle and chant? Sheesh. Lets not get over our skis more than we already are, ok?)

Once you get out of the Preamble, the Platform is divided into three main sections. We wont belabor each and every one, just a couple in particular, having to do with open borders (which their nominee supports!), but here they are in all their (globalist) glory. As you skim through, keep in mind they mean to extend these rights to every human on earth, not just Americans, and it becomes very clear very quickly how destructive to America and really, how very juvenile, it all is.

Personal Liberty, which they subdivide into Self-Ownership, Expression and Communication, Privacy, Personal Relationships, Parental Rights, Adult Rights and Responsibilities, Crime and Justice, Death Penalty, and Self-Defense.

Then Economic Liberty, subdivided as: Aggression, Property and Contract, Environment, Energy and Resources, Government Finance and Spending, Government Debt, Government Employees, Money and Financial Markets, Marketplace Freedom, Licensing, Sex Work, Labor Markets, Education, Health Care, and Retirement and Income Security.

Finally its Securing Liberty, broken down into National Defense, Internal Security and Individual Rights, International Affairs, Free Trade and Migration, Rights and Discrimination, Representative Government, and Self-Determination.

So! Who did the Libertarians nominate to be their candidate for president this year? Chase Oliver. Who is Chase Oliver? Well if you didnt know better youd think he were a progressive Democrat. Here are tweets about him from a couple of well-known Twitter accounts:

 The Libertarians just nominated Chase Oliver, who has PUBLICLY called for:



 Transing children

 Mask & Vax mandates

 Men in womens sports

 Open borders



And thats just what hes been calling for under Biden



What a joke. This guys not getting anywhere CLOSE to 3%  pic.twitter.com/Xa5fELQc32  Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 27, 2024

Who knew when Trump told @LPNational they could always pick a loser instead, that they would look around & pick the biggest loser they could, and nominate "trans the teens, open borders, pro-employer vaccine & mask mandate" @ChaseForLiberty  Robert Barnes (@barnes_law) May 27, 2024

If you have trouble reading either tweet, the four things the Libertarians standard-bearer believes in and has a record of advocating for are: trans surgery for teenagers, males in female sports, open borders, and mask and vaccine mandates.

Below are the two Libertarian Platform provisions relating to immigration and individual rights. Read their way, in the original globalist, its anarchy, open borders, and America last. Read my way  edited with an America First focus  it grants their Libertarian values to Americans in America, which, I thought, was the point, so lets make it make sense.

ORIGINAL: Section 3.4 Free Trade and Migration:

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders.

MODIFIED to AMERICA FIRST: Section 3.4 Free Trade and Migration:

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demands orderly, lawful, and efficient immigration of non-Americans into America.* Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of American humans as well as American financial capital out of Americas borders to wherever Americans deem it most welcome.

*A clause in Section 3.5, the very next section, actually demands America First, but theyre seemingly too stupid to know it. Well get to it momentarily, but in the meantime, much better my way, right? The American government should place no restrictions on you or your money leaving our borders at all, and those outside our borders who are not American have to be processed in, in an orderly fashion. This is such common sense its insane it needs to be said, but here we are.

ORIGINAL Section 3.5 Rights and Discrimination:

Libertarians embrace the concept that all people are born with certain inherent rights. We reject the idea that a natural right can ever impose an obligation upon others to fulfill that right. We uphold and defend the rights of every person, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or any other aspect of their identity. Government should neither deny nor abridge any individuals human right based upon sex, wealth, ethnicity, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation. Members of private organizations retain their rights to set whatever standards of association they deem appropriate, and individuals are free to respond with ostracism, boycotts, and other free market solutions.

MODIFIED to AMERICA FIRST Section 3.5 Rights and Discrimination:

Libertarians embrace the concept that Americans are born with certain inherent rights. We reject the idea that an American natural right can ever impose an obligation upon other Americans to fulfill that right. We uphold and defend the rights of every American, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or any other aspect of their identity. Government should neither deny nor abridge any individual Americans human right based upon sex, wealth, ethnicity, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation. Members of private American organizations retain their rights to set whatever standards of association they deem appropriate, and Americans are free to respond with lawful, peaceful, non-violent, and other free market solutions.

The phrase that demands America First but theyre too stupid to know it? The phrase about obligations. (From the ORIGINAL Section 3.5 We reject the idea that a natural right can ever impose an obligation upon others to fulfill that right.) Good grief. SOMEBODY has to PAY for all these unskilled, unwelcome migrants once they get here. That obligation has been placed on us. We can not like it all day long, but the Biden administrations open borders policy has clearly saddled us, the American taxpayer, with that obligation. Re-written as America First, Sections 3.4 and 3.5 are in harmony, and would actually make sense.

In summary, where todays Libertarians go so catastrophically wrong is they forget its A-m-e-r-i-c-a-n-s who are free and have uniquely A-m-e-r-i-c-a-n rights, not every human being on planet earth who can walk across our borders. Their entire platform is a jumble of utterly illogical and embarrassingly juvenile contradictions. Were it re-written as America First, it would at least make sense, even if you didnt agree with every tenant (like the section on Sex Work).

So! Libertarians! You had an America First president address you. Get in the business of American politics, not globalist religion, or you are welcome to keep getting your 3% as President Trump so kindly reminded you is your lot in life.

Image: Public domain.
A team from Venus Aerospace loads a drone onto the wing of a training jet before an event with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Since its founding nearly four years ago, Houston-based Venus Aerospace has been focused on building a hypersonic spaceplane that can take passengers across the world in only a few hours.

Chief Technical Officer Andrew Duggleby, who founded the company in June 2020 with his wife and company CEO Sassie Duggleby, said there are a few key milestones that come to mind as he reflects on these first four years. The passing of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill last month, which includes new language designed to help regulate and design policies in the field of hypersonic and supersonic aircraft development and implementation, is one of them.

"I now feel like the message is finally getting out," Andrew Duggleby said. "We have done enough things to be real. We've flown things. We've fired engines. This bill highlights, and doing the celebration here kind of highlights, that this is coming, and it's one of the big moments."

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Chief Executive Officer Sassie Duggleby, from rear left, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, and Chief Technology Officer Andrew Duggleby talk about the challenges and opportunities of hypersonic flight Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Venus Aerospace Chief Technology Officer Andrew Duggleby, smiles as he listens to his wife, CEO Sassie Duggleby, talk about the origination of their company during an event Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, participate in a discussion about hypersonic flight Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Venus Aerospace CEO Sassie Duggleby, left, and Steve Kean, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, listen to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during an event Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A team from Venus Aerospace poses with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, center of group, Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, to his right, and State Rep. Dennis Paul, whose district includes southeast Harris County, after an event Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, second from right, shakes hands with Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, as they speak during an event Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Venus Aerospace CEO Sassie Duggleby, from left, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, and Venus Aerospace Chief Technology Officer Andrew Duggleby, participate in a discussion about the challenges and opportunities of hypersonic flight Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Courtney Duggleby, 12, smiles as her sister takes a photo of her posing in a training jet Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

The celebration he mentioned was a gathering Friday at the Venus Aerospace headquarters at Ellington Field attended by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Rep. Brian Babin of Woodville, Houston Airports Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak and others.

The Dugglebys took Cruz, Babin and state Rep. Dennis Paul of Houston on a quick tour of the company's workspace before addressing reporters about the new legislation, which Babin noted will make hypersonic aircraft a top priority for the FAA.

Andrew Duggleby said the bill will help push innovation for high-speed flight in the United States by establishing protocols for testing high-speed prototypes and helping make sure testing and implementation can be done safely.

Max Ward, a senior operations specialist, attaches a drone to the wing of a test aircraft before an event with legislators Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

There are very few test corridors available for organizations to test these hypersonic and supersonic spacecraft, and it can take a while to receive the necessary permission to do them. Cruz said the legislation allows for the creation of more testing sites and opportunities for companies like Venus Aerospace, and he wants one to be in Texas.

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"You have my word I will fight ferociously for it to be in Texas," Cruz said.

Cruz co-authored the bill in the Senate with Democrat Maria Cantwell of Washington. Cantwell is chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, while Cruz is the ranking Republican member.

In addition to touting the FAA bill's aspects that will hopefully establish those high-speed aircraft protocols, Cruz also highlighted establishing one-way flights between San Antonio and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside the nation's capital and hiring the maximum number of air traffic controllers as major wins of getting the bill passed.

Venus Aerospace CEO Sassie Duggleby, from left, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, State Rep. Dennis Paul, whose district includes southeast Harris County, Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, and Venus Aerospace Chief Technology Officer Andrew Duggleby talk about drone technology Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Duggleby said he loved to hear Cruz mention his desire for a test corridor in Texas and noted that he thinks there are spots over the Gulf of Mexico or even in Texas that would be good fits as test corridors.

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The bill will also help establish new parameters for high-speed flight that wouldnt be feasible under current laws.

FROM LAST YEAR: Houston company tests engine that would propel its spaceplane from California to Japan in 1 hour

He highlighted the 45-minute rule, which requires planes to have fuel to cover at least an extra 45 minutes in the air in case they need to land elsewhere. That would be impractical for a hypersonic plane that can cover great distances in a short amount of time. The new bill, Duggleby said, sets up administrators to allow separate safety standards for high-speed craft.

Aubrey McCravey, manager of test operations, places a decal before an event with legislators Friday, May 31, 2024, at Venus Aerospace in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Our standard joke would be like, well, Im gonna go San Francisco to Tokyo. And if the runways close, you want me to carry in to Moscow? London? Duggleby said.

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Duggleby said an adviser to Venus Aerospace recently told him this is the most exciting decade in aviation in 100 years with the innovations regarding hyper-speed flight, drones and more.

The FAA bill appears to be helping move that forward.

Theres an excitement here, Duggleby said. Its a hopeful feeling.
The United States, under the Biden administration, has deteriorated into what can only be described as a banana republic, propped up by a sycophantic news media. In this 'woke' era, with ultra-liberal media outlets serenading low-information voters with their siren songs, former President Donald Trump was recently found guilty on 34 counts, each carrying a possible penalty of four years in prison. That's a total of 136 years for a 77-year-old man. Do the math: If on July 11 he receives the maximum sentence and isn't released for good behavior, since he supposedly has none, he'll be 213 years old when he gets out.

But instead of outrage, the average dumbed-down person on the woke walkway might say he deserves a longer sentence than 136 years. How far have we fallen as a moral nation? What do we expect? We lived under an Obama-nation, and now we live under a Biden-nation. That's worse, even though none of us conservatives thought it could get worse than Obama. Ouch. It did.

The sad thing is that we don't even know who our torturers are. We still don't know who is behind the curtain in Joe Biden's basement. But it should come as no surprise, since our political leaders are a reflection of who we are as a people. Yes, we were seduced, corrupted, and defiled by the mainstream news media, but we still had a choice to tune in or tune out. Most tuned in and drank the Kool-Aid. Sad.

The old Soviet Union had a fairly decent constitution, but most people don't know that. What made them infamous was that their courts were controlled by the communists and virtually always ruled in favor of the politically correct despots. Similarly, our courts now seem to be under the sway of the ultra-liberal agenda, ruling in favor of what is deemed politically correct rather than what is just.

The Soviet Union eventually fell, in part because people saw through their propaganda arm, Pravda, the only media outlet. But in the U.S., the liberals have infiltrated journalism schools and news desks to such a point that they'd make the old communists blush with their brazen communications today. They get away with it for one reason: Instead of one propaganda outlet, it has morphed into a 10,000-headed hydra. No matter where you turn the channel or whatever social media platform you frequent, you see the same propaganda, just phrased a little differently. It's far more powerful than the old communist system.

Some experts find the judge's jury instructions to be biased, leading to the jury rendering a guilty verdict against Trump. And let's not forget the so-called "Biden Crime Family" getting a pass on the millions of dollars they received from Ukraine dealings. The cocaine found in the White House was dismissed in less than a week, despite Hunter Biden being an overnight guest and having prior publicly acknowledged drug addictions. This double standard of justice is glaringly obvious to anyone paying attention.

What is the average American to do in the face of this seemingly omnipresent chorus of misinformation and manipulation? We must recognize that our political leaders are merely a reflection of ourselves. It is our responsibility to demand better, to hold the media accountable, and to seek out the truth amidst the noise.

The only thing that will win back our lost republic is a massive moral revival. Our nation must return to its foundational values of truth, justice, and liberty. We must pray for a revival, a renewal of our collective conscience, and a return to the principles that once made America great. I hope to God it arrives soon.

Jerry McGlothlin is a writer whose articles and editorials have been featured in prominent newspapers including USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, American Thinker, The Christian Post, and The Washington Times. He has also been the subject of articles in The Washington Post and The New York Times. With 35 years of experience as a talk show booking agent, Jerry has provided expert guests for top television programs like Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and others. He has worked with notable personalities such as Barbara Walters and Ed McMahon, placing them as guests on a myriad of talk shows.

CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin, 919-437-0001, jerry@specialguests.com

Image: Pixabay
Show me the man and Ill show you the crime is a popularized version of what they do in communist countries.

Dictatorial regimes accuse and imprison political opponents on trumped-up charges. Legal recourse is impossible.



Americans have prided themselves on the sanctity of the United Statess legal system.

While there was acknowledgement that minorities had been legally discriminated against, the prevailing view has been that America possessed a superior legal system with multiple levels of appeals if one was unhappy with a criminal verdict. In fact, Americans were so sure of their legal superiority, they derided other court systems, in addition to communist show trials, particularly those in Central and South American countries, as those of banana republics.



Without a shredding machine, New York Citys legal system, which was hijacked to persecute President Trump, has destroyed at least half of Americas perception of the sanctity of its legal system. Is it really any better than the old communist systems, or those of the banana republics? It certainly doesnt seem so tonight.



It is hard to disagree with President Trump that, the trial against him was anything but a rigged case, brought by a corrupt district attorney, run by a conflicted judge, and decided by a biased jury.

All of which was facilitated by the fact that 87% to 90% of New Yorkers vote Democrat and hate Trump!



Legally, Trump will appeal and hopefully obtain an expedited appellate hearing, and an expedited route to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, what can his supporters do?



Civil war and disruptions are not typically tactics employed by Republicans or independents, nor does this author advocate those reactions.

The Democrats and their henchmen and henchwomen own the violence monopoly.

Clearly, Trumps attorneys will appeal. However, appeals take time, even when granted expedited process.

Filing a lawsuit suit against Biden for perpetuating the ultimate election interference should happen. But that will also take time.



In the short term, perhaps there is a way all of us who are revolted by this legal lynching can show our opposition: With boycotts.

Copying, as the anti-Israel crowd likes to say: Boycott, Divest from Israel or BDI, this boycott could proclaim BDNYC, meaning Boycott, Disengage from New York City with the logo being a rotten apple.



Perhaps the smug, faux sophisticated, insufferably mean, even evil, New Yorkers will be shocked to find a future where tourism is dying. Hopefully, they will be stunned to discover that they dont have to tip to score a table at a hot, overly-expensive restaurant or bar, and that there is no more fun to see and be seen because nobody will be there to see. Maybe they will be astonished to observe that there are no out-of-towners in theatres or museums, which means they will be forced to pay ever higher taxes.



If anyone thinks this trial was not a political set-up, they should be disabused by Bidens reaction: a pompous, holier than thou diatribe against Trumps very valid complaints regarding the legal set-up against him.

Our country is a far more dangerous place today.

Image: Martin Abegglen, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. Where its safe to say whats on your mind, especially when everyone disagrees. Where its safe to believe what you believe, especially when everyone elses beliefs stand elsewhere.  Adlai Stevenson

Adlai Stevenson was a Democrat. (In fact, he ran for president in 1952 and 1956, losing twice to Dwight Eisenhower.)

Hard to believe today when the Donkey Party is composed almost entirely of radical leftists bent on suppressing or eliminating any belief, thought, or utterance that it fears could possibly tend to lessen its grip on power. Its not just The Squad, or the likes of Adam Schiff who are keen to stymie, cancel, erase, or shut down opposing viewpoints. Nearly all of todays Democrats disdain the First Amendment in their tyrannical lust for eternal power and control, President Biden chief among them.

Another Democrat, Harry Truman, once stated: We need not fear the expression of ideaswe do need to fear their suppression.

And the person who many claim founded the Democratic Party, Thomas Jefferson, solemnly averred: I have sworn, on the altar of God, eternal hostility to all forms of tyranny over the minds of man.

Today, the Democratic president is trying to imprison his Republican rival. College campuses are hermetically sealed off from anyone with an allegedly conservative or traditional viewpoint. Federal agencies warn media outlets against telling the truth. Speaking out against the pandemic-induced lockdowns, social distancing requirements, mask mandates, or COVID-19(84) vaccines, could lead to your being mocked, shadow-banned, or pink-slipped depending on your circumstances. Challenging climate-change orthodoxy will get you branded a Denier with a capital, crimson Dand possibly labeled a nut case. Disagree with the rapidly evolving and expanding trans agenda? Dont believe in the artificial hormone-altering or genital mutilation of our children? Prepare to be at least figuratively assaulted by the most hyper-sensitive, close-minded, and thuggish identity group that has ever existed.

Dare to speak up for your beliefs? If you happen to be a straight, white, Christian male that believes in the Founding valuesor a proud, independent-thinking black person that doesnt toe the Democrat Party lineprepare to have your voice stolen, silenced, rendered mute. The Party doesnt like the former. Period. And wont abide the latter straying from the ideological plantation on which they intend to keep them. (Democrats, eventually rather successfully, attempted to institute mental slavery almost immediately upon Republicans ending physical slavery.) As Biden said, You aint black if you have trouble deciding between him and Trump.

Facebook acquiesces to federal government pressure to help sway the 2020 presidential election. Big Tech and Big Social Media censoror worseany sentiment with which they disagree. My own blog has long been demonetized, shadow-banned, and otherwise stunted and harassed on its Google platform. This from the company whose motto was once, Dont be evil. The truth is, most progressive/leftist/Marxist/communist media outlets and platforms love to be evil. They arent big on God, but they are big on themselves, moneyand tyranny.

Those of us who have been the victims of Big Tech/social media hypocrisy, intolerance, and virtue-signaling vitriol typically receive messages such as, a recent post doesnt conform to our community standards. I assume they mean the standards that see their communities awash in drug and alcohol overdoses, homeless people, illegal aliens, hopelessness, and crime. Oh, and piles of human feces.

If one speaks out too strongly against even that, there may be consequences. But I will continue to do so anyway. And not under an assumed name. I know full well that I can be punished for thisbecause I already have been. So bleeping what?!

If enough of us speak outor try toregardless of the consequences, those that would silence us may someday find their power and control waning, not waxing.

Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr, clipped.
Since at least as far back as 1917, when the U.S. unwisely intervened in World War I to rescue the Western Allies, the major European nations have grown accustomed to American largesse. Americans have played the role of overindulgent parents, and the Europeans have responded as would entitled children who both demand handouts and then resent the parents who supply them.

A large proportion of Europeans have negative opinions of the U.S. They consider us arrogant and selfish. As a result, we have been labeled as the Ugly Americans for decades.

A big part of this is the involvement of American armed forces in Europe. Numerous anecdotes demonstrate that communities in Europe beg for American bases, desiring the economic benefits  but then they complain about every minuscule inconvenience that comes from accommodating them. In at least one such community, for example, Americans must contend with paying fines for running afoul of obscure parking regulations, even though there are no signs, as in no parking signs, that limit parking to certain hours on certain days. The attitude is, You should have asked. Literally.

More consequentially, it is expected by Europeans that Americans will shed their blood to defend European countries who refuse to adequately defend themselves against foreign invaders, or to deter them. They live rent-free behind the American shield.

Add to this the fact that some of those nations invite in Islamists, who not only refuse to assimilate, but pose a real danger should war ensue. Finally, the entire basic outlook of some European nations is entirely contrary to American policy, for example in their sympathies toward Gazans (who overwhelmingly support the terrorist organization Hamas) and in their hostility toward Israel.

A break with Europe need not be total, of course. Our customs and traditions are historically European, and they define our heartland. There are mutual interests as well. We should hold on to what is good, and by that I mean what is good for America. What is needed is for the spoiled brats to move out from under the American roof and make their own way in this complex and dangerous world.

They need to fund their own military, for example. They need to be made aware that in future European wars, the United States is not at their beck and call. If we intervene at all, it must be to protect American interests first. When American sacrifices on Europes behalf are met with ingratitude, we must not try to please those who can never be pleased.

Undoubtedly, the European response to America, when the reset button is pushed, will be the usual howling that the sky is falling. President Trump understands that. He will stand fast.

That is why we need him.

Image: Old Photo Profile via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Surely, pundits are solemnly intoning, Judge Juan Merchan would never jail Donald Trump. He must know that would provoke civil strife, perhaps even a second civil war! As this is written, Trumps sentencing is set for July 11, a few days before the Republican National Convention where he, the current presidential front runner, will receive the Republican nominationunless hes in jail. Actually, hell receive the nomination regardless, but if hes jailed, irreparable damage to our representative republic will be done, adding to the historic damage Trumps conviction has already done.

Graphic: X Screenshot

One of Republicans most enduring failures is thinking Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) share the same ethics, the same goals and the same reverence for the Constitution and the rule of law. Republicans believe D/s/cs wont do insane things that will irreparably damage our republic because they wont do such things. Republicans obey the law and honor constitutional, procedural norms developed over centuries, including honoring their oaths of office to protect and defend the Constitution, because who wouldnt want to do that?

D/s/cs wouldnt, and dont.

We begin here:

Graphic: X Screenshot

President Joe Biden reportedly pressured Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to prosecute former President Donald Trump. A New York Times report from April 2022 highlighted Bidens frustration with Garlands approach and his belief that Trump posed a threat to democracy and should be prosecuted. The attorney generals deliberative approach has come to frustrate Democratic allies of the White House and, at times, President Biden himself, the Times wrote.

Additional revelations indicate the White House and DOJ were actively involved with coordinating every prosecution against Trump. To Normal Americans, this spark, this predicate, is morally and legally wrong. Its the Stalinist show me the man and Ill show you the crime approach to justice.

Merchan was not randomly selected for this trial. He was hand-picked and began by violating New York legal ethics when he donated to Biden, and refused to recuse himself despite his daughtera D/s/c operativemaking millions on the trial. Both lapses require mandatory recusal, and recent reports suggest Merchan was at least cautioned by the bar for his donation. Ill not further illuminate Merchans already well-known reversible errors and blatant, corrupt bias.

The outcome of the trial was pre-ordained. That outcome was necessary to hinder Trump in any way possible. The goalfor D/s/csis Trumps incarceration, preventing him from campaigning, and giving Congressional D/s/cs the opportunity to brand him a convicted felon, thereby refusing to seat him even if he wins. NYCs dimwitted Mayor Adams has announced he has coordinated with Rikers Island and theyre more than ready to jail Trump.

Expect Merchan to immediately jail Trump, and to impose a draconian fine in the tens, even hundreds, of millions of dollars. Expect him to impose decades of probation and other onerous conditions.

Graphic: X Screenshot

How could a former president under lifetime Secret Service protection be jailed? Obviously, that would defeat the reason for such protection, making Trump vulnerable to Jeffrey Epsteins fate. But murdering Trump would blow up the country! They know. They dont care. They think they have it all under control and federal police and the military will gladly suppress, even murder, fellow Americans to establish our democracy, a tyranny of the majority immediately devolving to an abject tyranny, its way paved by the prosecution and conviction of Donald Trump.

Some federal police and some of our military would do their bidding, but far fewer than they imagine. Worse, they grossly underestimate Normal Americans, people who only want to be left alone to live under the rule of law. Provoked beyond tolerance, they would bring the conflict to the doorsteps and offices of those that would abandon the Constitution to rule us.

These are people who think their policies and ideology perfect, flawless, infallible and non-falsifiable. Because they are perfect, morally and intellectual superior, any who oppose them are evil and any method to suppress, jail, bankrupt, even kill them is fair game. After all, their opposition wants to destroy our democracy, so they must be stopped at any costbeginning with Donald Trumpto keep d/s/cs in perpetual power.

Will the verdict be overturned? If there is any justice left in New York State, of course it must. Most likely, it will require the Supreme Courts intervention, but even that is not assured.

So, would Merchan, empowered by the highest levels of D/s/c politics, refuse to carry their plan to its logical, imperative, conclusion? Even knowing theyve destroyed, perhaps for all time, the ability of American statesman and diplomats to uphold American justice as the worlds gold standard, D/s/cs would still jail Trump and/or continue to interfere with Americans choice of President?

What do you think?

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
During the 2012 presidential campaign, Democrat Sen. Harry Reid accused GOP nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney of not having paid taxes for ten years.

Reid conceded he had no proof, but spread the deceitful smear anyway. Though both Politifact and Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler rightly decried Reids lie, much of the fake news media of the day amplified it. And Democrat Barack Hussein Obama won the election.

Years later, erstwhile office-holder Reid was unrepentant about his tactical perfidy. In a 2015 interview with admiring CNN personality Dana Bash, he asserted: I dont regret that at all. He asked rhetorically about Romney: He didnt win, did he?

Every intelligent observer understood Trumps New York trial was a Potemkin one, and all honest commenters will say as much. I just did.

The alleged offense dated back years. Prosecution of it had been passed on by numerous parties, including Alvin Bragg, himself. The case was heard by corrupt Judge Juan Merchan, who had donated to the Biden-Harris campaign and related partisan organizations. Merchan rejected calls to recuse himself.

His daughter Lorens employer, Authentic Campaigns, counts among Democrat clients California Rep. Adam Schiff, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Democrat party of Wisconsin, and various House and Senate Democrat-supporting PACs. Authentic Campaigns also aided the 2020 Biden-Harris effort.

Loren recently claimed to have raised some $93 million dollars for Democrat interests. She and her clients benefited financially from the Trump persecution.

Biden Justice Department official Matthew Colangelo left his Washington post and journeyed downward, joining Braggs Manhattan team. Recent reports have disclosed various Trump prosecutors traveled to the Biden White House and consulted with administration officials. Visitors included Bragg, Atlantas Nathan Wade, and a representative of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith.

Those strategy meetings lend credence to Trumps charge that the prosecutions are directed by the Biden White House, and are political maneuvers geared to impede his campaigning and ballot fortunes.

Lastly, the spectacle was convened in a Democrat-voting stronghold. Efforts by Trumps legal team to have the proceeding relocated were slapped down by Biden-contributing Merchan. To absolutely no ones astonishment, the locally drawn jury found against Republican Trump.

Since the verdict against Trump was issued Thursday, Democrat celebrations have raged nationally. Revelers in the sordid bacchanalia have included unethical politicians, fake news functionaries, Hollywood deviants, subversive academics, and grassroots donkeys who prize maintaining power over fairness.

To them, winning is not just the primary consideration  it is the only one.

America was not created or maintained by such scheming and underhanded dastards. Gone are times when common-sensical countrymen could give electoral adversaries the benefit of the doubt.

By their unseemly frolic at the choreographed injustice of Biden-directed lawfare against Trump  and this latest verdict  supercilious donkeys illustrate they are not honest people and are not to be trusted.

Democracy. Justice. Freedom. Fairness. To the twisted Democrat mind, those are merely rhetorical banners to be waved or dismissed, depending upon the needs of the moment.

Pompous miscreant Harry Reid died in 2021. But Democrats today embrace the unscrupulous gamesmanship that so impelled that profiteering scoundrel.

Returning Trump to the Oval Office by an overwhelming margin is the soundest manner in which patriotic voters can reaffirm Americas exceptional character in the wake of Democrat dirtiness.

Together with a minister friend, Iowas DC Larson braved that states record cold last January to caucus for Donald Trump. He is the author of Ideas Afoot (Bromley Street Press). And his political blog is American Scene Magazine.

Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr, unaltered.
In She backed Israel. Her son led a protest (05/22/24), The Washington Post published another front-page article that gave an opportunity to malign Israel and showcase the false Palestinian narrative.

In this edition, there were actually two such front-page articles for the Post to put its bias on full display. In one iteration, the Post article was a story about a mother and son who at least initially had opposing views on the recent Hamas/Israel conflict, until the mom came around to the sons perspective.

The article gives the background of how the son, Eric, accepted the pro-Hamas narrative. It started when he watched online ... as some Palestinians lived in Gaza as refugees with limited food or work. Further, when he was a sophomore at Andover High, he took an elective called The Modern Middle East, after which he said, I thought people being displaced from their homes was awful. ... From then on, I broadly aligned myself with the Palestinians. The son empathized with Palestinians displaced by the war that broke out in 1948 after Israel declared independence. The son said, My view is if you want to stop the conflict in Gaza, stop the Israeli occupation. Give the Palestinian people self-determination because ultimately its their decision to make, not ours.

The mother eventually came around to the sons view: the only reasonable and equitable path toward peace, she thought, was a two-state solution. And she felt proud of his calls for a cease-fire.

This is not a story of a mother/son misunderstanding that eventually resolved. This is an example of an educational system run amok, one that dangerously misleads its students. On top of that, social media and misinformation from the legacy media should be reproached for distorting the news.

The sons initial discovery about the war was that Gazans had limited food and work. Well, if that were true, why isnt his gripe with Hamas, which controls the territory, not Israel? There was not one Israeli in Gaza since 2005 and no occupation. Gaza was bordered by Israel and Egypt, but no one gripes about Egypt being an occupier or controller. Further, the Gazan territory has received billions in aid from many countries worldwide. Gazans have received more aid per capita than any people in the world. What did they do with this money? Yes, we all know where the money went: Hamas built a massive underground military fortification, beyond what the world has ever seen. The terrorist tunnel infrastructure was larger than the New York and London subway systems combined. What was the purpose of this underground fortification?

Eric never learned this part: according to its charter, Hamass raison detre is the destruction of Israel. The charter also includes the mission of killing Jews the world over. Even not knowing this, wasnt he still shocked by the mutilation, burning, raping of Israeli women, babies, toddlers on October 7? And this student took part in the same educational system that teaches about the dangers of microaggressions.

His education left out the other half of the story. Imagine telling the story about America bombing Tokyo without mentioning Pearl Harbor. Imagine telling the story about America bombing Germany without telling how Germany conquered most of Europe first. Imagine telling the story about Americas attack on Afghanistan without mentioning the 9/11 attack.

The son was never taught all the facts, and the articles reporter felt no need to fill in the gaps. The reporter was an accomplice in the sons biased education.

Here is the missing link in understanding the Middle East quagmire. Yes, on May 14, 1948, Israel declared independence. From this act, this declaration, Arabs were not displaced. Where is this in any Washington Post article?

In the Post, they merely claim that a war broke out after Israel declared independence. No wonder Eric is so misinformed. What happened after the declaration was that five hostile neighboring Arab nations and the local Arabs (later called Palestinians) launched a genocidal war against Israel to push the Jews into the sea  their words. In the greatest upset in history, the Arabs lost to the nascent Jewish state.

As in many wars, civilians were displaced. There were Jews displaced and Arabs displaced. The local Jews who were displaced from Jerusalem and the West Bank, and the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were displaced from Arab nations after the war, were repatriated in Israel. And thats why we never hear about them. But unlike the Jewish refugees, most of the Arab refugees were cynically kept in refugee camps as a political tool by neighboring Arab nations and have not been resettled to this day.

Since that time, Israel numerous times has offered the Palestinian Arabs a state of their own side by side with Israel. Each time, the Palestinians said no. Never in the history of warfare has the loser of a war demanded so much from the winner. In the last offer, Israel offered the Palestinian Arabs virtually everything that they wanted, close to 100%. Still no.

One of the Palestinians chief sticking points in peace negotiations is to give millions of Palestinians the right to relocate to Israel. If Palestinians want a state of their own, why do they want so many of their brethren to live in Israel? The reason is to flood Israel and take it over. Eric, the son, should have been taught all this, as should have the author of the article.

Lastly, it is sad that the mother doesnt even realize the significance of a ceasefire. Is she even aware that there was a ceasefire in place on October 6, before Hamas launched this heinous massacre? Probably not. Leaving Hamas in power now  which is what a ceasefire would do  would only prolong the conflict and cause more deaths on both sides. Hamas has vowed to repeat October 7 again and again  meaning more murderous invasions into Israel. Its leaders and operatives make no bones that their ultimate goal is to destroy Israel. Repeated attacks would cause repeated Israeli responses  unceasing war and death. Is this what the mom wants? I doubt it.

The Washington Post should serve as an educational adjunct for people like Eric, his mother, and others on the reality of the Middle East conflict. Obviously, school curricula are lacking in this department. With the proper knowledge, how could anyone rationally protest in favor of Hamas, and so enthusiastically, no less?

For the sake of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people, lets get the facts out. Come on, schools of higher education! Come on, social media operators. Come on, Washington Post. Do your jobs!

Dr. Michael Berenhaus is a freelance activist who works to combat anti-Israel bias in the media. He has been widely published in news sources such as The Economist, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Image via Pxfuel.
Acer today has announced a bunch of new gear at Computex, including three new Predator gaming monitors, a new gaming router, and a compact 3D camera. Theres some new non-gaming stuff too, like new smart monitors and a regular wireless router thats geared toward general use.

All of these new products will be available this year, Acer says, although the timing will depend on the product, and not everything will be available in all markets. One of the more interesting new products is the SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera. This is a compact 3D camera that is fully integrated with Acers lineup of SpatialLabs devices, such as monitors and laptops. What makes it interesting is its size and surprisingly simplistic usability.

Its designed as a point-and-shoot solution for photographers who want to create content that Acer says allows for effortless image taking. It has 8MP per eye resolution, with the eye referring to each of the two lenses on the front. On the back, theres a big display for viewing your shots. It also has a built-in selfie mirror for when youre both taking the photo and planning to be in it. Plus, its weatherproof so it should be fine to use even if its raining a bit. The company plans to launch this camera in the US starting in Q3 for $549.

Acer brings new Predator gaming gear to Computex

Acer is well-known in the gaming space for its wide range of gaming products. Including those in the Predator line. Today, it has announced three new Predator monitors to suit just about every taste. If youre looking for something small, theres Acers new Predator X27U F3. This comes with a 26.5-inch OLED display with a WQHD resolution. The real standout trait though is the monitors neck-breaking refresh rate of 480Hz. This is a monitor that is definitely designed for competitive players, professional or not.

It also has a USB-C port alongside two HDMI 2.1 ports for plugging in both a PC and a console. Another neat feature caters to streamers. The tripod mount socket lets you hook up a webcam or screen light for your streams. Naturally, with a refresh rate this high, it wont be cheap. Acer plans to launch it in the US in Q3 starting at $1,200. For those wanting something a little bit bigger, there are two options over 30 inches. The 31.5-inch Predator X32 X3, and the 34-inch Predator X34 X5.

Both of these monitors use OLED panels as well but differ in a few areas. The X32 X3 has 4K resolution natively with a refresh rate of 240Hz. But it can also be used in a Full HD mode with a faster 480Hz refresh rate if players desire. The X34 X5 meanwhile, is an ultrawide monitor with a UWQHD resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. It also has an 1800R curve. Both of these monitors feature the same USB-C port and two HDMI 2.1 ports, too. If you prefer using DisplayPort, the X34 X5 will offer this.

Both of these should launch in the US in Q4, with the X32 X3 starting at $1,200, and the X34 X5 starting at $1,100.

Ensure your network is set up for gaming with the Predator Connect W6x

If youre big into gaming and want a router that can handle the traffic, Acer has your number. The Predator Connect W6x is designed to cater to gamers. With features like Wi-Fi 6 support, it can deliver speeds up to 6,000Mbps. Acer says its also capable of near-zero packet loss so your gaming sessions arent interrupted. Theres no pricing on the router yet, but it should be launching in the US in Q2. Additionally, theres the Acer Wave 7 monitor thats not meant for gaming but it should do the trick if you really want it to.

This router uses Wi-Fi 7 with up to 6,400Mbps delivery, and it even comes in two different variants. One lets you flip between 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, which is pretty standard. Theres also a variant that lets you flip between 2.4GHz and 6GHz networks. The Wave 7 is supposed to launch in Q2 as well, however, the price is TBD on this as well.

A range of new smart monitors for gamers and non-gamers alike

Acers Predator monitors are generally its flagship gaming options, but it has more to offer if you arent looking to spend as much. Today it announced two new Nitro monitors for gamers, both of which be available in Q4 in the US. The Nitro GA271U P with a 27-inch display for $330, and the Nitro GA321QU P for $380. These both offer a 2560 x 1440 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.0, or 180Hz with DisplayPort.

For the non-gamers, there are the DA271K and DA321QK. As you might have guessed, these have 27-inch and 31.5-inch displays respectively. Theyre both 4K, and have a refresh rate of 60Hz. And seeing as these arent meant for gaming, 60Hz is completely fine. These launch in Q4 as well with pricing starting at $350 for the DA271K and $400 for the DA321K.
Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content.

Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University.
Early on the morning of June 5 1944, General Dwight D Eisenhower, the supreme allied commander in Europe, finally gave the order to go ahead, telling his staff I hope to God I know what Im doing.

Bad weather over the English Channel meant Operation Neptune, the largest seaborne invasion in history, had already been delayed for a nerve-shredding 24 hours.

Any further postponement would mean waiting at least another two weeks, until the tides were right, with devastating consequences for morale among tens of thousands of troops assembled for the attack, potentially destroying any chance of surprise.

But at a 4am briefing, Eisenhowers chief meteorologist James Stagg, a 29-year-old Scot who had been given the temporary rank of group captain, told him  not without misgivings  that the next day would see a break in the skies.

That night, transport aircraft packed with 24,000 British and American paratroopers began taking off from airfields across southern England and heading for targets inside Nazi-occupied France.

General Dwight D Eisenhower was the supreme allied commander (PA)

At 16 minutes past midnight on the morning of Tuesday June 6, the first six Horsa gliders landed on French soil, disgorging men of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry who quickly secured their objective, the famous Pegasus Bridge, to cut off any German counterattack.

Then, at 5.50am, as dawn broke over the coast, British and American warships opened up a massive bombardment of the Normandy beaches where the invasion force was heading. D-Day was under way.

Operation Overlord, the code name for the overall operation to secure a foothold in northern France, had been many months in the planning.

It followed intense pressure from Soviet leader Josef Stalin  whose forces had so far borne the brunt of the struggle against Nazi Germany  on the Western allies to open up a second front.

A British Army Sherman Tank rumbles down a street on its way to a South Coast port prior to the Normandy landings (PA)

Russian victories at Stalingrad and Kursk may have turned the tide of war in the allies favour but Hitler remained the master of most of mainland Europe and dislodging him would be a formidable undertaking.

Winston Churchill, the British prime minister, harboured deep misgivings about the prospect of a seaborne invasion following the failure of earlier amphibious operations, most notably the disastrous Dieppe raid of 1942.

Nevertheless at the Tehran conference at the end of 1943, Stalin combined with US President Franklin D Roosevelt to overcome his resistance, securing agreement that the landings would take place the following spring.

The RAF and the US Air Force had by then secured complete aerial superiority over northern France while German U-boats had been driven from the Channel. However, it remained a highly perilous mission.

While the Germans were well aware an invasion was in the offing, a massive deception operation was mounted to confuse them over the exact timing and location.

(PA Graphics)

An imaginary US army group, complete with fake landing craft and dummy tanks  supplied by Shepperton film studios set designers  was established in Kent in a ruse to suggest the real target was the Pas de Calais, just over the Dover Straits.

It was supported by intelligence from the German spy network in the UK, which had been rolled up and turned by MI5 and was supplying a steady stream of false reporting.

Other deceptions included a visit to Gibraltar by a lookalike of General Bernard Montgomery, the British commander, intended to suggest a Mediterranean landing, and false intelligence pointing to an invasion of Norway.

It proved so successful, that when the actual landings began, the Germans critically delayed sending reinforcements believing they were simply a feint ahead of the main invasion elsewhere.

The first American hit the beaches  codenamed Utah and Omaha  at 6.30am, with the British and Canadians arriving at their three designated beaches, Gold, Juno and Sword, an hour later.

Landing was a perilous business. Some troops drowned after jumping off into water that was deeper than expected, while others disappeared under landing craft as they were suddenly swept forward after discharging their loads.

Royal Marine commandos moving off Sword beach (PA)

Even light injuries could prove fatal, with wounded men, heavily weighed down with equipment, unable to drag themselves from the sea.

By far the heaviest casualties were suffered by the Americans landing on Omaha beach.

Protected by landmines, barbed wire and huge steel anti-tank hedgehogs and surrounded by cliffs and bluffs rising to 150ft high, allied planners had always known it would be the most difficult of the five landing zones.

In the event it proved even harder than they had anticipated. For seven hours the troops found themselves pinned down by heavy German fire unable to advance.

US commander General Omar Bradley had been at the point of calling off the assault when the news finally came back that a Ranger battalion had managed to scale the cliffs relatively unscathed.

Accurate fire from British and US destroyers, sailing dangerously close to the shore, helped to finish off the German defences.

Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Josef Stalin at the Yalta conference in 1945 (PA)

The cost was high, with more than 2,000 Americans killed in the course of the battle  accounting for more than half the fatalities suffered by allies on the day.

Nevertheless, by the end of the day, 130,000 US, British and Canadian troops had made it ashore across the five beaches giving them a firm foothold for the first time in German-occupied France.

It was a remarkable achievement, involving almost 7,000 vessels  including 1,200 warships and 4,000 landing craft  with allied aircraft flying more than 13,000 sorties.

Breaking out of the beach-heads however was to prove more difficult than expected. The dense hedgerows of the bocage proved to be ideal defensive territory for the Germans, making it almost impossible for the allies to advance.

Casualties meanwhile were continuing to mount on both sides. By late July, the allies had lost 122,000 men killed wounded or captured to the Germans 114,000.

Finally, on July 25, Gen Bradley launched Operation Cobra, starting with a massive aerial bombardment of depleted German positions, enabling US armoured divisions at last to break through. Within a month allied troops were in Paris.

There were months more of heavy fighting before the final German surrender in May 1945 but the road to eventual victory had been cleared.
Blue band member Duncan James has said he will miss Hits Radio Live after he was rushed to hospital on Friday to have a correction of a procedure.

The pop group will perform at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool this evening without James, 46, who said he was gutted to also be missing the Foodies Festival in St Albans.

In a video to Instagram, the former Hollyoaks star said: Quick update. Some of you may or may not know.

I had to go into hospital yesterday, I was admitted to have a correction of a procedure that happened two weeks ago that went a little bit wrong.

So I was rushed in and I had it all fixed, I was kept in overnight and Im just waiting to find out if I can go home today. Fingers crossed.

However, it does mean that I wont be able to attend the Foodies Festival today or the Hits Radio Live in Liverpool, which Im gutted about because I really wanted to do that, but the doctors have told me I need to rest up. I need to heal. I need to make sure that everything is good where it should be good.

So I just want to say Im sorry if Ive let anyone down. I am on the mend. I am getting better and I will keep you all updated.

Boy band Blue perform on stage for their Greatest Hits Tour, at the London Palladium in April (Ian West/PA)

He added that the rest of the group will do a sterling job and smash it out the park today.

The Hits Radio Live concert starts at 7pm and its line-up also features Becky Hill, Craig David, Rag n Bone Man and Caity Baser.

Blue  James, Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, and Antony Costa  were also Saturday headliners at the Foodies Festival earlier on in the afternoon. The event is travelling to cities including Bath, Edinburgh and Oxford this summer.

In April the pop group, who rose to fame in the noughties with hits including All Rise and One Love, performed at the London Palladium as part of their Greatest Hits tour.
Election campaign day 10: Sunak pokes Abbott wound as Starmer seeks to move on

Sir Keir Starmer declined to answer questions about Diane Abbott as he sought to move on from the row, but Rishi Sunak deployed it as an attack line in a stump speech.

Here are the key moments from day 10 of the campaign:

 Starmer quashes questions on Abbott

At the launch of Labours battle bus in west London, Sir Keir refused to be drawn into talking about Ms Abbott, telling broadcasters: I dealt with that issue yesterday.

The Labour leader on Friday finally gave the veteran left-winger the green light to stand for his party in the election, after days of questions over her future and infighting overshadowed his campaign.

Sir Keir sought to draw a line under the debacle with an upbeat unveiling of his deputy Angela Rayners red campaign coach, joking that she should check the on-board fridge in case Boris Johnson, whose former Uxbridge constituency they were speaking in, was hiding in there.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Angela Rayner at the launch of Labours campaign bus in Uxbridge (Lucy North/PA)

The Labour leader wanted to focus on his plan to get people back to work, including a new combined national jobs and careers service.

But Mr Sunak was not letting go, attacking his Labour rival for changing his mind after having insisted the decision over Ms Abbotts candidacy was not up to him.

Launching the Tories blue battle bus on Redcar Racecourse, the Prime Minister said the Labour leader doesnt stick by anything he says, and accused Sir Keir of caving to the Labour left.

 Number of the day

 PM defends cash-for-towns pledge

Mr Sunak was facing questions over whether he was trying to buy votes with a promise of cash for towns.

He batted off criticism that 17 of the 30 towns set to benefit from the 20 million boost were represented by Tory MPs in the last parliament.

He said the methodology used to select the towns had been used multiple times before based on an objective set of criteria, including levelling-up needs, looking at economic opportunities, skills, health and life expectancy.

He also insisted he is going right across the country when asked about his campaigns focus so far on seats that are being defended at the election by the Conservatives.

 Quote of the day

 Picture of the day

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets Jack Symon and his baby son George at the launch of the Conservative campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Social media moment of the day

A Conservative candidate has taken an unusual approach to campaigning, adopting Labour colours to win over those that would usually support the rival party.

Robert Largan posted a picture of himself on X in front of a red background and the words Labour for Largan.

The Tory candidate for High Peak, who won the Derbyshire seat with a wafer-thin 590 majority in 2019, tweeted: So many local Labour voters have told me theyre going to vote for me, because they want to keep me as their local MP.

There have been so many that Im launching a new Labour for Largan club.

So many local Labour voters have told me theyre going to vote for me, because they want to keep me as their local MP. There have been so many that Im launching a new Labour for Largan club. You can join other traditional Labour voters backing me at: https://t.co/7zZ7RO53b7 pic.twitter.com/duoiq0QKr9  Robert Largan (@robertlargan) June 1, 2024

 Songs saga

Sir Keir brushed off a snub from the pop group behind New Labours 1997 victory anthem Things Will Only Get Better.

The Labour leader said his party would pick a different tune after D:Reams founding members said they would deny any request to use their track in the upcoming election.

The band expressed regret at letting Tony Blair have permission for the track after his 1997 landslide because of the UKs later involvement with the Iraq war.

Sir Keir said: Were not in 1997. Were in 2024.

Meanwhile, songs accompanying the Tory battle bus launch included Mr Brightside by The Killers and Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People.

Quizzed about his reported fandom of Taylor Swift, Mr Sunak said he was not sure he met the threshold needed to be described as a Swiftie.

Rishi Sunak speaks to the media at the Tory battle bus launch at Redcar Racecourse (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 What else has been happening?

On a day when Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey took time off from attention-grabbing stunts to care for his son, his party warned an extra 100,000 households will be stung by a mortgage hike between now and polling day.

North of the border, First Minister John Swinney said a Labour government would lead to the devastation of employment in the oil and gas industry in north-east Scotland.

 Whats happening tomorrow?

Mr Swinney will launch the SNPs campaign in Glasgow.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, are appearing on the Sunday morning broadcast round.

Mr Sunak and Sir Keirs plans are not yet known, but they may well be taking the day off campaigning after a busy week.
Bella Hadid and her sister Gigi are collectively donating one million dollars (785,000) to support relief efforts in Palestine, the models agent has confirmed.

A representative for Bella told the PA news agency the money has been earmarked for equal distribution among four humanitarian organisations that have a focus on children and families: Heal Palestine, Palestine Childrens Relief Fund (PCRF), World Central Kitchen (WCK), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The pair, whose father is Palestinian property tycoon Mohamed Anwar Hadid, have been vocal in their support for the people of Palestine amid the conflict in Gaza.

Gigi and Bella Hadid said the money was earmarked for four charities (PA)

After Hamass October 7 attack on Israel, Gigi, 29, who has modelled for design houses including Versace and Chanel and co-hosts Netflixs Next In Fashion reality competition, wrote on Instagram: My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict  too many of which are children.

I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, its a responsibility I hold daily.

She added: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.

In May, Bella, 27, who was named model of the year by the British Fashion Council in 2022 and has 29 international Vogue covers, wrote on social media that she was devastated at the loss of the Palestinian people and the lack of empathy coming from the government systems worldwide.

At the Cannes film festival last month she wore a red and white dress made of keffiyeh, a traditional Arabic cloth that is associated with Palestine, writing on Instagram that is was a beautiful way to represent the history, labor of love, resilience and, most importantly, the art of historic Palestinian embroidery.

Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others in the October 7 attack.

It sparked a war with Israel in which more than 36,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gazas health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its count.
Stranger Things star Maya Hawke has said she is comfortable with not deserving the kind of life she has.

The American actress and singer is the child of Hollywood actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman and said her relationship with them is positive, which supersedes anything anyone can say about it.

Speaking to The Times, she said: Deserves is a complicated word.

Maya Hawke is the daughter of Hollywood stars Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke (Rich Lee/PA)

There are so many people who deserve to have this kind of life who dont, but I think Im comfortable with not deserving it and doing it anyway.

And I know that my not doing it wouldnt help anyone.

I saw two paths when I was first starting, and one of them was: change your name, get a nose job and go to open casting roles.

Speaking about the path she chose, she said: Its OK to be made fun of when youre in rarefied air. Its a lucky place to be.

My relationships with my parents are really honest and positive, and that supersedes anything anyone can say about it.

The 25-year-old is most known for playing Robin in the Duffer brothers Netflix series Stranger Things, about a group of children from the 1980s who find themselves plunged into the world known as the Upside Down.

However, she is also a musician and recently released her third album, Chaos Angel.

Maya Hawke attending the photocall for Asteroid City during the 76th Cannes Film Festival (Doug Peters/PA)

Speaking about the moment she realised her gigs were filled with Stranger Things fans she said: I was almost depressed about it.

Like, Im glad there are people here, but I guess they dont care about the music.

Hawke also reflected on the teasing she received from comments she made about being cast as Flowerchild, one of Charles Mansons followers, in the Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time  in Hollywood.

Ive been wildly made fun of for this clip when I said, on the red carpet, that I auditioned, she said.

I never meant to imply that I didnt get the part for nepotistic reasons  I think I totally did, she added.

Hawke, who voices Anxiety in the upcoming Pixar sequel Inside Out 2, starred opposite her mother in the 2023 thriller comedy film The Kill Room and was directed by her father in the drama Wildcat (2023).

She has also starred in Wes Andersons Asteroid City (2023) and Do Revenge (2022).
Lt Col Stuart Crawford, who served in the Royal Tank Regiment, said Britain was no longer seen by some as a 'Tier One military power' - Cpl Tim Hammond/MOD

The British Armys embarrassingly small tank fleet would be wiped out in two weeks in a war with Russia, a former senior officer has warned.

Lt Col Stuart Crawford, who served in the Royal Tank Regiment, also claimed that the parlous state of the Armed Forces meant that it was no longer regarded as a Tier One military power by the United States.

His comments follow those of General Sir Richard Shirreff, who earlier this week said that troop and equipment shortages meant that the Army would struggle to put a war-fighting brigade of 5,000 troops into the field.

Lt Col Crawford, who served in the Army for 20 years and is now a defence analyst, described the new Challenger 3, which is due to come into service by 2030, as a decent vehicle but stressed that the numbers being built were too small.

He said: Were currently planning to procure only 148 of them [Challenger 3], which is embarrassingly few, when you remember that at the height of the Cold War, not that long ago, the British Armys Royal Armoured Corps could hope to field around 900 MBTs [main battle tanks].

No wonder some US senior officers have said that Britain is no longer a Tier One military power.

A Ukrainian tank opens fire in Donetsk Oblast - Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency/Getty

Writing in the UK Defence Journal, he added: One hundred and forty eight is about sufficient to equip two armoured regiments plus reserve and training vehicles. Its laughably small.

In Ukraine the Russians have lost roughly 3,000 tanks in just over two years.

So 148 main battle tanks might last about a fortnight in intensive combat, if were lucky, and after that there will be no replacements. If theres one lesson to come out of the current conflict in Ukraine, its that you need lots of stuff, to use the correct technical term, and clearly 148 tanks aint going to cut it.

Lt Col Crawford said 'if there's one lesson to come out of the war in Ukraine, it's that you need lots of stuff' - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu/Getty Images

Sir Richard, who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in 1997 Britain could field a war-fighting division of 20,000 well-equipped troops.

But he said that a decade of cuts had left the Army decimated, which now required real emergency treatment .

Ammunition in short supply

Speaking on the BBCs Today programme, he said; I dont think the British Army can field a war-fighting brigade of 5,000 without an enormous amount of time  I think even that would be really, really difficult.

Im sure the MoD would say yes of course we can do that. I can tell you now most of the units training on Salisbury Plain will be training without their full complement of vehicles for various reasons.

Ammunition is in critical short supply. Amongst other things, of course, the bottom of the barrel has been scraped to provide everything that can go to Ukraine but it needs to be replaced. It needs to be topped up and on top of that we need to increase the size of our capability to meet the challenges posed by Russia.

The MoD has been approached for comment.
Dr Abdul-Haqq Baker

The new imam of a Birmingham mosque said that 9/11 was a case of a bully getting a bloody nose and appeared to cast doubt on the idea of hundreds of Israelis being killed on October 7.

Abdul Haqq Baker, the chief executive officer of Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre, also compared the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust and suggested that Hamas had treated Israeli hostages well.

Mr Baker is a former chair of Brixton mosque in London who was last month announced as the head of Green Lane mosque in Birmingham, an organisation which has charitable status.

In a YouTube video recorded in 2021 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, he recalled that on the day of the attacks he had bumped into a friend who had compared it to a bully getting a bloody nose - a metaphor which he used in a sermon a few days later.

Mr Baker said: As I came out of the station I saw one of my old school friends. He knew I was Muslim, he wasnt Muslim. And he looked at me and said how you doing... I said its shocking isnt it? He goes yeah, the bully got a bloody nose.

Now that stuck with me so much so that when I gave the khutbah [sermon] on Friday I mentioned that at the beginning of my khutbah, and I referred to my friend. I said as one of my non-Muslim colleagues said, the bully has got a bloody nose.

Mr Baker has also made a number of controversial statements in the wake of the October 7 attack by Hamas and Israels subsequent military action in Gaza.

Atrocious parallel

In a video recorded on October 28, one day after Israel launched its full-scale invasion of Gaza, he compared the situation in the territory to the Holocaust.

We know about the atrocious - and I say this word - atrocious Holocaust that took place, World War Two, Nazi Germany, he said. Were witnessing another parallel now in the 21st Century.

In the video, he also appeared to cast doubt on whether hundreds of Israeli civilians had been killed on October 7.

Comparing the casualty figures to a claim - which was never verified - that 40 babies had been decapitated by Hamas, he said: Beheading 40 babies - no evidence. Hundreds of Israelis killed. Only three or four funerals have been seen since.

How many funerals have we seen of the Palestinians?... How many funerals have we seen of the Palestinians in comparison to the funerals of the Israelis? Are you going to say oh that theyre really private, so there are private ceremonies taking place. What we know about the Zionists... when we look at the Zionist propaganda, they are very quick to market, to publicise, to advertise.

The current estimate is that about 1,200 Israeli and foreign citizens lost their lives during the attack. In a later video recorded in January, Mr Baker said he did not deny that there had been serious casualties on October 7.

In the October 28 video, Mr Baker also appeared to suggest that Hamas had treated Israeli hostages well. Many of us heard the elderly Jewish woman who was brought out of captivity when she was released.

Others heard of those when occupied territories were overrun, that they were polite to us, they were good to us, they said we are Muslims... we hear that a lot, that statement when people say we are Muslims and immediately there should be a code of conduct, an ethics, when someone hears were Muslim.

Green Lane mosque is no stranger to controversy. In November 2023, The Telegraph reported that its head imam, Zakaullah Saleem, told a congregation to pray for Allah to destroy all those oppressing our brothers and sisters in Gaza.

On another occasion in August 2023, a video of Mr Saleem went viral on social media in which he discussed the process of stoning a woman for adultery. At the time, Green Lane said the clip was highly misleading and lacked context and that the imam did not suggest that these practices have a place in UK society.

The Telegraph understands that the Charity Commission does not currently have any compliance case open into Green Lane.

A Charity Commission spokeswoman said: We will assess the new information provided to determine if there is a role for the Commission.

Mr Baker and Green Lane mosque were contacted for comment.
A man walks past an anti-Israel propaganda poster in Tehran - ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Britain should join with America and Israel in carrying out strikes on Iran to retaliate against its proxies and destabilise the countrys regime, a think tank has said.

The Henry Jackson Society said that the existing policy of deterrence had failed spectacularly and that the US and its allies had to threaten the Iranian regimes sense of survivability to rein it in.

A report from the UK-based transatlantic foreign policy and national security think tank says that the Wests policy towards Iran lies in tatters, with the regime carrying out a range of malign activities including taking hostages, seizing ships, firing missiles at US military vessels and firing missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia via Yemen.

On April 13, Tehran launched its first direct assault on Israel, and Iran is also on the brink of acquiring a nuclear weapon and could have a crude nuclear device within six months, the report warns.

For too long, Iranian aggression has been unchallenged, it says.

Even when the US has been directly targeted by Iranian proxies, successive administrations have refused to respond directly to Iran and hold the regime accountable.

The strategy was to localise conflict, avoid regional escalation and prevent broader war from breaking out in the Middle East.

Iranian leaders celebrate their ballistic missile power in 2023 - Wana/Reuters

Ironically, it has led to the exact opposite. By attempting to prevent war, the US has encouraged conflict to erupt.

Instead, the report calls for a new policy towards Iran which would involve Israel expanding its projection of power to target Iranian facilities on Iranian soil, and could be accompanied by the US conducting disproportionate responses to destabilise the Iranian regime with the effect of paradoxically restoring deterrence.

Barak Seener, the senior research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society who authored the report, told The Telegraph that the UK should stand ready to support such efforts.

The UK has multiple military assets in the region, he said.

I would be arguing that Britain should be projecting power in the region to counter Iran, to not only target Iranian proxies in the region but to destabilise the regime itself and Britain should be on board with that.

He said that the UK had so many economic and strategic interests in the region that Britain also ought to be targeting Iranian assets.

The report says that possible action could include targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases and senior IRGC personnel on Iranian or foreign soil, conducting cyber attacks on Irans critical infrastructure and targeting the countrys drone and missile facilities.

It lists Irans oil infrastructure, air defence capabilities and nuclear programme as other possible targets.

On Irans nuclear programme, it warns that the country acquiring a nuclear umbrella could lead to an uptick in international terrorism, pointing to previous attempts to assassinate Iranian dissidents on UK soil.

The report argues that being unchecked in the Middle East has also led Iran to destabilise other hemispheres and align with Russia and China to undermine the liberal international order, including by supplying Vladimir Putin with drones to attack Ukraine.

The Iranian regime should be made aware that its meddling in Ukraine will warrant strikes on IRGC representatives in Lebanon and in Iran alike, it says.

A campaign of disproportionate responses to Irans malign activities is likely to have the desired effect of reigning in the Iranian regime and establishing red lines.

Furthermore, a strategy of destabilising the regime will ultimately also undermine Irans participation in the axis of resistance, which is aimed at disrupting foreign theatres such as Ukraine and challenging the liberal international order.
Over two hundred janitors organized with SEIU Texas marched and rallied at and near the George R. Brown on Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Houston. They rallied calling for full time jobs with benefits and higher pay. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Houston janitors agreed Saturday to ratify a new union contract with building contractors that will see wages for full-time workers reach $15.

Full-time janitors will see their wages increase to at least $15 during the course of the four-year contract. Janitors with more than five years of experience will earn $15.50 by the end of the contract.

Part-time workers will see their wages increase to a minimum of $14.10 an hour.

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These janitors have not seen this type of victory since they organized in 2006, Service Employees International Union Texas President Elsa Flores said. Obviously, they love every contract that theyve gotten. They know that you know they got as much as they could get. But lets recognize that this time around, they were able to get significant improvements on the wages.

Wages will increase by 20% for part-time workers and 16-17% for full-time workers.

SEIU representatives came to a tentative deal Thursday night, one day before its two-year contract was set to expire.

As part of the deal, janitors will also receive an extra floating holiday and 70% of the janitors will have at least a 25-hour workweek by the end of the contract instead of the current 30%.

Negotiations werent easy, Flores said, but she noted the janitors had tremendous support both from within their ranks and from those outside them. U.S. Rep Al Green marched with janitors in May following and new SEIU President April Verrett made her first visit as the unions national leader to Houston.

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FIRST TRIP: Service worker union president visits Houston as local janitors continue contract negotiations

Our members were ready and willing to take on the biggest sacrifice that they can make, the biggest action that they can make, which was a strike, Flores said Friday. They rallied. They visited building owners to make sure that they understood their priorities and what they needed to be able to get this contract settled.

Houston janitors have gone on strike twice in 2006 and 2012. Flores said the difference from 12 years ago compared to now is that more people see the value of workers like janitors, which puts more pressure on the contractors.

Dora Alvarado, a janitor for nearly two decades in Houston, has been a part of a previous negotiation with contractors. She said this time around, the contractors had a greater respect for them during the negotiations.

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Janitors had last negotiated their contract in 2022, avoiding a strike that time as well but signing just a two-year contract. Flores said signing the two-year deal at the time set the stage for them to get $15 per hour this time around.
Robert Largan out knocking doors in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbys

A Conservative candidate has posted an election advert on social media which appears to make him look like he is standing for Labour.

Robert Largan, who is seeking re-election as in High Peak, Derbyshire, posted a picture of himself in front of a red background with the words Labour for Largan.

He also posted a similar blue advert which says Reform for Robert and uses Reform UKs party colours.

The Tory oak tree silhouette logo is faint in the background, and in small font in the bottom left corner it says that the ad is on behalf of Robert Largan, of High Peak Conservatives.

He also posted a similar picture mentioning Reform UK and using their party colours.

The Tory candidate claimed in the posts on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, so many local Labour voters have told me theyre going to vote for me, because they want to keep me as their local MP.

Robert Largan says many local Labour supporters will vote for him

He added: There have been so many that Im launching a new Labour for Largan club with a link to a webpage inviting Labour voters to explain why they are backing Robert Largan.

The link instead takes visitors through Mr Largans own website showing he is a Tory candidate for High Peak.

Mr Largan is a government whip who was elected to Parliament with a narrow 590 majority in 2019.

With Labour riding high in the polls, Sir Keir Starmers party are heavy favourites to win back High Peak on July 4.

One X user sent a post to Mr Largan claiming the display was totally pathetic and asking have you got a Reform for Largan one too?

Mr Largan replied you almost had it, posting a similar picture of him in front of the words Reform for Robert with a light blue background similar to the colours of Richard Tices party.

Robert Largan also wants Reform supporters to back him

A Labour source said: Weve heard of Tory candidates taking all references to the Conservative Party out of their election literature, but this must be the first time in British political history that weve got a Tory MP actively trying to pretend hes standing for Labour.

Constituents in High Peak will not be fooled. They know its time for change, and theyre not going to get it from five more years of Rishi Sunak and Robert Largan.

In another picture posted on X on Saturday, Mr Largan is seen posing with supporters, including one activist carrying a piece of paper with the words: Vote Local, Vote Largan.

The High Peak MP's Whaley Bridge office was vandalised amid public anger over Downing Street parties, in January 2022

The tactics show the creative lengths which some Tories are going to in order to run hyper-local campaigns distanced from the partys national brand.

A spokesman for Robert Largan said: As Mr Largans social media posts and website make abundantly clear, large numbers of traditional Labour voters have been contacting him to tell him they plan to vote for him, despite him being a Conservative candidate. The same goes for Reform supporters. This is because of Mr Largans strong record of delivery in the High Peak.

Therefore, supporters clubs of traditional Labour and Reform voters have been set up, to allow people to tell Mr Largan that theyre supporting him. These are called Labour for Largan and Reform for Robert. Such supporters clubs are not a new phenomenon.

It is worth pointing out that all of Mr Largans election leaflets clearly state that he is the Conservative candidate and are in full compliance with electoral law. He is very well known in the High Peak as the local Conservative candidate. His name will appear on the ballot paper as the Conservative candidate.

Nobody voting in the High Peak could possibly be confused on this point. Those claiming otherwise appear to have a very low opinion of the people of High Peak.

The Electoral Commission said: When it comes to campaigning, the Commission is responsible for ensuring that campaign material by parties and campaigners includes information to identify the person or organisation which has caused it to be published. This is known as an imprint.

Our remit does not extend to the content or style of campaign material. This is not subject to regulation by any UK body.

The digital imprint regime gives voters more information about who is trying to reach them online, including campaigners and political parties. Voters should check for an imprint if they have concerns about the source of material. We encourage all candidates to consider how voters will understand their campaign materials.
After the service, guests will go to the Duke and Duchess's sprawling 11,000-acre Eaton Estate

The Duke of Westminster has plans to settle down into the farming life of a country gentleman after his wedding, according to friends.

Next week Hugh Grosvenor, the seventh Duke, will wed duchess-to-be Olivia Henson in Chester Cathedral, Cheshire, with the Prince of Wales as an usher.

Following the nuptials, Chester is where the couple want to lay down the foundations of their future, and where the Duke will nurture his love of nature, sustainability and farming, a source close to them has said.

Friends of the Duke, 33, have described him as having a genuine love of the land that is fitting for one of the UKs largest landowners who studied countryside management at university.

He is also president of the Country Trust, a charity that encourages children from disadvantaged backgrounds to connect with the land that sustains us all through visits to farms across the country, including the Dukes Grosvenor Farms on his Eaton Estate in Cheshire.

Jill Attenborough, CEO of the Country Trust, described him as a very authentic person who is genuinely inspired by the land and so enjoys having the opportunity to bring that to children.

She said she had originally asked him to become president of the charity not because its something his father did, but because I knew that he also had a genuine love of the land.

And people around him told me that it was his passion, too, that it really inspired him, she added.

Next-gen farming

Ms Attenborough added: Hes really aware of his responsibility as the next generation of farmers and landowners and he gently, certainly not in a sort of pushy way, tries to draw in his network as well of next gen to talk about whether they might also welcome children into their farms and estates and showcase what theyre doing for a more sustainable future.

Currently, the Duke will aim to take part as much as possible in the school visits to his farm and get stuck in with the children as they learn about the land.

When he takes part in a visit, its wonderful because hes just on a level where hes loving being there with them and they love interacting with him, Ms Attenborough added.

The Duke also currently has an ongoing project to create the largest continuous area of wildflowers in the country using local Cheshire wildflower seed and is passionate about timber production and developing his cutting-edge dairy farm.

The site of the farm, the familys sprawling 11,000-acre Eaton Estate, will also play an important role in hosting the 400 wedding guests after a service at Chester Cathedral next Friday.

The guests, who have all been issued a strict no gifts instruction, will descend upon the picturesque county town for the main event followed by a more intimate gathering the next day for family and close friends.

Chester will be decorated with 100,000 flowers paid for by the Duke to mark the occasion, and they will be planted in displays across the cathedral city throughout the summer.

The wedding flowers, it is understood, will be donated to local charities and organisations following the ceremony in keeping with a theme of sustainability and locally sourced food throughout.

Prince William will attend the wedding as an usher to support his friend - GETTY

The couple have recently embarked on a few public charitable visits to highlight their support of their future home town, with Miss Henson insisting on one of them that the couple want to put down roots in the north-west county town where they will be wed.

Its obviously a place where we will live, she said. Well be building our lives together and were slowly transitioning to move up from London and be much more permanent here and really putting roots down.

The bride-to-be added that it had been an easy decision for the couple to make.

However, a friend of the couple has caveated that the parameters of his role as chair of the Grosvenor Group, which manages more than 300 acres of Mayfair and Belgravia, means that they will still be in London regularly.

The Duke is actively involved in Grosvenors urban property development, food and agriculture technology as well as rural affairs.

His property portfolio, which he inherited from his father, who died of a heart attack in 2016 aged 64, includes more than 1,500 properties in 60 countries, making up the grooms 10 billion-plus fortune.

The couples wedding, expected to be the glittering society event of the year, will see Prince William attending in the role of usher to support his friend, who is also godfather to Prince George.

The King is not expected to be in attendance, although he is the Dukes godfather, as he continues to undergo cancer treatment and will be in France the day before to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The Princess of Wales is also expected to be absent as she continues her own cancer treatment and recovery in the privacy of her family home in Windsor.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will also not be among the 400 guests next Friday, although Hugh is the godfather of Prince Harrys five-year-old son Prince Archie.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey takes the plunge on a slip n' slide in Somerset before campaigning

There is now more disagreement within the political parties than between them. In fact, there are scarcely any meaningful differences between the programmes of the party in power and the main Opposition, if only because the Opposition leader refuses to say what his policies are. The objectives which Labour and the Tories insist on calling their plans for the country are almost identical in their vacuity and lack of convincing detail. But there is lots of genuine, substantial dispute between factions within the parties and, most significantly, between the leaders and their memberships. It is here  within rather than between parties  where the real political debate of our time is taking place.

Rishi Sunak had to resort to calling an early election because his party was so paralysed by internal dispute that it would soon have become impossible to carry on governing. The discontent and recrimination began almost immediately when he was propelled, by a parliamentarian coup, into Downing Street against the will of his party members, after a series of public debates which he was judged to have lost. Indeed, his leadership was foisted on both his own party and on the country which never had a voice in this at all.

It would have taken a monumental effort to have overcome that disadvantage. Only a stunning performance could have achieved it. What it needed was a particular form of mature solemnity: a blend of humility (I know that you did not have a say in choosing me as your prime minister but I will do my utmost to serve you), solemnity (Over the last two years, our country has endured terrible hardships and we now face a dangerous global threat) and frankness (We can survive this crisis only by being honest about the problems we face and the solutions they will require.) All of this needed to be said repeatedly with gravitas and fearless honesty. That is a formula to which the British people have been known to respond magnificently in the past and which, at the very least, would have flattered them and inspired respect.

What we got  and are continuing to get as the election campaign grinds on  was very different. Maybe the Sunak personality was simply not up to it. There has been the occasional excellent speech delivered in a tone that is appropriate for what must be seen as a critical historic moment. Most of the rest is notable for its manic delivery and an absurd cockiness which cannot be sincere.

I am truly sorry that this has to be so personal but watching him speak in televised interviews, I want to shout Stand still. Stop bouncing up and down on the balls of your feet and stop grinning. None of this is helped by his strange decision to wear trousers that are too short and too tight which make him look like a fifth former who has outgrown his school uniform. Men of small stature can look perfectly plausible as national leaders even in very dangerous times  behold the inspiring phenomenon of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What matters is the tone, the sense of conviction and the facial expressions which are appropriate to it.

Of course it isnt all about style. There are profound disagreements about the operation of a free market economy which were once believed to have been settled by Margaret Thatchers defeat of the Wets. But at least the debates among the Tories are starting from the same place. Everybody is more or less agreed that capitalism has produced levels of mass prosperity that are unprecedented in human history. The questions that remain open are about the extent to which the free market needs to be regulated or mitigated.

It is Labours internal conflict  which was once thought to have been settled by Tony Blair  that is irreconcilable. When Sir Keir is willing to describe himself as a socialist while his shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, insists that she is social democratic, it is not just a semantic quibble. Socialism involves a commitment to state ownership of the means of production and an alliance with the industrial proletariat. Whereas social democracy can simply imply a degree of wealth redistribution through the tax and benefit systems. Labour has wriggled through this ambiguity for a generation. The Corbynites, Momentum and Militant Tendency have pulled one way and the Blair-Brown Third Way the other.

Only the latter has proved to be electable but the former has a capacity for making a great deal of trouble. Angela Rayners insistence that Diane Abbott should be allowed to run as a Labour candidate has forced the supposedly ruthless Blairite leader to cave in publicly to the Left. This will have dangerous consequences if he wins a landslide election victory. Parties with huge majorities can offer lots of opportunities for trouble-making dissidents to indulge their personal passions. Will Sir Keirs time in Downing Street be dominated by the unsettled feuding that raged through his party in the 1980s?

Frustratingly, all this internal argy-bargy is having little impact on the substantive problems which everybody agrees are infuriating the electorate. The cost of living, the breakdown of the National Health Service, exorbitant levels of personal taxation and the collapse of opportunity for the young are the issues which cause real people to become enraged with a political class which seems unable  or unwilling  to offer any realistic solutions. This is not unique to the UK, of course. In a Europe dominated by new far Right parties and in the United States now mesmerised by Donald Trumps ludicrous pantomime, electorates are turning to demagogues who insist that there can be simple solutions to complex, unprecedented problems.

Rational political actors may condemn this delusion but they play into its hands by failing to offer their populations honest and brave alternatives. From the Starmer-Sunak non-debate to the idiotic buffoonery of Ed Daveys Liberal Democrat stunts, and the bizarre transmogrification of the Greens into a home for pro-Hamas activists, our democratic process is becoming a sham.

Hardly surprising then that so many people are telling the pollsters that they dont like anybody.
Abandoned Margaret the lurcher is now the face of Ikea's pet furniture

Ikeas campaign for its new range of pet furniture features rescue animals, including a three-year-old lurcher found injured and abandoned in a field in Cambridge.

The Swedish homeware store  best known for its flatpack furniture and glossy catalogues  is now catering to furry family members, with a cat-alogue and dog-alogue.

A 5 cat box, which fits on a bookside alongside hardback classics, and 2 patterned bone-shaped soft toys are among the retailers new Utsadd collection.

Partnering with pet charity Woodgreen, Ikeas new pet furniture collection ranges from 1 for a cat-themed hook to a 99 wicker dog bed, complete with roof.

It comes at a time when dire financial circumstances are increasingly driving households to abandon their pets, with Woodgreen reporting a 253 per cent year-on-year increase in this reason being cited in 2022-23.

Ikea says the development of all 29 products was based on the expert knowledge of vets, pet product experts, and a demanding panel of cats and dogs themselves.

And it has already sparked excitement among young shoppers on TikTok.

An Ikea spokesman told The Telegraph: We provided product samples to pet owners, and the products have been used and tested by cats and dogs in their own home environment.

Afterwards, we collected feedback from the pet owners.

Animals nursed back to health by charity Woodgreen are seen in the ikea promotion

Promotional materials for the new product range also provided pet residents at Woodgreen rehoming centre with the opportunity to advertise themselves to would-be owners.

And while many pets starring in the catalogues have already found new homes, Margaret the lurcher  which arrived at the London centre in early April  is still available.

The young dog was brought in by a member of the public after it was found wandering alone in a field in Cambridge.

A Woodgreen spokesman said: Its very common for the charity to see injured stray lurchers, as the area is suspected to be popular for illegal hare-coursing.

As she arrived after hours, Margaret was taken in by Woodgreens 24-hour protection and welfare team which made sure she was safe and comfortable, with a warm bed and a nutritious meal.

A tumour was later discovered on Margarets tail  which led to a full amputation, from which it is recovering well.

Husky Miya in an Ikea dog basket

Miya, a 10-year-old husky, came to Woodgreen because her owner couldnt look after her anymore. While waiting for her perfect home, shes been staying with a fosterer who told the charity us shes as good as gold.

Poppy, a beagle/poodle cross which arrived in March, also features in the dog-alogue.

A charity spokesman said: Sadly, Poppy has found the kennel environment at Woodgreen very stressful, so the team of qualified behaviourists have developed a bespoke care and training plan to support her.

She finds the world around her quite overwhelming and can be wary of other dogs and new people.

Michaela Quinlan, country commercial manager of Ikeas UK and Ireland arm, said: At Ikea, we believe that pets are family. Our goal was to develop a collection of products that our cats and dogs love and that their human parents can feel good about and truly enjoy having as part of their home.

We hope this partnership not only raises awareness of adoptions but also provides solutions and inspiration on how to create a comfortable living space for furry companions.
MI5 is having to use more resources to counter the increasing threat of espionage - OxAvdeenko/iStockphoto

MI5 has been ordered to refocus its efforts on targeting spies rather than terrorists following a major recruitment drive by Russia, China and Iran, The Telegraph can reveal.

Russias war in Ukraine, the growing number of Chinese agents operating in the UK and the use of organised criminals by Iran have shifted the security services main targets significantly.

While domestic and international terrorism remain a priority for MI5, more resources are now being pushed towards Russian, Chinese and Iranian counter-espionage operations, government sources have said.

MI5 has been asked by ministers to refocus a lot of their efforts on the espionage threat, particularly the state threat from China, Russia and more recently Iran as well, a senior government source said.

They insisted that counter-terrorism has not been deprioritised but this has been prioritised alongside it, adding that their workload has definitely shifted in that direction.

The source pointed out that in the wake of the 2018 Salisbury Novichok attack, Russia lost a large chunk of their intelligence officers overnight and has since been trying to recruit new assets to plug the gaps.

Britain expelled 23 Russian spies as part of its full and robust response to the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Vladimir Putin met Xi Jinping in May. It is feared Russian and Chinese espionage in the UK is escalating - Sergei Bobylev via AP

The source went on to explain that Britains support for Ukraine in the war against Russia has also led to increased spying activity.

The more you step out, the more you find yourself in their crosshairs, they said.

In May, it emerged that Russia was recruiting violent Right-wing extremists to conduct sabotage attacks in Europe and the UK, fuelling concerns among intelligence chiefs.

The Telegraph also understands that the number of Chinese agents employed in intelligence gathering in the UK is now regarded as unquantifiable.

Intelligence sources said that Chinese agents are active in academia, among both students and lecturers, in business and even the arts.

In some cases, those gathering information may not be aware that they are being exploited for intelligence reasons by the Chinese state.

The head of MI5 said last year that 20,000 Britons had been approached by Chinese state actors on LinkedIn in the hope of stealing industrial or technological secrets.

Ken McCallum, MI5 director-general, faces a level of espionage threat not seen for 50 years - MI5/PA

Ken McCallum, MI5 director-general, said industrial espionage was happening at real scale, and he estimated that 10,000 UK businesses were at risk, particularly in industries where China was trying to get ahead such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing or synthetic biology.

A second government source told National Security News: MI5 has limited resources so resources have to be prioritised. The terrorist threat level remains substantial which means an attack is likely but in reality the challenges currently posed by China and Russia are more pressing.

The source added that as many as 20 Chinese embassy officials in the UK were likely to be operating as spies.

But the numbers of agents, civilians who have been recruited by the Chinese intelligence services may run into the hundreds of thousands, he added.

There are probably people in the UK who have no idea that they are supplying intelligence to the Chinese government. These may be Chinese nationals working or studying in the UK or British citizens.

Iran is also believed to be using organised crime gangs to conduct intimidation operations and plot assassinations in the UK.

Last year, Mr McCallum warned that Iranian-backed terror attacks in the UK were more likely in the wake of the war in Israel.

The current national terror threat level is substantial, meaning security officials believe an attack is likely. It was lowered from severe in 2022, when officials believed an attack was highly likely following a spate of high-profile incidents across the UK.

Mr McCallum is expected to address the growing espionage threat posed by so-called hostile states and non-state actors publicly later this year, highlighting that the espionage threats posed by Russia, China and Iran have rarely been greater in the last 50 years.

Last month, Parliaments joint committee on the national security strategy warned that Britain must be prepared for the possibility of foreign interference by China, Russia and Iran during the general election.

UK significant target for China

Col Philip Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer added: Quantifying the number of Chinese intelligence sources in the UK is impossible.

Article 7 of Chinas national intelligence law states that all Chinese organisations and citizens should support, assist and cooperate with Chinese intelligence efforts, meaning every citizen could be used overtly or without their knowledge by the Chinese state to gather information.

The UK is a significant target for China given its political position in the UN, financial position in global economics, reputation for global research and technology and military position as a nuclear power with a global military reach.

It will be running significant espionage operating from the Chinese embassy but many other operations will be run remotely from China exploiting opportunities online.

There will be many unwitting agents of the Chinese state in business, academia or government departments across the country.
Dean Phillips in January 2024 campaigning for his ultimately unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Photograph: Charles Krupa/AP

The outgoing Democratic US representative who failed in his presidential primary challenge against Joe Biden called on the New York governor, Kathy Hochul, to pardon Donald Trump over his criminal conviction for hush-money payments to influence the 2016 election for the good of the country.

Minnesota representative Dean Phillips, who was the first Democrat to call on fellow party member Henry Cuellar to resign following bribery charges against the Texas representative, urged for the pardon on Friday in a post on X.

Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim, wrote Phillips, who was first elected to Congress to represent a wealthier suburban area outside Minneapolis in 2019 but gave up seeking re-election to his seat in November to pursue his unsuccessful primary challenge to Biden.

Related: Donald Trump had lots of negative opinions about felons. Now he is one.

Hochul, Phillips added, should pardon [Trump] for the good of the country.

In another X post on Saturday morning, Phillips doubled down on his call for leniency for the former Republican president.

You think pardoning is stupid? Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid. (Election charges are entirely different), he wrote. Referring to Trumps claims that he has seen a spike in donations after his conviction, Phillips added: Its energizing his base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost.

The chances of Hochul pardoning Trump seem slim. The Democratic governors statements after Trumps conviction touted the rule of law, a principle under which all persons, institutions and entities are accountable to laws.

Todays verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law, Hochul said in a statement after a jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of 34 counts of felony falsification of business records.

Hochul also said in a National Public Radio interview Justice was served  suggesting potential opposition to a pardon  continuing:

In the state of New York, if you commit a crime, and theres evidence to demonstrate that you have met the standards of being arrested and brought to a trial and a jury of your peers considers all the evidence, then their verdict must hold.

And thats exactly how the rule of law has always prevailed in our country. And this is no different. So I just want to make sure everyone knows our rule is no one is above the law.

Trumps campaign claimed on Friday that he had raised $53m following the verdict  breaking GOP records, according to the New York Times. The newspaper notes that Trumps predominant fundraising entity took in $58m over the second half of 2023, demonstrating the immensity of this windfall.

Former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who testified that he carried out the hush-money payment in 2016 while Trump successfully ran for the White House, expressed concern about Thursdays conviction leading to prison time for the former president.

Cohens remarks seemingly alluded to how Trump, in a separate criminal case pending against him, is charged with improperly retaining classified materials after his presidency and keeping them in areas that werent secure.

My concern is in a prison situation  Hes willing to give away the secrets, as I always say, for beggar tuna or a book of stamps, and he will do it because he doesnt care, Cohen said on MSNBCs The Weekend.
Uranus, seen from the Voyager 2 spacecraft, 1980s. One image is in true colour and the other in false colour. Photograph: Heritage Images/Getty Images

European space scientists have been urged to join forces with Nasa to ensure the success of one of the most ambitious space missions planned for launch this century.

Joining a robot spaceflight to the mysterious planet Uranus would offer the opportunity to participate in a groundbreaking, flagship-class mission, astrophysicists have said.

The call was made in Nature, the leading science journal, in a special editorial which exhorted the European Space Agency (Esa) to form an international partnership with Nasa. Such cooperation would ensure that the Uranus mission  which would involve putting a robot spacecraft in orbit round the planet and dropping a probe into its thick, icy atmosphere  is completed in time and on budget.

The mission will take 10 years to develop and 12-15 years to reach Uranus after launch.

The editorials authors, Olivier Mousis, professor of astrophysics at Aix-Marseille University, and American astrophysicist Robin Canup, of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, said: A lack of substantial European involvement in a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime flagship mission would also undermine the large community of scientists, engineers and technicians engaged in space exploration across Europe who have strong interest in planets and the search for extraterrestrial life.

The creation of a European-US partnership for a Uranus mission would not be without precedent. In 2004, Nasas Cassini robot spaceship entered orbit round Saturn before releasing an Esa-built probe, named Huygens, which then made a parachute landing on the planets moon Titan, revealing a world with a crunchy, brittle surface and lakes of liquid hydrocarbons. The joint mission is considered to be a classic demonstration of the benefits of international spaceflight cooperation.

In their editorial, Mousis and Canup argue that if Esa does not take up the chance to join a Uranus mission, a consortium of individual European countries should be created to construct the probe that would be released from the main US-built spaceship. Britain, which has a good record in establishing co-operative ventures in space, would be well placed to play a key role in such a venture.

Scientists argue that Uranus has features that give it special scientific importance. While the rest of the planets in our solar system rotate like spinning tops, Uranus lies on its side. And although it is not the farthest planet from the sun, it is the solar systems coldest.

Uranus also experiences seasons of incredible length. Each pole spends decades bathed in nonstop sunlight followed by decades of total darkness. Yet only one space probe has ever visited Uranus: in 1986, Voyager 2 swept past it, revealing a featureless, pale blue world with a family of moons. There have been no Earthly visitations since then.

This lack of interest is set to change, however. Two years ago, the US National Academy of Sciences published a report that called on Nasa to launch a Uranus probe as a priority flagship mission. The academys views carry enormous clout, and this has put Nasa is under pressure to launch a spaceship to Uranus in the near future.

Two key reasons lie behind the drive to visit Uranus. The first is local. The solar system is made of three categories of planets: the inner rocky worlds of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars; two gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, which lie further from the sun; and then, at the edge of the solar system, Uranus and Neptune. These are known as ice giants because they have diameters four times that of the Earth, and possess large amounts of methane, water and other ice-forming molecules in their atmospheres.

Related: Six planets to appear in alignment next week in rare celestial parade

This last feature was always considered to be intriguing but not sufficiently interesting to justify a dedicated probe until astronomers, armed with an array of powerful new telescopes and space probes, began to study planets that orbit other stars.

To their surprise, they found that planets of the size of Uranus and Neptune appeared to be ubiquitous across our galaxy. Nature loves to make planets of this size, Jonathan Fortney, a planetary scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told the journal Science.

The question  and the second key reason for the mission  is why? Many theories have been put forward, but until Uranus is studied in detail no definitive answers will be provided. Apart from finding evidence that might explain why ice giants are common around other stars, the mission would also aim to explain why the planet is so cold and its axis of rotation is tilted sideways. Mousis and Canup insist: The scientific drivers for a Uranus mission are compelling.
Putin Essay 4

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 essays so far are listed at the bottom of this article.

Today, Dr Ivana Stradner considers what Putins next European conquests would be after seizing Ukraine.

Russia recently celebrated Victory Day, a major national holiday commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany. Speaking before Russian troops in parade formation on Red Square, Putin promised Russia would soon achieve victory again  this time over Ukraine. Such an outcome would imperil not just Ukraine but also security in Europe and beyond. For his next conquests are already in his sights.

The Kremlin has been honest about its desire to weaken Nato, break Western unity and subjugate Russias neighbours. For Putin, the war in Ukraine isnt just about that country. He sees the current conflict as a defining moment in his broader struggle against the West and reshaping the world order.

Putin said that Russia has no plans to attack any Nato country and, as such, too many Western leaders rest easy in the belief that Russias war is strictly confined to Ukraine because Natos Article 5 is watertight. But if Moscow is allowed to prevail in Ukraine, other countries  including Nato members  will be at far greater risk. Conversely, Western support for Ukraine demonstrates to Putin that he will pay an even greater price for an attack against Nato, and is preparing accordingly.

This fact is not lost on the countries closest to Russia. The Baltic nations, first of all, have warned that Russia could pivot quickly from Ukraine to invade their territory. Moldova, too, which hopes to break free of Russias influence and join the West, fears it would be next if Putin emerges victorious in Ukraine.

Crucially, Russia does not need to send tanks and jets to such places. A victorious, emboldened Russia, engorged on Ukraine and with spare capacity, could rely on hybrid warfare tools, utilising little green men both on the ground and in the information space to convince the West that a conflict in there is internal and, therefore, in the case of the Baltics, does not trigger Article 5. This is what German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius meant when warned that Russia could attack a Nato member state within five to eight years. It need not be as obvious as tanks rolling across a Nato border.

A mural depicting Vladimir Putin on a building adjacent to the Russian embassy, in Riga, Latvia

In fact, Russia is already working to destabilise Europe. In May, Nato warned that Russia is waging an intensifying campaign of cyberattacks and other hybrid operations against its members. British intelligence has cautioned that Moscow is even planning physical attacks on the West. We know Russia is recruiting far-Right extremists to carry out attacks on individuals, and European intelligence agencies say that Moscow, seeking to weaken us, has staged violent acts of sabotage across Europe and is planning more. The Russians are already attempting to interfere in this months European Parliament elections, and the U.S. elections in November are no doubt on Putins menu, too.

Meanwhile, Russia is using its hybrid warfare machine to foment chaos in Natos soft underbelly: the Western Balkans. Using information operations and corrupt influence, Moscow aims to stoke ethnic tensions between Serbia and Kosovo and within Bosnia and Herzegovina. As Georgia faces massive protests triggered by a proposed law that targets civil society and its aspirations to join the EU, Russia is calculating security assistance. With the elections in Moldova and its vote on EU membership this year, Russia will likely not miss an opportunity to sow further discord in the country.

A Russian victory over Kyiv would also carry serious implications in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. If Moscow is able to outlast the West in Ukraine, Beijing may conclude it would face feeble resistance to Chinese military aggression against Taiwan. Furthermore, Moscows aims to strengthen its military footprint in Africa, which it has already worked to do with the assistance of the remnants of its Wagner mercenary group. Fundamentally, Russia and China believe the decline of US global power is essential and have been advocating for a multipolar international system not led by Washington.

A Dutch Army THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) unmanned vehicle during the NATO Quadriga military exercise, in Pabrade, Lithuania

The West can only win this war if leaders understand Putins game. Since Putin first came to power, he has conducted an offensive aimed at gaining reflexive control of the West. Reflexive control is an old Soviet concept, foreign to most Western nations. It encompasses interfering in another countrys decision-making until the government is compelled to take actions in the Kremlins interest. In the words of Russias Ministry of Defense, Russias war game works through massive psychological manipulation of the population to destabilise the state and society. This is what Moscow did with some success in Ukraine before its Maidan Revolution in 2014 when the people fought back.

President Zelensky said we can and should think only about how to win. Alas, this sentiment is not shared by many in the West, leaving ambiguous what victory means and promising to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. This is a dream come true for Putin giving him the ability for a protracted war.

Make no mistake: the West has the power to ensure Russias defeat. Collectively, Western countries dwarf Russia economically and outclass it militarily. But they must translate that potential into reality. This requires patience and determination to stand by Ukraine and provide it with the weapons and training its forces need to win on the battlefield. Otherwise, Ukraine will just be the first domino to fall.

Dr Ivana Stradner is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies 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.

Other essays in the What If Putin Wins? series:
Putin has forced the Russian economy to bend to his war by increasing spending on his military to 7 per cent of Russia's GDP - YURI KOCHETKOV/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

Vladimir Putin plans to impose the largest tax rises on Russians since the 1990s to help pay for his war in Ukraine.

He will ditch his once-feted flat-rate tax regime for a progressive tiered system to raise an extra 26 billion per year for his war machine.

Russias finance ministry submitted the new tax regime proposals to parliament this week, claiming they would ensure stability and fairness but analysts said they were a simple raid on earners.

Putin has forced the Russian economy to bend to his war by increasing spending on his military to 7 per cent of Russias GDP, a third of all government spending, as he cuts cash for social projects.

Sergei Aleksashenko, a US-based former deputy governor of Russias central bank who has criticised the Kremlins war in Ukraine, said that the extra cash will be funnelled into the military.

War is not a cheap thing, he said. Most of the corporation tax and income tax will go to the federal budget.

Alex Kokcharov, a Russia analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: This was widely anticipated from early 2024 as Russia needs more fiscal headroom amid rapidly growing war spending.

War sweeteners

Under the proposed tax regime changes, Russians earning between 2.4-5 million roubles (21,000-43,400) will be pushed into a 15 per cent income tax rate, up from 13 per cent. The tax rate will then rise through three more tiers to a top rate of 22 per cent. Corporation tax will also jump from 20 per cent to 25 per cent.

But the Kremlin has been careful to include some sweeteners for Putins pro-family and pro-war agendas in the tax changes. Families with two or more children will receive more benefits and veterans of the war in Ukraine will be exempt from the tax rises.

Maximilian Hess, author of Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West, said that Putin was running out of ways to fund his war as lucrative gas contracts with Europe have been cut and high tax-paying Western companies have quit Russia.

Now no one in Russia can now escape the reality that their bank accounts are being raided to fund Putins martial madness, he said.

When Putin introduced a 13 per cent flat rate of tax in Russia in 2001, it was considered a masterstroke bringing order to a chaotic, heavily-tiered and leaky tax system inherited from Boris Yeltsin. This was tweaked 20 years later with the introduction of a 15 per cent tax rate.

According to Russian state data, the average income in Russia is around 75,000 roubles (650), although this rises sharply in Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities.
Robert De Niro branded Trump's supporters as 'gangsters' outsider the court where the former president was being tried - SETH WENIG/AP

Robert De Niro has been stripped of a prestigious award after launching into a tirade against Donald Trump outside the court where the former president was standing trial.

De Niro was due to be honoured by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) at a ceremony in Washington DC next week.

But the 80-year-old Oscar-winning actor will now not receive the groups Leadership Foundations Service to America Award.

The organisation, which describes itself as bipartisan, said it feared De Niros attendance at its event would distract from the work it does.

De Niro engaged in an angry shouting match with Trump supporters last week, describing the former president as a loser and branding his followers as gangsters.

He added: When Trump ran in 2016, it was like a joke.

The actor continued: This buffoon running for president? Naw, never could happen. Wed forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who werent taken seriously until they became vicious dictators.

He accused Trump of trying to sow total chaos in the US.

The former president responded in kind in a social media post, describing the actor as a wacko who was suffering from an incurable case of Trump derangement syndrome.

De Niros outburst was too much for the NAB, which rescinded the award.

This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners, it said in a statement.

While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr De Niros recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognise.

De Niro, who has backed Joe Bidens fundraising campaign, did not criticise the foundation for rescinding the honour.

I support the work of the NAB Leadership Foundation and would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for what the Foundation has done and will continue to do for the good of us all, and I wish them well for their continued good work.
Mayor John Whitmire poses for a portrait in his office at City Hall on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A sign for a Buc-ees convenience store in Terrell. A billboard on I-96 in Michigan with the logo and 444 miles is raising speculation that state may be the chains next target. File photo

Thumbs down: Houston Mayor John Whitmire sure has a way with words. His penchant for speaking without a filter can be charming and disarming, but this week its garnered anger and criticism. In a Houston Landing article about the mayors new approach to METRO  more money for road repair, less for bus rapid transit  Whitmire questioned whether residents of Gulfton wanted better access to the Galleria. Theyre largely undocumented immigrants. They just want basic services. They dont want to be part of the Galleria, Whitmire said. You think theyre going to be welcome in the Galleria? Yes, Mayor Whitmire, Gulfton residents, documented or not, are welcome in the Galleria. They work there. They shop there  maybe not at Louis Vuitton, but perhaps at Nordstrom Rack or Old Navy across the street  and they can even pursue dreams of becoming a competitive ice skater, as columnist Joy Sewing writes. We know that youre a former social worker and believe your hearts in the right place, but whatever you meant to say about meeting the basic needs of Gulfton residents isnt the message you sent. We are a welcoming city, or at least we aspire to be one. And besides, connecting a thriving job center with a neighborhood packed with people ready to work is transit 101, and backed by voters.

Thumbs up: It sounded like such a grand idea. High-tech sensors positioned in high-crime areas that would pinpoint gunfire and alert police, but Mayor Whitmire made the right call this week when he announced hed drop the $3.5 million ShotSpotter program. As a Chronicle investigation last year revealed, police response times to 911 calls slowed down in areas where their attention was diverted by ShotSpotter alerts that usually didnt lead to arrests. I think it is a gimmick, Whitmire told the Chronicle on Wednesday. I think it was cooked up by contractors and, personally, talking to officers, it doesnt do any good. Now thats an example of the mayors candor we can get behind.

Thumbs up: Under 400 people. That was the margin of victory for Dade Phelan, the Texas House speaker, in his Tuesday primary runoff against a candidate not so much running to his right as he was running as an agent of retribution for the corrupt Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Hes determined to get payback after Phelan allowed the House to impeach the AG last year over evidence of corruption. Our spirits were somewhat buoyed by Phelans triumph, but 400 people? Thats basically Phelans kin, counting all his fifth cousins once or twice removed. The guys got deep roots out in East Texas, after all. His victory party was on Phelan Boulevard in Beaumont. Meanwhile, down by the border, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales barely squeaked out a victory over Brandon The AK Guy Herrera, the gunmaker and social media influencer who targeted the incumbent for voting in favor of rather minor gun reforms after the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde two years ago. To all the super voters who showed up for the runoff, a big thank you for keeping us just this side of a wing nut takeover.

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Thumbs twiddled: Despite his Canadian roots, rap superstar Drake has long claimed a kinship with Houston. Hes interpolated our signature chopped and screwed sound, crooned about our strip clubs and even organized a Houston Appreciation Weekend. His purchase of a $15 million ranch outside of Houston near Brenham effectively consummates that love affair: a sprawling ranch resort with a horseback riding arena, infinity pool, organic farm and a 7,000-bottle wine cellar. Of course, as with many aspects of Drakes music and his carefully crafted persona, the line between homage and appropriation is pretty blurry. Its all well and good to show off your Astros tattoo, but, to borrow a line from his arch-nemesis Kendrick Lamar, when s--- hits the fan, are you still a fan? Fair question after his participation in Travis Scotts ill-fated Astroworld festival two years ago led to a horrific crowd surge that killed 10 people. In the wake of that tragedy Drake certainly seemed eager to distance himself from any responsibility and his lawyers got him dismissed from the lawsuit brought by victims' families. So is Drake a Houston culture vulture? Probably, but at least now well get some property tax revenue in return. Besides, after getting thoroughly annihilated in a recent volley of diss tracks with Lamar, what better place to disappear and lick his wounds than a 313-acre estate?

Thumbs up: If Drake gets bored at his ranch, he could chill this weekend at whats billed as the worlds largest meetup of Tesla Cybertruckers at a ranch near Waco. Sure, the Texas-made stainless steel beasts have had issues with accelerator pedals getting stuck, sharp edges slicing an owners wrist, and tires getting stuck in the sand, but the Tesla Owners Club of Austin is hoping participants will flaunt the Cybertrucks power on a thrilling off-road course. Were not sure electric vehicles have captured the heart of Texas pickup truck lovers but, hey, maybe some quality mud bogging TikToks will do the trick.
Ukraine drone

On the reconnaissance drones pixelated video feed, a small, four-wheeled robot trundles into view, coming to a halt on top of a Russian bunker before unleashing a powerful explosion.

The blast shrouds the area in a cloud of smoke, shredding the leaves from nearby trees as debris rains down on the surrounding trench system.

This is the moment the Ukrainian troops have been waiting for. But there is no mass infantry assault or tank charge.

Instead, a swarm of explosive-laden FPV drones  controlled by Ukrainian soldiers miles away  seeks to exploit the chink in the enemys armour, swooping down on the Russians and chasing them through zigzagging trenches that provide little protection against the airborne threat.

The devastating attack exemplifies a new type of warfare being pioneered by Ukraine, one that relies more heavily than ever before on unmanned and remotely operated robotic systems.

With Kyiv striving to overcome its dire manpower shortages, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, is placing his hopes on an army of experimental robots to turn the tide against Vladimir Putins invasion.

The Telegraph was given rare access to information on the new types of robots that are already taking part in the combat in Ukraine.

For months, Ukrainian forces have been using the robots for everything from demolishing bridges, transporting supplies to the front line and evacuating wounded troops.

Ukraines unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are the latest development in the drone war that has grown to define the conflict in Ukraine.

The great hope is these technological developments will save the lives of Ukrainian servicemen, alleviating the burden of a severe manpower shortage, which experts have warned will get worse before it gets better.

Unlike the enemy, Ukraines key is its people. Technology, particularly unmanned ground vehicles, allows for minimising human involvement on the battlefield, preserving the lives and health of Ukrainian soldiers, said Nataliia Kushnerska, chief operations officer at Brave 1, the Ukrainian governments defence innovations platform.

Brave 1 has been sifting through hundreds of ideas, blueprints and prototypes put forward by Ukrainian developers that believe they can help.

In March alone, more than 50 robots were sent to the front lines, without much in the way of official fanfare.

A month earlier, reports surfaced of Russian infantrymen attempting to capture a Ukrainian bunker outside the Donetsk region city of Avdiivka.

The invaders came under a hail of intense, accurate gunfire, which wasnt deterred by a flurry of retaliatory mortar and small-arms fire.

When the machine-gunner position was eventually overran, the Russians discovered their opponent was no more than a hunk of metal.

It was likely one of four combat robots that are being rolled out slowly across the front line.

Some are fitted with PKT and PKM 7.62mm calibre machine guns, while others are designed for more heavy-duty operations with 12.7mm Browning machine guns that can hit targets just over a mile away.

The UGVs can be fitted with night-vision cameras and added armour protecting them from small-arms fire, matching the description of the gunnery robot that confronted advancing Russians outside Avdiivka.

Missions, including assaults, have been carried out with these laptops while their operators are sat in underground shelters some two-and-a-half miles away.

The Shablya M2 fixed, remote machine gunner is primarily used to replace the role of the long shifts put in by Ukrainian soldiers on defensive duties.

Engineers and developers have also taken inspiration from the Ukrainian armed forces use of one-way suicide drones in the skies and the waves.

Unmanned ground vehicles  dubbed Ratel-S and Ark-1  can deliver 40kg of explosives under a tank or into a bunker at speeds of 15mph.

A reusable version can carry and deploy up to two TM-62 anti-tank mines on Russian positions or logistical routes.

Artificially intelligent aiming systems that dont require human interaction are also being developed to counter Russian electronic warfare jammers that sever the connection between drones and their operators.

More universal logistics robots that can be repurposed for different tasks have also been tested.

The UGVs with ranges of 25 miles can carry loads of up to 600kg to deliver ammunition to front-line positions or evacuate a wounded soldier to safety.

Tracked versions are deployed in more torturous conditions, while a wheeled design delivers better performance when speed is of the essence.

Our military is already using them on the front line. We have successful examples of using robots for demolishing bridges used by the enemy, delivering supplies to the front lines, evacuating wounded soldiers and inflicting damage on the adversary, Ms Kushnerska said.

Drone warfare is seen as the only way Ukraine can overcome the numerical advantage Russia enjoys because of its willingness to absorb mass casualties.

The use of aerial, naval and ground drones have been increased in response to the slow deliveries of more conventional Western weapons systems from Kyivs backers abroad.

British intelligence officials estimated 500,000 Russians had been killed or wounded in the war, in a social media post published on Friday.

Both Ukraine and Nato share an opposition to this level of human waste, something officials in Kyiv believe will eventually see Western militaries adopt its technological creations.

At least 21 of the robots being trialled on the front lines are codified according to Nato standards, said Ms Kushnerska.

We are confident that unmanned ground vehicles will become the next game-changer in this war, just as drones have already become. This is our asymmetric response to the enemys numerical advantage, she added.
Locals took to the beaches to complain that they feel excluded from their favourite coastal spots - JEFF GILBERT

Islanders in Majorca crammed together on to sarongs and towels on Saturday, to symbolise how they feel squeezed out of their own beaches by the crush of foreign holidaymakers.

Residents say they feel smothered by over-tourism and called for cuts to the 18 million visitors who arrive each year in the Balearic Islands, of which Majorca is the largest.

Dozens of protesters jostled for space on Sa Rapita beach on the south coast, saying that during the busy summer months they feel excluded from their favourite coastal spots.

In July and August it is impossible to find space on the beach. The roads are full of traffic, the congestion is terrible, said Gloria Sanchez, 35. You cant drive to work or to the supermarket. Rental cars are a very big problem. It gets worse every day. We have to regulate mass tourism in some way.

Campaigners organised protests under the social media hashtag #OcupemLesNostresPlatges  Catalan for Lets Occupy Our Beaches.

They spoke to journalists at Sa Rapita as children played in the sand and jet skiers hurtled across the turquoise bay.

We are here to say, OK, tourists have rights, but we have rights, too, and these are our beaches. Always have been and always will be, said Rosa Marsilli, 25. It is so frustrating in the summer to go to the beach and find it overcrowded  you cant enjoy it with your family. We understand that tourism is necessary but it should be better controlled.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets last month to demand an end to over-tourism - SOLARPIX

The protests were called after a local politician suggested that Majorcans should be resigned to not going to the beach in high summer because of the huge number of tourists.

Manuela Canadas, a member of the far-Right Vox party in the Balearic Islands regional parliament, said that us Majorcans, who live directly or indirectly from tourism, cannot expect to go to the beach in July and August like we did years ago.

Lucia Luna, left, and Marina Vaquer join the protest on the beach at Sa Rapita - JEFF GILBERT

She said it was dangerous to send out a message that tourists were not welcome because they would choose other Mediterranean destinations.

Protesters insisted that they were not totally against tourism, but rather the huge numbers of visitors that the Balearic Islands attract.

Lucia Luna, 25, said: We need tourists to show respect to Majorca just as we show respect to the places that we visit when we go abroad.

She said she had been dismayed to see video footage of British tourists brawling on a Majorcan beach earlier this week after waiters reprimanded them for throwing beer cans and rubbish into the sea.

A journey on the island that would take 15 minutes by car during the winter off season can taken 90 minutes during the summer.

You cant park anywhere because there are too many cars, you cant go to bars because there are too many people, she said.

Foreign visitors on the beach seemed largely sympathetic to the protesters complaints.

Tourism is important for their economy but I can understand how it has become too much for them, said Zoltan Langhaus, a teacher from Germany who was on holiday.

But with tourism accounting for at least 45 per cent of the islands GDP, generating more than 16 billion in income, there are no easy answers for authorities in Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

Juan Jose Company Orell, an author and commentator on social affairs in Majorca, said politicians had been talking for years about how to move to a more sustainable model of tourism.

Sustainability is a very nice word. I like it. But what does it mean? Where do we have to cut tourism? We have to do something. But nobody wants to do it because there will be consequences that politicians dont want to face, he said.
Care worker

Unemployed Britons will be trained to do jobs normally taken by overseas workers to cut net migration, the Shadow Home Secretary has said as she unveiled Labours plans to curb Britains reliance on foreign labour.

Yvette Cooper told The Sunday Telegraph that a new cross-government drive will be launched aimed at training up the unemployed to fill roles in sectors such as care, construction and engineering which she said are currently highly reliant on migrant workers.

She said that the current system, which gives businesses a 20 per cent discount for overseas recruitment, basically incentivises employers to recruit from abroad rather than up-skilling domestic workers, despite the nations worklessness crisis.

Reducing net migration is a key issue for both Labour and the Conservatives, with both parties pledging to reduce it after it hit a record high of 745,000 in December 2022, nearly three times the pre-Brexit average.

Ms Cooper said: Net migration has trebled under the Conservatives and over the last five years really, since the last election.

And the Office for National Statistics has been clear that it is being driven by work migration - that is now the biggest cause. We believe net migration needs to come down.

Committees role to be strengthened

The ONS revised its net migration figures in light of unexpected patterns in migrant behaviour - namely that they were staying in the UK longer.

It estimates that net migration stood at a provisional 672,000 in the year to June 2023, nearly three times the pre-Brexit average of 200,000 to 250,000 a year, blowing apart the Governments 2019 manifesto pledge to bring down the overall rate of net migration from its then level of 226,000.

Under Labours proposals, the role of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) - which advises the Home Office on which occupations have a shortage of workers and makes recommendations about which types of foreign worker visas should be issued - will be strengthened.

The committee will work with national skills bodies as well as the industrial strategy council as part of a new tripartite framework, using its research to also make recommendations about which new training courses are needed to bolster the number of British workers in particular sectors.

Ms Cooper said that over the past five years, the Government has been overseeing an unregulated, free market approach to migration, where skills shortages among British workers have not been tackled.

They havent had proper controls in the system, she said. And theyve not only failed to tackle employers who were exploiting migration to undercut wages, but theyve also actively encouraged this undercutting by having the 20 per cent discount on overseas recruitment.

This is one of the things that we had argued for some time that should be changed and the Conservatives have finally agreed it should change.

Worklessness crisis

The move to retrain the unemployed comes amid a growing worklessness crisis, with the number of those classed as economically inactive, meaning they are neither in a job nor looking for one, ballooning to 9.25 million post-pandemic.

Most of that increase can be attributed to a huge spike in long-term sickness, which has added 717,000 people to the benefits bill since the start of 2020.

Young people are driving the trend, with people in their early 20s now more likely to be signed off than 40-year-olds - often with mental health problems.

We know that there is a real issue about the number of people who are now out of the labour market altogether, Ms Cooper said.

Some of that is about people who are on long term waiting lists, NHS waiting lists and so we obviously want to bring NHS waiting lists down. And some of it is people who do need additional support in order to get back into the labour market.

The announcement comes as the Shadow Education Secretary said that businesses are crying out for help to tackle skills shortages.

Labour has pledged to reform the existing apprenticeship levy, a charge on firms which have an annual wages bill of more than 3 million.

In a campaign announcement fronted by Bridget Phillipson, the party promised that a new growth and skills levy would give businesses greater flexibility to invest in training courses that meet their needs, as well as turbocharging investment in skills for the future.
Voters suspect Sir Keir Starmer is planning to extend the franchise to boost the electoral fortunes of his party, which has a big lead in the polls among younger people - Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Sir Keir Starmers plan to give 16-year-olds the vote is unpopular with the public and particularly with key swing voter groups, polling has found.

The study also found that the public thinks Labour wants to lower the voting age because of its own electoral self-interest rather than because it will be good for the country.

Labour has said it would extend the franchise for general elections in line with Scotland and Wales, which have already given 16- and 17-year-olds the vote for local elections and those for the devolved assemblies.

Sir Keir said earlier in the campaign: If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your Armed Forces, then you ought to be able to vote.

However, according to a poll by More in Common of 2,049 adults between May 27 and 29, the policy is not popular among the general public.

Asked if they support or oppose lowering the voting age to 16, 47 per cent said they opposed the idea with 28 per cent in support.

Changing the question wording to ask if they support or oppose allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote changed responses slightly with 45 per cent saying they were opposed, compared to 31 per who supported it.

Labour base approves of plan

The policy lands well with Labours base, with people who voted for the party in 2019 overwhelmingly supporting the idea. Of these voters, 53 per cent backed lowering the voting age, with 23 per cent opposed.

However, swing voters who opted for the Conservatives in 2019 but are now backing Labour are divided, with 39 per cent in support and 38 per cent opposed.

Another important voter group dubbed Whitby Women  older women who voted for Brexit, do not have a degree, and own their home  overwhelmingly opposes the policy.

More in Common, who coined the Whitby Woman term, believe that the group could play a crucial role in deciding whether Labour wins by a landslide or is limited to a small majority or even a hung parliament.

The group overwhelmingly voted Tory in 2019 but are disenchanted with the party and may stay at home this election.

According to More in Common, 82 per cent of women in the group oppose the policy, with only 5 per cent supportive.

If the policy scares Whitby Women sufficiently, the think tank said, they could come out in greater number to support the Tories, making it more difficult for Labour to achieve a substantial majority.

The polling also shows that the public do not trust Labours intentions with the policy.

Claims of gerrymandering

With Labour enjoying a huge lead among younger voters, some people have claimed that extending the franchise is a form of gerrymandering.

Fifty-eight per cent of people thought that Labour is proposing the policy because they think more young people voting will benefit them in elections, with just 22 per cent thinking that the party is proposing it because they think it will be good for the country.

Even people currently intending to vote Labour think by a narrow margin that the party is proposing it for self-interested reasons. Forty-four per cent says it is doing it to benefit itself against 41 per cent who think it is proposing it for the benefit of the country.

Ed Hodgson, More in Commons research manager, said: While lowering the voting age might be popular with Labours base, it is unpopular with the wider public.

More broadly, there is a reputational risk that Labour proposing to lower the

voting age makes Labour look self-serving. It reinforces the publics cynicism that politicians are just in it for themselves.

Given that Labour is running on a change message this campaign, suggestions of cynicism are something they will want to avoid.

The poll also found little support for extending the franchise to prisoners, with 59 per cent opposed to the idea and 28 per cent in favour.
The Metropolitan Police have made 53 arrests around the Champions League final at Wembley, as some football fans tried to force their way into the stadium and others invaded the pitch.

A large proportion of the arrests were made for attempts to breach security but five were made after people got on to the grass, the force said.

Saturdays game, between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, had just kicked off when play was disrupted.

A pitch invader disrupted the Champions League final (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Pitch invaders approached some of the players, with one of them outrunning security for some moments and almost making it back in among the fans before being caught.

At half-time, it was confirmed arrests had been made.

It is illegal to enter the field of play at Wembley Stadium, and we strongly condemn the actions of those who interrupted the Uefa Champions League Final shortly after kick-off, a Wembley Stadium spokesperson said.

All of the individuals have now been arrested. We will support the relevant authorities to ensure appropriate action is taken.

A Met Police spokesperson said: We are confident that the overwhelming majority of attempts to unlawfully gain access to Wembley this evening were unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of officers, stewards and other stadium staff.

Officers have made 53 arrests at Wembley tonight  five for pitch invasion and the majority of others for attempts to breach security.

Major sporting events often attract attempts by those without tickets to bypass perimeter fencing or otherwise gain entry. There is a robust policing operation in place to support the Wembley security plan and officers have worked closely with stewards and stadium staff to maintain security throughout.

Videos shared online showing groups running into entrances do not necessarily represent successful attempts to enter the stadium. There are typically multiple further levels of security beyond an initial entrance.

The force added that officers remain in the area outside the stadium to deal with any further criminality.

Wembley also saw trouble at the Euro 2020 final, in which ticketless fans stormed gates to gain access to the stadium.

Police also dealt with trouble at the Uefa Euro 2020 Final at Wembley (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Stadium bosses had announced their commitment to clamp down on poor fan behaviour ahead of Saturdays match.

In a statement on its website, a spokesperson said: Wembley Stadium has echoed its commitment to clamp down on poor fan behaviour as it prepares to host a record-breaking eighth Uefa Champions League Final on Saturday June 1.

Wembley Stadium has implemented several enhancements to its security and safety operations at recent events.

It includes more stewards, additional ticket checks, improved fencing, new security lanes and increased enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order which exists around the stadium on event days.

All of the changes will be in operation again on Saturday as the stadium prepares to welcome a sell-out crowd for the final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

More than 2,000 police officers were on duty on Saturday, policing protests as well as the Champions League final and related fan events, the Met Police said.
The Prime Ministers children might not describe him as a Taylor Swift fan, he has admitted.

Rishi Sunak suggested his two daughters Krishna and Anoushka did not think he met the threshold needed to be described as a Swiftie.

Mr Sunak is known to have attended one of the pop giants concerts on a holiday in California last summer.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Conservative candidate for Redcar & Cleveland Jacob Young (Jonathan Brady/PA)

At the time, Downing Street did not direct reporters away from describing the Prime Minister as a Swiftie.

But on the campaign trail in Redcar, Mr Sunak was more reticent about applying the moniker to himself.

He told journalists: My kids would not probably describe me as a Swiftie. I think they would be not OK with that description.

Their level of fandom is considerably more than mine and Im not sure I pass the threshold in their eyes.

Mr Sunak declined to say which Taylor Swift song best describes (his) current position in the polls when asked by The Sunday Times.

The Conservatives launched their campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The Prime Minister replied: My encyclopaedic knowledge of Taylor Swift is probably not sufficient to deal with that, but what I can tell you is that the only poll that Im focused on is the one on July 4.

Has she got a song about July 4? I dont know, Ill have to go and check the canon.

In Redcar, Mr Sunak launched the Conservatives campaign battle bus, which was emblazoned with the slogan clear plan, bold action, secure future.

A soundtrack of indie and pop from the 2000s and 2010s played while Tory supporters held placards ahead of the Prime Ministers arrival.

Party supporters held aloft placards and a 2000s indie/pop soundtrack played as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived at Redcar Racecourse (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Songs included Mr Brightside by the Killers and Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People, both US bands.

Tory candidates Jill Mortimer and Matt Vickers were present, as was housing minister Jacob Young, who introduced the Prime Minister.

I love the merch, Mr Sunak said to Ms Mortimer, who was wearing a navy polo shirt with the party logo which read Jill Mortimer for Hartlepool.
Sir Keir Starmer declined to answer questions about Diane Abbott, while Rishi Sunak denied claims he is buying votes with a promise of cash for towns as campaigning entered its second weekend.

Both leaders on Saturday unveiled their parties battle buses, which will travel across the country before polling day on July 4.

The Labour leader launched his red campaign coach, emblazoned with the partys key slogan Change, in west London with a pledge to get people back to work.

Sir Keir refused to be drawn into talking about the Diane Abbott row, telling broadcasters in Uxbridge: I dealt with that issue yesterday.

The Labour leader on Friday finally gave the veteran left-winger the green light to stand for his party in the election, after days of questions over her future and party infighting overshadowed his campaign.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Angela Rayner launch Labours campaign bus in Uxbridge (Lucy North/PA)

While Sir Keir sought to move on from the matter, Mr Sunak attacked his Labour rival for changing his mind after having insisted the decision over Ms Abbotts candidacy was not up to him.

In a speech in front of the Tories blue battle bus on Redcar Racecourse, the Prime Minister said It confirms what we know about him: its that he doesnt stick by anything he says.

He also accused Sir Keir of caving to his deputy Angela Rayner, after she first threw her weight behind Ms Abbotts candidacy.

But Ms Rayner dismissed claims she pushed her boss into the decision as rubbish.

Mr Sunak meanwhile was stung by a new Opinium poll giving Labour a 20-point lead over his party  the highest level Opinium has recorded since Liz Trusss troubled premiership.

Despite Labours week being marred by the Diane Abbott saga, the poll showed Sir Keirs party on 45%  up four points since last weekend  while the Conservatives are down two percentage points on 25%.

On his election trail, Mr Sunak batted off criticism that his pledge to give 30 towns 20 million was targeted mainly at Tory constituencies.

 Our latest polling with @ObserverUK The Labour lead is now 20 points. Labour 45% (+4) Conservatives 25% (-2) Lib Dems 8% (-2) SNP 3% (+1) Greens 6% (-1) Reform 11% (+1) Fieldwork: 29  31 May.Changes from 23  24 May. pic.twitter.com/bFYbrJzYTR  Opinium (@OpiniumResearch) June 1, 2024

As part of the levelling-up scheme, the Conservatives pledged that local people, not those in Westminster, will decide how the money will be spent.

Some of the towns proposed to be added include Tamworth, Preston, Corby, Halifax, Bognor Regis, Newtown, Flint, Perth and Newry.

More than half of the towns  17  standing to benefit were represented by Tory MPs in the last parliament.

Asked about accusations that he is trying to buy votes there, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: These 30 towns come on top of the 70 towns that have been announced  thats 100 towns across our country that are going to receive 20 million each.

He said the methodology used to select the towns had been used multiple times before based on an objective set of criteria, including levelling-up needs, looking at economic opportunities, skills, health and life expectancy.

Rishi Sunak launches the Tory battle bus in the North East of England (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Mr Sunak also insisted he is going right across the country when asked about his campaigns focus so far on seats that are being defended at the election by the Conservatives.

The Tory leader said he is the only one thats actually got a plan to get people back to work as he dismissed Labours proposals.

Sir Keir announced a number of proposed employment support and welfare benefits reforms aimed at increasing the employment rate from 75% to 80%.

Opportunity Britain. Thats what youll get with a Labour government. A country where those who can work, will work. pic.twitter.com/SznAPXJlYr  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 1, 2024

This includes a new combined national jobs and careers service, local plans for work, health and skills support and a guarantee of opportunities for young people.

The Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the policy signals a major step towards a high-quality, public employment service.

A rethink of our employment support offer is long overdue  and joining up health, skills and work support is a common-sense priority for any party serious about building a healthier and more prosperous country, Rachel Statham, associate director at the think tank, said.

This weekend I get to do the most joyful and important thing I do: being a Dad. Together, Emily and I care for our wonderful son John, who has severe physical and learning disabilities. pic.twitter.com/zhSaN7QqJg  Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) June 1, 2024

Sir Keir launched the Labour battle bus alongside Ms Rayner, who then set off on a 5,000-mile journey to battleground seats.

Meanwhile, after a week of attention-grabbing stunts, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey was taking the weekend off the campaign trail to care for his son.

Sir Ed tweeted: This weekend I get to do the most joyful and important thing I do: being a Dad.

His party issued a warning that an extra 100,000 households will be hit by a mortgage hike between now and polling day.

The average homeowner will have to fork out 240 a month, or nearly 3,000 a year, more, according to Lib Dem analysis of House of Commons Library research.

The Prime Minister is set for a blue wall reckoning in key battleground seats, Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said, as every day thousands of families are seeing their mortgage go up by eye-watering amounts.

Campaigning in Ashfield constituency to support Reforms @LeeAndersonMP_  pic.twitter.com/OdPF7ivb33  Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 1, 2024

Nigel Farage, Reform UKs honorary president, was out campaigning in Ashfield with candidate Lee Anderson.

Mr Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, was the partys only MP ahead of the dissolution of parliament after his defection from the Conservatives.

George Galloways Workers Party of Britain was launching its General Election campaign in Ms Rayners Ashton-under-Lyne seat.
Thousands of people gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday for a protest organised by Tommy Robinson.

Speeches were given by Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, Reclaim leader Laurence Fox and political commentator Carl Benjamin.

Roughly 300 counter-protesters, organised by Stand Up To Racism, were set up on the other side of the Cenotaph and separated from the crowd by a large police cordon.

The protest set off from Victoria Station and marched to Parliament Square (David Parry/PA)

According to the Metropolitan Police, two people were arrested in the vicinity of Parliament Square. One arrest was for drunk and disorderly and assaulting an emergency worker, while the other relates to an incident where a woman was subjected to racial abuse.

The protest set off from London Victoria Station at around 1pm and ended up in Parliament Square.

There, a crowd gathered before a large TV screen which showed the speeches and a film.

As Mr Robinson took to the stage, a large cheer came from the audience. He told them: Looking at the crowd today I feel like I am winning.

Mr Robinson went on to criticise the corrupt Metropolitan Police and accused them of two-tiered policing.

While the event was ongoing, Mr Robinson posted on social media calling for the removal of Police Commissioner Mark Rowley.

He then welcomed to the stage a series of speakers, including Laurence Fox.

Laurence Fox was among the speakers (David Parry/PA)

The crowd cheered as the Reclaim Party leader appeared and booed in support of his criticism of both Pride Month and Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Pointing to the Houses of Parliament, he said: In one month we will be asked to vote again for these people This is our home, we have nowhere else to go. If you want to put the Great back in Great Britain, it wont be the politicians. Its down to you and me and everyone else.

Mr Fox then urged supporters to avoid any crowd trouble, telling them: Dont give (police) an opportunity to paint us as what we are not.

The audience was then shown a series of video montages, with supporters jeering and shouting derogatory language at images of small boat crossings, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

Several hundred metres away in Whitehall, a static counter-demonstration had been set up by Stand Up To Racism.

People from Stand up to Racism took part in a counter-protest (David Parry/PA)

Speaker Zak Cochrane led chants of Nazi scum off our streets and say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.

Others held placards reading oppose Tommy Robinson and stop fascists and the far-right.

A third protest, smaller in size and unrelated to the above events, saw nine members of Youth Demand arrested for breaching a Public Order Act.

The Metropolitan Police said on social media that protesters went on to York Road, attempting to cause serious disruption by blocking traffic.

They were already subject to conditions not to leave the pavement and these members were arrested for breaching those conditions, the force added.

More than 2,000 police officers were on duty on Saturday, policing the protests as well as the Champions League Final at Wembley and related fan events, the Metropolitan Police said.

Fans of finalists Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid appeared to be confused at what was happening in Parliament Square, with some appearing to gather under the impression that it was a fan zone.

The Champions League Final, between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, kicks off at Wembley at 8pm.
The show is based on an award-winning book series by Liu Cixin

Ed Miller/Netflix 3 Body Problem Season 1

3 Body Problem will come to an end after its third season.

On Friday, May 31, Netflix announced at a FYSEE panel that the science fiction series based on books by Liu Cixin will conclude after its third installment is released. So far, only one season of 3 Body Problem has aired on Netflix.

3 Body Problem's eight-episode first season begins in 1960s China, as a young astrophysicist (Zine Tseng) makes a pivotal decision that impacts the future.

The story skips ahead several decades, to when a team of scientists and a detective are working together in the 21st century to stop a time and space-altering event from destroying humanity.

Related: '3 Body Problem': A Glossary of All the Terms from Netflix's New Sci-Fi Series

Ed Miller/Netflix Liam Cunningham, Jess Hong, and Sea Shimooka

"We included a lot of what we loved from the [novels by Liu Cixin] in Season 1, but the vast majority of reasons we wanted to make this show are in Season 2, executive producer and Game of Thrones alum D.B. Weiss said in the press release on Friday.

"We always wanted to get to the final page of the third book, and its really, really thrilling to us that we will get to do just that," he added.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Weiss, True Blood's Alexander Woo and David Benioff will continue to serve as executive producers, showrunners and writers through seasons 2 and 3, per Netflix.



The creators previously spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about their plans for future seasons and how they planned to adapt all three of the novels in Cixin's trilogy in full.

Related: The Best Original Series on Netflix to Stream Now

Ed Miller/Netflix Eiza Gonzalez and Jess Hong in '3 Body Problem'

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"We knew going into this how many hours we need to tell the rest of the story because weve got a roadmap through to the end," Weiss told the outlet. "And we have what we need to get to the end as intended from when we started."

"By the time we finish with the show, it will be seven years we've devoted to it," Benioff added. "We're now at a place where we get to tell the rest of the story, and, yes, we have enough time to tell the rest of the story the way we want to and that's immensely gratifying."

The show, which was one of Netflix's most-streamed series of the past year after it was released on March 21, spent seven weeks on the streamer's global Top 10 list, THR reported.

3 Body Problem is available to stream on Netflix now.



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They all agree that this is the best time.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studio

Whipping up light and fluffy scrambled eggs is one of the best and easiest ways to start your day. But despite the simplicity of this protein-packed quick and simple breakfast, theres an ongoing debate among chefs, home cooks, and food scientists alike on the right time to salt them.

Some think that adding salt to eggs before they cook will thin out the whites and result in a tough and rubbery final product. Still, others believe that adding salt before cooking makes for a better-seasoned, more flavorful scramble.

You may have been taught never to add salt to raw eggs as the sodium will change the texture and make them tough. Or perhaps it was an influential celebrity chef who made us all wait until scrambled eggs were just finished before sprinkling them with salt. But whoever helped spread this theory may actually be wrong.

When to Add Salt to Scrambled Eggs

To finally answer this question, we reached out to some national egg brands for their perspective. It turns out that adding salt while whisking together raw eggs can make the best, most flavorful scramble.

We hear this debate a lot between our Michelin Chef partners and even from our at-home chefs about when to salt eggs, said Whitney Fortin, vice president of marketing at Happy Egg, a free-range commercial egg producer headquartered in Arkansas. Adding salt to your egg scramble prior to cooking acts as a buffer that prevents the yolks proteins from getting too tight and losing their moisture. When you add salt prior to the eggs hitting heat, it results in a fluffier scramble.

Erin Krenek, manager of communications at Vital Farms, a company that sells pasture-raised eggs nationally, agreed that its best to salt eggs at the whisking step before cooking. We believe that salt helps break up the white to create a more homogenous mixture, makes them more tender, and creates a more well-rounded taste in every bite.

Does Adding Salt Before Cooking Scrambled Eggs Change the Flavor?

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Vital Farms actually brought up this topic to their staff in a taste test, but the results didnt necessarily make answering this question that much easier.

However, when we put the question up in a crew taste test a few years ago, we didnt notice a significant taste difference based on when you salted the eggs, Krenek said. Whether you [add salt] before or after, you should always season your eggs with a bit of salt to concentrate and enhance the delicious egg flavor.

Sarah Beth Tanner, recipe developer for Pete & Gerrys, a commercial egg company headquartered in New Hampshire, agreed that its important not to skip the salt when making scrambled eggs.

"In our experience, the difference in texture when salting before, during, or after cooking scrambled eggs is very subtle, Tanner said. As long as youre salting them at some point, youll be just fine.

The Science of Salt and Eggs

While egg companies generally recommend adding salt to scrambled eggs before cooking (even if its only subtly better than salting after cooking), food science can help explain why you should, in fact, sprinkle your scramble with salt before cooking.

This may take you back to science class, but stick with us! The tenderness of cooked eggs has to do, in large part, with the coagulation of protein, especially the speed of coagulation. Light, tender, and moist scrambled eggs require moderately low heat to gently trap some of the water naturally found in eggs as the curds setand salt can actually be an ally in this process.

In his book "On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen," Harold McGee explains that theres actually no truth to the idea that salt toughens egg proteins. Most egg proteins carry a negative electrical charge and salt dissolves into positively and negatively charged ions that cluster around the charged portions of the proteins and effectively neutralize them. As a result, the proteins bond earlier in the cooking process, so eggs end up more tender when salted, McGee writes.

So how much salt should you add to scrambled eggs before cooking? We recommend a big pinch of salt for every couple of eggs you plan to cook. And its best to slightly under-season the eggs before cooking as once you add that sodium, theres no going back.



Read the original article on All Recipes.
Trump is toasted on the hamburger buns during lunch at Trump Burger Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Bellville. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Brian Hajek has lunch with his family at Trump Burger Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Bellville. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

After former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts tied to a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election and falsified business records, voters at Trump Burger, a tourist attraction and monument to the former president, were not swayed in their devotion.

The New York jury unanimously decided after more than nine hours of deliberation that the former president attempted to influence the election by covering up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels after the two allegedly had sex. Trump went to say the trial was rigged, according to the Associated Press. Sentencing is scheduled for July, days ahead of the Republican National Convention.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, Trump told reporters after the verdict. As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair.

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Diners at Trump Burger seemed to agree with the former president, who has three more criminal cases ahead of him.

Omar Suvhi, who is temporarily managing the restaurant in Bellville on behalf of the owner, said that business went up during the trial. He expects more customers to come through the door as the election nears. He said that he believed from the start of the trial that Trump would be found guilty, though he maintains Trump is innocent and the verdict was brought about by enemies of the country.

No matter what, were behind the (former) president, he said. We know this is all the doings of some bad people.

Trump was found guilty by a jury of 12 New York residents picked to serve by prosecutors and the former president's defense team.

FOOD & CULTURE: Trump Burger is a tourist attraction, monument to the former president located an hour from Houston

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The restaurant was mostly quiet Wednesday evening except for a handful of groups that came in for the dinner rush. Items on the menu include a "Trump Burger," "Trump Tower," and an unavailable $50.99 "Biden Burger," featuring an "old tomato and our oldest buns." Joshua Coble of San Antonio, who stopped in with family, said that he felt the trial was a planned attempt to keep the former president from office.

Biden is trying to take out his opponent, and he knows he cant do it through the ballot box, he said. So, he has to be, for lack of a better term, a really scummy guy. Thats the only way that hes going to win is by unconstitutionally stealing the election again.

Many supporters believe Biden stole the 2020 election through often-debunked election fraud.

Trump remains eligible to campaign and serve as president if elected. While he could face up to four years in prison, incarceration is unlikely, according to the Washington Post.

Coble, who said he once served in the military before he was discharged after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, has been supportive of the former president going back to his initial campaign because he aligned with Trumps views on abortion and the border. He plans to vote the same way in the upcoming election.

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A small amount of Trump supporters were expected to turn away from the former president given any conviction, representing a two-point shift towards Biden with a potential for a six-point shift if he is incarcerated, according to the Washington Post citing a Reuters-Ipsos poll.

Suvhi called the poll results a fabrication, and he said only an imbecile would choose to stop supporting Trump to vote for another candidate. A key issue for Suvhi is limiting access to healthcare for transgender youth and education on LGBTQ subjects in schools.

Coble still plans to vote for the former president.

Whether theres truth or not, I mean, nobodys perfect, Coble said. I would say that everybody has a dark past. Everybody has things in their past theyre not proud of.
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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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.
Jesse Campbell's tribute comes after Georgie tragically died at age 37 after falling from a horse while competing on Sunday, May 26

Georgie Campbell/Instagram Georgie Campbell

The husband of late equestrian star Georgie Campbell is paying tribute to his beloved wife.

On Thursday, May 30, Jesse Campbell described his wife as a strong, beautiful, phenomenal woman in an emotional statement honoring the British event rider following her tragic death last weekend.

Campbell died at age 37 after falling from her horse, Global Quest, while competing at the Bicton International Horse Trials in Devon, England, on Sunday, May 26. Her death was announced the same day in a statement from British Eventing, which governs the equestrian sport of eventing in the country.

I love you so, so much, Jesse began his message on Instagram, sharing a black-and-white photo of Georgie smiling on the couple's wedding day in December 2020.

Georgie Campbell/Instagram Campbell died after falling off her horse while competing on May 26

Related: Equestrian Star Georgie Campbell Dead at 37 After Falling Off Horse at Competition: She Could Not Be Saved

This is my favorite photo of my beautiful wife. Its from our wedding day in 2020 and it was the best day ever, he wrote. People will talk about Gs smile, and it was incredible  it would make you feel like you were the center of the universe. But what I love about this photo is how it captures her strength. She was a strong, beautiful, phenomenal woman who just loved everything and everyone.

Working in the equestrian world is not an easy life; there are a lot of knocks and dark days. But G would navigate this by throwing so much joy and love at every situation, Jesse shared.

He and Georgie had married in December 2020 and shared a Team Campbell Eventing Instagram account, on which they had posted several times this year about the late equestrian's horse, Global Quest.

In his May 30 post, Jesse added that his wife was always joyous, whether she was teaching a client in the pouring rain or with him at home.

It was just incredible to be at your side and feel this energy, he continued. Im so proud to be your husband. Rest in peace, my beautiful girl.

Ryan Pierse/Getty Campbell competing in the Cross Country 8/9YO event in England in 2022

Elsewhere in his tribute, Jesse thanked those who have supported him since his wifes death, including the team at Bicton, along with the public in sharing purple and white ribbons in memory of Campbell.

Seeing the purple and white ribbons has been amazing, he wrote. Jesse added to the equestrian community to smile and laugh with each other while out competing this weekend, before signing off with a .

Campbells husband has posted several photos from their wedding day, along with them training together on Instagram. The pair also frequently posted Campbells horse Global Quest prior to her death as they competed together.

Associated Press Campbell pictured at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in 2018

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Campbell died after she suffered a fatal accident whilst competing on her horse on May 26, British Eventing annouced in their May 26 statement.

Medical professionals attended immediately following her fall at fence 5b however, unfortunately, she could not be saved, the statement continued.

Campbell's horse, Global Quest, was noted to have walked back to the stable and is uninjured after being checked on by veterinarians.

Following her death, members of the equestrian community shared tributes to Georgie, including fellow rider Pippa Funnell and the Bicton Arena. They shared an image with three emojis on it: a white heart and a purple heart floating above a dove carrying an olive branch, on their social media accounts.

Our thoughts are with Georgies family and friends at this devastating time, Bicton Arena wrote in the caption of an Instagram post.

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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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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)
Getty Images (2)

Shanna Moakler isnt going to battle her ex Travis Barker when it comes to parenting.

Moakler, 49, revealed during a Friday, May 31, episode of SiriusXMs Jeff Lewis Live that she used to find herself in competition with Barker, 48, when it came to their parenting chops. I gave up, I was never really trying to compete. I gave that up a long time ago, she explained. I was like, You win. Like, youre the winner.

She added, My ex is a very powerful, famous person, its kind of hard to compete on that level.

Moakler  who shares daughter Alabama, 18, and son Landon, 20, with Barker  previously discussed their differing approaches to parenting in an interview she gave to the Dumb Blonde podcast.

Travis Barker, Shanna Moaklers Ups and Downs: Explosive Divorce and More

When Travis got with Kourtney [Kardashian], there was some parental alienation going on there, where Travis  even when we werent together  always wanted to be the super dad, she explained.

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for boohooMAN

The former Playboy model added that Barker and Kardashian, who tied the knot in 2022, offered plenty of exciting trappings for their kids.

When the (Kardashians) first came around, they were enamored, just as, like, young kids would be enamored by them, Moakler said. I think there was a lot of glitter and fame and they watched them on TV and now their dad is dating one and theyre going to be on the show. And I think they got caught up in that, which young kids would do.

Shanna Moaklers Dating History: Dennis Quaid, Travis Barker and More

While appearing on the podcast, Moakler also accused Barker of cheating on her and trolling her online around the time of their 2008 split. She claimed she discovered emails sent to Barker by multiple women while setting up a FaceTime call with their kids on his computer.

[The other women] didnt bother as much as when he went to TMZ and he wrote a comment, she stated. You write a comment and then [TMZ] will email you a link, and you have to click on the link to approve the comment. And I saw all of these comments in his email that he was posting about me on TMZ about what a stty mother I was, what a terrible person I was.

Moakler added that she couldnt fking believe that he was the one behind some of those comments.

Still, Moakler shared with Jeff Lewis that shes happy for Barker, who welcomed his baby Rocky with Kardashian last year. Hes in a good place, the kids love the new baby, my daughters obsessed with him and sends me cute pictures, she said.
Ticketmaster has been confirmed to be hacked as 560 million customers' data from the ticket vendor are reportedly being sold online.

Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation confirmed the cyberattack in an SEC filing on Friday, stating that it has been working with the Australian authorities since detecting the attack on May 20.

The company said the attack happened on one of its third-party cloud database environments where most of Ticketmaster's data were accessed illegally.

The statement came after ShinyHunters reportedly demanded a $500,000 ransom payment or all data would be sold on the dark web.

BBC reported that the hackers accessed millions of people's names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card details. The scope of the attack is projected to have hit all of Ticketmaster's global operations.

Despite the threats, Live Nation believes that the incident will not likely have "a material impact on our overall business operations" or with Ticketmaster's.

Also Read : Ticketmaster Lawsuit Unlikely to Bring Down Concert Ticket Prices, DOJ Says

How to Protect Stolen Data from Hackers?

If you believe that you may be affected by the cyberattack on Ticketmaster, quickly reach out to the company's customer service center to best determine the next steps to protect personal data.

Affected customers are advised to monitor their bank accounts used in transacting with Ticketmaster and report any unwarranted changes immediately.

Enabling and updating multi-factor authentication systems are recommended precautions to prevent hackers from easily accessing personal accounts and finances.

As of writing, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have yet to report data breach attempts using the stolen data from the company.

Stolen Data Auctions Surge Back Amid Gov't Crackdowns

The attack on Ticketmaster coincides with the surge in ransomware attacks with the relaunch of the BreachForums, a forum board in the dark web where hackers can sell stolen data for high prices.

The return came just a month after the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the site as reports of the forum board being relaunched following its massive crackdown in March last year.

Hacker platforms like BreachForums often attract cybercrime groups looking for a quick source of money after their targets refuse to comply with the ransom demands.

The FBI is currently looking for the platform's backend data to seize the forum board and catch its new administrators.
Representative Bob Good, R-Virginia, received a cease-and-desist letter from former President Donald Trumps attorneys on Friday to halt the use of the presumptive Republican nominees name or likeness as the head of the Freedom Caucus seeks re-election.

Good, who represents the states 5th Congressional District, a predominantly rural Republican stronghold that voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, is being challenged by state Senator John McGuire, who received Trumps endorsement on Tuesday, in an apparent snub to the incumbent Good.

It has come to our attention that your campaign is producing yard signs purporting to indicate President Trumps endorsement of your candidacy, David Warrington, Trumps attorney, wrote to Goods campaign. You know that is false. In fact, President Trump has endorsed your opponent, John McGuire.

Trump cease and desist by newsmaven on Scribd

Congressman Bob Good

Good is one of at least 20 federal Republican lawmakers who recently traveled to New York to support Trump during his six-week hush money trial. McGuire also paid a discreet visit to the Lower Manhattan courthouse the same day as Good. Both campaigns confirmed the Virginia candidates traveled to the courthouse in the same motorcade as the former president. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30.

An abuse of voter trust

To be clear, neither you nor your campaign are authorized to use President Trumps name or the Campaigns to falsely imply their support of your candidacy. Nor are you or your campaign authorized to claim that you represent or are otherwise associated with President Trump or the Campaign, Warrington wrote in his letter to Good.

Warrington noted that producing and displaying campaign materials with Trumps name or likeness associated with Goods was a fraud on the voters of Virginias Fifth Congressional District. He also noted that using Trumps name or likeness on any of Goods fundraising materials is a fraud on campaign donors.

It is an abuse of voters trust to make such false statements, Warrington wrote.

Goods campaign did not respond to a request for comment, and Trumps image appears to have been scrubbed from the congressmans campaign site Friday evening.

New voter law upends Fifth District primary

Good has faced a primary challenger in his past federal elections, but this year, the contest will be different due to a new state law that went into effect in January.

That law had one unintended consequence: It all but outlawed conventions in any election, including party primaries, in Virginia.

Good, elected to federal office in 2020, won his past primaries through conventions on what critics have called his turf in a district that spans nearly 200 miles from top to bottom. In both races, he garnered less than 2,000 votes at those conventions in a district with roughly 562,925 active voters, according to data from the Virginia Board of Elections.

He has, in effect, campaigned and legislated for those 2,000 people. I believe he has not represented the voices of everyone in his district, and I think thats a real vulnerability, John McGuire said in a recent interview with USA TODAY.

State Sen. John McGuire

In the solidly Republican Fifth District, the GOP primary winner is expected to win the Congressional seat.

Both Republican primary candidates have parroted narratives driven by Trump about the validity of the 2020 election results. Many of those narratives have been proven false.

McGuire attended the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021 but has said he did not enter the Capitol Building. Good voted against certifying the 2020 election, and said he stands behind that decision in a recent interview. Both continue to cast doubt on the 2020 election results.

Neither has committed to accepting the results of the 2024 election in recent interviews with USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Trump issues warning to Rep. Bob Good to stop using name, likeness
Vulnerable House Republicans are treading carefully around the bombshell conviction of former President Trump, showing a wariness to wade into the prickly debate over hush money, a porn star and the integrity of a once-treasured criminal justice system that Trump has vilified.

While GOP leaders and a long list of rank-and-file Republicans  including a number of front-liners  have raced to Trumps defense following the guilty verdict on all counts in his New York hush money trial, more than half of the 17 House Republicans representing districts won by President Biden in 2020 have so far remained silent.

The reticence has highlighted the tricky political landscape facing moderate Republicans in purple districts throughout the Trump era: While the former president has electrified the GOPs conservative base, and even broadened the partys tent, hes also energized liberals, alienated independents and caused some centrist GOP voters to flee the party altogether.

Its a dynamic thats led many swing-district Republicans to keep a cautious distance from Trump, a volatile figure known to demand loyalty within the party and exact revenge when he doesnt get it. And that distance has been even more pronounced during Trumps hush money trial, as a long list of front-line Republicans declines to comment in the immediate aftermath of Trumps conviction on all 34 counts related to falsifying financial records to conceal an alleged affair with a porn star  a scandal that might have dimmed his chances of being elected to the White House in 2016.

Everybody has to do what they think is wise, Rep. Don Bacon (Neb.)  who represents a district Biden won by 6 percentage points in 2020  told The Hill in an interview, acknowledging the difficulty facing vulnerable Republicans like himself.

I dont know if theres a right or wrong answer, he added. Everybody has to do it their own way and make their own judgment.

The list of front-line Republicans yet to weigh in features a number of California lawmakers  including Reps. Mike Garcia, Michelle Steel, David Valadao, John Duarte and Young Kim  as well as Reps. Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and David Schweikert (Ariz.).

But even those who have commented on the controversial conviction are doing so cautiously, a nod to the tightrope they must walk as Trumps grip on the GOP tightens, yet their districts lean blue.

Shortly after the verdict was read, Bacon wrote on social platform X that it was a Sad day for the country, argued that the case was an unprecedented prosecution for a crime very seldom charged, and accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) of making prosecuting Trump part of his campaign platform.

He did, however, say that he has trust in our legal system which includes the appeals process.

The Nebraska Republican told The Hill that he decided to put out a statement after receiving several inquiries about his reaction  I had like 10 journalists asking me  but noted that he is criticizing how the case was conducted and not backing the former presidents conduct, while stressing that he will respect the final decision when the appeals process is all said and done.

Im not defending all the presidents behavior, by no means, Bacon said. But it seems selective and its done by a guy that was very partisan. But I think in the end, as the appeals process goes on, I will respect it.

Another vulnerable Republican, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Ore.), also issued a statement that responded to the verdict without mentioning it. Instead, she sought to shift the focus onto other unrelated issues.

Its disappointing that the national narrative continues overshadowing the kitchen table issues Oregon families are facing every day, she told KTVL News 10. They are struggling with high prices, worried about rampant violent crime and drug use, and want a secure border and commonsense immigration policies. Sensationalizing the presidential race doesnt change the fact that Oregonians want relief from the failed policies of the extreme.

The political perils for any Republican bucking the former president have been made clear since the verdict, as the small handful of GOP figures who accepted the jurys conclusion have been roundly attacked within the party, where there is little room for defying a former president who has denounced the justice system as rigged.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who is now running for Senate in the Old Line State, for example, encouraged individuals to respect the verdict and the legal process regardless of the outcome minutes before the guilty charges were read.

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 added.

That sentiment was quickly rejected by Trump adviser Chris LaCivita, who wrote on X: You just ended your campaign.

College Republicans received the same treatment. The groups national committee wrote on X that the Trump verdict was handed down by jurors whose decisions were made in accordance with our criminal justice system, adding As such, the outcome of this trial should be respected, which Trump loyalists denounced.

Opinions are like assholes everyone has one, LaCivita responded on X.

Im sorry, but this is a horrendously bad take, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) posted. The verdict should be condemned as a stain on our nation and our justice system. It was the outgrowth of a rigged, corrupt process.

Across the aisle, Democrats are hoping to exploit those internal tensions. On Thursday, the House Democrats campaign arm blasted out an email accusing vulnerable GOP lawmakers who have endorsed Trumps candidacy of supporting a now-convicted criminal.

House Republicans only care about bending the knee to Trump, even when it means defending a convicted felon, the message from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reads.

To be sure, most Republicans  leadership, rank-and-file and even some vulnerable front-runners  have circled the wagons around Trump following his conviction, dismissing the verdict as a liberal weaponization of the justice system that will only help Trump return to the White House in November.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, called the outcome a travesty of justice and is demanding that Bragg, who prosecuted the case, testify next month before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

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 wrote on X.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) took that defense a long step further, urging the Supreme Court to step in and overturn the jurys verdict.

I think they will set this straight, but its gonna take a while, Johnson said Friday morning on Fox & Friends.

Some front-line Republicans have also joined the fray. Rep. Anthony DEsposito (R-N.Y.), whose district went for Biden by more than 14 percentage points in 2020, said Bragg and his left wing allies have completed their shameful witch hunt against President Trump by railroading a conviction through a partisan New York court in an attempt to help Joe Bidens failing campaign; and Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), who hails from a Biden plus-4.6 district, said the verdict was a perversion of our justice system.

Bacon, for his part, rejected those sentiments, a reminder of the fine line vulnerable Republicans find themselves traversing, and the simmering tensions in the GOP conference  and party at-large  over Trump.

Im not into overreach. When I read this morning all the criticisms that were like have kangaroo courts and third-world court system, I dont like it, Bacon said. We live in the greatest country in the world and I dont want to tear apart the fabric of this country.

So I think its important to say that Im gonna respect the process. So I expect an appeals to be done and I dont know what the final answer will be but Im gonna respect the final answer.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. US President Joe Biden has urged Hamas to accept a new Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, saying that "it's time for this war to end".

The three-part proposal would begin with a six-week ceasefire in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza, BBC reports.

There would also be a "surge" of humanitarian aid, as well as an exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The deal would eventually lead to a permanent "cessation of hostilities" and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.

Hamas said it views the proposal "positively".

Speaking at the White House on Friday, Mr Biden said that the first phase of the proposed plan would include a "full and complete ceasefire", the withdrawal of IDF forces from populated areas and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

"This is truly a decisive moment," he said. "Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it."

The ceasefire, he added, would allow more humanitarian aid to reach the beleaguered territory, with "600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single day".

The second phase would see all remaining living hostages returned, including male soldiers. The ceasefire would then become "the cessation of hostilities, permanently."
(Photo : Pexels/Photo by Craig Adderley)

A Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit on Thursday, alleging that CEO Elon Musk engaged in insider trading by selling more than seven billion five hundred million dollars worth of shares before it was publicly released in 2022.

Tesla Stakeholder's Insider Trading Allegation

In a lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court, shareholder Michael Perry alleged that Tesla's share price experienced a significant decline following the public release of the company's fourth-quarter figures on January 2, 2023, where Elon Musk improperly benefited from approximately three billion dollars in insider profits. The lawsuit claimed that Musk exploited his position at Tesla and breached his fiduciary duties to the company, requesting the court to retrieve the profits generated from the trades.

As per the lawsuit, Musk sold the shares on multiple dates in November and December of 2022, which Tesla's directors also permitted. Perry asserted that Musk, who had previously stated in 2022 that demand for Tesla's vehicles was excellent, became aware of the lower-than-expected numbers in mid-November through his access to real-time data and sold his shares before this information became public.

The lawsuit contends that if Musk had postponed these sales until after the release of significant adverse news, the proceeds from his sales would have been less than 55% of the amounts he obtained from his sales in November and December 2022.

READ ALSO: Elon Musk's Legal Battle Continues As Ex-Twitter Executive Demands Unpaid Severance Over a Breach of Contract

Series of Musk's Legal Headaches

The lawsuit adds to Musk's ongoing legal headaches. Musk encountered resistance from certain Tesla shareholders, who were scheduled to vote on June 13 to ratify his $56 billion pay package. A Delaware judge nullified the package in January due to her findings that Musk improperly controlled the process.

Musk also currently faces scrutiny in a regulatory investigation to determine whether he violated federal securities laws in 2022 by purchasing stock in the social media platform Twitter, which he subsequently renamed X. Musk criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for what he perceived as unwarranted investigations, accusing them of attempting to harass him.

Musk and the leading U.S. markets regulator have been entangled in a protracted conflict since 2018 when Musk tweeted that he had "funding secured" to privatize Tesla.

Another lawsuit from a shareholder has alleged that Musk defrauded investors in X by delaying the disclosure of his stake in the social media company to accumulate shares at lower prices. The complaint, filed in New York federal court, accuses Musk of breaching a regulatory deadline to disclose that he had amassed a stake of at least 5% in Twitter. Instead, Musk did not disclose his position on Twitter until he had nearly doubled his stake to over 9%. According to the lawsuit, this strategy disadvantaged less affluent investors who sold shares in the San Francisco company during the nearly two weeks before Musk publicly acknowledged holding a significant stake.

RELATED ARTICLE: Musk Accused of Defrauding Investors, Faces SEC Lawsuit for Delaying Twitter Stake Disclosure

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
KANYAKUMARI: Visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, I feel a divine energy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, as he concluded his 45-hour meditation and left Kanyakumari for Delhi on Saturday.

At about 2.45 pm, Modi, clad in a white shirt and dhoti, left for the Thiruvalluvar rock memorial. He placed a rose garland at the feet of the 133-feet-tall statue of the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar and bowed before the statue.

He then proceeded to the mainland from where he reached the travellers bungalow premises, where an Air Force helicopter was ready to fly him to Thiruvananthapuram.

After refreshing himself and a change of dress, Modi left Kanyakumari at 4 pm.

BJP leader and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a post on 'X' said: On completing his meditation on the Vivekananda Rock Memorial PM @narendramodi writes: Visiting the 'Vivekananda Rock Memorial' at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, I feel a divine energy.

Furthermore, the PM said: It is on this rock that Mother Parvati and Swami Vivekananda had meditated. Later, Eknath Ranade transformed this rock into a Shila Smarak' that brought Swami Vivekananda's thoughts to life.

Swami Vivekananda, a leader of spiritual renaissance, has been my ideal, my energy, and the source of my spirituality. Years ago, after traveling across the entire country, when Swami Vivekananda meditated here, it was here that he envisioned a new direction for India's revival.

It is my fortune that today, after so many years, as India embodies the values and ideals of Swami Vivekananda, I too have had the opportunity to meditate at this sacred place. Sitting at the feet of Ma Bharati, I once again reaffirm my resolve that every moment of my life and every particle of my body will always be dedicated to the service of the nation, Modi said, according to Sitharaman.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to become the next Prime Minister of India. Even as the exit polls conducted by various agencies and news channels indicated that the Narendra Modi-led BJP will form the the next government, the Shiv Sena UBT leader was upbeat about the chances of the INDIAbloc. He said that the next PM will be from the INDIA bloc and Mr. Gandhi is the peoples choice.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has already made it clear that Mr.Gandhi is his choice as a representative of the youth and the Country. Agreeing with the Congress national president, Mr Raut said that the way Mr.Gandhi had worked hard in this election; there is no parallel to him.

The People have accepted Mr. Gandhis leadership. he INDIA alliance is winningafter 12 pm on June 4, you will know that the Prime Minister will be from the INDIA alliance. Mallikarjun Kharge had stated Rahul Gandhi is his choice for Prime Minister. In my opinion, he is the choice of the whole country. All of us will be backing Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Raut said.

Shiv Sena (UBT), which is an alliance partner of Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) in Maharashtra, has contested on 23 seats out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while Congress and NCP (SP) have contested on 17 and 10 seats respectively.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 45-hour-long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari. Calling Mr. Modis mediation as drama, Mr. Raut said that with the help of 27 cameras, Narendra Modi is doing meditation.

In olden days, Rishis and Munis of the country meditated without cameras and security personnel. It appears as if these 27 cameras are his disciples. His meditation is being covered from all the angels. This is an insult to our Lok Sadhana, Mr. Raut said.
Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai police have arrested four members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for planning an attack on actor Salman Khan. According to police, the Bishnoi gang had planned to attack Salman Khan's car at Panvel. They have registered a case against 17 gang members, who had allegedly done a recce at Panvel in February this year.

The police have also named Lawrence Bishnoi, his brother Anmol Bishnoi, Sampat Nehra, and Goldy Brar as conspirators in the case.

The actor has been on the radar of the gang after he shot a blackbuck during the shooting of a movie in Rajasthan in 1998. Blackbucks are considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.

According to the police, the arrested accused were part of the conspiracy to kill the actor while the actor was en route to his farmhouse. The conspirators had planned to procure automatic weapons including AK-47 from Pakistan to use in the crime. They had done a recce of Salman Khans house, farmhouse and the route he travelled between the two, a police officer said.

The four arrested accused have been identified as Dhananjay alias Ajay Kashyap, Gaurav Bhatia alias Nahvi, Wasim Khan alias Wasim Chikna and Rizwan Khan alias Javed Khan.

In a statement, the Navi Mumbai police informed that the Bishnoi gand had planned to use minors to carry out the attack on Khan. After the attack, the attackers had planned to escape to Sri Lanka via boat from Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu.

The police claimed to have received a tip-off around eight months ago that the Bisnnoi gang members were planning the attack on Khan. Thereafter, few police officers and police informants infiltrated the gang and its social media groups, where messages were exchanged. The police arrested the four men after getting confirmation about their plan through their social media chats.

The four men were arrested a few days ago from different cities. Kashyap was arrested from Panvel, Bhatia was arrested from Gujarat, Wasim was arrested from Sambajinagar in Maharashtra and Rizwan was arrested from Bengaluru in Karnataka.

This was the second planned attack on the actor foiled by the police. Earlier in April, there was a firing outside Khans residence in Mumbai. The Bishnoi gang had immediately claimed responsibility for the firing and said it was a trailer.

The Mumbai police have arrested two alleged Bishnoi gang members  Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal  who are suspected shooters. The police had also arrested Sonu Bishnoi and Anuj Thapan, who allegedly delivered weapons to the shooters. However, Thapan died in a police lock-up. The police have claimed that he committed suicide.
Some weeks ago, a young software engineer moved into a flat nearby. I struck up an acquaintance with him at the grocery shop at the top of the lane. His name is Shridhar, hes in his twenties, bright, speaks very well, but is painfully shy. I discovered soon after that he was teetotal until he started attending office parties a few months ago, and that he gets drunk very quickly.

So when he dropped in one evening, I offered him only tea. My wife Prita and I were sipping tea with him and searching desperately for something to say  Im no good at small talk and hes awed by women  when the doorbell rang and there stood my ex-professor friend Raghavan, bottle in hand. I was passing by so he said as I waved him in.

I fetched glasses and soda, and Raghavan poured himself an extra-large. Shridhar imitated Raghavan, and, misjudging the quantity because of an unsteady hand, poured himself an even larger drink. Ten minutes later, Raghavan was relaxing visibly while Shridhar, his tongue duly lubricated, had begun to talk of the only thing he knew about, software. I had spent the day spent with some software developers who had talked of nothing but software and I was fed to the teeth with the subject, but there was no stopping him.

This big computer software company, he said, is doing something big. Its CEO just announced a new product called Reminder, or something like that. It takes snapshots of your computer screen every few seconds, and uses generative AI to scan those snapshots and tie matters together. And itll store all those snapshots.

Is something like that any use? Prita asked.

Oh, yes! said Shridhar. The distinction between words and images will go. So, if you want to find out at what price you bought a brown leather wallet six months ago, itll search for words and images and find you everything youve had to do with brown leather wallets. Or, if youre an author whos changed a manuscript, saved it, and then wants to revert to an earlier version, and youre not tracking changes on your word-processor, this memory thing could do it. If you just store and view photos of all your product warranty documents, youll find it easy to handle service calls if your washing machine breaks down Theres no limit to the kind of use you can put it to.

I nudged Prita before she could respond, but she too caught up in the subject to see that I was getting bored. Thats nice, she said. Will it keep track of my electricity bills? The electricity people tell us we consumed 900 units last month, which seems unlikely since its just the two of us. I want to dispute that, so I need to get my consumption history easily.

Of course! he replied. Just store and view photographs of all your electricity bills!

Nice! she said.

Yes, said Raghavan. Its good to be able to track how ideas develop, and the mistakes we make along the way.

Im not so sure about that, said Shridhar. If supervisors see some of the mistakes their subordinates make there could be trouble.

Right, Raghavan said, suddenly sitting up straight. What kind of security does this have? Who else can see it?

The CEO didnt say anything about that but I assume itll be good, replied Shridhar. Passwords, retinal images, fingerprints, voice recognition. And you can get the system to stop taking snapshots...

What if I forget to turn Reminder off when I need to?  Raghavan said. Some of the reports I do for the company are confidential. Having to turn it on whenever Id doing something I want to remember is also a pain. Unless the security is watertight, professionals wont use it.

You should remember, said Shridhar. Its like locking your house when you go out.

Data thieves are smart, Raghavan said. Imagine that youre working on something for which you can get a patent. A hacker could get into your system, see how your idea evolved, and adapt it just enough to beat the patent regulations, and maybe even beat you to it! It takes industrial espionage to a whole new level!

I was so bored I even wished Murthy, with his nose for scotch, would turn up. And, to my surprise, the doorbell rang just then, and there was Murthy grinning on the doormat. The elections are over in this part of the country, he said, but practically everyone in my circles is talking of nothing but. Except you. So I thought Id drop in.

Perfect timing, I said. Raghavan is here, and a new neighbour. I led him in and introduced him to Shridhar. Hes a political analyst, I added, hoping for a change of subject.

It didnt work. Prita had by now understood my desperation but Shridhar and Raghavan refreshed their drinks and rambled on about Reminder, with Murthy looking on with a smug, exasperating smile. Soon, I reached breaking point. Whats so funny? I whispered to him, my duties as a host preventing me from breaking up the discussion. It seems perfectly serious to me.

Murthys smile widened. Its not going to work, he said, over the voices of the others.

All eyes turned to him. Why not? I asked in the silence.

Enough big shots watch porn on their computers, he replied, and even more use their computers to work their Swiss bank accounts. And theyre unlikely to remember to turn Reminder off and on when they need to. Do you think they want the police or ED getting hold of their Reminder database?
It is the 2.5 billion Kohala dam, which is to be built on the Jhelum river. In the coming days, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be in China to try to give new impetus to other Chinese investment plans that have slowed down in recent years, partly due to continuous attacks.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies) - A few days before Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is due to pay an official visit to China, a Chinese company has called for the revival of a hydroelectric project that has been at a standstill for about three years, submitting a series of requests to the Pakistani government to push ahead with investment plans. This is the 2.5 billion Kohala hydroelectric project, which is to be built on the Jhelum river in Pakistan's Kashmir region.

Renewable energy projects are a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure) was reluctant to provide insurance cover for the project due to quotas of over 550 billion rupees that Pakistani power companies would have to pay to independent Chinese power producers.

However, at a meeting of the CPEC Joint Coordination Committee, Pakistan got a positive response from the Chinese leadership, although the commitments are likely to be extended to 2027 and not 2024 as originally planned.

Liu Yonggangma, managing director of the Kohala Hydro Company (in turn a subsidiary of the China Three Gorges Corporation) wrote to the director in charge of the Private Power Infrastructure Board - which reports to the Pakistani Ministry of Energy - explaining the situation and addressing several issues.

Chinese and local workers and engineers were on site and preliminary construction activities had begun when the project was unexpectedly halted by the Kashmiri government due to environmental concerns erroneously associated with the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, the letter states.

Subsequently, it took more than three years to address the issues raised by the Kashmir government, resulting in delays. Several investors have withdrawn from the project, and some issues remain unresolved, but, Liu Yonggangma continued, China Three Gorges Corporation intends to secure USD 2.5 billion in financing and obtain insurance cover from Sinosure, hence the need for a three-year extension, adding that despite the adverse macroeconomic conditions, the company remained firmly committed to the project.

Chinese projects in Pakistan do not have an easy life: a few days ago, Pakistani authorities arrested eleven militants accused of being involved in a suicide attack against Chinese engineers. After the arrests, Beijing urged Islamabad to continue the investigation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Monday that China attaches great importance to the progress made by Pakistan, which in turn announced that it will pay USD 2.58 million to the victims of the attack.

The attack had been carried out on 26 March against a group of workers on their way to the Dasu Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Growing security threats have prompted Pakistani officials to introduce additional security protocols, asking Chinese citizens for their residential addresses and information about their mobility in the country.

With PM Sharif's visit to China, cash-strapped Pakistan hopes to revive other CPEC projects that have slowed down in recent years.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The event was held at the end of last month in the Indonesian capital. The participants were taught how to use the material of photos and stories collected to reach a wider audience with the Gospel.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Thanks to this seminar I no longer feel alone in the media field. So said Sister Susana Gunawan, of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, after a workshop on the promotion of apostolic works held at the end of May at the Yayasan Karsa Cipta Asa Foundation (YKCA) in Jakarta, in collaboration with the Catholic Guidance Office.

Entitled From Facts to News, it was attended by 40 sisters from different congregations: the Ursulines, the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Sukabumi Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres, and the Sisters of the Institute of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

I collected hundreds of photos and travel stories, but I could not put these materials together to tell the story of my religious life and the apostolate of my congregation, commented Sister Stefani Rengkuan, who works for the Indonesian Bishops' Conference.

The same experience was shared by Sister Michaela, a young Franciscan nun from Sukabumi who works as a teacher. Originally from the Mentawai Islands, a long way from the main cities in the province of West Sumatra of which they are part, she said she was encouraged by the workshop thanks to the testimonies of sisters and lay people who have learnt how to produce online content.

Several other sisters echoed the experience, convinced that digital tools are necessary to spread the Gospel to an ever-widening group of people.

Anton Sinaga, from the Catholic Guidance Office in Jakarta, commented positively on the event: We have always felt that the experience of consecrated men and women religious should be promoted. There is a need for capacity building, as these people are the foundation of the Church's various apostolates in education, health and pastoral services, said Sinaga, a former Carmelite seminarian.

Tiominar Silalahi - the only lay participant - also commented, saying that such an activity should be conducted more often with the aim of harnessing the media skills of religious. I am very happy that YKCA and the Jakarta Catholic Guidance Office have successfully initiated this programme, she said.
by Stefano Caprio

A series of video-documentaries circulated by Masa Pevcik, one of Naval'nyj's best-known contributors, shift all the blame and responsibility for what is happening today onto the bandits and corrupt people who prevented the development of a free and democratic society in the 1990s. Putin propagandists and opposition publicists, older and the younger generations, all cloaked in guilt and resentment, speak to those years.

In this delicate phase of the world war - from Ukraine to Palestine to the scenarios related to the upcoming elections in Europe, England, America, Georgia and around the world - Russians feel more and more like victims and losers, and a word that used to define the condition of the Russian population in the 1990s resonates more and more in public discussions, on social media and in semi-clandestine interviews from abroad: the poterpevsie, those who lost.

Back then it referred to the frustration of the losers of the Cold War, which had led to the end of the USSR and the deep economic crisis of the Gorbachev years. As Radio Svoboda columnist Sergei Medvedev recalls, I first heard this word at the delicatessen, when a pensioner was complaining about the meagre salami ration he had been given, and the saleswoman resignedly told him: Stop complaining like a potato peasant, graciously giving him an extra slice, when salami was scarce even in Moscow, and in the provinces it was just a myth.

The Russians feel defeated not because of the harshness of the Putin regime and the political repressions, not because of the stagnant course of the war in Ukraine and the sacrifice of the young men at the front, and not even because of the tax reform that will suck up avalanches of money to maintain the war industry.

The lament is still for that humiliation of more than thirty years ago, for the suffering of the nineties, the original sin that does not leave consciences in peace despite all the subsequent world upheavals.

All the blame goes back to that unhappy historical passage, and the trigger for the new wave of victimhood was given by a series of video-documentaries released from mid-April by Masa Pevcik, one of the best-known collaborators of the martyr Aleksej Naval'nyj, entitled Predateli, Traitors.

Filmed in the typical scandalistic style of the Navalnist movement of the Anti-Corruption Fund, the stories shift all the blame and responsibility for what is happening today onto the bandits and the corrupt who have prevented the development of a free and democratic society, eventually handing Russia over to the czar of oligarchs, the mafia godfather Vladimir Putin.

In recent days, the debate has been resoundingly revived by an interview conducted by one of the most followed video-bloggers, Jurij Dud, with one of the great protagonists of the Yeltsin period, the oilman Mikhail Khodorkovskij, who later became Putin's opponent and his victim in a prison camp for a decade, only to be amnestied at the end of 2013 and exiled abroad, where he represents one of the most followed voices of the liberal opposition.

He too has taken up Pevcik's accusatory tones, especially against politicians who organised the transition from Yeltsin to Putin, such as Anatoly Cubajs, the great puppet master who, since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, has abandoned Russia and now lives in Israel, after having miraculously escaped the classic poisoning by the secret services.

The saying that the Russians are not suffering for Kharkov, but for Cubajs has become widespread, in a month of terrible bombings in Ukraine between Cernigov, Odessa and Kharkov with deaths and exterminations, while in Russia the choices of the oligarchs of thirty years ago are discussed.

In Kharkov, forensic doctors take DNA samples from children to try to recognise the bodies of their parents torn apart by Russian bombs, while the Russians pay lip service to the truth of the 1994 financial auctions, of the privatisation of Svyazinvest in 1997 that began the collapse of the financial pyramids, and of the roles of the Yeltsin family who at the turn of the century were frolicking in the palace of Osennyj Bulvar in Moscow, only to leave power in Putin's hands in exchange for total immunity, which his daughters and heirs still enjoy in their gilded exile in London.

Pevcik's serial is actually the realisation of Naval'nyj's own political testament, which he expressed in the text released from the lager My fear and hatred in August 2023, when he first lashed out at the politicians of the post-Soviet decade. Apart from the reasons and wrongs, it is astonishing to see the enormous interest with which all Russians, waking up from a state of total ataraxia and indifference to events at home and abroad, set out to dissect the bones of those now distant years.

Both Putin propagandists and opposition publicists, boomers and zoomers, old-timers and youngsters, all wrapped up in the guilt and resentments that make them feel victims of every evil of times near and far, of the West and the East, of the Cold War and its predecessors, from the Napoleonic invasion to the medieval Tatar yoke, talk about the 1990s. Medvedev calls this attitude the morality of slaves, the vindictive hatred of the humiliated and offended person, to borrow Dostoevsky's terms, of the person who feels powerless in the face of the ruin of personal and communal destiny, and tries to shift all blame onto the evil coming from all sides.

The man from Dostoevsky's underground, who lived in a basement in St Petersburg after a series of humiliations received from the authorities and local society, dreamed of destroying the Crystal Palace in distant London, the seat of the Evil One on which he poured his claims for revenge.

It is the accursed question expressed by the father of 19th-century Russian revolutionaries, Aleksandr Herzen: kto vinovat?, whose fault is it?, addressed in sequence to the Tatars, the landowning boyars, the nemtsy (Germans or foreigners in general), the Jews, the Anglosaksy, the tsars and the Soviets, and now to the savage nineties of the oligarchs.

The protagonists of that time are long dead like Yeltsin and Gajdar, or are scattered in exile like Khodorkovsky and Cubajs, yet the anger towards them not only does not die down, but is fuelled more and more, evidently unable to lash out at the caste currently in power to avoid unpleasant consequences.

It is a kind of therapeutic hatred, meaningless now and without consequences, but it allows one to channel frustration and reconcile oneself with an otherwise unbearable present, attributing an identity to those who feel excluded from world reality.

Retropolitics', after all, is a traditional Russian characteristic, which idealises the brief periods of openness by discussing them in the endless times of stagnation, as happened in Brezhnev's time after the few years of the chrushevik thaw, in the cellars where the samizdat dissidents gathered, or in the circles of exiled intellectuals who argued constantly, or shut themselves away in the hermitage of their disdainful solitude, like Solzenitsyn in the Canadian chill of Vermont.

It is a cycle that has been repeating itself for centuries: before the Bolshevik revolution there was the Silver Age, an explosion of creativity between 1905 and 1917, after the victory over Napoleon there was the Magnificent Decade between the 1830s and 1840s, with the great debate between Slavophiles and Westernists, and so going all the way back to the seventeenth-century schism between the reformers and the Old Believers, or the dispute between the pauperist and statist monks at the end of the fifteenth century, to reaffirm a correspondence of the Russian soul with the atmospheric times, which provide for short springs and endless winters.

In these fleeting openings and windows to the outside world, Russia manages to swallow up the cultures, religions, scientific discoveries and social transformations of the peoples of Europe, Asia and other continents and then suddenly reject them, retaining only its own deformed and hysterical version, as can be resoundingly seen with the religious renaissance, the rediscovery of the faith that animated the people of the 1990s in a sincere search for spirituality and meaning, only to sink into the patriotic and militant Orthodoxy that blesses war and massacres, with a criminal arrogance that makes even the preaching of the medieval Crusades pale.

This drift also applies to politics and economics, morals and culture, schools and every institution of present-day Russian society. In recent days, a new magazine has even been published under the title Politruk, the political leader (Politiceskij Rukovoditel) of Soviet memory, a manual of military instruction in which alongside every officer and every soldier there must be an instructor and political prompter, who by his inspired word and example of unreserved dedication to the service of the Fatherland may cement the spirit of the military collectives, as the introduction by the deputy defence minister, General Viktor Goremykin, puts it.

Moreover, the Politruk had already been reintroduced in February by Putin himself in all state bodies with a reserved decree, whereby each office must be matched by a deputy director for political and social functions, as was the case in Stalin's time. The aim is always to strengthen patriotism and ensure an adequate and in-depth understanding of state policy, extinguishing any vague desire to rediscover the Russia lost in the 1990s, and in the fog of past histories.

RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SATURDAY, CLICK HERE.
For years he has travelled the country barefoot, from north to south, feeding on alms and sleeping in the forests. A eulogy of religious devotion through the 13 ascetic practices of Dhutanga. Hostilised by official Buddhism, the monk is tolerated by the government and exalted by people of all faiths who follow him on social media.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - An example against corruption and a testimony of faith and rigour for the entire country, capturing the imagination - and respect - of millions of Vietnamese as the ruling class struggles for power through purges, trials and death sentences.

Recounting the journey on foot of Thich Minh Tue, a humble man, is the Fulcrum website, which praises his devotion to Buddhism through the 13 austere ascetic practices of Dhutanga aimed at reaching the non-self (Anatta).

He is a loner, who on his path has obtained the approval of politicians (and the Communist Party) and who, with his path, constitutes a unique and unprecedented challenge to the State from the perspective of fighting for religious freedom as enshrined in its Constitution.

Thich Minh Tue's strict adherence to Dhutanga includes walking barefoot, feeding himself with alms, seeking shelter in forests, bushes or cemeteries, renouncing all material possessions. His commitment to observing the precepts has inspired Vietnamese from all walks of life, including intellectuals, artists, expatriates, other monks and even Christian priests.

He and his robe, made of scraps of cloth collected during his travels, inspired multiple artistic expressions, including paintings, sculptures, poetry, music and launched a new fashion.

After walking barefoot from south to north - and back - for several years, Thich Minh Tue has only recently become a national phenomenon, thanks to a host of internet users, profiles and social pages on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok that follow and celebrate his walks, broadcasting them live to millions of eager viewers.

Many Vietnamese warmly welcome him at every step, not only for his testimony of faith, but as a social and media phenomenon.

Many aspiring monks or mere onlookers are already looking to him, not least because he has been able to conquer the limelight without the support of any religious entity under State control, an anomaly in the country's political landscape. Moreover, the authorities are very wary of any large-scale spontaneous mobilisation that could undermine social stability and the regime itself.

From the official leadership, both state and religious, there has been no lack of rumours and attacks directed at Thich Minh Tue. His pilgrimages have triggered public debates on how to observe the dictates of the Buddhist religion, which is predominant in Vietnam with 14 million believers, twice as many as the seven million Catholics.

On social media, citizens hail him as an embodiment of genuine spiritual dedication to basic Buddhist values such as simplicity and renunciation. On the contrary, instances of misconduct and materialistic life of some monks are pointed out and some pagodas or official denominations are criticised for being more profit-oriented and functioning with the tacit approval of official sources.

Among the latter is the reaction of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (Vbs), the country's official organisation, which is largely negative. Its leadership has attacked Thich Minh Tue claiming that he is not a monk, nor is he affiliated to any institution linked to the Vbs.

This stance triggered a reaction between indignant and hilarious public opinion, while the wandering monk declared that he is a simple citizen who seeks to learn and practise the Buddha's teachings.

The government's Committee for Religious Affairs states that he is not framed within religious institutions, although it does not deny his status as a monk, thus distinguishing him from the Vbs' version.

The story is also a sign of the power of social media in spreading a message to the public, providing an alternative view to the official state narrative. In contrast, the leadership in Hanoi shows a different approach and, without giving in to the impulse to ban or repress, seems to have chosen the path of control, thus giving more space to individual freedoms, starting with religious freedom.
(Photo : Pexel/Photo by Samer Daboul: )

Like many of us, Jensen Huang, the billionaire CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA, was concerned about not having enough time to do everything he wanted.

The Possibility of Taking Control of Our Time

Huang's younger self might disagree with him. Still, he now believes it is possible to accomplish everything you want if you prioritize life, make sacrifices, and do not let tools like Outlook dictate daily activities instead of just doing everything, as he shared during a podcast called Acquired last year.

Huang expects his employees to do the same: NVIDIA staff are reportedly instructed to outline their top priorities in weekly emails sent to their managers and Huang to enhance their concentration and efficiency, as per Business Insider.

The NVIDIA CEO, who propelled his tech behemoth to a nearly two trillion seven hundred billion dollars valuation since its inception in Denny's booth in 1993, has characterized himself as a perfectionist and a demanding leader, admitting that he is "not easy to work for." Thus, it is not entirely unexpected to learn that he grappled with insufficient time in the day. In a 2003 speech at Stanford University, Huang joked about sacrificing sleep, which was always a good option as it creates more time when you do not sleep.

READ ALSO: NVIDIA CEO Huang's Cutthroat Leadership May Seem Controversial, But Experts Think It Works

Your Time Isn't Always Yours

Sleep or not, Huang recognized the significance of managing his time effectively. In 2003, he emphasized the need for CEOs to assert control over their schedules, saying that their time is not always theirs, and so they need to have the discipline to make it theirs. Huang shared that he would frequently instruct his assistant to clear his calendar upon coming to his office to have that time back.

In Huang's case, he commences his days at 4 a.m., allocating time for exercise and family before embarking on what is typically a 14-hour workday, as reported by the Financial Times in 2020. During his work hours, he concentrates on areas where he can make the most significant positive contribution to NVIDIA and its employees, such as product planning, strategy, and soliciting customer feedback.

Huang also prefers to hold meetings while dining in the NVIDIA cafeteria, where he can occasionally engage with employees and fulfill his duty of safeguarding the company's culture.

Mastering The Art of Prioritization

Research indicates that mastering the art of prioritization, whether in professional tasks or personal pursuits, can significantly enhance productivity and cultivate a richer work-life balance.

Huang is not alone in adopting this approach to time management. Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan's Asset & Wealth Management division, echoed a similar sentiment in CNBC Make It in 2016, emphasizing the necessity of being intensely focused on controlling one's calendar, or it will end up owning you.

RELATED ARTICLE: Chronoworking: The Healthy Workplace Trend to Achieve Work-Life Balance in 2024

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
1 June 2024 11:27 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel, Azernews 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.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and KazMunayGas (KMG) maintain a strategic partnership in the energy sector, characterized by collaboration in various areas such as oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation.

This relationship extends to joint ventures, including the operation of pipelines and refineries, facilitating the efficient movement of resources between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Additionally, both entities engage in mutually beneficial agreements aimed at enhancing energy security and promoting economic development in the region.

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1 June 2024 14:42 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan's Lachin district recently hosted a foundation-laying ceremony for the Malibay small hydroelectric power plant, Azernews reports.

This ceremony marks the beginning of a project to establish five small hydroelectric power plants in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts of Azerbaijan.

Key attendees included Deputy Minister of Economy Anar Akhundov, President's Special Representative in Lachin district Masim Mammadov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC Ulvi Mansurov, Chairman of Demiroren Yatrm Holding Yldrm Demiroren, Head of Arges Enerji Team LLC Mehmet Fehmi Ozata and representatives from the Ministry of Economy.

The initiative, guided by President Ilham Aliyev, aims to transform liberated territories into zones of alternative and eco-friendly energy. A modern power supply system is being established to enhance regional infrastructure. The new hydropower plants will leverage the region's abundant hydro resources to provide green electricity, improving project efficiency. Collaboration with private investors is a critical component of this endeavor.

The project, highlighting Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood is the first joint hydroelectric project involving the private sector in the liberated territories. Once operational, the Malibay station will supply electricity to approximately 7,000 homes.

Last December, Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC, Demiroren Yatrm Holding, and Arges Enerji Team (Turkiye) signed a Joint Participation Agreement to operate five small HPPs on the Hakari and Tartar rivers. The project's total budget is 25 million manat (approximately $14.7 million), aiming to commission five stations with a combined capacity of 13.8 MW by 2025. The stations are expected to operate for 30 years and create 25 new jobs.

The project's first phase involves constructing the Malibay HPP on the Zabukh river in Lachin district, with a capacity of 5.1 MW. Subsequent stages will include the construction of the Galacha 2 HPP (3.4 MW), Minkend HPP (1.8 MW), and Galacha 1 HPP (1.1 MW). The final phase will see the construction of the Tartar 1 small HPP (2.4 MW) on the Tartar river in Kalbajar district.

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1 June 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei 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,

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

I am pleased to extend my warmest congratulations to you, the Government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your independence Day.

The friendly ties between our two countries is very much valued and we welcome opportunities to further develop these relations both bilaterally as well as our work in international forums.

I would also like to wish you and your Government much success in all your preparations to host the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year.

May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala bless Your Excellency with continued good health and happiness as well as the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan with peace and prosperity.

Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh

Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Sultan of Brunei"

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1 June 2024 09:32 (UTC+04:00)

The 3rd International Conference on Mine Action themed Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future wrapped up Friday in Baku, Azernews reports.

In his closing remarks, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments Elchin Amirbayov said: The good news is that today we are more than ever before close to finalizing a peace deal. We fully restored our territorial integrity and sovereignty, and today we have already started to make steady progress on delimitation of our state border with Armenia. The bad news is that all this huge reconstruction and rehabilitation effort as well as our plans to bring hundreds of thousands of displaced people back to their homes are seriously hampered by enormous mine challenge our country is facing.

Azerbaijan is sadly among the top 5 most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world with 1.5 million landmines planted across 12% of national territory. Landmines pose severe human security risk even after war, Elchin Amirbayov noted.

Unfortunately, even after the ceasefire was reached in November 2020, Armenia has created new mined zones of a total length of 500 km. Only in the course of these last three and a half years, 361 Azerbaijanis, among them children and women, have become mine victims as a result of more than 200 incidents. Sadly, these figures are on the rise almost every week and continuous refusal by Armenia to provide us with accurate information on locations with planted mines is exacerbating the challenge, the Representative of the Azerbaijani President emphasized.

The scope of the mine problem is so huge that it is estimated to take decades to complete the process. We are proud to have a professional and efficient national mine action agency, ANAMA, which is today better equipped and staffed than some years ago and it is doing a great job. We are also proud to have the first group of female deminers, who recently joined our common effort. But unfortunately, current level of foreign assistance in mine action is highly insufficient constituting less than 10% of the total allocated amount. We hope that this conference will contribute to increased participation of our international partners in sharing the burden of the mine challenge in Azerbaijan, he added.

Alexander Zuev, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani government for the decision to set the humanitarian demining as the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal as he addressed the event in a video format.

The conference also featured the panel discussions themed Building National Capacities for Sustainable Environmental Rehabilitation, Resource Mobilization for a Safe and Green Future and Inclusive Transformation through Mine Action, and Policy integration and Advocacy for a Green Sustainable Development.

Then, the participants adopted the Declaration of the conference. The Declaration was read out by Steinar Essen, Global mine action and development advisor, United Nations Development Programme.

The participants then heard the closing remarks by Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Nusrat Suleymanov as he highlighted Azerbaijans rich experience in mine clearance, global landmine threat, calling to raise the issues of climate change and landmine threat at the upcoming COP29 Conference.

Co-organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the 3rd International Conference on Mine Action aims to draw the worlds attention to the landmine problem facing Azerbaijan, strengthen the international partnership in the field of humanitarian demining, and discuss ways of mobilizing financial resources for mitigating environmental impact of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

The function drew together more than 300 representatives from 75 countries  senior officials of a number of countries, the leadership of the UN headquarters, representatives of influential international organizations, institutions operating in the field of demining, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan.

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1 June 2024 10:23 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

June 1 is International Children's Day, a global celebration that was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, Azernews reports.

This decision was made during the "International Women's Conference" held on the same day, where proposals for the provision of children's rights were discussed. The conference culminated in dedicating June 1 to the international protection of children.

Azerbaijan, like many countries around the world, celebrates this important day. After regaining its independence, Azerbaijan joined the UN convention on children's rights, underscoring its commitment to the protection of children's rights, a priority in all democratic states.

In Azerbaijan, significant efforts have been made to ensure that children grow up healthy and well-rounded, worthy of the Motherland. Children are viewed as the future of the country, and their well-being is considered crucial.

President Ilham Aliyev has emphasized the importance of the healthy and prosperous growth of children as a key aspect of state policy. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, named in honor of the National Leader, plays a vital role in this mission. The Foundation, led by the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, organizes large-scale events and provides care and attention to children in need, especially those who require special care or are deprived of parental support.

The Foundation keeps the legacy of Heydar Aliyev alive through its practical activities, promoting his humanistic ideas and dedication to the well-being of children.

Today, as we celebrate International Children's Day, we honor the children who represent our future. This day is a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect, nurture, and support them as they grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

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1 June 2024 10:41 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan's Shusha city hosts the 8th Meeting of the Ministers in charge of Education of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the 7th meeting of the Scientific Council of the Turkic Academy, Azernews reports.

At the event, Sahin Mustafayev, the President of the Turkic Academy, Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Education of Azerbaijan, Konqratbay Sharipov, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, Nazim Cavusoglu, Minister of National Education of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Kairat Osmonaliyev, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic and Erol Ozvar, President of the Higher Education Council of the Republic of Turkiye are participating.

Additionally, delegations from OTS member countries are scheduled to hold bilateral meetings during the events.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan is a key member of the Organization of Turkic States, a cooperative international body aimed at fostering collaboration among Turkic-speaking countries. The organization, established in 2009, promotes cultural, economic, and political cooperation, strengthening ties based on shared linguistic and cultural heritage. Azerbaijan actively participates in its initiatives, contributing to regional stability and development.

The Turkic Academy, founded in 2010, focuses on research and education related to Turkic history, language, and culture. Azerbaijan collaborates closely with the Academy, supporting scholarly exchanges and joint projects that enhance understanding and preservation of the Turkic heritage. This partnership underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to cultural diplomacy and regional unity among Turkic nations.

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1 June 2024 16:21 (UTC+04:00)

LINKS Europe hosted a significant side event on Friday in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on "Climate Change, Peace, and Security: COP29 and Beyond" during the 3rd International Conference on Mine Action, Azernews reports.

The side event began with opening remarks by Dr. Dennis Sammut, Director of LINKS Europe Foundation. who provided insights from the Bonn Dialogue Meeting on Peace and Climate Nexus held on 3 May 2024. The contact group established in Bonn aimed at addressing critical issues such as water scarcity, food insecurity, and landmine contamination leading up to COP29 in Baku.

Ambassador Elshad Iskandarov, Senior Adviser to the COP29 Presidency Negotiating Team, delivered the keynote address. Ambassador Iskandarov shared his perspective on addressing "Climate Change, and Peace" related issues during COP29 Peace Day and underlined inclusive approach of Azerbaijani Presidency on these issues.

Dr. Sarah Njeri from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, presented a thematic talk on the resilience of communities facing the dual threats of landmine contamination and climate change disasters.

The event also featured an open discussion on proposals for concrete action and concluded with a Baku appeal on COP29 - Peace and Climate Nexus as summary of proceedings and action points, aimed at highlighting peace and security issues, including climate sensitive mine action and fruiting them with actionable solution oriented projects and initiatives during COP29.

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1 June 2024 13:45 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye supports the genuine efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the peace process, Turkish Minister of National Defense Yashar Guler said on the sidelines of the multinational EFES-2024 exercise, Azernews reports.

He said that a comprehensive peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is essential for achieving lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus.

According to Guler, Turkiye supports the genuine efforts of both sides in the peace process.

"The President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan has highlighted the importance of seizing this historic opportunity for peace. I also welcome the recent statements by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who has shown the realistic approach needed for the future of Armenia and its people," the Turkish minister added.

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1 June 2024 17:38 (UTC+04:00)

Adele Trombetta, Senior Vice President of Cisco, shared a powerful message during her speech at the III National Cyber Security Forum in Baku, Azernews reports.

She highlighted the importance of proactively addressing challenges, quoting an Azerbaijani proverb: If you don't plant seeds today, you won't reap harvest tomorrow.

Trombetta emphasized the constitutional right to education, citing Article 42, and underscored the potential for Azerbaijan to become a valuable partner for the West through continued excellence in education and business.

Azerbaijani poet Mahammad Fuzuli said: "Never brag about your wealth, get an education, and keep learning in order to become successful." Mrs. Trombetta noted that the Azerbaijan government develops the country at a high level in the field of cyber security and digital: This is my first visit to Azerbaijan. The potential of this country fascinates me.

To my mind, the cyber security of the future is precisely in Azerbaijan. Notable the III National Cyber Security Forum dedicated to the " Green World Solidarity Year" is being held in Baku. The event was organized by the Association of Cybersecurity Organizations of Azerbaijan (ACOA) and the main partnership of "Azerconnect Group.

---

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1 June 2024 18:23 (UTC+04:00)

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor) has lifted restrictions on certain enterprises in Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, Rosselkhoznadzor has lifted temporary restrictions on four fish processing enterprises and three dairy processing enterprises in the country, allowing them to now supply their products to Russia.

The ban was lifted in accordance with the protocol of a meeting held on May 30, 2024, signed between the Director of the Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Food Industry of Kyrgyzstan, Ulugbek Kojobergenov, and the Head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Sergey Dankvert.

During the talks, both sides noted the significant potential for increasing trade turnover between the two countries. The head of Rosselkhoznadzor emphasized the need to improve efficiency in terms of product traceability, laboratory control, and other aspects.

The total number of enterprises in Kyrgyzstan that have the right to supply their products to Russia is now ten fish processing enterprises and seven dairy processing enterprises.

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Singaporean PM meets Chinese defense minister

Xinhua) 10:48, June 01, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Zhong Wenxing)
A Bit of Oregon Coastal Swank At Not Quite the Coin

Published 5/30/24 at 4:05 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Lincoln City, Oregon)  At the western edges of the continent, where that limitless horizon of ocean meets the sands, there's almost always a marvelous sense of peace. Even when the parts of this place known as Lincoln City get full of rage and tempestuous chaos, as it does when storms kick in, there's still an incredible calm that can wash over you.

Really, anywhere on the Oregon coast this is true. Yet Lincoln City has a special kind of energy awaiting if you wander just a little ways inland on top of that serenity. Highway 101 here is crammed full of attractions and good eats that add a whole other layer to your beach experience.

Right along 101 sits one particularly lovely yet inexpensive place to lay your head, an immediate jumping-off point to all that frivolity. Inn at Wecoma is a bit of a surprise in that realm of price levels for lodgings here: it doesn't look like it yet it's a tad easier on the wallet.

With the first step you wander through the stately entrance adorned with a grand awning, quickly finding an even more impressive lobby. Gleaming wood and calming earth tones create an ambiance that seamlessly blends modern elegance with the nostalgia of yesteryears.

This charming Lincoln City hotel boasts all the visual hallmarks of a renowned, maybe even upscale coastal inn, yet its exterior still whispers of a bygone era. In some ways, there's hints of the original architecture here from the '70s.

However,once you step inside, that rush of nostalgia seems to blur. The general interior reveals no trace of its age, leaving you with an inviting atmosphere more than anything.







Really, it just comes down to this being a distinctive boutique hotel.

Bringing along the puppers? Yup, they're pet friendly as well.

While not directly on the beach (that's a couple minutes away), select rooms do offer partial ocean vistas, while others feature balconies or captivating mountain views. Those eastern-facing windows sometimes let you gaze out at snow in those Oregon Coast Range hills.

It all feels a little upper crust to the eyes and mind but it's not going dent your bank account in such a way. In winter prices can be a tad under $100 per night, and that doesn't factor in their three-night specials that typify the slow season. Come spring and summer, you'll find prices up around $140 per night or a bit more on the larger rooms.





There's a definite eco-friendly vibe throughout their operation. Many of the elements of the rooms are created from recycled materials, and their bath amenities are eco-friendly.

Amenities are many here: hairdryer, microwave, mini-fridge, board games, expanded cable channels, hot continental breakfast, DVD player, hi-tech alarm clocks, and more.





A host of eye-catching details abound, from the warm palettes of the rooms to the soft lighting, all of it echoing something earthy. Or the whimsical to adorable artwork peppered throughout the Inn at Wecoma, in the form of historical or beach photographs that are easy to get lost in, or even a little chic in their aesthetic slant.

Need a swim in warmer waters? Yes, it's true the Oregon coast can't really provide that. However, these folks have a heated pool, affording year-round watery fun, especially pleasant if you want to avoid the chills of the nearby Pacific Ocean and its sands. This comes with an ADA lift as well. You also get access to a fitness facility along with a hot tub and sauna. Then there's that inimitable outdoor rec area (yes, it's seasonal), with a gas grill, shuffleboard and a large sundeck with seating possibilities.

Inn at Wecoma is at 2945 NW Hwy 101, Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-994-2984. www.innatwecoma.com

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After 21 Get Sick, Razor Clam, Bay Clam, Oyster and Mussel Closures on Oregon Coast

Published 5/31/24 at 4:25 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Oregon Coast)  More than 21 people have become sick from a marine biotoxin because of eating shellfish they harvested along the Oregon coast, part of the reason Oregon officials have closed most kinds of recreational harvesting along the beaches and about half the bays. Some of this is even hitting the commercial industry. (Above: Tillamook Bay / Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODW) announced Thursday a lineup of new closures, after more people were sickened by Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) contained in mussels they had eaten. The biotoxin domoic acid was also detected in other species.

Now, officials have closed all mussel harvesting along the Oregon coast, shut down razor clamming on a slightly more than half the coastline as well as bay clamming.

Testing of mussels along the entire coastline has shown levels of PSP above the limit, ODFW said.

Razor clamming is closed from Yachats to the California border because of PSP as well as domoic acid. This includes the areas of Reedsport, Florence, Coos Bay, Bandon, Gold Beach and Brookings.



Photo Seaside Aquarium

Still open for razor clamming is Yachats to the Washington coast border, which includes the rich population of clams in the Warrenton, Gearhart and Seaside areas. Also still open are Cannon Beach, Rockaway Beach, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City and Newport.

Bay clamming is also closed now on about a third of the coast, including Netarts Bay, Tillamook Bay and Nehalem Bay.

Recreational and commercial bay clam harvesting is closed from the Washington border to Cascade Head for elevated levels of PSP, ODFW said. This includes all clam species in the bays. Harvest is open from Cascade Head to the California border."

That means the areas still open for bay clamming include Siletz Bay, Yaquina Bay, Alsea Bay, Winchester Bay, Coos Bay, and those marshlands around Bandon, Gold Beach and Brookings.

Crabbing along the entire Oregon coast is still open.

The biotoxins are now affecting the commercial oyster industry.

The ODA has also closed commercial oyster harvesting in Netarts and Tillamook bays, ODFW said.

ODA tests all shellfish for biotoxins at least twice per month, as weather and tides allow. In order to reopen an area, it must test below the closure level twice in a row.

For more information call ODA's shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at (503) 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

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Cathedral Quarter businesses have their say: Closing early is not the answer... we need to look at the real issues

After the cultural hub of Belfast city centre was compared to Dublins Temple Bar we paid a visit to find out what locals think

Belfast's Cathedral Quarter

Amy Cochrane Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 08:57

With its cobbled streets, busy bars and bright lights, Belfasts Cathedral Quarter has been described as a cultural hub of the city, which draws people from near and far.
Meet NIs first drag king: I just project that big momma energy  or big daddy energy

Belfasts first drag king  Dick Von Dyke  on the rise in popularity of drag and the importance of challenging gender stereotypes

Gemma Hutton, aka drag king Dick Von Dyke. Picture: Aodhan Roberts.

Amy Cochrane Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 10:00

The inspirational rise of drag kings across Northern Ireland has taken the region by storm, offering a masculine-dress equivalent to the now seemingly normalised drag queen scene.
Favourite book

Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize in 2023 with Prophet Song. The book is emotionally gripping, with the narrative standing out as a brave and powerful triumph. With striking vividness, Prophet Song masterfully encapsulates the social and political anxieties of our time. Another Irish Booker Prize winner is Anna Burns, and while Milkman wasnt the easiest of reads, I could feel everything Belfast about it and connect with the characters. This book has really stuck in my mind.

Favourite song

I really love a varied mix of music ranging from ELOS Mr Blue Sky, Zombie by The Cranberries, Bruce Springsteens Philadelphia, Tina Turners Proud Mary, to everything by Meat Loaf, anything by Abba, Sinead OConnors Nothing Compares 2 U, to name but a few. I could go on! One of my absolute favourites is Belfast Child by Simple Minds and I am delighted that the Big Belfast Choir will be singing a version of it at our 40th Anniversary Gala in the City Hall on June 6.

Film director Christopher Nolan

Favourite film

I enjoy emotional films like Billy Elliot, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Dirty Dancing and Pretty Woman, all feelgood with strong endings. Challenging films such as Steve McQueens Hunger and Schindlers List both have left an indelible impression on me. Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer was an epic real-life drama that pulled me in right from the start, creating a tension that was gripping.

Favourite place

Anywhere in Italy, but especially Rome. I remember travelling there when I was 40 and was blown away by its beauty and architecture. I recall sitting outside a cafe one morning and realising it would have been a travesty had I not visited Rome and experienced its magic. But I always love coming home again from my travels  it is hard to beat Belfast.

Favourite food

I love all kinds of food, whether savoury or sweet, but there are those few special meals that are standout, including the traditional Sunday roast, and nothing beats a really good seafood chowder. I enjoy going out for food and love the vibe of the new restaurant Fika in East Belfast. It is quite unique, with a range of European flavours. Two of my favourite dishes created by the talented chef Chris Haydon are scorched scallop with buttermilk, chive and hazelnut and karaage chicken with caviar. New food to me, but explosive in the mouth.

Belfast Exposed is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a gala night of artistic and creative talent at City Hall on Thursday, June 6. Tickets and info via www.belfastexposed.org
Street foodies in Derry are in for a treat as an exciting new venture will bring various vendors together under the one roof for the first time.

The street food scene in the city has grown rapidly over recent years with Pyke n Pommes leading the way.

Eoghan Devine and Jessie Walton, joint owners of Bee Eaters street food van, have been part of that vibrant development.

They are currently based at the Bay Road in the city which is a popular area for walkers because of the greenway connecting to the quay which was recently upgraded with a new bridge.

The business partners will join five other vendors as part of the Clipper Quay Street Food Market.

The intention is for the opening to coincide with the Foyle Maritime Festival which is expected to attract 150,000 visitors  most of whom flock to the quay for events and activities.

There will also be an official launch party on July 5 and 6.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Eoghan explained that he started out as a kitchen porter at BRN cafe in the city centre where Jessie was the head chef.

After I got some training we decided to go out ourselves and bought a wee truck, he said.

We originally opened at Lisnagelvin (in the Waterside area of the city) in April 2023 before moving to the Bay Road in September and thats when we really took off.

There has been a massive difference, we got a nice spot down there with a coffee truck beside us.

Social media, Instagram has helped, we got a decent following and we would get a lot of people who found out about us through there. And we take pre-orders and phone orders.

They are happy to be part of a thriving food scene in Derry.

The food market sounds like a great idea, Eoghan said, and its going to be all local businesses in there.

They wanted to go for something like the Common Market in Belfast.

We approached last year about the project and then after Christmas they had formulated more of a plan and I said yes because it sounded like a great idea.

Bee Eaters intend on retaining their Bay Road location and to expand the business by opening in the new food market along the riverfront.

The 27th of June is the opening day, the same day as the Maritime Festival. The quay is very, very busy then so we want to be open then to have a good start, Eoghan said.

There will be a lot of visitors from all over the country and that could help build a name for us all.

Im very excited and a bit nervous as well, theres so much to do and its only a month away.

Its something different to working in a wee van. The difference in the building now to when I was first in it is night and day.

It was like an abandoned building before, now the kitchens are nearly put together.

You will have two stories with kitchens downstairs and some seating, then the second floor all seating and also making use of the outdoor space. There will be a bar there as well, so it will be a good spot.
Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the suspension of industrial action planned for next week by support staff as further discussions are set to take place.

Strike action from those in support roles in education was set to take place on Monday and Tuesday, however two unions, NIPSA and GMB have now agreed to suspend action pending further discussion on resolving the ongoing pay and grading dispute.

Members of Unite the Union are only suspending strike action on Monday, to allow further negotiations which will also take place on Monday to find an acceptable resolution to the dispute.

In a statement, the Education Minister Paul Givan said: I welcome todays positive development that unions have agreed to suspend strike action next week to allow for intense negotiation aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing pay and grading dispute. This means importantly, that it will now be possible for many schools planning to close on Monday and Tuesday to open as normal.

The Minister continued: I fully acknowledge the exceptional role played by support staff right across the education sector. Without their outstanding dedication and hard work, those who are most dependent on the services they provide, would not receive the vital support they need and deserve.

I am committed to working with the unions to find a resolution and remain confident that progress can be made. I will work with Executive colleagues to ensure that is the result.

In April, it was announced classroom assistants, school bus drivers and other education support staff could go on strike during the summer exam period.

Unite said the failure of the Stormont budget to provide anything for low paid education workers had created a mounting risk that the NI executive will engineer industrial action at the height of the schools exam period.

The union previously said a pay and grading review that the Department for Education was instructed to implement to tackle low pay and inequalities in 2018 is set to remain unfunded for a seventh year, threatening an even worse staffing crisis in the sector.
Concern has been voiced that Justice Minister Naomi Long did not recognise the damage now overturned legislation could cause.

The new law in Northern Ireland, now deemed incompatible with press rights to freedom of expression, prohibited the naming of sex offence suspects before they had been charged or until 25 years after their death.
A jury in Idaho has unanimously agreed that doomsday prophet Chad Daybell deserves the death penalty for the murders of his wife and his girlfriends two youngest children.

The 55-year-old showed no emotion as he was told he would face the death penalty for the murders of Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow.

The mother of the children is Lori Vallow Daybell, whom Chad Daybell married shortly after his wifes death.

Vallow Daybell was convicted last year of the three murders and is now awaiting trial in Arizona, charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was JJs father.

A boy looks at a memorial for Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow in Rexburg, Idaho (John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP)

The case began in 2019, when a family member called police. Investigators soon realised both children were missing and a multi-state search ensued.

Nearly a year later, their remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property. Tylees DNA was later found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property while JJs body was wrapped in rubbish bags and duct tape, prosecutors said.

During a nearly two-month trial, prosecutors said Chad Daybell, a self-published author who wrote doomsday-laced fiction, promoted unusual spiritual beliefs including apocalyptic prophecies and tales of possession by evil spirits in order to justify the killings.

Daybells defence attorney John Prior argued during the trial that there was not enough evidence to tie Daybell to the killings, and suggested Vallow Daybells older brother Alex Cox was the culprit.

Mr Cox died in late 2019 and was never charged. Vallow Daybell was convicted last year and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

During the sentencing hearing, Mr Prior asked the jurors to judge Daybell on his life before he met Vallow Daybell, describing her as a bomb that blew him off the trajectory of an otherwise wholesome life.

But Daybell also declined to offer any mitigating evidence during the sentencing hearing.

Chad Daybell is set to be executed(John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP)

Mitigating evidence is often used to encourage jurors to have sympathy for a defendant in an effort to show that a life sentence would be more appropriate than capital punishment.

Family members of the victims gave emotional statements to the jurors.

JJ Vallows grandmother Kay Woodcock tearfully described how the seven-year-old would show empathy and compassion to others through soft touches and by frequently asking if those around him were OK.

She also said Tylee was a doting big sister, and that it warmed her heart to see them together.

I cant express just how much I wish for more time to create memories, Ms Woodcock said, beginning to weep.

Vallow Daybells oldest child Colby Ryan described what it was like to lose his entire family. His father died years earlier.

My three kids will never know the kindness of Tylees heart or JJs silly and goofy personality The only way I could describe the impact of their lives being lost is like a nuclear bomb dropping, he said. Its not an overstatement to say that I lost everything.

To impose the death penalty, the jurors had to unanimously find that Daybell met at least one of the aggravating circumstances that state law says qualifies someone for capital punishment.

They also had to agree that those aggravating factors were not outweighed by any mitigating factors that might have lessened his culpability or justified a lesser sentence.

Idaho law allows for execution by lethal injection or firing squad, though firing squad executions have never been used in the state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to agree to a ceasefire (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP)

Israels prime minister has called a permanent ceasefire in Gaza a non-starter until long-standing conditions for ending the war are met, appearing to undermine a proposal that US President Joe Biden had announced as an Israeli one.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office came a day after Mr Biden outlined the plan, and as families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas called for all parties to immediately accept the proposal.

Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, the statement said.

Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place.

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On Friday, Mr Biden asserted that the militant group is no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one in October that started the war.

He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended ceasefire.

Talks stopped last month after a push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal in the hope of averting a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gazas southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is key to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the October 7 attack.

Israel has confirmed its troops are operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led around one million Palestinians to leave Rafah and thrown humanitarian operations into turmoil. The World Food Programme has called the living conditions horrific and apocalyptic as hunger grows.

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Families of hostages said that time was running out.

This might be the last chance to save lives, Gili Roman told The Associated Press.

His sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was freed during a week-long ceasefire in November but sister-in-law Carmel is still held. Our leadership must not disappoint us. But mostly, all eyes should be on Hamas, Mr Roman said.

Families described an aggressive meeting on Thursday with Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who told them the government was not ready to sign a deal to bring all hostages home and there was no plan B.

Mr Hanegbi said this week he expects the war to continue another seven months to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.

Mr Netanyahu has promised total victory that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure and return the hostages. On Saturday, his government said its conditions for ending the war had not changed.

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Many hostages families accuse the government of a lack of will to secure a deal.

We know that the government of Israel has done an awful lot to delay reaching a deal, and that has cost the lives of many people who survived in captivity for weeks and weeks and months and months, Sharone Lifschitz said. Her mother, Yocheved, was freed in November but her father, Oded, is still held.

The first phase of the deal proposed by Mr Biden would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from the wars devastation.

Mr Biden acknowledged that keeping the proposal on track would be difficult, with a number of details to negotiate to move from the first phase to the second. Mr Biden said if Hamas fails to fulfil its commitment under the deal, Israel can resume military operations.

Hamas said on Friday it viewed the proposal positively and called on Israel to declare an explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

In Deir al-Balah, where many Palestinians have fled following Israels ground assault on Rafah, there was some hope.

This proposal came late, but better late than never, said Akram Abu Al-Hasan. Therefore, we hope from God, the American administration, and the European community in general to continue to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire.

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The main difference from previous proposals is the readiness to stop the war for an undefined period, according to analysts. It leaves Israel the option to renew the war and diminish Hamass ability to govern, but over time, said Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum in Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University.

It was a very good speech  it seems that Biden is trying to force it on the Israeli government. He was clearly speaking directly to the Israeli people, said Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organisation.

Also on Saturday, Egypts state-run Al-Qahera News said officials from Egypt, the United States and Israel would meet in Cairo over the weekend for talks about the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side in May.

The crossing is a main way for aid to enter Gaza. Egypt has refused to open its side, fearing the Israeli control will remain permanent. Egypt wants Palestinians to be in charge again. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks.

Hamas attack on October 7 killed around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250. More than 36,370 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israels campaign of bombardment and offensives, according to Gazas Health Ministry.
Ex-mortgage advisor to be extradited from US over alleged 130k fraud in NI

Couple transferred 72k for a property that they never owned on guidance of accused

Marianne Smyth

Christopher Woodhouse Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 14:53

An alleged mortgage fraudster accused of swindling more than 130,000 from people across Northern Ireland is due to be extradited from the United States.
Perv who was first person here accused of sending unwanted lewd picture is freed as case is dropped

New legislation outlawing unsolicited images only came onto statute book last year

Wayne Harrison

Paul Higgins Sat 1 Jun 2024 at 18:53







The first man in Northern Ireland to be charged with sending an unsolicited picture of his genitals has been freed after the charge against him was withdrawn.
Weather conditions delayed rescue on Denali, where three climbers have died this year.

Rescue workers search a debris field two days after an avalanche that buried four Japanese climbers on Mount Denali in Alaska, June 16, 2012.

A Malaysian climber died this week near the summit of North Americas tallest peak, while two other Malaysians rescued from its slopes are in hospital, officials said.

The three issued a distress call on Tuesday from the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) summit of Mount Denali in Alaska, saying they were hypothermic and unable to descend. Clouds and high winds prevented their immediate rescue, a Denali National Park statement said.

One of the men managed to descend to 17,200 feet (5,243 meters) the same day and was evacuated in serious condition. The other two remained near the summit in a snow cave.

A park helicopter dropped survival gear near the location late Thursday and was able to rescue one climber the next morning using a rope basket.

The surviving climber said his companion had died on Wednesday, a park statement said.

Alpine Club Malaysia identified the deceased as Zulkifli Yusof, 37, and gave the suspected cause of death as high-altitude cerebral edema and hypothermia.

It identified the two other climbers as Zainudin Lot and Illaham Ishak, both 47.

Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death on Saturday and said its consulate in Los Angeles was monitoring the condition of the two survivors receiving medical treatment.

Efforts to recover the deceased mans body depend on weather conditions, it said.

Yusof is the third person to die on Mount Denali this climbing season, local media reports say.

About 1,000 climbers from around the world attempt to scale Denali annually, according to a study of mountaineering fatalities on the remote peak.

Ninety-six climbers died on Denali between 1903 and 2006, and climbers from Asia had the highest odds of dying on the mountain, the University of Utah researchers found.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1, 2024.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has reconfirmed Washingtons strong commitment to the Indo-Pacific, as well as to working with allies and partners in the face of growing rivalry with China.

Austin spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue annual security forum on Saturday, just a day after meeting with his Chinese counterpart to open lines of communication between the two world powers.

This was the secretarys third time to speak at the forum and likely his last as a U.S. presidential election in November may bring changes in defense diplomacy.

The Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theater of operations, Austin said, seeking to brush off concerns that other security challenges in Ukraine and Gaza may have shifted U.S. attention.

He stressed that Washington is deeply committed to the region, adding, We are all in. And we're not going anywhere.

He went on to list a number of cooperation projects between the U.S and countries including Australia, Japan, India and the Philippines.

Austin said that the U.S. can be secure only if Asia is secure.

The defense secretarys speech shows that the dynamics of U.S. strategic partnerships may have changed because Washington has to balance different world regions, but not so much, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.

Other factors that may have contributed to the slight shift, in Vuvings opinion, are U.S. domestic politics and the responses of regional states and non-state actors to the weakening of the current international order.

The Pentagon chief, meanwhile, emphasized what he called the power of partnerships amid a new convergence in the region.

"This new convergence is about coming together, not splitting apart. It isn't about imposing one country's will, Austin said in an apparent dig at China. It isn't about bullying or coercion. It's about the free choices of sovereign states.

Beijing has been accused by some of its neighbors of acting aggressively in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

In his keynote speech on Friday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned assertive actions that aim to propagate excessive, baseless claims through force, intimidation and deception believed to be committed by Beijing.

The Philippines has accused Chinese coast guard vessels of harassing and preventing Filipino fishermen and law enforcement agencies from operating in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

While not mentioning China, Austin said that the harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous and the peaceful resolution of disputes should be achieved through dialogue and not coercion or conflict.

And certainly not through so-called punishment.

Just 10 days ago, the Chinese military held large-scale punishment drills around Taiwan after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the new president of the democratic island.

Strengthening partnerships

The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed an $8 billion defense package to help Taipei counter Beijing, which considers Taiwan a Chinese province that should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

China reacted angrily, saying this sends the wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces and the military collusion between the U.S. and Taiwan would only push up tensions and the risk of conflict and confrontation in the Taiwan Strait.

China has long said Washington is trying to build a NATO-like alliance in the Asia-Pacific, an accusation that was brought up and denied on Saturday by the U.S. defense secretary.

Replying to a question by Chinese Senior Col. Yanzhong Cao about the U.S. alliance system in the region, Austin said that like-minded countries with similar values and a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific are working together to achieve that vision.

And we will continue to do those kinds of things going forward, he said.

The defense secretary, however, called for better communication with China, saying that dialogue is not a reward, it is a necessity, and that there's no substitute for open lines of communication to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with Chinese Minister of Defense Adm. Dong Jun in Singapore, May 31, 2024. [U.S. Department of Defense]

Austin and the Chinese minister of national defense, Adm. Dong Jun, held a one-hour meeting on Friday to discuss U.S.-China defense relations and other security issues. It was the first in-person meeting between the two, marking a resumption of communication after then-defense minister Li Shangfu declined a meeting with Austin last year.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters afterwards that it showed the bilateral military relations were stabilizing.

The resumption of exchanges does not mean that differences and conflicts between the two countries have been resolved, warned a Taiwanese analyst.

China is still conducting military exercises around Taiwan and the U.S. continues joint exercises with the Philippines and other allies, said Shen Ming-Shih from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

He added that while both sides keep pursuing their own objectives, the best they can do is to have more dialogue and exercise restraint.

Radio Free Asia, a news organization affiliated with BenarNews, produced this report.
Student activists are in discussions with administrators about their demands. Commencement is planned for June 2 on the same spot where students are currently camped.
Crowds gather in front of Trump Tower on Friday prior to a news conference by former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City. A New York jury found Trump guilty Thursday of all 34 charges of covering up a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her story of their alleged affair from being published during the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of crimes.
Families in the state's emergency shelter system affected by a cap on stays will now have until October to find housing.

After previously warning that families could get notices starting Saturday that they have 90 days to exit the state-funded housing, the Healey administration said Friday that it is holding off on delivering those notices until early July.

Healey administration officials said earlier this month that families could start getting kicked out of the emergency shelter system by Sept. 1, after receiving a 90-day notice to exit on June 1. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is writing the regulations to implement a law that legislators passed in April setting a nine-month limit on how long families can stay in the state's emergency shelters.

EOHLC said Friday that it has not finalized its formal guidance on the length of stay policy approved by the Legislature, so the first exit notices will not go out at the start of June.

"In accordance with the supplemental budget passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will release formal guidance outlining the polices and protocols for the 9-month EA length of stay limit soon. Notices under this new policy will begin going out to the first families in early July," a spokesperson for the secretariat said.

The first families to exit the emergency assistance program under this new policy will receive 90-day exit notices beginning in early July  meaning they will have until early October to find other housing options  but not all families will be affected by the length of stay policy immediately, according to EOHLC.

Providers have said they are concerned about thousands of families having to exit the system at the same time  putting even more pressure on Massachusetts' already low-vacancy housing market. EOHLC said it will implement the policy on a rolling basis to ensure that families are adequately supported in their transition out of the shelter system.

Housing advocates have pushed back against the quick turnaround for families receiving notice that they have to leave shelter. Part of their argument is that the law that created the nine-month time limit also funded a number of housing assistance and workforce training programs to help families get on their feet and leave shelter on their own accord.

"Hospitals, providers, everybody understood this was a policy that was going to be implemented in a way that gave us time to scale up immigration support services, clinics, job partnering  these things are actually starting to pay off  but now we're going to put people out before they're ready and local cities and towns and nonprofits are going to bear the brunt of that," Andrea Park of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute said earlier this month.

Many homelessness service providers assumed families would start hitting their nine-month limit next spring. However, EOHLC said they would apply the limit retroactively to the start of 2024, meaning families could be asked to leave this fall. Top Democrats in the Legislature did not contradict that interpretation of the law when asked.

The Healey administration says recent investments in rehousing benefits and shelter supports have yielded a steady uptick in the rate at which families are exiting the emergency shelter system.

Over the last six months, 1,491 families have exited shelter: 197 in December, 209 in January, 230 in February, 269 in March and 304 in April, and 282 in May as expanded housing and job placement services have been funded by the state. The May figure is expected to increase as end of May exit data is reported back to EOHLC in the coming days.

The pace at which families are coming into the shelter system has also slowed since a massive spike last summer.

In the summer of 2023, up to 40 eligible families per day were seeking emergency shelter services from the state. Gov. Maura Healey instituted a 7,500 family maximum capacity for the system last fall, and the number of families seeking services has slowed since, according to EOHLC. Now, about 20 eligible families apply for shelter every day.

Additionally, as the swell in shelter applicants has been largely driven by newly arriving immigrants into Massachusetts, the administration noted that 3,711 immigrants in the shelter system have filed for work authorization applications since November 2023, with the vast majority approved. Of those, 1,081 people have gotten jobs and 1,016 are enrolled in English for Speakers of Other Languages classes.
The winners of India's April 19th-June 1st general election are expected to form a new government by the middle of June after votes are counted on June 4th.

Analysts largely expect prime minister Narendra Modi to win a third straight term, as predicted by opinion polls before voting began.

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Here is a look at how votes are counted and what happens after that.

Vote counting

Vote counting is decentralised and done simultaneously at counting stations in each of the 543 constituencies around the country.

Counting begins at 8am (0230 GMT) on June 4th, with the tallying of postal ballots that only select groups can use, including people with disabilities, or those involved in essential services, including security forces and some government officials.

After paper ballots, votes recorded in the electronic voting machines (EVM) are counted, which India has used since 2000, moving away from paper ballots for national and state elections.

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Criticism of the process

Along with the electronic record of each vote cast through the EVM, a corresponding paper slip is also produced, which is visible to the voter, and then stored in a sealed box.

The poll watchdog, the Election Commission of India (ECI), counts and verifies these paper slips against electronic votes at five randomly selected polling stations - drawn by lots - in different segments of each constituency.

While critics and some members of civil society, including some political parties, want verification to be done at more booths to increase transparency, the Supreme Court has declined to order any change in the vote-counting process.

The ECI has dismissed allegations that EVMs can be tampered, calling them foolproof.

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Forming the government

Results are announced for each constituency as soon as counting is completed. India follows the first-past-the-post system, under which a candidate with the highest number of votes wins, regardless of garnering a majority or not.

Result trends generally become clear by the afternoon of counting day and are flashed on television news networks. The official count from the ECI can come hours later.

After the ECI announces the results for all 543 seats, the president invites the leader of the party, or an alliance, which has more than half the seats to form the government.

The party or coalition with 272 or more seats then chooses a prime minister to lead the government.

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In the 2019 elections, Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 seats and its National Democratic Alliance partners secured about 50 more. Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress won just 52 seats, with another 91 seats going to its allies.

If no political party or alliance gets a simple majority, leading to what is called a "hung house", the president asks the party with the largest number of seats to form a government, and prove a majority on the floor of the house later.

A new Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, has to be in place before its current term ends on June 16th.

Will Modi win?

Opinion polls conducted before voting began on April 19th projected an easy victory for Modi for a rare third consecutive term, but a lower voter turnout, and a more unified opposition compared to 2019 have emerged as surprise challenges for him. Most analysts however say he is still likely to win.
An independent candidate running in the European election says people have a right to be angry and he can relate to their anger around the housing and cost of living crises.

Brendan Ogle, who is running as a candidate for Dublin, is concerned by how people's genuine anger is being targeted towards migrants as opposed to those in power.

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The Dundalk native is a trade union official with Unite the Union and was part of the ESB strike in the 2000s, as well as the Right2Water campaign.

After decades of being part of the trade union movement, he has decided to take the plunge and run in the upcoming European elections.

Speaking to BreakingNews.ie while putting up the last of his election posters, he says: "People have a right to be angry. I can relate to their anger to be honest.

"Anger is not a policy though it might be justifiable, but it will not solve anything. The hardest thing to do when you are looking for solutions is to push up against power."

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He says the problem is that people are directing their anger at refugees as opposed to the Government, which is essentially "letting them off the hook."

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have been in power for over a century. Surely they are the ones to blame, not someone who just got off a boat.

"The primary issue here is housing. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have been in power for over a century, surely they are the ones to blame, not someone who just got off a boat," he says.

He is "concerned" that the working class is being exploited by anti-immigrant sentiments.

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"We have a perfect storm now with the war in Ukraine and accomodation issues. We have to weather the storm and make sure we focus our anger on the right people," he says.

In terms of the city he hopes to represent, he feels Dublin city does not get enough air time on the European stage.

"I think Dublin needs to be heard in Europe. These people go off on a plane to Brussels wearing the green jersey, and it is as if everything is great here. There are huge difficulties in this city at the moment."

If he was elected, he says he would set up an education and discussion hub in the middle of Dublin city centre. "I would not be hiding away for five years, that is for sure."

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The idea is to give people a space to discuss "best practice solutions regarding the housing crisis, health, childcare etc."

Brendan Ogle during the Right2Water campaign.

Public housing

Having travelled to Cologne recently, he met with an Irish family who had moved from Dublin. "Why is there genuine public housing in the likes of Vienna, Antwerp and Berlin, but not here?" he asks.

"We stopped building social housing in the 1970s for some reason. I don't know why public housing is such a dirty word in Ireland, it isn't across Europe."

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He thinks there should be a state house building authority to build 'genuine' social housing on state-owned land.

As a father to two daughters, he can see the real impact the housing crisis is having on their future.

We have situations where homes are lying empty because an elderly person is in a nursing home and their grandchild cannot find a house.

"We have situations where homes are lying empty because an elderly person is in a nursing home and their grandchild cannot find a house.

He says the lives of young people are being "cut short and stunted" because they cannot get onto the property ladder like previous generations.

He asks: "Why is it that 68 per cent of 25-29 year-olds are living with their parents? That number is horrific really. The EU average is around 40 per cent."

Regarding the safety of Dublin city, he feels things have got worse in the past few years.

"I think there is visible social decay. There is a noticeable increase in anti-social behaviour as well. I work in the city centre and some of the scenes I see are just unacceptable; there are dead bodies and overdoses."

He says Dublin city needs to be cleaned and the north side of the city to be regenerated.

When it comes to policing, he says there needs to be a change in mindset. "We have gone over 100 years with policing by consent, perhaps we have reached a junction where we have to reevaluate that approach.

"We need to properly resource the gardai in the city," he says.

Clare Daly announcing herself for re-election. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

Russian sanctions

When it comes to the current MEP for Dublin, Clare Daly, she is a very polarising figure. Brendan Ogle says he is "appalled" by the job she has done the last five years.

"It is as if the people of Dublin elected her and then she became a mouthpiece for Moscow. She has not delivered at all for the people of Dubin in the last five years.

How can you oppose genocide in Palestine and not sanctions against Russia?

"How can you oppose genocide in Palestine and not sanctions against Russia?" he asks.

He says if he was MEP for Dublin he would push for Ireland to have "real neutrality" by investing in our Defence Forces.

"We do not know what is going on in our seas, we do not have an air force to protect our skies."

He says Ireland cannot be neutral while not investing in protection. "You are essentially a vassal state rather than a neutral one."

He says Clare Daly is constantly "picks sides" before saying "I am anti-US intervention and against Russian intervention. It is really that simple."

For Mr Ogle, it ultimately comes down to using that justifiable anger in the right way.

"My approach is understanding people's anger but trying to bring people together and not by punching down. I pledge that no one will be able to say Dublin was not brought up at an EU level if I am elected."
Further reaction from Donald Trump being found guilty of 34 charges and an investigation into land for housing in Dublin is among the main headlines in Saturday's papers.

The Irish Times leads with the former judge Gerard O'Brien, who was sentenced for the sexual abuse of boys and young men in the 1990s when he was a school teacher.

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The Irish Examiner leads with an inquest that revealed the driver's Covid-19 symptoms played a factor in the fatal collision which claimed the lives of two people in their 80s.

The Echo leads with events in Cork during the Bank Holiday weekend.

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The Irish Independent reveals there is an investigation underway into the rezoning of land in South County Dublin by a Fine Gael politician.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with Donald Trump calling America a fascist state after he was found guilty of 34 charges.

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The Irish Daily Mirror also leads with Trump, as their front page is "Deluded, Deranged and Dangerous".

The Irish Daily Star leads with the trial of a man who is accused of assaulting former Ireland midfielder and pundit Roy Keane.

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British papers

Coverage of Donald Trumps conviction for 34 felonies in the US continues to dominate the front pages of Saturdays newspapers.

The Daily Mirror, the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, and the Independent all run with pieces on the former US president in the wake of his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case stemming from a payment that silenced porn star, Stormy Daniels.

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Financial Times: Trump lashes out at rigged trial

after historic criminal convictions #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6UELXaxmvm  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Daily Telegraph opts for a piece on former British prime minister Boris Johnson and his opinion on Trumps conviction, claiming it was a hit job.

The Daily Telegraph: Johnson - Trump is victim of

a hit job #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/VpACXxJtZA  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Sun splashes with a piece that says King Charles has told his brother, the embattled Andrew, Duke of York, to move out of his 30-room mansion in Windsor Park.

Moving onto British politics, voters are making it loud and clear to the Conservative Party, with polling indicating a change in government may be on the horizon, as per the i.

i Sport: UK voters message to the Tories - its time

for change #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/EDUXdZSeL3  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Times leads on Sir Keir Starmers vow to create wealth with the economy centric to his pitch to British voters.

The Daily Express splashes on a saliva test that searches for markers in patients DNA to determine their genetic risk of developing prostate cancer.

Daily Express: AT-HOME TEST TO TURN TIDE ON PROSTATE CANCER#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Jr3CV7mJj3  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Guardian opts for a piece on the war in Ukraine, with leader Volodymyr Zelensky claiming Russian troops are hunting and laughing at his people.

The Guardian: Zelenskiy: Russian troops are

laughing at and hunting us #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KgcmrZaJsd  George Mann (@sgfmann) May 31, 2024

The Daily Star leads with a piece on aliens and a claim from King Charles astronomer that most scientists believe there is life out among the stars.
Israels prime minister has called a permanent ceasefire in Gaza a non-starter until long-standing conditions for ending the war are met, appearing to undermine a proposal that US president Joe Biden had announced as an Israeli one.

The statement from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office came a day after Mr Biden outlined the plan, and as families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas called for all parties to immediately accept the proposal.

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Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, the statement said.

Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place.

Israel has now offered a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire  and the release of all the hostages.



Yesterday, this proposal was transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.



Today, I want to lay out its terms for the world. pic.twitter.com/0cdypBP9wb Advertisement  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

On Friday, Mr Biden asserted that the militant group is no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one in October that started the war.

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He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended ceasefire.

Talks stopped last month after a push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal in the hope of averting a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gazas southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is key to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the October 7th attack.

Israel has confirmed its troops are operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led around one million Palestinians to leave Rafah and thrown humanitarian operations into turmoil. The World Food Programme has called the living conditions horrific and apocalyptic as hunger grows.

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This is a decisive moment.



Now is the time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas comes to the table, agrees to this deal, and ends this war that they began. pic.twitter.com/ugWZYmaWuJ  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

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Families of hostages said that time was running out.

This might be the last chance to save lives, Gili Roman told The Associated Press.

His sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was freed during a week-long ceasefire in November but sister-in-law Carmel is still held. Our leadership must not disappoint us. But mostly, all eyes should be on Hamas, Mr Roman said.

Families described an aggressive meeting on Thursday with Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who told them the government was not ready to sign a deal to bring all hostages home and there was no plan B.

Mr Hanegbi said this week he expects the war to continue another seven months to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.

Mr Netanyahu has promised total victory that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure and return the hostages. On Saturday, his government said its conditions for ending the war had not changed.

Our proposal to end the war in Gaza begins with a complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza, the release of hostages and hostage remains, the ability for Palestinians to return to Gaza, and a surge of humanitarian assistance.  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

Many hostages families accuse the government of a lack of will to secure a deal.

We know that the government of Israel has done an awful lot to delay reaching a deal, and that has cost the lives of many people who survived in captivity for weeks and weeks and months and months, Sharone Lifschitz said. Her mother, Yocheved, was freed in November but her father, Oded, is still held.

The first phase of the deal proposed by Mr Biden would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from the wars devastation.

Mr Biden acknowledged that keeping the proposal on track would be difficult, with a number of details to negotiate to move from the first phase to the second. Mr Biden said if Hamas fails to fulfil its commitment under the deal, Israel can resume military operations.

Hamas said on Friday it viewed the proposal positively and called on Israel to declare an explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

In Deir al-Balah, where many Palestinians have fled following Israels ground assault on Rafah, there was some hope.

This proposal came late, but better late than never, said Akram Abu Al-Hasan. Therefore, we hope from God, the American administration, and the European community in general to continue to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire.

This is a decisive moment:



Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove they mean it.



Hamas needs to take the deal. pic.twitter.com/UcXOP3iZG6  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

The main difference from previous proposals is the readiness to stop the war for an undefined period, according to analysts. It leaves Israel the option to renew the war and diminish Hamass ability to govern, but over time, said Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum in Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University.

It was a very good speech  it seems that Biden is trying to force it on the Israeli government. He was clearly speaking directly to the Israeli people, said Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organisation.

Also on Saturday, Egypts state-run Al-Qahera News said officials from Egypt, the United States and Israel would meet in Cairo over the weekend for talks about the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side in May.

The crossing is a main way for aid to enter Gaza. Egypt has refused to open its side, fearing the Israeli control will remain permanent. Egypt wants Palestinians to be in charge again. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks.

Hamas attack on October 7th killed around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250. More than 36,370 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israels campaign of bombardment and offensives, according to Gazas Health Ministry.
The African National Congress party has lost its parliamentary majority in an historic election result 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 nearly 99% of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40% in the election on Wednesday, well short of the majority it had held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela.

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The final results are yet to be formally declared by the independent electoral commission that ran the election.

While opposition parties hailed it as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remained the biggest party by some way but will now need to look for a coalition partner or partners to remain in the government and re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. Parliament elects the South African president after national elections.



Children pray during an election meeting organised by the Ukhonto weSizwe party in Mpumalanga (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

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The result ended the ANCs three-decade dominance of South Africas young democracy, but the way forward promises to be complicated for Africas most advanced economy, and there is no coalition on the table yet.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, was on around 21%. The new MK Party of former president Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led, came third with just over 14% of the vote in the first election it has contested.

Which parties the ANC might approach to co-govern with is the urgent focus now, given parliament needs to sit and elect a president within 14 days of the final election results being officially declared. A flurry of negotiations were set to take place and they will likely be complicated.

The MK Party said one of its conditions for any agreement was that Mr Ramaphosa is removed as ANC leader and president.

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We are willing to negotiate with the ANC, but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said.

More than 50 parties contested the national election, but given how far off a majority the ANC appears to be, it is likely that it will have to approach one of the three main opposition parties.



The latest election results on display in Midrand (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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MK and the Economic Freedom Fighters have called for parts of the economy to be nationalised. The Democratic Alliance is viewed as a business-friendly party and analysts say an ANC-DA coalition would be more welcomed by foreign investors.

Despite the uncertainty, South African opposition parties were hailing the new political picture as a much-needed change for the country of 62 million, which is Africas most developed but also one of the most unequal in the world.

South Africa has widespread poverty and extremely high levels of unemployment and the ANC has struggled to raise the standard of living for millions. The official unemployment rate is 32%, one of the highest in the world, and the poverty disproportionately affects black people, who make up 80% of the population and have been the core of the ANCs support for years.

The ANC has also been blamed  and apparently punished by voters  for a failure in basic government services that affects millions and leaves many without water, electricity or proper housing.

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We have said for the last 30 years that the way to rescue South Africa is to break the ANCs majority and we have done that, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said.

Nearly 28 million South Africans were registered to vote and turnout is expected to be around 60%, according to figures from the independent electoral commission that runs the election.
An environmental activist was detained Saturday after sticking a protest sign to a Monet painting in Paris famed Orsay museum.

It was the latest of several actions by protesters with the group Food Riposte to target artworks in France in calls for action to protect food supplies from further damage to the climate. The museum, known in French as the Musee dOrsay, is a top tourist destination and home to some of the worlds most-loved Impressionist works.

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The activist targeted Poppy Field by Claude Monet, affixing a sticker that covered about half the painting with an apocalyptic, futuristic vision of the same scene. The group said its supposed to show what the field would look like in 2100, ravaged by flames and drought, if more action isnt taken against climate change.

The woman was detained pending investigation, according to Paris police.

It was unclear whether the incident damaged the painting. The museum did not respond to requests for comment.
A jury in Idaho has unanimously agreed that doomsday prophet Chad Daybell deserves the death penalty for the murders of his wife and his girlfriends two youngest children.

The 55-year-old showed no emotion as he was told he would face the death penalty for the murders of Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow.

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The mother of the children is Lori Vallow Daybell, whom Chad Daybell married shortly after his wifes death.

Vallow Daybell was convicted last year of the three murders and is now awaiting trial in Arizona, charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was JJs father.



A boy looks at a memorial for Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow in Rexburg, Idaho (John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP)

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The case began in 2019, when a family member called police. Investigators soon realised both children were missing and a multi-state search ensued.

Nearly a year later, their remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property. Tylees DNA was later found on a pickaxe and shovel in a shed on the property while JJs body was wrapped in rubbish bags and duct tape, prosecutors said.

During a nearly two-month trial, prosecutors said Chad Daybell, a self-published author who wrote doomsday-laced fiction, promoted unusual spiritual beliefs including apocalyptic prophecies and tales of possession by evil spirits in order to justify the killings.

Daybells defence attorney John Prior argued during the trial that there was not enough evidence to tie Daybell to the killings, and suggested Vallow Daybells older brother Alex Cox was the culprit.

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Mr Cox died in late 2019 and was never charged. Vallow Daybell was convicted last year and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

During the sentencing hearing, Mr Prior asked the jurors to judge Daybell on his life before he met Vallow Daybell, describing her as a bomb that blew him off the trajectory of an otherwise wholesome life.

But Daybell also declined to offer any mitigating evidence during the sentencing hearing.



Chad Daybell is set to be executed(John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP)

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Mitigating evidence is often used to encourage jurors to have sympathy for a defendant in an effort to show that a life sentence would be more appropriate than capital punishment.

Family members of the victims gave emotional statements to the jurors.

JJ Vallows grandmother Kay Woodcock tearfully described how the seven-year-old would show empathy and compassion to others through soft touches and by frequently asking if those around him were OK.

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She also said Tylee was a doting big sister, and that it warmed her heart to see them together.

I cant express just how much I wish for more time to create memories, Ms Woodcock said, beginning to weep.

Vallow Daybells oldest child Colby Ryan described what it was like to lose his entire family. His father died years earlier.

My three kids will never know the kindness of Tylees heart or JJs silly and goofy personality The only way I could describe the impact of their lives being lost is like a nuclear bomb dropping, he said. Its not an overstatement to say that I lost everything.

To impose the death penalty, the jurors had to unanimously find that Daybell met at least one of the aggravating circumstances that state law says qualifies someone for capital punishment.

They also had to agree that those aggravating factors were not outweighed by any mitigating factors that might have lessened his culpability or justified a lesser sentence.

Idaho law allows for execution by lethal injection or firing squad, though firing squad executions have never been used in the state.
A second Donald Trump presidency is more likely, not less following his hush money trial conviction, Boris Johnson has said.

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.

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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.

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Writing for the Daily Mail, Mr Johnson called the trial a machine-gun mob-style hit-job on Trump.

The former prime minister said: 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.

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.

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.

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By pursuing these cases, they have helped to make his victory more likely, not less.

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Mr Johnsons comments come as UK prime minister Rishi Sunak refused to comment directly on the conviction, telling reporters on Friday the trial was not his focus.

You wouldnt expect me to comment on another countrys domestic politics or judicial processes, he said.

Im focused squarely on the election here at home, talking to people across the country about the choice at our election.

Of course I respect the justice system of the United States.

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UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said the trial was not his focus Photo: PA.

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.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was an unprecedented situation, adding: First and foremost we respect the courts decision in relation to the decision in the Trump case.

We will work with whoever is elected president thats what youd expect, he said.

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.
Thousands of people gathered in London's Parliament Square on Saturday for a protest organised by Tommy Robinson.

Speeches were given by Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, Reclaim leader Laurence Fox and political commentator Carl Benjamin.

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Roughly 300 counter-protesters, organised by Stand Up To Racism, were set up on the other side of the Cenotaph and separated from the crowd by a large police cordon.

The protest set off from Victoria Station and marched to Parliament Square (David Parry/PA)

The protest set off from London Victoria Station at around 1pm and ended up in Parliament Square.

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There, a crowd gathered before a large TV screen which showed the speeches and a film.

As Mr Robinson took to the stage, a large cheer came from the audience. He told them: Looking at the crowd today I feel like I am winning.

Mr Robinson went on to criticise the corrupt Metropolitan Police and accused them of two-tiered policing.

While the event was ongoing, Mr Robinson posted on social media calling for the removal of Police Commissioner Mark Rowley.

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He then welcomed to the stage a series of speakers, including Laurence Fox.

Laurence Fox was among the speakers (David Parry/PA)

The crowd cheered as the Reclaim Party leader appeared and booed in support of his criticism of both Pride Month and mayor Sadiq Khan.

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Pointing to the British Houses of Parliament, he said: In one month we will be asked to vote again for these people This is our home, we have nowhere else to go. If you want to put the Great back in Great Britain, it wont be the politicians. Its down to you and me and everyone else.

Mr Fox then urged supporters to avoid any crowd trouble, telling them: Dont give (police) an opportunity to paint us as what we are not.

The audience was then shown a series of video montages, with supporters jeering and shouting derogatory language at images of small boat crossings, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

Several hundred metres away in Whitehall, a static counter-demonstration had been set up by Stand Up To Racism.

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People from Stand up to Racism took part in a counter-protest (David Parry/PA)

Speaker Zak Cochrane led chants of Nazi scum off our streets and say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.

Others held placards reading oppose Tommy Robinson and stop fascists and the far-right.

A third protest, smaller in size and unrelated to the above events, saw nine members of Youth Demand arrested for breaching a Public Order Act.

The Metropolitan Police said on social media that protesters went on to York Road, attempting to cause serious disruption by blocking traffic.

They were already subject to conditions not to leave the pavement and these members were arrested for breaching those conditions, the force added.

More than 2,000 police officers were on duty on Saturday, policing the protests as well as the Champions League Final at Wembley and related fan events, the Metropolitan Police said.

Fans of finalists Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid appeared to be confused at what was happening in Parliament Square, with some appearing to gather under the impression that it was a fan zone.

The Champions League Final, between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, kicks off at Wembley at 8pm.
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.
Republicans in Congress are embracing Donald Trumps strategy of attacking the US justice system after the former presidents historic conviction.

Almost no Republican official has stood up to suggest Mr Trump should not be the partys presidential candidate for the November election  in fact, some have sought to hasten his nomination.

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Few others have defended the legitimacy of the New York state court that heard the hush money case against the former president, or the 12 jurors who unanimously arrived at their verdict.

Republicans who have expressed doubts about Mr Trumps innocence or political viability, including his former national security adviser John Bolton or Senate candidate Larry Hogan, have been criticised by the former presidents enforcers and told to leave the party.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said she is voting for Mr Trump whether he is a free man or a prisoner of the Biden regime.



Maga Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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The firebrand congresswoman also posted the upside-down US flag that has come to symbolise the Stop the Steal movement Mr Trump started with allies before the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Republican senators and representatives are upturning long-standing faith in US governance and setting the stage for what they plan to do if Mr Trump regains power.

On Friday, House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan demanded the prosecutors Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo appear for a June hearing on the weaponisation of the federal government and the unprecedented political prosecution of Mr Trump  despite the fact that US President Joe Biden has no authority over the state courts in New York.

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What were gearing up for is if Trump wins, hes going to use the apparatus of the state to target his political opponents, said Jason Stanley, a professor at Yale and the author of How Fascism Works.

Mr Stanley said history is full of examples of people not believing the rhetoric of authoritarians. Believe what they say, he said. Hes literally telling you hes going to use the apparatus of the state to target his political opponents.

At his Trump Tower on Friday in New York, the former president returned to the kinds of attacks he has repeatedly lodged in campaign speeches, portraying Mr Biden as corrupt and the US as a fascist nation.

Mr Trump called the members of the bipartisan House committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the US Capitol thugs and said Mr Biden was a Manchurian candidate  a phrase inspired by the 1960s movie portraying a puppet of a US political enemy.

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A Trump campaign memo contained talking points for Republican politicians, suggesting they call the case a sham, a hoax and a witch hunt.

Mr Biden faces no such charges, and the House Republicans efforts to impeach the president over his son Hunter Bidens business dealings, have largely stalled. Hunter Biden is due in court next week on an unrelated firearms charge in Wilmington, Delaware.



Joe Biden has condemned his rivals attacks on the justice system (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Mr Biden said its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible, for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

Asked later at the White House if this could happen to him, Mr Biden said: Not at all. I didnt do anything wrong. The system still works.

As for Mr Trumps claims the case is being orchestrated by the Democratic president to hurt him politically, Mr Biden quipped: I didnt know I was that powerful.

In the hush money case, Mr Trump was found guilty of trying to influence the 2016 election by falsifying payment to a porn actor to bury her story of an affair. He faces three other felony indictments, including the federal case over his effort to overturn the 2020 election. But they are not likely to be heard before Novembers expected election rematch with Mr Biden.

Thursdays verdict came after a jury in 2023 found Mr Trump to be liable for sexual abuse against advice columnist E Jean Carroll and a judge in a 2024 business fraud case determined that Mr Trump lied about his wealth for years, ordering him to pay 355 million US dollars (279 million) in penalties.

Almost to a person, the Republicans in Congress who spoke out provided a singular voice for Mr Trump.

Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox News amplified the claim, without evidence, that Democrats are trying to hurt Mr Trump. He said he thinks the Supreme Court should step in to resolve the case.

The justices on the court, I know many of them personally, I think theyre deeply concerned about that as we are, the Republican speaker said.

The outgoing Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, said he expected Mr Trump would win the hush money case on appeal, but the three senators seeking to replace him as leader echoed Mr Trump with stronger criticisms of the judicial system.





House Republicans better prepare to take action.



Words are meaningless.



We control the House of Representatives.



We hold the power of the purse.



We have subpoena power.



We go back in session next week on Monday.



No more excuses.  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) May 31, 2024

South Dakota Senator John Thune said the case was politically motivated, Texas Senator John Cornyn called the verdict a disgrace and Senator Rick Scott of Florida said that everyone who calls themselves a party leader must stand up and condemn what he called lawless election interference.

And Senator Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who is known as a bipartisan leader, said the prosecutor brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct.

With sentencing in the hush money case expected in July before the Republican National Convention, Republican representative Chip Roy said the Republican Party should move up the convention to accelerate Mr Trumps nomination as the partys presidential pick.

Republican judicial advocate Mike Davis, a former top Senate aide tipped for a future Trump administration position, circulated a letter outlining the next steps.

Dear Republicans, he said in a post on Friday. If their response to the guilty verdict was we must respect the process or we are too principled to retaliate, he suggested they do two things: One was an expletive, the other: Leave the party.

Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, circulated his own letter in which he suggested it was the White House that made a mockery of the rule of law and altered politics in un-American ways. He and other senators threatened to stall Senate business until Republicans take action.

Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable, Mr Lee said.
Uche Agu & Revival Today Worship - "Nothing Without You" | DREAM Label Group

Los Angeles, CA (May 31st, 2024)  DREAM Gospel artists Uche Agu and Revival Today Worship have teamed up to release their latest new song Nothing Without You available today everywhere music is sold digitally. This beautiful song was recorded live at Revival Today Church in Pittsburgh, PA by Uche Agu, Danny Duncan and Brandon Tolbert. This is the 5th release from their upcoming album, Celebrate The King set to release this fall.

This is the long awaited track that everyone is looking forward to hear. The idea of this song came to me on strange while on tour in Kumasi, Ghana and I had carried this song up till the time of recording. I am looking forward to worshippers around the World connecting to Nothing without you  and worship God as they listen. - Uche Agu

Listen or Buy Nothing Without You here
Veteran Adam McPhee travelled nearly 15,000 kilometres from Melbourne to Gallipoli to wear his medals for the Anzac Day dawn service, but his medals, which he received for tours in East Timor and the Solomon Islands, almost didnt make it.

They were held up in Dubai alongside the rest of his luggage after torrential rain hit the United Arab Emirates.

McPhee and his wife, Kylie, got their luggage back around five days into their trip only after tracking it down via their AirTags, taking a costly private shuttle to the Istanbul airport, and negotiating with airport staff to be able to find their bags among the thousands of pieces of items in the holding area.

Veteran Adam McPhee and his wife, Kylie, said a stressful situation was worsened by their insurer not paying out compensation.

The delay cost the pair several thousand dollars in hotels, meals, clothes and hiking shoes to be able to participate in their battlefield tour.
More people are lodging complaints about missing online shopping orders, as consumer advocates say shoppers need to be better protected from no-show purchases.

The NSW Office of Fair Trading received 6103 complaints about delayed or missing retail orders last year, an increase from 4380 in 2022, and 3780 the previous year.

Fair Trading recently ordered sports apparel company Beastwear, which has since been deregistered, to pay more than $47,000 in compensation to seven community sports clubs and cultural groups, after they ordered football kits and training uniforms that did not arrive.

The timely delivery of online goods is a pain point for many consumers. Credit: Getty

Beastwears controlling manager Aden Rashid Nawaz Bhatt, also known as Aden Nawaz, was also personally fined $45,000 during sentencing in Parramatta Local Court in April, for knowingly breaching consumer law.
Today marks WA Day. A day that celebrates all things Western Australia and all those who live here, call WA home and have helped fashion the state into such a unique place.

As a migrant who grew up in Belfast, lived in London for seven years and moved to Perth in 2003 I have always been struck by wonder and awe about the sheer size of WA. Were the largest state by land area, accounting for almost one-third of Australia!

Some of WAs firsts: Carmen Lawrence; Edith Cowan; Fiona Wood; Square Kilometre Array; Ken Wyatt. Credit: Composite image

To put that into perspective, WA is more than twice as big as South Africa; five times bigger than Spain and Thailand; around eight times the size of Italy and Vietnam; and 10 times the size of the UK. You could fit the lone-star state Texas into WA three times and almost have room to squeeze in California.

The vastness means its also a pretty diverse place too  geologically, ecologically, climatically, and culturally. On the latter issue, WA has the highest proportion of overseas-born residents at 34 per cent. Victoria and NSW come in next at 31.7 per cent and 31 per cent respectively.
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 Having children has always been part of Carmen Angerers life plan, but she has also thought about the cost of doing so for as long as shes worked. For me, as a younger woman and thinking about my career, I often had to consider where in that space I would be at the best position to have children, Angerer says. Yes, it depends on when is the right time, but you also want to make sure youre at the right place in your career. Because the reality is that you have to take a step back for a time. Women face a prolonged and significant motherhood penalty after having children. Credit: Matt Davidson Children can be a joy, but they dont come cheap. Beyond childcare, schooling, food and clothes, children have an economic impact on the wages and careers of parents  particularly mothers. But children are important to the economy  theyre the future taxpayers, innovators and workers the country needs. So there are different costs and benefits to having children, depending on whether youre a mother, a family, or the country more broadly.

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The cost to women: the motherhood penalty The majority of Australias gender inequality can be explained by children, researchers from the Department of Treasury found last year, due to whats known as the motherhood penalty. We find a significant and persistent penalty attached to having a child for women, but not for men, the researchers found. A womans earnings fall by 55 per cent in the first five years after starting parenthood, and the impact continues for a decade. For men, there is no financial penalty. The researchers found that while the motherhood penalty was smaller for women with one child than for those with multiple children, there was no significant recovery in wages for women with one child when their offspring started school. Even if the woman was the main breadwinner in a couple, they suffered the same hit to their earnings, with the researchers finding the penalty was significant even in households where the woman out-earns her partner by a significant margin.

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In fact, highly educated women experienced a greater drop in earnings after having children than other women, despite having invested heavily in their own capital. The Treasury researchers said those higher-income earners could be affected by the fact that higher-paying jobs were less flexible. They might also have higher-earning spouses, which could create a disincentive to return to full-time work or make dropping out of the job market financially viable. Angerer says the cost of having children factored into her career planning. She had worked for herself for some time, but decided before having her first child to work for a business so she would have the security of parental leave. Having children affects families at large. Credit: Matt Davidson I felt motivated to push to be at a particular position in my career before deciding to start a family, she says. Those career considerations meant she and her partner, Max Ryan, started their family in their mid-30s. I think we would have started maybe a bit earlier had we not considered the finances, she says.

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The cost to families: Rising stress over work-family balance While women take the financial hit, men also face struggles trying to juggle work and family life. The National Working Families report, which surveyed 6204 parents and carers, found this week that while many workplaces offered flexible work and parental leave, it was still considered less acceptable for men to use family-friendly arrangements, and they had less access to paid parental leave. Loading Australia became the second-last OECD country to implement a national paid parental leave scheme, introducing it in 2011 (the United States remains the only OECD country without a national scheme). While that gives Australians access to up to 18 weeks of leave paid at the minimum wage, which the federal government is increasing to 26 weeks by 2026, not all employers have their own schemes and fewer still have schemes available to both men and women. According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, nearly two-thirds of all employers (63 per cent) offer some form of paid parental leave, but of those that do, only 33 per cent have universally available leave  that is, leave offered equally to both parents.

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The working families report, conducted by Deloitte Access Economics for Parents at Work and UNICEF Australias Family Friendly Workplaces initiative, found that the well-being of working parents was continuing to suffer because of the difficulties managing work and family demands. Nearly two-thirds of parents said competing work and family demands significantly contribute to stress or tension in all their family relationships, a percentage that has doubled since the previous survey in 2019. Childcare costs added to those pressures. Australia is the eighth most expensive country in the OECD for childcare as a proportion of parents income. For parents working full-time with two children in childcare, the net cost of childcare after subsidies was about 17 per cent of parental income, according to the Paris-based think tank. Thats well below New Zealand (at 37 per cent) and the United Kingdom (25 per cent), but above the OECD average of 11 per cent.

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Its little wonder the prime minister is reverting to childish scare campaigns on nuclear energy. Its just embarrassing that the PM is having to go back to undergraduate activism in his opposition to nuclear energy, Dutton told this masthead. Zero-emissions nuclear energy as part of a balanced mix of technologies gets prices down across the world while reducing emissions at pace. Thats why 30 countries already have nuclear in their mix, and they want more, and another 50 are looking to introduce nuclear for the very first time. The government has ordered nuclear-powered submarines, and they say that theyre all in favour of AUKUS  so why is nuclear technology safe for our submariners but unsafe for our citizens? The prime minister said Dutton had promised to look communities that could host nuclear power plants in the eye and engage with them but he hasnt been anywhere near [them]. He has not been within 40 kilometres of a coal-fired power station. And hes saying theyll have six or more sites. Hes been nowhere near any of them in Gippsland, the Hunter, Flynn, Maranoa, OConnor, seats like this, Albanese said.

Back in 2007, when he was infrastructure spokesman in the Kevin Rudd-led opposition, Albanese helped lead Labors attack against John Howards plans to build nuclear power plants across the country  and he has not forgotten those lessons. At the time, the ALP unleashed a series of damaging TV ads as well as campaign posters that zeroed in on the possible sites for nuclear power stations. A nuclear power plant in Belgium. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wants to introduce nuclear power generation in Australia. Credit: AP Dutton had initially flagged the nuclear policy would be outlined before last months federal budget, but that timeline has since slipped. This masthead then revealed the Coalition planned to unveil either six or seven sites had been selected to host nuclear power plants in the current parliamentary sitting fortnight but following that report, the opposition pressed pause on the announcement once more.

Loading The Coalitions policy announcement has now been pencilled in for the week after next, once parliament has risen at the end of next week, and is expected to take place outside of Canberra. Possible sites for nuclear reactors include the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, the Hunter Valley in NSW, Collie in Western Australia, Port Augusta in South Australia, and even potentially a plant in Nationals leader David Littleprouds electorate of Maranoa in south-west Queensland. All of these locations are on the site of, or near, current or former coal-fired power plants. Coalition sources, who asked not to be named so they could detail internal discussions about the policy, said the six or seven MPs who would potentially host nuclear power plants in their seats had been notified. The Resolve Political Monitor survey conducted in February found that 36 per cent of respondents supported nuclear power, 27 per cent of people did not have a strong view and were open to it, 23 per cent opposed it and 15 per cent were undecided.

But Labor strategists believe that once the potential sites are named  all of which are expected to be in Coalition seats  that will sharpen the political debate and force voters to consider the implications of having a power plant in their own seat. A Dutton-led government, if elected, would face a fight with state Labor premiers including Victorias Jacinta Allan, NSWs Chris Minns and Western Australias Roger Cook, who have all hosed down suggestions their states could host nuclear power plants. Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, who is widely expected to lead the LNP to victory in a state election in October, has indicated he would not back nuclear power unless it had bipartisan support at a federal level. Albanese said the Labor government opposed the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia for four main reasons. Nuclear reactors are simply wrong for Australia, the International Energy Agency said that this week, they support nuclear reactors but for Australia, given the comparative costs and time frames, it makes no sense given that we have access to the best renewables on Earth, along with hydro, batteries and gas to firm them, he said.
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.
After a Manhattan jury found Donald J Trump guilty in the first degree of 34 counts of falsifying business records, New York City erupted in cheers. Protestors outside the court made merry. Footage went viral of an entire downtown bar celebrating en masse as the verdict was live-beamed to them via an enormous flat-screen television.

Except, it turned out, the crowd wasnt celebrating the Trump verdict, and they werent in downtown Manhattan. The footage had been doctored to look like it was Manhattanites cheering Trumps conviction. Actually, (as far as one could tell) it was a video of a bar in Bristol, England, celebrating the victory of the English soccer team over Wales at the 2016 European Championship.

People celebrate after former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images

It was a tiny snippet of misinformation in the vast, roiling ocean of lies and fake news that has come to define the Trump era. It seemed apt for the moment. The trial and the resulting verdict have, like all things Trump, become a contest in which everyone picks a side and gloats over whatever victories it scores.

New York hates you! protestors heckled Trump in April when he entered the court for questioning. Chants of lock him up! rose from the park across the road from the court after the verdict was announced. Its difficult to understand what they were celebrating. Trumps business model is tribalism, and the guilty verdict will further entrench it.
New York: Donald Trump says he is honoured to run for the White House as a convicted felon, casting himself as a political martyr and using his guilty verdict to raise millions of dollars for his campaign.

In his first remarks since a New York jury found the former president guilty of a hush-money conspiracy to win the 2016 election, Trump also vowed to appeal against the decision, took aim at the judge and district attorney involved in the case, and once again insisted that he never had sex with porn star Stormy Daniels.

Former president Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower, a day after being criminally convicted. Credit: AP

Its a very sad thing thats happening in our country, said Trump, whose campaign claims to have raised $US34.8 million ($52.2 million) since he was convicted.

In a way, Im honoured. Its not that its pleasant: its very bad for family, its very bad for friends and businesses. But Im honoured to be involved in it because somebody has to do it, and I might as well keep going and be the one.
Concession marks entry of Adani Ports into Tanzania

CT2 has a capacity of 1 million TEUs and handles ~83% of Tanzanias container volume

Dar es Salaam Port is a gateway port with a well-connected network of roadways and railways

Adani Ports led consortium will acquire the project company in Tanzania, which houses all port handling equipment and employees, for an amount of USD 39.5 million

Adani International Ports Holdings Pte Ltd. (AIPH), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), has signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Tanzania Ports Authority to operate and manage Container Terminal 2 at the Dar es Salaam Port, Tanzania. Dar es Salaam Port is a gateway port with a well-connected network of roadways and railways.

CT2, with four berths, has an annual cargo handling capacity of 1 million TEUs and managed 0.82 million TEUs of containers in 2023, estimated to be 83% of Tanzanias total container volumes. East Africa Gateway Limited (EAGL) has been incorporated as a joint venture of AIPH, AD Ports Group and East Harbour Terminals Limited (EHTL). APSEZ will be the controlling shareholder and will consolidate EAGL on its books.

EAGL has signed a Share Purchase Agreement for the acquisition of 95% stake in Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS) from Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (and its affiliate Hutchison Port Investments Limited) and Harbours Investment Limited for a purchase consideration of USD 39.5 million. TICTS currently owns all the port handling equipment and employs the manpower. Adani will operate CT2 through TICTS.

The signing of the concession for Container Terminal 2 at Dar es Salaam Port is in line with APSEZs ambition of becoming one of the largest port operators globally by 2030. We are confident that with our expertise and network in ports and logistics, we will be able to enhance trade volumes and economic cooperation between our ports and East Africa. We will strive to transform Dar es Salaam Port into a world class port, said Mr. Karan Adani, Managing Director, APSEZ.

About Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), a part of the globally diversified Adani Group, has evolved from a port company to an Integrated Transport Utility providing an end-to-end solution from its port gate to customer gate. It is the largest port developer and operator in India with 7 strategically located ports and terminals on the west coast (Mundra, Tuna, Dahej, and Hazira in Gujarat, Mormugao in Goa, Dighi in Maharashtra and Vizhinjam in Kerala) and 8 ports and terminals on the East coast of India (Haldia in West Bengal, Dhamra and Gopalpur in Odisha, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Kattupalli and Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry), representing 27% of the country's total port volumes, thus providing capabilities to handle vast amounts of cargo from both coastal areas and the hinterland. The company is also developing a transshipment port at Colombo, Sri Lanka, and owns the Haifa Port in Israel.

Our Ports to Logistics Platform comprising port facilities, integrated logistics capabilities including multimodal logistics parks, Grade A warehouses, and industrial economic zones, puts us in an advantageous position as India stands to benefit from an impending overhaul in global supply chains. Our vision is to be the largest ports and logistics platform in the world in the next decade. With a vision to turn carbon neutral by 2025, APSEZ was the first Indian port and third in the world to sign up for the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) committing to emission reduction targets to control global warming at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240531019622/en/
Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE) congratulates the winners of DEVHack 2024, Guidewires inaugural virtual hackathon designed to engage the largest network of developers in the P&C insurance industry in leveraging their excellence to solve real business challenges. The event was exclusively sponsored by Guidewire PartnerConnect Solution Alliance partner and preferred cloud provider Amazon Web Services (AWS). The 2024 winners are:

First Place: Team Hacker Space from EY for its AI-based product rationalization solution.

Second Place: Team Sustainability for Survival from Capgemini for its Sustainable Auto (Drive Greener) solution.

Third Place: Team Acinivoyage from Acini for its Automated Flight Travel Disruption Claims Processing solution.

Also included among the five finalists and awarded Runner Up were Team Xclaim Wizards from GFT and Team From Italy with Code from FINCONS. To view the demo videos from all five finalists and learn more about the award-winning projects, visit Guidewires Developer website.

Congratulations to the winning teams of our first-ever DEVHack and a heartfelt thank you to all applicants and participants, said Michael Howe, Chief Product Officer, Guidewire. This hackathon, alongside our DEVSummit, has served to unite and celebrate the global Guidewire developer community sharing our mission to better the P&C insurance industry. The top-tier skills, rich experience, and profound passion demonstrated through this hackathon were a delight to witness. Additionally, AWS partnership and support of both programs were instrumental for enabling these examples of developer innovation via Guidewire Cloud.

From the more than 130 team applications submitted, only 25 teams were selected to compete in the hackathon. From March 8 to April 1, 2024, these teams worked tirelessly to build their solutions, leveraging a developer environment provisioned with InsuranceSuite utilizing the Innsbruck release of Guidewire Cloud Platform. Once the solutions were submitted, complete with a video demo and written report, a panel of judges scored each submission. The top five submissions were announced as finalists on April 24, 2024 at the Guidewire DEVSummit in Bengaluru, India.

Public voting to crown a winner from the five finalists ran for 20 hours with 5,622 votes cast. First, second, and third place winners were decided using a combination of judges scores and public votes. Winners were announced live at the closing of Guidewire DEVSummit on April 25, 2024.

For more information on the Guidewire developer program, visit the Guidewire developer website and subscribe to the Guidewire Developer Newsletter.

About Guidewire Software

Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. We combine digital, core, analytics, and machine learning to deliver our platform as a cloud service. More than 540 insurers in 40 countries, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, run on Guidewire.

As a partner to our customers, we continually evolve to enable their success. We are proud of our unparalleled implementation track record, with 1,600+ successful projects, supported by the largest R&D team and partner ecosystem in the industry. Our marketplace provides hundreds of applications that accelerate integration, localization, and innovation.

For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.

NOTE: For information about Guidewires trademarks, visit https://www.guidewire.com/legal-notices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240531951867/en/
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 Agencys (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 Commissions 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 Committees 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 Takedas 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 Takedas 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 Takedas operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takedas most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takedas other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takedas 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 Takedas 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):28362846 Scully M et al. Blood. 2017; 130:2055-63 Chiasakul T and Cuker A. Am Soc Hematol. 2018;2018(1):530538 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/
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Postal Code
The Supreme Court of Tennessee has temporarily suspended attorney Steven Michael Hodgen from the practice of law upon finding attorney Hodgen failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct.

Section 12.3 of Supreme Court Rule 9 provides for the immediate summary suspension of an attorneys license to practice law in cases of an attorneys failure to respond to a complaint of misconduct.
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report.

(If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com)

ADDISON, ISAAC D

UNKNOWN HENDERSONVILLE, 37066

Age at Arrest: 48 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

FAILURE TO APPEAR



ARNOLD, KENNETH GEORGE

HARDEMAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WHITEVILLE, 37336

Age at Arrest: 54 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



ASKEW, JULIA MAE

936 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT X254 CHATTANOOGA, 37405

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPON



BALES, BRANDON SEAN

2078 RIVER WATCH DRIVE SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 25 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



BARRY, CHRISTOPHER PATRICK

9853 SIMS HARRIS RD OOLTEWAH, 37363

Age at Arrest: 57 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



BOYD, TONIA LOLIETA

23 N GERMANTOWN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 54 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

ALTERING MANUFACTURER'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER



BRIGANCE, MARICUS KENNTH

930 DOUGLAS ST APT#415 CHATTANOOGA, 37403

Age at Arrest: 20 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

ASSAULT

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



CARTER, JOHNNY CLARENCE

8833 QUAIL RUN DR Chattanooga, 374211335

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING



CAUDLE, ADAM J

4806 RENEZET DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37416

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)



COLTRANE, GRAHAM BRADY

2231 AVANTI LN HOOVER, 35226

Age at Arrest: 21 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS



COVINGTON, DESMOND PARNELL

2804 SENER LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



DAVIS, BRIANNA LEIGH

4715 TARPON TRL CHATTANOOGA, 37416

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

VIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTY



DAVIS, ROGER

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 50 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY



DAWSON, CHRISTA MARIE

920 SMOKEWOOD TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

VIOLATION OF PROBATION VANDALISM



EDWARDS, JUSTUS CAIN

1914 GUNBARREL RD CHATTANOOGA, 374213105

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING



FIELD, JUSTIN SCOTT

8428 DUNNHILL LANE HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



FLERL, DAVID LAMAR

5815 PATRICK PL CHATTANOOGA, 374212936

Age at Arrest: 61 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

PUBLIC INTOXICATION



GREATHEART, CHRISHANNA

901 WHEELER AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374064143

Age at Arrest: 24 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

SPEEDING

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



GUETHLEIN, KENNETH

875 COUNTY ROAD 20 CALHOUN, 37309

Age at Arrest: 21 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



HALE, WILLIAM OSCAR

1214 NORTHCROSS RD HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 44 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

POSSESSION OF FIREARM WITH PRIOR VIOLENT FELONY CO

EMPLOYING A FIREARM DURING A DANGEROUS OFFENSE



HARGISS, ZACHARY JEROLD

428 MAUDLTH HIXSON, 37303

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

FUGITIVE (CATOOSA CO GA)



HERKLEY, BRUCE GREGORY

202 NORTH SUITE BRIAR CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

THEFT OF PROPERTY



HINES, DARYL XAVIER

19814 WALKER STAPT B CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

ASSAULT



JACKSON, DEVONTAYE MARQUIS

9044 WACONDA SHORE DR CHATTANOOGA, 37416

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

TINTED WINDOWS VIOLATION

REGISTRATION, EXPIRED



JORDAN, ERIC DEMOND

4941 JEFFERY LN CHATTANOOGA, 374102163

Age at Arrest: 23 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

FELONY EVADING

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

RECKLESS DRIVING

DUI

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

POSS OF FIREARM UNDER THE INFLUENCE

POSS.

OF FIREARM WHILE IN COMMISSION OF FELONYPOSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAPOSS. OF HEROIN FOR RESALEPOSS. OF FENTANYLFOR RESALEPOSS. OF METH FOR RESALEPOSS. OF COCAINE FOR RESALEKENNEDY, LEIGH JANESSA MARIE107 N SAINT MARKS AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374113921Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDISORDERLY CONDUCT 39170305RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSASSAULTLOPEZ-RAMIREZ, ELIAZAR OSBELL164 WADDLE STREET DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 18 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffSPEEDINGDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSELOVE, BRIAN EDWARD23 N GERMANTOWN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 51 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffALTERING MANUFACTURER'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBERLYONS, DERRICK JERRELLE4917 SHOREWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, 374163116Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDAGGRAVATED ASSAULTAGGRAVATED ROBBERYMENDEZ BRAVO, GUINER ROMAULDO2013 S ORCHARD KNOB AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: Tenn Hwy PatrolDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSEDRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATIONPAYNE, CHRISTOPHER BOBBY4246 NEWPORT DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)SHROPSHIRE, KE ASIA LASHA2506 LAURA ST APT B CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)SMITH, SHATERIA LANEQ8136 STILLWATER CI OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: Signal MountainDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSELIGHT LAW VIOLATIONSNOW, THOMAS UVELL1909 DAISY ST CHATTANOOGA, 374062439Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)TALLEY, RONALD DEAN3925 COUNTY ROAD 30 SCOTTSBORO, 35768Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONTHOMAS, WILLIAM JACKSON332 PONCE DE LEON AVE NE ATLANTA, 30303Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffTHEFT OF PROPERTYTURPEINEN, ANGELA LINEA4228 FORREST PLAZA DRIVE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 48 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALEVASQUEZ, RUNEILIA307 W 42ND ST CHATTANOOGA, 37409Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTDOMESTIC ASSAULTDOMESTIC ASSAULTWEST, WILLIE RAYNARD2206 TUNNEL BLVD CHATTANOOGA, 374062632Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTWILLIAMS, DALE EDWARD955 SIGNAL RD SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency: Signal MountainDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEWOLF, JOHN WALTER727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374033104Age at Arrest: 73 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPUBLIC INTOXICATION

Here are the mug shots:

ADDISON, ISAAC D

Age at Arrest: 48

Date of Birth: 11/27/1975

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR ARNOLD, KENNETH GEORGE

Age at Arrest: 54

Date of Birth: 01/04/1970

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

ASKEW, JULIA MAE

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 05/07/1985

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPON BALES, BRANDON SEAN

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 08/04/1998

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT BARRY, CHRISTOPHER PATRICK

Age at Arrest: 57

Date of Birth: 03/25/1967

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

BOYD, TONIA LOLIETA

Age at Arrest: 54

Date of Birth: 02/11/1970

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

ALTERING MANUFACTURER'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BRIGANCE, MARICUS KENNTH

Age at Arrest: 20

Date of Birth: 08/25/2003

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT

DOMESTIC ASSAULT CARTER, JOHNNY CLARENCE

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 05/01/1987

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING CAUDLE, ADAM J

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 08/20/1985

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC) COLTRANE, GRAHAM BRADY

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 02/22/2003

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS

COVINGTON, DESMOND PARNELL

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 03/25/1985

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT DAVIS, BRIANNA LEIGH

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 08/08/1997

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTY DAVIS, ROGER

Age at Arrest: 50

Date of Birth: 07/25/1973

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

VIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY DAWSON, CHRISTA MARIE

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 01/11/1989

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

VIOLATION OF PROBATION VANDALISM FIELD, JUSTIN SCOTT

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 12/31/1985

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT GREATHEART, CHRISHANNA

Age at Arrest: 24

Date of Birth: 05/11/2000

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

SPEEDING

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE GUETHLEIN, KENNETH

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 09/11/2002

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT HALE, WILLIAM OSCAR

Age at Arrest: 44

Date of Birth: 08/11/1979

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF FIREARM WITH PRIOR VIOLENT FELONY CO

EMPLOYING A FIREARM DURING A DANGEROUS OFFENSE HARGISS, ZACHARY JEROLD

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 06/27/1997

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (CATOOSA CO GA) HERKLEY, BRUCE GREGORY

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 05/04/1979

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY

HINES, DARYL XAVIER

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 01/24/1993

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT JACKSON, DEVONTAYE MARQUIS

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 05/09/1992

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

TINTED WINDOWS VIOLATION

REGISTRATION, EXPIRED KENNEDY, LEIGH JANESSA MARIE

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 12/24/1996

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT 39170305

RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS

ASSAULT LOPEZ-RAMIREZ, ELIAZAR OSBELL

Age at Arrest: 18

Date of Birth: 11/15/2005

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

SPEEDING

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE LOVE, BRIAN EDWARD

Age at Arrest: 51

Date of Birth: 03/23/1973

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

ALTERING MANUFACTURER'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER LYONS, DERRICK JERRELLE

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 01/01/1988

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

AGGRAVATED ROBBERY PAYNE, CHRISTOPHER BOBBY

Age at Arrest: 44

Date of Birth: 04/15/1980

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

SHROPSHIRE, KE ASIA LASHA

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 08/26/2000

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

SMITH, SHATERIA LANEQ

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 11/23/1990

Arresting Agency: Signal Mountain



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

LIGHT LAW VIOLATION SNOW, THOMAS UVELL

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 08/13/1987

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



TALLEY, RONALD DEAN

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 08/27/1978

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION TURPEINEN, ANGELA LINEA

Age at Arrest: 48

Date of Birth: 06/16/1975

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALE WEST, WILLIE RAYNARD

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 10/05/1989

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT WILLIAMS, DALE EDWARD

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 11/12/1991

Arresting Agency: Signal Mountain



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE WOLF, JOHN WALTER

Age at Arrest: 73

Date of Birth: 01/09/1951

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/31/2024

Charge(s):

PUBLIC INTOXICATION




With heavy hearts, we announce the death of James "Alan" Archer, 60, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, on May 24, 2024. He passed away quietly, surrounded by loved ones, after a year-long struggle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

Alan was born on Jan. 8, 1964, to James and Linda Archer of Summerville, Georgia. By the time he was 12, Alan wanted to become a pilot. From then on, he pursued that dream with determination. Alan attended the University of Georgia (class of 1986). Upon graduation, he earned a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps and began flight training.

In 1988, Alan married Betsy (Taylor) and they moved to Tustin, Ca., where he was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 flying CH-53E helicopters. He served in Operation Desert Storm, earning the Air Medal. His military career took Alan to Pensacola, Fl., as an instructor for new Naval aviators and where his daughter, Hannah, was born. In Okinawa, Japan, Alan flew CT-39G and UC-12F fixed-wing planes in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force, including humanitarian missions in East Timor and throughout Southeast Asia. Eventually Alan would achieve the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps.

In 2001, Alan left the Marine Corps and began his 23-year career with Delta Airlines. Based in both Atlanta and Salt Lake City, Alan flew as first officer on the MD88, 737, A330, and A350, and served as captain on the A220. As an aviator, Alan earned respect from his peers for his calm demeanor and his patience instructing new pilots.

Alan and Betsy adopted their son, James, from Nanjing, China, in 2004, and settled in Signal Mountain. Alan will be most remembered for his strength of character. Often, his silence was more powerful than words. He enjoyed anything to do with the outdoors: biking, hiking, climbing, wakeboarding, and kayaking. He was always up for a new challenge and loved exploring new places. To his children, he was a kind and patient father, whether it was teaching them to ride a bike, roll a kayak, or face their futures with dignity. He taught them about honor and integrity through his actions, not words.

Alan leaves behind his wife, Betsy; daughter, Hannah; son, James; parents, James and Linda Archer; sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Bill Hix; nephew, Blake (Megan) Hix and great-nephew Beau; and niece, Ali Hix.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the ALS Association or the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).

A celebration of Alans life will be held on Saturday, June 29, from 4-6 p.m. at Renaissance Commons, Bluff View Art District in Chattanooga.

Arrangements are by the Cremation Center of Chattanooga, 1345 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.